Create a Successful Business Through Customer Service Surveys

Feb 3rd, 2012 by Shopper Approved

Successful businesses are successful because they know that excellent customer service increases profits. One man who started off as just a small entrepreneur, just like many of us, is now legendary in his industry and in the world of business. John Ilhan created Crazy John’s mobile phone company. He is known as one of Australia’s biggest mobile phone retailers and according to the BRW Young Rich List, as of 2003, John was the richest Australian under 40 years of age, with assets worth about $300 Million!

One perception that helped him become so successful so quickly was the fact that he was known for creating great customer service through published customer satisfaction rates. The perception that nearly all of his clients were happy clients made it seem as if everything John did, he did to generate happy customers, which of course followed with equally high customer satisfaction rates and reviews.

John recognized that the mobile phone industry was a difficult industry to succeed in because of the almost overpowering competition. He said, “It is a very, very tough market. So unless you do a really good job, you buy the right products from the manufacturers, you service the customer, they keep coming back, they bring their friends in, it’s all about numbers, numbers, numbers.”

So how do you know what products are the right products to purchase from manufacturers?

How can you tell if you are successfully serving the customer?

What are the best ways to increase customer loyalty and increase those numbers?

The answer? Use online customer service surveys.

Customers will tell you what product they want to purchase.

Customers will tell you if you are providing exceptional service.

When they know that you have their best interests at heart, customers will tell their friends and family about your business which will increase sales and customer loyalty. Increasing the number of people you serve all has to do with serving the few customers you start with in a spectacular fashion.

Customer service survey forms can provide your customers with the opportunity to communicate with you. When they know you care, customers will provide honest feedback, which will help you improve your products and service.

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Gandhi’s Customer Service Techniques

Feb 2nd, 2012 by Shopper Approved

We all say we that we know how important customer service is to having a successful business, but do we really? Now you may have heard of Mahatma Gandhi who was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement at the start of the twentieth century.

Gandhi wasn’t really known as a business man, more of a philosophical man trying to make a difference in the world. However his business views were spot-on to creating a successful company, and he would have been a fantastic business owner. Mahatma Gandhi quoted once that “A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so.”

The way that Gandhi phrases each key line is so precise an eminent. If you want to own a successful business then perhaps you should learn your customer service techniques from Gandhi.

  1. Your customers are the most important visitors on your premises. They are not dependent on you, so don’t treat them in that manner, treat them like a king or queen walking into the room, and you are the jester – there to meet there every reasonable demand until they are satisfied.
  2. You customers are the purpose of your work. Companies that have great customer service understand that without customers, they are without a job. Customer service and satisfaction is the only way to have a profitable company, so understand that they are the reason your company exists.
  3. Your customers are a part of your business. They are not outsiders to the business. In fact they know how you should run your business better than you do. Using online customer survey software is a great way to know what your customers think about your business and how to resolve issues quickly and efficiently.
  4. You have been given a favor from your customers, by being able to serve them. If you don’t think of your customers as the reason for your business’ existence, then how do you expect to keep your customers and run a successful business? You cannot do it. They are a blessing to you – not the other way around.

Mahatma Gandhi knew and understood the very best customer service techniques. He was able to discern the qualities that make a business have outstanding customer service, and the thoughts that can lead a business to failure through the lack of knowledge. If you want to obtain the kind of customer service that will allow your company to flourish, study some of Gandhi’s customer service techniques and put them into practice.

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Positive Customer Interaction Increases Sales

Feb 1st, 2012 by Shopper Approved

How many of us have ever eaten at McDonalds? I’m going to guess that everyone reading this article has eaten there at least once. Even if it may not provide the healthiest of food or our first choice in dining, McDonalds is still growing after all these years. Ray Kroc had the passion for creating a vast restaurant empire and his vision was carried out further than even he could have imagined.

Perhaps because he started out with great self-motivation, initiative, and with an innovative idea, he became successful. The fact that he focused on providing positive customer interaction to his franchisees, vendors, and customers kept him successful.

In the beginning, as Ray was just starting out, he said, “If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing and you always put the customer first, success will be yours.”

You will always be able to find new ways to succeed and create an even larger, better company if you have the passion for what you do. Ray Kroc’s rules of achieving success by creating a quality product at a reasonable price, promoting a clean environment, and a providing a positive experience with every customer interaction should be our rules for success as well.

Our customers keep our business in business. Interacting with your customers in the same way that Ray Kroc knew we should, by making them feel that “everything we do – we do for them,” is the best way to ensure a successful business.

Successful customer interactions really do increase sales. If our customers are happy, people will spread the word and more customers will flock to our businesses. Now that our customers have access to social media sites and online customer rating and review software, and with almost every US adult owning a cell phone with calling and texting capabilities, the good word spreads even faster and much more often. With outstanding customer service and consistent positive interactions, you and your company has the chance to be just as successful as Ray Kroc was with McDonalds.

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The Importance of Social Commerce

Jan 31st, 2012 by Shopper Approved

A friend of mine wants to start up his own online business. Last year he attempted to start his own clothing line, but the profit he made was not worth the work he put in. So now he wants to do something simpler and only work online. Before he gets started though, he needs to understand the importance of social commerce.

But what exactly is social commerce? Social commerce is those sections or divisions of business that uses social media sites, directories, and other online sources that support social interaction of customers, business owners, and collaborators. It increases traffic generation and creates a larger potential for profit for online businesses by marketing to interested consumers.

If you are an online business owner, make sure that you are utilizing online marketing and social media optimization tools to accurately and prominently display your business. Here are some of the best ways to increase your potential for online profits.

  1. Network, Network, Network! With social commerce and social media, you have to be seen online. This means, among other things, using article and submission sites and increasing your page rank with Google and other search engines. It means using fun, entertaining, and enthralling means to capture the attention of online visitors. The more you are seen online in a positive, memorable manner, the more money you will make.
  2. Value your customers! Customer feedback is essential to obtaining customer satisfaction with an online business. Review software like Shopper Approved generates customer satisfaction surveys that can drastically increase online sales through improved communication with customers while creating customers out of visitors through testimonials and high ratings. Customer surveys are important with every online business because they give your customers the chance to critique your business as well as provide positive testimonials to promote your company.
  3. Post Positives! When ever you receive a positive customer testimonial that promotes your business put it online! Customers trust other people’s opinions more than your own, so show off to the world the great things your customers think about your business and your sales will sky rocket.

Understanding and performing social commerce will increase your online sales.

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Customer Satisfaction Training Session

Jan 30th, 2012 by Shopper Approved

In this customer satisfaction training session you will learn specific tools that will help increase your company’s customer satisfaction. Please keep an open mind and a willingness to adapt what you learn to improve your business with these key customer satisfaction tips that will help you make more money, more often.

Keeping Customers Satisfied is one of the most important strategies of successful companies. The CEO of Amazon.com Jeff Bezos held, “We see our customers as invited guests to a party and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.” This brings us to tip number one on how to improve your customer satisfaction.

  1. Think of your customers as guests. If you think of and treat your customers as more than just business consumers, but as guests to an event you are hosting, then they will sense this and feel more important to your company. This will also ensure that you and your company are taking care of your customers in a more professional and sincere manner, which increases your customer satisfaction, customer loyalty rate and financial profit.
  2. Listen to your guests at the party. When you invite someone over, you don’t just talk to them about what you have to offer and what you think is right or wrong. Listen to them and try to understand what is new with them and why they feel and think like they do. As business owners, you should do this same thing with your employees. Ask them what they are looking for, what their goals are and see how you can help them. Make them feel in charge and important. In return they will thank you for listening by providing exceptional service to your customers.
  3. Satisfaction is the key. Your customers might not always be completely happy after a visit, but if you follow these key components, your customer satisfaction will increase drastically. Customer Satisfaction Surveys are also one of the best ways to guarantee that your guests are happy with you and your business. They allow you to listen to what they have to say and act upon the critiques they give you which can help you improve your company.

As a business owner it is crucial that you know and understand how to keep your customers satisfied, so remember the three keys in this training session and start increasing your profits with happier customers now.

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Handling Customer Complaints Positively

Jan 30th, 2012 by Shopper Approved

As a manager or business owner, it is inevitable that you will receive customer complaints. Whether the complaints are about price, product, quality, or service, it is your duty to resolve the customer complaints positively and to make the outcome one that will benefit the company in an affirmative and constructive manner.

Bill Gates knew that your “most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” And because of this knowledge, and by taking the appropriate actions, he is now one of the wealthiest men in the world.

If you know how to handle customer complaints in a positive way, then becoming as successful as Bill Gates could become a reality.  Shopper Approved is an online customer service software company that prides themselves of the positive outcome they receive from their customers. With a 99% satisfaction rate, they prove that they know all about customer service, and how to help their shoppers approve of their business model.

When a customer gives your company a verbal or written complaint, these complaints should be dealt with immediately. If the customer is giving a verbal complaint in person, the manager, owner, or customer service specialist should instantly present themselves to the scene to listen and assist. If your customers feel that you are trying to solve the problem as it is happening, they will be more willing to calm down and come to an amicable resolution. If you keep your customers waiting, it allows for the issue to potentially build and fester into a larger issue.

We should always be positive when handling a customer complaint. If you see it as a mistake, but address it in a way that will build your relationship with the customer without degrading or down talking your company, then they customer will then see your reaction as encouraging and there is a good chance that he or she will want to continue his or her relationship with your company. It is amazing what you can achieve just by keeping the glass half full.

If you and your staff are struggling with handling and organizing customer complaints, check in with Shopper Approved and to uncover the benefits that customer satisfaction surveys can provide. Your business will continue to grow when you know how to handle customer complaints.

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Review Solutions—Creating an Attitude of Legendary Customer Service

Dec 31st, 2011 by Shopper Approved

Is your business struggling? Even if your company is doing well, it could be doing better. Every day you should be thinking of ways to improve your customer relations until you obtain customer loyalty with every customer.

You see, customer relations and satisfaction is the one most important elements of a successful business. Sam Walton, the creator of Wal-Mart used this philosophy to the core, and look how successful has he become.  Mr. Walton quoted that “The goal as a company is to have customer service that is not just the best but legendary.” He wanted legendary customer service! Why? Because he knew that without the customer your business is absolutely nothing.

Customer rating and review systems are an efficient way to make your customers happy. They let your customers know that you care about what they have to say, and it indirectly builds rapport with them.

If you already know the importance of customer reviews, but still find yourself lacking in the customer service area, you might want to review these crucial review solutions to help make you and your business more money.

  1. Focus on your customer. When you know your audience, what they like to hear, and how you can relate to them, you will create a bond that will increase your customer loyalty. Reward your customers for participating in your surveys. This shows them that not only do you want to hear what they have to say, but that you are willing to change things based on their relevant imput. Making your customers feel important will make your profits increase. So spend a little to make a lot.
  2. Don’t waste their time. Keep your surveys short, to the point, and vital. Ask questions that you know will help your business grow. If you think you are lacking in an area, ask the customers what they think. Their opinions could take your company to the next level.
  3. When your customers take the time to fill out a review for your business READ IT!!!! Don’t just set it off to the side to do another day. These reviews are a reflection on your business. If your customers aren’t willing to fill out a survey, they probably won’t be willing be buy again from you and they probably won’t refer your company to their friends and family.

The Vice President of British Airways, Donald Porter, said another great statement about customer service that kind of sums everything up. He said, “Customers don’t expect you to be perfect. They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong.” By knowing these review solutions you can fix things when they go wrong and build a business that is going to last for generations. Your company deserves to grow and profit, even in this recession. So make your move; acquire an online customer review survey company to help you make more money more often.

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Utilize Your Customer Survey Tool Belt

Dec 30th, 2011 by Shopper Approved

Do you own your own business? Whether it be a small online business or a quickly expanding company, your customers should be your main priority to maintaining a successful business. Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon.com relies fully on what his customers think of his company. Because of his outlook he has created a billion dollar company. Jeff states that “If you do build a great experience, customers tell each other about that. Word of mouth is very powerful.”

What your customers think about the business you run or are a part of is essential to whether or not you will be triumphant. This is why it is so crucial to understand the necessities of having excellent customer service.

One of the most efficient ways to create customer satisfaction and build loyalty between you and your customers is by knowing how to utilize your customer survey tool belt. Customer satisfaction surveys are one of the key elements to making your customers happy. They allow your customers to give professional feedback on their experiences, rate your company, review your products, and critique any areas with which they were not satisfied.

In your customer survey tool belt there are five indispensable tools that you need to use in order to get the most from your customers.

The first one is to keep your surveys short. People don’t want to spend a lot of time answering questions for you, so keep it simple. Ask the vital questions that will help improve your company and show that their input is important to you.

The second is to start with close-ended questions, which ties into keeping it simple. Be direct and straightforward. Get the answers you need and let the customer rank your business.

Next follow up with open-ended questions. This will give your customers the chance to vent and describe specifically what they did or did not like. These answers are the ones that will provide you with the most feedback to allow your company to progress and expand.

Know your audience. Make each question relate to your consumers, products, and your business. Be specific to your own business not generic. This will pull your customers in closer to you. It’s a good opportunity to build product/brand awareness with them.

Finally listen to them. Customer surveys are for your benefit, not the customers. Most of what they say is what you will need to do to be successful in your company.

As you utilize your customer satisfaction survey tool belt, your business will flourish and your profit will increase. Your customers create your company’s value. They can either tear it down or build it up. The choice depends on how you treat them.

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