Scoring new clients is an achievement. Being able to keep them is a different story. Strengthening relationships and even acquiring clients take a lot of time dedication and hard work, and as long as you do it right, the investment will return tenfold. Often neglected but very much needed, here’s a rundown on how you can build client ties to last you for the years ahead.
Be patient and sincere in building relationships.
Similar to what we have in our personal lives, building genuine relationships takes time. Clients often regard some sales people as being too talkative, deviously chattering just to make it seem like there’s some sort of “client” relationship going on around. Etiquette and pleasantries are already a given when dealing with clients, however, taking time to get to know them, as well as sharing a bit of yourself goes a long way. It goes past the client-vendor relationship, and ventures into the zone of being “partners” in achieving similar business goals. However, the greatest building block of this relationship is the quality of work that you can deliver for your client. Even the strongest personal ties can never compensate for shoddy work.
It goes past the client-vendor relationship and ventures into the zone of being “partners” in achieving similar business goals. However, the greatest building block of this relationship is the quality of work that you can deliver for your client. Even the strongest personal ties can never compensate for shoddy work.
Get to know your clients’ background and industry
Part of the “getting-to-know” in the relationship is learning the history and industry of your client, to fully understand them and their needs. Not only that, but doing this would help in determining what to do in order to attain what the customer wants. Agencies doing digital marketing should know how their clients have evolved through the years, and should always be in the loop about the latest industry news, to be at a relatable level with the client.
Trust
Trust involves risks. A business cannot thrive on being trustworthy alone, it should also trust its clients. Risks from the little things, such as expressing empathy, which means bearing your feelings or emotional side, may appear to be too soft or unprofessional—and that is what both client and vendors might be afraid to project.
Having a solid viewpoint, being honest about things that you don’t know, and putting yourself on the other’s shoes all require a kind of risk which drives to trust. Both parties should exercise this to create a more harmonious relationship.
Go the extra mile to create valuable experiences
Do something that your client could get from you and only you. Be sure not to forget to be generous. Sure, the
Respond Promptly
There’s nothing like a quick response that will tell your customers that you are really there for them. Even if you don’t know where to get the answer to their queries, a short and quick reply telling them that you have acknowledged receipt of their message and are working on their inquiry, will surely mean a whole lot to them, making them feel valued.
But being quick about it won’t cut it. You still have to remember to not ever forget to get back to them with direct answers and clear explanations to what they were asking and looking for.
Connect, Connect, Connect
Some businesses today can be very active on social media. This gives businesses more chances to interact and connect more with their customers. This is a tremendous opportunity that can be utilized. Take every small chance to be responsive to all of the interactions that the customers do. Respond quickly and appreciatively to positive customer comments and reviews. Make them feel that they’re not talking to air. Learn to retweet, share, replying a lot. All these actions are the modern time’s version of showing one’s appreciation towards another person. Doing this, makes you stand out more and customers would feel more close to you. This is something that you would actually like to happen because it can give you benefits in the future.
Take every small chance to be responsive to all of the interactions that the customers do. Respond quickly and appreciatively to positive customer comments and reviews. Make them feel that they’re not talking to air. Learn to retweet, share, replying a lot. All these actions are the modern time’s version of showing one’s appreciation towards another person. Doing this, makes you stand out more and customers would feel more close to you. This is something that you would actually like to happen because it can give you benefits in the future.
Give, Then Forget About It
In business, there will be times that some favors would have to be given to the customers. This won’t happen all the time, but expect that there will be instances that it may come. Again, be willing to go the extra mile, give out favors and when needed, but never, ever expect something in return. Making people feel obliged to return favors is a really bad and sure fire way to make all of these efforts to sustain a thriving business relationship fall apart in one split second.
Learn To Listen
Our world today is filled with so much excess noise and distractions, that most of us are mostly starved for people that would listen. One of the best activities and traits a business can have is the ability to listen to its customers. This will allow you to not only gather valuable feedback, but it also allows for better, closer and more recurrent interaction with the customers. Make sure to save some extra time for your customers. They will remember you more, and would further strengthen your ties in business.
The only way you can build your name and have it retained in customer’s minds is how valuable your relationship is to them. Getting to really know them leads to a better understanding of their needs, trusting them allows them to trust you in return, adapting and bending a bit to give them what they want or need earns you an edge over competitors, and being readily available for them and listening at any given time means that you are the agency that they can rely on, any time.
They will look back on how you have made them feel valued, as well as how valuable you can be to them to help them achieve their goals.
Images: ”Concept image with client and team icon on computer keyboard /Shutterstock.com“
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