Look After Your Clients And They Will Look After You

Why are you in business? Hopefully you enjoy what you do, however is it because you want to make money so that you can have, be and do more in your life?

Who pays you? Your clients do and never forget that.

Unfortunately many business owners do. They take your money and then vanish off the face of the earth. And if you do hear from them you know they are only trying to sell something or business is not going well. The silly thing is, if you look after the hand that feeds you, they will look after you.

Keep in regular contact with your clients, particularly the top 20% (both current and past) who have provided you with the most income.

Still keep in touch with the others via newsletters etc. However the top 20% of very special clients need extra attention.

A monthly "how's things?" call. Find out how life is treating them, without expecting to sell anything.

Send the occasional gift ... a book, CD, movie tickets. Thank them for their business.

When special times of the year occur send them a Christmas Hamper, New Year's Calendar, Easter eggs at Easter. Little things which show you care.

Whatever you do don't send an invoice in a card... this is exactly what I received one Christmas from a printer whom I had spent thousands of dollars with. I immediately took my business elsewhere.

When you get referrals, reward the referee with a thank you card or gift.

Do what most people in business don't do. You will be amazed that if you consistently (that is the key word here) make the extra effort, you will continue to get repeat business or more referrals.

And to do all of this you need to learn how to get organised, manage your time and yourself as effectively as possible. You must have systems so you can streamline your processes. n
The Final Word

There is plenty of business around, however most people spend heaps of time chasing it, take the money and run off to the next person. Yet it would be so much easier to look after what you already have. (And the same applies to your personal life.) n