Make the Connection

Hi, friends! Thanks for joining me on this lovely Wednesday. It's great to have you back here on the Talk About Your Business board. There are a variety of topics to explore in this space, but today I want to focus on the customer-business owner relationship.

Connecting with your customers and establishing a relationship is a crucial aspect of business ownership. Connected customers tend to become repeat customers, which ultimately leads to success. I think this point can be easily overlooked, since business owners tend to focus on other points like marketing and advertisements. However, established customers don't visit your store or make purchases because of an ad they saw. They come back because they want to, because they consider themselves your friends, and because they fully support your business.

So now that we know how important the customer-business relationship is, you may be wondering how you can improve the association. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind...

One Size Does Not Fit All
While many of your customers may have similar interests, considering they make the same purchases from you, they are not the same people. Getting to know your customers better will help you to look through their eyes in a sense. Personalizing each interaction boosts connections and allows you to customize to each individual's needs.

Grow For and With Your Customers
Your customers are your livelihood. Without them you wouldn't really have a business. So when it's time to grow, it's important to keep them in mind. Growth within your company can range from opening a new location or switching vendors and changing products. Whatever advancements are coming, remember each one should be made to benefit your customers.

Show Your Appreciation
If people don't feel appreciated for their actions, they'll likely stop doing them. This certainly applies to purchases made by your valued customers. Take the appropriate time and means to let your customers know how thankful you are for their business. This can be done with a simple email, sent maybe once a quarter or so. Or maybe even with a 20% coupon after their fifth purchase, like a punch ticket. It can be that easy and I'm sure the feeling of appreciation will be mutual.

Listen
As mentioned before, your customers are what keep the business open. Listening to them and their view points, whether positive or negative, will show what you need to keep doing and what needs to be worked on. If you aren't currently hearing from your customers, you may consider creating a survey for them to respond to. Think about your questions and maybe ask some difficult ones. This is a great way to know where you stand with consumers.

I hope this post reminds you of how important relationships can be. These are just a few ways you can better connect with your customer base. How do you build relationships with the people making purchases from you? I'd love to hear your thoughts!