Marketing Tip: Think Like Your Customers

by  Victoria Ring---Bio-

The next time you watch a television program, take notice of the type of commercials that are shown.  For instance, if you watch the cooking channel, you will notice that all the commercials relate to a product of interest to people who cook. The same holds true for the news network, sports, etc. Why is this done? Because the companies who pay big money to advertise their products want to get the most out of their advertising dollars.  To do this, their products must be advertised to the type of people who will buy them.  For example, if you sit down to watch "Everybody Loves Raymond" with your family, you will NEVER see a commercial for the "Girls Gone Wild" video.  These videos are only advertised when shows like "Jerry Springer" or "Howard Stern" is airing.

What does this mean to you? It is important for you to watch the habits of wealthy companies to gain ideas from them to build your own company. Wealthy companies are wealthy because they sell a lot of products. And the reason they sell a lot of products is because they take the time to "think" like their customers so they can target their audience and advertise specifically to these types of people.

If you will take the time to "think" like the mortgage, title or signing companies (who are YOUR customers) you too will become more successful and generate more money for your business. Take the time to talk with the companies and find out exactly what procedures they want you to follow as a notary signing agent. Ask them for feedback on your services and find out what they suggest you can do to improve. You should consistently be striving to locate your weak points so that you can recognize and change them to your betterment. Asking companies you work for to provide you with feedback so that you can customize your services to meet their needs is one step in building a successful company.

There are a wide variety of ways you may choose to use in order to implement this idea. The easiest would be to talk with the person who called you for the assignment in the first place.  If this person does not have the ability to provide you with this information, ask them for the name of a supervisor and direct your questions to that individual.  Your question would be: "What can I do to improve my services, or customize them to make it easier for the company and staff?" and/or "What are your present problems and how could I help you solve them?"  Then, LISTEN to what they tell you.  And be strong enough to take criticism. Unless there is a complaint, you would never be able to locate a problem in your marketing. So look for and "hope" that someone tells you about anything you are doing wrong.  In fact, you should thank them for being honest and helping you to improve your services.

"Thinking" like your customer will not only help you increase the income of your notary signing agent business (because you will get more business) but it also will help you to target the companies that are perfect for growing your business. Just like when you plant a seed in the ground -- the soil you plant it in determines "if" or "how" the plant will grow. The types of companies you establish as customers is the soil that will determine how your business will grow into the future.