One of the things that’s neglected by far too many companies is the ability to communicate with their customers. In the age of the internet, it’s never been easier for businesses to communicate with clients and customers. Which makes it that much worse that so few can do it effectively. There was a time that if you wanted to speak to a client, you’d have to pick up the phone or set up a meeting. These days there are more ways than ever before to inform and assist customers.
Here are just a few suggestions for effective and engaging ways that your business can communicate:
Social media.
One of the newest ways in which companies and customers can communicate with each other is through social media. Sites like Twitter and Facebook allow you to speak to your customers in real time and get feedback on your business. Social media also allows you to create valuable content for your customers to create a strong bond and sense of loyalty.
The key is not to endlessly spam your customers with advertisements. Make sure that the content that you’re producing is interesting and engaging. If you use social media correctly, your customers will seek you out rather than the other way round.
White paper.
Originating in the world of politics, a white paper was a legislative document that proposed a particular solution. These days there are white papers in most industries with a variety of different purposes. But at its heart, a white paper is a persuasive, in-depth document that presents a problem and the provides a solution. This can be a fantastic way to communicate the direction of your business with clients effectively.
Dedicated white paper sections of your company’s website can effectively compile relevant information. The crucial thing to remember is that a white paper is not a product pitch. The point should be to use evidence to inform, not to give the hard sell. For help making sure that your white paper is as strong as possible check out http://theprauthority.com/how-to-write-a-white-paper.
Create surveys.
In the opposite direction entirely, it’s important to let your customers communicate with you as well. Offering your customers the opportunity to provide you with feedback is crucial. The ability of them to let you know what you could improve is not only ideal for providing you with valuable information. But it also lets customers feel like the channels of communications between them and your business are much more open. It’s a great way to create a strong sense of trust on the side of your customers. Whether you want feedback from your customers on a specific transaction or more generalized feedback from them. Surveys allow you to get the answers from your customers to the specific questions that concern you the most.
Communication is not the only key to a successful business, but it can’t be overstated just how important it really is. Being open with your customers is one of the most effective ways that you can create trusting and secure relationships with them.
