(From the sales box, article #1) It is just one of the topics I will be posting about effective marketing. Hope you'll find it useful.
“Our business is about technology, yes. But it's also about operations and customer relationships.” This famous quote of Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell, Inc. is a good example on how to make your business a successful one. Michael Dell mentioned that business is also about customer relationships. It is true. Accept it or not customers are the focal point in business. If you have great customer relationship then you are on your way to prosperity. Customers are the one who brings money in business and that is why businesses strive hard to keep their customers happy and satisfied.
Here are the 5 effective ways on how to gain and keep your customers happy and satisfied.
1. Analyzing and understanding your customers' needs. One of your goals, of course, why you put up your business is to provide services and products to your pre-determined market or customers. You chose that business not only because you like it but because it is a necessity for your target market. To be able to accomplish your goal, you must first understand the varying needs of your customers. Your services and products must always be the answer to their problems. How are you going to do it? Simple, picture yourself as one of your customers and answer this question, "what are the things that will keep me on patronizing this product/service?"
2. Strive to be the best provider. Once you analyzed and understood your customers' needs, it is time to do the best of your expertise. What can you do to improve your products/services? Customers always want the best and come back if they have proven that your products/services are what they are expecting it to be. Remember, business is not only about trading, but creating a great product/service that will make people buy it.
3. Establish customer trust. In business one of the core factors of success is customer trust. What are the ways in order to build customer trust? One way is respecting customers' privacy. On a recent study conducted by Ponemon Institute entitled "What Marketing Professionals Think About the Value of Privacy to Consumers" shows that respecting customers privacy preference is a vital factor in building such trust (DMNEWS). Setting a privacy policy will give your customers an impression that you care about their personal information. If they can trust their valuable information to your hands then they can surely trust the services/products you provide. Another way of building customer trust is your word of honor. Either it is a written agreement or a verbal commitment made you must adhere to your word. Who will believe you again if you failed them thrice in a row? Nobody.
4. Be precise and honest. It is best to be transparent to your customers. Let them know what they will expect to your products or services. Do not promise your customer something that you cannot provide. It is always safe to be precise and honest as much as possible than to disappoint and lose them in the end.
5. Create a friendly environment. Oftentimes customers come back not only because of the greatness of your product/service but because they can feel that they are most welcome in your business. It is the attitude aside from the quality that keeps them coming back to you. Treat them not as your customers but a family you nurture in order to grow.
To continue your search for information and tips on growing your business you may also seek help from the PSI's or Professional Salesman International.
