By Alison Flangel

Small businesses bring charm to our economy, which is one of the many reasons they are so beloved. Despite the success your small business might face, maintaining a level of personal touch is important in order to keep customers engaged. By finding the delicate balance between technology and human interaction, customer loyalty will likely increase.

Here are four ways that small business owners can maintain their personal touch:

  1. Keep customers informed
    As you are working with clients to sell a product or perform a service, let them know where they are in the process. This can be executed through text updates, emails, or letters that are sent directly to individual households. By providing clients with direct contacts they can reach out to if they need assistance, people will feel personally connected to your company.
  2. Show customers growth
    It is important to let clients know that you are not only aware of their needs, but you are excited to support them in the future. Taking the time to get to know your customers can help to navigate a mutual understanding, which will help not hinder communication and loyalty. Individuals will feel more prone to support your business if you take the time to get to know them.
  3. Use a CRM System
    A customer relationship management system (CRM) allows all your team members to access data about past and present clients that have supported your business. Using a CRM system allows you to write down notes and details about a customer, so that connection and the growth of trust can be built between consumers and employees. Remembering details as little as someone’s name or birthday can make customers feel special.
  4. Use social media to your advantage
    Oftentimes small businesses become involved in their local communities. If your company is involved in local community service work, or helps the community in any capacity, consider posting pictures and updates to social media sites. Featuring the work that you do to give back to the community can highlight the human elements of your business, which oftentimes makes customers inclined to support you in the end.