Summit Ghimire is the founder of Outpace, an SEO agency. He helps companies from startups to the Fortune 500 exceed their revenue targets.
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Running a small business requires skills often reserved for circus performers, focused on balancing the needs of time, energy and capital. Accomplishing this task requires an understanding of where your resources are being invested and, crucially, whether or not continuing at current levels of investment is prudent.
If a business leader wants to know the answers to such vital questions, he needs comprehensive information – not just any knowledge, but actionable figures and data that effectively convey critical truths. I’ve found that predictive data is one of the most valuable pieces in any business leader’s toolbox. When equipped with a reliable forecast of the return on investment (ROI) they can expect, asset shifting can be less overwhelming.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) is a valuable piece of predictive data that sheds powerful light on a company’s customer base. The CLV is the total financial value of a customer throughout their relationship with the company. Knowing the current value of the future cash flow a customer represents can help companies put resources into their most valuable customers.
What role does the onboarding process play in customer retention?
One of the challenges in ensuring the long-term viability of a business is the reality that not all customers are equally important. Limited resources should be directed to the highest value customers. While a customer’s value to date provides limited insight, a clear understanding of their future value can ensure valuable resources are put to good use.
Customer lifetime value answers that question and provides invaluable insight. While maximizing CLV may seem logical, knowing how to do it can be overwhelming at first.
As with any challenge, you have to start somewhere. It can be very helpful to find one crucial factor to focus on. While there are many methods companies can use to increase CLV, creating a successful customer onboarding process is a critical step.
I think a company’s onboarding process is perhaps the most essential aspect of attracting, serving and retaining customers. While it’s true that you can’t onboard a customer that doesn’t exist, I’ve found that few things are as powerful as word of mouth. A satisfied customer is the basis for a secure future for any company, especially for small businesses fighting for their position.
How can companies create a seamless onboarding process?
The exact starting point of the customer onboarding process is debated; anyway, i think the most crucial moment is when they start interacting with your service or product as a paying customer. Everything after that will serve as the basis for their purchase valuation. Stumbling at this stage can create a shaky foundation upon which the client’s long-term vision will grow and evolve. Here are some tips for a smooth and seamless onboarding process.
1. Use quality copy in all elements of the process.
The importance of quality copy cannot be underestimated. A product or service can become indispensable to an individual, but if the customer is put off, unimpressed or confused by the copied content, the chances of this happening become increasingly slim.
Whether it’s the content of your welcome email, the text on the screen of a first tutorial video, or the content that fills up empty states, it all matters.
2. Set the right tone in your welcome email.
Finding the right tone when composing a welcome email is a complex task. There are several important points to consider.
• Does the tone reflect your company’s identity or philosophy?
• Does your message convey their value as a customer and effectively express appreciation?
• Does your message communicate enough information to make sure the customer knows what to do next, but doesn’t overwhelm them with details?
3. Keep it short and communicate the most important information in advance.
As you build your product walkthrough, focus on the lessons and content that are essential to help the customer adapt to the product or service as smoothly as possible. Product familiarization will vary depending on the product or service, but everyone has basic information and concepts that need to be conveyed.
4. Emphasize your product’s features without overloading the customer.
A paying customer probably has a basic understanding of the service or product you provide. As they become familiar with it, integrate a steady stream of valuable features to encourage exponential usage. Pay attention and try to achieve this without overwhelming them; overwhelming the customer is counterproductive, but almost guarantees that they lose the overview.
Improving customer lifetime value starts with successful onboarding.
Allocating resources for maximum impact is critical to creating and maintaining long-term viability. Retaining these customers is often a more cost-effective use of time, effort and resources, as acquiring new customers can have a greater impact on budgets. Setting up one smooth onboarding process is an important step towards cultivating loyal, satisfied customers. Maximizing this process for your customers can pave the way for a satisfying customer experience, streamlining their journey with your company.
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