300 Seconds: Counter Survey

When customers buy books based on your recommendation, you know that they heard about the books from you. But when a customer walks in and asks for a specific book, the source of the recommendation is more difficult to discover.

Unless you ask them.

When helping these customers who know exactly what they want, take a few seconds to conduct a counter survey. Just ask one question: “How did you hear about this book?”

Maybe they heard about it on NPR. Perhaps a neighbor told them about it. Or they could have seen a mention in your newsletter. The point is, although this method is not scientific, it’s still a good way to measure your own efforts or identify a new source of information. Plus it’s a great way to begin a conversation with your customers.

Beth Golay

Beth is a reader, writer, marketer and Books & Whatnot founder. Even though she knows better, she's a sucker for a good book cover and will positively swoon if a book is set in appropriate type. @BethGolay