Making your business stand out is one thing, but once you've finally got some customers, the most important thing you need to think about is how to keep them. Whatever industry you're in, there will always be someone else trying to do the same thing or similar. Regardless of whether you're selling plastic bottles via your own website or you're offering some sort of entertainment service, the chances are you're never going to be alone.

Because of this, you need to find ways to connect with your customers and keep them engaged. Only if you give them reasons to come back will they actually come back. Of course, finding ways to pique the interests of customers isn't easy, as everyone has different tastes. However, there are some methods you can use to cover your bases and ensure that you're able to offer a little something for everyone.

Create an App 

In a world where mobile browsing is on the increase, one of the best ways to keep customers engaged is to create an app. According to a 2016 report by Pew Global, 68% of adults now own a smartphone, while the global median for Internet usage is 76%. When you combine these stats, it becomes quite clear how important it is to have a mobile presence.

As well as giving your business some extra online presence, mobile apps are a fantastic branding opportunity. Beyond all the benefits of accessibility and ease of use, apps are ever-present on a user's device, which means you always have a presence in their daily life.

Take Facebook as an example. Despite starting out life as a desktop site, stats at the close of 2015 showed that 90% of daily visitors browsed the site via the mobile app. Because the icon is always there, always recognisable, people are more inclined to tap on it and engage with the network. Customisable push notifications add convenience to the Facebook mobile experience.

Give them Something Extra

Consumers love getting something extra. Any sort of deal or promotion is a great way to get people to join your business. However, the secret to really making the most of welcome offers and the like is to link them to other action. For example, in the online casino industry, operators will give new players a bonus when they make their first deposit. However, in a bid to keep them around, the players must wager some money to release the cash.

For example, when a person joins Sun Bingo, they'll be able to claim £30 in free cash when they spend £10. This money is 100% free and credited to the player's account instantly. But, if they win any money while using this bonus, they have to spend a certain amount before they can withdraw their winnings.

On top of this, the operator also offers a combination of daily free bingo and a VIP loyalty scheme where players can get up to 10% cash back each day. Creating some sort of promotion to bring people in is great, but it doesn't inspire retention if it doesn't link to other aspects of your product. Sun Bingo's additional bonuses and wagering requirements are designed to keep people interest because the more they play, the more they can get.

Offer a Personal Touch

The final way to keep customers coming back is to offer them a friendly face and connect with them on a personal level. As a small business, the one advantage you have over a large corporation is that you can deal with customers in a more intimate and immediate way. Unfortunately, some businesses forget this fact and that creates a disconnection with their customers.

According to John Rampton for Forbes, research from companies such as Forrester and Google has shown that providing a point of contact for consumers boosts retention. Indeed, as outlined by Rampton, "one of the most effective ways in building emotional connections with customers is to prove that they are dealing with an actual person."

Including things such as images and bios on your website, having brand ambassadors and, very importantly, interacting with people on social media will all help you build a rapport with your audience. In fact, this is something the larger companies are now doing. Take JetBlue Airways as an example.

This company is often cited when referring to social media interaction because of its Twitter account. Instead of a constant stream of corporate messages, the company thanks people for positive comments, wishes them a nice day and even provides some calls to action.

If you can do this and add in some extra value and a mobile app, you should find that keep your customers interested is easy. As long as you make them feel wanted and that you're always accessible, that's all there is to it.