There’s a lot that goes into running a successful business, and coming up with products or services people not only need but want to buy is only part of the equation. 

It’s also about keeping people happy and meeting their expectations, especially once you’ve successfully converted them into paying customers.

Overall, you want to treat both existing and potential customers to a terrific experience from start to finish. 

That process starts before someone buys and continues until long after they’ve completed a purchase. 

But in order to do things properly, you need a solid understanding of customer empathy. 

Here’s a closer look at what it is, why it matters, and how you can incorporate it into your ongoing business strategy.

6. Spend time using your own products and services

Another great way to plant yourself firmly in your customer’s shoes and walk a mile in them is to personally test the items your company sells. 

You already know what it is, how it should work, and what you expect it to do for your customer. 

Putting it to the test yourself is one of the easiest, most effective ways to identify product flaws and potential improvements.

You’ll also boost your capacity for customer empathy considerably. 

If you have trouble with something or find a particular feature frustrating, just imagine how your customers must feel when they run into the same issues.

It’s surprising how often a business leader can go months without actually touching their own product as a typical user would. That distance makes it way too easy to assume everything’s fine—or at least “good enough.” But honestly, when you sit down and struggle through a finicky signup flow, or you get hit with an annoying instruction that even you don’t quite get, it’s humbling. Suddenly, those tiny problems aren’t so tiny anymore. In the long run, these are the sorts of oversights that add up and give your competitors a leg up.

There’s also something to be said for the awkwardness of seeing your brand through unfiltered eyes. You might feel a pinch of embarrassment at a clunky interface or realize some of your FAQ answers don’t actually make sense. And while nobody enjoys that feeling, it’s pretty useful—it means you can fix it before customers get too frustrated or, worse, never come back. That’s kind of the job: catching the tough stuff early, then swallowing your pride and making things better.

7. Establish and maintain sky-high standards

Picture the last time you gave a new product or service a try, and it drastically exceeded your expectations. 

The experience probably felt life-changing and left you wondering where on earth this incredible solution had been your whole life. 

Aim for that reaction with every single one of your customers, and it’s hard to go wrong.

Keep in mind that the world is full of products that are good, adequate, or satisfactory. It’s the ones that really wow people that become runaway successes and yield loyal, satisfied, delighted customers.

Wrap Up: Customer Empathy Is the Key to World-Class Customer Service

Stellar customer service isn’t just important when it comes to the success of your business. It’s everything. 

But while outstanding customer experiences can work wonders for a person’s loyalty and willingness to do business again, it only takes one awful experience to undo all your hard work. 

Mastering the fine art of customer empathy is the key to keeping people happy across the board.

Ready to learn more about how to better empathize with your customers and improve your bottom line? 

Check out our expert tips on how to identify and rectify weak points in your business model that could lead to bad customer service.

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