With skyrocketing gas and food costs, many consumers are tightening their belts. What can you do so your business thrives during these difficult economic times?
I think the real key is to find out what your customers want and provide the very best service possible. Now is a great time to asses what your business is doing or can do so your customers will keep coming back and refer you to their friends.
How do you find out what your customers think? Ask them! Make it easy for your customers to let you know how you are doing and what you can do to improve your service.
Here are some questions to ask yourself and your customers:
1. Why do your best customers do business with you? (Keep doing it!)
2. What do customer regularly say about your business? (Don't dismiss negative comments. Use them to assess where you can make changes.)
3. Why do new customers do business with you? (This will give you insight into what really works and what doesn't in your marketing campaigns.)
4. Why should your business be the one they choose? (What makes you stand out?)
Answers to these questions will help you see where to focus your energy. It may also reveal areas you need to improve in.
Create a short, simple survey and ask for your customers feedback. You may ask:
1. Why do you choose us to do business with?
2. What do we do that others don't?
3. Where could we improve?
4. If there was one change you could change about how we do business, what would it be?
Other things you can do to make customers feel important and keep coming back:
1. Send a thank-you card.
2. Smile.
3. Remember and use their name.
4. Listen to what your customers have to say.
5. Make them feel important, as though they are the very best customer you've every had.
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