Having a strong and positive relationship with your clients is very beneficial. It can set you up for repeat business from loyal clients and make your business more attractive to new clients as they would see that you treat your clients well. It also allows for great success with projects and a better reputation for your company. Moreover, having a strong client relationship can also make your day-to-day life at work more enjoyable.
What makes for a strong client relationship? The same traits that define any good relationship: Awareness, communication, dependability, accountability, honesty, and so forth.
Here at Execview, our support team help you get the best use from our Project Management Reporting Software. We provide our clients with support and information and facilitate solutions to any questions. With our speedy and friendly assistance at our helpdesk, this is just one of the many ways we are able to strengthen our client relationships.
How can I build strong client relationships that last?
In the following list, you can find functional approaches to improve client satisfaction and build mutually beneficial partnerships.
- Study your client
The first step in forming any long-lasting relationship is to learn about your potential new client. You cannot build good business ties unless you find out how your clients and their businesses operate. It is also vital to know your client’s business model, their practices, and short- and long-term goals.
- Treat every client as your most important one
Providing every client with your best service is essential, regardless of if they are a big or small company. Happy clients are more likely to make referrals and you never know they know.
- Respond promptly
When a client reaches out to you, it is important to acknowledge them as quickly as possible even if you may not have the answer, they are looking for. This is because it usually gives them comfort by simply acknowledging their request and by letting them know that you are working on it.
- Reach out to them in other ways than email
Communicating via email can sometimes be misinterpreted particularly during stressful situations if senders and recipients do not know each other well. You could consider a phone call or meet face-to-face – a good way to build a better relationship with your client. This allows you to build rapport with your client and communicate more effectively and efficiently to assess the project and answer any questions. Remember to always be available to speak with your clients should they need you to show you care about them.
- Stay positive
Always keeping a positive attitude with your client is key. If your project goes through some setbacks or challenges, it is important to stay positive and solution-driven to give clients confidence in your work. Diminish any worries your client may have and encourage them to stay positive about the project themselves.
- Share knowledge
At first, your client may not fully understand the ins and outs of your company’s work. It is therefore essential to describe how the product or service function at your company works and give a clear timeline for the project with frequent updates. You could also offer tutorials and training sessions for your product/service if you think your customer could gain from them. Remember to always keep your clients updated to make them feel comfortable throughout the process.
Written by Keisha Parry