Guest blog by Chelsea Lamb at Business Pop.
We live in a fast-paced world, which means pleasing busy customers is vital for your success as a small business owner. Getting those customers into the fold and maintaining that relationship, however, can be a challenge when you’re just as busy yourself. Thankfully, there are a few simple strategies that can help you make the most of your time and your customer service.
1. Do your homework before choosing a Web Hosting Service
When your target customers are always on the go, having access to an easy-to-use website is crucial. That’s why so many small businesses have chosen services like GoDaddy to cater to their busiest customers.
You’ve likely seen the catchy commercials, but you may not know that GoDaddy has over 20 years of experience with providing one of the most comprehensive web hosting services on the market. Not only do you get access to website and online store tools that will really wow your customers, but you also get to put your website worries to rest with 24/7 customer support. With the recent acquisition of Main Street Hub, certain GoDaddy plans can also help you integrate your website with social media and manage this essential marketing platform for attracting more
customers to your business.
There are other worthy hosting services to consider, too; Top10.com suggests considering BlueHost, HostGator, Hostpapa, and several others, depending on your budget and your needs. Research thoroughly to find your best match.
2. Keep communications with customers efficient
To keep those busy customers coming back to your products and services, timeliness is key when answering customer questions and concerns. For example, most customers expect a 24 – 48 hour window for replies to emailed questions and concerns, but a faster response is always
better when you’re marketing to time-crunched customers.
The timing of your responses, however, may not matter as much as how effective those responses are at resolving issues. As The Houston Chronicle explains, ensuring that your customer communications are effective can actually reduce the need for additional questions and concerns, which makes the most of your time as well as that of your customers. One of the
most crucial steps in streamlining your communications is learning how to really listen, so you can address any questions or concerns immediately.
It’s also a nice touch to check back with your customers to see if they liked your products and if they have any input on improvements you can make. You can easily hire a freelance survey services specialist to put a questionnaire together or try a free survey service such as Survey Monkey yourself.
3. Cover essential business protections
You’ll need to consider cybersecurity for your business. A cybersecurity plan will ensure that hackers can’t obtain your customers’ financial information. You’ll also be able to protect yourself from identity theft. If you’re unsure where your business’s website stands, an online assessment
tool like Defendify can help.
4. Take care of yourself so you can take better care of your customers
Most of the advice around providing prompt customer service focuses on the customers. And when interacting with your target audience, your mood can definitely impact your ability to provide the level of service needed to please the busiest people. That’s because how you feel from day to day can come across in your voice, your words and especially your body language.
If you are feeling stressed out and anxious, for instance, customers are likely to pick up on that and feel less comfortable seeking your goods and services.
To fix your mood fast, try taking your self-care routine more seriously. True, it takes a lot of time and dedication to run a successful small business, but you can at least start your morning with mindful meditation or journaling to set a positive tone for the rest of your day.
Providing an effective and efficient experience for your busiest customers isn’t all that hard if you focus on improving your customer service model overall. You just need to stay mindful of your communications, manage your web presence, and always show your appreciation for the time those customers dedicate to supporting your small business.
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