Good Customer Service Builds Your Customer Base and Customer Loyalty
Saturday, July 18, 2009 at 06:36PM By Pat Campbell
Good customer service becomes an added value in your internet marketing content. Beginning with your 
central location, whether it is a blog or website, your visitor looks for assurance that their customer needs will be met. This is perhaps more so with internet marketing for the simple reason, initially there is no personal contact. You have a wonderful opportunity for establishing a relationship in your marketing to your customer by following some simple steps in customer service.
This article outlines proven strategies that enhance the success rate in "closing the sale", or as another would say, "opening the door" for long happy customer relationships.
Customer service is declared to the potential customer by including three elements in your marketing. In his book, Jump Start Your Business Brain, Doug Hall of Eureka! Ranch in Ohio lists this advice.
- Make sure you are perfectly clear about the benefits your customers will receive by purchasing your product or service. There should be absolutely no doubt whatsoever regarding the benefits expected.
- Your customer should have complete satisfaction that you are able and will deliver the on the benefit promise. This trust increases your success rate at closing sales.
- If you can demonstrate that your product or service surpasses what the competition has, or better yet it is not easily available anywhere else, then customer loyalty is earned.
Customer expectations are high today with the daily multi exposure to marketing. Therefore maintaining customer service is a task that requires constant attention.
You have a great opportunity for achieving an excellent customer service rating when you are marketing
a product or service. Build in a customer survey form in your blog or website to provide for other visitors, validation of the service they can expect from you through your customer base.
You can over deliver by making sure product delivery exceeds expected transport time. This builds customer trust.
When you treat your customer’s problems as if they are you own, paying close attention to detail and solutions, you earn customer loyalty.
As you listen to customer needs and communicate how you can meet those needs, your customer never feels ignored. They will return to you for further purchases believing that they will be well served.
Always be transparent in your conduct of business. If you find yourself in a product or service supply delay, communicate in a timely manner with an expected solution to the problem. If your customer asks for services you cannot provide, say so and refer them to reliable sources to meet that need. This strengthens your customer’s belief that you have their best interest at heart.
Having loyal customers is the best investment you can make. Determine to not be complacent about your customers. Maintain regular communication with them using email, but also the phone and occasionally a card or note of thanks.
These simple steps go a long way to build a solid customer base and from there customer referrals.
You can access complete step by step tutorials that will guide you through this marketing process if you are just beginning the journey of internet marketing at Renegade University.
Pat Campbell is a Renegade Professional and Super Guide. She has learned Attraction Marketing with Mike Klingler since 2002. Online Attraction Marketing has been a breath of fresh air after years of cold calling, return calling with poor results. Pat is an RN and knows the effort it takes to juggle your passion around fulltime day job commitments and life. It is exhilarating to develop strength and skill set within you that is brand new with Attraction Marketing.
www.campbellpat.com
Reader Comments (10)
Hi Pat,
Remember when you could go into any store and get really great service? The Mom & Pop stores where they knew you and could anticipate your needs and wants and provide them for you. This is the meaning of service. Something that is sorely missing from so many shopping experiences. Something that people are now demanding and businesses, smart ones, are listening to and doing something about. Smart businesses are putting their focus on the consumer and making sure that they are completely happy with their shopping experience and not only will they come back themselves, they will tell everyone they know. It has a snowball effect.
Very well written! Thanks for sharing.
Michelle
Yes Yes Yes!
Wonderful article Pat Campbell, customer service should be required training for any business owner, because without customers you have no business.Remember we're dealing with people here and people want to know that they're getting what they paid for.
If this means that you have to re-do a job or service you'd better take of it, and make sure you have a smile on your face while you're doing it.
Communication is the most important thing here, it's the little things that matter the most. Keep your customers happy and you'll have them for years to come.I've had one customer that I've had for going on 17 years and I know this would have not been possible without constant "GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE"
Customer serviceis vitally important and must be developed. It can "make of break" any business.
Customer service will make or break a business. Businesses can't survive without great customer service. That goes for both Online and Offline. There are just too many other options available for people to put up with bad customer service. I have personally walked form many businesses, and will never return, and tell many others to avoid XYZ because of atrocious customer service. It is always refreshing to come across a business that is doing it right!
As usual, Pat comes through with great content and gives great customer service.
How does she do this? Well, you will have noticed that she has taken the time to actually respond to some of the comments posted here.
Customer service can be in many forms and even if the customer has not purchased something, it doesn't mean that they are not a customer.
I am a customer here as I comment on this article. I am finding value to which I need to give my appraisal. And Pat, being a great customer service representative, makes sure that all of her customers, ie commentators, are happy.
There is a lesson here folks.
Customer driven philosophy is key
Pat you have put it all so clearly.
Products come and go but customer service must always be top quality. If you have a customer driven philosophy, knowing your customer and their changing needs, gives you the advantage in servicing them better.
By listening and learning you create long-term relationships,enthusiastic referrals, and better allows you to create new products and services too.
A friendly, responsive, flexible customer service wins every time.
As business owners online we need to be mindful of this valuable service. People first not product.
Pat,
I would like to say, your article is right on target, well said.... Customer service is the number one key when it comes to customer loyalty.. You know customers will continue to come for years, if the service is right on target. Just like Kevin said, he has had a customer for 17 years.
Again, thank you for a timely article, Pat.
Donna Wells
I totally agree with the importance of good customer relations. Too often it is assumed that once the sale is made, that's it.
I contend that it is just the beginning. It is much cheaper to keep a customer than it is to find a new one.
We need to keep that in mind with each of our customers and continue investing in those relationships with lots of value.
Good Customer Service Can Change the World
I know this sounds really impossible but my experience is that people are really in a 'fear' mode when they buy things these days whether online or off. They come with a predispositions that they are going to be ripped off, ignored and taken advantage of.
When you can provide good customer service, that gesture of goodwill can change someones perspective even if just for the day. What a ripple effect good customer service can have. See, you can change the world.
It's amazing how staying in touch periodically with your customers after the sale can go a long way in building that customer loyalty. Many times this is often overlooked and then people are left wondering, why didn't that person ever call me for a repeat sale. Make yourself unforgettable to your customers!!