As you gain experience as a mystery shopper, you’ll want to find other ways to improve your skills and develop into an even more valuable member of your mystery shopping network. After all, your work represents you on some level, so we understand why you want to take pride in it.
To that end, let’s dive deep into becoming the most effective mystery shopper you can:
Balance Your Impressions with Details
Clients want to know what feelings you experience when you visit their locations. Did you feel welcomed? Or uncomfortable? Did the merchandising appeal to you? Or did it put you off? But just as importantly, you should note why you felt the way you did. You can do this by using what are called concrete details: that is, something a person could observe with his or her senses (e.g. see, hear, smell, etc.).
You can reinforce how you felt welcomed because an employee greeted with you a genuine smile and a warm voice. If you were put off by the merchandising, you might say it was because everything was out of sorts and there were lots of empty spaces on the shelves.
In the world of creative writing, this is called “show, not tell”. In mystery shopping, we want both: tell us what you feel, and then show us why you felt that way with details. Your comments are where your shops come alive, and using the technique of “what” and then explaining it with “why” will make you a favorite.
Take Your Time
You should never go into a mystery shop pressed for time. Most assignments require you to interact with an employee (or several), and in order to properly evaluate that person, you can’t rush. Let the employee ask questions and demonstrate products or services for you. If you look like you’re trying to get out of there because you’re running late for another commitment, you will alter his or her behavior and miss important details.
Ask questions. Listen carefully. Take mental notes of what you see, hear, smell, feel, or taste. Mystery shopping is about the experience—don’t make it a chore you just want to get out of the way. This is how you demonstrate the respect and care you have for the client, and for your own work.
Be Yourself, Only a Little Different
Unless you have training as an actor, you will probably feel awkward and nervous pretending to be someone else. It’s much easier to be yourself during your mystery shops, with only a few small differences to worry about, rather than taking on an entirely different persona.
Let’s say you live in an apartment, but your assignment is to go mystery shop a pool-and-spa shop. In real life, you can’t install those things because of where you live, but here’s where you get a chance to make pretend on a manageable level. —Picture that you do in fact live in a house. Now picture what kind of pool or spa you would like, and why you might want it. Perhaps you wanted to get more exercise, or you like the idea of heat therapy, or it represents a good opportunity to connect with your family and friends.
To effectively shop for something you can’t have or wouldn’t be interested in, you don’t need to invent an entirely new person. Just imagine yourself in a different place in your life. Just be confidant in yourself, and the rest will work out as it should.
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Mystery shopping is meant to be exciting and rewarding. In addition to receiving compensation for you time and skill, remember to take satisfaction in knowing that the work you do will help shape the customer service and product-offerings in your area. Also remember that The Brandt Group is excited to work with you, and we don’t want you to ever hesitate to contact us with questions. If you haven’t already signed up with us, head over to our registration page and get started today!
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