Customer Service Tips for Small Business – Get Ahead and Stay There
Being a small business owner can get more than a little bit intimidating at times. There are so many different things you have to be prepared to handle, or worse yet, handle without the benefit of preparation. One of these many aspects of running a small business effectively is customer service. How can you out compete your larger competitors in customer service? Thankfully, this is an area where the smaller business can truly excel. A smaller company is equipped to provide personalized customer service in a way a larger company could never hope to do. You’ll build a sterling reputation for customer service if you’ll just keep the following ideas in mind.
As the owner of a small business, you have an advantage over the CEO of any large company: you are still close to your customers. You can both speak directly to your customers and make the big decisions yourself. This puts you into the catbird’s seat with regard to customer service. You can tell your customers that you are both the person in charge and the person who listens to them.
For instance, if your customers keep asking for something you do not currently offer, why not provide them with this product or service? They will appreciate that you listened to their concerns and did something about it – and otherwise, they’ll go somewhere else for that product or service they’ve been asking for. Follow up: inform your customers about this new product or service once you are providing it.
Keep records on your customers. Remember who they are, what the come to you for, anything they’ve asked for and so on. You need this information to provide an optimal level of customer service – the kind of customer service that will set you apart not only from the large companies, but also your competition among other companies your own size. Remember, personalized is something you can offer your customers if you put your mind to it, and it’s something a lot of your competition cannot or will not put in the effort to do. Do this and you will build a base of loyal repeat customers.
Customer service comes down to one thing at its very core: paying attention to your customers. Customized, personal service is the thing you can offer that no large company ever could – take full advantage of this and it will do you well as a small business.
Did you know? FACT: 68% of people will quit doing business with companies that have poor customer service. Find out how to give great customer service – get effective customer service tips at http://hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Give-Great-Customer-Service
- Kale McClelland
