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Customer Service

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Here’s a Four-Step-Framework for Responding to Negative Customer Feedback

Jul 11, 2024

0 min read

Criticism is an opportunity for growth — but only if you know how to properly deal with customer complaints. 

Sometimes, customers just aren’t pleased!
Sometimes, customers just aren’t pleased!

Let’s face it — everyone’s a critic these days, and it’s all but impossible to work a job without getting some negative feedback at some point in your career.


Even the most successful people deal with valid criticism. In the end, their ability to handle and interact with that feedback is what sets them apart. 

Knowing how to isolate, identify, reflect on, and act on negative feedback is a skill they have developed over time — and doing the same will help you grow in your career or in entrepreneurship.

The next time you need to respond to negative feedback, turn to this four-step framework.

Step 1: Isolate

Some customers just need to vent!
Some customers just need to vent!

It’s all too easy to view negative customer feedback as a personal attack. There’s a fine line between constructive criticism and insult — and sometimes the feedback is just downright mean. But even when something falls into the category of constructive criticism, it can still hurt!

The first thing you need to do is isolate the feedback. It is not reflective of you, the person. It is reflective of the experience the customer had with the product or service.

Isolate the feedback as if you were a neutral, third party to the situation. This will remove any emotions, disappointment, or anger that you may be feeling about the situation and allow you to interact with the customer’s concerns in a positive way.

A lot of the time, the spirit of the negative feedback is valid, but the way it’s said isn’t. Your job is to not let the presentation of the criticism bother you (even if it comes in the form of yelling or choice language) while trying to identify where the real problem lies.

Step 2: Identify

Some customers aren’t angry… just disappointed.
Some customers aren’t angry… just disappointed.

After you’ve isolated the feedback — you can identify where the real concern lies.

This may seem like a simple step, but it’s usually anything but. Customer feedback doesn’t happen in a vacuum. There are usually factors outside of the situation that impact how the response is worded or expressed.

A customer may rant about 10 different things that you did wrong — when all of those 10 things boil down to one specific concern that the customer can’t quite put their finger on. Or they may simply state that “this is bad” without explaining any of the reasons why they feel that way.

To work with negative feedback, you sometimes need to play detective. Ask questions that allow the customer to fully express their feelings. This won’t just help them feel heard, it will also give you the context you need to get to a solution.

Don’t just aim to listen, aim to empathize and understand.

Don’t say “I hear you” while someone is complaining — say “I understand.” Big difference there.

When the customer is finished explaining — repeat back what you’ve heard, but remove the emotion out of it. Be matter-of-fact as you walk through what’s just happened. This will prime the customer to start viewing the situation as a solvable problem (and not an emotion-crushing disaster).

As you go through your recap with them, focus on the handful of issues that are really at the crux of the issue. Even if these are things outside of your control. Take responsibility for them. The worst thing you can do is “try and pass the buck” — and in a world where everyone’s trying to point fingers, most customers will respect you for taking accountability.

At first — negative feedback can seem overwhelming and impossible to fix. But when you get good at finding the one thing that sits at the heart of the complaint it becomes manageable.

When the key issues are identified, act swiftly. Show the customer you’ve listened to them in the way you go about resolving the matter.

Step 3: Reflect

It doesn’t come as a surprise — it's normal to get negative feedback at some point in your career.
It doesn’t come as a surprise — it's normal to get negative feedback at some point in your career.

The most important work happens after the specific situation has been put to bed. Your job now is to evolve so that the problem does not happen again with another customer. It can be useful to discuss the negative feedback with your boss or peers — not to gossip or complain about it, but to get their opinion about how you handled things and how you can improve.

The odds are that they’ve gotten the same kind of feedback at some point in their careers. Listening to their experiences will help you grow — and will also reveal that getting criticism is normal (so you shouldn’t feel too bad about what that customer said!).

Reflecting helps you fix a problem before it becomes a trend. When you invest the time to think about how customers are responding to your product or service — you can start developing a tangible list of action items that are going to help you grow.

Step 4: Act

Adapt and move forward!
Adapt and move forward!

The best businesses are the ones that listen and adapt based on their customer’s needs and concerts. The greatest entrepreneurs have a spotlight on them at all times — and are criticized relentlessly. Knowing how to turn a negative piece of feedback into an opportunity for growth is a skill that directly correlates with success.

So, remember that everyone gets negative feedback sometimes — and if you know how to interact with it, that feedback can be a positive turning point in your career or entrepreneurial journey.

The last step in these situations is always to act. Take time to improve based on feedback and move forward with confidence and integrity.  

There will always be negative feedback. But if each complaint is different than the last… you’re going in the right direction!

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5 Customer Engagement Strategies That Build Rapport

Nov 28, 2018

0 min read

People Buy From People They Trust. Businessman holding a card with a message text written on it
5 Secrets for Customer Engagement Strategies That Build Rapport

Building customer engagement and rapport is a cornerstone of success in sales. Customers are looking to have genuine, authentic, and relatable encounters with professional sales representatives who demonstrate that they have their interests at heart—not just the sale.

For those looking to build rapport and create winning customer engagement strategies, there isn’t one definitive solution. That said, by implementing these five customer engagement strategies, customers will have a much stronger, positive, and lasting memory of you after you walk out that door.

#1: Make A Strong First Impression

When you first meet face-to-face, you want to start off strong and genuine. Don’t forget the basics. By remembering the SEE factors, Smile, Eye Contact, and Enthusiasm, you’re more likely to get off on the right foot. A firm handshake, maintaining eye contact, and a genuine smile go a long way toward showing the customer you’re engaged and present. All three are signals of trustworthiness that can have a critical impact in those first few moments with a customer. People wants to feel like they are in good and capable hands and with the right, positive attitude — they will be.

#2: Be Informative and Helpful, Not Pushy

Remember that customers buy products that address their needs. By focusing on the customer’s needs and questions about how the product can benefit them, you can build trust and make a sale at the same time.

We all know that salesperson who tells you that you look great in everything you try on, but that approach can turn customers away, because it feels disingenuous. Instead, take the time to get to know your audience, so that you can recommend something that is just right for them. Recommend the best products for the individual, not just the best price, or the highest commission item. When you pay attention to what your customer wants, and match them to the right product or service to fit their needs, you might be surprised how interested they can be.

When customers trust you, they are more likely to remain loyal and continue doing business with you—perhaps even send referrals your way!

#3: Body Language Says Almost Everything

A lot can be said about body language. Standing with your arms crossed or hunched over can come off as insecure or uninterested.

When meeting with a potential customer, make them feel like they not only have your full attention, but that they can trust what you say. Slouching, leaning, or invading their personal space are all signals to the customer that you either don’t care, or don’t have their best interests at heart. Acting and carrying yourself professionally shows that you’re taking the interaction with them seriously, and that demonstrates respect.

#4: Engage in Active Listening

You shouldn’t have to remind yourself to take the time to really listen to what your prospect has to say. It’s great to show your enthusiasm for the product, but remember to also leave room for the customer to ask questions and build his/her own interest in the product or services. Remember that the customer doesn’t know you, so while bringing energy to the sale shows that you have a great attitude, they will still need your help understanding how the product will be of benefit to them.

Being a good listener is the key to being a great salesperson. It provides you with an opportunity to uncover their pains so that you can later build a personalized pitch for how your company can help them.

#5: Connect with Your Customers by Being Authentic

No one likes to feel like they are talking to a robot. The day and age of rehearsed scripts has died—customers are looking for human connections.

Be observant when interacting with the customer and look for opportunities to relate them and their situation. Maybe you’re both sports fans, or parents. Maybe you both grew up in the same state or town. It sounds obvious, but finding common ground can go a long way toward building rapport with the customer. You might even want to take a couple notes while they’re talking to help you remember some key details. People tend to trust others who are most like themselves.

Final Thoughts: Finding the Right Customer Engagement Strategy for You

There are many ways you can show your appreciation to your customers while continuously building engagement and rapport. Most importantly, find customer engagement strategies that work best for you and your company’s needs.

For more customer engagement strategies and inside secrets, get in touch with the Cydcor team.

5 Tips to Be a Beast at Sales & Customer Service

Jul 21, 2017

0 min read

How to be a Sales BEAST words
5 Tips to Be a Beast at Sales and Customer Service

Ready to go beast mode? Beasts at sales are energetic, engaged, and capable of accomplishing just about anything! Unleashing your inner sales beast means stepping up your game to succeed at sales. Being a sales beast is a state of mind that drives you to be the best at what you do, but it also has a lot to do with how you behave and the image you project. While it’s important to trust your animal instincts, sometimes it takes a little good, old-fashioned discipline before things become instinctual.

By practicing the five B.E.A.S.T factors – body language, eye contact, awesome attitude, smile, and timing – you can start building great habits proven to help you succeed at sales.

Body Language:Your body is communicating with customers even before you’ve said a word. It’s important to understand the message you’re sending. Leaning on counters, tables, or desks as customers approach sends the message you’re bored and disinterested in speaking to them. It also doesn’t look very professional. Good posture has been shown in studies to make you feel more confident and prepared to make a sale. Facing the customer during a sales pitch can feel too confrontational, instead, stand to their side while you show them information. Don’t invade their personal space by getting too close, and avoid touching them other than a handshake, a high five, or a fist bump. Many people prefer not to be touched by strangers.

Eye Contact: Ever heard someone described as “shifty-eyed,” or have you noticed when somebody won’t make eye contact when they talk to you? It’s never a good thing. Keeping consistent eye contact helps you earn the customer’s trust by demonstrating that you’re confident and that you believe in what you’re telling them.  It communicates sincerity and genuine interest. It also allows you to connect with the customer, build rapport, and improve their engagement in the conversation – all customer service wins. By focusing on the customer’s eyes, you encourage them to pay attention and listen to you, and you can gauge whether they understand what you’re saying.

Awesome Attitude: By working in sales, you are helping to connect customers with services and products. Thinking of your role in terms of serving the customer, rather than just selling to him or her, helps you create a better experience for the customer, and most likely will result in more sales. That’s because people like to buy from people who make them feel good, cared for. People are busy, and not everyone is going to be polite when you approach them to make a sales pitch. But there’s no excuse for a salesperson to be rude, and it certainly won’t help you succeed at sales. When you maintain a great, confident, and friendly attitude, a customer who has already said no might change his or her mind later. But a customer you’ve been rude to is lost forever, and he or she might encourage others to avoid you, your product, or your company.

Smile: Studies have shown what you probably already know instinctively, smiling makes people feel good about you. Have you ever been in a bad mood and tried to keep a scowl on your face while the person you’re talking to is smiling. It’s tough, isn’t it? Smiling is contagious. It puts other people at ease, helps to change their mood, and most importantly, it leaves them with a good impression of you and what you have to say. While learning to smile consistently, and in a way that feels sincere and not forced, take practice, it’s probably the simplest thing you can do to improve your chances of making the sale.

Timing: Even when you do everything else right, the success of your sales pitch can sometimes come down to timing. Starting your pitch when the customer is too far away can force you to shout at them. Waiting until they are right in front of you can create an awkward feeling of intimacy. When approaching customers in person, start speaking to them when they are about seven feet away. Don’t wait until they have already passed you, or else you’ll be speaking to the back of their head, which puts you at a disadvantage.

Unleashing your inner sales beast takes more consistency and discipline than the name might suggest. Becoming a sales beast requires developing great communication techniques and professional habits that make the customer feel that you sincerely care about them and have their best interests at heart. The best sales beasts don’t depend on their killer instincts; instead, they use their B.E.A.S.T factors to convey confidence, sincerity, and helpfulness, which add up to the kind of creature qualities customers can’t resist.

Becoming a Customer Service Expert

Oct 14, 2016

0 min read

Becoming A Customer Service Expert - Cydcor
These skills are worth developing to leave every customer feeling satisfied and taken care of.

At the heart of everything we do at Cydcor is a commitment to first-class customer service. There are lots of tips out there on how to provide a great experience to your clients, but ultimately, your ability to give excellent customer service comes down to the following seven pieces of advice.

Be real

When you bring your own personality to a conversation, it shows. Your customer will trust you more if he or she can sense that you are doing more than providing robotic, scripted answers.

Listen actively and patiently

Most people don’t get to the true nature of their issue until they’ve been talking for a while. Don’t start formulating your answer when the customer is halfway through her sentence. Instead, wait until they’re finished speaking—and then repeat what they said back to them. This will allow them to clarify anything you may have misunderstood. Active Listening is key to improving communication skills.

Have a deep knowledge of your product

Nothing makes a customer happier than a representative who is able to explain everything about the product being offered. This will allow you to speak confidently about your product even if she or he goes “off the script” of standard questions. It will also amplify your persuasion skills.

Say what you mean and mean what you say

Simple conversation and small talk can get you places with customer service. When you are speaking with a customer, make sure he understands what you’re saying. Avoid jargon. Remember what you’ve promised—take notes right after your conversation—and be sure to follow through.

Work on your acting skills

Even after dozens of “nos,” you need to be able to greet each customer with a smile and an enthusiastic attitude. If you’re feeling a bit deflated, give yourself a personal pep talk and put on your game face for each customer you greet. You’ll be much more likely to get that “yes” you’re hoping for.

Use positive language

Instead of saying “I can’t” and giving reasons why you can’t—which a customer may view as making excuses—explain what you can do for them and when you’re going to do it. Customers react much more positively when they get specific answers and a concrete time frame for when their request will be fulfilled.

Be willing to learn

Watch a more experienced representative in action and see what he or she does to make customers happy. Enroll in professional development classes. Read books on the product you’re representing or on the art of excellent customer service. Willingness to learn will not only help you make your customers happy, it will get you noticed by your mentors and give you more opportunities to grow in your career.

For additional blogs from Cydcor, be sure to check out https://www.cydcor.com/media.

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services located in Agoura Hills, CA. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

8 Major Keys to Professional Success

Sep 14, 2016

0 min read

8 Major Keys to Professional Success Cydcor
Master these 8 aspects of professionalism to set yourself apart from the competition.

As a professional, you’re judged by your actions, abilities, results and your attire. Your job is to represent your company and clients to the best of your ability. Cydcor prides itself in being able to set-up its employees for success, and earn their way to the top. To get the respect of both your peers and clients, there are some major key strategies to follow. The following major keys are perfect for any entrepreneur who wants to do better.

Communicate Effectively

Let your customer know exactly how you can help them, and listen - really listen - to their needs. Be thorough in your explanations and don’t leave any questions unanswered. Make sure your customer understands both you and your product 100 percent.

Be Visible

Don’t stay under the radar; the key to success is to make a name for yourself. Speak up in meetings, take on new work and be an active participant in team projects. Let others know who you are and see what you can do.

Negotiate

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you’re worth when you start a new job or take on new clients. If you’ve been a stellar employee, ask for a raise. Let go of the fear and learn how to negotiate. Your confidence in your work as well as the effect your accomplishments have on the business you are part of can guide you through the process.

Shake Hands

It seems like such a small detail, but a handshake is a common first impression on which many are judged. Always offer your hand to clients, senior staff and hosts right away, and keep your shake firm. People will remember.

Have/Be a Mentor

There is always something new to learn. Seek out advice and knowledge from those who’ve been in the game longer, and ask them to help guide you through your career. Finding a mentor that works for you can give you a different perspective on how your career is going. On the flip side, be willing to give the same guidance to those who are new to the game.

Say No When Needed

It’s okay to say “no.” You are not required to take on extra tasks that will overburden your already hefty workload or take on work that makes you uncomfortable. Stop feeling bad when you can’t do a favor for a teammate. If you have to say “no,” do it, and then don’t feel guilty.

Say Thank You

Courtesy goes a long way. So does appreciation. Let your team know you are thankful for the work they do and the help they give. Let a customer know you truly value their business. It’s a simple statement that says so much, especially when the receiver wasn’t expecting to hear it.

Put Customers First

No, this doesn’t mean the customer can do no wrong; it means that customer satisfaction is the backbone of your business. If there’s a problem, fix it. If there’s a question, answer it. If you have a good rapport with a loyal customer, find ways to show them how much you value their business. Never forget that they are a big part of your career, and their satisfaction with your business determines future successes.

For additional blogs from Cydcor, be sure to check out https://cydcor-offices.com/

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services located in Agoura Hills, CA. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

Understanding What Your Customer Wants

Aug 12, 2016

0 min read

Cydcor-Understanding-What-Customers-Want
The "customer always knows what's right" mentality is still true today, but it requires a bit more understanding.

For anyone working in a sales environment, your relationship with your customers dictates your success. You can turn a one-time deal into lifelong business by how you acknowledge, understand and treat your customers’ needs. At Cydcor, we put an emphasis on this aspect of the job from the start.

Begin by asking questions. Ask them who they are, what they want and what they expect from your business. Conduct surveys, hold events and meet-and-greets, set up customer profiles to help individualize your sales pitch. Let go of your assumptions and figure out what each individual client wants.

We know that customer loyalty is at an all-time low, especially among younger clients who use social media reviews and recommendations as a means of doing business. Social media sites like Twitter and Facebook are great ways to interact with customers and ask them the questions that will give you a better understanding of what makes them tick. Through social media you can:

  • Start a dialogue with clients about your product and their expectations
  • Learn about your customers’ interests and buying history
  • Give your customers a platform for reviews and comments
  • Be active in the community and make a trusted name for yourself

Adding a personal touch to your professional relationship is also key. Gallup’s Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman found four levels of customer expectation that will help build trust between you and your clients:

  • Accuracy - Learn exactly what your customer wants and when they want it, and then make sure they get it. If you can’t follow through with this most basic step, you are very likely to lose your customer and even your business.
  • Availability - You need to be there for your customer, especially after you’ve taken their money. If there is an issue to fix or a product to be returned, they want to know you will be available to address their concerns.
  • Partnership - This goes hand-in-hand with availability, and it’s the level where you really build trust. Are you attuned to your clients’ needs? Are you connecting to each client on an individual basis? Do they feel like you actually care?
  • Advice - A study by the MIT Sloan School of Management showed that customers are most loyal to companies who teach them something. Educate your customer about the product you are selling and they are more likely to buy from you again.

It’s easy to get caught up in numbers. But the backbone of your business is the loyal, happy customer, and open lines of communication will work in keeping them coming back for more.

Getting in the mind of your customer isn’t the easiest concept to grasp, but it’s valuable in the long run. Have you found any good strategies to understand your customers better? Share with us on Cydcor’s Twitter and follow us @Cydcor.

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

10 Basic Business Skills Hacks to Boost Your Performance

Feb 25, 2016

0 min read

10 Basic Business Skills Hacks to Boost Your Performance

Mastering basic business skills will improve your confidence and give you a can-do attitude. Use these business skills hacks to kill it in your next performance review

Skills are the keys to opening doors in your career. Without them, you might never see progress or be able to make meaningful professional connections. Having the right skills for your field is an essential part of your professional development.

Different skills unlock different kinds of doors—the question is, which door are you trying to open?

People skills and soft skills—those that allow you to work effectively and harmoniously with others—are the foundation of business skills. Do you know how to adapt, analyze, collaborate, communicate, and manage your time and tasks? If so, you have the soft skills needed to master business skills.

If you want to make a memorable impression and get in the business of being the best, sharpen these skills:

Time Management

You’ll never get a chance to show off your business skills if you miss appointments and deadlines. Time management is an essential element in all business skills, especially in a fast-paced environment. Luckily, there are some great time management tools you can use to keep you on your game. The golden rule for time management is simple: always be on time, and never miss a deadline.

Organization

When you’re given an assignment, make sure that you understand exactly what the expected deliverable is. Use your organizational skills to put together a project plan. Ask questions. Use your analytical skills to identify potential problems and problem-solving skills to preemptively find solutions.

Communicate

You already have years of experience talking with friends, family, teachers, and supervisors, but business and corporate communication requires a more formal approach to messaging—whether it’s a text, a phone call, an email, or a face-to-face meeting. Make sure you understand the expectations for communication in your workplace.

Customer Service

It’s your job to provide your customers with the solutions and services they need. Always make time for your customer. If you don’t deal directly with customers, remember that every task you complete is an opportunity to strengthen—or weaken—your company’s connection with them.

Ongoing Education

Look for opportunities to learn more about your business and the business world. Attend workshops, classes, and seminars. Understanding current issues impacting the world and the world of business will improve your abilities and your authority as a trusted resource.

As your career develops, your business skills will grow and change. Mastering these business skills is an ongoing process. Keep and open mind and accept new opportunities to learn and you’ll soon master all of these business skills.

How do you develop your business skills? Please share your ideas in the comment area below. Don’t forget to share this article on Twitter and follow us @Cydcor.

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada, to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

10 Tips to Help You Spring Clean Your Attitude About Work

Feb 17, 2016

0 min read

10 Tips to Help You Spring Clean Your Attitude About Work - Cydcor

It’s time to spring forward! Use these ten terrific tips to energize your attitude and get the most out of your workday.

  1. Consider Your Customers

Your customers’ wants and needs are what matters most. Figure out what they expect and then exceed those expectations. Take the time to become extraordinary.

  1. Start with a Smile

Smiles often change attitudes—your own and your coworkers’. People usually like to be around people with a happy demeanor. Think about the times when you were having a rough day and seeing some else’s smile encouraged you to smile. It may be a simple thing to do but making an effort to smile will make an impact on the rest of your day.  Smiles work from the outside in, so practice smiling often. You’ll improve your outlook and strengthen customer and co-worker connections.

  1. Schedule Some Fun

It is important to look for ways to keep you in a positive state of mind. Perhaps have lunch with a friend, join the fun and be part of the office team night,  and listen to upbeat music on your way to and from work. You’ll bring back authentic energy to your workplace.

  1. Save Your Gratitude

Record your accomplishments in a notebook or in your smartphone. When you need a boost, you have a resource that will transform a challenging day to a great day.

  1. Attack Your Hardest Task First

Putting off a difficult job never turns out well. Procrastination sows, and that can ruin your day. Attack your hardest task first; once it’s out of the way, you’ll feel accomplished and ready to meet anything else that comes your way.

  1. Help Someone

Reach out to your team to see if they need help with their tasks. Doing something for others is a great way to get out of your head and gain a positive perspective.

  1. Become an Optimist

Consciously remind yourself to see the positive side of every situation that you’re in. You can learn from every experience at work, and that’s an exciting possibility. Looking at things from a positive perspective will also help you be more solutions-minded and a proactive teammate.

  1. Do More Than What’s Expected

Think like an Olympic athlete when you are working—don’t let anything stop you from living up to your full potential! Master your tasks and core assignments first, then tap into your entrepreneurial spirit to find opportunities to do more and exceed expectations.

  1. Get to Work Early

Show up twenty minutes early. Get a head start on your day by avoiding last minute traffic that can make you late for work. Getting to work early will also give you some time to think on the tasks you need to accomplish for the day. Perhaps you can use the time to read a section of a motivational book or reflect on your goals. Not only will your day start off better, but you’ll also get noticed for taking the initiative.

  1. Talk to Your Boss

Let your boss know what you’re doing. Share your career plans. Asking for advice is a great way to let your boss know that you’re committed to the company.

What are some tactics you use to stay positive at work? Share your tips with us on Twitter @Cydcor or Facebook, and show this article with your friends to start a conversation with your community.

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

Create A Customer-Focused Mindset in Your Business

Feb 5, 2016

0 min read

Create A Customer-Focused Mindset in Your Business

Getting close to your customers is one of the most important business strategies you can master. Learn how to change your mindset to keep the customers you have—and get new ones!

As a sales professional, you live, die, and breathe for customers. Simply stating that customers are vital to your success would be a massive understatement—customers are everything!

Instilling a customer-focused mindset into your employees and salespeople will keep their eyes on the ball and lead to some seriously good results for your business. In fact, according to a study by the Institute for Corporate Productivity and the American Management Association, companies that don’t foster an environment and culture of pleasing customers fail to succeed.

The study found that the best organizations -understand and leverage customer-focused initiatives that require a blend of attraction, engagement, satisfaction, collaboration, and retention.

Have we convinced you to make a change within your own business? If so, here are a few ways to start manufacturing a customer-centric cultural shift in your business:

Find A Good Place To Start

Begin by benchmarking your current level of customer focus. By completing an audit of your ongoing efforts, you can actually determine where to begin and how your team could improve.

Know Your Audience

Naturally, you’ll need to know who your customers actually are if you want to serve them properly. Try customizing your approach for your customers at every opportunity. Learn from the past and the present to see what they like and dislike about your current strategy so that you can refine your efforts in the future!

Consistency Is Key

Creating a consistent standard that your customers can anticipate is crucial. Standardizing training and protocols for your customer-facing employees is essential for maintaining a consistent brand image.

Think Of The Big Picture

Help your employees see the actual impact that their work has on customers. Forging this relationship is incredibly important to getting your employees invested in the customers that they serve. Employees that can see the fruits of their labor tend to be more productive as well!

Communication Matters Most

Maintaining open communication with your customers at all times is another essential. There’s a reason large companies have 24/7 customer support—it pays always to be there when your customers need you. While it may not be possible for all businesses to have a dedicated 24/7 customer support team, do the best that you can with the resources available to you. Your customers will be able to tell that you’re working hard for them.

Hire Help

Are you having trouble making the shift happen? If all else fails, try making your next hire someone that already has a customer-focused mindset. This will help you fill your ranks with right-minded individuals!

For further reading about creating a customer-focused environment in your business, check out this insightful article from Forbes.

Constructive communication with your customers will help you close a sale today and let you know who to call tomorrow. What are your secrets for staying connected with your customers? Share the skills you’ve developed with us. Post your story on Twitter, follow us @Cydcor, and start a conversation with your network.

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada, to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

Building & Maintaining Customer Relationships

Sep 28, 2015

0 min read

Cydcor Building & Maintaining Customer Relationships
Flickr CC via visitBerlin

Cydcor is dedicated to helping business professionals take the next step in their careers. For additional blogs regarding business, leadership, and sales advice, head over to https://www.cydcor.com/media.

Sales professionals have a natural impulse to focus attention on developing new customer relationships in order to land new accounts. It’s a good impulse, but it’s one that you need to manage in order to maintain existing customer relationships.

At Cydcor, we’re interested in pursuing new opportunities, but we also understand that you can’t forget current customers in the pursuit of new possibilities. Customer relationships aren’t over once you close the sale. It’s the start of a long-term partnership that will benefit your company and your customer.

Here are some strategies for building—and maintaining—great customer relationships.

Remember Their Names

Whether you’re working with a small company or a large corporation you’ll be working with an individual—a person. He or she has a family, a birthday, a new child, or a feisty puppy. Get to know your customer. Include a few notes in your contact management system to help you remember personal details that distinguish them. Personal knowledge provides a way to start a sales conversation. Reach out on your customers’ special days and they’ll remember that you made an extra effort when they have to make purchasing decision.

Become a Solution Center

Offer your customers the resources they need to stay informed about changes, improvements, and up-dates in the service you provide. If your company offers a newsletter make sure that your customer knows about it. When you find articles, books, or webinars that might be useful to your customer remember to share them. Call out the information that will be valuable to them and their particular problems. They’ll appreciate that you personalized the information for them.

Monitor Customer Relationships with Social Media

Research by Zendesk says that 45% of customers shared bad customer experiences and only 30% shared good customer experiences on social media. This information is an important tool for building customer relationships. Follow your customers’ social media accounts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Listen to what they’re saying and you’ll be able to fix any issues if they happen.

Customers Are Team Members

Include your customers in events that matter to them, to your company, and his or her company. If your department is hosting a networking event or is launching a new service make certain that your customer hears about it. When you’re working on improving your team’s internal processes get your customers’ feedback. Show them that you value their business and their professional expertise.

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How to Boost Your Customer Satisfaction

May 21, 2015

0 min read

Cydcor-WordPress-Customer-Satisfaction
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Cydcor is the worldwide recognized leader in outsourced sales teams and customer satisfaction.

When a business can deliver quality customer satisfaction on a regular basis, they tend to have a greater advantage over the competition. A good experience with a company encourages consumers to go with them again and builds company loyalty. When customers are satisfied, so too is the company that provides for them. Building customer satisfaction and reducing customer overturn is a long and sometimes difficult process. Taking the time to focus on boosting employee satisfaction can help drive sales by providing a friendly, professional, and engaging customer experience.

Listening is key to effective customer satisfaction. Not only does it have potential to boost profits, but it shows that you genuinely care about customers. Listening to their words and tone can tell you many things about the target audience of your business. If you can’t respond immediately to their inquiries, be sure to provide a timeline for response and make a note in to do so. Following up is also key to checking for customer satisfaction and completion. Customers have an expectation of the kind of attention and service that is delivered to them. Always strive to deliver quality results.

Excellent employee training can help customer satisfaction quite a bit. Customers can often tell the difference between an untrained employee who doesn’t care much about their wishes and one who provides consistent service and unmatched attention. Companies need employees who are flexible and can understand why customers are buying their services or products. Unfortunately, customers tend to get a company representative who cannot see the big picture with the company’s goals.

Intuitively, people who are at first exposed to customer satisfaction findings believe that the way forward is to examine individual customer responses and deal with each of them in turn. Salespeople understandably want to visit customers who have given them a low score and put them right. However, this isn’t the best approach. Professionals should take a look at the overall score of client feedback and use that to go forward. Typically, employees make the same mistakes with all customers, and these can be corrected easily. Looking at the whole picture and not just a section will always get you farther.

Building customer satisfaction isn’t an easy road, but it can make professional lives much easier. The way forward is to deal with problems within the system and not just focus on individual issues. A company should always seriously look into how they want to handle customer satisfaction. The company that puts a larger emphasis on this tends to do well.

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