Today, there are more than 32 million small businesses in existence. Nearly half of these small businesses will make it to the 5-year mark. If you’re trying to remain competitive and prosperous in the landscape of your industry, you must put processes into place that’ll help you give better service to your customers.
Your customers are your most critical asset, so never half-step in this regard. The tips below will help you out when you need to bolster your customer relations.
1. Invest in a Customer Resource Management (CRM) Platform
A customer resource management (CRM) platform is one of the best tools to look into. These platforms will help you keep everything on track, managing the way that you communicate with your customers down to the finest detail.
Here are a few things that a quality CRM can do for you:
- Maintains a database of your most prized client contacts
- Helps you keep track of new leads that you reach out to
- Manage sales strategies and marketing campaigns
- Creates forecasts for your profits and other projections
- Handle your company’s scheduling and ability to keep track of inventory and orders
The use of these CRM tools is taking off like wildfire, as this industry is on track to grow by 245% in the coming years.
2. Have a Policy for Responding to Customers
Tech tools aside, always make sure that you have customer-friendly policies. Dedicate yourself to addressing your customer’s needs quickly and completely. Set limits on how long you’ll take to get back to your customers after they’ve sent you a message or placed a phone call.
Hold yourself and your employees to this turnaround time. Consistently solidify your policies on communicating with customers, so that it’s uniform and effective. About 62% of customers today prefer to handle correspondence by e-mail. Develop some strong e-mail practices and keep records and details from every bit of correspondence.
3. Always Seek to Make Things Right
It’s also important that you develop a problem-solving mentality when dealing with customers. Regardless of the situation, seek to offer a workable solution to any issue that customers bring your way. Offer discounts, free items, refunds, and other solutions whenever your customer has a complaint.
Speak to them with understanding and compassion, and exercise patience as you try to right any wrongs.
4. Train Your Staff and Keep Them on Track
The best way to deal with customers is to make sure that everyone in your building is trained and capable. When your employees know the company and their expertise inside and out, you’ll have few incidents and will be more equipped to problem-solving.
Offer continuing education opportunities so that everyone is trained and up-to-date.
5. Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Chatbots
Finally, investing in some tech can help the way that you deal with your customers. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the best things to invest in because you can help customers without needing to hire a human being. These bots can address many customer service issues that used to require the help of an entire staff, which costs overtime pay and can ebb and flow based on employee turnover.
Invest in chatbots and other AI so that you can lower your overhead costs while making your customer service sharper and more effective.
Take the time to find the best platform, and focus on Citrix profile management in case you’ve already found your platform of choice.
Handle Your Customer Relations
The points above will help you handle your customer relations needs to the fullest. Every small business needs to continuously improve the way that they deal with customers, to bring in more revenue and grow their brand presence.
Start with the five tips above and rely on us to learn more about taking your business to the next level.
Learn more about Business and Small Business at Digital Business Grow.
