If you work in a field where you have to have relationships with clients in order to find professional success, one of the biggest parts of your job should be creating and cultivating these relationships. However, not every person is going to be naturally good at this. If you feel like this is the case for you, you’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of things you can do and areas where you can focus your attention to help ensure that you’re always working to strengthen these connections with your clients.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for improving your client relations.
Give Them More Than The Bare Minimum
When you think about the bare minimum of what a client expects from someone in your position, you should always seek to go a bit further than that minimal effort.
Oftentimes, when someone gives their client just the bare minimum of effort and attention, it can make that client feel like more of an obligation than an actual person. And while this might be true as part of why you’re interacting with this client in the first place, if you want your client to feel more loyal to you and your brand, you have to show that you’re more loyal to them than you are just your average client. And by exceeding their expectations here, you’re more likely to have your own expectations exceeded by them as well.
Check In For More Than Just Sales
Part of building your relationships with your clients needs to extend beyond just touching base when they need to re-up their contract with you or when you’re wanting to convince them to buy a more expansive service from you and your company.
To do this, use your calendar and your CRM to help you make a consistent effort to check in with your clients for more than just sales. Set reminders for when their birthdays are, ask them how work is going for them and provide them with some free assistance or helpful solutions, and seek to actually befriend them as opposed to just being a salesperson to them.
Learn About Them Personally and Professionally
It’s not only professional relationships that you should seek to build if you’re wanting to build better client relationships. You should also try to learn more about your clients on a personal level.
When a client feels like you’re actually interested in them and can remember details about their personal lives, like their families and their outside interests, they will be much more likely to think about you in the same way and have you come first to mind when they need a product or service that you provide. This information can also be helpful to you when it comes to communicating and making future sales.
If you’re wanting to improve your relationships with your clients, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you learn how this can be done.