Delivering amazing service should be at the heart of your business. In fact, delivering excellent customer service has to be one of your company values. It’s a marketing strategy in itself because your customers will write good reviews about your business, share your story with their friends and even recommend your product to others when they get the best service from you. Think long term when dealing with customers. By keeping customers happy, they will be loyal and through word of mouth, will do the marketing for you.
Don’t leave customers waiting
People have a choice. Competition is fierce. Do your business a favour by responding to your customers as quickly as possible. Don’t put them on hold for too long if you must. Whether you run a business office, a store or an online business, don’t keep your customers waiting.
It takes just one unhappy customer to get the conversation going online about how you can’t stay on top of times. When that happens, others may think twice about doing business with you. Engage with your customers at every opportunity. Communication is vital because your customers want to feel valued and respected.
It takes just one unhappy customer to get the conversation going online about how you can’t stay on top of times. When that happens, others may think twice about doing business with you. Engage with your customers at every opportunity. Communication is vital because your customers want to feel valued and respected.
Follow business standards
Every industry or niche has standards, practices people are used to. Comply with quality business standards. Establishing values, trust, ethics, and culture and honest communication represent a vital part of establishing and maintaining any business. For many businesses, achieving ISO 9001 certification can make a huge difference in productivity.
9001Simplified’s approach to ISO 9001 is geared towards adding value to your business. Developing processes, procedures, and standards is particularly important if you are in the early stages of establishing a business.
Offer customers flexibility, if you can
Listen to customer demands and do everything you can to give them what they want. Sometimes one size does not fit all clients, particularly in a struggling economy. If you can cater for most budgets, you will continue to win businesses. Give them enough flexibility and offer bespoke packages.
Creating retention winning customer experience means having flexible customer experience processes. Give your employees the flexibility to adapt to “on-the-ground” situations in some circumstances. This can great a customer experience that is truly responsive to customer needs.
Hire the right people
Your employees represent your business in every way. The importance of employing the right people cannot be stressed enough. You are only as good as your weakest member of staff, so you need to hire carefully. Don’t just hire people with the best skills, employ those with the right attitude too. Skills can be improved with the right attitude and mindset. People with the right attitude are also often the most willing to learn.
Invest to improve your business
Investing in resources and employees can boost your bottom line. Spend time working out exactly what your business needs to grow. What technology do you need to support every aspect of your business? Develop a system that’s customised to your needs. Invest in training for your employees to develop their skills. Building a better workforce will streamline your business, improve productivity.
Find the right tools that can help your teams communicate instantly and effectively with customers and others working on the same projects. Reinvest profits in infrastructure, equipment, business processes, and finding ways to improve the customer experience.