6 SIMPLE STRATEGIES TO GET REPEAT BUSINESS FROM LOYAL CLIENTS
How do you feel about that outfit hanging in your closet that makes you look so "I-can-crush-it" confident? Or that much-hyped business course you bought which turned out to be quite under-delivered. There is something so powerful in the intangibles. Things that you cannot see or touch but just feel. If one particular thing made you feel great once, you will subconsciously develop trust towards it. It could be a person, a destination, a food item, or a brand. And likewise, for a negative feeling. You will never easily forget that either and you might not even give it another chance. Isn't it? So what do these feelings, good or bad, lead to? They lead to experience. Providing an exceptionally good experience to your clients is the number one factor that will make them come back to you over and over for more + send referrals your way!
Don't we all love a great experience? It's a no-brainer! For example - you're gonna sing praises of that book you recently bought because it had just the perfect amount of everything it claimed to have. You felt really satisfied after reading it so you will most likely pick up other books by the same author! That's the power of a great experience and that's what we are capable of providing to our clients. Because of this amazing experience you provide, your clients will become loyal fans who trust your expertise in their business. This really helps in getting repeat business and some awesome word-of-mouth marketing in the process is just one of the many sweet bonuses :)
So I will be diving into 6 strategies that you can implement to guarantee repeat business from loyal clients. Follow along!
1. MAKE THINGS SIMPLE
I cannot stress this one enough. Simplicity is the number one thing on my mind when I am branding for creatives who are busy business owners. Imagine if you had to go through a 10-page manual to understand how a product works or try and guess the process of working with a business coach, how would you feel? Frustrated, right? So we do not want to head that route. Make each step super simple for your clients and guide them along the way. Everything needs to be clearly laid out, and easy to understand and the execution has to be super smooth as well. When everything is easy, the clients are going to have a great experience because YOU managed to save their time and mental energy that they can now use for another thing on their plate. Believe it or not, it’s going to be such a relief for your clients and they will not forget the heavy lifting you did for them!
2. DO WHAT YOU SAY
Your business is built on some core values. These brand values are not something you jot down on your about page and then forget. Rather I would encourage you to internalize these values, make them a part of your daily doings and act on them on a regular basis. Let those values reflect in your work, brand identity, messaging on the website and social media, and most importantly in your in-person dealing with your clients. This is one great way of showing them that you do what you believe in. This also leads to your customers experiencing feel-good vibes towards you and helps in building a lasting relationship.
3. GET CREATIVE WITH INCENTIVES
Don't we all LOOOVE it when someone makes us feel special? Even though freebies are a good way but the purpose of freebies mostly remains to attract clients. As creative CEOs, here's your chance to shine! The idea here is not just to attract but genuinely give your customers an experience they can remember. Dig into those gazillion ideas buzzing in your head and find creative ways to offer incentives to your customers that will make them go weak in the knees! For example: if you have sold a high-level coaching program to your clients, inside that program - you can throw in a couple of complimentary intensives or power hours that you know will really benefit your clients. A small gesture from your end will add so much value to your client's life/business in addition to being a sweet surprise for them. Ask yourself - how would you feel if you got that special treatment? I for sure would love it!
4. ADD TO THE EXPERIENCE WITH A GIFT
You completed the project or the job you were hired for. Now, what next? Don’t just abruptly let your engagement come to an end. Make sure, you are making an opportunity for a continued relationship. Give them something to celebrate a successful collaboration that also helps you stay top of mind. Sending a thoughtful gift is a great way to add a personalized touch that strengthens your relationship with your client. It’s not about the value of the gift (it could be a $20 Starbucks gift card), it’s about the gesture. You going the extra mile and thinking about your people is the thought that counts. As a creative service provider, you have the chance to get creative with client gifts! My personal favorite is Greetabl. It allows you to build your box with personalized messages, pictures, and more. I remember receiving one such gift a while ago and it had such a sweet personalized message printed inside the box. I still remember how my face lit up when I opened up that box + I have not thrown it away to this date nor forgotten who gave it to me!
5. TELL A COMPELLING BRAND STORY
There is a psychology behind every product we buy or service we choose to invest in. We feel a certain way about something and that feeling convinces us to make a purchase. As an example, I want to point you to Airbnb's incredible brand story. Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for consumers to list, discover, and book unique accommodations for unique travel experiences. People feel so connected with this story and as a result, they have become loyal users. Airbnb has challenged the hotel industry and totally redefined an experience for millions of customers they would choose Airbnb any day without a second thought. Your brand story, if told well also has the power to turn your clients into loyal fans who will continue to choose you because they are emotionally invested with your brand. Using story when I am branding for creatives using my signature brand strategy process, is how I differentiate my clients’ brands from their competitors in their industry.
This post I wrote sharing My 3 Step Formula To Craft Your Story will be super helpful for you to really stand out in your industry using storytelling. Go try it out!
6. FIND WAYS TO KEEP IMPROVING
Creating an exceptional experience for your clients involves a commitment from your end. A commitment to keep improving. Stay open to continuous learning - of your client's pain points and how you can make their life easier by adding more value. There is always scope to improve your process and offer more support to your people so that they reach their goals quicker and see the results faster. Lastly, whatever you do always overdeliver. That genuinely goes a long way!
CONCLUSION
That’s it, there you go. Keep practicing these tips to craft exceptional and unforgettable experiences for your amazing dream clients so that your brand always remains top of their minds and you get continued business from them. It’s the most authentic way to build a profitable brand. And as always, I will keep rooting for you!
Building brands with strategy + love,
Ridha
