In an ideal world, you’d be able to organically attract your dream clients without having to lift a finger. However, in the real world, establishing and maintaining these relationships is much more complex. This is especially true when it comes to companies that offer B2B (Business to Business Services).
This could likely be attributed to the fact that you treat your relationship with B2B clients as merely transactional, meaning they don’t receive the same level of attention or care as other clients. In fact, a recent study found that “on average, B2B companies have a customer experience score of less than 50%.” On the hand, this makes sense, as you may believe that this relationship has to be more professional than personable.
However, as your relationships with your Business to Business clients are closely linked to your overarching success, it’s crucial that you work to improve and nature this relationship.
With that in mind, here are some simple steps you can take to improve your relationship with your B2B clients.
Update your marketing strategy.
Your marketing campaigns are a way to introduce yourself to your clients. Therefore, as first impressions count, it’s crucial that you get your marketing strategy right. Unless you have years of experience in marketing under your belt, it’s best to work with a marketing agency that can develop an effective b2b digital marketing strategy on your behalf. Remember, not only will this start off your relationship on the right foot, it can also improve sales and increase web traffic.
Meet face to face.
While there are many benefits to digital communication, meeting face to face can be instrumental when it comes to boosting client relationships. This is because “the personal attention you are showing the clients proves that you are actively listening to them.” Furthemore, entertaining your clients is also good for business because it allows you to develop a strong rapport, adding a personal touch to your interactions. As such, your clients will begin to view you as less of a faceless business as they get to know the person behind the brand. This can foster a sense of both trust and loyalty moving forward.
Demonstrate your value clearly.
Perhaps the easiest way to improve your relationship with your clients is to demonstrate your value clearly in every interaction. To put it simply, you need to show them that you are holding up your end of the bargain and helping them take their business to the next level. To do this, start off each meeting by discussing what progress has been made since you last talked. Where possible, use data and metrics to show how working together is bringing in results – whether this relates to increased sales or bringing in more views on social media. If a client expresses dissatisfaction, put together a clear plan of action to resolve the issue. While being apologetic is useful, it’s far better to be proactive and show them that you’ve got a plan to improve the situation.
