How to use the last mile in fulfilment to build your brand

Getting your brand in front of your customers isn’t limited to when they visit your website. In fact, there are plenty of other opportunities to get your brand out there long after they’ve submitted their credit card details.

Why does this matter, though? If a customer has made a purchase, hasn’t the hard work already been done?

Well, no. You might have done the hard work to get your customer to make one purchase, but if they haven’t had a memorable experience – or if they can’t even remember your brand – you’ll have to do all the hard work all over again to encourage them to return.

Every step of the delivery process is a prime opportunity to engage with your customer and capitalise on their emotional openness to your brand. They’ve already opened their wallet for you once, so how can you encourage them to keep you front of mind the next time they want to make a purchase? The answer lies in branding their delivery experience.

Branded tracking pages

Ordering online isn’t as instantly gratifying as purchasing in-store, so customers like to know exactly where their parcel is. Most online retailers send tracking emails to their customers so the can see exactly where their order is.

Many of these emails simply include a link that redirects your customer to the courier’s website. But the moment your customer arrives at your courier’s website is the exact same moment their order becomes about the product, not your brand.

While this touchpoint might be perceived as being merely shipping information, it’s actually a great way to keep your customer engaged. If you use a Starshipit branded tracking page instead of a standard courier tracking link, you can include content that redirects customers back to your website, not the courier’s.

How to optimise your branded tracking page

Highlight your brand

• Include your logos and images
• Use your tone of voice
• Use the same recognisable colours and imagery

Encourage more sales

• Offer a discount for future sales
• Thank first-time customers with an exclusive discount code
• Promote new product launches
• Move end-of-line stock quickly with discounts and specials

Increase referrals

• Ask customers for product reviews
• Ask customers to share their purchases and experiences on social media

Increase your following

• Invite customers to sign up to your newsletter
• Invite customers to follow you social media channels
• Run competitions that engage your customers

Starshipit: Making shipping notifications as easy as 1-2-3

With Starshipit’s customisable shipping notifications, you can choose to send automated emails or texts at all five stages of the delivery process: on label print, at pick-up, when in transit, when out for delivery, and when delivered.

You can customise the look of the notifications you send by updating templates for every stage of the delivery journey. You can choose to send them all or only a couple too: whatever you think works best for your business and for your customers.

Packing slips

When the parcel has been delivered, the most important thing in there is the product. A very close second is the packing slip which includes information like what should be inside, how to contact your company, and how to return the product if they’re not happy with it.Adding your logo and business name to the top is a simple but effective way to keep the customer zeroed in on your brand. You could also include recommended products based on your customers’ purchases and include short URLs that are easy to type straight into their online browser.

Custom packaging

To really add to the branded delivery experience, you could consider investing in branded packaging too. The likes of ASOS and Allbirds do this very well to create a memorable branding experience from browsing and purchasing, through the fulfilment process, until the package arrives on their customer’s doorstep. While you’re there, you could consider eco-friendly packaging with a company like The Better Packaging Co so you give both your customer and the environment exceptional service.

Start your branded delivery experience today

Making the switch to branded tracking, notifications and delivery might sound daunting, but with Starshipit it couldn’t be easier. Everything you need to get started is available to every Starshipit user – even if you’re on a free 30-day trial – plus we offer world-class support and onboarding to hold your hand through the process.

Keen to see how Starshipit could transform your post-purchase experience?

Sign up for a free 30-day trial today and find out how to streamline your entire fulfilment process, engage with your customers, and keep them coming back for more.