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The Global Insight

How do you define key customers?

Author

Michael Gray

Updated on March 21, 2026

Key customers are the kind of customers that keep you in business; you can increase business profitability when you narrow down who these key accounts are. When you determine who they are, you then can focus on them in your marketing efforts.

What are the different criteria used to identify key accounts?

You’ll select your key accounts with 15 criteria which are grouped into three categories: Growth, Harmony and Value Creation. Assess your customers against each criterion. Give a score of between 1 (very low) to 10 (very high). Apply a weighting too if some criteria are more important than others.

How do you identify a key customer?

To identify who those customers are, you need to evaluate their value in seven key areas:

  1. Sales minus cost. Most companies rank customers’ importance by the amount of sales they do with their company.
  2. Revenue timing.
  3. Referrals and buzz.
  4. Retention.
  5. Add-on products or services.
  6. The customer’s brand.
  7. Feedback.

How do you choose key accounts?

Below are some important characteristics and traits that might be amongst those considered when selecting the perfect key or strategic account:

  1. Key Account Growth.
  2. Key Account Behaviour.
  3. Key Account Innovation.
  4. Key Account Collaboration.
  5. Key Account Perception of Value.
  6. Key Account Values.
  7. The Key Customer’s Attractiveness.

Why are customers key?

Your products and services will serve a plethora of different people. So, your company will have many customers — you might even think they are all key. A key customer keeps you in business, increases your profitability and stands by your company through thick and thin. They are your most important customer.

How do you identify a key?

Most lock manufacturers use a distinctive bow design to identify their keys. First try to locate one that matches yours. Also look to see if your keys has a name or any numbers or letters on them. Letter/Number combinations such as SC1, KW1, Y1 etc.

Should all customers be key accounts?

Key accounts clearly are important, but they should not consume all the attention or resources of your business unit or company. There has to be a balance, such that non-key accounts do not become neglected, but also receive an appropriate level of service.

How do you target key customers?

10 Steps To Target And Connect With Potential Customers…

  1. Survey Customers.
  2. Research Your Competitors And Find Out Who Their Customers Are.
  3. Target Ads.
  4. Smart Social Media.
  5. Respond To Every Email, Tweet, Facebook Comment, And Phone Call; Adjust Yourself As Necessary.
  6. Affiliate Marketing.

What does it mean to be a key customer?

A Key customer is a person or a company who gives a substantial amount of business to your organisation. These key customers some times are given special discounts like cash discount,trade discounts, turn over discounts, quantity discounts and other privileges according to the organisation’s policies.

What are the criteria for customer decision making?

Many organizations spend significant resources to identify customer needs precisely and early to stay ahead of competition. Traditionally, the customer decision making process has revolved around price, product quality and customer service.

How to define your market, business model and prospective customer?

While creating your start-up probably you’ve come across Lean Canvas. Thus, you can define your market, business model and a prospective customer. If not, I recommend to find this phrase in Google.

Why do you need to know your customers needs?

Understanding your customers’ needs is the basis for the effective sales. Whichever product you offer, you need to remember that people do not buy functions, shapes, products or services. They buy benefits, emotions…a vision that you should instill in them. In this article, I will show you a few cool ways to define your customers’ needs.