Excellent Ways to Improve Customer Service

by Ben Goodman ***

Did you know that Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota allows their employees to spend up to $2,000 per day just to improve guest experience? It is undeniably a lot of money, but why not? They are in a very competitive industry and going an extra mile is a must. You can do the same, too, not necessarily by spending a lot of cash, but going the extra mile with your customer service.

Customer service is the lifeblood in any business. Yes, you can be a good salesman and sell to various new customers every day, but remember, it’s the loyal ones that make your business more sustainable.

Do you have to spend a huge amount of money on customer service so you can make sure your customers come back? Not really. Here are some good yet simple tips you can do to improve your customer service:

Product Knowledge

Regardless if you are selling a complicated product/service or not, your knowledge about it is your best defense. A good grasp of your product or service can turn that inquiry into sales!

For your staff, make sure that you give them all the necessary information. Train them accordingly and make them work closely with customers. Give them the authority to resolve basic issues, and make suggestions as well.

The last thing you need is a staff member that doesn’t have any idea about your business. It is annoying and could potentially damage your business’s reputation.

Make Use of Multichannel Support

Nowadays, the use of digital communications such as email and chat support makes it easier for business owners and customers to communicate directly, so it is expected that you can respond as quickly as possible.

Multichannel support offers a seamless transition from one channel to another and prevents the customers from giving repetitive information.

Rapid Response

They say patience is a virtue, but if you want to impress your customer, you might want to set that saying aside and pick up that phone on the first ring.

Making your customers wait makes them feel like their time is not as valuable as yours, and it can result in negative feedback for your business.

If you are receiving complaints, turn this into an opportunity for improvement by listening attentively and doing whatever it takes to resolve the issue – yes, I am talking about giving extra mile even without expecting extra payment from the customer.

Honest Approach

Don’t let your customer make wrong assumptions about your store or business. Be clear about the process and don’t make promises you can’t keep. Important information should be shared up front, not to mention you must make sure that honesty is being practiced on your side all throughout the transaction.

Summary

Excellent customer service varies from one company to another. Besides, no brand is created equal. However, bad customer service is not that hard to define and avoid.

Perhaps the most important thing when it comes to providing good customer service revolves around how you interact with your customers, whether online or in person. Make sure that you have a good amount of knowledge and understanding about your product or service so that you can answer your customers' inquiries in no time. And most importantly, always have that friendly and approachable attitude towards customers.