ontheedgeofeverything

I believe in order to truly comprehend the ins and outs of customer service, one must first immerse oneself in an environment or occupation that involves dealing with the public. Until you’ve worked a job that requires communicating with customers and satisfying their needs and demands, it’s a bit difficult to entirely understand the best ways to ensure your customers are happy.

The first job that I worked off of the farm was in the service industry, meaning I dealt with customers constantly. To this day, I am certain this initial position, slinging pitas, is what allowed me to excel in customer service in later positions, and while some experiences were not entirely pleasant, they were certainly educational in the context of knowing what to do, and what to avoid, when you’re helping customers.

Working on the farm, I’m typically working alone, so customer service is literally non-existent, unless you consider the opinions of livestock to be valid in this equation. But, in addition to the first job I ever had off of the farm, I later worked at a winery, then a clothing store, followed by a public relations agency, and then as a reporter for a magazine. I would say working as a reporter was the position in which I interacted with people the most because I needed to interview folks daily, and I’m grateful for the customer service skills I’ve picked up over the years.

Regardless of whether you work in a position that directly involves interacting with the public, strong customer service skills are skills that carry over and are applicable to all sorts of facets of life. Whether it be in personal relationships or work relationships, possessing strong customer skills equates to strong people skills, in a sense, so it’s never too late to brush up on these traits.

Here are some tips for enhancing your customer service game.

“You Need to Know Your Customers Both Inside and Out

“How much do you know your customers? No, not just knowing their names and what they buy. But really getting to know them. Their likes, dislikes, their favorite sports teams, how they take their coffee—everything. When you know these little details, you can make their experience with your business incredibly personal and special. 

“There’s that connection, and this creates loyalty (like how small towns have it). So, just imagine greeting a regular customer with their favorite drink already prepared, or sending a quick email about a product you know they’ll love because you remember their last purchase. It’s these small touches that make a massive difference.

“Be Reachable At All Times

“So before you panic, no, this doesn’t immediately mean that you have to worry about getting back to people even when you’re asleep, sick, or on vacation. But during work hours, you should be reachable. 

“Actually, there are two other things you can do; you could either outsource (but these are known for killing reputation unless you’re hiring a VA, or you could get a chatbot for website so the AI can assist your customers when you’re not available. More companies are going for chatbots because they’re fairly helpful and can be programmed a certain way, too.

“Surprise and Delight

“Now, who doesn’t love a good surprise? It doesn’t matter what it is! It could be an unexpected discount, a freebie thrown in with their order, or a handwritten thank-you note; these little surprises can turn an ordinary transaction into a memorable experience. It’s all about adding a sprinkle of delight to your customers’ day.

 “And guess what? They’ll remember it. They’ll talk about it. And they’ll come back for more. The key is to be genuine and thoughtful. Make it feel like a spontaneous act of kindness rather than a marketing ploy.

“Be Proactive, Not Reactive

“Another biggie is being proactive rather than reactive. Don’t wait for your customers to come to you with a problem. If you notice something’s not quite right, reach out first. Did a shipment get delayed? Apologize and offer a solution before they even realize there’s an issue. It’s all about being one step ahead. This level of attentiveness shows that you care deeply about their experience and are committed to making things right.”

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash