“Over the brief time I have known Linda and Laurie, they have provided me with a valuable insight that other firms are afraid to let go of. The wealth of knowledge they have from running successful bookkeeping services businesses is so great that I constantly learn insightful tips from them in regular conversations. Being let into this new inner circle of how to take my bookkeeping services business to their level excites me to no end! I have been a member for a month and already I am learning many new ideas and tips to take control of my business and grow it to the next level. I can not wait to see what is next on the learning agenda!”

- Phoebe Browning
FeeBee Business Consulting Services, LLC
FeeBeeLLC.com

“Any bookkeeper starting out in his or her own business would greatly benefit from Linda & Laurie's combined years of experience in bookkeeping and finance.  The coaching course they created has helped me  to avoid mistakes and time wasters that plague most new bookkeeping businesses.”

- Elena Oppedisano
Checks & Balances Bookkeeping Services
www.checksandbalancesllc.com

6 Secrets to Creating Long-Term Client Relationships
By Linda A. Hunt

One of the things that has always been important to me, is creating long-term relationships with our clients. Whenever, I meet with a prospective client, that is exactly what I tell them. I make my intentions known upfront by saying, “My firm and I are looking to enter into a working relationship with you that benefits both of us for the long-term.” This simple statement really sets the tone for our forthcoming working relationship.

Here are the 6 secrets I use in my own firm to create great long-term client relationships.

1. Be a good listener. Taking the time to identify the needs of your client by asking them questions and concentrating on what they are really saying gives you knowledge. Knowledge is power.

Listen to their words, tone of voice, body language, and most importantly, how they feel. Be careful to not make assumptions. Thinking you intuitively know what your client wants can get you into trouble. Do you know the three outcomes/deliverables that are most important to your client?
    
2. Identify and anticipate needs. Your clients are not buying your services – they are buying solutions to a problem they are experiencing. When we begin working with a new client, we review all of the requirements/deadlines they may experience throughout the year. This enables us to be proactive and anticipate upcoming needs well in advance.

3. Make your clients feel important and appreciated. In my firm we have created a client appreciation system where we are in contact with our clients throughout the year, letting them know how much we appreciate their business and care about what is going on with them. So when one of our clients obtained their 20th client, which is a very big deal for them, we automatically sent them a celebration cookie bouquet to share in their triumph.
     
People value sincerity – it creates good will and feelings of trust. Clients are very intelligent and will know whether or not you really care about them.

4. Help your clients to understand your process. You may have the very best process for getting things done and if your clients don’t understand what that is, they will get confused, impatient and angry. Take the time to explain how your process works, not the nitty gritty details, a broad overview so that they can visualize the way the work is being completed.

5. Get regular feedback. Encourage and welcome suggestions about how you can improve your services. This does not mean that you have to incorporate into your process what they are saying but it does give you good insight into what they are thinking. Find a simple way in which your clients can give you feedback. My computer host company actually sends me a short survey to complete each time a work order is completed.

6. Treat your staff well. Employees and subcontractors are your internal clients and deserve to be treated well. Thank them and find ways to let them know that they are important. Remember without them, you would be doing all of the work yourself!

Copyright © 2008 Linda Hunt and Laurie O’Neil, The Bookkeeper’s Referral Network, Inc.

If you would like to use this article on your website or in your own e-newsletter, please reprint in its entirety and include the following information:  Copyright © 2008 Linda Hunt and Laurie O’Neil, The Bookkeeper’s Referral Network, Inc.  Linda Hunt and Lauire O’Neil are the co-founder of The Bookkeeper’s Referral Network Inc., the place where business meets great bookkeepers. To sign up for free articles and insider tips to grow your practice, add value to your clients while making more money working less, visit www.bkpr-network.com