Love is in the air… five tips to show your customers that you care

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Be our Valentine!

We all know that relationships aren’t easy. They take a lot of work and constant nurturing. And we’re not just talking about personal relationships – this applies to business relationships, too.

If you run a business, you’ll know how easy it can be to put all your energy into attracting new customers and inadvertently neglect your existing ones. It costs five times as much to attract a new customer versus keeping an existing one – so why aren’t you showing the people who essentially sign your paycheck the love?

It doesn’t have to be all champagne and flowers. This Valentine’s Day, we look at five ways you can show your customers that you really care – without breaking the bank.

1. Get to know them better

Knowing your customer is a given for business success. But how well do you really know them? Making time to really understand your customers’ needs – and tailoring your services to meet those needs – means there’s a greater chance that they’ll stick around for longer.

2. Ask, Listen, Respond, Adapt

Entrepreneur focuses on 4 key points to show your customers you care – ask them for feedback, listen to what they have to say, respond to their thoughts and suggestions, and adapt accordingly. You should consider:

  • Asking customers what’s on their minds regularly.
  • Listening to what customers are saying about your business in surveys, social media, or anywhere else they give feedback.
  • Responding to customers promptly when they contact your business, whether it’s a complaint or a compliment.
  • Adapting your business based on customer feedback to better meet their needs.

3. Reward their loyalty

If you’ve got a longstanding customer or a customer who pays the bills regularly, reward their loyalty. You could surprise them with a gift, freebie or send them a discount code or promotion as a thank you. It’s the little things that make all the difference.

4. Engagement

No, not that kind of engagement. The best way to keep your customers is to regularly remind them that you’re there – and ready to help with whatever they might need. If you haven’t heard from a customer in a while, there’s no harm in sending them an email or picking up the phone to ask if there’s anything you can help with.

5. Go the extra mile

Sometimes, just doing what’s asked of you isn’t enough. If there’s an opportunity to go above and beyond for your customer, then take it. They’ll be grateful that you’ve considered things that they might not have thought about.