« During This Recession Beware That Cutting Your Business Costs May Cut Your Business’s Throat | Home | The Recession Blues: Apply Positive Thinking To For A Positive Outcome »
Exceed Customer Expectations To Keep Your Business Alive During This Recession
By | December 15, 2008
The Encarta Dictionary describes a recession as “a period of time, shorter than a depression, during which there is a decline in economic trade and prosperity”… taken from the root word recede, which is to go back or down from a point or level. Worldly economic advisors have, for some time, predicted the onset of a recession and it is obvious now that they were correct in their forecasts.
“The times, they are a- changin’”, taken from the words of a famous American song writer, seem to be the universal mantra for this point in time. As reported in the news, large corporations are faltering under the weight of financial pressure and the whole world is being impacted. The current economic crisis is a threat to the majority of small businesses as well.
As a business owner or business manager, this means that it is imperative that action be taken to secure your place in the market . . . now! It has become necessary take the bull by the horns, and fight to keep your business alive and prosperous. While there are many avenues a business can take to maintain a steady course to insure survival, taking care of your customers needs to be at the top of your priority list.
Excellent customer service should already be fundamental in your business practice and now more than ever, it is going to be essential to your business that customer service remains your number one objective. Business is dependant on customers and providing for their needs will make a huge difference in how well your company fares during these troubled times.
Understand that you are not alone when it comes to this situation and competitors in your market are going to be doing one of two things . . . either they will be setting appointments with bankruptcy attorneys or they will be implementing strategies to maintain their current customer base and developing practices to seize yours. Competition will be fierce and you must be willing to build on your own methods to win.
I encourage you to do what it takes to maintain your customer base. You already have dedicated, loyal clientele and servicing their needs will insure that they have no reason to drift away to your competition. Make your established customers your friends. Friends are more inclined to work together and help each other. Openly communicate with them, ask for their feedback and opinions and whenever possible, implement their suggestions. It is much easier to maintain the relationship than to try and reconnect once the customer has decided to do business elsewhere.
Take the opportunity to provide incentives by means of sales, bonuses, discounts and price breaks whenever feasible. Let your customers know that they are valuable to you and that your business is in the business of helping and providing for their needs. The main reasons a consumer will severe their dealings with your business is lack of personal attention and an apathetic approach to your association. Train your employees in the art of great customer relations and be certain that policies are being administered with every interaction. A satisfied customer is a returning customer.
The emphasis here is on maintaining established clientele but remember . . . repeat customers are your main source of free advertising. They have the ability to make or break your company. Providing customer service that exceeds expectations is sure to win new customers by referral.
These times are trying at best and you are encouraged to put your best foot forward, maintain a positive outlook and consider what you have just read as a means of supporting your business needs. Remember, you can survive this and come out ahead. The process just requires action and dedication.
Topics: Recession |
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.