Showing posts with label Customer Retention. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Customer Retention. Show all posts

Thursday, July 26, 2012

How To Grow Your Small Business And Gain Customers

In order to be a market leader you have to constantly innovate to grow your business and customer base.

The most important thing you can do to grow your business and gain customers is to address their needs and deliver extraordinary value.

Marketing is not about the company, but about the customer - you should be entirely devoted to the client's agenda and achieving success on their terms.

Learn how to focus on exactly who is your target customer, how you can help them and where you can find them and engage with them.

This is such a critical part of growing a successful business, it not only makes the marketing much easier as you can begin making progress with the right people from the start, rather than chasing prospects that are never going to be customers, but it's also a massive saving for a small business. Focused marketing really helps control costs as you are investing in doing less but see a more profitable gain.

Treat every customer like a guest in your home. Build your business one customer at a time with personalized customer service and sales. Great listening and follow up skills are critical as is never saying "We can't do that."

Two more things come to mind that can help you grow ....

1- Develop credibility with credbile people

We have found that our best source of new business comes from people that we have served, advocated for, helped advance their endeavors.

2- Learn to say no.

Dont be afraid to say no to a client or prospect. You have to show some confidence and power in you and your abilities AND, you should not take on a project or a client simply because you need the revenue.

You need to create customer loyalty, which then translates into retention. As customers choose to stay with your company, they'll expande the services they use, products they buy, and the amount of money they spend. All of which are at no to minimal additional cost to you. Basically, provide excellent service to clients, resulting in a network of referral based business as well as a pipeline to future business.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Small Business Marketing Tip .... Not What You Think

Don't market! Most companies have marketing budgets but few have customer rétention budgets. Focus on what makes your company unique. Be real. Here is a snippet from a blog by Marc Reece .....

Don’t just tell me how important I am to you in your messaging, show me! If customer service is truly your number one priority, make sure that your actions match your printed word and mission statement.

Nothing shows more disrespect and gets me more fired up than listening to a recording stating how important my business is to you so please hold for the next available customer service agent.

My time is as valuable to me as my business is to you, remember that! I want you to remember that everyday you are open for business, you are open for a reason and a purpose.

That reason and purpose is me, remember that!