Survey Your Customers

It’s important to learn firsthand knowledge about your customers. This is the step most newcomers fear and avoid. Get out there and mingle.

Action

1. Review your business start-up goal that you created in Step 5.
2. Determine when you must complete your surveying in order to meet your overall business planning goals.
3. Identify those you wish to survey.
4. Plan your approach. Will you telephone, speak in person, mail, or email?
5. Contact the customers and determine whether they will participate.
6. Be clear about your expectations and timelines. If possible, arrange in advance a time and place to pick up the completed survey form.
7. If you plan to follow up with a personal interview, make those arrangements.
8. Deliver the survey form to the customer; hand deliver if practical and possible.
9. Pick up the completed form at the agreed time and place.
10. Meet with the customer to complete the personal interview.
11. Follow up with a thank you card, message, or gift.

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