Being a Customer Success Manager is a rewarding role, but can often be overwhelming if one doesn’t prepare and prioritize properly. After all, keeping a full portfolio of clients happy and successful while still actively pursuing growth opportunities requires a proactive and customer-centric approach. 

Now more than ever, CSMs are expected to do more and manage all aspects of the business relationship. Balancing the responsibilities of providing value, offering support, and acting as a salesperson can be challenging. However, by implementing the following best practices, you can effectively manage your daily tasks and achieve your sales targets.

360 degree Client Understanding:

Bring value through understanding the business, how they operate, what their objectives are, why they bought your software and their vision for the future of the business. Collaborate with clients to define their desired outcomes and ensure your solutions align with their business goals. By understanding their unique challenges, you can tailor your approach and position your products or services as the ideal solution.

Build Strong Relationships:

Developing strong relationships with your clients is the foundation of successful customer success management. Actively engage with your clients, understand their goals, and establish clear lines of communication. Regularly check in with them to identify any concerns, provide support, and showcase new features or offerings that align with their needs.

Proactive Support and Education:

Take a proactive approach to support your clients by providing timely assistance and education. Offer training sessions, webinars, and resources that help them maximize the value they derive from your products or services. Anticipate and address any potential issues before they become major roadblocks for your clients. This proactive approach fosters trust and demonstrates your commitment to their success.

Continuous Engagement:

Maintain regular touchpoints with your clients to keep the relationship strong. Be available to answer questions, address concerns, and provide guidance whenever needed. Share industry insights, success stories, and best practices that can benefit their business. By staying engaged, you demonstrate your dedication to their growth and maintain a pulse on their evolving needs.

Upselling and Expansion Opportunities:

Identify upselling and expansion opportunities by understanding your clients’ evolving needs and business growth plans. Regularly analyze usage patterns, gather feedback, and identify areas where additional products or services can enhance their experience or drive further value. Position these opportunities as natural progressions that align with their existing investments and objectives.

Accurate Renewal and Upsell Forecasting:

Accurate forecasting is essential for meeting sales targets. To achieve this, maintain up-to-date and comprehensive customer records. Regularly review usage data, product adoption metrics, and customer feedback. Leverage data analytics tools to identify trends, patterns, and indicators that can help predict renewal likelihood and upsell opportunities. Regularly communicate with your clients to understand their intentions and align their needs with the anticipated forecast.

Collaboration with Sales and Marketing:

Collaborate closely with your sales and marketing teams to align your efforts and leverage their expertise. Share client insights, success stories, and feedback that can inform their strategies. Collaboratively develop campaigns and initiatives that highlight the value your company provides to clients, driving new business and expansion opportunities.

Once a CSM truly understands the business they are working with, they can establish a baseline of trust and put themselves into a position to renew and expand the partnership.

Want to learn what a day in the life of a CSM is like using RevSetter?

Be sure to check back for our next blog post to learn more!