10/09/2018
BUSINESS TIPS FOR STARTUPS
My first question is Are you SERVING your customers or just SERVICING them?
As a salesperson/entrepreneur are you serving your customers well or you're all about delivering and move on to the next?
Servicing communicates things like attending to all the details, answering questions clearly, and responding promptly when contacted. Those things are important, in fact, they’re essential, but they don't do the magic of retention. They may make the salesperson reliable, but not proactive, not caring, not a preferred business partner.
Serving is as warm and personal as servicing is cold and technical.
The word serving sets a totally different standard. At the most basic level, it reminds the salesperson that the client is a human, not a piece of equipment, and that the human dimension of the business relationship is important (most times it’s paramount).
Some ways you can improve on this
1. Truly listen. Offer expertise. Great service isn’t about forcing a strategy that doesn’t work for the customer. Try to balance being an expert with listening to concerns and providing what customers think is right for their needs.
2. Be responsive. Customers want service, fast. Even if the full answer can’t be delivered immediately, always respond back the same day and make sure they understand you're doing your best to ensure issues are being addressed quickly and fully.
3. Accommodate customers.
While it can be easy to get aggravated, it’s important to accommodate customer needs. Keep in mind that every customer or client is a potential brand ambassador, meaning every interaction can be a selling point or a barrier to attracting more business.
4. Don’t grow too quickly. Don’t sacrifice quality in lieu of hunger for growth. At the end of the day, happy customers lead to word-of-mouth referrals. This organic and steady growth is what will lead to a healthy company.
Xoxo 😘