Providing high quality customer service is a must for any business to survive.

Following up on all contacts and leads is also crucial in order to increase your sales and client base.

If I had a nickel for every time I have had to remind a new client about the importance of following up...

The truth is, life can be hectic. A typical business day can evolve around numerous telephone calls, deliveries, new orders and so on which can make following up on your days contacts rather difficult.

Add to the mix having to read and respond to email and you compound your daily stress.

Life does not have to be this stressful. There is wonderful technology available to help ease your business workload and enable you to follow up on all of your contacts.

For starters, there are excellent auto-responder programs on the market today that are not only easy to implement, but also very affordable and help you provide the type of customer service your clients want.

These autoresponders can be programmed to send more than one message or document to a contact at various time intervals. GetResponse is a wonderful autoresponder that I use myself. There are several autoresponders on the market in a range of prices that will fit nicely into your budget. Check out some of the autoresponders availalbe and see for yourself how they can benefit your business plan.

So start working IN your business, not on your business by using today's technology such as autoresponders to help make following up fast, easy and affordable.

One of the fastest ways to loose a customer or prospective client is by not following up after a telephone call, email new order, etc.

You remember the old adage; "The squeaky wheel gets the oil"... Well, your business needs to be the "squeaky wheel" so to speak. Keep you name fresh in your customer's and prospects mind and they will be more likely to contact you when they need the high quality products or services that you provide.

Something as simple as a thank you note does wonders for a company image as well as it's client base.

Don't think you have to personally handle all of your follow up correspondence yourself.

Out sourcing some of the work you currently do is not only smart, but also quite affordable.

One of the services many of my clients use is that of mass mailings. After uploading my client's database to my web service, all my client need do is email or phone me with their request. Something as basic as a postcard is often all that is necessary to keep in touch with their database of existing customers as well as new leads and prospects.

By staying in touch with your "Sphere of Influence" you will increase referrals, sell more products and services as well as improve your company image.

Notify your customers and prospects about something new or different in your business. If you aren't currently offering any promotions or sales, use the time of year as a reason for your mailing.

So, start incorporating into your daily business practices the following:

1. Follow up on all telephone calls from prospective clients with a short thank you note or postcard.

2. Follow up on all email contacts with autoresponders.

3. Mail to your entire database of customers (your "Sphere of Influence") every 4 to 6 weeks.

4. Mail to your prospective clients every 4 to 6 weeks.

Try these simply steps for yourself. Keep in touch with your "Sphere of Influence" and follow up on all your business contacts.

Become the "Squeaky Wheel" and watch your business skyrocket!

Judith A. Wentzel - Image smarter marketing specialist providing image smarter web site design, marketing & business services. Assisting realtors & small business owners with their business and marketing needs since 1993. http://www.ImageSmarterMarketing.com http://www.Site-Build-Them-Ecommerce-Smart.com http://www.ImageSmarterWebSiteDesign.com