If you're a business owner, you know that repeat business is critical to your success. It also makes your life much easier because you can count on ongoing business without having to continuously find new prospects and convince them to hire you.
Here are seven ways to keep your customers coming back:
1. Take time to build a relationship
Learn to "visit" instead of being so professional that you appear rude. Pay attention when you meet with your customers. Learn about them and their lives. Notice what they hang on their walls and place on their desks. And don't just notice, comment on them. For instance, if your prospect or customer has a huge marlin hanging on his wall, you could say, "I'll bet there's an interesting story that goes with that fish." Your client will be thrilled to tell you about it, and he'll be flattered that you asked. And it would be like ignoring the elephant in the room if you DIDN'T comment on it. Learning about your customer will pay off every day of your relationship.
2. Set realistic deadlines and either meet or beat them.
Nothing impresses a client more than when you follow through with what you say you will do. Do it fast. Do your best. And do it right. Clients always want it "yesterday," but if you know it can't be done that quickly, or it won't be done correctly because there's not enough time, then speak up right at the beginning. It's better to set a realistic deadline and then beat it by a day or two, than accept an unrealistic one and make the client wait.
3. Make it easy to work with you.
Extend your service hours to cover when your customers want to talk to you. If your business is tech support or Internet marketing, remember that peak Net usage is 10 pm. If you're a night person, you can impress your customers by being available during their "off" hours.
4. Offer credit card payment options to make it easy for your clients (and the government!) to pay you.
Today, businesses need payment options. If you're able to allow them to pay with credit cards, you'll have more clients. And if you're interested in government business, this is an easy way to get some of it since most government agencies are now using credit cards for purchases valued at less than $2,500.
5. Be flexible--offer to meet for breakfast.
Just like you, your clients are very busy. They have meetings all day and often during lunch, so it's hard to find a time to get together. Offer to meet for breakfast when you and your client are both fresh, or meet after normal work hours to accommodate their schedule.
6. Provide added-value service at no charge.
Give them something they aren't expecting. If you go the extra mile, your customers will notice. You'll soon be the one they turn to when they need a problem solved. It works when your vendors do it for you, doesn't it? It sure does for me! For example, I recently began doing informational teleseminars with industry experts, and I not only needed a bridge line to do them, but I also needed someone to record the seminars for me so I'd have a good finished product to sell through my website. I got one-stop-shopping with Dan Janal at Great Teleseminars, which was perfect. And, when he confirmed the information, he sent me a free copy of two of his ebooks to teach me how to do a good teleseminar! Now that's added value.
7. Refer business to your customers.
If you send business to your customers, it shows how much value them. Connect one customer with another, if possible. It's the ultimate thank you.
Lois Carter Fay, APR, is a 30-year veteran in the P.R. and marketing field. She now produces three marketing ezines, Brainy Tidbits, Brainy Flash, and Success Secrets of Women Entrepreneurs. All are free. She's also the co-author with Jim Wilson of "Sales Success! Strategies for Women," a quick-to-read ebook containing 52 easy-to-implement sales tips. The ezines and ebook are available through her websites.
Visit http://www.marketingideashop.com or http://www.marketingideashop.com to learn more sales ideas and subscribe. Claim your free special report when you subscribe.
shuttle from O'Hare Bingham .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare1. Think Big ? In college, Michael Dell said he... Read More
What would You do with $1,000,000With $1 Million would you:?... Read More
Most people wish they read more. It is an activity... Read More
Creating a website is one thing, making it better is... Read More
Millions of people start new small businesses in the United... Read More
Business etiquette is essentially about building relationships with colleagues, clients... Read More
1. Maintain regular working hours and stick to them.2. Get... Read More
Good Speakers need good listening skills to become Great CommunicatorsSpeakers... Read More
Counselling non-performing team members is a tough part of any... Read More
Cross cultural differences can and do impede upon communication and... Read More
A lot of people are insecure about buying something or... Read More
Do you know exactly what actions you need to do... Read More
A lot of people are at a loss when it... Read More
1. You have a big goal and you want someone... Read More
Here are some simple tips to help you improve your... Read More
Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. Entrepreneurs know... Read More
Google is the pre-eminent search engine (SE) with no close... Read More
How much is your data worth to you? In this... Read More
If you've been thinking of starting a business on the... Read More
Let's put to rest the fallacy that success, in sales... Read More
Email etiquette is the key to help calm down anxious... Read More
Although dentistry may appear to be different than other types... Read More
Do your remember when you first ventured out in the... Read More
The number may seem grim for Web-based commerce. In 2004... Read More
Studies have proven that there is one reason why people... Read More
Mishawaka limo O'Hare ..There are many places you can get books, and I... Read More
How do you increase business profits? Answer the following questions... Read More
Do your remember when you first ventured out in the... Read More
If you're a beginner, starting a website doesn't have to... Read More
Cash is king-so they say. If you work for yourself... Read More
You need sales and you wanted them yesterday. Here are... Read More
1. Combine Emotion and LogicConsumers buy because the want to... Read More
There are so many simple, yet really sure-fire ways of... Read More
So you have set up your company, fairly established and... Read More
So how do you eliminate your competition without bloodshed? You... Read More
If you've been thinking of starting a business on the... Read More
Authors/publishers are great at getting their books written. Entrepreneurs know... Read More
Almost daily, newspapers, business magazines, radio and television carry reports... Read More
One way to manage your time more effectively is to... Read More
We all know that running a home business is highly... Read More
1. You have a big goal and you want someone... Read More
1) Prepare a realistic business plan.Think of this as your... Read More
In building and runnng an independent private practice or small... Read More
Do you want to be #1-10 on Google and other... Read More
1. Outsource what takes you too long to doWhen you... Read More
1. Locks and Padlocks ? Locks on all outside entrances... Read More
If you're a business owner, you know that repeat business... Read More
Are you not sure what Business to buy? Need to... Read More
Hey, as hard as this may be for you to... Read More
Are the endless lists of Top-7's and Top-10's taxing your... Read More
Top Quick Tips |