[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/06\/16\/how-retailers-can-build-customer-relationships\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/06\/16\/how-retailers-can-build-customer-relationships\/","headline":"The WOW factor: How retailers can build customer relationships that last","name":"The WOW factor: How retailers can build customer relationships that last","description":"Retailers can no longer rely on product pitches to win customers. Find out how to deliver personalized experiences that build loyalty and drive growth.","datePublished":"2022-06-16","dateModified":"2022-07-22","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/shayonie-mila-kundu\/#Person","name":"Shayonie Mila Kundu","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/shayonie-mila-kundu\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0f8f5cbb5b740bbec3a00084c84879c8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0f8f5cbb5b740bbec3a00084c84879c8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Future of Customer Engagement and Experience","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/logo-fcee-schema-app.png","url":"http:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/logo-fcee-schema-app.png","width":278,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/build-customer-relationships-FTR.jpeg","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/build-customer-relationships-FTR.jpeg","height":375,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/06\/16\/how-retailers-can-build-customer-relationships\/","about":["Commerce","Customer Engagement","Customer Engagement","Customer Experience","Customer Journey","Industries","Retail","Retail Trends, Data, News"],"wordCount":824,"keywords":["Customer Centricity","Customer Engagement","Future of Retail","Omnichannel Retail","Online Retailers","Retail Trends"],"articleBody":"The other day, as I was taking my daily scroll through Instagram, I saw a post from one of my favorite brands, which sells boxes of themed dog treats and toys through a monthly subscription. The brand advertised a bonus for new subscribers \u2013 an adorable set of matching accessories for both dog and owner.But the comments on the post were telling:\u201cThis is a cute, but what about those of those who are already subscribed? Why are you only offering extras for new customers?\u201d\u201cI\u2019m already subscribed. Do I have to re-subscribe or pay extra to get this?\u201d\u201cI wish you would pay more attention to customers who have been subscribed for years.\u201dWhile this brand may have thought their post would build customer relationships, these comments painted a different picture. Though customers love the brand\u2019s products, they don\u2019t seem to love their brand experience.Today, your company must do more to create effective relationships with customers that go beyond convincing them to buy your products and services. The methods that may have worked for you in the past \u2013 such as promos for new customers \u2013 won\u2019t cut it anymore.      Want more customers, loyalty, and sales? Using customer data can do that                Top brands are using customer data to understand the customer journey and deliver positive experiences that boost loyalty and revenue.      4 ways to build customer relationships in retailWith digital transformation radically reshaping retail, retailers need to shift away from leading with the sale. As social media and omnichannel experiences have altered customers’ relationships with brands, retailers need to rethink their strategy for driving growth.Here are four strategies to build strong relationships and keep customers happy:Harness the power of social mediaCreate personalized experiencesLeverage customer data for insightsUse customer-centric technology      Personalized retail experiences: Run ahead of the pack                Find out how adidas and other brands are creating personalized CX to connect with customers for better engagement and ultimately, more sales.      Social media can make or break retail CXNowadays, customers don\u2019t have to visit your store to be reminded of you. Instead, many choose to actively engage with your brand by adding you to their social media feeds and downloading your apps on their phone.But they do this because they expect something in return, be it early access to special promotions and sales or the opportunity to participate in contests and giveaways.Some brands have successfully built customer relationships by taking advantage of certain customers\u2019 eagerness to engage with their brand. For instance, they reward top \u201csocial sharers\u201d who comment on and share their posts by offering them unique discounts. Others have gone as far as gamifying aspects of their loyalty programs by embedding contests, leaderboards, and other activities into the customer experience.These kind of social media efforts serve to keep customers involved and thinking about your brand \u2013 in a good way \u2013 even when they aren\u2019t actively shopping.But the growing presence of your brand in their lives also means that customers can quickly see when your brand lets them down. Case in point: the doggie subscription business that inundated existing subscribers with ads clearly not meant for them.From the customers\u2019 perspective, if they\u2019ve given you data on who they are \u2013 including their purchases, preferences, and personal information \u2013 you should at least use these insights to their benefit.Customers today demand more individualized attention. Create a business model that engages these customers and manages your relationships in a way that puts them at the center of your business.      Return of the timeline: Instagram chronological feed is back                Learn how the change in Instagram functionality impacts users and offers brands the ability to optimize marketing efforts to boost engagement.      Customer-centric technology builds relationshipsIt\u2019s possible that your company has long thought of ways to improve and build customer relationships, but doesn\u2019t feel like it has the technology necessary to make any of your ideas a reality. Modern retail platforms make it possible to fold customer-centric initiatives right into your retail experience.These advanced platforms empower you to take your current loyalty and marketing efforts to the next level. For example, if you have an influencer program, they let you offer rewards and commissions to your brand advocates and top influencers \u2013 without extensive coding or development.Data is a central component of creating personalized experiences. Again, your ability to use this data is contingent on the technology at your disposal. Does your business have access to a centralized source of accurate information? Or are you making decisions based on outdated, siloed customer data that you need to retrieve from separate databases and solutions across your enterprise?To create effective relationships with your customers, ensure you have the right tools in place. Only then will your brand be able to deliver the personalized offerings that keep customers coming back for more.  Retail, reimagined. Join us for the live conversation HERE!"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2022","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"06","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/\/06\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"16","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/\/06\/\/16\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"The WOW factor: How retailers can build customer relationships that last","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2022\/06\/16\/how-retailers-can-build-customer-relationships\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]