A survey by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) found that 82% of U.S. adults are loyal to brands and 84% are loyal to retailers. Unfortunately, most businesses don’t achieve loyalty overnight. It takes work. Businesses who neglect their customers tend to lose them to the competition. Don’t let that happen to you!
While there are many ways to generate customer loyalty, a simple yet cost-effective way to do so is through greeting cards. Hallmark greeting cards, for example, beg to be opened. For you and your business, they increase marketing ROI, boost direct mail response rates and improve customer satisfaction. To learn how, check out the video below.
According to the United States Postal Service, 98% of people check their mail daily. With a high chance of getting noticed, it’s important that your direct mail piece not only stands out from other marketing clutter but also excites people to open it, and therefore, promotes ongoing loyalty.
Below are 8 ways greeting cards can help your business earn customer loyalty and, in return, generate improved business results.
- Repeat sales
Hallmark birthday cards have improved Individual Average Transaction amount (IAT) by 42% when used to drive incremental online and in-store sales (Birthday Greeting Card Data, Hallmark Cards, 2016).
Repeat customers spend 67% more than new customers. A personalized message and offer contained on an insert inside a greeting card that speaks directly to the consumer can result in repeat business. If the card is memorable enough, he or she will be more likely to do business with you again.
- Referrals and word-of-mouth marketing
Greeting cards that make customers feel like they are #1 and that they are truly valued can lead to them becoming excellent, outspoken brand ambassadors. This not only translates to repeat business but also referral of new customers, positive product reviews and proactive social media love.
- Advance notice of super sales
While your greeting card should show appreciation, it should ultimately entice customers to buy more. Informing the customer of an upcoming big sale is one sure way to grab the customer’s attention.
- Invitations to special events
This is yet another great way to generate traffic to an event or to your website or your place of business. Greeting card invitations give the impression that the customer was personally invited—and only those with the “winning card” are allowed in. Add more credibility to your greeting card invitation by using a Hallmark card. It’s a name people recognize and trust. It adds credibility and feels like “they didn’t just send me a card…they sent me a Hallmark card.”
- Introduce new products and services
Another way to build customer loyalty is to make them feel special when you have exciting new products or services. Make sure to include high-quality images of the products or services on the card so that they spark a consumer’s interest, making them want to learn more. This inspires early adopters.
- Make your special offer feel like a gift
When a special offer is included in a Hallmark card, it connects with the time-honored tradition of gift giving, resulting in good feelings. Let us help you put some “pizazz” in your special offer to encourage repeat business. With Hallmark’s help, customers will view the special offer as a gift from your company. Coordinated to work in harmony with your greeting card, an accompanying buck slip or insert gives you room to explain your promotion, complete with terms and conditions.
- Celebrate achieving a new tier in your loyalty program
There is nothing more personal than calling out a highly individual achievement—such as a loyalty program tier, an anniversary in the program or another significant milestone. Make it a point to recognize customers who reach new levels within your business’s loyalty program with one of our cards. It’s a small way to show your gratitude to customers who stay true to your brand.
- Reward them unconditionally with a gift card
If you’re looking to show a special measure of appreciation, give a gift card. Your customers can easily choose a gift card from your own brand or from hundreds of other major-brand gift cards‑retailers, restaurants, travel and entertainment providers.
Enhance your customer experience with your brand
In today’s competitive market, customers want more than quality products and services. They want to feel appreciated and connected to a brand. Let Hallmark Business Connections’ experience in customer retention and loyalty drive more business your way. Contact us to improve customer loyalty.
