Beware the automated “How did we do?” trap!

Beware the automated "How did we do?" trap!

One of the downsides of technology is that automation can be so easy that we wind up annoying our members and customers rather than helping them.

Case in point: I recently purchased tickets for a Broadway show via StubHub. The day after attending the show, I got an email from StubHub asking me "Tell us how we did!"

Tell you how you did?!? You sent me the tickets and they worked. Isn't that what's supposed to happen? I mean, what else can we say about this transaction?

With automation, it's easy for StubHub to follow up and ask me the question. But the problem is, EVERYONE is doing this. So every time I buy anything from anyone, I get an automated survey asking me for feedback. So what do I do, every single time? I delete the email.

Which is exactly what your members do.

I'm not suggesting you not ask for feedback from your members and customers. But I am suggesting you consider how and when you ask for that feedback. An automated email is almost certain to be ignored.

Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives

New Year’s Resolutions

January 22, 2020

New Year’s Resolutions Why do New Year’s Resolutions fail? Research suggests that part of the […]

Why Process is So Important

January 15, 2020

Why Process is So Important One of my favorite business authors is James Clear, who writes all […]

The Significant Change of SaaS Software

January 7, 2020

The Significant Change of SaaS Software One of the most significant technological changes in the […]

Always, ALWAYS budget for more training

December 18, 2019

Always, ALWAYS budget for more training Always, ALWAYS budget for more training. I don’t know how else […]

We’ve always done it that way

December 11, 2019

We’ve always done it that way A couple of weeks ago I wrote about approving memberships, […]

Are you sure it doesn’t do that?

December 4, 2019

Are you sure it doesn’t do that? Even after 20 years of consulting, I’m surprised […]

Be grateful

November 27, 2019

Be grateful As Thanksgiving approaches here in the US, I’m reminded of two words: Be […]

Do you really need to approve them?

November 20, 2019

Do you really need to approve them? I often joke that the very best (because […]

Negativity bias is why we need database PR

November 13, 2019

Negativity bias is why we need database PR I’ve written before how cognitive biases can affect […]

A system change requires a culture change

November 6, 2019

A system change requires a culture change By its very nature, when you introduce a […]

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top