• Newsletter
  • Contribute
  • Advertise

Welcome to Homestead Hustle!
  • Home
  • About
    • Contributors
    • Giveaways
    • Free Newsletter
    • Become a Contributor
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise With Us
  • Living the Life
    • Day-to-Day
    • Funny Stories
    • Success Stories
    • Kids Who Hustle
  • Adapt and Overcome
    • Diversify the Homestead
    • Health Set-Backs
    • Overcome Objections
    • Taking a Loss
    • When to Hire and Fire
  • Marketing
    • Finding Your Niche
    • Network Strategies
    • Where to Promote
  • Fine Print
    • Forms and Tools
    • Insurance
    • Plan Your Legacy
    • Real Estate
    • Taxes
    • Major Purchases
  • Shop



Garnering Feedback

By HomesteadEditor on December 19, 2015 Visit Homestead's Website.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Excerpted from Homemade For Sale by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko

 


As a small CFO, you don’t need to spin wheels and spend lots of money to figure out the value and sales viability of your product. Depending on your products, options to connect with your customers and garner actionable information may include:

• Follow-up e-mails requesting customer comments or feedback.
• Testing out products at mini-markets. By selling at small sales venues to test the waters with your product, you can adjust various marketing approaches, including price, to determine the potential for your product.
• Snail mail a letter with a small survey to return in a self-addressed stamped envelope.
• Try out the widely used Survey Monkey (surveymonkey.com), a free online system that allows
you to invite customers to complete a survey about your products; SurveyMonkey provides various analytic tools to ferret out key insights.
• Large marketing companies often use focus groups, inviting potential customers to taste samples and
offer their opinions. You could do something similar, perhaps in a less formal way at your home or a
“community room” at your local library, if they permit it.

Regardless of how you collect feedback, make sure you incentivize your customers’ participation. As
thanks, perhaps offer a giveaway draw for your products. In your early market feasibility study, you may
want to avoid social media until you’re satisfied with your products and feel comfortable that the public
feedback you receive will generally be favorable. Ideally, minimize the possibility of customers railing
or venting negatively about your product, especially if you’re still refining your recipe or the marketing. If you’ve ever read restaurant reviews on Yelp or Trip Advisor, you’ll recognize the power of one that’s well written but scathing.

You may also enjoy these excerpts from Homemade for Sale Handbook:

  • 10 Ways to Generate Media Coverage
  • Hosting Private Product Parties
  • Maintaining a Customer Database

This excerpt has been reprinted with permission from Homemade For Sale by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko and published by New Society, 2015.

 

Tags

  • customer feedback
  • handmade for sale
  • survey

Related Posts

 
Featured, Fine Print, Forms and Tools

Why Julia Chooses QuickBooks

 
Forms and Tools, Uncategorized

Getting Your Flock NPIP Certified

 
Featured, Fine Print, Forms and Tools, Getting Started, Insurance, Record Keeping, Rules and Regulations

Be An Informed Producer: Following Local Rules & Regulations

 
Forms and Tools, How to Promote, Market Yourself

Using Email Newsletters to Engage Customers

 
Featured, Forms and Tools, Getting Started, How to Promote, Market Yourself

Facebook Basics: Creating a Page That Works for Your Brand

Leave a Comment

  Cancel Comment


      Connect with Us

    • Get Our Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Mother Earth News

    • Live better... on less! You can have pure foods, clean water, lower bills - and the good life that you (and those you love) deserve. You'll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more.
    • Subscribe today!

      Popular

    • Start Your Backyard Flower Farm
    • 5 Easy to Grow Plants to Sell on your Homestead
    • How to Troubleshoot Engine Problems in Your Tractor
    • Making Money with Angora Goats, Part 4
    • The true cost of starting a goat herd.
    • Recent

    • Tips to Make Your Small Space Comfortable and Cozy
    • Enjoy Your Homestead! Using Outbuildings and Designing Outdoor Spaces
    • Weather Damage: Should You Repair or Replace?
    • 6 Homestead Projects to Complete on a Weekend
    • How to Keep Your Homestead Pets Healthy


Delivered by:

Mother Earth News Grit Community Chickens Community Chickens Community Chickens
Copyright © 2025, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Ogden Publications, Inc., 1503 SW 42nd St., Topeka, Kansas 66609-1265