In addition to sharing our eTips across the social networks, you can subscribe to these essential marketing tips to keep you informed of emerging trends from print and PR to mobile and digital!
ETIP #13
Customer surveys
Yes, you can talk to your customers.
The Internet is a two-way street (or superhighway, if you prefer), especially when it comes to receiving feedback from customers or prospects. If you have an email list or even just a website, use those vehicles to talk to your customers and find out what they’re thinking. Conducting a customer survey is much easier than you would imagine. There are several online services that simplify and facilitate the process.
SurveyMonkey.com, for example, offers plans that range from free to $200/year. They handle all of the software and security issues, while you just write the questions. Speaking of which, it’s important that you understand the art and science of writing a survey. You can search online for tips, but here are a few general rules: outline your goals beforehand; don’t ask too many questions; don’t make the questions long and arduous; and be sure to ask non-leading questions. This is one area where you may want to hire someone who understands research to help you create a survey that will not only produce understanding, but also drive actionable results.
It’s also a good idea to do a test run of your survey before you send it out to your entire mailing list. For instance, if there’s drop-off after question four, you’ll have an opportunity to retool. Cool.
