5 Negative Behaviors That Are Wrecking Your Business

And how to get rid of them.

Businesses in the modern world have seen huge ups and downs. Now, it’s not about the product but the services.

In this technological world, services are considered commodities and goods. If you cannot provide good customer service, your competitors won’t let the chance to attract your customer into their fold of businesses with their enhanced services backed by sophisticated technology.

A frustrated customer is worse than a natural calamity. A fire can burn your company but not your brand and quality.

A flood can sweep your company from the ground but not from the minds of your customers.

But a frustrated customer can rob you of your name and brand even if your company exists on the ground.

Customer frustration is not natural but the product of certain negative behaviors.

Business thrives on customer-centered behaviors. A happy customer is equal to more business and more revenue.

However, negative behaviors turn your customers off and give your competitors a chance to welcome them to their fold of customers.

1. You Are Not One With Your Customers on Social Issues

The modern world has produced new identities that engulf even big corporations and businesses. They have to have a clear stance about social issues that affect customers’ lives.

A business is no more neutral, and not taking a side is not an option anymore.

Companies and big businesses openly support social causes such as Black Lives Matter or Colin Kaepernick and express their voices against social issues that show their understanding of their customers.

“The tide has changed. Society, especially young people, identifies with companies that share their sustainability and social justice values.” — Reyes.

According to EY surveys, 28 percent of customers willingly pay for the brands they consider doing the right things for society. According to the finding of the same survey, the percent of customers buy brands that offer environment-friendly goods and view sustainability as more important.

“Affordability and functionality aren’t the only factors consumers consider when choosing a brand. They are making choices based on brand values.” — Janet Balis.

2. Your Loyalty Program is Not Promising

A genuine loyalty program boosts sales and makes regular customers. Various companies such as Amazon offer various perks and privileges to their loyal customers, such as media content and unlimited free shipping.

However, many companies treat loyalty programs as a disguised discount and don’t actually consider them important for boosting sales.

For example, customers earn points on shopping to a certain limit, but it turns out to be frustrating when that customer is unable to utilize those points for their good.

The early expiry of the points or coupons makes customers feel devalued. Avoid this behavior and allow the customer to utilize their points as they wish.

“Businesses create a backlash by creating a loyalty program like it’s a checklist. In reality, it’s about making people feel special” — Peter Sheldon.

3. Not Solving Customer Problems on Time

Companies often fail to address customers’ problems on time. The technology they use to respond to their customer either lacks technical support or doesn’t bother about customer issues altogether.

The indifference or lack of timely support frustrates your customer, who then turns to social media and other platforms to find solutions. These platforms are saturated by competitors who never let such an opportunity to offer free solutions bring more customers to their business fold.

Good businesses take care of their customer even beyond the point of sale. They solve their customers’ issues and even offer them alternatives and gifts, and other perks in the meantime to avoid customers’ frustration.

If you or your chatbot can’t solve basic customer problems, this is a negative behavior that is wrecking your business.

4. You Don’t Understand Customers’ Moods and Time

Customers hate to be bombarded by loads of emails and messages by companies about product advertisements.

The worst thing is to send advertising messages at the wrong time. For example, if a customer has issues and wants you to solve them, instead of focusing on the issue, you send him product promotion messages, and email can turn off your customers.

Your messages and emails should contain solutions or things that add more value to your customers’ lives. If they feel that you are burdening their email list, they will surely unsubscribe and build hate for your brand.

5. Not Accepting a Procedural Change in Your Business

Many companies still hold unto a traditional way of business. They don’t change with the changing time. The time requires them to adopt modern technological ways of doing business, yet they hold their own traditional look of 1999.

Customers can hardly buy their items online, or sometimes, it’s difficult to pay for their products promptly. Delayed notification and delivery time also hamper customers’ satisfaction.

Even if such companies have websites, they are of low quality and use cumbersome form-filling strategies instead of one button service to pay for the product frustrating the customer.

If you are not keeping pace with the change and think your brand will do it anyway, you willingly give your competitors a chance to take your customers.

Wrapping Up

Customers notice how your behavior makes them feel over time, especially when they have issues or expectations. If your behaviors were unable to satisfy their expectations or failed to solve their issues, they will step into your competitors’ shop.

You made them take this decision because your behaviors are negative and not customer friendly.

Here are the negative behaviors that are wrecking your business:

• You don’t support the social issues your customers care about.
• Your loyalty program seems to be a disguised discount and not actually a loyalty program.
• Your customers wait for hours to get your response to their issues or never get a response.
• You send untimely promotional messages that may upset your customer.
• You think updated and sophisticated technology is not important for the success of your business.

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