In Fact, There Are A Hundred And One Ways To Prove To Your Customers That They Come First

Category: Finance.

"People used what they called a telephone because they hated being close together and they were scared of being alone. " Chuck Palahniuk could be right and wrong! An online merchant will not exist and survive in the cutthroat world of online business without key customer service tools.

In the world of e- commerce, the telephone could be the single most important tool next to your car keys. First and foremost, the phone! But they also do not want to be left hanging in the air not knowing who to contact when they need help. It s true that people do not want to literally knock on the company s door to ask for technical support when they re having trouble. If you can provide this means of contact and more, your online business has crossed the line from zero profit to a treasure trove. Needless to say, if you can provide toll- free phone numbers for your customers to contact, it would be easier for them to gain confidence on you.

DIAL TOLL- FREE. The same goes for fax numbers which customers can use to send documents when they need to, such as checks and billing proofs. USING VOIP AND IM. This is extremely important for you and your customers as it helps establish a quick, reliable way to communicate with the simplest tools. Some companies provide a way for customers to talk via voice- over internet protocol( VOIP) . All they need to do is use a program similar to Skype. VOIP, connects people through, for the uninitiated the internet on a phone call basis without having to disconnect( if they are using dial- up) .

Most Instant Messenger programs allow VOIP calls but companies may buy an in- house program that is exclusive for their business transactions. Although I would say live phone calls are more favorable than IM text messaging, live chat is also an excellent tool that helps customers easily reach you in real time. LIVE CHAT, ANYONE? Most high risk merchant account owners such online casinos and adult websites offer live chat customer services to ensure that their clients get all the support they need. The e- mail is another great channel for customer service. AN AUTORESPONDER, DAY OUT, DAY IN. If you re a Mom n Pop, brick and click store and have a small client�le, providing business e- mail address to your customers is the next best thing to a phone number.

The best way to deal with this is to use an Autoresponder program. You may be out on the holidays and will be back in a few days but still want customer queries coming. The Autoresponder is programmed into your server so that every time a customer sends an e- mail, a message such as" We will get back to you shortly" will be sent to her. ONLINE SHOPPING CARTS. This way the customer knows that she is taken cared of even though technically at the moment you are out sunning and drinking papaya shake in the Bahamas! Perhaps the best way to complete the set of customer tools is to employ a highly efficient, user- friendly virtual shopping cart. The purpose of the online shopping cart is obvious enough: it allows customers to browse through your online store using their registered accounts, pick the services or products that they intend to buy, add them to the cart, and check out after they fulfilled the information it requires such as billing address, credit card details, shipping method preferred, and sender/ receiver details.

A shopping cart works for low risk and high risk merchant business owners alike. FORUMS, PODCASTS& BLOGS. Customers can use it to tackle problems, or help each, build rapport other in the community. A company that has grown with a considerable customer base can take advantage of establishing a forum. This is the best way for online merchants( who may act as moderators) to know how else they can improve their products and customer service. These blogs may be customized in order to be highly readable for the clients. They may also take advantage of creating product- oriented blogs.

Merchants can make use of newsletters, webcasts and podcasts to reach their customers when they release new promos and announcements. Whether you are a low risk merchant affiliated to a local bank or a high risk merchant whose account is established offshore, there s no shortage to happy ways you can serve and keep your customers who are, the bread and, in the end butter of your business! In fact, there are a hundred and one ways to prove to your customers that they come first.