Do you want to keep your customers around, or get them in the first place? The key is customer satisfaction, which means you have to keep the client at the forefront of your mind at all times. Here are a couple of ways you can encourage those kinds of thoughts today.
Open Your Ears
It may sound intuitive, but many company leaders are so focused on what they want and how they’re going to get it that they forget to listen out for the feedback of their clients. To create that closeness between you and your customers that forges the way for long-term relationships, you have to really listen to what they need and want.
Check Out Leaders in Your Industry
Who’s doing it right? There’s likely at least one or two people in your industry you know you can learn something from if you just watched their progress for awhile. These companies are often not shy about their success, so seek them out and analyze what they are doing. What are they concerned about that you should be, too? What’s their philosophy on client interaction?
Hire People Who Like to Interact with Other People
Just because someone has the perfect experience and has worked for a company like yours before does not mean they are perfect for you. Hiring people who actually like interacting with other people is essential. Don’t worry about education and experience nearly as much as you worry about an outgoing, easy to get along with personality.
Tracking is Key
Paperwork is a drag, but it’s imperative that you have a progress tracking system in place that works, even if it does mean an extra ten minutes of writing a day. How else are you going to know that everything is working right – and how you can do better?
In the end, keeping your clients has everything to do with making good, solid decisions for the long-term success of your company.