Comments on: Inside My Business: The Evolution Of A Customer Service System

By: Text Message Marketing

Text Message Marketing — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:08:06 +0000

It’s all about controlling the flow of information, who gets what and what need to be done. This process allow you to free up your time so you can focus on running your business and doing what you truly enjoy.

By: Jared Goralnick

Jared Goralnick — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:27:10 +0000

Yaro,

This is really excellent advice about how you got to where you are today and the various systems you’ve employed. Like Dr. Gordon mentioned, there are systematic ideas that feel very E-Myth inspired and availability/creating-barriers concepts that are similar to Four Hour Workweek…but that’s not the point. What’s more salient here is how you arrived at them and have presented them.

Like your Problogger post today discussed, you point out how you arrived at these from your own lessons–and I think that helps a lot to see the merit in these approaches and to identify with similar problems. Rather than features/benefits, identifying with the other person can be a much more potent (although perhaps time-consuming) approach.

Thanks for all these tips. I certainly have similar reasons behind why I created AwayFind, which is like a ReplyToYaro for anyone, but your approach to presenting it is much more personal. Thanks for that.

While I’ve come across your articles over the years, Skellie mentioned it to me the other day and then the Problogger article pushed me over the edge. Consider yourself subscribed–thank you!

By: Internet Business Trainer

Internet Business Trainer — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:29:15 +0000

I just landed on your site blog for the first time. A great and valuable resource for Internet Business Builders. I love your input on customer service. It amazes me that some business are set up with no thought to customer service and how to handle it. No matter what the service or product there needs to be a customer service attached to it, its the most basic business skill.

Job well done.

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:23:01 +0000

Wow thanks for the great wrap Yaro!
I should print this out for my resume, if I ever go back to a ‘normal’ job!
(I would never find an employer as onto-it as you if I did!)

By: Noobpreneur

Noobpreneur — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:47:49 +0000

Yaro,

Thanks for the much-anticipated post about handling the customer services.

I guess the most difficult part in the system is hiring the right person for the job… A lot of qualified people, but not many who will fit well into the system you create.

Cheers!

By: WebMarketingNow

WebMarketingNow — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:29:58 +0000

Customer service is one of the first things I outsourced as well. Anything that can be automated, I automate. Any “ditch digging” activities, I outsource. What most people don’t seem to understand is that you cannot be creative when you work yourself into the ground.

The reason it can be so hard to find capable and good employees is because no one cares about your business the way that you do….

By: Old School Blogging - Blogging in the old fashion way » Blog Archive » Friday Quick Links

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:49:38 +0000

[...] that indicates online marketers will spend a lot of money in this area. – Yaro Starak is showing us how a customer service system should evolve. – Are you really an entrepreneur ? That is what Rich Schefren asks us. It’s an interesting [...]

By: Chris Lang

Chris Lang — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:32:48 +0000

Yaro,

You’re right, it is hard to start relying on hired help – I still have trouble finding the right person for the job. Great post!

Cheers,

Chris.

By: Su Sheng Loong

Su Sheng Loong — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:48:24 +0000

Hi Yaro,

The good thing about the Internet marketing is that almost every tedious and cumbersome processes can be done automatically once the autopilot Internet business system is developed.

Another long pillar article here at entrepreneurs-journey and I enjoy reading it. Well done!

By: Lisa Preston

Lisa Preston — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:48:56 +0000

Hi!
Just read your post – very informative.
Have you considered adding a knowledgebase where you can add FAQs? Or do you find that redundant somewhere within your system? I like using a FAQ area to help people with those tiny questions that always seem to pop up… like “Do you accept PayPal?” and other simple issues. Just a thought – my add a little extra value without costing any more time… even to the “lazy” ones.

By: shootingstar

shootingstar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:57:47 +0000

Hello Yaro,

Great post as usual. I really like your blog and I do like to read your posts. They’re very interesting to read and helpful.

Thanks

By: Tondi

Tondi — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:45:04 +0000

Great post Yaaro. As a newbie I always like to learn basic things from experts. Your articles give me insights and motivation. Still a long way to go for me, so still waiting another great posts from you. Big thanks Yaaro.

By: Daniel @ Secret Affiliate Code

Daniel @ Secret Affiliate Code — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:22:14 +0000

Hello Yaro,

Great post as usual. I really like your blog and I do like to read your posts. They’re very interesting to read and helpful.

I’m looking forward to your review of how to find a good costumer service person because that’s what I’m looking for for my business.

Thanks
Daniel

By: Yaro

Yaro — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:13:49 +0000

Thanks Greg – looks like an extra anchor close tag was switching off the link before it even started.

By: Greg Brave

Greg Brave — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 19:11:27 +0000

Thanks for this article Yaro! I have always liked to read success stories. They bring me motivation and hope.
By the way, in the beginning you forgot to place a link to your second article.

By: Dr. Gordon

Dr. Gordon — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:35:12 +0000

Excellent article! This is a concise internet marketing version of “E-myth” and “The Four Hour Work Week”. The most important concept that must be mastered is…. Work ON your business, not IN it! Outsourcing is an important remedy for those constantly working in their business.

Thank you!

By: Deep Arora

Deep Arora — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:06:11 +0000

The more I read your tips, more I am becoming an addict to your blog

I was using XSysHelp as my helpdesk domain..but I can see a personal touch and felt an immediate closeness when I saw ReplyToName.

I booked it and will be moving to the new domain. I didn’t channelize all my contacts options through helpdesk, but I am on look out of Angela-2 now

Thank you for reminding me the basic concepts, which are simple to implement but yet overlooked.

Regds,
Deep

By: Cassie

Cassie — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:59:56 +0000

Yay, the long awaited follow-up post! I read the whole thing word for word the second I saw the link in Twitter.

This is the info I so badly needed as I’m getting completely bogged down and starting to not enjoy what I do anymore. I’m grateful for this post and it has sparked a few ideas of my own, so THANK YOU!

I honestly think once I implement them there will be a huge turning point for me.

By: Maria - Never the Same River Twice

Maria - Never the Same River Twice — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:56:05 +0000

A key lesson from your experiences, Yaro, is to get these systems set up as early in your business development as possible. Even if you are the only “staff” working on the systems, just having them in place makes it much easier to deal with and hand over to staff when the time comes.

One simple thing I’ve done on my blog is turn down the comment moderation filter so that all comments are approved as long as the commenter enters an email address. I just have to quickly scan the comments (all are sent to my Gmail address) and make sure they’re all kosher. Sure, the odd spam comment might get through and be on my site for 12 hours, but I’m willing to take that chance to avoid the hassle of constantly approving comments.

By: Tom - StandOutBlogger.com

Tom - StandOutBlogger.com — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:27:12 +0000

You have a great story Yaro! It was great to see where you have come from and the steps you have taken. Thanks for sharing this with us!

By: Nicole Price

Nicole Price — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:51:44 +0000

So far so good. This is like reading Jeffrey Archer. Continue, please do, cannot wait!

By: Hendry Lee

Hendry Lee — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:19:01 +0000

Emyth is my favorite book too and Gerber’s recently released Awakened the Entrepreneur Within.

Customer service is an integral part of a business, so yes you want to outsource only to the best.

I use a similar system for support, but I answer email queries personally, including from my e-newsletter subscribers (they can hit reply). That helps bond relationship with them.

Sometimes they don’t believe there is actually someone who answers autoresponder message.

By: hunter

hunter — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:29:56 +0000

You highlighted some key points such outsourcing and having filters in place so one can focus on other aspects of their business.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:28:45 +0000

Hello Yaro,

Excellent post as usual.

The problems you have with support staff, I have with designer.

I also slowly distribute jobs to a few other designers. Outsourcing
is among the best decisions I ever made.

It’s worth it.

Good luck!

Peter
NoFrillsLogo.com

By: Fenton

Fenton — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:02:12 +0000

This is a very precise steps that on describing on how to free yourself, Yaro. Great explanation on every tool that you are implementing. I’m sure most people will benefit from it.

Tim Ferris did a great job too in his four hour work week. But yet you have successfully crafted out your experiences for us to share with.

Thanks, god bless.