Personal service and taking the extra step for my clients. If someone comes in looking for a particular piece or style of art and I don't carry it , but, I know an artist who does, I will contact the artist. If not, I will direct them to other stores or galleries where they might find it. Some people say this is me losing a sale, but it is actually me gaining a client who will come back because they will remember that I actually had their interests in mind. I also have hand made thank you packets made it to give them their receipt in after a purchase. They get a thank you note (handwritten), a small print, a business card and a discount card to use. People love to get thank you notes and it has helped me establish my largest clients who I call my patrons. Finally, if I am hosting a birthday paint party in the studio, I make sure to have activities available in case some finish before others or parents are late picking up. I don't charge for this, but parents love that they don't have to try to occupy children for a length of time and that makes them come back for an open kids event, an adult event and gets them talking about our summer camps. WE keep adding items as customers have expressed the want or need for it in our small town. By listening, they come back. We are now adding custom framing and matting services because we have had a lot of clients wanting that particular service. So, long story short, listen to your clients, give them MORE than they expect and a little thanks goes a long way!
When my clients know that I treat them honestly, and that I genuinely care for them, they are loyal fans of mine. Doing what you say you will do creates raving fans. It is the right thing to do - treating your clients how you would like to be treated.
When I began my first sales position years ago I asked a veteran coworker how he did so well. He told me that I was not there to sell something to my client but to help them do their job better and thus look better for their boss.
I have taken business from competitors by always being 100% available to my clients.
As a service provider, the people that need to have my direct cell phone number and that of my employees; not a pager number and not that of an answering service. Many times I was told they love the fact that they can get me live and not have to hear an excuse about whoever they called "didn't get the message."
One of the biggest things that helps me is to always stay humble and remember that these are the people that put food on my table. I've seen too many companies get too big for their britches when they get large like that often the employees don't think the business can suffer/fail.
First of all by specializing in seniors and the disabled. Secondly by listening to the client's concerns, and addressing them. I also educate clients on what they can do to minimize their issues, as well as I what I am doing and why I do it. I also give talks such as my "Vices of Mobility Devices" presentation for proper fitting and use of those devices and use of the body for maximum benefit. When clients work with me, they know I care about them and their aging with health. Much of what I see each day is preventable.
There are some real hurdles here. Let's see what we have to jump over these days in an effort to make ourselves look good.
#1 A lot of things in life are just not "rave-worthy".
People have normal expectations for most services. We could come up with some artificial ways to WOW our customers, but we'd have to charge extra for it. So if you want us to blow hot air up your wazoo and pay for it, just let us know and we'll send you some tickets to see Cirque d'Soleil in Vegas or something else completely unrelated to plumbing while charging you double 💰💰
#2 I can't depend on customers to rave about me ~ I have to hand them the megaphone.
More work to do, and you still might not bother to read my reviews, or believe testimonials, or look at videos unless you are buying a really high-dollar product. I'm fixing your plumbing for a few hundred dollars, not replacing your teeth for $20,000.00 so there's not much you need to know ~ if I'm a dirtbag someone will have already dragged me through the mud on the internet somewhere. Maybe a lot of places. Just Google "xyz company complaints" and you'll see.
#3 No one seems to be able to make direct links between promotions and results, particularly at the small-business level.
Johnson and Johnson spends millions promoting their brands, and had revenues of $18.1 billion in the 4th quarter of 2016. Obviously marketing works, but at what level ? It's like flying ~ you don't get anywhere if you can't reach liftoff speed. You can flap your arms all day and still go nowhere. We used to spend $30,000/yr to bring in $35,000/yr worth of business. We stopped spending $30,000 and our profitability went up. And we worked less.
#4 Fake news.
I don't care if you rave about something. You're probably the owners cousin. Next.
The term "Raving Fans" alludes to social media success. But, really you want to listen closely to your customers needs, deliver outstanding service, tell them thanks and never take your customers for granted.
Answers (1-10)
Two ways...deliver more than you promise and genuinely care about the client.
Personal service and taking the extra step for my clients. If someone comes in looking for a particular piece or style of art and I don't carry it , but, I know an artist who does, I will contact the artist. If not, I will direct them to other stores or galleries where they might find it. Some people say this is me losing a sale, but it is actually me gaining a client who will come back because they will remember that I actually had their interests in mind. I also have hand made thank you packets made it to give them their receipt in after a purchase. They get a thank you note (handwritten), a small print, a business card and a discount card to use. People love to get thank you notes and it has helped me establish my largest clients who I call my patrons. Finally, if I am hosting a birthday paint party in the studio, I make sure to have activities available in case some finish before others or parents are late picking up. I don't charge for this, but parents love that they don't have to try to occupy children for a length of time and that makes them come back for an open kids event, an adult event and gets them talking about our summer camps. WE keep adding items as customers have expressed the want or need for it in our small town. By listening, they come back. We are now adding custom framing and matting services because we have had a lot of clients wanting that particular service. So, long story short, listen to your clients, give them MORE than they expect and a little thanks goes a long way!
Here are set of best practices I use in my business:
·Deliver what you say you will deliver.
·Deliver on time
·Stay within the budget
·Do not hype
·Keep communication consistent
·If you discover a anomaly in the project point out the potential problem to the client. Be willing to discuss the best resolution.
·Be honest about what you can and cannot do.
·If you are working with the client in a done-with-you context be present.
·Expect the client to deliver on their part of the engagement.
·Hold the client accountable for their side of the deliver
·Do not over charge. Keep prices within the market mean
·Be flexible with the client - they run a business too.
·If you assign a team member to work with the client, check in with that team member assuring the project is flowing according to plan.
The result of your effort is not only a raving fan but repeat business and referrals.
Overwhelm with love and caring. But it must be sincere. Make each client feel like they are your only client.
When my clients know that I treat them honestly, and that I genuinely care for them, they are loyal fans of mine. Doing what you say you will do creates raving fans. It is the right thing to do - treating your clients how you would like to be treated.
When I began my first sales position years ago I asked a veteran coworker how he did so well. He told me that I was not there to sell something to my client but to help them do their job better and thus look better for their boss.
I have taken business from competitors by always being 100% available to my clients.
As a service provider, the people that need to have my direct cell phone number and that of my employees; not a pager number and not that of an answering service. Many times I was told they love the fact that they can get me live and not have to hear an excuse about whoever they called "didn't get the message."
One of the biggest things that helps me is to always stay humble and remember that these are the people that put food on my table. I've seen too many companies get too big for their britches when they get large like that often the employees don't think the business can suffer/fail.
First of all by specializing in seniors and the disabled. Secondly by listening to the client's concerns, and addressing them. I also educate clients on what they can do to minimize their issues, as well as I what I am doing and why I do it. I also give talks such as my "Vices of Mobility Devices" presentation for proper fitting and use of those devices and use of the body for maximum benefit. When clients work with me, they know I care about them and their aging with health. Much of what I see each day is preventable.
There are some real hurdles here. Let's see what we have to jump over these days in an effort to make ourselves look good.
#1 A lot of things in life are just not "rave-worthy".
People have normal expectations for most services. We could come up with some artificial ways to WOW our customers, but we'd have to charge extra for it. So if you want us to blow hot air up your wazoo and pay for it, just let us know and we'll send you some tickets to see Cirque d'Soleil in Vegas or something else completely unrelated to plumbing while charging you double 💰💰
#2 I can't depend on customers to rave about me ~ I have to hand them the megaphone.
More work to do, and you still might not bother to read my reviews, or believe testimonials, or look at videos unless you are buying a really high-dollar product. I'm fixing your plumbing for a few hundred dollars, not replacing your teeth for $20,000.00 so there's not much you need to know ~ if I'm a dirtbag someone will have already dragged me through the mud on the internet somewhere. Maybe a lot of places. Just Google "xyz company complaints" and you'll see.
#3 No one seems to be able to make direct links between promotions and results, particularly at the small-business level.
Johnson and Johnson spends millions promoting their brands, and had revenues of $18.1 billion in the 4th quarter of 2016. Obviously marketing works, but at what level ? It's like flying ~ you don't get anywhere if you can't reach liftoff speed. You can flap your arms all day and still go nowhere. We used to spend $30,000/yr to bring in $35,000/yr worth of business. We stopped spending $30,000 and our profitability went up. And we worked less.
#4 Fake news.
I don't care if you rave about something. You're probably the owners cousin. Next.
The term "Raving Fans" alludes to social media success. But, really you want to listen closely to your customers needs, deliver outstanding service, tell them thanks and never take your customers for granted.
Also be a valued resource that can provide what is needed and if not find someone who can.