Talk to your customers, they are your ‘lifeblood’.

We are all very very busy, running our companies, chasing receivables, explaining why we are late on our payables, putting out brush fires, dealing with internal issues, employee problems, equipment issues, inventory issues, reading reports, evaluating numbers, projecting cash flow and praying the mail will come early and is loaded with checks and orders, the list is endless.

We feel like we are doing our job as we are very busy and we made it through the day somehow juggling  all the issues and getting most everything you needed to do, done. Usually we do not even think about doing something different,  perhaps a task  we may think about doing  it but are too busy to accomplish, and what an important, worthwhile, valuable, rewarding task it is:

Talking to your customers.

It is amazing what we can learn from them and it is even more amazing how financially productive such an exercise can be. In today’s market with competition being fierce and customers not wanting to spend, we are confronted with a daunting task to get better. Wouldn’t it be a terrific idea to talk to your customers and ask them how you are doing for them? What would they like to see you do better?

How you could serve then more effectively? Why not ask them,? You may learn some valuable information. They will tell you if asked exactly what you need to know about your business, what your strengths and weaknesses are and what you need to do to keep their loyalty. They know, they are the customers and if they already shop at your business they are the lifeblood of your business and have the most important opinions and information available for you…what works and what does not work.

What they want and what you  are failing to provide. Wow, what valuable insight into your own potential success or possible failure. Ask and listen…learn and respond. There is also a flip side to this exercise that is also very valuable and interesting. If the owner of the company bothers to call a customer and thank them for their loyalty and ask them what you can do to serve their needs better, the effect would be amazing. In a word they would be awestruck. They would be floored that the big boss actually cared enough about his business and his customers to call and ask them how they are doing and what can you do to make them happier.

Where it I, I would  buy something as soon as I could just to show my appreciation for the attention and respect demonstrated. What a connection, I now know the boss, he called me, he cares, he listened and asked for my opinion. and by the way I gave him some good ideas. What tremendous goodwill you would create and what loyal customers you would have.

Better yet, you could walk the floor and introduce yourself to a few customers each day…or visit an installation or do what ever it takes to have visibility and contact with your client base and demonstrate you care about their business and their opinion. Incredible goodwill will be developed. Plus you will learn very valuable lessons that will help you get better and better.

What if you sent the customer a thank you note? What if you sent them a gift. What if you offered them a discount on their next purchase for being so kind to talk with you? Wow, revolutionary and so powerful. It infrequently happens. Try it, it will become addictive, it is a terrific experience for everyone involved, you, the business, and the customer. This is how to compete in a down economy when competition is fierce and revenues are down.

This is how you do business successfully…any time, and it doesn’t cost a dime.

Give it a try, you will see.