http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/ Articles and information about the art of providing good care and service to your customers Copyright Castle Netware 2006 http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-tips-for-small-businesses.php We hear it all the time about big companies, and most likely we have professed a few of the same sentiments ourselves: "They've gotten too big to care about individual customers," "Personalized service is a thing of the past," and "If you get mad... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/the-great-american-customer-service-unawareness-campaign.php Q: I'm so sick of you so-called business experts always saying the customer is always right. This is my business, not the customer's, so I'm the one who's always right. Sure, they can have an opinion, but in the end it's up to me to decide... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/putting-the-service-back-in-customer-service.php The future of customer service is here. Technology has made seeking out support faster and easier than ever. But, has your digital age company sacrificed true service in the name of automation? Today, finding customer support is as simple... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/online-customer-service-is-an-activity-not-a-department.php "Well, this is certainly different." I shouldn't have been surprised when my new customer said it, but his words still got me shaking my head in wonder. The customer had just bought my new ebook, but he was having trouble downloading it. So... http://what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/ten-online-customer-service-tips.php Other than the current buzz words, customer service has changed very little since commerce first began. If you want a customer to buy from you again, and to recommend your product or service to others, complaints or problems must be handled... http://what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/astonish-your-customers-with-these-customer-service-tips.php Customer service today is getting worse. Win customers over and you build your business for life. Proven by the leader in the industry -- Nordstrom's. Nordstrom's customer service keeps improving and they continue to drive others out of business... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/delighting-customers-three-solutions-to-make-the-difference.php Customer service is the holy grail of most service and product organisations. Yet there are three basics that are vital to go further - to delight your customers... The radio show I was listening to was debating the reasons for rude and... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-leads-to-customer-loyalty.php Customer Service Leads to Customer Loyalty All customers want and expect superior customer service, and it is all too important that we give it to them. Otherwise, our competition will. Your customer doesn't want to be treated like another... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/tips-for-curing-bad-customer-service.php Bad customer service is everywhere these days — unmanned front desks, surly servers, clueless staff, employees talking on the phone, and managers who refuse to acknowledge a customer. It’s no longer an exception ... poor service has become the... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/outstanding-indian-call-center-customer-services-the-key-to-success.php India is a well-known country in the field of call center industry than its counterpart elsewhere in the world. In fact it is noted by the industry association Nasscom that Indian call centers employ as much as 160,000 call center professionals and... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/hit-the-jackpot-with-customer-complaints.php Copyright 2005 Cutts Group, llc Our most powerful instinct is to avoid customer complaints, but they may be the best thing that happens to your business. Here’s why... Marketing research shows that only 1 out 50 unhappy customers take the time... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-satisfaction-is-a-reflection-of-employee-satisfaction.php "We found that there was a cause-and-effect relationship between the two; that it was impossible to maintain a loyal customer base without a base of loyal employees; and that the best employees prefer to work for companies that deliver the kind... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/battling-with-customer-service-how-to-win-the-war-part-1-of-2.php Customer service, how I loathe thee. Let me count the ways. The never-ending loop of obnoxious hold music. The pressure to buy new products and services. The poor-quality, outsourced call to a distant land. A call to customer service can be... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/ten-ways-to-help-you-improve-your-customer-service.php 1. Stay in contact with customers on a regular basis. Just as it is bad news to send out too many emails to customers, it is just as bad to not stay in contact with them. Customers don't want to feel abandoned. So don't. Here are three... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/sorry-no-customer-service-after-4-00-p-m.php A few months ago, I wrote about ingenious styles of customer service that every business should know about, mostly because their employees were inflicting them on their customers. For instance, I warned about "in your face customer service"... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-everyone-say-s-their-s-is-great.php Customer service, everyone say's their's is great while a large percentage fail miserably. By Vern Anderson Customer service is probably the most important part of any online business, but many are dropping the ball. This past week (not by design)... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-and-the-human-experience.php Historically, customer service was delivered over the phone or in person. Customers didn’t have many choices, and switching to competitors was cumbersome. Today, these methods are but two of the many possible touch points of entry for any given... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-problems-help-your-employees-look-at-a-customer-complaint-from-the-customer-s-view.php Most employees, business owners and managers are so close to the problems that they frequently miss what's right in front of their eyes. As a customer service consultant and trainer I frequently get to come in to help pick up the pieces and get... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/the-5w-s-of-world-class-customer-service-training.php The preamble to the United States Constitution begins, 'we, the people.' I feel strongly that we, the people, are what make the difference in life, both personally and professionally. The interaction anyone has at any level with your company,... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/the-physics-of-customer-service.php That probably sounds a little too technical doesn't it? Does it even make sense? How can physics relate to customer service? It's very, very simple. Every single customer service action can and will lead to a customer reaction. ... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/five-secrets-to-showing-your-customers-you-really-care.php Five Secrets to Showing Your Customers You Really Care Copyright © Ed Sykes. All rights reserved During our recent online poll, we asked the following question: What upsets you the most when receiving poor customer service? Eighty percent of the... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/quality-of-customer-service-is-most-important.php For those of you who are working in a customer service industry, the quality of that customer service itself is the most important aspect of the job. People respond positively to good customer service. IF you are a business owner then you know... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/at-your-service-the-ten-commandments-of-great-customer-service.php Customer service is an integral part of our job and should not be seen as an extension of it. A company’s most vital asset is its customers. Without them, we would not and could not exist in business. When you satisfy our customers, they not... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/general-facts-about-crm-software.php CRM software comes for Customer Relationship Management software and it is and industry term for software solutions that help business companies managing customer relationships in an organized way. The concept of CRM software or solutions... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/5-action-ideas-to-deal-with-difficult-people.php Do you find it stressful dealing with difficult people? This article provides five simple steps that will show you how to deal with difficult customers, colleagues, or your boss! When was the last time you had to deal with a... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/top-ten-tips-for-outstanding-customer-service.php Remember the 80:20 rule? You may not get everything perfectly right, but getting most right will be much, much better than the majority of your competition. These Top Ten Tips for Customer Service will get you well on the way. 1)... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/good-customer-service-equals-good-communication.php Good Customer Service Equals Good Communication We've all had good and bad shopping experience, and if you'd like to explore the topic, Planetfeedback.com has the statistics on shopping experiences. Though it's not a research company, it can... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/check-yourself-for-outstanding-customer-service.php How many times have you heard something similar to this in a customer service situation? Customer: “Why don’t you just do it this way, and it will take care of the situation.” Customer Service Person: “I understand what you are saying, but we can... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/what-is-a-customer-service-record-or-csr.php No telecommunications audit or cost-reduction study is complete without a thorough review of local service records - commonly referred to as the "Customer Service Record" or "CSR". While a simple review of telecom bills can reveal cost-saving... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/writing-the-book-on-great-customer-service.php Q: One of the big chain bookstores recently opened up near my small book store. Already I can see my business starting to decline. Is there anything I can do to compete with the bigger store or should I just accept the inevitable? --... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-in-your-work-at-home-business.php Customer service is not just an abstract concept that business professionals like to throw at you. It is a tried and true way for you to keep your customers returning. If you follow these 6 general rules, you can significantly improve customer... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/what-is-great-customer-service.php In almost all cases customers come to your business because they have a problem and believe that you may have the solution. Whether you do, or whether you can build enough trust with the customer to let them solve their problem is up to you. In... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/5-simple-tips-for-dealing-with-nasty-customers.php If you've been in business very long, you've likely heard it all! You know, the irate customer who is going to sue you over the nineteen dollar product that they claim is bogus; the one that's going to "shut your business down" because they... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-stop-sabotaging-your-customer-relationships.php If you've called for customer service recently you're familiar with this recorded message "This call may be recorded or monitored for quality purposes." I immediately think to myself, "Oh great, here comes the game of 20 questions." Now don't... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/is-your-customer-service-excellent.php "The last person to buy from you is the most likely to buy again and soon." This quote is an old one and I do not know the author but I do know it to be true. After spending fourteen years of my life owning and running a retail art gallery, I was... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/how-to-build-customer-relationships.php Copyright 2005 Jennifer McGroary Building a lasting relationship with your customers is a vital marketing strategy in ensuring the existence of your business. Making your customers unhappy even once can impact their likelihood of ever... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-satisfaction-is-your-business.php Customer Satisfaction Is Your Business Copyright 2004 Bob Leduc http://BobLeduc.com Regardless of what business you are in - you are really in the business of satisfying customers. The degree of customer satisfaction you deliver determines the... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/how-to-build-extreme-customer-service-from-the-inside-out.php “How to Build Extreme Customer Service from the Inside Out” Marilyn Manning, Ph.D., Speaker “Always do right. This will surprise some and astonish the rest”, Mark Twain “Thousands of businesses will be shaken and even shattered by their inability... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/what-do-customers-really-want.php It sounds so easy, yet the graveyard of business is littered with the tombstones of companies that never found the answer. Well, that's not entirely true; some companies had the answer, but couldn't articulate it in terms of products and... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/calling-customer-service-how-to-win-the-war-part-1-of-2.php Customer service, how I loathe thee. Let me count the ways. The never-ending loop of obnoxious hold music. The pressure to buy new products and services. The poor-quality, outsourced call to a distant land. A call to customer service can be an... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/improving-customer-service.php Improving customer service starts at the top - with us owners and managers. We need to be living pictures of how we want our staff to treat customers. Having 10 plus years operating, owning and working in the food business and being a... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/increase-sales-with-customer-service.php Increase Sales with Customer Service by Melanie McIntosh We all think we are doing well with our own customer service. With so much information available on customer service, why is service still one of the biggest complaints by customers?... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/how-to-kick-your-customer-service-up-a-notch.php How To Kick Your Customer Service Up A Notch! Welcome to the inaugural issue of Human Tech Tips -- Tip #1. How do we take your customer service and kick it up a notch? This is a big question so where do we begin? As an overview, it's a... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/are-you-providing-outstanding-customer-service.php Your customers are your business. Without them, life would be very difficult. The best way to keep your customers, and get new ones, is to provide outstanding customer service. Any contact with a customer provides fertile ground for giving great... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/crm-and-customer-life-cycle.php Customer Relationship Management or CRM is a combination of enterprise strategies, business processes and information technologies used to learn more about customers' needs and behaviors in order to develop stronger relationships with them. CRM... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-relationships-make-them-come-back.php A key component of success lies in your ability to generate repeat and referral business, and a sure way to do this is by forming lasting relationships with your customers. Here are 10 things you shall do: 1. Set yourself apart from the... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/why-is-excellent-customer-service-important.php Why Is Excellent Customer Service Important? Every existing and new employee needs to understand why excellent internal and external customer service is important to the success of both staff and company. How do you instill this level... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/how-to-build-great-customer-relationships-via-phone.php Business is about creating and maintaining customer relationships. But what is a relationship? It means communication. If you ask people in a work setting, "What would improve work, profits and customer service the most where you work?" the answer... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/the-secret-to-perfect-customer-service.php As a Customer Service Supervisor for more than eight years, I've handled the worst kind of customers and trained my share of Representatives. The truth is, contact with a Rep is often the deciding factor between keeping and losing your best... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/what-s-the-customer-service-buzz-about-your-business.php Small Business Q&A with Tim Knox If you're a regular reader of this column you know that my number one pet peeve is bad customer service. Nothing chaps my backside more than paying hard-earned money for a product or service only to have the... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/company-policy-does-more-damage-to-customer-service-than-anything-else.php As a customer service consultant I see things across many companies that most companies don't see while working inside the company. o Company Policy One of the biggest problems is "company policy." Many company policies are structured to... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/have-you-hugged-your-customer-today.php I'm not just being mushy! I don't mean literally. What I am saying is customer appreciation is the best way to create customer loyalty. Good customer service is the surest path to success in any business. Lets face it without customers your... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/10-tips-for-improving-customer-service-and-keeping-more-of-your-customers.php 1. Customer service is all about customers' needs first and your needs second. If your customers expect a response from you in 24 hours and you always respond much later, that's putting your needs first and their needs second. 2. Customers... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/satisfying-your-customers-is-as-simple-as-this.php Customer service is everywhere. It seems everyone we deal with now is a 'customer service representative'. Remember when they were bank tellers, flight attendants or just the person behind the enquiries desk? So why is the experience of fantastic,... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/the-top-10-creative-strategies-for-delivering-5-star-customer-service.php Customer satisfaction is valuable, but customer loyalty is priceless. In today's competitive world of business, it is becoming more and more important to deliver customer service that is unbeatable. These ten creative strategies can support you in... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/reward-your-customers.php The formula for success for any business is to get your customers to make repeat purchases. There are a number of factors involved for getting repeat customers: pricing, quality of products and services, excellent customer service etc. One of the... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/how-to-know-your-customers-inside-out.php It is common knowledge that customers are the lifeblood of businesses. Let’s face it, if you don’t have customers, you don’t have a business. Yet, while most businesses say that the customer is an important part of their business, their actions do... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/how-to-keep-customers.php How to Keep Customers Who was it that said - "The customer is always right"? Well for those of you who can't get through the day without knowing, it was H Gordon Selfridge, the founder of Selfridges's department store in London. The question I... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/use-your-knowledge-skills-to-improve-customer-service.php by Carole Nicolaides © 2001 http://www.kminnovation.com We live in an increasingly service-oriented economy. A better phrase might be an "attention-oriented economy". No doubt you already understand the importance of serving your... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/good-customer-service-would-you-like-fries-with-that.php We all like to be treated with good customer service -- respect and kindness -- when receiving services or purchasing products, but how many of us are conscious of our own attitude and body language when the roles are reversed and we are the... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/the-secret-to-great-customer-service-is-to-never-let-your-customer-s-glass-become-empty.php =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The Secret To Great Customer Service Is To Never Let Your Customer's Glass Become Empty Online Entrepreneur Q&A by Tim Knox Founder, OnlineProfits4U.com ... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-delivery.php If you want to go to the top of the league in customer service, then you need all your customer-serving staff to practise the 8 features of service D-E-L-I-V-E-R-Y. D for Dedicated. Dedicated service delivery swings into action the minute a... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/8-critical-steps-to-establish-a-customer-service-culture.php Upon reflection, most all of my interactions with displeased customers were not the result of a poor product, but rather a disappointing customer experience.  Why is that?  Because, product is not personal, customer service is. ... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/service-with-a-smile.php Successful salespeople have the ability to turn the customers they serve into advocates. They don’t directly ask for assistance, they do it by “going the extra mile” when providing service. It is only natural for satisfied customers to refer their... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/show-your-customers-you-care.php I recently went to a major computer/electronics store to buy an expensive software package. I felt good that I was able to find the software at a substantial discount. But by the time I was through paying for my purchase I never wanted to come back... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/10-rarely-used-bonuses-that-can-triple-sales.php 10 Rarely Used Bonuses That Can Triple Sales! by Larry Dotson 1. Announcement Alerts - Give customers e-mail alerts about critical information or product releases before your non customers find out about it.. 2. Discounts - Allow your... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/business-areas-that-put-a-high-price-on-customer-retention.php Customer retention is nowadays on of the most important areas of customer strategy because of the continuous rising of the customer acquisition costs. Companies that have placed great efforts and money on customer retention are the mobile... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/online-customer-service-do-it-well-or-die.php Online Customer Service... Do it well or die. There are some fundamentals in marketing anything, ONline or OFFline. EXCELLENCE in customer service ranks very highly on this "must do" list... and digital marketers ignore this fundamental rule at... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/where-have-all-the-delighted-customers-gone.php WHERE ARE THE DELIGHTED CUSTOMERS? QUESTION If every company wants to delight its customers, then how come we don't spend most of our ‘customer days’ delighted? THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES? The so-called new economy and most new business... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/3-keys-to-building-a-winning-customer-service-strategy.php How will you meet and exceed your customer's expectations and keep them coming back and spending throughout 2003? January is a time for resolutions to be made. It is also a month when resolutions are broken. Did you make a resolution to eat... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-a-lost-art.php Is customer service a lost art? Before you answer that question, take a moment and think about the last few times you have gone shopping or out to dinner. Okay, now that you have really thought about it, is your answer any different? Why is... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/world-class-customer-service.php Every day we hear reports about a "soft" economy. One expert predicts a long recession, then 15 minutes later another expert predicts a quick recovery. All of which leaves customers confused. How can we ensure that we will attract and maintain... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/do-yourself-a-favor-provide-outstanding-customer-service.php Your customers are your business. Without them, life would be very difficult. The best way to keep your customers, and get new ones, is to provide outstanding customer service. Any contact with a customer provides fertile ground for giving... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-your-advantage.php So, you don't have a multi-million dollar advertising campaign? You don't have a staff of hundreds, venture capital backing or someone from Star Trek as your spokesperson? Then perhaps it's time to look into one of the advantages that you do have... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/great-customer-service-is-the-foundation-of-business-success.php Customer Service: fundamental to success... but so often forgotten. No matter what you're selling, widgets or copywriting services, business success is built on satisfying customers -- one at a time. It's about delivering great customer service.... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/customer-service-in-your-home-based-business-it-can-make-or-break-you.php Have you ever been shopping and the salesperson ignored you? How did it make you feel to receive such poor customer service? Most people would say that they would never return to the store. Poor customer service can cost you more than clients, but... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/how-to-deliver-exceptional-customer-service.php Having been in business a number of years, I’m amazed at the number of people who don’t have the slightest idea of what customer service is. Customer service is not a way of doing things – it’s an attitude. I always love it when company’s... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/crm-101-customer-relationship-management-for-beginners.php Customer Relationship Management, abbreviated “CRM,” is the term for a business strategy that is designed to improve customer service. CRM is also designed to increase customer satisfaction and gain new customers, thus increasing a business’... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/improve-customer-service-with-gps-vehicle-tracking-systems.php Business owners: use GPS vehicle tracking systems to improve customer service and bring your business into the Information Age. The Information Age allows us to read breaking news, review up-to-the-minute stock-market information and check... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/consumers-demand-better-customer-service.php (ARA) - If you receive bad customer service from a company on the telephone, through e-mail or a Web site, you are likely to take your business elsewhere next time, a recent study shows. Research co-sponsored by Kelly Services and Purdue... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/leave-your-buts-behind-for-great-customer-service.php How many times have you heard something similar to this in a customer service situation? Customer: “Why don’t you just do it this way, and it will take care of the situation.” Customer Service Person: “I understand what you are saying, but we can... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/top-ten-strategies-for-delivering-5-star-customer-service.php Customer satisfaction is valuable, but customer loyalty is priceless. In today's competitive world of business, it is becoming more and more important to deliver customer service that is unbeatable. These ten creative strategies can support you... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/caring-for-your-customers.php You probably think I am going to say something like, "The customer is always right." Right?? Wrong. I have many philosophies when dealing with customers, but I definitely do not believe that the customer is always right. However, when the... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/difficult-customers-there-s-no-such-thing.php A couple of years ago I had a call from a Customer Service Manager working in the paper industry. He wanted me to run a seminar for his team, on "How to Deal with Difficult Customers". I had several telephone conversations with this manager... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/a-guide-for-customer-service-training-tools.php Let's face it, good customer service can make or break a company. Even if the product is top-notch, if the sales representatives don't have great customer service skills, it doesn't matter. Customer service should be a number one priority to any... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/think-positive-care-for-your-customers.php Operating a business on a daily basis dealing with customers can actually be frustrating and they often don't make it easy for you and your employees to treat them nicely. You need to remember where all your revenue and sales come from for your... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/2-customer-service-tips-for-the-rocket-scientist.php Customer service isn’t rocket science, you know. It really isn’t. (Unless, of course, you work at NASA Customer Service). For the rest of us non rocket scientists though, here’s a couple of examples I experienced within one week, of shocking... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/are-you-a-customer-centric-organization.php Most companies think they are. After all, don't companies hire nice people, and provide them some training? Don't these same companies intend to do their best by supplying good products, installing toll-free numbers, and generally fixing problems... http://www.what-is-customer-service.magicblur.com/10-ways-to-improve-your-customer-service.php 1. Stay in contact with customers on a regular basis. Offer them a free e-zine subscription. Ask customers if they want to be updated by e-mail when you make changes to your Web site. After every sale, follow-up with the customer to see if they...