10 Ways to Differentiate Your Customer Service & Make Your Clients Actually

Feel Valued

By Oketa Daniels

Every business owner and organization knows that if they want to attract and retain more loyal
customers, they need to provide high-quality customer service. That's why organizations today focus
heavily on communicating how valuable their customers are to the organization. Now, the question
is...

How much do they truly value their customers?

Most of you probably had the experience of being a "valued" customer, yet you didn't feel valued at
all! For example, you call a company for either customer a service or order a product only to be put on
hold. You're told: please stay on the line, your call is important to us. Sometimes we dutifully follow
the electronic request, and we wait, and even wait longer. Other times we hang up in pure frustration.

Or, have you been asked to complete a customer satisfaction questionnaire?

Again, you are told that your comments are "very important to us." Really?

How maddening it is when you have taken the time to complete such surveys after receiving poor
service, spelling out in detail what the issue was and why you were dissatisfied, only to receive no
acknowledgement of your issue or concern?

Perception, as we have heard endless times, is reality. The reality here is that you won't go back or
use them in the future. And likely, you will tell your friends!

We believe that providing excellent customer service should be a passion.

These are Tips That Will Help Your Organization Differentiate Your Customer Service

1. Insure you clearly understand the customer or prospects need and priorities.  Do this
by listening sincerely and asking clarifying questions. Listen FIRST and actively listen more
than you talk. Ask questions to clarify your understanding of your prospect's motivation to buy
– but do so respectfully and carefully.
2. Keep agreements you make to the prospect or the customer. When you say you will do
something, do it when you said you would do it. Emergencies should be the only exception.
3. Eliminate negative surprises for the customer. If there is a problem, acknowledge it
quickly, apologize if appropriate and do your best to fix the problem to the customer's
satisfaction.

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 4. Always have your clients' and prospects' best interest in mind. Think of ways you can
help them improve their needs to be in the forefront.
5. Think of the long term sale. That means go fast but have the future in mind, don't push now
to sell or attempt to up-sell. Think of the longer-term relationship and resulting opportunities
forthcoming.
6. Warning - Don't expect the customer to understand that you are busy or short
staffed. They won't and they shouldn't have to.
7. Learn to be comfortable introducing yourself by your full name.When meeting in person,
look at people directly in the eye, especially when you first meet them and insure you know
how to give and reciprocate a firm handshake.
8. Have a real, live person answer all of your calls. If you cannot have someone answer all
your calls, subscribe to a voice message service and include a message that you will return
all calls within one business day – and do it If  it is late in the day, it can acceptable to wait till
the next business morning.  Remember, the message and perception in timing/promptness is,
"you count"-- you are important and a priority to me.
9. Warming- Flirting and flattering are forms of overselling (as well as demeaning) yourself.
Realize how unprofessional and damaging these behaviours are with your customers and
prospects
10. Return emails within one business day (two days maximum), especially when you are
online based.

I know you may be thinking that this is obvious. Yes, indeed, it is not rocket science. While it may be
obvious, the truth is that it is also frequently not practiced. And because it is not done well or
consistently, it represents a key differentiator.

You need to capture the attention of your future customers and keep your current customers. Without
consistent excellent customer care, customer loyalty is improbable, especially in this economy where
buyers are more cautious. Now more than ever in business, we need to find ways to differentiate
ourselves. We find that customer service is a simple yet powerful differentiating strategy

PRACTICE IT ALWAYS................YOUR BUSINESS WON’T REGRET IT AND IT ALMOST COST

NOTHING.