How vital is the customer service you provide? Good customer service can be one of the most crucial things a company can focus on. And with the global customer experience management market expected to be worth $32.53 billion by 2029, it’s big business.
In this digital era, how you deliver customer experience is a significant factor too. Customers want to connect in a way that suits them, and organizations that offer omnichannel customer service will stand out from those that don’t. After all, you already know the benefits of omnichannel marketing.
Just what is customer service, though? And what different types other businesses use that you should consider integrating into your customer service model?
Content:
- What is customer service?
- Different types of customer service you should be using
- Call center
- Email support
- Live chat
- Self-service
- Social media customer service
- The takeaway
What is customer service?
Customer service is the support a business provides at every stage of a customer’s journey. This could include answering queries about the benefits of a product or service before a customer has made a purchase or offering after-sales support when the customer uses your product. Customer service can also include support given to your partners, sponsors, and clients.

Today, customer service is more than the old-fashioned idea of simply solving problems. It includes proactive and timely customer support, usually on the customer’s preferred channel. What’s more, customer service agents have taken on the dual role of being customer advocates and brand ambassadors, ensuring customers have a positive experience at every touchpoint, from the website to social media.
Different types of customer service you should be using
So, you know how important good customer service is and how it can lead to good reviews and better brand loyalty, thus better customer retention rates. Get it wrong, and your brand could suffer.
Discover some of the most popular challenges in customer service and how to handle them.
Research shows that 50% would switch to a competitor after only one bad experience. Of course, those are situations you want to avoid. So, what different types of customer service should you provide to ensure customer satisfaction?
Call center
This is one of the oldest types of customer service available outside the traditional in-person customer service. However, the modern version has evolved far beyond the early PABXs (private automatic branch exchange) of the 1960s. Talk support, whether over the phone or internet telephony service, continues to have the highest satisfaction ratings at 91%.
Of course, there are drawbacks to this type of customer support, as it can be costly. But the evolution of cloud-based virtual contact center software has made it a more affordable option for smaller businesses. Moreover, with software that can prompt agents and detect negative (or positive) tones of voice, combining technology and a human voice can be a real winner.

A human agent can empathize when a customer has problems and solve the issue as quickly as possible. With VoIP systems offering a range of features such as call forwarding and call waiting, modern call centers can often avoid the problems that used to exist, such as long queues.
Email support
Email remains a popular choice, especially for people who don’t need an immediate answer or don’t have time to use other channels. It can be efficient as customers can attach files such as an image or video of their issue, or you can send documents, such as a sponsorship proposal template.
It is also very cost-effective. Even when a response isn’t immediately forthcoming, you can automate responses so that a customer is notified that you have received their query and are looking into the issue.

It can be a valuable method for businesses, giving them time to appraise the problem and seek an effective solution. It also means you can personalize any response and make the customer feel more valued. However, despite the opportunities afforded to companies by using emails for customer service, a staggering 62% of businesses never reply to customer service emails.
Your agents may struggle if they receive a considerable amount of emails. It’s worth looking into automated systems that can help your agents be more efficient and improve customer satisfaction levels. If a customer receives a notification that their query is being dealt with, they are less likely to be impatient at having to wait for a solution.
Live chat
While most people think of live chat as the “new kid on the block,” it’s been around for over two decades. It is becoming increasingly popular due to its accessibility and quick responses. In fact, 51% of customers would buy again from a company that offered live chat on their website. So, it is something you should be looking at including in your customer service provision.
Live chat is a convenient way for customers to ask questions, but it also helps your agents. While a customer service agent can only deal with one customer at a time on the phone, they can chat with multiple customers at the same time with live chat.

It also means your agents can be proactive. If they sense a customer is having issues or is about to leave the site, they can attempt to start a conversation to offer support.
As with any form of customer service, there can be challenges, and being aware of them can help you mitigate those problems. A major challenge is that many customers feel replies and pitches are too scripted, so try and make messages sound natural. Another potential issue is mobile device optimization; if you’re going to provide a live chat service, ensure it works well on all mobile devices.
Self-service
Keep in mind that customers do not always need to contact your agents. There is a big emphasis on allowing customers to help themselves, with 78% of business leaders investing more in self-service options. Self-service can take different forms. You may include a knowledge base section on your website with FAQs or even how to videos relating to specific products or processes.
You can also include chatbots like PandaBot below, which guide customers with automated options and solutions. Some businesses also develop community forums where customers can exchange knowledge and advise on how to solve common problems. One of the great things about self-service is that the customer can access the info they need 24/7, and it doesn’t come at a huge cost to your business.

If you operate a global business, you can also translate resources into different languages. However, you need to be aware that customer self-service requires regular maintenance so that the information is relevant and updated as and when you add new products or services.
Social media customer service
With some 4.76 billion people using social media, it’s no surprise that this is an increasingly crucial area where you should be providing customer service. It is part of recognizing that people have preferences when it comes to channels of communication. By responding to questions or comments quickly, you can improve the customer experience and defuse potentially damaging scenarios, protecting your brand image.

Customer service on social media is not just providing an answer to a question; it’s about monitoring comments on your posts as well as mentions of your brand or products across different platforms. Even thanking a customer for a positive comment can enhance your brand reputation. You can also use automation and technology to enhance your customer service; it’s easy to create social media chatbots for platforms like Instagram.
Review some tips and use cases for customer service chatbots on social media.
The problem with social media, especially for smaller businesses, is that it can be difficult to keep track of every comment. If a customer has a complex issue, then it may also be hard to provide a comprehensive answer via social media. If that does happen, you should ask the customer if they have another channel they would prefer communicating on.
The takeaway
Customer service is an integral part of a successful business. Happy customers are more likely to be loyal and put in a good word for your company.
But customer service also extends to partners and clients. Besides maintaining strong relationships and clear lines of communication, being professional and showing that you value your clients can make all the difference. Whether you are sending documents such as a template for consulting agreement or a corporate gift, recognizing the different needs of your customers, clients, and business is the foundation of good customer service.
In this omnichannel era, you have to acknowledge the preferences of your customers. Some are going to prefer talking to a real person; others will choose to help themselves, while some may prefer to communicate by email. Providing efficient customer service via their preferred channels and methods will go a long way in improving customer satisfaction.
One thing that can help your agents is an efficient customer relationship management (CRM) system. Knowing top CRM trends and how to use them to your advantage will help improve the overall customer experience. With an increasing variety of tools available today, it’s never too late to create a customer service strategy that meets all your customers’ needs and leads to success.
FAQs
What are the 5 most important things in customer service? ›
- Persuasive Speaking Skills. Think of the most persuasive speaker in your organisation. ...
- Empathy. ...
- Adaptability. ...
- Ability to Use Positive Language. ...
- Clear Communication Skills. ...
- Self-Control. ...
- Taking Responsibility. ...
- Patience.
- Be Genuine: Personalize the Conversation. ...
- Be Accountable: Don't Pass the Buck. ...
- Be Empathetic: Listen, Acknowledge, Validate & Apologize. ...
- Be Innovative: Provide Solutions. ...
- Be Trustworthy: Never Make Impossible Promises.
- Functionality. Customers need your product or service to function the way they need in order to solve their problem or desire.
- Price. Customers have unique budgets with which they can purchase a product or service.
- Convenience. ...
- Experience. ...
- Design. ...
- Reliability. ...
- Performance. ...
- Efficiency.
- Phone. Telephone support is typically seen as a traditional support offering by most companies. ...
- Live Chat. ...
- Email. ...
- Social Media. ...
- Video-Assisted. ...
- Self-Service.
- Live chat support. ...
- Email support. ...
- Self-service support. ...
- Interactive voice support. ...
- Social media support. ...
- Web commerce support. ...
- On-site support. ...
- Telephone support.
Read on to learn about what we think of as the “5 R.U.L.E.S. of Working in Customer Service”: Remember to Listen, Use Good Tools, Leadership Leads, Engage Your Agents, and Swift Service Saves.
What are the 5 A's in customer service? ›Philip Kotler, the five stages (Awareness, Appeal, Ask, Act and Advocacy) allow marketing and sales professionals to create a map of the customer's needs and priorities during the different parts of their purchase process.
What are the 5 es of customer experience? ›The 5 Es is a map of the five stages that customers go through – Entice, Enter, Engage, Exit, and Extend. It's a tool that we've developed is based on the 5 Es of Customer Journey.
What is an example of successful customer service? ›Some other examples of great customer service include: Remembering someone's regular order as a barista. Sending out a survey after making a product change, to see what your customers really think. Staying beyond your shift to help deal with a customer's enquiry.
What are the 5 customer service characteristics that customers use to evaluate service quality? ›The five service quality dimensions are tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy.
What is a successful customer service? ›
What is great customer service? Great customer service means following best practices like valuing customers' time, having a pleasant attitude, and providing knowledgeable and resourceful resources, but that you also take things a step further to exceed — rather than just meet — expectations.
What are the 5 steps model for creating and managing customers value? ›- Step 1: Understand what drives value for your customers. ...
- Step 2: Understand your value proposition. ...
- Step 3: Identify the customers and segments where are you can create more value relative to competitors. ...
- Step 4: Create a win-win price. ...
- Step 5: Focus investments on your most valuable customers.
Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory of motivation which states that five categories of human needs dictate an individual's behavior. Those needs are physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs.
What are the 4 key factors in providing great customer service? ›There are four key principles of good customer service: It's personalized, competent, convenient, and proactive. These factors have the biggest influence on the customer experience.
What are the 5 functions of channel members in marketing? ›Marketing channels perform the following generic functions: collecting market information, stimulating demand, carrying inventory, physically distributing products, supporting transactions, and providing after-sale service. Some of these functions are straightforward; but several merit a few words of explanation.
What are the 4 types of communication customer service? ›There are four types of unique communication styles that almost everyone falls into: passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive, and assertive. Most of the people that you speak with every day, customers and coworkers alike, will fall into one of these four categories.
What are the 7 qualities of good customer service? ›- 1- Maximize your Interactiveness. ...
- 2- Collect the maximum of Feedback. ...
- 3- Create a Good Exposure. ...
- 4- Build Inclusiveness. ...
- 5- Be the Top of Mind in Communication. ...
- 6- Have Transparency. ...
- 7- Always Do More than Expected.
It's okay to empathise with the customer — in fact, it's a key component of great service — but keep it as upbeat as you can. Steer the conversation toward a positive outcome with use positive language. Focus on the solution. Thank customers for their patience, understanding, and valued loyalty.
What does 5 * customer service mean to you? ›“Customer service means going above and beyond to keep the customer happy, whether that means answering any questions they have or resolving issues with a positive attitude. Customer satisfaction is the top priority, and hopefully creating loyal, returning customers.”
What is 5 the term customer defined under? ›Customer definition: A customer is a person or business that buys goods or services from another business. Customers are crucial because they generate revenue. Without them, businesses would go out of business.
What is the 5 by 5 rule in business? ›
The idea behind the 5-by-5 rule is pretty straightforward. If something won't matter five years down the line, don't bother wasting more than five minutes obsessing over it.
What are the 5 levels of customer engagement? ›There are five stages of customer engagement, Discover, Shop, Buy, Own, and Advocate.
What are the 5 components of experience? ›Schmitt (1999 in Tsaur et al, 2006) proposed five components of experiences: SENSE, FEEL, THINK, ACT, RELATE, four of which appear to be similar to Pine and Gilmore's realms of experiences.
How do you create a 5 star customer experience? ›- Give your customer service team more information. ...
- Respond to customer feedback. ...
- Admit when you are wrong. ...
- Encourage personal development. ...
- Creatively and proactively problem solve.
The 5 main causes of poor customer service include hiring the wrong people, lack of training, employee burnout, misunderstanding customer expectations, and lack of employee engagement.
What are three examples of good customer service? ›- Greet the customer warmly. ...
- Take customer complaints as learning opportunities. ...
- Find opportunities to excite your customers. ...
- Accommodate your customers. ...
- Offer prompt customer support. ...
- Ask for feedback. ...
- Offer personalised knowledge.
Essentially, the 3 important qualities of customer service center around three “p”s: professionalism, patience, and a “people-first” attitude. Although customer service varies from customer to customer, as long as you're following these guidelines, you're on the right track.
What is good customer and excellent customer service? ›What is good customer service? Great customer service means meeting customer expectations—from interacting with customers over messaging channels because they expect convenience to investing in your knowledge base because they expect to find answers on their own.
What are the 5 common sense principles that could significantly improve service? ›On the basis of these empirical findings, we consolidated the criteria customers use to evaluate service quality into five dimensions: tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy.
What are the 5 main characteristics that differentiate services from products? ›- Intangibility: Services cannot generally be seen, tasted, felt, heard or smelt before being bought. ...
- Inseparability: ...
- Variability: ...
- Perishability: ...
- Heterogeneity: ...
- Lack of ownership:
What makes the best customer service? ›
The basis of great customer service is knowledge of products and services offered, a positive attitude, and personalized communication with the customer. Valuing customer time, being empathetic, providing competent resources, and exceeding customer expectations are key aspects of great customer service.
What makes a customer successful? ›Customer success is focused on working proactively in partnership with customers over throughout their time as a customer to help them get more value out of their purchase and share their feedback with you. It drives the customer experience forward and ensures a successful path into the future.
What are the 5 core elements of effective customer success management? ›Conclusion. So these are the five key pieces to customer success. Onboarding success, product success, customer success, company success, and team success. These 5 key aspects to customer success need an ideal focus and attention if you are to ensure your company's present and future success.
What are the 5 business to customer business model? ›What Are the 5 Types of Business-to-Consumer Models? Typically, B2C models fall into the following five categories: direct sellers, online intermediaries, advertising-based B2C, community-based, and fee-based.
What are the five A's of the customer journey? ›Philip Kotler, the five stages (Awareness, Appeal, Ask, Act and Advocacy) allow marketing and sales professionals to create a map of the customer's needs and priorities during the different parts of their purchase process.
What are the 5 determinants of consumer behavior? ›The factors influencing consumer behaviour can seem endless and impossible to pin down. In my experience, there are five major driving forces: self-interest, barriers, perception, demographics, and culture.
What is the theory of 5 basic needs? ›Developed by psychiatrist William Glasser, Choice Theory states humans are motivated by a never-ending quest to satisfy 5 basic needs woven into our genes: to love and belong, to be powerful, to be free, to have fun and to survive. Specifically: Survival, belonging, power, freedom, and fun.
What are the 5 needs and 5 wants? ›Food, water, clothing, and shelter are all needs. If a human body does not have those things, the body cannot function and will die. Wants are things that a person would like to have but are not needed for survival. A want may include a toy, expensive shoes, or the most recent electronics.
What are the 5 importance of needs? ›There are five basic needs: physiological (basic), safety (comfort), love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. The needs start from the basics such as food, water, clothing, etc., which are needed for survival all the way up to self-actualization, which is when a person has reached his or her full potential.
What do the 5 C's of customer service stand for? ›We'll dig into some specific challenges behind providing an excellent customer experience, and some advice on how to improve those practices. I call these the 5 “Cs” – Communication, Consistency, Collaboration, Company-Wide Adoption, and Efficiency (I realize this last one is cheating).
How do you provide 5 star customer service? ›
- Practice adaptability. You've heard it before and it still holds true to this day: “The only constant in life is change.” ...
- Be empathetic. What is empathy, exactly? ...
- Think creatively. ...
- Communicate clearly. ...
- Lead with authenticity. ...
- Express appreciation. ...
- Go the extra mile.
- Timeliness. ...
- Attitude. ...
- Empathy. ...
- Responsibility of every team member. ...
- Proactive approach. ...
- Documentation. ...
- Active Listening. ...
- Expertise.
There are three types of channel members. They are:Agents,Wholesaler,Retailer.
What are the four main types of marketing channel? ›Broadly, the four main types of marketing channels are paid, free, digital, and traditional channels. Several marketing channels, including social media, influencers, and paid ads, fall under these main marketing channels.
What are the 4 most important customer service elements? ›There are four key principles of good customer service: It's personalized, competent, convenient, and proactive. These factors have the biggest influence on the customer experience.
What are the 5 communicative styles? ›- Aggressive Communication Style. Aggressive communicators use this style to attempt to dominate the discussion. ...
- Passive Communication Style. ...
- Passive-aggressive Communication Style. ...
- Manipulative Communication Style. ...
- Assertive Communication Style.
- Making sure you and your staff are knowledgeable about the products you sell.
- Being available for customer questions and responding promptly (even to negative feedback)
- Doing what you can to go above and beyond and make customers happy and feel special.
- High emotional intelligence (EQ) ...
- A positive attitude. ...
- Flexibility and adaptability. ...
- Clear communication skills. ...
- Familiarity with (and passionate about) your products or services. ...
- Problem-solving skills. ...
- Conclusion.
- Traditional, brick-and-mortar support.
- Email.
- Messaging and chat.
- Phone.
- Self-service.
Essentially, the 3 important qualities of customer service center around three “p”s: professionalism, patience, and a “people-first” attitude. Although customer service varies from customer to customer, as long as you're following these guidelines, you're on the right track.
What are the 4 keys to great customer service? ›
There are four key principles of good customer service: It's personalized, competent, convenient, and proactive. These factors have the biggest influence on the customer experience.
What are the 3 main skills in customer service? ›Empathy, good communication, and problem-solving are core skills in providing excellent customer service.
What is a good example of excellent customer service? ›What are some examples good customer service? In retail, examples good customer service include remembering and appreciating repeat customers, forging a local connection with shoppers, putting your product knowledge to good use, and more.
What are some examples of good customer service? ›- Greet the customer warmly. ...
- Know your product. ...
- Take customer complaints as learning opportunities. ...
- Find opportunities to excite your customers. ...
- Accommodate your customers. ...
- Follow up with customers. ...
- Create a comfortable customer experience. ...
- Offer prompt customer support.
What is good customer service? Good customer service means consistently meeting customers' expectations. Great customer service is quick, easy, personalized, and empathetic. Companies that deliver excellent customer service take the time needed to understand the needs of their unique customer base.
What are the 7 C's of customer service? ›The 7 C's of customer relationship management are customer centricity, company culture, customer experience, customer data, customer journey, consumer experience, and consumer expectation.
What are the 6 pillars of customer service? ›Customer experience can be described using six pillars of customer experience: Personalization, Integrity, Expectations, Resolution, Time and Effort, and Empathy. The maximum value that can be assigned to a pillar is 10.
What are 5 key customer service soft skills? ›- Ability to Listen. Research finds that 60% of business problems can be attributed to poor communication. ...
- Communication. ...
- Emotional Intelligence. ...
- Empathy. ...
- Enthusiasm. ...
- Works Well Under Pressure. ...
- Independence. ...
- Organization.
Friendliness: The most basic of all customer needs, friendliness is usually associated with being greeted politely and courteously. Understanding and empathy: The second most basic of all customer needs. Fairness: The need to be treated fairly is high up on most customers' list of needs.
What are the 4 unique characteristics of service quality? ›There are four characteristics of service: Intangibility, Inseparability, Variability, and Perishability (Kotler and Keller, 2007).
What makes excellent customer service? ›
What is great customer service? Great customer service means following best practices like valuing customers' time, having a pleasant attitude, and providing knowledgeable and resourceful resources, but that you also take things a step further to exceed — rather than just meet — expectations.