In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about relationships. You know great relationships don’t just happen. They take a lot of hard work and devotion. You have to get to know your partner and understand their needs. And you have to know when to reach out and when to give them their space so you don’t come off as too aloof or, worse, too clingy. This is true in love and marketing.

Responsys, a marketing affiliate of Oracle, recently commissioned a survey of more than 2,000 U.S. consumers to see what actions by brands would lead to long-term bliss, and which would cause a messy breakup. Their findings?

Consumer Turn Ons

  • Brands that build a relationship gradually over time.
  • Content that caters to the customer’s individual preferences.

Consumer Turn Offs

  • Brands that come on too strong, reeking of desperation.
  • Brands that put no effort whatsoever into their marketing strategy and just blast the same content to everyone.

In other words, consumers want to feel special. They want to be wooed. But not in a way that’s creepy.

Check out this awesome infographic from Responsys about their findings, and see where you currently stand in your customer relationships. Are you a soul mate, or a stage five clinger?

Does My Customer Love Me Infographic