Stay in Tune with Your Loyal Customers

If you’ve been around the block a few times in the world of retail or hospitality, then you’ve undoubtedly heard the timeless phrase, “the customer is always right!” While arguably, yes, this saying is a trite one, we are here to tell you there is truth behind it. Think about it logically: your base of loyal customers is your sounding board. They are the bellwether for whether you are following through on your commitments as a brand or if you are not. Don’t worry - in a world with online reviews and social media comments galore, you’ll know if your customers are happy. As their wants and needs change and evolve, don’t be afraid to be flexible. Listen to them, and adjust accordingly within reason. Doing so ensures your business is staying at the top of its game. 

Additionally, investing in the people who already know and love your brand is the easiest strategy to grow your business, even more so than focusing on growing your target audience. This may seem counterintuitive, but when your loyal customer base feels seen and heard, they’ll be that much more likely to keep coming back and try new products as soon as they become available.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again! A great way to entice customers invested in your brand into becoming lifelong customers is by offering a rewards program or referral offers. We love Growave because of its easy and intuitive way to build a custom loyalty program. Or, if you’re looking for an additional way to cement your customer base, try a membership program. Appstle on Shopify today is a great place to start - it’s the perfect app to help you organize, enhance, and control your membership program. 

Rediscover Your Brand

Your brand is the foundation on which your entire business stands. As such, if you haven’t thought about your branding strategy in a while, now is definitely the time to revisit it! Start by writing down your core values as well as the attributes you want your business to represent. Have they changed at all from the ones currently in place? If they’ve remained the same, can you articulate how your business is delivering on those values? This is an excellent method to keep your business honest, up to date, and authentic.

Next, try writing down several adjectives that describe your business’s personality. Do the visual aspects portraying your brand, i.e. webpage, social media, or marketing materials, best represent this? If you’re having trouble matching the visual representation to the envisioned personality of your store, try working with a designer to rediscover and redefine your brand! Hiring a brand consultant doesn’t have to break the bank, and it is an excellent place to invest your resources. Hazil Studios’ favorite brand consultant is Jasmine at jasdesigns.co - check out her Instagram and reach out for a quote here to get started today!

For a more in depth look into the importance of branding, take a look at our blog post People Buy Brands, Not Products or download our Step by Step Branding Guide. 

Be Visible

Global is the new local. Centering your business in eCommerce is not just for convenience - it’s an opportunity for your products and services to reach vast audiences around the world. In order to achieve this, your business needs to be visible! Luckily, there are many paths to do this effectively and authentically in the current eCommerce landscape. 

Update your homepage

Your homepage is your home turf. You have the opportunity to represent yourself here however you want. The most successful online stores have organized landing pages, thoughtful copywriting, and visually compelling graphics. If you’re not sure how best to optimize your online store, join us in eCommunity! Here, you can ask any questions that come to mind and get advice from our seasoned experts as well as fellow successful Shopify store owners. eCommunity also offers access to live weekly webinars from experts in the field for real-time answers. 

If you’re not ready to join eCommunity yet, check out Hazil Studios’ App Guide to get a feel for all the helpful information we share with the community on a regular basis! Get your free copy here today. 

Create a blog

In the hype of today’s visually driven society, don’t underestimate the importance of the written word. Creating a blog is the most efficient way to display knowledge in your area of expertise. Do you have a skincare brand? Try a blog post on products you sell that should be paired together and why. A sports store? Write about current events in a particular sport or new gear on the market and why it’s important. The sky's the limit. As an expert on your store and products, you already have all the information you need to do this - you only need to put your mind to it!

Enhance your social media presence

Social Media is an opportunity to freely market your business. Pick a platform you connect most with, and be consistent with your posting. Have a plan in place to update your accounts a certain amount per week - it can be overwhelming in the beginning, but if you create a plan, that plan will lead to a habit, and consistency is key here. Try putting together templates for posts or themed scripts for videos to make creating content even easier!

At the end of the day, your business should make you proud. You are your best promoter, so tell everyone what you’re doing and get the word about your business out there!