Myths about Reviews on WOMO – Part 2

This is part 2 of a 3-part series where we will be dispelling three common misconceptions that businesses have about reviews on WOMO.

Myth 2: Once the review is written, there’s nothing I can do

Following our previous article where we busted the myth that anyone can write a review for a business on WOMO.com.au, the second common misconception that many businesses have is that once a review is written about their business, there’s nothing they can do about it.

Again, this is not the case!  For starters, all reviews on WOMO need to comply with our Fair Play Policy (which you can see here). So if there’s anything written in the review that you know is factually incorrect (i.e the pricing), or if you believe that the review is not from a paying customer, you can flag the review as being Suspect or Inappropriate and we will temporarily suspend the review and contact the customer to confirm the details in their review (in some cases we will require proof of purchase).

In situations where businesses receive an unfavourable review from a paying customer and their review complies with our Fair Play Policy (keep in mind that less that 7% of reviews on WOMO are negative), businesses can comment publicly on the review or send a private message to the reviewer (so long as the review was not submitted Anonymously). To do this, all you need to do is Claim Your Listing by clicking on the “Is this your business” link.

Reviews are not a one-way communication! Commenting on the review publicly is a fantastic way to explain your side of the story. It also gives you the opportunity to show potential customers who have stumbled across this review that you’re a business who is not only aware of customer feedback online but you’re also very concerned about providing good customer service.

Click here for more tips on how to respond to negative reviews and what not to write publicly!

Fact: Businesses have a right to reply to all reviews on WOMO. You can query aspects of a review that are factually incorrect and can also leave comments to demonstrate how you handle things when they go wrong.

See Myth 1 here: It’s not fair because anyone can leave a review for my business

New Survey Reveals: Top 5 Things Customers want from Businesses

It might come as a surprise for some businesses to hear that when it comes to choosing a business, customers look for more than the cheapest price. In a recent survey conducted by Word Of Mouth Online, we asked our members to comment on the customer service they receive from Australian businesses. Based on these responses, we’ve come up with the Top 5 things customers want from a business:

1. Please…. Listen to us

Taking the time to engage and speak to the customer goes a long way and might be better than a quick sale. One WOMO user goes on to say:

“I may not buy something the first time I visit your business, but if you treat me with politeness and respect then I’ll remember you when I DO need something, and I’ll come back.”

When customers are describing their problem or explaining what they’re looking for, they can immediately sense when somebody is just waiting for a break in the conversation so they can start their sales pitch. To really listen to the needs and wants of the customer, you must briefly forget your goals and think about the customer. If you can solve their problem, then you’ve reached your goals.

2. Value our loyalty

Remember, it cost five times more to acquire a new customer than it does to retain an existing one, so make sure you remember your best customers – those are the people who have helped you get to where you are right now!

Showing loyalty to your customers doesn’t have to be a big thing. It might be inviting them to try new products or something as simple as sending them a personalised message thanking them for their support. For customers who have left you a review, reply publicly and show them how grateful you are for their support!

3. Make it easy for us to contact you

Customers understand that if you’re a sole trader or have a small team, it might be hard for them to reach you the first time round. If people leave messages, make sure you call back within a reasonable amount of time – within 24 hours at the most (just don’t make promises you can’t keep!) Try to offer multiple ways to ways for them to contact you – by phone, email, social media, or live chat. 

4. We want to deal with friendly staff

An overwhelming number of WOMO users highlight poor staff attitude as a big turn off when choosing a business. There is nothing more discouraging than speaking to a staff member that clearly doesn’t want to be there. Keep in mind, the problem can be easily resolved by the customer – they’ll just go to one of your competitors. 

“You can have the best business or product but if your staff are horrible or miserable they generally ruin it for your customers.”

5. Be accountable and apologise for mistakes

Make sure the business has set up clear and easy to understand policies on how to manage customer complaints. Remember “Customer Service is not a Department, it is everyone’s job”, so all staff need to know how to manage complaints. Take responsibility for any problems a customer has and focus on resolving the problem. As one WOMO user says:

“We are all human so mistakes are inevitable, but if the owner/manager owns up to it and genuinely apologises and commits to addressing it, the chances of it happening again are reduced (eg. improving processes, improving training etc)…”

When it comes down to it, there’s one thing that keeps a business running, it’s the customers. If you can provide customers with what they want and put them first, as Krock said, “Success will be yours!”

Do your staff put customers off?

In a recent survey conducted by Word Of Mouth Online, we asked our members to comment on the customer service they receive from Australian businesses. An overwhelming number of respondents highlight the attitude and demeanour of staff members as a factor on whether they will use the business again.

One member goes on to say:

“A smile goes a long way, nothing bugs me more than a rude or unhappy staff member. I get we all have bad days but some staff members really can ruin the whole experience.”

Another believes that “the biggest turn off for a customer is dealing with staff members who quite obviously don’t give a damn. Customers that visit stores, obviously are choosing not to use the online service that is readily available, and are actively choosing customer service over cheaper prices. However, the attitude of staff members (many of whom are usually “too busy” gossiping with other staff, or “pretending to be busy”) that regard you as a “nuisance” makes you wonder why you bothered in the first place!”

But it’s not just rude and unpleasant staff members that customers find off-putting. Many find the “lack of product knowledge is a big turn off”, especially since customers can find most of the information they want online, with over 78% of all purchases starting with an online search.

“Product knowledge is a vital selling point, as I always do a lot of research to understand what I am purchasing is what I’m am looking for or how does it works, or interacts with other products that I already have at home,” says a WOMO reviewer.

So if the success of your business is dependent on your staff members, what should you do? A WOMO reviewer puts it candidly:

“Pay peanuts, get monkeys [sic]. Look after your staff and train them well. Hire for ability, not looks or how cheap they are. Well treated staff work harder because they care about what they’re doing”.

Good customer service all comes down to the person providing it and businesses need to ensure that the staff members aren’t just selling a product or service, but an experience with the business. Businesses need to look at building a culture based on providing good customer service and focus on rewarding staff based on customer service outcomes. Providing feedback on how staff can improve, but also commending them when they’ve done good work builds their confidence, and staff who are encouraged by your support will look to work harder. When a business gets a new positive review, congratulate your team for making that happen! If someone was named in the review because of the service they provided to customer, reward them! 

“Customer service goes hand in hand with treating your staff well. If someone has [sic] been crapped on at work and shouted at to get the job done, they will definitely [sic] pass it on to the customer e.g. bad service, bad manners.”

When it comes to setting a benchmark for customer service, managers and owners need to lead from the front and illustrate to their staff how to build relationships and engage with their customers. Sometimes the best training for staff is to lead by example, and really demonstrate that customer service is the number one priority.

Myths about Reviews on WOMO – Part 1

This is part 1 of a 3-part series where we will be dispelling three common misconceptions that businesses have about reviews on WOMO.

Myth 1: It’s not fair because anyone can leave a review for my business

The number of internet users reading online reviews has risen dramatically in recent years. In fact, a recent Nielsen survey found that 78% of people trust consumer recommendations above all other types of advertising and marketing.

Businesses understand the power and impact of consumer reviews on their brand, so it’s not surprising that some of them worry that the nature of being online means that anyone and everyone can review their business.

This is definitely not the case! At WOMO.com.au, the integrity of reviews is extremely important and only customers who have paid for a product or service can review a business. (All reviews on WOMO also needs to comply with our Fair Play Policy which you can see here).

Customers who call up for a quote but weren’t happy with the pricing cannot review a business. Those who walk into a store but do not purchase anything also cannot leave a review for the shop.  And in situations where a business has to turn down a job, that customer cannot go onto WOMO and write a review for the business. We understand that not every business is the right choice for every customer. (But we also believe that once a business takes on a customer, they have a responsibility to provide a good level of service.)

Fact: Only customers who have paid for a product or service can review a business.

If you’re concerned about fake negative reviews, we have many measures in place to protect businesses from suspicious reviews, which you can read about here!

5 Things You Should Never Say to a Customer

Managing customer complaints can be extremely challenging (that may just be the under-statement of the year). Unless you want to dig yourself in deeper, there are several things that you definitely should NOT say to customers. It’s easy to find yourself uttering something which will only worsen the situation, so take our advise and don’t do this.

Here are 5 things NOT to say to customers:

1. “You’re wrong”

It’s true, the customer is not always right, sometimes, they are clearly wrong. That being said, you should never tell them that they’re wrong – it will only escalate the situation.

Instead say: “I’m really sorry you feel that way” or “I’m sorry, it’s certainly not our usual way of operating to do that here” and try resolving the issue while not telling them explicitly that they’re wrong.

2. “It’s not our fault”

Similar to the first point, the customer is not always right but that doesn’t mean the business are not able to solve the customers problem.  Telling them that it’s not the business’ fault is little comfort to them and instead will make them feel that if it’s not your fault, then it’s their fault.

Instead say: “What seems to have happened is…. but I’ll see if we can resolve the situation by…” and move on from who’s at fault and focus on providing a solution.

3. “There’s nothing I can do. It’s out of my hands”

Even if that is true, businesses should never say this to a customer because it shuts down discussion. You’re essentially telling the customer that you’re finished and that there is no amendable solution.

What’s important to realise is that you may be finished with the customer, but they’re not done with you. An angry customer doesn’t stop feeling angry when you tell them there’s nothing you can do. Their problem still exists. The likely outcome is that they will leave feeling disgruntled and even more annoyed then when they first contacted the business. They then talk to others, and given that most consumers are now internet-savvy, they share their experiences online too.

Instead say: “I wish I could be more help, but what I can do in this situation is…”; again focus on providing a solution (or at least demonstrating that you’ll go out of your way to help this customer).

4. “I don’t know”

Fair enough, not everyone in a business is going to know everything. That being said, someone in the business should be able to answer the customer’s question. Simply saying that you don’t know isn’t an adequate answer – find someone who does know (or look it up – that’s what Google is for!).

Instead say: “I’m not sure, but I’ll find out for you.”

5. “It’s [someone or something else]’s fault”

Passing on the blame to someone else or another department in the business is not going to help the customer. The customer isn’t going to feel any better that they know it’s not specifically your fault, they just want someone to help them and own the problem.

Instead say: “It sounds like you’ve been given the run around” or “I think the best way forward is…” or even better, “I will personally take this on and ensure that it gets rectified.”

When you’re looking for easy tips on how to provide good customer service, sometimes knowing what not to say is sometimes just as important as knowing what to say.