A
ANye
- Original Poster
- #1
The saying goes that it is harder to gain new clients than it is to retain the existing ones. That may be true and millions of words have been written on the subject but a hefty spanner is thrown into the works when those existing clients move overseas. For a whole host of reasons, client acquisition is harder across borders but retention can be immeasurably more frustrating in such circumstances.
It isn't a lost cause though and there are steps you can take to ensure you maintain contact, stay engaged with your clients and continue to earn income even when you are separated by thousands of miles, oceans, mountains and an exchange rate.
1 Deliver a quality service
It probably goes without saying that your most important asset is the delivery of excellent service.
2 Keep your data current
Ensure you check and update contact details whenever you speak with clients.
3 Ensure your offering is relevant
A practice which deals solely in UK taxation and accounts may well find that huge sums spent on maintaining contact with all their expat clients may be a hiding to nothing. Knowing your individual client's needs and circumstances will allow you to target relevant information towards those who can use it. It will also ensure you avoid being seen as spammers and mean you do not expend time and manpower unnecessarily.
4 Partner with relevant service providers
Whether you do or do not have services that can assist your expat clients, there is a great deal to be gained from partnering with companies which can provide services which complement your own.
5 Engage with your clients
Printed media is largely ineffective when it comes to clients in other countries; you have less idea of whether it arrives and you have no way of knowing whether it was read. Interaction through social media, email, web articles etc. vastly improves the whole process of staying in touch with your clients and keeping your name in their minds.
6 Events and expos
If you have clients in a reasonably tight geographic location and where the costs are not prohibitively expensive, it is often worth arranging meetings on a seminar or breakfast briefing basis. A face to face opportunity to keep in touch with important clients is always worth considering and these often work best when partner companies get involved and share the costs.
7 Incentivise
There can be no better introduction to new clients than from satisfied and well looked after existing clients; especially in an expat community. Why not incentivise your existing clients to refer business to you.
These are our main tips when attracting expat clients. Let us know what you think and, if you have any more, feel free to add yours!
It isn't a lost cause though and there are steps you can take to ensure you maintain contact, stay engaged with your clients and continue to earn income even when you are separated by thousands of miles, oceans, mountains and an exchange rate.
1 Deliver a quality service
It probably goes without saying that your most important asset is the delivery of excellent service.
2 Keep your data current
Ensure you check and update contact details whenever you speak with clients.
3 Ensure your offering is relevant
A practice which deals solely in UK taxation and accounts may well find that huge sums spent on maintaining contact with all their expat clients may be a hiding to nothing. Knowing your individual client's needs and circumstances will allow you to target relevant information towards those who can use it. It will also ensure you avoid being seen as spammers and mean you do not expend time and manpower unnecessarily.
4 Partner with relevant service providers
Whether you do or do not have services that can assist your expat clients, there is a great deal to be gained from partnering with companies which can provide services which complement your own.
5 Engage with your clients
Printed media is largely ineffective when it comes to clients in other countries; you have less idea of whether it arrives and you have no way of knowing whether it was read. Interaction through social media, email, web articles etc. vastly improves the whole process of staying in touch with your clients and keeping your name in their minds.
6 Events and expos
If you have clients in a reasonably tight geographic location and where the costs are not prohibitively expensive, it is often worth arranging meetings on a seminar or breakfast briefing basis. A face to face opportunity to keep in touch with important clients is always worth considering and these often work best when partner companies get involved and share the costs.
7 Incentivise
There can be no better introduction to new clients than from satisfied and well looked after existing clients; especially in an expat community. Why not incentivise your existing clients to refer business to you.
These are our main tips when attracting expat clients. Let us know what you think and, if you have any more, feel free to add yours!
