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The future of communicating with customers rests in engaging with them through every possible channel: phone, e-mail, chat, Web, and social networks. Customers are discussing a company's products and brand in real time. Companies need to join the conversation.

Spend a lot of time talking to customers face to face. You'd be amazed how many companies don't listen to their customers.

The goal of listening to customers is not to please every one of them. It's to figure out which customer segments serve your needs - both short and long term.

Learning how to interact with customers is something that anyone starting any business must master. It's an amazing opportunity to be able to learn the ropes at an established company and then employ your expertise at your own company.

Customers are very demanding and well informed.

It's so important to experience what your customers are experiencing and listen to their suggestions.

Part of Customer Development is understanding which customers make sense for your business.

When you know who your customers are, that can give you an edge on the competition.

Firms need to ensure that their ability to provide effective customer service keeps pace with their growth. If you're marketing your firm to new customers, you better be able to provide them service when they do business with you.