Winning Customers for Your Business

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ustomers value the way they feel about the people that serve or sell to them. Just take a second and think about it; don’t you judge a restaurant by the waiter or waitress who takes your order or even so prefer a supermarket to another by the cashiers and shelf attendants who help you carry on your shopping? It is a fact therefore that in any business, people who deal directly with the customers can make or break the business. As a matter of opinion, any business, institution or organization should have considerations set aside for their customers. 

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mpression is one of the most important factors to reckon with. Just make a very good impression in terms of dressing, speech i.e. (greeting, introductions, and adequate business/company knowledge) and the customer buys, multiplies and comes back. Make a poor impression and you will run him/her off.  

 Impression however comes with an underlying strategy that must be customized to your own personality.

As person committed to your customers, endeavor to help them to like themselves and they will love you. A friend of mine was asked why he preferred one of the Doctors’ in one of Kampala’s hospitals to the other to the other and he vividly said that during his treatment visits, to the first doctor he feels he is with the best doctor in Kampala, but to the second, he feels he is being healed even before medication. This brings us to the fact of boosting the customers’ self image when they come for our services. Customers will feel humiliated when we threaten their self image. 

As service providers we should focus on building the customers self image and we will be on our way to selling our selves. Unfortunately, most people get so enclosed in trying to impress the customer with our products and services or ourselves that we forget about their needs.

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pening emotional bank accounts with each of our customers is one of the strategies suggested by management consultant Steven Covey. According to Covey, when we help other to get what they want and feel better about themselves, we are making a deposit that will likely pay big dividends in the future.

Emotional bank accounts can be developed through developing a genuine interest in and admiration for your customers. Have time to talk to them and listen attentively. Ensure to recognize and praise people for what they want to be praised for. 

However, your comments must be sincere and must be specific. For example, don’t tell Mr. Allan that you like his new suit but also tell him that it intensely brings out the Managerial post he holds. Whenever possible always find a way to compliment a customer for a something that results from using your products or services.

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ut your customers at an ease and create good relationship with them. Smile sincerely, keep relaxed, maintain eye contact and please know the customer’s name and use when speaking to him or her.

Ultimately, keep in contact with them by letting them know you are thinking about them. Send the seasons’ greeting cards, graduation and birthday cards. Please don’t wait to communicate to your customers only when you are making a sale to them.   Always remember, a customer will consume your products at all times depending on how best the people that serve them conduct themselves.

NDYAGUMA BRIAN

0782 065 238 / 0782 065 238