Cultivate Healthy Business Relationships That Drive Referrals

Are your customers happy? As a small business owner, you know how complicated this question can be. You also know that happy customers drive referrals, and that referrals are the lifeblood of your business. Before your customers can begin singing your praises to others, you need to give those existing business relationships a little TLC. Here’s how to cultivate healthy business relationships that drive referrals.

Get to Know Your Customers

Healthy, sustained business relationships don’t happen overnight. They take time, effort and a whole lot of nurturing. Going the extra mile by getting to know your customers shows that you’re invested in them and their success. How do you do that? Show your most loyal customers some love. Remember birthdays and anniversaries. Take the time to truly listen to their thoughts and concerns. Make a positive impact on their lives. Everyone has had negative or mediocre business relationships at some point. Be the one that stands out, and you will reap the rewards.

Communicate Early and Often

When you begin any new relationship, you’re buzzing with excitement. There’s lots of back-and-forth communication because both parties can’t wait to dig in and get started. Whatever you do, don’t lose that momentum! Establishing early, regular communication with customers is one of most important things you can do to ensure healthy business relationships. Keep in touch with customers via social media to keep them updated on your company. Respond to questions and comments in a timely manner, and your customers will be more than impressed – they will recommend your services again and again.

Be Transparent

Let’s say you hit a snag in a big project you are working on for a customer. Because of its complexities, you’re unsure if you’ll be able to deliver results on time. Instead of leading your customer to believe everything is A-OK when it’s not, keep them updated on every step of the project so they know what to expect. If and when you hit a bump in the road, they will already have a heads up and it won’t be a complete shock. Your customers are smart. After all, they are doing business with you, right? So treat them that way. Your job is to make your their lives easier. Always be transparent and honest, and your customers will be a lot more likely to recommend your services to others.

Say Thanks

Think you’re done engaging with a customer when a project is complete? Think again! Skipping out on a solid thank you is a missed opportunity. Saying thanks isn’t just polite, it gives you the chance to get any feedback that the customer didn’t have the chance to give you before. It will also keep you fresh in their mind, which is especially helpful if they have a friend or colleague in need of your services. Finally, it ties together the entire experience. Your customers will feel taken care of, and in turn they will be more likely to entrust you with future projects.

The Takeaway

A customer referral program can be the best thing to happen to your business, but only if you’re proactively maintaining outstanding relationships with your existing customers. Give those relationships the time and energy they deserve. Your customers will notice – and the referrals will come flying in.

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