I was recently catching up with a customer I’ve enjoyed working with for years, and was thinking back on building our relationship. At the time we met she was working for a small technology company. Since then she has taken a position to build and manage a lead generation team. She has been quite successful with this new company for quite some time. We’ve built and enjoyed a mutually rewarding customer relationship.
See Customer Relationships with a Long View
In a time when technology has become so much a part of our daily communication and the way we communicate is changing, I was thinking back to how our relationship blossomed. It didn’t happen overnight but in retrospect, these simple common sense practices were key to building this strong business and professional alliance.
I decided to jot them down. Although they may seem basic, I think these practices are worth stopping to think about as we continue to seek and develop meaningful relationships with our potential buyers, buyer partners, and customers.
Practices that Nurture Stronger Customer Relationships over Time
Here are my thoughts on a few basics to help build closer customer relationships:
- Don’t over promise, but over deliver
- Go the extra mile; it does matter
- Respond quickly and positively
- Be alert to red flags and help clients work through them
- Partner with your clients
- Talk less, listen more
- Set realistic time lines to meet customer requests
- Work toward the customer’s goal and they will work towards yours
- Listen, hear, act and respond quickly to customers
- Make it easy for customers to work with you
- Keep customers abreast of developments within your organization
- Be honest, sincere and real
- Be positive and look toward the future for them and with them
- Include them in your business planning
- Share your vision and forward-thinking ideas
- Discuss best practices that are working and not working
- Treat the customer as you want to be treated as a customer
- Your clients’ success should be your goal
These practices, though simple and basic, are critical and not to be forgotten. I hope they help you.