Never mind rocket science, just ask questions

I keep stating to my clients that marketing is not "rocket science" and more "horse sense". OK, maybe rocket science isn't really rocket science, and I've never owned a horse. But I do know a bit about marketing and human nature.

When you want to know something, ask. It was the kid in class who wasn't afraid of appearing stupid who today is succeeding because of the answers found. To know if and which elements of your marketing is working, ask.

For instance, wouldn't it be nice to know how your cusomter found you, your store or website? You can. Here are just 3 short questions that when asked, won't sound like the fifth (or is it the first) degree:

How did you find “Us”? Just ask 3 Things.


It’s important to know how your visitor (who hopefully becomes your customer or already is your customer) “happened” upon your store (or virtual store/website). Knowing this, you can increase your marketing dollars in that direction and perhaps even “tweak” or “test” the advertising vehicle(s) that was responsible. In the physical world, someone may have seen your billboard that stated “turn here”; in the virtual, online world it may have been a banner ad that stated: “click here”.

Here are three things you can ask the next person who walks in your store or is using your shopping cart at your website:

1. How did you find us? I remember when a restaurant owner asked a patron “How did you find your steak?” The reply was, “I merely looked under my baked potato and there it was!” Hopefully that won't be the response you get.

2. What do you think of our store (or website)? This is a great open ended question which can elicit many responses; that’s good.
3. Did you see any reviews? This can mean “anything” from any word of mouth marketing to an online review.
Do these three things every time a customer visits and you’ll know more about your customers, and you too can be a marketing "guru".

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