Buffer: Customer Service and Heroes
Corina Manea is one of the many wonderful people I’ve met through this blog over the years. And the best part? She’s from Spain! Yet another example of technology connecting like-minded people from across the world. Corina has thoughtfully commented on my blog many times in the last couple years, so I thought I’d give her the floor today. She has an interesting–and inspiring–story to tell about her experience with Buffer.Â
When I first found out about Buffer (few months ago), it was by chance, but I liked what I read about it and I said I´d give it a shot. So, I signed up for the free option and started using it for my social profiles. I did not expect to be so easy to use and my first question (to myself, of course) was: “That’s it? That’s all I have to do to schedule my posts?”
One day I discovered I had problems to login and I decided to write to Buffer and see what they had to say. What I did not expect was they would answer within 5 minutes from sending the email.
I enclose the answer received, so you have a better idea of what I am talking about:
Needless to say, that after exchanging a couple of emails, my problem was solved.
What stuck with me was the absolute excellent customer service Buffer has.  And it all starts with the way they see themselves. From the “happiness hero” to the “weekend warrior” or “android hacker” and even “life saver”, the roles in the company are 100% client oriented. They are not there to sell, they are there to help you, the customer.
Now please show me another company that has this approach! I am not saying they are the only ones, I am saying they are among few that have understood how to thrive in customer service.
You might say: they are a tech company, they can do anything. Wrong! They are a company that put the client first, a company that has a message to deliver and found a unique way to do so, along with an outstanding customer service.
Someone once told me: the “x” product is not cool enough to communicate. Well, you are the storyteller, it’s in your hands to find ingenious ways to communicate an uncool product or service. It’s up to you to make people fall in love with your product and your company. But you know what: you have to fall in love with the product/service/company first. If you don´t believe in it, nobody will. And Buffer believes in their mission to help people spread the news in social media.
Buffer sums it all: they have a great product, easy to use (we all want those, don´t we?!), they are a cool company and found an innovative way to communicate their message out there.
I believe Buffer sets a trend soon to be followed by many: put your client first, put your employees first and everything else will follow.
Every message you get from them whether it is an answer to your emails or from using the app, are positive, personalized and meant to cheer you up. Tell me it doesn´t make you smile the message bellow!
You feel good when receiving this kind of messages, you feel “heard” and probably most important, you feel ready to got to buffer app and schedule some posts.
Customer care, whether you work in PR, tech, accounting or railway (you get the point) is the most important part of a company and the most undervalued nowadays. No matter how great is your product, if you are not able to communicate well and give outstanding customer care service, you’ll loose big time.
What Buffer does different is it personalizes and humanizes the relationship with the client. From every email or message you receive, you are treated as a human being, not as a number, not as a machine and, above all, they really put in the effort to solve your problem and quickly.
I always say that if you care about your customer you put in the effort, you make that extra step to make him/her happy and willing to come back or recommend you.
Treat people with respect and genuine kindness and you will win them forever. They will gladly do stuffs for you. This is pure psychology. Whether you are in PR or customer care you can apply it on a daily basis.
Way to go Buffer for taking customer care service to the next level!
Corina Manea is a Madrid based PR professional with more than 10 years experience in banking and communications. Passionate about PR, social media and traveling, she blogs at Nuts About PR (her blog), is a contributor for Everything PR, covering Communication and PR news from Spain, and travel news on Argophilia.
- Published in Guest Posts
Does an online degree make you suitable for a real-world job?
Little off-topic today, but it’s an interesting discussion. Can on online degree help you find a *real* job? Like many, I’m a bit skeptical of online degrees. I know University of Phoenix this. Capella University that. But, I just tend to think you get a whole lot more from that classroom interaction. I’m happy to be proved wrong–and, keep in mind, just my opinion. Like I said, it’s an interesting discussion. Would love to hear your thoughts. Let’s hear what today’s guest poster, Tess Pajaron has to say…
In a world of ever increasing digital access from smartphones to tablets and wi-fi everywhere, the shift to online trends is inevitable. And while some people fear this shift, others are making it with leaps and bounds taking advantage of every opportunity they can get to work and live in a digital setting. The dream of accessing your office or classroom from a laptop in a coffee shop or on the beach is a real one for many people in upcoming generations, and for this reason it is no wonder why so many people have opted to free themselves from set hours to work and study how they choose.
Online classrooms have popped up all across the internet. With them has come the doubt that anyone can actually get a decent education without the interaction from a professor or other classmates. And while this may be true, online classrooms are actually gaining a positive reputation that they will be put in closer touch with other students and teachers and can collaborate more effectively online.
The benefits are plentiful for this method of learning, but one other fear that strikes the hearts of every student is whether an online degree can lead to a real world job. While they may enjoy the flexibility of being able to study behind a computer screen, they would prefer to get out and work in an office or in a profession doing what they love. So can an online degree lead to a real world job?
Here are a few reasons why the answer to that question is a resounding yes!
Show off your smarts by picking the right school
While we do live in an age with enhanced digital communications, it does not mean that every institute that pops up on the internet is a valid one. An employer will want to know where you got your degree, and while letting them know it was through an online degree program will not affect how they perceive your education, telling them where the degree was earned from will.
Many well-respected institutions provide their students with options to obtain an online degree. You must do your homework and determine if the place where you want to earn your online degree is one that will make you look like an innovative, outstanding student or one that will hold you back from future employment. To help boost the credibility behind the institution you choose, always add accreditation to your resume to show your employer you did your research.
Online learning is still hands-on
Throughout your class via the internet, you will not be left out in the open to fend for yourself. Instead, you will still work with other students via web-based collaboration. This method of working together and completing projects is one that will be carried into the real world as well.
With more companies doing business online and bridging the geographic gap through internet-based collaboration, you can show your future employers that you have a leg up on the competition because of your already real-world experience working in this setting. In the cover letter and in your interview be sure to make mention of how applicable an online degree is to real world working experience. This will get you a better shot at landing your dream job because of your ability to be versatile in the workplace and innovative in new solutions.
More options for your job search
In the real world, it is expected that people know how to use the internet, can adapt quickly to new technology situations, and are digitally streamlined to work in this day and age. With an online degree, you immediately put your experience into real world job requirements. This experience can open up more doors for you than people who have stuck with a more traditional classroom approach.
Corporations are sending their employees to school to receive certifications and trainings online. This is perceived as leading edge and a more cost-effective time saving approach. With your experience proving that you not only have the ability to earn a degree online, but that you were innovative enough to recognize the benefits to how it could help potential future employers, you will stand out from the crowd.
Don’t be afraid to take your classroom online and work in the digital age. If you choose the right college, your ability to be flexible as well as smart about your approach to schooling will open more doors for you in the long run on the job market.
Tess Pajaron is part of the team behind OpenColleges. She holds a background in business administrative management and a social media enthusiast. She can be also seen on her social media profile at Google+.
Note: Photo courtesy of ax2groin via FlickR Creative Commons.
- Published in Guest Posts