29 Feb

4 Inexpensive Ways To Advertise Your Small Business

Posted in Small Business Advertising, Social Media on 29.02.16 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_27701395_s-2015Running a small business can be a very rewarding experience. But it certainly comes with its challenges. Quite frankly, it’s a challenge for all small business owners. Generally working without large advertising budgets, entrepreneurs are forced to come up with clever marketing campaigns that won’t cost them a lot of money. At Synergy Marketing, we’re in the business of helping such business owners find inexpensive ways to advertise their brands.

Here are four ideas:

1. Hand out coupons. You’d be hard pressed to find a consumer who is disinterested in saving money. When you offer ways for people to save money, they’ll be a lot more likely to give your business a try. Discount-offering coupons are great incentives for shoppers to choose a brand. Even small discounts work as great incentives. As Julia Forneris discusses on Chron.com, coupons have the ability to both attract and retain new customers.

“Give new customers an incentive to visit your business by offering coupons for a percentage off of your merchandise or service,” she advises, “You can ensure repeat business by promptly honouring the coupon and giving occasional discounts to repeat customers. Try offering customers a discount for bringing in new clients for you. For example, give a 10 percent coupon to anyone who brings a friend to shop at your business.”

2. Make use of value additions. What are “value additions”, exactly? Well, as the term suggests, the offer greater value to the buying experiences’ of your customers. Think of the different things that you can do to make your customers that much happier with each purchase. What can you add to the purchase so that greater value is received? On Investopedia.com, Andrew Beattie writes that value additions are among the most powerful selling points for any product or service.

“Common value additions include guarantees, discounts for repeat customers, point cards and referrals rewards,” he explains, “Often the deciding factor for a person picking between one of two similar shops is whether he or she has a point card or preferred customer card. You don’t have to promise the moon to add value; often you just have to state something that the customer may not realize about your product or service.”

3. Create a viral campaign. These days, it should probably go without saying that if you are neglecting to use the internet as an advertising source, you’re simply out of touch with the modern world. Not to mention, doing online to advertise your business is, most often, free! Forneris recommends that you set up a free blog and write about updates in your business or industry. At Synergy Marketing, we have certainly taken that route!

“Online advertising is composed of many outlets: email marketing, business websites and social networking sites, among others,” she explains, “Take advantage of all the websites that allow you to promote your business for free…Create a page on Facebook or place an ad on Craigslist… An additional benefit to online advertising is that you can track its effectiveness more easily than other marketing techniques.”

4. Hand out promo gifts. At Synergy Marketing, promo gifts will always be part of our inexpensive marketing strategy lists. Our experience, by the way, tells us that handing them out is arguably the best method out there! Known to encourage customer loyalty and garner referrals, promo gifts are marketing methods that have the ability to advertise a business for very long periods of time. Consider the fact that every time a recipient uses your promo gift, your business is being advertised.

To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

tags: , , ,

Comments Off on 4 Inexpensive Ways To Advertise Your Small Business

26 Feb

4 Ways To Be An Over-The-Phone Customer Service Master

Posted in customer satisfaction, Customer Service, Synergy Suggestions on 26.02.16 by John Meloche

Smiling woman busy over phone at officeOver the past couple of days, the Synergy Marketing Blog has been focused on the concept of providing excellent customer service over the phone. After all, our team uses the phone to communicate with its clients each and every day. So, we feel like we know a thing or two about providing great service on the phone. In today’s blog, we’ll wrap up our list of tips for how to be an over-the-phone customer service master!

Here are four more:

1. Be sure to answer the phone quickly. These days, if a phone rings four or five times, a caller will often assume that there is no one available to help him/her. It’s important that you have either a live representative available or a prompt answering service that can direct the person’s call to the right department. You never want to give callers the impression that your business is closed or unavailable to provide any help.

We’re living in a fast-paced world. People are busy. Customers want excellent service. But they want it fast! Answer365.ca agrees. “Don’t leave your customers in limbo as they wait for someone to pick up your company’s phone,” advises the website, “A good idea is to say that your phone must be answered within two or three rings at most – otherwise you could lose a customer and a sale.”

2. Avoid saying “no”. Are you going to be able to do every single thing that every single customer asks of you? Of course not. But you’ll want to avoid as much speaking in the negative as possible. In other words, try to avoid telling your customers what you can’t do for them and stick to informing them about what you can do. On AabacoSmallBusiness.com, Katie Wilson advises that you always look for a way to help your callers.

“Even if you do not offer what they are looking for or cannot answer a specific question, find out what they are ultimately trying to achieve and see if there’s any way that your firm might be able to help,” she suggests, “Even if your company is not in a position to help the caller, you might be able to offer advice, refer them to a partner, or point them to a reliable vendor whom you have used in the past.”

3. Master your on-hold requests. While most customers expect quick service, they are generally aware that some matters take time. However, it’s important to let your caller know just how much time you will need. When placing a caller on hold, be sure to inform him/her of how long the hold time will be. It’s also a good idea to come back to the line regardless of whether or not you have completed your task.

Simply let the caller know that you may need more time. He/she will appreciate that you are respectful of his/her time. “Sometimes, things come up and you need to put a caller on hold,” says Answer365.ca, “When putting a customer on hold is necessary, be sure to communicate what you are doing, give a time estimate and ask for permission.”

4. Stick to the script. Especially if you are in the business of cold calling, it’s imperative that you have a script. You don’t want your employees to be all over the place with respect to what your company is offering. This will only serve to confuse potential customers and make your brand appear very unprofessional. A script will help to keep your team sharp and your company image consistent no matter who is representing it over the phone.

“Write a professional script that everyone in your business must adhere to say when answering the phone,” recommends Answer365.ca, “A simple example could be, ‘It’s a beautiful day here in Halifax at A&W Plumbing. This is Tim, how may I help you?’ Scripts like this may feel awkward at first for your employees to absorb, but having a cohesive approach to answering your phone is proven to make a real difference – all the major companies do it.”

tags: , , ,

Comments Off on 4 Ways To Be An Over-The-Phone Customer Service Master

25 Feb

4 Great Over-The-Phone Customer Service Tips

Posted in customer satisfaction, Customer Service, Synergy Suggestions on 25.02.16 by John Meloche

Woman wearing headset in office; could be receptionistIn yesterday’s blog, we discussed the topic of over-the-phone customer service. Naturally, it’s a lot different that providing customer service in person. Without the ability to showcase a smile, your interactions with your customers require the implementation of other techniques that will present your brand in the best light possible. Do you do a lot of business over the phone? If so, the following four over-the-phone customer service tips will greatly help with your interactions.

1. Keep background noise to a minimum. It’s easy for a person to get distracted when he/she has to compete with background noise while attempting to hear what you’re saying. It’s not only annoying, but it’s unprofessional. For the most part, customers understand that there is a lot going on in your office. But the noise should not be at a level that makes it difficult to have a conversation.

“Too much background noise can really make things chaotic for your customers,” says Answer365.ca, “A clean, clear sound on your end creates the impression of a clean, focused company – exactly what any business needs and wants to convey to their customers.” This is where cubicles for the members of your phone staff can come in handy. They help to block out the conversations being had in their surrounding areas.

2. Take legitimate interests in your callers. Just because you’re speaking to a customer over the phone, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take measures to get to know him/her personally. Sometimes, touching upon small details can impress a person enough to thoroughly enjoy the business interaction and want to have more in the future. Small gestures can actually have big impacts. On AabacoSmallBusiness.com, Katie Wilson agrees that taking steps to make personal connections can go a long way.

“One of the best ways to set your business apart is to cultivate personal relationships with your clients,” she informs, “Others can create similar products and services, but they can’t imitate your customer service. Even if it’s simply said in passing, always acknowledge when callers share personal info.” She offers the example of a caller informing you of taking an out-of-town trip. Don’t just wish them a good vacation, she suggests, but ask where they are going!

3. Don’t eat and drink while talking. Do you really believe that your caller can’t hear that sip, slurp, crunch or chew? Keep in mind that sound is often amplified over the phone. What you think is a quiet, insignificant noise can actually be a loud nuisance to the person you’re speaking to. Play it safe and avoid eating and drinking when you’re on a call. Answer365.ca strongly advises this too.

“Unfortunately, your customers can absolutely hear it if you are drinking, eating, chewing gum or doing anything else other than clearly listening to their reason for calling,” the website informs, “Make a rule – and enforce it well: no chewing gum, eating or drinking during customer calls.” As part of your rule, insist that the people on your phone staff eat their lunches away from their desks. It will help them get the breaks they need, but also help to avoid any munching while working.

4. Be considerate of your caller’s mood. “What kind of business are you in?” asks Answer365.ca, “As industry professionals, we know that the reasons why a customer might be calling your business vary drastically. If you’re a plumber, for example, you may have customers calling you in serious distress. It’s important to keep in mind your caller’s mood – and be as excited, reassuring, sympathetic or empathetic as necessary.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we conclude our look at ways to be an over-the-phone customer service master! And as always, the team at Synergy Marketing would love to speak with you on the phone about our amazing promotional products and how they can help to grow your company. Call them at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST. You can also email us at info@gosynergygo.com and sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

tags: , , ,

Comments Off on 4 Great Over-The-Phone Customer Service Tips

24 Feb

3 Phone Techniques That Provide Excellent Customer Service

Posted in customer satisfaction, Customer Service, Synergy Suggestions on 24.02.16 by John Meloche

Pretty blond receptionist with radiant smile on the phoneProviding excellent customer service should be at the top of every company’s to-do list on a daily basis. Interacting with customers in friendly ways that endear them to want to continue supporting your business is simply a practice that should be commonplace. It should be ingrained in the minds of all of your employees so that the culture of your business is one known for its people-pleasing abilities.

And while providing excellent customer service should always be an essential part of your face-to-face interactions with your customers, it is something that should be carried over to the other ways in which you communicate with them. Take, the telephone, for example. Most companies throughout Canada interact with their customers over the phone. However, this form of communication comes with a few barriers.

Obviously, you can’t see the person on the other end of the line. Therefore, body language, facial expressions and hand gestures are out the window. Over the phone, you can’t communicate your pleasant nature through a smile. Or can you? Smiling, when speaking on the phone, can make a huge difference in the way your customer receives information. It’s just one of the many phone techniques you can use to provide excellent customer service.

Here are three more:

1. Watching your tone. The tone of your voice counts for a lot. Remember that without being able to see you, some of the things you say may be taken the wrong way by your customer. Therefore, it’s important that your tone of voice remains pleasant throughout the call. Again, this is where smiling comes in. Believe it or not, smiling while speaking on the phone can significantly impact how pleasant you sound to the caller on the other end of the line.

According to Answer365.ca, your tone always sets the tone. “Pay close attention to the tone of your voice,” says the site, “because customers pick up on it without visual cues that normally accompany social interactions. A good rule of thumb is to pick up the phone with an actual physical smile – studies show that your customers will be able to hear the difference!”

2. Being honest about your availability. Most customers can tell when they’re being lied to. That means that they can also tell when the truth is being told. There’s nothing wrong with being too busy to take a call. But it’s important that you inform your caller of a time when you’ll be able to return it. Be sure to stick to that time! On AabacoSmallBusiness.com, Katie Wilson advises that you be clear about when you can have your caller’s needs addressed.

“If you answer the phone yourself, be transparent and clear in terms of the availability of the person the caller needs to speak with,” she writes, “If they need to speak with you but you have to run out the door to a meeting in 10 minutes, let them know in a friendly manner and proactively confirm when you will call them back.”

3. Referring to your caller by name. It’s very important that you convey your respect for your caller right off the bat. Ask his/her name and be sure to use it throughout the call. “Guess what? We humans love the sound of our own name – it’s a scientifically studied fact,” reveals Answer365.ca, “A great way to bring the wow factor to your phone answering approach is to quickly find out your caller’s name – and then to use it right away.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to offer great tips for how to provide excellent customer service over the phone. And speaking of the phone, be sure to call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST to place your order for the promo gift of your choice! You can also email us at info@gosynergygo.com and sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

tags: , , ,

Comments Off on 3 Phone Techniques That Provide Excellent Customer Service

23 Feb

4 Promo Gifts That Work Best For Real Estate Agents

Posted in Promotional Products, Synergy Suggestions on 23.02.16 by John Meloche

chain-1024x1269In yesterday’s blog, we highlighted the importance of a having a “voice” for your brand. It’s important for your business to be associated with a type of personality, so that it can better relate to members of its target audience. Quite frankly, this is one of the main reasons that Synergy Marketing so regularly updates its blog. We enjoy “speaking” with our audience on a regular basis, in an effort to communicate the enthusiasm felt within the walls of our offices.

With that said, we also enjoy informing business owners, all throughout Canada, about the wonders of our promotional products. As we pointed out yesterday, there are many ways that promo gifts can help to establish the voice of your brand you’re looking for. We used the example of real estate agents using key chains as one way of conveying their brands’ values and commitment to its customers.

But what promo gifts work best for real estate agents? Here are four great ones:

1. Key Chains. As mentioned, yesterday we pointed out how obvious it is for real estate agents to hand out key chains to their clients. But that doesn’t make it a bad idea! “After you’ve sold someone their dream home, hand them their new house keys with a beautiful engraved key chain attached to it,” writes Bubba on QualityLogoProducts.com, “Homeowners will love the gesture and pass on the good word to their friends and family about how helpful you were in finding their new place!”

Check out our selection of Key Chains HERE!

2. Pens. Have you ever noticed that whenever you need a pen, you just can’t seem to find one? Our promotional pens not only take care of that problem for your clients, but help to establish your brand as a trustworthy one. Consider the fact that each and every time your client reaches for his/her pen, there will be a reminder of who to call when a realtor is needed. Keep in mind that a lot of your work is bound to come from recommendations. Pens help for you to get them!

Check out our selection of Pens HERE!

3. Desktop products. It’s natural for many of your clients to be businesspeople themselves. Desktop products such as note pads, mouse pads, letter openers, rulers and USB chargers are all perfect for both the office and the home. And Synergy Marketing has them all! We’ve noticed that these items are particularly popular with realtors because of their many uses in different living and working environments. Often, we’re told that “you can’t go wrong” with desktop products!

Check out our Desktop products HERE!

4. Drinkware. “When you’re selling someone’s house, it’s always pleasant to have a nice hot pot of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate for your potential buyers during the open house,” says Bubba, who highly recommends tumbler mugs. They come in handy all year round as they’re known for keeping hot beverages hot and cold beverages cold. And, with your name and logo imprinted on them, they always serve as great reminders of who to do business with.

Check out our Drinkware products HERE!

To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

tags: , , , , , ,

Comments Off on 4 Promo Gifts That Work Best For Real Estate Agents

22 Feb

The Importance Of Establishing Your Brand’s Voice

Posted in Promotional Products, Small Business Advertising on 22.02.16 by John Meloche

business woman speak in megaphoneAll businesses give off certain impressions. And, quite obviously, business owners wish for those impressions to be favourable. The public opinion of a brand, however, is often determined by the brand’s “voice”.

What exactly is a brand’s voice? Well, consider the marketing campaigns of a fast food restaurant. Are they any different than those of a car manufacturer? Naturally, one type will tend to be upbeat and energetic, while the other is likely to be more direct and sophisticated.

What type of voice does your brand have? Often, it has a lot to do with the ways in which you word things. On Distilled.net, Harriet Cummings writes that your company’s voice isn’t just about what you say, but how you say it. She notes that the tone of a brand’s voice represents its personality and set of values. And this helps to determine how members of the buying public feel about the business.

“This encompasses not only the words you choose, but their order, rhythm and pace,” she informs, “Rather confusingly, when seen in the world of business and marketing, the phrase ‘tone of voice’ refers to written – rather than spoken – words. A company’s tone of voice will inform all of its written copy, including its website, social media messages, emails and packaging.”

So why does your brand need a voice? Well, consider the fact that you’re looking to stand out in a business world where there is a lot of competition. Being unique and interesting enough to draw attention to your brand and away from your competitors is what having a brand voice is all about. On QualityLogoProducts.com, Jenna Markowski explains the advantages of having a specific voice for your brand.

“There are countless benefits to giving your brand a distinct voice, the most important of which being that your brand voice sets your company apart from all of your competition,” she writes, “Your brand voice also helps you build trust with your customers and gives your customers a little peek at the humans that are behind your brand. Humanizing your brand and giving your brand a personality will make it easier for your audience to relate to you.”

How can promo items help to give your brand a unique voice? Markowski writes that your promo products should fit into your brand’s mission and values. For example, many of Synergy Marketing’s customers who are real estate agents tend to go with key chains as their promotional products of choice. It makes sense, right? Part of their jobs is to hand a new set of keys to their clients after their new homes are purchased.

At Synergy Marketing, we offer the best promo products in the business! To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

tags: , , ,

Comments Off on The Importance Of Establishing Your Brand’s Voice

19 Feb

3 More Ways To Win Back Your Angry Customers

Posted in customer satisfaction, Synergy Suggestions on 19.02.16 by John Meloche

Pile of hands - Successful business team celebrating their success with a high fiveIn yesterday’s blog, we touched upon a touchy subject – disgruntled customers. No business owner likes to see his/her company as one that can anger a member of the buying public. But no business is immune to the possibilities of losing customers every now and again. Retaining them is made possible through following a number of important steps. We outlined a few of them yesterday, but would like to continue where we left off.

Here are three more ways to win back your angry customers:

1. Attempt to arrange a meeting with the disgruntled customer. One of the first steps to winning back an angry customer is to prove that your heart is truly in repairing the relationship. To get to the bottom of things, you’ll want to arrange a meeting to discuss the particulars of the situation gone wrong. On Entrepreneur.com, Dave Mattson advises that you work to discover the factors that lead your customer to the decision to part ways.

“Don’t be defensive,” he insists, “Take responsibility and apologize, if appropriate. Use the meeting as a means for improving but also as a basis for learning more about your client’s needs. The new service provider may not be asking these questions, resulting in there being a potential opportunity down the road to try to win back the client.”

2. Discover what it was that brought the customer to you in the first place. Sometimes, it’s necessary to remind your customer about what he/she loves about your brand. If you can remind the individual about the benefits of working with you, he/she may be more inclined to give you another chance. On AmericanExpress.com, Ivana Taylor suggests that you compare a list of customers who chose your brand over the competition to one of customers you’ve lost.

“Don’t forget to match those lists against the competitive strengths of your organization,” she recommends, “Don’t just take customers for the sake of having more customers. Focus on delivering on your brand promise and nurturing your customer experience. Only make adjustments that will further those two elements and make a positive impact on your bottom line.”

3. Don’t take it personally. All of us are susceptible to having our feelings hurt. But, remember that when a business relationship goes bad, it isn’t always because of your personality. There is a lot of competition for your business out there. Look at things from the customer perspective and realize that being a person’s best friend isn’t always enough to secure his/her business. Mattson suggests that this attitude can help to grow your business in the long run.

“Don’t become too emotional,” he advises, “Client churn is a part of the business experience, and once you accept that, however grudgingly, you will also understand that nothing is forever. Look at loss of a client as a new opportunity to win the business back — and likely at a lower cost than you paid the first time.”

At Synergy Marketing, our experience has shown us that handing out free promo gifts can work wonders to mend fences. To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call us at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

tags: , ,

Comments Off on 3 More Ways To Win Back Your Angry Customers

18 Feb

3 Smart Ways To Retain Your Disgruntled Customers

Posted in customer satisfaction, Synergy Suggestions on 18.02.16 by John Meloche

Happy customers at the reception of a hotelReaders of the Synergy Marketing Blog know that we pour a lot of effort into making customers happy. It’s our job to not only make our own customers happy, but to help them make their customers happy as well. Working with business owners all across Canada is a great pleasure. We regularly get to hear about how our high-quality promotional products have helped them to grow their respective brands.

However, we also are made aware that things don’t always go perfectly. Of course, no one is perfect. And, therefore, mistakes are bound to be made. Naturally, some mistakes are bigger than others. And, as a result, there are times when customers are lost. What to do in such a situation? In today’s internet-savvy world, word can spread fast about a bad experience. It’s of vital importance that business owners find ways to remedy situations and save disgruntled customers.

Here are three smart ways to do just that:

1. Pinpoint the exact reason they’re upset. Miscommunication often tops the lists of why there is conflict between two parties. Before you attempt to resolve an issue, be sure to find out exactly what the issue is. The last thing you want to do is further anger a disgruntled customer by offering a solution that doesn’t speak to the exact problem. Do your part to find out the exact reason you made your customer angry.

On AmericanExpress.com, Ivana Taylor insists that you find out exactly why a customer left. “If they say price, then you know there is disconnect between what you offer and the value they perceive,” she informs, “No matter what the reason, ask at least two more probing questions to find out exactly what you could do to improve the offer. You may not get them back, but you will have information that you can use to save a customer who may be thinking of leaving.”

2. Be willing to earn your trust back little by little. Don’t assume that you’ll be able to win back a customer’s trust right away. As with all relationships, the healing process may take some time. Do your part to let your customer know that you haven’t forgotten him/her and make small, but meaningful gestures to let that person know you’re still interested in resolving the issue that caused the split.

On Entrepreneur.com, Dave Mattson warns that you shouldn’t always set your sights on winning customers back immediately. “It may make more sense to incrementally edge your way back by taking on smaller pieces of business,” he says, “With this ‘foot in the door’ tactic, try to score a smaller ‘yes,’ a one-off project. Or you might even provide an entirely different product or service than you have offered before. Then set out to turn a smaller yes into a bigger one.”

3. Own up to your mistake. Sometimes, the best way to resolve a problem is to simply admit that you were the cause of it. Most of the time, excuses just come off as lame and provide further reason for a customer to part ways with a business. Don’t feel that you’re too big to make an apology. In many instances, the simple act of apologizing is all that will be necessary to retain a customer.

Taylor agrees that it’s important that you take responsibility. “If you made a mistake to lose them ask them what they would need to have to make them stay,” she advises, “That means that you fix what went wrong with no requirement for them to remain as a customer. They may still choose to leave, but if they have a great last experience with you, they may refer you to friends and family who may be a better fit as a customer.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to list ways to win back your angry customers. And please don’t hesitate call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com to ask about our fantastic promo gifts. You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

tags: , ,

Comments Off on 3 Smart Ways To Retain Your Disgruntled Customers

17 Feb

4 Ways To Make Shoppers Cherish Their Buying Experiences

Posted in Customer Service, Synergy Suggestions on 17.02.16 by John Meloche

Woman hold with shopping bagIn yesterday’s blog, we discussed the concept of getting customers to celebrate your business. As you already know, most customers place customer service in a higher regard than the actual products and services they purchase. Of course, they wish for what they buy to be well worth their prices. However, the majority of shoppers want to cherish their buying experiences. What are you doing to ensure that your customers enjoy theirs?

Here are four ways to make shoppers cherish their buying experiences:

1. Make sure you have a well-trained staff. Remember that customers always judge a business by the representatives they come into contact with. The old adage that “one bad apple spoils the bunch” is true when it comes to your company. Having a well-trained staff ensures that each of your employees is on board with practicing the same excellent customer service practices. This will help to keep all of your customers happy.

“It’s important to make sure all of your employees, not just your customer service representatives, understand the way they should talk to, interact with, and problem solve for customers,” insists Alyssa Gregory on About.com, “Provide employee training that gives your staff the tools they need to carry good customer service through the entire customer experience.”

2. Be easily accessible. You’d be hard pressed to find a customer who actually enjoys waiting a long time for customer service. Make yourself easy to find. This gives customers great confidence that you can be depended on when they need you. It’s understandable, of course, that you can’t be available 24/7. So it’s important to provide a source of help during the times when you can’t physically do so yourself.

On ElegantThemes.com, Tom Ewer suggests that you create a help desk to keep customers happy. “Your customers will from time to time have unique situations that your FAQs don’t address,” he points out, “A help desk may be the right solution for you in this case. You can enable your customers to ask for help by getting the details of their problem and then having your team work with them to get the problem fixed.”

3. Implement the feedback given to you by your customers. It’s important to get feedback from your customers. But if you’re not taking what they say, considering it, then putting their pieces of advice into practice, it’s all a waste of time for everyone involved. Shoppers like to see that their opinions matter. And they will be greatly impressed if you make changes to your business based on the suggestions they’ve provided you.

“You need to do something with the feedback you receive from customers in order to make it useful in your customer service process,” says Gregory, “Take time to regularly review feedback, identify areas for improvement, and make specific changes in your business. Good customer service often comes down to consistently checking in with your customers and making sure they are happy with not only the products and services you’re selling, but also the process of purchasing, ordering, working with you, etc.”

4. Give them free gifts! Synergy Marketing provides Canadian business owners with the best promotional products in the business. To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, call Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

tags: , , , ,

Comments Off on 4 Ways To Make Shoppers Cherish Their Buying Experiences

16 Feb

3 Ways To Make Customers Celebrate Your Business

Posted in Customer Service, Synergy Suggestions on 16.02.16 by John Meloche

Happy shopping girls laughing and carrying bagsIt was quite a busy weekend in the City of Toronto! Firstly, the NBA All-Star Game came to town and brought with it a long list of celebrities who helped to turn the downtown area into a non-stop party zone. Secondly, Valentine’s Day was celebrated on Sunday, sending couples everywhere on dates to celebrate their unions. And finally, yesterday was Family Day – an extra day to enjoy time with loved ones.

Everyone, here at Synergy Marketing, certainly hopes that you enjoyed this past long weekend, no matter how you decided to celebrate it. But, as we begin a new work week today, we can’t help but think about some of the ways that we would like to continue celebrating. Of course, there should generally be a valid reason to celebrate something. So what does it take for customers to celebrate the businesses they work with?

Here are three ways to make customers celebrate your business:

1. Discover what your customers are thinking. It’s important to truly understand the needs of your customer base. Shoppers have great confidence in companies that know what they’re doing. One way to do that is to pay attention to buying trends and anticipate the needs of the individuals who enter your place of business. Don’t assume you know what they want, however. It’s important to find out from the source.

“The easiest way to get input from your customers is to just ask them,” insists Tom Ewer on ElegantThemes.com, “Some of your customers may seek out that ever present contact email address to share their thoughts, but many won’t. If you ask customers to directly to give you their opinion, many more will oblige. By collecting reviews, ratings and feedback, you can act on the insights shared.”

2. Regularly express your gratitude. All business owners should be very thankful for the customers they have. And all customers deserve to know that their business is appreciated. Don’t skimp on giving out “thank yous”. It goes a long way in growing your customers’ senses of loyalty to your brand. People like to know that their business is valued and that their support is appreciated. Showing your gratitude will keep customers happy.

On About.com, Alyssa Gregory discusses the important of expressing your appreciation of your customers. “Gratitude is memorable, and it can remind your customers why they shopped at your store or hired your company,” she writes, “Regardless of the type of business you have, saying thank you after every transaction is one of the easiest ways to start a habit of good customer service.”

3. Be able to answer questions before they are asked. When you truly know what your customers are thinking, you’ll be better able to provide them with solutions to problems they may not even have yet. How can you do that? Consider the questions you are asked most regularly and set up a “Frequently Asked Questions” page on your company website. Ewer believes that this is an excellent customer service practice.

“By targeting your customers, you looked at the things they share in common,” he writes, “This means that their experiences coming into your business may also be similar…This leaves you hearing the same questions over and over again…By creating a frequently asked questions (FAQs) section on your website, you answer those shared questions that customers have. In many cases, you should have answers to questions that new customers have not even thought of yet.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to discuss this topic. And don’t forget to contact Synergy Marketing to order promo gifts for your business. Call 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or email us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

tags: , , , , ,

Comments Off on 3 Ways To Make Customers Celebrate Your Business