---

Guest post by: Joellyn Sargent Become an Author

Tweet

---

---

Customers don't have all the answers, especially when it comes to product innovation.

Surprised? It's true.

Customers can do a great job of helping you iterate products.They know that "This button would work better over here," or "That knob always gets in the way." Customers are happy to share new feature requests, like "We'd love it if you could add custom reports to your software," but their insights usually stop right about there.

Customers know how to improve your products because they use your products. They understand what works, what doesn't, what makes them crazy and what is missing. But when it comes to breakthrough solutions, they're lost.Think about it. If your customers REALLY knew how to solve their problems, they wouldn't need you or your solutions. They would go start their own business addressing that need and make loads of money in the process.

Customers typically have a good understanding of their issues. But they need you to solve them.

How does this subtle difference between iteration and innovation impact your business? If you want to be the runaway leader in your space, it's imperative to move beyond the norm. Stop thinking about different flavors of the same solution, and think about a different recipe altogether.

One way to approach this is to explore about the goal of the task at hand. What are your customers tying to do? The objective may range from something as simple as listening to music to something as complex as processing a payment.

Sony and Apple both took a radical approach to delivering music toindividuals, first with the Walkman and then with the iPod. Not a single customer knew they needed these devices before they entered the market. Customers simply could not envision the solution to their music listening task.

While these two companies are modern examples of radical innovation, search history and you'll find a host of similar stories. Did we know we needed the light bulb before Edison came along? What about cars, TVs and skateboards? The public was not clamoring for these products, but they sure were happy to buy them when someone else thought them up.

Innovation is not limited to consumer products. Creative solutions to industrial problems can transform manufacturing, production and delivery of products. Software can change the way people work. Look around and you'll see all kinds of innovation opportunities masked as unsolved - or inadequately solved - problems.

Challenge your team to think differently about these problems, and you just may find a radically different solution. One that's more elegant, streamlined andefficientthan what you offer today.

Your customers will thank you.

Related Articles

  What is the best way to develop my sales skills?
  How can you make more of your customers open your emails?
  Profitable Online Business Ideas and the Recession Part 2
  Contribution
  More crazy customers!
  Know your magic numbers
  Can you afford to make your email marketing more targeted? Can you afford not to?
  Social Networking or Social Distraction
  Which Social Media Tool?
  Old Gus and his pump
  Get better results from email newsletters and promotional emails
  Are you Hard, Scrambled or Soft?
  How to generate referrals
  Spam: You probably hate it but can you define it?
  Hacking Facebook Password with the help of free hacker tools for everyone
  How do I find a passionate and purposeful mentor?
  Tips for selling in hyper competitive markets
  Are you a Star?
  Mastering Marketing Strategies
  Find your Focus

Related Forum Posts

Re: Two Useful Books To Help You Focus On The CLIENT
Re: What customers actually wants?
Re: How to Promote Your Blog – The Definitive Guide to Promoting
Re: Due Diligence, Market Research.. Ahead of the curve.
How to Do Great Marketing with (Amost) No Money

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Become a Customer-Focused Leader

How often do You Think ‘Outside the Box’?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.