5 ways to make People Happy

5 ways to make People Happy:

Your business success depends on how well you build positive relationships with customers. If you can make them happy, you'll keep them coming back.

1. Be honest. Many people have been conditioned to expect an evasive or equivocal response from companies. If customers ask how your service differs from that of competitors, give an honest and straightforward answer.

2. Let them talk. People enjoy talking about themselves; your customers are no exception. Ask questions not just about their real estate goals, but about their family, profession, and hobbies. Pay attention to how much of the time you talk compared with the time your customer talks. If you find that you're talking too much, make an effort to ask more questions and listen.

3. Show you care. Thoughtful acts say a great deal about who you are. Record the names of customers' children, pets, or birthdays and use the information when asking how their family is doing or to send a card. E-mail them a news article about their favorite band or send recipe you think they'd like.

4. Be persistent (but not aggressive). Do you know whether your customers think your actions are aggressive? If they perceive you as being too pushy, they may back away from doing business with you. Rather than guess, simply ask them how often they want you to contact them and what time of the day they'd like to be reached.

5. Don't break your word. If you tell customers that you'll e-mail them the next morning with a new batch of home listings, follow through. If you say that you'll always return their call within an hour, do it. People never forget a broken promise.

Source: Jerry Acuff, The Relationship Edge in Business: Connecting with Customers and Colleagues When it Counts (John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2004).