My current go-to stress relievers are hitting the gym, cooking, and watching science fiction movies. Now, you might be wondering why I’m bringing this up, especially in the context of business and management. It’s because as business owners or managers, we can become so preoccupied with running and growing our businesses that we overlook simple yet effective ways to take them to the next level. The solution may be right in front of us, like my missing screwdriver.
Instead of investing in costly marketing or brand campaigns, we should prioritize taking care of our customers. Many businesses fail to tap into their customers’ potential by engaging with them in a way that fosters organic growth, something we do when trying to win over new customers. It’s a straightforward approach that is often overlooked.
Sadly, customer experience and satisfaction are frequently relegated to a last resort rather than a top priority. However, businesses don’t need expensive campaigns to grow. A customer-focused culture that values customer loyalty can lead to a more substantial bottom line through increased engagement.
Customer loyalty is a two-way street. As much as businesses want it from their customers, customers want loyalty from businesses too. While many businesses treat their customers poorly, those that go out of their way to make them feel special and appreciated win their loyalty. The goal is to create raving fans, not just a customer base.
Unfortunately, many businesses have a “burn and churn” mentality, thinking that losing customers is no big deal since new ones will replace them. The question we should be asking is what are we doing or not doing that alienates our customers and prevents them from having an excellent experience with our business?
Often, the problem lies in how we systematize our internal business processes, which can inadvertently alienate our most valuable asset – our customers. Customers don’t want to feel like they’re just a number or part of a global domination plan. What we need is a return to real customer service and interaction in the business landscape, which has been missing for a long time.
While many businesses claim to put the customer first, the truth is that very few actually deliver on that promise. The real reason for this is that business owners and management aren’t customers in their own business. If they experienced what they dish out from a customer’s perspective, they would quickly realize that their business often misses the mark. The solution is often right in front of them, hidden in plain sight.
Instead of focusing solely on staff training, we should provide a level of service that blows our customers away every day. At The Customer Culture, we offer on-site customer service and customer-focused training to businesses in-person and on-line. We believe that prioritizing the customer experience is the key to standing out from your competitors. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your business.
