Ten Ways To Improve Your Customer Service
1. Stay in contact with customers on a regular basis. Offer them
a free e-zine subscription. Ask customers if they want to be
updated by e-mail when you make changes to your Web site. After
every sale, follow-up with the customer to see if they are
satisfied with their purchase.
2. Create a customer focus group. Invite ten to twenty of your
most loyal customers to meet regularly. They will give you ideas
and input on how to improve your customer service. You could pay
them, take them out to dinner or give them free products.
3. Make it easy for your customers to navigate on your web site.
Have a "FAQ" page on your Web site to explain anything that
might confuse your customers. Ask them to fill out an electronic
survey to find out how make your web site more customer friendly.
4. Resolve your customers complaints quickly and successfully.
Answer all e-mail and phone calls within an hour. If possible,
you the owner of the business, personally take care of the
problem. This will show your customers you really care about
them.
5. Make it easy for your customers to contact you. Offer as many
contact methods as possible. Allow customers to contact you by
e-mail. Hyperlink your e-mail address so customers won't have to
type it. Offer toll free numbers for phone and fax contacts.
6. Make sure employees know and use your customer service
policy. Give your employees bonuses or incentives to practice
excellent customer service. Tell employees to be flexible with
each individual customer, each one has different concerns, needs
and wants.
7. Give your customers more than they expect. Send thank you
gifts to lifetime customers. E-mail them online greeting cards
on holidays or birthdays. Award bonuses to your customers who
make a big purchase.
8. Always be polite to your customers. Use the words your
welcome, please, and thank you. Be polite to your customers even
if they are being irate with you. Always apologize to your
customers should you make a mistake. Admit your mistakes quickly
and make it up to them in a big way.
9. Reward customers a point for every one dollar they spend.
Let's say customers can get a free computer for 300 points. That
means customers will spend $300 dollars on your products and
services to get enough points to get the free computer.
10. Build strong relationships with your customers. Invite them
to company meetings, luncheons, workshops or seminars. Create
special events for your customers like parties, barbecue's,
dances etc. This will make them feel important when you include
them in regular business operations and special events.