While we’re all trying to get a sale, something that’s often neglected is the follow-up and continuing relations with your client or customer. I worked with a spa one time that wrote handwritten personalized thank-you notes to all their new customers. So many of those customers spoke of this personal touch being something special in this day and age. It’s a tiny thing, takes a few minutes, but made a big impact. Most of those customers returned.

I’m not saying you need to write thank-you notes, but what I am saying is that taking the time to contact your customer after the sale extends a branch that says, now that the sale is over, we care about your opinion of our business, and we’d like you to consider us in the future for continued business and service.

It’s easy to get a customer, but much harder to keep that customer. Maintaining a relationship with customers, is the first step to keeping them loyal.

Take the time to drop a postcard, make a call or check in on your client to see if they’re satisfied or happy with the service of product you offered. When the client sees you making that extra effort, it will stay with them. It only takes a little bit of time, but the rewards are great…loyal customers, which in turn means more business.

A happy customer can in turn bring in more customers, through word of mouth. Take a moment to make sure your customers are happy.

You have a business online, but you can’t seem to convert. How’s your customer service?

Excellent customer service is the key to conversions when it comes to sales. If you fail here, you might as well shut that business down. If you can’t deliver help and enthusiasm, along with a pleasant attitude, you need to back up and start over. Do not pass go, do not collect that $200 conversion.

Customer service software can help your small business by offering support, and messengers. You’ll be able to not only track your customers, but also watch consumer behavior. Whether you use software that offers live chat, or help.

I was looking at a particular product, and I just wasn’t sure which of the options was right for me. I almost closed out that internet window and said forget about it, because I was concerned I might not make the right choice. I saw that they had live chat, and within five minutes, I’d made the right choice, felt good about it, and they got their sale. The ability to live chat with someone on a Saturday late at night saved them a sale. The questions I had were tiny, but the final outcome was huge- a sale.

How many customers are you losing? I almost closed out that window, and may or may not have gone back. What about your potential customers?

Does your small business need a brand? Many smaller businesses think branding is just something for large companies. Having a brand can help you clearly identify your company. How will you stand apart from all the other businesses that are similar to yours?

You don’t need to spend a fortune on branding. Whether you choose to set your brand based on a product or service you offer, maybe your logo, or even your customer service, figure out what makes your business unique.

When flipping through magazines or watching commercial, start paying attention to how companies brand themselves. Whether it’s a slogan, jingle or logo, that instant recognition is important. Those little key factors influence people and trigger responses from customers, whether it’s one of trust, or savings, or even variety.

If you had to create a tag line that describes your business, what would it be?

Let’s talk about content…what works, what doesn’t?

You’ve decided to start a blog for your company so you get more online visibility. More visibility is good, right? It’s good when you have something useful to add to the online conversation. If you’re going to go through the trouble of starting a blog, then be sure to “add to the conversation”.

If you use shortcuts, and don’t care about what you’re putting out there, you’re going to get that same kind of reader or audience. If you don’t care, they won’t either, and they won’t be returning.

Remember to put good quality content out there that is not only unique to your company, but provides useful information. Once you get it up there, syndicate the information and be everywhere, rather than just on your own blog. The more exposure the better.