Winning over customers online is kind of like dating. You want to make a good first impression, you want to keep things simple, and you always want to follow up.
With more people shopping, browsing, and hanging out online than ever before, it’s important to know how to stand out in all the right ways. We’ve put together a short list of how you can woo your customers online and keep them coming back for more.
- Make things easy. One of the fastest ways to lose a customer online is to make things complicated. With slow pages and long forms, checkout can feel like solving a puzzle that’s not going to win any hearts. Start by simplifying your site’s navigation and the checkout process. Make sure that you have clear buttons, easy search options, and fast loading times. Among these, a super helpful tool is embedded payments. Instead of redirecting users to another site to complete a purchase, they can pay right there on your page. It’s such a small change, but it makes such a big difference.
- Keep your message clear. Nobody likes a mystery when they’re shopping online. Transparency can help to build trust, and trust builds loyal customers that continue to come back for more. You have to make your product descriptions as clear as possible and show your pricing upfront. If something goes wrong, you can own it and fix it quickly. People will always remember how you handle problems even more than the problems themselves.
- Be personal. Even in the online world, people want to feel like they matter. Use their names in emails and recommend products based on what they’ve looked at. Always follow up with a thank you message after a purchase too. You don’t have to be over the top, but you do have to be thoughtful.
- Show off your reviews. If someone is new to their business, the first thing they’re going to look for is a sign that they can trust you. This is where reviews come in. Real feedback from real customers can add credibility to your business as this is the social proof that says that you’re the real deal. Make those reviews easy to find on your site and don’t forget to feature them where people can see them straight away.
- Make sure that you’re available. Sometimes customers just have questions and not every customer is comfortable talking to a robot. Live chat bots are very helpful for businesses, but you need to also have a customer service line or a chat link to a human being. Skip the scripts and talk like a real person. Friendly, helpful replies can turn a one time visitor into a long term fan.
- Keep it fresh. If your website or social media look hasn’t been updated for over a year, customers may wonder if you’re still around. You need to keep your content fresh by sharing updates, new products, and behind the scenes moments.
It’s really not rocket science to woo your customers. You just need to be kind and clear with your messaging and easy to work with when there’s questions to be answered.
