Building Relationships, One Name Tag at a Time

A name tag is so much more than a piece of plastic or metal with your name on it. It is the beginning of a relationship with those around you. You encourage others to interact with you when you wear a name tag. In some ways, your name tag becomes a symbol of your availability and helps you when building relationships with customers and others in business.

By making yourself available, you set yourself apart from those around you. This is why employers often encourage staff to wear badges to identify them to customers quickly. A name tag identifies those who can answer questions and serve clients’ needs. Most employers understand the need for building relationships and see that one of the best ways to do this is by wearing a name tag.

Most people know what a name tag is, but do you know how it can help in building relationships?

Name tags are an excellent way for customers to start conversations with employees and other retail staff. They tell the customer who they are working with from the moment they meet your employee. Identification provides an easy way for customers to distinguish your employees and other staff in your store from other customers. Then, when a customer has a question or requires assistance, they will know who to ask for help.

Engraved and logo name tags will help any business in building relationship with their customers by quickly identifying all staff.

At some point, everyone experiences a moment when they cannot remember a person’s name. While it can be embarrassing, name tags are there to help. Your name tag makes it easier for people to approach you and start a conversation, especially in large and unfamiliar group settings. They provide a sense of professionalism and belonging in nearly every situation.

Communication is key to all business interactions; name tags help establish these connections.

Sometimes, especially in larger retail locations, it can be challenging to remember everyone’s name. By wearing name tags or other identification, newer employees and other team members in the company are more apt to recognize each other. Name badges also provide accountability for all of your employees. When wearing name tags, it requires that your employees accept responsibility, one, for their actions and, two, for the way they treat your customers.

Remembering and using a person’s name during conversation shows them that you value and respect the relationship you are building. Using others’ names helps create a more personalized and memorable interaction. After all, you are working on establishing rapport and building relationships that should last a lifetime. Name tags allow you to build a sense of trust and friendliness, and they help the people you do business with feel more comfortable and open to communication.

Name tags are about building relationships with your customers and business partners.

Building trust between a company and a consumer is essential to business. All companies, whether they are organizations or individuals, should continually work on creating a culture of mutual trust. A trusting culture helps make challenging conversations easier, teams more integrated and employees more engaged. It also helps keep consumers loyal to a company’s brand.

Making an effort to remember and use people’s names is a powerful tool for building relationships. By wearing name tags, you are encouraging connections as you do business. Name tags make networking easier when participating in social events, conferences and professional settings. When your business is actively building relationships with customers, it shows that you understand the importance of personal connections. Remembering and using names builds trust, something every business should turn into a habit.

How and why name tags make you successful in building relationships.

No matter your view on name tags, certain informational aspects answer these questions. We’ve all been influenced by the idea of a uniform; it keeps us connected with the employees of a business. Part of this uniform can sometimes be a name tag. Name tags help keep both the customer and the employee respectful toward each other.

Name tags are commonly worn at conferences, seminars, trade shows and workplace meetings to help people identify each other and facilitate networking. Name tags are also worn at social gatherings such as parties, weddings and other events. They are the perfect way to introduce people and create a friendlier atmosphere. Service organizations use name tags for volunteers and staff to help identify their roles and make it easier for members to approach them.

Engraved Name Tags

Engraved name tag using a classic or template design on Name Tag, Inc.

Several studies have shown that communication is easier when people know each other’s names. Building relationships with customers all starts with the simple process of letting them quickly understand who the employees are. Quickly connect with customers by having your staff wear name tags.

Name tags are the perfect solution for having quick identification. Even simple engraved name tags that show a person’s name and title have an impact. This helps build trust and respect in your business relations.

Logo Name Tags

UV printed logo on a metal name tag that shows how to upgrade a badge for any business.

Enhance your relationship with customers when you add your logo to name tags. Choose from several styles of engraved or printed logos. The crisp, vivid colors created by UV printing will highlight your logo and leave a lasting impression on your customers. They will truly showcase your business’ branding and company colors.

Your communication with employees and customers will improve when your staff wears name tags. And by adding your logo to name tags, you help with building relationships both internally and externally. So, grow your business by upgrading nearly any name tag by adding a high quality logo.

Premium Name Tags

UV color printed logo name tag with a dome and a frame to show how a premium name tag can upgrade an employee uniform.

Take your professionalism up a notch with these upgraded name tag choices. Make your badge as fancy as you want while maintaining professional appeal. Both colored and engraved logos will look amazing with these simple and elegant additions. Make your name tags really stand out by upgrading with frames and domes.

Celebrate your professionalism with a classy step up from the average name tag. Fancy only begins to describe our premium frames. Add a sparkle of gold, silver or black around a new name tag to let your team know how much they are appreciated. These frames guarantee to make your name tags look as professional as you feel.

Another way to upgrade and add even more flair to your name tags is by adding an epoxy dome. Seal in elegance and professionalism with a gorgeous raised 3D epoxy dome. Doming is the process of applying a thick layer of durable epoxy to the tag’s surface in order to protect it from dents and scratches. Not only does the epoxy help protect your name tags from scratches and dings, but it also provides the right attention to detail. The raised bubble look gives your employee name tags sophistication while making them last a long time.


Grow your brand, connect with new customers and work on building relationships with your new name tags.

4 Tips to Engage Customers & Employees

When a business is able to hire and engage with the right people, they will be able to operate better. And, as we are nearing the holiday season, businesses are looking for necessary holiday help. Part of this includes quickly identifying employees so customers and clients will be able to locate who can help them. Simply provide each employee with a name tag to help them communicate with your customers.

Name tags create a personalized experience as they make it quick and easy for customers to quickly see employees. These tags play an important role in developing effective communication between employees and customers for several reasons. From helping with employee visibility to increasing business approachability, name tags are an essential tool for any business to have.

Using custom ribbon rolls, custom plaques and engraved signs in a retail business to inform and engage customers and employees.

Engage Seasonal Workers with Name Tags

For many businesses, seasonal help is necessary to handle holiday demands. Not only are seasonal employees cost effective, but they also help your business remain flexible in adjusting the size of your workforce. During peak holiday times, these temporary employees are often necessary to have around to help keep full time operational coverage. Without these crucial employees, you couldn’t keep your business running the way your customers and clients are used to.

Adding seasonal and temporary employees to your staff has huge benefits for your company. It makes it easier for full time staff to enjoy the holidays while they maintain work/life balance, and you can keep your business steady. You will also have enough people to cover any increase in hours or demand for products and services.

So, have you already started the process of hiring your seasonal employees? If not, now is the time. Of course, you will need to make sure you train them thoroughly before your holiday rush hits! With that being said, as a business owner, you should also be concerned with how well your new help will be able to work with your customers.

Tip #1: As always, name tags help to engage employees and customers.

When employees wear identification, they help to enhance the overall customer experience. This, in turn, will make customers feel more valued. When a customer knows an employee’s name, they can quickly establish a level of trust with them. Name tags humanize interactions and help customers feel more comfortable when shopping or doing business with your company.

Name tags also express a sense of professionalism and being organized. When employees wear name tags, it shows that the company takes customer interactions seriously and is committed to providing a higher level of service. Employee identification also holds them more accountable for their actions and behavior. Name tags encourage staff to provide excellent customer service and uphold your brand’s reputation.

Tip #2: Decorating is easy with custom ribbon rolls.

Custom ribbon rolls with holiday messages and themes are great for helping to decorate any business.

Be creative in your store or shop by using custom ribbons to promote sales and products. Ribbon rolls are eye catching and will help with displays and packaging. Use these ribbons in a variety of ways, such as wrapping around products, decorating packaging or creating displays. Their versatility allows you to showcase your business creatively.

When using custom ribbons for promotions and sales, make sure that you consider how the design works. Always provide messaging that aligns with your branding and the purpose of any sale. Remember to consider the placement of the ribbon rolls and make sure that they are easily noticeable to customers.

Decorating for Success: Business 101

The key to a successful retail business is product presentation. No matter what your company sells, whether it’s furniture or cookies, product packaging and store design play a key role in how well your business performs. Take some time right now to learn about an easy to use tool that will help you decorate for success: RIBBONS.

Tip #3: Custom signs engage your holiday helpers.

Using custom engraved signs helps communicate clearly with employees and customers.

Begin the season with the early fall holidays by keeping your store current with up to date signage. The signs can be customized or simple office signs. From holiday hours to indicating entrances and more, engraved signs are your customer’s best friends.

Offer special promotions or discounts that are tied to the early fall holidays. Then, use signs to communicate these sales so customers can take full advantage. Or show off products that are relevant to any holiday or season. Use your creativity to promote Back to School, Halloween, Thanksgiving and other holidays or special events.

PRO TIP: Extend your signage efforts to social media by customizing signs with a QR code, helping your customer base find your channels and interact with you. This will help create an online buzz and attract a wider audience.

Tip #4: Making award plaques work for you.

Create award plaques to help employees feel like they are making a difference.

Keep your holiday momentum going by awarding your staff and teams as they achieve their goals. You encourage improvement by consistently recognizing your staff and helping them set well defined goals. Custom award plaques help you provide meaningful rewards for a job well done. And by acknowledging your employees’ success, you influence your business’s success.

Custom Plaques & Employee Recognition

From promoting accomplishments to motivating employees, custom plaques are a unique and personal way to connect with coworkers and other colleagues. Motivating employees to stay on track while at work can often be problematic. Use these custom plaques to go beyond highlighting someone’s achievements and help them see just how useful they are to your company.

Engaging with Employees and Customers

By strategically incorporating these tips, you can create a memorable and engaging shopping experience for your customers during the holidays while keeping your business’s atmosphere current and exciting.

SHOP CUSTOM PRODUCTS NOW

Customer Retention for Small Businesses

Customers; without them, your business is nothing. But don’t let that deter you from working on your customer retention. Whether you’re just starting a business or have been running a company for several years, you should understand that it is your customers who keep you in business.

Getting your service or product into the hands of the right customer can (and will) make all the difference. When running your business, you should always keep in mind that your most vital asset is your customer. And getting to know each customer will help your business grow.

Customer Retention for Small Businesses means always making your customers happy

Why is Customer Retention Important?

Retention: When someone becomes a customer, your company turns its focus to satisfy them so they want to return and also refer your company to their family and friends.

We’re not saying that finding new customers isn’t important. What we are saying is this: how do you plan on keeping those new customers around? So, in this regard, customer retention should be your primary focus.

Customer retention is the unsung hero of the successful business. Its flashier sister, customer acquisition, usually steals the spotlight, but retention is what ultimately builds the foundation of a company that is positioned for growth. After all, it’s much easier to fill a bucket than a sieve.

Keeping your customers happy should be your primary goal. And, by doing this, your customers will keep coming back. Not only do they keep coming back, but they will also start recommending your products and services to their family and friends. If you remember to always take care of your customers, they will be your most powerful resource. So, don’t just focus on getting new customers but also focus on retaining the customers you already have. 

Building Customer Relationships

The key to any good relationship is communication. Keeping open lines between yourself, your employees and your customers is crucial to your success. Without this communication, those customer relationships that keep you in business will fall short of where you need them. And remember that without your customers, you will go nowhere.

You must meet the standards that the customer expects from you. This could mean products or services rendered. Make sure that everything your business does is for the customer. Not only will this help with the retention of current customers, but this can also bring in others that your clientele tells about your wonderful company.

Four Ways to Make Customer Retention Work

Because customers are the key to keeping your business running, you need to understand how to find and keep them around. Here are six proven ways to find and retain your customers.

Know Your Business

Sometimes the simplest thing is the answer. And this starts with knowing what your business is and why it is essential to your customers. Examples of this are clothing stores (people need clothes) or restaurants (people need to eat). While these may seem simple and not close to your business, they can start you on the right path.

No matter the product or service you offer, you started your company knowing that it would fill consumer needs. Don’t forget what these needs are. They will also help define who your clientele is. Once you know these things about your company, you can grow your customer base and focus on customer retention.

Now is also the time to reflect on your pricing and quality. Make sure that what you are offering, whether it is product or services, is of good value for the cost. Don’t overcharge or undersell your business. High-quality products mean a higher price, so make sure you value your business as it should be.

Visibility Is Key

From using social media platforms to creating an inviting storefront, you need to make sure that customers can find you. Social media is a great word-of-mouth system to get the ball rolling. Once you have customers purchasing or requesting your services, you can make bigger plans for getting seen.

custom signs for any business from name tag, inc.

PRO TIP: Use custom business signs around your office or store to display hours of operation. You can also customize these signs to help customers understand and know your policies and procedures. Choose colors that are complementary to your business so that everyone will see them.

Stay Happy

You can make your customers happy by focusing on their experience with your company. Don’t put all of your focus on only the product or service they are buying. Connecting with your customers on an emotional and personal level is essential.

Building your customer relationships is what customer retention is all about. Help them to understand you so that you can understand them. If you do, they will be more likely to recommend your products or services to their family and friends.

But don’t forget about your employees. If the workers in your company are happy, your customers will start to reflect that. And happy people spend more money.

It’s All About the Buzz

custom top ribbons for business cards may help with customer retention

Think custom ribbons for fancy business cards that will attract new customers. Use professional desk wedges on office desks that show the retained customer how much you care. Even the little details like matching name tags for staff will show your customers how put-together and organized your business is. These details will help create a little buzz about your dependability that will grow over time.

At the end of the day, what really matters isn’t how much a customer pays you today, but what their entire lifetime value is.

Never use a one-size-fits-all approach in your marketing plans. Remember that customers want to buy from a business that treats them well. To do this, you need to listen to every customer. Treat them as the individual they are; don’t lump your customers into a bundle just because they are all interested in your product or service. By doing this, you guarantee that they will keep doing business with your company.

How to Help Employees Feel Safe Wearing Name Tags

Achieve your company’s potential with employee safety and quality name tags.

Name tags are essential to your company’s success. Having your employees wear name tags leads to better communication, quality performance and overall growth. However, some employees think wearing a name tag is a risk to their safety. If you want your company to achieve its potential, you must help employees feel safe wearing your company’s name tags. By resolving their concerns, you will have a team of loyal employees to help you grow your business.

Two restaurant employees wearing name tags with first names only, which is meant to help employees feel safe wearing name tags.

Why You Want to Use Name Tags

Employee identification improves multiple aspects of your business simultaneously. Here are just a few examples.

Customer Service

metal name tags used for customer service in a food service business

Name tags help employees provide excellent customer service. Acting as icebreakers, they encourage communication between your customers and employees. After all, a name tag is essentially an unspoken introduction. When employees introduce themselves by wearing a name tag, customers feel welcome in your office or store. Name tags also permit customers to approach employees with a question or problem. As customers interact with your employees, your team gains valuable insight into what customers need and how to help them.

Branding

Your brand distinguishes you from your competitors. The more customers see it, the stronger your brand becomes. Take advantage of company name tags by customizing them with your business logo. With a logo on each employee’s name tag, your brand becomes visible throughout the entire office or store.

Productivity

Employees work best together when they know each other’s names. Instead of trying to remember who so-and-so is, they can focus on company projects and ask each other for help. Being on first-name terms also creates a friendly, supportive work culture that reduces stress levels and increases job satisfaction. If you want your team to work at maximum capacity, give them name tags to help them remember who their colleagues are.

Why Employees May Worry About Name Tags

Some employees do not like to wear name tags because they think it puts them at risk of identity theft. Unfortunately, in this digital age, it is easy to find someone’s social media accounts and other information just by knowing their name and where they work. Scammers can also contact human resources and ask for an employee’s information. No matter how people may try to steal your employee’s identity, the consequences can be devastating. If someone steals your employee’s identity, they can end up in a severe financial crisis. Such damage can take months, if not years, to recover from.

Employees may not want to wear name tags because they are afraid of being harassed. Name tags allow customers, co-workers and vendors to ask for them by name. And some of your employees may have experienced workplace harassment when customers come to the store and ask for them specifically. If this is the case, your employees are more likely to object to wearing a name tag.

Resolve Your Employees’ Safety Concerns

As an employer, it is best to resolve your employees’ safety concerns about wearing name tags. When employees feel safe at work, they are happier, more loyal and more productive. In addition, they experience lower stress levels and take risks to come up with creative solutions. If you want your employees to do their best, you must make them feel safe wearing name tags.

An employee goes over paperwork with a client. He is wearing a name tag because his employer knows how to help employees feel safe wearing a name tag.

There is a direct correlation between happy employees and happy customers. When employees interact with customers, their attitude sets the tone for the customer’s experience. If employees are happy, customers will enjoy doing business with your company.

You don’t just want to make your employees feel safe; you want to keep them safe too. Unfortunately, if your employees’ fears are realized and they have their identity stolen, you could be held liable. To prevent your company from getting into legal trouble, ensure you communicate with every employee about how to protect themselves from identity theft and other fraudulent activity.

With so much to gain from using name tags, making your employees feel safe wearing them is worth every effort. You will not only have better customer service and higher productivity but happy employees as well.

Increase Security Using Name Tags

Change how your employees view name tags by pointing out how identification keeps them safe. Once they see how name tags increase workplace security, they should feel better about wearing them. Here are a few ways name tags create a safe work environment.

Prevent Trespassing

Name tags help staff members and security personnel identify if someone is allowed in the facility. All they have to do is look and see if the person is wearing a company name tag. Because your employees are used to seeing their co-workers wear name tags, it will only take them a second to notice if one is missing. Their quick response to any unusual activity will keep everyone in your workplace safe.

Know Who Visitors Are

Pro Tip: To make visitor IDs most effective, use the visitor’s first and last name on their badge.

Visitor ID badges protect employees in multiple ways. They let your team know if visitors are in a restricted area and allow your team to identify visitors by name. If an employee is harassed or suspects a visitor of inappropriate activity, they can report it.

Badges help your employees identify vendors and people who visit your facility regularly. They are the visitors who will become the most familiar with your workplace and your employees’ routines. By creating photo IDs for these regular visitors, your team knows who they are and can quickly report safety issues.

Give Your Support

Whether or not your employees feel safe wearing company name tags depends on how you react to their concerns. First, show them you have their backs by providing the emotional support and assurance they need. You can also put training sessions and practices in place to reassure your employees that they are in good hands.

Listen with Empathy

When employees tell you they are worried about wearing name tags, put yourself in their shoes. Let them know you understand their anxiousness and want to make them feel safe. By validating their concerns, you gain your employees’ trust and put their minds at ease. Knowing you have their best interests at heart, they will continue to devote their time and talents to your company.

Set a Good Example

A great way to assure your employees that it is safe to wear a name tag is to wear one yourself. Confidently share your name and title with everyone coming into your facility. Make sure managers and supervisors also wear identification throughout their workday. By having company leaders show they are comfortable telling strangers their names, your employees will become comfortable with it as well.

Empower Your Team

Support your employees by giving them the knowledge they need to combat any identity theft they may experience. Educate them on recognizing identity theft, what to do if it happens and ways to minimize the financial damage. Employees will worry less about identity theft if they know more about handling it. Once they are confident they can handle problems and understand the advantages, they will gladly wear their name tags.

Take Precautions To Help Employees Feel Safe

Wearing name tags is unlikely to put your employees in harm’s way. However, it is wise to take precautions to help your employees feel safe. Do your part to keep employees safe, and they will put their name tags on without complaint.

First Names Only

A 0.75 x 2.75 inch metal name tag with a first name and initial for a last name to help employees feel safe wearing name tags.

One easy way to help employees feel comfortable wearing name tags is to use first names only. While you are at it, go one step further and give employees the option to use a nickname for extra protection. Using first names or nicknames helps prevent identity theft and creates a casual, relaxed environment that your employees will appreciate. If you end up with two employees with the same first name, the solution is simple: add an initial for their last name. You will still protect your employees’ identities while eliminating confusion.

Name Tag Accountability

Require each team member to turn in their name tag before their last day of employment, preventing them from posing as a current employee and getting access to unauthorized areas. And by taking such safety measures, you make the rest of your staff feel safe at work.

Increase Security

Another way to help employees feel safe is to ensure your building is secure. Hire security personnel, set up cameras and use alarms to prevent trespassing. Keeping the building under surveillance helps to keep employees from worrying about who is seeing their name tags. If they suspect someone is a threat, they know security guards and other resources are available to protect them.

Prevent and Eliminate Harassment

Talking openly about your company’s anti-harassment policies is a great way to make your employees feel safe. Such transparency shows that you stand by your policies and are not afraid to have your employees hold you accountable.

Review Company Policies: Help your employees feel safe by ensuring they are familiar with your anti-harassment policies. Ask managers to review these policies with their team, so everyone knows what they are. Communicating your company’s stance on harassment will make your employees feel safe and help them recognize harassment when they see it.

Reporting Process: To protect your employees from workplace harassment, you must have a transparent, effective reporting process. Once you have one, train each employee on how to use it. Cover various scenarios in your training, including what to do if a customer or vendor continually asks for a team member by name. Knowing how to respond to such situations will reduce your employees’ concerns about wearing name tags.

Enforce Consequences: When a customer or employee is guilty of harassment, follow through with the consequences you outlined in your company policies. Doing so will make it clear to your team that such behavior will not be tolerated. In addition, as you show that your company has zero tolerance for such behavior, your employees will have no problem sharing their names with strangers.

Supportive Work Culture: Sometimes workplace harassment is not reported because some people don’t like getting others into trouble. You can eliminate this issue by asking your employees to stand up for each other. For example, teach them what to do when they see someone harassing a team member. And teach them how to respond when the same customer frequently comes and asks for a specific employee. By encouraging your team to watch out for each other, you create a positive work culture where employees feel safe.

Secure Your Company’s Future

Give your company the best chance at success by making your employees feel that it is safe to wear name tags. Your employees will work productively, knowing their identity and well-being is in good hands. As they interact with customers, your employees’ positive moods will make customers feel welcomed and appreciated. Improved customer service and better work performance are only a part of what you gain from having employees wear name tags; you will also enjoy greater brand recognition and ensure your company’s longevity. If you face other concerns besides identity theft and workplace harassment, know you have name tag experts who are always here to help.

See our complete line of identification products, including name tags on our website: www.nametag.com. Our customer service representatives process each order quickly and stay in touch during the entire process in case you have questions.

Retail Stores, Boutiques and More

In any retail establishment (grocery store, boutique, department store, etc.), wearing name tags helps to build a corporate identity and encourages employees and customers to interact with one another.

There are significant benefits to wearing name tags. Some of these benefits include the use of identification in marketing, providing security, identifying employees and other staff, as well as many other positive benefits. Here are some of our favorite reasons you need to utilize name badges in your retail business.

open sign for a retail shop

Unfortunately, we have all seen when a customer walks into a retail store and doesn’t get the attention they were looking for, so they leave. They were expecting something that the store offers but didn’t feel that they got the right help while looking for the product. So, now comes the hard part: how to make it so that your customers stay and make their purchase.

If we may be so bold, one way to guarantee a positive customer experience is name tags. These tools put customers and employees on a first name basis and ease the conversion of the sale. For example, when a customer is relaxed and comfortable, they are more likely to spend their money. And, when a customer feels like they know your employees (enter name tags), they are more relaxed.

The Benefits of Name Tags for Retail

From security to branding, retail establishments have almost become synonymous with name tag use. No matter your location or business, name tags are here to help. When a retail employee wears a name tag with a logo on it, the tag becomes a form of advertising. It can then reinforce the company’s brand in the minds of their customers.

Name tags have so much power, but you must first give it to them. Add logos, names and anything you feel that your retail establishment needs. From photo identification to reusable name badges for seasonal employees, everyone in your store should be wearing a name tag. And, here’s why!

Accountability

When working, it is vital that you hold your employees accountable for their actions. By providing them a name tag, not only will you help to maintain their accountability, but you also increase the professional status of your business. When someone wears identification, they tend to be more aware of their actions and how they affect others.

So, whether it’s handling customers or representing your company during an event, name tags will help keep your employees accountable for their actions. Name tags also increase productivity and keep your employees on task by providing them with a sense of responsibility.

Security

From using adhesive name badges to a badge holder on a lanyard, security is a must for all retail establishments. No matter your business knowing who is around you at all times provides better security. Name tags help with identifying people you come into contact with during a work day.

So, identify your employees better by using name tags to prove they belong where they are in your store. If your employees are accustomed to seeing their fellow colleagues with name tags, abnormalities are easily spotted. And, anyone that may be out of place would be immediately detected to help maintain the company’s security.

Openness and Conversations in Retail

For the majority of retailers, name tags are a necessity for business. And, because name tags are permission slips, they encourage engagement. This is due to their primary function being to personalize and humanize each person. Especially for a business whose focus is customer service and face-to-face interaction.

Starting conversations is much easier when people feel relaxed during their communication with your business. And, name tags invite encounters. By wearing a name tag, your employee automatically starts any necessary conversation without even knowing it.

What are some other benefits of wearing name tags that retailers can take advantage of?

How To Connect with Your Customers

Every great business person knows that the best way to keep their company around is to connect and engage with their customers. People buy from other people, they request services based on experiences and they look for companies that they can trust.

You learn a lot of information and how to connect with your customer by merely listening to them.

“I think it’s important for brands, especially brands [that] are really consumer-centric, to stay connected. Customers tell you so much from their behavior and how they shop with you.”
Jessica Alba, founder and CEO of The Honest Company

What is Relationship Marketing and How to Use it to Connect With Your Customers - Neil Patel

The first and most popular way to connect with customers is social media.

Using LinkedIn, Twitter and every platform in between, it seems that everyone is on social media. Even businesses have joined in on the social parties. Facebook groups, Snapchat filters and Instagram nametags are all ways to connect online with your customers. Each platform provides methods for both consumers and businesses to interact and grow together. 

Social media outlets are where the masses are, so you, as a business, should be there too. Utilize this tool and take advantage of everything they have to offer. Try sharing fun and silly tidbits about your products. Or send individual messages quickly to your customers. No matter what, use everything provided by your chosen platforms to improve your connection with your customers.

BUT BE CAREFUL. Not all platforms are suitable for every business. It has been said that everyone is on Facebook, but that doesn’t mean your business will thrive by using it. Consider all of the pros and cons of using social media before setting up accounts everywhere. Remember that there isn’t an easy or direct formula to matching your business to the right social platform. That is something that you, as a business owner, will need to figure out.

Social media is a great tool to use when connecting with your customers, but only if you use it properly. Make sure to do your research and that you have time to spend on each chosen platform. Think before you post, and make sure you are listening to your audience. Tools such as social media only work when used properly.

Focus on the customer’s experience with your company.

We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.
Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon

Customers want to buy from a business that treats them well. So, don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach. Make sure you are listening to every customer. Treat them as the individual they are; don’t lump your customers into a bundle just because they are all interested in your product or service. They aren’t looking for a bundled experience; they are looking to be given an individualized experience.

You can make your customers happy by focusing on their experience with your company. Don’t put all of your focus on only the product or service they are buying. Connecting with your customers on an emotional and personal level is important. If you do, they will be more likely to recommend your products or services to their family and friends.

It is crucial to make an effort to connect with each customer.

Get to know your customers on a personal level. And, make your service or product as relevant to them as possible. Everyone likes to feel as if they are important enough to remember. So, make them feel that way with as much personalization as you can. Use a customer’s name during their shopping experience. Remember little details and tidbits they have shared during prior visits. This way, you can make an effort to connect each time they come back.

“It’s not enough to know just the demographics of your customers. Age and location data doesn’t tell you what you really need to know. Instead, you need to know your customers on a personal level so that you know what they want, why they buy, and why they don’t buy. Otherwise, you have only a superficial understanding of your customers.”
By Neil Patel, “7 Brilliant Ways to Connect with Your Customers on a Personal Level”

Show your connection with your customers through appreciation.

We understand that connecting on a personal level with your customers can be difficult, but it is also necessary to stay in business. You need to humanize every experience that your customer has with your business. In other words, be relatable. And be grateful. Showing your customers that you care they are buying from you will keep them coming back. The message is in the details, or something like that.

connect with your customers through handwritten notes

Sending handwritten notes, making a phone call or sending a private email are all great ways to connect with your customer. But, put some thought into your actions before performing them. After a purchase or rendering of service, thank your customer by sending them a thought out, well-worded letter. Don’t rush these notes as they will mean a great deal to every recipient. And, they could mean continued business for you. 

This also works for phone calls and emails. Make sure you think about what you want to say before hitting that send or dial button. Proofread everything you write before you send it. And, most importantly, make sure you personalize it. Don’t get in the habit of sending out so many of these messages or phone calls that they become autonomous. Always remember that you are addressing an individual, and they should be treated as such.

Provide unmatched customer service to keep them coming back.

Let’s try an experiment. Find the customer service number from any of your favorite companies and call them. What happened? Let’s assume you got through to someone, eventually, but you were still treated as a number in a cue. Or worse, you got stuck at a call center with someone reading from a script that didn’t answer your question. How did that make you feel? We know that no one wants that experience. 

Take us for a better example. Here at Coller Industries, when you call or choose our online chat feature, you will always be connected to a live person, and quickly. Every one of our customer service representatives has been trained to treat you as an individual. And, you will feel that way, guaranteed! Your order is processed like it’s the only one, and it’s handled with care and accuracy. We wish you had this kind of experience everywhere else. But, at least you know that with us, you’ll always get what you want and be treated with respect. 

One of the most powerful tools any company has is how they treat their customers during the business process. Providing the best possible customer service experience should be your number one priority. From responding quickly to customer requests to making sure you have a live person on the other end of the phone line, good customer service is how you retain your clientele. 

How will you implement these standards into how you treat your customers?

Here’s some advice, go that extra mile. By making sure that your customer service team responds to your customers personally, you solidify your business connections. Acknowledging questions and concerns from your customers will reestablish the trust you have already built. It will also help strengthen the relationship and connection with your customers and anyone they know. This, in turn, will bring in more clientele and business. So, the bottom line should always be to leave the customer grateful and satisfied.

Don’t underestimate the power of your customers.

Make sure you are asking your customers questions and continually searching for feedback. Finding out after a transaction happens that something went wrong doesn’t help anyone, especially your customer. Connect with them by asking for feedback before, during and after all transactions. But don’t become a burden. There are people who feel that businesses can be too personal and are afraid of what you might do with their information. So, make sure that when you ask questions, you are also being considerate.

Now that you have answers and feedback, make sure you are responding appropriately. If you receive positive reviews, give positive affirmation back. Tell your customers how happy you are that they are happy. Give your customers thanks for being there for your business. If you get a negative review, take it seriously. Respond politely and work with your customers to correct things.

“77% of consumers will read an online review before purchasing. Now consider the flip side. In most cases, negative reviews are the fastest way to derail a new purchase. A Zendesk study showed that 90% of positive reviews impact purchases and 86% of negative ones do also. Another study showed that even a single negative review has the power to destroy 70% of purchases.”
By Neil Patel, “7 Brilliant Ways to Connect with Your Customers on a Personal Level”

No matter the type of review you get, making sure that you respond is vital. Building trust establishes your personal connections with your customers. And, these connections are the only way to stay in business. Customer retention and development rely heavily on these reviews. So, make sure to keep on top of them. And if you can’t, delegate someone who can.

What is your preferred way to connect with customers?

With so many ways to connect with customers, your success depends on the method you choose. Before making any final decisions of where you are more likely to connect with your customer, do your research. Don’t join Facebook just because everyone else has. Determine how your customers want to communicate, and then put those methods into action. Build that trust, and the connections will flow naturally.