A Happy Customer Is A Valuable Customer

We have all heard the old adage “the customer is always right.” While anyone in the service or retail business knows that although this is not necessarily not true, the idea behind it is. Making your customers happy is essential to success in any business, whether your customers are other business owners or the family down the street. It is important to note that a satisfied customer and a happy customer are not the same things; a satisfied customer won’t say anything negative about your business, a happy customer will sing your praises!

Turning Satisfied Customers Into Happy Customers

Nothing brings growth in a business faster than good word of mouth. Happy customers are the life-blood of any thriving company. They will recommend your business to their friends and family, they will put rave reviews on Yelp or social media and, most importantly, they will continue being your customers for years to come! To transform a satisfied customer to a happy customer, you need to go above and beyond what is expected. Consider these ideas:

– Customer incentives. Too many businesses focus on rewarding new customers versus rewarding their existing customers. Let your customers know that you appreciate their business by offering freebies, discounts or other reward incentives for repeat sales.

– Personal interaction. Our technical world is fast-paced, often with little personal interaction in business transactions. Take the time to get to know your customers. Send thank you letters, use their name in conversations and take an interest in them as people. You may be surprised how much these little interactions can affect customer loyalty.

– Go the extra mile. A bad situation is the ideal time to make an impression on a customer. Mistakes happen; how you deal with the mistake is what the customer will remember. When a customer is disappointed with their experience with your business, start by apologizing, then do whatever you can to make it right and ensure they will come back again to give your business another chance.

It really is that simple. If you are already offering a quality product or service, you probably have satisfied customers. Turn them into loyal, happy customers by giving them that extra personal experience that will differentiate your business from your competition.