Building Strong Relationships with Your Customers
Establishing sound relationships with prospective clients is regarded as one of the secrets to building a successful organization. Humans are social creatures, and we develop relationships with one another all our lives. We also tend to stick to exactly what we know, so the only way you’re going to convince someone to start doing business with you is to cultivate strong customer relations. Most consumers listen to recommendations from people they trust, so the better you are at building relationships with your customers, the more business...
read moreHow much time do you spend thinking about ‘Internal Customer Service’?
A new employee’s first few weeks on the job set the tone for his or her continuing performance, and in turn, the service they provide to your customers. Proper orientation can mean the difference between success and failure, both for the employee, and for your bottom line. Below are 15 suggestions that will help you make sure that new employees get started on the right track. 1. Have an induction policy for welcoming and training new employees. Don’t just leave it to whoever is available. Human resources should cover company policies...
read moreBusiness Success Is All About Customer Loyalty
If you ask business owners what they think good customer service means, most of them state that they aim to have ‘satisfied’ customers. What you really want, though, are customers who are loyal to your business and rave about your products and services. Though research points out that about 65% of customers claim to be loyal, those who are merely satisfied with your product/service will only remain loyal until a better deal comes along. Truly loyal customers will support your business at all times and are willing to try out any new...
read moreIncrease Your Small Business Visibility – For Free!
No two small businesses are alike, but most want to be like their larger counterparts in some key respects. No matter how large or small the company, all businesses strive to: be visible enough to attract new customers, boost the odds of securing repeat business, and ensure complete customer satisfaction. The key, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is to have a good website for your business. The SBA’s own website notes that the Internet,“levels the playing field between small business and big...
read moreFour Steps to Help You Set a New Standard of Excellence
Recently, a woman called a plumber because it was time to replace her hot water heater. She called at 11 a.m. to make an appointment. She was surprised that the plumber could come and finish the job that same day. The next day, a strange noise was coming from the furnace. The woman placed another call and the problem was solved again, that same day. The furnace and the plumbing companies are owned by the same person. Wouldn’t it be great if this level of service was standard? Unfortunately many businesses offer poor client service, and as a...
read moreDealing with Difficult Customers
When you’re running a business, you come across all types of difficult customers. Sometimes they’re upset about the quality of the product or service they’ve received. Other times they’re looking for a way to get something for nothing, and want to take full advantage of any kindness you might be willing to share. If you’re providing a legitimate, quality product or service, most customers are as pleasant and respectful to you as you are to them. Hopefully it doesn’t happen often, but if you’re in business for long enough,...
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