Incorporate these customer-service basics into your own selling repertoire for more sales, more referrals, and more satisfied customers, according to Selling Power online. To give your sales a boost, go back to the basics: customer care. Follow these five fundamentals to create a strong, lasting, and profitable connection to your customer base, and increase your sales.

1. Keep learning:  However long you've been in the game and no matter your level of expertise, there's always something else to learn about your products, services, customers, techniques, company, and competition that will contribute to your selling efforts. Keep your eyes and ears open to new information, ideas, and strategies. Don't ever believe an old dog can't learn new tricks.

2. Give away free advice:  Make it a sales goal to become a trusted adviser and business resource to your customers. Most of the time, new and repeat customers and increased sales will follow. Your customers should regard you as indispensable – one who gives free, good advice (see point 1).

3. Be consistent:  Remember that potential customers are always sizing you up. Your credibility, achievements, and outstanding service in the past can be obliterated in a prospect's mind by your failure to keep your promises. Be in touch when you say you will. Always monitor your turnaround times (because your customers often do). Let your actions match your words. Your word is your bond.

4. Be adaptable:  Successful salespeople stay flexible and open to change. Follow your clients' lead and adapt to their personalities. If the customer is chatty, be talkative. If the customer is reserved and businesslike, create a sense of unity between you by reflecting that characteristic. Always size up your situation, and use your circumstances to your benefit. Ask for a personal endorsement from referrals if necessary.

5. Think resolution and closure. Your constant goal should be to resolve any customer concerns or obstacles to a potential sale. Provide customers with all the information they need and reassure them that a decision to buy is a wise choice. Don't assume the sale is won or lost once and for all on the day you ask for the order; sales are made or lost in the days leading up to your asking for the order.

Looking for more business? It's already there in front of you. Remember that your clients keep you in business, but only so long as they continue to trust you and believe you are interested in their success. If the only time they hear from you is when they call you, you might be out of business before you realize it. Someone will sell them, and it better be you. Do you offer solutions, or excuses? If you're waiting on them to call you, it could be a long, slow year.