Church of the Customer

by Todd Schnick on February 10, 2009

604006_shoppingcenterBe An Intrepid Marketer – Recommendation No. 11

You shouldn’t make a business decision – any business decision – without understanding how it impacts the overall customer experience. It must be “customer 24/7.”

Some of the day-to-day decisions you make may not seem to have an immediate impact on the customer experience – but they do. You need to start viewing each decision from the perspective of your customer.

Seth Godin said it best – our marketing is successful only if it changes customer behavior.

But how do you know? You need to measure and quantify. You need to ask your customers. Often. And company employees should regularly experience your company’s processes to see for themselves. Other than asking your actual customers, how else will you know if they measure up?

Do you worship at the church of the customer? 24/7?

  • http://www.tpstrategies.com Steven Winokur

    Don’t just ask your customers, watch them! You can’t always believe what customers say, but you can believe what they do. Watch how they interact with your product or service, preferably in their environment. How do you do that? Go to their office, watch how they interact with your product during their day to day activities. Mystery shoppers is a good way to go. And you’re right Todd, employees should be goign through the process and using your products and services as much as possible.

  • Todd Schnick

    That’s a great point about watching your customers, Steven! Thanks – and looking forward to your #beintrepid contributions!

  • http://www.churchofthecustomer.com Jackie Huba

    Your post got my attention as it is the name of our blog : )

    I agree with you! One thing that is great about social media (blogs, Twitter, etc) is that we can now SEE the word of mouth that happens about us from our customers. Companies should ask customers directly about their experience, but they can also learn alot by monitoring online chatter.

    Jackie
    ChurchoftheCustomer.com

  • Todd Schnick

    I didn’t lift the title, promise! And thanks for your contribution!

    And you are right about using social media to track online chatter. I have GoogleNews Alerts looking for me, my company, and my clients. But you can also pull a RSS feed from TwitterSearch about you and your company. One great way, as you said, to monitor online chatter in real time!

    I look forward to now following your blog!

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