Tom Feltenstein

Many consumers today want to spend their money with companies who care about more than just profit. Cause marketing, as it is referred to, is when businesses and charities partner together to support a common cause. From pink ribbons to celebrity endorsements, cause marketing is rapidly becoming an integral part of our culture. Oscar Mayer, for instance, is offering people a chance to bid on eBay for a “Ride Shotbun in the Wienermobile” package.

(http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=128968).

The lucky winner gets to drive the giant wiener for a day, have a catered Oscar Mayer cookout for 50 and a year’s supply of the hot dogs.  Proceeds from the auction support Oscar Mayer’s “Good Mood Mission” to benefit the hunger-relief organization Feeding America.

Cause Marketing is an effective public relations strategy for your business, because anytime you help your local community you’re certain to reap the benefits of your good dead.  It also positions your business in a very favorable light with your customers and gives you an additional personal connection with them because most business owners pick a cause that they personally care about.  Whether this is a cancer charity or animal rights cause, you will soon find customers telling you their stories about how they are involved with that charity as well. It is a way to feel great and give back as a business owner and get your customers involved on a personal level which enhances their loyalty to your business.

What type of cause marketing have you been involved with or been inspired by?

Every time a customer has a bad experience with your business, they’re going to tell at least 10 people. Now add Facebook and Twitter to the mix, and those 10 people just turned into hundreds or thousands.

Social media is word of mouth on steroids — and it can kill your business. This new medium of exposure is here to stay, so why not use it to your best advantage and give your customers something good to talk about. Great customer service is one of the single most important aspects of a successful business.

Below are my Three Quick Tips to improve your customer service:

1.) Have a good attitude. If you don’t like what you do then it is going to show not only to your customers, but to your employees as well. So if you hate the hamburger business, sell your restaurant and do something else.

2.) Build relationships, not just sales. Making a connection with your customers is crucial to your success. People do business with people they like, so call your customers by name, take the time to learn about what they like, and show them that you value them as a person.   When I owned a chain of restaurants, I used to tell my employees: “You only need to remember two things about a customer: their name and one other thing about them.”

3.) Take action. Sweep your floors, keep your restrooms clean, and handle customer complaints. Being proactive gives you credibility and earns the trust of your customers. People are willing to pay for security, integrity, and proper treatment, but they shouldn’t have to. These should all be automatic. Make sure you give your customer the best experience possible. Don’t just meet their expectations, exceed them!

How do you provide extraordinary customer service?