What Are You Doing To Generate Repeat Customers?

How do you make sure customers return

[klickman]

I just read an interesting article on "How to turn one-shot customers into lifelong clients."

It made me question what I (my one person operation) is doing to generate MORE repeat clients. Sure I have repeat customers...(Holding my breathe)...but the issue is how to I generate more repeat clients or as the article mentioned "How do I turn one-shot customers into LIFELONG clients?"

My one person operation (like many of you here I'm sure) fulfills the responsibility of multi-positions.
I am oftern bogged down with finding effective ways to promote my website in a cost effective manner, processing orders, handing email issues, writing new pages, etc..(you get the picture I'm sure)that I have lately forgotten some of the basic things that I once learn in college.

I have infact become a shinning example of what the author of the article says..I have to some degree made my website or the function thereof, so superficial. There is also no shred of one on one with my clients. The strange thing is I am a people's person, but when it comes to the Internet and dealing with clients I often times treat them like figures.

Today from this day forward I am rededicating myself to "Customer Service" I once attended a training seminar with "Chrysler" titled "Customer First" that was their slogan then (not sure if it is now) but the idea remains the same. I'm not saying that the "Customer" is always right..NO...What I am saying is that I am going to give my clients a little more personal attention. I'm going to follow-up with them a little bit more on the personal side of the spectrum.

Ok..Ok to the point..I would like to ask you: "What do you do to turn one-shot customers into lifetime partners?"

I look forward to your replys and hope to implement some of them as well..

[txbakers]

I bill them for a three year subscription - no choice then.

[SEOMike]

Offer them free re-evals of whatever service you provide. We have developed a comprehensive SEO checklist (we are an SEO firm) for review of a website. We apply this to our clients' sites every quarter or so to make sure we are still targeted to where they want the business to go, that all their newest products are represented, and that the latest SEO techniques are applied.

It's worked like a charm. Just about all of my clients that had SEO prep done before, will opt for more if you can present a justification.

It's all about providing the right path to guide your clients. They'll go wherever you want if you establish a track record of performance and trust. Don't lead them wrong, and always look at the long term solutions.

[chadmg]

Adding a forum is a great way to connect to your customers. However this is very time consuming and possibly hazardous with irate customers. But if you have the time and some strict TOS then it's a good "individual approach" to your customers. And that personal attention will lead to happy repeat customers.

[robotsdobetter]

Add a lot of useful content that's related to your services.