The distinction between the terms benefits and features is an important concept in developing and marketing a product or service. Features are characteristics that our product or service does or has. Benefits are the reasons customers buy the product or service. For example, the benefits of our product include safety, ease of use, affordability and prestige.
Just like products, services differ from one another in having distinctive features and benefits, though these differences may not always be so obvious to potential customers who visit our website.
Every product or service has a purpose, but not all ovens have the same features and benefits.
The uniqueness of our products and services can set them apart from the competition. Their features communicate the capability of products and services. But features are only valuable if customers see those particular features as valuable. We want products and services with features which customers perceive as valuable benefits. That’s why we highlight benefits in our marketing and sales efforts.
We remember that customers buy products and services because they want to solve a problem or meet a need. Consciously or unconsciously, our customers will always be asking the question, “What’s in it for me?” Our product and service offerings have to deliver solutions and satisfy needs.
That benefits are ultimately more important to our customers than features, we understand the benefits our products and services provide, emphasize these benefits in our sales efforts, and update our products and services when new or additional benefits are desired by our customers.