"The principal purpose of business is to create a customer." --Peter Drucker
Creating a loyal and respectful relationship with a potential customer builds the basis for all other areas of business success.
Simply stated, without customers, our businesses would all fail.
A satisfied customer is a customer who provides a continual income stream and refers others.
Business success starts with the customer. The following six strategies outline the best and most effective business success practices.
1. Customer Service. Typically 68% of a business' customers leave or go elsewhere for products and services because they feel they are under appreciated or unimportant.
The perception a customer has of his/her value to a business plays a very large role in whether or not the customer returns.
What can you do to improve on that statistic? Smile, ask questions, be friendly and say "Thank You".
Customer service is a seriously neglected facet of most businesses. As an owner you must set the example for your employees.
No one can do this for you. You can't pay an outside consultant to smile for you. If you aren't sure where to start, then pick up a copy of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.
2. Existing customers. Another neglected area in most businesses is the act of communicating with existing customers. I can't remember the last time a business I frequented sent me a coupon or note or anything for that matter.
Keeping in contact with customers does not have to be an extensive and time-consuming endeavor. A monthly newsletter, a quarterly coupon mailing or a special occasion or holiday is sufficient. The idea here is not to sell them something but to simply remind them that you exist and value their business.
3. Referrals. If you are not offering an incentive to your existing customers to refer new customers to you, you are missing out on a huge profit center.
Referral coupons are one way of enticing customers to refer. If a coupon makes it back to you with a new customer, then the referring customer gets a "spiff". A "spiff" can be a discount coupon, movie tickets, or a free item, anything that shows value.
It is important, however, for the "spiff" to be something of perceived value to the referrer. Cheesy doesn't work. The referrer needs to be excited or grateful for the "spiff".
4. Thank you. Simply but overlooked. The act of thanking people for their business. Sending thank you notes to customers who refer is an important practice.
Most importantly, however is the practice of saying "thank you" when customer leaves even if he doesn't purchase. How you say "thank you" is also important.
Many times I say something to the effect of "thank you for using our services we really appreciate your business". This says so much more than a simple "thank you" does.
Thank customers for information they provide to you, thank them for referrals, thank them for keeping you in business, whatever it is just remember to say "thanks".
5. Testimonials. Overlooked but critical to building credibility with potential customers.
If you are a brick-and-mortar business you should have customer testimonials posted where new customers can easily see them.
If you are an online business they need to be front and center on your web page. Do not hide them behind links, put them right on the home page.
Testimonials will do more for you than any other type of advertising. Sprinkle them throughout your mailers, on postcard mailings, in your office or store, on your web page, in your emails. Everywhere, you can't wear them out.
6. Rewards. Rewarding customers for their loyalty is a great way to drive repeat business and boost your bottom line.
I recently sent out a letter thanking customers for their loyalty, telling them that they had been added to my VIP customer list, and presented them with a thank you coupon.
In the letter I also covered new services and products. I had a 90% response rate. Some customers called just to say "thank you" and chat.
This form of relationship building is a critical success factor.
The reward program can be points like airlines currently use, a cash back program, tiered discounts, anything that motivates the customer to buy more to gain the incentive.
These six strategies are mandatory to building a customer retention program and for motivating new customers to buy.
Implement one a month for the next 6 months and watch your sales go up.
Customers need and want to be appreciated and respected; this should be standard operating procedure for every business owner.
Tired of watching others succeed? Discover how to achieve a more prosperous life.
Yolanda A. Facio is the author of an incredible new ebook that guarantees you a more successful and productive life.
Click Here Now => http://www.newrulesforsuccess.com
More success tips can be found at http://www.newrulesforsuccess.com
shuttle from O'Hare Bingham .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThere are times when we feel we should take action,... Read More
It's really all we have... the "Moment". Think about it,... Read More
You've been searching for self improvement or personal development. Trying... Read More
Take a page from Eastern wisdom Meditation, martial arts that... Read More
You can be a master achiever by developing the same... Read More
The first thing that you need to do is get... Read More
The scene from "Biloxi Blues" where Matthew Broderick's character kept... Read More
The fastest way to succeeding in anything, be it online... Read More
Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonalds, was over fifty when... Read More
"Fear Factor" is one of my favorite TV shows. It... Read More
1. Open your mind to new ideas: Positive behavior change... Read More
When traveling down the road it is always good to... Read More
You can achieve whatever you want by incorporating the following... Read More
Quote of the month: Am I working to live or... Read More
Why everything has to be so hard? What have I... Read More
Driven by cultural imperatives and inner promptings, we drive ourselves... Read More
Okay, so you've finally made that big decision to start... Read More
What does "Lessons from My Garden" have to do with... Read More
If you are looking for a surefire strategy to ensure... Read More
The First step to success is to think and decide... Read More
How many people do you hear complaining about their job,... Read More
Can anyone become a successful businessperson? I am asked this... Read More
In this article we mention 7 tips for your success.... Read More
Why is it that most people still equate being successful... Read More
I've been thinking a lot about what I believe to... Read More
Mishawaka limo O'Hare ..'No man is an island' the saying goes. The implication... Read More
Your own pressing needs, your long-standing frustrations, would benefit tremendously... Read More
Does it surprise you that only 400 cokes were sold... Read More
If failure is the roadway, then Perseverance is the vehicle... Read More
Overnight success seems to be happening to a lot of... Read More
Successful people set ambitious goals. But the high standards and... Read More
Failure is GreatYou are probably asking yourself what could be... Read More
Find a higher reason to reach your goal than just... Read More
We set goals, strive for them and only consider ourselves... Read More
After all the things I have shared with you this... Read More
Cool Facts: Walt Disney went bankrupt several times before he... Read More
The story that is being used to illustrate the concepts... Read More
The single most important quality you can ever develop that... Read More
Here are the 3 elements of the "Purpose" leg in... Read More
"Fear Factor" is one of my favorite TV shows. It... Read More
Everything we have in life is because of the help... Read More
The fastest way to succeeding in anything, be it online... Read More
Most of your behavior is determined by your habits. Everything... Read More
On March 27th 2005, Oxford won the annual boat race... Read More
The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The... Read More
I succeeded. I achieved my goal. I am successful. I... Read More
Feeling overworked and underpaid? If you're starting to feel like... Read More
You teach others how to treat you by how you... Read More
I've been coaching for a few years now, and the... Read More
Courage is something that is reflected and reciprocated, and is... Read More
Success |