Stage Five: Customer Commitment

To garner customer commitment, focus on building strong relationships with your customers

This can be achieved through:

Personalization: Using customer data, deliver targeted offers, product recommendations, and content that is relevant and interesting to the customer.

Excellent customer service: Build a genuine rapport with your customers through your customer service agents. Through connected customer data, you humanize your brand through this critical touch point and recognize your customers during high-impact interactions.

Loyalty programs: Incentivize customers to make repeat purchases by offering rewards, discounts, and exclusive perks. When done right, loyalty programs also combat market competition, build meaningful relationships with customers, and boost brand trust.

Subscription programs: Subscriptions allow you to have a better sense of your future sales, revenue, and inventory. Customers “opt-in” to your service for a set duration, making it easier for you to predict the number of customers you have each month and what they will be purchasing. With this knowledge, you will have a better handle on what inventory you need and a better understanding of your retention rate, allowing you to focus more of your attention on acquiring new customers, rather than managing inventory and payments.

Download the Back to School Email & SMS Template above to use for your inspiration.

Referral programs: Unlike traditional influencer marketing and other paid acquisition channels, customer referral programs allow you to turn happy shoppers into organic brand advocates at almost no cost to you. An effective referral market strategy brings in new leads keen on spending with your brand, and they help you cut through the noise when it comes to competitors.

Consistent brand messaging: Ensure that your messaging is consistent across all channels, including social media, email, website, and advertising, to build brand recognition and trust.

From Commitment to Retention

Retention is an ongoing process that requires constant effort and attention from D2C eCommerce brands. Even after customers have reached the Commitment stage, there is still a risk of churn if the brand fails to maintain the customer’s interest and loyalty.

To continue to retain customers, brands should:

1. Listen to customer feedback: Regularly gathering customer feedback through surveys, social media, reviews, and other channels can help brands understand their customers’ needs and preferences. Brands can use this information to improve their products, services, and customer experience.
2. Offer new and innovative products: Keeping the product offerings fresh and exciting can help maintain customer interest and loyalty. Brands should continually explore new product ideas and consider customer feedback when developing new products. This applies to your loyalty and subscription programs too!
3. Provide ongoing value: Brands can provide ongoing value to their customers through educational content, special offers, and exclusive content. This can help keep customers engaged and interested in the brand.
4. Build long-term relationships: Brands should aim to build long-term relationships with their customers by showing appreciation and loyalty. This can include sending personalized messages on special occasions, providing VIP treatment to loyal customers, and making customers feel valued and appreciated.
5. Adapt to changing customer needs: Customer needs and preferences can change over time, and brands must be prepared to adapt to these changes. Keeping up with industry trends and changes in customer behavior can help brands stay relevant and retain their customers.

The journey toward customer commitment, and ultimately, retention takes careful planning and a dedicated strategy. Read on to find out how to map out this strategy for your brand.