June 26, 2024

Customer Movement in E-commerce

Illustration of woman, half of the image is black and wite while the other half is very colorful

The concept of "customer movement" refers to the strategic progression of customers through different stages of engagement and loyalty with a brand. This involves transforming dormant or inactive customers into active users, then moving them towards becoming loyal customers, and eventually turning them into brand advocates.

Here's why brands should focus on this progression:

1. Activation of Dormant Customers

Dormant customers are those who have interacted with the brand in the past but have since become inactive. Reactivating these customers is crucial because:

- Cost Efficiency: It is generally more cost-effective to re-engage existing customers than to acquire new ones. Dormant customers already have some familiarity with the brand, reducing the effort needed to attract their attention.

- Untapped Potential: These customers represent untapped potential revenue. By re-engaging them, brands can unlock additional sales and increase their customer base's overall value.

2. Transition to Loyal Customer

Once dormant customers are re-engaged, the next step is to cultivate their loyalty. Loyal customers provide significant value because:

- Repeat Business: Loyal customers are more likely to make repeat purchases, providing a steady revenue stream.

- Higher Lifetime Value: They typically have a higher customer lifetime value (CLV), meaning they spend more over their relationship with the brand.

- Resilience: Loyal customers are less likely to switch to competitors, even in the face of competitive offers.

3. Development into Advocates

The final stage is converting loyal customers into brand advocates who actively promote the brand to others. Brand advocates are highly valuable because:

• Advocates share their positive experiences with friends, family, and social networks, providing authentic and powerful word-of-mouth marketing.

• Recommendations from advocates are trusted more than traditional advertising, leading to higher conversion rates.

•  Advocates help drive organic growth by bringing in new customers without additional marketing spend.

Benefits of Focusing on Customer Movement

Increased Revenue: By activating dormant customers and fostering loyalty and advocacy, brands can significantly boost their revenue through increased purchases and new customer acquisition.

Customer Insights: Engaging with customers at different stages provides valuable insights into their preferences and behaviors, allowing brands to tailor their marketing strategies more effectively.

Enhanced Customer Experience: A focus on customer movement ensures that customers receive personalized and relevant experiences, improving overall satisfaction and retention.

Competitive Advantage: Brands that successfully manage customer movement can differentiate themselves by building a strong and loyal customer base, creating a competitive edge in the market.

By focusing on the customer movement, brands can maximize the value of their customer relationships, driving long-term growth and sustainability.

Are you ready?

Transform your retention marketing and drive growth.
Learn How
LinkedInEmail
Related Blog

You may also read

June 17, 2026
Why Customer Understanding Is Becoming Marketing's Next Competitive Advantage
Executives from Meta, Bose, and eos are rethinking AI's role in marketing. Learn why customer intelligence and customer understanding are becoming strategic priorities.
Read More
Learn More
Returning Engagement | Cohora
June 15, 2026
Why Returning Engagement Is Becoming a More Important Retention Metric for Ecommerce Brands
Discover how returning engagement helps ecommerce brands measure customer loyalty, strengthen retention, and increase lifetime value.
Read More
Learn More
Disconnected vs Connected Customer Intelligence
June 3, 2026
Identity Infrastructure Is Reshaping Customer Retention
New Acxiom and EMARKETER research reveals how fragmented customer data is limiting personalization, retention, and AI readiness. Learn how Cohora helps brands build connected customer intelligence through participation and first-party engagement.
Read More
Learn More