{"id":1812,"date":"2019-03-21T12:53:09","date_gmt":"2019-03-21T12:53:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpcrunch.com\/blog\/?p=1812"},"modified":"2025-03-05T17:10:48","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T17:10:48","slug":"client-vs-customer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpcrunch.com\/blog\/client-vs-customer\/","title":{"rendered":"Client vs Customer: What Is the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Full disclosure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been using the words \u2018client\u2019 and \u2018customer\u2019 interchangeably for five years now (wow, it\u2019s been five years already since I started my content marketing path, who would have thought).
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

The thing is, when you write about a business, you always need more ways to name people who are using your services or tools. It\u2019s all pretty much the same for me \u2013 clients, customers, users, subscribers, consumers, you name it. Or is it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turns out the \u2018client vs customer\u2019 conundrum is one of the biggest mysteries in the business world \u2014 right between \u2018who on Earth had ever used Google+\u2019 and \u2018why Facebook is still a thing after all the scandals\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are numerous articles on the topic of \u2018client versus customer\u2019, people keep asking this question on Quora<\/a> on an all too regular basis \u2013 but there\u2019s still no clarity there. Is there any difference between customers and clients? And if so, what is it?<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u2018Customer\u2019 definition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Definition: In brief, a customer is a person or organization that buys products or services from a business. <\/strong>Stores or restaurants have customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s more about one-off transactions than lasting relationships. Even though customers can be loyal to brands and return to them regularly, the nature of their relations<\/a> is always short-term. Customers choose whatever services they need and pay right away. They can come later to the same store, but it\u2019s always about the immediate exchange of goods or services for money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, businesses that work with customers are focused more on the number of transactions rather than the quality of relationships with each consumer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may even seem that the word \u2018customer\u2019 gained itself a hint of negative definition, but it\u2019s far from the truth. I mean not for nothing do they say that the customer is always right. They are the main patrons of every business, so yeah, it\u2019s for them to demand top-notch quality goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To give you a better idea of the matter, just see how media use the word \u2018customer\u2019 in day-to-day news:<\/p>\n\n\n\n