I just got off the phone with a former client. I haven't worked with him for over a year, but we've continued to stay in touch from time to time and he's about to launch a new phase of the business so I'm meeting with his team next week. This pleases me to no end, and not for the money, though I'll happily charge my hourly rate, but for the fact that a past client is about to become a current client.
I've seen far to many people in the service industry who don't want anything to do with people they've worked with in the past because of poor service. I wonder about that for my own business sometimes because I want to make sure I'm always adding value to my customers.
If you're in a service industry of any kind, do you ever ask yourself if past clients are future clients, or better yet, current clients?
Maybe it's time to do a little evaluation. How many of your past clients have contacted you in the last three months? How many of them probably would if they needed your service?
If you never hear from past clients, you don't necessarily have a problem, but you might. I know this post isn't about social media like I usually talk about, but rather the business of serving well.
If you serve well your past clients are future clients.
If you serve well, your past clients recommend you, and give you future clients.
If you serve well, your past clients could become current clients, and I think that may be one of the best self-evaluating tools about your company and services you have at your disposal.