The Top Ten Customer Service Tips
Want to keep your customers coming back for more? Take a look at these top ten customer service tips..
If customers are your business, then providing the
best possible service to keep them coming back is a priority. Great customer
service is more than just about the things you say or do for them. It's also
about finding out what your customers really want and giving it to them.
Keeping this in mind, let's get right into the top ten customer service tips
to get your customers coming back for more.
1. Address Customers By Their Names
Seems blatantly obvious, but you'd be surprised by the number of times
businesses deal with customers without ever once addressing customers by
their names. Psychologists can attest to the fact that names have a profound
impact in any social setting because people simply love hearing their names
called out. Customers are no different. Instead of the usual "sir" or
"madam," address them by their names and you'll immediately notice the
difference it makes in your relationships with them.
2. Let Your Customers Know That You're Only Human
It's all right if you'd caused something to incur customer dissatisfaction.
All it takes to rectify the situation is to admit that your company was at
fault, you're sorry about the inconvenience and you're taking responsibility
to fix the problem. It's only when companies start covering up their
mistakes and refusing to admit their faults that customers get aggravated
and leave in disgust.
3. Ditch The Sales Pitch
Ever experienced a situation where you had called the customer service
department for technical support only to be thrown a sales pitch? It has
happened so many times that it has become a real turnoff for customers. Any
upgrades or special offers should be offered during the sales process and
not in your technical support voicemail.
4. Be As Visible As Possible
The hardest thing for a customer when looking for customer service support
is finding out how and who to get help from, especially when a business'
contact information is not made visible enough. It's a good idea to train
customers to recognize you and know you by name, so they'll know who's in
charge. When they need that service they're looking for, they immediately
know how and who to reach.
5. Give Customers An Experience They Can Cherish
Every customer deserves an experience they can cherish. Positive experiences
act as a trigger for them to return and shop with you again. Do your best to
serve, please and exceed their expectations, so that they can feel
important. When customers call for support, they're usually in a state of
agitation, so use this opportunity to delight and impress them. Think about
all the things that could ruin a customer's experience and do the opposite.
6. Seek Feedback From Your Customers
Your customers could be one of your better market research tools, so ask
them questions that will lead you to new ways of improving your business and
serving your customers better. Remember, customers love to be treated like
VIPs and seeking their opinions is one of the simplest ways of making them
feel important. It's a win-win situation for both you and your customers.
7. Keep Your Customers In The Loop
Besides updating your customers about new products or services you're
offering, inform them about changes you've implemented based on feedback
you've received from customers. Give recognition to customers who had helped
you improve certain aspects of your business and maybe throw in a discount
or two on their next purchase.
8. Make Great Customer Service Your Company's Culture
Customer service is usually part of every company's policy, but really, it
should be made part of every company's culture. If you're running your
business single-handedly, then you alone will determine the standard of
service your business delivers. If you have employees, then they should be
entrusted with more decision-making capabilities to serve your customers in
the best possible manner.
9. Build Trust By Being Transparent
Transparency with customers is essential to establishing trust with them. A
trusting customer is most often a loyal one, so don't allow room for
customers to question your company's policies or business ethics.
10. Thank Your Customer
When was the last time you mailed out a thank-you note, a letter of
appreciation or just made a call to thank your customers? A simple gesture
it is, but one that can mean the difference between a customer lost and a
customer gained for a lifetime. Always, always find a way of letting your
customers know how much they mean to your business.
Business analysts say that the money is in retaining your present customers
and not winning over new ones, so hopefully these top ten customer service
tips will help you add to your bottom line.
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