Everyone wants to feel special every now and again, and giving great service will help you make your customers feel that way. A welcoming smile, kind words, how you always manage to remember their name, coupled with a sincere desire to help them will make your clients feel treasured and valued. How cool is it that we have the power to do that for someone!?!
Here are 6 simple ways you can show customers they count in your book:
Be interested – Customers want to feel like you care about their needs and truly want to help them. So smile! Make eye contact and stay emotionally present with your customer the whole time you are with them.
Be available – Your customers are as sick of automated responses and voice mail as you are. They want to know that you’re going to be there if the need something or have a question. Give them several ways to get in touch with you; your phone number, e-mail and fax number. If they contact you, don’t put it off – get back to them ASAP!
Be polite– How much money would you spend in a store if every time you went there, they were rude to you? Chances are, not much – if you bothered coming back at all. Always remember that EVERYONE deserves respect as a human being and good manners never go out of style. Remember that you are the host. You wouldn’t invite someone over to your house then just stare at them when they arrived at your door that would be uncomfortable and creepy. It’s part of your job to make everyone feel welcome.
Be honest – If you don’t live up to your promises you gonna have some very unhappy customers. Always tell the truth. If you don’t know…don’t just wing it…find out! If you can’t do something – say so! Then find another way to help. A great technique is to ‘under-promise and over-deliver’. Your customers will be delighted to get more than they expected.
Be a problem solver – Customers aren’t looking to buy products (YES! You heard me right!) What customers ARE looking for is a solution to their problem, whether that solution comes in the form of a service that will benefit them, a way to keep their car running or a pair of shoes that go with that with that fab new dress they just found. You are in the business of SOLVING PROBLEMS. If you can do that – you’ll have customers for life!
Show appreciation – It’s a fact that your customers can get the things your business offers just about anywhere. Show your gratitude for their business by offering a sincere THANK YOU. After all, it’s thanks to them that you have a job! Be sure to let them know about any upcoming special promotions, sales or when they should schedule time with you again.