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Fake it 'till you make it

3 Techniques to Provide Better Customer Service

Aug 31, 2008 Caren Young

Many feel customer service has declined. Use these 3 techniques to improve the level of service you give to your customers and watch profits grow.

If you're like me, you've noticed customer service has changed. We are now in the age of scan it yourself, do it yourself and get it yourself. When you need help, there seems to be no one working within 10 miles of the store. It's enough to make you want to pull your hair out.

Customer service has now become a streamlined process, with the least amount of effort to get the maximum profits. Companies think by empowering customers, they are including them in the process. However, customers feel less empowered than ever before. More than ever, there is a feeling of disrespect and separation from the company.

If you own your own company, whether on or offline, ask your self – are you doing the same things to your customers? Do you leave your customers to figure out things on their own? Are they responsible for getting from point A to point B? Customer service is a two way street and the same things that annoy you could be the same things that annoy your customers.

Here are 3 steps to offering better customer service:

Give people what they really want – Know what your customers are looking for. Purchasing a product may not be the only mission. Your customers may want advice or a place to meet like minded people. They do not want to be treated like children or like they do not matter.
Be a source of information- If customers think of you as an expert, they are much more likely to come to you for a multitude of needs, including recommendations and ultimately, buying your product. Offer tips and suggestions to your customers. However, do not try to sell them. We all know when we are just getting a sales pitch and many resent it. It is one of the fastest ways to lose a customer.
Suggest – Some of my best retail experiences have been when a salesperson understood what I wanted and was able to offer suggestions on the best item for me. Sometimes, it was more than I originally wanted, but after speaking with the salesperson, it was a cheaper option overall. Give your customers a bit more – something as some simple as, “If you like product A, you might like product B” or “Other customers liked products B, C and D.”

Using these three techniques as a starting point can improve the level of customer service offered to your customers and separate you from your competitors.

The copyright of the article Fake it 'till you make it in Small/Home Business is owned by Caren Young. Permission to republish Fake it 'till you make it in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.