For any business, whether it’s a small home based operation online or a private corporation offline, customer service should be a top priority. There are several advantages to the enterprise for providing excellent service with customer retention being high on the list. Retention is the lifeline for any business and by paying attention to your clients needs you should be able to keep your current customers while you try to attract new clients.
By retaining your current clientele you’ll have the opportunity to make other offers and perhaps up sell them to more expensive products. Happy customers tend to tell family and friends about their experiences and this word of mouth advertising goes a long way toward attracting new clients to your home business.
Seven techniques you can employ to help improve customer satisfaction and therefore advance client retention are:
1. Always follow up with your clients on a regular basis. From the very beginning after their first purchase right up to the current date maintain contact and inquire as to whether or not there’s anything you can do for them and ask how your product is working for them. Send your customers greeting cards on special occasions and from time to time deliver a free gift or a token of your appreciation for having them as a client.
2. Establish a customer service 1-800 hotline number for immediate attention to any questions or concerns they may have. Always be polite and courteous and treat your clients with the respect they deserve.
3. Create a customer survey for your home business website and encourage your clients to provide feedback and suggestions on how your enterprise can better serve them. Also ask for input relating to new products or services you may be able to provide them.
4. Resolve your customer’s problems and concerns as quickly as possible and always follow up with them after their issue has been resolved to ask if they were satisfied with the attention you provided. If the situation warrants offer a discount or a gift certificate for their inconvenience and always apologize for their trouble.
5. Institute an annual customer appreciation day. You can show your gratitude by providing product discounts on your website, or by emailing gift certificates for a free meal at a local restaurant, or you could send them free tickets to a local sporting event or show. Satisfied clients tend to remain loyal customers and they usually provide more business for your enterprise.
6. Launch a monthly contest on your home business website for your clients and have a drawing for first, second and third place prizes which can be free products from your website or an affiliate’s merchandise. You can also post the winners pictures on your home page as show of your appreciation for them having participated in your competition.
7. Establish an open forum on your site for your clients to socialize and to help them form relationships. Contribute to the chat yourself, as the owner, which will help you build trusting affiliations with your customers.
A strong commitment to customer satisfaction will help guarantee a strong client base for your online home based business for many years to come.