ReportWire

Tag: Finding Customers

  • The Ridiculously Easy Guide to Internal Customer Service Training | Entrepreneur

    The Ridiculously Easy Guide to Internal Customer Service Training | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Are you gearing up to launch an internal customer service initiative? Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’m happy to equip you with insights that can catapult your initiative into success if you choose to do it on a DIY basis.

    Before we dive into the details, let’s take a breather and understand the similarities and differences between internal and external customer service. While their essence should be the same, their surface manifestations differ.

    Both types of customer service, at their heart, have the same goal: to create and sustain comfort, positive feelings, and, of course, results. However, there are a few notable places where the way you provide service should diverge.

    Related: 8 Initiatives to Make Your Customers Loyal Advocates

    Here are some differences between internal customer service and external customer service (when they’re done right):

    • Jargon and shared language: Every industry, as well as almost every company, has its own set of terminologies, a sort of coded language that outsiders (at least if they’re not also in your industry) might find hard to decipher. With your internal customers — your colleagues in different departments or your own — you can use this jargon and language shortcuts freely, confident in their understanding and without fear of alienating them with phrases, terms, and abbreviations that may be foreign to them.
    • Level of formality: With internal customers (colleagues), you are free to adopt a casual tone, skipping the formalities you would use with someone who is outside of your company. In fact, the formalities essential for external customers may be unnecessary (or even sound a little silly) when you’re interacting with colleagues.
    • Transparency with company information: This one is obvious. You must protect your company’s private matters when working with external customers. With an internal customer, such data may be essential, or at least helpful, in completing their work.
    • The amount of abuse you should be willing to take: Okay, this is a big one and not a very pleasant one to ponder. When working with an external customer, if they are rude, they may be a rude person all the time, or they may be “just” venting this one time and will return to being themselves the next time you encounter them. Either way, because external customers pay for our company’s success, you may need to put up with it. With an internal customer, if they behave badly, you may want to call them on it or even alert a superior, particularly if you have clear internal (company) behavioral guidelines. Of course, in some company cultures, this may be a career suicide move, so you should still proceed with caution.

    Related: 5 Shocking Customer Service Mistakes You’re Making Every Day (And How to Fix Them Right Now)

    Armed with this understanding, let’s dig into the bedrock principles of internal customer service. Here are eight essentials to build into your internal customer service training — and, if all goes well, your internal customer service culture.

    1. Every service interaction unfolds in three stages: the warm welcome, service or product delivery and fond farewell. Far too often, we ignore stages one and three and focus all our effort on the middle one, what we consider the actual work. But the pleasantries at the beginning and the end of any customer service interaction are key, considering how human memory emphasizes beginnings and endings in how it later reviews an event.
    2. Mental reframing can be a game-changer. Start viewing tasks in your inbox as requests from valued customers instead of just “those folks in the other department.” — You’ll observe a boost in your own efficiency and enthusiasm.
    3. As with external customers, internal customers desire recognition. They want their colleagues to see them, not just think of someone who fills up their inbox.
    4. Address both the spoken and unspoken needs and desires of your co-workers. When they communicate with you, listen for the undertones that can give you clues to their emotional (and practical) desires, even if they’ve never verbalized them to you.
    5. Emphasize the principle of lateral service: stepping out of your comfort zone to help colleagues during staff shortages. This fosters a more resilient company culture.
    6. Respect should be a given. Bullying, regardless of its source, should be nipped in the bud. (Whether this is realistic depends on your company culture, level within your company, and other internal factors.)
    7. Consideration (kindness, really) should be at the base of everything we do.
    8. Language is potent. Steer clear of phrases that belittle or devalue your colleagues (“Like I told you previously,” “You’re not my only priority, you know,” and so forth.) And remember, “please” and “thank you” pack a positive, if quiet, punch. Use them liberally.

    Related: 4 Investments Brands Should Make to Upgrade Their Customer Service

    What format should be used for internal customer service training?

    When it comes to internal customer service training, there are a few formats to consider. One option is customer service eLearning-based training, which offers the advantage of being asynchronous (can be used at any time and at any pace) and long-lasting (has value in the future as well as present). With eLearning, employees can access the training material at their own pace regardless of their shift or schedule, and it can be used by future employees and as a central part of your future onboarding process.

    Live customer service training is another effective route to take, whether conducted in person or through remote video. This allows for real-time interaction and immediate feedback. To enhance the effectiveness of live training, it can be beneficial to supplement it with physical collateral, such as handouts or reference materials. These aids can help reinforce the essential points and ensure that everyone is on the same page — literally!

    [ad_2]

    Micah Solomon

    Source link

  • The 3 Tiers of Customer Service (and How to Get to the Top) | Entrepreneur

    The 3 Tiers of Customer Service (and How to Get to the Top) | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    The way I see it, your decision to read this article already puts you ahead in the customer service game. Here’s my logic: There are literally billions of human beings out there who, unlike you, will never read an article or book on the subject of customer service improvement because the subject isn’t of interest to them, and they don’t understand the power that customer service improvement can bring.

    Because of your demonstrated interest in the subject, I’m going to assume that you’re already providing “pretty good, much of the time” customer service. You’re already getting quite a few things right — at least on most days and in most customer interactions. So, take a moment to pat yourself on the back. (But don’t strain your neck.)

    If I’m right about this, it means that you’ve already learned the value of customer service from the moments when you have gotten it right, and you’re now inspired to take these successes even further. You’re ready to elevate and polish your relationships with customers to a sufficient level to build the customer connections (and business results) you’ve always hoped to achieve.

    In other words, you’re ready to get out of the middle of the pack — what I call Rung 2 of the Customer Service Level Ladder — and ascend to the top rung, Rung 3.

    When you’ve only reached the middle rung of customer service, while you may be judged more-or-less satisfactory by your customers, you’re not yet loved (or even probably remembered) for the quality of customer service you provide.

    Related: Yes, the Rich Are Different — Here Are 5 Customer Service Secrets I Learned While Working With Wealthy Clients

    The problem of providing “pretty good, much of the time” customer service

    Being on the second rung loads better than languishing at the bottom on Rung 1 (unacceptable service). Still, it will never inspire the engagement, passion and loyalty you need from customers to grow your business.

    The problem is that a merely satisfied (Rung 2) customer will still have a wandering eye. And how can you blame them? If your more-or-less-decent customer service is no better and no worse than what your competitors can also supply, where’s the value to a customer limiting themselves to only one supplier — you?

    What do merely satisfied customers look like? Picture them like this: Although they harbor positive feelings towards your business, they haven’t yet ascended to becoming a devoted advocate for your brand. Unlike a genuinely loyal customer, merely satisfied customers maintain (frustratingly) open minds and remain willing to explore alternatives to your business in the vast marketplace.

    Related: 5 Reasons Why Your Business Is Losing Customers

    A merely satisfied customer is like a free agent, always ready to be enticed by competitors

    In other words, here’s what you need to remember: A merely satisfied customer belongs to the marketplace. A loyal customer belongs to you.

    This is why it’s so important to elevate your organization’s performance to Rung 3, the level of iconic customer service, where customers now consider you their only possible supplier—a category of one—and start going out of their way to sing your praises and share the word about the extraordinary level of customer service you provide.

    Once you’re viewed this way in the marketplace, you’ll be able to use your new, elevated status to grow your company reputation and to reliably and repeatably grow your bottom line.

    Moving your organization up the customer service ladder: The art of anticipatory customer service

    If customer service were a game of hockey…that would be super weird, wouldn’t it?

    But let’s say for a minute that it is, in which case the highest level of customer service, anticipatory customer service, is like being one step ahead of the puck, giving customers what they want before they even know they want it, and anticipating their needs, desires, and questions even before they express them. It’s one step beyond generic reactive customer service: simply fulfilling a request when asked, and it’s the key to creating unforgettable experiences—and memories of your business—for your customers.

    Customers often don’t ask for what they need because they don’t realize they could benefit from something your product or service offers. (Or even know that you offer it.) Or, sometimes, they’re too shy to speak up or “don’t want to be a bother.” (I promise: this last phenomenon isn’t as rare as you think!)

    That’s why anticipatory customer service is so powerful. You’re actively seeking out unexpressed needs and going above and beyond to meet them, as well as unasked questions and answering them. When you uncover and take care of those unspoken needs and wishes, you create a whole new reality for your company. In this reality, delighted customers become loyal advocates, spreading the word about your exceptional service.

    This level of mind-reading service, where customer needs are met before they can even utter a request, is the ultimate secret to winning customer loyalty. And guess what? You can train and inspire your employees to get there—and transform your relationship with customers (and your business results!)

    You may have some doubts

    Now, I get it: you have some doubts. You’re probably wondering if your employees could become Jedi masters of customer anticipation. Hold onto your hats because I assure you they can and will. This will, however, require you to:

    1. Embrace the anticipatory mindset
    2. Promote this mindset throughout your company
    3. Support the anticipatory customer service approach with targeted, meaningful customer service training.
    4. Build, over time, a culture of anticipation through the power of “positive peer pressure,” an environment where employees know that the way things are done around here is to do more than the minimum in a way that is meaningful to our customers, rather than merely complying when asked to do so.

    You also might be doubtful for another reason. You’re wondering if you can afford to provide such an extravagant standard of service. And yes, it doesn’t come for free. But creating mind-blowing service systems is a brilliant investment for any business. The rewards in terms of customer loyalty are worth every penny of your investment and then some. Once you commit to elevating your game and embracing the power of anticipatory customer service, get ready to score big and watch your business grow and prosper like never before.

    [ad_2]

    Micah Solomon

    Source link

  • Why Spending the Most Really Does Win the Most Customers | Entrepreneur

    Why Spending the Most Really Does Win the Most Customers | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    “Whoever can spend the most, wins.” This is an adage in marketing that happens to be 100% true. If your business is prepared to meet the ever-increasing customer acquisition cost in today’s hyper-competitive digital and traditional media landscape, you are well on your way to dominating the market.

    However, this does not mean that you can simply throw money around willy-nilly and hope to get the results you want. Being willing to spend big to win big is great, but it’s only half of the battle. You also need to be strategic about how you spend your money to win over the competition.

    Related: Why the Best Days of Digital Media Are Ahead of Us — and Other Trends for 2023

    Companies with deep pockets that can spend more to acquire a customer will get more customers. If this sounds like you, keep reading to learn the most effective ways to put “whoever can spend the most, wins” into practice.

    1. Invest in the right digital media channels

    Spending on digital advertising is expected to exceed $600 billion in 2023. Your business needs to be heavily invested in this space if you want to maximize your market share.

    Of course, where you spend your advertising budget is an important consideration. Google Ads provides multiple robust pay-per-click campaign options (e.g., text and display ads). With Google Local Services Ads, businesses in select industries can dominate local search results for professional services. You will likely need to invest in social media ads on one or more platforms, too.

    All of these channels are highly competitive and, therefore, expensive. However, once you determine how customers find your business (i.e., via organic and paid search, social, etc.), you can start spending on digital ads that will maximize your visibility and drive customers to you over the competition.

    2. Don’t ignore traditional media

    Investing in traditional advertising (such as television, billboards, etc.) is still well worth your time and money if it means reaching your target customers on a massive scale. Mass media is a tried-and-true strategy for bombarding the market with your message. Not everyone will convert, but spending the money to make your name inescapable will drive far more customers than a limited investment in traditional channels.

    We see this with legal advertising. The law firms you see all the time on TV, on bus benches, on billboards, etc., are counting on the millions of dollars they spend to drive multi-million-dollar cases.

    It might seem strange to invest in traditional media when digital has taken over the space previously occupied by television and other strategies. However, considering that you are likely thinking of a local law firm’s slogan or phone number, there is no disputing the effectiveness of a major investment in TV and other traditional advertising venues.

    3. Invest in your employees

    Relationships are a cornerstone of marketing. While much of the discussion centers on engaging customers digitally, you should never underestimate the importance of hiring customer-facing employees, training them to be the “face” of your business, and empowering them to bring you new customers.

    Related: 4 Ways to Provide Excellent Customer Service

    This goes beyond fully staffing your office to handle phone calls and emails. Depending on your industry, it might mean hosting community events, wining and dining business prospects, and more.

    Customers are the lifeblood of your business. You don’t want to cheap out when it comes to hiring customer success managers, event planners, and other employees who can take your business to the next level.

    4. Define your brand

    Inconsistency is one of the greatest dangers when making a massive investment in marketing. Although you can distribute your message across seemingly endless advertising channels, your return on investment (not to mention your market dominance) will suffer if the message is unfocused and inconsistent.

    Before making a big splash and getting more customers than your competitors, you need to nail down your brand identity and key messaging. The brands people love have a clear identity and a consistent message. They also know their customers and tailor their marketing and advertising to maximize sales.

    You don’t have to be a multinational corporation to dominate your market. However, you have to understand your unique offering and consistently communicate to customers why they should buy from you over anyone else.

    Related: Define Your Brand Identity in 3 Steps

    5. Follow the money

    As the saying goes, “Fortune favors the bold.” The businesses with the money and the mindset to shoot for the moon and take the biggest piece of the pie are the ones that typically find the greatest success.

    However, your dollars must be tempered with sense. You must carefully identify your target audience by age, demographic, income, buying habits and other key characteristics. In addition, you need to understand what your competitors offer and how you can stand out. Finally, you must drill down on the geographic area you want to target.

    Related: 5 Ways Small Business Owners Can Embrace Rapid Digital Change to Get Closer to Their Customers

    With all these components in place, you can develop an intelligent strategy for maximizing the business you gain from a substantial marketing and advertising spend. Both digital platforms and third-party vendors should provide detailed reporting on how your money is being spent, the results of each campaign, and your return on investment.

    You won’t achieve dramatic growth if you are overly concerned about being cost-effective. However, a strategic approach that relies on data and tracking only ensures that you spend money wisely. This reduces the customer acquisition cost and results in higher profits.

    [ad_2]

    Sean Allen

    Source link

  • Improve Click-Throughs and Show off Reviews for Your Business with This Tool, Now $59.99 for a Lifetime Subscription | Entrepreneur

    Improve Click-Throughs and Show off Reviews for Your Business with This Tool, Now $59.99 for a Lifetime Subscription | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

    About 82% of adults say they at least sometimes read online customer ratings or reviews before purchasing items, with 40% saying they always or almost always do, according to a study from the Pew Research Center. That means that reviews can make or break an online business, potentially helping you stand out from the others.

    Ensuring your customers can see real input from purchasers can help influence sales. But if your reviews are spread across multiple platforms, they won’t always get the full picture. That’s where AddStars Reviews comes in, offering a simple way to consolidate your online reviews. And you can score a lifetime subscription to this handy service for only $59.99, saving you nearly $600.

    AddStars Reviews serves up your product’s reviews right on Google’s search listings, helping prospective customers find your website with ease. As a review aggregation tool, AddStars helps display all of your consolidated reviews where anyone searching the web for the services or products on your website will be able to see them — before they even check out your site. It’s a simple, affordable way to improve your online reputation and visibility.

    With AddStars, golden yellow stars are shown by your web pages on Google’s search results, helping boost customer confidence as they click on your website. On average, it increases click-throughs by around 35%. A user-friendly interface and plenty of customization options make it easy to use for businesses of all sizes. And with this lifetime subscription, you’ll enjoy these perks, plus all future upgrades with no contract and free onboarding.

    It’s even received a Small Business of the Year Award and has a 5/5 rating on Product Hunt.

    Get a lifetime license to AddStars Reviews — now just $59.99 ($649).

    Prices subject to change.

    [ad_2]

    Entrepreneur Store

    Source link

  • Pat Flynn Teaches You How to Build a Revenue Generating Audience | Entrepreneur

    Pat Flynn Teaches You How to Build a Revenue Generating Audience | Entrepreneur

    [ad_1]

    You know that building an audience is important. Whether it’s on LinkedIn, YouTube, your newsletter – you want to grow the base of people who know, like, and trust you, and will eventually buy from you.

    But, knowing that an audience is important is entirely different from having the skills to build an audience that lasts. So how do you do it? How do you build an audience of engaged, vocal followers who will not only buy your product but spread the word on your behalf as well?

    For this week’s podcast episode I sat down with Pat Flynn to discuss just that. Pat is the co-founder of SPI Media, a podcast, and owns several successful online businesses – when it comes to audience building, he’s the real deal.

    You can read the key takeaways from our discussion below and listen to the full episode here.

    Being an expert isn’t enough to find success

    Just scroll Instagram or Linkedin for a few minutes, and you will find people with way less skill and knowledge than you who have an audience hanging on their every word.

    Here’s a tough truth: You can be the most skilled expert in the world, but if you don’t know how to communicate that skill in a way that resonates with your audience, you’re going to be outdone every time.

    How do you build a presence that creates lifelong fans? Good question, we’ll cover that next.

    Be the audience before seeking an audience

    Pat advocates for becoming part of your target audience before you start to build a presence there. This gives two big advantages:

    1. You speak the language – by the time you’re ready to sell, you’re using the same vocabulary, know the inside jokes, and know who key players are. If you come in with no background knowledge, you aren’t offering expertise or a unique perspective. You’ll just be white noise to that audience.

    2. You can empathize with your audience. When you’ve been a part of a group, you know the problems they deal with, what motivates them, what slows them down. And that enables you to solve problems for an audience more effectively.

    Master one platform before expanding to others

    While you’re joining the audience, notice what platform they gather on. Then start with mastering just that platform.

    Pat said that if your effort is distributed across five platforms with five different sets of best practices, you’re going to fail. Instead, pick one platform and take courses on how to best utilize it.

    Invest in your community there. Learn about the individuals that follow you, care about their lives, decide how you’re going to show up on that one specific platform.

    Calculating Return on investment

    This part is tricky, because most business owners would like to know for certain that if they put in a certain number of hours, they’ll get a certain number of dollars out.

    Pat says ROI is the wrong way to look at it – when you discover who the people are, and what they need, you have an infinite number of ways you can solve their problems.

    He also points out that knowing your audience increases the impact of other areas in your business – copywriting, lead magnets, sales. All of those are infinitely more effective when you know your audience.

    Another note on ROI: If you measure it after your first project launch, it’ll feel lousy. The value of investing in your audience compounds over years.

    Next Steps

    Want to learn more from Pat? First, listen to the full interview Pat Flynn Teaches You How to Build a Revenue Generating Audience.

    Then, check out SPI Media’s All-Access Pass. In addition to gaining access to interactive DIY courses, you’ll also join a community of entrepreneurial peers of all levels who are committed to learning and improving their skill set.

    And, here are a few ways I can support you.

    Either way, I wish you the best of luck and feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

    To hear the full conversation and get access to additional resources tune in to this week’s episode of the Launch Your Business podcast.

    [ad_2]

    Terry Rice

    Source link

  • What to Know Before Signing a Commercial Lease

    What to Know Before Signing a Commercial Lease

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    When it is time to start looking for a commercial space to lease, there are many items to keep in mind. If this is the first time you have leased a commercial space, there are certain factors I recommend you know in advance before beginning your search.

    1. Zoning

    First and foremost, you must understand the concept of zoning. Zoning laws control what types of businesses may operate on any specific property — next, list cities where you are interested in opening your business.

    Once that list is created, you can either go online to the cities’ planning departments’ websites, call the planning departments or visit in person. I recommend you visit in person since it can expedite the process. When you speak to the person in planning, let them know the exact details of the business you will be opening.

    Remember that once you have an address of interest, you will need to check in again with the city. This time you will give the planning department the address and confirm that you can open your business at the address. Also, ask the planning department if your use is permitted by right or by permit. If it is by right then, you should be good to go regarding your use being allowed to operate. However, if the planning department mentions the use is allowed by permit, you will need to ask follow-up questions. The follow-up questions should include finding out what permits you will need, how long they will take to obtain and how much the permit cost.

    Related: 6 Overlooked Investment Opportunities in Commercial Real Estate

    2. Size

    Once you understand the zoning you are looking for, you need to know your ideal space size. If you need to know the square footage for your type of business, I recommend you research it before starting your search. You can quickly get an idea of the size space you need by using the internet and searching square footage and your use. I also recommend walking into similar businesses to get an understanding of space.

    Related: Criteria to Consider When Renting Commercial Space

    3. Customer demographics

    Next on the list is to know who your customers are through demographics. Age, average incomes and population are the key demographics you will want to keep in mind. For reference, in my markets of the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley regions of Southern California, most retailers seek sites with a minimum of 100,000 people within a three-mile radius.

    Additionally, you will want to know when your business will be the busiest. If you expect lunch to be critical, you will also want to know the daytime population numbers near the potential space you will be leasing.

    Knowing who your customers are will assist with understanding if visibility is vital to your business. Are you a destination tenant or an impulse tenant? If you are an impulse tenant, you need high visibility. Without high visibility, potential customers will have more difficulty seeing you and will not be able to visit your store.

    An excellent example of an impulse tenant is dessert. People often decide to have ice cream because they see it in a shopping center. Since prime street front space leases at a premium, you will have more leverage with landlords if visibility is not a significant concern for your business.

    Related: What to Do When Your Ideal Customer Isn’t Who You Expected

    4. Traffic counts

    If you need prime visibility, you will also want to pay attention to traffic counts. In commercial real estate, cars per day are examined. As a point of reference, 25,000 vehicles per day on the main street where the site is located is a minimum number many retailers are looking for when high-traffic areas are needed.

    5. Access

    Next to consider is access. It does not matter if you are an impulse or destination tenant. Access is a critical component in deciding on a space to lease. When figuring out the access for a potential site, make sure to drive all streets in all directions. Please pay attention to the road’s lines and whether they are broken. Also, pay attention to street medians and no U-turn signs. You want to make sure your customers will be able to access your business conveniently.

    Related: How to Make Your Product More Accessible to Customers

    6. Signage

    Signage can also be critical. Most centers have monument signs. Often tenants think that if they are leasing a space that had a monument sign prior, they will be able to take over that sign. That is not the case. You only have the right to use a monument sign if it is in your lease.

    When considering a center, I recommend you fully drive the entire center and take pictures of all the monument signs. In your offer, you must include these images of the monument signs and the specific panels you request rights to utilize.

    Related: 5 Major Leasing Deal Points to Know Before Signing a Lease

    It is essential to realize that there are basics in site selection. If your company has done its homework in advance, your site selection process will be simplified when looking for commercial space to lease. If you have an understanding of what you are looking for but also keep an open mind, the process of finding a location will run smoother.

    [ad_2]

    Roxanne Klein

    Source link

  • How to Acquire Your First 100 Customers as a Fintech Startup

    How to Acquire Your First 100 Customers as a Fintech Startup

    [ad_1]

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    In 2008, Kevin Kelly, the founding editor of Wired, proposed the 1,000 True Fans theory. Attract a thousand loyal fans to your Fintech startup or any other business – and you’ll make money. However, this might seem unrealistic for a Fintech startup.

    Li Jin, the co-founder of Variant Fund, lowered the initial goal to 100 loyal customers. In her opinion, businesses can succeed by giving their most loyal fans more value at a higher price. Although this number of clients sounds quite realistic, attracting 100 brand followers in a highly competitive environment is difficult. You can achieve this goal with a clear marketing strategy for Fintech startups. Let’s look at the most efficient ways to acquire your first 100 customers.

    Related: 7 Things to Consider Before Launching a Fintech Startup

    Typical problems Fintech startups face

    Recruiting the first 100 grateful clients is difficult. The market has strict requirements for newcomers:

    The industry has a low barrier to entry

    According to Statista, the number of startups in the U.S., EMEA, and Asia-Pacific has nearly tripled in the past 4 years. Consumers like mobile banking apps, so investment in Fintech companies is growing. Project ideas for the financial industry are more relevant than ever.

    Users don’t entrust sensitive data to unfamiliar apps.

    Users trust financial apps that have a large audience and positive reviews. Although the App Store and Google Play check each platform for safety and quality before publication, not all people buy new products.

    A startup should invent a brilliant Fintech marketing strategy to interest users and convert them into loyal customers.

    A business doesn’t know how to turn customers into leads.

    To make a product visible and demanded, startup initiators must understand their target audience and know how to convert one-time visitors into leads.

    An efficient working sales funnel will introduce a product to users and lead different clients to purchase. An advanced Fintech marketing strategy will help to build scenarios of interaction with each customer type to accompany them in sales until they buy a product.

    To acquire its first 100 customers, a business should use a proven Fintech marketing strategy. So, here are five ways to acquire new customers:

    1. Use personalization to communicate with your target audience

    According to Epsilon, 80% of users prefer brands that offer personalized services.

    Project initiators should remember that all customers are unique, adapt software solutions to specific purposes, and personalize marketing messages. Specialists interview users to find out their problems and segment them into groups.

    This division of the target audience will help build more personalized communication with customers. Augmenting Fintech startup marketing with AI will help you create targeted text messages and product/service recommendations.

    Related: Launching A Fintech Startup? Here’s How We Built Ours

    2. Convince customers with powerful words: Build a content promotion strategy

    When users are looking for software solutions for financial issues, they search on the internet. By entering keywords, they find relevant material. Marketers can use people’s desire to learn more information and compare apps to build a content promotion strategy.

    The main thing is to find keywords that will answer customers’ concerns and create useful content. Write an article comparing several services, and favorably disclose the advantages of your financial software. Create a top list of investment apps mentioning your product. Tell a post-story of a customer who solved a problem with your app, and describe its functionality.

    Various content will encourage potential customers to try a free version of the product, sign up for a demo or buy a discounted subscription.

    3. Take care of the visual component of a Fintech app

    Many studies confirm that product branding has a direct impact on the decision-making process. Navigation, colors, styles, and focus on customers’ values determine whether people buy a digital product.

    Everything is important: the message of the text, the font size, the distance between elements and the color of objects. The right combination of these encourages customers to take targeted actions.

    Involve experienced UX/UI designers with the knowledge of key psychological principles in creating a landing page. They will place priority buttons so that users can easily find and click them. An advertised object must point at a call-to-action element.

    4. Make gamification in financial software your trump card

    Gamification has attracted the attention of non-gaming app creators. According to Yu-kai Chou, customers feel successful when using apps. This mechanism works just like psychological triggers, making it easier to interact with serious financial programs.

    Gamification can become a lead magnet. Surely, customers would be interested in a Fintech platform integrated with a fitness tracker. A bank can give an interest rate of 3% for reaching a fitness goal of 10,000 steps. An offer of investment education in a simulated environment sounds enticing as well.

    By cleverly advertising financial product game features (avatars, quizzes, rewards, infographics, etc.), you’ll surprise customers and gain new ones.

    Related: 6 Great Content Marketing Examples for Fintech Startups

    5. Resort to referral Fintech marketing

    In 2012, Nielsen found that 92% of people trust word of mouth more than traditional advertising when making purchasing decisions. The situation has not changed yet: Nine out of 10 buyers trust reviews of their friends, acquaintances and other users.

    Use referral marketing to reach the target figure of 100 clients faster. It is a powerful mechanism for acquiring new customers. Ask your first users to share positive impressions about your brand with their acquaintances, and offer them a pleasant bonus for that (a cash reward, an individual discount, etc.).

    Engaged customers will tell a story of a product/service value better than a marketer will. They reveal the benefits of the brand from the user’s perspective. Conduct a quick survey to find out what rewards your clients want. Work with them until you gain the right number of loyal customers.

    It won’t be easy to get your first 100 clients, but we have pointed out five of the most effective major ways to do so. Start small, test ideas, and use different combinations of marketing Fintech activities. Through trial and error, you’ll discover a working formula for success.

    [ad_2]

    Alexandr Khomich

    Source link