Make Potential Clients Long-Term Customers

Are you taking steps to turn potential clients into long term customers?

Every potential client in your business equals the potential for a sale, but there's more to it than that. Every potential client also equals the potential for a long term customer.

Long-term customers help keep your business strong.

It takes less effort, both time and monetary, to keep a long term customer loyal than it does to find and sell to a new customer.

Long-term customers are a valuable asset.

If you keep up a good relationship with them, they'll keep coming back to your business time after time.

So just what can you do when you work with a new client to increase the chances of them becoming a long-term customer?

Here are six tips to get you started….

Get to Know Them

 When you first work with a new client, take the time to get to know them.

Ask yourself:

• Who are they? 
• What matters to them? 
• What do they want and need? 
• What are they looking for from your business?

Taking the time to get to know a new client from the outset will help you build a long lasting relationship.

The more you know about your client early on, the better placed you are to offer them solutions that work for them.

Be Welcoming

The article "Thought Leader Series: Pointers for Upselling Your Salon's Beauty Products" suggests always greeting your customers warmly by name. Little personal touches like that can make a big difference to your new client.

Whether you first contact a new client in person or via email or social media, cultivate a warm and welcoming attitude.

Pay attention to them. Thank them for getting in touch, and ask them how you can help them.

Deliver Excellence

The quality of your products and services are key to turning a one-time client into a long term customer. Good customer service and a warm welcome are vital, but you also need to make sure that the product itself will make a good impression.

Focus on delivering excellence and your new client will realize that your business offers unbeatable quality that is worth coming back for.

Go Above and Beyond

Go the extra mile for your new customers, and you'll make an unforgettably good first impression.

From putting in extra effort to solve a problem, to helping them customize an order to fit their needs perfectly, put in some extra time to keep your new customer happy.

When you make a special effort for your customers, you show them that they matter to you, which will encourage them to do business with you again.

Offer an Incentive

If you want your customers to keep coming back; why not offer an incentive?

A customer loyalty scheme provides a valuable incentive to buy from you again.

With a customer loyalty scheme, you can reward your customers for buying from you.

A scheme can be as simple as "buy so many and get one free", or you could use a points based system, where the points can be redeemed for discounts or extra products.

Follow Up

Don't forget about your new customer once their order is completed.

Follow up with them to find out if they're satisfied with their order, and with your business.

Ask them about the service they received, and whether their purchase met their needs and expectations. Find out if there's anything else you can do for them.

Each new client is a potential long-term customer for your business.

Foster a good relationship from the outset by focusing on what you can do for your new customer.

Make the best first impression you can and provide them with unbeatable service and value that will make them want to come back for more.