A profitable business starts and ends with the customer.
By placing the customer at the center of all your thinking 
you create an environment which fosters long term success.
A key component of success lies in your ability to generate 
repeat and referral business, and a sure way to do this is 
by forming lasting relationships with your customers.

Here are 10 things you can do:

1. Set yourself apart from the competition. Give your 
customers something they can't get elsewhere. This 
is your niche on the Web. Make your niche something 
of real value over time and people will come back again 
and again.

2. Don't waste time on activities that can be automated. 
For instance, let your email program filter and route your 
incoming messages automatically, use a template to 
build new pages for your site, etc. Automation frees up 
your time so you can concentrate on the important stuff - 
your customer.

3. Eliminate the time you spend you on non-productive 
tasks. For instance, unsubscribe to newsletters your 
never read instead of deleting them each time. Handle 
paperwork one time and then file it instead of stacking 
it in a pile. All these little things add up to lots of wasted 
time that could be spent on your customer.

4. Concentrate your efforts on marketing to the people 
that need your service. Start by auditing your marketing 
and sales data to find out how and why a sale is made. 
Eliminate or change marketing strategies and services 
that don't serve the needs of your customers. 

5. Respond to email quickly. Response time should be 
under 24 hours. By responding quickly you send the 
message that your customers are important and you are 
genuinely interested in meeting their needs.

6. Follow up on sales orders. Make sure your customer 
is thoroughly satisfied with their purchase and offer 
additional services related to their purchase. 

7. Give refunds promptly and unconditionally.

8. Ask your customers to fill out a survey so you can 
better understand their needs. Offer a valuable freebie 
or a discounted service for participating. This strategy 
establishes a dialogue between you and the customer
and helps determine the direction of your business. 

9. Publish a newsletter. Give your subscribers valuable 
tips and information they can't get anywhere else. Offer 
subscriber-only discounts and freebies. 

10. Make your site easy to navigate. Customers value 
their time and appreciate finding what they want quickly 
and effortlessly.

Imagine every customer as a real person standing in 
front of you. What are his needs and how well are you 
addressing these needs? Let this image guide you in 
all aspects of your business and you'll discover hundreds 
of ways to form lasting customer relationships.
 

*FREE business assistance, telecommuting resources, 
software, Internet services, e-books and more at: 
http://www.homebiztools.com Too busy to visit? 
Subscribe to "Work At Home E-News" for Brett's 
latest tips and success formulas. It's Fresh, Original, and Free! 
mailto:enews@homebiztools.com