Providing Good Customer Service Over the Phone
One thing I notice about successful small businesses is that they have a habit of providing good customer service over the phone. For me customer service is all about making the customer feel important. Without customers you have no business so it is vital that you truly value every single customer and let them know it.
The difficult economic times we are facing in this country will put every business to the test. Those that provide good customer service, good products or services and manage themselves well will succeed. Those that fail in any of these vital areas will fail.
Providing good customer service over the phone begins with the tone of your voice and your phone greeting. Check yourself before answering the phone. If you have had a stressful day, take a second to take a deep breath and put a smile on your face before answering the phone. If a customer has a problem, repeat the problem back to them, empathize with them and then ask them what they feel a good solution would be. If the solution they come up with is feasible make it happen, if not offer an alternative. The truth is that many times the customer just wants to be heard and understood.
Putting in a little extra effort to provide good customer service over the phone will help set your small business apart from the crowd. You will create loyal customers who will recommend you to others. Whether you use VoIP or traditional phone service, your phone is an important part of the way you do business and a great avenue for providing the kind of customer service that will help your business succeed.
