Do not speak over your customers head. Avoid cliches, slang, and do not speak in a condescending manner. If part of what you do involves collection, avoid telling a customer, "You owe us." Try instead, "Our records appear to show a balance. It's less bruising to the ego.
Get to know your customers. Computer-assisted client-tracking systems -- and an attentive staff -- can help create that same "at home" feeling in your customers -- regardless of the size and price point of your business, and whether it's an online or bricks-and-mortar operation.
Make the first and last point of contact with your customers count. Psychological studies demonstrate that customers remember the first and last minutes of a service encounter much more vividly, and for much longer than all the others.
You must not only provide quality service but be quick about it as well. In the age of iPhones, iPads, and online instant services, you may as well not deliver your product or service if you're going to deliver it late.
When customers choose to interact with a person at your company, they want to interact with a human. The larger companies have so many call prompts that it can oftentimes be irritating.
Very nice list ... we have had a small business for 25 years and this is right on. So ... when are you going to do some lists about marketing?
select one here...