Customers and Your Business: The Forgotten Relationship

In the midst of running a successful business, it can be very easy to let certain aspects slip in quality, either because it is not a priority at the time or the stress of running a startup can consume time, energy and resources in keeping every plate spinning. In running a business that is talked about, promoted in certain circles, and is generally well thought of is down to one thing, the customer. The customer is what pays your wages, and is the link between success and hardship. But there are times when we don’t listen to them, and yet we rely on them so much. Taking the customer based approach, here is how you, as a business, can enrich your relationship with them.

Give Customers Your Attention

The first stage would be, if you’re not doing so already, is to give them your attention. When you go into a shop and are actually looking for help, when you stand around for more than two minutes you get frustrated, right? Because no one is giving you the help you require. How would you feel if you ran that organisation? So make it a point to engage customers and so you can give them the help they need.  

Improve Means Of Contact

If a customer is not able to speak to you in one mode or another, it is another barrier between you and your ability to help. Make sure your channels of contact are open and accessible. Make sure you can provide reliable IT support if your site is down, have working phone lines, and a regular newsletter to the customer keeps them updated on your company’s moves reinforces the customer’s connection with your brand.

Ask For Feedback

Feedback sites such as Yell gives the customer a virtual soapbox to express their opinions, no matter how detrimental to your business it can be! So make sure contact with them is regular and you are asking them what you can do for them to make fulfill their needs. Social media is a very popular way for customers to speak directly to a business, and a very good way for you to open up a dialogue with a customer on a one to one basis.

Speak To Them!

Not just on the internet, but via telephone, or in person! If someone can match a face to the brand it will be an improvement over the amount of faceless companies that customer would have to contend with when shopping online.

Reward Their Loyalty

If a customer has purchased from you and continues to do so over the months, they need to feel valued, otherwise they can feel that you are just taking their custom without any gratitude. The best way to do that is to reward them. Do that and it will reward you, as repeat customers spend 67 percent more than new customers.

Loyal Customers Sell

A loyal customer will share their experiences, whether in person or online. As a result, your business can gain extreme exposure, which can translate healthily into sales, building your customer network. The more referrals people will make, the more it will snowball.