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Glossaries

Net Promoter Score

What is Net Promoter Score (NPS)?

Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a customer loyalty metric that measures how likely customers are to recommend a product, service, or company to others on a scale of 0-10.

Synonyms: NPS, Customer Loyalty Metric, Recommendation Score, Customer Satisfaction Index

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How Net Promoter Score (NPS) Works

Net Promoter Score is calculated by asking customers a single question: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our product/service to a friend or colleague?" Based on their responses, customers are categorized into three groups:

  • Promoters (score 9-10): Loyal enthusiasts who will keep buying and refer others
  • Passives (score 7-8): Satisfied but unenthusiastic customers who are vulnerable to competitive offerings
  • Detractors (score 0-6): Unhappy customers who can damage your brand through negative word-of-mouth

The NPS is then calculated by subtracting the percentage of Detractors from the percentage of Promoters.

Why Net Promoter Score is Important for User Research

NPS is a valuable tool in user research for several reasons:

  1. Simplicity: It's easy to implement and understand, making it accessible for both researchers and stakeholders.
  2. Benchmarking: NPS allows companies to compare their performance against competitors and industry standards.
  3. Predictive power: A high NPS often correlates with business growth and customer loyalty.
  4. Actionable insights: By following up with respondents, researchers can gather qualitative data to understand the reasons behind scores.

How to Use Net Promoter Score in User Research

  1. Implement NPS surveys at key touchpoints in the user journey.
  2. Analyze trends over time to track improvements or declines in customer loyalty.
  3. Segment NPS data by user demographics or product features to identify areas for improvement.
  4. Combine NPS with other user research methods for a more comprehensive understanding of user satisfaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a good Net Promoter Score?: Generally, an NPS above 0 is considered good, above 50 is excellent, and above 70 is world-class. However, this can vary by industry.
  • How often should we measure NPS?: It depends on your business, but many companies measure NPS quarterly or bi-annually to track trends over time.
  • Can NPS replace other user research methods?: No, NPS should be used in conjunction with other research methods for a comprehensive understanding of user experience.
  • How can we improve our Net Promoter Score?: Focus on addressing the concerns of Detractors, converting Passives to Promoters, and maintaining the satisfaction of existing Promoters through continuous improvement of your product or service.
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