While there are thousands of us in existence, I’m very confident when it comes to my life coaching business. Client retention matters, but I don’t compete with other coaches because I know my worth and provide unquestionable value to my clients.

I have a mantra that states, “Others may have the recipe, but they don’t have my special sauce.” I encourage my clients who are also entrepreneurs to apply this mindset as well.

It’s no secret that many of us shop around for the best price when making an expensive purchase- even if we’re happy with a particular business or service and the cost required to obtain it. There’s often that voice in our head that has us wondering if there are better (generally, that means cheaper) options available. Therefore, this isn’t something we should take personally if we discover that one of our clients is vetting and researching other suppliers or services to use.

That said, client retention (serving and retaining clients) is essential to business success. Providing optimum service and results can help sustain long relationships that deepen, and of course, these are the clients who are the backbone of your revenue stream. Yet to keep that success flowing, you must seek ways to improve, show that you care, and communicate effectively. 

In this post, I’ll be sharing a list that is by no means exhaustive, containing a few methods that may help with client retention. 

Recurring Payments & Subscriptions

It’s easier to remain with a service when they’re a convenient part of your life. For example, many people pay for music streaming platforms’ premium options because they listen to music daily, especially when on the move. They are happy to keep that subscription for their convenience. With automated recurring payments, you can also set up a scaleable package for your customers, rewarding them for staying as they do and enabling them to move forward if they so desire. You may be surprised just how well that works as time passes and how some are happy to keep that expense going if it means convenience and comfort.

Loyalty Schemes

Loyalty schemes keep clients returning, but ensuring they’re worthwhile and not just a surface-level enrollment effort is essential. For example, Microsoft runs a Rewards program that accrues points whenever someone uses Bing search or plays an Xbox game. However, the rewards are quite slow because the former is free, and the latter is more of a hobby. For loyalty schemes that reward based on how many purchases made, how many months a service is used for, or how many times a contract is renewed, you might consider special discounts, upgrading the quality of the packages, or small benefits, like asking for direct feedback from your most loyal customers. Every little addition helps.

Distinct Progression

It’s good to showcase the distinct progression and development of your business vision and goals as time passes and to communicate these to clients who have stuck around or are thinking of doing so. When customers see you progressing, they also feel connected to the life of your business and what it represents. You can also use your clients’ feedback to see which direction they hope your business takes in the future. With this advice, you can give your clients many reasons to stay and move forward with your brand.