1. Increase the visibility of a business via introducing it to other business owners in the area.
Inviting the business owners over for a get-together is an excellent way to network. It will be a good opportunity for you to figure out about their current customers. You will possibly gain some new customers through this process.
You should get to know the fellow business owners by their first names and the type of businesses they are running. It will be very helpful for you to build business relationships. Then, the other business owners will be capable of recognizing you easily due to such kind of connection. You might even to get some additional help when you need it most.

2. Establish a positive business reputation.
The foundation for all strong business relationships is credibility. Customers are more willing to do business with reliable and truthful people. The owners of other businesses will also look for such qualities when referring their existing customers to someone else.
An easy way to build a sound business reputation is to keep your word. Actions speak louder than words. Failing to keep promises, appointments or anything else will make others doubt your sincerity.

3. Create a lucrative referral system.
Having a strong referral system will help increase profits of a business greatly.
You should offer a discount program to customers referred by other businesses. This will not only offer the new customers incentives for supporting your business, but also encourage the owners of other business to refer their customers your way.
And operating a referral system is not a one-way street. You’ll also need to refer some of your customers to the other businesses in your referral system. If operated well, the referral system will help create a win-win situation.

4. Be fully accessible around the clock.
Customers will appreciate having instant access to a business when they get into problems. If a potential customer does not feel that you are serving him/her properly, he/she won’t stick around with you in the long-term.
To offer excellent customer service, you should make your business easy to reach by phone, fax, email or in person. And the service should be provided 24/7!!! Leave detailed contact information posted on printed receipts, on your business websites, and on any email or mail you’ve sent out to your customers.
The reliability level of a business could increase tremendously as a result of this.