You know the customer is always right. But what do you do if they’re not?
Every business owner knows that complaints are unavoidable, but too many of them are failing to handle customer complaints appropriately. All it takes is listening to your customers, acknowledging their complaints, and then working to remedy the situation if possible.
Customer service doesn’t have to be costly or complicated; at its core, it’s about simply being attentive and responsive to your customers’ needs. Make sure to correct that in order to keep your customers satisfied.
A good positive attitude and staying calm can go a long way towards keeping customers happy. It can also stopping them from expressing their feelings in an online public forum.
Tip #1 – Take a Proactive Stance
A good attitude and a proactive stance can go a very long way towards diffusing an unhappy or angry customer. Clearly communicating that you are working to fix the situation and doing so in a positive manner will diffuse most negative customer scenarios. Remember, customers want to know that you are listening to them. So, stay positive and proactive, and you’ll be sure to handle customer complaints with ease.
Tip #2 – Take Quick Action to Fix the Problem
When a customer feels calm and reassured, it’s time to take quick action to fix the problem. Making a promise and then not following through could have a disastrous effect on your company’s reputation. So make sure that you address the problem as soon as possible.
Tip #3 – Always Stay Calm
When a customer is unhappy and takes the time to write an email or post a negative review online, it’s clear they’re displeased. However, if they’re angry enough to pick up the phone and call, that anger is likely to boil over during the conversation. That’s why it’s important for business owners to be ready to deal with angry customers in a calm and collected fashion.
Employees should never match the anger of a customer. Instead, focus on demonstrating that they are going to fixing the problem. Training employees in how to deal with customer complaints can help them stay composed when things are in heat
Tip #4 – Look for Customer Dissatisfaction Problem Patterns
Business owners should always be on the lookout for customer dissatisfaction patterns. This means that if the same complaints keep popping up, then it’s likely that there’s a larger issue that needs to be addressed. When this occurs, it’s important to move quickly to remedy the problem. Not only will this make your customers happier, but it will also make your business stronger in the long run.
Tip #5 – Track Your Success
Never assume that the situation has been resolved until the customer has actually verified that the issue has been fixed. For this reason, it is always a good idea to follow up with customers and ask for feedback. You can do this by mailing them questionnaires, emailing them follow-ups, or even phoning them. This will help you to track your success and make sure that your customers are happy with the resolutions you’ve made.
When businesses don’t address customer complaints in a timely and effective manner, it can lead to bigger problems down the road. The key to avoiding this is to invest in a quality customer service team. This will help you resolve customer complaints quickly and efficiently, saving you time, effort, and money in the long run.