WHERE DO YOUR CUSTOMERS COME FROM?
Do you know where your customers come from? If you answer this question with anecdotal evidence and not hard numbers, it’s time to start looking at ways to track the right answer.
Why is monitoring your traffic sources so important? Assessing your ongoing advertising is key in ensuring your business is effectively spending marketing dollars on the most revenue-generating channels.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO FIND OUT HOW YOUR CUSTOMERS FOUND YOU?
- Ask at the Time of Sale
- “How did you hear about us?” It is a simple question and should be a part of your checkout process and RECORD the answer! This can be in-person or through the electronic form they complete on your website. Train your sales staff to include this question in their customer service dialogue. Make recording the answer as simple as possible, like a tally sheet at the register or, for a website, a single drop-down menu or check box to ensure you get an answer!
- Survey
- Send a quick inquiry to your current or former customer list with an incentive for them to complete (like a coupon good for their next visit!) to get the answers you need AND drive traffic back to you.
- Google Analytics
- Anyone with a website should have Google Analytics set up to see what sites are referring traffic to yours. Is it your social media channels? Traffic from your organic search engine rankings? Referral traffic from other sites? With Google Analytics, you can tell just about everything about your customer’s journey.
- Coded Advertising
- If you do a direct mailing, print, or media advertisement (such as social media, TV, or Radio) with an offer, then have a code on it to track how many people respond by utilizing that unique code or link.
- Utilize Bitly
- Bitly empowers you to create branded short links effortlessly. With advanced analytics and customizable features, Bitly is your go-to tool for driving engagement, measuring performance, and maximizing impact.
- Create QR Codes
- Since Covid, almost everyone knows how to scan a QR code. When creating print ads or other marketing materials, add a custom QR code to see how much traffic comes from those marketing outlets!
- Tracked Phone Calls
- If you have customers calling, tracking where they got your number from is often a forgotten piece of the puzzle. Phone call tracking systems can record how customers found your website (paid search, organic search, social media, referral sites, etc.) by giving them a unique number to call. Many of these numbers integrate with Google Analytics to grant access to timely conversion information.
CONCLUSION
These different ways of measuring where your customer traffic is coming from will help you spend marketing money effectively and keep tabs on your customer base. Let us know what your favorite ways are to track where your customers are coming from!