It is generally recognized that finding your customers and engaging in meaningful conversations with them is easier once you have a shipped product no matter what the market culture is. However, putting a process in place to talk to your customer (a.k.a internal interviewees) is always beneficial.
![](https://blog.stri.ml/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/pdmpill-14-customer-segmentation-1024x576.png)
In one of the previous posts, we discussed the best ways to find candidates that match your target group when your startup is in the idea phase. I love working undercover, but there is a time when your customers need to be interviewed for satisfaction and efficiency-oriented interview. Here are some ideas to engage with your customers in the post-product phase (i.e. after you have shipped your product):
- use live chat inside your platform: combine a passive with an active approach. A passive approach involves the analysis of chat logs, identifying the chat context, and making interviews as a continuation of the chat. An active approach implies sending in-app chat messages like “Do you need help?”. If the user responds, then continue the discussion and at the end ask if they are willing to take a survey/discussion with you.
- use your blog: talk with people that comment on posts.
- interview your power users: it makes sense to talk to those people that are more informed about your product and use it a lot.
- twitter: talk to people that are engaging with your company posts