Keep Your Customers Coming Back

Dear Valued Customer,

Customer acquisition is important, but it's a wasted effort if you don't follow up with a customer retention plan. Even small things can make a big difference when customers compare you to the competition.

Your customer retention plan doesn't have to be complicated or costly. This month, we'll give you simple ideas for keeping your customers without drastically raising your costs.

Hostway Community

Tell Us Your Story

You, our customers, are part of a large community of talented and successful business owners. We'd love to share the story of how you built your online business with the entire community. Please send your story and your Web site link to us for the chance to be featured in our next newsletter.

Featured Product

Hosted Exchange

Communicate with Customers

Build your customer contact lists and send them the most up-to-date information about your business with hosted Microsoft Exchange. You get all the functionality of Exchange email accounts starting at just $9.95/month.

Learn more.

Domain Update

Cash Back and Rebate for .Asia

For a limited time, we're offering 3% cash back on the winning bid for .asia domain name auctions that were preregistered by February 19, 2008 and successfully registered through Hostway. In addition, all .asia domain names preregistered for the sunrise and land rush periods are eligible for a $10 rebate. Some terms and conditions apply. Check out the .asia page for full details.

Learn more

New Prices for .Net and .Com

Through the month of February, you can register .com or .net domain names through Hostway for just $7.45/year each.

Learn more

Survey Says

Check back for the results in next month’s newsletter.

Previous Survey Results

What is the main step you plan to take to grow your business in 2008?

Redesign Web site

100%

Start a PPC Campaign

Invest in SEO

Add a shopping cart

No plans

1. Top Story

Inexpensive Ways to Keep Customers Coming Back

If you're like most businesses, you know that customer retention is important, but you just haven't found the time to create and implement a strategy. Even small efforts can make a big difference when customers are weighing you against your competitors. Here are some simple ideas you can use to start a customer retention plan for your business.

Offer Special Incentives for Frequent Buyers

Many small businesses offer loyalty programs. It can be as simple as a business card with icons to punch out each time a customer makes a purchase. Remember the coffee shop that offers the 10th cup of coffee free or the bookstore that gives a $5 discount when customers collect $100 in sales on their punch card? These programs keep people coming back again and again to redeem their prize.

If you're an online business, automate the process. Keep track of customer sales over time and offer special deals or discounts when customers reach a designated level of sales. Most importantly, make sure you announce this program to your customers by placing it on your Web site or sending an email message to your email list.

Send Email Messages to Key Customers

You can build an email list of customers simply by asking for their email addresses and permission to send them messages. Send your list messages announcing special offers, sales or newly released products and services. Sometimes all it takes to get a customer to return is a reminder that your business exists. Some customers will return for your special offers.

If you do not have the resources to maintain a large email list, try creating a small one using the contacts in your email system. This list can include your top customers. Remember to respect their rights and honor any requests to unsubscribe from your list. It is also important to blind copy everyone on the list so others cannot copy your list and send members unwanted email messages. Simply paste your email addresses into the "BCC" rather than the "To" field before you hit send. Recipients will see only your address and theirs on the message.

Write a Blog

Maintaining a company blog is a great way for online businesses to establish themselves as industry experts and keep customers returning to their Web site for new information. Blogs are inexpensive, but require a regular time commitment. Regular postings build an audience and keep people returning, but if you let a long time lapse between posts, people can get frustrated and will eventually stop visiting.

Create Print Marketing Pieces

There are many ways to use printed pieces to increase customer retention. Sending messages electronically is always more cost-effective, but if your target audience is not Internet savvy, here are some ideas to keep customers coming back with printed materials:

Holiday or birthday card with a coupon. Cards can set you apart from the competition by giving your customers the impression that you care about them. The coupon is an excellent enticement to get them to buy from you again.
Appointment reminders. Doctors, dentists and oil change companies often send previous customers a little reminder in the mail when their next appointment is due. These reminders are helpful for customers, and they're likely to think of you first when they're ready for that office visit or purchase.
Sales flyers. If your business serves a local audience, consider printing flyers for sales and delivering them or mailing them to members of your community.

Conduct a Survey

Ask your customers what they think about your business or any changes you plan to make. By finding out what they like about your business and what they don't, you can figure out what causes customers to stop purchasing from you and how you can keep them coming back.

Focusing on keeping current customers happy can be more profitable than acquiring new customers. But the best business strategies offer a balance of both. Check out our Web Resources section for ideas on acquiring new customers.

2. Hostway News

SiteControl Login Gets a Facelift

If you've logged into SiteControl lately, you may have noticed some changes. We've completely refreshed the login page with helpful information. Visit the new page for Hostway's latest press releases, information on building and maintaining your Web site plus timely announcements about our products.

Go to SiteControl

New Intrusion Detection Service for Dedicated Servers

Hostway launched Threat Manager, three network security products rolled into a single intrusion detection service (IDS) for dedicated servers. Threat Manager blocks network attacks, manages server vulnerabilities and automates IT compliance.

Learn more about Threat Manager

More RAM, Lower Setup Fees on Dedicated Servers

For a limited time, Hostway is offering two special deals on dedicated servers. Get 1 GB RAM on TruFlex-S 100 and 200 dedicated servers, up from 512 MB and lower setup fees on select TruFlex-S and TruFlex servers.

Learn more about these special offers

3. Smart Tip

Beware of giving your new customers a better deal than your current customers.

When you advertise a special deal for new customers, chances are your current customers will see it. Because the cost of acquiring a current customer is $0, it's a smart business move to offer them a similar deal so they're not tempted to grab a new customer deal from your competitors.

Need to update your contact or billing information? Log into SiteControl now to update your account information, ensure continuous service and prevent any potential system delays.

4. Special Offers!

Websitemagazine.com

Get a Free Subscription to "Website Magazine"

Hostway has teamed up with "Website Magazine" to offer you a free subscription. This quarterly publication delivers information about proven Internet business practices and emerging trends that directly relate to Web site owners.

PhotoshopSupport.com

Free Shipping on Adobe Photoshop Elements 6

Photoshopsupport.com has several exclusive deals for Hostway customers this month. Pre-order Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 before March 24, 2008 and get free shipping when the product is released. Click the link below for free Photoshop video training clips and a special price on Photoshop CS3 Upgrades and Bundles.

Learn more about these special offers.