No matter what kind of business you run, staying afloat in today’s competitive corporate world is challenging. The statistics are quite disheartening for anyone who is just starting – as much as 50% of companies are not able to survive for longer than five years, while only 1/3 gets to celebrate the 10th anniversary in the industry. The reasons why an individual organization is failing are wide-ranging, but there are some of the key ones that you need to pay attention to if you want to grow and reach the top of your industry.
To succeed, it’s important to stand out. You need to give customers the reason to come back and use your products or services again. Generally, that’s easier said than done. Let’s see what you can do to make you rise above the competitors and leave a lasting impression on your clients.
Build a Strong Online Presence
In a world run by smartphones and the internet, it’s important to have a stable presence in the online sphere. As professionals from Bizify know well, you will be able to appear to all potential customers in just a couple of clicks, which is vital for building a strong brand. This way, you will promote your business, provide key information about your company, and improve your overall standing among the competitors.
When people look for a certain service or a product on the internet, as they usually do these days, and you are one of the first suggestions that come up, that’s an enormous advantage. People generally don’t go further than the first several results the search engine has given them. So, implement SEO tactics, and you will soon see the benefits of good internet rankings.
Social media has become an important tool for marketing, and if you implement the right strategy, you will be able to expand your reach significantly. The majority of people younger than 50 have at least one social media account, and if you appear in their feed and get them to click, you’re on the right track. Be creative and engage with your followers. These platforms are great not only to showcase what you can do and offer them but also to build a strong bond with all clients.
Honesty Is the Best Policy
Not only is it the best, but it’s required if you want to build a strong bond with your customers. Whatever the problem might be, have an immediate response, and let them know. Although they might not like what they hear, they will certainly appreciate you letting them know immediately.
Lying about your services or products is a big ‘No.’ If you’re not able to deliver what you have promised, you will hear about it. And not only you. The customer will tell their friends and family about their bad experiences with you, and some of them will also leave a negative comment or a review online for everybody else to see. Word of mouth has always been a critical marketing tactic and can build or bury a company.
Impeccable Customer Service
No matter what type of company your run, you need to offer your clients extraordinary service. A good experience will make them come back, no question asked. Things like waiting in long lines or waiting for an online replay for days or unwelcoming staff are just some of the things that will make them turn away and spend their money elsewhere. After all, you are not the only one offering those sorts of services and products. You need to remember that.
Online reviews are very important. The surveys say that as much as 84% of Americans check them before deciding to buy something or not. The key is not only to respond to positive but to negative reviews as well. Show the clients you care about them and their opinion. Something as simple as this can turn them around and give you another chance with them.
You need to play the customer service game better than your opponents. Make this one of the things that will make you stand out. Be responsive and reliable is your approach. If you succeed in building a strong relationship with your consumers, the chances of going out of business are rather slim. Simply, you will not be able to write a success story in any industry without them.
Do Things Differently
First impressions are important when it comes to people as well as companies. If you don’t get the customer’s attention in the first minute, you’re not someone who stands out. You need to give them something unique, something that will spark their curiosity and make them decide to stay.
Visual aids are very important when it comes to making a recognizable brand. Make your logo unique and even a bit weird but no matter what you go for, make sure it is distinctly different from your competitors. Also, consistency is important as it will improve the brand’s recognition. Choose the font and the color and stick to it.
Rewarding Loyalty
More and more companies are implementing some type of loyalty program. This has become one of the best ways to get ahead of your competition. Giving some sort of perks to those who come back regularly and use your services and products will not only inspire them to keep doing that but will also show them just how much you appreciate them. We already mentioned just how important a marketing tool word of mouth could be, which the loyalty program easily provides. Based on certain studies, returning customers are 17 times more likely to recommend you to their family, friends, and coworkers.
Keeping a good relationship with the existing consumers will allow you to build your brand visibility and clientele. The road to the top is never easy, but these are just some ways to make you stand out in the market and attract new clients. Implementing any of these will create a better and stronger bond between you and your customers.
