ºÚÁÏÃÅ

Growing aÌýbusiness isÌýhard work. It’s easy toÌýget caught upÌýinÌýbuilding your customer orÌýlead list, but what about theÌýclients you already have? Building stronger relationships with this core group can enable you toÌýgrow them into aÌýlead magnet forÌýattracting new businesses.

SoÌýlet’s discuss why you shouldn’t ignore theÌýrelational aspect ofÌýbusiness andÌýhow you can start enhancing your business relationships today.

Why it’s important toÌýconnect with clients

WeÌýencourage you toÌýinvest theÌýtime toÌýbetter understand your clients andÌýtheir business goals. The better theÌýservice you can provide these clients, theÌýmore likely they’ll beÌýtoÌýachieve those goals.

Word ofÌýmouth isÌýaÌýpowerful business-building tool. Some ofÌýyour best advocates are going toÌýbeÌýyour clients. They’ve experienced firsthand how you’ve helped their businesses drive success. And chances are, they know another entrepreneur orÌýowner who isÌýlooking forÌýyour expertise.

While this isÌýaÌýgreat reflection onÌýtheÌýservice andÌýsupport you provide, it’s also aÌýgreat marketing tool forÌýyour business: these happy clients won’t beÌýable toÌýstop talking about how you helped take their business toÌýtheÌýnext level, which inÌýturn builds interest among prospective clients.

Five ways you can build strong relationships with your clients

1. Listen toÌýyour clients
2. Invite them toÌýcollaborate andÌýbeÌýpart ofÌýtheÌýprocess
3. BeÌýclear inÌýcommunication andÌýdeliver onÌýtime
4. Educate andÌýinspire them
5. Follow upÌýpurposefully

Listen

Genuinely listening toÌýyour clients’ requests andÌýfeedback will goÌýaÌýlong way toward establishing aÌýstrong business partnership. Building trust with clients early onÌýshows them that you have their best interests atÌýheart andÌýthat you care about their success. They’ve hired you forÌýyour advice andÌýexpertise, soÌýmake sure that you take theÌýtime toÌýlisten toÌýandÌýunderstand their objectives andÌýgoals.

Collaborate

While you were hired asÌýtheÌýexpert, itÌýdoesn’t mean clients shouldn’t have aÌýsay. Instead ofÌýtelling clients what you think isÌýbest forÌýtheir business, try giving them aÌývariety ofÌýoptions andÌýinvite them toÌýbeÌýaÌýpart ofÌýtheÌýprocess. WorkÌýwith them rather than simply for them. Don’t let your years ofÌýexperience cause you toÌýexclude clients with fresh ideas who are new toÌýtheÌýbusiness.

Communicate

Keeping your clients informed will help you immensely inÌýtheÌýlong run. Before you start aÌýproject, provide theÌýclient with anÌýoutline ofÌýwhat they can expect asÌýwell asÌýkey details like theÌýprojected finish date. IfÌýyou can answer their questions ahead ofÌýtime, itÌýallows forÌýless distractions andÌýmiscommunication.

Educate

Aside from providing your expertise, teaching your clients isÌýanother way toÌýbuild aÌýbetter relationship. Beyond just providing aÌýservice, your clients have hired you forÌýyour guidance andÌýadvice. SoÌýwhen you’re meeting with clients, look forÌýopportunities toÌýeducate. Show them what they can doÌýandÌýwhere they can take their business.

Follow up

Lastly, once theÌýproject isÌýcompleted, aÌýfollow upÌýisÌýaÌýgreat way toÌýwrap upÌýtheÌýproject andÌýget some client feedback. Think ofÌýitÌýasÌýaÌýfriendly check-in toÌýmake sure that theÌýclient isÌýsatisfied with theÌýwork andÌýthey understand how toÌýuse their new software orÌýtool moving forward. BeÌýsure toÌýcheck that they don’t have anyÌýopen-ended questions andÌýthat you’ve addressed anyÌýconcerns they may have. You can also use this follow upÌýasÌýaÌýway toÌýgather testimonials andÌýreviews from theÌýclient, ifÌýyou soÌýchoose.

These are just aÌýfew ways toÌýimprove andÌýstrengthen your relationship with clients. What other methods are you using toÌýbuild relationships with your clients? Let usÌýknow inÌýtheÌýcomments!

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