The easier something is to do, the more likely someone is like to do it. This applies to all areas of life, including business. By making your sales process convenient for your customers, you’ll most likely see an increase in initial sales, and repeat business too.
Companies like Amazon have made customer convenience the cornerstone of their business model, and as a result make crazy profits. The convenience is consistent across the board, no matter where you are located or how much you are spending.
But you don’t need to be a massive company to implement a more convenient service. After all, it’s the individuals at Amazon who work hard to make Bezos’ billions. Getting your orders out in time for next-day delivery is no small task. However, I’ve got 3 simple steps on how to deliver a convenient service without having to hire a horde of underpaid employees.
Imagine a one-fish band based locally who makes aquatic themed desserts, complete with a portable running water supply to cleanse the palate. It is even possible to add convenience to your service with this business setup. In personal opinion, I believe a sole owner implementing a convenient customer sales process has a lot more weight to it than an employee of a large company.
If I saw the owner of “Fishcakes” at my door the same week of my order, I would be incredibly impressed with the dedication and level of customer care (imagine Bezos turning up at your house with that blender in his new rocket).
The pandemic has seen a surge in delivered products from door-to-door, like Deliveroo. Delivery ha been convenient on two levels recently:
Again, it’s the individuals at Deliveroo who make the service convenient. If you run a local business, you could easily guarantee delivery for your products.With a local offering, you can target your delivery to customers who live close together, saving you time. It’s a small expense to do it personally because of fuel, in that case get a bike (it’s better for you, the environment and you could get tips!)
If your product is fragile, like the aquatic themed cakes, or your service area is too large for you to deliver to, then look in to a courier service. Parcelhub have a great article on finding the best courier service for your business.
Taking delivery to the next-level, you could also offer installation and setup with more complex products. This would also be a great opportunity to get to know your customer more, building trust, as well as answering any questions they may have (for your FAQ).
In regards to “Fishcakes”, that wouldn’t be a case of demonstrating the customer how to eat their aquatic themed dessert. But that could be placing the cake in the fridge, or discussing the best way to serve it, like with a drink of squid ink, or something like that…
If your product is digital, you could hop on a Zoom screen share to talk your customer through features and how to get started. You could even record the call (with their permission of course!) as a guide for other customers.
Customers tend to be busy people, and this is one of the reasons convenience is so important. If you can make them feel supported in their lives without asking for too much, you’re more likely to get that 5-star review.
Rather than chasing customers on the phone once they’ve submitted their details on the “Fishcakes” website, allowing them the opportunity to book a slot with you could be the way forward. Not only does it save time for you (it’s like having a personal assistant), the customer feels in control of the process and is able to fit you in with their busy schedule.
There are many apps that can help automate this process, such as Calendly which offers a free version. You can link this up to Google Calendar and customers can access dates and times that you are available to book a slot with you.
This is an incredibly effective and simple method to offer a convenient experience to your customers, and can also help you stay organised.
Hopefully these tips will give some inspiration to become more convenient for your customers, and that they will help your sales soar. Even if these tips aren’t for you, it’s a good idea to research competitors and find out how they are making life easier for your target audience.
And if it’s an inconvenience to add convenience, it’s highly likely that you won’t stand out from the crowd. In fact, three-quarters of shoppers look for more convenience, so it should be the standard throughout your business.
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