Customer Relationship: Meaning, Benefits, Types, How to Build, and the Difference from Customer Service

The relationship between business and consumers must be a primary concern and continue to be maintained. Building strong customer relationships is one way.

Consumers always expect business commitment to provide the best products and services. Consumer loyalty is a result that will be directly proportional to business profits.

In this article, you will learn in depth about customer relationships, from the meaning, benefits, types, to how to build them.

What is Customer Relationship?

Customer relationship is a method used by companies to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty. This method, citing HubSpot, requires companies to proactively provide the best service, solutions to consumer problems, and ensure their needs are met.

Companies with the best products or services are not limited to what they sell. Because today's consumers also want to know the image of the product and the level of company awareness after the product or service is purchased.

Therefore, strong customer relationships will ensure business success in the future.

Benefits of Customer Relationships

In addition from bringing business success, also know the benefits of customer relationships in your business in the short and long term.

• Consumer loyalty to buy any product sold.
• Know and understand consumer needs.
• Becomes important capital in making business decisions.
• Understand what problems they face and how the product can help them.
• Improve the overall reputation and image of the company.
• Make your brand or business at the top of consumers' minds.
• Improve customer experience and satisfaction.
• Creating opportunities for businesses to have more diverse products.

Types of Customer Relationships

Depending on the business, type of product, and type of consumer, there are three types of customer relationships. Summarizing HiverHQ, here is the complete explanation:

Proactive customer relations

Proactive customer relations is directly building customer relationships proactively. Companies must contact consumers before any complaints or problems occur. From the start, companies must:

• know who the consumers are
• what are the needs
• what is the thought process before buying
• what kind of product is expected
• what image is expected
• understand how to keep them satisfied

You can run this type with a variety of rewarded surveys. Make sure the survey is run consistently, for example every quarter (3 months).

Reactive customer relations

Different from the previous type, reactive customer relations is a way for businesses to respond to, understand and resolve problems experienced by consumers. Therefore, you must know all the problems and complaints that consumers convey in various forms and platforms.

Several strategies that businesses can implement to produce positive reactive customer relations include:

• Validate consumer complaints and input.
• Apologize and make sure the business is ready to resolve the complaint.
• Understand the problem and offer the best solution.
• Follow up even though the problem has been resolved and show concern.

Strategic customer relations

Strategic customer relations means that the company's culture and references are based on consumer needs and satisfaction. Every product made is always confirmed and tested by loyal consumers. Usually this type is carried out by companies that already have a special image in general.

How to Build Customer Relationships

Follow these steps to build good customer relationships:

Build a strong foundation in communication

Good relationships are based on clear and open communication. Convey all information as it is and use sentences that are easy to understand. Avoid jargon or difficult words.

Be realistic and don't lie

Don't give false and unrealistic hopes. Make sure the solution offered makes sense and can be done easily by consumers.

Receive and collect input from consumers

Always record and pay attention to every input, suggestion, and complaint submitted. Use this as a reference for development and solving various problems.

Track the problem resolution process

As long as the problem is not resolved, consumers should not have to report the same thing again. Also track the problem resolution process with the relevant team. Continue to convey how far your team is working.

Anticipate consumer needs

Even though the problem has been resolved, consumers will continue to use your product or service. By understanding consumer habits and profiles, create a list of needs that may arise in the future.

Make the relationship more personal

Make consumers feel like you are a friend who helps them solve problems. You can also call consumers by name in each communication process.

Monitor consumer changes

Monitor consumer changes and check for possible problems that may occur. These problems can be related to how the product works, the taste of the product, the impact of the product on consumers, and even the image of the product.

Competitor analysis

Find out how they build relationships with consumers. Especially competitors in the same industry. You can build stronger and better relationships to attract new consumers.

Understand market changes

Understand market changes and consumer needs. Changes that occur in the economy, ways of thinking, and needs will influence the company's customer relationship strategy.

Reach new consumers

Reach potential consumers who can become loyal consumers in the future. You can expand the range of services or products marketed or add product lines.

Difference between Customer Relationship and Customer Service

In short, here are the basic differences between customer relationship and customer service:

• Customer service focuses on the process of solving consumer problems directly.
• Meanwhile, customer relationship focuses on the process of building and maintaining long-term relationships with consumers.

Both play an important role in business and consumer relationships.

Customer relationship is a concrete step to ensure consumers continue to use your product in the long term.

Building customer relationships requires time and the right strategy.

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