How to deliver quality customer service

Quality customer service is one of the key differentiators of good, bad, and indifferent companies. With the important role that good customer service plays in helping to build good relationships with customers, it is necessary to ensure that customers leave with a great impression. This will not only make them feel appreciated and valued but will also make them want to do business with your company in the future. In fact, customers who receive excellent customer service are likely to return often and spend more. By recommending your business to their colleagues, friends, and family, satisfied customers will help you to attract new customers, clients that you will then retain through maintaining high quality standards in customer service.

With customer service evolving so quickly, one of the questions that managers and business owners have is: What is quality customer service? A simple good customer service definition will help to answer this and act as a guide on how companies manage customer interactions.

Quality customer service involves providing efficient, quick, and friendly service to customers as well as building strong relationships with them. It also entails responding to customers’ issues in time and handling any complaints swiftly. This is achieved by understanding customers’ needs and meeting them, ensuring quality product design, and offering customers several options for communicating and contacting customer service.

Did you know?

51% of customers will not do business with a company after one negative experience.

In order to entrench effective customer service and ensure it contributes to the long-term success of the business, managers and executives should make it a critical part of the company culture. This process will involve staff as well as the products the company offers. All employees should not only understand what quality customer service entails but also have the right attitude, good communication, and sales skills to deliver it. In terms of products, you should know your products, including the brand names, their location, place of manufacture, and price. This will go a long way in building customer confidence.

Why is good customer service important?

Seven out of ten U.S. consumers say they have spent more money to do business with a company that delivers great service. This goes to show how important good customer service is when it comes to building relationships and doing business, especially since studies show that it is more expensive to acquire a new customer than to keep a current one. Here are the reasons why quality customer service is important.

• Provides value-effective customer service programs: These emphasize treating customers well, answering questions, responding to complaints, and exceeding customer expectations. Such an approach keeps customers engaged and builds strong relationships.
• Reduces employee turnover: Employees are likely to work for an employer who treats customers fairly and recognizes the contributions of their staff. When a company delivers great service, employees will be more engaged in their work and are more likely to stay through challenging times.
• Retains customers: Customers who are appreciated are likely to be loyal to the company. Once the business comes across as trustworthy, there is a good chance existing customers will keep on coming to make new purchases.
• Creates endorsements: loyal customers will not only keep on doing business with the company but will also help strengthen the brand through online reviews and private endorsements. Companies that provide quality customer service will often get more new customers from recommendations than from advertising messages.
• Profits – One of the main goals of any business is to make a profit. Quality customer services helps to retain existing customers and attract new ones, a factor that contributes to higher revenue and a rise in profit.

Once companies understand the benefits of good customer service, they should also learn the difference between great and subpar customer service. While in the latter case, companies do the minimum to keep customers satisfied, the first case involves going beyond keeping them satisfied to retain their loyalty. In the end, 51% of customers will not do business with a company after one negative experience.

Examples of good customer service

The term “customer experience” is all the rage these days. As a result, there are countless good customer service examples and good customer service stories. Check out the following examples of good customer service stories and scenarios in everyday situations.

Examples of good customer service in retail

Sometimes, you may run into a situation where the customer is actually the problem. Handling these types of problems requires good customer service skills in retail. For instance, if you own a store with a 10-day return policy that is clearly printed on the receipt, and the customer wants to bring a shirt back 15 days after the purchase. To resolve the problem, you can explain the policy, accept the return if it can be resold and is unworn. Then you will be able to welcome the customer’s future business. In the end, the customer gets what they want and you don’t lose out because you can actually resell the dress. In situations like this, you are able to provide the customer with the best customer service experience, which is a win-win situation.

Examples of good customer service in a restaurant

In a restaurant, promptness is everything. However, being prompt doesn’t mean hovering or rushing. It does mean giving the customers what they need when they need it. When you provide good customer service experience examples, your customers will always return to your restaurant for a pleasurable experience. Good customer service in the restaurant industry also means welcoming and friendly service as well as being available. When the customers can see hosts, managers, and waiters, it can increase their experience because they know you are always available to help.

Enabling customer service success in an omnichannel world

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How to improve customer service in the workplace

Customer service is one of the keys to any successful business. This means that companies that do not have it should make it a priority and find ways of improving customer service. However, customer service has evolved over the years, making it important to identify effective customer service strategies that will help you keep customers satisfied and increase sales performance. Here are a few tips to help improve customer service in the workplace.

Create customer service standards for the team to follow

Once the leadership understands the importance of customer service standards, they will be in a position to define them for their organization. Creating customer service standards will allow the team to know what is expected of them, enabling them to make the necessary adjustments. In order to ensure that the practice is continuous and sustainable, the management has to make it part of the company culture so that it forms one of the values that guide employees’ conduct and business operations.

Improve good customer service skills with dedicated practice

Embracing habits that promote improved customer service can take time. This is why it would be necessary to encourage practice as companies strive to improve customer experience. One of the examples of good customer service skills is effective communication in customer service. By communicating clearly, employees will be in a better position to answer customer queries, provide information, and address complaints. However, effective customer service skills can only be developed and strengthened through continuous and dedicated practice as well as activities like role-playing. Some other skills to focus on include patience, attentiveness, and problem solving.

Train reps on key procedures, processes, and other important knowledge

Before the relevant employees can better their customer service skills, they will need to receive training on key procedures, processes, and other important knowledge. Today, social media outlets provide a channel through which customers can communicate with their favorite brands instantly. In order to meet the needs of your target market, reps have to know how to handle a wide range of situations. Training will help them keep up to date with emerging trends that influence customer service, a factor that will place the company ahead of the competition.

Look at every customer touchpoint

It is very critical that companies know and understand their customers in order to deliver superior service. Looking at every customer’s touchpoint will not only help to personalize messages but also respond through the right channel. With the numerous communication channels that technology has brought about, businesses should have people who are familiar with the platforms. In this way, the business will appear more human and have increased visibility on the various platforms, a factor that will ensure excellent customer service.

Enhance your customer service strategy

Any business that is looking to improve customer service must have a clear strategy to help achieve set goals. Effective customer service techniques will not only serve the customers better but also deliver the desired results. Managers can consult experts in this field in order to come up with strategies that will ensure return on investment. Lessonly, a simple training software that helps teams learn, practice, and do better work, can help to ensure that the customer service strategy is implemented as required.

Delivering quality customer service doesn’t have to be difficult. These tips are a great way to ensure you have happy customers, talented employees, and a great reputation. If you’re ready to deliver quality customer service, Lessonly by Seismic can help. Get a demo today.