Customer Service is defined as service to customers before, during and after a purchase. It seems the art of customer service has not been fully realized of late but I am happy to report that it is making a comeback. Thankfully, in this difficult economic climate, businesses are rethinking their customer service strategies and realizing that attention to this area may be just the thing needed to retain and grow their customer base. Recent articles in newspapers and online have suggested that reaching out to customers may be just the extra effort needed to drive business during an economic downturn. And, many of these efforts are not at all costly.

Here are some easy fix customer service suggestions:

1) Treat others as you would like to be treated.
2) Smile and say “thank you” after every exchange. Customers can try this too!
3) Send out simple customer satisfaction surveys and review and react to the results.
4) Have supervisors listen in on service center calls.
5) Train and retrain customer service personnel, including upper management.
6) Think of your customers as family members (the ones you respect) and treat them accordingly.
7) Does a customer look lost? Offer assistance, even if they don’t ask for it.
Go the extra mile… honestly appreciate someone’s business. After all, they are contributing to your paycheck!

And for a large purchase or just to build repeat business, consider sending business appreciation cards. When received unexpectedly, the gesture will be rewarded the next time that client needs services you can offer

Without question, Ms. Cards Etiquette loves photo cards because they are so personal and can be used for anything from birthday invitations to personal stationery. But, there are some things to keep in mind when choosing pictures for photo cards.

1. Make sure you have permission to use the photo. If you did not take the picture, or it was taken by a professional photographer, then you have to get permission from the photographer to make copies of that photograph.
2. Fill the Frame! When you choose a picture, it is always a good idea to choose one where the subject — usually a person — is the largest part of the picture. If, for example, you cannot see the subject’s eyes and face clearly, then you probably want to look for another photo.
3. Choose Expressions! The best photo card pictures, outside of a formal studio shot, are those where the subject has a distinct expression on his or her face. People like to see others who look surprised or are laughing.
4. Use a plain background! A background with a loud pattern or a lot of things happening takes the eye away from the subject. Unless there is something funny in the background, crop out anything that is distracting. A plain background will make the subject stand out all the more.
5. Compose that picture. Take an extra minute to really compose your shot. Add some props or rearrange your subjects and take many pictures so you can choose the best one. You’ll find that a few extra minutes will make your pictures much better than if you are a “passive picture taker.”
6. Get down on their level! With children or pets, you’ll usually get a much better photograph if you crouch down so your camera is level with their faces. Then, you don’t have the “towering down look” of a giant.
7. Vertical and Horizontal: Keep in mind, sometimes taking a vertical picture will better frame your subject than always taking a horizontal shot.
8. Get in close! This goes along the lines of filling the frame, but the closer you are to the subject, usually, the better the photograph will be since you can better see the subject.
9. Watch your Light: Make sure you don’t have a shadow covering your subject’s face. Also, if your subject has dark hair or is wearing dark clothing, make sure the background isn’t so dark that it “blends in” with the subject. Ideally, your subject will stand out from the background.
10. Focus Focus Focus. Sharp images always look better than blurry ones. If the picture is at all blurry at a small size, keep in mind that the blur will get worse as the picture is enlarged into a photo card size.
11. Bonus tip: Take lots of pictures. With the memory cards these days, you can take 100’s of pictures in one sitting so you’ll have a lot of pictures to choose from. The more pictures you have, the better chance to find a real gem!

I hope this inspires you to make a wonderful photo card!

Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
What do I say on a card for a friend who has invited me to dinner?
Jennifer G

Jennifer, I totally understand your conundrum. I’m a big believer in always having something in hand if you are invited to someone’s house to eat. I try to bring a bottle of wine or flowers for the table, or even a watermelon if it is a barbecue.

As for the card, it depends on what the dinner is for. If this is a dinner celebrating a special occasion, such as a birthday party or anniversary, then I’d bring along a congratulations or happy birthday card or other card that is appropriate to the celebration. If the dinner is just for people to get together to have fun, then all you really need to do is send a thank you card after the event thanking your friend for the invitation to the dinner.

The thank you card can be short and sweet, with just a sentence or two. Something along the lines of “Thank you for the wonderful dinner party last Thursday. I really had a good time” is perfectly appropriate.

Dear Ms. Cards Etiquette,
My aunt said we should send out cards announcing of my father’s passing. I’ve never heard of doing this. Can you shed some light on this?
Sylvia S.

Well, Sylvia, while they are not often used, a death announcement can be a way to announce the death of a business colleague or someone who is distantly related to the deceased.

Typically, for close relatives and friends, funeral announcements are word of mouth, or in small towns are printed in the local newspaper the same day. For distant relatives or business colleagues outside of the inner circle of close friends and family who would not attend the funeral, a death announcement is a good way to announce someone’s passing as well as to announce donations are being taken in that person’s name for a favorite charity.

It is also good for small businesses to send to their clients if their main proprietor has passed away and the business will also fold.

We at CardsDirect very seldom get requests for death announcement cards, but when we do, we recommend a photo card featuring a portrait of the deceased on the front. On the inside, we recommend listing the date the funeral happened as well as where donations can be sent and the remaining survivors.

Show Your Stripes

The fourth of July is fast approaching and there is no better time of the year to show love for our country. Independence Day, or the 4th of July, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, signifying our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776.

Parades, flag waving, fireworks and picnics are popular events for the day. In 1778 George Washington celebrated by offering his soldiers a double rationing of rum. In 1779 the 4th fell on a Sunday so the celebration was moved to Monday. The term “Independence Day” was first used in 1791 and it was declared a paid federal holiday in 1941.

We observe this holiday every year but should really be showing our patriotism all year long. This year we have the opportunity to elect a new President. And, we need to remember our troops in action. Although the country is experiencing an economic downturn, we still have many freedoms we take for granted and really should stop and think about.

As a business, this would be a great time to send a Patriotic Business Appreciation card. A card with a patriotic theme would not only say you are proud to be an American, but would also thank your business partners for supporting American made products and services.

Consumers could use red, white and blue Patriotic Thank You cards all year long to inspire patriotism and pride in our country. Consider buying them in bulk and sending them overseas to service men and women in a show of support. That would certainly brighten their day and make you feel all warm and fuzzy too!

However you decide to celebrate the holiday this year, take a moment between the hot dogs and fireworks to appreciate your country and the freedoms it offers.