We often make the assumption that if a client/customer/patient purchases from us once, they will automatically come back to us when they need our service.
We make this assumption without thinking it through thoroughly.
We forget the constant hounding and endless marketing of our competition to our current customer base:
The special offers they make...
The better service they might provide...
The better prices they might offer...
A more impressive selection...
And so forth and so on.
To think that our customers may not "cheat" on us, or, at the very least, have a wondering eye, would be foolish.
Nearly EVERYONE is susceptible to losing customers to the competition. The question is...
What Can You Do to Keep Your Customer Committed to You (Regardless of All the Outside Influences)?
Here are some ideas:
1. Stay in regular (VERY regular) contact with your list of customers and prospects through emails, social media posts, phone calls and other methods.
2. Whenever possible, become friendly with customers so that your relationship extends to happy birthdays, happy anniversaries, checking on them when they're sick, etc.
3. Regularly make very special offers to your customers base.
4. Try to refer your customers to do business with each other so you become a source of referrals and value.
5. Refrain from making your relationship ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. While, yes, you're in business to make money, sometimes your customer needs a kind word, some good advice, a friend to lean on, and so forth. You can't put a price on that.
Like I said, at the very least, stay in constant contact with your customers and make special offers to them whenever possible.
This is important advice because, while you might lose some "loyal" customers, you might also hold on to many fiercely HYPER-RESONSIVE customers -- IF -- you keep in constant contact with them the proper way.
Have a great weekend!
