Customers vs Clients

Some people think that clients and customers are the same thing, but they're not.  They are both consumers of a businesses goods or services, but the difference is in the relationship they have with you.

A customer is a consumer that doesn't value a relationship with the company beyond receiving the good or service.  They view a business's offering as a solution to a problem. (I need a round peg for this round hole problem I have).  They aren't particularly well informed, loyal or forgiving.  For these reasons, a lot of companies have love-hate relationships with their customers.

A client is a consumer that has a primary interest in the product or service and a secondary interest in maintaining a relationship with the company over time.  They view the company as a partner that provides a solution to a certain need.  They value the relationship almost as much as the product or service and will often keep informed, give referrals to others, and would rather work with companies to resolve problems rather than break ties with them.

If you are thinking of starting up your own business, I highly recommend you structure a client-based consumer strategy whenever possible.

Thanks for reading.

- L