Tips, Tricks & Tirades
Deep Thoughts by Jeryl

Put It In The FAQ!
So why “Put It In The FAQ?” Well, I recently had an experience that prompted me to write this post. In fact, it really left me shaking my head over the whole thing. I loathe having to call Customer Service for anything unless I really have to – I’d much rather go to the company website and look up the answer myself in their FAQ section. read more…

4 Customer Service Strategies of Excellent Support Teams
Wikipedia defines customer service as “the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase.” Although that definition captures the essence of customer service, it lacks a few important elements.
I suggest a more complete definition: “Customer service is the act of meeting your customers’ needs through the provision of high quality support before, during and after the transaction. Good customer service adds more than just monetary value and helps build long-lasting customer relationships.

Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself!
Today I found myself guilty of violating one of my most important rules – to take care of myself. It happened so gradually that I barely noticed it. I’d started having a feeling in the back of my mind lately that something wasn’t quite right – my productivity was off, I was getting stressed out far too easily, things were NOT humming along, almost effortlessly, like they usually do. read more…

Why Wouldn’t You Want My Business? Like, Seriously?
I don’t know what happened to companies actually wanting your business, rather than turning you away, I really don’t. It’s something that I see more and more of and I just don’t get it.
This is the tale of a company (Company “A”) losing business and not even caring. It begins with my search for a task management system to use for a ginormous project that I’m overseeing for a client.
I’m working with a client who has a huge project that involves a lot of people and TONS of moving pieces. I am tasked with ensuring that everything goes smoothly, which involves making sure that all of the people on our end are doing what they need to be doing, that all of the people on many other ends are doing what they need to be doing, and that all of the things that need to be happening actually end up happening. You know, the usual day to day superhero kind of stuff. No problem, you just need to have the right tools. And this project is going to take some serious organizational tools.
And a cape. Yes, I need a cape. read more…

An Awesome Resource
While working with a client recently, I discovered a gem of a resource that they use and I was pretty blown away when I started interacting with them. It takes a lot to impress me, and even more for me to recommend someone to my peeps, so I had a “sit down” with them, in order to find out all about them, and then, after they impressed the hell out of me, to see if I could get a special deal for you guys. (Hint – I did!)

Does Anyone Remember When Service Didn’t Suck?
Sitting in the waiting room at the doctor’s office yesterday, way past my appointment time, of course, I started thinking about all the times this has happened. I don’t mind it once in awhile – one person with a big issue who needs extra time with the doctor can throw off the whole schedule, but if that person is having that much trouble, I certainly wouldn’t begrudge them the extra time or get upset with the doctor. So it happens sometimes, and I don’t sweat it at all, from a service standpoint.
It’s when it consistently happens with the same office that drives me bat-shit crazy.
read more…

Time to Stop Doing Everything Yourself!
PLEASE STOP DOING EVERYTHING YOURSELF!
It’s the beginning of the year, a time to start fresh, right? Right. So I’d like to give you a tip for your business. It’s nothing earth-shattering, nothing new or different, but it’s one of the most overlooked things out there and most people don’t do it. Are you ready for it? You’re sure? read more…
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