Getting new clients is an exciting indicator that your business is growing. But it does not stop at client acquisition. The next phase would be the maintenance of your relationship with them. You will need to invest time in building trust and ensuring that they will depend on you for the improvement of their business. This is where many businesses usually fall short.
Taking care of your clients is like taking care of a new plant. You will need to water it regularly and make sure that it gets the nutrients it needs. However, you should not spoil it, as it may die the way it dies when it is overlooked and not taken care of—find the middle ground. And taking care of clients should start the moment you get their business. You will need to make them feel welcome. Here are some of the things that you may want to keep in mind:
Keep things organized
Welcoming your clients should not just be seen through activities. It should also be evident on the way you accommodate their requests. And the best way to do that is by taking in the documents and files that they will turn over to you. Remember, the turning in of these documents is their way of saying that they trust you, so take care of them properly. The initial phases of working with them should be organized; with that, you may consider getting on-boarding software to make things much easier.
Send them something
A small gesture can mean a lot. So if you want to feel them welcome, you may want to send your clients a care package that they may appreciate. For one, if you are running a food business, you may send them a basket of goods that include some product samples and exclusive items. If this is not possible, you can send the manager or boss a fine wine or a platter of cold cuts that they can share with their team members.
Invite them to your office
Some clients are very hands-on with their business. If you think that this is your type of client, you may want to invite them to your office. They may decline at first, but expect that they will eventually oblige. Take this opportunity to introduce your clients to the team handling their project. This is also a nice way to give your clients an idea of how your processes work so that they will appreciate the hard work and effort that go into every piece of work.
Have a planning event
And while you have invited your client to your office, you may choose to have a planning event. This is some sort of a getting-to-know meeting. This is where you can introduce your team, lay your plans, and ask your clients some questions. In a nutshell, it is an alignment meeting so that goals, expectations, and visions are on the same page.
Making your clients feel welcome should not be taken lightly. It should be taken with utmost care. After all, it is an investment.