The most important thing to remember when you operate a business is that your business would not be successful if you did not have great customers. In order to find and retain customers, you must be willing to offer the absolute best customer service you can. When you are not treating your customers very well, they are not going to be your customers for very long. There are all kinds of little things you can do to show your customers just how much you really do appreciate their business. Five secrets to upping your level of customer service are:
Customer service is not a sometimes thing, it's an all the time thing: You can't just provide great customer service to people at first, then just let things slide once you think you have customers. You have to be constantly working to improve the level of your customer service, if you really want to keep your customers coming back time and time again for life, and to have them recommend your business to others. Providing great customer service will help see you through rough patches in the economy, because yours will be a business people want to do business with.
Make changes and improvements in small increments: Don't try to do something really huge, like totally revamping your customer service policy all at once. Start out by deciding what your ultimate goal for customer service is, then begin implementing small changes to work towards your goal. Make changes to your products or services to make them even better than what they already are. Train your staff in valuable customer service skills. In time, you will have a really well-oiled machine that is earning profits, because you have happy customers.
Let your customers know you are there: Don't just sit in your office and let your employees deal with customers. You need to use the same customer service skills as your employees. By getting out there and meeting your customers, they will know that you are more than just a name, and they will have a face to put with that name. Double that with the fact that you are going to provide them with impeccable customer service, and you will become known as a person worth doing business with. Do all that you can to let your customers know you are available for them. Have a toll-free number where you and/or your company may be reached. Be visible on social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Get out there and be seen, and let your customers get to know what you are all about. Be there for them after they make the purchase too, and let them know that you are always there to support and help them.
Provide better value for less money: These days, people really want to know that they are getting a lot of value for their money, and you can provide that. Make an effort to keep your prices lower than your competition, while still providing your customers with amazing service, before, during and after the sale. You don't have to do any drastic discounting, but even a little bit is going to bring more business your way, which is going to give you more profits.
Pick your customers wisely: You don't have to have every person in the world as a customer. In fact, there are many people who may not be the right customers for your business at all. Think about it. How many times have you spent way too much time with one customer who was a really tough one, only to have them walk away without making a purchase? Sometimes, you just have to bite the bullet and give up on certain customers, and focus on those who are actually going to be good customers. Instead of trying to have a thousand customers who may not help you get ahead, focus on the 100 who will.
Andrew McCombe is the owner of Activate Your Business where they teach new and existing business owners to Start, Grow and / or Automate their business(es) with EASE, so they can live a life of EASE. For more information visit http://www.activateyourbusiness.com.au
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