1. Get Feedback – Ask your customers what they think about your products, services, events and marketing. You won’t know until you ask.

2. Set the Bar – Benchmark how you are doing, and make goals to improve and/or maintain that status.

3. Evaluate the Competition – Ask what other products or services your customers use, find out why or what they enjoy about them.

4. Learn New Ideas – Your customers are an untapped resource for you. They are smart, creative and likely have ideas that you haven’t thought of.

5. Guide Business Decisions – Using surveys you can gather information that is helpful in making informed business decisions, both big and small.

Consider offering something special for a completed survey. Like a 10% discount, a printed coupon, or a discount code to use in online shopping carts.

Don’t limit yourself when trying to determine the best way to conduct surveys.

• Mail one on a postcard.
• Put one on the back of your business card for networking events.
• Post one on your website.
• Put one on the bottom of your register receipts.
• Make one into a table-tent and put it on all your tables.
• Send one out in an email marketing campaign.

You’re only limited by your imagination and budget.