How does your customer view your company? Do you have a distant relationship or are you very close? This can vary depending on the client and the type of business you are dealing with. In economic times like these, it’s very important to make sure that each relationship is very strong, so that you can have security that your customers are going to stay with your company. If you do a little analysis and realize your relationships are not as strong as you would like them to be, below are 3 simple ways to strengthen the relationship and secure their business.
- Listen. Listening goes well beyond using social listening tools to actually having conversations with customers. Be able to repeat back to the customer what they are saying to you and show them how you can fix their problem and some.
- Identify. Find customers that are influencers. Once those customers are discovered, encourage them to speak on panels and participate in webinars. Some might be socially active, but they might need acknowledgement and opportunity. This will help not only help them gain exposure, but you will also gain exposure for your company.
- Educate. For B2B clients, provide case studies, webinars, videos, and speaking opportunities. B2C customers can offer testimonials, product reviews, and user-generated videos; and they can become acknowledged experts in your community forum.
The common thread among these 3 tools are they all show you are interested in your customers’ best interests. When people feel like they are being taken care of, they feel more secure and are more likely to continue working with you. The less emotional connection they have, the more likely they are to do business elsewhere if a better looking opportunity comes up. How do you strengthen your relationships with customers?
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