Hi, I'm Akhil Shahani, a serial entrepreneur who wants to help you succeed. If you like to work smart, check out http://www.SmartEntrepreneur.net . It's full of articles and resources to help you start and grow your business successfully. Please visit us & download our special "Freebie of The Month" at
http://www.smartentrepreneur.net/freebie-of-the-month.html
”The single most important thing to remember about any enterprise is that there are no results inside its walls. The result of a business is a satisfied customer.”
- Peter Drucker
We all agree with the adage that the customer is king. It is a well known fact that no business can survive without a customer base. Regardless of what business you are in, satisfying customers is really what it’s all about. The long term survival of your business will depend on the level of customer satisfaction that it can consistently maintain.
Foster a culture of customer orientation in your firm. Satisfied customers have a nice habit of coming back. This will not only result in larger profits, but more importantly, favorable word of mouth. Make customer satisfaction your business mantra and there will be no looking back.
So what do you need to do to make sure you’ve done your bit to satisfy customers? Read on….
Under promise and over deliver: Never promise something that is out of your reach. It will make the customer think twice about doing business with you, or worse, you might just scare him off altogether. Remember that negative word of mouth spreads like wildfire and is the fastest way to hit the bottom of the popularity charts. Be careful while making commitments, but once made, do everything to keep your word.
Give more than expected: The best way to win customer loyalty is to exceed expectations in terms of quality and service. Your competitors too will have a tough time trying to lure your customers away with lower prices. Surprise your customers with small caring gestures. A birthday or holiday greeting is a nice way to stay in touch, without giving the impression that you’re trying to sell something. It makes the customer feel wanted and valued. Make it a habit of going that extra mile to achieve customer satisfaction. Tools such Quick Books Customer Manager 2.0 can automate the process of managing voluminous customer databases and generating marketing communication.
Communicate with customers: Let your customers know you value them. Communicate with them on important issues. For example, if you launch a special scheme just for your existing customers, do ensure they know of it well in advance. Also, announce new products or services to them before you announce them to the general market. This will also provide you with an opportunity to convert your customers into pre-launch publicity agents!
Respond Promptly: The most annoying thing for customers is waiting days for a response to an email or phone call. It might not always be possible to deal with all customer queries within a few hours, but an email or call to let them know you've received their message and you'll contact them as soon as possible will do the trick. Even if you're not able to solve a problem right away, let the customer know you're working on it. Books like “Satisfaction: How Every Great Company Listens to the Voice of the Customer”, makes interesting reading.
Customer Service Policy: There's nothing more annoying for a customer than to be passed on from person to person, or not knowing who to turn to for complaint resolution. Make sure they know exactly what to do at each stage of their enquiry. A clearly defined customer service policy is the first step towards ensuring customer satisfaction.
Remember, in any business, satisfying customers takes priority. Answer these questions, “What would you want from a business as a customer? How would you want to be treated?” And you will know what to do.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Customer Satisfaction Solutions
- Increasing It Customer Satisfaction And It Performance In A Difficult Economy With Tight Budgets
- How to Increase IT Help Desk Customer Satisfaction and IT Help Desk Performance
- Measuring Customer Satisfaction
- How to Create Effective Customer Satisfaction Surveys
- Expand Your Business Through Customer Satisfaction
- Importance Of Customer Satisfaction In A Recession
- Is A Customer Satisfaction Guarantee Realistic In Business?




Can I View Criminal Records At No Cost To Check A Persons Criminal History
By: James Nash | 02/01/2010Finding criminal records isn’t hard as you think but it’s more than necessary when you’re hiring someone new to work with. You can spare yourself a lot of trouble if you decide to find these records on the internet because they provide the fastest service at the cheapest prices.
In-house acronyms use: An epiphany
By: Tom Aaron | 02/01/2010This article discusses bureaucracies and acronyms. I've always been somewhat contemptuous of bureaucracies in that they have too many rules, too many forms, and too many acronyms. This morning, however, I had an epiphany. We had become a bureaucracy. We had acronyms, and we were creating more of them.
How to Achieve a Quick Home Sale in Today’s Real Estate Market
By: Shehryaar Shaukat | 02/01/2010The current economic crisis has had a profound impact on the real estate market. For this reason many home owners looking to make a quick home sale are struggling to find buyers, especially in cases where the house in question requires repair and restructuring. Irrespective of the reasons that may be driving you to sell your house, the real challenge is to be able to find buyers willing to purchase the house at an agreed upon price, preferably in an “as is” condition and as soon as possible.
How to Compare Press Release Distribution Services
By: Jason Kay | 02/01/2010Many people look for help writing a press lease, but it doesn't matter how well written your press lease is if no one sees it. While there are some free press release distribution services, you may have more success by having utilizing a professional distribution service. Whether you are looking to...
Earn Money Easily - Invest in a Franchise
By: Franchise Mike | 02/01/2010Starting your franchise has now become practically very easy, especially if you are using the Internet. Prior to the Internet the typical course of action might be to talk to a franchise consultant to recommend a suitable franchise to you. The consultant might only handle a dozen-or-so franchises and is...
Buy a Franchise Today- Your Way to Instant Success
By: Franchise Mike | 02/01/2010If you are looking to start a business that will succeed easily and also earn you a steady income, getting a franchise is a great way to start. Although some costs are involved when you go about leasing or purchasing a franchise, you can be assured of decent returns on...
Get the Perfect Franchise Using the Internet
By: Franchise Mike | 02/01/2010Purchasing a franchise is a great way to launch a new business in your area with assured success. However, you will need to invest a certain amount of money in your franchise, and before you do this you will want to know everything there is. The best way to find...
How to Get A Poor Credit Business Loan
By: Liz Roberts | 02/01/2010Any type of business- whether big or small, is confronted with financial challenges. For some business owners, getting financial help is doubly hard because of poor credit. If you're a business owner, do you have the same concern as well? Do you find it difficult to get a business loan because of your credit standing? If so, where can you find help?
What to Do When Writing an E-book
By: Akhil Shahani | 16/05/2008 | EBookswriting an e-book
Understanding Private Equity Funds
By: Akhil Shahani | 12/05/2008 | BusinessPrivate Equity Funds
Underperformers: Finding the Root Cause
By: Akhil Shahani | 12/05/2008 | BusinessUnderperformers
Types of Business Licenses and Permits
By: Akhil Shahani | 12/05/2008 | BusinessBusiness Licenses and Permits
Transformational Leadership: Inspiring to Change
By: Akhil Shahani | 12/05/2008 | BusinessTransformational Leadership
Are Companies Training Their Employees Right
By: Akhil Shahani | 12/05/2008 | Businesscompanies training their employees right
Tips for Problem Solving
By: Akhil Shahani | 12/05/2008 | BusinessProblem Solving