Web 2.0 tools provide a convenient, fuss-free way to interact with your clients. You can utilize these tools to enhance traditional communication methods, giving your clients more options when it comes to receiving reports, documents, and general information. However, it’s not just communication options that are increased – the value of what you have to offer increases as well.

Client Support. By using instant messaging software and email, you’re giving your clients several ways to contact you digitally. If they prefer other means of contact such as phone or fax, you can use VoIP and efax solutions to cater to these needs without giving up the comfort and convenience that technology offers. If you use these communication tools hand in hand with outsourcing, you’ll be able to give your customers 24/7 client support which, based on my experience, they truly appreciate.

Now, 24/7 support isn’t a necessity unless you have clients coming from a wide variety of timezones. However, the point of offering client support is that whenever your clients have any questions or concerns, someone has to be there for them as soon as possible. The sooner they receive replies, the more confident they are about the money and time they’re investing in your product or service.

Real-time progress reports. You can use online collaboration tools or even a shareable to-do list to let your client view your progress on a certain project, anytime they want. Doing this also lessens the amount of two-way communication between you and your client. Instead of calling or emailing you asking about the status of your work, they can simply look up the status online and see for themselves – wasting less time for both you and them.

Getting feedback. You can use online questionnaires as client surveys so that they can give you feedback on your performance. Services like Survey Monkey and Response-O-Matic are examples of such tools.

Another way to get client feedback via Web 2.0 is through social network testimonials. If your company has a Facebook or LinkedIn page, encourage your clients to leave a recommendation or testimonial. You can do this at the end of the project, asking your client upfront that if they can take a few minutes to create a short testimonial for you, you’d really appreciate it. (However, make sure that you also return the favor and leave a testimonial for them as well.)

With these new tools at your disposal, there’s no excuse to leave a client high and dry – no matter how trivial or small their requests might be.