In a moment, I’m going to share with you a very effective way of getting great insights into how to improve your business, without spending any money.
That opening sounds like one of those annoying junk e-mails, doesn’t it? But this really is a technique you will find invaluable. It will allow you tap into great wisdom and discover things that would be invisible to you by any other means.
OK, enough of the teasing build up. You’re ready for the answer? The way to get fantastic free advice? Here it is, then…
Wait a minute, what do you mean, “Is that it?!”
Yes, that is it. Talk to your customers, and ask them why anyone would want to do business with you. I believe your customers can be some of your wisest advisors: I know mine are for me.
Ask your suppliers too, and the companies you partner with.
I’m amazed at how many companies don’t do this. They don’t ask because they’re afraid of getting complaints. But I promise you that you’ll be told things that will surprise you, both positively and negatively.
The negative comments – or the silence that greets your question – will point you towards things you need to fix.
The positive comments will provide useful quotes you can use in your marketing. I recently asked my customers why someone should choose to work with me, and amongst the replies was:
…because without him, your business will not make as much money
See what I mean?
This reminds me of an episode I had with Marks and Spencer some ten years ago. I'd ordered Mother's Day flowers, and they arrived on the Sunday morning in a very poor state indeed. I rang the store in Warrington to complain, and they immediately explained they were aware of problems with several deliveries and asked if I was going to be in for the next hour so they could put the situation right.
Intrigued, I waited, and about 45 minutes later a black cab arrived with a replacement bunch of flowers (in perfect condition), a box of chocolates, a bottle of wine and an envelope containing vouchers to refund the cost of the original bouquet, along with a handwritten note of apology.
All told, that must have cost M&S a small fortune, but I hugely appreciated the effort they'd made to make sure my mother had her flowers on the actual day, rather than the following Monday (which would have been far cheaper and easier to organise).
And in terms of customer relations, the fact I'm relating this tale some ten years on says it all.
Good story, Jodi. The short term cost to M&S has probably been repaid many times over by your loyalty to the brand. Someone at M&S obviously got their calculations right in determining their policy.