For over 100 years, the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce has been a successful organization that is well known for being "customer focused" by its membership. In order to insure that the members were currently receiving a valuable service and to plan for future changes, the Chamber asked M45 Marketing Services to help them conduct a survey to gather the views of its constituency. We recommended an online survey in which participants were able to express their views on programs, events, services and communications. Over 19% of the membership responded with comments and suggestions to help make the Chamber even better. After compiling the initial data from this survey, we helped to moderate several member focus groups to clarify and expand on specific questions and suggestions. The information gathered will help the Chamber plan for their future, and to continue their mission of serving its membership.

If it's broken, (we can help) FIX IT!

When you have a leaky radiator, you go to an auto mechanic. When you have a physical ailment, you go to a doctor. And when your brand is busted or you just can't figure out why business is down or how to accelerate your sales, you should turn to the marketing professionals! But—first things first: what exactly is the problem? If you don't get that defined correctly, there's no point in going any further. And how do you define the problem? One way may be to do some customer satisfaction research. It might be a survey (online or electronic). It might be a series of questions over the phone. Or a focus group. No matter what the input tool, getting data from your customers—as well as people who used to be your customers, or those you WANT to be your customers—is often the best first step in figuring out what to do next. We can help with this type of primary research (surveying) as well as doing secondary research, where we can scour gigantic databases or small obscure publications to help you find the nuggets of information that will help you make the best possible business decisions. Once the problem is defined, we can help you develop marketing solutions to fix what's broken…and maybe even address what's not broken! Don't forget that just because something seems to be working well, it doesn't mean that it's working BEST. In that case, if it's not broken, we can still help improve it, making your business marketing efforts stronger than ever. So whether that radiator is visibly leaking or you just can't figure out why your mileage is so low, call M45 for a marketing tune-up. We'll have you cruisin' in no time!

How do you know if an aspect of your business is "broken" if you don't ask your clients or customers how you're doing? Satisfied, repeat customers are at the core of every successful business-and one of the most effective and least expensive sources of sales promotion available. It costs more to recruit a new customer than to retain an existing one. Effectively measuring customer satisfaction with your products and services can have an immediate impact on the direction of your organization.

The survey specialists of M45 Marketing Services provide a variety of satisfaction surveys that utilize the most appropriate means of data collection. These include the Internet, mail, telephone and personal interviews. The use of a Website to implement a survey can supply preliminary results within days or even hours. We can help you with questionnaire development, graphics and design, delivery implementation, data analysis and professional reports and presentations with actionable results.

Call M45 at 815-232-2121 to discuss your marketing needs. 

There is an old story about a couple who went on vacation and stayed overnight at a well-known hotel. They had an uncomfortable night's sleep and woke to find their bed infested with bedbugs! They were naturally outraged and vowed to write a nasty letter of complaint to the owner of the hotel, which they did when they got home. Several weeks later, they received a reply from the hotel owner:

Dear Guests—

I was extremely disturbed to hear about your unfortunate experience at one of our hotels. Let me assure you that I personally have looked into the matter and have fired the person responsible.

We pride ourselves on having the best accommodations available, and just the thought of allowing insects in any of our hotels makes my blood boil. Enclosed you will find a coupon allowing you to stay at one of our hotels for two nights, free of charge.

Please, again, accept my sincerest apologies.