10 Jun

5 Ways To Add Personal Touches To Your Customer Interactions

Posted in customer satisfaction, Customer Service on 10.06.16 by John Meloche

Two Businessman touching hand for coordination workIn yesterday’s blog, we highlighted the benefits of surprising your customers. Going out of your way to show them that you care can greatly improve your brand’s reputation and secure customer loyalty for the long haul. As we pointed out, adding personal touches to your customer interactions is a great way to “wow” and surprise your company’s supporters. But what are the best ways to do that?

Here are five suggestions:

1. Offer “thank you” notes. An expression of appreciation can go a long way. Customers like to know that the businesses they support care about them. “With the endless amount of options out there, is it really so much to ask that a business say ‘Thanks!’ to a new customer?” asks Gregory Ciotti on Shopify.ca, “You might think that thank you notes have lost their impact, being that they are such a tried and true tactic, but you would be dead wrong.”

2. Remember special occasions. In the “getting to know your customers” game, it’s a good idea to keep in mind particular things about them. Are they parents? If so, it’s a great idea to wish them Happy Mother’s and Father’s Days when the times come. Are they married? If so, you may want to send Happy Anniversary greetings their ways. “Call them on their birthday,” reminds Rupesh Patel on LinkedIn.com, “Remembering your customers during these special occasions will convey to your customers that you are sincere about building a connection with them.”

3. Be proactive. The better you get to know your customers, the easier it will be for you to guess what they’ll need in the future. Of course, becoming a better people person won’t turn you into a mind reader. But being able to gauge what products and services you offer that would most impress your client base is a great way to keep your customers engaged. Anticipating the needs of your company’s supporters will certainly go a long way in keeping them happy.

4. Offer a life-changing opportunity. This sounds like a bit much, at first, doesn’t it? But, as Patel explains, it can all be achieved through a very simple, yet memorable gesture. “It sounds unconventional, but giving your customers a lottery ticket is a great way to surprise them,” he suggests, “Who knows? You might be giving out a lottery ticket that will eventually change someone’s life.”

5. Offer help without being asked for it. Ciotti offers an excellent example of this. “When a woman in the store lost the diamond from her wedding ring, she became distraught and began crawling around on the ground looking for the ring,” he details, “A Nordstrom employee saw her crawling under the clothing racks. Once he found out what was wrong, he immediately got on his hands and knees and joined the search!”

Ciotti goes on to point out how such a gesture was an act of going over and above the call of duty. “When the duo came up empty-handed in the search for the ring, the employee asked for assistance from two building service workers,” he continues, “Together, they sifted through vacuum bags until they found the diamond mixed in with dust and dirt. Now that’s going above and beyond the call of duty, and it’s the sole reason why Nordstrom has a (great) reputation.”

At Synergy Marketing, we’d like to offer you our help in improving your personal interactions with your customers by helping you select the ideal promo gift to give them for free. To get more information or to place your order, give us a call 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 5 Ways To Add Personal Touches To Your Customer Interactions

09 Jun

3 Cool Ways To Surprise Your Customers

Posted in customer satisfaction, Customer Service on 09.06.16 by John Meloche

abstract 3d illustration of flash with text 'surprise' isolated over white backgroundIn our last blog, we revisited the concept of giving out freebies and the incredible impacts they can have on your customers. If you’re looking to significantly stand out from your competition, giving out freebies can certainly do the trick. As you know, Synergy Marketing has been in the business of providing Canadian business owners with fantastic promo gifts for many years. Using them as free giveaways, our clients have greatly improved their rates of customer satisfaction.

This is because getting things for free generally comes as a surprise to customers. Freebies offer that “wow” factor that helps to separate one brand from the next. There are, of course, numerous ways to surprise your customers. And many of them come with offering up perks and benefits that won’t cost your customers anything extra. Implementing these practices can definitely help you to grow your client base and keep it loyal.

Here are three cool ways to surprise your customers:

1. Waive the extra charges. There are few things that customers like hearing more than “I’ll go ahead and waive those charges for you”. You can place the concept of charge-waiving in the same category as giving away freebies, as it serves as a way to save your customers money. Who doesn’t love that? “Waiving the extra costs is a great way to delight your customers as well as build loyalty,” says Rupesh Patel on LinkedIn.com.

2. Check in with them. Don’t assume that the customer interaction is over once he/she leaves your store. There is still an opportunity to continue the connection. Did you receive an email address or phone number upon having the customer make his/her transaction? Ensuring that you do so will help for you to keep in touch with your customers in the future. This fosters strong growing relationships.

“Imagine the impression a business would leave if after buying your first set of golf clubs, you got an automated email from ‘Jim’ asking you how they were treating you, and if you’ve been able to hit the driving range yet?” poses Gregory Ciotti on Shopify.ca, “Pretty powerful stuff, and all hinging on the very frugal cost of a personal follow-up email. This is also useful for birthdays, holidays, or even better, some other personal event that you learned about from a customer.”

3. Take time to make personal connections. There’s a big difference between simply saying “hello” to people who walk into your establishment and taking the time to introduce yourself. When you meet new customers, be sure to offer your name and ask for theirs. That way, you’ll hopefully be able to greet them personally the next time you see them. Customers remember the efforts made by business owners to get to know them.

Patel champions the concept of spending time with your customers to get to know them personally. “When guests walk into your lobby, they expect that you won’t spend a whole lot of time with them,” he writes, “Take them by surprise by really getting to know them, listen and then recommend local hot spots or your favourite restaurant. Just get to know your patrons.”

Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we go into greater detail about how you can make those personal connections with your customers. And don’t forget that giving them freebies is always a great way to do just that! 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 3 Cool Ways To Surprise Your Customers

08 Jun

Nothing Beats Freebies In The World Of Customer Satisfaction

Posted in customer satisfaction, Customer Service on 08.06.16 by John Meloche

Free smiley iconWe really have to say that we’ve nailed it with the title of today’s blog! We’re not sure we’ve ever come up with a blog title that is more accurate in depicting what Synergy Marketing stands for. More importantly, today’s blog title is a testament of truth for any business owner in any industry. If you’re looking to truly “wow” your customers, you simply can’t go wrong with offering them something for free.

At Synergy Marketing, we have many years of experience proving this. Our clients regularly communicate to us how much our fantastic promotional products please their customers. Especially when those gifts are specifically chosen to meet the needs of particular customer bases, they come off as amazingly thoughtful and generous expressions of appreciation. Customers expect to pay for goods and services. This is likely why it’s so rewarding for them to get things for free from businesses.

On LinkedIn.com, Rupesh Patel explains the feelings that customers get when they are met with such surprises. “Everyone likes freebies!” he exclaims, “No matter how small your gift may be, your customers will surely appreciate the gesture. A bottle of water or cold drink upon arrival. A local Italian restaurant often asks me if I would like a complimentary beverage while I wait for my take out. – This is a great memorable surprise.”

Being memorable, it needs to be mentioned, is a huge part of growing the success of your business. By offering a freebie, you significantly stand out from your competitors who are not offering their customers anything for free. One of our clients recently explained to us that a recent trip to a restaurant was memorable, not just because of the great food he ate, but because of the coupon he received for a free appetizer the next time he visits for a meal.

Guess who’s going back to that restaurant in the near future? On Shopify.ca, Gregory Ciotti explains that restaurants don’t even have to offer appetizers to bring customers back. The customary, complimentary after-dinner mints can often do the trick. “If you’ve ever read that fascinating study about the power of mints—where waiters received a 21% better tip when they left two free mints—you know that reciprocity is a powerful psychological trigger, and that it doesn’t take much for a gift to leave an impact,” he informs.

He goes on to mention that when freebies are given to customers, they leave lasting impressions. This is especially true if the freebie is of special significance to its recipient. Keep in mind the personal interests of the people who support your brand. Ask probing questions and learn more about their likes and dislikes. When you offer freebies that speak to these preferences, you’ll stand a much greater chance of securing long-time loyalty.

“The amazing team at UserTesting.com asked for my home address out of the blue one day,” reports Ciotti, “After telling them, about a week later I got a package in the mail filled with delicious beef jerky! Why beef jerky? UserTesting.com sells, well, user testing software, so that’s a little odd isn’t it? Here’s where things get crazy: I had briefly mentioned on Twitter that quality beef jerky was putting a dent in my wallet.”

Ciotti admits to being astounded that the company’s marketing strategist would remember something like his love for beef jerky. At Synergy Marketing, we highly encourage you to think of the things that your customers would like to receive from you for free. The better the surprise, the stronger the impact! Of course, we offer a wide range of amazing high-quality promo gifts that can serve as your surprising freebies.

To place your order for the promo gift of your choice, give us a call 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 Nothing Beats Freebies In The World Of Customer Satisfaction

07 Jun

What Are The Best Ways To Interact With Your Customers Online?

Posted in Customer Service, Small Business Advertising on 07.06.16 by John Meloche

dp6pfFWPiVNN+fTY9gAFKSFCaOeCoLyOXPcZa5v6bAz086jRgHYKVRQMNsVn8WzMB1U3PKEqE7Th7siZWbCox9cT9lnjdNfMNIRWI8vShtJvmb8d8dZds6mwu10jHZJVriMb3tfDbyAlTJoxzEVYGanNgjVjYBN39a6K2Ghv7q2W29lkIebb9PAZr8vJ8nqO/rJGes//oD8IC2/qxtfBAkZRZ40lOExCh/ZtticrSoy116dyhTSAUVe0WVYVQi/nZH2Dl+Tr2uA=It’s no secret that using the internet to connect with customers is a must in today’s business world. But because so many people utilize the internet for personal social interactions, it’s important to not get your brand name tied into matters of a personal nature. For example, the way you would interact with your friends is different than the way you would interact with your customers. So, it’s really no different online.

The problem is that some business owners get a bit too friendly with their audience through their social media accounts. Now, let it be clear that there’s nothing wrong with being friendly. We highly advocate friendliness when it comes to interacting with customers. But starting conversations with “yo, what’s up?” using your company’s social media accounts may not necessarily be good for business.

Why is it important to maintain a professional attitude online? You never want your brand to be misunderstood or misinterpreted. No matter how friendly you decide to be, never lose your sense of professionalism. “Be pleasant, but not overly friendly with online customer interactions,” says Stephanie Walden on Mashable.com, “If there’s one thing social-savvy commenters will call a brand out on faster than a poorly placed typo, it’s getting too chummy online in an awkward, insincere manner.”

She goes on to point out that it’s a bad idea to use emojis and other symbols that are in keeping with informal text messaging and internet-speech. Using overly casual language, cheesy puns or banter and improper grammar and punctuation can hurt your company’s brand image. Keep in mind that there are many other members of your target audience out there who may be looking to your social media accounts for information. You don’t want to turn them off.

How important is responding to customer questions in a timely manner? The probably-too-obvious answer is that it is extremely important! In fact, social media are commonly used as modern day help desks. If customers ask you questions or make requests for help using their Facebook or Twitter accounts and you don’t respond within a day, most of them will consider themselves ignored.

“Millennials in particular can be averse to speaking on the phone, and reaching out via social may come as second nature,” informs Walden, “Having a dedicated person paying attention to online inquiries is key. Be sure this employee knows to check not only Twitter mentions or Facebook post comments, but also the comment sections on any company-produced blog posts, as well as direct messages on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram — and yes, even the dreaded YouTube comments.”

Should social media be used to handle disputes? We would definitely advise against it. If a customer has become disgruntled and has used social media to air his/her grievances, it’s best to contact that customer directly. Not only should you be treating the matter in a serious enough way that you put in a phone call to the customer, you definitely don’t want an argument of any kind to be made public.

“Every now and then, you’re going to have to deal with a customer on social media voicing complaints, sometimes in an obnoxious manner,” admits Walden, “It’s key to get these heated conversations offline, as quickly as possible and in a way that not only placates the upset customer, but also communicates to online observers that the issue is being handled.”

tags: , , , , , ,

Comments Off on What Are The Best Ways To Interact With Your Customers Online?

02 Jun

3 More Ways To Knock The Socks Off Of Your New Clients

Posted in customer satisfaction, Customer Service on 02.06.16 by John Meloche

three socks hanging on a rope clothesline isolated on whiteIn yesterday’s blog, we revisited the topic of impressing your clients. But we’re not just talking about the clients that you’re used to doing business with. Making strong first impressions on your new clients can do wonders for your helping you to establish yourself as a top-choice professional in your industry. When you meet your new clients, it’s important to find ways to knock their socks off!

Here are three more ways to do that:

1. Be organized. Okay, so your new client has given you the opportunity to prove yourself. Don’t take it for granted. Just because you’ve secured a new client, it doesn’t mean that he/she will remain loyal. It’s up to you to constantly work towards making good impressions. And a great way to make a good impression early is to be completely organized and on top of everything that needs to be handled right away.

On TheFreelanceHustle.com, Kayli admits that this is “easier said than done when you’re juggling multiple clients and deadlines. That is why you need to have the right systems and processes in place. Workflows and reminders are a life saver for staying on top of your projects and keeping your clients in the loop on your progress. If you can appear to be organized and professional your clients are going to have more faith in you/think you’re a miracle worker.”

2. Be as inquisitive as they are. When working with new clients, you’re bound to get asked a number of questions. The more questions you get asked, the better. This is because the curiosity of your new customer proves that he/she is interested. Be sure to do the same. Ask questions that will help you to get to know your customer better. The knowledge you attain will go a long way in being able to help you meet your customer’s need for many years down the road.

On SkillCrush.com, Randle Browning highlights the fact that it’s important to ask a lot of questions at your first meetings with new clients. “First meetings with clients can feel like auditions (and they kind of are),” she describes, “To keep the meeting from feeling like a trial, ask the client a lot of questions.” She goes on to note that you should make sure to prepare your questions well in advance of the first meeting.

3. Offer a welcome package. Kayli explains that a welcome package helps your new clients get better assimilated with your business. “When you start working with a new client, they are likely going to have a lot of questions,” she reiterates, “Put them at ease, and save yourself heaps of time, by creating a welcome package for all of your new clients. You can tell them about your office hours, your process, any systems you use, and anything else they need to be aware of to get started. It’s also a great time to send a checklist of things you will need from them.”

If you’re really looking to blow the socks off of your new clients, you’ll want to do something that most business owners won’t. Sending welcome packages along with messages of gratitude for your new working relationship will do the trick. Your packages should also include a number of your company’s fantastic promotional gifts which always come in handy. They’ll serve as great reminders of how awesome your company is!

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 3 More Ways To Knock The Socks Off Of Your New Clients

01 Jun

3 Ways To Genuinely Impress Your New Clients

Posted in customer satisfaction, Customer Service on 01.06.16 by John Meloche

Smiling young man shaking hands with an insurance agent or investment adviser as he sits in a meeting with his wife in her officeIt’s often said that marketing your business towards your current customers is a lot more effective and inexpensive that promoting it to new customers. That doesn’t mean, of course, that you shouldn’t attempt to get your business new clientele. Growing your customer base requires hard work, but it’s nothing you can’t handle. But once you get those new clients, what should you do to ensure you impress them enough that they remain loyal?

Here are three ideas:

1. Show your human side. Speak to your new customers like people. Let them get to know that you’re a down-to-earth, honest-to-goodness human being who will be a joy to do business with. In most cases, this is what truly endears people to work with new businesses. If you push too hard with sales attempts, it could turn your new customers away. You want to make people feel comfortable visiting your place of business time and time again.

“Your goal is to get the client to trust you and hire you, but that doesn’t mean you should get right down to business,” writes Randle Browning on SkillCrush.com, “Before you dive into the tech talk, take a few minutes to get to know your client. If you’re on a video call, ask about where they live or comment on something you love in the background. If you’re together in person, ask them how they like the taco place across the street.”

2. Express your gratitude. We can’t think of a bad time to say the words “thank you”. Showing your appreciation is a great way to display your good-natured personality and genuine happiness about your newfound partnership. After all, as a business owner, there is nothing to be more thankful for than a person who is willing to help you grow your business. On TheFreelanceHustle.com, Kayli agrees that it’s important to always say “thanks”.

“Clients are what keep us in business so it’s important to thank them for that,” she insists, “I’m not saying that you need to remind them that they put food on your table, but a nice ‘hey, thanks for doing business with me’ every once in a while is always appreciated. Once you’ve wrapped a project be sure to include a sincere thank you in the handoff. Sending a hand written note and small, thoughtful gift are also a really nice touch.”

3. Do your research. Chances are that your new clients did a little bit of research on you and your company before deciding to do business with you. It’s only right that you do the same. Having a strong understanding of your clients’ backgrounds will give you greater insight into what you can do to wow them. Doing your due diligence will also demonstrate a level of professionalism that can set you apart from your competitors.

“Researching your client’s competitors and peers immerses you in their world,” says Browning, “The more knowledge you bring to the table about industry standards, common issues, or new changes in the client’s field, the more your client will trust you to make good decisions throughout the freelance project.” Be sure to check back for tomorrow’s blog as we continue to list ways that you can knock the socks off of your new clients!

And don’t forget that to place an order for the promo gift of your choice to promote your business, you 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 3 Ways To Genuinely Impress Your New Clients

10 May

Chat Live With An Agent Now!

Posted in Customer Service on 10.05.16 by John Meloche

Live Chat Button with Hand Shaped mouse CursorSince Synergy Marketing’s inception, we have utilized the phone as our number one source of communication with our customers. We continue to encourage our customers to give us a call at 1-877-748-9884 in order to speak with any of our friendly and knowledgeable sales reps about the wonderful array of promotional products that we have to offer. However, you may have noticed that our website has incorporated a new wrinkle in recent weeks.

What is that new “wrinkle” on our website? That wrinkle is our brand new “live chat” feature which enables our website’s visitors to speak with one of our live agents in real time through their computers! Considering that Synergy Marketing has always been about providing our customers with options, it only made sense for us to provide our prospective clients with another communication option. And it has certainly worked wonders for us so far!

Why is “live chat” so effective? Perhaps, it’s because it’s so easy to use. On the home page of our website, you’ll notice a red icon at the bottom right corner of the screen. It reads “Chat live with an agent now!” Just below that, it reads “Have a question?” By clicking on the icon, you will be prompted to fill out your name and your question. There are two boxes to input your information. One reads “Your name?” while the other reads “Start off the conversation…”

Once you’ve completed filling out the boxes, simply click on the red “Start Chat” button which is located below them. Within seconds, you’ll be speaking to a live representative who will be able to assist you with any questions that you have. We’ve found that this new interactive approach to our website has greatly assisted curious website visitors with getting the information they need to make smart choices about which promo gifts to use to advertise their brands.

How did we establish the “live chat” feature? Thanks to Tawk.to, we have implemented this new widget on our site and it has allowed us to engage with our website visitors in real time. We’ve found that it has made life a lot easier for our potential customers because not all of them have time to make phone calls. “Live chat” features allow busy online users the ability to multi-task. The conversations take place at paces that are comfortable for them.

With our new “live chat” feature, information seekers can ask their questions, do their own work and surf the web as they please. If they were on the phone, they would be required to provide their undivided attention. And we know that, at times, this can be considered too time consuming. Especially when your customers are business owners – like ours are – live chats allow busy workaholics to be a lot more efficient with their time.

How do live chats help to grow your business? According to Kissmetrics.com, “an ATG Global Consumer Trend study found that 90% of customers consider live chat helpful and an emarketer.com survey found that 63% were more likely to return to a website that offers live chat. The report goes on to say: ‘62% reported being more likely to purchase from the site again. A further 38% of respondents said they had made their purchase due to the chat session itself. All these attitudes were even more prevalent among respondents who bought online at least weekly.’”

Please feel free to give our new “live chat” feature a try right away! Of course, you can always place your order for the promo gift of your choice by calling Synergy Marketing at 1-877-748-9884 between 9am and 5pm EST or emailing us at info@gosynergygo.com! You can also sign up for our Insider E-Flyer Program HERE!

tags: , , , ,

Comments Off on Chat Live With An Agent Now!

12 Apr

3 More Solutions For Solidifying Customer Satisfaction

Posted in customer satisfaction, Customer Service, Synergy Suggestions on 12.04.16 by John Meloche

The word Service highlighted with red marker in a handwritten chartIn yesterday’s blog, we revisited the topic of “wowing” your customers. These days, it’s not enough to simply provide what your customers are looking for. It’s important to go over and above the call of duty in order to truly impress them. Securing customer loyalty means doing for your customers what your competition won’t. This helps you to stand out from your industry contemporaries and garner long-term customer support.

How can you pull this off? Here are three more solutions for solidifying customer satisfaction:

1. Treat first-time customer experiences like first dates. On Bufferapp.com, Leo Widrich likens the customer relationship to a romantic one. Consider how much attention you pay to a love interest you’re trying to impress for the first time. This is the type of focus you should have on people who have decided to give your business a try. Use the opportunities to impress them as best you can, similar to the way you would on first dates.

Quoting Kevin Hale of Wufoo, Widrich writes that “there is something different once (a) relationship is already established. So, if you have 2 tickets coming in via email, one is a repeat person, that you have spoken with before, the other one is someone who just discovered you, the choice should be clear. Jump in immediately to fix the problem for the new user. That way, you can really create a WOW effect and give users what they want.”

2. Never take things personally. Have you ever called up a company for some customer service only to speak to a representative who feels as if he/she is being personally attacked? That person doesn’t exactly provide the greatest of customer service does, he/she? Don’t fall into the trap of taking things personally when customers call your company. They may be angry about something that had nothing to do with you.

This is an especially important tip for business owners as they have obvious personal attachments to their brand. However, it’s important to be mindful of the customer’s mood when trying to salvage their support. “Be sure to listen to their problem and take time to understand how the issue is impacting their work,” says Kevin Baldacci on Salesforce.com, “Often you may find alternative solutions to help them and if not, you have more information to help be their advocate.”

3. Implement a strong refund policy. If you truly believe in the quality of your products and services, you should have no issues with offering a money back guarantee. Doing so will greatly increase the amount of trust that people have in your brand. Customers enjoy knowing that they will be covered in the event that things don’t work out with the ways in which they’ve spent their money. Give them the confidence that they won’t lose it by believing in you.

“If someone buys your product it is all about trust,” insists Widrich, “And if you always show complete transparency, by offering a refund at any time, you can really prove that. Also, as you issue refunds, you will be much more likely to investigate exactly why the person wasn’t happy with your product or service. That way you can improve the product and really feel the pain point, instead of arguing about whether you should issue a refund or not.”

At Synergy Marketing, we love offering the types of promotional products that always result in customer satisfaction. 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 Solutions For Solidifying Customer Satisfaction

11 Apr

3 Simple Steps To Wowing Your Customers

Posted in customer satisfaction, Customer Service, Synergy Suggestions on 11.04.16 by John Meloche

Depositphotos_26992751_xsIn today’s business world, it’s not enough to simply impress or please your customers. Steps need to be taken in order to truly “wow” them. To stand out from your competition, you need to offer products and services that aren’t quite like those that are offered by any other brand. However, to really offer “wow” experiences, you also need to provide the type of customer service that can’t be found anywhere else.

What are the ways to do that? Here are three simple steps to wowing your customers:

1. Don’t make assumptions – get information straight from the horse’s mouth. Oftentimes, companies will provide incorrect information, deliver the wrong items or simply not respond to customer queries in time because they didn’t do enough probing. There’s an old adage that suggests that “there’s no such thing as a stupid question”. We suppose that’s because if you don’t know the answer to something, it’s worth asking about.

Always make sure that you get the information you need from your customers so that you can guarantee their satisfaction through the ways you respond to their needs. This business practice is highly recommended by Kevin Baldacci on Salesforce.com. “Never hesitate to ask questions,” he insists, “The more you know about your customers and their needs, the more of an asset you are to both the company and your customers.”

2. Remember that the quicker you react, the more impressed people will be. Timing is everything. And in today’s fast-paced world, the quicker people receive what it is they’re looking for, the more impressed they usually are. On Bufferapp.com, Leo Widrich writes that his company receives a lot of word-of-mouth promotion and referrals thanks to how quickly he responds to his customers.

“The number one thing, that we have found to WOW someone getting in touch for support is speed,” he informs, “If I can reply to someone within a few minutes of reaching out to us, I found that a large percentage of these people Tweet about us and tell their friends about us. Speed, is absolutely key, and it isn’t always easy to track it. We are using an awesome tool called HelpScout, that helps us track our response times.”

3. Stick to the “honesty is the best policy” way of thinking. Customers can generally smell mistruths a mile away. Don’t overexaggerate what you can offer. Instead, stick to what you know you can provide and be honest about how soon you’ll be able to provide it. In many cases, it will be a good idea to offer resolution times that are greater than the amount of time needed in order to fulfill customer requests “earlier” than scheduled.

Baldacci believes that sticking to the truth is a great way garner customer loyalty. “Nobody likes being lied to,” he writes, “A customer can’t expect anything more than the truth. When you maintain an open dialogue with your customers and keep them informed at all times, you’ll earn your customer’s commitment to your company.”

At Synergy Marketing, our great promotional products have been wowing customers for years! 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 3 Simple Steps To Wowing Your Customers

29 Mar

3 More Ways To Make Sure You’re Employing A Happy Staff

Posted in Synergy Suggestions on 29.03.16 by John Meloche

Portrait of a charismatic multi-ethnic business people working at a laptop in the officeIn yesterday’s blog, we revisited the topic of happy employees and highlighted their importance to your business. Not only are happy employees the most productive kind you can have, but when your staff is excited to work for you, your customers will take notice. Optimum customer service is pretty much a guaranteed result of employing happy people. So what are some other ways that you can make sure you’re employing a happy staff?

Here are three more to consider:

1. Lead by example. It’s an age-old piece of advice, but it is entirely relevant and worthwhile to heed. Most employees will not follow through on their commitments to their jobs if the people in charge aren’t doing so themselves. Happy employees are proud employees. It’s important to give your staff members reasons to feel like it is worth it to work for your company. Show them exactly what you expect from them by never slouching on your own dedication to excellence.

“The manager sets the tone for the office, so one of the best ways to get your employees excited is by being excited yourself,” advises Annette Hazard on Under30CEO.com, “If your employees see that you are uninterested in what you are doing then they are going to care little about their own work. Not only act excited about your work, but be serious about it. Your employees will take note and act accordingly.”

2. Don’t allow your managers to hurt your brand image. We’ve all had experiences with office managers who simply make work harder than necessary. If you have anyone in positions of power who may be bringing down the energy of your office, it’s time to make a change. The people who manage your office have a huge impact on the happiness of the employees who work for you.

“People don’t quit companies; they escape lousy managers,” says Verne Harnish on Fortune.com, “One recent survey showed that 65% of workers would prefer a new boss over a raise. If your team is underperforming, take a close look at how your lieutenants manage their direct reports. Do they know how to coach your employees so that they can excel — or make the people around them feel alienated and stupid? If it’s the latter, get them into management training ASAP.”

3. Publicly acknowledge jobs well done. “Besides just giving them a check, you should also recognize good effort and performance from your employees,” encourages Hazard, “For example, when you have someone that reaches a specific sales goal, give them service awards and recognize them in front of everyone. Having some kind of an awards banquet may also be a good idea to recognize your top performers.”

Everyone enjoys the feeling of being appreciated. Your staff works hard. When certain members perform exceptionally well, it’s only fair that they are acknowledged for it. This is another way to use Synergy Marketing’s promotional gifts. Offering prizes, gifts or rewards for special accomplishments gives employees extra motivation to perform at their best. And you know where you can get the best promotional gifts in the business, right?

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 3 More Ways To Make Sure You’re Employing A Happy Staff