In the online marketplace, competition is steeper than ever. There are probably other businesses selling similar products to you, and, in addition to other online businesses, you are also competing with brick and mortar stores. Earning and retaining repeat customers can be achieved by employing some tried and tested strategies to make customers feel valued. 

Free Shipping

Free shipping is a great perk for repeat customers. You may have a purchase minimum for free shipping, but consider rescinding, lowering, or eliminating the minimum. Gifting your repeat customers with free shipping shows you appreciate their business, gaining their loyalty, and keeping them coming back. Customers are more likely to buy knowing they do not have to pay the added cost of shipping. Offering free shipping has also been shown to cause customers to spend more money than they would if they had to pay for shipping. It also gives you an advantage over your competitors who do not offer this perk.

Rewards Points

Many major retailers have rewards points programs. These programs encourage customers to spend more money with the promise of a reward if they earn a certain amount of points. This incentive keeps customers coming back. Loyalty points should be redeemable online and in-store if you have a physical location. Another benefit of having a loyalty program in place is that you will be able to gain more data about your customers, including your spending habits. Customers will typically only sign up for loyalty programs if they are interested in returning to your store, which helps you weed out one-time visitors.

Offer Special Discounts

You should also consider offering special discounts for your loyal customers. This could be early access to a certain weekend sale or a special discount coupon. If you offer items that you do not usually allow coupons to be used on, offer the chance to use these coupons on specialty items to your repeat customers. You may consider using a special discount code on your online site so you can track how many customers use it. Special discount codes make repeat customers feel special, endearing them to your business.

Finding and retaining repeat customers is not as simple as it was in the past. You have to be creative with the perks and benefits you choose to offer to gain a loyal following. Loyal customers are more likely to share your brand with their friends, which can only cause your business to grow.

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