The supplement industry to growing rapidly, with new businesses opening up on a regular basis. As a new business within an already-congested industry, you’ll need to find ways to differentiate yourself. It is important to understand that the supplement industry’s lack of regulations has led to many businesses starting up by offering faulty or inadequate information and selling products that do not meet industry standards. While this is not good practice, it does, at least, open the door for the right people, who are looking to operate reputable supplement businesses that offer genuine help and information, as well as high-quality products. If this sounds like you, then follow the tips below to make a great first step, and then thrive in this saturated marketplace.
1. Offer high-quality products.
While this may seem like common sense, it is worth pointing out that there are many supplement companies out there that are selling products that are below industry standards. They misrepresent what is contained in the products that they sell, and what benefits the consumer may experience from taking them. Focusing your business on selling only the highest quality supplements will start you out ahead of many of your so-called competitors. The next step is to educate consumers on the difference between your products and others on the market. Superior Supplement Manufacturing will work with you to create high-quality private label products that you can stand behind and sell because you know exactly what went into them during production.
2. Conduct voice of the customer surveys.
Taking a customer experience and a client-centered approach to your business will benefit you greatly. By listening to customer feedback, you will increase customer loyalty and retention, as well as repeat business, since your customers will notice and appreciate the extra effort you put into meeting their unique needs and interests. A voice of the customer program survey will help you identify the demands of your target demographics. With the VOC, or voice of the customer data, you will save time, money, and resources by avoiding products and services that will not benefit your customer base and better gauge how you can enhance the customer experience. As you grow as a business and receive more customer feedback through VOC surveys, you will gain a firmer understanding of your customer preferences and what they are looking for in a supplement provider. However, starting out with an effective VOC program will provide you with the information needed to create your initial business plan, and with the customer feedback drawn from continuing successful VOC programs, you will see customer satisfaction grow and grow.
3. Offer free classes.
Offering fun and informational classes will allow people to learn more about the role that supplements can play on their health, while also learning about your business. Offering classes for free may take away from your time but can go along way in adding something unique to customer experience, as well as increasing customer acquisition. If you are offering a class that involves creating something, you can charge a small fee to cover your expenses.
Based on your VOC survey, you can offer classes that will appeal to your existing demographic, and branch out into classes that will attract a new demographic. It also provides a fun opportunity to connect with your customers, and those interested in supplements, to share your knowledge.
4. Focus on becoming an authority.
There is a lot of information on supplements, but much of it is not reliable. You can differentiate yourself by becoming an authority in the field of supplements. Establish yourself as an expert by knowing the information intimately, answering questions, and being able to research in times when you don’t know the answer immediately, to find it. Add a blog to your website and consistently publish informational content.
5. Focus on your digital presence.
Get professional help to ensure everything you publish is optimized for search engines. Your social media presence needs to be interesting, engaging, and eye-catching. While you can’t plan for viral trends, if you are consistently publishing great content, you will grow steadily and quickly. Regularly engaging with your followers will create a consistent and loyal following. Creating a strong foundation online will lower your long-term customer acquisition costs, as you will benefit from word-of-mouth advertising.
