Some time ago, we ran a post on great customer service, listing the four most important things that customers look for in a business – the four things that keep them loyal and keep them coming back. In this post, we will dig a little deeper and explain a bit more just how you can apply these to your business.

Communication

While many businesses, particularly small businesses, now rely on social media as a method of communication with their customers, most are not looking ahead. Most likely, within five years, social media as we know it now, will no longer exist. Good communication means effective listening, and this is something that most people, not to mention businesses, don’t do much of anymore. Glued to their portable devices of one type or another, much is lost in sending and receiving messages on social media and automatic emails. Most customers admit that they still prefer the personal approach, either in person or by telephone, even if you leave a message on their answering machine.

Empathy

Never forget that a customer’s first point of contact with your business will prove to be the deciding factor in how they view not only your business, but you, as the owner, as well. If someone else is answering the phone at your business you are better off hiring an employee with experience and maturity. Customer service is not the place to cut costs within your business. It could end up costing you more than you think.

Originality

Not only should those answering the phone and dealing one on one with your customers be empathetic but also original. Spend a bit more time when you are hiring to search out those whose special quirks enhance your business. Yes, they should have impeccable manners and know how to dress respectably if you have a walk in business but in order to stand out, they’ll need a little extra something else.

Specialness

Following up with your customers and rewarding the most loyal of them is a practise that the best businesses have always taken advantage of. Having special offers and discounts that reward them makes them feel special and the best way to do this is with a phone call. Hire an outside team of virtual specialists who can spend time speaking with your customers and going over new products, their favorite products and any and all discounts available to only them. This is a great way to ensure your customers will speak highly of you. Word of mouth is always the best advertising you can get.

Chris Draper, DemGen Inc 2013

image courtesy of eloqua

• Intellitar, a company in Alabama, will digitally recreate your family members and preserve them. The avatars can then interact with each other as well as future generations of your family.
• Just in case you were thinking of opening up a business in Alberta, in that province businesses must provide rails for tying up horses.
• There is a furniture business based in Maryland that takes the hard work out of having pets, children and messy family members and friends. Slobproof! makes furniture for real life as their slogan says. Their custom built furniture has special fabric that can withstand the worst spills.
• The Cheese Lady, Sarah Kaufmann, is a professional cheese sculptor. She creates works of art from cheese to be used in grocery store advertising and at various events including state fairs.
• For those of you who sell peanuts in Lee Country, Alabama, remember to close up shop early on Wednesdays. It’s illegal to sell peanuts after sundown on Wednesday.

The following three have nothing to do with business but since all three had to do with moose and were so entertaining, they have been included in this list.

In Alaska:

…a moose may not be viewed from an airplane…

…it is illegal to give alcoholic beverages to a moose…

…it is an offense to push a live moose out of a moving airplane…

Chris Draper, DemGen Inc 2013

Images courtesy of themoosestore, entertainyamania

Job stress can have serious costs.  Our virtual team is here to help you reduce stress, have more free time and achieve results!

Image compliments of Top 10 Online Colleges