How to be two steps ahead in anticipating your customer needs

April 12, 2018November 19, 2018 Dominic Lill ahead, anticipation, Blog, campaign, connect, content, customer needs, demographic, income, marketing, Questions, social media, solutions, tools, Website

The customer is (usually) always right and to cater to them successfully, you are going to want to predict their needs. Now, this isn’t easy, especially with today’s rapidly changing marketplace. However, it can be done. It’s recommended that you undertake a strong digital marketing campaign, to connect with your customers, find out about them, and then tailor solutions to their needs.

We will outline a simple, yet effective way to utilize the internet and stay two steps ahead of your customer needs.

Hone in on your customer demographic

Of course, you already have a good idea of who your customer base is, however, it really pays to narrow down their precise demographic. For example, you will find that older customers are more set in their ways and more likely to repeatedly purchase your products/services. Younger customers are more likely to switch companies or become interested in a completely different product or service.

Don’t forget about education levels and income. These both play a factor in how your customer will act.

It may sound a bit tedious but learning as much information about your customers’ age, gender, education, and income is the first step in anticipating their needs. You need to record as much of this information as you can and refer to it when developing your marketing campaign.

Connect via social media

Once you have established the basic demographic details about your customers, it’s time to really connect with them. Considering that it’s 2018, your focus should be on the internet. No one is picking up a phone book or reading a flier in the mail. They are simply using Google and social media.

Chances are your startup already has at least one or two social media account but how about getting the full set. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn are the main six.

Don’t forget about your company website

Never overlook your company website. Obviously, this site already has information about what your company sells or the different services it provides. Just make sure there are ways to communicate with your customers as well. Simply listing a phone number and email is not enough. Consider utilizing an online contact form where customers can input questions and inquires. Don’t forget to provide links to your social media accounts.

Most importantly, get your customers email. People rarely change this address, meaning you may end up with a customer for life. The best way to hook them is to have a section on your site where customers can subscribe by entering their email. Now they are not just going to give this up for nothing. Consider offering a discount, a coupon, an eBook, or some other free product/service to subscribers.

Learn your customers’ questions and needs

As questions start coming in, whether it be from Facebook, Twitter, your company page, or elsewhere, start recording the most common ones. You can be assured if a few people are asking a question then dozens (or hundreds) more are thinking it.

You can also undertake polls and surveys using Facebook or other social media. Don’t forget to ask for feedback and reviews about your company’s products/services.

Develop content that answers these questions

The whole put of anticipating your customer’s needs is to provide answers before they even ask. Once you have developed a list of frequently asked question, it’s time to answer them. Consider starting a company blog (if you haven’t already). You should also set up a FAQs section on your site and start uploading articles that address these inquiries.

To do this, you are going to need content. You could write it yourself if you have the time or delegate it to employees. However, business owners find that the best way is to outsource the work to a professional writer. This saves time and is also affordable.

Don’t forget to consider using videos for social media marketing.

Use the best tools to help you

Don’t think that you have to do everything by yourself. There are a variety of apps and websites that can help you.

Buzzsumo: This is a tool that allows you to see what’s currently popular on social media and what’s being shared. It can help identify the latest trends and buying patterns.
Buffer: This is a handy app that allows you to schedule the publication of your social media posts. It can also help track the performance of your content.
Assignmenthelper: Don’t be fooled into thinking this website only offers assistance with tertiary assignments. It is also a great place to get professionally written blog articles and other content. Remember, content is king when it comes to connecting with your customers and anticipating their needs.
Pagemodo: This service is a great way to create a professional Facebook page. It can be used to create awesome visual elements, as well as features that encourage customer interaction.

Final thoughts

Anticipating your customers’ needs is crucial for marketing effectiveness, selling your products/services, and the overall success of your startup. To accomplish this, you need to utilize the internet and social media as best you can. Just don’t think that you have to do it all alone, as there are some great tools (websites and apps) available to help you.

Lucy Benton is a marketing specialist, business consultant and helps people to turn their dreams into the profitable business. Now she is writing for marketing and business resources. Also Lucy has her own blog Prowritingpartner.com where you can check her last publications. If you’re interested in working with Lucy, you can find her on Twitter.