No matter what industry you work in: banking, financial services, insurance, restaurant, fitness, retail, health care and so on, when your customers experience a change associated with your business, you run the risk of losing these customers.
Therefore, let’s talk about how to retain customers during times of change.
Examples of change include:
- Retirement, death, leave-of-absence
- Sale of business
- Price increase
- Product update or removal
- New employee, business partner, supplier, etc.
- Rebranding or business name change
Let’s look at a simple change example, followed by specific customer retaining strategies.
First, to keep customers, be careful of what you say and write.
Case-in-point:
I was at my doctor’s office the other day. There was a note posted at the checkout window that read, “Dr. Smith is retiring at the end of the month. Please feel free to choose another doctor from our office staff as your primary care physician.”
I was amazed by this statement.
The physician group is taking for granted that patients will simply choose another doctor from their practice.
This is simply NOT true! In fact, a period of change is a perfect time for customers to move on. It’s a natural time for them to “try someone different.” This is particularly true, in this instance, because of the limited communication.
Strategies to Retain Customers
If I was the marketing director for my physician’s office, I would do no less than the following to retain my customers:
#1 — At a minimum, the physician group should send a personalized letter to all of the retiring physician’s patients. The letter should announce the doctor’s retirement and congratulate her on a service well done. It should also acknowledge that their practice realizes this may be a difficult time for the retiring physician’s patients, as they make decisions regarding their future health care needs.
#2 — To win patients over, the group should invite them to a meet-and-greet (or open house) with several of the other physician members, held no less than two different times during the month, enabling the retiring physician’s patients to meet the various doctors.
RELATED: If you’re operating a wellness related business, check out my eBook: CLIENT FOREPLAY: 5 Conversations that Retain Clients for Life & Pour Money into Your Pocket.
In Summary
Remember this above all else: Whenever you have a change in product, service or staff, plan for your customers’ reactions.
Most importantly, communicate with them before news of the change breaks!
Before You Go
Keep in touch while gaining fresh ideas to attract affluent investors and increase client loyalty, subscribe to my blog.
Also, be sure to explore my freelance financial writing services.
Independently Yours,
Sharron