Everyone talks about customer service. Many businesses use this phrase in their advertising and marketing but how do you really “service” your customers. You hear it everywhere but are businesses really following through on their promises. I recently wrote on critical listening, which goes hand-in-hand with customer service. Not only do you need to really truly listen to your clients and potential clients, but you need to anticipate their needs before they ask.
What's the most common customer service situation? A customer or client seeking help. So it's extremely important to get this service interaction right. Properly done, a customer seeking help will not only feel that she or he has been treated well but will be more favorably disposed toward referring you to others. Use the following tips for better customer service: 1) Be available in a timely manner. The first way that you make your customer feel valued is by acknowledging him/her as soon as possible. You need not be accessible 24/7 but you need to be responsive in a timely manner. 2) Appear eager to help (but not in such an aggressive fashion that the customer is turned off). Doing points one and two properly are often all that's required to truly service your clients. 3) Help by directly addressing the customer's request/solving the customer's problem. This may involve:
4) Be cheerful, courteous and respectful. 5) Close the interaction appropriately. You should finish by actively suggesting a next step. If he or she is ready to make a purchase at this point, be prepared to close the sale immediately. If the customer is not ready to buy or sign a contract at this point, your suggested next step may be a further invitation to engage with the merchandise or service such as, "Is there anything else I can help you with?", "Would you like a brochure or proposal?" You should never just say something such as, "Here you go" or "Okay, then, thanks" and move on. The Tricky Part of Customer Service? I know it's basic, but providing good customer service is basic. The tricky part of it is providing good customer service to all your customers all the time.
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Boost Your BusinessMaria NovakI have over 35 years' experience in Marketing Small Businesses. Categories
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