Nothing is more important than building relationships. Your relationships with your employees, customers, and vendors all play a critical role in growing your business.

But knowing it’s important isn’t the same as actually doing something.

Here, I’ll give you a few tips to improve your business communication skills and relationships with those who matter to your business.

How to Increase Customer Satisfaction and Build Long Lasting Relationships

1. #1:  Start a Notebook

Take notes on every interaction that you have with new leads, customers, and investors. You may also want to do this with potential employees. They do not have to be extensive notes, just a few points on their preferences, birthday, how you met, common acquaintances, and perhaps some trivia. You can then use this information every time you reach out, like sending a greeting card on their birthday or remembering a customer’s preference for FedEx delivery instead of DHL.

Remembering customer preferences is an easy way to increase customer satisfaction while remembering random details like an employee’s birthday, or a client’s granddaughter’s graduation will help you build a solid reputation.

2. #2: Choose Who to Spend Time with

Spend time with loyal customers, and reward easy to work with vendors. Take time to mentor employees and talk to them outside of work. These people hugely affect your company. Investing extra time in growing your existing relationships with them will yield immediate and long-term returns for your business.

3. #3: Treat Everyone as a Valuable Resource

Understand that you customers and vendors are much more than sources of profit and savings. They have more to offer you than just money. Often, customers can give you product feedback and tips for other things you can monetize, while vendors can clue you in on market trends and competitor information.

Don’t take and take without giving something back, of course. When you know of something that might benefit a vendor, share it. Sharing crucial information, even if you’re not getting anything in return, is part of exercising your business communication skills.

4. #4: Build a Culture of Social Change

On the surface, it seems like developing business communications skills is all about talking. What goes on behind the scenes—your business’s ability to respond quickly, how consistent your responses are, employee confidence—all these affect how customers feel about your brand.

5. #5: Don’t Be Afraid to Admit Your Limitations

If you can’t take on any more orders, admit it. If you don’t have the services a customer is looking for, admit it. Refer them to your competitors, if you must. Honesty and the ability to proudly promote others is a mark of good business communication skills. Customers will laud your helpfulness and honesty.

Loyal customers and good vendors will help your business survive through tough times and soar in good times. Your relationship with competitors and other business owners will fuel you with inspiration and information that will give you an edge.

Start using all one of these tips today to improve your relationships with everyone around you.