The 6 Reasons Customers Leave Your Business (and 5 Ways to Keep Them)

Reasons Customers Leave Your Business

You can’t improve customer retention if you don’t know why customers leave. It’s popular to say that the biggest reason why customers leave is that they don’t feel like your business cares about them, but if you really dig into customer loyalty, you’ll see that customers leave for many reasons.

To get a handle on why customers leave, you have to understand the reasons behind it. If you think that customer loyalty is dead, then this post will show you exactly how wrong that idea is — and what drives customer loyalty in today’s business climate.

Why Customer Experience is Important

While businesses that are thriving and expanding can get new customers to replace lost consumers, few pay attention to why they leave in the first place. Every year, between 10% and 25% of an average business’s customer base leaves. Acquiring new customers is a costly, as quitting them can result in lost revenue and fees. This never-ending cycle of attracting customers costs nearly five times as much money compared with keeping their current clients.

Customer experience is one of the most important factors in business because it can affect your sales. If you have a customer service team that’s on point, customers will be more likely to return and make purchases. Studies show that if a customer’s issue is remedied during the first interaction with the business, 67% of them will stay with your business. For one customer experience agency, they found that loyal customers are more than five times as likely to repurchase, four times as likely to forgive a company for any mistakes they might make and seven times more open-minded when it comes down to new product offerings. 

In the long run, increasing your customer retention rates by 5% can increase earnings up to 25%-95% that will benefit your business. The success rate of selling to an existing customer is 60-70%, while that of trying to get a new customer is about 5-20%. Focusing on getting your customers to repurchase from you and increasing their loyalty would be the most effective.

6 Reasons Your Customers Leave You

When you’re running a business, it’s important that your customers are happy. Here are some reasons why businesses lose their customers.

1. There is no way for your customers to stay in touch with you

No connection with customers

High churn can be a sign of incomplete or non-existent communication with users. When this happens, they forget about your brand and you might seem less important to them than other brands that still reach out regularly through various media channels. You may want to remedy the situation by increasing communication so that customers not only remember you but perceive your company as more significant and relevant compared to competitors who are constantly on their radar.

It’s common for businesses to forget to consider whether the methods they’re using are actually productive. For example, phone calls or print communication may be valued more by people aged 55 and older, but millennials and Gen Z prefer text messages and social media. Your customer communications strategy must prioritize multi channel engagement as well as delivering communications and documents via the media that each customer prefers.

2. Your customers lose interest in your products or services

Customers losing interest

A small gym might have great branding and positioning to market their services. However, as the needs of customers change, they are more likely to leave because people migrate upmarket into other markets that provide better solutions for them. A few miles down there might be another larger facility that offers more options or better amenities for people who are looking to lose weight faster than they were able at this smaller location.

If a small gym isn’t able to adapt and evolve its services, it will lose out on loyal clientele who are looking for new experiences beyond what they can get at that location. Instead of focusing just on branding or positioning, businesses should be responsive as well so that when the market changes direction, they’re ready to meet those expectations.

3. They are unsatisfied with the customer experience

Bad customer experience

Customers will lose faith in your company if you don’t provide them with an exceptional customer experience. Customers become disappointed when they cannot access customer service links on a website, or do not receive help from companies to resolve issues right away. They may also believe the business is uninterested and untrustworthy if their problems are taking too long to be resolved as well. 

Customer satisfaction is determined by employee happiness because it reflects the mood and state of your business. If your employees leave after a short time on the job, then there is no way that they will provide excellent customer service for long either. It is almost impossible to retain customers when your staff cannot be retained for a long time and customers can tell when employees are unhappy at work.

4. Your customers are unhappy with the price

Customers can be happy with your pricing and in the right market segment. Sometimes companies rely on price changes to solve problems that come from poor customer service or outdated products. If they’re not satisfied with a product that doesn’t solve their problems, then attempting to cut prices reduces your profit margins and makes price increases even harder in the future. 

If their problem isn’t solved in any manner by your pricing, then they might abandon your product and look for something else instead like a competitor with better product and market fit who can provide value without requiring as much effort from users. The more you understand your target audience’s problems, the easier it is to create products and services that solve them.

5. Your business relies on older technology

Technology has become the driving force for brand loyalty. Long checkout times and lack of payment options can cause customers to lose patience, resulting in loss of business and reduced customer satisfaction. Customers today have high expectations but short attention spans. They also do not tolerate inefficient technology and processes that make it difficult to buy products and services on and offline. 

6. Customers don’t think you see them as individuals

Customers are tired of keeping up with business and companies that don’t recognize them as individuals. They want to be recognized for their interests, not just seen as a nameless consumer who exists only to help the company produce profit. 

If you truly want to understand how customers stay loyal, personalize your interactions more than ever before with a loyalty program. Loyalty programs are a great way to recognize and reward loyal customers. For example, you can issue them free products or services in return for frequent purchases.

How to Keep Your Customers’ Loyalty

Without a great customer experience, businesses risk losing repeat business and revenue to competitors. Using these tried-and-true strategies can help you retain the loyalty of your customers.

1. Offer a loyalty program

Loyalty program

A loyalty program is a great way to make your customers feel special and important.There are several types of different programs that you can implement, including:

 

Points Program

People love point programs because they are easy to understand. Customers earn points for every purchase and then use them to exchange for a prize or special offer as their balance increases.

 

Time-Sensitive Promotions

Another efficient way to boost the success of your loyalty program is to periodically send out time-sensitive promotions. You might offer customers who come in on a weekend and buy one cup of coffee, you will double their reward points for their next visit. You can double the impact of your promotion by tying in a loyalty rewards program.

 

Tiered Program

Offer customers different rewards for their different spending habits by creating a tiered rewards program. The longer they are with your company, the more benefits they will receive. This will make them feel involved and rewarded.

 

VIP program

You can provide VIP memberships that offer special deals and perks in exchange for an annual or monthly fee. The company should offer top-tier loyalty benefits such as discounts on future products to customers who enroll.

 

By setting up a reward system for the most loyal, you not only encourage them to stick around, but you also give an incentive for other customers to strive to reach that status.

2. Keep in touch with your customers regularly

Customer relationships

Staying in touch regularly with customers ensures that you are aware of their concerns before they escalate. It’s also important to stay in touch and keep on top of your customers’ minds. 

Regular in-person conversations and email surveys can provide useful information, but you can use other technology to engage your customers. Before you jump on every platform with your customers, consider what platforms are best suited to them. 

 

Email

Brands can’t neglect email marketing in today’s digital age. Email newsletters are popular, and it remains a useful customer service tool for businesses that aren’t as active on social media or prefer to submit queries through other channels.

 

Social media

Brands should respond directly to social media mentions, even if the mention is negative. Prompt customer service will establish your brand as trustworthy in the eyes of customers. Don’t forget to share updates on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so they will not miss out on product updates and company news. 

 

Website

You should set up your website so that it’s functional on desktops and mobile devices and is easy to navigate for customers. Make the checkout process easier with popular payment options. 

 

Implementing live webchat on your website is great for both customers and customer care representatives. A lot of the common questions people ask can be answered through chat, so it saves time to devote more attention to detailed questions that need answers.

3. Seek out customer feedback

To improve customer service, you should solicit feedback from customers by surveying them and asking questions during phone calls. Online reviews, comments, or tags on social media and other online forums can be used to address both positive and negative client feedback to demonstrate you engage with all customers.

You may want to have a private message or email after receiving negative feedback on social media. If you received positive feedback, you can ask the customers if you can feature their feedback online through your website or social media accounts. Don’t forget to always thank your customers for their positive support.

4. Watch your competitors and industry

If you are in an industry where your competition is constantly updating their products and services, it can be important to keep up with them. If they offer training programs for employees about what makes a good customer experience, this will give you insight into how to improve upon the experiences of customers who use your business. 

You can also learn more about their products and services through their marketing campaigns, which reduces the likelihood of your customers joining their list of satisfied customers.

5. Improve the customer experience culture of your business

Company culture

You need to start from within your company to create a better customer experience. Employees are more likely to treat customers with respect if they feel their company values them. They will also be happier if you give them autonomy over their work, which will make it easier for them to work together with customers.

You can ensure consistent customer service by offering incentives like bonuses to sales staff and training to your employees. Guidelines and policies can be helpful for maintaining consistent service levels throughout your company, but you should also empower staff members to resolve customer issues on their own without having to always go to management when necessary.

Now is the Time to Invest in Customer Loyalty

These 6 reasons are enough to leave you convinced that it’s time for a great client experience.Today, there are many ways to provide an amazing client experience. If you follow these guidelines, your consumers will have a great and memorable experience that can develop into loyalty for your business. Making a good first impression is important because it sets the tone on how things will go later in the relationship with customers of any company.

10 Benefits of Starting a Loyalty Program

loyalty program benefits

Many business owners do not understand the benefits of a loyalty program for their customers and as a result, they miss out on an opportunity for increasing customer retention.

Customer loyalty programs are often underutilized because business owners don’t realize how beneficial they can be. Businesses that have implemented loyalty or rewards programs have seen increased profits in return. A loyalty program has many benefits that companies can enjoy when they incorporate it into their marketing strategy.

What is a Loyalty Program

Customer loyalty rewards programs have been in existence since 1793 when shopkeepers distributed copper tokens as rewards for future purchases. In 1896, the practice of using stamps to incentivize customer retention started gaining traction and it has stuck ever since. The basic ingredients have not changed much since. 

If 80% of your business will come from just 20% of your customers, then it pays to reward and invest in customer loyalty. Companies can now find customers by building a relationship that’s based on shared values, engagement, and emotional ties with the brand. Customers are buying from companies if they feel like there is value beyond just receiving the cheapest products or services available. 

Customers enjoy knowing they’re being rewarded for their hard work and getting points every time they purchase your products and services – not only does it make them feel better about buying but also means if enough others start using this as well then all those rewards will come back around. Customers are rewarded in exchange for taking certain actions–usually a purchase or a referral–but it can also include sharing on social media. Loyalty programs are a great way to maintain this customer loyalty.

The Benefits of a Loyalty Program

With a loyalty program, you’ll be able to acquire and retain customers over time.

1. Develop Customer Curiosity About the Loyalty Program

You need to make your loyalty program so fun and interesting that customers want to learn more about it. A successful loyalty program should engage and reward customers in a way that encourages repeat purchases and improves customer engagement and satisfaction.

To increase loyalty program success, align your loyalty program’s branding personality with your business goals. A spa should offer an exclusive and sophisticated VIP-themed loyalty program while a gym can create a customer loyalty program based on gamification for attracting new customers.

2. Make Your Business Stand Out

Loyalty programs are a great way to set your business apart from the competition. A simple buying journey for purchasing decisions, together with a great customer experience, are likely to result in existing customers remaining loyal to your company. 

Loyal customers get greater value for their money and have no problem continuing to purchase products or services when they might be cheaper elsewhere because of how much loyalty means these days. 

3. Strengthen Customer Relationships

Building a relationship with customers is an important part of any business. You can do so by curating custom messages and deals that will appeal to certain customer segments without just focusing on the transactional side of things, like making sales and fulfilling orders. It’s a great way to engage your customers, regardless of whether your business is small or big.

4. Increase Your Customer Base

A company’s customer loyalty and rewards program is a key component to long-term success. When it comes down to making the purchase, customers will usually choose the company that offers more benefits for them personally. 

Whether it be price, discounts, or extras like promotions or deals from time to time. Implementing such programs provides consumers with perks that may draw new people in as well because they offer something different than competitors do so there are other reasons why someone would want to shop at your store over another retailer nearby!

5. Feature Exclusive Services

You may have a lot of choices when it comes to rewards, including credit cards and points. But if your company offers unique services that are hard to copy, highlighting these with a rewards program may help you stand out from the rest. 

Rewards programs are a great way to reward your customers for their loyalty and exclusivity. You can also use the program as an opportunity to highlight special, exclusive services that would be difficult or expensive for competitors to replicate.

6. Retain Repeat Customers

benefits of the loyalty program

Your customers will be coming back for more and you’ll reap the benefits as a result of implementing a loyalty program. Loyalty programs are an excellent way to reward customers with deals, discounts, and exclusive VIP invitations that they can’t find anywhere else. 

Customer retention is essential to your company’s long-term success. It not only strengthens the relationship between you and your customers but also boosts your revenue in the long run. As a result of their loyalty, they trust that you will give them value for their money which increases confidence in your business.

7. Boost Average Order Value

Customers who participate in loyalty and rewards programs have been shown to spend more money than those who don’t. 18% of customers say they want to see product samples and coupons in retail packaging. At the spa boutique, customers can receive a sample of natural moisturizing body lotion for every $100 spent on spa products. This gives customers something to look forward to and encourages them to spend more as they attempt to earn their next reward.

8. Create Brand Advocates

Those who spend money on your business benefit your brand as they are the ones that spread the word. These brand advocates promote your company to their friends, family, and with their followers on social media sites. 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family, opposed to any other form of marketing. Whether you reward your customers with points or offer them a discount on their first purchase for referring friends and family, these benefits attract new customers and help retain existing customers.

9. Generate Customer Referrals

Consumers know about your loyalty program because it’s a great way to save money and get good deals. But what they don’t always realize is that these benefits are even greater when referring to friends. A loyalty member who refers someone will have a 26% better customer retention rate, so you’ll not only be getting new customers but more profits as well.

10. Generate More Customer Reviews

Online customer reviews are just as reliable as recommendations from family and friends. Instead of you thanking your customers, they’ll be shouting out about how satisfied they were because many businesses offer rewards for positive feedback on websites like Yelp or social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter. 

Reward Your Best Customers

Your most valued customers are the ones who use your loyalty program the most. This means that you should concentrate your efforts there to recoup one-time buyers and turn them into brand advocates as well. 

Your program can grow rapidly if, by thinking outside the box, you use word-of-mouth marketing in a way that encourages consumers to talk about it organically. Your company can use an all-in-one referral marketing platform to identify your best loyal customers and reward them with their hard-earned incentives while driving more new customers to your business.