Customer Service Isn’t Dead
Good customer service may mean one thing to you and a completely different thing to me because it is very subjective in its nature. But one thing I can say with a pretty high level of certainty about customer service is that over that last several years I have seen it become considerably worse.
Dealing with a company’s tech support is arduous to say the least, returning a product to a store can make you want just trash it and buy the right one instead, and getting a company to give you an actual time that they will come out to your house to diagnose your cable problem is simply not possible.
But my post title says that customer service isn’t dead and it isn’t, at least not in the world of blogging. Blogging unlike traditional business can’t thrive without customer service, because blogging is 100% customer based. What I mean is that without readers a blog can’t succeed and without treating your readers well you won’t have any readers.
Here Are 5 Ways to Better Your Readers Experience.
- Return the Favor – When someone comments on your blog the least you can do is respond the most you can do is follow them back to their site and comment on one of their posts. They are supporting you; if you want to be a respected blogger do the same for them.
- Install Comment Luv – A plugin that links back to the commentators’ site showing their most frequent blog post. This will give your readers a little extra link loving for spending time on your site. You can download comment luv here.
- Install Top Commentators – A sidebar widget that shows who has participated on your site the most. It will take up very little room on your site and it acknowledges that you care about your participants. You can download top commentators here
- Answer Their Questions – If a reader asks you a question do not ignore it. Even if you don’t want to answer it reply saying thank you but you would prefer not to answer that question.
- Credit Their Ideas - If you were inspired by a post one of your readers made, or by a comment that they left, or a question that they asked make sure you give them a shout out. If they are reading your site it means they like to know what you think, and I am sure they will be stoked to know that you also like what they have to say.
This article was inspired by my search for a heating and air conditioning company. My furnace broke earlier this year and it is time to get it replaced. I met with 3 companies and 2 of them weren’t great in the customer service area. I ended up going with a company that had a higher cost, but was willing to spend more time explaining to me what was going on and why I needed what.
Customer service may not seem like something of that much importance but it really is and it can really affect your business. Traditional business has seen a downturn in the quality of customer service and blogging has really taken it to the next level. I hope you will remember that treating your customers right is one of the most important parts of running a successful business.
6 Comments
Adam on September 22nd, 2008
Many people just don’t take non privately hosted blogs serious. You can write quality content on a blogspot blog, yet many people just look at it and say…This blog just isn’t for real. It is a sad phenomena, but that is why the first thing you will read on any MMO blogs is get yourself your own domain and your own hosting package.
Adams last blog post..Customer Service Isn’t Dead
ZK@WebTrafficROI on September 23rd, 2008
I like the one that says return the favour…this goes a long way in building relationships, but no all bloggers return the favour by comment on sites that leave comments on their blog
ZK@WebTrafficROIs last blog post..7 Effective PPC Ad Copy Tips to Boost Conversions
Adam on September 23rd, 2008
ZK,
In my travels I have found that not only do some bloggers not do this most bloggers don’t, at least not on a consistent basis. I will always visit the site of somebody that has commented here. Sometimes I comment back sometimes I don’t generally it is dependent upon whether or not I can add anything to their current article.
I actually just finished commenting over at your blog. I really liked the info you had about email subject lines and was wondering if you had some time to go over the basics with me. As getting into email marketing is something I would like to do.
Adam
kouji on October 3rd, 2008
indeed. actually, when i comment on a blog, and i find that that blog’s author took the time to visit mine, and even leave a comment, i already tend to feel a certain loyalty to that other blog.
koujis last blog post..haiku poem: friendship (loss)
Armen Shirvanian on October 15th, 2008
Using a feedback form like the one pictured to check on whether one’s product is being received as desired is quite useful for both sides of the dealing.
Armen Shirvanians last blog post..Spoken/Written Words vs. Intent
Harish on September 22nd, 2008
Of course I do that.But I wonder why people don’t like to comment on blogspot blogs.
Harishs last blog post..The Contest At Net Strife-800$ worth prizes