Be The Change: Staying Afloat In A Sea of Competition
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Mahatama Gandhi is credited with these timeless words of wisdom, which have inspired many people for decades. Though spoken in an era that couldn’t possibly fathom how truly borderless our world would become, that quote is extremely relevant today.
The internet has vastly changed how everyone across the globe lives; from spending and purchasing, communicating and awareness issues, social media platforms have catapulted the economy, businesses, and causes to the forefront of this new world in ways that would have seemed improbable merely even a decade ago.
With the click of a fingertip, distance becomes non-existent to individuals. Whether acting as a consumer seeking out a product, or a concerned citizen trying to keep abreast of global issues, social media has made image and brand awareness critical to voices being heard.
In essence, if you are a business owner, no matter how large or small your company or brand, you must be aware of customer service satisfaction, how your brand is perceived and social issues and concerns, as your customer base is highly likely to be aware of your practices, who you do business with and how well you respond to your clients.
How will you stay afloat among the waves in a sea of global competition?
World-renowned customer retention, development and loyalty expert Peter Shankman is adamant that you separate yourself from your competitors by providing exceptional customer service, and that every employee is crucial to playing a role in this. From the CEO of your company down to each organizational member, your message needs to be strong, united, and true.
Peter’s best selling books are cult favorites among customer service and business growth experts, and he is frequently featured on international programs, especially when massive social media gaffes or brand mistakes have been made. He is simply the expert in this area and often his commentary on how the errors could have been avoided and how they should be dealt with after is quoted across the globe. (Of course, Peter also wields an impressive customer base that includes such organizations as NASA and American Express, who have clearly recognized and benefited from his aptitude and acumen within this arena.)
As a global citizen, I live between the United States and Dubai, and I’ve had the unique opportunity to observe the vast differences in cultures and messaging, especially when it comes to how Western and Eastern cultures struggle with understanding their global audience where literally anyone can be your customer. Cross-cultural communications is critical to building and retaining a customer base and businesses and brands must recognize that a message built for one audience won’t necessarily “play well” with another.
Expo2020, which will be held in Dubai has foreseen the vast changes that are coming to the UAE and MENA region as borders continue to crumble thanks to the internet. The theme of this expo, which is the first to be held in the Middle East, is themed “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, which will “serve as a catalyst, connecting minds from around the world and inspiring participants to mobilize around shared challenges, during a World Expo of unprecedented global scope, under the sub-themes of: Mobility, Sustainability & Opportunity,” according to their website.
This means that if you’re an international brand or organization, or a business located in Dubai or the Middle East, you need to start focusing NOW on how to build your customer base and keep them as loyal customers. Waiting until 2020 to think about these things will certainly leave you in the dust of your competitors as they strive to become more and more savvy when dealing with the truth that everyone now has a global reputation to uphold.
In order to make your world the world that you want to live in, you must be driven to change it and be a leader in that arena.
For more information on how to grow the bottom line of your business, contact me at info@drnasrine.com today.
