Customer service can make or break a company, regardless of the quality of the products or services you offer. Whether you’re struggling with complaints or simply want to streamline your customer experience, try integrating these three options into your small business’s operations.

1. Use a 24 hour answering service
Even if you post your hours online, customers are bound to call your business when you’re closed. One of the most frustrating things a consumer can face is being met with a voicemail message. Try hiring an answering service for your business to ensure your customers stay happy, even when you’re not around.

A 24 hour message center is a great way to bring humanity back to our technology-driven world. Not only will an answering service make your business look more relatable and approachable, the human element will ensure your customers’ needs are actually met when they are connected with an answering service for your business.

2. Integrate self-service options
It’s great to talk to your customers when you pick up the phone, but many customers want to be able to do things by themselves if they don’t need the help. Self-service can include a variety of options for your business, but incorporating online options is an easy first step. Include an online purchasing option for your goods and packages to cut out the middleman.

Utilize your website to the full extent of its ability: include a frequently asked questions page, a support page, a blog. These are all ways your customers can do things on their own. Remember, they can always call your 24 hour live answering service with any questions.

3. Get to know your customers
This can be difficult if you don’t regularly interact with your customers, or if you get a high volume of customers each day. But building stronger relationships with the consumers who walk through your door guarantees they’ll stay loyal to your brand and care about the integrity of your business. Offer insider knowledge on your products, don’t just sell them goods. Tell them why they need something and what it can do for them instead of chewing the same facts for each new face.

For reliable customers, offering membership benefits or perks is a great way to keep them coming back.

These are some simple, efficient ways to improve the quality of the customer service offered for your business. Ensuring great customer service is one of the most important parts of running a successful business.