In today’s world, any business can connect to its
customers via many channels -- email, Facebook, Twitter, phone, live chat, web
-- and the technologies to do this are available and within reach of even the
smallest of small businesses. Where a business focus on customer satisfaction
used to be a rarity, it’s now commonplace.
Experts agree that there are 3 main strategic paths that a company can follow
to success. Which one is chosen, comes
directly from their Core Strengths and Strategic Planning. These are product innovation, price and
customer service. All can lead to
customer satisfaction.
Customer satisfaction can be embellished beyond these
basics through the following:
1) The quality of your product or service
1) The quality of your product or service
While the company focuses on one of the basic strategic
paths, it also must also have at least threshold levels of the other two in
order to stay competitive in the face of competition.
2) The relationship with your customers
2) The relationship with your customers
Strong customer support and service measures in place result
in better service, less training, faster resolution and happy customers. You’ll
build customer loyalty for your brand.
3) The
overall customer experience
People don't buy products or services. They buy experiences. Creating experiences
that will make customers feel good about the reward product.
4) The financial cost vs. benefit
4) The financial cost vs. benefit
If you are in a dialog with your customer, you can more
clearly identify their true needs and create the product, service and
experience that best meets that need. It
takes away the guess work and non-productive costs.
The best companies today understand that customer
satisfaction is not just about being nice to your customers, it’s about
understanding how strong customer relationships are pivotal to a company’s success.
If you don’t know the answers to their questions, you aren’t really serving the
customer. Every interaction your customers have with your company is an
experience, and customer care should be the first responsibility of your
business. If you do it right, you'll not only score a lifelong customer, but
also an advocate for your brand—and that's a lot more valuable.
Thanks,
John
John Maver
Founder and Managing Director of Moon & Stars Consulting
President Maver Management Group
(925) 648-7561
Maver Management