When it comes to giving good customer service, it can seem overwhelming as a new home business owner to be focusing on all the possible details of what makes a customer or client happy. In order to simplify the focus and hone in on the basics of what constitutes good customer service, I like to think of it as one simple rule: Try not to let your customers and clients down.
Of course we are not going to be able to make every prospect, client and customer ecstatically happy ALL of the time. If you deal with several people a day, it can be absolutely exhausting and impossible to be turning yourself inside out in order to do what you think they want you to do. Focusing on trying not to let people down, however, gives you a way to be professional and concerned—without getting all co-dependent and wrapped up in complicated attempts to thrill and dazzle all the time.
If you promise something, follow through; if they contact you with a question or concern, take it seriously and do what you can to answer their inquiry; give decent service and sell a quality product (which is what every customer or client has a right to expect); even if you do not swing from the rafters and dazzle them with the most amazing customer service they have ever experienced—if you do not disappoint them, you will have good groundwork for a loyal business relationship.
I find that if I consider my business and work efforts in terms of trying not to let those people down who are expecting me to produce, I seldom go wrong. Of course, I DO sometimes feel like going above and beyond, but as long as I am always doing what is expected and focusing on meeting the expectations of those who do business with me—I feel good about my efforts and know that they have no completes either.
See Also: Coping with Customer Insults
Follow-up and Follow Through is Critical
Too Pushy, or Just Good Follow-up?