Customer Service vs. Sales

Good sales and customer service are really the same thing. When you attempt to make a sale you are offering a customer something they want or need. In customer service you are addressing a customer’s want or need. If you can serve your customer your customer will buy that service.

Unfortunately many companies look at this in a different way. They want their sales people to sell you on something instead of offering you a solution. Then many times it is taken a step further by asking customer service specialists to sell you something.

From my experience if you give service first the customer will give you the sale. If your customer likes you and trusts you they will tell you what you can offer them. If you know what to offer the sale is made for you.

Here are some things that you can do to let the customer
bring the sales to you.

1. Think service first. Let your customers tell you what
   they need.


2. Personalize. If a customer gives you pieces of personal information commit them to memory and bring them up later. This will help build trust.


3. Know your products. If you don’t know your products
   you can’t tell a customer how a product will fit their needs.

One thing I recommend is to keep a record. Use Excel or Access to keep track of every contact with a customer. You can make notes of personal information, and track purchases to anticipate future needs.

Buy Microsoft Office software here.