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Dear PPA Member,

This is the first Vital Signs of 2010...and what better way to ring in the new year than to talk about new ways to communicate with your clients? In a recent Vital Signs, I referenced my father's love of texting. In addition to texting, my father's social media resume also includes a Facebook page and a Twitter account. I make this point to show the incredible reach you can achieve by expanding the way you communicate.

In case you've missed the past month or two of Vital Signs, online communications and social media have exploded as ways for companies to interact with their clients. It's becoming more and more common for the general population to utilize these resources (see above paragraph for reference). By taking advantage of these tools, you not only communicate more effectively and reach more people, but you also save money in the process--how can you turn that down? Read this week's Vital Signs here.

Cheers!
Christel Aprigliano
Director of Member Value & Experience

Dear PPA Member,

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that your clients fill up your email inbox a lot quicker than your mailbox. Am I right? It seems as though written letters and stamps have been replaced with electronic signatures and a send button - not to mention the occasional LOL and :). Who can you blame though? We live in a world (and work in an industry) where technology plays a major role.

Take this Vital Signs for example. How was it sent to you? E-mail. And what about the PPA Today newsletter? Yep, e-mail again. In fact, much of what PPA sends you goes directly to your inbox. It's quick, it's easy, and it's how we have learned to communicate.

The point of this Vital Signs is to stress the importance of keeping your emails professional. Whether you are emailing a client about an appointment or a vendor about an order, remember that it is still a business transaction. To steal a line from Spiderman, with great power comes great responsibility. Take advantage of the power of e-mail, but make sure you read it over before you press send!

Cheers,
Christel Aprigliano
Director of Member Value & Experience

Dear PPA Member,

Plants wilt and die if you forget to water them (I know this from experience). Relationships, even the best and heartiest of them, are like plants. They need maintenance and tending to stay alive. You've worked to get clients and build your business, but if you ignore them after you've closed the sale, that relationship will not bear fruit.

This week's Vital Signs is about maintaining relationships, and it offers up some ideas about how to keep your business relationships alive...so that you can keep your business alive.

Cheers,
Christel Aprigliano
Director of Member Value & Experience

P.S. Stock20.com and PPA Charities have teamed up to provide PPA members with a special offer: Through December 31, 2009, Stock20 is offering their Complete Production Library at an unprecedented price of $169 and they will donate $24 of every purchase to PPA Charities for their work with Operation Smile.

Dear PPA Member,

I have a confession to make: I'm addicted to a fast food restaurant here in Atlanta (that happens to have a location an elevator ride away from the office). Did you notice that I said I'm addicted to the restaurant, not the food? While the meals are tasty, there's more to it. It's the overall experience that keeps me coming back.

The products are delicious. But on top of that, the restaurant's staff is always helpful, friendly, and personal. They remember that I like less ice in my soda and extra napkins. They "know who they are" and they're good at what they do. Sounds simple, but I recognize that it's tough to be consistent--and they are consistently good. I'm a repeat customer, and they know they have my business.

If you want your customers to come back for more, then make sure you give them a reason the first time--and never let them forget. This week's Vital Signs will hopefully spark some ideas for you and your studio.

Cheers!

Christel Aprigliano
Director of Member Value & Experience