| Have you ever wondered why we move to the complex end of the spectrum at the beginning of solving a problem and build customer relationships? I certainly have, especially after making the mistake myself. In the field of designing positive experiences for customer relationship building, there will certainly be many designs that will take some serious thinking. But hopefully not at the expense of the little things you can do to build customer relationships. Such as what you may ask? The customer engagement checklist starts with a foundation of little things that, when not done well, can make the more complex customer experience design actions a moot point. Let’s examine a checklist of these ‘little’ items that Digital Spark Marketing recommends to its clients: Acknowledge that I am there … as soon as possible. If you are busy with another customer, inform me you will be with me shortly. Be personable … smile and introduce yourself. Know more than your customers do … about your products and services. Always assume they have done their own homework and product research. If you don’t know, DON’T BLUFF, but do offer to do some research. Don’t sell … use your knowledge and experience to help customers decide. Listen to them well … and make sure you understand their question(s). Help them complete their visit quickly … and hopefully, without seeking other help, or ‘handing them off’. Be easy to work with … and exceed expectations whenever you can. If your business doesn’t have what the customer wants, off alternatives, including other businesses. Be honest … and if you don’t know say so. Always … do what you say (promise). Follow through promptly … and keep them informed until you can close. These are not things that we do not already know, of course. Yet these little things list simply reminds us of what we already know but may have forgotten. Then it is up to us to put these lessons (or reminders) into daily use through persistence and practice. |
Tag: be honest
What Little Things Small Businesses Can Do To Build Customer Relationships
Have you ever wondered why we move to the complex end of the spectrum at the beginning of solving a problem? I certainly have, especially after making the mistake myself. Looking to build customer relationships?
In the field of designing positive experiences for customer relationship building, there will certainly be many designs that will take some serious thinking. But hopefully not at the expense of the little things you can do to build customer relationships. Such as what you may ask?
The customer engagement checklist starts with a foundation of little things that, when not done well, can make the more complex customer experience design actions a moot point.
Let’s examine a checklist of these ‘little’ items that Digital Spark Marketing recommends to its clients:
Acknowledge that I am there
… as soon as possible. If you are busy with another customer, inform me you will be with me shortly.
Be personable
… smile and introduce yourself.
Know more than your customers do
… about your products and services. Always assume they have done their own homework and product research. If you don’t know, DON’T BLUFF, but do offer to do some research.
Don’t sell
… use your knowledge and experience to help customers decide.
Listen to them well
… and make sure you understand their question(s).
Help them complete their visit quickly
… and hopefully, without seeking other help, or ‘handing them off’.
Be easy to work with
… and exceed expectations whenever you can. If your business doesn’t have what the customer wants, off alternatives, including other businesses.
Be honest
… and if you don’t know say so.
Always
… do what you say (promise).
Follow through promptly
… and keep them informed until you can close.
The bottom line
These are not things that we do not already know, of course.
Yet these little things list simply reminds us of what we already know but may have forgotten. Then it is up to us to put these lessons (or reminders) into daily use through persistence and practice.
Customers … any adders to this checklist?
Businesses … do you refresh this checklist with your staff frequently?
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5 Ways to Make Your Products Stand Out
In this day and age, getting your products to stand out from the other products on the shelf is the key to success. There are just so many choices consumers can go for and it’s up to you to give them a reason to choose you over your competitors. While having a powerful brand is a must, it’s also critical that you know how to present your products in different and unique ways. If you’re wondering how to do this, there are ways to make your products stand out.
Make it simple
Try to put yourself in the shoes of your customers who barely have time to fit running to the store into their schedule. Do you think they spend their time reading the small print and trying to figure out what your products are all about? Nowadays, people simply have to make quick purchase decisions and that’s something you need to have in mind.
Creating products and product packaging that’s easy to decipher is a guaranteed way to get closer to your customers and give them a reason to buy your products again. If you want your products to send a message, make sure they do so as soon as the customer sees them on the shelf.
Know your color scheme
Colors are one of those things that truly define a person’s mood. Studies have shown that different colors evoke different emotions and that’s something you need to use to your advantage. Put some thought into what your products are all about and what colors suit them the best. For example, if you sell healthy food, incorporating green into your packaging is a must.
In case you sell toys, childish colors such as purple and blue are something you can’t go wrong with. It’s important to pick a color scheme when designing your products and stick to it no matter what. It’s even better if you manage to include it in the shelf design as well.
Find the right shapes
The label on your products plays a huge role in whether consumers will recognize your product on the shelf. After all, it’s the label that tells them what your products are and how they can use them. So, to make sure your products stand out from the crowd, you should put a lot of effort into choosing the right shape for your label.
Turn to a company that offers custom labels and pick the shape that suits your packaging the best. Just don’t forget to think about the amount of text you want to put on your label and make sure you opt for the right label size.
Be honest
If there’s one thing consumers hate it’s when the product doesn’t live up to their expectations. To make sure this never happens with your products, you have to ensure everything you say on your label is completely true. If you manage to build a positive and trusting relationship with your customers, you can be assured they’ll always notice your products before anything else on the shelf.
