Customer Service Information

Make An Action Plan To Improve Customer Service


Customer Service is a critical factor for keeping your clients coming back and ensuring they'll refer you to others. Growing your business will be a difficult task at best if you don't perform, meet and exceed your client's expectations, and provide service that creates customers for life.


Customer service is all about the customer's perception. You have to do more than just get the job done. You must deliver on all the things (big and small) that affect the relationship with your client. Consider opportunities for improvement in the following areas.


1. Setting/Reviewing Expectations. Do you work with your client to set clear, appropriate, realistic expectations that you can always meet or exceed? Are you clear about the responsibilities (both yours' and the client's), timelines, and expectations of results? Are you then willing to go back and review these expectations with the client at key points along the way?


2. Communication. Do you have mechanisms in place to ensure you're communicating with clients at every stage of the engagement, from the sales process through to completion of the project? Being clear about where you're at, what's been completed, what's coming up next, who's responsible, what results you can expect, etc.? Has the client ever had to ask you for these things?


3. Organization. Are you organized? Punctual? Reliable? When you show up to work with your clients, have you done the work and are you prepared to make them feel comfortable and taken care of? Even though you've done it hundreds, maybe thousands of times before, do you take the time to organize and prepare to make it the best client experience possible?


4. Committing to the Little Things. Don't ever dismiss the power of all the little things. Together they can make all the difference and really separate you from the competition. Returning calls and emails in a timely manner. Providing useful information to folks on a regular basis. Showing appreciation for your clients through things like thank you notes, exclusive client-only briefings, and open house, etc.


Clearly these are not the only relevant areas for creating great customer service. I'm sure you can think of more. But, pick just one of these areas and create an action plan to improve it in your business today. Make a commitment to continuously improve the level of service you're providing and see how it pays off. When you've done it, pick another area and work on it.

(c) - Kevin Dervin, KPD Marketing

About the Author:

Kevin Dervin is focused on helping small businesses that are ready to grow, but struggle with how to consistently attract more clients. Visit http://www.proven-small-business-marketing-solutions.com for more great marketing information you can put to use in growing your business today.

Find Kevin's Kansas City based KPD Marketing practice at http://www.ABCDgrowth.com and subscribe to his free ezine called ABCD Grow.

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Comcast and the Most Amazing Customer Service Breakthrough Ever
North Star Writers Group, MI - 12 hours ago
If you’ve seen the new Comcast commercials, they’re promoting an astounding new customer service feature. It’s riveting! If, when you see it, ...


Epic Data Announces Signing of Customer Service Renewal Contracts
MSNBC - Jan 8, 2009
Epic Data's dedicated customer service team has been providing exceptional care, service and support to its global customer base for more than 30 years. ...


Parature Picked by Webs.com for Customer Service
TMC Net, CT - Jan 8, 2009
By David Sims CRM vendor Parature (News - Alert) says that Webs.com has selected Parature Customer Service software to manage their customer service and ...


Good service key in bad economy
Plainfield Sun, IL - 13 hours ago
This means that, more than ever, it is vitally important for managers to actually, you know, train their employees on what good customer service looks like. ...


Large Multinational Telecom Company Selects IdentiPHI SAFsolution ...
SYS-CON Media, NJ - Jan 8, 2009
The telecom customer purchased licenses of SAFsolution 5 in order to support 2500 customer service representatives in the region. IdentiPHI is working with ...


NewsReleaseWire.com (press release)

: Sales Up 400% for HVAC Customer Service Handbooks
NewsReleaseWire.com (press release) - 9 hours ago
Coscia Communications Inc. reported that 2008 sales of its HVAC Customer Service Handbook were up 400% over previous year’s figures. ...


The "New" AT&T Sucks The Same
The Consumerist, NY - 1 hour ago
Even after the cancellation, the billing problems and nightmarish calls to "AT&T's award winning customer service" department will have to continue just to ...


Customer Service Manager
ITnews.sk, Slovakia - 7 hours ago
To maintain Customer information current in the relevant databases and repositories. • To lead regular Customer service review meetings, at least monthly ...
In Challenging Times, Service Matters Most! Exchange Morning Post
all 3 news articles


InQuira Says IGT Picks InQuira for Customer Service
TMC Net, CT - Jan 8, 2009
IGT will use InQuira’s (News - Alert) Knowledge Management software platform and customer service application to try to get “faster, more effective support ...


Shapeways gives 3D designers a place to sell
CNET News, CA - Jan 8, 2009
The company is also taking care of the customer service, which keeps designers from having to worry about customer e-mail and phone calls. ...
Shapeways Shops Have Arrived: New Global Marketplace for 3D ... MSNBC
Shapeways Offers New Marketplace for 3D Printed Products Cadalyst Magazine
all 9 news articles

customer service - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.