When you are running a consumer business, you always expect the unexpected. A number of problems can arise, and it is vital for you to find ways to resolve things to the best of your abilities. One of the most common scenarios that you can possibly encounter is a customer complaint. What are you going to do to make the customer satisfied at the end of the day?

In reality, customer complaints are unpredictable. Some issues are pretty much easy to handle, but some problems are known to be quite complicated and can trigger the customer to get angry thus negatively affecting the business. That is why everybody in your company needs to know how to handle complaints in a professional manner. Here are some tips on how to get you started.

Just listen

When a frustrated customer approaches you with a series of complaints, it is essential that you let them talk while you listen. It is usual for the customer to vent out their frustrations towards you but do not take it negatively.

Check account history

Proper documentation is essential in every type of business. Investing in a CRM system can help you efficiently manage each customer account making it easier to check for issues and provide real-time solutions. Being organised with company records will benefit not just your existing clients, but it is also for your employees.

Acknowledge the customer

If the customer is expressing their frustration make sure to let them know that you are listening. If you are speaking to them over the phone, short statements such as “I see”, “I understand” or “Go ahead and tell me” are helpful in terms of letting the customer know that you are listening. When taking customer complaints personally be eager to show them your willingness to help by writing down notes and asking probing questions.

Apologise

Whether it is your fault or not it is important to apologise to the customer for making them feel bad. Aside from offering a solution, customers would also like to hear that the other party is sincerely apologetic about the situation. Remember that filing a complaint alone is a very frustrating process that is why every angry customer deserves an apology.

Find a solution right away

Once you are able to get all the necessary information, do the investigation and provide the appropriate resolution. Make sure that you are still using the standard guidelines to ensure that you are giving customers equal treatment.

Do not forget to follow-up

Make sure to get back to the customer to check if the issue is already resolved. Call backs may seem like a small gesture, but it is a way to show customers that you care.

Poor customer service can significantly affect your business in many ways. Stories about lousy experience travel fast, and it can discourage other potential clients from trying out your products and services. That is why all customer complaints must be handled quickly and efficiently before they escalate to a higher level.

Image: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/07/25/09/39/call-center-2537390__340.jpg

 

If you just fired another receptionist for continuing to show up late for work over and over again, it is time to look into another option. Have you ever considered a live answering receptionist service instead? Maybe you assume that it could never work, not having an actual receptionist come to the office every day. But there are some major advantages to a professional receptionist service, so don’t knock it til you’ve tried it.

Services are provided 24/7

With a normal answering service utilizing an in-person receptionist, business hours are only in session for 9 hours of the day. With a receptionist service, your business can accept calls 24/7 without ever needing to send someone to voicemail. This is true even when the office is closed, setting you apart from your competitors whose phones redirect to voicemail after 5PM.

There is no hiring, training, or firing involved

You won’t need to accept applications for a receptionist or invest time and money into training that person. Instead, you just need to call your local live answering agency and you will be assigned with someone who has been thoroughly trained already. Of course there will be a briefing period for this individual to learn the ins and outs of the company, but this should not take long. If you decide that it’s not for you, simply call the agency to discontinue the service.

It will save money in the long run

Keeping an in-house receptionist on your payroll is actually more costly than outsourcing. Not only will you be required to pay your receptionist a salary, but you also need to provide health benefits, office supplies, vacation time, and an office space.

You don’t have to worry about sick days or vacation weeks

When the office receptionist takes a sick day or heads to Bermuda for her 2-week vacay, the entire office seems to fall apart. Someone from another department can be assigned to the phones, but who will cover that person’s position? When you hire a live answering service you never have to worry about this.

There will be several call representatives who can handle the job, so if one rep is not available another one will just fill in for the day. The same goes for vacation time; when it comes time for your regular virtual receptionist to take her yearly vacation, you won’t be responsible in any way to find a replacement.

There will be more time to focus on business growth

When you are not concerned with answering the phones or receiving reports from your in-house receptionist, you will have more time to focus on the overall business. Your main goal is to grow your business, and with a virtual receptionist you can do that.

It will impress your potential customers

When a client calls and is directed to a professional virtual receptionist, your company appears to be well-established and more “corporate”. Even if you are running a small family-owned business, a call service will give the appearance of extreme success. This is something that a lot of potential customers gravitate towards.

 

Investing in the services of a search engine optimization agency is proven to be one of the top methods for growing your business. The results probably won’t come about instantly, but you will definitely see some positive change with time. Getting started is the hardest part, but luckily there are plenty of experts available to help you out. Here’s what they have to say about getting started on SEO the right way.

Step 1: Analyze EVERYTHING

Before you can set goals, you have to understand what is going on with your website and the current state it is in. This can be done by using analysis tools that will provide you with every piece of vital data you might need. There are 3 main categories of data that you should focus on during the analysis phase:

• Website analysis – Start doing keyword research, look into your coding vs. text ratios, etc.
• Initial keyword nomination – Think about what you yourself would type into the search engine if you were looking for a company like yours. You can even ask your existing customers about this.
• Competitive analysis – Look into your competitors. Closely examine their websites and the keywords that they use throughout it.

Step 2: Keyword Research and Optimization

We’ve already brushed on keyword analysis, but the next stage is to delve even deeper into researching your keywords and phrases. You can do this in several ways, the first being to utilize Google suggest. When you type in a keyword relevant to your company, what other suggestions appear below? These should be utilized as keywords since they are suggested by Google based on what people are searching for.

Once you’ve researched what they are and compiled a list, the next step is to optimize your site with them. So how are keywords optimized? This is done by placing them throughout your site, but in a natural way. Don’t just plug in keywords wherever possible – the site will look unnatural and it will read as if you are trying too hard. Everything on your site needs to flow naturally, including the placement of your keywords.

Step 3: Start Submitting Your Content

This is the fun part. The next step is where you can actually start to get creative and provide your audience with valuable information. It is time to start adding more content to your website, as well as to other sites filling the internet. First, focus on your own site’s content. If you don’t already have a blog section, now is the time to create one.

Once you have filled your own site with interesting content that provides some sort of value, you can focus on other aspects of the internet. The practice of “link building” is when your website gains more authority on a search engine. This happens by increasing the number of links to your site found throughout the world wide web. You’ll have to pay for each link, but this practice is extremely effective in improving rankings.

For more business tips from Action Life Media, check this out on our category page!

Trade show booth displays offer businesses a special chance to showcase their goodies and also have fun. They get to cut through online interactions, and traditional venues to leave a lasting impression on customers and other businesses. However, to succeed at a trade show, you need to equip yourself with the right supplies. At your next show, bring the following items to ensure you capture as much attention as possible from the attendees.

1. Signage

When preparing for your trade show, ensure you have many signs in form of banners, posters, etcetera that can be easily seen by attendees from multiple angles. You should try to draw attention to your trade show display in a visible and classy way.

2. Proper Presentation Media

Signs capture the attention of people and the best presentation media helps to maintain it. When putting up your trade show display, ensure that you have some sort of interesting presentation media. Using slideshow presentations, engaging short video clips, and some presentations accompanied with visual aids will keep your potential clients engaged and interested.

3. Business Cards

Passing out your business cards will help customers to remember your company and engage with you in the long-run. Keep the cards to a standard, pocket-fitting size. It might not be a smart move to use bookmarks or heavy postcards as these oddly-shaped stationary items are highly likely to be thrown away.

4. Giveaways

Who doesn’t love to get free stuff? Prior to your trade show event. Reach out to a company that produces amazing customized gifts like t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, bottles, etc. and emblazon a bunch of them with your brand’s logo and color scheme. Given that your giveaway is great, it will lure visitors to your booth at the show and you will get a chance to introduce them to your actual goods or services.

5. Organizers

You want to make a good impression on visitors who come to your booth; therefore don’t waste your display’s potential by being poorly organized. Get good stands for putting your business cards, boxes for giveaways, and always organize items properly on your display table. Trade show chaos can overwhelm your exhibit and turn your trade booth into an unattractive pig sty.

6. Box of Useful Supplies

Duct tape may not be able to fix all sorts of problems; therefore bring with you some sort of MacGyver kit that includes pens, rubber bands, scissors, a stapler and pins, paper clips, thread, tape, zip ties, and so on to help keep all your banners and posters in good condition, table tarps connected, and displays from falling apart. Even if you think you may not need those items, carry them. You never know when emergencies might arise.

7. Proper Wiring Equipment

Given that your trade show display majors on technology, carry the necessary wiring equipment like extension cords and power strips. You do not want your battery to run out of power and the outlets are just a foot away where your charger cannot reach. Maybe you will not need to use your extension cord or power strip, but you can loan them out to another exhibitor at the show and thus make a new ally.

8. Refreshments

Trade shows can require you to use a lot of energy. Amidst all the activities, you need to maintain focus and stay hydrated. Carry with you nutritious snacks and water to maintain your energy, in case you will not be able to visit the refreshment stand. If you can, bring some extra bottles of water to give to potential visitors.

Looking for custom trade show displays? ExpoMarketing has been in the trade show business for many years and they make top-notch designs for exhibitors in the US. Call them today for more details.

To read more on topics like this, check out the business category.

Webcam modeling can offer incredible rewards to women who are serious and are involved in this activity daily. The average earnings of a webcam model amount to nearly $4,000 each month, but if you work hard to achieve your objectives, you can reach up to $10,000 per month.

This is the main reason why more and more young women choose this activity today, but only a few of them actually know what it takes to be a successful webcam model and enjoy the financial benefits they dream of. If you want to enter online modeling or are already a model, but feel like you need a new start, below you will discover 5 efficient tricks that will help you earn a lot more money from this activity.

Offer diversity

Your admirers have various preferences and want to experiment with new things on a regular basis, so if you want to enjoy high earnings, you will need interesting outfits and different decors and room settings. If you have the exact same attitude, outfit or makeup each day, your fans will end up getting bored and will look for other webcam models.

In order to have all these things, choose to be part of a prestigious studio’s modeling team. For example, Studio 20 is renowned for the luxurious decors and the excellent working conditions it offers.

Work passionately, but don’t forget to have some fun

Although many people believe that all a webcam model has to do in order to earn money is to take her clothes off, the reality is completely different. To make it as a webcam model, you must prove you are ambitious, dedicated and ready to learn. Your silhouette is important, but your personality is essential because this activity is based on conversations and constant communication.

Every time you go online, you must create a nice and relaxing environment, in which the members can feel safe and comfortable to share any secret in their life. If someone asks you to do or say something that takes you out of your comfort zone, you can politely refuse and steer the conversation to a topic you are both comfortable with.

Be unique for your fans

Some people have special skills or talents, such as dancing, video games, role-playing, singing or certain sports. To be different from all the other models, find out more about your fans and figure out a way to bring some of their interests into your performances. This will make you unique in their eyes, thus building a strong connection and captivating the attention of other people.

Spend more time online

A lot of girls that take up online modeling choose to work from home, and the earnings are not fantastic at all. Why is that? Because they have the tendency to regard webcam modeling superficially and don’t establish a working schedule.

From this point of view, it’s best to work for a studio, because there you will set up a schedule which you will have to respect. This way, you’ll treat webcam modeling like any other job and maybe actually build a successful career. Also, if your fans get used to certain hours, you will have the opportunity to enjoy their fidelity.

Be active on social media

We live in a digital era, so you should take full advantage of this fact. Use social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to promote your site and personal brand. Inform your fans about your shows and don’t forget to post some cute or hot pics that can trigger their curiosity. The more you post, the more members you will engage, bringing you higher earnings each month.

Join the discussion on this topic with action life media by visiting our contact page.

Digital marketing is the most commonly used tool nowadays to promote products and businesses. There are many reasons why this is the case, such as accessibility and ease of use, as well as reaching a wider range of people. Since almost everyone is on the web and has access to social media pages, are printed marketing materials still doing their job and is it even worth investing in them?

Consumers still trust printed ads

Not everything has gone online and, believe it or not, most consumers trust printed marketing materials more than digital ones. Even though we’re all on the web, many people still prefer a pull up banner, flyers, posters, brochures, and invitations, rather than online ads. One reason is many email marketing materials are associated with viruses, spam and malware, to name a few.

Print subscriptions still exist

Many publications have gone digital, and a lot of magazines, newspapers, and printed advertisements are now done online. Even though digital materials dominate printed ads, not too many people are willing to shell out money for online subscriptions. They find it an unnecessary expense and would instead buy a magazine or newspaper when they feel like it.

Printed materials are easy to read

Nothing beats holding an actual book. Most people still prefer to have a physical book in their hands than read a novel straight out of an ePub reader. A physical text is easier on the eyes and much more comfortable to read compared to staring at a digital screen for hours.

Websites can have a lot going on, and it’s one of the reasons why customers still prefer printed ads. The latter is easier to read and navigate, while the former is too distracting and makes it more challenging to find the vital information that they’re after.

Memory retention is more effective

It’s easier to remember something when you read it straight from a piece of paper than seeing it somewhere online. In fact, there’s a British study showing students doing better in their assessments when they use paper notes and books.

This goes the same for marketing materials. Customers can recall information better when they read something from a brochure, poster, or banner. It creates a more lasting impression and will be easier to remember. Besides, most webpages are only full of pop up ads and irrelevant information, which pushes viewers to skim through and miss the critical details they need to know.

Tangible material is better

Many consumers still prefer tangible reading materials over digital ones. A good example would be physical greeting cards, which people choose over e-cards. Nothing beats receiving a letter in the post because it feels more personal and touching.

Even though we already live in the digital age, printed materials won’t be obsolete anytime soon. So, if you’re thinking of your next marketing strategy, don’t forget that investing in brochures, banners, and printed ads will help you with your sales; there’s no doubt about it!

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/banner-street-light-city-438053/

 

Do you know that the technology in your restaurant can have an impact on the experience of your customers? You can offer better technology by offering the POS system. Do you know that the POS system is considered to be an investment? You may need to spend a lot of money on it in the beginning but it will be worth it.

The POS system that you choose will have an effect on how effective it will be when used by your customers but the real question is how updated is your POS system? You can check your current Cloverflex and see if it is up-to-date.

How will you know if your current system is still updated? These are just some of the things to think about:

• Check if the procedures that you used to do with your Merchant Account Solutions Clover POS System is still working properly. There may be some procedures that used to work fast in the past but right now, there are taking some time before they are done properly.
• Are you having trouble training your employees regarding the POS system that you are using because all the things that they have to do are complicated?
• Do you notice that your customers are taking some time before they can pay their meals because your POS system is not working the way that it should?
• Are there certain payments that are being rejected by the POS system even if they should be approved?
• There may be some difficulty that you will encounter when you try to customize the orders of your customers.

If you are having the above-mentioned issues with the POS system, this may be a sign that you have to look for a new system soon. Now is also the time that you can start updating the merchant account that you use and so much more.

Once you have updated your POS system, you will definitely see the difference. It will be easier for you to receive payments from your customers. You can also offer more payment methods that will make it easier for your customers to pay their bill properly.

Employee monitoring has become an essential part of data protection. In fact it is the best way to comply with the stringent requirements of new regulations such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California’s Consumer Privacy Act.

However the use of employee monitoring software is often accompanied by privacy concerns of its own – on the part of employees.

If you want to implement employee monitoring without violating the privacy of your employees, there are 5 proven ways to go about it:

• Establish a clear policy

The key to ensuring that you don’t violate the privacy of your employees is to be transparent – and that starts with establishing a clear policy. All your employees should know what data is collected, what is done with it, and how it is stored.

It is important to explain the policy to employees and emphasize why the data is being collected. For example if WorkExaminer is used to track internet usage and file transfers a reason should be provided – such as in order to ensure sensitive data isn’t transmitted over the internet.

• Avoid collecting unnecessary personal information

Modern employee monitoring software such as WorkExaminer is often customizable, and can be set up to collect exactly what data you require. To ensure you protect your employees’ privacy, you should avoid collecting any unnecessary personal information.

In short WorkExaminer should be used only to collect the data that you need for data protection – no more, and no less.

• Anonymize users when it is possible

According to Recital 26 of the GDPR, it is not applicable to anonymous data. That can be useful when protecting the privacy of your own employees and by anonymizing the users you can evaluate trends without compromising on privacy.

• Delete data if there is no long term need for it

It is possible to use WorkExaminer to track and record a wide range of data and metrics, including internet usage, application activity, and even email and chat logs. However unless there is a long term need for the data, it should be deleted.

At times you may want to store some data for forensic purposes or to facilitate analysis. Aside from that however, you should delete data to reduce the risk of privacy issues and lessen the amount of data you have to store.

• Plan accountability to certification standards

Compliance to the GDPR or other similar regulations invokes a certification apparatus that will require you to be accountable to its standards. It is important that you plan for that and are transparent in its implementation.

Since the primary purpose of employee monitoring software is to perpetuate data security, the use of WorkExaminer should be customized so that it does not violate the privacy of employees. Its features will enable you to do that, and track all employee activity based on your specifications.

By using the strategies outlined above you can ensure that those specifications do not cause your employees to feel that their privacy is affected – and assure them that the monitoring is there to protect them too.

Video is one of the most powerful methods you can use to reach your client base, which explains why explainer videos are so popular these days. Explainer videos allow you to grab your audience’s attention quick and present your products or services in a clear and concise way. However, you have to put some thought into your explainer videos if you want them to get the results you need and convert your visitors into paying customers. Here are a few tips from Louis Hernandez Jr that will allow you to get the most out of your explainer videos.

Know Your Audience

The first thing you should do is make sure that you understand your audience. You simply won’t be able to communicate with your audience properly if you don’t know exactly who you’re talking to. That’s why it’s essential that you create a clear buyer persona and make a video specifically for your core audience. That means considering demographic aspects like education level, location, age, style, look and occupation, and psychological aspects such as hobbies, values, interests and problems among other things.

Avoid Common Mistakes when Formulating Your Script

The script is where many people go wrong with their explainer videos. You should view the script as the foundation for your explainer, the glue that keeps it all together. In most cases, the video production company you choose to go for will give you a creative brief for you to fill out. They might ask questions such as, ‘what target audience are you trying to reach?’, ‘describe your product in as little sentences as possible’ and ‘what problem are you trying to solve with your product?’ These questions will allow you to formulate a script that will have the most impact and focus on the most important points about your business.

Watch the Length

When it comes to video explainers, or any type of video content in general, there is generally a sweet spot as far as length goes in order to not lose your audience while still conveying your message properly. While you may have lots to say in your explainer video, less is often more and you should be focusing on hooking your audience instead of going too in-depth. So, you should not only focus on the length, but how much you say within these minutes.

As a rule, most people in the industry will advise against going anywhere over 150 words per minute. And several pieces of research show that the attention span for most viewers is about 60 seconds when it comes to video content. However, between 1 to 2 minutes is usually the mark most will aim for with their explainer videos, which will allow them to capture and keep their audience’s attention while getting their message across.

If you want to keep things as short and sweet as possible, you have to simplify things as much as you can. The first part should be focusing on your customers’ problem and the second part should be to present your product as the solution to the problem. You should then spend a few seconds to explain how the product or service works and follow with a clear call to action.

Focus on the Benefits First and Foremost, not Features

Don’t try to get over analytical here by trying to mention your product’s every single feature. You have a short period of time to create an emotional connection with your reader, and just listing features won’t do it. Focus on what kind of benefits they’ll be able to get from your products instead.

Louis Hernandez Jr

https://www.linkedin.com/in/louishernandezjr/

 

The Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award Recognizes entrepreneurial excellence in the healthcare technology category. In Westborough, Massachusetts on June 17, 2009 eClinicalWorks disclosed that CEO and co-founder Girish Navani received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the healthcare technology category for New England.

According to Ernst & Young LLP, the award aims to reward highly acclaimed entrepreneurs who have been creating and directing progressive and fast-growing businesses. Navani was chosen by a panel of judges for his work in the world of healthcare IT. The prestigious award was presented at a gala event at the Marriott Newton Hotel on June 16th that year.

In his acceptance speech, Girish Kumar Navani acknowledged that he was extremely honored to receive the award. He then proceeded to thank the employees for their commitment and the customers for their trust and loyalty. He attributed receiving the reward to all their efforts, and not just his own forthcomings.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award was celebrating their 23rd anniversary in 2009. The aim of the program is to acknowledge entrepreneurs who have demonstrated excellence in aspects such as innovation, financial excellence, and deep engagement to their businesses and communities.

Girish Kumar Navani clearly exemplified all of these things at that time and still continues to do so today, one full decade later. He remains a leading innovator in the world of healthcare technology and his company has made some major leaps – and taken some major risks – within the industry.

Kristin Keating, Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur of the Year Program Co-Chair for New England, expressed so much pride on the part of Ernst and Young to award the accomplishments of Girish Navani. She could not have been happier to award this man with the title of New England Entrepreneur of the Year and still feels prideful to this day.

She added that the winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year recipients are among those who build leading businesses and significantly add to the vitality of the region’s economy. It is through their successes that allow the each area to grow stronger within the field of healthcare technology.

As a New England award winner that year, Navani also qualified for inclusion in the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 National Program. Award winners in the varied national classes, together with the national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year recognized winner, were announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California on November 14, 2009.

The awards are the peak event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of fast -growth, market-leading companies. The fact that Navani was awarded this, even ten years ago, speaks to his enormous value in the healthcare IT industry. He continues to evolve with the constantly changing trends of technology and is able to implement these trends within eClinicalWorks.