As the saying goes, the customer is always right. At least, that is the case most often when your business is working with clients. To develop great relationships with your customers, there are a couple things you should be aware of beforehand.
What Your Promise
When you are just starting out in business, it can be easy to get caught up in making promises you can not deliver on. There is a certain excitement and energy that comes from giving customers hopes, even if they end up being false ones. However, there is also a great danger that comes with making false promises to your customers, especially when it comes to your products. For example, if you promise that your mug design will keep liquids warm for 24 hours and it only works for 8, you are letting your customers down. This also turns customers away from your business because you are untrustworthy. In some cases, false promises can lead to lawsuits against your business.
Customer Complaints
One of the most helpful and simultaneously harmful parts of dealing with customers is their feedback. Customer feedback in the form of reviews can be helpful because you can gauge where your customers are and how they feel about your business, products, or services. However, customer complaints can hurt your reputation and even endanger your professional license. If you find that you are receiving more negative reviews, it might be helpful to talk personally with a few customers to help resolve their issues and to ensure that you will not make the same mistakes again. This also helps your customers to build trust with you and feel validated.
Financial Risks
Unfortunately, not every customer you encounter has your best interest at heart. In fact, some customers are just looking for ways to get more money out of your business. If you do not tread carefully, you can fall into a trap with a financial risk. Some customers understand that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and so they will complain in hopes that you will compensate them in return. If you suspect any deceit, you should always respectfully investigate the issue before coming to any conclusions. You should also learn to stand your ground and remember your authority as the business owner.
Your business can only survive if you have good relationships with your customers. Consequently, satisfying your customers should be one of your top priorities, as well as making decisions for the best of your business.
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