The Key to Startup Success? Killer Onboarding

Congratulations! You've founded your B2B service startup and are ready to take the Internet by storm. Yet, before you make any impressions, you'll need a stable client list.

If your company is just starting out, it may be difficult to obtain leads and potential clients.

However, it's possible to streamline onboarding efforts and reach new business heights. One of the best ways a startup can succeed is by developing a comprehensive customer onboarding process.

Ready to streamline and gain new customers? Demolish your competitors and retain clients with these five onboarding strategies:

1. Link Directly to Other Collateral

According to Sixteen Ventures, as soon as a customer is brought on board, they should be directed to apps or other services you provide. For example, say you are a B2B service-based ecommerce website with a primary focus on web design.

If your company or service also provides coding, let the consumer know by email or in person what other services are offered directly after purchase.

This will entice the customer to stay and keep purchasing products from your landing page.

2. Foster Positive Interactions

According to Entrepreneur, customer onboarding revolves around the idea of answering customer's invoices and questions. If possible, utilize customer onboarding tactics to streamline the process and gain valuable insights into your customer.

Without using onboarding tactics, customers will receive a negative impression of the brand and may feel tempted to leave. According to Kapow:

More than 68 percent of all customers will leave a business due to poor customer service.

By engaging in positive behaviors, a brand will gain a better view of you and they will be more likely to do business.

3. Know Your Customer

Knowing your customer base is the most important aspect of onboarding, according to Sprout Social. One of the best ways to understand your consumer base is to look at their own websites and their social media presence.

See how they interact with their own clients and what they do to keep consumer relationships thriving.

Once you have a better understanding of what makes these individuals unique, you can create specialized onboarding tactics to appeal to them.

It is always a solid professional choice to make sure every step of your onboarding process has a purpose, not because a leading magazine or industry leader told your company to do so.

As such, make sure every procedure used will benefit both you and the consumer.

4. Communicate Often

One of the largest mistakes an onboarding supervisor can make is poor communication with a client. According to Small Biz Viewpoints, impersonal interactions make for poor impressions and relationships between the client and provider.

Companies can establish stronger connections by communicating frequently. For example, offer the customer your business phone number for any quick inquiries. For longer questions, set up a video chat or meeting to discuss their concerns.

By being there for your consumer and showing them you care, you can create lasting impressions for your brand and establish strong business ties.

5. Track Usage and Incentives

One thing many onboarding managers and supervisors do for onboarding efforts is create incentives for customers that stick around.

For example, a consumer may be more willing to stay if you provide a free consultation and website revamp after six months of service.

Other examples of incentives include discounts, exclusive appointments and early access to new website features. Track these rewards and their redemption rate using a third-party software and analytic services.

As well, take into consideration the prizes your customers will enjoy most.