TOEFL Academic discussion task with GPT_230729

Discussion:

 

Professor: Once a company has established itself, customer retention and acquisition become crucial. According to some business advisors, having loyal customers is the key to upholding a company's reputation and increasing revenues. But others argue that even established companies should continue trying to acquire new customers. I want to hear your thoughts. Should companies prioritize retaining current customers, or should they focus on attracting new ones? Why do you think so?

Kyle: Companies should focus on customer retention. I heard it's cheaper to keep current customers than to attract new ones because marketing is expensive. The former is already familiar with the company's products and services, so the company doesn't have to spend much on advertising. I have a class to attend now, but I'lI post the exact figures later.

Hannah: Companies should focus on customer retention. I heard it's cheaper to keep current customers than to attract new ones because marketing is expensive. The former is already familiar with the company's products and services, so the company doesn't have to spend much on advertising. I have a class to attend now, but I'lI post the exact figures later.

ME:

I understand why Hannah thinks that new customer is important to expand business. However, in my opinion, it is way better to focus on existing customer to improve company's reputation and revenue. This is mainly because companies can expect a word of mouth effect from their loyal customers. In fact, as there are so many and diverse advertisement channels these days, customers are getting tired of them and more relying on their friend and family's recommendation. For example, a restuarant, which is widely known nationally in Korea, always do their best to their existing customers and they don't have to spend money on customer acquistion. 

 

GPT:

You did well in presenting your argument, providing a reason and a relevant example. However, there are areas to improve for clarity and coherence.
Score: 3
Here's the feedback:
Clarity: You've presented your point well, but the flow can be improved by rephrasing certain parts. The first sentence is a bit unclear. It might be better to start with "While I understand Hannah's point on the importance of acquiring new customers, I believe that...".
Coherence: Connect your points more smoothly. After presenting your main argument about the importance of focusing on existing customers, smoothly transition to your example. This will create a better flow in your essay.

Evidence: While you provided an example of a restaurant in Korea, the details were quite vague. Providing more specific information can enhance your argument. For instance, you might mention how the restaurant rewards loyal customers, resulting in repeat business and positive word-of-mouth, despite the lack of advertisements.

Language Use: Be careful with small grammatical errors and awkward phrasing. For instance, "a restaurant, which is widely known nationally in Korea, always do their best to their existing customers" should be "a restaurant, which is widely known nationally in Korea, always does its best for its existing customers".

Here's a suggested revision based on the feedback:
While I understand Hannah's point about the importance of acquiring new customers, I believe that focusing on existing customers is a more effective strategy for improving a company's reputation and revenue. This is primarily due to the potential for positive word-of-mouth referrals from loyal customers. With the saturation of advertisements in various channels today, consumers are becoming more reliant on recommendations from friends and family. For instance, consider a popular restaurant chain in Korea that primarily focuses on servicing their existing customers. Despite not investing heavily in marketing for new customer acquisition, they have been able to maintain a strong presence nationwide. Their strategy includes rewarding loyal customers, which not only ensures repeated business but also promotes positive word-of-mouth, hence attracting new customers organically.