Sherri May & Co.

From the moment you start working with a new client, you have the opportunity to start building a lasting relationship. Check out these 5 tips to learn how to keep your clients happy and to ensure your partnership is lasting one:

1) Welcome New Clients
Landing a new client can be grounds for celebration, but it’s also a time to welcome and introduce your new clients to the team. John Remsen, Jr., the President of the marketing consulting firm, TheRemsenGroup, explains, “In addition to a well-written cover letter from the [manager], include your firm brochure, a client service pledge, a current list of contacts with direct dial phone numbers and email addresses, and a nice gift.”

2) Improve Your Clients Lives
In the words of Sherri May, it’s important to “improve your clients’ lives by helping them achieve more than they could have achieved without you.” This translates to building a creative partnership with clients rather than merely providing a service. And this goal can be accomplished when you exceed expectations on every project, with every client, every time.

3) Stay in Touch
This is fairly basic, but part of being a reliable partner involves promptly responding to phone calls and emails. Even if it’s just to respond to say you received the email or you’re just returning their phone call. Remsen explains, “You may not think a return phone call is all that important (especially if there is nothing to report), but your client sure as heck does. Adopt a policy to return all your calls on the same day. It’s a darn good habit.”

4) Provide Cutting-Edge Service
Like a good surgeon, it’s vital to take the necessary training to stay up to speed in your specific field. Your clients look to you for cutting-edge solutions, and by bringing new strategies to the table it shows you’re not afraid to try something new.

Take individual responsibility for your professional development by attending seminars, watching webinars, or traveling to conventions (if it’s within your budget). Your clients will know if your work starts to feel dated or stagnant, and they’ll appreciate when you start bringing state-of-the-art techniques to the table.

5) Say Thank You
It doesn’t have to be the third week in November to say thanks to your clients. Finishing a large job, acknowledging the holidays, or “just because,” are all valid reasons to say thank you to a client. If you’re not sure how to say thanks, consider taking clients out to lunch or dinner, inviting them to an upcoming event like a banquet or sporting event, or by sending a gift basket or handwritten note.

In the end, when you look after your clients, they’ll look after you. Provide cutting-edge service that exceeds their expectations and you’ll set the foundation for a mutually beneficial, long-term partnership.

To find out how to build a creative partnership with Sherri May & Company, call 602-547-7020, or email us at sue@sherrimayco.com.