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Why Putting the Customer First is Hurting your Business

September 26, 20232 min read

“Trying to appeal to every customer is damaging your business.”
- Sarah George

Watch the video here or if you are a reader, keep scrolling.

Fact - trying to appeal to every customer is damaging your business. Hear me out why putting the customer first can put you in last.

Reasons Why You Hear The Client is King

We've grown up on this conventional wisdom. Why? It helps businesses stay competitive because happy customers come back, and unhappy customers tell others not to come at all. Plus empowering the customer gives employees a strong rallying cry for sales. The Connective Consulting stance: neither of these reasons are wrong, but they can hide a few serious problems for any small business.

Marketing To Your Loudest Fans Doesn't Translate To All Fans

One of my favorites of all the principals, the Pareto Principal - 20% of your clients result in 80% of your revenue (and this matters, if you think that the bulk of revenue comes from the loudest, it's rarely true). The good news is you need to pay most attention to only 20%.

Complainers are hard to appease; marketing to their needs (only) doesn't guarantee you'll make them happy and also may hide the needs of your less vocal clients. Complainers are the first ones to jump ship when a shinier, cheaper option is placed in front of them. The squeaky wheel can have the grease, we want the loyal ride-or-die type!

Pick a Best Client

Who is your company best suited to help? What makes it so easy to serve them? THAT is your guidepost. Stick to it. You can still help other people, but helping others shouldn't come at the cost of helping your BEST client.

What are you known for? Make marketing decisions based on how your best client will identify with you... even if it bugs the loud complainers.

Conclusion: It isn't that the customer is always right... a better catch phrase would be "my BEST customer is always right." And sometimes that means that other customers are better elsewhere. Do you Know Your Who™? I can help you zone in on the details of your BEST client so you cater your marketing decisions where it matters. Book a discovery call to get started.

marketingmarketing strategy

Sarah George

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