One of the best ways to keep clients is to show them your appreciation. Clients like to feel appreciated, so it’s important to take advantage of every opportunity you get to show them that you value their business. Whilst good customer service is the best way to show clients your appreciation, here are eight other tried and proven tips.
1. Express your gratitude.Say ‘Thank You’ to your customers. Send them gift baskets, tickets to shows as well as cards. Add your personalized touch by sending handwritten thank you cards. A gracious, heartfelt thank you goes a long way in creating a lasting impression and building relationships with your clients.
2. Keep in contact. Check in regularly with your clients by way of a quick call or a brief email. This helps to show clients that you have an interest in their business. You can use this opportunity to find out if they are satisfied with your service and if there anything that can be done to improve it.
3. Utilize their services.When the opportunity presents itself, utilize the services of your clients. If you’re looking to market your services and one of your clients provides marketing services, pass the work on to them, provided you can afford it. If one of your clients is interested in a service that is provided by another client of yours, refer them to each other. This goes a long way in solidifying relationships and creates an avenue for reciprocal business.
4. Provide incentives.Offer extras, freebies, discounts and other incentives to your clients. It always makes them feel appreciated and gives them a reason to retain your services.
5. Add a personalized touch to your service. Get familiar with your clients in a professional way. Learn their first names and use it when conversing with them, provided they are comfortable being on a first name basis. Avoid offering a one size fits all solution to their issues by providing solutions that are customized with the individual client in mind.
6. Plan a client appreciation day. Hold a special day of events for your clients. Offer light snacks and refreshments, discounts on selected services and meet and greet them individually to thank them for their patronage. You can also use this opportunity to distribute promotional material as well as introduce them to new services.
7. Keep your clients informed. Keep your clients abreast on upcoming events, new services and changes in your business. Your clients should have the inside scoop on what’s new and happening in your business before the market does, so make it your point of duty to keep them in the loop as it helps to make them feel special.
8. Provide information and resources. Offer information gleamed from workshops, the internet, articles, newsletters, conferences or workshops that will be of interest to your clients and their business. Clients like to know that you’re thinking of ways to help and improve their business.
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