Passive Consumption to Active Participation … Marketplace Trends

 

The customer never buys what you think you sell.

-  Peter Drucker

 

You can find trends that will affect your business all around you, day in and day out. Marketplace trends (and other insights) are very important to the future of your business.  The key is to choose the most important ones and to act quickly and decisively.

 

Here are the most important customer trends that we are advising clients about in 2012:

 

Customer feedback and insights … are increasing in importance. You need to listen to and observe your customers carefully … the non-solicited feedback is often the most insightful for your future improvements. See our recent article: What Detective Columbo Teaches Us about Customer Insights

 

Social and social media … will become the backbone of marketing strategies, as customer relationships are critical. See our article: What Makes Whole Foods Social Media Strategy a Difference Maker 

 

Employee engagement … will become the key to customer engagement. Successful customer relationship building starts with employees that are most engaged as spokesmen for the business.

 

Creating a company culture with customer experience … will become a necessity for most businesses. Customer experience is your most important element of a word of mouth marketing campaign.

 

Customer loyalty and advocates/influencers focus … will be key marketing strategy elements.  

 

What marketplace trends are you seeing as most important for your business?  Please share one or two with this community.

 

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More reading from Digital Spark Marketing’s library:

 What Skill Is Most Critical in a Good Business Leader?

Doing What You Love Is Not That Easy a Task

How to Get Your Attitude Adjusted For Each New Day