For businesses to be profitable, they must provide their customers with products and services they will enjoy. Finding out what customers think is extremely challenging. Nonetheless, it is possible to improve customer experience by leveraging the data acquired by implementing the right processes and focusing on the key data points. Customer service representatives, those who are responsible for aligning business goals with customer care, typically only refer to the customer’s profile information and purchasing history to understand the customer’s mindset
The 10 most important tips for getting to know your customers
1. The 10 Most Important Tips for Getting to
Know Your Customers
For businesses to be profitable, they must provide their customers with products and
services they will enjoy. Finding out what customers think is extremely challenging.
Nonetheless, it is possible to improve customer experience by leveraging the data acquired
by implementing the right processes and focusing on the key data points. Customer service
representatives, those who are responsible for aligning business goals with customer care,
typically only refer to the customer’s profile information and purchasing history to
understand the customer’s mindset.
According to a survey conducted by Yesmail Interactive, a marketing solutions provider, and
research firm Gleanster, 80% of brands do not have enough data to launch an effective
marketing campaign. Even though basic information can easily be obtained from various
sources, getting to know the customers is becoming more difficult. Businesses have to
understand who their customers are and what drives them in order to increase conversion
rates. In making an effort to have a better understanding of their customers, business
enterprises are making a giant leap towards making their company and brand better.
2. Here are 10 most important tips for getting to know
your customers better:
1. Never Make Assumptions – Assuming a customer’s preferences and beliefs is not
considered a smart marketing strategy. It is possible that a tactic that was successful
one year may not be so successful the next. As customers’ interactions with a brand
evolve over time, businesses must use up-to-date data about their customers to
come up with strategies that work for them, instead of relying on past practices. As
businesses gain access to the latest information, they will be able to understand their
customers better and let go of generic assumptions to achieve success and improve
customer experiences.
2. Take advantage of social media – According to a survey, only 38% of marketers
utilize data from social media that could help improve their targeting. Businesses that
want to interact with their customers should have a social media account. Platforms
such as Facebook and Twitter provide insights into customer likes, habits, and most
importantly, what they buy. Through social media, companies can learn a great deal
about their customers’ likes and dislikes by resolving their complaints. The majority
of the posts on Facebook or Twitter receive comments from old and new customers
which the company can use to get to know their customers better. In addition, since
the interaction between the company and the customer is visible to all, it displays the
company’s commitment to customer satisfaction.
3. Talk to your customers – It is one of the easiest ways that businesses can get to
know their customers better. Companies can better serve their customers by asking
questions about what they really need. The questions must emphasize both ‘why’
and ‘how’ to get a clear picture of what needs to be done to provide excellent
customer service. Companies can really benefit from this method in terms of finding
new opportunities and standing out from their competition.
4. Gather information from surveys – In order to gain the most honest feedback
about a product or service, surveys are one of the best methods. In order to
understand what customers think and how they feel about a product or service,
surveys and customer feedback are very important. Personal surveys can be very
helpful for getting specific information about customers. Using software tools such as
Qualaroo, WebEngage, or Foresee, companies can conduct surveys through their
websites. In order to change their marketing strategy, the company needs to closely
examine the survey and get insight into the minds of the people who responded.
3. 5. Organize an event – It is advisable for a business enterprise with a physical location
in a community to organize an event that provides an opportunity to interact with the
customers. It is better to organize the event in a target market area. A company may
encounter customers who are happy or dissatisfied with the product or service and
even interact with prospective customers. Online businesses can benefit from
webinars by learning more about their customers. The attendees should be given a
chance to introduce themselves, and questions should be posed to understand their
mindset.
6. Look beyond the purchase – According to a study by Yesmail and Gleanster, more
than 50% of companies have a good understanding of their customers’ past
purchase behavior. But, this information does not have the requisite data to influence
marketing campaigns as in-depth knowledge of the customer cannot be obtained.
Because of their immense value, business enterprises must make a sincere effort to
consider household compositions, propensity scores, and channel preferences.
7. Establish a customer profile – Business enterprises have a better understanding
of the demographics they are targeting, but it is important to create a perfect profile
of the customer who would use the product or service being offered. A customer
profile is a great way for a company to assess a customer’s needs. A customer’s
profile should include information about their likes, dislikes, family background, and
other important information.
8. Perform keyword research – With Google’s keyword planning tool, you can better
understand the mindset of the customer. Customers conduct extensive online
research for the products they want to buy and, more importantly, from whom they
want to purchase them. Using keyword research, businesses can learn the interests
of their target markets and the terms that customers use to find the products and
services they need. In addition to finding keyword phrases that are suitable for your
business, keyword research helps you understand how customers find what they’re
looking for.
9. Request customer reviews – A company can get reviews from its customers in
different ways, such as through the comment section on social media platforms,
testimonials on the company’s website, or reviews on business review websites,
such as Yelp. A company can learn a great deal about its customers by reading
honest reviews on the above-mentioned platforms. Customers can be motivated to
leave reviews if companies offer them incentives. The customer reviews received by
the company must be categorized, tabulated, and prioritized so that the company
can better understand its customers and provide the best service possible.
4. 10. Make use of all available data – A business enterprise typically collects a limited
amount of customer information directly from its customers. Analyzing the analytics
on the landing pages is important since it gives details about the customer’s physical
location, the search term they used to find the landing page, and what product or
service they selected. Another set of information, such as web analytics, behavioral
data, and profitability, is inaccessible to companies. As a result, it is difficult for
companies to cater to their customers’ needs during the marketing process. Utilizing
all the information at their disposal is the best way for companies to remain
competitive.
Customer understanding is a long-term process. Once companies learn about the above
methods, they will be able to advertise their products more effectively. A call center service
provider can also help companies understand their customers better. With today’s complex
and ever-evolving digital landscape, businesses must leverage their data assets to gain
valuable insights on their customers.