Customer Acquisition and Retention Top Priorities
I don't know about you, but 2009 is not going to be as stellar as the past three years. Although Indigo is very lucky—we generate a steady flow of leads from Melissa's networking and our websites—what I'm finding is the sales cycle is much longer. People are upfront about their financial constraints. And I also think people are shopping more on price. I mean, who isn't worried about money and conserving it? Look at the list of fairly well-known public companies that either disappeared or went bankrupt this year. Worse yet, drive through a small tourist town, or walk through a city mall, and notice all the businesses that have closed. It's crazy!
According to a recent article by eMarketer.com, 6 in 10 marketers polled said acquiring new customers would be critical in 2010, while 48% would focus on retaining current customers—a particularly important effort in the recession.
That's why I have made 2009 my year of personal & professional development, acquiring new skill sets, learning how to social network, and fixing problem areas in how I manage my business. Next year, I will do a much better job managing clients, projects & expectations, because I've taken the time to learn. Customer service is an area I'm constantly trying to improve on. I feel like I'm finally getting my act together, and I'm excited about all the opportunities in store for 2010!!
So, what can we do to keep the clients we have and earn the respect and trust in acquiring new clients? In my opinion, social networking is key. It's becoming a fundamental way of developing new business relationships and maintaining existing ones. If you've been toying with the idea of developing a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, but you don't know where to start, call me. Let's brainstorm together!!
For more information on using social media to grow your business, read Customer Acquisition and Retention Top Priorities.
