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You may already have read our checklist for making sure your business is ready for customers. Now we’re focusing on ensuring you get the most out of your very first clients. Here are 4 ways you can kick-start your business just by making your customers happy.
- Stop, talk and listen
If customers are always right, let them be your most trusted advisors. Find out what drew them to your product or service—enquire about what made them choose your brand over the competition. What do they like about your offering, and what could you do to make it even better? Your first customer “survey” may only garner a data point of one, but it’s an important building block for your future growth strategy.
- Aim to surprise and delight
Your first customer deserves to be celebrated. Make them feel special by offering an on-the-spot discount or giving a voucher for a future purchase. If your customer is happy, they’re more likely to tell other people about you. Here are some more ways QB Community members aim to make their customers feel special:
“I love putting handwritten thank-you notes in packages. It’s an easy but great personal touch, and I love expressing my appreciation for customers’ support of my small business”. — Mariebeth Arca
“I love giving clients my full attention and then doing something extra and unexpected, like finding a solution to a pain point in their business.” — Lynda, bookkeeper
“I love putting little extras into customers’ packages. It's always nice to get a little something extra on top of what you paid for. I like to include stickers or small gifts.” — Kylie
- Get it in writing
Once you’ve caught your first customer’s attention and made every effort to please, why not ask for a testimonial? Including rave reviews (with permission, of course) on your website and other marketing materials will help build your reputation—and your customer base.
“Clients always thank us for doing a great job at the end of a project, so we ask them if we can publish their feedback for the world to see. We know we’re great at what we do, but we’re only as good as our last referral. We feature positive testimonials from clients down the side of our website and publish them on social media whenever we can.” — Cadi Stephenson
- Ask for help
Help to spread the word, that is. We’re in an age when an online review can make or break a business. And social media posts are a trusted source for many people when making purchase decisions. Your first customers have the potential to be your best brand ambassadors. So take a deep breath and just ask them to tell people about your business.
“My initial client base was all spread through unprompted word-of-mouth because I try to make every client feel like I understand them, their needs and the next step toward fulfilling their own goals.” — Entrepreneur and QB Community member
“We do a lot of work in our community, and we love giving back. But we’ve got an ulterior motive, too. Donating food and time to an organisation or event really helps get our name out there. For example, we provide biscuits and drinks to our local art council. When they’re planning their next event, we are the go-to vendors.” — Charlene Rivera
We know it’s daunting getting your name out there when you’re starting a business from scratch. But don’t despair. Your good reputation starts out with your very first customers - so, make them happy, keep them happy and build your business one happy customer at a time.
Before you go
QB Community members, what’s your most effective strategy for growing your customer base? We love hearing everyone’s favourite “magic” tricks!
Want to join the conversation? Click HERE to sign up in a flash!
