How to Succeed by Giving Your Customers What They Want

Sept. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- And this is the least effective and expensive way to have customers to frequent your business and buy more. According to Mari-Lyn Harris of Heart@Work. Who has helped 100’s of SMB’s grow their businesses. Here are Harris’ favorite four marketing ideas to retain customers.

Being “Nice” to keep your customers…

SMB’s  provide their customers with reasons to return! Most businesses spend about five times as much to bring in a first-time customer as to bring back a previous one. Businesses that pay attention to lifetime customer value understand that every returning customer represents a full 80 percent reduction in the marketing cost of that sale. And the secret of creating return business is to base your business practices in the "magic triangle" of honesty, integrity, and quality--while creating supremely positive experience for your customers. "Nice" is a key ingredient, but by no means the only factor.

Turn your customers into your sales force
Because it costs five times as much money to find a new customer that it does to keep a current customer..Create a membership program. Most program provide special incentives to members as part of their membership. Once they experience your program they’ll share it with their friends. Word of Mouth Marketing

Create a Community
Get involved in your community by doing a community giving program like spend $ and give $5 to the local food bank. Support organizations that your customers like, set-up a customized offer just for them. You’ll become more fun to hangout with.

Develop Relationships with your customers
Create quality relationships with people rather than a large network. This way you can build your business from an inside out perspective. It is much easier for a small business than a larger company. Use social media to connect, this will slash your costs and improve your sales.

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Heart@Work is a Relationship Marketing Agency specializing in Customer Retention Programs. Works with Restaurant Owners and SMB's who want to increase their sales by 25%