Exceptional customer service can be the one thing that separates your business from your competitors. Customer service is all about making your customers feel as though they are number one–and quite frankly, they are. If it wasn’t for your customers, your business wouldn’t even exist. Because customers are so important to a business, there is a definite need to make them feel as though they are. Here are 4 ways you can give great service to your customers…
Give them your undivided attention. When your customer is speaking to you, listen closely. Make eye contact, respond to them, and ask any questions you need to in order to clarify anything. You can even go as far as taking notes on their requests. This shows your customer that you are listening and interested in serving them. It is very frustrating for a customer when they need assistance, yet the person behind the counter acts as if they don’t even notice them. Please don’t do this to your customers. Acknowledge them and show them that you are there to help.
Go the extra mile. There are many ways you can go the extra mile for your customer. You can help carry bags out to the car, give them free samples, do home delivery, or whatever you can think of that fits the type of business you have. The cool thing about customer service is that you can come up with lots of creative ways to reach out to your customers and make them feel special. For more tips on how to do this, read the article Tips to Go Above & Beyond with Customer Service (http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226061http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226061 )
Have a money-back guarantee. When a customer has purchased something that they are disappointed with, they should have the option of exchanging the item or getting a refund. But it is up to you to decide under what circumstances they will be allowed to do this. There are some customers that will abuse this advantage and begin returning things that they have damaged themselves, yet they want to be refunded. So beware of these customers (read more about how to deal with them in How to Deal with a Difficult Customer . However, there are quite a few that are truly honest customers and they deserve to have the best service possible. Come up with a return/exchange policy that outlines how these customers will be handled.
Always follow up. Good customer service takes place even after the purchase. Follow up with your customer to see if the product is performing as expected. This is a great opportunity to get any positive (or negative) feedback about your product. Even if they have not purchased anything, you can still follow up with them to see what they think of any free samples you may have given them. Depending on the kind of business you have, you can make calls to the customer to follow up, or you can simply strike up this conversation with them when they are in your place of business.
Customer service is not really difficult. It just takes a real concern and passion for the customer. That is why business is great for those that may describe themselves as a “people person”. In business, you are constantly dealing with people and you have an obligation to serve them and make them happy. Hopefully, when you follow these tips, it will result in lots of happy customers and a successful business for you and your company. Good luck.
