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Customer Service - A Lost Art?
Is customer service a lost art? Before you answer that question, take a moment and think about the last few times you have gone shopping or out to dinner. Okay, now that you have really thought about it, is your answer any different?
Why is it that...Continue
Customer service lessons from Tony Soprano and Club Med
Whether you work one-to-one or deal with customers in groups, you identify a target market of customers most likely to value what you can offer. You develop processes that work best with those clients. You learn to anticipate their responses and help them...Continue
Customer Service: Stop Sabotaging Your Customer Relationships
If you've called for customer service recently you're familiar with this recorded message "This call may be recorded or monitored for quality purposes." I immediately think to myself, "Oh great, here comes the game of 20 questions."
Now don't get me...Continue
Five Secrets to Showing Your Customers You Really Care
During our recent online poll, we asked the following question: What upsets you the most when receiving poor customer service? Eighty percent of the poll...Continue
What is Great Customer Service?
In almost all cases customers come to your business because they have a problem and believe that you may have the solution. Whether you do, or whether you can build enough trust with the customer to let them solve their problem is up to you.
In the day...Continue
Whatever Happened To Customer 'Service'?
Do you remember the last time you went into a shop and the person 'serving' raced over to you, greeted you with a lovely smile, heaps of enthusiasm and said, "Welcome to our store, what can I help you with today?" And then listened attentively to what you...Continue
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Are You Providing Outstanding Customer Service?
Your customers are your business. Without them, life would be very difficult. The best way to keep your customers, and get new ones, is to provide outstanding customer service.
Any contact with a customer provides fertile ground for giving great customer service. On the phone, try smiling when you talk; the smile can be heard on the other end. When meeting a customer in person, shake hands, touch a shoulder or an elbow lightly, and smile with your heart. In written correspondence, use words and phrases that portray a picture of openness and friendliness.
Providing memorable customer service is a great way to keep your name in front of your customers, create an interest to prospects, and be remembered by those who are recipients of your customer service.
Here are some of the ways that I’ve provided excellent customer service:
Promptly return phone calls.
Go the extra mile; give a little extra, for free.
Send small, inexpensive (but not cheap or tacky) gifts to new clients.
Keep in constant contact.
Remember customers on major holidays with a card or postcard.
Ask, “Is there anything else I can help you with?”, and mean it.
Chat with your customers about their interests.
Offer to link back to their websites, or place an article of theirs on your site.
Refer them to others who need what they offer.
Always say, “Thank you!”
Call or email just to say hi.
Tell them how much you enjoy working with them – often.
Provide freebies occasionally – articles, pens, notepads, etc.
Remember birthdays.
Be creative and unique.
Show them easier, more efficient, or faster ways to do things.
I know that whether or not I hear back from a customer, they will appreciate and remember me. They are more likely to tell others about my business because I have honored who they are and what they need. Creating wonderful business partnerships not only generates more business, but also gives you a widening circle of valuable friendships.
Outstanding customer services is as much about you as it is about your customer. It shows what kind of a business person you are and demonstrates what is important to you. Customer service is a function of the heart, a simple matter of expressing your feelings and sense of gratitude for your customers. How you do this can enhance or hurt your business. Acknowledge those who have chosen to work with you and you will be advertising your business in the best possible light. Ignore your customers and you run the risk of limiting repeat business with them. Simply treat your customers the way you like to be treated.
About the Author:
Rita Ballard has been a virtual assistant since 2003. Her business, Healer’s Helper, provides administrative support to the healing professions: traditional healthcare, behavioral health, alternative and holistic health. Rita can be reached by emailing to Info@healershelper.com or by calling toll free – 877-716-4880, or locally, 360-736-2000. Please visit her website at http://www.healershelper.com
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