Say you've established trust with your prospects, and they've initially bought and used your products.

Later they turned into satisfied customers, and now you're developing wonderfully long-term business relationships with them.

But a few months/years later they turn to you and suddenly say,

"I'm starting to need new features on this product." OR "I need something done, and although I know you don't usually do it I think it's within your expertise, so I was hoping you could be one to do it for me."

What if what they're asking for is really something you're not ready to offer yet? And what if they reach point where they badly need it NOW, and are forced to make a choice between staying with you and going somewhere else?

Do you just tell them "I'm sorry, but we can't offer that right now." and sadly let them go?

Or do you realize that it's much easier to keep these valuable clients loyal than to spend more money attracting new ones, and find ways to give them what they need?

There are no hard & fast rules for answering this kind of question, but it's a situation most business owners will eventually have to face.

It's called CUSTOMER GROWTH PHENOMENON -- and if you prepare yourself early on in order to meet its challenges, it could mean growth & success of your business as well.

Evolving Customers = Evolving Needs ----------------------------------- General Motors understands that their customers inevitably change, and so created their different car models to adjust to those changes.

While their clients are young and have generally moderate incomes, GM offers them sturdy & reliable Chevrolet. But as these consumers grow older and get better jobs, GM capitalizes on trust they already established by offering them performance-driven (and more expensive) Pontiac. A few more years later GM assumes they have climbed corporate ladder and feel deserving of a well-earned break… so they use their same established relationship to sell them on luxuries of high-priced Cadillac.

In same spirit of customer retention, soft drink manufacturers have come up with low-calorie diet versions of their products, while breakfast cereal manufacturers created executive "power breakfast bars."

Running a successful business doesn't simply involve selling or providing a great product or service.

It also means knowing exactly how your clients feel about your current offerings, so you can change way you do things and better serve their needs.

The beauty of Internet is that it makes this necessary feedback mechanism more speedy & convenient for both business owner and surfer -- especially when conducted over a dynamic business website.

So why are many companies still in dark about what their customers REALLY want, and end up saying goodbye before they can even ask why?

If you're kind of business owner who wants his current clients to stay, then consider these 5 strategies for getting their valuable insights & feedback... while endearing yourself to them as someone who actually listens and cares:

1) Polls / Surveys

Most people want their opinions to count. That's why most surfers are inclined to cast their votes whenever a website politely asks them to.

You can use this to your advantage by using polls & surveys to know your potential clients' preferences, particularly when it comes to your products & services.

When conducting any kind of poll online, just remember 3 things:

1. Make it QUICK.

Keep in mind that your surfer has other things to do (like fill out your order form), so limit most polls to just one question each.

2. Make it CONVENIENT.

Create drop down menus or radio buttons for your surfer to click on, so they won't have to waste time typing in whole answer.

3. Make it WORTHWHILE.

If you want most number of feedback in shortest possible time, offer a prize for specific "lucky voters," within range of respondents that you expect for your survey.

If you have 1,000 prospective voters, for example, you can award voter number 500 with your premium service package at half price, and grant voter number 1,000 entire package for free!

Just make sure you have all contest rules clearly stated before you ask for their votes... or they might vote against you & your business forever.

2) Message Boards

Message boards hold their own appeal for surfers truly interested in topics your website usually covers.

When moderated properly & promoted regularly, they can become "virtual hangouts" where people:

- share their knowledge & opinions - offer advice / ask for help - or simply meet other people with same interests.

Although some clients with tight surfing schedules find that "having to go online and visit a specific URL" is rather taxing, you can make idea more attractive by:

- stimulating dynamic discussions in your board by raising current & compelling issues

- regularly telling your casual surfers about hottest ongoing debates & topics in forum

- and directly asking people to offer their own insights, while providing an easy-to-click link or URL.

3) Mailing List

The mailing list is very similar to message board, in that it encourages discussions among your clients & would-be clients. The only difference is that everything here is done through email, and members aren't required to go online to interact.

Just like message board, however, there are 3 secrets to effectively using mailing lists to gain useful feedback: