Though it might seem like you’re constantly striving to win customers and keep them happy, you have to remember that it’s a reciprocal relationship. They have to be of value to you, too. For that reason, we need to look at how you cut out the difficult clients, the time-wasters, and focus on those who really have the most to offer in return.
Know your market
First of all, you have to know who you want to reach in the first place. If you started off on the right foot, you should have market research from which to build your ideal client profile. By narrowing down your ideal to specific demographics, you can better craft marketing messages to meet their expectations and anticipate their wants. As time goes on, use customer relationship management tools to continue capturing data and insight that lets you refine that knowledge even further.
Find the right people
If you’re active in trying to capture sales and clients, how do you know who to start off with? Networking can be a great resource to start building personal connections that can be professionally rewarding, but it’s slow. If you’re using telemarketing, you need to make sure you’re spending time on qualified leads, not just anyone. You can acquire resources like timeshare owner leads that can give you a little more financial information on potential customers and clients. That way, you can tell whether or not they are likely to be able to afford the service to begin with. Setting up referral partnerships with other business owners can help drive more customers towards you without the time and money spend on finding them, too.
Know how to nurture
Finding leads is one thing, but how do you get them to convert? Lead nurturing can take time, and you can make it much more efficient by identifying the methods that work best. Your CRM or other data collecting tools can be used to measure the effectiveness of methods like: targeted content, time follow-ups after meetings, personalized mail and email, and much more. There are a lot of different ways to “nudge” your potential customers in the right direction. Which of them work best can depend on your market, your services, and your message. Take the data-driven approach to find out which it is.
Reward generously
This is where many startups fail. You have to be generous in how you reward those who convert after the nurturing process. This doesn’t just mean offering great services or products. Show they’re valued by following up and thanking them. Welcome and ask for feedback. Continue to offer deals and promotions specifically for returning customers (and let them know how exclusive they are.) Too many businesses think that a deal is done once it’s done, and miss out on the returning revenue as well as the goodwill from loyal customers that can lead to word-of-mouth and a sterling reputation.
As your business grows and you get the time and resources to grow your customer or client base, you might become less picky. However, sticking to the tips above will always ensure you’re efficient in working with the best leads and getting the best chances of converting them.
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