Client Appreciation - It Means Everything!

Want to know the secret for keeping your clients forever? And what if you could keep your revenue growing by 25 percent every year, because your clients loved the way you appreciated them? In this article, you will learn how easy it is to develop a powerful client appreciation program. Once in place, an appreciation program will forever change the way you operate and manage your business.

Developing a monthly appreciation plan: At the beginning of each month, develop some fun ideas to "thrill" your customers. Start by planning a short brainstorming session with your sales manager, your marketing director, customer service and your sales team, so you can hear their unique insight about ways to make the program a giant success. Their input is critical as each company has its own special client profile, so customize your appreciation plan accordingly. Once your appreciation plan is finalized, provide a written recap for your team so everyone will know exactly what their role will be. Clear communication makes for perfect implementation.

Tip From The Coach: Consider building your client appreciation plan for six to twelve months in advance. This makes for better financial budgeting, a more thoroughly developed appreciation plan, and your team will have the time to evaluate several competitive proposals for each month's theme.

Building appreciation themes: As you consider the theme for each month's appreciation program, start by looking for specific holidays or seasonal times of the year. For example, summer time is perfect for bringing an ice-cold drink to all your clients, as appreciation for their business. Your clients will not care how much you spend on them each month, but they will be very impressed by the way your team shows how much they care. Another appreciation theme, depending on the profile of your clients, might be more educational. For example, have a local computer store give a live demonstration for your clients at your office, focusing on how the Internet can improve their business. Your clients will be thrilled to hear more about this cutting edge technology and the computer store gets to meet lots of potential new customers? a win-win for all. Lastly, hundreds of companies provide all kinds of promotional items you can order in small quantities with your company name imprinted on them, and these items will fit perfectly into your client appreciation program.

Tip From The Coach: Certainly your clients will love the appreciation you show them each month and so will your prospects. If appropriate, include every prospect in your appreciation program. Take this small step and watch your closing ratios double!

Evaluating the success of client appreciation: Start by asking your team to make written notes of any nice comments shared by your clients or prospective new clients. Next, evaluate the number of clients or prospects who attend your educational seminars, as this helps for planning future programs. Of course, monitor your client retention percentages, as this is the critical measurement of how well your appreciation program is working.

Tip From The Coach: Remember, your clients will feel important when they know they are a top priority. Implementing a client retention program will not cost much. But the return on your investment will be significant based on less turnover, happier clients which means more referrals, and more fun for your team. Why? Because The Coach says so! Plus, good news travels fast and so will the sterling reputation you earn with your clients.

Want to hear more about this important topic or ask some additional questions? Fax a note on your letterhead to 435-615-8670 or send an E-mail to ernest@powerhour.com and The Coach will fax/E-mail back to you a free invitation to be a participant on a TeleForum conference call. On this call we will discuss 25 appreciation themes your clients will love.

Author's note: Ernest F. Oriente, The Coach, is the founder of PowerHour® a professional business coaching/recruiting service and the author of SmartMatch Alliances?. He has spent 17,500 hours [since 1995] delivering customized training, by telephone, in leadership, traditional/Internet marketing and sales for fast growing sales companies and entrepreneurial businesses worldwide. PowerHour® specializes in global distance learning by telephone, using their state-of-the-art conference call system for interactive and dynamic TeleForums. Twice-monthly TeleForums link 10-100 executives/professionals/individuals who are geographically dispersed, in a time efficient and profitable format.

PowerHour® is based in Olympic-town?Park City, Utah, at 435-615-8486, by E-mail ernest@powerhour.com or visit their TeleForum website: http://www.powerhour.com. To receive a FREE success newsletter, with subscribers in 74 countries, send an E-mail to: ernest@powerhour.com. Recent PowerHour® articles have appeared in 4000+ business/trade publications and websites.

---

How to Keep Customers

Who was it that said - "The customer is always... Read More

What Every Manager Should Know About How to Prevent Customer Service Conflicts

There are five techniques that have been proven to be... Read More

Leverage Customer Capital First

If you're still dreaming about raising outside capital for your... Read More

Accountability

The Call Center world is an intense pressure-driven environment continually... Read More

Customer Loyalty

Loyal customers are the foundation of almost every business. Going... Read More

Losing Angry Customers

This article offers five ways to help you deal with... Read More

How To Build Stellar Client Relationships

Your opportunity to build a stellar client relationship starts with... Read More

11 Ways to Get What You Want - Be a Clever Customer!

We all want great service, whether we are buying our... Read More

Saying Thank You to Your Clients

"Thanking your customers" - Why you should do it and... Read More

8 Critical Steps to Establish a Customer Service Culture

"Every company's greatest assets are its customers, because without customers... Read More

Hook Me Up With A Human

Oh, what has happened to the carbon-based organizational interface? Many... Read More

Are You A Coward? I Was

Over the last month, I have come to hate emails... Read More

Top 10 customer service tips

1. Hire people who have a service attitude. Some people... Read More

Customer Service - How Good Are YOU?

At 8.30 am a wealthy client (on his way to... Read More

Sales Marketing: 10 High Impact Ways To Improve Your Customer Service

If you want to last a long time in business... Read More

Finding Out Why a Potential Customer is Calling On You

Our challenge as the business owner/sales person answering the telephone,... Read More

Loyal Customers Take Commitment

In today's competitive world of retail, many stores are implementing... Read More

Become a Customer Enthusiasm-Guru!

One thing all successful small business owners have in common... Read More

Handling Customer Complaints

Even the best business will receive an occasional customer complaint.... Read More

Develop Loyal Customers for a Lifetime ? part 2 (11 ? 20)

Traditional marketing strategies encourage business owners to continually grow their... Read More

What Do They Want Anyway?

You want customers. I want customers. We all want customers.... Read More

Loyalty Programs May Keep Customers Coming Back ? But First You?ve Got to Earn their Trust

Remember trading stamps? If you're over 40, chances are you... Read More

Customer Service - A Lost Art?

Is customer service a lost art? Before you answer that... Read More

Stand Out in Business the Write Way

When was the last time you received a handwritten note... Read More

How to Transform Your Voicemail into an Effective Medium of Communication

"Hi this is Randy. Leave me a message after the... Read More

The Nine Principles of Customer Service for the Travel Industry©

If you want to learn how to get your clients... Read More

We Got It Wrong: Never Under Promise & Over Deliver

You know how it is, you believe something for so... Read More

Improving Customer Service

Improving customer service starts at the top - with us... Read More

Doesnt Anybody Work Here? Nametags Impact Employee Communication

Walmart was the first business to require all its employees... Read More

Mastering Challenging Service Situations

During the course of everyday business, many of you encounter... Read More

Listening to Customers - 5 Tips

In a strange juxtapositioning of articles, this month's UK '... Read More

Create Win-Win Deals With Your Competitors

In the competitive world of the 20th century, we generally... Read More

Communicating Value

Abstract: People buy for their reasons, not yours. This article... Read More