Customer Service Etiquette Tips

What is Customer Service Etiquette

Customer service etiquette refers to the comportment of your staff,  which is acceptable in the eye of the customer. It encompasses the expectations of the customer when they decide to interact with your business. This means that when customers call, they have a list of expectations which they expect to be catered to during the duration of the call. Apart from getting their issue resolved, their decision making is also influenced by the attitude which they receive over the phone. Therefore it is necessary to take action which will make a lasting positive impression.

How Customer Service Etiquette Affects Small Businesses

A phone call is a perfect option for the customer who does not wish to have face-to-face interaction. Whoever answers the phone may serve as the first and only point of contact with your products or services. Also, interpretations of tone or diction may trigger positive or negative emotional responses from clients. Their emotional response is what determines how much business they actually do with your organization. For this reason, it is important to carefully select the right B2B call center to handle large volumes of calls on your behalf. 

As one person, it is impossible to do all the answering and calling you may have to do on a daily basis. Small business owners are usually misled into thinking that call centers won’t benefit their business. But customers just want someone to respond to their inquiries and provide the support they require. Plus call centers offer a variety of services that aren’t limited to just making or receiving calls. Thus, partnering with a B2B call center agency can actually help in improving your customer service experience.

5 Customer Service Etiquette Tips

The manner in which the phone gets answered can either win or lose your potential prospects. This is why these five tips about phone etiquette are sure to help you make a lasting impactful impression on your callers.

• Be Responsive

The phone should be answered within three rings when partnered with your selected B2B call center agency. The call operators are there to man the phones and should do so promptly to ensure your competitors don’t get the opportunity to steal their business away. Upon response, the caller should be promptly informed of the telephone operator’s name and the business represented. That way clients will know, from the start, that they have the right place. Remember also, to speak clearly so that the client understands what is being said and reduce unnecessary repetition.  

• Avoid Interruptions

Sometimes the customer calls with a complaint and they should not be interrupted while they relay their situation. Your selected B2B  call operators should be trained to listen to the entire problem even if the call is to be handed off to someone else. Active listening must be practiced at this point whereby notes are taken and unscripted responses are supplied to address their personal concerns. That way when the call is transferred, the customer does not have to relay the situation from scratch as their details can be sent ahead to speed up the process. 

• Know Your Buttons 

Although the telephone is a simple device to operate, it facilitates a complex process. Yet to use this device of communication efficiently, one must be aware not only of the function of various buttons but when to use them. Hold and transfer buttons need to be mastered to ensure a smooth transition between calls. Ensure you inform the clients that they are going to be placed on hold while you seek to rectify their situation. It would be rather unprofessional to press the phone against your chest while you seek clarification on the caller’s behalf. They may hear things that they shouldn’t. 

Also, the caller should be informed that they are being transferred to someone who can help them before the actual transfer is done. If they may have to wait for some more time, they should be informed so that they may call back, if they’d prefer to, depending on the wait. Remember, exemplary customer service etiquette encourages further business.

• How To Answer The Phone Professionally 

Although phone etiquette refers to what is conducted over the phone, your tone and personal demeanor must be pleasant and professional. This also means keeping abreast of your callers’ pace. If they want to skip all the formalities and get straight to the point, then follow suit but remain approachable and accommodating. If your caller is not native English, you may need to utilize a slower response to allow them the opportunity to understand what you are saying.

The language used must not include the offensive slurs and jargon which could cost you a customer for life. Keep the language formal and refrain from making jokes which could be offensive to clients. Remain helpful, enthusiastic, polite and ask for their permission before you take any action on their behalf.

• How to Diffuse An Irate Situation

An irate customer can be a challenge, especially as they are already upset when they call for assistance. However, the responder should be empathetic to the callers’ needs and speak passionately to help soothe the client with phrases such as:

• “You’re quite right to be upset...
• “I’m so terribly sorry…
• “Oh my, how terrible…

The customers will feel like their concerns are taken seriously and already expect to receive the assistance needed to defuse the situation. Then they will more than likely calm down on their own and wait to see how their situation can be resolved.

The fact remains that QCSS may be the B2B call center agency that will help in providing the customer service assistance needed to encourage customers to continue doing business with your organization. Are you ready to partner up with the right B2B call center? Contact us today!