One of the best ways for customer service professionals to stay informed of industry news is to subscribe to customer service publications. There are many publications, trade journals and newsletters available that cover current trends in the customer service industry; but rather than inundate yourself by subscribing to them all, you may want to pick and choose the ones that best meet your business's needs.

There is a huge selection of industry publications to choose from. Where some are very limited and cover specific topics, others give an overview of the whole industry and offer a variety of resources. The trick is to get the most information out of the fewest resources, thus saving you money and keeping you well informed without consuming all your valuable time. When choosing a books, journals, or magazines on customer service, remember the following:

1. Some customer service magazines offer free trial subscriptions that you can take advantage of.

2. When subscribing to publications, find out what period your payment covers. Make sure you receive any back issues within the time period you are paying for. Some publications may just begin subscription with the current issue.

3. Order your customer service publication directly from its website, if possible, or you may miss out on subscription perks.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Subscribe to publications on customer service and take advantage of the perks

Many publishers offer discounted pricing with subscriptions, in addition to other perks. Check to see if they offer free trial subscriptions or copies. You may even be able to cancel your subscription without payment or penalty if you are not absolutely satisfied.

I recommend: CRM Magazine is free if you qualify, is is a digital version of the publication. Customer Service Group offers a free newsletter as a bonus for signing up. It also features a list of recommended reading for the customer service professional.

Take advantage of online articles on customer service

E-mags and web publications have evolved for the better, and there are many benefits to taking advantage of them. Not only are they readily available, the medium also allows publishers to compliment articles with multimedia resources. You may be requested to sign up as a member, but that can be an added bonus. You may get access to free sample copies, or access to journal archives.

I recommend: Customer Service Manager (CSM) offers a forum for professionals to share industry knowledge. It also provide free magazines, free eNewsletters, and a bookstore for recommended reading. CRMAdvocate provides CRMAdvocate Today, its free industry newsletter. It also offers online customer service articles and webcasts.

Join a professional association for access to customer relationship management publications

If you a own a business in the customer service industry, you may consider becoming a member of an association for customer service professionals. As a member, you'll receive access to free publications, as well as other informational resources. If you sign up as a business, you can extend these services to your employees as well.

I recommend: The Service & Support Professionals Association and the International Customer Service Association are both industry associations that offer online publications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Check with your local library for publications, as many subscribe to online databases that may include customer service reference books, journals and magazines.