Zero-party data (ZPD) is data collected by organizations directly from their consumers. In fact, Forrester defines it as data that consumers “intentionally and proactively share with a brand.” Basically, it is any personal information that comes straight from consumers without any involvement of a third party. This information may include contact information, brand, style, or color preferences, personal inclinations, or anything that can be relevant to marketing your products and services.
Unlike third-party data, which is usually collected with the help of external sources and often without the customer’s knowledge, zero-party data is gathered by directly asking customers about their choices, requirements, and habits.
The Importance of Collecting Zero-Party Data
Collecting zero-party data is all about asking the right questions to customers regarding their habits, attitudes, and preferences. However, consumers have become extremely conscious and avoid giving out personal information to third parties. So acquiring customer information with their consent has become a priority for businesses. This is why ZPD has become quite unique and valuable because it enables brands to deliver customer experiences that are relevant, comfortable, and compliant while also respecting customers’ privacy. Moreover, ZPD helps brands understand consumers’ motivations, needs, attitudes, and purchase drivers.
Furthermore, zero-party data is ideal for defining brand messaging and determining which marketing channels to use.
Gathering Zero-Party Data through Form Building
There are various methods of gathering zero-party data—the most popular and convenient of which is form building. Some popular form builder apps to collect data are:
Google Forms: This is not only one of the most popular online form builders, but it is also easy to create and use, making it one of the best tools for conducting surveys. Google forms save your data automatically in Excel format and integrate with Google sheets through Google Workspace.
Microsoft Forms: Microsoft forms are part of Office 365 and are mainly used to create surveys, quizzes, and polls. Their best feature is that it automatically converts your form data into charts and graphs, and you can also transfer this data to an excel sheet.
Type Forms: You can now design beautiful forms that are interesting to fill. These forms also ask questions in a conversational tone and use images, GIFs, and videos to keep customers engaged. It also has inbuilt integration with Google Sheets, Mail Chimp, and Zapier.
JotForm: This is an online form builder that is compliant with data privacy regulations. It has an in-built drag-and-drop interface and more than 10,000 templates for registration forms, surveys, polls, application forms, and more.
Wufoo: If you are looking for a simple form-builder, then Wufoo is a good option since all you need to do is just drag and drop to build a form. It is a cloud-based form builder, and it's super easy to create surveys, contact forms, registration forms, and more.
Whether you have loads of customer data and don’t know what to do with it or need help collecting consumer information, we are here to help. The Blue42 team is ready to assist you in developing an effective marketing plan for your brand. Contact us today to unlock your brand’s full potential.