Customer loyalty strategies: retain clients and increase loyalty.

Do you think the most important factor for a business’s success is closing sales? Not exactly… many businesses at the start of their journey manage to attract the attention of their target audience with good launch offers or an appealing product, resulting in numerous sales — but later fail to maintain the pace and fade into oblivion. The reason for this dramatic fall lies in the lack of customer loyalty, either because this crucial stage of the sales cycle was overlooked or because the right strategies weren’t implemented. 

If you’ve made it to this post, it’s because you’re interested in diving deeper into this topic — and we’re here to help you by explaining how to develop five highly effective loyalty strategies.

The key lies in turning your brand into a love brand

The best loyalty strategies don’t rely on discounts or giveaways, because these short-term actions only make your customers see you as a brand to turn to when they don’t want to spend too much. However, when you manage to add real value to your company’s name, things change — you’re in control; and it’s the audience who’s willing to pay whatever it takes to own your product. Of course… brands are not just products — when we talk about a love brand, we refer to intangible values, premium quality, exceptional customer service, and distinctive design.

Surely after reading this, a few love brands have come to mind. Would you like to know more about them and their loyalty strategies? Keep reading!

What do the world’s most charismatic love brands have in common?

Just like in human relationships, the feelings we develop toward brands mature and evolve. Our tastes and value systems change depending on age, historical context, and culture — which is why simply ranking the world’s most loved brands doesn’t make much sense. What does make sense is to compare the factors that make certain brands leaders, narrowing them down to a framework defined by Western characteristics.

In the past, brands like Harley-Davidson or McDonald’s were among the most admired by consumers, but today, that’s no longer the case — society’s value scale has shifted. Now we focus more on the responsibility companies take toward their environment, the experience throughout the purchasing process, the quality of raw materials, authenticity, innovation, and personalization.

Now that you know what a love brand is, let’s look at the 5 loyalty strategies they use most often

Once brands have defined and communicated their core values, it’s time to make them tangible through concrete actions that reward and benefit their most devoted customers. Don’t miss the following five loyalty strategies! We’ll tell you now — they have nothing to do with offering discount coupons.

1. Artificial intelligence and machine learning: they use AI and machine learning to analyze large data sets and gain valuable insights into customer behavior, market trends, and opportunities for improvement in products and processes.

• Circular economy: they adopt business models that minimize waste and maximize reuse, recycling, and reduction of resources — and they communicate it. This is not only beneficial for the environment but can also generate operational efficiencies and attract sustainability-conscious consumers.

• Customer experience based on data: they use data and advanced analytics to personalize and enhance the customer experience at all touchpoints. This includes product and service personalization, as well as optimization of both online and offline interactions.

• Strategic collaborations: they seek partnerships with other companies, even those outside their industry, to create innovative solutions. These collaborations can generate synergies and open new market opportunities.

• Co-creation with customers: they invite customers to participate in the product or service development process. This allows companies to gather ideas directly from those who will use their products and ensures better alignment with market needs.

It’s not just the “what” but also the “where”: social media is the best channel to implement your loyalty actions

According to the Brand Love Report 2022, a study conducted by Hootsuite and Talkwalker — leading global social media analytics tools — social media is the most immediate way to connect with consumers.

Thanks to the entertaining, emotional, or useful content that brands create and share through their profiles, they manage to gain followers and engagement, maintaining constant two-way communication with potential customers.

For example, there are specific social media KPIs that can measure user loyalty levels, such as reactions to posts, shares, private chat inquiries about the brand, ad views, or purchases made directly through social platforms.

Would you like to learn more about new marketing trends and sales? Keep reading the Educa.Pro blog!