5 Questions to Ask to Discover Your Ideal Customers Problem

Today simply relying on generic messaging like "great service," "knowledgeable staff," or "quality product" is no longer enough to capture the attention of your ideal customers. This type of messaging, which I like to call "expectation messaging," is what customers expect as a baseline when paying for a service.

To truly stand out and connect with your target audience, you need to go beyond these generic claims and focus on clearly guiding your customers through how you solve their specific problems. In this post, we'll explore a powerful strategy to gain insight into your customers' problems and learn how to effectively address them.

The Power of Customer Interviews:

If you haven't already done so, conducting interviews with your ideal customers is one of the most effective strategies you can employ to understand their needs, concerns, and motivations. By engaging in meaningful conversations with your customers, you gain valuable insights into the real problems you solve for them. These insights serve as a foundation for crafting compelling messaging that resonates with your audience and positions your business as the solution they've been searching for.

Essential Questions to Ask:

To extract meaningful information from your customer interviews, it's important to ask the right questions. Here are five key questions that will provide valuable insights:

#1: What problem triggered you to look for a business like ours?

Understanding the specific pain points that led customers to seek out a business like yours will give you valuable insights into the problems you solve. By knowing the triggers, you can tailor your messaging to address these specific pain points and position your business as the go-to solution.

#2: What were your main concerns? Top priorities?

Learning about your customers' concerns and priorities helps you understand their decision-making process. By addressing these concerns directly and aligning your messaging with their priorities, you can build trust and credibility, making it easier for customers to choose your business over competitors.

#3: What type of online content were you looking for?

Knowing what type of content your customers sought during their research phase provides valuable guidance for your marketing efforts. Understanding their information needs allows you to create relevant and engaging content that educates and informs, positioning your business as a trusted authority in your industry.

#4: What made us stand out? If we didn't, how could we stand out?

This question helps you identify the unique aspects of your business that resonated with customers. If you received positive feedback, you can leverage those strengths in your messaging. Alternatively, if you didn't stand out, their suggestions for improvement can guide your efforts to differentiate yourself from competitors.

#5: What, exactly, made you decide to buy?

Understanding the specific factors that influenced customers to make a purchase decision provides invaluable insights into the strengths of your offering. By highlighting these key factors in your messaging, you can create a sense of urgency and compel potential customers to take action.

Crafting Compelling Messaging

Armed with the insights gained from customer interviews, you can now craft compelling messaging that speaks directly to your ideal customers. Instead of relying on generic claims, you can address their specific pain points, alleviate concerns, and emphasize the unique aspects that differentiate your business from competitors.

Small Business Marketing Massaging Examples:

• We’ll Protect Your Yard and We’ll Clean-Up Before We Leave.
• Small Business Lawyers You Can Reach & Who Will Make You a Priority
• Our Trainers and Staff Ensure Your Success
• You’ll Be Happy With Your Home Improvement Experience Just As Much As Your Completed Project
• Our Team Makes Your Renovation Experience Exceptional
• Get A Kitchen Remodel You'll Love From Kitchen Remodel Contractors You Enjoy
• We Respect Your Belongings, Carefully Handle Your Items, and Move Efficiently
• Knowledge and Experience that Empowers You
• We Respond Quickly to Requests, Explain the Equitable Distribution of Assets in Plain English, and Patiently Educate You on Our Processes and the Information We Gather in a Clear, Understandable Way

Move Beyond Expectation Messaging

To truly connect with your ideal customers and differentiate your business in a crowded marketplace, it's essential to move beyond expectation messaging. By conducting customer interviews and gaining deep insights into their problems, concerns, and motivations, you can develop messaging that resonates with your audience on a deeper level. By addressing their specific needs and positioning your business as the solution they've been searching for, you'll stand out from the competition and build stronger connections with your customers.

Remember, tomorrow is the perfect time to start interviewing your customers and uncovering the insights that will transform your messaging and drive business growth.

Are you ready to guide your customers to solutions and leave generic messaging behind? Start today and watch your business thrive.

Contact Your Marketing Consultant at Indispensable Marketing

If you’re a small business company that needs help with creating a message development or your company’s online presence on Google and other search engines, at Indispensable Marketing we can help. We offer marketing strategy consulting, marketing audits, monthly marketing packages, consultations, exploratory calls or monthly local SEO services. Contact us for more information.