How to Bond with Customers.

[Inteleants]

Hi

I'm looking to bond with my customers so they know, like, and trust me. I want them to feel like they know me. I want them to feel like I'm their friend. What are your best suggestions for bonding with customers? What do you do with your close friends to indicate you care about them?"

[Lynn Terry]

Hello & Welcome

I assume you are referring to online customers vs offline that you meet face-to-face? My first suggestion would be to use your name - even if its a pen name, people need to know who you are and how to address you.

Your post here is a good example - an introduction, but no name - just for example.

Even on your website there is no About page or Profile that tells us who you are and why we should do business with you. Your contact page lacks that as well - I have no idea who I am contacting.

I would recommend adding a name, a photo, and a bio or profile page.

Once you do that, your next step will be to keep all communications personable. Show your genuine interest in assisting your clients with their projects, etc.

[NikiJ]

I find this a big issue as well. Not being able to see customers face to face is a real negative for me.

I feel very disconnected to them and want to find a way around it so that I can better communicate with my customers.

I would love to correspond more with customers who buy my art work.

Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Niki

[Lynn Terry]

Aside from adding the obvious elements to your website, and allowing visitors/customers to know you and get a sense of who you are and what you're about... the next step is in the follow-up.

If you ship physical products to your customers, consider sending them holiday cards or other physical follow-up notes. Send Out Cards is the popular way to do this (online) from what I have heard.

If all of your products are virtual (online only) then you'll follow-up by email. Follow up with them on their purchase and ask them if they received it okay, if they are thoroughly pleased with the product/service, etc.

Personal communication goes a long way towards building a relationship of trust & loyalty.

[NikiJ]

Thanks Lynn those are great ideas.

Niki

[laurie]

This is a good discussion.

I struggle with this too. I send out regular newsletters and write blog posts regularly. However, I never have anyone leave a comment on my blog or send me a comment on my newsletter.

I also have a place for comments/testimonials on my website. I just put that on this week so we'll have to see if that brings in any or not.

Any tips on how to get people interacting with you more?

[Lynn Terry]

[laurie]

Lynn,

I did do a survey recently. I got about a little of 10% response. Would you say that's pretty normal?

I do ask people to comment on my blog in my newsletter and on the blog itself and ask questions, but noone comments.

Oh well, I'll keep trying....

[Lynn Terry]

A 10% response is not that bad. It really depends on just how targeted the list is, and how targeted the content is to that list.

I think about that often with SSWT (the newsletter). I started it so many years ago, but there are a lot of things I wish I could go back and do differently. Its such a diverse interest group that its hard to be targeted - any one topic only speaks to a certain percentage of the subscribers, etc.

On smaller more targeted lists, you can expect a greater response to highly targeted offers/content.