As you run your small business, stop for a moment to think about how both your customers and you can benefit.
In order to make it a win-win situation for both parties, it comes down to making sure that you are doing all you can for your customers, while in return, they treat you with the respect you deserve as a business owner.
That said the reality of the situation is that some small business owners are totally fixated with making money for themselves, leaving the customer feeling at times like they’re just another number.
On the flip side, you have some customers who will try and dupe the hard-working small business owner, making it difficult for him or her to stay in business.
The bottom line; when small business owners and customers work in unison, great things can occur for both.
With that in mind, how can you best help your customers and vice-versa in today’s busy world?
Helping the Customer
So that you can best serve your customers, remember these tips:
1. Customer service
Above all else, make sure you offer top-notch customer service.
This means giving them your attention whenever necessary, especially when they have questions or an issue with something about your small business.
Also be sure to take their feedback seriously (see more below).
Unfortunately, too many running companies don’t truly listen to their customers. As a result those customers can become former customers in a heartbeat.
2. Specials typically work
While you certainly can’t be running your small business at a financial deficit 24/7, you should be offering customers regular deals.
Not only do deals encourage customers to continue doing business with you, but such discounts can lead to many of those customers referring you to friends and family members (see more below).
As such, you stand to gain more business over time.
3. Use Internet for marketing
Lastly, with millions of consumers using the Internet at any given time, it only makes sense to reach out to many of them via the worldwide web.
Be sure you are using not only your website to promote your brand, but also social media etc.
When you offer solid blog content, social interactions, webinars, videos and more, you make it easier for consumers to find you. In doing so, you increase your odds of making more sales.
Customers Can Help You Too
As much as you go out of your way for your customers, they can do things too in order to help you stay in business for the long haul.
1. Ultimately paying for purchases
One of the biggest negatives in running any business is avoiding the problem of chargebacks.
For those not aware, chargebacks are when a customer reneges on their purchase of goods and/or services, purchases that they made with credit cards. Over time, such actions can end up costing businesses lots of money.
Encourage your customers to follow through on their intentions to buy from you, something that will make for fewer hassles for both parties.
2. Encourage others to buy from you
As mentioned earlier, if you have good service and products, customers tend to stick around longer.
They are also more likely to refer your brand to those they know, leading to potentially more sales.
3. Provide you with feedback
Finally, that earlier mentioned feedback is so crucial to your small business being able to improve itself.
With that in mind, give your customers some incentives to provide you with their two cents each and every time they buy from you.
By doing so, you will have a better relationship with them over time, a relationship you can hopefully nurture for many years to come.
As a small business owner, are you doing everything possible to work hand-in-hand with your customers?
