Stop Guessing: It’s Get to Know Your Customers Day

When I was researching “Get to Know Your Customers Day” on Google, the top result was “How long does it take to get to know someone?” Instantly, I thought, “That’s…not really what I’m looking for.” But it did make me wonder—when was the last time we thought about this for our customers?

If you’re here looking for relationship advice, you might be in the wrong place—but since you’ve made it this far, why not stick around? We can’t help with first dates, but we can definitely help you get to know your customers better.

Get to Know Your Customers Day is the perfect excuse to revisit and refine the core of all your marketing: customer insights. It’s about cleaning up your data, capturing new insights, and learning more to create campaigns that speak to your customers. After all, the better you know your customers, the better you can serve them – and isn’t that the foundation of every great relationship? Let’s dive in!

What is Get to Know Your Customers Day?

Get to Know Your Customers Day is celebrated every third Thursday of the quarter and serves as a reminder to reconnect with your customers. It’s your chance to engage with customers, collect more information, and pivot your efforts to create more personalized experiences. This can help retain customers, build loyalty, and reduce customer churn.

However, to collect information, there has to be a clear value exchange for customers that feels rewarding. Think exclusive perks, early access to collections, or hyper-relevant recommendations in return for sharing preferences.

When customers see the value, they’re more willing to engage, which is exactly why Get to Know Your Customer Day is worth investing in.

Get to Know Your Customers Day Tactics

Think back to the days of your local corner shop, where the shopkeeper welcomed you by name and already knew what you were looking for. They stocked what mattered to you, and if they didn’t have it, they made it happen. Today, the tools may be digital, but the principle is the same: knowing your customers is key to earning their loyalty.

1. Build a “Preferences Hub”

If you want to know what your customers really care about, make it easy for them to tell you. A preferences hub allows them to update their details, such as favorite styles or how they want to hear from you, all in one place. It’s a win-win: they get a tailored experience, and you get clean, reliable zero-party data.

How to implement:

• Make it easy to find: Add preference settings to your website and app profiles so customers can update their details anytime.
• Keep it relevant: Use tools like a Customer Data Platform (CDP) to ensure profiles stay up-to-date behind the scenes.
• Offer something in return: Incentivize updates with loyalty points, exclusive discounts, or early access to new collections.
• Make it seamless: Design the hub to match your brand and make the process effortless.

2. Ask Directly (But Creatively) for Zero-Party Data

Sometimes, the simplest way to understand your customers is just to ask—but make it fun. Frame it as a value exchange: they share their details and preferences, and in return, they gain something meaningful, whether it’s a reward, a discount, or a personalized experience.

How to implement:

• Use interactive surveys or polls: Try “What’s your go-to style for a night out?” or “Pick your favorite look: Bold or Classic?”
• Gamify the process: Use tools like Playable or Odicci to create fun quizzes or mini-games that collect insights while entertaining.
• Offer a clear incentive: Reward participation with loyalty points, discounts, or a giveaway entry.

3. Work on Consent Rates with First-Party Data

Zero-party data collected directly from customers is reliable, but understanding your audience requires more. First-party data—like browsing behavior, cart activity, and purchase history—unlocks insights into how your customers interact with your website. But here’s the thing: to collect, store, and analyze this data, you need clear, informed consent.

Get to Know Your Customers Day is the perfect opportunity to focus on improving your consent rates. Build trust by being transparent about how data will be used and emphasize the benefits of opting in, like personalized recommendations, faster checkouts, or exclusive offers. When customers see the value, they’re more likely to accept.

👋 Have a read of our eGuide: Marketer’s Guide to First-Party Data: Benefits & Strategic Activation

How to implement:

• Use a Consent Management Platform (CMP): Platforms like Usercentrics simplify cookie consent while keeping your brand compliant.
• Be clear and transparent: Update cookie banners to highlight benefits for customers. Keep the “Accept” and “Deny” options equally visible and accessible. Ensure your privacy policy is up to date, as customers like to be informed.
• Respect their choices: Make it easy for customers to opt-out or adjust their preferences, reinforcing your commitment to transparency and trust.

4. Optimize and Clean Your Data

Collecting data is the first hurdle. The next is keeping your database clean and up-to-date. Over time, preferences change, emails bounce, and inactive customers weigh down your campaigns. Get to Know Your Customers Day is the perfect time to tidy up your lists and ensure your communications reach the right people.

How to implement:

• Clean out inactive contacts: Remove bounced emails and unengaged customers to boost deliverability.
• Make opting out easy: Respect customers’ choices by offering clear options for specific types of communication.
• Run a preference refresh email campaign: Ask, “What do you want to hear about?” Offer loyalty points or discounts to encourage updates.

5. Test and Learn Through Personalization

If your customer data is well-enriched, it’s time to figure out what type of personalization resonates most with your audience. Personalization isn’t just about using a customer’s name—it’s about creating relevant experiences. A/B testing lets you experiment with different messages, offers, or formats to see what resonates most.

How to implement:

• Test dynamic content: Experiment with personalized product recommendations for styling based on browsing history (e.g., “Complete your outfit with this accessory”) versus showcasing trending items relevant to their segment.
• Timing experiments: Test the timing of behavioral triggers, such as abandoned cart emails sent 30 minutes after cart abandonment versus 24 hours later, to find the sweet spot for engagement.
• Channel comparison: Compare how personalized messages perform across SMS, email, and website pop-ups. For instance, test if an exclusive discount generates more clicks via SMS or email.
• Incentive variations: Try different personalized incentives, such as loyalty points for frequent buyers versus free shipping for new customers, to determine what motivates specific segments.
• Best time to engage: Test sending personalized emails in the morning versus the evening, or adjust SMS timing based on time zones, to maximize open and response rates.
• Pop-up personalization: On your website, test tailored pop-ups like “We think you’ll love this collection” versus “Here’s 10% off your next purchase” to see which converts better.
• Message tone: Experiment with formal (“Here’s an offer tailored for you”) versus casual (“Hey [Name], we thought you’d love this”) tones to see what resonates.

These experiments can be applied to campaigns such as upsells, cross-sells, abandoned carts, or loyalty-building campaigns. By analyzing open rates, click-throughs, and conversions, you’ll identify what personalization tactics engage your customers best.

6. Use Social Media as a Listening Tool

Your customers are already talking on social media—whether it’s about trends they love, their favorite products, or the ones they wish existed. Use Get to Know Your Customers Day as an opportunity to interact and monitor conversations, hashtags, and comments with consumers. This kind of direct insight can help you spot emerging preferences, pain points, and even unmet needs—giving you a competitive edge in creating products or campaigns that resonate.

How to implement:

• Run polls or quizzes: Ask, “Which trend do you love more: oversized knits or sleek tailoring?”
• Encourage feedback: Try posts like “What’s the one item missing from your wardrobe?”
• Track interactions: Use analytics tools to monitor which posts and hashtags get the most engagement.

Get to Know Your Customers Every Day

Get to Know Your Customers Day is a reminder to prioritize understanding your customers year-round. It’s not just about collecting data but transforming it into actionable insights that drive real results. With the right tools, like Mapp Marketing Cloud, you can unlock the full potential of your customer data with AI, turning insights into personalized, meaningful interactions that deepen relationships and boost loyalty.

Want to be prepared for other key dates? Download our eCommerce calendar to stay ahead.