How To Stop Customer Attrition

It is often the little things you miss that can lead to customer attrition.customer attrition

A simple oversight can stop your customer from being loyal.

And allow your competitors to start seducing them.

The oversight is using the same tactics in the same way for current and potential customers.

It may look like a short cut to save time or money. But it complicates your marketing, your relationships and usually doesn’t achieve what you want.

For example last year I purchased something from a website and got on their email list. They are currently running a similar promotion to get people to buy.

But they forgot to do one thing.

Segment their lists. Oops.

This meant I received all the information I got last year as a potential customer when I should have been on a current customer list. This complicates their marketing efforts and reduces the results they were looking for to grow their business.

Ways To Stop Customer attrition

At a simple level looking at what you have planned or doing with your marketing tactics. See if they are specific to retaining customers so they can keep buying your products or services.  It is better to know than to guess if the marketing tactics will lead to customer retention.

If your tactics are not specific to retaining your customers and this is a key objective, then throw them out. Or assign them to another marketing objective, such as getting more customers.

Break It Up

When I worked in large multinational companies with a large budget to spend we didn’t run campaigns or implement tactics for current and potential customers at the same time.

It would have been complicated and not maximising the budget.

If  keeping your current customers buying is a priority set certain times of the year to concentrate on it. A tip is to think of their buying cycle and their needs. The main thing is to keep it simple as you are likely to get better results.

With social media there are so many ways you can set up simple communication that doesn’t time up much time or money and lets them know they are appreciated.

Customer attrition hurts your business’s growth so why not avoid it by choosing the right marketing tactics.

Over to you

How do you avoid choosing marketing tactics that can put off your current customers?

Want to use simplicity to keep customers buying? To find out more Click Here 

photo credit: ktpupp via photopin cc

16 Responses to How To Stop Customer Attrition

  1. Geek Girl says:

    Still working on getting the customers. Once I have them I will work on keeping them. LOL
    Geek Girl recently posted..And The Gender Is…?My Profile

  2. Hi Susan,

    Yep! You’re back at work alright! :-) I hope you had a lovely holiday.

    Once again, there seems to be a certain synchronicity with your fine post and my nubile online marketing expedition.

    I have, only in the last week or so, begun to build my very first email list. So this is very good and timely guidance.

    I can’t help but notice and appreciate a very simple word and idea that adorns your pages like a ‘spring-k-ling’ of fresh spring air. Simply put, that word just happens to be ‘simply’…there. :-)

    It’s great advice that I will use, so my customers avoid abuse. As a customer myself it’s worth a fee, to feel appreciated quite simple-ee.

    But as one finds in ‘realit-ee’, the simple things are often free…yet when in practice one does try, ideas cascade and mystify.

    It’s good therefore when one does try, that such fine guidance clarifies.

    My quest however, as must needs be, is gaining ‘customery’ company. As such I wonder, could you explain, how lists I may pleasantly entrain? Should majestic offers I impose, or does ‘gently does it’ best win repose?

    Very much appreciated. I look forward to my next synchronicity with such expansive and helpful simplicity. :-)

    Cheers

    Stephen G
    Stephen Glanville recently posted..SEO – Septuagenarian Eagle Ovation…My Profile

    • Susan Oakes says:

      You are quite a wordsmith Stephen :) And I did have a great break.

      You got it right, simplicity is a focus and in a study last year they found customers will pay more if brands simplify the experience etc. Sounds good to me.

      Regarding your lists it comes down to your customer profile and what you sell. Unless you know the profile is it difficult to tailor offers or the approach. That said gently does it often wins and that is why a blog is good as potential customers get to know you and your products or services. I know you said you are building your email list so have a think of relevant information etc you can give them that will eventually lead to sales. As I mentioned above customers will pay more for those that simplify the buying experience and have a single message. I guess it means remembering the “don’t make me think” as it hurts my head is what more customers are saying.

      Hope this helps Stephen and if not just email me.

      Cheers

      • Hi Susan,

        Glad you enjoyed your holiday and thank you for your compliment…I had great teachers…our mutual friend, author & copywriter extraordinaire leaps to mind Mr. @PaulHassing. Geez! I hope I don’t embarrass him by saying that. :-P

        And it’s very helpful indeed Susan and I really appreciate it. As I’m quickly learning and thankful that it is indeed the truth, marketing is about building relationships of trust with people and you certainly convey that by fine example. :-)

        Many thanks…see you soon.

        Stephen G
        Stephen Glanville recently posted..SEO – Septuagenarian Eagle Ovation…My Profile

        • Susan Oakes says:

          Hi Stephen,

          Sorry your comment went into moderation, but I don’t automatically allow links as the good old spammers use them too often. Agree with you about dear Paul and even today he sent me a typo alert which I had missed. I have no doubt you will excel in building that trust with potential customers. :)

  3. Susan Cooper says:

    This is good advise, as usual. I’m the same as Cheryl. I’m still building my customer list and potential opportunities. I do get what your saying. It can be a bit confusing and annoying to a customer if not approached from the proper angle.
    Susan Cooper recently posted..A Language Lesson: StoryMy Profile

  4. Susan Cooper says:

    Thanks. It has been a hectic time with the holidays and family obligations. I am putting serious energy into my plan and what I need to implement that plan in the next few days. I will be in touch next week. :)
    Susan Cooper recently posted..A Language Lesson: StoryMy Profile

  5. Tim says:

    I hope you’ve been having a fabulous holiday season! This is such a great series. I’m curious to check for more of your posts!
    Tim recently posted..45 Best OpenCart Templates and Themes 2013My Profile

  6. Susan — very good advice. For years I received invitations from American Express to become a card holder, even though I was already a member. Eventually, I guess they figured out how to eliminate their current customers but it was irritating while the mail kept coming. That’s a risk you take – irritating your good customers. I’m thinking of cancelling a blog I subscribe to because the owner is often sending me more than one offer a day for services and products to buy. That wasn’t what I signed on to.
    Jeannette Paladino recently posted..Does Your Personal Brand Reflect Who You Are and What You Do?My Profile

    • Susan Oakes says:

      Hi Jeannette,

      Can you imagine how much money they wasted sending out the invitations to customers like you, apart from the irritation factor which doesn’t help the relationship. You make a good point about the blog as some make assumptions which are not correct.

      Thanks for bringing the issues to the discussion and have a great weekend Jeannette.

  7. Catarina says:

    Agree with you Susan. You have to approach potential and existing customers in different ways. Preferably tailor made to each one of them. When you do you show you care.

    Treating everyone the same way gives them the feeling they are dealing with a government bureaucracy:-)
    Catarina recently posted..Rising inequality – the main risk facing the world?My Profile

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