Introduction
According to the latest statistics, approximately 43 million people used rideshare apps in 2017. This makes it not only an overall system to choose when travelling, but also one that practically demands its audience to be both polite and professional.
Ridesharing is increasingly becoming the way to get around. Ridesharing appeals to many because of the freedom ridesharing offer when getting around. However, with that convenience comes a certain degree of uncertainty about your driver and the ridesharing experience in general. Doing everything you can to make your passengers feel safe and welcome makes it more likely that they’ll become repeat customers who tell others about their positive experiences.
Ridesharing is growing in popularity and has been taking the world by storm, with ridesharing drivers earning money for what was once spare time. This means that there’s a lot of competition out there, so if you want to impress your passengers and secure 5-star ratings, then you need to know a few things.
Clean Your Car
First impressions are everything. To make a great impression on your passengers while ridesharing, you should keep your vehicle’s interior clean.
It doesn’t have to be perfect, but clearing out the junk and giving it a quick vacuum shows
you care about your passenger’s ride experience.
Also, be sure to have hand sanitiser in your car and mints or gum for those fresh breath situations. You don’t want your passengers leaving the vehicle with their stomachs turning because your car smelled like last night’s fast food dinner or a gym bag that hadn’t been cleaned in weeks.
Assist your Passengers
Ask your passenger if they need help with their bags or luggage. If you can help them load it into the back, it helps convey that you’re paying attention to their needs. If you have a phone mount (or one of those newfangled HUDs).
Offer to put their phone in it so they can follow the directions themselves instead of relying on your memory or trying to read them off a small screen while riding in the back seat.
Also, be sure to point out any interesting landmarks or sights along the way, so they know what they’re looking at!
Be a Safe and Courteous Driver
One crucial way to impress your passengers is to be a safe and courteous driver. Make sure you always use your seatbelt and drive at or below the speed limit to ensure the safety of your passengers. If you do have an accident, be sure to call 911 immediately.
In addition, make sure that all of your passengers are wearing their seatbelts. While this is required by law in many countries and states, some passengers may not know or understand this rule. Ask all passengers to buckle up when they get in the car and make sure you check before taking off.
As a general rule of thumb, offer your passengers a bottle of water. This is especially helpful in hot weather and on longer rides. If you have time before picking someone up, it’s also beneficial to take some trash out of your car to avoid getting dirty during the ride.
Offer to connect to your passenger’s music playlist.
When you’re ridesharing, it’s all about impressing your passengers. Whether they are frequent riders or brand new to the platform, it’s your job to make them feel safe and comfortable with their driver.
One of the easiest ways is to connect your phone to their music playlist! Suppose you’re using Spotify and have a Premium account. In that case, you can automatically play music for your passengers based on their preferences.
If you don’t have a premium account, you should still offer to connect your phone to use their own device for music choice. Just make sure it’s not too loud!
Be Punctual
There are many ways to impress your passengers while ridesharing, but a few are more critical than others.
When branding your passengers, the top method is to be on time! If your passenger is running late, they will be thankful you arrived on time or even early. Whenever you are early it is best to wait a few minutes before messaging them if they are on their way.
Place your passenger’s comfort over yours.
Another way to impress your passengers while ridesharing is to put their comfort before yours!
This means cleaning up after yourself if you eat in the car and opening their door for them when you arrive at their destination. Sometimes it takes going above and beyond to earn high ratings from your passengers!
Be Friendly
The last way to impress your passengers while ridesharing is by being friendly. While some passengers may prefer a quiet ride, most people appreciate a pleasant conversation with their driver. Before initiating an exchange, make sure your passenger doesn’t have headphones in or seem otherwise not interested.
No one knows what kind of day they had, so a friendly conversation might be precisely what they needed!
A good conversation can be tough to come by, so ask your passengers about their day or where they’re headed. If they’re wearing team apparel, mention their team and ask if they’re fans. If they know you’ll be driving through an area that has lots of traffic, let them know what time they should expect to arrive at their destination.
And don’t forget about small talk! Sure, it may seem awkward at first, but what could be better than hearing all about the weather or the latest news.
The more friendly and conversational you are with your passengers, the better their experience in your vehicle.
Be friendly and warm, but don’t hover.
Your passengers want to make the most of their ride time by catching up with friends or colleagues, checking email, or even taking a quick nap. If they engage you in conversation, that’s great, but if not, give them the space they need so they can enjoy the ride time on their terms.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a driver picking up passengers for the first time, or a more experienced driver looking for some inspiration, our guide will help you accomplish the task at hand. Help your passengers enjoy the ride and garner that five-star rating by making their experience with you a memorable one.