Most small business owners can attest to the fact that they wear a lot of hats. Trying to manage every facet of running a small business is at best overwhelming. This can be especially true when you're trying to find that tricky yet critical balance of both maintaining existing customer relationships while simultaneously growing the company.

While data shows that it costs more to acquire a new customer than it does to retain an existing customer, the truth of the matter is that without growth through the addition of new customers, you'll be putting your company at risk. But how does a small business successfully navigate the challenges of keeping their current customers happy, while finding ways to grow the business, and in the process not sacrifice quality, service, and creativity?

One of the most important things you can do is devise a customer strategy that fosters and nurtures your existing business customer relationships. Having a strategy is like having a clear roadmap. Let's take a closer look at how to maintain good customer relationships.