Welcome to our blog. On here, you will find a collection of articles from the entire panel and some great syndicated articles as well.
What is the backbone of CX success? They say in every relationship, it’s important to have more positive interactions than negative ones. In the healthiest of relationships, the ratio of positive to negative is 2:1 or greater. The same holds true for the relationship you have with your
It seems like a lot of people talk about data. It’s important to note that data plays a big role in today’s world. There is so much that can be learned from data, assuming you know where to look and how to analyze it. The good news is that even if you don’t know how […]
This post is part of a series sponsored by IBM about Five Ways Marketers Can Win the Holidays Artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting the way consumers are shopping for the holidays. It is also driving how companies are operating in order to deepen customer relationships. According
If you’ve never thought about how you engage customers, then what’s to stop them from becoming actively disengaged? Sometimes we set ourselves up for this! It even echoes back to us in the way we engage within our own organizations. Consider this real-life scenario: I used to have a
Humans disappoint one another. We do it all the time. We disappoint when we don’t show up for someone’s big event. Or maybe we disappoint when we do show up at an intimate dinner party without an invitation. We disappoint each other by saying what we think or by not speaking up when
(This is a guest post from KPMG. It’s included because it’s one of the best reports in years on #CX.) Brands that deliver the best customer experience achieve 54 % higher revenue growth, according to a new KPMG Global Customer Experience Excellence (CEE) report. The report –
If you’re creating learning paths in any workplace, the goal is ultimately to be, well, better. To be better at serving customers, better at increasing efficiency, better at employee development, and hopefully, better at staying ahead of the competition. All of that is achievable
The Customer Experience Professionals Association (CXPA) 2018 Insight Exchange offered CX experts and professionals of all kinds, various titles and comfort levels a few days to learn, connect and get inspired. I was there among them, wearing my CXPA volunteer hat and announcing some exciting
There are probably a million ways to improve customer experience in your organization, so where should you start? Before you do anything, think about this: Humans have a way of turning a nice idea into a complicated nightmare. Think of insurance – the idea of it is lovely. If we all chip
Businesses designed with the purpose to deliver value for their customers have been the focus of my professional attention at StoryMiners® for more than 20 years. That’s why Vacasa, a vacation rental property management company, caught my attention. Here’s a behind-the-scenes
I’m doing a presentation/workshop for the Retail Design Institute at Gensler’s new Expansion Space on April 24th from 6-8pm in Atlanta. Anyone with a professional interest in crafting better personal and professional stories is welcome. Here’s what to
Last year, I wrote an article about new ways to work. It was based on an interview with founder, Jon Ferrara. Both articles tie how Nimble, a new social selling platform, improves the lives of professional service providers. Today, Nimble just made my life easier (again) with the release
As an employer, you need to provide oodles of feedback to employees to ensure they know what they’re doing, what they’re supposed to be doing, what they’re doing well and what they could be doing better. Bad feedback from employees and customers alike provides a way to prevent
How We Reinvented Our Own CX Since our founding as a customer experience design consultancy in 2002, StoryMiners has helped over 500 clients on 700+ projects in over 20 countries (and in 4 languages). Clients rave about the business results we help them achieve with CX and story. But, last
http://360connext.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/20180311_161930.mp4 Dear future robot overlords, Please read this first. I’m on your side! I promise. Mostly. With a few exceptions. Thanks for going easy on me, -Jeannie What a great time to be alive! We live in an age of constant
The world is fast. Technology invades every part of our lives, both in good and possibly not-so-good ways. As we rely ever-more heavily on the communication tools of any trade today, like email and texting, we crave more emotional and human connections to break through the clutter. In customer
Once upon a time, there was a leader. Maybe she looked like you and had your role. Or maybe he was the CEO. That leader had an epiphany about customer-centric culture. If we focus on customers, we will be a better organization. We will create happier employees who care deeply about those we
Jeannie Walters, speaker, writer and CEO of 360Connext, recently visited us at Hallmark and we had the opportunity to discuss the intricate weaving of the disciplines between marketing and customer experience. Jeannie and I share something in common: a passion for human evaluation of the
Are you treating customer experience like a sport? Are people in your organization who deliver the experience expected to start “winning at CX” in some way? If customer experience becomes a competition, either amongst your internal teams or worse, then the customer is the guaranteed
What if the customer experience you had to deliver was all about YOU? What if the customer experience you delivered was a 20-minute speech? The National Speakers Association Winter Conference sought to be an experience, and to ask professional speakers how they can be an experience. Here are
Research on everyone from millennials to senior citizens shows how learning is tied to happiness. So those who prioritize picking up new skills (shout out to those learning CX right now!) or just enjoy learning in general, tend to be happier, more satisfied people. Those who continue to focus
Language barriers can be confusing. And when interacting with someone who speaks a different language or uses a different dialect, we have to be careful. The same is true for customers. After all, it really isn’t what they hear, but what they feel that will affect the outcome of their
Customer experience repair and improvement can be completely overwhelming! There are so many areas to tackle. Those surveys don’t develop and send themselves. Then you simply must understand the journey by undertaking a robust customer journey mapping process. And of course, don’t
Disruption is a word that can inspire fear. After all, disruption is what led to the fall of many companies who considered themselves “too big to fail.” Disruption is what led to the doors closing at chain bookstores across the nation and left the taxi industry wondering what
In graduate school, I learned that Cash Cows are sacred. If a dairy farmer has a cow that gives milk each day, it has a valuable asset because every day they can count on more milk. In 1966, Boston Consulting Group borrowed the term from farming to introduce part of its new portfolio matrix.
This guest post is from Lisa Kenny of Maru/Syngro, exclusively for StoryMiners. If we understand our customers, how do we then improve customer experience? More often than not, an organization will analyze customer feedback, pick the most common denominator and seek to fix the problem quickly.
This post is part of a series sponsored by IBM about Five Ways Marketers Can Win the Holidays Artificial intelligence (AI) is impacting the way consumers are shopping for the holidays. It is also driving how companies are operating in order to deepen customer relationships. According to Lauren
This guest post is from CompanyFolders, exclusively for StoryMiners. When people think of branding, they tend to think of it in terms of attracting customers—showing off your company’s best qualities to acquire new sales. But branding doesn’t stop after a sale is made.
For those of us who’ve studied CX for decades, seeing it featured as a “new topic” is a little jarring. It seems every business article now mentions the customer’s journey as if that’s a new revelation. “The journey is just as important as the product!”
Netflix recently made news with their amazingly funny and warm cease and desist letter to fans of the show Stranger Things. While the intent of the letter was still clear, and technically a request from the legal team, the tone of the letter is what got people talking. It’s the most
Change This new blog post series will help you deal with changes imposed by the new digital landscape. The kind that turns your world upside down when new tools, new technologies, and new methods force you to change the way that you work. Like you, I have been there. Technology Out of necessity
The Problem Nobody likes over-the-top communications or to feel ‘pushed’ through a seller’s experience. People prefer being in control, so they prefer buyers’ experiences. However, many organizations still treat their future clients in a one-size-fits-all,
The first week of October is both Customer Service Week and the week of CX Day! This week of celebrating success through CX and better customer service is an important reminder that we all serve a role in this. But customer service has a special place in the way a customer feels about your
The way we create and deliver customer experiences is constantly evolving in this rapidly changing space. Keeping up with customer experience trends is now an essential part of running a successful business. It’s moving from a “nice to have” to a “must have”
PIRCH, one of America’s best customer experience companies is closing over half of its stores according to Chain Store Age. The store, its culture and philosophy, not to mention its award-winning design, have been a favorite case study of mine for years now. You can read it here.
This guest post is from Alisha Chistin, exclusively for StoryMiners. In a previous Story Miners article, we shared insights about this year’s trends in customer experience. It was mentioned that innovations like AI, the IoT and virtual reality will change how consumers interact with
I’m often asked how or where a company should start improving CX. While the answer may be a little different for everyone, it’s critical to start out right! However, very few leaders take a realistic approach. Consider this way-too-typical scenario: Marcus decides one day to stand
I’m always curious about what makes leaders of customer experience and transformation projects invest in what’s new. Oracle, in its recent “CX FACTOR PROGRAM” has done much of that research for me (and for you). It’s in the form of a dozen interviews with company
Jon Ferrara co-founded the pre-Facebook, pre-Internet, pre-LinkedIn CRM system called GoldMine. His motivation was to connect people at a more personal level—to let them build relationships that build real value. That’s still his mission at his newer company, Nimble. Their product
Jon Ferrara co-founded the pre-Facebook, pre-Internet, pre-LinkedIn CRM system called GoldMine. His motivation was to connect people at a more personal level—to let them build relationships that build real value. That’s still his mission at his newer company, Nimble. Their
Have you ever lived through a major renovation project or lived through construction of a house or condo? I say “lived through” because it can be harrowing, on a #firstworldproblems level for sure, but harrowing nonetheless. First of all, selecting the right shade of gray or arguing
I’m getting calls from very well-meaning business leaders lately. They are well-versed in many areas of business. Perhaps they were in marketing, or technology or operations. Or maybe they were responsible for the learning and development of thousands of employees. They have credentials
Interview with Mike Wittenstein, Founder of Storyminers as seen on the Digital Customer Experience website Tips from an Expert in design thinking, customer experience and the power of story Is there a difference between customer experience and digital customer experience
This GUEST CORNER feature is by Richard R Shapiro Image by Jonathan Kim We are witnessing a convergence of forces that are moving customer loyalty to the edge of extinction. As consumers, we are empowered by increasing control over the retail process. Herein lies the challenge for
I hate to break this to you, but we’re more than half-way through the calendar year. Have you done a mid-year review yet? This is a critical time to review your goals for this year and check your progress. But if you’re only looking at profits and growth, you’re only part of
Seems obvious, right? It’s hard to have customers if you don’t have sales. True. But what happens after the sale? What happens when you are trying to establish relationships with prospects but don’t know what will hurt the relationship later? Too often, organizations
In many ways, customer experience is still a new phenomenon. Ok that’s not really accurate, of course. Your customers have experiences with you, and judge their relationship with your brand based on how they feel about those experiences, whether you want them to or not. But the idea of
Customer Experience is making great inroads into business, both in the US and in Europe. The 2017 KPMG Nunwood Customer Experience Excellence Analysis benchmarks CX efforts on both sides of the Atlantic. This CX Resource also brings crystal clear insights useful to any serious customer
There’s a part of your customer journey that is most likely inconsistent. It’s those pesky people. Going from one hotel front desk to the next or calling different customer service reps can have very different outcomes. Sometimes calling the same customer service rep on a
In the last decade, many brands have used customer experience processes and perspectives to complete corporate turnarounds and experience make-overs. Some have seen their fortunes rise. Some have even stayed at elevated levels. They all use the six customer experience pillars. [SIDEBAR:
Nearly 70% of shoppers will revisit a clothing store because of personalization. This from Springboard Retail , a provider of point-of-sale (POS) software with enterprise-grade retail management features. You can read the entire study here. If you follow this survey’s implied
It’s all about your people. And it’s also about…your people. Several customer experience case studies confirmed this idea at Medallia’s Experience 2017 conference. They are valuable reminders of how customers are people, and they respond best to people
I’ve been so fortunate to work with some really great people. Many of these were clients who were charged with leading customer experience change within large companies. There are so many challenges in these positions. In most cases, it’s new philosophy, limited staff and authority,
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Pizza Shuttle I’m pretty sure everyone loves pizza. There are just so many ways that you can enjoy it. A variety of crusts, toppings, sauces, and servings really can make just about anyone happy. Plus, because there are so many different places to get
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Pizza Shuttle I’m pretty sure everyone loves pizza. There are just so many ways that you can enjoy it. A variety of crusts, toppings, sauces, and servings really can make just about anyone happy. Plus, because there are so many different places to get
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Ikea I still remember the first time I walked into IKEA. Let’s just say that I once thought walking into Target was going to be a suck on my wallet. Of course, as anyone who has been to IKEA knows, there are ample opportunities to furnish your place for so
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Ikea I still remember the first time I walked into IKEA. Let’s just say that I once thought walking into Target was going to be a suck on my wallet. Of course, as anyone who has been to IKEA knows, there are ample opportunities to furnish your place for so
“Your call may be recorded for training and quality purposes.” We’ve all heard this before. Companies use call center recordings for training and compliance purposes. But imagine a solution that uses technology, data and analytics in real-time to automatically match customers
“Your call may be recorded for training and quality purposes.” We’ve all heard this before. Companies use call center recordings for training and compliance purposes. But imagine a solution that uses technology, data and analytics in real-time to automatically match customers
“Your call may be recorded for training and quality purposes.” We’ve all heard this before. Companies use call center recordings for training and compliance purposes. But imagine a solution that uses technology, data and analytics in real-time to automatically match customers
You might have noticed that I talk a lot about customer experience. Perhaps this is because of how important the experience of your customer is–but how little time companies seem to put into making customer experiences special. One thing I’ve noticed is that over the years,
You might have noticed that I talk a lot about customer experience. Perhaps this is because of how important the experience of your customer is–but how little time companies seem to put into making customer experiences special. One thing I’ve noticed is that over the years,
You might have noticed that I talk a lot about customer experience. Perhaps this is because of how important the experience of your customer is–but how little time companies seem to put into making customer experiences special. One thing I’ve noticed is that over the years,
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Pizza Shuttle I’m pretty sure everyone loves pizza. There are just so many ways that you can enjoy it. A variety of crusts, toppings, sauces, and servings really can make just about anyone happy. Plus, because there are so many different places to get
I still remember the first time I walked into IKEA. Let’s just say that I once thought walking into Target was going to be a suck on my wallet. Of course, as anyone who has been to IKEA knows, there are ample opportunities to furnish your place for so little money. However, in taking
These days, Amazon is practically a household name. Of course, they haven’t always been at the top of the game. In fact, it took a lot of hard work and customer care to get to where they are now. Among companies today, Amazon is arguably the leader in continuously raising the bar. In
These days, Amazon is practically a household name. Of course, they haven’t always been at the top of the game. In fact, it took a lot of hard work and customer care to get to where they are now. Among companies today, Amazon is arguably the leader in continuously raising the bar. In
These days, Amazon is practically a household name. Of course, they haven’t always been at the top of the game. In fact, it took a lot of hard work and customer care to get to where they are now. Among companies today, Amazon is arguably the leader in continuously raising the bar. In
Have you ever had to deal with a customer who was really angry? While most days aren’t perfect, if generally takes a lot for us to get red-in-the-face angry. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, and some people are just plain nasty. But most of us
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Kiehl’s Try it before you can buy it. Those words are music to my ears. Whether I’m buying a new car, sampling a new flavor of ice cream, or searching for a new pair of shoes–I want to be able to try something before I make my purchase. In
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Kiehl’s Try it before you can buy it. Those words are music to my ears. Whether I’m buying a new car, sampling a new flavor of ice cream, or searching for a new pair of shoes–I want to be able to try something before I make my purchase. In
There are so many marketing companies out there these days doing so many different things. From commanding the digital space to being more effective in branding, marketing companies certainly aren’t lacking in options for their specialty. But while the number of marketing companies
There are so many marketing companies out there these days doing so many different things. From commanding the digital space to being more effective in branding, marketing companies certainly aren’t lacking in options for their specialty. But while the number of marketing companies
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Kiehl’s Try it before you can buy it. Those words are music to my ears. Whether I’m buying a new car, sampling a new flavor of ice cream, or searching for a new pair of shoes–I want to be able to try something before I make my purchase. In
There are so many marketing companies out there these days doing so many different things. From commanding the digital space to being more effective in branding, marketing companies certainly aren’t lacking in options for their specialty. But while the number of marketing companies
Some might argue technology is making us less human. Others would argue just the opposite. No matter which opinion you share, you can’t dispute the rising trend of personal data collection and its effect on behavior change. But while behavior change might not be your ultimate goal, it can
Some might argue technology is making us less human. Others would argue just the opposite. No matter which opinion you share, you can’t dispute the rising trend of personal data collection and its effect on behavior change. But while behavior change might not be your ultimate goal, it can
Some might argue technology is making us less human. Others would argue just the opposite. No matter which opinion you share, you can’t dispute the rising trend of personal data collection and its effect on behavior change. But while behavior change might not be your ultimate goal, it can
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–L.L. Bean In my experience (and probably yours) the word “no” when it comes to good customer service is unheard of. After all, “no” has a negative connotation in most cases. That’s why when, as a customer, I experience the word
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–L.L. Bean In my experience (and probably yours) the word “no” when it comes to good customer service is unheard of. After all, “no” has a negative connotation in most cases. That’s why when, as a customer, I experience the word
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Besito Dining out continues to be a bit of a luxury these days. Whether it’s fast food or a sit down restaurant, the fact is that not every household can afford the perk of eating outside their home. Perhaps that’s why when I go out to dine with my
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Besito Dining out continues to be a bit of a luxury these days. Whether it’s fast food or a sit down restaurant, the fact is that not every household can afford the perk of eating outside their home. Perhaps that’s why when I go out to dine with my
It seems like a lot of people talk about data. It’s important to note that data plays a big role in today’s world. There is so much that can be learned from data, assuming you know where to look and how to analyze it. The good news is that even if you don’t know how […]
Service culture is the holy grail for many organizations. It’s the secret sauce of those companies we hold up as the role models of customer-centricity. Companies like Rackspace or Safelite are well-known disruptors in their industries simply because they focus like crazy
Hall of Fame Class of 2012–Mitchells As customers, we like to know that we’re appreciated. Perhaps that is why even the smallest gesture from a company we’ve done business with has a huge impact. Jack Mitchell is CEO of The Mitchells Family of Stores, and owns several high-end
Ever hear of a “stop doing” list? All the cool kids and productivity gurus have mentioned them. The idea is to create a not-to-do list so you are reminded of tasks you should delegate, ignore, or intentionally decide to cease. Thinking in these terms, here’s a quick list for 3
It’s not them, it’s you. Have you used voice search yet? The answer is probably yes if you’ve got an Amazon Echo or a smart phone. Have you used voice search in your business to improve your customer’s experience yet? The answer is probably no, but it shouldn’t be.
I’ll be honest. When we started recording episodes for our Crack the Customer Code podcast, I wasn’t sure if my co-host Adam Toporek and I would have enough to discuss. I mean, how much is there, really, to say about customer experience and customer service? And yet… Week
It’s been an eventful few days during my latest pilgrimage to the South By Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas. Yes, I’ve had my share of good barbecue, live music and a few margaritas. Copyright 2017 · 360Connext But I’ve also been soaking in
I get a lot of “what a cool job!” when I describe what I do. It sounds so glamorous. And everyone is a customer, so of course I hear about the worst customer service they ever had, or less frequently, the very best they’ve experienced. It is awesome. I love what I do. But as
This will be my tenth journey to Austin for the South By Southwest Interactive Conference (SXSW) in March. It’s a crazy few days of social media, digital marketing, internet rock stars and barbecue. Whether you’ve been many times like me or are just heading there
Consistently gathering customer feedback is a great way to see patterns around satisfaction, loyalty and other key performance indicators, but some of the most valuable information hides beyond typical survey results. There are important questions customers would love to answer for you, should
Customers hear from you regularly. Right? As you dwell on how often you actually connect with a customer (once a week? once every few months? never?) I want to remind you of one simple fact. Your customers, if they are truly customers, pay you regularly. They probably receive an invoice of some
This interview was conducted by John Mattone and first appeared February 7, 2017 on JohnMattone.com Mike Wittenstein advises leaders on how changes to their customer experiences can positively transform their brand narratives and their bottom lines. He is the managing partner at Storyminers, a
Most organizations used to lump customers into 2 simple categories: New customers and “the rest of them.” New customer acquisition is often used to gauge success – the more we gain, the better we’re doing! And what about “the rest of
This article appeared first January 10, 2017 at SharpenCX.com Customer experience expert Mike Wittenstein sheds light on enhanced customer expectations, AI innovation, and more. Big thanks to Mike Wittenstein for his willingness to speak with us and for his insightful
Kampyle, now part of Medallia, published this interview as a kick-off to their Emerging Trends in Customer Experience series in 2016. We’ve updated it for 2017 Can you tell us how you got into CX and why you find the space so interesting? In 1999, I was working as a thought leader
Many of you know that I started one of the world’s first digital agencies in 1992 with my business partner and creative director, Jackie Goldstein. We called it GALILEO. We picked the name not only because of Galileo’s prowess as an innovator (he brought the telescope, scientific
Amazon has formally introduced its new Amazon GO retail concept on the West Coast. Basically, you can shop without lines and without going through checkout. A combination of technologies (they say, the same ones used in self driving cars) are used to notice what you pick up and what you put in
We’ve been doing business the same way for so many decades; it’s hard to imagine other ways to achieve success. Work hard, make big profits, and always get better at what you do. These are the mantras we’ve all heard – and still share. Conversations about reimagining
Storyminers is quite proud to be included in Chattermill’s top 50 of their: The Top 100 Customer Experience Blogs You Need to Be Reading. We think it’s pretty cool because the selection is powered by Artificial Intelligence. It’s not about the most
Storyminers is quite proud to be included in Chattermill’s top 50 of their: The Top 100 Customer Experience Blogs You Need to Be Reading. We think it’s pretty cool because the selection is powered by Artificial Intelligence. It’s not about the most
It’s not easy trying to grow a business. You’re often left standing in the middle of a saturated market, scratching your head and wondering “what can we really do to separate ourselves?” Do you develop a new product, find a new market, or maybe pour money into
Sometimes, making customer experiences better can also make the world better. Here’s how one leading brand is trying. The subject line of an email this morning said “Discrimination and Belonging: What it Means to You”. I thought it was a political headline designed to sway my
Asking questions without limitations can lead to a better experience for your customers. The post Improve the Experience by Asking the Impossible Questions appeared first on Customer Experience Consulting.
We’re giving our brains a real workout when dealing with customers. We do our best to see the experience from the their perspective, to empathize with their issue and find the best solution, and simultaneously use processes and procedures to move the interaction to its
Processes involving humans (that is, ALL of them) require lots and lots of reminders, revisions and revamping. The post Document THIS! Betrayed by Customer Experience Documentation appeared first on Customer Experience Consulting.
Highly-engaged employees will deliver better experiences to your customers, leading to increased loyalty, more referrals, and more business overall. Yippee! However, employee engagement is emotional and often hinged on the very last experience an employee might have – with his or her
Your organization might be well-meaning but still ruining your customer’s day. The mission at 360Connext is simple, but we believe it’s important: We’re on a mission to create fewer ruined days for customers. I started using this as our mission when I created the company in
Employee experiences are just as important as customer experiences. In fact, if your employees aren’t ready to deliver the kind of experience your brand promises, your customers won’t get the kind of experience they desire. On the today show this morning, I was delighted by a new
Employee experiences are just as important as customer experiences. In fact, if your employees aren’t ready to deliver the kind of experience your brand promises, your customers won’t get the kind of experience they desire. On the today show this morning, I was delighted by a new
Customers are tracking brands and how they how they interact with customers. And they’re giving their friends all the dirt they find on your brand! They’re sharing information like who to contact to get things done, and when’s the best time to call and actually get an
Brands need to keep innovating. To stay ahead of the market, they need to offer the “what’s next” to stave off the competition. Innovation is about responding to the market, anticipating needs, and using a little magic to appeal to customers. I often wonder about the
Note: This article comes from the perspective of the author’s work in the science and the art of customer experience. Its implications may be more broadly received. At the beginning of their customer experience enhancement journeys, many organizations go after so-called low-hanging-fruit
Note: This article comes from the perspective of the author’s work in the science and the art of customer experience. Its implications may be more broadly received. At the beginning of their customer experience enhancement journeys, many organizations go after so-called low-hanging-fruit
Every once in a while, you come across a customer experience that just stands out for being so good. That happened to me as a consumer this summer and I wanted to share it with you. My 14-year-old daughter is in her first year of high school in an IB (international baccalaureate) program. Her
Every once in a while, you come across a customer experience that just stands out for being so good. That happened to me as a consumer this summer and I wanted to share it with you. My 14-year-old daughter is in her first year of high school in an IB (international baccalaureate) program. Her
There’s a joke about being at the top at any small business. The title of founder or president, in its deceptively simple way, covers a multitude of jobs. You can’t just run the business by doing the work, you have to run the business by stepping in as chief technology
What if the future of mobile has nothing to do with the phone in your hand? While “Mobile First” has been the mantra for at least the last few years for most smart companies, it’s really only taking off now. And now it’s almost too late. After attending several sessions,
Quality is an interesting word. We toss it around when discussing products, describing them as “high quality” or lacking it altogether. But what really is the meaning of quality? According to the dictionary, here is the definition. character with respect to fineness, or grade
A client was really excited to share something. “We have finally done all our process maps!” She was the newly appointed customer service director, and she had heard mapping was important. Several months later, and they had stacks of pages of process flows outlining what they
I heard this question while speaking to a group not too long ago. It’s a great – and surprisingly complex – inquiry. When I quizzed the group, here are a few ideas I heard: “The minute someone decides to buy, that’s when they become a customer.” “The
The following article was first released on June 8th at Clutch.com In today’s competitive marketplace, consumers have an increasing amount of choices- and they aren’t afraid to try them. There always seems to be a new product, service, or experience within reach of a
So content is king, right? Or is it context? What about the once and future king, conversion?? Content continues to be a driver for smart companies who want to attract the right prospects, market to those who want to buy and eventually convert those prospects to sales! Yee haw. Inbound sales
You only know what you know. That’s the insurmountable truth about each human’s perspective. Our lens is just that – ours. This is a particular challenge in customer experience. Think about it. Not only do you only know what you know – but your customers are each
One of the most rewarding parts of being a Customer Experience Investigator™ is when a client and I gather people from all departments of their organization to map the customer touchpoints. We call these CXI® Touchpoint Discovery Workshops because they are not only
She could’ve done a better job with Rule # 1 – Don’t Be Rude. The post Customer Experience Rule No. 1: Don’t Be Rude! appeared first on Customer Experience Consulting.
Should pricing be considered part of the customer experience? YES. The post How Does Pricing Affect Customer Experience? appeared first on Customer Experience Consulting.
I’d hope by this point anyone reading this blog understands that my passion for customer experience is a holistic one. I don’t believe one aspect or theory or channel is the “right” way. I believe it takes a measured, consistent examination of what is working and what
For well over 100 years, businesses leaders have made decisions based on what is right for the business. Business profitability first. Everything else second. Why not buy cheap chairs for the restaurant? Why not focus on the efficiency of the call center instead of delivering better customer
For well over 100 years, businesses leaders have made decisions based on what is right for the business. Business profitability first. Everything else second. Why not buy cheap chairs for the restaurant? Why not focus on the efficiency of the call center instead of delivering better customer
Customer feedback is customer experience gold. That’s why there are transaction surveys, experience surveys, customer interviews, customer focus groups (although you know I’m not a fan) and many, many formal ways to gather feedback and use it to improve the experience. But many
The following is a Best of 360Connext post Brains are fascinating. The very thing that allows me to write this blog is both an abstract idea to me and a very concrete part of my anatomy. They are simple muscles in one regard and totally complex, almost spiritual, machines in another. The
What do customers talk about after interacting with your company? Most likely, one of two things happens. They tell their friends all about the painful, frustrating experience of an interaction gone wrong. Or…they tell their friends how happy they were with the service of such an
For well over 100 years, businesses leaders have made decisions based on what is right for the business. Business profitability first. Everything else second. Why not buy cheap chairs for the restaurant? Why not focus on the efficiency of the call center instead of delivering better customer
For well over 100 years, businesses leaders have made decisions based on what is right for the business. Business profitability first. Everything else second. Why not buy cheap chairs for the restaurant? Why not focus on the efficiency of the call center instead of delivering better customer
I always feel a little bad when I inevitably silence the room with a simple question. The post THE Customer Experience Question That Silences The Room appeared first on Customer Experience Consulting.
How important is customer experience in your organization? Most executives now consider customer experience a priority, but so many of them are still not ready to get serious about it. You may be among those who don’t have the resources necessary to improve the big picture, but you still
What do you think when someone tells you about something that’s “gone viral?” Do you think it’s a funny video? A cringe-worthy comment? A parody of the latest topic in the zeitgeist? I don’t know about you, but I don’t think of customer experience as a
Do millennials really approach everything differently than generations before them? Or are the challenges of designing for them simply the same challenges as designing and delivering experiences for any group? Yes, millennials approach the world a little differently. But so does every
#of hours/year: this is when health happens. @markhymanmd #PESummit pic.twitter.com/ETpMikdraP — Jeannie Walters (@jeanniecw) May 16, 2016 Thoughts from the Cleveland Clinic Patient Empathy Summit (Part 2) In case you missed it, you may be interested in reading Part 1: The
Customers can’t always tell us what they want, even when we ask them to leave feedback. So is there another way to learn what they will want next, before they take their business elsewhere? Customer data, feedback and market research can still help guide your next
Thoughts from the Cleveland Clinic Patient Empathy Summit (Part 1) I had the immense honor of being a part of the Cleveland Clinic Patient Empathy Summit. This is the place where the idea of patient experience became a reality. These are the people who are making it happen. To say I was
[Originally published on APADMI Apr 20, 2016 – Advice & Guides, Blog as:] Integration of Mobile into Retailers Business Model Roundtable Apadmi have recently produced a whitepaper exploring the integration of mobile into a retailer’s business model and the benefits it can bring.
[Originally published on APADMI Apr 20, 2016 – Advice & Guides, Blog as:] Integration of Mobile into Retailers Business Model Roundtable Apadmi have recently produced a whitepaper exploring the integration of mobile into a retailer’s business model and the benefits it can bring.
[Originally published on APADMI Apr 20, 2016 – Advice & Guides, Blog as:] Integration of Mobile into Retailers Business Model Roundtable Apadmi have recently produced a whitepaper exploring the integration of mobile into a retailer’s business model and the benefits it can bring.
Loyalty is often the holy grail of customer experience. It’s seen as the end goal. The raison d’etre for many companies. After all, loyal customers mean more revenue, more repeat business, more referrals and just more more more! Yes, loyal customers mean more. But how do
One of my favorite things to do is to facilitate a co-creation session with a client and their customers. They always lead to incredible insights thanks to the honest feedback of those in the room. Recently, I facilitated a session with a B2B company that was losing a bit of ground to
[originally posted on the User Testing Blog 3/06/2016 by Spencer Lanoue] Investing in customer experience drives revenue growth and increases customer loyalty. According to Gartner, customer experience will be the main battleground for competing companies over the next two years. And
[originally posted on the User Testing Blog 3/06/2016 by Spencer Lanoue] Investing in customer experience drives revenue growth and increases customer loyalty. According to Gartner, customer experience will be the main battleground for competing companies over the next two years. And
[originally posted on the User Testing Blog 3/06/2016 by Spencer Lanoue] Investing in customer experience drives revenue growth and increases customer loyalty. According to Gartner, customer experience will be the main battleground for competing companies over the next two years. And
How much can you learn about the present and the future Customer Experience Design in 7 minutes? Find out by reading an interview I did with Marketforce 20/20, a European Union producer of customer experience conferences. In it, you’ll find practical info to help you with your own
How much can you learn about the present and the future Customer Experience Design in 7 minutes? Find out by reading an interview I did with Marketforce 20/20, a European Union producer of customer experience conferences. In it, you’ll find practical info to help you with your own
How much can you learn about the present and the future Customer Experience Design in 7 minutes? Find out by reading an interview I did with Marketforce 20/20, a European Union producer of customer experience conferences. In it, you’ll find practical info to help you with your own
I have a question for you today. Think about how much effort you exert every day. You have responsibilities. You work hard, you care about the results you get, and you are a leader in a professional sense. You also have the regular responsibilities of life. You have to eat, take care of
It’s become cliché to say it, but everyone does own the customer experience. If the custodian sweeping up doesn’t believe his role plays a part, then it’s easy to pull the thread and suddenly nobody thinks they own the experience overall. I ask this question a lot when
This Interview was conducted by ReachForce and first appeared March 9, 2016 Mike Wittenstein leads Storyminers, a pioneering customer experience design firm based in Atlanta. We recently checked in with them to discuss some of the challenges enterprises face in managing customer experience
This Interview was conducted by ReachForce and first appeared March 9, 2016 Mike Wittenstein leads Storyminers, a pioneering customer experience design firm based in Atlanta. We recently checked in with them to discuss some of the challenges enterprises face in managing customer
This Interview was conducted by ReachForce and first appeared March 9, 2016 Mike Wittenstein leads Storyminers, a pioneering customer experience design firm based in Atlanta. We recently checked in with them to discuss some of the challenges enterprises face in managing customer
This Interview was conducted by ReachForce and first appeared March 9, 2016 Mike Wittenstein leads Storyminers, a pioneering customer experience design firm based in Atlanta. We recently checked in with them to discuss some of the challenges enterprises face in managing customer
When it comes to customer experience, there is no shortage of advice. Maybe your boss read “that book” on how to map your customer’s journey. Or maybe you were tasked with being the “customer experience” guy and dove into the many blogs, books, and podcasts about
“Say please!” I say this to my children in a nearly constant refrain. Actually, now that they are pretty good about manners, I typically just give them a Mom glare and the polite words fall out of their mouths. But they have also learned that these words matter not because of the
The National CXPA Organization is working hard to put together another stellar Insight Exchange this year in the ATL. Those of us who live in the area have jumped into the mix and are adding some fun things to keep participants busy and help them see our wonderful city. Each
The National CXPA Organization is working hard to put together another stellar Insight Exchange this year in the ATL. Those of us who live in the area have jumped into the mix and are adding some fun things to keep participants busy and help them see our wonderful city. Each
The National CXPA Organization is working hard to put together another stellar Insight Exchange this year in the ATL. Those of us who live in the area have jumped into the mix and are adding some fun things to keep participants busy and help them see our wonderful city. Each
Co-creation sessions, customer journey workshops and customer-focused innovation summits can sound so sexy and intriguing. We envision a group working cohesively, rolling up their collective sleeves to create an improved customer-centric culture and earn long-term loyalty from customers.
Consumers have power. In the old-school approaches to business, companies thought they were essential if they sold goods and services people wanted. Nowadays, the abundance of competition means that no single company can afford to become complacent. For long-term success, they need
We live in a digital world, constantly connected, where information is always at our fingertips. With all this information, businesses have the tricky task of standing out from all the chatter and building strong relationships with their customers. Millennials are changing the way brands market
It was my 7th? 8th? year attending the South By Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas, and yet again, it didn’t disappoint. The old-timers will lament the days of easy navigation and fewer crowds, and I’m certainly one of them. But I also walk away with my wheels turning
Customer experience is the new black. If you haven’t already heard, experience is HOT. Every savvy marketer, designer, branding strategist, corporate leader, social media blogger and keynote speaker is now a customer experience expert. I say this not with total sarcasm (only a touch)
For most businesses, improving customer service is a constant aim, as it is one area where they can separate themselves from competitors. It is, therefore, little wonder that many company bosses invest heavily in their efforts to improve customer service training, in order to bring staff
Another “for the millennials” headline pops up every day. As millennials become a bigger part of the market, stepping into adulthood and the paychecks that come with it, companies are trying just about anything to attract this demographic. They are considered different. They
Don’t get me started. People just want to complain and complain and shout from their Facebook page. I say forget it! This was the start of a very bumpy ride with a cab driver recently. He saw me on my phone, asked me if I was one of those who “did Facebook.” I confirmed I […]
If your customers think you deliver an “average” service experience, there is NO shortcut to getting them to become emotionally engaged, loyal, zealots of your brand. Don’t get me wrong. A well-designed service improvement initiative MIGHT result in a temporary spike in
If you’re an experience designer (or want to become one), one of the most important tools you can develop for your work is empathy for others. Empathy creates more value for customers than knowing statistical analysis programs and is often more helpful in design than having NetPromoter® scores.
If you’re an experience designer (or want to become one), one of the most important tools you can develop for your work is empathy for others. Empathy creates more value for customers than knowing statistical analysis programs and is often more helpful in design than having
If you’re an experience designer (or want to become one), one of the most important tools you can develop for your work is empathy for others. Empathy creates more value for customers than knowing statistical analysis programs and is often more helpful in design than having
If you’re an experience designer (or want to become one), one of the most important tools you can develop for your work is empathy for others. Empathy creates more value for customers than knowing statistical analysis programs and is often more helpful in design than having
(image courtesy of info.comm-works.com) Last week’s blog covered the first of two themes that emerged for me at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York. “Retailers are acting on the notion that customers’ needs are different than their own.” That blog painted a picture of how the
(image courtesy of info.comm-works.com) Last week’s blog covered the first of two themes that emerged for me at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York. “Retailers are acting on the notion that customers’ needs are different than their own.” That blog
(image courtesy of info.comm-works.com) Last week’s blog covered the first of two themes that emerged for me at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York. “Retailers are acting on the notion that customers’ needs are different than their own.” That blog
(image courtesy of info.comm-works.com) Last week’s blog covered the first of two themes that emerged for me at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York. “Retailers are acting on the notion that customers’ needs are different than their own.” That blog
You know the feeling. You see a customer heading your way to complain. Or maybe they’ve already submitted feedback and checked the “please follow up” box on the form. Or maybe your employees have warned you about the person who has complained to them already and is bringing
The following post is an excerpt from the book, Blue Goldfish. It is the foreword written by Shep Hyken: The Big Data conversation in business today is hard to miss. You can’t go far without running into it. Big Data, as a definition, is a collection of data that’s difficult to
NRF’s Big Show (image courtesy of www.fierceretail.com) During the second week of January each year, The Jacob K. Javitz Center in New York is home to the National Retail Federation’s annual retail show. It’s called the BIG Show because, well, it’s big. Hundreds of vendors to the retail trade
NRF’s Big Show (image courtesy of www.fierceretail.com) During the second week of January each year, The Jacob K. Javitz Center in New York is home to the National Retail Federation’s annual retail show. It’s called the BIG Show because, well, it’s big. Hundreds of
NRF’s Big Show (image courtesy of www.fierceretail.com) During the second week of January each year, The Jacob K. Javitz Center in New York is home to the National Retail Federation’s annual retail show. It’s called the BIG Show because, well, it’s big. Hundreds of
NRF’s Big Show (image courtesy of www.fierceretail.com) During the second week of January each year, The Jacob K. Javitz Center in New York is home to the National Retail Federation’s annual retail show. It’s called the BIG Show because, well, it’s big. Hundreds of
Last week’s post predicted that customers won’t stand for technology that constantly sells to them. It predicted 2016 as the year predictive analytics and other ‘sensing’ technologies will be used to serve customers first. Chick-fil-A [private], now America’s favorite chain restaurant, is
At the end of last year, I was invited to share my customer experience predictions for 2016 with MarketForce, a sponsor-funded European Union event production company. The only guideline was to focus on what could/should happen in 2016. With the retail industry fresh on my mind as I prepared
Managing time and workload will be the biggest challenge that customer support professionals face in 2016. With the rise of multichannel support, there’s a risk that support professionals will burn out if they don’t take steps to manage their workload more effectively. A new study
Last week’s post predicted that customers won’t stand for technology that constantly sells to them. It predicted 2016 as the year predictive analytics and other ‘sensing’ technologies will be used to serve customers first. Chick-fil-A [private], now America’s
Last week’s post predicted that customers won’t stand for technology that constantly sells to them. It predicted 2016 as the year predictive analytics and other ‘sensing’ technologies will be used to serve customers first. Chick-fil-A [private], now America’s
What’s the inspiration behind the BLUE in Blue Goldfish? Here is an excerpt from the book Blue Goldfish: (BONUS: On 2/2 and 2/4, the Blue Goldfish eBook will be free for download on Amazon. Click here to get your copy) Blue Goldfish brings together two symbolic concepts to describe the
Employee engagement is a key driver in delivering great customer experiences. Without a dedicated and engaged workforce, customer complaints increase, loyalty decreases, and the company is less successful. And while it’s of course critically important to keep employees engaged and
This is a guest post from Dr. Joseph Michelli, the New York Times best-selling author. It features a story about Mercedes-Benz from his latest book, Driven to Delight: Delivering World-Class Customer Experience the Mercedes-Benz Way I’ve long been a believer that we should spend more time
We’ve all had those disagreements. One person says something along the lines of “It’s not what you said. It’s how you said it.” The other person stands his or her ground. “I did NOT say it like that. No way.” This is the human experience. We
Heads up …when it comes to customer service, certain (painful) truths are universal. Customer service is such an important part in keeping people coming back to your business, and the specifics of your product or service don’t really matter. Even as technology advances, some
At the end of last year, I was invited to share my customer experience predictions for 2016 with MarketForce, a sponsor-funded European Union event production company. The only guideline was to focus on what could/should happen in 2016. With the retail industry fresh on my mind as I prepared
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