The relationships you have with your customers are the foundation for long-term industry success. Customer relationships lead to increased loyalty and trust in your brand.
There are countless ways to create and nurture customer relationships in today’s online marketplace. But your website is one of the most powerful ways to connect and engage with your customers.
You can create an engaging website that leads to lasting growth while using other distribution channels to strengthen the relationships you build along the way.
Designing a Relationship-Building Website
Most business websites serve only as online brochures that give visitors information about the company and the products or services they offer.
But your site’s design can help build and maintain relationships with your existing and future customers.
Your home page should contain links to other pages that offer resources and information that supports the goals of your visitors.
Invite visitors to engage with your company. Offering a guide or inviting them to join your mailing list are reliable methods for qualifying site visitors and gaining insight into their needs and interests.
The most successful business websites educate their visitors and foster dialogue through personalized messaging. They follow-up with users to make sure that their needs are being met.
If a site visitor registers to receive ongoing communication, the need to receive some acknowledgment that you’ve received their request as soon as possible.
Email Communications Build Customer Relationships
Email is a powerful way to communicate with your target audience. Although email has changed very little, how businesses use it to provide additional value to customers has evolved.
Giving users the option to sign up to your email list is one of the most common ways that businesses qualify and move leads further into their sales process.
Emails should have a personal tone regardless of how many people are receiving your message. Rather than talking at your customers, communicate in a way that fosters one-on-one engagement.
Prioritize the needs of the recipient and offer something valuable that helps them solve important problems. The greater the value you provide, the more likely your audience will look forward to receiving future emails.
Get Personal With Social Media
No other online medium has changed the way businesses operate than social media. Today’s consumers can connect with companies and share the experiences they have with your products and services.
Social media is one of the most effective tools for building customer relationships. Businesses that use social media in ways that nurture these relationships have a leading edge over their competitors.
Social media lets you respond to customer questions and feedback. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat are quickly taking over the marketing landscape and offering businesses new ways to build relationships with customers.
Like the design of your website and email marketing campaigns, social media should provide value to your customers.
Social media content should inform and entertain your target audience. This makes it more likely that they’ll share your posts within their own networks, further enhancing the reach of your marketing messages.
How are you using your website’s design, email marketing, and social media to grow your customer base? Are you struggling to maintain the relationships you establish after your customers purchase your products or services? Let us know in the comments below.
Relationships lead to brand loyalty and trust. They enhance your credibility as an industry leader while making it easier to help your customers meet their personal and business goals.
