Making some serious cash as a DoorDash worker is possible once you learn the tricks of the trade, like your driving range and the total cost of the order. However, your success as a delivery person depends on more than these number-based factors.
Don’t get us wrong; those are important aspects. But no matter your job, one of the most vital parts you can focus on is your reputation.
This is especially true as a DoorDash worker since you’re heading to the homes of people who are often complete strangers. The better reputation you have, the more likely you’ll get repeat business and bigger tips.
Since the pandemic, most people choose the “leave items at the door” selection. You ring the bell or knock, enter the job as completed in your Dasher app, and the customer is notified that their order has arrived. So how do you build a reputation with people who you may never see?
It’s challenging but not impossible. Use these tips from Dasher experts to build a positive reputation in your DoorDash profession, and watch how the changes impact your success!
1. Be Friendly When You Interact
As a Dasher, you’re not only interacting with the customers but also must communicate with the workers behind the counters at the restaurants and stores. They work in retail, where the customer is always supposed to be right, and sometimes, they aren’t having the best days. Your friendly smile and manners can go a long way toward improving their shift.
While basic human kindness is its own reward, there’s an outside benefit to building a good reputation with businesses. When there’s a problem with an order, how quickly the problem is fixed usually correlates to how much the workers like you.
The old clichés about catching more flies with honey and being kind overall are true. Kindness goes far, and it will come back to you when you need it to.
Build a positive relationship with everyone you interact with as a Dasher by using those manners you were taught young. Be on time, be polite, have a smile ready, and share it often.
2. Stick to a Regular Schedule
As a Dasher, you’re an independent contractor with sole control over when you do and don’t work and which areas you choose to deliver to. But if you’re trying to build a reputation, consistency is important.
Customers can’t pick their drivers directly. If you made an impression on a customer and they want you to deliver to them again, the only way to do this is to know when you’re “on the clock.”
That’s still not a guarantee that you’ll see the order and pick it up before other Dashers grab it, but it does increase the chance that you’ll have repeat customers.
3. Add a Personal Touch
The easiest part of DoorDashing is that the system does the hard work for you. You log in when your shift starts, and the app notifies you when an order comes in. You choose whether you want to pick it up or not and hit “accept” or “decline.”
The whole process is automated from that point. When you collect the order and are on your way, DoorDash notifies the customer. But here’s where the personal touch comes in: You can, too.
Dashers have access to the customer’s details in case they have a problem finding the address or other issues come up. It’s perfectly acceptable for you to send a text letting them know if there’s a delay or that you’re on the way. A friendly message adds that human touch to an otherwise automated interaction.
If you see a customer frequently and want to be their “regular” driver, let them know they can text you before they make an order, and you’ll watch for it in the queue.
4. Be Presentable
Finally, let’s talk about your appearance. You don’t have to be a supermodel or drive a fancy car to make a good impression. On the other hand, you shouldn’t roll out of bed and get straight to work. Your appearance does play a role in your overall reputation.
While you’re building your name in the Dasher world, you should consider how you dress and your hygiene. You will interact with others, and, to put it tactfully, if you’re attracting stares because of your clothes, lack of grooming, or odors, it’s not good for business — theirs or yours.
The same theory applies to your vehicle. Your car represents DoorDash and your livelihood. If you open the door and months of fast food wrappers fall out, or your customers can hear your car coming long before you pull into their driveway, it’s not good for your Dasher ratings.
As the song goes, “you’re never fully dressed without a smile,” but you should add that smile to a clean and respectful outfit and an orderly vehicle.
Conclusion
Ready to increase your DoorDash pay along with an impressive reputation? It’s easier to do than you might think, even if you never see your customers. Follow these four tips, and watch how your profession changes in positive ways.
