There is no greater loyalty or return visit generator in gaming/entertainment than customer engagement. Think about it, if you can offer your customers remarkable, memorable experiences, you can turn a one-and-done visit into a life-long loyal customer.
There are many ways to engage guests while they are with you. Whether you are a small boutique casino or a large resort casino, engaging your guests in the experience and building deep engagement will improve your bottom line as well as your brand trust. Here are five ideas to enhance customer engagement.
Know and Appreciate Your Customers
The most important element of any strategy for engagement is knowing who your customers are. For the most part, casinos attract all demographic lines. This could include seasoned gamblers, casual players or vacationers seeking entertainment.
Your data analytics and loyalty programs should be used to segment your customers and tailor your messaging, pricing, offers, and services accordingly. You should know your customers, and understand their habits. It is important to know where they spend, and how often they visit.
You must be willing to do more than understand. Appreciating your guests means having a sincere appreciation for them. This can be as simple as a birthday incentive, a personal welcome, or even remembering a VIP’s drink of choice. Customers who feel appreciated, valued, and acknowledged will be far more likely to return and tell their friends about you.
Design Attractive, Functional Spaces
A casino’s atmosphere can affect how people feel when they are in your space. The layout, lighting, acoustics, and flow all have a significant effect on how long your guests may stay and how at ease they feel. Therefore, atmosphere is a big part of engagement.
For instance, if you choose to upgrade your casino social zones, you can dramatically increase customer satisfaction. If you want to engage customers in a unique space for entertainment, you should definitely reach out to experts likeI-5 Design bar and lounge build. They can create beautiful, functional and efficient spaces that maximize your revenue.
Full Team Training
Frontline employees, from dealers and servers to hosts and security, all serve as the face of your casino. A frontline employee’s service capabilities can leave an impactful impression on a guest’s experience; it could make or break the guest experience. In all cases, investing in employee training will ensure your employees are equipped to manage all types of clientele with professionalism, empathy, and excitement.
When investing in training, ensure it is not only customer service training but also situational awareness, conflict resolution training, and cultural sensitivity. Allow employees to make minor decisions that could enhance guest experience, such as the comps for a guest that has been playing for an extended time or allowing someone to ask for directions without being uncertain.
Providing employees good training ensures they know what they are doing, boosts the confidence in your team, and keeps them motivated, all good energy to pass on to guests!
Use Technology for a Better Experience
Within the casino industry, technology is no longer an option; rather, it has become a requirement. Modern players expect their digital journeys to seamlessly accompany their physical journey. Technology assists with customer engagement from mobile apps, interactive touch screens, virtual slot tournaments, and instant real-time rewards notifications.
Don’t dismiss security and operational innovations to help you create great experiences. Using facial recognition and smart systems, security teams can help protect your site while identifying VIP guests instantly. Artificial intelligence systems can personalize the marketing process to create a larger opportunity for a sale. It can be as simple as using dynamic digital signage, or cashless gaming systems.
Foster a Community with Events and Rewards
Let’s not forget that casinos are places of entertainment, not just gambling. Think of creating special events, tournaments or live shows that create excitement and community amongst your guests. Regularly engage with guests by rewarding with tiered loyalty programs. Go beyond the obvious with social sharing, event participation and taking the time to provide feedback.
Events that connect your guests with your brand can create deeper loyalty and a sense of belonging. They may include poker nights, karaoke contests, or holiday parties. However, don’t forget to integrate feedback loops as well. Listening and responding to customer requests is another great way to show customers’ voices matter and to build trust and engagement.
Endnote
Customer engagement in gambling and casinos goes beyond flashy tactics and temporary promotional tactics; it is about building a multi-sensory and personalized experience that creates repeat visits and loyal guests.
Take advantage of the above tips to provide a place that isn’t just somewhere to gamble, but rather a venue where everybody feels valued and entertained. If done properly, all of the above should lead to a greater volume of foot traffic, more revenue generation, and allow your casino to be considered part of your guests’ entertainment journey.