3 Ways to Stay on the Forefront of Past Clients Minds

The business world is a competitive one. No matter what line of work you are in, you probably don’t have a monopoly on what you do. There are hundreds, if not thousands of businesses that offer similar services as you.

Although you may very well be the best at what you do, offer the most reasonably priced services, or be the most convenient or the fastest, the truth is that your customers and potential clients have many, many other alternatives to hiring you. So what will make you stand out?

As someone who works in business, you probably already know that relationships are everything. It’s not really what your resume lists but who you know. That means that your Instagram followers, Twitter followers, Facebook friends, and your connections on LinkedIn might be worth just as much as that post-graduate certification that you busted your butt for last year.

If you already have a customer base, and they already know you, it might still be worth it to remind them gently once in a while that you are still out there. Remind them of the work you do, and what you stand for. It’s what makes them come back time and time again. After all, service is a big deal.

Anyone can do a good job, but it’s the personal touch that makes a job excellent. Here are three ways to keep your clients engaged:

Keep your name in the public eye

Whether or not you need a new job right now, remind your past clients and current connections that you are still out there doing work and making progress. Keep your social media networks updated. Keep your name out there. Proper advertising and marketing, including ad placement, sponsorship, and social media are ways to do this. Name recognition is huge.

You don't always have to shell out thousands of dollars for a public relations person to do the hard work for you. You'd be surprised how easy it can be to land your own promotional features and articles.

Start interacting with editors of online magazines on Twitter, and engage with their content. If your business aligns with their readership consider pitching an interesting idea to the editor to see if it sticks. You'll never know unless you try!

Be social

Speaking of social media, get involved. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are the big ones, so make sure your company has pages and handles for these social media outlets. Post regularly and monitor them to answer customer concerns and questions. Don’t forget LinkedIn. It’s a resume that speaks for you and makes you accessible to those you might not even have considered working for.

If you're not super tech savvy and don't have much presence online it may be time for you to dabble into the world of social media influencers. Consider trading your products or services for help from up-and-coming influencers who have an engaged following.

Be protective of your reputation

Of course, some of the best advertising is by word-of-mouth, and that can’t be bought for any amount of money. Make sure your reputation is a good one, ensure that your past clients are always happy, and if something isn’t right, fix it. It may be costly and time-consuming, but it will be worth it. Clients will talk to each other (and the internet), and what they say is worth more than any ad you can buy.

Always remember to be on the lookout for opportunities such as being featured on a podcast, an up-and-coming blog that interviews business leaders, or even social media takeovers on accounts that have a following of like-minded individuals.

Free press can be hard to come by, so take advantage of every opportunity. Not only do these afford you the ability to be introduced to new clients, but they’re also “social media food” for sharing with your current followers.