
Building lasting long-term customer relationships
Customers are important to your business they may as well be the backbone of your business and as far as customers go, building a loyal customer base should be top priority for a business. Why is it important for a business to build long-term customer relationships? Because high number of returning customers leads to high brand awareness, a reduction in marketing spends, new customers from referrals and you get repeat business. Returning customers are easier to engage with new product line business than new customers. So you have to lay the foundation right for your existing customer relationships to last for the foreseeable future.
Establishing lasting relationships with your customers requires time, effort and consistency. It is not a one day short term fix, but it will help your business a success if done correctly.
Connect with your customers and build your relationships with them using these proven tips.
Regular communication. Establish regular communication with your customers and let them know what they need to know about your company and everything that you do. They need to know what is currently happening and what their options are, so regularly update them. Establish a lot of channels to get through to them; this could range from customer care numbers to social media pages. Your company should establish communication with your clients as much as you can this way you ensure that they are getting all the support they need before they even ask.
Add Value. Know your clients, understand them and learn what they want. As you interact with your client on your journey together, constantly customize their experience by adding more value to them. Each client has different needs and these needs will be constantly changing, so adjust your service to their needs. This will make their experience unique and will make them return more often for that unique experience.
Outdo yourself in your services. Offer an outstanding service to your clients and amaze them. A company with amazing customer service always leaves a lasting impression on my mind, such that even if I may have not used their service at the time I was attended to, I make it a point to use them in the future. Always remember that customers are people and not just numbers, each customer is unique and should be treated as such. Doing so will not only make them return, it will make them give you referral business.
Train your employees. Take the time to consistently train your employees and this will make your clients more confident in your services. A customer that is always served by a person that is well trained and provides an efficient service will most likely return for that valuable service.
Be truthful with your client. It is okay if you make mistakes. This happens to every one of us, so acknowledge your mistakes and let your client know what is happening and don’t decide to just leave them in the dark. If you fail to deliver your product or service in any way to your client be truthful with them because once trust is broken with your client, it’s near impossible to get it back. If you can be honest and realistic about any services that your business cannot provide, customers will appreciate this and a foundation for a lasting relationship can develop.
Value your client’s time. You have to place value and respect on your client’s time and strategically engage them. This means you have to engage them at the right time and not always bombard them with emails all the time. Send them reminders and notifications at the right time; you can set a schedule for this. When you’re dealing with them give them your full attention and don’t use this time to answer emails or make phone calls. When you promise to deliver your service in a certain amount of time, fulfill it and if you can’t let your client know. Make them feel they are important, which they are, and they will return to use your services.
Observe your customers reaction to your product. Check on your client and inquire if there is a problem with your product and if your client makes a complaint about your product resolve the issue as soon as possible. If there is a mistake when you’re fulfilling an order or providing your service, your client will be quick to forgive you if you fix the issue quickly. Your customers will share an experience with others; do your best to make sure it will be a positive one.
If you want to sustain your business growth then you need to work on building long lasting customer relationships. What ways do you build long-term customer relationships? Share them and your thoughts in the comment section below.
