Before reading this set of posts you need to learn about being “Above Average”.
Every successful business knows that the only way to grow is by reading the numbers, studying the numbers, interpreting the numbers. By numbers I’m talking about DATA. This data can be sales, costs, revenue share or any other type of statistic.
In this case I’m going to write about the most important piece of information in any business: Your Client. You may know from front to back all your sales, costs, etc; but if you don’t know who’s your client then those numbers don’t mean sh**t. Understand your client and you will master your business.
How to know your Client?
Getting to know your Client may sound like an expensive Market Research, but believe me that is a lot easier and cheaper than you think. The biggest problem with any big, medium or small size company is that most of them don’t take advantage of every piece of information they have under their nose. Market Research can be a really expensive investment and I wouldn’t recommend it. Why? Well, just because a market research is a simple interpretation of your own data. Why would you want to pay someone to tell you what you may already know?
Ok let’s see. What kind of info do you have? Do you know your name’s client? Do you know their age? Do you know their gender? Do you know where do they live? Why are they your clients? What else do they want from you?
These simple questions may help you boost your business in no time. I know that it may sound hard to learn these details from your clients, but all you need to do is start building a client database.
How to Build a Client Database?
The best way to build a Client Database is by doing simple surveys:
1.- In Situ Survey: “In Situ” means “In Place”. These surveys can be done by businesses that have stores, or costumer offices. For Example: Bank, Fast Food Chain, Supermarket, Pharmacy, etc.
Doing “In Situ” surveys are really simple. You can pay an employee to interview your costumers or you can have a “Survey Box” on every store.
2.- Call Center: If you have a Call Center for costumer services or support, you can do random phone calls to survey clients that are willing to answer your questions.
3.- Email or Website Surveys: If you have the email address of your clients, send them a survey to be filled on the same email or on websites like Hiburrito .
Interpreting these surveys are going to help you be “Above Average” against your competition. On the next post I’m going to write how to be “Above Average” and how to make a difference with your business.
If you can’t see this WOP, click here: How do you Survey your Clients?
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This is a good post. I recently started a concierge company and thought I was going to be serving only the upper crust homes in my community, but it turns out a larger percentage of the homes that have less disposable income are requesting service. The reason I am finding out is because they have less leisure time and need the added assistance with chores and errands.
Had I done my own market research before hand I could have saved a little bit of money on set up.
Cool post. Some very useful market research techniques. Done correctly and without hassling your customers can yield some good results.
I havnt done any kind of client data base yet, When my blogs get a bit more traffic I will do PDF’s for various things that follow the theme of my blogs, give them away with registration. Once they have something of value to register for maybe I can build a database.
It’s like us bloggers always say “know your readers’. ^^ I agree, for a marketer to know their clients better it’ll help in either promotion or a product launch. A little research done as advised will be a big help for the company. Voted.
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
Hi Ms. Freeman, great example. Thanks for sharing it with us. Knowing a little bit more about our clients and our business can help us save a lot of time and money.
Hey Ben, there are some techniques for doing some market research without hassling your clients. You just need to learn them and apply them correctly.
Hi Dick, a client database doens’t need to be done from the first day. You can start to learn about your readers without filling some kind of form. You will know when you’re ready to start building that database.
Hi Ching Ya, knowing your readers is basic for any blogger. But it’s important to keep up with any changes we may encounter during the ride. Always keep your eyes open for tranding markets
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These are all very good ways to get new business. I have found a great way to secure new clients is from the referral of a past customer. Once you acquire the new customer/client it is very important to build a relationship, deliver and be committed to that person. Being in real estate I cannot tell you how many times a week I hear “I was working with another Realtor who just would not meet my needs”
As long as you build a relationship and satisfy that client they will continue to help you grow your business.
Hey JoseGregorio, I call that PR. If you know how to treat people then people will treat you the same way. The Real Estate Business is all about PR, and is definitely a job that not anybody can do.
Excellent site. I think maryjane should be legalized for medicinal purposes — coke I find no medicinal purpose for that drug. Either way if the government made the legal they could tax them and make billions of $$$. Problem is they can’t find a way to regulate the industry. There’d still be the black=market element.
Just my thoughts.
@asswass……I agree, That is PR and every business needs to have good PR.
@DEE @Good Morning America….I agree with you but I think you might be posting on the wrong post…try this one http://www.asswass.com/weeks-top-wops-drugs-legalized.html
Hi Dee, didn’t you write this comment in the wrong blog post? lol. I agree with you, if drugs were legal then the government should tax their ass off. It would be a nice income. Thanks for the comment.
@JOseGregorio thanks, I also told him he was commenting on the wrong post lol.