Business axioms are beginning to take on more importance in our thinking. Everyone in business KNOWS that the customer or client that you have has more income potential for you than the new customer. A relationship has already been grown or is growing stronger, while the relationship with the newbie has to go through the ‘first date’ angst. Business axioms tell you that taking the order with a quick thank you and now get out of my way attitude always costs you. But, when an economy is moving forward like a Kentucky Derby winner, the loss is not so painful.
So, Mr/Ms Client, are you overwhelmed with walking the floor with a bit of worry, checking marketing budgets, restraining inventory, analyzing deadwood– just generally doing your White Rabbit (Alice in Wonderland) imitation? Oh, crap, forgot about those people who bought from us last year! No time! No energy! No time!
The solution can come from various directions.
HEY, wake up, virtual assistant! Have you offered extended service of contacting valuable Today Customers for your clients? Do you have a proposal about how you would phone or email them with stimulating business sugar that reminds them that your client is the best and is alive and well. You can get some ideas at your own special network, Vanetworking.com
Mr./Ms Client, do you even have a magic virtual professional who could do this project for you and be DONE! Tawyna Sutherland, founder of Vanetworking.com wrote an extensive and stimulating post at Partner With a Virtual Assistant recently about this issue. Have your Virtual Assistant bring your dead clients back to life in 2009. Granted, Tawnya’s title and much of the content talks about digging into the client archive and resuscitating long dead clients. This is an excellent idea. But, not at the expense of letting a living client relationship go down. Start at the top and work down, but DO get in touch with your clients and Stay in touch with them. Because this task is something that can be done on a regular basis such as monthly or quarterly, it is the perfect fit for a contract with a professional virtual assistant.
I challenge both Virtual Assistants and Clients to practice more and better customer service and see what happens.
