Once you have set up your small online business, most of the hard work is out of the way. But now you have different things to prioritise. Instead of worrying about a brand name, product inventory and web layout, you need to start focusing on establishing your brand and building a positive reputation. The most effective way of doing both of these things is to establish a loyal customer base with confidence in your brand, products and services. But what is the best way to go about this?
Good Customer Service
Customer service is the key to satisfied consumers. It begins as soon as a customer shows interest in your products and continues until after the purchase has been made. Your business should assist customers in any way, shape or form that they need to ensure the best quality buying experience from start to finish. The best customer service should also efficiently deal with any customer inquiries, complaints, delivery issues or product faults. Because you aren’t interacting with your customer in person, doesn’t mean that you are completely isolated from them. Make sure that your sales platform has a contact form, which users can employ to get in touch with you. If a customer is happy with the service that they receive, they are more likely to recommend your business to others and return to buy from you again.
Ensure Security
When it comes to online shopping, most customers’ key concern is payment security. Who can blame them? Cybercrime is on the up and increasing numbers of people are falling victim to online hacking and identity theft. Ensure that your customers feel safe using your checkout system. This is easy and will make the world of difference, as consumers will trust you to store their personal and payment details securely. You can confirm identities with Netverify, a trusted service offered by Jumio. This service combines ID Verification, Identity Verification and Document Verification to establish the real-world identities of your consumers. It will enable you to offer the safest shopping experience for all of your customers, increasing sales and spreading a positive reputation for your brand.
Loyalty Schemes
Loyalty schemes reward customers who make multiple purchases. This increases brand loyalty. Brand loyalty is imperative to building a successful business, not only because it ensures further sales, but also because it gives you an edge over your competitors. Loyalty schemes can help a customer to choose you over a competitor with similar products and prices. The rewards of your scheme can vary. Try offering discounts, a free product for every certain number purchased or redeemable points for pounds spent. Regardless of the rewards that you offer, you buyers will appreciate the sentiment. After all, everyone likes to feel like they’re getting something for nothing. When individuals sign up for a loyalty scheme, they offer personal details, which can help you identify your customer base. This will help you to develop future products. Sign-up sheets also offer information through which you can send emails and promotions.
