Tagged with: Set Your Company Apart

Use Caller ID to Connect with Customers and Improve Your Sales Process

By | 07.18.2012 |

If you’re seeking an easy way to learn more about your clients, you may need to look no further than your telephone’s display screen! Caller ID can be a helpful sales and customer service tool, and using it wisely can help set your company apart from the competition. Here are three ways caller ID can help your business thrive:

Caller ID can help you make a personal connection. Having great answers to a potential client’s questions is very important, but for a standout sales call, connecting on a personal level is key. Caller ID can be a great jumping-off point. As you’re chatting with a prospect, glance at caller ID and do a quick Internet search for their area code. Now you have a conversation starter! “I see you have a 312 area code—are you calling from Chicago? I love Chicago! Have you been to any Cubs games this season?” You don’t have to be familiar with your potential client’s neck of the woods to start a friendly chat. “I notice you have 416 area code — that’s Toronto, right? What’s the weather like today?” Expressing an interest in your caller’s life will make them feel special, and show that you and your company care.

Caller ID might help you save a sale. You may be taking sales calls from your trusty desk phone, but there’s no guarantee that your caller has a great connection. Make a habit of jotting down caller ID when you receive a call, and you’ll be ready get in touch with that potential client even if her phone cuts out. Imagine you’re on a call with the power company when your cell phone flakes — wouldn’t you be impressed if the power company rep you were chatting with called you back? Recording and using caller ID might just secure you a new customer, and will certainly help you make a good impression in the case of an occasional technical glitch!

Caller ID can help ensure fantastic follow-ups. If you haven’t yet had the chance to make a personal connection with a client or potential client, do an area code search and prep potential conversation topics before making your follow-up call. Check out current events, landmarks, sports teams, or random factoids associated with the region, and have them at the ready when you pick up the phone. An area code search can keep your professionalism in check, too. Always know what time zone you are calling before you make a follow-up call — You’d hate to be bothered by a pesky salesperson at 9 p.m., right? A quick area code search will help you find the ideal time to follow up.

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5 Easy Ways to Make Personal Connections with Your Customers

By | 06.27.2012 |

Making connectionsHow many of your new clients chose your company because their friend raved about you? As a business owner, you know the importance of connecting with your customers; word-of-mouth is a powerful tool and simply by getting to know your clients and fostering a little happiness, you can actually improve your bottom line. Plus, it makes work feel a lot less like work!

There was a fantastic article on Forbes the other day entitled “The 7 Pillars of Connecting with Absolutely Anyone.” It’s spot on and shows how being helpful and genuine can help you make friends with anyone. But what can you do, in the moment, when you’re talking to a customer? How can you get the ball rolling?

You don’t need to be a social butterfly; here are five simple, actionable ways you can connect with your customers in a personal, meaningful way:

1. Send a notecard. Whether it’s for a big life event like a birthday or a wedding or is “just because,” a handwritten notecard shows that you’ve taken time out of your day and thought about them in a meaningful way.

2. Ask how their day is going. “How are you?” is a great question, but “How is your day going?” or “How are you enjoying this sunshine?” are more unusual questions and less likely to get kneejerk responses (“Fine, and you?”). Even if your customer responds generally, use enthusiastic words like “Fantastic” and “Wonderful” and share a little about yourself to spark a conversation.

3. Email them after your phone call. A follow up email after your phone call can add another touch of thoughtfulness to the exchange. Send them a summary of what you discussed or just a simple, “It was great speaking with you!”

4. Compliment them. Who doesn’t love a compliment? A compliment can instantly make you smile and turn your day around. “What a lovely name; my niece is also a Kaden!” or remarking on their order instantly shows you’re paying attention and that you care.

5. Listen. Genuinely listening is rare in business these days. When a customer makes a comment, reply matching their tone. It doesn’t have to be life-alteringly poetic; just acknowledging them is a great start. For example, if a caller stumbles when giving you their phone number and gets embarrassed, share a chuckle with them: “That’s ok! I get marble-mouthed, too, sometimes!” By honing your listening skills, you’ll be able to relate to your customers and can become better at detecting unexpressed needs. Offering your customer what they need even before they ask definitely shows you’re listening!

Even if you’re separated by 3,000 miles of telephone wire, being open and genuinely looking for ways to help can create meaningful connections and set your business apart!

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