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HOW CAN YOU GIVE BETTER SERVICE? With Any Product, You Can Have a Competitive Edge by Giving Better Service.
By Bonnie Drew
No matter what product you sell, there is always one way you can beat your competition: Give better service.
Better service doesn't cost you anything to perform, but it often spells the difference between making or losing a sale. For example, whom would you rather pay $20 to mow your yard? Some kid who hates to mow yards, but does the job to earn a buck, or an enthusiastic young entrepreneur who does something extra and smiles and says "Thanks" when he gets paid?
When given a choice, customers will always vote for the person who is friendly and enthusiastic.
Here is a checklist of ways young entrepreneurs can beat their competition by giving better service:
- * Be friendlier.
* Be faster.
* Be more polite.
* Answer phone calls sooner.
* Give more time.
* Show more effort.
* Know more about the customer.
* Know more about the product.
* Anticipate the customer's needs.
* Offer a warranty or guarantee.
* Really care.
Keep a card file on your regular customers with notes about what they buy, color preferences, birth dates, children's names and ages, pet's names, special requests, important instructions, emergency numbers--any information that will help you provide better service in the future.
It's also a good idea to decide your standards of quality and set your policy for refunds when you are writing your business plan. Don't wait until you're standing in front of the customer to decide these things. These policies take thought and planning.
The secret to good customer service is a genuine spirit of caring. Treat all people you meet as if they're the most important customers you have that day (at the moment, they are!). Give more than the customers expect--more time, more effort, more service--and they won't ever forget you.
Bonnie Drew is the author of FAST CASH FOR KIDS (2nd edition), published by Career Press (1-800-227-3371). She is also the creator of the KIDS BUSINESS software for young entrepreneurs, available from Homeland Publications (713-332-9764).
Drew is also Editor of YoungBiz online magazine, published by Kid's Way, Inc., a company that helps youth prepare for business and the workplace of the 21st century. For more information, write to Kid's Way at 5589 Peachtree Rd, Chamblee, GA 30341 or call toll free 1-888-KidsWay (1-888-543-7929). YoungBiz magazine can be found at http://www.youngbiz.com
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