Despite the advances in technology, certain domains still haven't been able to forego the human touch, especially in customer engagement.
The reason? No machine has the power to render human empathy, kindness, and gestures. However, research supports the notion that the human factor and customer service greetings play a significant role in putting the customer instantly at ease.
We find it easier to connect with a fellow human who better understands our concern than a machine.
So, to reap the most benefit from this point of connection, you can use some key phrases or greetings.
Importance of Customer Greeting
Starting from the very first eye contact, you have the power to build a strong bond with the customer. The very words you say, the body language, and even the gestures make this relationship and shape the way forward for your brand.
It gives the customers a feeling of where they are and how welcomed they are there.
So here we are with the ultimate list of customer service greetings that'll make your job a whole lot easier and give you an invaluable clientele that stays for years.
Ultimate List of Online Customer Service Greetings
Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash
The choice of words in a conversation has a huge impact on the listening partner.
Especially if your job involves dealing with clients or customers frequently, you need to better practice customer service greetings.
Even an ounce of negativity in your words or even tone, for that matter, can have dire consequences.
When they feel welcomed, they can easily cite their concerns or problems and seek resolution.
So the power of a positive experience travels to others too. Around 38% of customers share their positive service experience with their peers and family. Though the number isn't huge, the positive word of mouth has a rollover effect and brings in more leads.
Now at times, it may not be as easy as it looks.
Dealing with difficult or persistent customers can be pretty nerve-wracking. So the job of a good salesman is not only to keep their cool in such situations but also to try to bring the temperature down when such scenarios arise.
So, you should try and devise all your customer service efforts to bring the situation to your favor, whereby never letting go of the 'customer is king' motto.
1. "Hello! I am (your name). Welcome to XYZ corp. Sales department…"
Telling the customer your name first and foremost is very important. It makes the exchange more personal so people can open up quickly with you. When you add your name to any customer service greetings messages, it relaxes the customer as they find they are talking to a fellow human and not a bot or a machine.
2. "How are you doing today?"
Asking a question like this helps put them at ease. With such a warm question, customers feel they can confide in you. Hence, they won't feel alienated or distanced with cordial exchanges.
3. "What can I do for you today?"
This is a great technique to instantly put the customers at ease and show empathy and concern. When they know the other person is willing to give their time and listen to them, they connect better.
The conversation that follows helps resolve whatever complaint they may have and gives you valuable insight about the customers.
4. "Great to meet you" or "It was a pleasure to meet you."
If you have a new customer or a potential lead just asking about some basics or general information about your product, service, or company, that can be an excellent ground for building a relationship.
In such scenarios, customer service greetings like the above can help them feel pleased with the exchange and end it on a positive note.
5. "Are you enjoying your day?"
An open-ended question like this can lead to a host of answers. Hence, it can kick start the conversation and get even the shyest of customers talking. However, you need to prepare from brief to detailed answers.
Then, just show genuine concern and respond positively after listening to all the details.
6. "Have we met before?" or "Hi, have you been here before?"
Believe it or not, using these phrases or the likes can actually work more than a cheesy line. As per Michael Gerber, statistics state that such a phrase can take your sales up to 16%! There may not be a scientific reason to back the claim, but it works, so why not add it to your conversation?
7. "Welcome Back! We missed you!"
Now, this is a good greeting for your old customers or those who've done business with you before and come back after a long time. This can set the base ground, whereon you can take the conversation forward to ask them about their experience with the product.
8. Compliment them like: That's a nice Shirt or bracelet, etc.
Compliments work like magic when given sincerely. If you want to make the most of it, make the compliment more relevant to your line of business. Like for a garment store, compliments on attire make more sense.
Although it cannot be done for online exchanges, however, when it's on a personal level, don't shy away from giving such compliments.
9. "Hi, I am (your name), and you are…?"
This one shows care and the human aspect of getting to know the person you are talking to. In fact, it's a great opening to striking a lovely conversation with the client.
10. "How's the weather outside?"
Shockingly, this works more than just an awkward filler in a conversation.
If you have any to break the ice and start a meaningful conversation with the client, just talk about the weather. The key is to remain interested in whatever the client says so you can get it moving from there.
11. "If there's anything else I can do for you…?"
This won't be a typical start of a conversation but can be a good closure or end. The best part is it ends on a note to continue business with the client in the future.
12. "Thank you for your feedback."
Customers are the leading force behind the business. So, always thank them for taking the time out to provide valuable insights and feedback on your products or service.
It's quite a simple phrase but works wonders. It shows instant gratitude and appreciation for the customers' effort and time to give you an incite or general suggestions about product or service improvement.
13. "I am/we are happy to help!"
A short and simple sentence that shows genuine concern and works great for easing the customer's mind about the service you'll provide to them.
14. "Hi! I am (your name). Don't be hesitant to ask any questions. I love questions!"
This is another great example of general customer service greetings. It's a great opening that lets the customers speak their minds.
When you instantly allow them to ask whatever they want, they feel more at ease expressing their concerns and seeking a resolution to their problems.
15. "Hey (customer name)! Great to see you back. What can I do for you today?"
Greeting your repeat customers with these kinds of informal happy customer service greetings is a great way to break the ice and to let the customers know you remember them.
16. "Thank you for your patience; we are sorry to keep you waiting."
These customer service greetings are usually helpful when the customers are put on hold or have to wait until they get connected to the customer service reps.
Unfortunately, the waiting time is often annoying and runs even the most patient of clients to lose their cool.
So, try to keep things steady with a straight apology before they let out any steam.
17. "Hi (customer's name). We saw you browsing through our website. Are you looking for something specific? Please let us know how we can help you?"
This is a great way to start a conversation with a potential lead. It works far better than an annoying pop-up.
When you send a personalized message like this, the customer immediately finds the contact point. They can reach out to you and ask for any help with their concerns.
18. "Hello (customer's name), you left some items in your cart a while back. Do you need any help completing your order?"
This is one of the marketing gimmicks used by marketers in e-commerce today. Whenever a customer leaves a cart abandoned, brands usually send out emails offering discounts or help with the order completion.
In customer service, you can go a step ahead and provide personalized help by asking them directly. If the customer is actually stuck with the completion process, they'll happily tell you, and you can guide them through the checkout.
Conclusion
In customer service greetings, the kind of words and tone you use has a huge impact on customer behavior.
The right words can actually soothe an anguished customer and bring them to their calm selves. In contrast, the wrong words can trigger emotions that can heat the atmosphere in no time.
So choose your words wisely and, most importantly, be empathetic. The human element makes the bond stronger and builds relationships for years to come.
Cover Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash
