Better Ways to Build Up Your Customer Base

While no one disputes that a business has to grow to be successful, the truth is, unless a customer base is maintained and encouraged to not go elsewhere, there'll be no growth. That being said, let's examine several top ways to grow your customer base.

Rewarding Your Returning Customers
Rewarding your returning customers with incentives like loyalty programs is one of the foremost ways to both keep and grow a regular customer base.
Frequent offers of rebates on items or products bought and bonus points for referrals to the business foster a customer base that know their patronage is well appreciated.
However, be aware that a full 78 percent of consumers are not loyal to any particular brand or business. Statistics show female customers remain loyal by 68 percent, as opposed to males at a mere 55 percent.

Well-timed and Well-Placed Press Releases
Well-timed press releases about your business placed in newspapers, trade journals, business journals, and the local chamber of commerce, all help expand public awareness of your business enterprise. Update a regular correspondence and become a leader in your industry with the things you have to say. 

Networking
Joining a network initiative to introduce your products or services to rotary clubs and other civic organizations, churches, and schools, are other options well worth exploring. Try different trade shows to get the word out and to advertise to more people.

Promotional Items
Discount coupons, flyers, and promotional items left strategically in spots that are known to attract your related business are other options available to your business.
Today, online specialty printers produce pens, coffee mugs, t-shirts, and notepads with your chosen logos, trademark symbol, or your business name at prices that any business owner can easily afford.

Personal Holiday Greetings--With Discounts
A well-timed holiday greeting card for Christmas or Thanksgiving is especially appreciated by customers. Offer a sale or special reward for their returning business or contract in the New Year as well.

Social Media
Learning to use social media and free link exchanges with other Web sites, works wonders in bringing old and new visitors from other sites to yours. Use the resources you have now to build up your online presence.

Back-Links
Never underestimate the power of having a well-placed ad or link on another web site. Naturally, having previously negotiated a return link or an ad on your own site with the other web site owners only serves to further your outreach. 

Customer Service and Word of Mouth
Making sure your customer service is service-driven, and having something as simple as a pot of freshly brewed coffee on hand in a waiting room, enhances a feeling that a customer's presence is appreciated. You can use your employees as mouthpieces as well. If they are well compensated and enjoy the work, they will tell others and be more excited to share experiences about the company. Get organized with online programs like those that generate checkstubs and show employees and customers you are devoted to making their lives easier.
According to survey studies, over 61 percent of customers indicated that they would tell family and friends about products or services--if they were merited.

All that being said, it's many times easier to maintain your customer base, than it is to get new customers. Keeping your customers returning will help keep the business afloat until new ones become part of the regulars as well.