Sure, they may have a higher budget for marketing and they may be able to offer discounts more often or give bigger thank you gifts to appreciate their clients and customers, but there are many reasons that people love working with small businesses and independent freelancers.
When you approach new clients, keep it personal. Be flexible, really listen and engage, chances are you do all of these things better than your large competition can.
Really be creative about the ways you can appreciate your customers. Don’t look for monetary ways to say thank you to an important client, instead think of a unique way to engage with them that makes them feel appreciated while exposing them to more of your vision and values.
One great example of this kind of out-of-the-box thinking is an idea from the Entrepreneur article, “13 Ways to Show Your Customers You Love Them” by Firras Kitanneh:
“Give your best clients a behind-the-scenes experience to learn who you and your team really are, and what your product represents. Extend a special invite to some of your coolest customers to come hang out for a day at the office, at your production facility or at an exclusive mixer bringing together some of the greatest minds in your industry.”
If you put the kind of creativity into your customer service that you put into your products and services, it won’t take long for your business to grow. Chances are, your fellow freelancers have a few great ideas of their own when it comes to winning and keeping clients.
