"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care"-
Theodore Roosevelt
If you still have trouble pleasing your customers, you may always have trouble keeping a high customer-base. Customer is the life-blood of business, to get to understand what they want and make an offering that meets that need can mean finding loyal customers. Hence, I would like you to answer these question:
'How well do you know your customers needs?'
'How well do your product/service satisfy their needs?
It's key you understand that, consumers are not held hostage to your offering _ they also see your competitors brand. The new definition for customer acquisition/retention is offering custom-made product/service; make your product meet his need like it is designed for him.
In the world of professional public-speaking, Ceo's and speakers alike are always calling on me to their meetings, conferences etc to give a speech, but some years ago it was quite difficult to be invited as a guest speaker. The catch. I discovered the principles to acquire/keep customers and it does pay off. Whether you are a public-speaker or a Fashion-designer, Brand manager, Advertiser etc these principles can help you increase your brand's clientele; it has been useful to me and it sure will in your business.
"Your unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning"-
Bill Gates
Those customers your offering couldn't give maximum satisfaction, that complains shouldn't get you bent out of shape; it's time you see their complaints as instructions showing you areas in your services you have to improve on.
Say, a lady bought your product (facial cleanser), you pasted on it effective in 4days, she followed the instruction it didn't work in the stipulated days but 7days, accordingly, she made her complaints. Don't you think she just taught you a lesson free? ...Use it constructively!
"The best way to find yourself is to loose yourself in the service of others"-
Mahatma Gandhi
There is no better way to build yourself and at the same time increase your customer-base other than in your quality offering.
In my career as a business blogger and consultant, I live everyday making research so much so that, when I finish writing on any chosen topic, I discover that, I have added new ideas and thoughts that I never knew before. Choose to give yourself completely to your brand, and it sure comes with benefits _ you'll have more customers and that's how you'll hit the multi-million dollar mark.
"Well done is better than well said"-
Benjamin Franklin
Too often, people are good at talking than they are in walking the talk. If you're still enthusiastic on talking than you are in doing, be rest assured you'll lose your customers to your competitors. To speak well in your marketing presentation can only profit you in the long run, if your product can do so well what you speak of. Don't forget that your customers look up to you as an helper from their challenges, problems, conundrums etc. In the light of this, how do you think they will feel when your product do not live up to expectation based on your hyped and saturated advertisement?
"It is easier to love a brand when the brand loves you back"-
Seth Godin
Love naturally emerge from customers so much so that they'll become loyal customers, if only you would be the first one to love them. So, the pertinent question is,
'How well do you love your customers?'
Say, you have a product that cures patients down with eye impairment, when your clients uses it, how effective is it to their ailment? Do they have to a dozen of it before they'll recover? Well, if so, it shows you don't love them enough. Love of customer is helping them get the most from your product with minimal effort.
"If we can keep our competitors focused on us while we stay focused on the customers, ultimately we'll turn out all right"-
Jeff Bezos
Oh, you think the one that should occupy your mind is your competitor, right? _ you're wrong about it _ your client is the one you should be concerned about.
In your niche everyone is focused on satisfying customers, so keep an eye out on the very need of your clients _ where it itches them the most and proffer solution. Being in business is being a problem solver; if you are not solving any problem you'll soon go out of business.
"If your job is customer satisfaction, your real job is problem solver"-
Brian Tracy
Customer satisfaction is king. Let them derive maximum satisfaction from your offering. Let them feel the value of your service. When a product gives consumers pleasure, that brand will enjoy constant patronage. The reason? People love to associate with what gives them pleasure. So, if you're looking for an increase on your clientele, start improving on your offering, and you'll be amazed.
"There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money elsewhere"-
Sam Walton
If you're in business and you don't know that the customer is the real boss, you might always have difficulty increasing your clientele. The success of your company is in its sales, and customers have the final say on it _ for if it fails to meet expectation he can always move elsewhere. And when your product gets stocked only in the warehouse without sales, you'll soon find employees being retrenched. From this scenario, who is the boss?
"If people believe they share values with a company, they will stay loyal to the brand"-
Howard Schultz
One factor that is key you understand in business is 'values', what values in society have you discover to be popular? And right where you are (country) is it popular with them? You have to be clear about the values in your geographical location.
Say, your countrymen detest eating fresh water fish, and you are there selling it, do you think you are likely to have an increase in your clientele? ...Align your value to theirs!
"Get closer than ever to your customers. So close that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves"-
Steve Job
That is the formula to increasing your customer-base; get to know them very well _ go for customer insight. Understand where it itches them in a way that, it is when you've told them that their eyes will be opened to the reality of it. So, a key question to achieve this would be:
'What platforms do you have in your organization that can foster customer's insight?'
If you don't have one yet, you'll want to create one if you must succeed in business.
"We should keep in mind that the humanities come before the dollars. Our first duty run to man before business, but we must not forget that, sometimes the two are interchangeable"-
Bernard Baruch
What inspired you to start up that business? The dollar or what? Well, if it's the latter, chances are you may not find it. On the other side of the coin, I can assure you that if you are motivated by a desire to ease the burden of humanity, certainly man's desire to gratify himself will propel him to buy your products. Man is selfish by nature, not until you acknowledge this you might have trouble increasing your customer-base.
"Everyone lives by selling something"-
Robert Louis Disreali
Hey, dear friend, what are you selling? I sell digital contents and you love it, hence you are reading it. Have you got one item to sell? Think the question isn't necessary, right? hmmm, I think it's time you make it high on your list of priorities, because your brand lives or dies by what you sell. Be sure to keep an eye out on your offering that it's one people would want to buy, for it is only then that your corporate brand can live. Sell what the majority needs, and your business will live for the majority.
"Planning is the design of a desired future and of effective ways of bringing it about"-
Ackoff
Have you got plans for your business? If so, you are on the path to success. If you still have trouble making plans for your brand, you'll be left at the mercy of the competition. Planning is the vehicle to drive your company to huge Return on Investment. If you cannot plan, you are paralyzed to achieve success.
"In the world of Internet customer service, it's important to remember your competitor is only one mouse click away"-
Doug Warner
Don't you ever believe the lie that your competitors aren't conversant with your latest offering _ they do! So, in view of this, it behooves on you to watch your moves, innovations and technologies. Be quick to make changes where necessary and watch your brand leading in your niche. Your competitors are watching _ know this!
In conclusion, The path to success for every business is in knowing how to go selfless, and leverage on the selfishness of consumers. How selfless is your brand? ...
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