February 23, 2012

Six Things Customers Want

Often, when asked a question by media, existing customers, or prospective customers, I find myself answering with some version of “It depends.”

What’s the biggest priority in 2012?
Should we begin a Social CRM initiative?
What’s the first thing we should do?
Which software solution should we buy and implement?
Where should we spend our marketing dollars?

Inputs like organizational competence, customer jobs to be done, organizational goals and strategies, cost structures, industry trends, the competitive landscape all influence answers to questions such as these. In other words, the proper direction as it relates to defining and executing organizational or customer strategies are highly contextual, and depend on a comprehensive analysis to determine the right course of action.

However, in speaking with and working with lots of organizations spanning industries from service to manufacturing to distribution in both B2B and B2C environments, there are some common things that customers want. If these were to be front and center on the mind of every senior executive, and every customer facing individual, the customer experience would be improved, and the organization would benefit.

The levers and weighting of each of these things may vary by industry and company, but odds are your organization would benefit from adopting these 6 tenets into the fabric of your organizational culture and DNA.

What else would you add to this list?

About brianvellmure

Brian Vellmure is the principal and founder of Innovantage / Initium LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in accelerating growth through customer focused business design.

For more than a decade, Brian has been helping companies increase profitability through customer focused initiatives. He is an accomplished business leader, management consultant, speaker, and award winning and syndicated blogger. He is often referred to as a thought leader and pioneer in the emerging discipline(s) of Social CRM and Social Business.

Brian is a frequent contributor to several media outlets, and often acts as a advisor for software and technology vendors.

He is on the Board of Directors for International Princess Project, a social enterprise that restores hope and dignity to women formerly enslaved in prostitution, and advocates for the worldwide abolition of human trafficking and forced prostitution.

Brian has traveled to more than 40 countries, is a real estate investor, and was an award winning NCAA Division 1 football scholarship athlete.

  • http://twitter.com/jesus_hoyos/status/159707400050450433 Jesus Hoyos

    Six Things Customers Want http://t.co/MIQvHWK7 #crm #cem #cmo #sales #custserv

  • http://twitter.com/solvis/status/159710378211807232 Solvis Consulting

    RT @brianvellmure: Six Things Customers Want http://t.co/Z7wDO66T #crm #cem #cmo #sales #custserv

  • http://twitter.com/petertwombly/status/159753486232322048 Peter Twombly

    @MarkAddicks Agree Mark – 6 things Customers want – So simple – yet sometimes overlooked… Treat Customers like Family
    http://t.co/HQ0cQDLf

  • http://twitter.com/remarkmarketing/status/159825981518004224 Brian Hansford

    Six Things Customers Want http://t.co/RpK1T2Qn RT @brianvellmure

  • http://twitter.com/kathyherrmann/status/160033496918794241 Kathy Herrmann

    Six Things Customers Want http://t.co/49fVp2uJ

  • http://twitter.com/krcraft/status/160052953716236289 Kelly Craft

    Six Things Customers Want: http://t.co/w0ULuyRf by @BrianVellmure

  • @michelfalcon

    Brian,

    Great post. Simple and to the point! My biggest take away from your post was #6 “be available.” In my opinion, there is nothing more frustrating than waiting for a co. to get back to you within their time frame, not the customers.

    Thanks.

    @michelfalcon

    • http://www.brianvellmure.com Brian Vellmure

      Michel,

      Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment. I agree. If you’re not available, the rest don’t really matter much.

  • http://twitter.com/dschultzszumylo/status/160086675719069697 Debbie Szumylo

    Can we get an Amen?!?! RT @kathyherrmann: Six Things Customers Want http://t.co/UeBnbk57

  • http://twitter.com/vivisimo_inc/status/160172217894846465 Vivisimo

    Six Things Customers Want – via @BrianVellmure.com http://t.co/wOSihhgy #cxo #cem #cx

  • http://twitter.com/bucholtz/status/160519631939964928 Bucholtz

    @BrianVellmure makes it simple: 6 Things Customers Want: http://t.co/k9FQHQTW #CRM #SCRM

  • http://twitter.com/mikeboysen/status/160774966458073088 Mike Boysen

    Six Things Customers Want http://t.co/X7zrwrl2 via @BrianVellmure

  • http://twitter.com/dsearls/status/160792122776223744 Doc Searls

    @BrianVellmure: 6 things customers want: http://t.co/B89yFpE4 Here are 5 more: http://t.co/LRdVveVf #VRM #CRM

  • Peter Whibley

    7 Be Empowered to resolve my issue.

    http://peterwhibley.wordpress.com

    • http://www.brianvellmure.com Brian Vellmure

      Good one – especially from a 1:1 Customer Service perspective.

  • http://twitter.com/wimrampen/status/161904245115846656 Wim Rampen

    Six Things Customers Want http://t.co/hTaFV64X by @brianvellmure

  • http://twitter.com/mjayliebs/status/161956968477626370 Mitch Lieberman

    "Six Things" http://t.co/ab78P4Pq /via @BrianVellmure

  • http://twitter.com/choypw/status/162014272312979457 Daryl Choy

    Six Things Customers Want http://t.co/C1lx1Auf by @brianvellmure via @wimrampen #cem