How much value do you place on your customers?
Let's face it...without customers you have no
sales...no profit...no business. Yeah, they're
the keyplayers in the marketing game. In other
words, wise marketers keep their finger on the
pulse of their clientelle. The know what makes
them tick and how to keep them coming back time
and time again. Here are a four ways you can
keep your customer's happy and loyal.
Make Customer
Satisfaction # 1
Hey, forget about how many sales you make in
a day, and look at how many customers you satisfied
today! Every satisfied client means repeat sales.
Yep, it might be a product that they purchase
over and over again, or it may mean different
products they pick up every time they walk through
the doors. Heck, it might mean both repeat products
and added impulse products as well.
Happy customers talk to their friends, and
friends trust what their friends have to say
about a business. Yep, even though it's an opinion...they'll
take it as the gospel and set a lot of stock
in it. Keep your customers saying good things
about your products and services...it'll pay
off.
Deliver...Don't
Promise More Than You Can Handle
No one likes to be let down. Yeah, that means
your customers will be happier if you promise
less, but deliver more. Think about this...happy
customers tell 3 of their friends about you,
but disappointed customers gripe to 11 friends
about what you didn't do right. Yep, it pays
to keep your word!
What about those unhappy clients? Deal with
them as quickly as possible and do what it takes
to keep them happy. Yeah, you might lose a little
profit today, but think of it like this...if
you keep them on your side they'll come back
again and again – and so will their friends.
Keep an Element
of Surprise Alive
Have you ever gone shopping and at the counter
discovered the item you purchased was on sale?
Yeah, it feels great to save money you weren't
expecting to save! Along with your advertised
sales, slip in some unadvertised specials. Your
customers will look forward to the unexpected
savings they encounter at the cash register.
Think about this...would you rather shop at
the new store across town where the clerks are
unfriendly and you're not sure of the quality
of the product when you've already got a good
thing going on somewhere else? We all have a
zone of comfort and are creatures of habit.
When your customers are in the habit of smiling
every time they walk out of your door, they'll
be less likely to experiment with an uncertain
competitor.
Tell Your Customers
You Appreciate Their Business
We all enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling that comes
with being appreciated. Yep, a smile...a thank
you...a pat on the back...they all leave us
feeling great. How can you send your customers
out of the store with the knowledge that they
are valuable to you? Just say it...I appreciate
your business! Say it with a special sale...by
letting them in on a new product or service
your are adding just for them...or simply with
a smile and heartfelt thanks.
Think about this...how do you feel when you
know your opinion counts? Yeah, we all like
to think people respect our thoughts and ideas.
When your customers know you put a lot of stock
in what they think of your business, they'll
be more likely to talk it up to their friends
and family. Reward them every time they share
their opinion about your business. Set up a
special referral reward program and watch the
news travel.
Invest in your customers...the dividends are
great!
Who is Allyn
Cutts, and why should you care?
Allyn has spent over 24 years helping businesses
like yours find new customers and increase sales
to current customers. Allyn is a marketing and
sales fanatic, providing measurable marketing
solutions that drive huge results for small-to
mid-size business clients. Allyn works personally
with clients to design and deliver off-line
and on-line direct marketing strategies that
focus on metrics and measurable results. You
can learn more about Allyn Cutts at www.AllynCutts.com
and you can call 610.437.4106 between 10 AM
and 4 PM Eastern Time Tuesdays and Thursdays.
