Live Chat: The Real Game Changer in Customer Service

We had a lot of unpleasing experiences with customer service and we cannot deny that it is one of the reasons why lose my morale and trust to a company. It annoys us how they make us feel that our concerns are not important. They may not be conscious of it all the time but as simple as not responding or responding after a long time is already a serious concern for me. We got to say it makes us lose our enthusiasm towards the company.

Millions of other consumers may also be feeling the same. So if you are not aware of this before then maybe you are now and I must say that as early as now, you must think and do something about it as early as you can.

Most companies use the social media or software to develop a system for their customer service while some resort to the support from call centers which is considered as one of the most effective as well as expensive.

One of the most effective and efficient strategies right now is live chat. Again, it’s annoying to be ignored and to wait for hours for a respond. But, imagine when you put up a system where you can talk with your customers real-time. It may require some manpower for the monitoring but with the right system, it won’t be heavy and it would be manageable.

What most owners think is that this kind of system is too demanding to the point that it must be maintained 24/7. But will customers bug you around the clock? I don’t think so. Of course, you must also make sure your services and products are of good quality so you won’t end up having tons of complaints. Assuming that you are doing well, all you need to do is to do proper scheduling and condition the minds of your customers about the time you will be active. You can also leave notes or messages which may contain directions so that they will know what to do and to stare vacantly at an empty inbox waiting for a message which they aren’t sure of.

All I can say is, you have to identify what time of the day your target market are most active because it is more likely that they will engage on conversations during these times. Through this you will know when you can best interact with them. These times are the most crucial so concentrate and make sure to monitor and work on your live chats a little harder during these times.

The ideal result is to make them feel that they are valued and will be catered immediately. This will create an impression that you are really concerned about your customers and that you are willing to arrange and correct their ordeals as soon as possible.

This is what strengthens your business’ relationship with your market. A step that will change the way they perceive your brand giving it a unique register into their minds setting it apart from others.

 

 

The post Live Chat: The Real Game Changer in Customer Service appeared first on POP FUEL.

source http://clipstrip.com/pop-fuel/live-chat-the-real-game-changer-in-customer-service/

Point of Purchase Marketing As The Key to Higher Sales

When you are the kind of owner who’s contented with the fact that customers enter your store buy a thing they want, pay and leave, then you are bringing yourself nowhere because your capability to supply your shop with products that customers can choose from is not the end of your job. In fact, it is just the beginning.

As a business owner, you are required to be strategic. Think of yourself as a commander on the brink of war where you need to plan wisely and mobilize effectively. Point of purchase is one of the things that you should know first as it can change the way you see your in-store business. Through it you can understand that positioning is important and can affect your sales positively if done right.

You might not notice but installing a point-of-purchase is being done by many businesses. To make it simple, let’s use one of the most basic examples; putting certain products near the cash register. How does it work? Simply by making the customers lining up for the cashier to buy additional products. This strategy attempts to market other products to shoppers who are already in the store and ready to make a purchase. Placing small, inexpensive, and relevant items on the counter can boost sales. So can using displays of these items to create an area where customers can queue while waiting to check out.

The point of purchase marketing strategy works by making customers more likely to buy an additional product if it does not significantly add to the total price of their purchase. It turns a long check-out line and wait time into an extended shopping experience for your customers through your display which can keep them engaged and interested as they wait. It also maintains their decision to buy a product and reduces the chances that they just leave without buying just because they saw a long line at the register.

Your point of purchase marketing can be supported by your salespeople who will guide the customers or try to talk them into buying in case they still have some hesitations. They can also act as a resource to customers engaging with displays or samples and assist them in making a purchasing decision.

You can also use modern technology to aid to customers as they roam around your store. You can make them interact with a mobile app on their smart phone which can increase sale by helping them see special offers, specific discounts, or information on a specific product line as well as give directions as to where to find it within the store). While your point of purchase at the cash register will be your last resort and final opportunity to boost sales even more within the last minutes of the customers inside the store.

By effectively implementing a POP plan and taking advantage of all the opportunities around you, you can integrate point of purchase marketing in your retail space and increase sales through added value, information, and deals.

 

The post Point of Purchase Marketing As The Key to Higher Sales appeared first on POP FUEL.

source http://clipstrip.com/pop-fuel/point-of-purchase-marketing-as-the-key-to-higher-sales/

Quality over Quantity in Retail Promotions

In the retail industry, having the quality over quantity mantra is common. But still, some businesses can’t stop bombardment strategies especially in promotions. At some point it becomes beneficial and effective because through these promotions, customers become more enticed. However, the positive effects don’t stay for long. In fact, businesses doing these are unconsciously caring for a long-term negative mindset among their customers.

One particular example is the use of promo codes and coupons. Many businesses have a strategy of providing these as frequent as once daily. It’s true that it can be interesting for the consumers but the thing is, as time pass by, they get used to this. The tendency is they become dependent on it. Until the day they won’t spend anymore without it. It may be okay because at least you’re still earning. But how long can you bear earning only a little amount? Would that be healthy for your business?

The answer is no because it delays growth and can end up with you being stuck on providing coupons and discounts for your waiting market. This strategy in achieving a loyal customer base is harmful than beneficial. In reality, not all of your customers need it. Instead, you should focus on your high-value and new customers. You can begin by trying different promotions for your high-value customers and your new email subscribers. For instance, you could send a broad discount to your new subscribers to encourage immediate action, but send each high-value shopper an email that promotes new items in their favorite category. You may find that many of those loyal customers will be willing to purchase new items without a discount.

To be honest, there’s no reason to send the same promotion or offer to everyone every day. When you can deliver better promotions to your audiences, you’ll be more likely to engage your customers, rather than spam them with irrelevant promotions. Focus instead on building loyalty through relevance and value. By setting the right mindset and not tolerating a wrong habit, you and your customers can benefit mutually and you will have a relationship that is not dependent on one taking advantage of the other party.

Through this, it would be easier for you to follow your quality over quantity mantra. You can now start doing the right thing which is to personalize your promotion system depending on your customers. But doing this manually would take a hefty amount of time. So, it would be better if you start looking for an automating system that can help you group your customers and categorize the promotions that will fit on their purchasing behavior and preferences.

Using a proper targeting strategy is the key to effective and successful retail promotions. With this, you don’t have to send unnecessary and random promotions anymore as first-time visitors will be shown one promotion, while a different one is being seen by loyal shoppers. All you have to ensure now is that the right promotion displayed on your website is the same to that same person to prevent any confusion.

The post Quality over Quantity in Retail Promotions appeared first on POP FUEL.

source http://clipstrip.com/pop-fuel/quality-over-quantity-in-retail-promotions/

Psychology of Business Preferences for Non-Psychologists

Who would have thought that even managing and operating a business requires complexities such as being knowledgeable about Psychology?

Ooops, don’t be pressured just yet. You might be thinking it the wrong way. This doesn’t mean you have to gain your PHD or go back to college for your Psychology degree because even without it, believe me. You can get a hold of the people’s mindset which will give you a peak of their behavior.

Though you may want to spend some time with a little research to support your stocked knowledge, but planning and strategy is more crucial. But first, here are the things that you have to do and understand.

Appreciate commonalities but recognize differences

Due to tradition, most business owners see and treat the market as a whole. Even studies and research doesn’t usually focus on individual demographics but on categories based most commonly on age and gender. While with the other factors, commonalities are strictly being observed and behavior is explained in general.

There’s nothing wrong with that though. Appreciating commonalities helps a lot in explaining different phenomena. But what happens is that, numbers define the perception on things. Use of Bandwagon approach suddenly became a general rule in determining what’s better and what’s best. One example of it is the use of social proof. It became effective because people’s mindset for conditioned to believe that the more people who uses it, the higher the quality it has.

But what businessmen don’t know is that it is also crucial for them to recognize and mind about their customer’s differences in preferences.  Using this, you might now and understand your competitors’ edge over you if there’s any. You can also use this information to prevent being countered in the future. Your opponents will never get past you when you know their moves even before they think of them.

Commit while you do your thing

When you are doing business, you are also getting into a relationship with your clients. This means you have to commit and do something to keep that relationship going strong. When your customers see that you have invested in making sure to bring better quality of products and services, it’s more likely that you can also expect something in return from them such as retention and loyalty.

Research, Plan and Apply

Again, there’s no need for a bachelor’s degree (though it’s a bonus if you have one.) But still, knowledge is power. It is what will guide you in making decisions will affect your business.  Work on what you can still improve then try integrating new strategies, tools and software. But remember, still, your attitude and actions towards them is what will define their behavior. So, to make sure that you will achieve the ideal reaction from them, then you have to do the right things that will lead to that. As the saying goes, ‘What comes around goes around.’ It means wise investments in business will give you investments of loyalty and retentions from others as well.

The post Psychology of Business Preferences for Non-Psychologists appeared first on POP FUEL.

source http://clipstrip.com/pop-fuel/psychology-of-business-preferences-for-non-psychologists/

Increasing Online Sales by Motivating Loyalty

Have you ever wondered how a single business can stand out amidst the influx of online shopping businesses and products?  With all the gimmicks going around the online world from competitors who are as eager to win the loyalty of the customers, how do you set yourself apart and entice them to patronize your brand?

The key to customer loyalty and retention lies with your ability to provide a unique customer experience. Achieving that involves different important factors that you have to assure. Here are some of the things that you can ask yourself to know if you are on the right path of competing for customer loyalty:

Do you advertise creatively enough? And do you cling on to your promises?

Advertisements are commonly used by almost all businesses to promote their brand and products. However, because of the ineffective method and strategies of using it, customers have developed a negative impression about it to the point that they almost hate and avoid it. But this can still be worked on with creative advertisements that can attract and catch interest. Most importantly, you have to make sure you can fulfill all your promises or else, just don’t promise at all.

False advertisements and click baits should be avoided as it will only reduce your popularity and can prompt customers to distrust you.

Is your platform user friendly? Do you have fast delivery?

In an online business, your app or website will be the life of your business. It is where the customers will make most of their transaction. So it is very crucial to have a working domain that is comprehensive and must have a user-friendly interface. Information including the price, description and photo of the product should be accurate. Fast delivery is also what the customer wants. So, make sure you can secure these as part of your online business. If not, you can also establish different arrangements such as meet-ups and pick-ups.

How do you deal with customer complaints and suggestions?

It will be inevitable not to have concerns from your customers in your business every once in awhile. But what matters is how you handle and treat them. You have to make them feel that you care about them and their concerns. Take customer service seriously because this is part of working on with their retention. Keep in mind that unsettled concerns and problems lead to customers losing trust in you.

You can also create a review and rate system to help you with potential customers. Having good reviews will give about-to-be customers a good impression about you.

Knowing and working on these three aspects will help you earn your customer’s trust and confidence. Along with these, expect that you will be required to invest time and resources. It may be hard on the earlier parts but in time, you will see the product of your hard work. As long as you give your best and you do and plan wisely, you’ll soon be in control and you’ll be on your way to success.

The post Increasing Online Sales by Motivating Loyalty appeared first on POP FUEL.

source http://clipstrip.com/pop-fuel/increasing-online-sales-by-motivating-loyalty/

Looking into the Colors of Marketing

Colors speak as much words as pictures can. This is why it’s being used not only to create art but also to generate profit.

Not everyone knows it but the colors being used on websites and promotions are factors that can affect the behavior and the mood of the customers.

This has a lot to do with psychology which is essential as in business, you are dealing with people. So, at some point you are going to need to know more about what’s going on with their minds.

But, believe me, it’s not rocket science. In fact, some businesses already use the knowledge about how colors affect people in their bid to sell their merchandise and in that attempt they discovered that the sense of sight is a consideration for people who buy products. Of course except on products that really requires the other senses more. This proves that with the use of an intelligent color layout and effective art direction, ecommerce success can be achieved.

For further understanding, let’s discuss some of the basic colors and what they mean when integrated into one’s business.

Black

Let’s start with one of the darkest one. Often seen as a symbol of death, sadness and hopelessness, Black may also signify power and supremacy which can be used effectively in ecommerce. It can send a confident message to potential customers as long as it is used in moderation and combined with other tranquil colors.

White

Obviously, this color Is used to convey a message about having no impurities. It is essential to most web pages as it shows wholesomeness, clarity as well as formality. As you know, this often used by hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, education institutions, corporate businesses and even charity foundations. Using empty white space around your content may not necessarily make it look empty but also professional.

Orange

Orange is a color that can be linked to many exciting things in life such as a glass of ice cold orange juice in bright warm summer. In business, it is said to bring the same feeling of having fresh beginnings and combined with other cool shaded colors, this can give off a positive and exciting vibe to your brand.

Pink

This one is commonly associated to femininity so it is an obvious choice for brands that targets women as its market. But, surprisingly, it can also be an attractive color to males as it conveys romance, and love in general. It can also be used to express subtleness and kindness of heart. So, it can balance the effect of darker colors such as black and red.

Yellow

Caution is needed in using this color as it is unpleasant when used excessively. But when used in the right manner, it has the potential to show playfulness and immense energy just like what is being symbolized by electricity and thunder.

Green

Green is for nature. It is close to everyone’s heart as it can be seen almost everywhere within the environment. It’s one of the most natural color and it gives cool and ease to the eye. To shoppers, it may give a feeling of relaxation, comfort and security. It may also give them a feeling that they are at home or at least close to it.

Red

Red has always been about intense emotions. Usually it signifies love, life and even family. Just be mindful because too much red on a webpage can be visually overwhelming. According to researchers, this can also be used effectively in the food industry as it gives people the feeling of hunger and craving for something to munch on.

Blue

Last but not the least, blue is about being refreshed, being cool and being hopeful. Contrary to red, this one should be avoided if your webpage is involved with the hospitality industry as blue is said to decrease appetite. But it can be effective on energy drinks, swim wears and even summer gears. It has its magic of giving relief and quenching almost every kind of thirst.

Think about it and I’m sure you will soon realize that every color you see on your surrounding is not just there by chance. Not at least in business because when people go around the supermarket or visit an online sight, their sight is what they mostly rely on. This is the magic of colors and how they simply influence the decision and behavior of buyers. So, make yourself informed.

The post Looking into the Colors of Marketing appeared first on POP FUEL.

source http://clipstrip.com/pop-fuel/looking-into-the-colors-of-marketing/