Methods for retaining clients
You’ll find article after article focused on getting new clients for your business. These articles contain tips for marketing to new target audiences and the best methods for attracting clients at conferences. While these articles contain great advice, the real work comes into play when trying to retain your current clientele.
Because it is actually more expensive to capture new clients than it is to retain, more emphasis should be placed on the latter. Retaining your clientele can mean increased profits. However, the same old tactics are becoming less effective. So, here are three unconventional and seemingly counterintuitive ways to retain your clients.
Method one: employees first
Focus on your employees. Focusing on your employees will ultimately benefit your clientele. It comes down to this basic truth: happy employees mean happy clients.
Treat your employees right and they will pass that along to your clients. Great customer service will never go out of style in the professional world. And your clients will thank you for it.
Method two: drop the jargon
Drop the industry jargon. Your natural instinct may be to spout your industry’s jargon. While it showcases your professional knowledge and can establish confidence in your industry, it can also push your clients away or keep them at an arm’s length.
Drop the jargon and talk to your clients as you would a trusted friend, but perhaps on a slightly more professional level. It’s about finding that balance, making them feel comfortable, but also retaining your professional confidence.
Method three: get picky
Be selective with your clients. Remember that you don’t have to take on every interested potential client. And to be completely honest, some clients aren’t worth the risk, stress, and negative attitudes that sometimes come with business-client relationships. If you’re selective with who you take on as clients, you will have less problems down the road, which means a better professional relationship that can help you increase your client retention.
Client retention efforts
A sure-fire way to ensure business success is through your client retention efforts. Clients are harder to keep than to bring on, but the profit and benefits that come along with your loyal and long-term clients are worth those efforts. Find new ways to reach out to your clients and they will thank you with their continued business. Once you have client retention down, then you can add an additional focus of getting new ones.
