Have you had great experiences with a company that keeps you talking about that company and the experience over and over again? 

Creating a marketing experience that is memorable and one that differentiates you from your competitors should be a goal every company.

Let me share a recent trip to Whole Foods.  I was shopping for some ingredients for a new recipe and one of those ingredients was out of stock on the shelf.  I tracked down an employee in an adjacent aisle and asked if there was back stock on the item I wanted to purchase. He checked and said no that it was truly out of stock for a week. He suggested a alternative brand and I explained that I preferred the smaller and less expensive jar because I was trying a new recipe I wasn’t sure I was going to like.  He proceeded to pull a jar off the shelf and said “Give this one a try on us.”  I wasn’t sure what he meant as I had never experienced this before and I replied “Excuse me?” with a quizzical look on my face.  He went on to explain that he’d like me to try that brand courtesy of Whole Foods!

Needless to say I was happily amazed.  The experience did two things, first it made me a Whole Foods brand ambassador because I keep retelling this story and second as a marketing professional I use the example to teach how to create a memorable experience with your clients.

[Tweet “How Can You Elevate Your Customer Experience? Check out @wholefoods”]

Creating a experience your customers will talk about and share is a way to break though the everyday noise but it requires that we discover a point of differentiation.

Get really clear about the primary point of difference that our narrowly defined ideal client cannot live without and you’ve got the secret to marketing success!

I always suggest to clients that they ask customers questions to find out how you are different:

1.) Why did you choose us in the first place?
2.) Why do you stay with us?
3.) What do we do that others don’t?
4.) Do you or have you referred us?  If yes WHY, if not WHY
5.) What could we do for you that we don’t?
6.) What phrase(s) would you use to search for us online?

Take that information and determine what makes you different?

I think we can all learn from big brands because often those ideas can be implemented into our own business.  Who has provided you a memorable experience?  Would love to hear your stories below.