Your existing clients are your most important business assets. They are already aware of exceptional products or services that you provide and you have already built a trust with them.

These happy clients will be first to recommend you and your business to others that may be in need of your services or products. It is essential to build a lasting relationship and keep in touch with these influential people…keep your name fresh in their minds. They have become ‘business friends’ and what kind of friend would you be if you didn’t stay in touch.

There are several ways to build a loyal and lasting relationship with your clients, besides exceptional customer service and support that you are already providing. You need to set yourself apart from competition and give customers something that will keep your business in front of their minds, thus producing repeat and referral business.

Your first step is to ensure that you make your client feel like they are number one. This should be something that you strive for with every client you acquire. Sure, there may be some that will take this to heart and put excessive demands on you when you are really needing to get work done for your other clients, but majority of them will be just like friends and supporters and you need to show them that you appreciate them. You need them to know that they are not just clients, but that they are a value to you and your business.

A great way to get ball rolling is to send a letter thanking client for chance to provide them with a quotation and let them know that you are here to help, if they need it. Include, with letter, a copy of your brochure, any specials that you currently have running and, of course your business card.

Clients should be catered to. Their every need should be met and more. We need to make them feel like they are our number one client, as they all are.

Catering to our clients should not be anything new to a professional business person. After all, we all know that exceptional customer service is key to keeping clients happy which, in turn, keeps them coming back for more and influences them to refer you and your business to others.

Then, why is it that there are so many times that we have to deal with businesses who don’t put their clients first? We have all had one (or more) of those experiences, haven’t we? And each time I have ever had to deal with someone who doesn’t provide exceptional customer service, I am just mystified as to how they possibly manage to stay in business.

Now, catering to your customers does not mean that you should have to sacrifice your integrity or your reputation but it does mean that you have to make them feel like they are most important customer you have. Whether they spend thousands of dollars on your product or service or they only buy in small amounts at irregular times, they are all important to your success. Every client is a door waiting to be opened and for more business to come walking through.

Catering should result in your clients always being happy and thinking positively about you.

There are some obvious, yet often forgotten, simple tasks that you can do that shows your clients that you care about them and want them to feel your are there for them when they really need you. So, let’s revisit some of them now.