Good business is not only about selling products or services, but also about maintaining a lasting relationship with your customers. Getting to know your customers is important to building a strong foundation for your business.
Courtesy Is Thy Name
Once you get a new customer, it is important that you build a good rapport with that person. Start with addressing your customers with “Mr.” or “Mrs.” or “Miss.” As your professional relationship builds, it may be okay to address them by their first names.
Learn as much as you can about your customers without appearing too inquisitive or clingy. Different customers have to be handled in different ways – and the sooner you learn this, the sooner they will be comfortable with you. It is also a good idea to brush up on your product knowledge, so that whenever they ask for your advice, you are able to help them out, even in areas not related to your products or services.
You should also keep in touch with your customers by email. Send them details of new products, services or any price revisions that take place. Send them greeting cards on festive occasions by postal mail and email newsletters.
Make Honesty Your Policy
Be honest, transparent, and efficient in your dealings with your customers. This generates good word of mouth publicity, which is the best form of advertising since new customers coming to you this way have already received a good review about your business. This way, your reputation precedes itself, and the customer will require less convincing to generating a sale.
By generating a “Pull” for your product instead of a “Push” you will have succeeded in increasing the demand for your product and services. The advice of long-term customers can also help you in marketing or designing new products or services, in addition to improving existing ones. Their feedback is invaluable – and best of all, it’s free!
So, getting to know your customers is very important. In today’s world there are many businesses selling the same products and services. It is your knowledge about those products and your relationships with your customers that will help you in the long run.
