Three Ways to Build a Loyal Customer Base Online

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With more people living and working online, your business must have a user-friendly website. Google is also scheduled to release “Page Experience algorithm update” next year. It’s essentially a way for search engines to see just how useful your website is for the target consumer.

So now is an excellent time to evaluate how your customers interact with your website. A good website won’t just capture leads and high-quality traffic; it can also turn “one-off” buyers into loyal customers. If need be, talk to a team of outsourced web developers. They would be in the best position to offer advice on how you can improve your website. Here, we have three tips you can follow now to get you ahead of your competition:

Provide Valuable Content

  • Keep in mind the 80/20 rule. A good rule of thumb when creating content for your site is to ensure that 80% of it is of value to the consumer, and only 20% is used for promotions. How does that work? For every 10 blog posts you create, eight should provide information or solutions, and only two should be about a product or service you are offering. This shows your customers that what you aim to do is add value to their lives, not just sell them things.
  • Keep updating your website. If you’re the type of business owner who just puts up the site and then forgets about it, we urge you to re-think that strategy. Sure, you may have a stunning website with beautiful imagery and impeccable copy, but if you don’t keep it fresh, consumers won’t engage. Regularly update your blog posts or have your site reviewed for search engine optimization (SEO).
  • Mix up your content. You need to keep your content engaging, and the best way to do that is to mix it up. Put up a combination of videos, photos, and text on your site. Add content that is entertaining (bonus points if it’s both fun and educational). Entertainment has always been a great way to connect with people’s emotions, and it’s no different when it comes to content marketing.
  • Make your content shareable. Don’t just engage your consumers on your site; encourage them to be “brand ambassadors” by making the content you created shareable on social media. You would be able to reach different kinds of consumers when they share your content, and you could widen the reach of your customer base.

Set up a Rewards and Loyalty Program

Let’s admit it. We all love freebies. Free stuff always makes us feel like we’re getting more than we paid for, which usually adds to how positively we perceive a brand. You can use the same methods with your own customers in two ways:

  • Points-based program. The more the customer buys from you, the higher the points they can accumulate. You can let them use points to get discounts on your good or services. However, go a step further. Offer loyalty points when they refer a customer to you, share your content on social media, or simply follow your social media accounts.
  • Free giveaways. Customers love a bargain, and when you offer free giveaways, most would remember your brand as being generous. For example, you could go the old-fashioned route and offer “buy one, get one” deals, or be more relevant and offer free shipping. You could also entice consumers to sign up with your newsletter by giving away a free eBook. You could keep a database of your most loyal customers’ birthdays and offer promos for special occasions.

Utilize Customer Analytics Tools

Most importantly, you need to listen to your customers. You can do this by engaging with them on social media or in the comments section of your blog posts. You can put up a testimonials and review section on your site to get their feedback.

But perhaps what’s most helpful for your site is a customer analytics tool. This tells you what type of content they’re interested in, which parts of your website they visit the most, and their problem areas and pain points. Having this data in your hands will help you craft a more influential and strategic digital marketing plan.

Don’t discount the advantage of a well-designed website when you map out your marketing strategy. The easier it is for your customer to navigate your site, the higher your chances of creating a loyal base.

Published by Kane D.