Why You Should Educate Your Customers

Written by Daimelin

Daimelin is a marketing intern at The Selling Factory and  a junior at the University of Florida pursuing a bachelors degree in information systems. She is passionate about creating value through analytics and learning from new experiences.

Photo on Unsplash by Lukas Blazek

Syms was onto something when he created the slogan, “An educated consumer is our best customer.”  When educating your customers, the focus cannot be solely on generating sales. Your focus should be on empowering them through enlightening content. In the sales process, businesses should aim to attract, educate, and delight.  Placing your TLC in creating content is best when educating customers. In the short run, they will be more informed about your products and services. In the long run, they will feel more connected to your brand and trust your company more, which may lead to future sales. Within this blog, we’ll talk about how to educate customers with content, and offer some tools on how you can do so.

Creating Content for your customers

In many cases, it’s not enough to just offer a great product or service. The main reason why products end up being ghosted is because of the education gap. To ensure your customers get the most out of your product or service, educate them about it and why it will benefit their life. This understanding can lead to a more satisfying experience with your product or service, and a positive and long term relationship with your brand.

Why It’s important to educate

 

Adds Value

Let your brand shine by developing content that is interesting and authentic. With the amount of information at their fingertips, customers appreciate authenticity, learning something new, and finding solutions. By creating content like blog posts, videos, and infographics, you are providing your customers with all the information they need not only about your product or service, but also the community around it. 

Your educational content can cover anything from installation and setup to how to take advantage of its features and benefits. Also, include content with related knowledge that might not even be about your product. For example, Patagonia educates their customers about sustainability and the natural environment even though their products are packs and gear. By informing and answering questions, your content becomes valuable and equips customers with the knowledge needed to make the most out of your product or service.

Builds Trust 

Consistently educating your customers strengthens their trust in your company. Publishing blog posts, videos, infographics, and educational reports builds trust and develops a relationship with your audience. The valuable information provided establishes you as an expert source and shows your commitment to your customers’ success. This leads to a loyal customer base that trusts your brand and relies on you for information and advice. Hubspot is an example of a brand that developed trust through content creation. They are known for creating blog content on just about everything marketing-related.

Drives Traffic

Investing in your customer base wins you major brownie points. First, they become attracted to your product or service. Then, they are educated on your product or service through your content. Lastly, they have a delightful experience with your product or service, and share about this experience with family and friends. And over time, you’ll see that educating your customers drives traffic, generates leads and increases sales. So don’t underestimate the power of educating your customers – it can make a big difference for your business.

Tools to help you educate customers 

 

#1 SEO 

Similar to dating, SEO is ever-changing – it is as simple as it is complex. Fortunately, Ubersuggest SEO is the perfect wingman. It helps you increase visibility and attract your audience. 

Creating content that is well optimized for search engines, connects internet surfers (potential customers)  to your content. The combination of quality content, SEO strategies, and a sprinkle of consistency will improve your ranking significantly. This engages your audience and keeps them coming back for more. We take this approach with all of our content, The Selling Factory blog is a destination where students learn, entrepreneurs grow, and companies thrive. Our blog is packed with valuable information that can help you grow your business and help students with professional development. 

The higher your ranking, the more traffic you will receive and the more opportunities to convert leads into customers. You probably have valuable blog posts collecting dust, so start refreshing your content to improve your ranking.

#2 Videos 

When customers first receive a product it’s like love at first sight, but then… trouble in paradise strikes during the installation process. That’s where educational videos come in to save the day.

Whether they are TikToks or longer videos, providing “how-tos” or “tips” content is a way of educating your customers and improving their experience with your product or service. Also, videos perform better in search results, so your customers can find your valuable information when they need it most. 

#3 Webinar 

Webinars are a step further than educational videos. It provides a personal learning experience for your potential and current customers to learn about your product or service. They allow you to instantaneously interact with your audience, answer their questions and better understand their needs. Not only is this a great opportunity to educate customers, but it’s also a great way to build trust. And, of course, it helps you sell your product.

Value First, Traffic Later 

 

Investing in your relationship with your customers can go a long way in helping your business grow. Educating your customers with engaging content adds value and builds trust with them. Additionally, after having such a great experience with your product or service, your customers may even invite you to meet the parents (drive traffic).

Victoria Zamitalo

Campaign Manager

Victoria received a BA in History and Economics from the University of Florida in May 2023. She is a driven sales professional with over 5 years combined experience in customer service, consumer relations and outbound sales, and is deeply passionate about fostering close relationships between consumers and sellers. She aims to train the next generation of sales professionals in not only the tricks of the trade, but also interpersonal skills that make sales the exciting and ever-changing industry that it is.

victoria@thesellingfactory.com

Mia Semel

Campaign Manager

Before graduating with a B.A. in Sustainability Studies, Mia took on multiple roles while interning at The Selling Factory, including sales development, recruiting, and leading campaigns. She is an active listener and effective communicator, specializing in fostering genuine connections and finding common ground among differing perspectives. She aims to find practical, creative solutions regarding sustainable development, biodiversity and the climate crisis.

mia.semel@thesellingfactory.com

Kira Grieve

Senior Campaign Manager

Kira graduated from the University of Florida and received her Master of Science in Entrepreneurship. She is passionate about helping businesses grow and connecting with new people. Some of her hobbies include traveling and hiking. She hopes to visit all of the National Parks one day!

kira@thesellingfactory.com

Jared Glosser

Vice President

After graduating from UF in 2014 with a B.A. in history, Jared started his professional career Fundraising for a non-partisan political lobby in South Florida. In 2016, Jared moved back to Gainesville to work for a non-profit, recruit students for international travel opportunities, and pursue his MBA at UF. Jared has been with The Selling Factory since 2019 focusing on operations, client onboarding, and client success.

jared@thesellingfactory.com

Ian Massenburg

Chief Operating Officer

A graduate of University of Florida (B.A. 2001), Ian Massenburg brings over 18 years of sales executive and sales management experience to The Selling Factory. Before coming on-board, Ian worked alongside Brad at Infinite Energy, and then spent his next 3 years as VP of Partnerships selling SaaS products B2B. Ian brings his vast knowledge and experience to the team and to our partner companies served.

ian@thesellingfactory.com

Damien Paulk

Campaign Manager

Damien is a University of Florida graduate that recently joined the team full time after working as a Sales Development Intern for one year. As a Campaign Manager, Damien looks forward to contributing to the growth and success of The Selling Factory. When Damien is not at work he enjoys exploring Gainesville with his girlfriend and dog or watching the Gators dominate college football.

damien@thesellingfactory.com

Brendan Viehman

Campaign Manager

Brendan graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Project Management. For the past 5 years, he has enjoyed working with blockchain technology and cryptocurrency development. In his free time, he surfs and makes personal finance videos for his YouTube channel.

brendan@thesellingfactory.com

Savannah Howard

Campaign Manager

A graduate from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, Savannah obtained her Bachelor of Science in public relations with a concentration in French. After almost two years as a sales development intern for The Selling Factory, she joined the leadership team in 2021 taking on the role of Campaign Manager. In her free time, Savannah enjoys going to concerts and festivals and cooking for her friends and family.

savannah@thesellingfactory.com

Zack Kampf

Campaign Manager

Zack is a creative technologist with experience in advertising, event planning, and game design. He started as an SDR in 2018 and has been with TSF ever since. Upon graduating UF in 2019 he became a campaign manager and is currently seeking a master's degree from NYU. In his spare time, you can find him at the intersection of Art & Technology!

zack@thesellingfactory.com

Josiah Blakemore

Growth Manager

Josiah has over 10 years of sales experience, worked with Brad and Ian at Infinite Energy, and also spent time selling SaaS as Director of Partnerships at SharpSpring. He’s always been very competitive and has a love for sports and games. He enjoys solving problems and coaching team members to do the same!

josiah@thesellingfactory.com

Sue-Ming Frauenhofer

Marketing Manager

Sue-Ming received both her B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Management from The University of Florida. As a student, she took on multiple roles while interning at The Selling Factory, including sales development, marketing, and recruiting, eventually leading to her current role as Marketing Manager. She enjoys refining her taste in music and visual art, engaging in mindfulness and meditative practices, and frolicking outside with her sidekick pup.

sueming@thesellingfactory.com

Adam Grossman

Chief Development Officer

Adam is an ordained rabbi, who has founded multiple ventures focused on workforce development. Hired as CEO by a failing non-profit, in over 5 years, his ingenuity saved the organization, which led Slingshotfund.org to recognize it as one of North America’s most innovative Jewish non-profits. His expertise to identify, cultivate, and on-board talent ensures our student teams meet our partners’ needs.

adam@thesellingfactory.com

Brad Gamble

Chief Executive Officer

After graduating from UF in 1999 with a B.S.B.A, Brad Gamble has dedicated himself to sales management, branding, coaching, and building companies. He served as the VP of Sales & Marketing for Infinite Energy until 2014, when he founded The Selling Factory. He has dedicated himself to teaching critical skills to tomorrow’s leaders, and helping companies achieve sales success and revenue growth.

brad@thesellingfactory.com