Rule #1 – The customer is always right.
Rule #2 – When in doubt, see rule #1.
Sound familiar? As a business owner, you know rule #1 may be false but that the customer’s perception is that they are always right.
In either case, the consumer is the lifeblood of your business. The more focused you can be on exceeding the needs of your customers, the more profitability you enjoy. You will build brand loyalty and have repeat customers as well as solid referrals for years to come. Think about what you would have without any customers.
Here are some steps to consider in becoming more consumer oriented in marketing your business and your products and/or services:
- Know what you’re selling. You may believe you sell insurance, but your customers are buying peace of mind and the ability to sleep well at night. Think about what your customers are purchasing.
- Know your customers’ buying motivation. This relates to #1, but goes further by analyzing whether they’re purchasing on price, convenience, satisfaction, previous experience or some other factor. Think about why they buy from you.
- Know your customers. How often do they come to you? What other demographic information do you have about your market segments? Do you know where they live, or what they do for a living? Can you address them on a first name basis?
- Know how to reach your customers. Traditional advertising methods such as radio, TV, or newspaper ads may fail to get their attention. You need to know what appeals to them and how you can best get your message through to them.
- Know what you want. If you want loyal customers, treat them like they want to be treated. That’s the platinum rule. If you want referrals, ask for them. If you want volume and traffic, that’s a different call to action. Ask them to do what you want.
In many cases, your consumers want you to listen to them. That is the foundation of the rule about the customer being right. They may expect that you will refund their money or take back the merchandise or hear their complaint, and those all relate back to them knowing you will listen to them.
Some of the most innovative new products and services have originated from listening to consumers and their suggestions. Keep an open mind and listen!
At Brand Irons, we walk business owners through a proprietary process that helps them identify their products, markets, value propositions, and viable distribution channels.
