HOW WELL DO YOU REALLY KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS?

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Think of the best relationships in your life. Got a few people in mind? What do those connections have in common? Chances are, it’s trust.

And trust takes time to build. It’s a cumulation of years of effort. All those small little actions that help instill confidence in the relationship. In business, it can be as simple as answering the phone after hours or following up on a client, after a project is over.

See, as business owners, we’re busy. The weeks fly by in a blink of an eye. It’s easy to only focus on the things right in front of you. But as a result, these client relationships can start to diminish.

It’s much easier to nurture the clients you have and expand on what you do for them – instead of working with them short-term and having to find new clients. So, how can you keep your clients happy, regardless of whether you’re working with them right now or not?

Know their needs. 

Go that extra mile and show your clients that they’re more than just an invoice. In today’s fast-paced, everything is online world, those real connections are what will set your business apart.

Find out what they need. Can you solve one of their problems through one of your products or services? Do they need a longer payment cycle? What day is their birthday? Can you sense that they need to talk? All of these things help build the trust which.

Meet them in person, often. 

And like all relationships, nothing beats face-to-face contact. Sure, once the foundation has been built, the relationship can withstand the distance. But it’s important to take the time to meet your clients regularly still. You’ll strengthen the dynamic, discover any problems they’re having, and read their body language.

Don’t think of it as going back to basics. It’s simply making the effort to let your customers know you’re there for them. Meetings are often thought of as wasted time. But this is far from the truth. Every one-on-one encounter you have with them, you’re building that trust… and you’ll be the person they turn to whenever they need something, not your competitor.

Give them your full support and recognise their importance to the success of your business. That’s how bonds of loyalty and commitment are formed, one personal experience at a time.