Customer Experience Begins with Your Words

 

outsideinview.com

True Story. (And we know that storytelling is more memorable.) I was having a conversation with a colleague who shared the tale of how she feels about her company.

You need to understand my colleague is experienced. She has held the titles, is a published author and a noted speaker. She is someone you know if you read this blog. But, her reputation is mostly US-based. Last fall her company was acquired, and while it wasn’t as smooth as she hoped, she was pleased with the direction it seemed to be heading. Recently some new leaders were brought into her company, and specifically on her team. That’s the background. (more…)

By |May 23rd, 2013|Business Culture, Communication, Customer Experience, Management|0 Comments
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“This one day…” How stories teach better

outsideinview.com

Storytelling is increasingly used in marketing today in order to demonstrate knowledge, build customer loyalty and provide insight. According to Giles Lury, this marketing trend “echoes the deeply rooted need of all humans to be entertained.” Why? Simple. Stories are illustrative, easily memorable, and allow any firm to create stronger emotional bonds with the customers. (more…)

By |May 22nd, 2013|Business Culture, Buyers, Communication, Customer Experience, Humor, Management, Personas, Product Management, Product Marketing, Sales|2 Comments
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Product Marketing Owns Insight

 

outsideinvew.comOn the advice (and prodding) of my friend Jim Holland, I also recently read The Challenger Sale by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson of the Corporate Executive Board. Like Jim, I then picked it up again, with a highlighter and pen and started again. (Side note – Jim was referred to this book by Steve Johnson.)

Jim wrote a great post about what he learned, as a product leader. In his post, he focuses on the main point of the Challenger Sale, that it is not about sales building relationships, but to challenge them. To rethink, reshape and change how you engage and lead. He further explains three models related to product leaders that are relevant: understanding the buying process, buyer personas and speaking the language of the buyer. (more…)

By |May 16th, 2013|Buyers, Communication, Management, Marketing, Product Marketing, Sales|1 Comment
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Product Camp Session: Putting Agile on Trial

outsidenview.comFor the upcoming Product Camp South Florida (June 8 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL,) I plan to propose a session. I need your help.

The session is (tentatively) titled “Agile vs. Product Management,” and the idea is to have a 45 minute courtroom scene. One side, an esteemed colleague (played by W. Alejandro Polanco) who has agreed, will argue that Agile is a benefit to the field of product management while the other side (played by me) will argue that Agile is killing product management.

First, we need to propose the session and it needs to be voted in. But, as we both prepare for the “trial,” we would love your feelings – from both sides. Please present your argument in the comments below. Who knows, you may be asked to call-in as an “expert” witness.

 

Have fun with this! We plan to!

By |May 15th, 2013|Appreciation, Communication, Development, Humor, Product Camp, Product Management|4 Comments
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Are you Generating Leads or Creating Demand?

outsideinview.comIt’s common for product marketing job descriptions to include a line or two about working with market plans to generate leads for the sales force. But, are the number of leads really the right metric for product marketing? Wouldn’t it be better if product marketing is tasked with generating demand?

No, I’m not splitting hairs. There is a difference.

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By |April 17th, 2013|Business Culture, Buyers, Communication, Marketing, Personas, Product Marketing, Sales, Service, Uncategorized|1 Comment
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