Dan Bobinski has lots to say about customer service:
It’s a universal given that when we shop somewhere we’d like to be treated with a modicum of respect. When our shopping experience is negative, statistics show it takes only two such incidents and we’re likely to shop elsewhere. That’s not a lot of wiggle room. Think of it as “two strikes and you’re out.”
So what are the top two steps? Bobinski says:
1. Place people in customer service positions without much training.
2. Don’t give them much feedback on how they are preceived by customers.
I would add some that might relate especially to small town small biz:
3. Put some “big business” policies in place, like “no returns” or anything that makes you say “I’m sorry, but we can’t” to customers.
4. Ignore customer requests for special items, services, or hours.
5. Fail to keep your promises to customers; for example, fail to keep your posted hours.
small biz rural entrepreneurship
- Rural Tourism Trend: electric vehicle chargers can drive visitors - January 15, 2023
- 2023 trends for rural and small town businesses - December 26, 2022
- Local reviews on Google Maps drive enduring value - December 17, 2022
- Extra agritourism revenue from camping, cabins and RVs with HipCamp - December 12, 2022
- Harvest Hosts attract vanlifers and RV tourists, Boondockers Welcome - December 2, 2022
- Holiday 2022 marketing: Tell your founding story - December 1, 2022
- Holiday 2022 Marketing: Tell your customers’ stories - November 30, 2022
- Holiday 2022 Marketing: Introduce your people - November 29, 2022
- Holiday 2022 Marketing: Share your holiday traditions - November 28, 2022
- Holiday Marketing 2022: Support your service businesses - November 22, 2022