Clarocision Research & Marketing http://www.crmfirm.com Where Clarity Meets Precision Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:58:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 What you should know about online panels http://www.crmfirm.com/what-you-should-know-about-online-panels/ http://www.crmfirm.com/what-you-should-know-about-online-panels/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:57:10 +0000 karlene http://www.crmfirm.com/?p=1921 Continue Reading]]> “Do you think gathering information solely using online panels, online recruiting and delivery somehow produces less reliability in the results?”   Ron Sellers from Grey Matter Research & Consulting did a research on this topic back in 2009.   I will give you a summary of his finding but I have included the whole document here for your veiwing pleasure.  He found that many of the respondents seem to have been common to more than one panel. Further many of the surveys were closed within 24 to 48 hours “On average, 24% of the studies we attempted were closed, in an average of less than 24 hours” This leads me to think that many of the panelist are using this as a full time profession.  Which confirms my suspicion when I asked the question . . . “Do you think gathering information solely using online panels, online recruiting and delivery somehow produces less reliability in the results?”   Report on Online Panel Research 2012  ]]> http://www.crmfirm.com/what-you-should-know-about-online-panels/feed/ 0 Can Failure Create Winning Brands? http://www.crmfirm.com/failure-can-create-winning-brands/ http://www.crmfirm.com/failure-can-create-winning-brands/#comments Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:43:19 +0000 karlene http://www.crmfirm.com/?p=1892 Continue Reading]]> Creating a winning brand most often starts with many failures.  Who likes to fail? No one! However without failures there would be no successes.  Tim Harford, in his books “Why success always starts with failure” encourages us to expect failure.  If you are too afraid to fail you are more likely to fail, simply because you fail to try new things.
 

“Why success always starts with failure” Tim Harford

 As a business we have had to reinvent our strategy over and over and over again. This is not easy to do in such a fast pace environment.  However, you cannot rest, even when you are on top, you have to keep working. It’s like working tirelessly to get on the first page of Google search engine and once finally there you have to keep working to remain there. You have to keep optimizing your webpage by adding new contents that is relevant among other things to remain on top in the Google search engine. Similarly, you need to keep tweaking your brand to be effective.  A brand exists for one key purpose: to be the bridge that connects a product’s or service’s promise with the consumer’s desire.  Brands should help you to get noticed and preferable chosen above the competitor. How easy it that in a constantly changing environment? The Internet exposes us to millions of ideas, options and brands.  However, so many choices are overwhelming.  Consider the proliferation of different brands clamoring for consumer attention. Today you can buy over 10 billion products. There are over 100,000 distinct products for sale in a Wal-Mart. Starbucks claim to sell 87,000 different beverages. So how do you get your brand to stand out?  Yes you have to be different.  It’s simply not enough to be like the rest. ? Here are some fundamental questions that you will need to ask yourself and to answer:
  • What problem is your product or service solving that has not already been solved? 
  • Why should I choose your product or service over someone else’s?  Is it the price, quality?
  •  Do you have a unique selling proposition?  
Once you have found the answers to the questions above you have to communicate that message to your intended audience. Keep adapting to meet the needs of your market. It may take many trials and failure to find the right answers to these questions.  That is where market research comes in. You have to know your market.  BestBuy is a successful company in the US but it failed in China because it tried to introduce “large stores” concept it used in the American Market.  1) Test new ideas (Be warned, not all will be winners) 2) Test them on a small scale- where failure is survivable 3) Seek feedback and adapt accordingly]]> http://www.crmfirm.com/failure-can-create-winning-brands/feed/ 0 Should the focus be on acquiring new customers or on retaining current ones? http://www.crmfirm.com/1866/ http://www.crmfirm.com/1866/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:03:16 +0000 karlene http://www.crmfirm.com/?p=1866 Continue Reading]]> I believe, in order to address the issue of attrition it is important to find out why customers are leaving in the first place. You must aim to identify the critical challenges that exist in both the internal and external environment which may contribute to the problem: Do you have competitive rates, convenient service and exceptional customer service? How about your response time to customers’ requests? We live in a society of instant gratification. Financial institutions are force to provide services 24/7 through online banking to allow for instant services to customers. However, the point is, once you have a good grasp on why the customers are leaving you can put measures in place to correct the variables that are within your control. Otherwise much time and effort will be spent in acquiring customers that you won’t retain. If you have a leaking vessel there is little point in you trying to keep it filled. You first must stop the leak. This begs the question which comes first the chicken or the egg? Should the focus be on acquiring new customers or on retaining current ones? The truth is you should apply a “both and strategy” instead of an “either or strategy”. Retaining customers requires a thorough analysis of your current customer’s needs, perception and satisfaction level. Acquiring customers require careful targeting and skilful matching of their needs to your products and services. What are your thoughts?]]> http://www.crmfirm.com/1866/feed/ 0 Branding http://www.crmfirm.com/branding/ http://www.crmfirm.com/branding/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:51:37 +0000 karlene http://www.crmfirm.com/newsite/?p=1213 Continue Reading]]> http://www.crmfirm.com/branding/feed/ 0 Customer Retention http://www.crmfirm.com/lock-in-moisture-with-grapeseed-oil/ http://www.crmfirm.com/lock-in-moisture-with-grapeseed-oil/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:09:09 +0000 admin http://www.pkzhost.com/karlene/?p=363 Continue Reading]]> What do customers want from their bank or FI? Do you really know?
 The problem of attrition is becoming more challenging for banks and credit unions. An even greater challenge seems to be acquiring new customers/members. The dramatic increase in competition among banks and financial services companies has generated the need for financial institutions to place increased emphasis on customer retention and acquisition.
Banks and other financial institutions face competition from both bank and non-bank entities. For example, in the late 1990’s, there was rapid growth in the housing marketing in Florida. Consequently, the increase in demands for loans attracted high levels competition within the financial services industry. In the past, banks competed with banks and other financial intuitions for lending business. Now, all that is changing. Many “non-bank” organizations are providing lending services to small and mid-sized companies and individuals.   By: Karlene Facey C.E.O. Clarocision Research & Marketing- www.crmfirm.com]]> http://www.crmfirm.com/lock-in-moisture-with-grapeseed-oil/feed/ 0 Increasing competition and its effects on credit unions http://www.crmfirm.com/crazy-beauty-tricks-that-really-work/ http://www.crmfirm.com/crazy-beauty-tricks-that-really-work/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 09:08:58 +0000 admin http://www.pkzhost.com/karlene/?p=361 Continue Reading]]> http://www.crmfirm.com/crazy-beauty-tricks-that-really-work/feed/ 1 Credit Union Awareness Creates Great Opportunities http://www.crmfirm.com/beauty-basics-great-skin-for-life-2/ http://www.crmfirm.com/beauty-basics-great-skin-for-life-2/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 09:08:44 +0000 admin http://www.pkzhost.com/karlene/?p=358 Continue Reading]]> http://www.crmfirm.com/beauty-basics-great-skin-for-life-2/feed/ 0