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You Are Here: Home - Newsletters - "Organized For A Living" - Article
A company’s most vital asset is its CUSTOMERS. Without them, we would not and could not exist in business. When you satisfy our customers, they not only help us grow by continuing to do business with you, but RECOMMEND you to friends and associates. The practice of customer service should be an integral part of your daily routine. Here are the Ten Commandments of Customer Service -- designed to help you retain your most valuable customers.
KNOW YOUR BOSS
You are in business to service customer needs, and you can only do that if you know what it is your customers WANT. When you truly listen to your customers, they let you know what they want and how you can provide good service. Never forget that the customer pays our SALARY and makes your job possible.
BE A GOOD LISTENER
Take the time to identify customer needs by asking QUESTIONS and concentrating on what the customer is really saying. Listen to their words, tone of voice, body language, and most importantly, how they feel. Beware of making ASSUMPTIONS -- thinking you intuitively know what the customer wants. Do you know what three things are most important to your customer?
IDENTIFY AND ANTICIPATE NEEDS
Customers don't buy products or services. They buy good feelings and SOLUTIONS to problems. Most customer needs are emotional rather than logical. The more you know your customers, the better you become at anticipating their needs. COMMUNICATE regularly so that you are aware of problems or upcoming needs.
MAKE CUSTOMERS FEEL IMPORTANT
Treat them as individuals and make them feel APPRECIATED. Always use their name and find ways to compliment them, but be sincere. People value sincerity. It creates good feeling and trust. Think about ways to generate good feelings about doing business with you. Customers are very sensitive and know whether or not you really care about them. Thank them every time you get a chance. Be sure that your BODY language conveys sincerity. Your words and actions should be congruent.
HELP CUSTOMERS UNDERSTAND YOUR SYSTEMS
Your organization may have the world's best systems for getting things done, but if customers don't understand them, they can get CONFUSED, impatient, and angry. Take time to explain how your systems work and how they simplify transactions. Be careful that your systems don't reduce the HUMAN element of your organization.
APPRECIATE THE POWER OF YES
Always look for ways to HELP your customers. When they have a request (as long as it is reasonable) tell them that you can do it. Figure out how afterwards. Look for ways to make doing business with you EASY. Always do what you say you are going to do.
KNOW HOW TO APOLOGIZE
When something goes wrong, apologize. It's easy and customers like it. The customer may not always be right, but the customer must always WIN. Deal with problems immediately and let customers know what you have done. Make it simple for customers to complain. Value their complaints. As much as we dislike it, it gives us an opportunity to IMPROVE. Even if customers are having a bad day, go out of your way to make them feel comfortable.
GIVE MORE THAN EXPECTED
Since the future of all companies lies in keeping customers happy, think of ways to ELEVATE yourself above the competition. Consider the following:
GET REGULAR FEEDBACK
Encourage and welcome SUGGESTIONS about how you could improve. There are several ways in which you can find out what customers think and feel about your services.
TREAT EMPLOYEES WELL
Employees are your INTERNAL customers and need a regular dose of appreciation. Thank them and find ways to let them know how important they are. Treat your employees with respect and chances are they will have a higher regard for customers. Appreciation stems from the TOP. Treating customers and employees well is equally important.
Susan Friedmann,CSP is known as The Tradeshow Coach. She is also the author of "Meeting And Event Planning for Dummies”, and works with companies to improve their meeting and event success through coaching, consulting and training. Visit her website at www.thetradeshowcoach.com. Want to receive these kind of articles via e-mail each month? Sign up for a free subscription. Click here to return to "Organized For A Living" -- August 2005... Add this page to your Bookmarks!
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