Good Customer Service - What is Considered Good Customer Service

Are you an owner of a small business? Are you in sales, a server at a restaurant, or deal with the public in another way? If so, then it is necessary that you know what good customer service is. For this article we will use the restaurant industry for the examples. You can relate it to your business as you need it.

Imagine this for a moment.....

You and your significant other go out to eat at a restaurant that is the new talk of the town. This restaurant just opened it's doors and is supposed to be the next big thing when it comes to service and food quality. So the two of you go out for dinner and you arrive at the restaurant already knowing that you have a reservation.

The host or hostess informs you that even though you have a reservation it is going to be a 15 minute wait.

STOP - So right off the bat they have broken a promise to you that was given when they took your reservation. When you make a reservation you do not expect to wait more than a minute or two because your table is supposed to be ready to go.

So, you wait and you finally get seated at your table. Now the restaurant is very busy and it takes your server almost 5 minutes to come to your table or acknowledge you in any way whatsoever.

STOP - Strike two has happened. Your server has to greet you in less than a minute your you will start to wonder. Five minutes is absolutely ridiculous and some people would actually get up and leave at this point. This is a sign that the dining experience is not going to be a good one. (For those that have offices the rule is you need to greet your customer within 30 seconds of them walking in your door.)

Your server takes a drink order and tells you about a few feature appetizers and you order one. Now they go away to give you time to look over the dinner menu and your drinks arrive in a timely manner. (It is very bad if they are sitting up at the bar and you can see them or if you know they should not take as long as they ar taking.)

Your server comes back and asks if you are both ready without making any recommendations for dinner and is a bit pushy to try to get your order.

STOP - This is very bad for any new business, especially a restaurant. It is important to WOW your customers right off the bat when running a new business and to do so you have to recommend a few things that are considered your best. When doing so you take control of the situation and you guide your customer into making a decision that is going to make them happy.

So this inadequate service goes on throughout the night and you and your significant other leave knowing that your food was very good, but the service was horrible. You will most likely tell friends of your experience and will most like not go back for quite a while if at all.

Most of the time you get one chance as a new business or with a new customer to give them good customer service. If you cannot do this the first time, then chances are you will not get a second chance. This even goes for businesses that have been around for many, many years.

Think of Twitter As a Mini Public Service Announcement

Twitter is good for non-profits because just like other distribution channels it helps people learn more about your organization. Your strategy for Twitter and other social networking media should be part of your public relations plan. Twitter can be used like a mini public service announcement.

You can use Twitter to alert the public of upcoming events. You can use it engage volunteers and ask for donations. Twitter can be used to update your organizations Facebook status. Yes, you can use this micro- blogging application to tell your organization's story in 140 characters are less.

Twitter is very easy to use you don't even have to get your Information Technology department involved.You can Twitter from your computer, laptop or mobile phone. If you Twitter from your phone you want to have a SMS package, because some cellular providers charge per SMS. Twitter is a lot like text messaging, because it is limited to only 140 characters.

How do you get started on Twitter? It's a fairly easy process. You sign up at the website http://www.Twitter.com. To sign up you need to have an email account. Select a username that represents your organization, then create a password. You can upload a picture to represent your organization. you can also change the background to a custom background for your organization. Complete the bio information on your profile page. Use this section to briefly state your organization's purpose.

On Twitter you have followers, those are the people who read your (tweets) messages. Twitter will help you get your first followers if you allow it to access your email contacts. It will check and see if your contacts are already on Twitter and allow you to automatically follow them. You also have to decide who you want to follow. It's best to follow people in your industry. " You also want to follow local media. Journalist use Twitter as a resource for stories. "Following" are the people who you are interested in reading about. You read there messages(tweets).

Start by publishing Tweeting) information about your organization's cause. Use hash-tags as key words or categories for your tweets. Use # follow friday to attract attention and gain more followers. Charity tuesday provides an opportunity for you to engage people

The best Twitter applications (tools) to aid with creating your brand or awareness are:
- Twitter backgrounds-select something that allows to make it your own.
- Twit pic- You can send pictures of events.
- Twitxr- Allows you to upload pictures using your mobile phone

Put Your Amateur Radio License to Good Use - Participate in a Public Service Event

OK, so you've passed your amateur radio exam and are waiting for your "ticket" (license). All that studying, cramming, and worrying are behind you. It's about this time that you start to ask yourself, "What do I do now?" Great question. Your first step is to consider the type of equipment to buy. That's something your Elmer (mentor) can help you with. (A link at the bottom takes you to a discussion of my equipment.) My focus here is to help you put your ham radio skills and enthusiasm to work for the betterment of your community.

One of the more rewarding ways is to get involved with a public service event. Most often a walk or bike ride, these events support the efforts of many fine organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, among others. It doesn't make sense for organizers to buy and maintain equipment for just a one-day event, so they turn to local amateur radio operators. "Hams" are happy to help out, particularly for the larger events.

How might you, a new ham radio operator, help? Each event needs operators at numerous points along the route. Hams provide extra sets of eyes, and help ensure a smooth operation. There are a number of areas to choose from:

1. Net control - The command center of all public service events, net control contains the "dispatchers" (net control operators) who keep all radio traffic flowing smoothly. Net operators tend to be more experienced; newer ones may assist with logging, monitoring the APRS system (similar to GPS), or other duties.

2. Aboard a SAG wagon - Support and Gear vehicles ride a predetermined route, looking for injured walkers/riders and broken bikes that are then transported to the appropriate location. You may also be asked to deliver supplies to a rest stop during the event. (Initial supplies are provided by event organizers.) With your radio, your vehicle can be dispatched as needed.

3. At a rest stop - This can be a more relaxing assignment. Ham radio operators stay in touch with the event volunteers on the scene, and stand ready to call in any needs. Occasionally you'll hear from someone with a broken bike or pooped walker/rider who wants a ride to the finish line.

4. With a Sentry Captain - Some rides employ Sentry Captains. These folks are assigned a particular route, and are responsible for the flag-carrying volunteers (sentries) you find along the route and at many intersections. The Sentry Captain rides the route continuously, making sure the sentries have sufficient water, munchies, and so forth. If you spot any walker or rider needing assistance, you call net control for help.

5. At an intersection - Some intersections are staffed by ham radio operators. Much like at the rest stops, you watch the crowd go by, and stand ready to call in assistance for a rider or walker.

As you can see, there are many opportunities during a charity walk or ride for you to put your amateur radio license and gear to good use. Although you need to get up early, and the morning can seem long, you will feel very satisfied afterward. You helped a worthwhile organization meet its fundraising goals, and in the process, you gave back something to your community.

Your Elmer should be able to help you get involved in public service. You can learn more at most ham radio club meetings and by monitoring the repeater nets. Have fun!