Listen - Understand - Act: A simple approach for a happy customer

Maybe I am just over sensitive to things around me, but everyday of my life it amazes me how many companies I see that do not actually listen to their audience; be it their actual or prospective customers.

They also do not nurture the customers they do have effectively.

And the irony is if they did all of the above even a little bit they would be far more successful, and increase customer patronage and retention.

A couple of real examples:

Success - 10 Tips to help you find your way

I was recently asked a question on LinkedIn, and the question itself was quite simple "can you give me some advice / tips to be successful in marketing".
The question really got me me thinking and reflecting on my career to date. Making the topic slightly broader, I thought it made an interesting topic for a blog post and so my response to this person and anyone else who is interested is below.


Remember - We are all different, have different objectives, goals, strengths, weaknesses, approaches and personalities. I have read too many books that promote a 'one hat fits all approach" and this is just a load of BS. My advice whenever reading any 'life' advice books / articles is that if you can take away one useful point then your time hasn't been wasted. When reading the points imagine you need to teach someone else the points. It's a good practice as it makes you question and challenge the advice more, which in turn helps you validate it in your own mind and understand it.