As you likely already know, I am a devoted fan to the subject of testing — testing everything.

For those who have never done much testing, this may seem very cumbersome and daunting at times though it shouldn’t be.  Of course, you should test every aspect of your business and marketing–your business cards, brochures, service, products, store’s appearance, advertising, and website–among other things.

That certainly does seem like a tall order, and it is.  However, it should not be done all at once.  Your constant testing of all aspects of your business should be an ongoing and persistent process, one that never ceases.

Keep in mind that there are many people who know exactly what you should do in your business.  They are very close to you!  They are your customers!  But how do you find out what they think? 

You Ask Them!  That sounds simplistic, I know, but your customers will give you a wealth of information about your business, information that will be worth hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars if you act on it … but only if you ask them.

You should have a regular process of surveying your customers–asking them for their opinions on different things.  This has a surprising psychological effect on them.  When they give you their opinions on things, they automatically more closely identify themselves with you and your business.  If you have a restaurant and you ask their opinion on a sample of a new dish you are considering offering, your customers will begin thinking more and more that your restaurant is “their” restaurant.  Now, that’s a very advantageous position in which to find yourself, isn’t it?

When you ask someone to fill out a survey form, you would do well to add a bonus for doing so.  It doesn’t have to be a large one, though there is a place for large bonuses, it merely needs to be a valuable recognition.

There are a number of ways you can get your customers’ opinions.  Of course, you can have a survey/comment form available at the checkout desk of your business with a gift or coupon in exchange for their participation.  The real drawback to this pen and paper system is that all the data needs to be keyed in by you or your staff, so you can effectively use it and compare it with other data about your business.

I have found a much better way for both offline and online businesses.  It is a program called You Ask Them. It is simple to install on your website.  You can actually have several surveys going on at the same time.  If you have an offline business, you can have small sheets of paper printed with the web address of the particular survey you want a customer to fill out.  He or she can go to that address and give you the information you would like from him or her and either receive the gift there or notify you so you can mail it the next day.

A big advantage to this Internet based survey program is that you can get all your information already in electronic form for your analysis.  NO MORE pen and paper data to be keyed in by you or your staff!  You Ask Them takes away the headaches!  You can set up as many surveys as often and as long as you like.  And all your data is right there for you to analyze.

Nothing could be simpler than You Ask Them.  Give it a try today.  I know Mark Hendricks, the man behind You Ask Them, personally.  He has the best programs and the best service of any I have found.  You will only be delighted with his program, You Ask Them.

To your business success!

Let me help you grow your business today!

Paul Elliott

paul @ MarketingSuccessBlueprint.com

Marketing With Unbelievable Guarantees!™
http://www.MarketingSuccessBlueprint.com/blog

© 2008, Paul Elliott, All rights reserved world wide.