If you run a business, you will have customers. And if you have customers, you need to take care of them in the best way possible. That means putting them first and ensuring they get what they want, within reason, all the time.
This might sound easy, but it isn’t always. In fact, sometimes, depending on the type of business you run and perhaps even how busy you are, it’s something that is ignored or forgotten about altogether.
Yet if you can put your customer first, they will keep coming back. They will be happy to buy from you even if your prices rise a little (which you’ll have to do at some point). Not only that, but they’ll recommend your business to friends, family, colleagues, and so on. You’ll be much more successful when you put the customer first. With that in mind, here are some ways to do it.
Respond Quickly
Thanks to all the digital technology we’re surrounded with, most people will expect a quick response if they ask a question or place an order. They might not expect it immediately (although some will, which is why an auto-response email can be useful), but they certainly won’t want to go too long before you get back to them, especially if they want to make a purchase. Instead, they’ll go to a competitor where they do get a response and buy from them.
Therefore, make it a rule to respond as quickly as you can to customers and potential customers. You also need to make sure you are polite and kind when you do so; the wrong word or tone can do a lot of harm.
Make Things Easy For Them
No one wants to do anything that is harder than it needs to be, and as a business owner, you can prevent your customers from having to go through this problem by ensuring the right tech and processes are in place. This is true whether you’re an online store or a physical business.
Take payments, for example. When someone wants to pay for something, it should be quick and simple, and it should work the first time. The best thing to do is find software that links directly to your specific niche, as you’re more likely to find customers who appreciate it. If you run a car wash, look at a mobile POS for car wash, for example, and so on. When the tech matches the business and is easy to use, customers will love it.
Keep Them Updated
Customers like to feel they are involved in their favorite businesses. The more involved they feel, the more likely they are to stay loyal and spend more – and tell others, of course, which is so important.
There are a number of things you can do, but ensuring your customers are kept up to date should be a high priority. This could be done through newsletters, blogs, video updates, or social media, for example. Again, how you do it will depend on what your customers prefer, so bear that in mind when deciding what option to take.
