6 Ways to Think Outside the Box for Customer Service

Small business owners have to be mindful of their customers. If they provide poor customer service, they will lose valuable business. If they neglect them, they will lose customers. If the customers are satisfied but are not acknowledged, owners will never know how they could improve their service. Thus, business owners must constantly find new ways to consider their customers. Although businesses can promote customer service in a number of ways, they will get more bang for their buck with some unique ideas.

Friday Night Happy Hour—Get a local musician or band to play. Offer wine and cheese or light refreshments. Invite your customers to enjoy happy hour at your place of business. This will allow your customers to network with each other, which would show that you are thinking about their success. Even if your customers do not have their own business, they might need a banker or real estate agent or lawyer who might be attending your happy hour. People enjoy happy hours, especially on a weekend. They can relax and have fun after a long week.

Send Out Cards—Use a service to send out greeting cards to your customers. You could acknowledge their birthday or just to send a card for no reason. For example, on Thanksgiving, you could send a greeting to thank them for their loyal service. You could send a card on Flag Day, showing how patriotic you are. In the card, you could offer a discounted offer or you could just show them how much you care. If you send them cards on their special day, it shows that you are paying attention to what is happening in their lives. It will build loyalty and keep your name in front of them for when they need your services or products.

Offer Prizes—Have a contest about your company and provide a prize. You could ask customers to take pictures of them using your product or service and send to you. After a short period, such as once-a-month, you could select one customer for a special prize. Come up with prizes that are universal, such as gas cards. You also could provide prizes just because they are loyal customers without having a contest.

Health Fair—People are being health conscious today. You could bring in massage therapists, nurses, chiropractors, herbalists and other wellness professionals to provide your customers free information on how to stay healthy. You could pay the massage therapists to provide free massages to your customers. Ask them to invite new people to attend the health fair, so you could reach others. This will show your customers that you care about their health and want them to be the best they could be.

Chili Cookoff—Invite your employees and your customers to take part in a chili cookoff. This is especially fun during the winter months when it is cold. Employees will enjoy trying out recipes. Your customers will enjoy eating or cooking the chili. Pick several of your customers to act as judge. Give away prizes to the winners. Have other entertainment. This will bring your employees and customers together. It will be fun and promote loyalty. You would be able to show a different side of your company. Everyone will think it is a great way to spend some time while at your place of business.

Book Cafe—Invite local artists and books to create a book cafe at your place of business. You will promote the success of local writers and artists, which will become loyal to your company over others. Your regular customers might find art or books they want to purchase. Everyone will succeed as a result. You keep growing your customer base.

Author: Usman Raza is a marketing specialist at Crawford and O’Brien and Headset Zone. Aside from doing dental SEO and helping dentists get new patients, when not working there is a 99% chance he is praying with his family. Follow him on Facebook @usmanraza40 and Twitter @usmanintrotech.