ChristianUnfortunately, the best customer referral programs for your eCommerce business are unlikely to be found lying around the Internet just waiting for you to snatch them up. It is very likely that the one suited perfectly to your digital store is the one that you have put together, in bits and pieces, as your knowledge of referral marketing methods and successes increases. This is the one prime reason why it is imperative to spend on marketing campaigns on a growing scale as well. Never sink your businesses finances and future into one referral-marketing basket. Start small and slow and grow as you go.
The eCommerce Element
One of the greatest elements surrounding the best customer referral programs at various eCommerce stores is that we can see that their strategies work. While they may be selling a different product, their idea would work with yours is a plus. In some cases the idea can just be mirrored with a bit of customization to cater directly to your own audience and Wham! you have a successful new program. However, the helpfulness of another store’s tactics may always be outweighed by the fact that you may be in competition with literally, thousands of other businesses exactly like yours in all of the ways that count.
This is why although there is nothing wrong with mirroring another businesses strategy, however, if you do not add something unique or out-of -the-norm, you are just placing yourself back into the category of “One of thousands.” Take lessons away from good examples, but never forget to tailor good examples to the needs of your specific consumers.
Consider All Elements of Your Business
Most eCommerce businesses have a product or service highlight. That would be the item or offering that really represents your business as a whole. It could even be that one product that represents your brand and its focus closest. Regardless of what it is, and for that matter, how many other items you sell aside from your main shining offering, you must consider all elements of your products or services before you will be able to create the best customer referral programs
Getting Started
One of the best ways to ensure that you are building your Customer Referral Programs from the ground up is to get the initial steps out of the way to start. Once you have initiated your launch, you can then focus on the responses and analytics of your strategies. To get started only requires a few simple steps.
Whenever you end a pleasant transaction (after the payment has been exchanged) ask the customer if they have any friends who would be interested in your products and services. This is a good way to get a feel for how responsive consumers are to your offerings.
Create a form on your website that allows current or prospective customers to receive a small benefit for signing up. This is an excellent source of measuring many elements of your campaign. Many business owners use this type of draw to gain a better perspective on their true interested and purchasing demographics instead of relying on site visitor demographics that can often be inaccurate to your true target.
Test and measure. Test and measure. Plan to repeat that exact process until you have weeded out the ineffective techniques in exchange for those that work.
Christian Fea is CEO of Synertegic, Inc. A Joint Venture and Referral Marketing firm. He exemplifies how to profit from Joint Venture and Referral relationships by creating profit centers with minimal risk and maximum profitability.
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