Good Customer Service

Someone once said, “Your customer doesn’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” That sums up the premise for providing good customer service.

Nowadays when incivility has become as commonplace as Smartphones, good customer service – fed by the concept that the customer is always rights – is vanishing like landlines. That’s because we know that the customer isn’t always right, but a smart business owner knows how to handle difficult customer interactions. You need the customers and clients; they don’t need you. And if you are not delivering the service in a timely or efficient manner you will lose business to someone who will.

Whether it is responding to emails, returning phone calls, or face-to-face interactions promptness and professionalism are essential for retaining clients and growing your business. Here are some additional guidelines.

[dropcap]G[/dropcap]et to know your customers or clients, then generate good service to retain them.

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ld fashioned good customer service is a vanishing amenity. Do your part to preserve it.

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ffer outstanding customer service by showing the customer that you care.

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ialogue with your customer to clearly determine the service expected and then deliver as promised. Think of this step as the 3 D’s: Dialogue. Determine. Deliver.

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[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ommon sense and courtesy go hand-in-hand toward generating good customer relations.

[dropcap]U[/dropcap]nderstand and remember that service with a smile trumps a bad attitude.

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]atisfaction comes from knowing that you have a satisfied customer or client.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]emperament and professionalism are essential for maintaining good customer relations.

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ffer excellent customer service and you will reap the benefits of customer loyalty.

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]aintain and manage. Even if you believe that the customer is dead wrong, suck it up and resolve the problem.

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]mpathize. If the customer or client is upset, tell him or her know that you understand the problem, apologize if necessary and then fix it.

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]espond promptly to inquiries and complaints. Customers expect to have their requests responded to in a reasonable time frame. Prompt responsiveness can differentiate your business from your competitors.

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[dropcap]S[/dropcap]incerity is easily recognized. Show genuine concern as you provide good customer care.

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]xceed the customer’s expectations by aiming to please and delivering as promised.

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]eceive and respond to complaints promptly. Don’t ignore them.

[dropcap]V[/dropcap]alue your customers. Show them and they will repay you with loyal patronage.

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]mprove the service as you continue to improve your products.

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]ustomers are king. You are one of many pawns trying to succeed in the business world.

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]nhance customer relations by providing extraordinary service. Customers will not only remember the service your business provided; they’ll also remember how they were treated.