Convenience. It is such an important part of the sales process. Make it convenient for your customers to do business with you, and they will. Here are a few ideas to help make things convenient for customers.
Idea 1: Make it easy for customers to use the means they like best to reach you. How will you know what mode the customer prefers? You’ll have to ask! As part of the initial contact, determine whether your customer prefers personal visits, phone, FAX or e-mail as the usual means of contact. Then make sure the customer has your phone, FAX and e-mail information.
Idea 2: Conform to your customer’s accounts payable practices. Find out what the purchasing and accounts payable departments require to facilitate payment of your invoices and how they like to receive invoices. Find out what payment policies are so you don’t waste time and annoy the accounts payable department by unnecessary followup.
Idea 3: Be sure your business or organization is easy to find. Review signage to be sure it is visible and in good repair. If your location is off the beaten path, consider having directions printed on the back of your business card. Add a map to your web site.
Idea 4: Provide a way for customers to contact you 24/7. For many customers, the traditional 40-hour work week is a fiction. Give customers a way to contact you when they are thinking about you – e-mail is an excellent method for back-and-forth communication.
Idea 5: Keep your web site useful and interesting. Provide relevant content on your web site so customers will think of it as a reference tool. Repeat visits by your customers for technical information, tips and tricks, frequently-asked questions and other useful material give you additional opportunities for contact.
