When Seal and Heidi Klum called it
quits earlier this year, they reported having “grown apart’, a common theme
among Hollywood power couples; they come together in a storm of romance, and beat
a hasty retreat at the first sign of trouble. They gush about their new beau
when things are new, but lose interest once their needs inevitably change.
So, what about your relationship
with your customers? Sure, you probably don’t have paparazzi following you to
every meeting, luncheon, or conference, but when things change, business
relationships can fall prey to the same pitfalls as Hollywood romances do.
How do you know when your
customer’s needs have changed? Do you know what’s important to them - now? And on the flip side, how do you
let your customers know when your needs
have changed?
For starters, not all customers
leave suppliers because of price, products or options. Research tells us that most
leave because they feel that their current supplier doesn't understand them or
their needs. There’s that word again: needs.
So, how are you staying ahead of
your customer’s changes? How are you letting them know that you care about
them? Here are few tips for making sure that your company doesn’t end up on the
cover of People magazine.
