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
Annual dues vs. anniversary dues
Annual dues vs. anniversary dues I served as director of membership for several years at […]
A change of systems requires a change of mindset
Every AMS vendor will tell you that the toughest part of implementing a new system […]
It doesn’t have to be optimal to be beneficial
It doesn’t have to be optimal to be beneficial I’m a big fan of the […]
Look for small wins
Look for small wins One of the toughest things about system implementation is simply how […]
Are you closing the loop?
Are you closing the loop? If your association does a call for presentations for any […]
Declare victory and move on
Declare victory and move on The law of diminishing returns is the point at which the […]
Clean as you go
Clean As You Go A good cook or baker knows that, when working in the […]
Baby Steps
One of the keys to developing good data management habits is to be aware of […]
Success Requires Discipline
When it comes to data management, most of us know what to do; we just don’t […]
Take a moment to be grateful
Because we’re so focused on always improving what we have now, it’s easy to overlook […]
