You need customers to keep your business running safe and sound. They are the bread and butter, diamonds, VIP, star, or whatever you may call them to your business. They are the reasons why businesses exist. To cater the needs of customers is the primary objective of a business.

A sale is not a sale unless collected. Many businesses from the largest corporations to the smallest firms forget the fact that making a sale is a bonus; not an ultimate reward. To win customer loyalty and ensure that customers will want to deal with no other business but yours is a victory well worth capturing.

Consider your own experiences as a customer in the marketplace. What convinces you to choose one particular supplier over all other similar suppliers out there? When a new competitor appears with a better offer, what action has the original supplier taken to anchor your loyalty? What past examples of customer service have driven you to sing praises about a particular business to your friends and associates?

Think back to those businesses that stand out positively in your mind. What did they do to shine in your mind?

The methods that these businesses used to attract and capture your interest employ the same techniques that will attract customers to your business services or products and secure their loyalty for the long haul.

Human nature is such that people want to receive courteous, accommodating, hospitable, genuine customer service when and where they decide to spend their hard-earned money. Studies have shown that people are even willing to pay a little more for a product than they would pay your competitor in return for a red carpet treatment. Every human being has a need to feel special.

Be creative in your presentation to your customers. Think of all the ideas that your competitors haven’t considered. What unique approaches can you come up with that will make your customers feel truly good about spending their money on your services or products?

Here are some suggestions on how to keep loyal customers:

Get to know your customer well. What are their likes and dislikes? What are their major concerns and how can your products or services resolve them? Ask your customers for their participation in helping you to make your existing products or services better, as well as whenever you are ready to develop anything new by conducting a simple survey form. People will be happy to purchase goods that their contributions have touched.

People have an inborn desire to feel needed. People like to be asked their opinions, and they like to talk about themselves. By asking your customers for their input, you are telling them that you really care what they think, and at the same time, you are acquiring a whole lot of instant market research for free. Making your customers feel that they’re valued enough to be involved in your business decisions buys you instant brand recognition and loyalty, and in return, they will be delighted to "spread the word" to their friends and associates. You get a domino effect called "viral marketing"… you won’t find a better way to advertise without having to invest a dime!

Likewise, you can either design monthly or quarterly newsletters — it doesn’t have to be fancy — and make sure you fill it with interesting news, tips, etc.. Make it information-based, purely for the interest of your customer; but incorporate a section near the end that focuses on your company details.

Do your research, and do it continuously. Study your competitors. What can you do for your customers that your competitors aren’t doing? What steps have you taken to make your target audience aware of this? If you run a newsletter printing business, is there one additional thing that you can do for your customers that none of the other newsletter printing has offered to do? Perhaps personalized gift cards will do especially that the holidays are fast approaching.

Always make the attempt to go one step further than everyone else. Your customers will greatly appreciate it.