What is the best way to keep longterm clients and customers.?

Question

I do my best to keep good relations with my clients, mostly by offering a quality service. but one slip up or mistake and they drop me like a hot potato. What is the trick, kickbacks, low prices, quality, etc. Help.

Answer 1

If you have been keeping customers for a long time but they jump ship if you mak

e a mistake indicates that either your service has slipped and it isn't as good

as you think it is or you are vulnerable due to lower priced competitors.

The first thing you should do is work on improving the quality of your service.

It may be that although the quality of your service has been consistent the qua

lity of your competitors service may have improved to the point where it is as g

ood or better than yours.

If you have new low priced competitors your customers may be willing to try them

out if you make any slips.

The next thing you should do is contact that customers who have left you and ask

why.  While you are at it make sure that you let them know that you would welco

me them back with open arms.  (Some customers may feel embarassed and even after

finding out their new supplier isn't nearly as good as you won't return.)

When you find out why a long time customer has left you address the problem. Onc

e you have fixed it call the customer, thank them for pointing it out, tell them

how you fixed it and invite them back.

Hope this helps

Jerry-the-bookkeeper

Answer 2

If you are offering a quality product or service at a competitive price and customers are leaving that easily then you must be in a very competitive market.  You need to analyze your competitors. What advantages do they have over you that would make their products/services more attractive?

Develop a customer rewards program.  For every nth service or dollar spent give them something -  a discount, free service etc.

Good Luck!  

Answer 3

I think there are three key ways to address this challenge;

1  Find a way to make leaving difficult for your clients. That is, create substantial "switching costs". And I don't mean cancellation fees, that'll just cause illwill. Instead find ways to make your product or service more valuable by becomimg more intimate with and integrated into what matters to the client.

2. Inovate, innovate, innovate. Watch your competitors and run as fast as you can to avoid becoming a commodity. When your clients are only talking about price you know you're running much too slow.

3. Make big promises and overdeliver.  

Answer 4

Leave a chocolate on their pillow when you're done. And make sure to clean up the condom wrappers (hopefully you 're using some).

Answer 5

Treat them well!  Give them something for free every once in a while.  Make them feel like they share in the credit for your positive results.  And never hesitate to ask for referrals -- existing clients tend to pass along the most, and the best, new business leads.