Don’t forget your clients!

January has seen many of us pledging to change the way we do things, creating goals and plans for the year ahead but it is vital not to forget what you have spent the previous year cultivating.

Forward planning is vital to maintain growth in a business but equally important is cherishing the relationships and business that you already have. It is important not to become complacent about their loyalty to you, don’t just maintain the relationship; actively seek to see how you can improve the relationship.

It is well known that the majority of your business comes from existing clients so let them know that their business is important to you and ensure that they know that you want to work with them for the long term.

All of this be achieved by following a few simple rules:

• Keep in Touch. Communication is key whether it be via email, telephone or face-to-face. Allow your clients the opportunity to let you know how you are doing in their eyes and if there is anything that they think would improve their experience.
• Make it Easy. By ensuring that every interaction with you is as easy as it can possibly be, customers are more likely to speak to you. Ensure that your website is easy to navigate, that your content is engaging and that it is regularly updated.
• Adding Value. By pre-empting your customers’ potential needs, you will be one step ahead of the competition and your client will appreciate the effort.
• Customer Service. Your employees are your representatives when it comes to your clients; you want them to be a reflection of how you would treat a client. Invest time and resources in them to ensure that they are good ambassadors for your brand. Staff that feel valued have pride in what they do and who they work for and this will be reflected in the service that they provide.

So before you launch headlong into your plans for the future to gain new customers, make sure that you also plan how you are going to take care of your existing customers.