How Important is Customer Service To Building Business?

[EbbyD]

I hope this doesn't brand me right from the start, but I saw the add in the popular black business magazine on this great club to raise awareness of black businesses. I searched the sight and thought, wow, this is great. I signed up, paid my money, and have yet to receive an id, or reply from any I have outreached to for help--many of whom sent me their "ads and pitches" while my membership was still in pending.

As I'm looking over the site, I don't find any "contact us" info. No one has listed a phone number where you can talk to a live person. Is this really how we expect the world to take us seriously? I feel integrity, reliability and trust are the ways to "attract" success and build relationships and ultimately earn loyal, sustainable customers.

This is my recourse in which to reach someone before having my membership fee refunded and counting this as an unfortunate set of circumstance. Although, I hope I'm wrong. With 7000 members, something good must be going on and I'd love to be part of it! Hear my heart and not my frustration.

Holler,

[e-mail]

[Crown Prince of Web 2.0]

Customer service is a very important part of growing a business. I for one love using the telephone to talk with people who have questions regarding the business I'm in. That's why I give it out freely 973-943-4073. I can remember when I was on a social network site and one of the moderators got mad at me for passing out my telephone number.

They felt that it was just a trick to get people to call some automated response system. In some cases that maybe true, but if you are really serious about building a relationship with people the telephone is essential. There are some reasons people don't give out their telephone numbers:

1. They don't want prank calls
2. They don't want to be solicited
3. They don't want to be stalked and harassed
4. They may have a primary job.

In those cases I recommend using an answering machine service. Depending on how much a venture is generating they have professional call centers you can hire. Or even consider a virtual assistant.

The virtual assistant is a very good option because they can grow in duties and responsibilities as your business grows. Also a contact us button is good. Just like listing your email address or IM.

One of the most important aspects of customer service is recognizing that there is always room for improvement.