That's the view of a new report called 25 Ways to Amaze Your Customers Without Flying a Banner Over

the City, Sponsoring a Hot Air Balloon or Doing Anything That Requires a Chicken Suit; which was published this week by Worldwide Online Printing.

 

The latest edition in Worldwide's Business Matters series, the guide

lifts the lid on customer acquisition, conversion and retention trends -

and points the way to more effective business development strategies

with a round-up of no-nonsense best-practice tips and tricks.

 

Chapters entitled 'Ditch the Mouse Mats', 'Start a Blog' and 'Quit

Corporate Jargon', pull no punches in their efforts to help make businesses amazing and chase a bigger share of the market - as

well as of each customer's wallet.

 

Publication of the guide follows news that Worldwide was again Australia's fastest-growing design and print group for the fourth year in

a row, according to BRW Magazine's national franchising study. Many of the ideas featured in the guide are based on tried and tested practices drawn from the 12,000 business customers of Worldwide's 88-strong national network of print communication Centres.

 

"Regular customers are often less price sensitive, more likely to buy additional products, and are inclined to recommend you to other customers - and it generally takes 40% less time and money to keep them happy", reports the guide, which also warns of the changes to the rules brought about by the information age.

 

"It's no longer enough to have the catchiest jingle, the glossiest brochure or the best-looking product. Instead of using just one supplier for a product or service, customers can use multiple suppliers in different countries, and select them based on factors ranging from their price point to a product review they read on someone's blog", it suggests. "The pressure's on."