Retail Customer Retention Methods

If you are a brand or creator planning to grow your own community, save this post for your next brand strategy session – Follower counts are overrated. What truly matters for your brand is a community that talks back. In the last 5+ years of building my personal brand along with Like Mind Tribe, I’ve learned this the hard (and beautiful) way. We often chase vanity metrics, namely likes, views, followers. But the brands that actually grow focus on: + trust + conversations + creating spaces that people want to return to My top 3 learnings about community building that most people ignore are👇 1/ Stop broadcasting. Start involving. Don’t just talk to your audience, co-create with them. Ask for their input. Let them choose the next product, workshop, or event theme. Your content should feel like a conversation, not a monologue. 2/ Trust builds in silence. Show up even when it’s quiet. The real connection begins when no one’s clapping. Be consistent with your presence. Show your progress, not just your polished wins. 3/ Give them a space beyond social media. DMs, Zoom rooms, meetups, or even a close friend's story list; These micro-interactions are where loyalty is built. If you want retention, give them a room where they feel seen. ———— I’ve met: → strangers who are now collaborators → community members who became accountability partners → even businesses that were born from casual coffee chats at our meetups That’s what happens when you value: Impact >>>>> Followers Whether you're building a brand or just starting out as a creator – Don’t just aim for attention. Create belonging. What’s the biggest challenge you face in building your community? Let’s tackle it together! #drishtiispeaks #community #branding #strategy #growth #socialmedia #content

Welp, Gmail’s done it again. More new updates to make the inbox experience better *for recipients*, much to the chagrin of some senders. The Promotions tab is getting ranked by relevance (hell yeah), post-purchase mail is getting its own swim lane with a dedicated Purchases tab (just in time for the holiday email season!), and Manage Subscriptions makes pruning senders you no longer want to hear from effortless. Why does *this* change matter, given all the new features they’ve been rolling out recently? Because it means delivery ≠ visibility… even if you send at the “perfect” time for your subscribers. In this new reality, two people can open at the same time and see different stacks. If you’re not in their regular rotation, you’re headed to the Promotions basement (or shuffled to page two)… send-time optimization be damned. Tabs are optional, but the consequences of not sending it right are universal. Ranked visibility rewards usefulness and consistency, not hacks or send-time optimization. Here are some things you can do right meowww… 1️⃣ Separate (and de-glam) your transactional. This one’s all about business up front and (promotions) party in the back. Dedicated subdomain/IPs, and kill the promo pixie dust that might make your business-critical mail seem promotional: upsell CTAs, cross-sell banners, and “while you’re here” copy. 2️⃣ Lean into easier unsubscribes Allowing users to easily “Manage Subscriptions” will accelerate list churn, whether you like it or not. But they don’t hurt deliverability (unless there are a TON), and there are ways you can encourage would-be unsubscribers to stay with you by getting in front of it, like offering a preference center where subscribers can opt-down instead of out. 3️⃣ Adjust your Promotions presentation for “Most Relevant” You can’t force… really anything in your recipients these days. But you can encourage them to engage by making it super clear what your message is about and why they need it in their lives with very little effort. For example, instead of: “Our Fall Drop is Here”, get specific! Say the outcome: “24-hr restock on [X] you favorited” 4️⃣ Update your scorecard to match how Gmail ranks mail Unlike the “Most Recent” view, where your visibility’s been mostly about timing, getting mail delivered under a “Most Relevant” reality doesn’t equate to a fair shot at being seen (even if you land in the inbox). 💌 Optimize for speed of engagement, reach (how many engage), and stickiness (how often they engage). Metrics like Time-to-First-Open, First-6-Hour Click Share, Active Gmail Reach (30d), Click Reach (30/60/90), Replies/“helpful” signals, and Persistence (opened 2+ of last 4) will help you figure out how your mail’s really landing. 5️⃣ Stop blasting to everyone. No, seriously. Stop it. I wrote all about this in my recent Send It Right blog post (and newsletter). Get the full scoop: https://lnkd.in/gSP5GtgE

Social media isn’t just about numbers. It’s about human connections. Building real relationships matters more than followers. I recently hit 100,000 followers on LinkedIn. But it’s not the followers that count. It’s the bonds created along the way. Three years ago, I left a Corporate Executive role after 20 years working for Fortune 500 companies. I created my personal brand. My passion is clear: Innovation for Humanity with Technology. To shift your mindset from chasing likes to building real connections, change your approach. Here are my practical strategies that make a difference for your life: 1. Prioritise Quality Over Quantity Engage deeply with a smaller audience.  Focus on meaningful interactions.  Build connections based on respect and shared interests. Find communities that align with your values.  Invest your energy there. 2. Practice Empathy and Active Listening Listen to others instead of just talking about yourself. Comment thoughtfully and show genuine interest. Empathy builds trust and a sense of belonging. 3. Engage Intentionally and Genuinely Make your interactions count.  Avoid mindless scrolling.  Spend your time encouraging others. Reply to comments, send messages, and celebrate others’ wins. 4. Give More Than You Take Shift from seeking validation to offering value.  Share helpful resources and support others. Generosity builds social capital and nurtures real relationships. 5. Share Authentically and Be Vulnerable Show your true self, including struggles.  Authenticity attracts genuine connections. Share personal stories to engage others on a deeper level. 6. Set Boundaries and Stay Present Limit your time on social media.  Quality interactions are more rewarding than constant posting. If you feel overwhelmed, take a break. 7. Celebrate and Appreciate Every Interaction Every like, comment, or message is a real person engaging with you. Show gratitude for your community, no matter how small. 8. Move Beyond the Screen Take online connections offline. Meet for coffee or attend events. Face-to-face interactions deepen relationships. Focusing on authentic engagement and empathy leads to fulfillment. Social media becomes about genuine community, not just performance. Build lasting connections that go beyond numbers. Always remember behind every reaction is a real person. Thanks to all the beautiful minds I got to know through sharing my content. I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with many of them. Follow Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld for more to Unlock Your Future. ♻️Repost to your network to learn more about how you create meaningful connections using social media. 

Become an Expert: How to Use Google Ads to Capture Seasonal Demand 1. Targeted Advertising: Google Ads allows businesses to target their ads to specific audiences based on a variety of factors, such as demographics, location, interests, and search queries. This means that businesses can tailor their ads to reach consumers who are most likely to be interested in their products or services during specific seasons. 2. Increased Visibility: By using Google Ads, businesses can increase their visibility on search engine results pages and reach potential customers who are actively searching for products or services related to seasonal events or holidays. This can help businesses stand out from the competition and attract more traffic to their website. 3. Flexible Budgeting: Google Ads offers businesses the flexibility to set their own budget and maximum bids for their ads, allowing them to control their advertising costs and optimize their return on investment. This is especially important during seasonal peaks, when demand and competition may be higher. 4. Real-time Insights: Google Ads provides businesses with real-time data and insights on the performance of their ads, allowing them to track key metrics such as click-through rates, conversions, and return on ad spend. This data can help businesses make informed decisions and adjust their advertising strategies to maximize results during peak seasons.  Follow these key steps: 1. Plan Ahead: Research and identify key seasonal trends and events that are relevant to your business, and create a seasonal advertising calendar to plan your campaigns in advance. 2. Create Seasonal Ad Campaigns: Develop targeted ad campaigns that align with seasonal themes, promotions, and messaging to attract and engage your target audience. 3. Use Seasonal Keywords: Incorporate seasonal keywords and phrases into your ad copy and landing pages to optimize your campaigns for search engine visibility and relevance. 4. Monitor and Optimize: Continuously monitor the performance of your seasonal ad campaigns, test different strategies, and make adjustments to optimize your ads for maximum impact. Summary:  Google Ads is a powerful tool for businesses looking to capture seasonal demand and drive targeted traffic to their websites. By leveraging the benefits of targeted advertising, increased visibility, flexible budgeting, and real-time insights, businesses can effectively reach and engage consumers during peak seasons. #GoogleAds, #SeasonalMarketing, #PPC, #MarketingStrategy, #OnlineAdvertising, #DigitalMarketing, #AdWords, #Advertising, #SEM, #MarketingTips, #SeasonalCampaigns, #DemandGeneration, #ConversionRateOptimization

🛍️ B2C Social Media Strategies: Connecting with Consumers In the fast-paced world of B2C marketing, social media is a dynamic playground for connecting with consumers. Here's a comprehensive guide on effective B2C social media strategies to foster meaningful connections and drive engagement across popular platforms. **1. Visual Content Dominance: B2C audiences are highly visual. Invest in captivating visuals, including images, graphics, and videos, to make your brand stand out. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok thrive on visually appealing content. **2. Storytelling Excellence: Craft compelling brand stories. Share narratives that resonate with emotions and experiences. Use platforms like Facebook and Instagram Stories for ephemeral content that creates a sense of urgency. **3. User-Generated Content (UGC): Encourage your customers to create content related to your brand. UGC not only provides authentic promotion but also strengthens the sense of community. Feature UGC prominently on platforms like Instagram. **4. Social Commerce Integration: Leverage the power of social commerce. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer seamless integration for shopping directly within the app. Make the purchasing process easy and enjoyable for consumers. **5. Influencer Collaborations: Partner with influencers who align with your brand. Influencers can bring authenticity and credibility, especially on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Choose influencers whose audience matches your target demographic. **6. Engaging Polls and Surveys: Foster two-way communication by using polls and surveys. Platforms like Instagram and Twitter allow you to gather insights from your audience, making them feel involved and valued. **7. Live Streaming Events: Host live streaming events to connect with your audience in real-time. Platforms like Facebook Live and Instagram Live enable direct interactions, Q&A sessions, and product demonstrations. **8. Strategic Hashtag Usage: Create and use branded hashtags to enhance discoverability. Utilize trending and popular hashtags on platforms like Twitter and TikTok to broaden your reach and join relevant conversations. By implementing these B2C social media strategies, you can not only connect with consumers on a personal level but also build a loyal community around your brand. 🌐📱 #B2CSocialMedia #SocialMediaStrategies #ConsumerConnection

“Ho, Ho, Holiday Returns” - new cartoon and post https://lnkd.in/gQyRFt2J Over the last decade, “Free Returns” became the new “Free Shipping,” going from differentiator (for pioneers like Zappos) to table stakes (for everyone else). But the tide is turning. According to logistics provider goTRG, 49% of US retailers now think of Returns as a severe problem, especially during the holiday season. In just the last five years, the Returns rate doubled from 8% to 16% and total Returns tripled from $309 billion in 2019 to an expected $900 billion in 2024 (according to Happy Returns and NRF). The phenomenon of “Free Returns” drove whole new types of shopping behavior, like “bracketing”, where shoppers buy multiple sizes, fits, and colors to try on at home and then return most of it (encouraged by brands like Zappos). Facing the massive and unsustainable burden of reverse logistics, many retailers are starting to pull back. Fast-fashion brands like Zara and H&M now charge return fees. Some are cutting return windows way back. Others are making returns less convenient with new policies like BORIS (Buy Online Return In Store). Many brands are simply making the act of Returns a pain. I recently bought something from Wedgwood and they shipped the wrong product by mistake. Expecting the usual Free and Easy Returns process (particularly for a premium brand like Wedgwood), I was surprised the brand had replaced their live customer service with a web form that took nearly a week to get any sort of response at all, and then required follow-ups to actually get a free return shipping label. This mismatch between consumer expectations and retailers pulling back is creating friction. Brands will have to manage how they communicate their return policies and make sure the pendulum doesn’t swing so far in the other direction they affect how people perceive the brand. How brands treat shoppers after a purchase is every bit a part of the brand as the actual product. Blue Yonder found in a recent survey that retailers with tighter return policies are deterring shoppers from purchases (76% of Gen Z and 69% overall claim to be deterred). As David Sobie, CEO of Happy Returns, put it: “Return policies are no longer just a post-purchase consideration — they’re shaping how younger generations shop from the start.” >>> For related cartoons and all the links in this post, click here: https://lnkd.in/gQyRFt2J To sign up for my weekly marketoon email newsletter, click here: https://lnkd.in/gteDRRTd #marketing #cartoon #marketoon

Community isn’t a buzzword, it isn’t just *another* trend, it's not a a quick marketing tactic → it’s a feeling. A feeling of belonging. It’s the courage to turn up to an event alone, to advocate for and tell a friend, or even the belief that your thoughts are valid and shareable in a comment section. 🌍 👋 Now, there’s a lot of chatter online of “don’t build a following, build a community”. But rarely do they follow with a tactic that isn't "make sure you reply to your comments". So with that said → here are my three tried and tested secret sauce of creating an online space full of feeling, not passive scrolls: → ALWAYS giving more than you take, and leaving the viewer, reader or community member with more than they came with - with every interaction. If you’re struggling, reflecting your piece with a “what does this tanglibly give as a takeaway?” is a great challenge. → ALLOWING ownership, inviting your online viewers to get involved in easy, low-barrier ways. A poll on an IG story, an anonymous feedback survey in your Facebook group, a question in your comment section. Give them space to speak, and be heard. → GENIUNE care for the people you’re managing and community you’re growing. The reason brands get stunted when strategising community is because the intention doesn’t align. What’s the “why”? Find it, never forget it. Don’t do community for community’s sake. Do it because you care.

An ecommerce company recently approached my team to do an email audit as they were facing challenges with low open and click-through rates. After analyzing their email account, here are our main recommendations to revive their email marketing channel: 1. Strategic Email Segmentation: Currently, your emails lack personal relevance due to a one-size-fits-all approach. This is a crucial area to address. Action Plan: Implement segmentation based on purchase history, engagement levels, browsing behavior, and demographic information. 2. Personalized Content Creation: Generic content won't cut it. Your audience needs to feel that each email is crafted for them. Action Plan: Develop emails specifically tailored to the different segments. This includes curated product recommendations, personalized offers, and content that aligns with their interests. 3. Subject Line A/B Testing: Your current subject lines aren't doing their job. You need to be implementing ongoing A/B subject line tests, as this is low-hanging fruit to improve your open rates. Action Plan: Regularly test different subject line styles and formats to identify what resonates best with each segment. Keep track of the metrics to inform future campaigns. 4. Mobile Optimization: A significant portion of your audience reads emails on mobile devices. Neglecting this is causing a decrease in your email engagement rates. Action Plan: Ensure all emails are responsive and visually appealing on various screen sizes. Test your emails on multiple devices before sending them out. Additional Campaign Strategies We Recommend: - Launch a Monthly Newsletter: This should include new arrivals, style guides, and user-generated content. It’s an excellent way to keep your brand in the minds of your customers. - Seasonal Campaign Integration: Tailor your campaigns to align with holidays and seasons. This approach can significantly boost engagement and sales during key periods. - Re-Engagement Campaigns: Specifically target subscribers who haven't interacted with your brand recently. Offer them unique incentives to rekindle their interest. Next steps: 1. If you found this helpful, please leave a comment and let me know. 2. If you own/run/work at an Ecommerce company doing at least $1 million in annual revenue, message me so my team can audit your email channel to see if there's a good fit for working together.

Ready to Expand Your Reach? Social Media Tips for 2025 Today, I was pleased to deliver an online workshop for Stronger Kent Communities on "Increasing Your Impact: Social Media for Social Good." I was joined by an amazing group of charities and non-profit organisations. We covered the key steps to creating a strong social media strategy. We also covered the latest trends and tactics to make the most of it! Here’s what I shared: ONE ↳ Goals: We discussed the importance of setting clear goals, focusing on Awareness, Community, and Conversion. Building that know-like-trust factor is key! And, of course, keeping those goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). TWO ↳ Audience: Understanding your audience is so important. We brainstormed who their audiences are and how to build detailed buyer personas. We discussed tools like answerthepublic.com, Google, and Facebook Groups to discover the pains and challenges of their target audience. THREE  ↳ Lead Magnets: Creating lead magnets is a great way to attract your audience and provide a solution to their pain or challenge. This step is about bringing people into your email list, where you can nurture them further and guide them towards conversion. FOUR ↳ Engaging Content: We explored ways to create content that grabs attention and engages your audience. Using platform-specific features is essential. For example, LinkedIn is seeing success with polls, carousel posts, and infographics, while Instagram reels and carousel posts are driving great engagement. FIVE  ↳ Engagement: Don't just broadcast and walk away. Engagement is crucial. Jump into the platform, have conversations, and interact with your audience. The algorithms love it when you keep people engaged, and it will reward you with better reach. SIX ↳ Outreach: Engagement naturally leads to outreach. Start conversations! Follow up on interactions like polls and initiate meaningful discussions. Conversations can lead to conversions, and making the first move can open doors you didn't even realise were there. So, how's your social media plan shaping up for 2025? What's the takeaway you can implement right now? Make sure you have a strategy, stay focused, and maximise your social media impact! To your successes, Zoe

I have one thing to say: Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days is NOT another Prime Day. Thank you, please go back to your regularly schedule content. https://lnkd.in/eiuEGmQT If you look at this October event in the same way you look at the one in July, you will maybe disappointed. Last year, Amazon held a Prime Early Access Sale (PEAS), yet everyone wanted to compare the event to Prime Day. Amazon is a eCommerce retail website. They host many different events throughout the year. Each one serves a purpose. The goal is for your brand/business to determine what that is, and how to take advantage of it. So what can brands do to prepare for this October event? First, let's look at data. According to Guru Hariharan, "Overall we saw the PEAS October 2022 to be ~33% lower on traffic and 45% lower on OPS vs. Prime Day July 2022." We can use data signals like this to help us 1)set expectations and 2)plan. Here are some things to think about. Plan ahead - ensure your inventory is in the warehouse so you can take advantage of this increase in traffic. Develop a promotional calendar - the Big Deal Days is the start to the holiday period. Think through your promotion calendar considering, the kickoff, through Black Friday/ Cyber Monday, through the holidays and into the New Year. Each milestone presents additional opportunities to promote your product. Which products will you promote? What will you discount? Merchandise your store - Amazon Stores is a free tool and you can prepare and schedule updates providing a unique shopping experience for those looking for your brand. What will you highlight? Do you need to update images for seasonal photography? When will the changes go live? Build an audience - It's great to acquire customers via search but what else are you doing to find an audience interested in your brand? Are you using tools like Sponsored Display/DSP to find new audiences? What about re-marketing to those who have already seen your product? What about those who are buying similar products? These tools are great for discovering new-to-brand customers. Measure success - How you measure success is critical. Set goals for KPIs that you want to reach. Different promotions can drive different results. A heavy discount can drive sales, but may impact profit. Coupons can drive repeat customers, new customers or those already familiar, which ones are you looking to acquire and how will you determine if you are successful? Work backwards from your goals and determine how to measure success before you begin. Past success - What can you learn from your past holiday success and failures? What changes do you need to make? After each promotional period you should be thinking about how to apply the learnings to the next event. So, with all this said, how are you preparing? What else should you think about? And please, don't write posts trying to compare the Big Deal Days to Prime Day.