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Have Better Customer Impact.

Common wisdom states that it is five times more expensive to sell and close a new customer than an existing one.

“Certified proven spenders,” existing customers, are not only less expensive to sell to, but they also tend to be less price sensitive, meaning they are willing to pay more for your products and services.

Ignore existing customers at your peril. Here are some ideas to keep customers coming back over and over.

A. Communicate. Customers want to hear from you. Not only when you’re trying to sell something. Customers understand how your products and services work and the benefits they get. Communicate regularly with them to gain valuable feedback and to help shape your understanding of the market.

B. Keep it Personal. People work with people. People communicate with people. Personally communicate with your existing or previous customers to build a relationship which will easily outlast any competitor and translate into your company being their business partner.

C. Show Appreciation. Customers should represent more than simply a transaction or paid invoice. Let them know that you are thankful for them, their trust, and their support for your product/service.

D. Reward Loyalty. We all have customers which have been with us a long time. We start to take them for granted, assuming they will always be there. Times change, though. Reward your most loyal customers, letting them know that they are special and valued by your company—beyond revenue.

E. Add Strategic Value. Identify ways that your product or service can align with your customer’s top strategic objectives. Go and show them how you are an integral part of their current and future business success. Help them understand that their objectives are your objectives. Become part of their team instead of being simply a vendor.

F. Prioritize. In the quest for new business, existing customers can sometimes be forgotten or put way down on the list of priorities. Look for ways to prioritize existing customers’ needs and their satisfaction above new business and internal politics and initiatives. Your customers will reward your loyalty.

G. Create Cross Sell Opportunities. Market and identify opportunities within existing customers to place complimentary products and services. A customer’s need is never static. Discover where you can help them solve new or other existing problems and capture more “wallet share.”

H. Create Up Sell Opportunities. Most customers tend to purchase product or services for specific and urgent need. From there, customers branch out into considering other important needs. Understand your customers such that you can identify and present answers to bigger problems, those problems which supersede the original issue you were called in to solve.

I. Share Information. Your customers are always looking for new opportunity just like you are. Bring good contact information or leads to your customers where you understand their products and services to be a fit. Be generous with information so your customers are better informed and able to make better decisions. Make your customers part of your team.

J. Draw Attention to Yourself. Every time that something is written, published, or put online about you or your company, send it to your customers. Remind them of all the areas where you’re having success and how you are helping others solve business challenges. Your existing customers will perceive you as having capabilities beyond their original expectations and will bring you in on new projects.

K. Follow Up: Proactively make sure that your customer’s questions or needs are fulfilled. Don’t let them linger in favor of other priorities…or to seek out other competitive options.

L. Manage Your Reputation. Make sure customer issues resolved in a timely, accurate manner. Good customer care differentiates and keeps customers coming back. Unhappy customers can cause a lot of headaches that your business does not need.

M. Get Involved with Your Customer. Demonstrate your commitment to your customer through getting involved in community programs. Identify customer-preferred charities and consider contributing time, money or product/services to the effort

N. Make Them Feel Important. Ensure your customers know that they are important to the future of your business.

Try some of these common sense ideas and you’ll be surprised at the positive results you get from your customers.

The Afterburner Group has been building customer relationships and confidence for companies in the technology, energy, services, manufacturing and non-profit industries for over 25 years.

If you think that you should be closer to your customers, fill out the contact form below and we’ll let’s discover how this can happen and the benefit you and your customers will receive.

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