Anyone who offers a service or product understands the importance of creating and maintaining good client relationships. It is not always the quantity of clients you maintain, but the loyalty of those clients, that often determine your overall success. Just like a runner who trains for an upcoming race, you can win your clients over with these easy steps.

A Marathon or a Sprint?
Establishing strong client relationships takes time and effort. Don't expect to earn a customer's loyalty overnight. You must sometimes walk alongside your customers for great lengths until they offer you their trust. Learn to listen. Not everyone is an instant believer in you, or your product or service. The key is to effectively brand yourself and establish a solid business plan, which you put into practice on a consistent day-to-day basis. Your customers will inherently sense that you know what you are doing and that you're prepared for a long-term commitment to them.

Go The Extra Mile.
Besides a customer's need to know that what you're providing has value, people want to feel special. Think outside of the box as to how you can serve your client in a unique way by reaching out to them, even if it's a simple compliment - or in a general public setting - remembering their name or a detail they previously shared with you. If you make the extra effort to connect, your customers will remember that, and will usually return your thoughtfulness with repeat business. There is a balance to consider, however. Don't overdo your efforts to communicate to the point of being nosy or annoying, as that is a turn off to most people who may view you as intrusive. Be sensitive to other people's time and desire to be wooed by you.

In It To Win It.
No one likes to hear the word "no," especially when they need something from you. Of course, there are always going to be limits as to what you can do for others, but giving your customers a sense that they are in good hands, and that you will go to great lengths to make them happy will earn their loyalty to you and your company. Keeping an upbeat attitude will also give your clients confidence in the fact that they are doing business with you, instead of someone else.

Stretch And Strengthen.
Every training routine requires hard work and dedication before a goal can be met, and the same holds true with customer relations. Your client relationship "workouts" involve earning trust, so you will have to prove yourself over time. If you say that you are going to do something, then do it. It is as simple as that. If you lift a client's expectations with promises you cannot deliver, they will begin to doubt your word. The other side of the issue is that you are realistic about your capabilities, and that what you promise, you can actually deliver.

The Finish Line.
Applying these simple guidelines when you are looking to build and retain a strong client base will put you miles ahead of your competition. The success you gain will be a reflection of your efforts to make every customer feel that they are in first place. And that's a win-win for everybody!

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