20+ Examples Of Going Above And Beyond For A Customer
The best way to get more customers into your homestead business is to make your current customers’ experience with you amazing. When someone has an interaction or is simply impressed by something you did they will tell their friends. OR if you are on social they will talk way more excitedly in your comments and be chomping at the bit to buy from you. This in turn will get others excited.
Now this might seem scary or feel like it has to cost you loads of money to do. But it really doesn’t.
It can be as simple as having a clean and easy-to-access website with all the information that your customer could even need to know about your product. It can also be something like being willing to give answers to questions people have about the livestock you raise even though they may never buy from you.
When I was growing my rabbitry in the early days some of the most common things I would hear were “Thank you for getting back to me, so and so never responded.” or it had been months after the fact. — Just so you know being late to messaging is not the way to get customers. I’ll get to ways you can do that without spending your life in the DMs later.
While meeting customer expectations is important, going above and beyond to exceed them can truly set your homestead business apart from the rest.
Look at what other people are doing that sell the same product as you and do the opposite. You want to stand out and be different. Because that makes you memorable. And these ideas below are going to help have great customer service without hiring team members or a support team.
You can create a great service and make your customer feel taken care of even if you have little extra time.
Great Ideas To Go Above And Beyond For Your Customer
By surprising your customers with unexpected gestures, you not only build strong relationships but also foster customer loyalty. In this blog post, we will explore ten creative examples of how you can do more for your homestead business customers than they didn’t expect.
Personalized Thank-You Notes
A handwritten thank-you note is a simple yet impactful way to show gratitude to your customers. Take it a step further by personalizing each note with a thoughtful message that acknowledges their individual needs and expresses your genuine appreciation for their support.
Surprise Discounts or Coupons
Surprise your customers with unexpected discounts or exclusive coupons. These special offers not only make your customers feel valued but also encourage repeat business. Consider attaching them to order receipts or sending them via email as a delightful surprise.
Free Samples or Trial Products
Sending out free samples or trial products can be an excellent strategy to introduce new items or demonstrate the quality of your homestead business. This unexpected gesture allows customers to experience your offerings firsthand, generating excitement and potentially leading to future purchases.
Handmade Personalized Gifts
Create handmade, personalized gifts for your loyal customers. They don’t have to be expensive… you can find fun things on etsy or even make little packets of something else you make to give them. Going the extra mile is well worth the time of investment and the impressions you leave on people.
Social Media Shoutouts
Show appreciation to your customers by highlighting them on your social media platforms. The more you post the people’s pictures that they send you the more you will start to get updates after they get their product or animal. People love to see themselves on another person’s account. And if they have a small business or social account that you can tag it’s a win-win situation.
Share pictures or testimonials showcasing their positive experiences with your homestead business. Not only does this foster a sense of community, but it also helps to promote your brand to a wider audience especially if you tag them and they share it.
This also gives you extra content (called user-generated content) with very little extra work.
Surprise Upgrades
Surprise your customers with unexpected upgrades. For example, if you run a homestead bed and breakfast, offer a complimentary room upgrade upon arrival. This unexpected act of generosity will create a lasting impression and make your customers feel special.
Exclusive Events or Workshops
Have exclusive events or workshops, online classes, or even informative ebooks or printouts that specifically lean towards your customer’s needs around the product they are buying from your homestead business.
Offer them the opportunity to learn new skills or gain insights from industry experts. By providing valuable experiences beyond the transaction, you build stronger connections with your customer base.
Personalized Follow-Up Emails Or DMs
Some companies do this through follow-up calls on the phone but let’s be honest a lot of people would think this is weird millennials don’t want to answer a phone call. You can do the same through text, social direct message, or through email. And if you like tech you can even set it up to go out automatically still creating a happy customer in the end wich is the goal.
Inquire about their satisfaction with your products or services and address any concerns they may have. This direct, personal touch demonstrates your commitment to their satisfaction and opens the door for valuable feedback.
Surprise Deliveries or Additions
Surprise your customers by including unexpected additions in their deliveries. For example, if you sell homemade jams, add a complimentary jar of a new flavor for them to try. This unexpected gesture will not only surprise and delight your customers but also encourage them to explore more of your offerings.
Support a Cause
Demonstrate your homestead business’s commitment to social responsibility by supporting a cause your customers care about. Donate a portion of your profits to a local charity or organize fundraising events. By aligning your brand with a meaningful cause, you show your customers that you are more than just a business – you are an active member of the community.
Ideas To Have A Great Customer Experience
Like I mentioned before sometimes excellent customer service can be something that helps you AND your customer because it is things that make both your lives easier and smoother. Now I am a tech lover and anything I can do that makes things somewhat automatic or fully automated gets me all excited.
And when you are doing things that make your customer go “oh wow” or “that’s cool” they are going to remember you for a lifetime.
Here are ten ways to enhance your customer’s experience and streamline their journey from discovering your homestead business to the checkout process:
User-Friendly Website
Ensure your website is easy to navigate, visually appealing, and mobile-responsive. Optimize it for fast loading speeds and provide clear menus to help customers find the information they need quickly.
This is another way to stand out. Homesteaders and people who raise animals are notorious for having outdated websites and honestly lacking in information. But more than that the design is pretty poor. My website is the #1 way I get customers just for my rabbitry.
Having a nice theme like these from Restored316 is going to take your WordPress site to the next level.
Engaging Content
Create informative and engaging content on your website, such as blog posts, tutorials, or videos, that provide value to your customers. This will show your authority and build trust in your homestead business.
Having content that helps people is also a show of goodwill. Even if people don’t need to buy from you know they will remember you and come back to you later. Don’t be boring or clinical in your content, tell a good story that goes with the content if you can. Have images that help demonstrate the point you are trying to make.
The best way to get ideas for content is to listen to the question you get most often and start creating content that gives a full and spisific answer to questions people ask you. So when they DM you that question you can give them a simple answer to that question but then refer people to that content any time you are asked. Because sometimes questions need long answers and you are going to be able to serve them better with full answers in long-form content.
It’s not cheating if you are providing what a customer needs. You are providing a good service by making that content available to them. Having this content helps you exceed the customer’s expectations by giving them al the information they need and saves you from spending the extra effort typing out the same answer 500 times.
Clear Product Descriptions
Provide detailed and accurate descriptions of your products or services. Include key features, benefits, and any relevant information to help customers make informed purchasing decisions.
High-Quality Product Images
This might not seem that important but people are highly visual and anything you can do to give someone a good visual picture of your product or what life is like with your product it will pay off in ways you will never know.
Use high-resolution, WELL-LIT, images that showcase your products from different angles. Clear, visually appealing photos will give customers a better understanding of what they can expect, increasing their confidence in making a purchase.
People who raise livestock are BAD at this. Rabbits especially.
Take the animal outside, have a good background, and don’t have the light source behind the animal or thing you are taking pictures of. If the color is bad adjust the saturation or contrast while still keeping the color of the product looking as natural as possible.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
Display genuine customer reviews and testimonials on your website. Positive feedback builds trust and credibility, helping potential customers feel more confident about choosing your homestead business.
Any time you get a good comment on social media or in your inbox take a screenshot of it. Upload it to canva and block out the person’s information like their image or name and email. Then put it on your website or on the pages that people will be visiting to decide if they should buy from you.
Easy Contact Information Access
Clearly display your contact information on your website, email addresses, and links to social media accounts. Make it easy for customers to reach out to you with any inquiries or concerns. – Especially if this is how they pay you.
Remember it is ok to have “office hours” even if it’s only you running things. I used to get calls at 9 or 10 o’clock at night of people just asking questions or wanting care advice. I am totally up for helping you but not at this time of night. Some people just don’t think.
BUT having the times you will respond back to any type of contact you are setting your customer’s expectations so they aren’t thinking they will get a response in 24hrs.
Responsive Customer Support
This can be hard especially when you are the customer service team. Just like I said in the last tip be clear about when they can expect a response from you because emotions are high. It’s not a matter of if but when you are going to end up with a difficult customer.
The best thing you can do:
- Remains calm.
- Respond as quickly as you can without stressing out.
- OWN the problem IF it truly was your goof up.
If the issue was caused by the customer you need to think about what you are willing to do ahead of time BUT do not put it out there on your website. We unfortunately live in a world where people try to take advantage and when it comes to physical products or live animals you have to think of the animal first.
When you raise animals there are going to be people who choose not to listen to your care advice and I fully believe it is not on you to fix a problem they caused. (BUT this is where you have to be EXTREMELY over informative. You have to tell them every single thing they need to know even if they don’t seem like they need it.)
Streamlined Checkout Or Deposit Process
Simplify the checkout process by minimizing the number of steps required to complete a purchase. Implement an efficient and user-friendly shopping cart system that allows customers to review their order, enter shipping details, and make secure payments smoothly.
Multiple Payment Options
Offer a variety of payment methods to accommodate different customer preferences. Include options like credit/debit cards, PayPal, mobile wallets, or any other popular payment gateways to ensure a seamless transaction experience.
I used to only have Paypal for people to send their deposits for livestock but eventually started hearing more about venmo and the cash app. You don’t have to have all of the different options but the easier you make it for people to pay you the more likely you are going to make the sale.
Order Tracking and Communication
Provide real-time order tracking and regular updates to keep customers informed about the status of their purchases. This is a little harder when it comes to animals but I try my best to send at least one update in between the time the person has chosen the rabbit they want and the time they leave. If they are not overly demanding or constantly asking for things I will send them a second update. (Rewards for good behavior)
If possible send automated order confirmation emails, shipping notifications, and delivery updates to enhance transparency and customer satisfaction.
By going above and beyond for your homestead business customers, and creating a great impression, you create memorable experiences that leave a lasting impact on their MIND. <– This is huge!
From personalized notes to surprise upgrades, these examples will hopefully provide inspiration for exceeding customer expectations. Implementing these ideas will not only differentiate your business but also cultivate strong customer loyalty and propel your homestead business to the next level.
You don’t have to do all of these at once. Choose the one that you can implement the quickest and that will have the best impact on your paying customers to create a better level of service. This will start the ball rolling on your current customers and start building word of mouth for your homestead business and help you get new customers from the ones that you are currently working with.
Remember, continuously seek feedback from your customers and adapt your processes based on their suggestions. By optimizing every step of the customer journey (the process they go through to find you all the way through paying you) in different ways, you can create a seamless experience that keeps customers coming back AND recommending you to the people they know.
