While you might know there is a market for your product or service, it still helps to do market research. To ensure long-term success, look into what people in your target market are buying and what they want. Look into who your competitors are or will be. What are they doing well? What could they be doing to improve?

Further, how do your customers operate? Think about where they shop: online or in person? Do they use social media? There are so many different platforms now, so find out if they use one or two more than others. In particular, for individuals or small businesses, you want to be careful about where you put your resources to attract customers. If most of your customer base is on Facebook and Instagram, targeting users on a platform like Twitter or Snapchat might not give you significant enough returns.

Of course, it takes time and serious effort to understand your customers in regards to their wants and needs. Whether an individual or a small business, it is something you should do. Developing a basic product or service that is in demand is not enough anymore. The effort you put into understanding your customers will show.

Customer perception is incredibly important as it is how customers perceive a brand or company and its products and services. If you take a customer-oriented approach, it is essential that you work on developing and maintaining a positive customer perception. While it is not impossible to run a business without a strong internet presence, it is massively helpful to have one. This doesn’t mean you need to have a social media account with an enormous number of followers or a website that competes with the biggest companies in the world.

However, when you are active on at least some social media platforms and have a great website, even for restaurants, you are doing yourself a huge favor. These avenues not only allow new customers to find you, but a good website helps give a positive first impression. In Forbes, Nicole Leinbach-Reyhle writes, “They’re [customers] likely to dismiss you entirely, as well, should they believe your website doesn’t reflect the kind of experience your business – or a business like yours – should offer.”

It is something of an investment to develop a good website, but it does not have to be incredibly complicated. Today, there are numerous guidelines and businesses that are able to help set up a good website that you or your team can maintain.

According to Forbes:

For individuals and small companies in particular, customer orientation is key. To adopt this practice and thrive, it is essential to take the time to research customer wants and needs. Furthermore, utilize a mix of social media, website design, and customer service to help build a positive customer perception. Many people remain loyal to brands that they feel reflects their lives, values, and makes them feel positive emotions. When you take the time and put in effort it reflects in your customer base.

If you are looking for more information or help to build your customer-oriented business, contact us today.