The Art of Building Client Relationships

Posted: July 23, 2013

[caption id="attachment_11442" align="alignright" width="500"]Image from: www.tomhopkins.com[/caption]

Client relationships should be just that....relationships. The better you get to know your client and their preferences, the better you'll be able to serve them. The better you're able to serve them, the more comfortable they'll feel with you, and your ability to give them what they need for a long time to come.

[caption id="attachment_11442" align="alignright" width="500"]Image from: www.tomhopkins.com[/caption]

Client relationships should be just that....relationships. The better you get to know your client and their preferences, the better you'll be able to serve them. The better you're able to serve them, the more comfortable they'll feel with you, and your ability to give them what they need for a long time to come.

When it comes to building long-term relationships with clients, it’s very similar to building long-term friendships. In kindergarten, children are encouraged to make new friends by talking with others, inviting them to play, and being “nice” to them. They often hear these words: “To have a friend, you have to be a friend.” In many business situations, clients often become more than clients. They become friends…not necessarily the kind you would invite to non-business gatherings, but people you truly care about and who care about you.

There is a feature in a local area newspaper where readers are invited to review their favorite non-franchise restaurant. The articles are wonderful publicity for the restaurants. One of the key elements I see repeated over and over again is that patrons know the names of the owners, hosts and/or servers. And, many of the restaurant workers know something about them as well. They know if the guests prefer coffee or tea with breakfast. They may even remember their favorite meal, asking if they want “the usual.”

Read entire article The Art of Building Client Relationships on Tomhopkins.com