Amazing Business Radio

Shep Hyken & C-Suite Radio
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Amazing Business Radio

Amazing Business Radio features customer service expert and New York Times bestselling author Shep Hyken who interviews leading business professionals and other customer experience experts. Each guest shares tips and insights on how to succeed in business. The bright business minds featured on Amazing Business Radio come from all over the world and include viral video stars, corporate CEOs, bestselling authors, thought leaders, and many other inspiring personalities. The show covers a variety of topics related to customer service and customer experience and will provide answers that listeners need to know in order to take their success to the next level. Amazing Business Radio airs every week on, itunes, Soundcloud, and other platforms and channels.

  1. Proactive Customer Service Using Customer Feedback Featuring Michael Podolsky

    6 DAYS AGO

    Proactive Customer Service Using Customer Feedback Featuring Michael Podolsky

    How to Use Customer Feedback to Transform Your Business   Shep Hyken interviews Michael Podolsky, CEO and сo-founder of PissedConsumer.com. He talks about the importance of addressing customer reviews, proactive customer service, and how businesses can learn from their competitors' complaints to improve customer experience and brand reputation.  This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    How can business use customer feedback to improve the customer experience?  How do you leverage customer reviews?  What is the best approach to respond to a negative customer review?  How can consumer feedback improve a company's products or services?  What benefits do businesses gain from analyzing competitors' customer reviews?  Top Takeaways:    Customer reviews are essential for both consumers and businesses. They serve as a platform for consumers to express their opinions about their experiences with a company's product or service. By leaving reviews, customers can also help other potential customers make informed decisions. Meanwhile, companies can use this customer feedback to improve their services and resolve any issues customers face.    Many of today's consumers do not trust leaving a review on the company's website.  This skepticism comes from a fear that companies may delete negative reviews to maintain a pristine image. As a result, consumers often turn to third-party review platforms to ensure that their feedback is seen and heard.    A proactive approach in customer service means anticipating problems before they arise and addressing potential issues that customers may face. Businesses can benefit enormously by studying reviews and complaints directed at their competitors. By foreseeing these issues and finding solutions in advance, businesses can prevent customer dissatisfaction and minor issues from escalating.    Not all reviews will be positive, and it's crucial for businesses to effectively handle negative reviews. Responding promptly and with empathy to criticism shows customers that the company values their feedback and is committed to improvement. Businesses often turn dissatisfied customers into loyal advocates by resolving their issues promptly and efficiently. A well-handled negative review can sometimes enhance a company's reputation more than a positive review.    Discrepancies between what a product or service promises and what it delivers can lead to customer dissatisfaction. Ensuring that marketing messages, sales pitches, and delivered services align is important in setting customer expectations, helps avoid misunderstandings, and ensures a smoother customer experience.     Plus, Shep and Michael share their stories of when they had to contact the CEO directly to provide feedback and get their problems resolved. Tune in!  Quote:   "An upset consumer (leaving a negative review) wants other customers not to suffer the same fate."     About:    Michael Podolsky is the CEO and сo-founder of PissedConsumer.com, a review and reputation management platform. He is an expert in customer service and leadership and advocates for consumers' free speech rights.    Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min
  2. Customer Experience Sells Featuring Arun Shastri

    12/24/2024

    Customer Experience Sells Featuring Arun Shastri

    How an Amazing Customer Experience Can Be a Differentiator for Your Brand  Shep Hyken interviews Arun Shastri, principal at ZS and the author of the Harvard Business Review Sales Management Handbook: How to Lead High-Performing Sales Teams. He talks about the intersection of sales and customer experience, the importance of digital and human interactions, and how they influence the overall customer journey.  This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    Why is including sales important in the overall plan for customer experience?  How can sales and customer service teams work together to make customers happier?  Why is digital technology key for a smooth customer experience?  What role does human interaction have in today's changing customer experience world?  How can companies create a customer-focused experience from before a purchase to after?  Top Takeaways:    Customer experience is the overall perception customers have based on their interactions with a brand, from the first web search to after the purchase. Ensuring a positive customer experience means simplifying and enriching every aspect of the customer's journey, product, and service.    Salespeople play a crucial role in shaping the customer experience. They help customers discover what they need, educate them about solutions, and build trust.     In both B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) industries, customers expect seamless and convenient experiences. Since we are all customers, B2C interactions often serve as a benchmark for B2B expectations. Customers are not only comparing you to your competitors. They are comparing you to the best customer experiences they have had from brands in every industry.    Digital technology serves as a valuable ally in improving customer experience. While digital channels can provide quick answers, they can't fully replace the need for human touch in more complex situations.     Brands should prioritize making every interaction efficient to respect and save the customer's time. Businesses that can reduce or eliminate time-wasting steps in a customer's journey will enhance their overall experience.     As customers evolve, so should businesses. Companies need to be attuned to the changing expectations and preferences of their customers so they can meet them effectively.    Plus, Shep and Arun share how salespeople and customer support teams can become trusted advisors to customers. Tune in!  Quote:   "Customer Experience is about the overall perception through every interaction between a customer and all aspects of the brand before, during, and after a purchase."    About:    Arun Shastri is a principal at ZS and the author of The Harvard Business Review Sales Management Handbook: How to Lead High-Performing Sales Teams. He is the cohost of Reinventing Customer Experience podcast and a teacher for sales executives at Kellogg.     Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    27 min
  3. How to Execute the Optimal Customer Experience Featuring John Durocher

    12/17/2024

    How to Execute the Optimal Customer Experience Featuring John Durocher

    Designing Impactful Customer and Community Engagement  Shep Hyken interviews John Durocher, Chief Customer Officer at Calix. He talks about creating a seamless customer experience by utilizing customer feedback, ensuring proactive communication, integrating teams, and leveraging community connections.  This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    How can companies integrate their sales and support teams to enhance customer interactions?   How can small businesses enhance customer support after a sale?  What are the benefits of a customer advisory board?  Why is it important for companies to proactively communicate when there are problems, service outages, or maintenance periods?  How can businesses create an emotional connection with their customers through community involvement?  Top Takeaways:    Companies can improve their service and product offerings by listening to customers. Engaging customers through surveys and advisory boards (made up of customers) allows companies to understand their customers’ needs and generate new ideas.     Customer surveys should be a two-way communication. Customers spend time answering customer feedback. So, companies should respond to the feedback by showing appreciation for their customers’ input and making them feel heard by letting them know what actions are taken.     Customer experience doesn't stop after a sale. It encompasses every interaction the customer has with the company. Each touchpoint should be designed to delight the customer, from when a product is purchased to when they receive any follow-up service or support.     Communication and collaboration between teams ensure that there are no gaps in service delivery. When a customer interacts with one team, they expect the entire company to be aware of their history and needs. They do not want to repeat themselves. Effective communication ensures a consistent and convenient customer journey.     Proactive communication alleviates customer frustration. When there is a problem,  businesses must proactively notify their customers using all appropriate channels, including text, emails, and social media, that their customers are using. This keeps customers informed about what's happening, how long a problem might last, and reassures them that it is being addressed.     Businesses that engage with the communities they serve often stand out. Customers like doing business with companies who value the same things as them.    Plus, John shares examples of how local broadband providers have gone above and beyond for their community during crucial moments. These are lessons for any type of business. Tune in!  Quote:   "It's important not to have gaps in the customer experience. You have to work and communicate as one team. Customers expect that what they have heard from the sales team will be consistent throughout your organization."      About:    John Durocher is the Chief Customer Officer at Calix. He is widely acknowledged as an expert in customer relationship management (CRM) and has contributed numerous articles and papers to industry and academic publications.  Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min
  4. The Gift of Customer Feedback Featuring Isabelle Zdatny

    12/10/2024

    The Gift of Customer Feedback Featuring Isabelle Zdatny

    Gathering, Acknowledging, and Responding to Customer Feedback  Shep Hyken interviews Isabelle Zdatny, Head of Thought Leadership with Qualtrics XM Institute. She talks about the importance of treating customer feedback as a valuable tool for improving customer experience, the decline in consumer feedback, and customer survey best practices.  This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    What is survey fatigue?  How can negative feedback act as a valuable tool in preventing customer churn?  Why should companies prioritize genuine feedback over high survey scores?  What are the best practices for creating effective and concise customer surveys?  How many chances do customers typically give companies after a poor experience?  Top Takeaways:    Customer feedback is a gift. Negative feedback uncovers areas for improvement, potentially saving businesses from losing customers to competitors.    Customer loyalty is fragile. High customer expectations and the ability to switch to competitors easily mean companies must work even harder to keep their consumers happy. "Nice to have" industries like online retailers, hospitality, and airlines must invest more in experience to establish trust and loyalty with their customers.     Customer service is increasingly becoming more important than price. More and more customers are willing to pay extra for convenient, hassle-free experiences.     Companies need to look beyond the Voice of the Customer. Other sources, such as customer history, support interactions, and social media, can help companies understand the full scope of their customers' experiences.     Isabelle shares stats from the 2025 Consumer Trends Report by Qualtrics. Here are some highlights:    61% of consumers shared that trust in the information that companies provide to them is a top priority.   53% of bad customer experiences result in a decrease in spending.  Customers are less willing to give feedback than they were a few years ago. Compared to 4 years ago, customer feedback after a bad experience has dropped by 8%. The number of customers who do not tell anyone about their experience has increased by over 6%    Plus, Shep and Isabelle discuss why getting honest feedback is more important than getting high metric scores. Tune in!  Quote:   "The overall quality of customer experiences has improved. What's changing is customer expectations. Consumers are less tolerant of bad experiences, so when they happen, they are more likely to either decrease or stop spending money on a business."  About:    Isabelle Zdatny is the Head of Thought Leadership with Qualtrics Experience Management Institute. She produces industry-leading content on experience management trends and best practices, including the 2025 Consumer Trends Report.    Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min
  5. Mastering the Customer Experience Featuring Edwin Margulies

    12/03/2024

    Mastering the Customer Experience Featuring Edwin Margulies

    How to Reduce Friction and Create Customer Loyalty  Shep Hyken interviews Edwin Margulies, Chief Evangelist at Nextiva. He talks about his book, Mastering the Customer Experience, understanding customer needs, and simplifying customer interactions.  This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    How can companies effectively integrate new technology into existing systems to enhance customer experience?  Why is creating a frictionless customer experience important, and how can businesses achieve it?  Why is understanding consumer behavior crucial for improving customer experience?  What role does technology play in transforming the customer experience?  Why should your customer experience strategies align with corporate goals?  Top Takeaways:    The customer experience has become the most important differentiator between companies. It's not just about the products or services offered but the entire journey and interactions a customer have with a brand.    A frictionless experience leads to happy customers and a stronger relationship with the brand. Eliminating unnecessary steps and making processes more convenient can create a significant impact on customer experience.    Customers today are more educated and demanding than ever before. With information at their fingertips, they often know as much or more than the agents assisting them. Businesses must adapt by providing tailored, knowledgeable, and efficient customer service.     Edwin Margulies developed an  8-step process to help businesses tackle CX improvements:    Teaming and Goal-Setting: Understand the corporate goals and ensure that your CX goals are aligned with them. Secure support from leadership by ensuring that they understand the return on investment in the customer experience initiative.  Transaction Taxonomy: Make an account of the different types of transactions you are already doing. Then, categorize all customer interactions to identify where improvements can be made.  Customer Maturity Model: Evaluate your appetite as a company to determine how advanced you want to go in terms of CX capabilities.  Mapping Volume and Complexity: Prioritize interactions to improve by analyzing how complex and frequent they are.   Workflow Candidates: Identify specific processes that are ideal for optimization and automation.  Rationalize Business Rules and Policies: Avoid potential errors by aligning your organization's current policies with the new automated processes.  High-Level Workflow Worksheets: Map current to future workflows to see where you can enhance the customer journey.  CX Best Practices Template: Develop a blueprint combining all the moving parts for seamless implementation.    Plus, Edwin shares more insights from his book, Mastering the Customer Experience. Tune in!  Quote:   "The modern consumer is a wily beast. They are demanding, and they want great service. They want personalization. They don't want to repeat themselves. They want to communicate on the channel of their choice, and they self-publish, giving them a megaphone on the experience."    About:    Edwin Margulies is the Chief Evangelist at Nextiva. He is a serial entrepreneur and is the author of 19 books, including his latest, Mastering the Customer Experience.    Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    29 min
  6. How AI Transforms Customer Support Into Customer Engagement Featuring Christina McAllister

    11/26/2024

    How AI Transforms Customer Support Into Customer Engagement Featuring Christina McAllister

    Using AI to Help Human Agents Connect and Build Relationships with Customers  Shep Hyken interviews Christina McAllister, senior analyst at Forrester. She talks about the evolving role of AI in contact centers and how it enhances, customer service, human interactions, and deepens customer relationships without losing the human touch.  This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    How does modern AI enhance the efficiency of customer interactions in contact centers?  How can AI anticipate customer needs and offer better solutions in customer service?  What are the common fears among leadership when adopting AI solutions in customer support?  How can automation in customer service lead to improved human interaction?  Why is maintaining human contact in contact centers still important despite AI advancements?  Top Takeaways:      Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a huge part of customer service. Unlike old chatbots that needed programs to predict every possible question, Generative AI learns from conversations and understands the intent behind questions, which makes customer support and engagement much smoother.     Customer service isn't just about solving problems anymore. It's about engaging customers. Even with current technological advancements, human interaction remains crucial for resolving complex issues. By having real conversations, businesses can strengthen relationships and even create opportunities for more revenue through upselling. Engaging with customers on a personal level can lead to happier, more satisfied, and loyal customers.    Leaders are grappling with FOMO (fear of missing out) and FOMU (fear of messing up) when adopting AI. There's a genuine fear of missing out on the opportunities AI presents and a fear of messing up by investing in the wrong technologies. It's a delicate balance between innovation and smart adoption.    Automation, just like every new technology, often raises concerns about job loss. While digital experiences handle basic inquiries well, complex issues still require human intervention. Automation can impact jobs but also presents new opportunities for meaningful work. Businesses can choose to reassign employees to roles that focus on deeper customer interactions. For example, automating repetitive tasks can free up agents to handle more personalized interactions, enhancing the customer experience.     AI's magic isn't just about answering questions. It's also about predicting what customers might need next. By analyzing patterns, AI can alert you to better deals or cost-saving opportunities you might not be aware of. This proactive approach, powered and made scalable by AI, makes customers feel valued and understood.    Plus, Christina shares the long-neglected foundations, like knowledge management and understanding agent workflows, that investing in AI has brought to the surface. Tune in!  Quote:   "There's a significant shift happening in the industry—from merely providing support to actively engaging with customers. The ability to personalize relationships, even through beneficial upsells, marks a new era of customer service."    About:    Christina McAllister is a senior analyst at Forrester. She helps customer service and customer experience (CX) leaders transform their strategies and capabilities in the age of the customer. Her research focuses on how technology and AI can enhance customer and agent experience.  Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    30 min
  7. Delivering the Brand Promise Featuring Laura Richard

    11/19/2024

    Delivering the Brand Promise Featuring Laura Richard

    Creating a Company Identity That Transforms Customer Experience  Shep Hyken interviews Laura Richard, Principal at Level5 Strategy and one of the 2023 Woman Leaders in Consulting. She talks about the essence of branding and its role in customer experience, employee engagement, and business growth.  This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    What is a brand promise?  What is the role of branding in enhancing the customer experience?  How can businesses define their brand to impact customer relationships meaningfully?  How does empowering employees align with a company's brand promise?  Why is it important for employees to share the same values as the brand they work for?  Top Takeaways:    A brand promise is a company's commitment to its customers, defining what they can expect every time they interact with the brand. It is the guiding principle that all the decisions of an organization are centered on.     A brand true to its promise creates value, builds trust, and fosters long-lasting relationships that benefit the customer and bring financial success to the business over time.    Understand what matters most to the customers you want to build a relationship with. Know what they want to get and how they want to feel as a result of engaging with the brand.     In a competitive market, a strong brand sets a company apart from competitors and creates an emotional connection with customers. For example, Nike empowers its customers with the motto "Just Do It," and Patagonia focuses on sustainability.    Employees are essential in upholding the brand promise. When a company clearly defines its brand promise and values, it can attract employees who naturally resonate with those principles.    Companies should identify which touchpoints are "table stakes," meaning basic expectations that must be met, but not necessarily exceeded. They should also focus their resources on the "moments of truth," the interactions that emotionally impact customers and can significantly deepen relationships.     Plus, Shep and Laura discuss how convenience and consistency drive loyalty. Tune in!  Quote:   "When people hear the word brand, they think of the logo, tagline, or marketing campaigns. But a brand truly is the company's identity, the common set of truths the organization needs to deliver to create value for its customers and employees."    About:    Laura Richard is a Principal at Level5 Strategy and one of the 2023 Woman Leaders in Consulting. She is Chair of the Board of ParticipACTION, Canada's leading advocate for physical activity.  Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    27 min
  8. Exploring the Intersection of Branding and Customer Experience Featuring Joanne Chan

    11/12/2024

    Exploring the Intersection of Branding and Customer Experience Featuring Joanne Chan

    Building a Brand Customers Love  Shep Hyken interviews Joanne Chan, CEO of Turner Duckworth, a world-class branding agency with studios in San Francisco, London, and New York. She talks about how brands like Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Levi Strauss & Co. infuse a clear vision and emotional connection in their branding to communicate a customer-focused experience.  This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more:    How can a company integrate customer service into its branding strategy?  What role does customer experience play in brand loyalty?  What are the key elements of a logo or brand identity that influence customer experience?  Why is it essential for brands to infuse emotion into their visual identity systems?  How should companies handle feedback to improve their brand's customer experience?  Top Takeaways:      Branding is crucial for any company because it defines how customers perceive the business. A strong logo and brand identity can create emotional connections with customers, making them more loyal and engaged.     Successful branding involves creativity and an understanding of what the brand represents. A great logo or brand can stand the test of time while still resonating with new customers, like Amazon's smile logo, which emotionally connects the customer to a happy experience and communicates that Amazon sells everything from A to Z.      In any business relationship, listening is vital to understanding client needs and expectations. Listening helps you create solutions that cater to the client's specific requirements. Listening with empathy throughout the partnership can nurture long-lasting relationships and repeat business.    Everyone makes mistakes, and in business, you must handle them well. When a mistake happens, take responsibility, listen to your customers, and work to solve the problem together. Owning and handling mistakes well shows your customers that you are reliable and committed to delivering an amazing experience.    Creating a brand involves more than just a name or logo. It's about evoking emotions. This involves using design to speak to the heart of what the consumer cares about. That’s part of the customer experience.    The new generation of customers interacts with brands differently. They expect personalized and engaging experiences. Brands must be flexible and adaptable while maintaining consistency.    Plus, Joanne shares how her team came up with the Amazon logo and how they purpose-built it for the future. Tune in!  Quote:   "To infuse a brand with personality, marketers need to understand that brands are a way to communicate with their customers. The more emotion you infuse into a visual identity system, the more connection you can have with your customers."    About:    Joanne Chan is the CEO of Turner Duckworth. They managed packaging and brand identity projects for clients like Amazon, Coca-Cola, Levi Strauss & Co., and Samsung.  Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    28 min
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About

Amazing Business Radio features customer service expert and New York Times bestselling author Shep Hyken who interviews leading business professionals and other customer experience experts. Each guest shares tips and insights on how to succeed in business. The bright business minds featured on Amazing Business Radio come from all over the world and include viral video stars, corporate CEOs, bestselling authors, thought leaders, and many other inspiring personalities. The show covers a variety of topics related to customer service and customer experience and will provide answers that listeners need to know in order to take their success to the next level. Amazing Business Radio airs every week on, itunes, Soundcloud, and other platforms and channels.

Information

  • Creator
    Shep Hyken & C-Suite Radio
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2024
  • Episodes
    514
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Amazing Business Radio

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