Three Ways You Can Better Connect With Your Customers
Talking and interacting with customers is an important part of any business, but what is the best way to do it? Well, that largely depends on the type of business you run. For some businesses social media will be a great resource, but other businesses may have clients that are not as comfortable with that approach. There is no perfect solution for every business, but here are three concepts that any business can keep in mind when attempting to establish a connection with their customer base.
1. Provide Personalized Customer Service
The first step for any business should be to ensure that the interactions between your staff and your customers are streamlined and individualized to each customer. Talk to your staff about how to converse and serve your customers in a respectful and productive manner. If your customer leaves feeling as if their needs have not been met then that may very well lead to one less consumer of your product, and many more if they spread the word to their friends about your bad service. Keeping in mind the needs and wants of each customer is key in maintaining a good relationship with your consumers. Be kind, patient, and understanding of each individual and their needs.
2. Keep an Eye on Reviews
Many customers will seek out reviews of your establishment before they come in. Sites such as Yelp, and Angie’s List provide key information for potential customer to look at. You, as a business, can also use this resource to your advantage. Look at what your customers say about your business. A bad review is not the end of the world, but you should take the time to address the issues brought to light in the review. You are bound to have customers that are dissatisfied. Be sure to take their opinions into account and transfer that message over to your employees so they can provide better service the next time around. If you have the option, reply to those bad reviews and ensure them of a more pleasurable experience if they decide to come back to your establishment.
3. Stay on Top of Responses
If you have decided on social media for your business then staying on top of responses to customers who have questions or concerns is vital in securing a healthy relationship with them. Personally going through and making sure as many of their questions are answered as possible will make them more likely to come to your store, provide higher ratings, and speak well of your customer service. If you do not have social media, then having an email for customers to voice these same opinions could be very helpful in adapting and making sure your customer service is the best you can provide. You can assign a team of workers to handle email, phone, and social media responses to lessen the workload on yourself. Be sure that they know how you want your business to be represented so you can avoid any misunderstandings in the future.
