Customer service is important for every business, no matter how long it has been around, but even more so when you are just starting out.
At this stage, every great review is a stepping stone towards success as you rely on customers to share your business with friends and family or keep you in mind for the future. Great customer service will only improve the chances of this.
With this in mind, here are five reasons why your customer service is so important if you are a start up:
1. It’s free marketing
Service that exceeds expectations is talked about by customers and news of a great experience spreads like wildfire until it reaches people who potentially need your product or service and decide to visit your website or shop.
Good customer service is cheaper than Facebook ads, takes less time than writing up content for your blog targeting keywords and you don’t need to be a social media whizz to get your brand recognised. Plus, if your customer service is consistently good your business will be well marketed at all times!
2. It encourages customers to come back
It’s safe to say, if you have a negative experience in a store you’re unlikely to return and give it your business. However, if you receive excellent customer service you’re more likely to give the business another try. This principle definitely applies to new businesses and is even more important when you’re just starting out; good customer service is essential to ensure those initial customers actually come back and help your business grow.
3. It will form the base for your business
Instilling the concept of good customer service from the very beginning will ensure it carries on as your business grows. Those who work with you in the early stages will more than likely stay around for a few more years afterwards as you enjoy success and will train new employees to embrace these good customer service principles as well.
Just look at a business such as Lush, where the customer is always greeted warmly on arrival and assisted should they need it without question – in fact, it’s so good the brand was voted as having the best customer service in the UK last year.
4. It builds trust
Trust is important in a new business; customers need to feel confident that they are buying from the right place and good customer service can encourage this. Sales representatives can put customers at ease and a convincing argument will ensure they feel happy when handing their money over.
Good customer service also means employees have excellent knowledge of the product or service and can talk about these with ease with the customer, confirming that the business is run by those who know what they are talking about and solidifying its status as a thought leader in an industry. If anything goes wrong and the customer service is quick and resolves the issue, then this is also great for a small business, as those shopping with them will consider returning at a later date.
5. It can help with recruitment
We all want to work in a business with a good reputation and whether you’re selling shoes or advertising for call centre jobs in Manchester, if those applying for jobs know that great customer service is integral to the success of a business they will be more inclined to apply. Talent is important for every start up, so happy customers creating happy employees will result in a happy business!
About the Author
Debbie Fletcher is an enthusiastic, experienced writer who has written for a range of different magazines and news publications over the years. Graduating from City University London specialising in English Literature, Debbie’s passion for writing has since grown. She loves anything and everything technology, and exploring different cultures across the world. She’s currently looking towards starting her Masters in Comparative Literature in the next few years.
What a fantastic post. This topic is where I support growing businesses that are struggling to keep on top of their day-to-day tasks. Customer Service is one of them.
This post provides real insight. Thanks for sharing.