Community and customer service are an imperative part of business, large and small. Businesses that forget this fact run the risk of not being in business long. How to you give to the community and to your customers? Here are some examples from companies of all sizes, some with offers you too can take advantage of. Enjoy!
Trends
Google uses tools to aid tsunami victims in Japan. The search engine deploys its Person Finder to help locate the missing in Friday’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Your small business may not be able to do something on quite so grand a scale to help with its community, but look around and decide how you can help. Los Angeles Times
How to make sure customer service isn’t customer annoyance. Sometimes the line between keeping in touch with customers or clients you haven’t seen in a while can be tricky. Don’t stay in touch and they may feel under-appreciated. Contact them now and risk being obtrusive. Is e-mail re-marketing a solution. SeeWhy
Tips
Take a few minutes. Win a customer for life. Yep, Michele Welch isn’t kidding and recounts for you the story of a fellow entrepreneur who, with a single gesture, won a customer for life…and an enthusiastic evangelist for her brand. Want to learn more about how some simple customer service can win over customers for good and create incredible customer loyalty. You’ll want to read the rest of Michele’s story above. NewBizBlogger
Giving to get your business back on track. For small business blogger John Jantsch, there is no better reason to give back than to avoid, as he puts it, “acting out of scarcity rather than abundance.” When you’re having that kind of day, try a bit of giving, including community or customer service. You’ll be surprised at the results. Duct Tape Marketing
Operations
Do your people have the freedom? The freedom to make things right and fix things for customers, that is. Lots of companies give lip service to this concept. Small business consultant Jason Kienbaum insists if your business is going to succeed at customer service, it had better be real. Read more! Business Done Now
Why give must come before get. Susan Peyton explains the basis of establishing trust, something which goes beyond social media, blogging, press releases or any of the typical tools and PR. Fact is, it’s what you do with these tools and how you engage that counts. Kind of like community and customer service, you’ve got to give to get. Are you ready? Small Business Trends
Opportunities
Get a free social media idea eveloped especially for your business. One way to offer great customer service is to offer potential customers and clients an opportunity to sample your product before they even need to write you a check. That’s the idea behind the Social Media Summer Twist. Deadline to participate is Monday March 14th. Channelship
Share your social media tip for an upcoming ebook. Help out small businesses everywhere while getting some link juice and visibility for your marketing expertise with this crowdsourcing project that will result in a resource sure to be popular in a world where social media marketing is becoming more popular and powerful by the day. It’s a great way to share with the small business community and commute your personal brand as well. JeffEsposito.com
Take the tech buying survey for your small business. Ramon Ray would like you to take a few minutes to complete this brief survey about your technology purchasing decisions for your small business. And guess what! For your time, you’ll receive a free “tech insights report” to learn more about small business technology usage for your small business planning. It’s an exciting opportunity to help small businesses everywhere gain insight into technology that could revolutionize their efforts today. smallbiztechnology.com
Learn 101 ways of working with virtual assistance. This free 10-day e-course is another example of customer service doubling as customer outreach. It’s free and promotes a list of ways virtual assistants can improve your productivity. How are you telling others about your business and what are you offering them in return. Learn more by visiting and signing up for the free online course and start thinking about offering opportunities to introduce potential customers and clients to your brand or service. Team Double-Click
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Hi guys,
Thanks very much for the mention, appreciate it!
Fred
Thanks folks!
David Kirschman
Many companies only concentrate on new business sales, and forget to provide exceptional service to existing customers. Retention is the key to business success.
Billy Gee
It all comes down to the golden rule doesnt it? “If I were my customer, what would I want?” Simple.
Another great wrap-up, guys and gals. Thanks!
Also, I recommend that everybody who’s a regular here spend a few minutes to take the tech survey from Ramon Ray.
It may help shape things to come for all of our small business needs.
The Franchise King®