It does not matter what business you are in, the truth is that customer satisfaction has a heavy bearing on your company’s profitability. In this article I will discuss several initiatives which could be used to increase customer satisfaction.

 

Transparency

 

Customers wish to know the why’s and how’s of what is going on, especially when it comes to their money. It is simply not enough to tell them that you have the best loan management software. They also want you to show them the methods and algorithms used by the software to produce results. Likewise they want to see statistics backing up your reason for choosing that software. Most of all they want your professional opinion on whether or not you give kudos to the software. When hearing your opinion customers would rather have you give them a mixed review and know that it’s honest then receive a glorious 5 star review if you can’t back up your opinion with facts. When a customer asks you your opinion what they’re really asking is whether or not they can trust you, because most of the time they have already formulated their own opinion.

 

Eye to Eye

 

This is a technique meant to initiate face-to-face communication. Sometimes we tend to be in too much of a hurry to literally raise or lower ourselves to our customers’ level. A common bargaining technique is to raise yourself above your counterparts in order to gain emotional leverage during the negotiation through the use of your physical presence. While this is a good technique during a negotiation, when we are communicating with our customers we do not want to fall into this habit. We need to remain relatable. Simply by sitting or standing to initiate conversation with our customers we can make them feel more comfortable and therefore increase their overall satisfaction with the experience.

 

Walk This Way

 

In this technique we choose to escort our customers from one destination to another. This allows us to maintain a rapport of caring and concern. It makes us relatable and makes them feel as though they’re being taken care of. All too often we see people ramble off directions and continue with their work. To the customer this says “I don’t really care whether or not you get lost,let me get back to work”.

 

Finish Strong

 

We can assume that all customer experiences are based on hills and valleys. If so, it’s easy to see why we really must finish strong. As the saying goes, everything has its ups and downs but if we finish on a down chances are that the customer will not be satisfied. A customer experience Hill occurs when their expectations are met. A Valley occurs when their expectations are not met. If the last experience a customer has is a Hill they will remember the experience in whole as a good experience, and will tend to be overall satisfied. Likewise if the last thing a customer remembers is a Valley they will be over all dissatisfied.

 

We live in a digital world where an individual customer’s satisfaction does not only affect whether or not that customer will return. It also affects the customer’s review which in turn can affect whether or not future customers choose your company. For this reason customer service should be a primary goal in any companies initiatives.

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Like it or not, no stock investment is risk-free. However, there are some things that you can do to ensure that they are secured. While no one else can make your stock decisions for you, it is never wise to make any decisions hastily and without some educated advice. Here are a few wise tips to make sure you know at least a little.

 

It’s Best to Start with an Emergency Fund

 

Whether or not you currently have that amount in your account, it’s always best to strive for at least six months worth of funds. If you don’t, just remember that it’s better to have at least one emergency account instead of none at all. If you can, try to put at least a third of your income into your savings every month.

 

Especially with the increasing inflation these days, it is not unselfish to pay yourself first. In doing so, you are also able to help both yourself and others.

 

Consider Your Risk Comfort Zone

 

As stated above, no investment is without risk. Investing in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc. is a bit like gambling in a casino. Only there’s absolutely no guarantee that you’re going to get returns or lose. As a result, you should never invest more than you’re comfortable with losing. If you have some short-term goals, this is where cash investments may be appropriate. Also remember that most securities are not federally insured.

 

Occasionally Rebalance Your Portfolio

 

In the case of your stock portfolio, re-balancing means bringing your asset allocation to where it was originally. In this way, you can ensure that your assets don’t become imbalanced. When they do, one asset is overemphasized and that can be an unfair drain to the others.

 

Remember the Scammers Often Look Like the Real Thing Now

 

Investment scammers trek popular news headlines to educate themselves on how to look more like the real thing. Whenever you’re not sure, the best thing you can do is question the source. If they get mad or their answers are vague, chances are, they are not genuine. It is also wise to keep track of common investment frauds, such as pyramid schemes and promises of high returns for doing nothing but handing over your money.

 

How to Find a Business’s Merchant Code

 

Unfortunately, a lot of bank tellers don’t know what an MCC code is. MCC stands for merchant category code. It is the four-digit number that businesses accepting cards are assigned by the credit networks. They are used to track your purchases on your statement. Sometimes they’re also used to prevent over-priced purchases such as at hotels.

 

Fortunately, you don’t need to ask a teller anymore. You can easily find a business’s MCC through the IRS list.

 

Conclusion

 

Hopefully the information above gives you a little bit of an idea of how you can maintain safety as an advisor. For more information, you can Google the SEC’s latest on investing. Once you start investing, it is very important to stay updated on the latest in safety tips.

 

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If you have recently been offered a job in another city with a higher pay rate, you might be thinking about taking the plunge. Before you pack up and relocate, however, you probably want to make sure that you are making the right decision. There are more factors to consider than money, and even if the new job offers more money, it might not be worth packing up your entire life and moving somewhere else. Then again, all the other factors may line up perfectly, making a new position the perfect opportunity to start fresh in a new place. Below, we have gathered several factors to consider before you decide to relocating for a different job. Then, you can ensure that you make a decision that you will be happy with.

Are You Excited About the New Position?

First of all, you should consider what the new job will entail, should you decide to take it. Will your work at the new job be similar to what you do right now? Is the workload at the new position something you are more excited about or something that you dread? Will you have a lot more responsibilities? Will you have more room to grow? Pay isn’t everything when it comes to choosing a good job, even without a move attached, so along with thinking about the money, you should also think about whether or not you think you’ll be happy in the new position.

How Does Your Family Feel About the Idea?

Unless you’re single and live alone, you’re not the only one this move will directly impact, so it’s a good idea to find out what your family thinks about the situation. If your spouse has a good career in your current city and won’t be able to easily find a new job after the move, this could be a point of concern. You should also consider how your children feel about relocating and whether or not there will be good schools available for them if you do choose to move.

Will You Be Moving Away from Extended Family?

If you currently live close to your extended family, you should think about how you and your family members will be affected if you do choose to move. Will you be leaving a vital support system? Are you currently an important part of someone else’s support system? On the other hand, your new job might be closer to your extended family members than you are right now, allowing you to forge stronger relationships as you move into closer proximity.

What will the actual move cost you?

Depending on where you’re moving and the size of your collection of belongings, moving can be a significant expense. It’s easy to let that expense grow to the point where it can absorb any pay raise you receive for months to come. Fortunately, if you’re careful and plan properly, you can mitigate these costs. If you will have some time between accepting the job and your official start date, take some time to shop for a reliable moving company that won’t overcharge you.

Even if you do plan ahead, however, long-distance moves can still be costly. You should weigh all your factors together. In some cases, it might be worth it to forego professional moving help, but other circumstances might make hiring a moving company the best decision you could make. If you’re trying to transport an entire house’s worth of belongings from New York to San Antonio movers could simplify the entire process. Take a close look at your specific circumstances as you make your decision.

What is the Cost of Living Like?

Sometimes, the pay is higher in another city because the cost of living is higher as well. If this is the case, you might not be getting as much of a raise as you think; in fact, you might find that your money doesn’t go as far as it does now, even with the higher salary. On the other hand, there is also the chance that the cost of living could be lower, which could help you stretch your higher pay even further.

What are the Housing Options Like?

If you do choose to make the move, you are obviously going to need to find somewhere to live. This can be easier in some places than others. Make sure that you do your research about good, safe neighborhoods and about the rental or buying market in general. Then, you’ll know what to expect in regards to finding a home if you do choose to move.

What Do You Think About the Area?

In some cases, moving to another city for a job can be a big shock to the system. If you are used to living in a bustling city, for example, you might not be very happy about moving to a small town in the Midwest, or vice versa. However, you might find that making a move for a job will allow you to experience something exciting, such as finally moving to a bigger city or being able to live on the coast, near the ocean. Visiting the area where you are thinking about moving can give you a better idea of what to expect and whether or not you think you will be happy living there.

Relocating so that you can secure another job at a higher pay rate can be an exciting proposition. However, before you make your move, you’ll want to make sure that you are making the right decision. Don’t just jump at the first job offer you receive with a higher paycheck than you are currently making. Take some time to consider the opportunity from all sides, then make an informed decision.

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The Most Millennial Industries to Invest In

Millennials are the adults of the future. If you are looking for an industry to invest in, you may want to invest in one that millennials are interested in. If this is the case, you should know that there are quite a few industries that you can look into. With a little bit of research, you can make smart investment decisions that can pay off handsomely later on.

 

Craft Beer

Drinking beer is certainly nothing new, but millennials are changing the scene a lot. Nowadays, many millennials like craft beers from small breweries more than they like the beers that are sold and distributed by big-name companies. If you have a local brewery or if there is a brewery that you are particularly interested in, you might find that investing in one of these places can be smart. Restaurants and bars that sell a lot of craft beer can also be a good investment option.

 

Coffee

There is a reason why Starbucks is so popular. Nowadays, a lot of busy millennials prefer to go out for their morning cup of Joe rather than just brewing it at home. Coffee shops are incredibly popular among millennials, and they are some of the people who help keep coffee manufacturing companies in business.

 

Organic Food

Nowadays, many millennials are paying more attention to what is in their food than people have in the past. This means that organic food is becoming incredibly popular. From small grocery stores to big chains that put a big focus on selling organic and natural products to the farmers who grow organic foods and raise livestock in an organic manner, there are plenty of investment opportunities that relate to this trend.

 

Fast Fashion

Gone are the days when preppy clothing is the most popular and sought-after wardrobe. Nowadays, a lot of millennials really enjoy the idea of wearing fast fashion clothing. Stores that sell affordable, trendy items and that target a younger crowd are doing really well nowadays.

 

Farm to Table Restaurants

As mentioned above, a lot of millennials are really into organic and natural food. Not only are they paying attention to where their food comes from and what’s in it when they are at the grocery store, but many are paying a lot more attention at the restaurants that they dine at as well. Farm to table restaurants have become increasingly popular over the past few years and do not seem as if they are going to be going anywhere anytime soon.

 

Rentals

Nowadays, many people love the idea of renting rather than buying a home. Some people are already in a lot of debt because of their student loans, and others just like the freedom that renting offers. If you are looking for a more hands-on investment opportunity, owning rental properties can be a good idea in many markets.

 

Vaping

There are certainly still plenty of cigarette smokers out there, but a lot of millennials are switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes, if they aren’t just going right to vaping rather than using more traditional tobacco products. In the past, the tobacco industry has been an ideal industry to invest in, but nowadays, you may want to consider investing in vaping instead, such as by investing in companies that sell vape parts or in stores that sell vaping supplies. After all, it is becoming the way of the future, and soon, you might find that there are many more people out there who use e-cigarettes versus smoking more traditional cigarettes.

 

If you are looking for a good investment option and would like to keep millennials in mind when choosing it, you should know that there are quite a few different types of products and companies that you can look into. This list can help give you an idea of where to look so that you can find the perfect investment opportunity for you.

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