5 Tips to Repair a Strained Relationship with Customers
Preserving customer relations is crucial for the success of any business. Good customers are the bread and butter of every company, so it’s essential to keep them happy. It can be challenging to please everyone all of the time, but it’s worth trying to maintain strong relationships with your clientele. Here are five tips on how you can improve strained relationships with customers.
Maintain strong communication with customers
Maintaining strong communication with customers is essential for any business. When a business neglects to communicate effectively, it can easily lead to strained relationships and a loss of customers. Jonathan Osler, an educator, specializing in customer service, offers the following advice on how businesses can repair strained relationships with customers: “The key is to get back in touch as soon as possible after the problem has occurred. An apology goes a long way towards mending fences. “It’s essential to take these words to heart and make sure that you regularly communicate with your customers.
Make an effort to please customers.
According to educator Jonathan Osler, there are many different ways that a business can try to repair a strained relationship with customers. One way is by making an effort to please customers. This could involve offering them discounts or going above and beyond what they expect. Sometimes, all it takes is showing the customer that you’re willing to go the extra mile, and they’ll be won over.
Be available to customers.
If a business wants to repair a strained relationship with customers, educator Jonathan Osler says the first step is to be available to them. Customers need to feel like they can reach out and that their concerns will be heard. Sometimes, it takes some open communication channels and a willingness to listen.
Osler notes that “hiding” behind a business website or using an automated phone system does not convey an open-door policy. “No one likes automated phone systems, and few people enjoy navigating around them to reach a human being. Answering emails is a nice gesture, but there is a human tendency to expect that it’s the same message you’ve already answered a dozen times before,” he says.
Resolve conflicts quickly and efficiently
There’s no denying that a strained relationship between a business and its customers can be incredibly damaging. After all, unhappy customers are more likely to take their business elsewhere – and they’re also more likely to tell others about their negative experiences. Fortunately, there are steps companies can take to repair these relationships. Osler offers advice: “The first step is acknowledging that there’s a problem. This might seem like an obvious step, but it’s often overlooked. Customers need to feel like their concerns are being heard and validated.
Create a customer retention plan
It’s no secret that relationships can be strained at times. The same goes for businesses and their customers. If you’re a business owner, it’s essential to have a plan to repair any strain, so your customers stay loyal. Osler outlines four key steps: First, reach out and apologize for anything that might have caused the issue. Second, ask customers what you can do better. Third, offer compensation for any inconvenience caused. Finally, keep your promises and follow up regularly with customers to show them you’re invested in the relationship.