People will talk, and when they talk about your company or service, it's critically important they're extolling your virtues, not bashing your business. Your customers can take your business to new heights in record time, or dash it upon the rocks before you know what hit you.
Here are some ways to "wow" your customers, engender loyalty, and get them to refer you to their friends:
Deliver a superior product or service
You must have a product or service that is noticeably a cut above. You have to give your customers something to talk about, right? If it's mediocre, they won't give it a second thought.
Don't underpromise and overdeliver
While many people believe in the old tenet "underpromise and overdeliver," it can actually be a bad business plan. If you set a comfortable scope and timeline for your service, and then attempt to "wow" your customers by delivering the service ahead of time and under budget, you've set a precedent that your clients will continue to expect from you. Be sure to set your clients' expectations correctly at the get-go, and deliver as promised so you don't get yourself in a squeeze.
Reward your regular customers
Everyone likes to feel as though they are someone's favorite customer, or that their regular business is highly valued. Offer the people on your mailing list special discounts, or first dibs on something. Many department stores will offer their credit card customers a special "preview" shopping day on sales, before they advertise it to the general public.
Ask their opinion
Everyone's got an opinion, and most people want to share it. Ask your customers for their comments and ideas; you might receive some terrific tips. Consider rewarding the customers whose ideas you implement with a prize.
Refer business to your customers
If you know some of your customers well enough to know their business, refer others to them. If you find that someone has a need for a product or service, and one of your customers can satisfy that need, send business their way. Your customers will greatly value you for the referral.
Ask your customers to refer your business to others
Yes, it should be 'referrals'
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Your customers may think your product or service is fantastic, but may not think any further about it when they leave your premises. If they compliment you while doing business, ask them to tell their friends. They might just say, "I will!"
Infuse integrity in your business
In everything you do, be honest, up front, ethical and stand by your word. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
The customer is always right
Well, not really, but if the customer expresses displeasure in your product or service, and you need to go the extra mile to restore your customer's faith in you, do it.
These tips are the basics of a successful client or customer relationship. If you strive to do all of them well, your phone will begin to ring and you'll hear, "Anne was telling me about how you helped her with..." and "My neighbor told me your roast chicken was the best in town."
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