Providing Everyone with Quality Customer Service
Whether you are someone who has been in business for yourself for years, or you are someone who has only recently taken the plunge, you'll find that good customer service is something that you have to think about. Unlike larger business, small business owners don't have someone keeping an eye on the way that they treat their customers; you don't have quality control in place, and you don't have a supervisor keeping an eye on you. However, you'll find that this does not mean that you can treat your customers any way you want, so whenever you are dealing with a client, keep some of these questions in mind.
Have I treated my customer as I want to be treated?
This is the basic golden rule of customer service, and you'll be surprised how often people forget it. If you are a vendor, it can be very easy to lose sight of the fact that your customer is an intelligent person. Too many vendors get impatient with their customers and start treating them as idiots, and this is really not something that you can afford. Take some time to really consider what you can do in order to treat your customer as an equal in every sense of the word.
Was my customer happy when they left?
Consider whether or not your customer left happy after you finished your business. Where they satisfied with the service that they received or were they glad to be done with the transaction so they could leave? What created this response to your work? Remember the impression you give your customers is what they will tell others when they ask about you. A little hard work is all it takes to make the customer happy; you want to give them a good impression.
How do I go above and beyond with customer service?
You may be surprised how easy it is to provide excellent customer service. For some people, it will involve giving them more options and making sure that they are aware of all the choices that they have in front of them. For other people, you'll find that you can take the time to make sure that they understand what you are doing and why. Remember that you can always give them more choices and they will be happy with you for doing so.
Have I been nice?
This sounds simple, and almost childish, but the truth is, simple decency and being kind will get you a long way. Even if there's no profit in it, simply let yourself be nice once in a while. If something doesn't cost you anything to give away, feel free to give it away, whether it's some advice or simply a service that you can easily do. You'll find that this is a great way to make sure that you are someone that they will recommend to their friends time and time again.
68% of people will quit doing business with companies that have poor customer service! Discover how to give great customer service - learn the keys to good customer service at http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Give-Great-Customer-Service
Published June 19th, 2008
Filed in Home Business
