1.

Do what it says on the Tin. It may seem ludicrous, but far too many businesses focus on ways to keep customers, only to lose sight of the fact that their product or service simply isn't what it should be. Make certain that the core of what you do is deserving of long-term customer loyalty, and then look for ways to nurture it.

 

2.

Expect the best.  By treating your customers respectfully from the start and expecting that they will pay on time — rather than prodding them about payment deadlines before it ever becomes an issue — can engender long-term customer loyalty.

 

3.

Take it one step further. Once the basics are clicking, one way to win a customer for life is to consistently exceed the expected. Establish a baseline of good, and make it policy to climb to better and beyond.

 

4.

A customer is for life. . Of course, profits are crucial. But long-term solvency derives from customers who are also there for the long haul. And that stems from a business which listens.

 

5.

Staff are people too. Treat your employees as you would a customer who you want to see year after year. Not only does that encourage staff to also do their bit to entice customer loyalty, happy staff make for a happy environment.

 

6.

Give customers a reason to want to stay. Great service or products are terrific, but it never hurts to stack the deck to lure customers into the long-term fold. This could be discounts for long term commitment or reward vouchers.

 

7.

Breaking up doesn't have to be hard to do. It may sound mad, but the fact is that some customers are more trouble than they're worth. Monitor what goes into keeping a customer satisfied; if it's too costly or simply too much work, it's probably better to put your lifelong-customer building muscle elsewhere. Look at your service costs. Some clients want expensive sales coverage and some always insist on face-to-face meetings with a sales rep. If they're a problem, give them a competitor's number or manage the relationship more carefully. But it's a myth to say that everyone should be a lifelong customer.