Enthusiasm, Energy and Success Are Critical Keys For Providing Excellent Customer Servi

There are basically 5 different reasons why nothing great is ever accomplished without enthusiasm.

First, no great success is ever attained in life without the surmounting of obstacles. In every life there are challenges. Some people view challenges as problems, others view them as opportunities. This marks one big difference between those people who give up and those who move up. You need to understand the positive role obstacles can play in your development. Challenges will push you. They stretch you. They make you develop your potential. Because you cannot leap a hurdle without energy, you need to value energy. You need to understand and embody the power of enthusiasm.

Secondly, without the motivation that comes with enthusiasm, you will never dig deep enough to discover and develop all the talents you have that can lead you to the greatest accomplishments of which you are ultimately capable. Developing your talents is itself sometimes an arduous task. Without enthusiasm for what you are doing and what you are becoming, it could be at times an exhausting and dispiriting task. It takes energy. You will often need to push yourself to find that you are capable to find what you’re capable of doing, and what you are capable of being.

There is a third reason why nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm. Great success requires great risk. It does not come cheap. You need to be willing to try things you have never tried before. Maybe even things nobody else has ever tried before.

The fourth reason why enthusiasm, or strong emotional commitment, is typically necessary for greatness is that, without it, you can easily be tempted to settle for nothing more than a basic, minimal competence in what you do, at best.

No great success was ever attained alone. No one in this life ever accomplishes anything worthwhile flying completely solo, from start to finish. Satisfying success is always in some way, and most times in many ways, a social product, which results when people work together. Whatever your dream is, whatever your goals are, you cannot do it alone.

It is important to clearly understand how this comes into play with providing excellent customer service. It is not your perception of how good the service is that counts. It actually has to do with the perceptions of the customer. The customer is the one who matters.

Excellent customer service exceeds customer needs (real or perceived) in a consistent and dependable manner. Note the phrase real or perceived. This is very important in understanding excellent customer service. It is not your perception of how good the service is that counts. It is the perception of each customer that matters. These perceptions include how customers react to your attitude, your concern for their problems, and the way you handle their questions or service requirements.

When you provide service over the telephone, you may speak with the same customer many times. Even though you have never met this person face-to-face, you probably have an idea of what he or she is like. You may even have a mental image of what a particular customer looks like. Customers are no different. Likewise, they also have an image of you. As a valued employee, you have the ability to influence the perceptions of many customers. It is important to remember that you are in a direct position to win or lose company business!

Pj Germain
1softwarereview.com/bestautoresponder

http://www.affiliate-success.org/recommends/unselfish_marketer

Support Ticket Software: Silent Money Maker?

How do you know if you need a support ticket software. There’s a series of things you would normally consider to find out if you really need one, but I came up with a couple of questions that will help you realize if you really need to manage your support effectively: Do you own a website? Does your website get visitors that are curious about your products or services? Do you get emails from your visitors asking you the same questions?

The problem is that you don’t know how to automate all your support, and even with a support ticket software you won’t necessarily be able to do it because not all of them are made the same. This is why so many marketers that are making incredible amounts of money online have spend hundreds of hours a month answering emails and doing the same support (most of them without even knowing it) over and over.

Why don’t they find a solution, well who really knows, but I know you’re a sharp cookie if you’re still reading so don’t fall into the category of the people that run their business in the same way for years you know, the ones where 5 years later they are EXACTLY the same, you want to be constantly improving your business to work less and sell more. That’s what this article is about.

If you actually manage the queries from your customers, the benefits become so apparent it would be hard not to pat yourself on the back because you’ve actually done something really effective. Some of the benefits of doing this are : Reducing your support by almost 90%, your responses actually getting through to all your customers, answering questions in less than 30 seconds effectively, and many more.

This is why if you get a support ticket software that does this, you will not only save thousands hours per year but it will also allow you to focus on creating new projects, making more money. You see, it’s not how much time you work, because you can spend a lot of time doing activities that are not profitable, but it’s how effectively you work. If you work smart you don’t have to work as much and chances are you’ll make much more money in the process.

The way to get to this place with your website is simply by setting up a support ticket software on your website. I know this doesn’t seem like that much at first but there is enourmous power in doing this to your website. The key is to place the right script that does one simple function: Put all your FAQ’s in front of the customer before he asks a question. That is how they find their answer.

There are many scripts out there that are just designed to organize your tickets. That’s good but it’s not all that you want to get. You want a solution that also places your commonly asked queries in front of your customers automatically so you don’t have to answer the same question over and over. So do a search and you’ll find if you really need a ticket systema and the one that works the best for you.

Looking for a way to turn your business around? Discover how a Support Ticket Software can save you time and set the profits for your business on Fire! Visit http://www.premiumresponse.com for details.

Complaining Customers and Your Lawn Care Business.

Let’s face it. You can’t please everyone.
As a lawn business owner you want to keep your customers happy so they keep using your service.

When customers are dissatisfied they will fall into one of three types of complaining customers:

Passive
Aggressive
Constructive

Let’s take a look at each one.

Passive Complainers-
These are the worst kind as far as I’m concerned. They will complain to friends, family and anyone that will listen. They complain to everyone within listening range that is, except the one person who can do something about it, you.
Since you don’t know there is a problem how are you supposed to do anything about it??
The only thing this type of customer does is keep you from making the situation better and providing the type of service they really want. (or at least claim they want)

Aggressive Complainers-
These complainers are difficult to please and are sometimes more concerned with displaying their emotions than in actually caring if you do something to address their problem or complaint.
They may shout, jump to conclusions, make unreasonable demands, and even make threats. Let them vent. Sometimes they just want to get it out.
Aggressive complainers should be handled by you staying calm and cool. If you can’t do this, it’s better to let someone else talk to them, or talk to them at a time once you’ve calmed down and aren’t so mad yourself. (Even if it’s only 15 or 2 minutes later)

Constructive Complainers-
People who are constructive complainers can actually help your business.
They will address problems or concerns in a calm, rational and often helpful manner.
Constructive complainers often allow you to see and understand what the problem is so you can make corrections that will be satisfactory to all involved.
For me I am most likely to go out of my way to help solve the problem for this type of complainer. To be honest I hate to even call them a complainer. I think of them more like a constructive criticism advisor. This type of customer can really help you make your business better.

No matter what type of complainer you have on your hands, do your best to deal with and handle complaints with the utmost care. Try to put yourself in the customer’s shoes and see things from their angle if possible. Being an empathetic listener is key to help you help your customer achieve the results they are after.
If you deal with complaints in a timely manner and handle them effectively both parties should feel like they have achieved a win-win solution.

If you would like to find out more about starting and running your own sucessful lawn care business be sure to check out our articles and videos at http://www.lawncare-businss.com and http://www.lawnprosoftware.com

Six Sigma And The Customer

The customer centric focus of Six Sigma methodologies cannot be sidelined for any reason whatsoever. Although the end results of Six Sigma implementation (such as improvement of bottom line profitability and lean management) are quite significant, the ultimate value addition comes in the form of the return of satisfied customers. In the business world, constant pressure for innovation stems from increasing changes in customer demands and global technological challenges. Companies that get to the top and stay there are there in the first place because of their commitment to change through Six Sigma initiatives.

Six Sigma And The Customer

Six Sigma, a quality management tool founded on statistical approaches and devised by Motorola, helps improve customer satisfaction through significant changes to cost and product utility. The entire approach is innovative; with the implementation of Six Sigma, instead of attempting to fight with mechanics, the focus shifts automatically to strategies and integration of efforts.

Some companies are taking initiatives to take the Six Sigma methodology to customers, outside company walls and actively involving them in an effort to integrate them into the process. This approach is proving to be a resounding success by placing these corporations ahead of competition.

Engaging The Customer

Today’s customers are wary that they get nudged into buying products by customer savvy marketers in the clutter that we call “the market”. Six Sigma works to make things clear to the customers by sharpening the cutting edge (value) that customers are looking for in a product.

The customer is engaged strategically at a stage when plans are being drawn up. By listening to customers and involving them in the process, the company can gain an in -depth understanding of why they are moving in the direction that they are moving, locally as well as globally. This approach also helps in building trust and loyalty.

Companies like Motorola, who implement Six Sigma, go beyond product development and profits in their commitment to customers. In addition to their regular help line, they have established another line dedicated to this purpose. Customers can use this line of communication for more detailed questions relating to either product or service, and track the status of their original question. This is a classic example of individual level quality demands being met through Six Sigma implementation.

Looking Ahead

Another strategic approach has been taken by GE Commercial Finance, and is a true revolutionary step in the commercial lending business. The ACFC initiative (At the Customer, For the Customer,) clearly showed what the customers needed and why, with over 30% of them answering, they needed Six Sigma. Effective communication with customers has made GE a favorite among consumers. GE has successfully implemented the initiative and in addition, is now sharing its Six Sigma experiences with smaller customers who can’t afford to implement Six Sigma in their own companies.

With the “belts” working from the front, companies can get into a win-win situation with their customers because of the feedback they receive. If this approach directly benefits the customers, it benefits the companies too. However old or large the company is, it gets to interact with its customers one-on-one. The positive result of this is seen in further building of a company’s customer base and increased profitability. The goal of matching people with projects, made possible with Six Sigma, brings about a win-win situation for all.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions – Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

5 Steps To Making Your Customer Happy

Customers are demanding quality products and services again after the turnaround from the recession of the 1980s. They can no more be seduced into buying just anything through discounts and slick marketing methods. The goal in customer satisfaction lies in making customers feel that their needs have been met. Experience with Vilfredo Pareto’s 80/20 rule tells us that 80% of the value of business results from only 20% of targeted efforts. This implies that keeping your current customers happy is 8-10 times cheaper/easier than gaining new customers. Get more return on your efforts by focusing on repeat customers. Here are 5 steps you can take to keep your customers happy:

1. Put Your Customer First And Identify The Best One: Customer focus is a must to begin with and no matter what you do, you are at the service of your customer. Customer service begins with your employees following this rule. Gathering customer information like birthdays, their preferences, habits, spending profiles, etc. and acting upon it paves the way for healthy interactions with them in addition to collecting feedback about your products and services. Some companies are actually using six sigma to help achieve this systematically.

2. Keep Updating Customer Data By Staying Close To Them: Customer profiles keep changing with changes to their financial and social conditions. A change in contact details or purchase preferences comes in handy in the management of customer relationships. For example, a card sent when a customer purchases their first home is certain to please the customer. This also helps adjust products and services according to customers’ expectations.

3. Categorize Customers: You can group customers broadly by their demands, specific requirements and nature. You can start doing this by asking basic questions. As expectations vary, one single product may not satisfy everyone. Different products and services may have to be developed to meet different customer needs. Many companies have used six sigma to help achieve this.

4. Pay Attention To The Little Details: Ironing out little shortcomings is a mark of perfection and catches attention of niche customers. This little extra is the thing that makes you stand out in the crowd. Customers love to identify themselves with companies that do this.

5. Communicate Positively: Communicating to target customers need not be just about your services/products. You can communicate positively midway through the service for a tip/correction or take/give a suggestion that pleases the customer. This is also perceived as an attempt to develop personalized communication and service.

If keeping customers happy is the mantra for sustaining and growing your business, this end goal is perhaps the basic purpose of six sigma methodology which many companies have effectively used to increase customer satisfaction.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions – Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.