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"home Business Reviews Reveal Five Secrets For Keeping Your Regular Customers"
As Jeffrey Gitomer's book proclaims "Customer Satisfaction is Worthless, Customer Loyalty is Priceless" -- but what do many business owners measure? Customer Satisfaction! And why? Just because a customer is satisfied, doesn't mean she's going to be loyal! Think about what satisfied means -- in fact ask yourself -- would you rather your spouse was satisfied, or loyal? Well loyal of course! Because if someone is loyal, they will stay with you even if things aren't always satisfactory! So here are a five secrets to turn your top home business satisfied customers into loyal customers: 1. Offer a Loyalty Program: One study showed that the average American family belongs to 14 different loyalty programs. There are loyalty programs for coffee shops, airlines, dog grooming visits -- even panty clubs where you get the 10 pair free after having purchased nine. My hair dresser gives me "buy five get the sixth for free" and she says her business if up twenty percent. We live in a resort town and she gets a lot of out of town clients. Its a great way to give those of us who live there year round a benefit, while she is able to charge top dollar to her walk-ins that are one timers. Even if you're just looking to earn extra money from home -- you can figure out a loyalty program. 2. Keep In Touch: While I sometimes think business home internet marketing companies are the best for sheer volume of staying in touch, the content often leaves something to be desired. I know that 99 out of 100 times I get an email from the online marketing crowd, it's only because they are trying to sell me something one more time. But that one out of 100, who gives me something of value for free and doesn't even try to sell me something -- well I'm going to be more likely to be loyal to him. If your top home business is offline, a personal touch is essential. A call from someone in your company that has some clout, it the best kind of call to have. "How did that last service call go? Any issues? (If there are by ALL means solve them quickly and courteously!) And most importantly, thank them for their business. Tell them how much you appreciate them calling you. People love to feel appreciated -- so it best be heart-felt! 3. Ask For Their Opinion: Make an effort to invest your customers in your home based small business. At least once a year send out a survey with your newsletter... you are sending newsletters right? Ask their opinion about the quality of your products or service and how they can be improved. Make sure you actually implement some of the suggestions -- when customers feel vested, valued and heard - they are bound to keep coming back. Depending on your business, you might even think about forming an advisory board with people who have spent a lot of money with you. Treat them to breakfast or lunch and pick their brains about marketing strategies or a new product development plan. 4. Rewards For Referrals: Online this is called an affiliate program. If think enough of your product to try to sell it to my contacts -- in exchange, I get a percentage of the sale. It's easy enough to do it online because it is very easy to set up and track and people you don't even know are selling products for you. Even if your work from home company is off line, it is still a great practice to get into. You're probably already asking new customers how they heard about you...you are aren't you? If so, be sure you give a referring customer some token of appreciation. It could be a gift certificate, or a discount on purchase or some other token, but be sure to send a thank you note. The little things count! 5. Give Away an Unplanned Freebie: Unlike the rewards program where you give away the 10th product after the customer buys nine -- this is truly an unexpected freebie. Research shows that unexpected positive events have a stronger impression on the brain than expected positive events. So if you give your customer something FOR NO REASON -- other than you appreciated their patronage, you will have created a very lasting impression in their mind about you. While I'm a top home based business consultant, I'm here to say these five tips can truly make a difference in your ability to keep your customers loyal. It is all about appreciation and small acts can send huge messages -- good or bad. So focus on the good! Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Northstar At Home Based Business has taken the art of starting, building and growing a successful top home based business and packaged it into a Weekly Business Coaching program to help lead people through the success process. www.NorthstarAtHomeBasedBusiness.com www.NorthstarAtHomeBasedBusiness.com/blog |
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