Forrester, Oracle, and others predict plenty of customer experience challenges for the near future. Anxiety is ramping up for senior leaders focused on customer experience, and it’s not difficult to understand why. Image credit: Forrester According to Forrester’s 2020 Predictions, 1
Welcome to our blog. On here, you will find a collection of articles from the entire panel and some great syndicated articles as well.
How do you make your Voice of the Customer plan more meaningful? Four words: More customer, more voice. Quick Voice of the Customer Overview You are probably familiar with the term Voice of the Customer, often referred to with the shorthand “VoC.” The idea behind a true Voice
Do you know how your learners feel about their learning experiences? The more we learn about emotions, the more we realize they influence everything we think and do. 1.Emotions drive decisions for learners and customers alike. Emotions are driving our decisions, and usually more than we
Charging into the new year, it’s easy to want to name what’s ahead of us. I am seeing a few enthusiastic sorts claiming 2020 will be “The Year of Experience,” “When Experience Finally Wins” or “The Year of the Customer.” I ask you to greet these
I’m weirdly excited about this year. 2020 – a year of vision! (See what I did there?) This time of year is all about the BIG plans. We’re going to eat healthier, get better sleep and drink more water, right? Of course. We’re also going to execute big strategies based on
2020 is Almost Here… With the new year — and the new decade! — just two weeks away, we’re all turning our attention to where CX will go in 2020 and beyond. And while I’m all about looking forward more than I look back, it’s worth remembering that a lot of
When Santa delivers stress… As December furiously barrels on toward the holidays, your customers will become more and more hurried and stressed as they try to find the perfect gifts. How well will your retail experience handle it? Do you have a working customer journey map? If you
The goal of learning in any workplace is to be, well, better. Better at serving customers. Better at increasing efficiency. Better at employee development. Better at staying ahead of the competition. All of that is achievable with the options in learning today, but how often are
Customer Experience Leaders Have a Global Customer Focus Even after over a decade of helping small and large businesses alike, I still meet leaders who believe that Customer Experience is just about so much call-center scripts or proper protocol around customer complaints. As you and I both
Do you consider yourself a life-long learner? Most successful people are. Bill Gates famously reads more than 50 books per year and has stated that you don’t get old until you stop learning. Better yet, lifelong learning leads to a healthier life, more financial success and even better
“We’re unique, and so are the CX challenges we face.” That’s what we like to believe. We like to believe this about ourselves, our brands and our customers. We have bigger and badder challenges than our competitors…because of the size of our organization, the way
Leaders want to deliver exceptional experiences. We all want to deliver for our customers, starting with a sales experience that builds trust between our organization and our buyers. After all, sales sets the stage for the entire customer journey. Sales is where current
Customer journey mapping can be a powerful tool to help you truly understand your customers, innovate around new ways to serve them, and identify gaps in their journey. But, that’s only if the map is used as a tool and not an artifact. Many CX teams spend months on a journey map only to
What Does the Future of CX Look Like? It’s crystal ball time! If you know how critical Customer Experience is to the happiness of your customers and your team (and if you’re reading this, I’m willing to bet you are,) you’re probably already trying to anticipate the next
Customer experience, in all is complexity, really is about one thing to your customers: Expectations. Think about your own journeys as a customer. Have you ever been disappointed? Most likely, your story starts with a “They promised me..” and ends with a “They just
The C-Suite Leader was asking a seemingly straightforward question: What is customer experience, really? Now, this person was no slouch. This was a high-achieving, take-no-prisoners, BOSS of a person who I respect. And I was struggling to answer. I didn’t want to insult this person. I
Happy CX Day 2019! Customer experience professionals, enthusiasts and change agents around the world are celebrating today. CX Day is all about celebrating our success, learning from our amazing community, and looking to the future of customer experience. If you haven’t already, get your
Let’s talk about the future of customer experience. I’m often asked about it, and I’ll tell you this universal truth: Customers will expect more than we can give them. You heard that right. We are reaching a point when expectations will become so high that it will be
What is CX Day? We celebrate with learning, professional development opportunities, awards, and celebrations of all kinds. CX Day is a day all about learning, sharing, and celebrating with the Customer Experience community. Free events include webinars, panel discussions, and all kinds
Ever hear of a “stop doing” list? “Stop doing” lists have become especially popular in recent years. If you’re not familiar, the concept is simple: We all have things on our To-Do list that we really ought to be delegating, ignoring, or ceasing to work on.
ALL Leaders Experience Leadership Bias… There is a natural conflict of interest between companies and customers. It’s natural for any organization to have goals that don’t align perfectly with the goals of their customers. And there can certainly be natural conflicts of
The employee experience can feel hard to manage. As leaders, we ask our employees to care about a lot of things, even those that are only tangentially related to their job descriptions. As an industry, we’re overwhelming employees with messages about the next big thing they need to
Success Relies Upon Customer Trust When I ask you a question like “what brand are you loyal to?” you are actually answering the question “what brands have earned your trust?” What brand has proven, time and again, they can live up to their promises? Which brand
It’s easy to underestimate the efforts it requires to become a truly customer-centric organization. Brave leaders do their best to lead customer experience initiatives that make an impact. But there are processes, protocols and even people who are obstacles to seeing results. What
It wasn’t THAT long ago when business planning and strategy simply didn’t include the term “customer experience.” There are plenty of organizations that successfully earned customers, kept those customers, and didn’t think much about the actual experience they were
Let’s Talk CX Strategy Do you know your customer experience strategy? Do you know how this strategy is being translated into the everyday actions and behaviors of your employees? The thing about strategy is that it’s not just about strategy…it’s actually all
As a whole, we don’t really enjoy talking about customer experience basics. Instead, the conversation around CX often centers around the pull-a-rabbit-out-of-a-hat, OHMYGOD moments that amaze customers and offer those oft-discussed but hard-to-achieve moments of surprise and delight.
What does co-creation with customers really mean? Co-creation means letting your customers in on the ground floor of innovation and creating new products, services, and customer journeys in sometimes real time with them. Customers become partners and advisors, not just end users. And it
The term “customer experience” usually conjures up images of individual customers in retail or other business-to-consumer (B2C) environments. I am often asked about business-to-business (B2B) as a separate experience. After speaking on overall customer experience themes, for
Customer Experience is About Value and Values Customer experience is not the new battleground anymore. It’s THE battleground. And it all centers around the word value. How can we provide value in what we offer to customers? How can we define and promote our values in our customer
Recapping SAP CX Live’s Top Themes & Insights Photo credit: @SAPCX on Instagram SAP CX Live and SAP SAPPHIRE NOW allowed me and some 30,000 friends to get a sneak peek into the way this global organization and their many partners view the world of the future. Enterprise
Customer experience solutions are readily available these days. There are robust platforms that promise a seamless journey for your customers. There are feedback tools to help you gather JUST the perfect, most meaningful insights. And there are data sets and analytics and pivot tables, oh my!
Customer experience solutions are readily available these days. There are robust platforms that promise a seamless journey for your customers. There are feedback tools to help you gather JUST the perfect, most meaningful insights. And there are data sets and analytics and pivot tables, oh my!
Touchpoints aren’t what they used to be. There was a time in our history when touchpoints were…finite. We could list them easily and agree easily to what they were. The list might have 5-6 things on it for a sophisticated organization. When asked, ‘how does a prospect or
Touchpoints aren’t what they used to be. There was a time in our history when touchpoints were…finite. We could list them easily and agree easily to what they were. The list might have 5-6 things on it for a sophisticated organization. When asked, ‘how does a prospect or
It’s that time of year. We’re all making predictions and tracking trends in customer experience. What will happen in 2019? Which trends will matter? Which will fade away? One thing we predict will not change for a long time is the need to reduce customer effort. CCW’s latest
It’s that time of year. We’re all making predictions and tracking trends in customer experience. What will happen in 2019? Which trends will matter? Which will fade away? One thing we predict will not change for a long time is the need to reduce customer effort. CCW’s latest
Thanks to a fun report from CCW, Customer Contact Week, and some clever customer experience pros (and prose – ha ha,) there is a discussion around leadership buzzwords we should have. According to the report, the list of buzzwords is growing. And I agree. Leaders toss around terms like
Thanks to a fun report from CCW, Customer Contact Week, and some clever customer experience pros (and prose – ha ha,) there is a discussion around leadership buzzwords we should have. According to the report, the list of buzzwords is growing. And I agree. Leaders toss around terms like
The job descriptions for a customer experience leader vary between tactical analyst and strategic overlord. Defining just what a customer experience leader does can be tricky. But what’s even trickier is when you may not have customer experience or customer insights in your title.
The job descriptions for a customer experience leader vary between tactical analyst and strategic overlord. Defining just what a customer experience leader does can be tricky. But what’s even trickier is when you may not have customer experience or customer insights in your title.
We toss the word empathy around these days, especially in customer experience circles. And while most of us agree it’s vital to have and show empathy with customers, many rarely go beyond that in really capturing the touchpoints to understand emotions. The best customer-centric
We toss the word empathy around these days, especially in customer experience circles. And while most of us agree it’s vital to have and show empathy with customers, many rarely go beyond that in really capturing the touchpoints to understand emotions. The best customer-centric
Have you had enough of the term omnichannel? It blasted into our vocabulary a few years ago, shoving out multichannel as the preferred ubiquitous business speak of our time. Omnichannel paints a picture of an all-knowing customer journey. It’s agnostic about your specific channel sins,
Have you had enough of the term omnichannel? It blasted into our vocabulary a few years ago, shoving out multichannel as the preferred ubiquitous business speak of our time. Omnichannel paints a picture of an all-knowing customer journey. It’s agnostic about your specific channel sins,
Ever have a sneaking suspicion something just isn’t right, but you don’t know how to fix it? Is that happening with your organization’s customer experience design for service delivery? Lately, I’m seeing a lot of good intentions gone awry with customer experience. And a
Ever have a sneaking suspicion something just isn’t right, but you don’t know how to fix it? Is that happening with your organization’s customer experience design for service delivery? Lately, I’m seeing a lot of good intentions gone awry with customer experience. And a
This post first appeared in CMO Australia in late 2017. Thanks to Nadia Cameron for a great interview! Too many organisations are “doing” before “designing” when it comes to digital and customer transformation, and not going deep enough into insights analysis
This is a guest post by Lexie Lue of Design Roast. When customers think about your brand, they should think about their overall experience with your company as a whole. Strong branding likely brings a logo or tagline to mind, but it also plays into emotions and memories of past experiences with
This is a Guest Post by Ian Moyse, Sales Director Natterbox Who would have thought that in 2018, with all the technological evolutions we have already lived through in the past 10-15 years, from Cloud Computing, Smartphones, Social Media, Drones, Big Data, Virtual Reality(VR), Artificial
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
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 […]
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
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
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.) To read the full KPMG Global Customer Experience Excellence report: Tomorrow’s experience, today, please visit: www.kpmg.com/customerfirst Brands that deliver the best
(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
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
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
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
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
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 discovery around artificial intelligence and the amazing ways we are sure to
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.
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 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
“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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Jan 2020