This month we added the component of qualitative research to our Client Advisory Panels and Wow – we are really excited about the feedback and excitement that we hear from our participants. 

Up until this point we have relied exclusively on quantitative surveys and although that has worked very well, we are engaging the clients significantly more having recently added telephone interviews as an option.  I have been pleasantly surprised by how many of our clients volunteer to be interviewed by phone.  It confirms for me the validity of this strategy as a way to find potential “influentials,” those individuals that love to give their opinions and share their knowledge.  And the rewards are twofold because not only are we engaging them, but we are learning a great deal from them.

If you have not set up a Client Advisory Panel in your firm, I strongly encourage you to consider doing so.