Your free business.com+ membership unlocks exclusive tech deals and advisor support
Join Free
BDC Hamburger Icon

Menu

Close
BDC Logo with Name
Search Icon
Search Icon

Customer Relations

When your customers have questions or problems, it’s your job to resolve them. Creating a helpful customer service team that’s responsive and effective is key to maintaining customer satisfaction. These guides, how-to’s and tips will help you meet your customers’ needs and keep them coming back time and again.

Latest: Advice, Tips and Resources

customer service agent wearin a headset and smiling
Article
11 Essential Components of Excellent Customer Service
By Megan Totka | January 30, 2026

Looking to improve your company's customer service? Make sure everyone on your team follows these best practices.

Article
5 Ideas to Boost Your Loyalty Program’s Success
By Mark Fairlie | January 30, 2026

Want to boost customer loyalty and retention for your business? Learn rewards program tactics to help you build a loyal customer base and drive more sales.

Article
How to Create Community Around Your Brand
By Jennifer Dublino | January 30, 2026

Cultivating a fan community around your brand and products can create marketing and retention opportunities. Learn how to build a robust brand community.

Article
Understanding Customer Emotions and Addressing Them in Your Sales Strategy
By Sean Peek | January 29, 2026

Emotion is the driving force in today’s buying process. Learn how to tap the feelings that drive customers’ buying decisions.

Article
8 Ways In-Store Tablets Improve the Customer Experience
By Skye Schooley | January 29, 2026

Find out how in-store tablets make life better for employees and customers.

Article
8 Components of Customer Personas
By Tabitha Naylor | January 29, 2026

Developing accurate customer personas is key to your company's success. Here are the components your personas should include and how to use them.

Article
How to Provide an Honest and Ethical User Experience
By Sean Peek | January 29, 2026

When creating software and apps, businesses should strive for a user experience that doesn't exploit others. Here's how to keep ethics a priority.

Article
How to Choose the Best Call Center Software
By Mark Fairlie | January 28, 2026

Cloud-based call center software costs $20-$200+ per user monthly. Key features include call blending, CRM integration, IVR systems, and 24/7 support.

Article
Don’t Wait! Speed Up Your Checkout Lines With These 4 Tips
By Jennifer Dublino | January 28, 2026

POS systems can reduce checkout lines while helping you gather and maintain customer data. Learn how to speed up your checkout lines.

Article
Make ‘Em Smile: What Drives Successful Customer Satisfaction?
By Sean Peek | January 27, 2026

What do consumers want in their experience with companies? This is how your business can ensure great customer service.

Article
Why Efficient Customer Service Is Better Than Friendly Customer Service
By Jamie Johnson | January 27, 2026

Greeting your customers with a smile is important, but efficiency matters even more. Learn how to provide efficient customer service.

Article
Why Responding to All Your Online Reviews Is Critical
By Jennifer Dublino | January 27, 2026

Online reviews are an important part of your small business's reputation. It's also important to respond to every review you receive, positive or negative.

Article
Best Customer Tracking Methods for Your Small Business
By Jennifer Post | January 27, 2026

Customer tracking helps companies understand who's buying their products and why. Learn what you should track and which customer tracking methods are best.

Article
Buyer Journey vs. Customer Journey: What’s the Difference?
By Skye Schooley | January 27, 2026

Learn how the buyer journey and customer journey connect to turn interest into loyalty and create a seamless growth experience.

CRM icon on a tablet
Article
20 Features to Look for in a CRM
By Mark Fairlie | January 27, 2026

Many CRM platforms are available that promise to help businesses maintain customer relationships. Learn 20 crucial features your CRM software should offer.

Article
What Should You Do When a Client Ignores You?
By Miranda Fraraccio | January 23, 2026

Is your client dodging your emails and calls? It might be time to move forward. Here's how to handle the situation.

Article
How Much Can a Bad Review Hurt Your Business?
By Jennifer Dublino | January 23, 2026

While businesses want positive reviews, a few bad ones may not always hurt you. Here is what you need to know about negative reviews.

Article
Customer Delight: The New Standard in Customer Service
By Sean Peek | January 23, 2026

To delight a customer is to provide the unexpected. Here are seven key principles to providing a delightful customer service experience.

Article
A Guide to Creating a Customer Journey Map for Your Brand
By Adam Uzialko | January 22, 2026

Building a customer journey requires you to understand how your customers engage with your brand and what steps they take both before and after a purchase.

Article
5 Reasons You Should Consider Using a Virtual Receptionist
By Jennifer Dublino | January 20, 2026

Virtual receptionists answer calls, take messages, and schedule appointments remotely for around $250 per month versus $30,000 or more for in-house staff.

Article
6 Ways Email Automation Can Elevate Your Customer Support
By Sean Peek | January 16, 2026

Use these strategies to automate your email communications without coming across as cold to your customers.

Article
Are Chatbots AI? How to Differentiate Chatbots From Conversational AI
By Mark Fairlie | January 16, 2026

Chatbot technology is changing. Here is how businesses can use the tool to create a better customer experience on their websites and more.

Article
Southwest Airlines: A Case Study in Great Customer Service
By Sean Peek | January 15, 2026

Southwest Airlines excels at customer service by empowering employees, eliminating fees and maintaining a fun, people-first culture across all operations.

retail worker handing a customer a bag
Article
Repeat Business: 8 Ways to Keep Your Customers Coming Back
By Sean Peek | January 14, 2026

Repeat business can improve cash flow and ROI, promote your brand and help you better target customers. Learn seven strategies for earning repeat business.

Article
How to Make Money in Retirement: A Guide to Turning a Hobby Into a Side Business
By Jennifer Dublino | January 13, 2026

Many retirees have turned side interests into income. Learn how to make money in retirement, including getting started, getting funding and paying taxes.

Article
Building Brand Intimacy: 10 Ways to Connect Emotionally With Customers
By Julie Thompson | January 13, 2026

Emotions help power buying decisions and increase the likelihood that customers will recommend your company to others.

Article
How Page Load Speed Affects Customer Behavior
By Mark Fairlie | January 12, 2026

Do you want to rank higher on Google and make more sales? Find out how to determine if your site downloads too slowly and what will boost its speed.

Article
How to Build Trust With E-Commerce Customers
By Sammi Caramela | January 12, 2026

Online shoppers sometimes worry about making purchases over the internet. Learn how to protect your customers and address their concerns.

office meeting
Article
Marketing Fail: 5 Customers Who Want to Destroy Your Business
By Andrew McDermott | January 12, 2026

Predatory customers are hurting your business. Learn the five types of toxic customers you may face and how to stop marketing to them.

Article
Leading With Transparency Promotes Customer Loyalty
By Austin Mac Nab | January 09, 2026

Transparency builds customer trust, boosts loyalty and profits, and sets brands apart by fostering honest pricing, open communication and accountability.