You will no doubt have an email address published somewhere on your website. Whether it's a general info@ or a specific one for support@ then it is important that you actually give these emails the same importance as you would a phone call or even a letter.

More often than not, small businesses are guilty of not checking their email often enough. They sometimes leave it for days at a time, with some only ever checking it once a week. DON'T!

Check your email often, at least once a day, if not twice a day. A check in the morning and a check in the late afternoon will ensure you are never leaving any ones inquiry more than a working day.

Some emails require a little more effort to answer than others. But that doesn't mean you ignore it. Simply email the recipient back, detailing that you have received their email and will be looking into it as soon as possible. This simple act can make all the difference between winning and losing a customer.

If your site does not advertise product prices instead you have a "Available upon request" then it is of the utmost importance you keep on top of email. People using that facility do not want to wait for days for you to get reply. They will simply go to your competitor who are advertising their prices.

Communication - It's the key to a good customer relationship.