Customer Service Etiquette 101

Time and time again, kindness counts, and that includes how you treat your customers. Embracing the power of proper customer etiquette means incorporating it into every facet of your business. And although they say first impressions are where it begins, it isn’t where it ends. Authentic, consistent interactions are what most people crave, and top-level customer service means fulfilling that intrinsic need. theBLOQparq (tBp) vision mimics this approach as we create a space where consistent connections and authenticity reign supreme. With the tips provided below, you can feel supported in the pursuit of sharpening your customer service skills.

What is Customer Service?

Quality customer service is multi-faceted. It involves efficient, quick, and friendly overall service by building strong relationships while resolving complaints adequately and respectfully. Customer service that manages to exceed expectations is the best way to keep your customers coming back for more.

Customer Service Skills: How to Kick It Up a Notch
Customers know good service when they see it and when they feel it. Bringing your A-game means keeping taking these winning suggestions to heart and putting them into action.

Mind your manners
Please and thank you still go a long way. Solid customer service is built on being courteous. Keeping these words in your daily vocabulary is the best way to establish rapport, demonstrate respect and even quiet the occasional squeaky wheel. It’s the little things that can make the most significant impact. People want to feel respected and appreciated.

Avoid being distracted
Now, more than ever, people are craving meaningful interactions. However, it’s common to find yourself fiddling with pencils, tapping your fingers, or checking your smartphone every few seconds. These habits all keep you from being fully present with your customer. Instead, make a conscious effort to make eye contact and truly listen to what your customer is saying. Practice phrasing back what they have said to keep yourself engaged in the conversation.

Keep others in the loop
You may be intimately associated with the day-to-day happenings of how your business works, but your customers are not. No one enjoys feeling like an outsider. You can eliminate anxiety and uncertainty for those you serve by filling them in on what to expect next in the process.

First impressions are everything
As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Greet your customers with a genuine smile and a kind hello or good morning or evening. The mileage you’ll gain from just giving them your attention when they walk through your door is a game-changer.

Show your appreciation
When it comes to operating a business of any kind, rewarding customer loyalty should always be a top priority. You want to let people know that you appreciate them choosing your brand over all the other options that exist — and you want to give them reasons to continue frequenting your place of business. Implementing referral rewards and customer loyalty programs is a smart move.

You’ll want to keep in mind the repercussions of not putting enough emphasis on delivering exemplary customer service. The damage can be detrimental, especially to a small business. According to a study conducted by Dimensional Research, 39 percent of customers will avoid a company for two years after having a bad customer service experience. Additionally, four out of ten consumers will recommend that others not frequent a business if they have had poor customer service.

On the contrary, the benefits of embracing quality customer service etiquette are immense. We’re talking about higher profits, positive word-of-mouth referrals, and precious brand loyalty. tBp wants to support you in pursuing your success by providing an environment that allows you to be inspired and, ultimately, thrive. Our micro-retail and micro-office spaces can be tailored to meet your specific needs, ensuring it is equally as unique as you and properly designed to house a business built to last.