What do you do for your clients just after the financial transaction has been exchanged?  The obvious answer is that you fulfill your end of the business agreement.

But what are you doing to prepare your brand new client for their experience with you?  And what are you doing to ensure they know what’s going on every step of the way of your relationship?

And, most powerfully, what are you doing to ensure they will be a loyal customer for life?

Recently, I had the pleasure of giving new members of the Tampa Bay Business Owners the official tour – what the community is all about, the array of resources available, how to access everything they need.  We call this Quick Start program and it’s one of the most powerful elements of our entire community because gives our members knowledge and the beautiful gift of understanding so they can properly leverage what they need when they need it.

In the online world, Chris Brogan, writer and entrepreneur, is a great example of this. The moment you opt into his website, you are the lucky recipient of a welcome email the likes of which I have never experienced before.  A personal email (yes, it’s an auto responder, but it feels deeply personal) that kindly walked me through everything I’m about to experience, now that I’m a part of his tribe – when he’s going to send emails, when he’s going to recommend and sell products or services he believes in, what he’s going to share, etc.

When you give your clients all the information they need to know about how to leverage you and your products and services, they will feel empowered and grateful!

There are a few elements that need to be part of an effective on boarding process:

1.    An effective method of communication.  How are you going to communicate with your customer regularly? Email? Phone call? An in-person meeting? A small group meeting? Identify the most effective way to communicate with your client and execute!

2.    A show-stopping welcome. Your first impression is the most important. And I mean the first impression your client has of you as the deliverer of the goods/services they’ve just purchased from you. Knock their socks off and make them even more excited to do business with you than they were when they pulled out their credit card!

 3.    An easy access system.  Make doing business with you easy. Give them all the tools they need to be your most favorite customer.

 4.    A regular touch schedule. This is vital and one that is often overlooked! Your relationship with your clients really just begins it’s most powerful phase after they invest in your products/services. Make sure you’re reaching out to them on a regular basis and reminding them that you know who they are, what they like and that you’re accessible to them (and reminding them of other products and services you offer every once in a while is great too!).

On boarding your clients successfully has huge economic benefits. The cost of acquiring a new client is much greater than the cost of maintaining business with current clients. And, the result of properly on boarding your clients often means that your clients will rave about you, because of your constant care…which means, more word of mouth business…awesome!

And, of course, even more than the financial benefits are the joys you get ensuring that your clients optimize their experience with you!

And then…you have raving fans!!!