When the economy is down, businesses are more likely to compete on price. But there’s something else that’s even more important than price in uncertain times: customer service. When customers feel like you truly care about them, they’re more likely to stick with you, even if times are tough. 

So how can you show your customers that you really do have their best interest at heart?

• Be responsive. Even if you can’t immediately solve their problem, let them know that you’re working on it and that you’ll keep them updated.
• Be empathetic. Put yourself in the shoes of your customers and try to understand their needs and concerns. Once you understand their needs, you can better tailor your services to meet them.
• Be proactive. Don’t wait for customers to come to you with problems. Reach out regularly to check in, offer them advice and support, and let them know that you’re there to help. 
• Be positive. Focus on the future and what you’re doing to help your customers be successful in the long run. 
• Exceed expectations. Sometimes, the best way to show your customers that you care is to go the extra mile. This could mean taking a call after hours to solve an urgent problem or going above and beyond with a project. 

Another way is to improve your customer’s experience. 

I recently took a 6-week course at the Kellogg School of Managment in customer science, which uses science and data rather than intuition to understand customer behavior and improve their experience. A few topics discussed:

• Customers are not all the same. By understanding the different types of customers that your business has, you can tailor your products, services, and marketing messages to each type of customer.
• The customer journey is the sum of all of the interactions that a customer has with your business. By mapping out the customer journey, you can identify areas where you can improve the customer experience.
• Customer analytics can be used to identify patterns and trends in customer behavior. This information can be used to improve the customer experience, develop new products and services, and target marketing campaigns more effectively.

At the end of the day, don’t try to be someone you’re not or make promises you can’t keep. Be authentic and genuine to your clients. That’s the best way to build trust, credibility, and loyalty. This leads to improved customer satisfaction, stronger customer relationships, and better business results for everyone.

As we enter a new quarter, let’s focus on serving our clients and finish 2023 on a high note!