Notions (Consumer Behaviour)

YOU DON'T ONLY NEED TO GET YOUR CLIENTS/CUSTOMERS TO KNOW HOW THE BUSINESS IS OF ADVANTAGE TO THEM, YOU'VE GOT TO RELATE WITH THEM ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. ESPECIALLY IF IT IS A PURCHASING ENDEAVOUR.

Mayhaps, you are looking for a customer to sell your products or skills and you've just been advertising your wares and not getting the response you want.

It's always better and easier to get to know the potential customer/client first, before shoving your wares in their faces.

Here's my experience.
I'm part of the Editoral committee of the Rotaract Club of my school and we are in the process of publication of our brochure/magazine.

As such, we needed funds in form of subscription by fellow Rotaractors. I was delegated to convince them to subscribe to the brochure with a token.

What I was busy doing for weeks was "Composing beautiful messages of how the magazine is being published, and what they stand to gain from the magazine"

Yet, I wasn't getting any response. Well, not the kind that I wanted, anyways.

My chief editor started blowing on my neck, that she is not getting updates from me. My response was that "It's not easy chatting over a hundred people up"

She said, "That's not an excuse. You got to do it. What if they were over 500? Would you not have done something too? Get to know them, Reply their statuses, if you must and get the job done."

My thoughts were, "Where will I start? Will I start DMing over a hundred people? What kind of responses am I bound to receive? How will this work out?

Well, there's only one way to find out.
Ụmụnne m, That was how I embarked on a journey.

At this juncture, I had over a hundred numbers saved in my phone, from Rotr 1 to 183.
I didn't know their names, just got their numbers to from the Club group chat.

So, I began chatting them up, Individually. Something like this, "Hello, Good afternoon. My name is Chinenye Anikwenze and I'm a Rotaractor"

They'd reply and we would exchange pleasantries. I even asked about their holidays. I'd make them comfortable enough, before plunging into the subscription news.

This was 3 days to the deadline. It was hectic, it's was exhilarating and challenging all at the same time.

My hands were aching from time spent typing away with different people at the same time.

I was trying to organize everything so I wouldn't get confused with someone's name, and indulge in questions thrown at me. Also, to get back to each person as soon as possible.

However, I was laughing and joking with the potential clients at same time while getting positive responses from them.

Even those who were not going to subscribe gave me reasons, (which for me is much better than the lack of response I was getting).

Infact, some times, My phone battery died off while I was still typing and responding the different chats because I was so engrossed with the messages. It went "piiiiiiii........"

Overall, It was an amazing experience for me.

In a space of 3 days, I got feedbacks and subscriptions much higher than the ones I've gotten in the preceding weeks of my somewhat standoffish messages.

💙Through same process, I made some wonderful friends.

🤗Someone was really appreciative of how I encouraged her as she had challenges.

😀Another even promised me a gift on school resumption, because of how well communicated in my messages.

💪My Chief Editor commended my effort.

😊😊And most importantly, I got fulfilling and heartwarming feeling because of theevidence of a job well done.

It been an eye opener for me.

So, It's not only about telling your customer how a product is good for them. Or the gazillion benefits it would have for them.

It's not always about "I have so and so product for you" or "I have this that will benefit you...."

The consumers need to know you. They need to be aware that they are relating with someone, a person that they are comfortable with, before sparing their cash for your wares/products.

That's why Status/Stories products sell and people even pay for cost of waybill on top.

That's why people leave the hairdresser in their street and board bus to their favourite salon.

That's why people have those they patronise from constantly even though they can get it at a cheaper rate from somewhere else.
Because, the Customers are familiar with them.

Familiarity sells!
Every. Single. Time.
Whether it's a job application or anything else.

That's why there's something called IM (Ị ma mmadụ), in terms of appointments for positions.
Because so and so knows what you are capable of.

And familiarity is not always about being friends with the buyers, Or friends with everyone.
I mean, most of the subscribers didn't even know the face of the person that was telling them to spare their money.

It's your communication!
How.do you interact with the clients? Polite, Engaging, Witty?

Just know that people want to know you before they can patronise you.

That, my dear people, is a Consumer Behaviour.
Daalụ nụụ

Do enjoy the rest of your day!

© Chinenye Anikwenze