07/19/2020
Top Customer Service is you No. 1 Shield against Bad Reviews.
Providing an excellent service is your first line of defense to avoid getting negative reviews. Talk to your team about going above and beyond when serving customers.
If you run a coffee shop, for example, perks can go a long way too, a free cookie or extra creamer options will make your customers notice that you care.
If you are a CPA, offer your customers tips on deductible investment options, or little noun deductions for your business. Those little tips can get you to the 5 Stars!
Act quickly if when you notice even the smallest sign that your customer is unhappy, address it and try your best to resolve the issue ASAP.
Make a list before hand of free extras that you can offer to make up for customer issues, or even consider a refund. Having a policy in place before hand can be the Ace under your sleeve.
Take your time to consider and that you can’t make everyone happy. Unfortunately, unhappy customers are part of every business reality. So be prepared to offer free bonuses or provide refunds. This are great weapons to keep a near flawless record online.
You probably know what they say: “The client is always right.”
Well, I just want to add:
“The worst business disagreements happen when both sides have a point, and both may be somehow right...”
But consider carefully if proving yourself right is worth your reputation.
The decision may come down to the dollar value of your services.
Maybe a negative review on Yelp or Google Maps would not affect your overall rating because you have many positive reviews.
But what would happen if you got a negative review on a complaint site like Ripoff Report even when it may be unverified and anonymous?
The main problem is that these kind of reviews can rank high when people is searching for your brand name and can do more damage in a few months than the amount in dispute with your client.
A bad reputation online will cost you dearly, we are talking 10, 20 or even 60% of lost revenue depending on how damaged is your rating and how high is showing up in the search engines.
One negative review well positioned in online searches can keep hurting your business years after the dispute.
So make customer service your first priority, do it as a team effort, and if you ever have trouble defusing a bad situation remember: Failing to issue that couple hundred dollars refund can cost you thousands in future lost revenue.