Posts

How to properly execute an online review management program

/in , , /by

StrategyDriven Customer Relationship Management Article00As a business owner or manager, if you are thinking about assembling an online review management program, you are already on the right path to managing the reputation of your company online. Properly executing an online review management strategy in order to benefit your company takes some critical thought, training, and repetition, but the payoff is ultimately being able to provide potential customers with professional profiles that are truly indicative of the quality service and goods you provide.

Executing on Your Online Review Management Program

If you are looking to make sure the process you’re implementing is successful, you’ll want to make sure that you are constantly checking in with staff and the results to see what’s working and to detect weak areas early on if any exist. We always recommend auditing your current online reviews prior to putting a new plan in place, so that you can set goals appropriately and log progress against the original values.

As you are setting up your review management program, make sure you also appoint a single person (whether this is yourself, a manager, or another staff member) to head this project. By allowing this program to “free float” between staff members, it is more likely to get dropped by the wayside or slip through the cracks when it comes to execution. Similarly, make sure you are scheduling time each week to review progress.

Once your plan is in place, you’ll want to complete the following steps:

Set Expectations

Part of your online review management program is going to consist of setting expectations, or goals. This could mean that you’d like to have 5 new reviews left on your business’s Google My Business profile within two months.

But setting expectations should also mean that you are clearly outlining that you expect staff to treat customers, clients, or patients with a set level of quality care. Similarly, let staff know that you’d like them to ask each customer for a review and to ensure that they specify a designated professional profile, like Google.

These expectations should also be held for yourself; are you asking for reviews and working to ensure that customers have a positive experience? Make sure the expectations surrounding this program are entirely positive and aimed at bettering the company as a whole.

Follow up with Staff

Once your online review management program has been set into action, make sure you’re taking time each week to check in with staff. Ask them what kind of reactions they get from customers after they’re asked to leave a review to see if an alternative method, like using a reputation management software that sends text messages, may work better.

Make sure you’re also asking staff how they feel! Do they feel awkward when asking? Has one staff member developed a great flow of conversation that leads into asking for a review much more seamlessly? These are details that should be shared and accommodated to make sure everyone is successful.

Review the Results

At set intervals, you will want to make sure that you are reviewing the results. By this point, your goals and expectations should be realistic, so seeing one review gained after two weeks of action shouldn’t necessarily be taken as a failure.

Reviewing results monthly and quarterly may be a good way to see trends and manage outcomes by working one-on-one with staff to develop better methods of asking for reviews!

Five Ways Of Improving Your Customer Retention on Your Website

/in /by

As a business owner, you want to maximize your profits of all website visitors, and turn them into returning customers. If you are not yet tracking your visitor statistics, you might want to start immediately. Without knowing what your potential customers are looking for, you can’t adjust your offers to their needs. Make sure that you are focusing on retention, so you get a better return on your online marketing investment.

1. Google Analytics

StrategyDriven Customer Relationship Management Article | Five Ways Of Improving Your Customer Retention on Your Website

The first stop for every business owner should be Google’s free Analytics tool. You can simply add a code on your website, and find out where you customers are coming from, where they live, what language they speak, which devices they use to access your site, and much more. You can easily identify your target market, and average customer when looking at your visitors’ demographics. At the same time, you can find out which pages they land on and which ones they exit.

2. Newsletters and Special Customer Discounts

To show your appreciation for your customers, you might want to create special customer discounts from time to time. This will give them a strong enough reason to sign up for your newsletter and get your marketing materials. Make sure you communicate the fact that this exclusive discount is only offered through the newsletter to existing customers.

3. Loyalty Points

A great way of improving your website’s customer retention rate is offering a loyalty scheme. Customers will get a certain number of points for each dollar they spend on your site, and they can build up their balance to exchange the points to discounts or free gifts. People will be more likely to check out your special offers or place a larger order if they know that they get a reward.

4. Sales Funnel Automation

If you would like to effortlessly look after your existing customers, you might want to automate your online sales funnels. Create a website infrastructure that guides your visitors through the process of becoming a loyal customer from the moment they first land on your site. From social media integration to regular updates, newsletters, and implementing a Cost Effective B2B Sales Tool, there are several great ways of maximizing customer value.

5. After Sales Communication

StrategyDriven Customer Relationship Management Article | Five Ways Of Improving Your Customer Retention on Your Website

Keeping in touch with your customers after they placed their first order, and requesting feedback is another great way of making them feel valued and appreciated. Send out customer surveys, invite them to your review pages, and ask them for a rating on Facebook. Send out updates and keep in touch until the item is delivered. If you offer online products, make sure your customers are able to download or access their purchase, and set up a support chat to allow them to contact you whenever they have questions.

Customer service and creating a system that makes your site visitors feel valued can improve your retention rates. You will benefit from higher search engine rankings, due to the lower bounce rate, and maximize the value of each newly acquired client. Make use of modern analytics tools to get to know your customers.

Is the Customer Always Right?

/in , /by


Consumers and company owners alike are familiar with one of the most well-known sayings in business: the customer is always right. This saying has been used for years on end. It is most often attributed to the Marshall Field’s Department Store (which later became Macy’s), and Harry Gordon Selfridge who worked for Field at the turn of the 20th century and later founded Selfridges, a high-end department store. These two individuals clearly experienced profound business success, which goes to suggest that perhaps there might be some truth or worth in the old saying as a rule to go by. But what does this phrase actually mean and does it ring true in the modern day commercial field? Here’s everything you need to know.

What Does “The Customer is Always Right” Actually Mean?

“The customer is always right” generally suggests that whatever the customer says goes. After all, they’re the one who has final control over the completion of a sale and the turnover of a business’ profit. It’s fairly clever. Think about it. If a business declares that the customer is always, consumers are more likely to believe that they will receive high-end, high-quality service when shopping with said company. It also encourages staff members to offer the best customer service possible, doing everything in their power to meet customer needs. The success off this can be found in any feedback left on your customer focused ecommerce platform.

oes This Ring True?

Now, there are varied opinions on whether this is the best approach to take towards running a business. After all, nobody is ever truly “always right”. Here are the main arguments for and against implementing this ideology to your own company and the way that it is managed and run.

The Customer Is Always Right

You can learn a whole lot from your customers. After all, they are the individuals purchasing what you’re putting out there on the market. One area where customers are almost always right is demand. You need to take a look at what your customers want and cater to their wishes. This is why market research and customer feedback are so important! These are two methods of directly interacting with your potential customers and existing customers alike. By understanding what they’re looking for in products and services, you can tick all of their boxes, which means that they will be much more likely to invest in what you have to offer. Feedback following their purchase and experience with your company also allows you to make changes to your current practice, constantly improving your brand and what it is putting out there into the consumer market! Never underestimate the value of your customers’ opinions and suggestions.

The Customer Isn’t Always Right

Nowadays, customers tend to be a bit more savvy with the business process. You no longer need to be a business owner to know the tricks of the trade. Think about it: anyone can read up on business practice and process, learning what extremes companies will go to in order to maintain a contented and loyal customer base. More abrasive customers will actively use this to their advantage, purposefully complaining and feigning dissatisfaction as they know that by doing so they can get something for nothing. This isn’t all too surprising. After all, if someone knows that they can make use of a service and then receive it for free at a discounted rate simply by uttering a complaint, then a whole lot of people will give it a go. Sure, this isn’t exactly moral. But there are plenty of people out there who want something for nothing and will take advantage. If your company’s policies are too lax or lenient, they will be abused. Sometimes it may actually prove more beneficial for you to put your foot down and lose a customer who isn’t actually bringing much profit to you than to pander to their demands and hand over your wares for free. Certain people cannot be pleased, no matter how much time or effort you put into making things good for them. That or they will be pleased but won’t express their contentment for their own benefit. You should also prioritise good staff members. Demanding or abrasive customers may talk down to your staff or act in an aggressive or inappropriate manner. To suggest that the customer is always right would be to condone this kind of behaviour and marginalise your staff members who work hard to keep your company and brand afloat. Instead, weigh up each situation individually and determine the best outcome on the facts at hand. It is always best to be fair.

As you can see, there isn’t a clear “yes” or “no” answer to the customer always being right debate. The key to success is to take each case individually, assessing it and making an informed decision each time.

Ever Wonder What Your Customers Wish You Knew?

/in , /by


It’d be great if we could read minds but, unfortunately, that just isn’t possible. But whose mind would you read first if you had the chance? Hopefully, you’d jump at the chance to be able to read your customers’ minds. After all, if you are able to offer them everything that they want, then you can guarantee their loyal custom for years to come.

Reading your customers’ minds is impossible, but if you’ve ever wondered what your customers wish you knew, you should keep reading. We’ve done some research and have uncovered some wishes from the general public.

Quality Is More Important Than Speed

When it comes to the products that they buy, the majority of consumers agree that the quality is a lot more important than speed. Sure, it’s nice to get a product delivered to your door the day after you order it, but if it isn’t up to scratch then there is a high chance that it will be sent back. So, to make sure you don’t have to give out too many refunds, you should always prioritize quality over speed. Slightly increase your delivery times if it means you can improve the quality of your products.

They Have A Short Attention Span

Your customers might not want to admit it, but they don’t have particularly long attention spans. Not when it comes to deciding which company to do business with anyway. So, you shouldn’t overload your website with too much content. Otherwise, you might end up compromising on the overall user experience of your website. Keep content slick and concise so that you get all the information you need in it, and so it doesn’t overwhelm your customers when they visit your site.

Customers Love Things That Are Personalized

Did you know that customers absolutely love personalized products and services? It’s true! In fact, a few different research groups and studies have shown that most customers are will to pay as much as 25% more for products and services that are personalized. So, it really is worth trying to see if there are any ways you can personalize your products. This doesn’t mean writing names on all the things you sell – if your customer service team use a customer’s first name when addressing them, then you should find that this personal service goes down very well.

They Want To Hear Stories

Customers are very bored of traditional marketing strategies and advertising campaigns. I’m sure you are as well! However, there is a current trend for telling stories through advertising. That means setting up a large-scale advertising campaign in which each individual advert makes up a larger story. A story can hold the public’s attention much better, and they will feel a lot more involved with the campaign in general.

So, as you can see, there is plenty that your customers wish you knew. Hopefully, if you take advantage of the above points, your business will reach more of the public and can vastly increase your client and customer base.

Tips For Running A Smoother Business

/in /by

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article
Trying to manage a business without a strategy is an approach that simply doesn’t work. You have to have people, processes and plans in place that show exactly where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. It’s not a good idea to go into building a company blindly with hopes for what may happen.

If you’re struggling to keep your business afloat, for whatever reason, don’t give up before trying a few different solutions that may help you get back on track. The great news about having a rocky company is that there are opportunity and the ability to fix it. See tips for running a smoother business.

Have A Business Plan in Place

Sit down with your business partners and come up with a detailed business plan for your company. Look at immediate growth and where you see yourselves years down the road. Consider the various departments and what resources you’re going to need for each of the different areas. Be specific and work out the kinks on the spot, so they don’t emerge at a later date when you’re least expecting it.

Find A Reliable IT Solution

IT is super important when it comes to managing and running a business smoothly. Technology is the backbone of all you do, and you need it to work properly at all times. Choose a company based on their talent and track record, like Custard Technical Services, so that you’re confident they’ll deliver on their promise. Pick a partner who will help you become more dynamic, productive, secure and future-proof, through innovative IT solutions for your business problems.

Hire Smart

Your people are what’s going to make or break you in the long run. Avoid hiring quickly to fill voids. Take your time and do it right the first time, which will save you more money over time. Put a human resources department in place who’s going to help you succeed and fill the open roles appropriately. You need competent employees who work hard and know what questions to ask. Hiring the right people will make your life easier, the business run smoother and clients more satisfied.

Focus on Customer Relationships

You need to have a customer relationship management solution in place, so no one’s getting left behind or forgotten about. Have processes in place that new hires can follow and quickly understand how you work with clients and what the sales and onboarding process looks like. Clients should be your number one focus, and your business will have no choice but to run smoother and with fewer problems. You have to make it a part of the culture, so that no matter who’s interacting with the customer, they know what to do and say to help.

Conclusion

Your business won’t function properly on its own. You have to be willing to put in the hard work it takes to make it better. It’s all about processes, systems and implementing solutions. These are tips for running a smoother business.