As a business owner, understanding a customer's wants and needs is vital. Knowing what customers like, dislike and how they feel about a business is important. Having customer input can help small businesses improve their products, services and business processes. Keeping in touch with customers is one way to build relationships, which are imperative to any small business.
Here are some ways small businesses can keep in touch with customers:
- Stay Connected With EmailTo keep in touch with customers via email, collecting email addresses is imperative! Small business owners with comprehensive customer email lists can send updates about new products, services, new locations and much more.Best of all, email is two-way. Small business owners can also collect feedback on ways to improve the business.
- Leverage Social Media to Get to Know Your CustomersFrom LinkedIn and Facebook to Twitter and MySpace, small businesses are quickly learning that social media is here to stay. Plus, it's another avenue to keep in touch with customers.It can seem overwhelming with so many options, but small steps are key. Getting involved and learning are the first steps.
- Public Relations Helps Customers Get to Know Your BusinessPublic relations is a great way to keep in touch with customers, especially since customers may see the business in the local media, which builds credibility. Survey customers on products and services and then publicize the results. For example, a travel agency may give their customers a survey asking for their favorite travel destination. Once the results are compiled, create a press release entitled "XYZ Travel Agency Finds Hawaii is Local Residents' Favorite Getaway."
- Keep in Touch With Direct MailSend a quarterly postcard, newsletter or other form of direct mail. Using this format to keep in touch with customers helps to reach customers who are not computer savvy. Direct mail does not need to be expensive. It can be a brief postcard highlighting new product or services, maybe even offer a discount or promotion to loyal customers
What are some other ways to keep in touch with customers? Offer a monthly loyal customers event, create a special promotion that can be sent to them or just send a short hand-written note thanking them for their business. Small businesses need to show customers that they care.
If small business owners step back and think of all the ways they like to be contacted by businesses they deal with, it can help generate more ideas on how to keep in touch with customers. Building relationships with customers helps grow small businesses. Start building relationships with customers today!
Allison Jackson - Allison Jackson is a mom of two, a freelance writer and communications professional. With a keen interest in marketing, social media and ...
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