The markets are down, currencies are down, and inflation is up. While every downturn is different, these signals are familiar and they suggest we’re nearing a recession. New sales leads will start to slow, win rates will narrow, deals will take longer to close, and customers will start to churn. It can be a scary time, but we’ve been here before — and there’s a playbook for how to weather these conditions.
In a Downturn, Focus on Existing Customers — Not Potential Ones
It costs five times more to win a new customer than to retain a current one.
December 05, 2022
Summary.
Mitigating panic churn during a downturn can minimize the disruption of economic uncertainty. Key to doing this is by focusing on at-risk customer cohorts. Not only is retention less vulnerable than acquisition to the short-term swings of a bad economy, but the rule of thumb that it costs five times more to win a new customer than to keep a current one becomes even more extreme in a downturn.
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HBR Learning
Marketing Essentials Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Marketing Essentials. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Learn how to communicate with your customers—strategically.