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Informative Articles

11 Ways to Get What You Want - Be a Clever Customer!
There is so much about 'customer service' in the media these days and, well, yes, maybe things aren't what they were. But you can do more, much more as a customer, to get the best results for yourself. It's in your hands... We all want great...

Customer Service Is Still The Key To SUCCESS!
Pick any industry. Who is at the top? How did they get there? I can guarantee the answer to that question is two words: "customer service." Sure, cost is important, variety is important, all those things are important. But when you're new to a...

Getting The Most From Your Customers
As business people we look at many propositions that will help us take that next, much desired growth step. We hear that we must "brand" ourselves and be easy to do business with. The list of ideas goes on and on. THE GOLD MINE IN YOUR...

Internal Customer Service – The Key To Productivity & Growth
by Carole Nicolaides © 2002 http://www.progressiveleadership.com Customer service is the foundation on which businesses are created. Unless you understand your customers and treat them with respect, you will go out of business. That is a well-known...

Trade Credit: How to determine if you should offer net-30 terms to your customers
What is trade credit? One of the major differences between consumer and commercial transactions is that most, if not all, consumer transactions are paid in cash or by credit card at the time of sale. Because of this, most consumer...

 
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Customer Focus - Just 5 Simple Things You Need to Think About

In all the businesses we conduct, there are customers. And they are the life-blood to us. It's TRUE! Despite all the million and one things we are doing - we've got to have paying customers! Nevertheless, just five things will dictate success or failure. Have you got them right?

You can boil down the difference between successful businesses and the rest in how they work with their customers, in just five areas.

So, what does this mean?

  1. What They Want
    Selling what your customers really want is just critical. Being on good enough terms with your customers to research, (hey maybe just by chatting with them - radical idea, huh?), helps you find out how you can best serve their needs.

  2. Price is Right
    By balancing the kind of pricing you want to offer with exceptional service levels, there is a fascinating calculation to be made. Prices rock-bottom with inadequate attention to item 5 are not likely to bring profitable consumers rushing to your door. Providers have an ongoing dance between price and service - be aware of it. It is not possible to sustain your business with lowest prices and poor service.

  3. When They Want It
    In the internet world, availability of your
    goods and services is measured critically far more than ever before. You may not need to be 24/7, but you certainly need to be aware of it. More traditional customers are also becoming more demanding. So businesses need to be especially sensitive to the hours they trade, whether they sell goods or services, by stores and/or phone.

  4. Easy To Buy
    With the advent of the internet, making it easy to purchase is vital. Why not make purchases


    from the comfort of your home study or workplace office? So having your people who are available, exactly when your customer wants them, to make payment for goods and services relly easy is a serious point worth considering. Even in shops, the sensitivity of simply having staff focused on delivering the very best of attention is critical. Every day
    there may be threats to different shopping channels, so the adage that you 'only have one chance to make a first impression' is becoming ever more important.

  5. Trusted Follow Up
    By ensuring that you have all your ducks in a row so far, sustainably building whatever business you are in, is vitally dependent on how you handle ongoing customer service. Indeed if you are only focusing on a one-time purchase, then, frankly, you are not going to have much of a future.
    Repeat business is very inexpensive for you, so an investment of post-purchase excellence is very worthwhile.
By focusing on these five elements, teasing out the consequences with your management teams, you will have a great chance of making business progress. If you choose not to take the time to
analyse what you truly need to do, there will be a jeopardy for you in the not to distant future.

About the Author

© 2005 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website, www.coaching-businesses-to-success.com. (Note to editors. Feel free to use this article, wherever you think it might be of value - with a live link if you can).