5 Golden Online/Offline Business Rules To LIVE Or DIE By

Whether online or off, if you plan on running or maintaining any type of credibility within your business, there are some guidelines that are safe to say any existing or potential customer expects if they are to do immediate or future business with you.

As an online entrepreneur for over 3 years I have found that even though I don't have the pleasure of meeting face-to-face with my customers, ones perception of you and your business can be viewed as good or bad all depending on the way you handle questions or comments posted by people interested in your product.

Here is a list of 5 MUST DO'S that any one customer will come to expect if they are to do business with you.

(1) Be Prompt ? although it may be an exhausting task to keep up with all the general inquiries or questions about any one product that your visitors have, be sure to respond as soon as possible because the more time it takes for your reply, the more likely a prospect will go elsewhere to do business.

A great way to resolve many questions without having to physically type a letter each and every time is to provide a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for a potential prospect to view for quick reference.

Sometimes a potential customer may ask questions just to make sure there is a live person ready to assist if there is a need to do so.

(2) Be Polite ? for the online business people, even though your not looking at the person who is requesting information, it is wise to act as if they are standing right in front of you.

The way you word your messages can impact the way you make people feel.

If someone was to send a letter stating that they really didn't like the product they purchased and would like a refund (and sometimes you can tell if they are upset), be sure to promptly honor that refund and just say your sorry that they were unhappy with the purchase.

Being polite can lead to no hard feelings and even produce more sales from this person in the future because they are happy with the way you handled their problem.

If sending a letter, it is good practice to start it with a "Hello" or "Greetings" followed by the customers name and end every letter with a "Thank You", "Sincerely", "Warm Wishes", or "Best Regards" followed by your name.

(3) Be Helpful ? the reason why you are being contacted by an actual or potential customer is because they probably desire something and you'll need to provide a solution for their problem.

After answering a customer question, it never hurts to ask them if there is anything else you can assist them with.

By doing this it shows you are there for them and that you really want them to be happy with the services you provide.

(4) Be Sincere ? when answering question people may have about your products or if your just sending a "thank you" letter, make it sound as if you really mean it (and you should).

This will give people a sense of connection with you and will be less nervous to do business with you.

(5) Be Honest ? of all the golden rules presented to you within this article, this by far may be the most determining factor whether or not your business thrives or suffers a grueling demise.

By being honest about the product or service you offer and what they can expect from such a service, you'll show people you're a straightforward businessperson and someone who really does care about helping others.

This will lead your customers not only to feel comfortable dealing with you now, but most likely in the future also.

The Bottom Line Is...... The way you treat your customers can be more satisfying to them than the actual item your selling.

And remember, with all the competition and choices available these days, you now have the opportunity to stand out from the crowd.

Dan Preston has been in the ebook business for over 3 years and has enjoyed every moment of it. His website "The Online Book Store" offers a variety of ebooks big enough to answer almost anyone's how-to questions. http://online-book-store.net

---

Who Says the Customer is Always Right?

We all know the old adage, "The Customer is Always... Read More

Complaints Are Actually A Good Thing!

Nobody likes to get complaints. They make you question your... Read More

Whats Love Got To Do With It?

Customer Loyalty, we all want it. Don't we?Some people say... Read More

Customer Service: Stop Sabotaging Your Customer Relationships

If you've called for customer service recently you're familiar with... Read More

Loyalty Programs May Keep Customers Coming Back ? But First You?ve Got to Earn their Trust

Remember trading stamps? If you're over 40, chances are you... Read More

Your Actions Tell Your Clients How You Expect To Be Treated

There is a widely accepted principle of human behavior that... Read More

How To Boost Your Bottom Line With Two Little Words

I hate to sound like one of those cheesy get-rich-quick... Read More

Putting The Service Back In Customer Service

The future of customer service is here. Technology has made... Read More

Wholesale Buyers Versus Retail Customers

Are wholesale buyers and retail customers really different? Frankly, there... Read More

Mastering Challenging Service Situations

During the course of everyday business, many of you encounter... Read More

Communicating for Profit and Customer Satisfaction

The President of a 200+ store division of a major... Read More

Develop Loyal Customers for a Lifetime ? part 2 (11 ? 20)

Traditional marketing strategies encourage business owners to continually grow their... Read More

Hit The Jackpot With Customer Complaints

Our most powerful instinct is to avoid customer complaints, but... Read More

Loyal Customers Take Commitment

In today's competitive world of retail, many stores are implementing... Read More

Write a Business Thank-You Note

Have you seen that thing on TV where the gal... Read More

Create a Positive, Upbeat, Can-Do Workforce and Dazzle the Customer with Your Caring!

Given the choice of dealing with a positive, upbeat employee... Read More

Post Office, Incredible Lady Postmaster

There are two Post Offices that I routinely visit. One... Read More

5 Golden Online/Offline Business Rules To LIVE Or DIE By

Whether online or off, if you plan on running or... Read More

Stellar Customer Service in 10 Simple Steps

If you're like me, you've had plenty of experience with... Read More

5 Ways Customer Service Managers are Implementing to Increase Customer Focus

According to a Forum Corporation survey of commercial customers lost... Read More

Restaurant Owners ? How Important are People Skills?

You are serving great food. Your establishment is new, spotless... Read More

Sales Marketing: 10 High Impact Ways To Improve Your Customer Service

If you want to last a long time in business... Read More

How To Use Your Current Customers

Jay instructed a customer of his to offer a rare... Read More

Customer Satisfaction and the Service Business

The relationship between customer satisfaction and success of a service... Read More

Accountants / Lawyers Do Yourself a Favor - What do Your Customers Want?

In my day to day practice in strategic human resource... Read More

One of the Secrets of a Great Customer Experience

A few weeks ago we conducted our annual "Customer Experience... Read More

Customer Service and The Human Experience

Historically, customer service was delivered over the phone or in... Read More

Developing A Customer Complaint System

Background The company was experiencing an increase in the number... Read More

Call Center Software - Your Tool of Choice in Customer Relations

The call center represents your first line of communication with... Read More

The Importance of Good Customer Service

Do you have good customer service? Even for your free... Read More

Dealing with Disgruntled Customers

No matter how hard you try, in business you simply... Read More

CEM Can Improve Customer Loyalty

'A 5 percent increase in customer retention increases profits by... Read More

Make Sure You Get The Customer Perspective

Businesses that fail, often forget to seek out the customer... Read More