Your business relationships with your customers are extremely important to the success of your business. If you can make them feel valued from the first time you interact with them, there’s a much better chance that they’ll keep buying your products and services. Here are 10 tips to building strong relationships with your clients and customers.
1. Know Your Audience
Get as much data as possible about your customers. Try to know them on a one-on-one basis. Research clients before you talk to them so that you know what they are about. Meeting the needs of your audience is directly dependent on you understanding what these needs are.
2. Make a Good First Impression
Make sure that you have a strong internet presence that shows your business in the best light possible. Your online efforts should communicate what your business is about and also engender trust. You should have a friendly-looking website and a strong social media presence.
3. Build a Strong Network
Build a network and nurture your relationships with its members. The people in your network can easily turn into clients or customers. This is a much more lasting relationship than someone simply purchasing your service or product.
4. Maintain Multiple Lines of Communication
One purpose of your internet presence is to come into contact with your customers and clients in as many places as possible. This engenders trust and gives you many touch points with them. You’ll get to know each other much better.
5. Make and Keep Them Happy
Happy customers and clients come back to buy more. It’s really that simple. Focus your efforts on satisfying your customers and clients. Sometimes it’s good to give them something valuable completely out of the blue like a service upgrade or a freebie just to surprise and wow them.
6. Say “Thanks”
It’s a very simple but effective thing – say “thank you” often. Remember that your customers don’t have to buy from you so it’s a great business practice to thank them for the continued support. Show them in whatever way possible how much you value their business.
7. Reward Loyalty
One great way to say “thank you” is to reward long-term customers and clients. Set up a rewards program that gives them real value for staying with you.
8. Good Communication
Whenever a client or customer speaks, listen. Show them that you’re listening and their opinion is important to you. Use what they say to you as a form of feedback, whether it’s a client telling you why they use your service, or a customer answering a survey telling you why they’re going with another company.
9. Hook Up Your Clients and Customers
If a customer or client’s request is something your business can’t fulfill, refer them to another business that can do it, even if it means no direct benefit for you. The good will behind your actions will really endear your customer or client to you. They’ll then come to you or refer others to you when your services are needed.
10. Actively Seek Feedback
Feedback from your customers or clients is golden. You need it to make sure that you’re still meeting their needs. Find ways to obtain feedback from them and work these methods into your business’s work flow.
[tweetthis]10 tips to building strong relationships with your clients and customers and improve your business success![/tweetthis]
What ways do you build relationships with your clients and prospects? I’d love to have your comments below.
Deidra Miller
Marketing and Administrative Consultant
