How Do You Ensure Your Customers Are Having The Most Positive Customer Experience Possible?
Is it possible the value of your marketing and advertising results, or lack thereof, is in direct relationship with how your customers interact with your brand and how your customers are treated once they enter the door?
Imagine you have a great marketing strategy. Customers are coming into your storefront, but the sales numbers are still not hitting your desired mark. What would your next step be? Yes, we could throw some more money into marketing and advertising, and it may increase traffic for a short while. However, 9 times out of 10, when the sales aren’t converting despite strong marketing efforts, it may be time to look internally. Don’t overlook the quality of the customer experience in your business.
There are dozens of tools on the market nowadays to assess website analytics, listen to incoming calls, and to help identify where a breakdown may be happening. Do you know how your customer service representatives are answering the phone? Is your website getting traffic but you’re still not seeing any online transactions? How are you responding to requests for refunds, returns, or exchanges? You may find it valuable to audit your incoming calls and do some coaching with your reps on how to better convert phone calls into sales.
There’s also a chance customers don’t understand how to add items to their cart online. They might not be able to find the product they are looking for on your website. Customers should be able to easily get in touch with your business for any issues related to their purchases. If they can’t, they will be less likely to purchase from you again.
How Can You Improve The Customer Experience?
Some other things to consider. Are your employees on the sales floor warmly greeting each person who walks in the door and answering their questions? Do you find value in ensuring the store is clean and tidy and easy to navigate? If you have social media, is your business responding to incoming comments, messages, and requests for information?
Additionally, do your customers feel valuable when they make a purchase? You may find value in customer appreciation efforts. A hand-written thank you note for buying a pair of glasses from your eye clinic, or a personal phone call for ordering a customized item online can let customers know their specific transaction was valuable. Even simpler, an automated ‘Thank You’ email after a purchase could do the trick, too.
Issues with revenue can sometimes be attributed to external factors or lack of attention to marketing. No amount of money invested in radio, print, and tv ads can convert a poor customer experience into sales for your business.
