Today, I was visited by a salesman who just happened to be in my office building visiting one of his own customers. I was impressed by the effort. When you stop in and tell your customers how much you appreciate their business, you give them something to tell others about. I know that there are a lot of sales people who knock on doors and beat the streets for new business, but I wonder, how often do you stop and visit your current customers?

So often, once the transaction is over, your attention quickly moves on to the next customer. You leave your past customers in the dust, while you go looking for that prince of a customer who will make all your sales goals come true. Yet, you already have a customer who values your product. Here is somebody who has already bought into your brand. However, once the sale is over, they never hear from you again. That is, unless you’re pitching for another sale. You already know that it’s less expensive to retain a current customer versus seeking out a new one, but how do keep your brand in front of a customer without coming off as a pushy nuisance? You’re out there kissing a lot of frogs wondering, “where is my prince?” Your prince of a customer is found in the FROGS.

F- Fuss over your current customers. Discover your customer’s hot buttons – and fuel them often. Do you know how to get your customer’s attention? A friend of mine felt very fussed over when the service attendant pre-set his radio dials when they installed a new radio in his car. This didn’t cost the company anything, but my friend has gone on to brag about the car dealership ever since. Use your own gifts and talents to stand out and get your customers to take notice.

R- Reward your customers for referrals. When they introduce you to someone new, offer them a gift that encourages them to do it again. So often, referral bonuses are only paid out if the deal closes – so reward them simply for the introduction. With a few $5.00 gift cards, you can train that behavior to be repeated, and repeated again.

O- Over-deliver, over-exceed, over-do, over-rise, over-reward, over-flow, over-whelm. When your brand shows up in front of your customer, either in person or via email, newsletter or phone call, you give your customers an opportunity to introduce you to someone new. Keeping in contact keeps your brand on the tips of their tongues. Out of sight proves to be disastrous if you are out mind when it comes to referrals. If your customers don’t have you on the tip of their tongue at all times, they won’t be referring your business.

G- Give your best. Give your customers something that they can’t get anywhere else. Get creative. Get crazy. Get your customers to talk about you. Get your customers to brag about you. Keep a journal for one week tracking your buying purchases. What motivated you to spend? What caught your eye and grabbed your attention. Look at your own business through the eyes of your customers – and if you’re too close, ask a real customer to help you out. The very best person to ask about what your customers really want from your business is your customer.

S- Surprise your customers. Turn ordinary interactions into a memorable experience. The goal is create moments for your customer to talk about. Create surprises and you will create great customers who turn others onto your brand. I love it when there is a special surprise for me – especially something simple. Watch the video “Joe the Bagger” and you’ll learn what you can do today to make a real difference for your customers.

Once you kiss the frogs, you’ll discover that your prince of a customer is the one you already have.