Anna Agoncillo, Author at MoneyDigest.sg

How To Handle The Toughest Online Complaints

Supporting your customers does not always make you right, but it is about making things right. You are more likely to keep your customer if your resolved a situation fully. Deal with the toughest online complaints by following these tips:

Keep It Subjective

In my experience as an Administrative Officer, email scripts were extremely helpful. I answered queries and complaints with ease as we had several fixed templates in our repertoire. However, customers get frustrated after opening a generic email where some questions were left unanswered. This is why your reply must be tailored to the problem of your customer.

A good trick to try is to “copy and paste” the entire content of your customer’s email. Break it up into workable chunks in order to address every issue. This way you will be able to ensure that you respond appropriately to every paragraph.

Not Too Late To Say Sorry

No business is spotless or perfect. Instead of concealing your flaws, it is best to own up to them. Acknowledge your mistakes and think of the potential solutions. Perhaps, you can offer a voucher or discount as compensation.

Post a sincere apology as people will be quick to realize if your apology is scripted. Show your humane side by seeking a natural tone. Translate this tone as you type your message.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Provide Peace Offering/s

As I said above, you may provide applicable compensation. It may be in the form of discounts, vouchers, coupons, refunds, free merchandise, and free classes. Do not hesitate to shower your customer with compensation after a failure in product or service.

A research showed that 58% of complaining customers who received a gift in the mail were delighted. This goes to show that your efforts will be rewarded with increased customer confidence and satisfaction.

Conversations Must Extend Offline

Polarization, the emergence of two views that drive groups apart, occur when conflicts are stirred in public. All communications on social media platforms are in the public eye. Instead of allowing negative comments to flood, deal with the issue offline. Directly communicate with the significant person face-to-face.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Doing so will prevent the situation from escalating. Stay calm, firm, and polite during the encounter.

Sources: 1 & 2

Do You Have These Harmful Attitudes About Money?

Having a wrongful attitude toward money can cost you in the long run. The earlier you alter your belief system, the sooner it will pay off. Here just some of the attitudes that you can slash off:

“MONEY IS NOT VALUABLE!”

If you relieve the weight on your finances, you may start spending carelessly. Saying money does not matter is like saying that you can live in Singapore without having to work. Money is valuable as it lets you exercise choice. You can choose to change jobs or to retire early. It helps you to afford the options that will change the way you live.

“I WILL REMAIN FINANCIALLY ILLITERATE.”

Just because you never attained a “Diploma in Banking and Finance” does not mean that you cannot learn to manage your wealth properly. Having the negative attitude that you are not good with money can increase the fallout in your finances. This ideology is more common than you think.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

According to Kathleen Kingsbury, a financial author and money coach, women typically complain about being too stupid to learn about finance. This is not true! Since women learn by conversing, realize that your lack of financial knowledge is due to the lack of socialization related to money. An individual may join an educational club about personal finance as a solution. These matters can be applied to main as well.

“IT IS NOT POLITE TO TALK ABOUT MONEY.”

As we live in a predominately Asian nation, talking about salary or money in general is taboo. This may lead to poorly equipped individuals. You see, money has been a source of many conflicts. This is why most people skip this topic.

The downside is blatant ignorance. It is your duty to separate money facts from fiction. To get your facts straight, you must search for answers. You may not get the right information if you remain silent. People may not be able to help you in huge monetary decisions too.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Do you have these harmful financial attitudes? Perhaps, it is time for change.

Sources: 1 & 2

5 Creative Ways To Earn Money This Yuletide Season

This is the season to be jolly. Parties, presents, and all the festivities do not come cheap! You can easily be trapped into months worth of debt if you remain careless. This is why you must find a few creative ways to earn extra money.

1. RECYCLE YOUR STUFF

Your unwanted pile of trash can turn into treasures thru a single environmentally friendly act – recycling. Some individuals, especially in developing countries, make a living by selling scrap. Do something similar by submitting your trash into one of Veolia’s recycling station. Veolia’s Cash-For-Trash Programme started in May 2014. Since then, various stations were set up within the HDB estates.

Papers can earn you about 10 cents per kilogram while, old clothing can earn you about 30 cents per kilogram. Aluminum cans can earn you about 50 cents while, metal tins can earn you about 10 cents. The distinct prices of your items depend on the quantity and material.

2. SPREE FOR FREE

Wouldn’t it be nice if the cost of your holiday shopping was generously covered? I know it sounds counterproductive to make money by spending money, but it is possible!

The people that shop for a living are called Mystery Shoppers. Mystery Shoppers are paid by the company’s marketing department to report about their experiences as they try the said company’s services or buy their goods. Accepting this job will entail getting paid for your time as well as for the items that you bought.

Eager to be one? Check out the current job openings at Gumtree.

3. WORK MORE THAN USUAL

I am going to impart one of the most efficient ways to make more money in the remaining days of December. This is none other than hustling at your current job. Work overtime and take extra projects. You may be tasked to widen the referral system or input hundreds of data. Just take on the task that no one else wants and receive appropriate payment for it.

4. WRAP FOR FEE

As the eldest of three siblings, I experienced wrapping gifts for several friends and family members. It is undeniably a chore that most people do not appreciate. This is why gift wrapping enthusiasts and alike can offer their skills for a fee. Purchase colored papers, festive ribbons, and gift tags in bulk to save more money.

If you can sell your service in a cheaper rate than what the shopping malls are asking then, you can easily hit the jackpot.

5. SELL YOUR SNAPS

Have you ever been attracted to the images attached in the online blogs and other advertisements? Most of these eye-catching features were from the company’s stock images. Stock images consist of photographs that are usually licensed for specific purposes. Companies pay decent amount of cash for these.

If photography is a special part of your talent reservoir, consider selling your masterpiece. Companies are in constant need for images for their websites, brochures, cards, blogs, and other projects. Start by selling your snaps on Shutterstock. Each website works differently so read through the guidelines first before you commit.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Source: INC

How To Create A Healthy Workplace

A healthy workplace allows its employees to focus on producing quality products and services. This type of organization leads the key-players to work on development and growth.

On that note, here are 3 ways to build a healthy workplace:

Attach Positive Meaning To The Tasks

Experts in Employee Motivation have been following the framework of the “Job Characteristics Theory“. The theory, developed by Hackman and Oldham, included task significance. Task significance adds meaning to the assignments or projects in order to increase the employee’s efficiency. It highlights how one contributes to a wider scope beyond himself. For instance, the employee will be motivated more if the compensation scheme benefits everyone in the firm.

Studies by Social Science Professor Adam Grant found that telesales teams who were exposed to positive testimonials before their shifts performed significantly better than the control group (i.e., group without intervention). Giving meaning to the tasks improved the employees’ effectiveness.

Make The Space Vibrant And Stimulating

Decorating the dull office with colorful walls can freshen the minds and stimulate thoughts. Paint the walls orange to induce happiness and warmth. It can also increase the employees’ energy levels. Paint the walls blue to induce intelligence and mental calmness. Research has shown that people who are inside the blue rooms are more productive.

Conducive lighting must also be considered in order to take care of the employees’ health.

Offer More Flexibility And Freedom

As a member of the Millennials club, I can attest that many of us dislike structural tasks. Lack of opportunities for development and growth is a part of the reasons why Millennials quickly file their resignations. This why it is easy to gravitate towards jobs that integrate flexibility and freedom. Just observe how common freelancing is right now.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

People who are given reasonable freedom to shape their own roles lead to increased engagement, according to a study. Consider providing this luxury to your employees.

Sources: 1 , 2, & 3

Delicious And Affordable Places For Spicy Dishes

Singapore is a melting pot of various cuisines that cater to all sorts of palettes including the burning one. By burn, I am pointing out the dishes that evoke a desired intraoral sensation by putting spices such as chilli (or chili) peppers and curry. Fortunately, satisfying your cravings for spicy food does not have to come with a price tag that is beyond S$40!

NAKHON KITCHEN

Image Credits: AngieKayExplorer via hungrygowhere.com

For people who love Thai food as much as I do, scouting for an affordable yet authentic restaurant can be a hobby. Look no further than the casual experience that Nakhon Kitchen can bring. Most of its dishes are reasonably priced for as low as S$6. However, its seafood dishes range from S$10-12.

Going back to the topic at hand, Nakhon Kitchen’s resident Tom Yam Soup is a reward for the spicy food enthusiasts. The extremely spicy soup is garnished with the generous amount of chicken and seafood. The distinctive aroma of lemongrass and the taste of sourness will win your heart in the first bite alone.

Location: 212 Hougang Street 21 #01-341, Singapore 530212

KKO KKO NA RA KOREAN RESTAURANT

Image Credits: Kko Kko Na Ra via facebook.com

As it turns out, spicy food seems to gravitate toward the laid-back atmosphere. I am referring to the smooth vibe of the Korean Native Language that diners at Kko Kko Na Ra Korean Restaurant can appreciate. What patrons keep coming back to is their version of a tasty fried chicken. The fried chicken has 4 flavors namely: hot & spicy, sweet & spicy, soy garlic sauce, and original. Stretch your dollar by ordering the “combo set” to get an assorted plate that features all the flavors.

Aside from the chicken, take your spicy taste-buds on a joyride as you devour either the Kimchi Chigae and the Spicy Korean Ramen. The prices of the dishes range from S$15-30.

Location: 57 Tras Street, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore 078996

MELLBEN SEAFOOD

Image Credits: Tapanick Akara via facebook.com

Mellben Seafood has grown immensely since its humble days along the Alexandra Road. Spanning with about three outlets in Singapore, Mellben Seafood is known for its delicious chilli crab. You can expect nothing but huge crabs showered with spicy, slightly sweet, and thick chili sauce. You may request to adjust the spiciness to the level that you can easily bear.

Situated at a Kopitiam in one of the HDB estates, Mellben Seafood at Ang Mo Kio is remotely away from the bustling center of the Lion City. Its menu features a wide array of crab meals such as Chilli Crab, Black Pepper Crab, Butter Crab, and Shimmering Sand Crab. The average price per person is approximately S$35. You can save more by sharing a hearty plate.

Location: #01-1222, 232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, Singapore 560232

SOUTHWEST TAVERN

Image Credits: southwesttavern.com.sg/menus

Please offer a moment of silence as I usher the spiciest challenge in town – the “Spaghetti from Hell”. Food adventurers and novice alike are familiar with this Southwest Tavern dish. Put your chili tolerance to the test as you chug down a seemingly friendly plate of pasta in under 10 minutes. Come out victorious to win S$100 worth of dining vouchers or other rewards. If you are not eager to participate in this challenge, you may choose the level of spice.

Spaghetti from Hell comes in three forms: the Hell’s Gateway (about S$18), the Halfway There (about S$22), and the Level 18 (about S$26). You may also try their Suicide Wings (S$14-22) to intensify the entire meal.

Location: 8 Boon Lay Way #01-33 Tradehub 21, Singapore 609964

This article has provided your with some of Singapore’s top spicy dishes. May you enjoy the tasty burns ahead! 🙂

Sources: 1 & 2

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