When it comes to running a thriving business, the key is making your customers happy. The more that you can go above and beyond, the less likely your customers will be to go to the competition. Unfortunately, where many businesses get it wrong is only focusing on new customers and failing to focus on retaining their current ones.
The goal should be to find a healthy balance between both. If you’re a business owner looking to create happy customers, then look no further than these tips.
Provide What You Promise
It may seem simple, yet is often incredibly neglected. Keeping your customers happy is often as simple as doing exactly what you say you’ll do. This means doing things like making sure that your goods are delivered when promised, and selling products and services as you describe them. If you stray away from your agreement, then customers will feel cheated and frustrated. Always be as transparent as possible about what you promise to deliver and do, and don’t stray away from it.
Make it Simple For Them
Multiple studies have shown that the easier you make things for your customers, the happier they will be. Try to think of different ways that you can make things simpler for your customers. Perhaps it’s allowing them to self-schedule, or providing alternative payment methods. There are all sorts of creative ways to eliminate friction throughout the customer experience and provide a smooth sailing experience that they can’t get with a competitor.
Make it Personalized
Trying to lump all your customers into one group is not a personalized experience that will make them feel valued. Make each customer feel like they’re your only customer by providing a personalized and attentive experience. Give them their own customer login space, address all of their emails to their name personally, and remember details about them when sending marketing materials. The more relevant you can make their customer experience to their particular needs and situation, the more acknowledged they’ll feel.
Apply Feedback
Accepting your customers’ feedback and actually applying it are two very different things. Don’t just throw your customer criticism out the window. Even though critique may not always be fun to listen to, the truth is that your customers’ feedback can be one of the greatest tools for improving your business. Take what your customers have to say and apply it to your strategy. The more you can listen to your customers, the more you can understand what makes them tick.
Know What You’re Selling
One of the most frustrating things for customers is when the person they’re buying a service or product from doesn’t have an answer to their question. Know your products and services, and be prepared to answer any questions about them. The more familiar you are with what you’re selling, the more informative and helpful you can be to your customers.