Excellent customer engagement increases sales and loyalty. Many businesses use technology to keep customers engaged, but you don’t have to use it to keep up with them. If you don’t understand technology well, you can engage your customers in person. These tips will help you effectively talk to anyone who visits your store. Remember that this blog post provides general advice for stores in America. Your customers’ preferences will depend on their cultural background. You know your community better than anyone else. Try out the methods you think will work and change them to suit your customers’ needs. If you live in a diverse neighborhood, you might have to use different strategies for different people. Here are four tips to get you started.
1. Greet Your Customers
When a customer enters your store, greeting them makes them feel welcome. It also lets them feel more comfortable asking for help when they need it. A customer might not always know where you are when they first come in. Even a quick hello gives them a good idea of where to find an employee. Try changing your greetings based on different customers. If you see someone who visits on a regular basis, call them by name or say welcome back.
2. Talk About Community News
Have basic conversations with your customers that they understand. Talking about news and events in the community lets them know you care about their neighborhood. Telling them to stay warm in the winter or cool in the summer helps them understand you want them to be comfortable. You could even keep track of any road or public transport closings nearby and tell your customers about them.
3. Use Positive Language
Customers respond better to positive responses, especially when they have a concern. Try to avoid using words like can’t, or don’t. Replace them with language that shows you want to fix the problem. For example, if you don’t take returns, let them know about other ways you can help them solve the issue. Look at these other examples:
Let me find out. instead of I don’t know.
Do you need any more help? instead of Is that all?
Have you tried this alternative item? instead of We don’t have that item.
This strategy might take some practice — especially if you’re not a native English speaker. To make it less overwhelming, try changing your language a little bit at a time.
4. Create Chances to Help
Some customers don’t feel comfortable asking employees questions. To make it easier for them, give them a chance to get assistance. When you see a customer shopping, ask them if they need help finding anything. If that method feels too pushy for you, ask them if they found everything they needed when they check out. You could also tell them about your sales if they buy an item that has a current deal.
Get More Time to Focus on Customers
A point of sale system saves you time on managing your store numbers and on checking out customers. The National Retail Solutions POS+ system gives users more time to pay attention to their customers. Request a quote for pricing information or buy it online.
