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Look After Your Customers – And They’ll Look After You!

First up as a little update, I would like to thank all those who linked to me in this week’s Group Writing Project on Problogger. I wrote a post called 5 Ways To Piss Off An Entrepreneur which was received very well. In total I had new commenters which I always love, and a whole load of pingbacks (7 in all). I noticed that quite a lot of people posted the whole list of 343 entries to their blogs, but I won’t do that!

Getting back to the topic in hand, on my weekly round through the blogosphere a while back, I commented on a particular bloggers post. He was fairly high profile (I won’t mention names, as in reality he is a nice guy) but after waiting for a few weeks I didn’t get a reply back. Now my comment wasn’t spam; it complimented his blog, blogging style and in the mix I asked him a few questions as well.

When I checked back on his blog a few days ago, I realised that someone else had commented after me in the same sort of admiring style to the author’s work. However, the author had written a reply to that person’s comment and had neglected mine without even thanking me for dropping by. Now, just so you know that I wasn’t being fussy, the same thing happened to me on someone else’s blog. It’s been driving me up the wall, and I wanted to talk about how (as a blogmaster) you should respond to commenters.Apple Logo

People don’t actually have to comment on your posts. For most of the time (bar the spammers) they do so out of kindness and generosity, and mostly always have nice things to say, humorous comments and great attitudes. In return for this, all it takes for you is to say at least 1 word, “Thankyou“. Being a good host is not only key for blogging and being on the internet but it relates directly to real life as well.

Most of the time, people pay for customer service and quality/class. Look at Apple. Although their iPods are way overpriced compared to the cheapy MP3 players you can get out there, and their rivals Zen, they still sell bucket loads more than their competitors and have the majority market share – but why is this? As well as having a flashy website which is easy to use, the word iPod means “class” in itself. Also, I happen to know that Apple have great customer interaction. Whilst their Warranty may be short, they live up to their word and I have known people who have got a brand new iPod for free to replace their 11 month old broken one. That’s brilliant!

Customer Service in shops and retail is just as important. Responding to the customer, creating a sense of bonding and trust can only help your cause. If this relationship can be established, you can also encourage repeat buying as your consumers know your work ethic and generous attitude to business. Now if the “high profile” blogger had responded to my comment, then maybe I would have taken him a lot seriously and my respect for him would have increased no doubt. I know I’m 1 in a few thousand for him daily, but it all adds up. Stay loyal to the people who have made you – your customers.

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