5 Surefire Ways to Ensure Client Happiness
Happy clients, happy company. Sounds simple, right?
If you manage your own company you know that happy clients keep the business thriving. Sometimes, however, achieving that desired level of client satisfaction can be more than a bit elusive.
Here are five tips that you can adopt to ensure that you find the client happiness you desire:
1. Deliver Exceptional Work
Let’s face it: we live in a hyper-competitive world in which the Internet has made everyone a “shopper.” It doesn’t much matter if you sell B2B or B2C, if your clients don’t feel that your work is exceptional and worth their investment (of time and money), there’s a good chance they’ll start to peruse the Internet for your replacement. “Good” work simply doesn’t cut it these days. You must strive to be exceptional – or better – to build loyal, satisfied clients for the long haul.
2. Stay Several Steps “Ahead” of Your Clients
Responding to requests and doing a minimum of what the client wants doesn’t give you the traction to develop long-term relationships. You should always be “ahead of the curve” and provide ideas and solutions even when clients have not made a specific query. Thinking constructively and being proactive with your ideas,rather than reactive, will always keep your clients in your corner.
[Tweet “5 #business tips to ensure you keep your clients happy!”]3. Stick To The Budget and Deliver Projects On Time
Nothing irks clients more than to have their project budget adjusted after it has already begun. Be very careful to estimate your projects accurately at the very beginning of the job, and consider absorbing the costs if unforeseen expenses must be made. Sticking to the established timeline should be standard operating procedure, and with few exceptions, you should aim to deliver the completed work before the due date.
4. Take Ownership of Any Problems and Mistakes
No one is infallible and mistakes do happen. Regardless of how or why an issue transpired, the best strategy is to take ownership of the situation and develop an action plan to make it better. Clients don’t want to hear excuses about who did what to whom; they want the problem rectified as soon as possible. The faster you make it go away, the happier and more satisfied your client will be.
5. Understand The Client’s Expectations
It’s nearly impossible to meet your client’s expectations if you don’t know what they are from the outset. Make it a point to discuss their wants and needs, and establish mutually agreed upon “ground rules” for the business relationship. Become familiar with how they like to work and where they like to put their resources, then deliver accordingly. By uncovering what they want, you can’t help but succeed.
And remember: when the going gets tough and the demands seem over the top, it is these very clients that keep the revenue flowing. It’s a win-win if they’re happy!