Self Improvement > Motivation > Going That Extra Mile
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Marsha Maung
“Going that extra mile” is not only applicable in business but it’s applicable in everything that we do in life. The butcher who gives the extra piece of chicken liver to a special customer will eventually get back more in business than the butcher has ever contemplated. The Internet Business Owner who gives that extra special after service email will get more back in return when the customer/client recommends the service/product to his or her friends.
Giving that little bit extra won’t hurt you
It’s really hard quite hard to lose when go that extra mile with your clients and customers. And yet, many business owners stick to the strict rule of giving nothing more than just the 100% purchased – or maybe even less! As a business owner, you cannot go wrong if you decide to give 120% or 150% to your customers or clients!
And yet, that extra mile could be something simple, like saying ‘hello’ or a ‘happy birthday’ message from you even after the services have been rendered and payment made. Or perhaps, that extra mile could be something as simple as looking for better ways to make purchasing from your website a little bit easier. Perhaps, have you ever considered, it could be just a small free t-shirt or voucher.
That extra mile could just be information!
I’ve encountered some really austere service providers who are very strict and stringent about giving extra to others. Even if it’s just a small information, advice or tip. You see, giving a little bit extra to your customers or clients is especially important if you are running an online business.
Why, you ask? Well, for one thing, everyone is literally faceless, nameless and identity-less on the Internet. You don’t always know who you are dealing with and if your business is yet to be as established as eBay or Amazon, you might want to consider building some credibility and trust. It could be nothing to you but it could be something to someone else.
If my customers or clients (even strangers) ask me for advice on how to start an online business, which logo should they choose or what type of article should they write, I will always freely spend some time writing an email to them.
In my mind, always, going that extra mile is actually a business ethic that I want to keep doing whenever I am dealing with others. Example of going that extra mile….giving away a free report, a free article, a template, an advice or tip, or answering your emails in a timely manner.
It’s not very hard, is it?
Going that extra mile even if it’s a complaint
There was once I was miffed off with one of the service providers. I spent 30 minutes writing out a very detailed complaint and feedback on how this service provider could improve his business and how he should deal with problems like the one I encountered. I was shocked when he replied with a poisonous email filled with untruths and absolutely slanderous statements!
Till this very day, whenever my friends ask me to recommend a similar service provided by the service provider, I made sure I reminded them not to use the service provider in question! I specially say to my friends, family and associates….”If you come into contact with XXX, DON’T use him!”
Sounds mean? It’s not. It’s a way of ensuring that my friends and family don’t face the same problems I did when I did business with that service provider!
If he had simply gone that extra mile to explain his side of the story and say that he appreciated my frankness, everything would have been forgotten. If he had gone that extra mile to just show me that I spent the last 30 minutes helping him shape his young business, I would have continued to support him (I am a very strong supporter of Internet Businesses, you see).
And yet, that extra mile never occurred to the service provider.
Walking that extra mile….for nothing
Not everyone you walk that extra mile for is going to appreciate it. It’s a fact. The sooner you accept this, the happier you’ll be. So, sometimes, you’ll walk that extra mile for nothing. But as I said, you can’t go wrong making the extra effort.
One day, the reward could far exceed everything, every mile you’ve ever walked for all your customers or clients combined.
Marsha Maung is a freelance graphic designer and copy writer who works from her home in Selangor, Malaysia. She loves nothing more than blowing bubbles in the park with her 2 kids, Joshua and Jared. She designs apparel and premium items at http://www.allmomstuff.com and is the author of "Raising little magicians", and the popular "The Lance in freelancing". More information can be found at http://www.marshamaung.com
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