By most standards, a good customer is a customer that keeps coming back and buying our product and service. We love these customers – they contribute to our steady sales without much effort.

But — what really makes a good customer?  Is the customer who keeps returning to buy our product with little interaction a good customer?  Or is the customer who asks questions on pricing, product, or supplies feedback (good or bad) the good customer?

The good customer is the one that provides feedback, asks questions and shows an active vested interest in their product and your service.  This is the customer that looks for a partner for their company and one that wants to build and sustain a long standing relationship. This is the customer that you can partner with and will be a great advocate with other organizations and/or other businesses should they change positions. 

Without feedback and communication from your customers, how do you really know that you or company is doing a good job?  How do you really know that you are meeting or exceeding the customers or companies needs?  How do you know if the relationship is firm or if the contact is shopping their services elsewhere?

In the current economic times, customers need to be frugal.  They and their organizations are cutting costs and staff in most instances in order to maintain cash flow.  Shopping services and vendors are a good way to cut costs.  

Increasing communication to your clients and customers is a good way to maintaining that relationship and making the “good customer” the customer that sticks with you through even the toughest of economic times.

Don’t overcrowd your client, but provide them with a source where they can provide you with feedback, try a survey or contact form.  Check in with your client from time to time. Stop by occasionally, give a quick call, or follow up with email with some interesting links to articles or items that they might find interesting (both professionally and personally).  

Building a relationship can take time and you need to gauge your client to determine which is the best method of keeping contact with them but be sure to maintain that contact.  

I found an article from the Motley Crew posted  few years ago that still holds true with customer and client relationships.  Read here and enjoy!! http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2006/11/30/5-rules-for-conquering-consumers.aspx