Think about your core business, your flagship product, or marquee service.
Now answer the following question:
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When my customers refer me to others, what three things are they saying about what I do?
Have you got your answers?
Now ask your customers the same question…their answers may surprise you.
As a business owner I know that I’ve fell into the trap of marketing the service I think I provide, instead of marketing the service my customers think I provide.
There can be a big difference between the two. Only after you know what your customers value, why they use your service, and most importantly what they say about you to others can you begin to tailor your marketing message.
It’s okay if there is an initial disconnect between what you think of you, and what they think of you. Within the disconnect lies opportunity to more efficiently serve your current customers and attract new ones.
This exercise also provides opportunity to evaluate how well you are educating your customer base into the value of your services. If they are missing the big picture, the main “value add” of your business, you need to begin educating and crafting better messages to help them realize how you can help them.
Let me know how this exercise goes for you, I’d be interested in hearing your story.
Photo Credit: tantek's photostream
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Well people usualy have a lot different opinions when they’re biased. You subconciously belive that people care about small detail about you business and don’t care about bigger flaws – it’s always good to get a customer feedback.
Biz,
You touched on a very inspiring question:
“When my customers refer me to others, what three things are they saying about what I do?”
I think we’ll pursue this specific question in our afternoon blog post.
best,
Chris O.
Referral Key
“Your Trusted Referral Network”
@Setai
If ultimately your business is there to serve the customer, their feedback is the only thing that counts…so it’s not only a good idea, it’s imperative to your ongoing success.
Matt
@Chris
I’ll be on the lookout for your post. Remember, the key here is not how you answer that question, it how your customers answer the question. It’s to old perception vs reality question.
Thanks for coming by,
Matt
I just posted the blog. I took a slightly different angle but I think you’ll find it insightful.