Ruby

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

So…you were willing to pay a bit more money—even after the fact —in exchange for stellar customer service. Most consumers are happy to give a little extra when they receive service that exceeds their expectations. In fact, the same principle holds true for customers in non-dining situations, too. Who doesn’t?

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Sales Small Business Networking 52

Ruby

OCTOBER 5, 2023

If you’re planning to launch a small business or scale an existing one, either way, you need cash. Here’s a rundown of the top lending avenues to check out: Bank Loans/Lines of Credit – Bank loans and lines of credit are a tried-and-true method of getting money for your business. Why do you have to spend money to make it?

Small Business 52

Small Business Banking Customer Service Security 52

Ruby

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

It happens during the third of five stages of small business development—the success stage! Growth is the goal for most small businesses. All too often, businesses hire the best people they can afford for some roles, then try to save on areas they deem less important. They hate seeing a business that’s in disarray.

Small Business 52

Small Business Advertising Customer Service Training 52

Success

OCTOBER 3, 2021

One big point of difference small businesses have is that they’re much better positioned to deliver genuinely excellent customer service. You, the small biz entrepreneur, are face-to-face with your clients. Your small business is nimble, able to deliver custom solutions better than lumbering corporations.

Small Business 132

Small Business Customer Service Flexibility Flexibility 132

Ruby

OCTOBER 21, 2022

, you know the thrill that comes with running a small business. So do we—and so do the 32 million other entrepreneurs working tirelessly behind the scenes to help their customers and communities. It’s time for small business to steal the show. But not everyone is ready for their company close-up. Break a leg!

Small Business 52

Small Business Customer Service Flexibility Flexibility 52

Launch Work Places

NOVEMBER 27, 2023

Running a business can feel like trying to juggle a million things at once, which is why leaders and managers need to find the right strategies and support to meet their goals. An essential piece is finding online tools for small business owners that help optimize efficiency , productivity, and communication.

Small Business 52

Small Business Software Customer Service Communication 52

Ruby

JULY 14, 2023

Somewhere, there’s a giant box stuffed with crusty old business ideas that don’t work anymore. As 21st-century business owners, you’re supposed to “think outside” that box because not every small business fits neatly into a traditional mold. For businesses, it can pay huge dividends, too! Woody and Buzz.

Small Business 52

Small Business Creativity Consulting Problem-Solving 52

Ruby

JULY 19, 2023

For small businesses, these rapid advancements can come at a cost: You may know AI could potentially provide a competitive edge, but how can you apply it—ideally without compromising the customer experience? Empathy-based social skills Great customer service is usually high on empathy.

Small Business 52

Small Business Software Creativity Customer Service 52

Ruby

JANUARY 20, 2023

And while some are harmless or easily debunked—no mother will mind if you step on that crack—others can get in the way of running your business. Nowhere is this truer than in customer service. Through millions of calls and chats , we’ve learned what customers and clients truly need, want, and care about.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Learning Small Business Communication 52

Ruby

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

One of the most important aspects of any small business is receiving incoming calls. But not every business has the luxury of a dedicated team member monitoring the phones during the workday—not to mention all the calls that come in after-hours. Luckily, there’s no shortage of call answering services out there to assist.

Small Business 52

Small Business Delegation Customer Service Training 52

Ruby

AUGUST 16, 2021

That three-letter word is one of the most meaningful and rewarding things you can hear from a customer or client. It reflects the amazement someone feels when your customer service exceeds their expectations—when your business truly connects with them. And those “wows” could be the key to your business’s growth.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Purchasing Problem-Solving Small Business 52

Ruby

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

Once you’ve been doing something long enough, letting go of certain parts of your small business can feel like letting a small piece of yourself go. Customer communication can be one of the toughest to hand off. After all, it’s a big part of what makes your business, well, your business.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Small Business Onboarding Training 52

Ruby

JULY 19, 2020

But, even in this era of automation, focusing on the human element of your business can be your most valuable tool in impressing potential and current customers alike. In fact, 66% of customers think that a company’s customer service reputation is a critical factor while making a purchase decision.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Purchasing Technology Software 52

Ruby

DECEMBER 6, 2019

Why personal connections make all the difference in customer service People are tired of bots and interactive voice response systems (IVR). They want—and increasingly, they expect—to be able to call or chat with a business and speak to a live, friendly human being. This isn’t only about customer experience for big-name brands.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Sales Technology Small Business 52

Ruby

FEBRUARY 5, 2021

For small business owners, choosing the right customer engagement solution has never been more important. And with so many new technologies and customer trends to keep track of as a business owner, it can be difficult to know which of your business investments is going to end up paying off in the long run.

Small Business 52

Small Business Customer Service Problem-Solving Prioritization 52

Ruby

FEBRUARY 20, 2020

Customer service skills—every business needs them, but not every customer service professional has them. That’s a shame, because in this day and age, customer service skills are more important than ever. Customer service is the key differentiator for any business , regardless of size or industry.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Mentoring Problem-Solving Sales 52

Ruby

JULY 10, 2020

When did customer service become so complicated? From Google to Yelp to Aunt Irene, everyone and everything has an influence over a customer’s thoughts and behavior. As a result, customer service is more challenging—and more important—than ever. What are the most important customer service skills?

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Advertising Training Technology 52

Ruby

OCTOBER 10, 2017

This article was originally published on July 14, 2017 on Manta – Small business marketing solutions helping millions of businesses get found by more customers. Approach every communication with your customers as an opportunity to spark a connection, gain their trust and earn their loyalty. Original article.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Correspondence Problem-Solving Purchasing 52

Insperity

AUGUST 1, 2024

These might include: Developing leaders and managers Improving onboarding and acclimation of new hires Transferring institutional knowledge to reduce the impact of attrition/turnover of staff Boosting retention Enhancing customer service With clear insights into the need behind the mentoring effort, you’ll be better able to gauge success.

Mentoring 202

Mentoring Onboarding Leadership Training 202

C-Suite Assistants

AUGUST 12, 2024

As a business owner, you have many responsibilities, from overseeing daily business operations and marketing and sales campaigns to creating a business plan, financial management and bookkeeping, customer service, and ensuring legal compliance. Some owners will try to handle everything with a small staff.

Correspondence 59

Correspondence Travel Arrangements Bookkeeping Administrative Assistance 59

Ruby

OCTOBER 4, 2022

Here are a couple of key takeaways from this post that small business owners should be aware of: The U.S. In fact, some small businesses may question if these statistics are relevant to their specific industry or market. If your business is looking to offer bilingual customer service, don’t do it quietly.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Small Business Communication Learning 52

Ruby

OCTOBER 13, 2021

Speaking of the size of your business, let’s take a closer look at how different operations can leverage the benefits of a needs-based approach: Benefits for small businesses Small businesses are anything but small when it comes to their impact on people’s lives. Check out the guide. We help with that too.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Small Business Sales Purchasing 52

Ruby

APRIL 24, 2024

Even some small businesses have gotten to the point where they’d rather redirect incoming calls to some interactive voice response (IVR) system. That’s a shame because if you’ve ever called a business as a consumer and got rustled into one of those automated systems, you know how irritating they can be. For the caller?

Small Business 52

Small Business Technology Customer Service Sales 52

Ruby

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

Small business customers are our favorite kind of people. Given the notoriously bad customer service experiences they’ve had with large companies, it’s not surprising. Not every small business is an early-stage startup. The best way to communicate that customer service is a priority is to make it one.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Problem-Solving Purchasing Small Business 52

Ruby

APRIL 17, 2024

It’s easy to see why they need time to decompress and compose themselves, so they can maintain that high level of customer service without cracking. Test drive some new technology, such as appointment booking systems, customer relationship management programs, and task automation software.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Multitasking Small Business Maintenance 52

Ruby

AUGUST 29, 2023

Previously, on small business snippets season one… Last year, we launched Small business snippets: micro-courses for macro-success in order to help entrepreneurs learn the basics of business growth. Improving experiences : How to effectively scale your customer service alongside your business.

Security 52

Security Customer Service Small Business Learning 52

Thrive Workplace

JUNE 21, 2024

Thrive Workplace’s inclusion in this elite group underscores its commitment to fostering a dynamic and supportive environment for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and remote workers. Visit www.thriveworkplace.com for more information.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Small Business Networking Flexibility 52

Ruby

APRIL 10, 2024

For callers, nothing is worse than having a dead space in a phone call, especially when you’re on the phone with a business. Silence signals that the business’ customer service representative either doesn’t care—or doesn’t know what they’re doing. Converting callers into customers is half art, half science.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Small Business Onboarding Purchasing 52

Ruby

JANUARY 18, 2023

The reality of owning a small business in today’s market Customer expectations may be evolving faster than the modern marketplace. As a small business owner in today’s climate, the better way to earn customer loyalty is by aligning your company’s social and environmental activities with its business purpose.

Small Business 52

Small Business Banking Influencing Food 52

Ruby

NOVEMBER 29, 2022

Every customer is different. But their expectations around customer service remain remarkably similar. Adding live chat to your small business website is one way to ensure your online visitors receive the same level of service, no matter where they are in their customer journey.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Sales Purchasing Small Business 52

Ruby

AUGUST 4, 2022

Other people assume I’m talking about customer service bots. Virtual receptionists are real human professionals who represent businesses live, over the phone. They’re customer service experts adept at things like active listening, de-escalation, and capturing opportunities. Or an auto dialer system.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Small Business Learning 52

Ruby

DECEMBER 11, 2023

Most small businesses need someone to answer phones, respond to customer questions, take messages, and route calls, as needed. In fact, many businesses can derive far more benefits from outsourcing to a virtual receptionist service provider. For starters, our agents are highly-trained customer service experts.

Payroll 52

Payroll Office Chairs Small Business Equipment 52

Ruby

NOVEMBER 17, 2023

Ever feel like the odds are against your small business? We’ve all seen the numbers showing that 65% of businesses fail in their first ten years. At Ruby, we’re on a continuing mission to help small businesses beat the odds and find the success that eludes so many. Customers are more demanding than ever.

Small Business 52

Small Business Problem-Solving Customer Service Training 52

Insperity

NOVEMBER 1, 2018

For example, a hospital may decide that caring customer service is a core value. A display of good customer service for an orderly may translate into walking a patient to the location of their next procedure, versus just giving them directions. So, what does that look like for different hospital employees? Manage growth.

Customer Service 259

Customer Service Training Communication Maintenance 259

Ruby

OCTOBER 3, 2023

million small businesses in America. If not—but you’re thinking about it—you need a solid business plan before doing anything else. Either way, you’ve probably got a good idea of where you want your business to go. That’s what a good business plan does for you. There are 33.2 Do you own one of them?

Planning 52

Planning Customer Service Small Business Delegation 52

Insperity

AUGUST 27, 2019

All things being equal (tasks, salary, working conditions), companies with consistent, reliable customer service are ultimately rooted in a culture where management values servant leadership. Stephen Covey, in his book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” said, “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”.

Leadership 253

Leadership Influencing Customer Service Controlling 253

Ruby

FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Like most owners, you’re too busy running your business—serving customers or clients, fulfilling orders, managing employees, and getting work done. Some companies have receptionists or customer service professionals on staff to pick up the phone (at least during business hours ). The best part?

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Small Business Sales 52