If you are a good business owner, then you are already putting your customers at the heart of everything you do because, as all good company owners know, without loyal customers it is almost impossible to run a successful business.
However, no matter how much focus you are putting on the customer and no matter how happy you think they are with the service you offer, you could always make them happier. With that in mind, below you will find a few things you can do (if you aren’t already) that will make your customers even happier…
- Be more generous with your returns
One thing that customers really hate is trying to return goods that are not suitable for whatever reason when the company is not very accommodating. Whatever your thoughts on companies like Amazon, there is no denying that they keep customers coming back time and time again not only because they offer excellent value, but also because they make it very easy to return things.
Ideally, your returns process should be automated, simple, and effective. If you know you will struggle with the logistics of handling returns, then you can use reverse logistics services to make it as simple as can be. Just make sure that you make it equally as easy for your customers if you want to make them even happier, too.
- Give them more than they asked for
A really basic way to make your customers happier than they are right now is to always go above and beyond and deliver them more value than they asked for, especially if they are loyal repeat customers. This can be as simple as throwing in a little candy with their order or something a bit more substantial such as upgrading them to free next day delivery or offering them money off their next purchase – it doesn’t matter as long as you deliver a little more than they were expecting from you.
- Give them instant gratification
Who doesn’t like instant gratification? Most of us love to have an enjoyable experience right off the bat, so if you can deliver that to your customers, you will almost certainly be on to a winner. One of the best ways to do that is by ensuring that promo codes and discount offers flash up on the screen as soon as they visit your website. It will make them feel good and make them feel like they are getting more value from your business which is sure to make both them and you a whole lot happier, don’t you agree?
- Offer personalized customer support
Hopefully, if you are doing everything right, your customers will have little need to contact your customer service department, but should they have to do so, you will want to make that experience as simple and enjoyable as it can be for them. By using customer relationship management software, you can easily make your customer service experience more personal to each customer, which will make them feel like you are really listening to them and help to ensure that their contact with you is swift and satisfying.
For this reason, you should also ensure that your customer service staff have a high level of training that is updated regularly. Hiring people who are calm and as efficient as possible would also be a really good idea.
- Simplify the process
Too many businesses have websites that are overcomplicated and make buying anything way more difficult than it actually needs to be. No matter how good your products and services are, if your website is not easy to navigate, this can put people off making a purchase. So, try making a purchase on your own website and if it isn’t as streamlined and simple as you think it could be, call in the developers and have them make a few changes. It would also be a good idea to ensure that you offer as many of the available payment options in your country as possible because customers will be much happier using the method they are most comfortable with, and the last thing you want to do is alienate anyone.
- Celebrate their birthdays
This is a really simple thing, but asking your customers for their birth date is a really good way of making them happier, well as long as you are sure to reward them on their special day, anyway. Many companies send out birthday discount codes which are a pretty good thing to do, but if you want to go one better, send them an actual freebie. It doesn’t have to be anything too expensive, but they will appreciate the gesture and it will definitely put your business at the forefront of their minds which makes it a really good marketing move as well as a nice gesture to make your customers happy.
- Listen to them
Asking your customers for suggestions and actually listening to what they say is an obvious way to make them happier because you will be implementing ideas that they have actually asked for rather than ideas that you or your business partners think they MAY want. Obviously, you won’t be able to do everything that they ask for, but if there is consensus on a particular idea, you should at least look at the possibility of making it a reality if you possibly can.
- Keep improving
Things in the business world change quickly and if you don’t change with them your customers will soon notice and leave you for a company that is catering to their needs in the moment. So, be sure to keep your finger on the pulse and keep improving your customer service if you want to succeed.
Without customers, you simply would not have a business, which is why making them as happy as possible should be high on your agenda. As you can see above, there are lots of pretty basic ways to increase customer satisfaction levels, and implementing them will certainly put you ahead of the competition, so what are you waiting for?
