As a home-based business owner, you are able to provide your clients with some advantages that they just cannot get from “the big guys”. One major advantage that clients and customers get from dealing with home-based professionals is personal service. Since you (and perhaps only a few other staff is you have employees) are the only one(s) dealing with your clients, you can give them a great deal of attention and service that shows that you know them and you value their needs.
One great way that you can distinguish yourself in the area of customer service is communication. By making good communication practices a cornerstone of your operating procedures, you can ensure that your clients and customers feel well taken care of no matter why they are contacting you. Whether it is the first time that they have called or emailed you to inquire about your products or services or they are an existing customer that needs some assistance working through an issue, every call, letter or email that you send out is a chance to shine.
What are some ways that you can practice good communication? One helpful hint is to remember that you care about your customers and clients. If it were not for them, you could not do what you do. By beginning from a place of caring each time you pick up the phone or sit down at the computer to communicate to a client, you are setting the stage for good communication. Choosing your words carefully can also go a long way towards making your clients feel well served. Simple words like “please”, “thank you”, and “I understand” can go a long way towards resolving even the thorniest customer service issue, along with sincere apologies if you have done something wrong. Every thing that you do that involves paying attention to communication makes a difference, whether it is your voice mail greeting or your web site and when you understnd that, you will naturally gravitate towards saying and doing things that will leave your customers feeling satisfied – and maybe even “wow-ed”. What are your favorite “best communication practices”?