INTERACT, PERSONALIZE, INVOLVE: How to Keep Customers &
Encourage Loyalty
by Brian, TotemCash.com
Interact with the user, personalise the experience, get him involved!
There are more and more sites claiming to be offering something different,
something that involves the user and makes them more active.
 I'm not
talking about new virtual technology or those cool 3D sex sites, but
rather regular sites that give a bit of the control back to the user,
where it belongs. I believe this is the real key to keeping customers
and instilling loyalty in them. If they feel they're a part of what's
going on, they care more! If your site gives the surfer the opportunity
to become involved (or "feel" involved) in what's happening in or
around the site, then that surfer feels he has a role to play.
One product that immediately involves its users and makes them feel
part of the experience is VirtuaGirl. With this site, the user has
his own collection of strippers and gets to choose which one he wants
stripping for him, how often she comes and goes, or if he wants her
to remind him of meetings, etc... At the same time, the user also has
the impression that he has a privileged relationship with the girl;
she's at home with him, she lives and strips on his desktop, in his
PC. She's the girlfriend he never had! This is the home strip club
he always wanted!
The interaction between the user and the product creates a deep loyalty
to the product, which means members stay for longer. This program
has even got a voting system, whereby the members choose which girl
they want next. Involving the user in this way gives him the feeling
of empowerment, lets him know that the site cares about his opinion
and at the same time personalizes the customer experience.
All this is positive, it's just one example, but it's something that
every site should try to achieve in some form or another. Sometimes
it may be as simple as carrying out a poll from time to time, asking
members what they like and what they dislike, or a competition inciting
members to get involved in what's going on with your product and at
the same time rewarding their participation. You'll be surprised;
the feedback you get from your members is often very useful in the
constant renewal and improvement of your site.
|
Printer
Friendly Version