When you are in business for yourself,
it is your responsibility to service your customers full circle.Always remember they are the lifeline to success in your
business.How you treat your customers will
reflect greatly on your success.Master your
customer service skills because they will always have that sign on
them saying “Make Me Feel Important.”
Customer service begins with a
schedule:It’s important that when you begin
your business that you make a decision on how
often you will service
your customers and stick to it! Depending on your particular product
it twice a year, once a quarter, once a month – decide and stick
with it long term.
Offer your
customers more than one way to reach you:You
will definitely want to order business cards right away if you
haven’t already.This is the perfect way for
your customers to keep your information on file.
Include your e-mail address, your cell number, your office number,
your fax number, your voice-mail number and web address.
The website is the best
way for them to reach you so really push that site address with
them.Customers also tend to order more when
they go out to a site and see all you have to offer and what’s new.
Every customer should be on a mailing
list:Create a newsletter and send it out to
them.It doesn’t have to be fancy – just keep
them up to date on what’s going on with your business.If your company offers a mailing direct from them – DO IT!Nothing is more professional that what your company can
produce for you.
Follow up is
ALWAYS the key:Customers who have purchased
products from you but have not been followed up within a 6 month
time period will feel free to purchase elsewhere.
Set up a delivery schedule:If you have a consumable product, you will have reorders as
time goes on – when your customers call you with an order offer them
at least 2 different delivery times – if that won’t work, offer to
drop it in the mail.Run your business; don’t
let your customers orders run you!Choose in
advance when your delivery days are – they will respect that.
Offer a Birthday Club:Send hand written birthday cards to each of your customers
the first week of their birthday month.Offer
them a discount for the entire month or offer to stop by with a
special gift for them.When you call them be
sure you wish them a Happy Birthday, and let them know you have a
special gift for them – ask when would be a good time to stop over.
