Technology
Why customer service is important for business
Customer service: why is it important for business and how to improve it : In business, there are many methods and strategies for attracting new and retaining existing customers.
In this article we will talk about what it is, what it is based on and how to use it.
What is customer service
Customer service is a strategy on the basis of which relationships with the client are built at each stage of the purchase. It exists in any company that works with people, and is based on a culture of communication and attentive attitude on the part of employees.
This is about maintaining human relationships with customers, and about finding points of contact at every stage of their life cycle. It all depends on the specific business and its objectives.
What is customer service and why is it needed?
What is it needed for
The main goal is to leave a good impression after the interaction. After all, the less time a person spends on solving their issues, the higher the likelihood that he will return to re-purchase after a while or recommend the company to his friends, relatives and colleagues.
Ideally, customer service helps retain existing customers, increase sales, especially repeat sales, and increase the company’s net profit. And with the right approach, the strategy will increase the average bill and increase the amount of the minimum order. In financial terms, this is beneficial for the company, since it does not have to spend additional funds to attract new one-time sales.
Basic rules of customer service
There are no universal rules for organizing customer service. Each company develops them taking into account its own needs and customer requests. But you can find a few basic rules that most adhere to:
The client is always right . This phrase sounds almost everywhere, coined by Harry Selfridge in 1909, when he founded the London department store of the same name. However, sometimes its importance is inflated to unprecedented proportions, leading to the indulgence of the most ridiculous and inadequate requests.
In fact, the essence of the rule comes down to the company’s willingness to communicate with customers and fulfill their wishes to the extent possible. And it also implies a loyal attitude of employees towards customers and an individual approach. And that’s it!
By the way, you do not have to follow this rule blindly .
The importance of feedback . In principle, the opportunity to send feedback already has people. This is an indicator that the company is ready to work on mistakes and take into account the opinion of customers. Presence should be maximum, whether it be online chat, social networks, instant messengers, phone, email and more. Somewhere they even practice round-the-clock response, which is also pleasant for the audience.
Quick response to requests . People do not want to wait a long time for an answer, I speak from my experience of communicating with Yandex russian search engine support 🙂 Clients for the most part expect an answer in the first 10 minutes after contacting them. After that, they will either try to reach out in other ways, or they will lose interest and begin to react negatively. Here, too, you should not make an elephant out of a fly, trying to react in a matter of seconds, but it is still desirable to respond quickly.
Convenient site . For the visitor, it should be not only beautiful, but also useful. In principle, people like it when the page loads no longer than 5 seconds, all the necessary sections are in a prominent place, and information does not have to be searched for a long time. In reality, not everything is perfect, but you should try to reduce the troubles and bring the degree of convenience to a more acceptable level.
Reacting to negativity . This is beneficial not only to customers who are faced with some kind of problem, but also to the company itself. In this way, you can reduce reputational risks, increase loyalty, and, in principle, show the audience that you are ready to work on the service.
Fast delivery . If you are in sales, try to ensure that the goods are delivered as expected. First of all, follow the deadlines, and then you can work on the delivery point, for example, to the nearest post office or pickup point.
Return form . If someone really doesn’t like your product or service, provide an option for compensation or a refund. You are better off if the outgoing customer has a pleasant communication experience even if the product or service does not meet his expectations.
Loyalty programs . This thing does not so much give bonuses to customers as it allows the company to smooth out some uneven corners. For example, not quite fast delivery or its absence, poor quality service or something else. But remember, this “pill” helps only for a certain period, then you have to fix the problems.
These are, in my opinion, the most elementary and frequently encountered examples. You can adjust the rules of customer service for yourself based on the characteristics of your business. This also includes reducing waiting times, introducing profitable offers or reward systems when returning to you, changing the service according to the wishes of customers, and much more.
Common Mistakes
First, I will note the most banal mistakes, such as unwillingness to listen to customers. As a result, we see detached or neutral communication with a person, and this will not improve the situation. If you have taken up customer service, then you need to communicate, find out detailed information and try to really solve the situation. As for other common problems, the following should be noted here:
Desire to save . Once you decide to engage in the service, you will have to invest significantly. And in terms of money, and time, and employees. It is also worth spending money on technology and maintenance, as well as buying specialized services and customizing them. Over time, all this will pay off with the attention of the audience and the desire to buy the product from you.
Lack of employee training . It is not enough to use pre-written scripts, here the employee should also be interested in solving the problem with minimal losses. To do this, it will probably be necessary to organize separate training to increase their level of knowledge in the field of customer service. But it will be much more pleasant for the buyer to communicate with employees, and he will not want to leave.
The use of “universal” scripts and a single approach for all. Standard wording and answers may be easier for the company, but they will not endear you to the client. If you want him to continue to buy from you, try to find an individual approach, keep the context and, possibly, use personal appeals.
Slow application processing . This is a direct violation of one of the frequently encountered rules. A customer who waits for a long time loses interest and may refuse to purchase a product or service. In the worst case, he will tell his acquaintances and friends that it is not worth contacting you.
Redirecting to other representative: People also don’t like it when they are constantly redirected to another specialist – then every time you have to re-tell the same story. Among other obvious mistakes, I note a rude, boorish or dismissive attitude. We need to work on all this, and continuously.
How to organize customer service
The whole process of preliminary organization of customer service can be concluded in 4 main stages:
Determine the goal of improving customer service . It is important to describe it as specifically and clearly as possible, preferably with a limited deadline. Use the SMART methodology for goal setting or any other. Upon reaching the existing one, you can put a new one, so to speak, constantly improve.
Pick the right tools . Here, pay attention to the above rules. Each of them contains certain tools for interaction. For example, a user-friendly website, fast delivery, loyalty program and much more. You can choose them one by one and gradually improve, thus increasing the level of customer service on an ongoing basis.
Form a responsible team . In a company, technical support is often responsible for organizing the service. But in a good way, this work should involve everyone who somehow communicates and interacts with customers. In social networks, at points of sale, in the office – it all depends on the specific point. If a customer comes up with a question, it is the responsibility of a member of staff on site to help find a solution. Managers are already responsible for further collection and processing of information.
Choose the right KPIs . With their help, you will then measure whether you have reached your initial goal. KPIs, by the way, are set based on a goal. For example, if you want to increase the level of sales, then track the number of orders on the site or purchases at points of sale. There are other metrics like customer loyalty index (NPS), lifetime value (LTV) and many others.
Then you begin to gradually implement the selected tools and monitor their effectiveness with the help of responsible persons. Based on the results, you can adjust your goals, implement other tools, change your strategy, and so on. Remember: everyone makes mistakes, the main thing is not to stop working on mistakes and change for the better.
How to check the quality of service
To find out exactly what level of service is at your company, I recommend that you carry out the following steps.
Collection of statistics . Review your business’ key performance metrics, then compare them to historical performance. Here you can use CRM-systems or other analytical tools.
Analysis of telephone records and dialogues . This method will help to identify frequently asked questions, as well as to identify the nature of the communication of technical support employees.
Customer survey . Especially those who have been with you for a long time. They will accurately point out the existing problems and tell about the appeal of employees.
Mystery shopper . You can hire an outsider to analyze all the stages of communication between the company and customers according to the necessary indicators.
Employee testing . Here it will be possible to assess the communication skills of employees, in general, to determine their abilities and even potential.
How to improve customer service
To improve your customer experience, you can take the following steps:
Train employees . Employees must share the goals and mission of the company. To do this, they must first be properly informed. And then it’s worth teaching them to broadcast your ideas to the audience and create the right impression.
Work on bugs . They must first be recognized, and then corrected. There is no sense in hushing up the shortcomings of the company. It is better to work on weak qualities, rather than trying to hide them.
Set yourself apart from competitors or market leaders . Their experience can be both good and bad for you. By making the same mistakes, you simply lose time, and otherwise you can advance many times faster.
In general, develop all the elements and tools of customer service so that people would be pleased to contact your company, and then recommend it to friends and acquaintances.
Let’s summarize
There are no specific standards for interacting with customers. You should always focus only on your own unique experience and the needs of the audience. It is important to choose the right tools that already exist, gradually improve them, and over time everything will certainly pay off.
Reviews
The Best Buy Apple Airpods 2023
Best Buy Apple Airpods 2023 : Apple AirPods have been the main competitor to other brands in the wireless headphone market for several years, but the high price can be an obstacle in acquiring them. Today, together with an expert, we will consider the best analogues of AirPods
AirPods are devices made by other manufacturers that offer wireless headphones with similar features and capabilities, but at a more affordable price. For those who are not yet familiar with this product, AirPods are Apple’s wireless earbuds that provide convenience and high quality sound in a compact form factor. The main advantages of Apple devices are the presence of a transparency mode (setting external sounds), noise reduction, high voice quality during a conversation, and smart features (for example, Siri voice assistant).
However, despite the popularity of AirPods, analogues are appearing on the market that can provide even better sound quality and more features than the original product. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best AirPods alternatives that offer better value for money sound quality, as well as additional features such as noise cancellation, gesture control, and longer battery life.
Best Buy Apple Airpods
Apple AirPods Pro Review
The Apple AirPods Pro are fancy wireless earbuds that have lots of cool features for great sound and easy use. Here’s a quick review of what’s good about them:
Positive Aspects:
Noise Cancellation: These earbuds can make things around you quiet, which is awesome when you’re listening to music in noisy places.
Hear Around You: You can also let in sounds from outside, so you know what’s happening around you without taking the earbuds out.
Comfy Fit: They have different ear tips to make sure they fit comfortably in your ears, and they block out extra noise.
Nice Sound: The sound is good, with strong bass and clear sounds. They’re not perfect for super music fans, but they sound pretty good.
Sweat and Water Resistant: You can use them when you’re sweating or if there’s a bit of water around without breaking them.
Smart Chip: They work really well with iPhones and iPads, and you can even talk to Siri hands-free.
Easy to Connect: You can easily connect them to your Apple devices without much trouble.
Negative Aspects:
Battery Life: They don’t play music for a super long time before needing a charge. You get around 4.5 to 5 hours with noise cancellation or the hearing-around-you mode on.
Expensive: They cost more than other wireless earbuds, which might not be great if you’re trying to save money.
Not Super Tough: Some people say they might not last a long time and could break, especially the case or the earbuds.
Final Thoughts:
The AirPods Pro are a good choice if you love Apple stuff and want earbuds that work really well with your devices. They’re especially good if you want to block out noise. But they’re a bit pricey, so if you don’t need the noise stuff, you might want to look at other options. The sound is nice, they’re easy to use, but remember they might not be super tough.
Apple AirPods Pro (1st Generation)
The 1st Generation of Apple AirPods Pro, wireless earbuds, comes with a range of features designed for better sound and convenience. Here’s a concise review covering their main aspects:
Advantages:
Active Noise Cancellation: The AirPods Pro (1st Gen) feature active noise cancellation, reducing background noise for a focused listening experience, particularly useful in noisy environments.
Transparency Mode: This mode allows external sounds to come through, balancing music and environmental awareness, beneficial when you need to stay alert to your surroundings.
Comfortable Fit: With different ear tip sizes, these AirPods offer a comfortable fit tailored to your ears, enhancing comfort and noise isolation for improved sound quality.
Audio Quality: The earbuds deliver well-balanced audio, including strong bass and clear high notes. While not audiophile-level, they provide enjoyable sound.
Water and Sweat Resistance: These AirPods are designed to withstand light water exposure and sweat, making them suitable for workouts and outdoor activities.
H1 Chip Integration: The built-in H1 chip optimizes compatibility with Apple devices, ensuring seamless pairing, lower latency, and hands-free Siri activation.
Easy Pairing: Connecting the AirPods to your Apple devices is straightforward, especially if you’re logged in with your iCloud account.
Drawbacks:
Battery Life: The earbuds offer a decent but not exceptionally long battery life. You can expect around 4.5 to 5 hours of playback with noise cancellation or transparency mode engaged.
Price: The AirPods Pro (1st Gen) are relatively more expensive compared to alternative wireless earbuds, potentially discouraging budget-conscious consumers.
Durability: Some users have reported concerns about long-term durability, including issues with the earbuds’ charging case and their overall resilience.
Final Thoughts:
The first-generation AirPods Pro are a solid choice, especially if you’re a dedicated Apple user seeking compatibility and an immersive audio experience. However, their higher cost and potential durability issues might lead you to explore other options, especially if noise cancellation isn’t a top priority. For those valuing sound quality and user-friendliness, the AirPods Pro are worth considering, while taking into account possible durability challenges.
Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)
The Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) are wireless earbuds with several features to enhance your listening experience and convenience. Here’s a quick review highlighting their main features:
Advantages:
Wireless Convenience: These AirPods are cord-free and connect to your devices through Bluetooth, allowing you to move freely without tangled wires.
Easy Pairing: Setting up these AirPods is a breeze. They quickly connect to your Apple device when you open the charging case nearby.
Good Sound Quality: The audio quality is decent, with clear vocals and satisfactory bass. While not designed for audiophiles, they provide a pleasant listening experience.
Long Battery Life: You get about 5 hours of continuous listening time, and the charging case extends this to over 24 hours before needing a recharge.
Voice Control: You can use voice commands like “Hey Siri” to manage your music, calls, and more, all without touching your device.
Comfortable and Light: These AirPods are lightweight and fit comfortably in most ears, making them suitable for extended wear.
Device Compatibility: They work well with various Apple devices, and switching between devices signed in with the same iCloud account is effortless.
Disadvantages:
No Noise Cancellation: Unlike the AirPods Pro, these earbuds don’t have active noise cancellation, so they might not block out background noise as effectively.
Limited Water Resistance: The AirPods (2nd Gen) aren’t fully waterproof, so you should be careful when using them in wet or sweaty conditions.
Similar Design: They closely resemble the first-generation AirPods, which could disappoint those expecting a more noticeable design update.
Final Thoughts:
For Apple fans who want easy-to-use wireless earbuds, the AirPods (2nd Gen) are a reliable choice. They offer good sound quality, long battery life, and straightforward setup. While they lack some advanced features of the AirPods Pro, their affordability and dependable performance make them a practical option for everyday use. If you’re seeking straightforward wireless earbuds with an Apple touch, give the AirPods (2nd Gen) a look.
Reviews
How to Choose an Iron / Best Iron to Buy 2023
Today we will discuss the most important aspects for How to choose an iron, let’s take a look
Hold in your hands
An iron is a household appliance that you have to keep in your hand all the time it is working. Therefore, it is important that you feel comfortable, easy and pleasant to “communicate” with him. Even if you choose it on the Internet, do not be lazy, go to a hardware store, hold it and see how comfortable you are.
Weigh
Some housewives like it when the iron is heavy enough. Apparently, this has gone back to the time when the large weight of the device helped to smooth fabrics faster and better. Now weight is not an important characteristic, and many manufacturers do not even indicate it in the main technical data. But still, look at the weight, because the iron is always in your hands, if it is very hard or unusually light, then ironing will be uncomfortable.
Irons with ceramic or aluminum soles weigh a little, some even less than one kilogram. High-quality irons with stainless steel soles weigh about one and a half kilograms, less often about two. Keep in mind that when you fill the tank with water, the iron will become slightly heavier.
Check out the power of steam
Steam is as important a part of ironing as a hot sole. Therefore, the more steam the iron produces, the easier and faster men’s shirts, voluminous duvet covers, and light dresses with flounces will be ironed.
We look at the power of steam supply. The higher it is, the better!
Steam output or continuous steam output is how much steam per minute comes out of the holes on the soleplate of the iron. In this case, you do not need to additionally press any buttons. Just move the iron over the fabric, and the steam comes out and smoothes out the wrinkles.
This indicator affects the cost: the more steam, the more expensive the iron. On the most equipped models, continuous steam output can reach 75 g/min. Average indicators – 35-50 g / min. But even at 40 g/min, you will have to press the steam boost button frequently to iron the fabric faster.
Check the steam boost
Every steam iron has a steam boost function. Press the button, and steam falls on the fold of the fabric in a powerful cloud, and the hot sole smoothes it out effortlessly.
The stronger the steam boost, the easier it is to remove creases.
Average indicators: 160g–200g. If the value is below 150g, then it can hardly be called a steam boost, just increased steam supply. It, of course, will help to smooth the fabric, but the strongest creases will have to be ironed several times.
Estimate the frequency of use of vertical steam
This function allows you to iron clothes hanging on hangers. But in fact, only expensive irons with a steam boost of about 200 g / min can cope with this task. If this type of ironing is important to you, then it is better to buy a vertical steamer.
Check the volume of the water tank
If the iron has a large steam supply and a small water tank, then ironing will turn into a torment, because you have to add water every ten minutes. Manufacturers also understand this, so they increase the volume of the tank as much as they can. Largest tank: 350-400 ml.
Average volume: 250–300 ml.
You can take a model with a smaller tank volume if it has a small supply of steam or you prefer to iron without it at all.
Find out if there is descaling
If you want your iron to last longer, choose a model with a descaling function. Such a system is found in most devices. The main thing is to use it. Many simply forget to pull out and rinse the container or a special rod in which limescale accumulates.
If there is no such function, then only distilled water can be used.
In addition, it is necessary to carry out self-cleaning of the iron so that when ironing, pieces of scale do not get on expensive clothes. Expensive models have a separate button for this. You need to heat the iron with a full tank of water, place it over the sink and press the clean button. Water with scale pieces will pour out of the holes.
If there is no button and self-cleaning function, then you need to set the maximum heating and turn on the steam boost several times over the sink so that all scale particles come out with water and steam.
Only some of the most expensive models have an indication of the need to clean, with most irons you need to follow this yourself.
See if there is an anti-drop function and how it works
The anti-drip function allows you to iron at low temperatures, at which water does not turn into steam, without the appearance of water droplets on clothes. Drops can stain silk and leave marks, which is why it is so important that the iron does not “cry”.
The main problem is that the “anti-drop” is declared for almost all models, and only works for some. And it’s almost impossible to check this before buying, you can get truthful information only by studying the feedback from the owners or looking at independent tests. Therefore, after buying, check on a simple cloth how the iron behaves when ironing at low temperatures, and if it “drops tears”, then do not be lazy and drain all the water from the tank before ironing delicate fabrics.
You can, of course, try to return the iron to the store if 14 days have not passed since the purchase, referring to Article 18 of the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”. After all, the buyer has the right to return the goods if he has a defect that the seller did not warn about. But it will be difficult to prove that a couple of drops spilled during ironing are sufficient grounds for the return of equipment. If you had such an experience, tell us in the comments, it’s interesting.
Check if there is an auto-off
If you suffer from forgetfulness or increased anxiety, then pay attention to devices with an auto-off function. They usually turn off on their own if they lie still for more than 30 seconds or stand still for more than 8 minutes. This feature is available for both expensive and cheap models.
There is one more opportunity to control the operation of the device: some models can be controlled from a smartphone through the application. So the problem with the iron not turned off remains in the past.
Look at the cord
Two points need to be checked: the length of the cord and the method of fastening.
The maximum length of power cords for irons is 3 meters.
Often there are models with cords 2.5 m long. An iron with a shorter cord is worth buying only if your ironing board is equipped with a power connection.
The way the cord is attached to the case is very important. The cord must rotate freely 360 °, only in this case it will not fray during operation.
Check out the warranty period
Many models have a 2-year warranty. Some have one. Agree, two is more than one. Therefore, choose equipment with a longer warranty period. But keep in mind that some breakdowns, such as those associated with the fact that you did not perform descaling, may not be covered under warranty.
Best Iron to Buy
Reviews
Best headset for working from home with microphone / remote work
Best headset for working from home with microphone : Now, more than ever, remote work and distance learning have become relevant. But in order to stream, meetings, webinars, conferences, play games, chat online with friends, you need a high-quality headset.
The best headphones with a microphone for work in 2023 – we tell you what they should be
Before choosing headphones with a microphone for your phone or computer, you need to find out what they are.
How to Choose Headphones for Remote Working:
Wired . These headphones are more reliable than wireless headphones and are lighter in weight. They are connected to the sound source using a wire that is inserted into the appropriate connector.
Wireless . Buying wireless headphones with a microphone is beneficial if you want to feel the freedom of movement and at the same time are ready to constantly charge them, change batteries, etc. The base station of these headphones is connected to the gadget connector. Thanks to the built-in transmitter, the headphones and the station exchange signals.
According to the type of headset design are:
Folding . These headphones fold with a special mechanism and take up less space. They are convenient to take with you.
Clumsy . More bulky, they are better to choose if you are going to use them at home and do not plan to carry them with you all the time.
The differences lie in the type of attachment of the headphones themselves:
Headband . Between the cups passes the bow, which is located in the vertical direction. Due to this, the weight of the headphones is evenly distributed over the head.
Occipital arch . The bow connects two ear pads, but unlike the first option, it runs in the occipital area.
The microphone can be:
On the wire . The microphone is located on the wire, next to the volume control button.
On a fixed mount . The microphone is mounted on a plastic holder and is not very noticeable.
On a movable mount . It can be adjusted, zoomed in and out of the face.
Built-in . The microphone is not visible at all, but this is its only advantage. Using the built-in option, in addition to your voice, all extraneous sounds will also be heard.
With noise cancellation . These microphones are the best and most practical. If the headset has such a function as noise reduction, then all sounds except your voice will be suppressed to the maximum.
Also, the headphones differ in connectors:
Mini jack 3.5 mm . Represented by a small plug that can be inserted into a computer, TV, tablet, phone or home theater. Provided they have a sound module.
USB . Headphones with a microphone with a USB input have a built-in sound module. Therefore, they can be connected to devices that do not have their own audio output.
Best Headset for working from home with microphone
Best Headphones for Remote Work
Best Wired Headset for working from home
Best Noise Cancelling Headphones for office environment under 100
We have shared all the best headsets available in the market. If you want to read in depth how to choose a headset & which qualities it should have before buying. Read our article & share your thoughts in our comments.
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