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Following the Customer's Need in your Value Stream Map
Written by: Joe DagerArticle Overview: Focusing on the customer NEED is essential to the success of any marketing. We should all recognize this idea. However, do we really embrace this idea? Do we really believe that such an effort can drive our marketing and improve the chances of a sale? It is important that we understand and are able to express what is critical in satisfying that need.
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Free Download - Evaluate your Customer Needs By Joe Dager |
Following the Customer's Need in your Value Stream Map
Focusing on the customer NEED is essential to the success of any marketing. We should all recognize this idea. However, do we really embrace this idea? Do we really believe that such an effort can drive our marketing and improve the chances of a sale? It is important that we understand and are able to express what is critical in satisfying that need. Starting out in the Value Stream Mapping process, we first create a Current State Map. I use the Duct Tape Marketing Hourglass as a template in creating a current state map for each marketing segment. After the Current State Map is created, we must analyze this process. We must do this to ensure that we are working on the right things from the customer's perspective.
This is where we will start finding the true waste in our marketing process. Should we be happy with 2% direct mail returns or accepting the fact that we need to be in front of a customer 7 to 9 times before we get action. We need to ask whether we are making assumptions about what customers need. We need to ask our customers what they need and whether this is properly communicated throughout each stage of our marketing process. An organization exists only to provide value to a customer. Are we supplying value in each phase of our marketing process? If you cannot, see how to re-create that phase in the process or it may be one that you need to stop. Everything you do should create value. If you do, your customers are much more likely to stay engaged.
In my Marketing your Black Belt Webinar, I discuss the lack of clarity as the #1 reason that professional service firms lose jobs. I also believe that your "fuzziness" may directly relate to a customer becoming disengaged. Having clearly defined outcomes based on a customers need will prevent that and reduce your variation in the process. What does variation have to do with the marketing process? Variation creates uncertainty or a lack of clarity. The reason that you may be losing jobs. The lack of confidence in the ability of your marketing processes to deliver on your customer needs. Variation reduces the chances for the customer to trust you.
The simplicity of a single flexible marketing model will create clarity for your customers, staff and as a result better execution. Utilizing a process, you also will spend your time on your customer's need versus continuously managing the process.
Article Tags: customer need, map, marketing, value stream
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About the Author: Joe Dager RSS for Joe's articles - Visit Joe's website Joe Dager is President of Business901, a progressive coaching company providing no-nonsense direction in areas such as Lean Six Sigma Marketing and organized referral marketing. What others say: In the past 20 years, Joe and I have collaborated on many difficult issues. Joe’s ability to combine his expertise with “out of the box” thinking is unsurpassed. He has always delivered quickly, cost effectively and with ingenuity. A brilliant mind that is always a pleasure to work with.” - James R. If you want to learn more about Business901, start a conversation with us. We can be found @ Web/Blog: Business901.com Web/Blog: LinkedIn Profile Follow me on Twitter Click here to visit Joe's website How do I start using RSS Working at Warp Speed in a Lean Turnaround Ever hear of the term Value Stream Marketing Marketing needs Six Sigma Methodology to Improve Building a Lean Healthcare Value Stream |
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