Perhaps it’s natural that most businesses will put more time, money and effort into acquiring new customers than retaining their current ones. Of course it’s true that if a company wants to grow it will require new clients – but that doesn’t mean that you should neglect your previous customers or take them for granted.
In fact, you should be doing everything within your power to retain those customers and ensure they continue to use your services or buy more of your products. Here are three things that you can start doing today in order to help retain your current customers.
Offer longer opening hours
It can be very frustrating for customers if they can only get through to you during normal office hours. It’s easy and convenient for some people to call between 9 and 5, Monday to Friday – but for the majority of your customers, this is probably when they are at work. It can be very valuable to extend your opening hours, be available at weekends or even to offer a 24/7 telephone service. If your clients can get through to you whenever they need they will look on you more favourably and it can play a vital role in retaining their custom.
Provide exceptional customer service
For many businesses, customer service is simply an afterthought. But no matter what kind of product or service you sell, you are always going to have customers who need to ask you questions or get more information. This is the point that you can either win over a client and get lot of repeat business or ruin the relationship and lose the customer to one of your competitors that offers a better level of customer service.
React positively to feedback from your customers
One of the best ways to win over your customers is to get feedback from them and act upon it. This is effective for two reasons. Firstly, you’ll have a better understanding of what you can do to improve your service to give them a better experience. Secondly, your customers will appreciate that you are taking the time to look at them as individuals, improve your services and take their opinion into account.