Recently we created a poll to see What influences here you buy from the most .
In this poll we received feedback that Customer Services is what really determines where you buy your items from. This makes perfect sense, because who wants to repeatedly go to a place of business that has bad customer service. Customer service really can determine if your business ultimately succeeds or fails. Customer Service Leads to More Referrals because the customers you currently have will recommend your business when in passing with their peers, that is if you provide good Customer Service.
There are many tips you can follow to provide your customers with excellent customer service.
1. Be helpful, even if it doesn’t offer immediate profit opportunities.
For example if a customer is on a budget for a project, help them out by getting the project off the ground. Even if it might dig into your profit up front, helping the customer out to get their business off the ground can help persuade that customer to come to you the next time they need a helping hand.
2. Throw in something extra
I love to eat sushi and there are plenty of places i could go in my area. The one particular place i always go when i’m home throws in ice cream during every visit for the past 2 years. Where do you think i recommend my friends go when they ask where is the best place is in my area?
3. Take the extra step to help the customer out
If you own a convenience store and someone asks you where something is, walk them in the direction of the item instead of just shouting out the Aisle number.
4. Deal with complaints without a shrug
Not every customer is going to be 100% satisfied. Make sure your customers know your receptive to their feedback. If a customer has a valid complaint, be receptive to that complaint and let them know you’d like to resolve the issue so they’re 100% satisfied.
5. Answer your phone and email
If a customer calls your places of business or emails you, make sure they get answered in a timely manner. One of my pet peves is calling a business and either never receiving a phone call back, or emailing a place of business and never knowing if my email had been received. Make sure you answer your phone, and respond to emails. If you need to increase staff to do so, make sure you do, it could be costing you business.
Follow these 5 tips and the referrals will start rolling in. If you offer horrible customer service, don’t answer your phones or email, and never try to go the extra mile. Then you can forget about your current customers recommending their peers to go to your business.
Your partner in living a greener life,
Mark Lane
President Eco York, LLC
