Top Five Tips for Good Customer Service | VoiP Information

Top Five Tips for Good Customer Service

In these tough economic times, ensuring exceptional customer service could be what sets your company or business apart from the competition. Knowing how to best deliver great customer service, without coming across as pandering or condescending, could be the key to a lasting and lucrative relationship with your existing clients. It could also serve as the best means by which to attract and retain new business partners and customers.

Many people say they make buying decisions based on the treatment they receive at certain stores and establishments. Some consumers admit they will even drive out of their way to patronize a restaurant, store, etc. where they feel their business is appreciated and welcomed. These same customers say they will steer clear of companies with which they have had a poor and/or unresolved customer service experience. Often times, these same people will also ?spread the word? about their negative experiences, by relaying their ?horror stories? to friends, posting them to a blog, and so on. When this happens, it can create a ?ripple effect,? and ultimately result in lost revenue, or worse, for your company and services.

The fact is, it can cost up to five times more to find a new customer than to retain an existing client, according to The Insight Advantage, a customer service research firm. Having to ?start from scratch? to find a new client can mean disaster for a business. Time spent searching for new leads, coupled with potential sales being lost each hour a new client is not found could create more than a headache for any company.

]]>

A recent poll conducted by American Express? found that consumers will spend nine times more with companies they feel have good customer service. A majority of those polled, 61 percent of consumers said the current uncertain state of the economy makes customer service more important to them now than ever.

The good news is that a growing number of consumers are now willing to share their positive customer service experiences, instead of just the negative ones. This is thanks, in part, to online forums and ?feedback incentives,? where companies will offer coupons and discounts for consumer feedback.

There are some basic tenets to ensure you are offering exceptional customer service to each and every customer, at every business interaction:

1) Don?t think of customer service as something you have to do, but, instead, as a feature, or even a selling point of your company. Publix Supermarkets?, operating primarily in the Southeastern U.S., has adopted the slogan ?Where Shopping is a Pleasure?,? and has identified themselves as a customer service leader.

2) Remember the Golden Rule, and always ?do unto others.? Treat your customers with respect and sincere empathy, as you would want to be treated in the establishments you patronize. This will foster a rapport, which will keep your clients coming back.

3) Keep it real. While the old adage that the ?customer is always right? may still ring true today, no one wants to be patronized, belittled, or spoken down to. Know your customers, know their needs, and deliver unique and respectful customer service to meet those needs.

4) Keep your word. If you say you?re going to do something, do it. At the same time, however, be careful not to make promises you can?t keep. Most clients will understand your company?s professional limitations when told up front, but will not tolerate being let down, or lied to.

5) Keep it simple. To make it business today, you may need to scrap some ?traditional? methods. No one likes having to wait for an answer to their problem or concern until ?the manager? gets back to the office. A VOIP PBX small business phone system allows your employees to make important telephone calls and access messages from even remote locations. This means your customers will no longer have to play the ?waiting game.?

Most consumers don?t want to have to look for another company with which to do business any more than that company wants to go through the hassle and expense of finding new clients. In the end, though, people will look elsewhere if they feel their customer service needs are not being met or taken seriously.

?

?

?

Tamara Field is President of Press8 Telecom. Press8 Telecom is a VoIP PBX company based in Austin, Texas and has been in business for over three years. Press8 serves small- to medium-sized business and non profits all over the United States.

Source: http://voip-information.net/top-five-tips-for-good-customer-service/

chael sonnen chael sonnen new jersey map pittsburgh steelers tornado okami okami