3 ways business owners can create loyal customers

Every day, millions of Americans frequent their favorite businesses for goods and services. As customers' needs change over time, businesses must keep a close eye on trends and consumer habits to secure long-term customers. Here are a few ways businesses can grow with their customers to maintain loyalty.

1. Be social

Social media should be a no-brainer for business owners as a way to foster loyalty.

According to a study from the Pew Research Center, 65% of American adults had at least one social media account in 2015. In fact, 79% of internet users in the US - 68% of all US adults - use Facebook.

Not only does social media provide business owners with the opportunity to connect with millions of potential customers, it also allows them to retain existing customers through brand promotions. But there are more ways to engage consumers than tweeting back and forth - prizes and giveaways are a great way to showcase new products or services.

2. Keep them entertained

If you have a popular business, you've probably had customers waiting for a few minutes or more - Americans spend roughly 37 billion hours each year waiting in line. Why not entertain these customers with their favorite TV shows, movies, and/or sporting events while they wait?

No matter your business, be it a bar or a hair salon, your customers will thank you. It helps break the ice for groups who have run out of things to chat about and benefits people who are tired of staring at their smartphones.

TV entertainment can also help customers who are looking for a healthy distraction, whether they're trying to kill time on the treadmill at the gym or nervously waiting at the doctor's office.

Pay-TV providers like DIRECTV for BUSINESS™ offer affordable bundles for business owners looking to give their customers the ultimate entertainment experience.

3. Embrace apps

Smartphone apps have become one of the biggest growth drivers in digital media, representing 80% of overall growth over the past three years. A comScore study showed that the average American spends 73.8 hours a month on a smartphone.

Smartphone apps are swiftly becoming the gatekeepers of the internet, and business owners need to take advantage. It may not be feasible for every business to develop its own app, but businesses can amp up their brand visibility by creating a presence on some of the most popular apps.

There are also several apps designed to help business owners succeed. Whether an app helps team members communicate faster and more efficiently or helps save time between projects or orders, there are plenty of tools that can help businesses sharpen their productivity.

As the industry continues to grow and embrace technology, business owners should be responsible for monitoring patterns with their customers and take note on how consumers interact with businesses and brands. When business owners explore different ways of engaging customers, they succeed in building loyalty.

To learn more about DIRECTV for BUSINESS™'s services and features, click here.

This post is sponsored by DIRECTV.

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