This Podcast Is Episode Number 497, And It's About A Guide To Construction Client Retention Long-standing customers form the backbone of a robust and well-established business. Make it your mission to ensure that most of your current customers stay with your company for many years. Understanding the High-Profit Client Most of them have personality traits commonly known as drivers. Folks accustomed to getting things done quickly and efficiently do not mind paying professionals for servicing, repairing, remodeling, or building new construction projects related to their houses and commercial buildings. Why it's vital to keep existing customers Your current customers already have personal experiences dealing with your business and using its services. You won't need to spend much time, money, and energy convincing them to continue hiring you. You and your staff know your current clients well. They're likely to increase the amount (or the frequency) of their purchases and recommend your business to others if you: Solve their problems. Meet their needs. Exceed their expectations. According to the US Chartered Institute of Marketing, it costs between four and ten times more to win a new customer than to keep a current customer. Therefore, it's vital to implement outstanding client service to convert occasional customers into loyal, long-standing regulars. 1. Communicate consistently and manage expectations Let your clients know what they can expect from your business, including timescales. Ensure emails are clear Your loyal clients deserve communications that are more personal and less formal. Using impersonal emails for your more extensive email list is fine, but use more personal touches with your best customers. 2. Show your customers you appreciate them You can show your customers you appreciate them in many different ways, including: Thank them personally for hiring you. The more special your clients feel, the more likely they will hire you again. They'll appreciate your thoughtfulness and value your service. Offer your long-term customers bonuses for their loyalty. Giving them a voucher, so they save money the next time. Or a voucher for someone they know who needs your service. It's great to offer new customers rewards and incentives, but that leaves existing customers feeling ignored. 3. Develop customer service standards Develop customer service standards for your business. You could use some of the following guidelines for your business's customer service standards. Try to: Be polite, helpful, and friendly to your clients at all times. Respond to emails as quickly as possible, preferably within three hours but within a maximum of 24 hours. Listen carefully to questions and requests so that you can offer the most appropriate help or advice. Inform customers immediately if there's an unexpected delay in processing their requests or implementing change orders. Train your crew in customer service - everyone in your business who will contact customers should be trained in customer service. Use your business's customer service standards as a basis for your training. Ensure staff knows precisely what's expected of them when interacting with clients. 4. Deal with customer complaints effectively Regard each customer complaint as an opportunity rather than an annoyance. This allows you to handle the complaint satisfactorily. If a customer complains, it shows they still care. Steps to take when a customer complains Train your staff members to take several steps whenever a customer complains. They should: Listen carefully to what the customer is saying. Understand exactly what they're complaining about and why. Admit any mistakes that your business has made and apologize to the customer. Make amends quickly. If necessary, ask the customer what they would like you to do to remedy the situation. Promise to do better next time. Test and improve your business's customer service There are several ways to find out how well...