Here is a not so big secret, and it’s not that you’ll get socks for Christmas this year from Aunt Edith. If you know what your customers want you can give it to them. If you do not know what your customers want you are taking a risk every time you produce something. Risk equals money. And since you can’t just make color copies to make more money, doesn’t it make sense that you would want to limit your risk as much as possible? You can do that by knowing what your customer really thinks. But, that is not the only reason you want to know what your customers think. Here are the top five reasons.
1. They are Telling Someone
Even if you don’t know what your customers think, someone does. Why? Because, people talk. If your customers are not telling you what they think they are telling someone. If you don’t know if they are happy or not, then you risk them telling people they are unhappy with some aspect of your service. That is bad for business, and you have no way to correct what you don’t know. You can’t go all Al Capone and eliminate the talkers, so you’ll have make sure what they’re saying is good!
In the age of Twitter and Facebook your risk is incredibly high, if you do not know what your customers are saying about you.
2. You Could Be Missing Out on Opportunity
Often, your customers are the source of your next big business idea. Who better to tell you what they want and how they want to get it, then your very own customers. Let them tell you what they want, what they really REALLY want… sing it to them if you have to!
Stop paying a fortune for market research and start talking to your own customers.
3. They are Always Shopping
No matter how loyal you think a customer is, it is their nature to always be shopping around. You do it for shoes and so do they. Even if they are not actively seeking out a better deal or better quality, they will not turn away when someone suggests it to them.
Your competitors are out there shopping the next best thing to your customers. You need to know what they want so you can give it to them first.
4. Create the WOW Moment
Nothing warms the heart of a customer more, and by extension makes them love you more, then when you seemingly read their mind. And here you thought it was that fruitcake baked in the shape of the company logo you sent last Christmas that made them love you. Sadly, no. It is not a magic act. Truth is, if you stay in touch and ask the right questions, customers tell you all sorts of things, that they do not know they have told you. Bingo, you have the perfect opportunity to create the WOW moment.
Taking time to analyze what your customers are telling you they want, lets you be one step ahead of them and create a WOW moment.
5. Head off Issues At the Pass
When you have an open dialogue with your customers, they will come to you when they are upset or are not getting what they want. Channel your inner Dr. Phil and learn how to listen. That is your opportunity to head off a crisis at the pass. Listen to the underlying messages you are getting and remedy potential situations fast.
Hear when you are customers are beginning to be dissatisfied quickly and remedy the situation before it blows up.
Five Magic Things That Happen When You Listen To Your Customers.
1. In the age of Twitter and Facebook your risk is incredibly high, if you do not know what your customers are saying about you.
2. Stop paying a fortune for market research and start talking to your own customers.
3. Your competitors are out there shopping the next best thing to your customers. You need to know what they want so you can give it to them first.
4. Taking time to analyze what your customers are telling you they want, lets you be one step ahead of them and create a WOW moment.
5. Hear when you are customers are beginning to be dissatisfied quickly and remedy the situation before it blows up.