Black Friday is one of the most anticipated events of the year and draws in millions of eager shoppers hunting for the best deals in Mzansi alone. While the immediate focus for businesses is managing the surge in demand, there's an even more valuable opportunity hidden in plain sight – customer feedback. As new and returning customers flood in this November, getting feedback during this time can help you see where you can improve so you can gain long-term relationships and not just deal-hunters.
Customer feedback helps you pinpoint your business's "leaky bucket" effect. You might be gaining new customers during busy seasons, but unless you address the areas where you're losing them, you're missing out on long-term business growth.
By using customer feedback to fine-tune your offerings, you can seal those gaps and turn first-time shoppers into repeat customers. Plus, customer feedback does more than just point out areas that need improvement – it can show where your business shines to help inform future marketing.
Customer feedback is more than star ratings and reviews. It's a way for businesses to understand how to improve, identify trends, and stay competitive in a fast-paced market.
Every bit of feedback tells a story. Whether customers love your fast delivery times or are frustrated by a lack of product variety, these insights help you understand what your clients want so you can tailor your services and products, which ultimately helps to build loyalty.
Feedback isn't simply things to look at improving someday – it's about right now. If your customers are frustrated with long queues or a glitchy site during Black Friday, it allows you to jump in and fix it before more people abandon their carts. Being responsive doesn't just make them feel heard – it makes them more likely to come back.
Customers stay loyal to businesses that listen. It's that simple. If you're responding to feedback – good or bad – you're showing that you're paying attention. That builds trust, and trust is what brings customers back.
It's not enough to attract customers during the busy season. When you make their shopping experience positive and memorable by replying to their feedback and improving on any weaknesses, you're much more likely to see them return.
Black Friday brings an overwhelming surge of new and existing customers. With so many customers interacting with your business all at once, the feedback you collect can help you spot inefficiencies you might not notice during quieter periods.
When you're flooded with shoppers, things can (and will) go wrong. Maybe the site crashes under pressure or shipping delays become an issue. The beauty of real-time feedback is that you'll know about these problems as they happen, giving you the chance to fix them on the spot – potentially saving a sale and a future customer.
Nobody's perfect, and Black Friday will test your systems. But when you respond quickly to feedback – whether it's a product issue or a customer service hiccup – you can turn a negative into a positive. People remember how you handle problems, and if you turn things around fast, they're more likely to shop with you again.
Happy customers love to talk about their experiences. When they feel heard and taken care of, they're more likely to drop glowing reviews, and those reviews become your free marketing. One well-handled complaint could turn into a five-star review that convinces the next wave of shoppers to trust you.
Hellopeter Business offers several powerful tools to help businesses leverage customer feedback effectively. By capturing, managing, and utilising this feedback, you can boost your reputation and make informed decisions that drive long-term growth.
Now, you don't need to go about this alone – Hellopeter Business has your back with smart tools that make collecting and managing feedback super easy.
Hellopeter Business offers a range of customisable templates you can use to invite customers to leave feedback after their purchase. This way, you turn every sale into an opportunity for feedback.
Capture your customers' thoughts instantly on a platform they already use every day – WhatsApp. This not only makes it easier for them to share their thoughts but allows you to get feedback while the experience is still fresh.
As it stands, at least 43% of Hellopeter's reviews are written via our WhatsApp chatbot, so customers are clearly loving its convenience and will, therefore, be more likely to write you a review.
Set up post-purchase review requests to automatically gather feedback from customers. This way, you're always collecting fresh insights, while also freeing up time to focus on more immediate tasks.
Getting reviews is one thing – responding and managing them is another. The way you handle feedback shapes your brand's reputation and can be a make or break.
Customers love quick responses. Make sure you take the time to show them you care and you're listening by replying to every review, whether positive or negative. Consistent engagement with feedback shows the world that your brand is active and committed to delivering great experiences.
Address negative feedback in a way that shows you're taking it seriously. Show your reviewers and potential customers that you care and are willing to rectify any issues. This alone will help to instil trust among consumers.
Customers trust other customers. Use glowing reviews to build social proof, your reputation, and increase sales.
Hellopeter's SEO-optimised review widgets let you embed your five-star reviews right on your homepage. Showing off your best feedback on your website reassures visitors they're making the right choice.
Got a glowing review? Use it in your ads and social media campaigns this November to attract more shoppers and drive sales. This will instil customer confidence by letting your happy customers do the talking. This gives your potential customers just another reason to trust you!
Good reviews don't just build trust – they also help with local search rankings, making it easier for people to find you online. Hellopeter maximises your visibility on Google, where most customers start their search.
Want to know how you're faring compared to other businesses in your industry? Hellopeter's competitor data lets you track your performance against that of your competitors, allowing you to adjust your strategy accordingly. You can also see where your customers (and your competitors' customers) are coming from.
Black Friday is an incredible opportunity, not only for quick sales but also for long-term growth. To stay on top of customer experiences, handle issues in real time, and instil the trust that keeps customers coming back, sign up for a free Hellopeter Business trial. Your commitment to the customer experience will unlock year-round business growth.