customer relations
The Secret to Outperforming the Competition: It’s Not Just About Customers
Shep Hyken | September 12, 2024
In a recent Amazing Business Radio episode, I interviewed Rony Vexelman, the VP of marketing at Optimove, who said, “Companies that put their customers at the center are the companies that are outperforming their competition.” Who would disagree with that statement? Well, Heather Quick Ginevan did, and she included a great explanation in just one sentence. She said, “I disagree – I think companies that put their employees at the center are the companies that outperform their competition.” Well said, Heather … and I agree. Her point is that if you put employees first and show them they are valued and appreciated, a great ...
Some Customers Aren’t Worth Doing Business With
Shep Hyken | June 28, 2024
In some of my customer service speeches, I joke that some customers aren’t worth doing business with. The way I position it in the speech is funny, but in reality, it’s pretty serious. Sometimes, a customer isn’t worth doing business with because they are truly a bad customer. The result could be choosing to say, “Goodbye,” and sending them to the competition. While there are many reasons you might end your relationship with a customer, I came up with six obvious ones to get you thinking: Customers who repeatedly return products. This is often the result of a liberal return policy that some customers abuse. Repeat...
A Lofty Goal: Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company
Shep Hyken | December 22, 2023
By Shep Hyken If I asked 10 people who they thought could be planet Earth’s most customer-centric company, I bet a majority would have the same answer. I’ll share that company’s name at the end of this article. For now, you can guess. Cindy, from my office, had a customer service issue. Here are the steps she took to resolve the problem: She went to the company’s website and clicked on customer support. She answered a few questions, and once the technology identified her problem, a chatbot popped up. After interacting with the chatbot briefly, the bot wrote, “Let me transfer you to an agent,” moving fr...
A Small but Powerful Surprise
Shep Hyken | January 19, 2022
By Shep Hyken I love a surprise. Think about the last time you received a surprise from a friend or loved one. It doesn’t even have to be a big surprise. It could be something small – just something that proves the other person was thinking about you. Has this ever happened to you in business? I receive surprise appreciation gifts from clients. I’m enjoying a box of chocolates a client sent as I create this post. And of course, I love surprising others. But what I want to share now is the example of a surprise that came from a most unlikely source, the TSA, as in Transportation Security Administration. My friend...
Feedback Bribery
Shep Hyken | November 24, 2021
By Shep Hyken To what extent will a company go to try to get customer feedback? Is it a simple email request? Is it an incentive to fill out a survey? And, if there is an incentive, can that skew the results? One of our faithful subscribers sent in a question. At the end of a project with a customer, she sends an email requesting the customer take a short survey. She said that she gets a very low response rate. So, she sends another. Then another. On the fourth try, she writes, “Do you like coffee? My treat!” She says that she gets a response to that almost every time. Her question to me was, “Is this a form of bribery, ...
The Mike Moment
Shep Hyken | November 12, 2020
By Shep Hyken We’ve all heard the old adage: “It’s better to give than to receive.” That’s what customer service people do. They give and give and give. They help solve problems and resolve complaints. What they get in return—hopefully—is a nice thank you, which, when you think about it, is fairly insignificant, though appreciated, for the work they do. Yes, they are paid for the job they do, but the people who are amazing at this role aren’t doing it just for the money. The opportunity to serve is fulfilling. They are customer service heroes. This brings me to a story about Mike, a teenager I met back in t...
Customer Service Week: A Time to Celebrate Customers AND Employees
Shep Hyken | October 1, 2020
By Shep Hyken It’s my favorite time of year… the leaves change from green to gold to red, there’s a chill in the air and the holidays are right around the corner. And of course, one of my favorite “holidays” is National Customer Service Week, which happens the first full week of October each year. This year it’s October 5-9. Traditionally, Customer Service Week has been the time to highlight and celebrate the great work employees do to take care of their customers. I also believe it’s a time to think about our customers as well. With that in mind, as this week approaches, now is a great time to ask an important questi...
Jonas Chorum Announces Integration With Whistle Guest Messaging Platform
Jonas Chorum | September 22, 2020
Phoenix, Arizona – September 22, 2020 – Jonas Chorum, a suite of streamlined, intuitive, and flexible property management solutions, announces a direct integration with Whistle, the leading hotel and guest messaging platform. With this integration, Jonas Chorum clients will be able to leverage two-way text communication with guests throughout the duration of their stay. “We are delighted to announce this integration with Jonas Chorum, which provides an enhanced and streamlined messaging experience for Chorum clients,” stated Christopher Hovanessian, Co-Founder and CEO of Whistle. “As the importance of mobile communication continu...
