What do your customers think about you? Ask them

Companies can find out for themselves what their customers think about them by conducting customer surveys. Customers can serve as an important source of information if they are asked properly. A good customer survey is never longer than what is necessary to obtain relevant information, and uses an attractive and straightforward format. The effectiveness of the survey is also enhanced when its objective is explained to customers, and when its mechanics have been carefully thought through. It is likewise helpful to survey customers in small batches so that questions may be easily altered if greater clarification is needed. The best time for conducting the survey depends on what the company wants to learn. It is prudent to survey long-time customers during their least busy periods, while it is helpful to survey new customers a couple of weeks after their initial purchase.