Negative Score Result Using an NPS (Net Promoter Score) Calculation

You have a negative NPS (Net Promoter Score) score (e.g., -25%) in a Comparison report and have received a client ticket to investigate why this is happening. 

The Net Promoter System is a philosophy and set of practices centered around measuring whether brands are treating customers in a way that leads to long-term growth and "good profits" or short-term revenue gain at the expense of long-term growth ("bad profits").

This article will describe how an NPS score is calculated and explain why getting a negative score is possible.

NPS Calculation

The score is calculated based on the NPS model. (NPS = % of promoters - % of detractors), This brings the possibility of negative scores if there are more dissatisfied customers for a particular measure than satisfied customers for the same measure.

The Net Promoter Score can be based on a 5-point or 11-point scale. Consumers are asked how satisfied they are with a company's products or services. Ratings on this question are then divided into three categories:

  • Promoters (Highly Satisfied; 9s and 10s on the 11-point scale) (5s on the 5-point scale)
  • Detractors (Less than Satisfied; 0–6 on the 11-point scale) (1-3 on the 5-point scale)
  • Passives (those only Satisfied; 7s and 8s on the 11-point scale) (4s on the 5-point scale)

In this example, you have 16 responses to a question based on a 5-point scale.

3 Highly Satisfied (5s) 8 Satisfied  5 Less Than Satisfied
Promoters

Passives

Not included in the calculation 

Detractors

Subtract the Detractors from the Promoters and divide by the total number of Promoters and Detractors. Do not include Passives.

(3 – 5) ÷ 8 = -25%

Please Note

The smaller the sample size, the more likely you are to get a negative score. The best practice is a minimum of 30 responses to reflect an accurate score.

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