Networking and Customer Care

One of my regular networking groups I attend is the Women’s Business Club in Guildford every month.  This month’s meeting was as lively as usual with discussions on everything from ‘blink and go’, a new eye lash extension treatment, to Linked In, the brilliant online networking site for professionals. (If you’re already on Linked In – connect to me or Katherine at Mzuri)

Our regular members were joined by four guests this month; visitors are always very welcome, we enjoy hearing about any new businesses and helping them with information and experience from our areas of expertise.  Following the usual 1 minute introductions from everyone, we discussed the customer care topic, sent out by Kelly from WBC, arriving at a few golden rules which I thought I would share with you all;

1 KNOW YOUR CLIENT

Many of our group felt that developing strong client relationships was vital for customer care; by knowing your client inside out you could offer those little extras they perhaps were not expecting.  Keeping records of spouses or children’s names, what leisure activities they enjoy doing, where they went on holiday – mentioning some of these things in conversation always make the client feel special.

2 GO THE EXTRA MILE

Under promising and over delivering was the mantra we all seem to operate by!  Thinking of your clients outside of the role you provide for them.  I offered to adjust one of our client’s watch strap for her to avoid her having to send her watch off to the menders!

3 GIVING FEEDBACK

Whether you have received excellent or bad service, making a point of letting people know so they can make changes or simply know that they have done a good job.  We all felt actively requesting testimonials from clients is a good idea, as often they mean to do it and simply forget, and then finally making sure you use them for future marketing initiatives (well I would say that as the resident marketing person in the Guildford group!)

FINANCIAL PUZZLES

Tricia Cooper, our resident Independent Financial Adviser, gave us a talk on the parts of the financial jigsaw puzzle we should be thinking about and how you don’t need to worry about everything all at once. The important areas for each of us will depend on our stage of life. To solve the puzzle we all really need the help of an experienced IFA!

OPEN FORUM DISCUSSION

Our open forum session provides us all with the opportunity to air ideas and get honest and constructive feedback from our fellow members and guests as well as debating hot topics of the day.  This is a really great part of the meeting and allows time for members and guests to expand on their 1 minute by explaining something you offer in your business in more detail, or a chance to ask for help with finding new premises, or testing a new product or service out on a happy bunch of volunteers!

Why not come along for the next meeting at Guildford and join in with a professional, dynamic and supportive group of women dedicated to helping improve each others businesses.  Hope to see you there!