4 Tips to Help You Discover What Your Customer Wants

What is it that your customers want? That's the million dollar question, isn't it? How do you find out? Ask them!

How does a small business do that? Here are some tips:

1. Talk to them

It's surprising how many companies don't talk to their customers. Direct contact, face to face, a phone call or through social media, is the perfect opportunity to ask your customers about your product or service. You can ask them what the purchasing experience was like, why they bought from you, what they thought could be improved, how they heard about you, etc.

2. Newsletter

If you have a regular newsletter, add a short survey. To increase participation, offer a discount or coupon available once your customers have completed the survey. It's also a great way to ask about which social media channels they use so you can make sure you're on the same ones.

3. Case studies

A case study is a great way to bring a customer’s story to life. A case study first addresses the problem your customer was having, why they hired you and how you helped them. Contact your customers to ask if they’d like to have you write a case study about them. Usually, customers are very happy to participate because it gives them free publicity. And you not only have a very in-depth conversation with your customer, but you get some great marketing material to use.

4. Ask for feedback

Take the time to survey your customers and prospects if you get the sale or not. What should you ask them?

·         Why did they buy from you?

·         Why did they decide to go elsewhere?

·         How did they hear about you?

·         What did they liked/didn't like about your service or product

Taking the time to gather this information shows that you care about your customers. You’ll gather important information that will help you in the future to market to your customers and to better close a sale.

Again, this survey can be a phone call from your customer service department or an email survey you send out. Just make sure you reach out to your customers and the ones that didn’t become your customers.

If you want to know what your customers want, try one, or all, of these tips!