His Majesty Customer

Dear friends!
Here in this topic I propose to discuss His Majesty Customer. You are welcome with all your observations, ideas, thoughts and even funny cases !

 

Do you associate yourself with a customer before advertising something?

 

I have no clue what you're talking about.

 

I am not sure who "His Majesty Customer" is. I will assume you mean that customer is king?

As to your second post, if are asking if we think about our potential customers and get to know their habits, trends and expectations before advertising to them. If so, of course.

 

Just wanted to add, that it looks like English is your 2nd or so language, so let me know if I was wrong in my assumptions.

 

2 Marketjunction
Yes, sure, English is one of my "not-native " languages, that is why I ask you to forgive me some "derivations" from the classical language traditions
And starting the topic I've meant really "our potential customers and getting to know their habits, trends and expectations before advertising to them"
Thank you, in advance, for understanding

 

I think "his majesty customer" meant those customers who expect us to worship them because they order a $10 widget from us.

 

This one too.

 

So, now, when we understand whom we are talking about... My first question is - Do you agree that Customer passes 5 stages in the process of buying something (understanding the necessity, information searching, evaluation of alternatives,decision to buy and evaluation of the buying)?

 

That is the basic 5 step process taught in every beginning business and/or marketing course in college.

It would be kind of hard to disagree

This process can happen in a split milisecond or take a long time.

 

Do you mean, that all five items obligatory take place?

 

The 5 stages describes the psychological process of decision making. All five take place either conciously or subconsciously.

For example, you walk into a store and buy a soda.

Stage One: You decided you wanted something to drink, for whatever reason.

Stage Two: This process probably took a millisecond because you have drank many things in your life thus no intensive research was required.

Stage Three: You thought about what you wanted to drink and decided on a Coca-Cola

Stage Four: Since the drink is not free, you purchase it.

Stage Five: You are content with your purchase.

In the above example, all five stages are most likely second nature. In fact, stage three probably took the longest unless you only drink one type of soda.

 

Thank you for such a detailed explanation.Could be any exception from this rule? Have you heard anything about the way so called "new russians" do their buyings?

 

The stages really have nothing to do with what nation you are from. Like I said, this is a psychological process. It is how the mind works. It is not just for buying things.

Example: You have two girlfriends and decided it is time to get married.

Stage One: You need to pick out a potential wife and get married.

Stage Two: Your information search begins as you start recalling all the memories you have had with the two girls.

Stage Three: You begin to recognize the good points and bad points for each girl.

Stage Four: You tally up all the information and decide to marry Girl #2.

Stage Five: You are now married and are happy, content or sad with your decision.

This is a simple example, but you see that the process is about how the mind works when making a decision and not just about how someone from a certain country buys a soda.

 

Could you (question to everyone) name some most significant (common) qualities, that may influence your (personal) choice?

 

How can you comment these words of P.Kotler:
"..Question:
Are customers becoming more cynical about business and marketing?
Philip Kotler:
Consumers have traditionally been cynical toward business and some of this is deserved. It is not so much being cynical about the products as it is being cynical about the way business exaggerates the benefits of a product, mishandles its employees (downsizing), manipulates politicians through lobbying, and certain other practices. A cynical period is always a great opportunity for other companies to stand out as good citizens because they will earn a disproportional amount of trust and preference..."

(From ACCORDING TO KOTLER: The World’s Foremost Authority on Marketing Answers Your Questions by Philip Kotler (AMACOM Books; paperback; ISBN: 0-8144-7295-8).

 

You missed out Stage 6 - Either: complaining and getting money back / recommending to friends and thereby generating more business for you / making additional purchases.

 

That is stage 5 -- personal evaluation of decision.

 

Are all these actions obligatory??