5 Ways to Retain your Clients

With a still predominant presence of a global economic recession, most businesses continue to struggle with an ability to grow their customer base. It is challenging to retain the existent clientele, let alone to attract new interest in the product or service that your business is offering. Let’s face it, the world around us is in a survival mode. In turn, your business needs to play field and to adjust its survival techniques accordingly. During the times when people carefully watch what they spend money on, and businesses rigorously cut their budgets, it is becoming more crucial than ever to learn how to retain your present customers.

Here are some of the key points to keep in mind in your pursuit of successful customer retention planning:

1. Provide an outstanding customer service.
This is rather obvious, however, still being constantly overlooked by most of the mediocre establishments that somehow manage to get by solely on an exclusivity of their product/service. Focusing your time and effort on creating an outstanding customer service and an unforgettable experience for both new and returning customers, is the main key to the long-lasting success of your business. Your weight should be placed heavily on the consistency in your customer service. Focus on your returning customer satisfaction just as equally as on the new ones. This should be at the top of your list as one of the ways to retain clients.

2. Know your product/service inside and out.
Be prepared for the unexpected questions, inquiries, and requests in regards to your services and your credibility. The way you handle those situations and your professional ability to settle any types of disputes are the key indicators of your successful customer retention. Constantly educate your customers on your product/service to be able to stand out in your clients’ mental rolodex; be their a ‘go to’ source for your particular product/service. Constantly search for a feedback and suggestions from your retained clients on what could be improved and even upgraded. This is a second important element of effective ways to retain your clients.

3. Offer discounts for your referral programs and your returning customers.
A rewards program or a reasonable discount for regular customers can be an excellent way to retain customers.

4. Train your employees and incent them for delivering great customer service.
It is vital to employ skilled and motivated employees that are passionate about the field. Your employees can make or break the success of your product/service. Offer your employees incentives to gain their interest in treating customers well. Be sure that your employees are conscious of expressing their enthusiasm and a genuine interest in their job.

SEE ALSO:

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6 Effective Ways to Motivate Your Employees

5. Kill them with kindness.
The easiest and very memorable way to retain your customer base is to thank them in simple ways for doing business with you. Stay in touch with them by being personable and showing a genuine interest in their lives. Build follow-up routines that include opportunities to share additional education, training and content. The word of mouth is powerful. After all, far too often businesses spend all of their attention on chasing and selling and not enough on retaining.

What strategies have you implemented to retain your customers? Share your tips in the comments section.

Article written and contributed by Kamilla Kay, PMP. She can be contacted via email: kamillabk@hotmail.com.

From: http://ping.fm/OVO0Y