Do You Listen as Well as You Market?

Promoting your product or service is all about communication. In fact the American Marketing Association defined marketing as “the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large.” Effectively conveying and sharing information with other people is one of the most important things you can do.

While brands are often well-versed at how to talk to their audience, they often forget how critical it is to also be a good listener. It’s important to remember that a good marketing plan takes into account not just how well you send out messages but also how well you receive them.

To achieve better marketing success, consider one of these listening-based tactics:

• Consider all possibilities. It is never a good idea to pigeonhole your audience. Expand your horizons on who they are and where you can find them.
• Engage with others on social media. Ask them questions. Throw out some interesting content that sparks conversation. Most importantly, invest in building a line of communication between you and the customer.
• Is it time for a survey? Surveys are a great way to get to the heart of the customer’s voice. Whether you do them online or in-person, a good questionnaire can garner valuable insight.
• Don\’t answer your own questions. A lot of companies assume they have all the answers when it comes to their own products or services. Yes, you may know about how you perceive the product but you can only get a true perspective by asking others what others think.

One of the worst things you can do is market first and listen later. Not only does this alienate your customer but also reduces your ability to truly hear what they have to say. For assistance in keeping your program on the right track contact the team at GMS. We can help you better hear the customer’s voice. Our programs offer a comprehensive approach encompassing what’s most important to you and your brand.

Contact us for more information or to schedule a consultation.

by Katie Zurawski