What does Net Promoter Score (NPS) mean?

Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a customer loyalty metric that measures the likelihood of customers recommending a company or product to others. It is based on a simple question: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend us to a friend or colleague?" Respondents are then categorized into three groups: Promoters (score 9-10), Passives (score 7-8), and Detractors (score 0-6). The NPS is calculated by subtracting the percentage of Detractors from the percentage of Promoters. For example, if 50% are Promoters and 20% are Detractors, the NPS would be 30.

Net Promoter Score (NPS)


Imagine this: you walk into a store and have an amazing customer experience. The store staff is friendly, the products are of high quality, and the overall atmosphere is pleasant. You leave the store feeling satisfied and happy. Now, imagine the opposite scenario: you visit a different store and have a terrible experience. The staff is rude, the products are subpar, and the atmosphere is chaotic. You leave the store feeling frustrated and disappointed.

These two scenarios highlight the importance of customer satisfaction and its impact on business success. In today's competitive market, organizations need to go above and beyond to ensure customer loyalty and advocacy. And that's where the Net Promoter Score (NPS) comes into play.

NPS is a customer loyalty metric that measures the likelihood of customers recommending a company or product to others. It is based on a simple question: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our company/product to a friend or colleague?" Based on their responses, customers are classified into three categories: Promoters (score 9-10), Passives (score 7-8), and Detractors (score 0-6).

So, why is NPS important? Well, let's dive into the details.

First and foremost, NPS provides organizations with valuable insights into customer satisfaction and loyalty. By analyzing the distribution of Promoters, Passives, and Detractors, companies can identify areas for improvement and take necessary actions to enhance the customer experience. This data-driven approach allows organizations to make informed decisions and prioritize efforts that have a direct impact on customer satisfaction.

Furthermore, NPS serves as a benchmark for organizations to track their performance over time and compare it to industry standards. By consistently measuring NPS, companies can monitor their progress and identify trends. This not only helps in setting realistic goals but also enables organizations to stay ahead of the competition by continuously improving their customer experience.

Additionally, NPS plays a crucial role in customer retention and acquisition. Promoters, who are highly likely to recommend a company, can become brand advocates and help attract new customers. On the other hand, Detractors, who are dissatisfied with their experience, can damage a company's reputation and hinder growth. By focusing on increasing the number of Promoters and reducing the number of Detractors, organizations can create a positive cycle of customer advocacy and growth.

How it can benefit you and your organization


Implementing NPS can have numerous benefits for you and your organization. As a marketing leader, NPS provides you with valuable insights into customer satisfaction, enabling you to tailor your marketing strategies and campaigns to better meet customer needs. It helps you identify your most loyal customers and leverage their advocacy to drive brand awareness and customer acquisition.

For sales leaders, NPS serves as a powerful tool to assess customer sentiment and identify potential sales opportunities. By understanding the needs and preferences of Promoters, sales teams can focus their efforts on upselling and cross-selling, ultimately driving revenue growth. Additionally, NPS data can help sales leaders identify areas of improvement in the sales process and enable them to provide a better customer experience.

Product leaders can also benefit from NPS by using customer feedback to inform product development and innovation. By understanding the pain points and preferences of customers, product teams can prioritize features and enhancements that have a direct impact on customer satisfaction. This customer-centric approach not only improves the product but also fosters customer loyalty and advocacy.

Use case


Let's take a hypothetical success story of a company called "Lifestyle Essentials" based in Singapore. "Lifestyle Essentials" is a health and wellness brand that offers a range of organic and sustainable products. They implemented NPS as part of their customer feedback program to understand customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Through NPS surveys sent to customers after their purchases, "Lifestyle Essentials" discovered that they had a high percentage of Promoters, indicating strong customer loyalty and advocacy. They also identified a few areas for improvement based on feedback from Detractors and Passives, such as the need for faster delivery and more product variety.

Armed with these insights, "Lifestyle Essentials" made strategic changes to their operations. They partnered with a logistics provider to improve their delivery speed and expanded their product range to cater to a wider audience. As a result, customer satisfaction increased, and the number of Promoters grew even further. This led to an increase in customer referrals and ultimately boosted sales and revenue for the company.

In conclusion, NPS is a powerful tool that can help organizations gain a deeper understanding of customer satisfaction and loyalty. By implementing NPS, companies can make data-driven decisions, improve the customer experience, and drive business growth. So, if you haven't already, it's time to start measuring your NPS and unlock the full potential of customer advocacy.