Customer service communities give you more than you can expect. Look at our list of the top groups.
The importance of strong customer service management is often overlooked, but the numbers speak for themselves when it comes to retaining current customers over acquiring new ones.
So, how does one go about optimizing their customer service and ensuring they have the skills necessary in order to do so?
Traditionally, it was a case of taking (and paying for) education. But, are you really learning everything you can via a pre-written curriculum? Or is it also good to have your finger on the pulse with industry trends, tips, and advice as they happen and as they are experienced by others? If so, there’s something to definitely be said about the importance of being part of one or multiple communities.
Luckily, there are some magnificent ones out there catering to customer service professionals.
Customer service management communities are online forums where customer service professionals can share best practices, advice, and tips. These communities can be a valuable resource for both new and experienced customer service representatives.
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Some popular customer service management communities include:
- NACSMA ( The North American Customer Service Management Association)
- Support Driven
- The Forum for Customer Service Managers & Professionals
- CS In Focus
- Preflight
- NCSA (The National Customer Service Association)
- The Customer Success Network
These communities offer a wealth of resources that can help customer service professionals improve their skills in providing better service to their customers. In addition, they can also be a great place to network with other customer service professionals.
One of the biggest benefits is being in direct contact with customer service managers who have been in the industry for a long time and being able to network with them directly and exchange ideas. Many communities also may offer discounts on products, services, and education as well as provide members with up-to-date articles, news, and trends in the industry.
1. The NACSMA
The North American Customer Service Management Association (NACSMA) is a professional association dedicated to providing customer service management professionals with the resources and support they need to excel in their roles. NACSMA provides its members with access to training and development opportunities, networking and peer-to-peer support, and advocacy on behalf of the customer service profession.
NACSMA also works to promote customer service excellence through research, public awareness, and Standards for the Practice of Customer Service Management.
Check out their LinkedIn Community at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1903396/
2. Support Driven
The Support Driven Customer Support community is a group of like-minded individuals who are passionate about providing world-class customer support. They believe that customer support is a critical function within any organization and should be treated as such. They share best practices, discuss techniques, and provide support to one another in order to continuously improve the quality of customer support.
If you’re interested in joining, apply to join the community at: https://www.supportdriven.com/
3. The Forum For Customer Service Managers & Professionals
The Forum for Customer Service Managers & Professionals is a community of customer service professionals who share ideas, advice, and best practices. The forum is a great place to ask questions, get advice, and learn from others in the field.
The forum is moderated by customer service experts who are available to answer your questions and help you troubleshoot issues. The moderators also keep the forum organized and up-to-date with the latest information on customer service trends and developments.
If you’re looking for a place to connect with other customer service professionals, exchange ideas, and get expert advice, then the Forum for Customer Service Managers & Professionals, join here: https://www.customerservicemanager.com/community/
4. CS In Focus
The CS in focus slack community is a great place for customer service professionals to network, collaborate, and learn from each other. With over 3,000 members, it’s one of the largest and most active customer service-focused slack communities out there.
In addition to networking and collaboration, the CS in focus slack community also offers members access to exclusive content, discounts, and resources.
If you’re looking for a supportive community of like-minded customer service professionals, join here: https://csinfocus.slack.com
5. The Customer Success Network
The Customer Success peer-learning community is a workplace community of over 5000 members with 13,000 members on LinkedIn. The community offers a great avenue to learn from and connect with other customer success professionals. The community offers a variety of resources, including articles, guides, webinars, and more, to help you be successful in your role.
In addition, the community provides a platform for networking and collaboration, so you can share best practices and ideas with others in the field. Whether you’re new to customer success or a seasoned veteran, the Customer Success peer-learning community can help you take your career to the next level.
You can join the community, here: https://customersuccess.network/#join
6. The NCSA
The National Customer Service Association (NCSA) is a professional association dedicated to improving customer service and support. The NCSA provides resources, training, and networking opportunities for customer service and support professionals. The organization also advocates for customer service and support issues at the national level.
The association aims to provide members with the knowledge and capability to build and maintain long-term customer relationships. They offer a lot of resources for you and your organization from the many effective techniques for marketing, customer relations, and employee training and education.
Find out more and join the NCSA, here: https://nationalcsa.com/index.php
7. Preflight
The preflight Community for Customer Onboarding is a private community for new and upcoming customer onboarding and success teams. The goal of this community is to help these teams connect with each other, share best practices, and create a forum for discussion around the challenges and opportunities of customer onboarding. This community is open to any team that is responsible for customer onboarding or success, regardless of size or industry.
If you’re looking for a place to ask questions, get advice, and share your own best practices, the preflight Community for Customer Onboarding is the perfect place for you. You can apply by leaving your email at: https://www.preflight.cx/
8. The Zendesk Slack Community
The Zendesk slack community is a great place to connect with startup founders and service managers to discuss all things Zendesk and customer support. From tips and tricks to best practices, the community is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to using Zendesk to power your startup.
The Zendesk slack community can provide you with a number of benefits, including:
- Access to best practices and tips from other customer service managers.
- A forum to ask questions and get advice from your peers.
- A place to share resources and collaborate with others in the field.
- A way to stay up-to-date on news and developments in the customer service industry.
- An opportunity to connect with other like-minded professionals from around the world.
The easiest way to access the community is via https://zendeskforstartups.com
Access the signup page directly, here: https://airtable.com/shrseumRuFnljut3o
9. Facebook Communities
While Facebook communities aren’t the most active, there are a few that might be helpful and convenient to view the content from if you are active on Facebook.
- Customer Service Management Group (139 members) – This group often has posts an articles from industry professionals. In their profile, they state a focus on shaping your ECA (Empathy, Control & Advocacy), a method to handle an occurring conflict with customers. Access: https://www.facebook.com/groups/978650646222515/
- Customer Service & Relationship Management Hub (406 members) – The essence of this group is to share ideas on what service really is. Members share experiences and talk about how to improve the quality of their services and manage their customer relationships effectively. Access: https://www.facebook.com/groups/301217806928840/
- Zendesk Support Hacks (255 Members) – This group is for everyone, whether you’re an entrepreneur, founder, or customer support agent, this group aims to help you get better at what you do, learn, and grow. Access: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2166239333606237
- LiveAgent Group for Customer Service & Customer Support Professionals (384 Members) – This group accompanies the LiveAgent platform for call centers and has discussions and shares posts on what’s new in the industry especially with regard to call center professionals. Access: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LiveAgent
Wrap Up
The saying goes, “you are the average of the five people spend the most time with.” While this applies in all areas of your life, I feel it is the most important when it comes to your professional life and how you bring value to your community and industry using the skills you possess.
Thanks to the internet in general, we are no longer limited by who we are able to build relationships with, and when it comes to becoming the best you can possibly be in your industry, you can quite literally handpick the best people to surround yourself with or learn from via online communities.
Thankfully, when it comes to customer service management, there are a plethora of active and valuable communities available to you. I hope the ones I’ve provided aid in your continued growth and development.
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