{"id":5547,"date":"2010-08-17t08:33:15","date_gmt":"2010-08-17t12:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/48e130086c.nxcli.net\/?p=5547"},"modified":"2024-11-19t21:35:27","modified_gmt":"2024-11-20t02:35:27","slug":"43-steps-to-gold-plated-client-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.g005e.com\/2010\/08\/17\/43-steps-to-gold-plated-client-service\/","title":{"rendered":"43 steps to gold-plated client service"},"content":{"rendered":"
never lose a client again.<\/strong><\/p>\n how do you dazzle a client these days?<\/strong> with client retention replacing the staffing shortage as the most troublesome issue facing cpa firms, it may be surprising that so few firms are taking a proactive approach to the problem. certainly, many firms are stepping up client service levels, but jerry lopatka, managing principal at dugan & lopatka cpas<\/a> in wheaton, ill., is deploying a particularly systematic and disciplined program.<\/p>\n “a year ago we started a renewed focus on client retention and business development,” he says. at the firm, they call it “biz r&d”\u00a0 for business retention and development.<\/p>\n jerry sent us a 43-point list of tactics based on six broad strategies:<\/p>\n “we try,” he says, “but we can always do better. as i often tell our employees \u2013 our good clients are on our competitor\u2019s radar screen.”<\/p>\n here’s the complete list…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n go the extra mile on the engagement<\/strong><\/p>\n 1.\tconduct extra analysis<\/p>\n 2.\tbenchmark client’s business against national database (bizbench software)<\/p>\n 3.\tapply analytical tools<\/p>\n 4.\timprove turnaround time, service<\/p>\n 5.\timprove quality of presentation of financial information (graphs, charts, etc.)<\/p>\n 6.\tmore documentation, explanation, accessibility<\/p>\n 7.\tuse color in reports.<\/p>\n 8.\thand deliver and go over deliverable in detail with them<\/p>\n increase the amount of client contact<\/strong><\/p>\n 9.\tvisit at every opportunity<\/p>\n 10.\tschedule business meetings near mealtime<\/p>\n 11.\tinvite to the firm’s offices<\/p>\n 12.\tmeet with and get to know other officers in the client company<\/p>\n 13.\tget more of the firm’s people involved with client<\/p>\n build the business relationship<\/strong><\/p>\n 14.\thelp client meet other contacts of ours (use act software & colleagues)<\/p>\n 15.\tput on special seminars for the client\u2019s staff<\/p>\n 16.\tvolunteer to attend client\u2019s internal meetings\/board meetings<\/p>\n 17.\toffer free day of counseling on non-project matters<\/p>\n 18.\tsend client useful articles<\/p>\n 19.\tif possible, refer business to client<\/p>\n build the personal relationship<\/strong><\/p>\n 20.\tsocial activities<\/p>\n 21.\tremember personal, family anniversaries (take birthdays from profx – systemizer form we send at end of year and put on act)<\/p>\n 22.\tobtain scarce theater or sports tickets<\/p>\n 23.\tprovide home telephone number<\/p>\n 24.\toffer use of firm\u2019s facilities for their personal or business uses<\/p>\n 25.\tfind out precisely how the client is evaluated inside his\/her company<\/p>\n 26.\tfind out what he\/she is unhappy with<\/p>\n 27.\tfind out their personal views on life <\/strong><\/p>\n increase knowledge of client\u2019s industry<\/strong><\/p>\n 28.\tstudy industry magazine\/newsletters thoroughly and regularly (get subscriptions)<\/p>\n 29.\tattend industry meetings with the client<\/p>\n 30.\tconduct proprietary studies<\/p>\n 31.\tgo to industry trade shows in chicago<\/p>\n 32.\tlearn all you can on their competitors<\/p>\n increase knowledge of client\u2019s business<\/strong><\/p>\n 33.\tread all client\u2019s brochures, financial reports, other public reports and news releases<\/p>\n 34.\task to see strategic plan<\/p>\n 35.\tvolunteer to critique internal studies<\/p>\n 36.\tconduct a reverse seminar (their people tell us about their company)<\/p>\n 37.\tlook at web site regularly<\/p>\n 38.\task for organization chart<\/p>\n 39.\task who client deals with most<\/p>\n 40.\task about the client\u2019s boss<\/p>\n 41.\task about power structure<\/p>\n 42.\tarrange to meet other executives<\/p>\n 43.\tspend time with client\u2019s junior managers<\/p>\n so, how do you<\/strong><\/em> dazzle a client these days? add your ideas in comments<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" never lose a client again. how do you dazzle a client these days? add your ideas in comments with client retention replacing the staffing shortage as the most troublesome issue facing cpa firms, it may be surprising that so few … continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[99,701,700],"class_list":["post-5547","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-outlook","tag-client","tag-client-satisfaction","tag-client-service"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\nadd your ideas in comments<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n