One of the most important things an entrepreneur can do is to develop an active community for their startup from the very start.
A loyal consumer base ensures return business, which can develop into steady revenue streams that will allow the startup to grow into a small business before long. Here, our collaborator, entrepreneur and healthcare consultant Munear Ashton Kouzbari details ten ways any entrepreneur can build a robust and loyal consumer base from the beginning.
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Start with Your Employees
Happy employees mean happy customers. It’s essential to take the time to develop good relationships with your employees and to maintain a healthy atmosphere in the office. The office atmosphere will affect employees’ interactions with clients, and you want it to be as positive as possible.
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Have Excellent Customer Service
Always have a cheerful tone of voice. Address your clients by name. Always have a friendly smile. These may seem like little things, but even the simplest of gestures like referring to a customer by name can make a significant impact. A great customer service experience will make them want to come back.
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Create a Loyalty Program
Offering customer incentives is a great way to encourage customers to come back. It can be as simple as a punch card for a free product, or “credit” at your business. Whatever it is, it lets them know that you care about their loyalty and appreciate their business.
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Market Your Products Well
Running an effective marketing campaign to raise product awareness is a powerful tool. Customers may forget about a particular product or service you offer, and seeing them throughout their daily routines can act as a gentle reminder to return.
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Prioritize Human Contact
It’s great to take advantage of the benefits technology offers, but don’t overdo it. Customers like to talk to a person who knows how to help them, rather than struggle with a prerecorded message system.
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Invest in Employee Training
Employee training can empower employees and instruct them on how to carry out their duties properly. They will work better together through team-building exercises, as well as learn the ins and outs of how to do things.
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Offer Financing Solutions
If your products or services are on the pricier side, it may be a good idea to offer payment plans. Customers will be happy to return to someone who prioritizes them by making the cost easier on them.
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Be Flexible with Your Clients
It’s easy to be cut and dry, but extending a little consideration goes a long way. Return transactions and other awkward proceedings do not always have to be done “by the book.” Instead, try to be willing to bend a little bit. Your customers will appreciate it more than you think.
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Communicate with Your Clients
Excellent communication is key, whether this means being able to relate to them in conversation or coming up with an email marketing campaign to serve as a reminder, but being able to communicate with your clients is everything.
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Build a Strong Reputation
Customers want to carry out their business with a reputable source. All of the above–focusing on employee health, prioritizing each customer relationship rather than the sales, straightforward communication, and reliability—are all ways to build an excellent reputation.
