Steve DiGioia

MAY 1, 2023

It’s the age-old mantra: “ Provide great service and customers will come.” But is that really true? In this article, we’ll explore why relying solely on great service is actually a trap that could lead to the downfall of your business. Here are 4 Reasons Why Great Service is a Trap That Will Ruin Your Business Great Service is Expected Customers expect a certain level of service when they interact with any business.

Customer Service 162

Customer Service Marketing Personalization Management 162

Steve DiGioia

APRIL 17, 2023

An old boss said this to me once. He was pissed at my “continual complaining” about “so many issues”. That was his take on the matter. Mine was different. I was pissed off too. He refused to address the many nagging problems that my team had to deal with every day. Service suffered. Morale suffered. We were refunding money back to customers for mistakes that could have been avoided.

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Morale Sales Personalization Management 147

Steve DiGioia

APRIL 10, 2023

When 2 “hospitality guys” get together, there’s bound to be many stories and CS/CX secrets to share. Thanks, Tony Johnson for having me as a guest on your podcast. Click here to listen. Some topics discussed: Be specific with your recognition Leadership isn’t about position, it’s about influence and impact Make sure that you work to train and empower your new managers The post Leading Teams To Deliver Exceptional CX Podcast appeared first on Steve DiGioia Customer S

Customer Service 29

Customer Service Management 29

Steve DiGioia

APRIL 3, 2023

Sure. Coming out of the COVID pandemic, many businesses are still having difficulties hiring enough employees to properly service their customers. I understand that. But, if that’s the case, at least find a few seconds to acknowledge the customers who enter your door, regardless of how busy you are. Example: The other day, my family and I entered a restaurant for a late lunch.

Surveys 162

Surveys Customer Service 162

Steve DiGioia

MARCH 20, 2023

“So, you’re telling me that THIS customer is more important than all the rest?” And that I should give them preference over everyone else that walks in the door?” Read 3 Reasons Why Successful Teams Earn Your Trust. “But they’re a VIP” , she kept on saying. Now she’s starting to annoy me… I was having a conversation with a few of my old hotel friends and we were discussing some of the silly things that have happened to us over the years.

Sales 182

Sales Management Customer Service 182

Steve DiGioia

NOVEMBER 8, 2022

Wrestlers talk about, “knowing their place on the card.” This means that since they’re not the “headliner” or in the main event, they understand that they are a supporting act for the overall benefit of the show. They still have a job to do and must perform well. They must get the audience riled up and engaged in the action. They’ve learned from the veterans.

Customer Service 182

Customer Service Personalization 182

Steve DiGioia

SEPTEMBER 5, 2022

Job descriptions expect it. Social media “influencers” claim it. And we listen to those we assume are one. An “expert”. But who is really an expert? What Are the Requirements to be an Expert? Is it someone who has multiple advanced degrees and took place in hundreds of clinical trials but has never worked outside of academia adapting to real-world market conditions?

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Marketing Customer Service Personalization 208

Steve DiGioia

AUGUST 8, 2022

That’s a pretty harsh statement, I know. But hear me out… Chris can’t seem to get along with Susan. Kevin always comes in late. Derrick, well, he’s just a poor performer. And, Donna, seems to make everything about race, harassment, or favoritism. Face it, you’ve got a dismal group of employees. They’re bad and many need to go.

Management 147

Management Morale Customer Service 147

Steve DiGioia

JULY 11, 2022

Every business has its underachievers. But today’s post is not about them. It’s about those precious, and few, overachievers. You know, that one or maybe two, star employees who always seem to find a way to prove their value and serve your customers better than anyone could have expected. A Star Employee Stands Out. The customers know them and want to be served by them.

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Finance Advertising Sales Marketing 204

Steve DiGioia

JUNE 20, 2022

I used to work with a general manager who, as you walked through the hotel halls with him, would make a point of picking up a piece of trash off the floor. I know he was testing to see if you’d pick up the next piece. It was fun watching those new employees who didn’t know about his tactic. Now that masks are coming off, look for people who smile easily.

Surveys 195

Surveys Personalization Management Customer Service 195

Steve DiGioia

MAY 23, 2022

You may work for a giant worldwide conglomerate that maintains a core set of values, standards, and practices, but can each of these standards be maintained in every venue? Well, if you’re the Ritz Carlton or McDonald’s , you can. (NOTE: McDonald’s has regional variations in their menu to accommodate local tastes). But what if you work at a location that is having difficulty maintaining the corporate standards because your venue doesn’t conform to the design that the standards

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Personalization Marketing Customer Service 361

Steve DiGioia

MAY 5, 2022

In today’s ever-competitive marketplace, businesses are always looking for the next big thing: What’s the latest fad/trend to follow or copy? What’s the hottest social media channel to spend our time on? How can we incorporate more technology into our business? How can we attract more millennials, what’s important to them? But they forget the basics of a successful business.

Customer Service 204

Customer Service Personalization Technology 204

Steve DiGioia

MAY 2, 2022

Ok, ok, so I’m a wrestling fan. So what? Maybe you are too. There are millions of us. And we watch it every week. I’ve been doing that since I was a teenager. I used to take the train from my home in Brooklyn, NY to Madison Square Garden in Manhattan each month to watch the matches in person. It was so much fun. I have many fond memories as a kid watching some of the greats like Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales, Andre the Giant, Chief Jay Strongbow, George the Animal Steele, and many more.

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Customer Service Entertainment Morale Scripts 328

Steve DiGioia

APRIL 28, 2022

Stereotype: a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing. Business stereotypes are preconceived notions that every customer has of your business. What do they expect when doing business with you? Are the expectations good or bad? What image or idea do you send to your customers? “The lines are always too long.” “The place is so outdated.” “Your salespeople only care about making the sale, whether the item is right

Sales 299

Sales Personalization Customer Service 299

Steve DiGioia

APRIL 4, 2022

I was never rattled by an upset customer. Never hesitated to speak with them, never cowered in fear, and never pushed them off to a coworker. I looked forward to the opportunity to “make things right”. When the sh*t hit the fan, I always knew what to do. How can that be? Am I crazy and want to get into an argument with an angry customer ? Of course not.

Customer Service 55

Customer Service Personalization Management 55

Steve DiGioia

MARCH 14, 2022

I don’t gossip or finger-point. I don’t assign blame or give putdowns. I don’t accuse or assume faults. No, I don’t. But I do talk about people behind their back. I don’t spy on them, but I do pay attention. I see what they’ve been doing. I notice. I observe. I take notes. I remember. I talk about people behind their back. They may not know it, but I do.

Construction 57

Construction Morale Management Customer Service 57

Steve DiGioia

FEBRUARY 24, 2022

Why do some businesses lose sight of the big picture when it comes to their customers? We all want the “big sale” and may prioritize the customers as they come in our doors; the biggest customer goes to the best salesperson; the little customers are portioned out among the weaker newbies. But shouldn’t they realize that a small customer can lead to a bigger customer , increased business, and more customers down the road?

Sales 208

Sales Customer Service 208

Steve DiGioia

FEBRUARY 7, 2022

There’s always that one employee who refuses to follow directions. It seems that no matter how many times you talk to him, he continues to “forget” to do what he’s told or at worst, intentionally refuses to do it. So, what do you do with an employee like this? Sure, we can give him a kick in the rear and show him the door, but you never want to lose an otherwise half-decent employee if you can help it.

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Enterprise Management Accountability Customer Service 345

Steve DiGioia

JANUARY 17, 2022

There are 2 kinds of people. One never asks for directions. One always asks for directions (or at least is not hesitant to ask). In a past Tips on Thursday newsletter , I wrote about taking the initiative, finding your own course of action, and making a decision based on experience, availability, practicality, etc. This mindset seems to match those who never ask for directions because they can make their own decisions.

Customer Service 291

Customer Service Management 291

Steve DiGioia

JANUARY 3, 2022

We all speak about expectations, customer expectations. They can be reasonable or extreme, and sometimes achievable or bizarre. But usually, they are appropriate. As a customer, I expect a basic minimum such as: The product or service should work as expected. The product or service should be reasonably priced and in line with similar products. The product or service should be safe to use.

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Advertising Accountability Customer Experience Customer Service 351

Steve DiGioia

DECEMBER 16, 2021

Being in the hospitality industry for 20+ years, and providing customer service for many more, I have learned that you win some and lose some. No customer interaction will be perfect for your business. A customer’s taste, perception, culture, expectations, etc. all boil down to “their” opinion of your product or service. What you offer is not what YOU think it is but what the CUSTOMER thinks it is.

Customer Service 147

Customer Service 147

Steve DiGioia

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Thinking back on some of the fun, and weird, things that have happened during my 20+ year hospitality career, I was reminded of this old lady, I’ll call her “Granny Food Thief”. Many years ago, while I was supervising a banquet event, I came across this sweet little old lady who would constantly crash the cocktail hours for the business events. My property hosted many groups that, after their day-long meeting, would have a 1-hour farewell reception for the attendees.

Customer Service 48

Customer Service 48

Steve DiGioia

OCTOBER 31, 2021

In the service industry, problems happen every day. An employee makes a mistake, and the customer is, at best, disappointed. Or angry, at worst. It’s inevitable. It happens. It’s part of any operation that has many “moving” parts. “Service recovery”, a company’s resolution of a problem from a dissatisfied customer, comes next. Your job is to get it fixed, then clam up.

Customer Service 182

Customer Service 182

Steve DiGioia

OCTOBER 26, 2021

The only reason a business hires someone is that they have a job that needs to be done and they need someone to do it. If they hire you, you get paid for your efforts. You are not promised lifetime employment, nor do you need to offer it to them. There is mutual agreement of cooperation on both sides created by the efforts of each. A business can and will dictate work rules and responsibilities.

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Customer Service Management 264

Steve DiGioia

AUGUST 16, 2021

Who cares what your employees say! The opinions of your employees don’t matter. Really. They don’t. You prove this each day by your actions. You continue to leave them in the dark about upcoming actions and decisions that affect them. You do little to address their concerns. Now, they question you. They’re losing faith in you. They don’t believe in your leadership.

Construction 245

Construction Personalization Management Customer Service 245

Steve DiGioia

AUGUST 2, 2021

Last weekend, my wife, daughter, and I spent a lovely afternoon at a local farm, which also happened to be hosting a food truck festival at the same time. Of course, we ate too much but at least we got some sun on our faces and a day in the fresh air. We decided to take the haybale ride around the farm and got ready to see the sights. But the sights I saw were the farmer’s missed opportunity to make this ride something special and to enhance the experience of his customers.

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Education Customer Service Customer Experience 230

Steve DiGioia

JULY 19, 2021

Back in 2018, I had the pleasure to interview some of the nicest people I have ever come across. I was amazed at how warm and welcoming they were and their willingness to embrace, support, and welcome me into their fold. To say the least, they’re all leaders in their respective fields of customer service, hospitality, social media, consulting, coaching, podcasting, and keynote speaking.

Customer Service 189

Customer Service Coaching Consulting Consulting 189

Steve DiGioia

JULY 5, 2021

Along with all the responsibilities of your job and the myriad of tasks you must do each day, I want to add a few more things to that list by asking you to use these 10 phrases that will make someone’s day better. Most everyone we come across has their own issues that lurk under their sometimes-false façade. They deal with anxiety and health issues that weigh heavily, financial and personal matters that keep them up at night, and a host of other problems that make their day more stressful

Personalization 325

Personalization Customer Service 325

Steve DiGioia

JUNE 21, 2021

This past weekend I helped a friend of mine and served as the maître d for an event of 200 people that he was hosting (it was great to get back to my “banquet” roots). Shortly after arriving and meeting the service team, I realized that many were inexperienced and for a few of them, this event would be their first time working as a waiter. I got that deer-in-the-headlights look from some.

Morale 299

Morale Customer Service Management 299

Steve DiGioia

JUNE 17, 2021

Many companies fail to take the human factors into consideration. My belief is that any business must “ always do what’s in the best interest of the customer ”. You’ve heard me say that countless times on my blog. Technology Certainly Has Its Merits, But…. When automation and technology become the new “service goal”, the customer then comes second. I can’t see it happening any other way.

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Technology Chatbots Customer Service 130

Steve DiGioia

JUNE 10, 2021

The other day I got a voicemail message from someone who sounded like they had a mouth full of marbles. I couldn’t understand most of what she said, and she spoke so quickly that each word just bled into the next. I even played the message back hoping to catch what I missed the first time. No difference. A question for you salespeople…. Why waste your time making a phone call and then expect someone to call you back when we can’t even understand what you are saying?

Customer Service 195

Customer Service Personalization 195

Steve DiGioia

JUNE 3, 2021

I once worked for a boss who led through intimidation. Whenever there was an issue to be resolved or a problem that’s taking longer than expected to figure out, he would say “Send (name) an email and “CC” me”. He thought that, just because the boss was copied on the email, it would make the email recipient respond quicker and act on the request right away.

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Steve DiGioia

MAY 17, 2021

Great customer service. That’s what our customers want and that’s what we wish to provide. But it’s difficult remembering all the different steps to take to provide it. Thankfully, many have developed useful acronyms to help. In today’s post, I compiled my list of the top 10 customer service acronyms to use every day. Store these in your CS toolbox to use as needed. 1.

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Customer Service Personalization Sales Technical Support 341

Steve DiGioia

MAY 3, 2021

Tomorrow is a busy day at work. You’ve planned for it, scheduled properly, made the needed operational adjustments, and kept your fingers crossed so that everything will work out as planned. Then it happened…. The first thing in the morning you get a call from one of your key employees. She’s sick and is calling out for today. NOOOOOOO, how can this happen?

Management 312

Management 312

Steve DiGioia

APRIL 19, 2021

The best intentions only get you so far and sometimes, your “best” is not good enough for your customer. They are upset, they are disappointed, and they deserve an apology. And here is where your “best” gets even worse. When you sit down to write that scorned customer an email to say how sorry you are for the lack of service they received, sometimes the apology makes the situation even worse.

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Accountability Personalization Customer Care Customer Support 304

Steve DiGioia

MARCH 22, 2021

Those of us in the customer service industry focus much on procedures, ease of use, product availability, and the steps of service, to name a few, all in the hopes of providing our customers the best overall experience. When we have these processes down pat, we believe that’s “all we need” to ensure a steady stream of satisfied customers. But we’re leaving out a significant aspect of service and something very valuable for a customer in need.

Customer Service 346

Customer Service Education Accountability Management 346

Steve DiGioia

MARCH 8, 2021

The lowly cornfield scarecrow hangs idly in the field while a flock of birds, having long since gotten over their fear of the fake man, eat their share of the surrounding crops. He has failed in his mission. The scarecrow now serves no purpose and has outlived its usefulness. Sadly, it serves as a reminder of what once was. Today’s post tells you how to stop giving customer service like a useless scarecrow. 3 Examples of Scarecrow Customer Service. 1.

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Customer Service Benchmark Best practices Customer Care 204