The first rule of business is to understand just how important the customer is. However much you splash the cash, the key to any successful company is customer loyalty and good client relationships.

It’s much more expensive and time-consuming to seek out new business clients compared to generating new leads with your existing customers. You can venture into new areas and look for fresh openings, but unless the people you are providing a service for appreciate what’s on offer, you’ll always struggle.

As the saying goes, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”, and that’s the same when it comes to business. Look after the clients you already have and the rest may soon follow.

A key part of being successful in business is cultivating a healthy relationship with clients and here’s a look at some of the best ways of doing that.

Know about your clients needs

It is vital that you know exactly what your clients and customers want by building close relationships from the start. Once you know just what it is that they require, this will help your company deliver top quality service at all times. The better the client understands your role, the better they’ll feel about the relationship and the service you are providing.

Ask for feedback

The better you understand how a client or customer feels about your business, the better you can adapt to their needs. Take some time to ask questions in order to gain their feedback. This will help you keep tabs on what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. Let’s face it, without knowing what you are doing wrong, you can’t improve.

Be flexible

If a client is asking a little too much of your company you shouldn't be afraid to say no. By doing this you are ensuring that you are providing a concise and top quality service. In order to please everyone, some businesses take on too much and then fail to deliver on a number of fronts. It’s best to say yes to the things you know you can do and ensure that everyone is happy.

Be pro-active

Even though your clients may come to you for a specific need or requirement, there will be times when you may see an opportunity that they don’t. If this happens you shouldn't be afraid to put forward your ideas. This can only serve to show your company in a favourable light, not just to your existing clients, but others who may want to do business with you.

Keep working at it

You may never please everyone all of the time, but that doesn't mean you should stop trying. Maintaining a strong business relationship isn't just something that you can read about in a book or discuss at a training seminar; it’s organic and will often happen over time. Forming a good client relationship is often part of the job and a very important one at that. A healthy working relationship with customers will make the workplace a friendlier and more productive place to be.

About the author: 

This article post has been written by experienced and copywriter Matthew Crist on training seminars provided by Oxford Management.