
Net Promoter Score (NPS) is widely recognised as a reliable metric for measuring client satisfaction and uncovering opportunities for growth. Many businesses, however, approach NPS with a singular focus: achieving a high score. While a high NPS might look good on paper, this "higher-is-better" mindset often leads to skewed practices, such as cherry-picking happy clients to survey, which distorts the picture and negates the survey’s value.
What if we took a different approach? A consistent, honest Net Promoter Score may be lower, but it provides far greater insight into your client relationships. Here’s why embracing a true, unvarnished NPS is more meaningful—and more effective—in the long run.
The case for honest & consistent NPS
Rather than treating NPS as a vanity metric, businesses should leverage it as a tool for proactive engagement and problem-solving. By consistently collecting honest feedback, you can:
- Prevent churn: Identifying dissatisfied clients early gives you the opportunity to address issues before they escalate.
- Create advocates: Successfully resolving challenges positions you as a solution- and service-oriented business partner and will turn unhappy clients into advocates.
- Build better communication: Asking for and acting on feedback is a sign of reliability and opens channels for more meaningful dialogue.
- Show clients you care: Quick, well-informed action on feedback shows the client that their opinions matter.
- Spot opportunities for growth: Regular feedback helps you uncover challenges, but it also uncovers opportunities to expand your services and align with your clients’ needs.
- Align with long-term objectives: A deeper understanding of your clients enables you to evidence how your solutions can support their broader strategies.
Why consistency matters
A common mistake businesses make is treating NPS as a periodic, standalone exercise, conducted once or twice a year. These sporadic surveys typically suffer from low response rates and lack meaningful context for clients. Without consistency, you miss the opportunity to build a reliable feedback loop—essential for driving real improvement.
To harness the full power of NPS, it should be integrated into regular client touchpoints, such as Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) or project evaluations. This approach gives clients context, encourages higher response rates, and ensures more honest feedback.
The Clientshare advantage
At Clientshare, we’ve embedded NPS directly into the client review process. Our platform automatically sends NPS surveys alongside your QBRs, providing clients with the context and incentive to give meaningful feedback.
By linking NPS surveys to review discussions and reports, we’ve seen significant increases in both response rates and the quality of feedback. And for clients who can’t attend a review meeting, the NPS survey is included with the QBR report—broadening your feedback pool.
Consistent feedback and actionable insights don’t just boost response rates; they improve the overall value of your NPS over time.
Final thoughts
A high NPS may look impressive in a marketing deck, but a true, consistent NPS is far more valuable. By incorporating NPS into your regular client interactions, you can strengthen relationships, uncover growth opportunities, and drive long-term success.
At Clientshare, we believe in the power of authentic engagement. Our integrated approach to NPS helps businesses turn client feedback into a competitive advantage—fuelling continuous improvement and lasting partnerships.
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