Want to know the secret for keeping your clients forever? And what if you could keep your revenue growing by 25 percent every year, because your clients loved the way you appreciated them? In this article, you will learn how easy it is to develop a powerful client appreciation program. Once in place, an appreciation program will forever change the way you operate and manage your business.
Developing a monthly appreciation plan: At the beginning of each month, develop some fun ideas to "thrill" your customers. Start by planning a short brainstorming session with your sales manager, your marketing director, customer service and your sales team, so you can hear their unique insight about ways to make the program a giant success. Their input is critical as each company has its own special client profile, so customize your appreciation plan accordingly. Once your appreciation plan is finalized, provide a written recap for your team so everyone will know exactly what their role will be. Clear communication makes for perfect implementation.
Tip From The Coach: Consider building your client appreciation plan for six to twelve months in advance. This makes for better financial budgeting, a more thoroughly developed appreciation plan, and your team will have the time to evaluate several competitive proposals for each month's theme.
Building appreciation themes: As you consider the theme for each month's appreciation program, start by looking for specific holidays or seasonal times of the year. For example, summer time is perfect for bringing an ice-cold drink to all your clients, as appreciation for their business. Your clients will not care how much you spend on them each month, but they will be very impressed by the way your team shows how much they care. Another appreciation theme, depending on the profile of your clients, might be more educational. For example, have a local computer store give a live demonstration for your clients at your office, focusing on how the Internet can improve their business. Your clients will be thrilled to hear more about this cutting edge technology and the computer store gets to meet lots of potential new customers? a win-win for all. Lastly, hundreds of companies provide all kinds of promotional items you can order in small quantities with your company name imprinted on them, and these items will fit perfectly into your client appreciation program.
Tip From The Coach: Certainly your clients will love the appreciation you show them each month and so will your prospects. If appropriate, include every prospect in your appreciation program. Take this small step and watch your closing ratios double!
Evaluating the success of client appreciation: Start by asking your team to make written notes of any nice comments shared by your clients or prospective new clients. Next, evaluate the number of clients or prospects who attend your educational seminars, as this helps for planning future programs. Of course, monitor your client retention percentages, as this is the critical measurement of how well your appreciation program is working.
Tip From The Coach: Remember, your clients will feel important when they know they are a top priority. Implementing a client retention program will not cost much. But the return on your investment will be significant based on less turnover, happier clients which means more referrals, and more fun for your team. Why? Because The Coach says so! Plus, good news travels fast and so will the sterling reputation you earn with your clients.
Want to hear more about this important topic or ask some additional questions? Fax a note on your letterhead to 435-615-8670 or send an E-mail to ernest@powerhour.com and The Coach will fax/E-mail back to you a free invitation to be a participant on a TeleForum conference call. On this call we will discuss 25 appreciation themes your clients will love.
Author's note: Ernest F. Oriente, The Coach, is the founder of PowerHourŽ a professional business coaching/recruiting service and the author of SmartMatch Alliances?. He has spent 17,500 hours [since 1995] delivering customized training, by telephone, in leadership, traditional/Internet marketing and sales for fast growing sales companies and entrepreneurial businesses worldwide. PowerHourŽ specializes in global distance learning by telephone, using their state-of-the-art conference call system for interactive and dynamic TeleForums. Twice-monthly TeleForums link 10-100 executives/professionals/individuals who are geographically dispersed, in a time efficient and profitable format.
PowerHourŽ is based in Olympic-town?Park City, Utah, at 435-615-8486, by E-mail ernest@powerhour.com or visit their TeleForum website: http://www.powerhour.com. To receive a FREE success newsletter, with subscribers in 74 countries, send an E-mail to: ernest@powerhour.com. Recent PowerHourŽ articles have appeared in 4000+ business/trade publications and websites.
According to customer service studies by marketing gurus of the... Read More
Customer service is the pits, you say. You are not... Read More
Reality is not always pretty. But here is a tad... Read More
From Ebay to the smallest home-operated start-up, e-businesses of all... Read More
"I am writing to complain about the widget I bought... Read More
Every time my firm conducts communication skills training, we know... Read More
Every business owner should have a picture of his or... Read More
Having been in business a number of years, I'm amazed... Read More
Anyone who knows me knows my favorite fast food restaurant... Read More
Listening to complaints, whether they're reasonable or not, is a... Read More
Note to Kmart: It wasn't about the weatherIn the 1970s... Read More
The buzz is all about customer service and call center... Read More
Customer service and customer service training are vital for any... Read More
Big companies and corporations have lost the human touch. The... Read More
Homebuyers are an interesting study. Watching people make their home... Read More
Customer service is increasingly seen as one of the most... Read More
What have you done for your existing customers lately? Probably... Read More
Different people call their Customers by different names. If they... Read More
1. Hire people who have a service attitude. Some people... Read More
Whether in a restaurant, a retail establishment, or the local... Read More
Some time ago a major UK food retailer decided to... Read More
Millions of people, just like you, end up with a... Read More
I'll always feel warmly about Conrad's restaurant, in Glendale, California.On... Read More
In a mobile detail or mobile car wash business you... Read More
In my day to day practice in strategic human resource... Read More
One of the basics of acting taught to me in... Read More
Clients? they are the most important influence in the success... Read More
One of my classes in management focused on the repeat... Read More
Yesterday I went to buy a sandwich at a franchised... Read More
Last night I was at my computer and a Skype... Read More
A general counsel of a large international consulting firm told... Read More
Every customer looks for 3 special benefits when they do... Read More
Today, there are situations when we actually add a "middle... Read More
Winning Customer ExperiencesMuch research has been done on what the... Read More
From Ebay to the smallest home-operated start-up, e-businesses of all... Read More
Dr. Michael LeBoeuf, in his cassette album entitled, Win Customers... Read More
Would you like to have customers that stay with you... Read More
I hate to sound like one of those cheesy get-rich-quick... Read More
Why do some businesses offer points, stamps or every tenth... Read More
On a recent airline flight I was an upset... Read More
Resistance has to do with putting up blocks that prevent... Read More
Welcome to the inaugural issue of Human Tech Tips --... Read More
In this day of terrible customer service, it should come... Read More
The salesman's job is to be well informed; extremely well... Read More
"I am writing to complain about the widget I bought... Read More
The other day a reporter call to interview me on... Read More
Quest for new clients shouldn't ignore those who pay the... Read More
Customer service is everything to a business. Just look at... Read More
Those of us in home based and small businesses are... Read More
If you want to last a long time in business... Read More
You probably realise how the wrong tone of voice and... Read More
The call center represents your first line of communication with... Read More
Clients? they are the most important influence in the success... Read More
What do your customers experience when they interact with your... Read More
There is a widely accepted principle of human behavior that... Read More
One of the mantras we hear repeatedly in business is... Read More
These moments come when a customer or client?1. Hears someone... Read More
The simplest way to describe a 'durian' (pronounced doo-ree-ann) is... Read More
"Hi this is Randy. Leave me a message after the... Read More
This morning I was having breakfast with my good friend... Read More
If you think customer relationship management is just a piece... Read More
"Mountains are built one pebble at a time and climbed... Read More
Who was it that said - "The customer is always... Read More
1. Tis the SeasonRecognize that everyone is frazzled during the... Read More
It's bound to happen sooner or later ? yes, even... Read More
Customer Service is a critical factor for keeping your clients... Read More
Customer Service |