The technology that is available at our fingertips is mind boggling, to say the least. Anything and everything is ready to view in a split second, should we want it. However, this blessing has also become a large hurdle for marketing to smoothly sail over. A Canadian survey by Microsoft states that the average consumer attention span has fallen to only 8 seconds… Eight seconds! In terms of marketing, that presents a challenge to get your message out there to your audience in record time without loosing its value.

While it seems like nothing at all, there’s a lot you can do in that short amount of time. The tips below are sure to take the pressure off in creating the marketing you need to reel in the results you want, within that 8 seconds.

Make It Personal

Consumers today want a personal experience. If they can see that you take the time to connect directly to them, they are more willing to become more engaged with your business and start purchasing. Many marketing tools have the option to personalize email newsletters, offers, and such with each individual customer’s name. Showing you value their patronage, and address them directly, goes a long way in their eyes.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Experiences

Once a consumer is engaged in your company, they will decide whether or not to become, or stay, a customer. This is all determined by their customer service experience. Great customer service doesn’t take much on your part. Be sure to answer their questions or concerns in a timely manner, and do it politely. Solving their problems, or even just saying “thank you” on a comment or for a share, can go a long way. This guarantees a great review and continued business. This is the time that customers are going to tell their friends about you.

Give Them a Reason to Stay

All consumers love bargains or freebies. This is where you can get creative with incentive or loyalty programs. You can create a point system, virtual stamp cards, have special members only sales, or frequent coupons to entice existing customers to stay, and even encourage them to bring along their friends.

Multi-Channel Interactions

Studies have shown that consumers do not always follow the same path when interacting with a business. Some may use Facebook, the website contact form, a live chat, or a phone to contact you. Be sure to optimize all available channels for communication within your business. Be consistent with what channels you have available to your customers, and make sure they have options for contacting customer service. If you think of your customer service channels as a whole, it will help in a taking care of a customer issue efficiently and quickly.
Know Your Business, Inside and Out

Once customers are hooked, they are going to want to know what you are all about. Make sure to optimize your website for various devices, such as smartphones, desktops, and tablets. This information should be easy to read and find on your website. The faster they can learn about your products and services, the more likely they will become a loyal customer.