4.Thank you. Simply but overlooked. The act of thanking people for their business. Sending thank you notes to customers who refer is an important practice.

Most importantly, however is practice of saying "thank you" when customer leaves even if he doesn't purchase. How you say "thank you" is also important.

Many times I say something to effect of "thank you for using our services we really appreciate your business". This says so much more than a simple "thank you" does.

Thank customers for information they provide to you, thank them for referrals, thank them for keeping you in business, whatever it is just remember to say "thanks".

5.Testimonials. Overlooked but critical to building credibility with potential customers.

If you are a brick-and-mortar business you should have customer testimonials posted where new customers can easily see them.

If you are an online business they need to be front and center on your web page. Do not hide them behind links, put them right on home page.

Testimonials will do more for you than any other type of advertising. Sprinkle them throughout your mailers, on postcard mailings, in your office or store, on your web page, in your emails. Everywhere, you can't wear them out.

6.Rewards. Rewarding customers for their loyalty is a great way to drive repeat business and boost your bottom line.

I recently sent out a letter thanking customers for their loyalty, telling them that they had been added to my VIP customer list, and presented them with a thank you coupon.

In letter I also covered new services and products. I had a 90% response rate. Some customers called just to say "thank you" and chat.

This form of relationship building is a critical success factor.

The reward program can be points like airlines currently use, a cash back program, tiered discounts, anything that motivates customer to buy more to gain incentive.

These six strategies are mandatory to building a customer retention program and for motivating new customers to buy.

Implement one a month for next 6 months and watch your sales go up.

Customers need and want to be appreciated and respected; this should be standard operating procedure for every business owner.

b) Using a variety of stimuli and frameworks to open up as many pathways as possible.

c) Not having a conscious direction.

d) Not stopping when a goal seems fulfilled.

e) Consciously stimulating change in direction.

In short, key principle is to produce first and scrutinize second – writing and rewriting are two separate processes. This applies across board, from business problem solving to arts such as screenwriting. The more people try to understand meaning, less they produce.

************************************

These and other topics are covered in depth in MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased at http://www.managing-creativity.com

Kal Bishop, MBA, http://www.managing-creativity.com

************************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as author's name, web address and link to MBA dissertation is retained.