Did you know that understanding the problems your customers have is really important for a successful business? Even the smart scientist Albert Einstein once said, “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.”
This quote emphasizes the importance of dedicating time and effort to truly comprehend the problem before focusing on finding solutions.
In this blog post, I will walk you through why understanding problems is the most important thing to be a successful business and how to thoroughly understand the problems your customers have.
By knowing it, you can make your products or services even better and help more people. So, let’s get started!
Solving Problems Is More Important Than Fulfilling Desires
In marketing, it’s essential to realize that solving problems holds more weight than merely fulfilling desires. Let’s consider an example. Imagine you’re selling a cleanser, and you have three promises to make: helping customers get rid of acne, preventing aging signs, and hydrating their skin. Which is the most powerful promise for your cleanser?
These promises are good, no doubt about it. But the most powerful promise that really speaks to your customers is the simple act of cleansing their skin effectively by removing makeup, impurities, and excess oil. That’s what they care about the most when searching for a cleanser. Solving their problem of wanting clean and clear skin will make your product stand out and be truly impactful for them.
Related: 12 Psychology Triggers Will Help You Win Sales And Influence Customers
How to Understand Customers’ Problems
1. Learning from customer reviews
One of the most valuable resources for understanding your customers’ problems is their reviews. Take a moment to explore the reviews your customers have left for your products. These reviews provide valuable insights into their experiences, likes, and dislikes.
Nothing is more valuable than your customer reviews because they help you identify the specific problems your customers encounter and work towards resolving them.
2. Learning from competitors
Learning from your competitors is another great way to understand your customers’ problems. You can do this by reading reviews on your competitors’ websites or market platforms like Amazon. These reviews provide valuable insights into the problems that customers face when using similar products.
Analyzing the 5-star and 1-star reviews is important to get a complete picture of the customer experiences. 5-star reviews help you understand what people like about the product, while 1-star reviews help you identify its weaknesses. By knowing the drawbacks, you can improve your product or service.
3. Using ‘People Also Ask’ on Google
Google’s ‘People Also Ask’ (PAA) feature is a helpful tool for understanding people’s problems when purchasing. You can discover related questions and their quick answers by entering a query such as “Why do people need X?” in the Google search bar. This feature enables you to grasp potential customers’ common problems and concerns before making a decision.
4. Creating data from customer analytics
Customer analytics is valuable for gathering insights into your customers’ preferences and behaviors. Utilize tools like Google Analytics to gain a deeper understanding of your audience.
You can identify the content that captures people’s attention by analyzing metrics such as time spent on your website and bounce rate. This information can reveal your customers’ specific problems or interests, allowing you to tailor your offerings accordingly.
5. Survey your customers on social media channels
Another effective method for understanding your customers’ problems is surveying them on social media channels. Surveys provide valuable insights into customer satisfaction trends, allowing businesses to track changes and make informed decisions.
By conducting surveys, you can discover what makes your existing customers happy and identify areas where they may be dissatisfied. This will help you understand their pain points and allow you to improve your products or services accordingly.
In fact, keeping existing customers is much easier and more cost-effective than constantly trying to attract new customers. Studies have shown that increasing customer retention by just 5% can lead to substantial profit growth for a company, ranging from 25% to even 95%. Additionally, existing customers are more likely to try new products and spend 31% more than new customers.
Final Thoughts
Understanding your customers’ problems lies at the core of a successful business. By prioritizing problem-solving over desires, you can meet the specific needs of your target audience. Besides, you can build lasting relationships, differentiate yourself from competitors, foster innovation, and achieve sustainable growth.
