An easy way to attract and keep more customers is to meet them where they are. This means doing things how they want (but in a way way that works for you too). When you do this customers are more likely to stay with you because you’re trying to help them. You’re not forcing them to conform to your way of doing things.
A recent study by Placecast and Harris Interactive highlights this well (thanks to Chris Crum and SmallBusinessNewz for the tip). It shows a surprising number of people would like to get updates from companies on their mobile phones.
For example, they found:
Consumers are interested in receiving alerts on their mobile phones from brands that they care about, provided they can opt-in and the messages are relevant. The responses indicate that 42% of 18 to 34 year olds and 33% of 35 to 44 year olds expressed some interest in receiving opt-in alerts on their cell phones from their favorite establishments.
(Click here to read more of this study’s results.)
Before reading this study it would have been easy to assume everyone considers unsolicited text messages to be annoying. But this study shows many people want them, if they come from the companies they like, if they are relevant and if they can unsubscribe when they want.
This is a valuable reminder to ask our customers what they want from us. It also tells us some customers want to be more engaged than others. And if we engage them as they want, they’ll be more loyal. They’ll do more business with us. That’s a good lesson for all of us.
