Most of us understand the importance of collecting client feedback and have probably done it, at least a few times in the past. But what do you do with the information you collect? On its own, client feedback doesn’t do much, other than giving the client a chance to vent their frustration or share their praise.
The real value doesn’t come until you start to analyze, measure and use the data. All too often, though, we lose steam after collecting the feedback and the results just sit there collecting dust.
The first step toward using client feedback effectively is analyzing it, both individually and collectively with feedback from other clients. Answering these questions will help you analyze your client feedback thoroughly:
What is the best thing the client said?- What is the worst thing the client said?
- What have you learned about your client and your business?
- What surprised you in the feedback?
- When analyzed with other client feedback, is there an overall theme or message?
Once you fully understand the feedback and how it relates to what others have said, you can begin to pull it apart and use it in your day-to-day operations. Here are a few ways to get started.
Resolve Complaints
If a client tells you in a feedback process that they are not happy or were disappointed with your service at some point, it needs to be addressed immediately. Use the feedback to contact them, ask more about the source of their complaint, and explore what you can do to make it better.
It may be a simple case of fixing a minor problem, or you may need to dig deeper to learn where the disconnect happened, and then work with the client to improve the situation.
Improve Current Processes
If you have a few different clients who complain that you only take money orders for payment, a good inference may be that it’s time to explore opening up your accepted modes of payment a bit further to be more accommodating.
Similarly, if your clients cite slow response time as a common challenge throughout your relationship, explain their difficulty accepting your two-day work week, or wish you had been more willing to have a telephone conference instead of handling everything via email, it may be time to review your policies and processes and pinpoint areas of improvement.
Try Something New
Client feedback can also open your eyes to other areas where your clients struggle that you had no idea about. And this can open the door for new sales opportunities such add-on services or supporting products.
Translate It Into a Testimonial
Lastly, don’t forget about the most common and potentially powerful use of client feedback – testimonials. Use praise given in a client feedback process as a testimonial on your website, quote throughout your marketing materials, or blurb in your next newsletter.
You can even take especially positive feedback and expand it into a case study you can present to potential clients to sell the value you offer.
Do you ask for client feedback? What do you do with it?
Image credit: kikashi
Alyssa GregoryAlyssa Gregory is a digital and content marketer, small business consultant, and the founder of the Small Business Bonfire — a social, educational and collaborative community for entrepreneurs.
