Here are 15 customer service tips for 2015

Get back to the basics of customer service. Be polite and say please and thank you. Speaking of basics, use the customer’s name. It helps with building rapport. Always do what you say you are going to do. If you say you’ll call back in five minutes, don’t make it ten. Everyone has customers. Sometimes they are external – customers who pay you money. Sometimes they are internal – colleagues you work with. Sometimes they are both. Everyone has customers. Let your customers know your name and how to contact you so if they are inadvertently disconnected, have another question, or there is any other reason they might need a “friend” at the company, they can easily get back in touch with you. Respond quickly. Return calls, emails, and any other types of requests quickly. Be punctual for meetings. It’s expected you will be on time. It’s a sign of disrespect if you aren’t. Monitor social channels for comments from your customers and, once again, respond quickly. Treat employees the way you want your customers treated, if not even better. What’s happening inside an organization is felt on the outside by the customer. Some companies’ customer service people focus on one-call resolution. Try a no-transfer resolution. Create a consistent experience. Everyone does their best every day. Customers want and expect a consistent, positive attitude from everyone they come into contact with. Empower people to make great customer-focused decisions.  This comes through hiring the right people and training them properly. Constantly train customer service. It may be short five or ten minute tips. It needs to be ongoing. Training isn’t something you did. It’s something you do. Everyone always has two jobs: to do the job they were hired to do and to take care of the customer. Be a customer service role model. Regardless of what you do for your company, be that person that everyone admires and wants to emulate. Don’t just read this list. Use this list! Choose the tips that resonate with you. Circle them. Then focus on one at a time; one each week. And, be sure to share this list with your colleagues. Maybe even your customers. Here is to 2015 being your best customer year ever! Happy New Year! Copyright ©MMXIV, Shep Hyken - Reprinted with permission. Shep Hyken, CSP, CPAE is a customer service expert, hall-of-fame speaker and New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. He works with organizations to build loyal relationships with their customers and employees. He is also the creator of The Customer Focus, a customer service training program that helps organizations develop a customer service culture and loyalty mindset. For more information contact (314) 692-2200 or www.Hyken.com