7 Tips For Permanently Retaining Customers

Loyal customers are the backbone of any successful company. We should find new ways to turn new customers into loyal customers.

On the hot summer day, the office air-conditioner broke down. You use the phone book to look for maintenance companies. They say they can be repaired but there are two. week !

Exceeding the expectations of one-time customers

But if you are an old customer, that will not happen. You may be part of the customer's "priority service" plan, which means that the company will give priority to you.

Does that sound great? Do you want to be a permanent customer? That's true.

Similar plans and strategies with the air conditioning company's "priority service" plan can transform one-time sales into permanent customers. There are many approved ways to do this, but there are seven tricks that are suitable for your business.

1. words and deeds

"If an enterprise can not abide by its credit, then any other business. Strive It will not help, "RuthStevens, a marketing consultant at a consulting firm, said. In other words, many companies focus on trying to keep customers, but ignore that their products or services do not meet the requirements. Ensure that your main behavior is worthy of long-term loyalty, and then find ways to cultivate customer loyalty.

2. expect best.

Another obstacle to many businesses is waiting for customers to "prove" their value before taking steps to consolidate the relationship. Instead, each customer should be treated as a potential long-term customer: "do not think customers must strive to get your friendly treatment," says ErinDuckhorn, CrucialTechnology, an online memory upgrade provider. "Instead, we should start with the assumption that this new customer will become a long-term loyal customer and treat them like this." Respecting customers from the very beginning and expecting them to pay in time (rather than remind them of the deadline before the problem comes up) can foster long-term customer loyalty, Duckhorn said.

3., anytime, anywhere, extraordinary.

After meeting the basic conditions, one way to win long-term customers is to strive to exceed expectations. A good benchmark should be set up, and the goal is to do it. better Beyond this benchmark. For example, E.D.Foods (an online soup and other food business) has won wide acclaim because it can provide customers with food but not in the online catalogue. "It's very simple," says LeslieEiser, the company's co owner, "if we have good products and provide customers more services than they expect."

4. pay attention to your customers, not your bottom line.

A key element for developing long-term customer loyalty is to focus more on customer needs and preferences, not just on revenue growth. Of course, profit is very important. But long-term solvency comes from long-term customers. And enterprises should listen to opinions from all sides. "I always ask my clients questions about the concept of new products, so that they will motivate them in every way," says EllenCagnassola of MaryEllen sSweetSoaps, an online soap retailer.

5. training long-term employees

Effective strategies for long-term customers are not achieved without a sense of urgency, and should be achieved through staff. Treating employees should be like treating old customers.

This will not only motivate employees to strive to cultivate customer loyalty, but also maintain a sustained and focused approach to supporting and responsive environments.

6. make customers willing to patronize

Quality service or product is very important, but this does not hinder preparation in advance to turn customers into permanent customers. In the case of FranklinPlumbing, this means offering discount to old customers. For PublishingGame.Com (FernReiss, which is an independent resource for readers, authors and Book Publishers), if the customer delivers the cover of the old article, the updated article has a 25% discount. "Because my books are updated every three to six months, and because the publishing industry is changing fast, many people who like books no longer have regular orders. When they get the latest sales information, we get a fixed business, "she said.

7. carefully select your permanent customers.

It seems a bit disrespectful to exclude some people from their permanent customers. But there is such a fact that some customers are more trouble than they are worth. We should monitor the measures taken to maintain customer satisfaction; if the cost is too high or too much work is needed, it may be better to abandon these customers. "You should know the cost of your service. Some customers demand a cost based sales service, while some insist on face-to-face meetings with sales representatives, "Stevens said." if they are in trouble, give them a competitor's number or handle the relationship more carefully. It is impossible for everyone to become a permanent customer.