Providing great customer service is the key to gaining trust, earning repeat business, and keeping people happy. It really takes only a few simple practices to show off your great customer service skills, and it never fails to impress. Here are a few steps I live by:
1. Know your stuff inside out, and keep updating your knowledge.
2. Listen to your customers. They will tell you what they need. If you don’t know how to listen, read up on ‘active listening.’
3. Deliver on your promises for service, budget and deadlines. If you know your stuff and listen to your customers, it’s easy to do great work.
4. Provide what the customer needs, and if you can’t do that, refer them to someone who can.
Some years ago, companies began trying to push the products and services they had instead of providing what the customer needed. It is always better to refer the customer to a better source if you are unable to provide what they want yourself. They will remember and appreciate your helpful nature.
If you’re not already doing these things, try them out. I’ll bet you my favorite customer service book they’ll work.
Kelly Hobkirk - teaching marketers how to harness strategy, goals, reality, and purpose to connect and do better work.
Kelly Hobkirk has been helping companies succeed in creative ways for nearly 25 years. His work has been featured in Time Magazine, and books by Rockport and Rotovision. Get exclusive articles when you sign up for his monthly newsletter.