For most business owners, online deal sites offer a chance to get new visitors through the door. One of the biggest challenges of offering online group discounts like Groupon and LivingSocial is encouraging those visitors to return to your business. Since most online deal terms are not profitable to business owners, it is crucial to engage these new visitors in as many ways as possible to make the deal a success.
Here are our suggestions for a successful transition from singular to regular visits:
1. Treat Deal Customers like Regular Customers.
News travels fast. You want it to be good.
Once a person enters the store with a deal in hand, the staff should take time to make their visit really personal. Deal seekers should not be treated half as well because they are only paying half price. A lot of people use online deal sites as a way of trying a store they have heard about from other sources. Even if a customer does not return, they will likely talk about your business to their friends or review it on Yelp. You want to make sure their story is a positive one.
2. Educate your staff on the details of the deal.
Every employee in your store should be well-versed in the details of the deal, so each customer gets the same deal – whether it’s a week after the deal was bought, or three months. Discrepancies in terms and treatment often show up in Groupon forums, as well as Yelp reviews.
3. Get social with the deal seeker.
Encourage new visitors to sign up for Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, and/or your email newsletter. Let them know you often post other discounts and specials on these sources. This keep your company top-of-mind and may encourage them to return.
4. Give them a reason to return.
If you have a rewards program, be sure to educate your newest customer on the benefits of becoming a regular.
5. Encourage them to review you.
Even if this customer does not return, they can still bring you more business. A positive review on Yelp encourages others to visit your store, whether they have a discount or not.
Have questions? Don’t hesitate to give us a call. We can help you maximize your relationship with your newest customers.
