At a time when almost every product and service has become a commodity what is that ensures your customers will be loyal to you and your business?
- Is it the quality of your product? Sometimes, but not all the time.
- Is it your price? Sometimes, but not all the time – think $5.00 cups of coffee.
- Is it convenience? Sometimes, but not all the time – think Magic Kingdom (unless you live in Orlando).
Customer loyalty is built on customer experience. What kind of experience do we provide when someone walks through our doors? What kind of experience do our customers have when we answer the phone or respond to an email or tweet?
Do the experiences we create fascinate or frustrate? Are we thrilled someone has chosen to connect with our organization or has the person we need to respond to interrupted our day?
One of my all-time favorite examples of a company that takes pleasure in serving their customers is Chick Fil A. It’s their pleasure because it’s their pleasure from the CEO to the part-time high school student on the front line. Each employee at Chick Fil A is trained to view each person who walks through the doors as an individual with a unique story.
What type of experience are you creating? Is it one that will keep your customers coming back again and again? Is it one that will turn your customers into evangelists for your business?