Introduction - How to Keep Customers Loyal

No matter what size or type of business you run, customers are essential; without them your business could not exist profitably.

Customers that are loyal will return more often, giving higher sales! However, a surprising number of businesses appear to just expect customers to arrive, and seem to do nothing to make them want to return.

Why Is It Important To Have Loyal Customers?

If your customers develop a loyalty to your business, they will be much more likely to choose you over your competitors in the future. Over the course of a year, the sales of one loyal customer can add up to a significant amount.

Something every business benefits from is a 'customer for life' - a customer who will always buy from your business where possible. If your business satisfies loyal customers every time, then hopefully many will become customers for life.

"80% of your business comes from 20% of your customers"

Although it is vital for any business to attract first time and occasional customers, it is usually much more beneficial to turn the ones you have into loyal customers. This is especially true in fast moving markets, where customers may use your product on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.

Probably the best reason for making (and keeping) your customers loyal is also the simplest: "it costs five times more to gain a new customer than keep an old one"

Turning just 10% of your occasional customers into loyal customers could save you up to 8% of the costs of gaining customers (Such as: marketing, price offers, staff costs and time, etc).

How can Bluewire enhance your customer retention?

Many large businesses (mainly shops and stores) now have 'loyalty schemes' (E.g.: The Nectar Card, Air Miles) which use discounts to encourage people to buy from them. They usually work using ‘points’, the more you spend with them, the more points you earn, points can then be used to save money on some items.

The discounts are usually minimal (Often as little as 1-2%), but they provide a direct reason to remain loyal to one business. The cards given out with most schemes also provide a reminder of the business.

The Bluewire Network has inherent capabilities that will enable you to create a Nectar card type loyalty product. The client will be able to set the reward parameters using the system controls, and the users will also be able to redeem these rewards through the system.