Guilty as Charged: Overlooked the Obvious

Sometimes I think we overlook the obvious. Okay, maybe I’m just talking about me; but, I doubt it.

I work in product marketing. In this role I am suppose to be the “expert” on the market – those that have not purchased my product (yet), as well as an “expert” on the customer – those who have already realized why my product solves their problem.

I have been doing this for years (no, don’t worry this is not a rehash of my resume,) and I do know that I need to talk to both customers and market representatives. I know that neither of these groups exist within my office; and, I do, in fact, leave the office regularly to talk with them.

But, sometimes I forget that there are other venues. You don’t have to “target” markets, or arrange interviews. If you sell software, stalking with someone who could be a good market rep can be as simple as hanging around a software aisle at Best Buy, Staples or Office Max on an afternoon. Even better? Try asking a store/floor sales rep a question. That is actually kind of fun. If you are in a different industry, find an adjacent product, or connected service, and just strike up a conversation with someone who appears in that place.
Looking in from the outside, sometimes we over complicate our processes too much in the name of trying to “do the right thing.” It really doesn’t have to be as hard as we make it. I’m guilty.