This is a collaborative post by Ellie Jo about using technology for customer engagement.
Building up a relationship with your customers is vital for any business, and there are several great ways that you can do this digitally. Once you have attracted the attention of a potential customer, you will need to find ways to maintain their interest in your brand and products to keep them coming back.
Using Technolgy for Customer Engagement
Your Website
One of the best shop windows for your business is undoubtedly your website. If you want to attract lots of customers, then you will need to be sure you have an attractive website that loads quickly. It should be very easy to browse. There should be plenty of signposts to other content elsewhere on the site, to increase the dwell time and the opportunity for increased revenue through selling additional products.
Consider including a blog on your site. If you can make it relevant to your business niche, then this will enhance your offering. It will also help you to generate organic traffic to your site.
Develop An App
Imagine if all of your customers had direct access to your products and services straight from an app on their phone. You’d be able to reach them through the use of push notifications that appear directly on their phone’s home screen.
Before you go ahead and hire app developers, you will need to make sure that you have a great concept in mind. Your customers will need lots of opportunities to engage with content on your app in order to keep them returning to it.
Build in lots of great, free, features that your customers will find useful. If you can link these to your products and services, then that’s even better. You may not need to monetize your app directly. However, if you can use it to raise awareness of your products, and increase uptake in your offer, then it will pay for itself.
Emails
Sending out emails to your customers does not necessarily need to be all about a new product, service, or special offer. If you have something that might be helpful for your customers, share it with them in a mailshot. They will remember you for the tips that you offer.
Your email content should lead them to your website, where they will be able to take advantage of everything that you have to offer them there.
Social Media
Having a strong social media presence is an excellent way of building up relationships with your customers. Sharing a mixture of content each day will allow you to build up followers easily. Again, you don’t just want to make this all about you, and your products. Share anything that your customers may find useful and relevant. If it suits your brand, you may even want to share viral style content that will ultimately draw in more followers.
You should do your best to interact as much as possible. ‘Liking’ and replying to comments is a great way of showing your customers that you are listening to them, and acknowledging what they have to say.
