Giving Great Customer Service as a Small Businesses
If you are a small business, there is a good chance that you are desperate for something that will distinguish you from your larger competitors. The truth is, there are many things that a smaller business can do that a larger business cannot. If you know what to do, you’ll find that you’ll have customer loyalty as well as a great talent for being recommended to your customer’s friends and family. If you’re looking for a few great tips to get your services on top, take a look below!
1.See your customers as individuals Just like you and your company, your customers are individuals, and for a small business, there is absolutely no profit in treating them as part of a massive herd. Chances are, you don’t even have a massive herd of customers yet! Greet your customers by name and make sure that they know how important they are to you. Remember their preferences; keep notes if necessary. Remember that the more you remember them, the more they’ll remember you!
2.Follow up. Customers are allowed to drop the ball, but as the business person in question, you are not allowed to! If they said that they’d call but didn’t, give them a ring if you have their number. Even sending a gentle e-mail reminder will be a great deal better than simply letting a deal fall away. Chances are, they are simply busy and forgot, but it is in your best interests to remind them that you and your services exist.
3.Discounts While your discounts should never cut severely into your profits, you are in a great place to figure out what your customers want and how you can bring it to them for less money. Think about what your most popular products are (the ones that you will sell the most of anyway) and offer a discount. Better yet, make up a list of preferred customers, people who have made your business and are very loyal to it, and reward them for their loyalty.
4.Admit your mistakes Simple, yet difficult for many to do, especially larger companies, when you make a mistake, admit it and apologize. If you fail to do this, you may well lose the trust of your customers.
5.Don’t be afraid to answer the phone As a business owner, it creates confidence in your customers by being available to take their calls rather than pass it off to an employee. It shows them that they are valued enough to be put right through to the person in charge. If they have concerns, address them and do whatever possible to remedy the situation. This will create you great word of mouth recommendations and build customer loyalty.
Did you know? FACT: 68% of people will quit doing business with companies that have poor customer service. Find out how to give great customer service - get effective customer service tips at http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Give-Great-Customer-Service
- Kale McClelland