By Debbie Fletcher, Special for USDR
Why do customers part with their cash? It’s a question that every business needs to consider. While everyone will have their own products and services and their own target market, big businesses need to learn some common trends and traits that they can apply to their own organisations.
Create a ‘buzz’
The words ‘have you tried that new…?’ are uttered in many a workplace every day. This kind of word of mouth recommendation can be really powerful in influencing customer behaviour. As Psychology Today writes, we like to copy other people and replicate their purchasing behaviour. Brands can try to foster this kind of ‘buzz’ through marketing. Social media campaigns can kick start the sort ‘word of mouth’ that exists in the digital age – with shares and messages. Offers, promotions and vouchers can help to oil the wheels, as can reviews from satisfied customers.
Engagement builds loyalty
Big businesses can, if they’re not careful, appear remote and distant to their consumers. Break down the barriers and engage with your customers to attract loyalty in your brand. Shopify shows how reciprocity is a crucial part of the buying psychology. If customers take part in a quiz or survey with you – or maybe get a gift or sample – then they are going to feel more inclined to give you something (namely their custom) back. You can also engage customers – and break down barriers – through personalisation. If you show a customer that you know what they want – with relevant recommendations and offers – they’ll grow to trust you. Put time and resources in analysing and understanding your customer base and this will pay dividends.
Packaging is the front line
Packaging is so vital when reaching out to consumers. The colour, the font, the text and the imagery all tell a story and convey a message that can try to persuade people to part with their cash. It’s the front line for all of your branding efforts and it’s crucial to get it right. Organisations need to be able to call on the services of a top quality food packaging printer to deliver fast, flexible orders to capitalise on demand, stand out from the crowd and catch the eyes of their target market. If a customer reckons a product ‘looks right’ they’ll give you a chance. Packaging can also become a feature. Remember the success Coca-Cola got from personalised bottles – a masterclass in packaging that also helped with the buzz and engagement around this product.
Trust is the end goal
Customers can be attracted, excited and engaged if a brand gets their marketing, packaging and positioning right. It isn’t easy, but doing any of these things will help you to unlock the secret of success.
Once you’ve won their business, however, you need to impress them. Deliver good service over a consistent period and customers will come to trust you and, hopefully, recommend you. BigCommerce found that product quality was the biggest factor in influencing a purchase decision but a reputation for quality has to be earned through trust and trust is earned through delivering on the attraction, excitement and engagement you foster to turn your customer’s head in the first place.
Author Name: DebbieFletcher
Author Bio: Debbie Fletcher is an enthusiastic, experienced writer who has written for a range of different magazines and news publications over the years. Graduating from City University London specialising in English Literature, Debbie’s passion for writing has since grown. She loves anything and everything technology, and exploring different cultures across the world. She’s currently looking towards starting her Masters in Comparative Literature in the next few years.