Online Class: Customer Service 101

How to train, measure, and improve customer service for your business or organization.

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$120.00 (with CEU Certificate)
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  • 15
    Lessons
  • 19
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 7,577
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 15
    Hours
    average time
  • 1.5
    CEUs
 
 

Course Description

Mastering the Art of Exceptional Customer Service: Going Beyond the Basics

In today's competitive business landscape, merely satisfying the customer isn't enough. To truly stand out, businesses must strive to "wow" and astound their customers, leaving them spellbound after each transaction. Exceptional customer service has the potential to transform an ordinary customer interaction into a memorable experience, ensuring repeat business and fostering brand loyalty.

The buzz surrounding customer service in the contemporary corporate arena is undeniable. Most organizations recognize its pivotal role in determining success. They invest in strategies to elevate their customer service quality, constantly seeking metrics to measure and enhance it. However, herein lies a common pitfall. While many businesses ardently desire to achieve "exceptional customer service," they sometimes lack a clear understanding of what it genuinely entails.

Imagine this scenario: You enter a store, greeted promptly with a smile, assisted efficiently, treated fairly, and your concerns addressed with utmost honesty. Sounds like good customer service, doesn't it? But what if that's the baseline? What if that's what every other store offers? Would you remember this store distinctly or lump it together with all the others that provided a similarly satisfactory experience?

It's a fact; consumers gravitate towards businesses that prioritize their needs, and the quality of service is often a decisive factor in choosing where to shop. Yet, some companies fall into the trap of setting their customer service standards too low. They enumerate basic human courtesies—like fairness, honesty, promptness, and politeness—as their customer service goals. Although essential, these are foundational expectations that customers inherently have when they engage with any service provider. Merely adhering to these standards may lead to momentary contentment, but it won't guarantee loyalty.

A company solely focused on these basic tenets may find itself perplexed, wondering why their customer base isn't expanding or why they're losing to competitors. The stark reality is that if a business is only achieving the bare minimum, it's on borrowed time. Customers will eventually gravitate towards competitors that offer them more than just the basics.

Consider a contrasting scenario: A customer enters a store and, in addition to receiving all the foundational courtesies, experiences a series of delightful surprises. Perhaps it's an employee who goes out of their way to offer personalized recommendations, or maybe it's an unexpected discount at the checkout counter. These gestures, although simple, leave a lasting impact. The customer not only becomes a repeat visitor but also becomes an advocate for the brand, singing its praises to friends and family.

This course is dedicated to imparting the nuances of providing such unparalleled customer service. While it assumes that participants are already familiar with the basics of decent human interaction, it ventures beyond to uncover the secrets of truly remarkable customer service. Participants will learn strategies and techniques to distinguish their service, turning one-time customers into lifelong patrons.

In conclusion, in a world where businesses are vying for customer attention, it's crucial to go beyond mere satisfaction. This course is designed to equip participants with the tools and insights necessary to transform their customer service approach, ensuring they don't just satisfy, but genuinely astound their customers.

Course Motivation

We’re living in a world where good customer service can mean the difference between a successful and growing business and one that is just “getting by” – or, worse yet, might actually be seriously struggling.  Time after time, we’ve seen how a company that has a reputation for good customer service is able to thrive and constantly grow, while those that have poor customer service fall by the wayside.

In today’s marketplace, knowing how to provide good customer service is a skill that is both valued and rewarded in major corporations.  Go to any business seminar and you’ll discover just how important customer service is in the marketplace – and you’ll find out that those businesses that reward customer service are the ones that are always in the spotlight in a positive light.

This course is designed for anyone in the business community that wants to learn the best ways to grow and expand using customer service – whether you’re involved with management, human resources, or are just a customer service representative yourself.  This course is also designed for those who are looking to increase their knowledge of what good customer service means in order to advance within their chosen profession. 

More than just a powerful buzzword, customer service is essential to every business out there.  No company is so strong and solid that it can afford to provide anything less than the best customer service out there – and this course will give you essential tools needed to build up the best customer service team possible.

In understanding what it takes to provide good customer service, you’ll learn the ins and outs of what good customer service looks like.  You’ll see how some of the most simple techniques out there can greatly improve the experience that a customer has with your business – and you’ll learn how to make sure that just about every customer walks away satisfied.

Customer service is not just about resolving problems, though.  Not everyone who calls customer service is experiencing something serious.  Sometimes, they are just seeking basic information – and you’ll learn how to parlay something as simple as answering a few questions into creating a valued customer.  For example, if someone calls up with a simple question about prices and is treated courteously and with genuine concern, that individual might well decide to look no further than your company and give their business to you.

You’ll learn that businesses are created one satisfied customer at a time.

In this course, you’ll examine and learn about such areas as:

·       Defining service:  This introduction will provide you with the tools needed so that you know what good customer service is.  You’ll see how jobs have changed through the years and why there are problems with customer service today – and ways that you can improve the customer service that both you and your company provide.

·        Putting the customer first:  You’ll learn how to deal with customers and how to best provide them with the essentials that you can give them – and also how you can exceed their expectations.  The company that provides service above and beyond what the customer expects is the company that is going to have loyal customers come back time after time.

·        Effective communication:  The student will understand that one of the key aspects of keeping a customer satisfied is effective communication.  Services that are offered that are not known by the customer might as well be services that are not even provided.  The student will also learn the power of effective listening – following the old adage, “We have two ears and one mouth and therefore should listen twice as much as we speak.”  The student will also learn the difference between a “closed question” and an “open question,” and which one is most effective in communication.

·        Building relationships:  Students will understand how important building relationships in customer service are and will learn the techniques necessary to move from being a voice on the television in the customer’s mind to someone that they go to when they need whatever product or service you are providing.

·        Telephone and e-commerce contacts:  Students will see how good customer service extends beyond face-to-face encounters – and how important treating all customers with the “wow” factor is in building a business.

·        Handling difficult customer contacts:  The student will learn how to deal with certain customers – and when it might be necessary for you to “fire a customer.”

All in all, this course will prove beneficial to anyone in the business community – and many of the tools that are provided can be used in everyday relationships, as well. 

  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.3 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(9,838 votes)

Lesson 1: Defining Service

Customer service is the key. Providing good customer service is one of the only ways that we can now generate any customer loyalty. 9 Total Points
  • Lesson 1 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Your Own Customer Service Experience; Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Assessment: Lesson 1 Quiz

Lesson 2: Putting Your Customer First

In this lesson we're going to learn how to put your customer first. 8 Total Points
  • Lesson 2 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Customer Service Industry (worst service)
  • Assessment: Lesson 2 Quiz

Lesson 3: Effective Communication

How can you meet your customers' needs? Through effective communication. 20 Total Points
  • Lesson 3 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Customer Service Industry (best service)
  • Complete Assignment: Open and Closed Questions
  • Assessment: Lesson 3 Quiz

Lesson 4: Building Relationships

The point of good customer service is to create loyalty and get those customers coming back again and again. 6 Total Points
  • Lesson 4 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Quiz

Lesson 5: Effective Communication II: Appearance and Impressions

Your appearance, gestures, and attitude make lasting first and final impressions that customers notice. 8 Total Points
  • Lesson 5 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Exam

Lesson 6: Telephone Contacts

We need to provide great customer service over the telephone to those customers who prefer to communicate and transact in that way. 7 Total Points
  • Lesson 6 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Quiz

Lesson 7: Telephone Contacts, Part II

Some additional instruction on business telephone etiquette will enable you to impress your customers with every call. 10 Total Points
  • Lesson 7 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Exam

Lesson 8: E-commerce Contacts

This lesson will give you tips on how to provide great customer care, whether your business is online only or online service is one of several ways you do business with customers. 8 Total Points
  • Lesson 8 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Your Customer Service Preference
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Quiz

Lesson 9: Handling Difficult Customer Contacts

You try to keep your customers satisfied, but there are times after the transaction is completed that they may not be. 18 Total Points
  • Lesson 9 Video
  • Lesson discussions: 'Firing a Customer'
  • Complete Assignment: Customer is Not Happy
  • Assessment: Lesson 9 Quiz

Lesson 10. E-mails: Getting Them Right

E-mails enable you to respond quickly to customers, keep in touch with them between sales or service visits, and provide them with various kinds of information, such as order updates. 18 Total Points
  • Lesson 10 Video
  • Complete Assignment: Customer Service Emails
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Exam

Lesson 11. Newsletters: Giving the Customer Added Value

A really good newsletter can bring you increased sales, impress your customers so that they become repeat customers, and enhance your image as an expert in your industry. 9 Total Points
  • Lesson 11 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Exam

Lesson 12. Handling Difficult Customer Contacts, Part II

This lesson discusses how to satisfy potential customers who may be difficult to deal with. 19 Total Points
  • Lesson 12 Video
  • Complete Assignment: Handling Difficult Customers
  • Assessment: Lesson 12 Exam

Lesson 13. Customer Service Management

Management is essential to maintaining and improving quality service on a long-term basis. 9 Total Points
  • Lesson 13 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 13 Exam

Lesson 14: Creating a Customer Service Policy

A written policy is a guideline that all employees can easily refer to when providing customer service. 6 Total Points
  • Lesson 14 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 14 Exam

Lesson 15: Conclusion: The Future of Customer Service

It is not impossible to continue to provide excellent customer service, in spite of automation and global markets. 111 Total Points
  • Lesson 15 Video
  • Lesson discussions: Final Course Poll - Your Opinion; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
  • Assessment: Final Exam
266
Total Course Points
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Define customer service.
  • Describe how and why to put customers first.
  • Summarize methods to effectively communicate with customers.
  • Summarize techniques to build customer relationships.
  • Define the roles of appearance and impressions in customer relations.
  • Demonstrate proper telephone etiquette for customer service.
  • Demonstrate proper email etiquette for customer service.
  • Summarize techniques and strategies for handing difficult customers.
  • Describe the requirements and skills needed to manage a customer service department.
  • Create a Customer Service Policy.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Customer Service 101
Course Number: 8900058
Lessons Rating: 4.3 / 5 Stars (9,838 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and Washington.
Last Updated: June 2023
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 1.5 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Instructor: John Chouinard
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

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Student Testimonials

  • "I am extremely grateful for this course and enjoyed every video that was provided! The lessons were easy to understand and the videos helped me a lot! Thank you for all you do!" -- Melody T.
  • "This course helped me get a new job in customer service. It has great pay and benefits. I am so grateful for Universal Class. I will keep taking courses to achieve promotions." -- Danielle L.
  • "This course has helped me improve in every aspect. I am putting into practice everything I have learned." -- Martha B.
  • "I enjoyed the class and I learned new ways in communicating with my customers. I've even used some of the lessons I learned and applied to my job with positive results." -- Mallory E.
  • "I love the course it gave me more insights on how to treat people in general and not just your customers." -- Joy voke S.
  • "I have spend years in the hospitality industry and worked with a diverse community of people, yet, taking this course really helped refresh my skills and I learned new information." -- Teresa A.
  • "the instructor was there when I had a question he would answer right away and he checked my work he really motivated me." -- Mary V.
  • "This was a fun course! It was written very well and easy to follow. I enjoyed taking this class. More people need to learn what great customer service is all about. They need to take this class!" -- Theresa H.
  • "Thank you for the overall great course. I really appreciate your time and effort in making this course available to us. Overall, I enjoyed it." -- Reana D.
  • "Universal classes have changed my life for the better. Very thankful. All my instructors are awesome!" -- Maxine C.
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