As any business owner will tell you, regardless of company size, budget, or consumer base, the battle isn't won once you've landed the customer, but once you've gained their loyalty. Getting the sale will allow you to improve your bottom line today, but it's only through brand loyalty that you can create a business that thrives in the long term.

But that is wherein the problem lies for most brands: how do you build that crucial customer loyalty, and how do you turn your consumers into brand advocates?

In this guide, we'll share some invaluable tips and strategies that can give you the opportunity to build brand loyalty, and turn your customers into supporters who will spread the word about your business' products or services.

But first, let's take a closer look at why it's so important to focus on customer loyalty:

Why Customer Loyalty is Vitally Important

There are some rather surprising brand loyalty statistics that speak volumes about the importance of customer loyalty: according to a study conducted by Fivestars, about 63 percent of marketers believe that acquiring new customers is the primary goal. However, about 20 percent of a company's customer base is loyal customers, which are consumers who have visited a business at least 10 times. That 20 percent actually makes up roughly 80 percent of total revenue!

Not to mention that loyal customers will typically spend about 10 times more at your business or site over the course of their lifetime! That means your loyal customers, the ones who are going to potentially bring in new customers, are also responsible for a bulk of your profits themselves.

The Benefits of Customer Loyalty

Here are just a few of the benefits that are commonly associated with customer loyalty:

• Help to minimize marketing costs. When loyal customers keep coming back for more of your products or services and send new customers your way, this minimizes the need to spend more on your marketing campaigns. That means that you can devote more of your budget to other business needs or turn a larger profit. 

• Bring in other loyal customers. If an existing customer becomes a brand advocate, they are more willing to send other potential customers your way. Given that these new customers will already know about the superior customer service and high quality products or services that you offer, there's a higher likelihood that they will eventually become loyal customers themselves. 

• They are willing to spend more. Thanks to a variety of customer loyalty surveys, studies, and research, we know that loyal customers are likely to spend more at your establishment. As such, building brand loyalty and turning customers into brand advocates can allow you to increase profits without having to market for new customers.

Strategies to Build Brand Loyalty

Loyalty Programs. One of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to build brand loyalty is through loyalty programs. If you want to see a real-world example of just how powerful these programs are in today's competitive marketplace, just have a look at the Starbucks loyalty program. Their program allows customers the opportunity to earn rewards just by purchasing their products. As a result, customers are more likely to return to their local “baristas” in order to earn free drinks, food, and merchandise. 

Thanks to modern technology, the loyalty program has recently been taken to a whole new level. Now mobile loyalty programs give customers the chance to accumulate points and earn free goods and services or discounts simply by using an app that has been installed on their mobile device. And while the customer benefits from these programs, the rewards reaped by the business offering them are even greater. 

The best loyalty programs that offer a wide range of features will allow you to build customer loyalty, increase profits, and even attract new customers. One of the most significant advantages is that they are usually inexpensive to implement, making them a wonderful return on your minimal investment. Not to mention that loyalty programs are typically very easy to maintain over time. 

Yet another perk of loyalty programs is that businesses gain the ability to gather important information about their customer base. When customers sign up, they are typically required to provide basic data, which can help you to build your mailing list. However, you can also ask them to answer questions that will enable you to learn more about their spending habits, such as the types of services or products they typically purchase. This information becomes invaluable when put to good use during the creation of your marketing strategy, or when integrating feedback into your business model. 

Above all else, however, customer loyalty programs serve to turn customers into advocates for your brand. By offering rewards or special discounts through the program, you're showing them that you care about their business and are more than willing to offer them incentives to retain them as customers.

Connect with your consumers. One of the most effective ways to create brand advocates is to connect with your consumer base. Social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, can enable you to reach out to your customers and let them know about sales, specials, or new products being offered. It also keeps your business in the forefront of their minds, so they remember their positive experiences with you in the past when it's time to replenish their supply of your product or once again order your service.

Ideally, you'll want to make your customers feel as though they're an integral part of your company's success. Engage them; encourage them to become involved. If you have a new product, ask them to give it a try and offer their feedback via email or social media posts. Remember to be consistent when keeping in touch, so that you foster brand awareness and credibility. 

Offer customer service that keeps them coming back. It's all about customer service! Even if you have a stellar loyalty program in place and engage your customers on a regular basis, you aren't going to be able to build brand loyalty if you don't offer consumers a great experience every time they frequent your business. Go that proverbial extra mile and ensure that each of your employees is well versed in the nuances of superior customer care. 

Part of the overall customer experience is to keep on top of what the competition is doing and offer your customers even better service. Give them a reason to choose your business over other companies within your niche (the loyalty program strategy mentioned earlier is an effective way to achieve this). 

Focus on quality. While customer service is key, the quality of the goods or services you offer is also essential. Be sure that your product is in the right price range and offers a good value to the customer. Even if a customer may want to be loyal to your brand, sometimes they will choose another company if the price point is lower and the value is higher. So, you'll want to strike a careful balance and focus on quality if you are trying to convert existing customers to advocates of your brand. 

Let them know their opinion is important. If you are trying to turn customers into brand loyalists, it's vital to let them know that their feedback is important to your business. Again, social media can provide you with a platform to gather feedback and then use that feedback to improve customer service and product design. Ask them about their experience with your business or product, and find out if they are willing to return to your establishment or site in the future. Make sure they know that their opinion is important to the success of your business, and that you care about their ideas and feedback. Let them know that you are focused on providing your customers with the best, and that you take every concern, comment, or suggestion seriously. 

Appreciate loyal customers! Customers, above all else, want to feel as though they are appreciated. They want to feel like you care about them and their experience, and that you're ready to go above and beyond to turn them into brand loyalists. Send out thank-you cards or emails, offer them a newsletter every month that includes helpful tips and advice, and offer them a discount on special occasions. Seize every opportunity to show your gratitude for their purchases and their loyalty, so that they will not only keep coming back, but will refer other customers to your business. 

Building customer loyalty is essential to your business' bottom line. Not only can it help to boost your profit margin, but it can make you a trusted and respected name in your niche. In today's competitive market, where consumers are always looking for lower prices and better service, you should take every opportunity to turn each customer into a loyal brand advocate.