With budgeting season underway, your customers may be reconsidering their spending. It’s a healthy, productive, and typical exercise. But, in an era of inflation, it could mean you’re more vulnerable than usual. Time to enhance your brand appeal.
Customer attrition can create a domino effect of negative financial consequences for a brand, its shareholders, and people at all levels of an organization.
So, why might customers leave? And what can you do before that happens?
Reason #1: It’s been fun, but I don’t need this any more.
In my house, Blue Apron is a perfect example of a “don’t need that anymore” casualty. We signed up with a promo code, enjoyed the novelty and convenience of meal kit deliveries for a few months, but ultimately decided we could live without them. Plus, the single-use packaging was wasteful.
If your customer signed up for your service on a whim, you could be on the chopping block. Time to adjust your pitch and enhance your brand appeal. To win us back, Blue Apron could highlight how we’ve stopped cooking for ourselves as we’ve gotten busier again. If I’m feeling exhausted, unhealthy, and guilty about dining out more, suddenly Blue Apron becomes a need instead of a nicety. Not that I’m endorsing #PizzaShaming, of course.
Reason #2: The price keeps going up, and I’m not seeing more value.
Have you ever felt bitter about paying an invoice or seeing a certain recurring charge on your statement? You may not have been able to put your finger on why, but there’s a good chance your value assessment slipped into deficit territory.
I started to feel this way about a boutique gym I joined. It was fun initially, with a nice little community, clean facilities, and great instructors. Then — every three months or so — there was a price increase. I took the first few in stride. I started working out more to get my money’s worth. This was great, until they added penalty fees and parking became impossible. And ended up with a repetitive hip injury from doing the same routines over and over. The value equation had flipped.
As your customers audit their expenses, big line items and painful increases will likely be scrutinized. Time to give your loyal customers a break or an extra benefit. To improve brand appeal and remind me of the value of their workouts (in the right doses), the gym could offer a streaming version of their classes at a fraction of the in-studio price and a discount on at-home equipment.
Reason #3: There’s another, cheaper option, and the difference is minor (or nonexistent).
Goodbye Netflix, hello Hulu. With prices rising in many categories, customers are seeking savings where they can — especially if the difference between services is negligible and the process of switching is easy. This is a great time to enhance your brand appeal.
If you and your competitor(s) have become interchangeable, you could be the one getting cut. Time to create some distance between you and your closest rivals. Remind customers what they can’t get anywhere else. Netflix did this with a strategically timed release of their latest season of Stranger Things. It’s a start.
Reason #4: I still like this (service/product), but I don’t want it as often.
Hard seltzers are a great example of a new entrant shaking up an established category. Customers appreciate the lower calorie count and different flavor profiles, with convenient and often clever packaging. Here’s looking at you, Mom Water.
If a newcomer is disrupting your category, your customer may not be picking your product as often. Time to stay true to what you do best. Sometimes it’s OK to double down on your expertise and your position. For example, if you’re a craft brewer and flavor is king, keep leaning into your high-ABV hopped-up varieties. You could consider a packaging update, but your customers will appreciate your consistent product. In the words of Ron Swanson, “Never half-ass two things, whole-ass one thing.”
Reason #5: I’ve just been hoping for something better to come along, and now it has.
Sometimes customers no longer need (or want) the service you provide in the specific way you’re providing it. This has happened to taxicab companies, cable providers, and Tupperware. It’s coming for gas stations. It may be happening to you.
If there is a legitimately superior option to your services — one that threatens your entire category — you may just be seeing the first exits before an exodus. Time to evolve your offering and enhance your brand appeal. This is the hardest advice to hear, but it is possible to pivot from a dying category.
In short, a customer exodus can be prevented; if you’re willing to accept feedback and make changes.