The Importance of Reaching Out to Customers in a Recession
By Garry Duncan, President, Leadership Connections
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Customer focus sounds cliché, but it
is more important than ever in a
recession. Your customers are also
thinking how they can best survive
the current economy. How can you
help them? No, not how can your
products and services help them, but
how can YOU help them?
You can
‘cement’ those important
relationships by doing something that
brings personal value. When is the
last time you gave a customer a
referral? Do you have competitive
information that would not compromise another customer or relationship? What
extra way can you give a personal thank you that is not a purchase or gift? Is there
something you could do, such as training, a talk, etc. for your customer’s
customers? Is there something you can do on a personal level for their family, such
as a recommendation for an upcoming trip? Is there something you can do to help
one of their departments or teams? A sense of gratitude for solutions will often
endure beyond the downturn. Customers will listen more closely and be more
appreciative now than in the carefree atmosphere of a rapidly expanding economy.
Author Credit: Garry Duncan, Leadership Connections, www.LeadershipConnections.com |
