Building your Client Base

"Whether you are big or small, you cannot give good customer service if your employees don’t feel good about coming to work." - Martin Oliver

When you think about growing your client base, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Do you think about putting together some kind of elaborate marketing campaign; or maybe even offering some kind of discount so more people visit your business? What if I suggested that you can sustain and grow your client base using just five methods practiced daily, instead of performing some sort of parlor act that only attracts your market's attention for a brief moment?

1) Present Value to your Clients

As simple as this topic might sound, it is sometimes one that is overlooked. How can this be? It's unfortunately easy to forget about presenting our value to our guests and clients. Instead, we focus on increasing our sales, reducing our overhead, and making our next big move. During this step, not only is it okay to talk about what makes your company your guests' best choice, it is absolutely necessary! Take an active role in showing them what makes your business unique and special to their needs and desires; and listening to the answers they provide to your questions. Most importantly, listen for details about their individual interests, as well as their personal concerns regarding the product or service you provide.

2) Create an Inviting Atmosphere

There are a variety of positions on this topic. A couple that stand out include and exclude employees as part of that atmosphere. We stand on the side of including team members as much as possible. In fact, we firmly believe that team members are the backbone our of any organization, and should be treated as such. With this in mind, staff members need to be able to exude the energy we are looking to present to our guests. This can be broken down into the most simplest of character traits: honesty, openness, inspiration, accountability, and conscientious. If the individuals working in your company encompass these traits, you will attract genuinely interested guests and clients who will stay with you for the long run.

3) Have a Plan

As a small business owner, you will be destined to have a plan for just about everything you want to accomplish. There is no difference when you are focusing on retaining and growing you client base. With anything in life, it is important to know where you want to go with your idea (i.e., what is your end goal). Focus on factors like time management by dividing your time evenly between your current clients and looking for new one; learn your market and how they need your service; network like it's the last thing you will ever do in life; and most importantly, provide your guests with the highest level of service they have ever received. Mix all these together, as well as a few others you determine to fit your company, and you will surely have a winning action plan like no other!

4) Get out of your Comfort Zone

What better way is there to be a successful small business owner than to push your limits every day? This is the kind of thinking that pushes business owners from being mediocre to being the businesses that stand out in their markets! Consumers look to the leaders in their industries; business men and women who look to the horizon for the next best thing! With proper planning and development, each day should bring new innovation and testing that will not only hold the attention of your current clients, but will also attract new clients and guests to your business. Be a leader! In fact, be a life changer, and step out of your comfort zone!

5) Maintain your Brand Identity

This method is pivotal to the growth and success of your company. It is important to leave each of your guests with a firm understanding of what you offer. Practicing your pitch will help to streamline your presentation, and will aid in keeping your key points concise for you clients' to remember. Your company's brand identity is more than just your business's public image! The identity of your brand comes with a firm promise that you will meet and exceed every expectation that was presented to you guest the moment they walked through the door. Through maintaining a consistent brand identity your market will be able to more easily recognize your business among the competitors, leading you toward a future of success.

Ultimately, the manner in which one business interacts with clients compared to another is a varied as the types of business owners in existence. With these basic methods that can be practiced every day from within the doors of your own company, however, you will be able to maintain a stable structure from within your business while also maintaining a level of respect and standard that might not be seen from your competitors. Always remember to be true to yourself and be honest with your clients, and the growth and success you seek will come to you sooner than you might expect!

Brandon has been focusing his attention on the world of small business since 2007, and admires the strength and dedication it takes for small business owners to mold and grow their dream into something they only ever imagined. The blogs provided on the EC Sales website are created from his personal experiences within the world of small business, and he shares them as a way of offering support and insight into what he thinks makes the best...the best