×

Usamos cookies para ayudar a mejorar LingQ. Al visitar este sitio, aceptas nuestras politicas de cookie.


image

LingQ Academy - Tech Startup Course, 11 Customer Service Mistakes Your Startup Can’t Afford to Make

11 Customer Service Mistakes Your Startup Can't Afford to Make

Focusing on customer acquisition as a startup makes sense; without new customers, there's no way to grow. But even as you buckle down to win over prospects, make sure you're not forgetting to help out your existing customers. They're the best source of new business and feedback, especially in the early stages. A panel of startup founders from YEC offer their take on the most common customer-service faux pas they've seen, and how fellow founders can improve. 1. You're not responding in a timely manner. I know it's difficult to respond to every single email, but even the simplest reply goes a long way. You want people to know they're being heard and that their messages aren't being lost in the abyss. Most of all, you want them to know that there's a human on the other side willing to help them. Sometimes an automated email just won't do--make sure you have a manager dealing with this.--Rob Fulton, Exponential Black 2. You're committing to projects outside of your core competency. We all want overdeliver for our clients, but extending a hand into an unfamiliar area could be a big mistake. If you don't plan on generating more of that same type of business, it may be better off referred elsewhere or left alone. Proper support can become a huge hurdle, and receiving negative reviews or complaints will hurt future business as well as distract you from what you should be focusing on.--Russell Kommer, eSoftware Associates Inc

3. You don't have a customer service infrastructure. Many startups don't have the resources or haven't taken the time to establish a system for customer service. No specific employees are assigned to it, there's no rhyme or reason to responses, etc. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. If you appear disorganized and flaky, the very customers who have the potential to build your business will head in the other direction.--Alexandra Levit,Inspiration at Work

4. You're limiting direct client connection. Many startups want to make sure their internal people stay focused, whether or not they're a product- or service-related organization, at the onset. But this is the time when extra effort is required to build a strong name for yourself in the marketplace. Attempting to automate with email-only support or complicated phone message trees is a big no-no. Let the client come right to you. -Michael Spinosa, Unleashed Technologies

5. You're not making customer service everyone's job. As a startup with limited cash and time, you need to win over every customer. The biggest customer service mistake I see is a CEO and their team delegating customer care. When everyone talks to customers, your entire team will see the warts in your product and you'll understand what customers really want. Honest feedback will drive you to build a better company.--Aaron Schwartz, Modify Watches

6. You're not checking-in with customers. In a service- or project-based business, it is very common for startups to just go heads down and focus on getting the work done. However, a huge part of being in a business like that is making sure the client knows what is going on. Checking in with even just brief status updates on a regular basis makes them feel more engaged and like part of the process. You never want to be working behind a closed door.--Anthony Scherba,Yeti

7. You're defensive about criticism. Too many businesses become defensive when an upset client writes a bad review. They adopt an accusatory tone and engage in unnecessary and time-consuming conflict. This turns away potential customers.--Alfredo Atanacio, Uassist.ME

8. You're being too formal. As consumers, we are used to service from big companies that is mostly formal and standardized. As a startup building its own customer service standard, you do not need to use these big company examples for your model. Instead, you can and should give more individualized service and personal attention to your early users. Go above and beyond to get to know your customers and serve them.--Doreen Bloch, Poshly Inc.

9. You're too eager to change. With so much pressure to put out a product as soon as possible, some startups are too eager to change their vision of their product whenever a customer complains. Startup owners need to listen to customers of course, but should also try to complete their product design how they truly envisioned it.--Kumar Arora, Aroridex, Ltd.

10. You're too accommodating. A lot of startups fall into the trap of being too accommodating to their clients. All of this work happens quite often with very little outcome. Instead, think of your startup as being more mature than it really is so that you don't burn efforts trying to please everyone.--Ivan Matkovic, Spendgo 11. You're focusing on sales over customer retention. Lots of startups are thinking growth at the expense of customer retention. In a naive way, it's easy to be focused on "growth" in terms of getting more customers. As a small company, the signature of success is more customers. However, the signature of a successful long-term business is customer retention. Focus on that early. It's not just the sales you can gain, but that you can keep.--Andy Karuza, SpotSurvey

11 Customer Service Mistakes Your Startup Can’t Afford to Make 11 Fehler im Kundenservice, die sich Ihr Startup nicht leisten kann 11 Customer Service Mistakes Your Startup Can't Afford to Make 11 errores de atención al cliente que tu startup no puede permitirse cometer 11 erreurs de service à la clientèle que votre entreprise ne peut se permettre de commettre 11 errori nel servizio clienti che la vostra startup non può permettersi di commettere 新興企業が犯してはいけないカスタマーサービスにおける11の間違い 스타트업이 저지르기 쉬운 고객 서비스 실수 11가지 11 erros de serviço ao cliente que a sua empresa em fase de arranque não pode cometer 11 ошибок в работе с клиентами, которые не может допустить ваш стартап Girişiminizin Yapmayı Göze Alamayacağı 11 Müşteri Hizmetleri Hatası 11 помилок в обслуговуванні клієнтів, яких не може дозволити собі ваш стартап 初创公司不能犯的 11 个客户服务错误 初创企业不能犯的 11 个客户服务错误

Focusing on customer acquisition as a startup makes sense; without new customers, there's no way to grow. Bir startup olarak müşteri kazanmaya odaklanmak mantıklıdır; yeni müşteriler olmadan büyümenin bir yolu yoktur. But even as you buckle down to win over prospects, make sure you're not forgetting to help out your existing customers. Ancak potansiyel müşterileri kazanmak için çabalarken bile mevcut müşterilerinize yardım etmeyi unutmadığınızdan emin olun. They're the best source of new business and feedback, especially in the early stages. A panel of startup founders from YEC offer their take on the most common customer-service faux pas they've seen, and how fellow founders can improve. YEC'den startup kurucularından oluşan bir panel, gördükleri en yaygın müşteri hizmetleri hatalarını ve diğer kurucuların bu hataları nasıl iyileştirebileceklerini anlatıyor. 1\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You're not responding in a timely manner. Zamanında cevap vermiyorsun. I know it's difficult to respond to every single email, but even the simplest reply goes a long way. Her bir e-postaya yanıt vermenin zor olduğunu biliyorum, ancak en basit yanıt bile uzun bir yol kat ediyor. You want people to know they're being heard and that their messages aren't being lost in the abyss. İnsanların duyulduklarını ve mesajlarının uçurumda kaybolmadığını bilmelerini istersiniz. Most of all, you want them to know that there's a human on the other side willing to help them. Hepsinden önemlisi, diğer tarafta onlara yardım etmek isteyen bir insan olduğunu bilmelerini istersiniz. Sometimes an automated email just won't do--make sure you have a manager dealing with this.--Rob Fulton, Exponential Black 2\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You're committing to projects outside of your core competency. We all want overdeliver for our clients, but extending a hand into an unfamiliar area could be a big mistake. If you don't plan on generating more of that same type of business, it may be better off referred elsewhere or left alone. Proper support can become a huge hurdle, and receiving negative reviews or complaints will hurt future business as well as distract you from what you should be focusing on.--Russell Kommer, eSoftware Associates Inc

3\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You don't have a customer service infrastructure. Many startups don't have the resources or haven't taken the time to establish a system for customer service. Muitas empresas em fase de arranque não têm os recursos ou não dedicaram tempo a estabelecer um sistema de serviço ao cliente. No specific employees are assigned to it, there's no rhyme or reason to responses, etc. Não há funcionários específicos afectados, não há uma razão de ser para as respostas, etc. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. If you appear disorganized and flaky, the very customers who have the potential to build your business will head in the other direction.--Alexandra Levit,Inspiration at Work

4\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You're limiting direct client connection. Many startups want to make sure their internal people stay focused, whether or not they're a product- or service-related organization, at the onset. But this is the time when extra effort is required to build a strong name for yourself in the marketplace. Attempting to automate with email-only support or complicated phone message trees is a big no-no. Let the client come right to you. -Michael Spinosa, Unleashed Technologies

5\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You're not making customer service everyone's job. As a startup with limited cash and time, you need to win over every customer. The biggest customer service mistake I see is a CEO and their team delegating customer care. When everyone talks to customers, your entire team will see the warts in your product and you'll understand what customers really want. Honest feedback will drive you to build a better company.--Aaron Schwartz, Modify Watches

6\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You're not checking-in with customers. In a service- or project-based business, it is very common for startups to just go heads down and focus on getting the work done. However, a huge part of being in a business like that is making sure the client knows what is going on. Checking in with even just brief status updates on a regular basis makes them feel more engaged and like part of the process. You never want to be working behind a closed door.--Anthony Scherba,Yeti

7\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You're defensive about criticism. Too many businesses become defensive when an upset client writes a bad review. They adopt an accusatory tone and engage in unnecessary and time-consuming conflict. This turns away potential customers.--Alfredo Atanacio, Uassist.ME

8\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You're being too formal. As consumers, we are used to service from big companies that is mostly formal and standardized. As a startup building its own customer service standard, you do not need to use these big company examples for your model. Instead, you can and should give more individualized service and personal attention to your early users. Go above and beyond to get to know your customers and serve them.--Doreen Bloch, Poshly Inc.

9\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You're too eager to change. With so much pressure to put out a product as soon as possible, some startups are too eager to change their vision of their product whenever a customer complains. Startup owners need to listen to customers of course, but should also try to complete their product design how they truly envisioned it.--Kumar Arora, Aroridex, Ltd.

10\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You're too accommodating. A lot of startups fall into the trap of being too accommodating to their clients. All of this work happens quite often with very little outcome. Tout ce travail se fait très souvent avec très peu de résultats. Instead, think of your startup as being more mature than it really is so that you don't burn efforts trying to please everyone.--Ivan Matkovic, Spendgo 11\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\. You're focusing on sales over customer retention. Lots of startups are thinking growth at the expense of customer retention. In a naive way, it's easy to be focused on "growth" in terms of getting more customers. As a small company, the signature of success is more customers. However, the signature of a successful long-term business is customer retention. Focus on that early. It's not just the sales you can gain, but that you can keep.--Andy Karuza, SpotSurvey