Benchmarking establishes a reference point so you can gauge the success or failure of marketing and service strategies even when there isn’t an obvious cause and effect. We naturally want to know how our results compare to our competition and try to benchmark against them. It’s impossible to create realistic and accurate comparisons to other companies. Looking at the competition for insight into their strategy is a good thing. Investing resources in specific analytical comparison is wasteful and counter-productive. Use those resources to create solid internal benchmarks instead.

The first step in every plan should be to get all of the participants on the same page. This eliminates (or at least reduces) miscommunication and confusion. Sometimes we forget this in our haste to share information or get started. I tend to forget this step when writing about benchmarking and presume that everyone sees it the same way. When I wrote “Why Benchmarking against Competitors doesn’t Work,” I left the interpretation of benchmarking to the reader. I’m taking a step backwards and defining it so we start out on the same page.

Benchmarking began as a surveyors’ term. Permanent marks were placed as a reference for an exact elevation. All reference points after that were in relation to the original benchmark. It is a specific and exact science. Over time, the term was borrowed and used to denote a standard measurement that can be used for comparison. When I say “benchmark” or “benchmarking”, I am always referring to a metric that can be accurately and repeatedly measured. It is an exact science in my engineering mind.

Using benchmarks in marketing and service help measure the unknown. It is especially important now that we have the social channel where identifying cause and effect seems close to impossible. Establishing internal benchmarks is not for the weak of heart because capturing the information needed and converting it into usable information is hard work and requires a long-term commitment. The benefits far outweigh the challenges making it a worthwhile investment.

Direct marketers use benchmarks on a regular basis. They usually call them “controls” and measure new campaigns against the proven performer. Internal benchmarks have to go deeper than a promotional campaign control to maximize your return on investment. Service levels, operational costs, and profitability must be added to response rates, average orders, customer acquisition and other marketing metrics. This gives you a reference point that encompasses the whole organization instead of one area. When a company has comprehensive benchmarks in place, cause and effect is easier to see.

For example, if a social media campaign goes viral at the same time sales increase, does that mean that it is driving revenue? Maybe. Maybe not. If there was also an improvement in service levels at the same time, the additional sales could be generated by improved customer experiences. Without benchmarks, the increase would most likely (and possibly erroneously) be attributed solely to the social activity.

Benchmarking within an organization provides additional insight into contributing factors for sales and profitability. The more you know, the better you can plan and grow your business.

One statement in “The Numbers that Really Matter to Your Business” got a lot of attention because people didn’t agree with it. I wrote, “There is simply no way to compare metrics from different companies and deliver realistic results.” Responses varied from simply stating that the reader disagreed to explanations as to why I don’t understand how things work.

There are several reasons why benchmarking against competitors doesn’t work and won’t deliver realistic results. Before diving in, there is one qualification. My statement does not include manufacturing and bulk warehousing. Companies that produce the same products with the same equipment and automation can compare production metrics. Comparisons are helpful even when the equipment and automation varies because it allows the less automated company see the potential gains if they upgrade. Bulk warehousing is similar to manufacturing. Product moved by pallet load is similar no matter what items are being moved. Weight and distance differentials can be scaled.

Marketing and service metrics are different. There are too many variances to provide a realistic comparison. This includes:

Corporate Culture – Every business is different because companies are comprised of people. The responses to marketing and service vary by individual preferences.

Customers – All customers are not created equal. Ask anyone who has bought a business to find that half of the people in the customer database are hit & runners. Comparing response rates between companies is an exercise in futility.

Service – Quality of service is directly related to customer expectations. People expect different things from different companies. Expectations can be managed but they can’t be controlled.

Costs – Corporate expenses are dependent on so many factors it is impossible for an outsider to verify accuracy. Service levels, pay scales, bonuses, productivity, and perks are a few of the items that can vary. It’s hard enough defining the costs of doing business for your company. Why try to do it for another?

Productivity – The time required to serve customers and fulfill orders varies between companies. Order dynamics drive productivity. For example, apparel companies that have an average of three items per order can have very different productivity levels. If one typically has orders with three pieces of soft goods and the other has two pieces of soft goods along with a pair of shoes, the processing time will vary.

Social Activity – Comparing social activity is useless unless the companies are having the same conversations with the same people. We have clients that have very little community participation but are generating revenue every day from their social activity. We also have clients who have extremely active communities that also generate revenue. Which one is best? Both. Can they be compared? No.

ROI – Calculating the return on investment requires accurate information across the board. It is highly unlikely that you will receive everything you need in real numbers.

Transparency – Sharing proprietary information is foolhardy. If a competitor shares metrics for comparison, don’t expect them to be accurate. In some cases, there are errors in the collection and documentation. In others, the numbers are adjusted for appearance.

Wanting to know how your business compares to the competition is understandable. Asking questions so you have an idea of what they are doing and how it affects their metrics is a good way to get some insight. Trying to benchmark your business by another company’s standards is a waste of resources and will do more harm than good in the long run. Benchmarking against yourself and striving for continuous improvement is a much better way to succeed.

PS: Thank you to those who shared their opinions with me and inspired this post.

How much money was wasted last year on marketing campaigns that didn’t deliver tangible results? If the truth were told, it was probably the most wasteful year in marketing history. New channels created a competitive frenzy of one-upmanship to see who could deliver the most viral content with little regard to bottom line management. Proven strategies were left behind in the search for the most fans, followers, and views. In theory the increased exposure would deliver more results at less cost, but it didn’t work for most companies because their marketing team forgot the fundamentals.

The purpose of marketing is to motivate people to spend their money with your company. It’s that simple. If your marketing isn’t moving your customers and prospects closer to buying your products and services it is a waste of resources. When new channels and opportunities appear, it is hard to know if they will work for your business. Creating well-defined tests to measure cause and effect is part of an effective strategy. Asking the following questions before running any campaign will significantly reduce risk and insure success.

1. Does it benefit our customers?

   The best campaigns have customer benefits that are easy to understand. Itemize the benefits so your marketing and customer care teams have a clear understanding of them. This makes it easier for them to share the information with customers and partners.

2. Will it make money, reduce costs, and/or improve service?

   Notice that this question doesn’t include “increase sales”. More revenue doesn’t always translate into bigger profits. Anticipating the return increases the likelihood you’ll receive it.

3. Are the corporate benefits long-term, short-term, or non-existent?

   Too many campaigns are planned today with fingers crossed hoping for a miracle. Requiring tangible corporate benefits is good business. Creating a timeline is solid planning.

4. How do our success metrics affect the bottom line?

   Fans, followers, and video views make great cocktail conversation but how do they really affect your business? If the people participating in your community come from your customer database, social activity will work for your company. But, if they are from the general population, odds are against a profitable outcome.

5. What happens if we don’t run the campaign?

   Asking this question removes the stardust from most marketers’ eyes. If there isn’t a significant reason to run the campaign, why do it? Your resources would be better spent creating one that will make a difference.

Test campaigns are the exception. There may be so many unknowns that the questions can’t be answered well enough to justify running them. Failing to include testing in your marketing strategy reduces innovation. The best strategies find the right balance between proven tactics and new opportunities.

Anyone can grow a business in a thriving economy. Separating people from their money is easy when there is a steady flow of income and every economic news story promising more. Implementing successful growth strategies is more challenging when the economic environment includes the threat of lost income and little hope for new opportunities.

Continuous news coverage of failing businesses, lost jobs, corrupt management, and devastating wars is terrifying. Fear paralyzes people even when they haven’t lost their job, been affected by management corruption, and are not near a war zone. All they want to do is bunker down and hold on to their belongings. If your business includes bunker construction or survival kits, this is your economy. For the rest of us, we have to find new ways to grow our companies.

It’s challenging, but growing a business in a down economy is not an impossible task. Successful companies like Walt Disney, Hewlett-Packard, and Microsoft were launched during a recession. If you have an established business with a customer base, you already have a foundation. Building on it is easier than starting from nothing.

The growth tactics that work in a down economy will continue to produce sales as conditions improve. The investment you make to turn your business around will continue to generate a return for years to come. It’s hard to think about long term returns when facing short term disaster but knowing that the things you do now create a sustainable foundation makes it easier to justify the effort and expense.

The first steps to turning your business around are:

Stop the bleeding

When disaster strikes a community the first responders use a process called triage to sort injured people into groups based on their need for medical treatment. This allows them to maximize the effectiveness of limited resources. Businesses in trouble need triage. Management has to take an objective look at where the money is going and how well it is working for the company. Expenditures that don’t improve customer relationships, increase sales, or reduce costs have to be eliminated.

Improve your service

Keeping the customers you have is a top priority. Review processes and policies to insure that you are providing top notch service. The easier you make it for your current customers to buy from you, the more likely they will remain loyal. Streamlining processes to improve the customer experience has the added bonus of reducing costs. Fewer steps mean less handling is involved. This is a win-win step. It increases customer retention and saves money.

Challenge your team

If your business fails, your employees lose their jobs. They know this, but most people don’t think about how the company’s health affects their livelihood until it is too late. Ask your team to share ideas on how to improve service, acquire customers, and reduce costs. The people doing the work often have the best ideas for making it better.

Reactivate old customers

Sometimes people stop buying from a company before their customer life span is complete. Reaching out to good customers with a history of purchases can provide insight into why they stopped buying, re-engage them, or both. Doing this well requires strategic planning because it can be expensive. Start with the ones who spent the most money before leaving and work your way down the list until it stops being effective.

Engage current customers

Your best sales team is the people who love your products and services. Contrary to social media lore they will not aggressively promote your business without encouragement from you. Give them a reason (or ten reasons) to share their experiences with friends and family. When you reward their efforts, they are much more aggressive in their sharing.

Expand your business

Increasing products, services, or territory is counter intuitive when sales are down and costs are increasing. Even so, this step can create a turning point for your company. Look for opportunities to repurpose products or services, add accessories to best sellers, and opportunities to attract new customers. Assess the costs and risks but don’t let fear drive your decisions.

Growing your business requires customer acquisition. If you aren’t continuously bringing in new people to replace the ones who are completing their buying life cycle, your company is dying. Newly acquired customers fit one of three types. Adapting your marketing strategy to maximize your return is the best way to move your company forward. The three types are:

Active: Moves into the buying cycle and stays until the lifespan is complete.

Discount: Only purchases sale or discounted items.

Hit-&-Run: Purchases once or twice and never returns.

Watch the video for tips on how to market smarter.

For tools to help measure customer acquisition, retention and costs, check out our Customer Loyalty Toolkit.