Today more than ever, business owners are looking for ways to provide exceptional customer experiences. Smart owners are searching for ways to boost foot traffic, referrals, and sales by wowing their customers.
But how can you do that when you already have so much on your plate? In this post, we’ll share five strategies for running a smooth operation that keeps customers happy, all while using the Square Point of Sale system you already have in place!
1. Have one source of truth for all business data.
It’s critical to sell both online and in-store post-pandemic, but this can be challenging. For one, keeping inventory up to date becomes a bigger headache when you’re selling through multiple channels.
You have enough on your plate. It’s critical to keep your inventory up-to-date and accurate, not just for your business but also for your customer experience. Solutions like SKU IQ make your life easier by connecting your Shopify store information with your Square Point of Sale (POS) data and allowing you to see it all in one place.
2. Capture customer information at every turn
Make a sale, and you can do a happy dance! But don’t stop there. You must collect information on those precious real-time customers who buy from you. Knowing your customers allows you to reward them for their loyalty and business, incentivizing them to buy again.
By using information about your customer’s buying habits, you can create enticing promotions, sales, and new product lines. As a result, you run your business more strategically.
Luckily there are simple ways you can collect this customer data both offline and online:
- How to collect customer data in-store: If customers choose to receive their receipt through paper or sign up for text alerts, their contact information is collected at the Square Point of Sale (POS) sign-up screen.
- How to collect customer data online: A Square sign-up page lets you collect customer information online. Use your unique Square URL to share on social media and embed on your website. The URL will take your customers to a dedicated landing page where they can enter their email addresses.
3. Take customer personalization to the next level
Following the two tips above will help you actively collect customer data and store it in your source of truth. By now, you may be asking, what can I do with this data to benefit my customers?
Use customer data to create experiences that feel customized to each shopper! Send bonuses based on birthdays and holidays. Based on the products and frequency of purchase a customer buys, you can send highly personalized offers and promotions. Consider rewarding your loyal customers by offering discounts, perks, and other offers.
4. Make convenience king
Modern customers want convenience when it comes to purchasing goods from merchants. Taking the omnichannel approach is an effective way of satisfying everyone’s preferences. Although 51 percent of Americans prefer online shopping, 49 percent still want to shop in actual stores.
An omnichannel business approach makes buying from you convenient by allowing customers to:
- Reserve products online for in-store pick up.
- Check inventory to make sure items are in-stock before arriving
- Opt for curbside or contactless pickup
The only way to provide these seamless customer experiences is syncing your inventory in real-time with a smart connected solution.
5. Have your interactions turn customers into raving fans
We know firsthand how small businesses have suffered due to the pandemic, and we want to help you bounce back resiliently. One of the most effective ways to boost sales is by providing excellent customer service that builds loyalty and encourages customers to spread word of mouth referrals.
The following are ways to provide an exceptional customer experience through your interactions:
Make sure your inventory syncs in real-time to prevent overselling.
Accurate inventory is a bigger problem than most merchants realize! Online retailers alone lose revenue worth over $1.75 trillion each year by not effectively managing their inventory. Providing a smooth, error-free customer experience is more important now than ever.
By connecting Square with your Shopify account and synchronizing all data in one place, your inventory will sync in real-time. Smart, connected inventory prevents you from selling products you don’t have and frustrating customers.
Make sure your staff is prioritizing customer interactions.
The good news is, a First Insight Report found that 71 percent of all shoppers spent $50 or more when shopping in-store versus online. A significant reason for this is the emotional role that human contact plays in shopping behavior.
In the wake of lockdowns, your staff can have a massive impact on your customers if they pay them proper attention. Make sure you have a connected retail solution that actively manages inventory so that you can focus on your customers.
The bottom line on using Square to boost your business
When it comes to business optimization, we say start with the tools you already have. By connecting Square to other selling channels like Shopify, you can see all your sales information in one place, capture valuable customer data, and create a highly-tailored customer experience.
You have a business to run, but we know how important your customers are to you. With smart connected retail solutions, you’ll never feel pressure to choose between the two again.
When you deliver convenient omnichannel shopping experiences to your customers with accurate inventory wherever they shop with you, your business won’t miss a beat!
