How to Keep Your Customers Engaged with Feedback and Rewards?

Imagine walking into your favorite coffee shop! You are greeted with a warm smile and the barista asks, “How was your latte yesterday? Would you like to try out the new almond syrup this time?”

How would that make you feel? Valued and eager to share your thoughts, right? That’s the magic of customer engagement! The businesses that listen and cater to their patrons tend to create a unique bond with the customers that goes beyond just transactions.

But in a dynamic market where preferences change in a second, how do you keep your customers involved with your brand?

Understanding the Art of Getting Feedback

According to Microsoft, 77% of customers favor a brand that applies a customer feedback system over others that don’t. Feedback, when used right, can act as a gateway to a deeper understanding of target customers and the enhancement of the business.

Feedbacks have the power to change the view of the customer even when an unexpected glitch happens. By reaching out for feedback, you showcase that you are ready to improvise for the satisfaction of the customers and this can convince them to give you a second chance.

• Create a consistent channel through which the customers can voice out their opinions. It can be a feedback form or social media page or even a survey.
• Take the time to reach out to customers for reviews. A reminder email would work miracles.
• Once the feedback starts trickling in, don’t let them gather digital dust. Make sure that you acknowledge the feedback publicly, address any concerns mentioned and also showcase the change you make.
• When responding to reviews, ensure that you include the customer's name and tailor your response to their feedback. This shows customers that their voices are not only heard but also valued. Avoid using generic copy-paste responses.

Respond politely to negative reviews. Avoid attempting to remove them from the digital space, as doing so could taint the authenticity of the business. Instead, address concerns and strive to resolve them. Converting a negative review into a positive one can attract more customers.

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YouTube: 5 Ways by Which Start-ups Can Earn Consumer Trust | Importance of Reviews | Giveaways, Branding

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Turning Customers into Brand Advocates Through Rewards

About 75% of customers expect companies to offer a reward for their loyalty. Also, customers who feel valued are 7 times more likely to remain loyal to the brand.

Rewards and gifts might seem like a big step, especially for small businesses but these techniques are quite effective when it comes to boosting sales and increasing customer retention.

There are different types of reward systems and you can choose one that would work for your business.

• Tiered Rewards: Through this program, you can offer benefits to customers based on their transactions with the business. The more they spend on the brand, the more benefits they will receive. This reward system would be a great choice for small businesses.
• Value-Based Rewards: This involves aligning the benefits around the brand’s core values. For example, the business could commit to donating a portion of the customer’s money to charities. These programs tend to create a profound connection with the customers that is beyond money.
• Points-Based Rewards: By this method, the customers would receive points for every purchase they make. When enough points have accumulated, they can use it to buy a product or enjoy a discount. This is also a great model to follow for small businesses.
• Referral-Based Rewards: This is one of the best choices for making customers spread the word about your brand. You get more customers and your existing customers also enjoy the benefits of referring new customers. 

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Also Read: Why is E Newsletter important in Digital Marketing 

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These are the most common reward systems employed by businesses. You could choose one that you think will work the best for you or you could even choose a combination of two or three rewards system.

Here are some ideas to level up your reward game:

• Create personalized offers and rewards, based on the individual preferences of the customers. Use customer data to gather the information.
• Utilize targeted emails and messages to promote exclusive offers.
• Send personalized product recommendations and if possible, offer discounts on these products.
• Personalize your rewards with a thank you note.
• Consider incorporating gamification techniques. For instance, customers can earn points by participating in quests (answering questions) or virtual scavenger hunts (finding clickable links hidden on the website).

LocalBizNetwork

How do you plan to elevate your engagement game? We suggest you start by creating an LBN business profile. LocalBizNetwork, one of the top paid local business directory websites has been helping small businesses shine in the digital space for over 2 decades now.

With the LBN business profile, your customers can add reviews and feedback about your business. Also, there is a dedicated section where you can put up exclusive offers and announcements related to your brand. What are you waiting for? Click here and create your LBN business profile now.