How Service Businesses Can Succeed in 2020

In an increasingly product-based and product-faced world, it can be difficult to stand out as a business offering something completely different: services.

Various challenges stand in the way of those whose success depends on the work they do for a client, as opposed to something they have made and that may or may not appeal to someone.

Let’s explore how service-based businesses can thrive in 2020.

Hire the right people

In a way, it has never been easier to find the right people for any job. True, as the job markets have grown, it can be more difficult to go through all of the applicants and potential hires you come across. But that is still better than being unable to find someone to execute something.

With remote work becoming the new norm, you can now tap into unprecedented talent and ensure your services are the best they can be.

Bear in mind that you don’t only need to hire for qualifications – you also need to hire for culture. So make sure that the people you want to work with share your values and have the same passion for delivering quality.

Promise less, deliver more

Some service businesses make the mistake of promising to deliver more than is their baseline for a certain service, thus failing to additionally impress – especially if they fail to live up to their promise.

The key is in promising slightly (but very slightly) less than you know you can deliver, and then going a tiny bit out of your way to deliver more than that baseline. That way, a customer is practically guaranteed to be impressed by what they get.

The trick is in finding the right balance between what you promise and what you execute: you don’t want to undersell your service and lose customers, but you also don’t want to do so much that it is no longer worth your while. It might take a bit of time to get it right, but it should be a way to improve customer retention.

Rely on technology to get the job done

When working with multiple clients, making sure you get everything done on time can be a challenge. Instead of relying on calendars, spreadsheets, and emails, switch to using software like Sagenine’s that will store all of your important data in one place.

That way, you will ensure all of your employees are aware of all of the tasks and deadlines they have on their plates, and you will have all client information at your fingertips. You’ll be able to manage all accounts much more smoothly than if you had to double-check everything, not even sure where you’ve stored different pieces of information.

Learn when to say no

When selling a product, it’s much easier to know how many items you still have left and how many you can make within a certain time.

When selling services, it can be difficult to know when it’s time to say no.

There is only so much you and your team can do in the space of a day. Taking on more than you can chew will cause you to sacrifice quality for the sake of quantity, and none of your customers will appreciate that.

When you feel you are very near your limit (or if you have already crossed that threshold), don’t take that extra client on just to take them on. If you say no, sorry, you are fully booked, they might even come back another time, having remembered that you were their choice, but had too much work on your hands – which is telling of the quality of your work and the satisfaction of your customers.

Of course, you should also say no when you really don’t want to work with someone – although not in those very words. You have the luxury (even if it doesn’t seem so) to choose who you want to work with. Exercise that power to the best of your ability.

Final thoughts

While products may seem to be more popular and easier to manage, service-based businesses still have an amazing year to look forward to. With all the benefits of the digital age, reaching new customers is easier than ever before. Depending on the line of work you do, you can grow your business at unprecedented rates – but do remember that your capacities need to grow at the same rate as well. Keep your cool and do your work well, and there will be no shortage of clients.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.