4 more tips to keep clients for life

March 29, 2016 at 07:21 AM
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Ask your clients to rate their satisfaction with your service. Did they give you wonderful reviews?

The best salespeople and the best companies implement strategies to acquire clients and to keep them for life. Your goal must be to develop long-term client relationships and then hold on to them in the face of ever more aggressive competition.

Here are four more of my favorite tips, so you can increase client satisfaction and keep them for life.

5) Ask the "ultimate question"

Fred Reichheld, of Bain & Company, studied the elements of excellent customer service for many years before finally concluding that there was one single question that was more indicative of customer satisfaction and referral business than any other question.

He called it the "ultimate question":

"Based on your experience with us, would you recommend us to others?"

The willingness of a customer to recommend you to others is the highest level of customer satisfaction. If you have a good relationship with people who aren't your clients, very often they will like and trust you so much that they will recommend you to others, even if they don't become your clients themselves.

6) Always ask for a review

At the end of the sales conversation, you can ask this question:

"On a scale of 1 to 10, would you recommend us to others?"

Of course, your goal is to get a 10. When your customers give you a 10:

  • They will become a "raving fan."

  • They will become a customer and brand advocate.

  • They will tell all of their friends to buy from you as well.

But, what if you receive a grade of less than 10 – say a seven or eight?

You say, "Thank you for your answer," then immediately ask, "What would would we have to do to earn a 10 from you next time?"

And don't forget to keep asking your customers, "How are we doing?" and "How could we do better next time?"

The highest-paid and most successful salespeople are those who develop a series of satisfied customers who buy from them again and again, provide faster and easier sales, are less price sensitive, and form the basis for the growth of any business.

This is your goal as well.

7) Improve your customer service strategy

Develop a customer sales and service strategy that enables you to get and keep customers for life. This customer service approach does not happen by accident. It requires careful planning, discussion, and training of everyone who deals with your customers.

All successful salespeople and businesses are known for how well they treat their customers. This must be your goal always.

8) Take action

What one action can you take with every customer and prospective customer that will cause them to want to refer other prospects to you?

Determine the one action or behavior on the part of anyone in your company that might reduce customer satisfaction and referral business. How could you eliminate it, and how fast?

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