Nine ways to Get Feedback From Your Customers,You Need It
Your customers are your business.Your business is your customers. There are things that you don't know about your website.It may be too darn hard to navigate through your stupid site.One free item may put a customer over the edge.These little facts may be the difference between making a sale and losing that person in cyberspace,forever.And when they're gone,they're gone. So how do you get this valuable information out of your visitors? Well,you ask.So how do you ask?Well,I have put together nine techniques for doing just that and potentially saving your online endeavor.
Number One.Use surveys and questionaires regularly.Yes,surveys and questionaires.(did you need me for that?)Well,maybe,because nobody does it.It fairly simple,you could publish them on your website,in your ezine or newsletter,or in your direct mail.You could also include them with products,or post them on message boards and news- groups.Surveys are often overlooked by home business owners,yet they are so easy to administer and soooo important.
Number Two.Create an online community for your customers.A place where they feel free to "let it fly".This could be in the form of a chat room or message board on your site.As a moderator,you could see what they are saying,both good and bad,about your business. Popping in every once in a while to help with a problem or answer a question will also let them know you are on top of things,
Three.Pick a group of customers and give them your products.(If your dealing in digital products,this costs nothing.)Ask them to review the product through an evaluation form and send it back.Many times they won't,but,hey,the ones that do with provide a goldbrick of info.
Number Four.Offer visitors something free in exchange for some info.This is a little different from number one in that you will ask them to fill out a short survey on your website in general rather than specific questions.This will take a little longer and may take a bribe.
Five.Invite ten or twenty of your most loyal customers and form a focus group.Have them meet regularly over pizza,or maybe just coffee and a couple bucks.This will prove to be super valuable as they are probably you best source of information.Most of my best decisions have been made with my focus group.(and we have a good time!)
Number Six is important.Stay in constant contact with your customers. Ask them to be notified by E-mail when you make changes to your site.And after you make a sale,DON'T let them go.That is such a comon mistake.Follow up with them to make sure they are satisfied. Unsatisfied customers is a dgger through your online heart.
Seven.Don't make it difficult for your cutomers to contact you.How many times have you been racing around a site with a burning comment or question and there is no contact information in sight.You begin to wonder what kind of operation you're involved in and worse,you never give your input which was so important at the time.Offer your customers as many contact methods as possible.Hyperlink your e-mail.Don't make them type it in.What a pain in the a-- that is.Offer toll free numbers for phone and fax.When your customer have something to say,you want to be there to suck that information up like a new sponge.
Number Eight.I like this one.Contact your customers on birthdays or at least holidays.Send thank you gifts to your lifers or E-mail them online greeting cards.You could even call them personally if you want.Then ask them if they are happy with everything. And Finally.Invite your customers to meetings,luncheons,or workshops. Even create special events like picnics,dances...etc.The old cocktail party technique is the tried and true way to get honest feedback and launch big ideas. So there you go.That's just nine.I'm sure you can come up with your own list of creative ways to get that all important data from your lifeline,Your customers.All I did was get the ball rolling.Happy Feedback Gathering.
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About the Author
Article submitted with reprint rights by Sean Schiraldi,owner of http://webcashmoney.com Your stop for internet marketing software and tons of other stuff.
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