Don't ask questions for which you already know the answer
I was recently completing an online form to submit a proposal for speaking at a conference. I had to log in to the system for it to recognize me (which it did). One of the first questions it asked me was "Have you ever spoken at this conference before?"
So the system knows who I am, but it doesn't know if I've ever spoken at this conference before? (I have.) Why are they asking me things they should already know?
And this is my message to you: Don't ask questions that will make your members or customers say "Wait, you should know that already!" Because every time you do that, you are telling them, "You're not important enough for me to bother working on getting this information. I'll just ask you for it because that's easier for me." (And as an aside, the customer may not know the answer, or may give an incorrect answer, in which case the data is useless anyway!)
I know how difficult it can be to integrate disparate systems or reference data from past events. But if that question is truly important to you, do the work beforehand or afterward. Don't make the customer do the work for you!
![]()
Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives
But will you DO anything with that data?
But will you DO anything with that data? I frequently exhort my clients to always answer […]
It’s not what happens, but how you react…
It’s not what happens, but how you react… “It’s not what happens to you, but […]
Saying it and doing it are two different things
Saying it and doing it are two different things When I work with my clients […]
Benefits downstream are difficult to implement
Benefits downstream are difficult to implement In my 25 years of consulting, one of the […]
Your first answer may NOT be the right answer!
Your first answer may NOT be the right answer! I’m a big believer in “go […]
You don’t have to automate EVERYTHING to be successful
You don’t have to automate EVERYTHING to be successful I was discussing a data management […]
Technology won’t solve your process problems
Technology won’t solve your process problems Over the past few years I’ve watched as many […]
“Screen noise” is a real thing. You might be able to fix it.
“Screen noise” is a real thing. You might be able to fix it. One of […]
Success Starts at the Top
Success Starts at the Top I recently had a conversation with an association staffer who was […]
Who are you bringing along?
Who are you bringing along? Last week I had the opportunity to attend the AWTC […]
