5 Stages to a Happy Customer Journey

By understanding these stages, businesses may produce content. It is to assist clients as they move through the customer journey, from the first touch to the post-sale phase.

Since the customer journey refers to all of the contacts that customers have with a firm, marketing, and sales leaders; typically use it while developing strategies and roadmaps. Having a website, a CRM platform, and marketing automation software; all at their disposal can help firms understand the routes followed by their customers and optimize each step of the process.

Despite having varying titles, the phases in a company’s customer journey map are all the same. Additionally, customers and prospects could go through several phases at different times. A person who researches a product or service may start in the awareness phase; as opposed to someone who already knows what to buy based on social recommendations; who may start in the consideration or choice phases.

 

An overview of a Happy Customer Journey

A customer journey map is a useful visual tool. It is for outlining the needs, problems, and interactions of your customers with your company. If used properly, a map can be an essential component of effective project management.

The map is set up as a timeline. It shows every interaction a customer has with your business, from first awareness to repeat business. It makes it simpler to understand what a customer experiences at each touchpoint.

For example, a customer journey map might reveal that: a customer had trouble evaluating your products through your mobile website, couldn’t find the information they needed online, respected your in-store customer care, and ultimately decided to make another purchase.

The Value of Customer Journey Maps

A diagram of the client journey is a useful tool. Knowing the context of consumers will be useful to you as a designer. You will get to understand the user’s intention and background. You will gain a better understanding of potential customer concerns and questions by writing copy.

It gives managers an overview of the customer experience. Customers will be able to see their progress via the sales pipeline. With the use of this knowledge, they can come up with solutions to improve the experience. The map will show how a company’s online presence can stand out with better customer service.

The customer experience designer can find gaps and challenging or unpleasant customer experience points; with the help of a customer path map. These might be:

• Gaps occur when a person changes between devices;
• Departmental shortcomings that could upset users
• Gaps between channels (for example, where the experience of going from social media to the website could be better).

When adopting a customer journey map, a business places the user at the forefront of its thinking. It illustrates how customer behavior has changed as a result of the web, social media, and smartphones. This map serves as an example of how the entire organization must adapt. A customer journey map encourages employees of the company to consider the desires, worries, and feelings of the user.

Benefits of Understanding the customer journey

Once you learn how to make a customer journey map for your business; you can benefit from knowing the customer journey in the ways listed below. ‍

You develop a better understanding of your client

You might be able to better understand your target market by creating a customer journey map. Knowing who they are can also help you better comprehend others. More important issues like What are their goals? What kind of pains are they? How will people feel when they reach particular touchpoints in your campaign?

As you modify your marketing strategy, take into account the answers to these questions. Every positive experience your customer has at these touchpoints will eventually promote your brand.

It improves the results and reduces the cost

Every campaign has a goal or set of goals that it is trying to accomplish. Basing your marketing strategy on the customer journey can help you increase the effectiveness of your campaign. Because it will allow you to create relevant consumer experiences for every touchpoint.

For a better understanding of how this can help you get the most out of your money; think about how bidding works in Facebook ad campaigns. More people will have a bigger budget. But relevancy also has a significant impact on how well the advertisement succeeds overall.

You can recognize and address any service faults

No process or item is perfect. Market changes can have an impact on products even if they have historically been successful. This makes having a growth-oriented mindset quite beneficial. One benefit of understanding the consumer journey is being able to correct any current weaknesses in your brand. In this case, customer intelligence becomes crucial. When you consider your brand from the perspective of your target market, you might identify areas that need improvement.

You are aware of prospective areas for investigation

Exist any market voids that neither you nor your competitors are filling? Finding unexplored prospects is fourth on our list of benefits of understanding the client journey. These specifics in a customer’s engagement with your firm can usually set it apart from the competitors. 

Short brief about its benefits

A customer journey map helps you gain a deeper understanding of your customers. It enables you to spot potential problems early on and take appropriate action. So that, to improve customer retention and business decisions.

By using the map to determine which touchpoints your customers prefer, you may emphasize them. Additionally, you can identify where problems arise frequently and where you might improve. Your company can utilize the map to develop standard operating processes and train employees. It will also aid in consumer comprehension, and enhance products and services for a better user experience.

Components of the customer journey

Customer Persona

You cannot understand your customer’s experience unless you know who they are. Create a customer persona to represent a segment of your audience if you haven’t previously.

Phases

The general stage of a customer’s decision- and the purchase-making process is called a phase. There are numerous methods to group the purchasing process; nevertheless, the following provides a broad overview:

• Awareness

The customer learns about a need, problem, or opportunity.

• Research

They research their options and prospective solutions before deciding whether or not to purchase.

• Consideration

To satisfy their need, they choose to make a purchase, which limits their options.

• Purchase

They choose a solution and buy it.

• Support

The customer decides whether to make another purchase after using the product or service and interaction.

Touchpoints

Touchpoint means the interaction of a customer with your brand while making any purchase. There may be several touchpoints for each phase.

Your approach to marketing, sales, products, and customer service will have an impact on the touchpoints of the customer journey. They could include the following:

• Flyers, billboards, posters, stickers, and commercials are examples of promotional materials.
• Property, like your store or office space
• Digital properties such as your website and social media profiles
• Encounters with cashiers, customer service staff, and salespeople
• Experience in purchasing something, including the price and method of payment
• Any follow-up communication from your company, like a call or email
• Continued support for customers
• Ending or continuing your service

Customer emotions, ideas, and actions

This part plots the exact consumer experience at each touchpoint. What are they internally considering? What activities do they engage in? How are they feeling?

Don’t assume anything about this information! Get frank feedback from your clients through surveys and—even better—live interactions with your customer care staff.

Opportunities

You can add room for possibilities based on what you see on the customer journey map once you create it. Where are your clients running into problems that keep them from buying (or coming back)? Everywhere you look, there are chances to improve your clients’ shopping experiences and ease their pain points.

Customer Journey Map Research: Best Practices

An essential first step in creating a customer journey map is getting to know people. Many businesses already have some useful information. You can run across opposition from others who think it would be ineffective to repeat this practice. This makes gathering data from existing studies a great place to start. This information is frequently archived or stored in a drawer.

By combining the available research, you may evaluate what the organization is aware of and how relevant that knowledge is. This will satisfy the objectors while maybe saving you some time on your study.

The two types of research are Analytical and Anecdotal.

Analytical Research

There are various locations you can look for user information. The most obvious choice is website analytics because they provide a variety of data on users’ backgrounds and objectives. Additionally, it will help you identify the points where they gave up along the route.

But be cautious. Analytics are easy to misinterpret. For example, don’t assume the satisfaction of the user by his clicks or longer stays. They can be attempting to convey their confusion or lostness.

Anecdotes Research

Although it can support a compelling argument, data by itself does not tell a story. Anecdotes from user experience are required for that. You can get these through conversing with users in interviews or on social media. On social media, you’ll discover that people frequently discuss their volunteer experiences. When they will gather such references, they will be useful for your final map.

Speaking with front-line workers in support and sales, who frequently interact with consumers; is another effective method for understanding their needs.

The amount of information in the research will be constrained by your time and financial resources. It may be difficult to create detailed customer journeys for each user group in your company. Therefore, focus your research on the primary audiences. It is possible to make accurate forecasts about consumer journeys for secondary audiences. Hold workshops with internal stakeholders and front-line staff to create solutions to achieve this. This “quick and dirty” approach won’t be as accurate, but it’s still better than doing nothing.

 

Ensure to specify what is and is not backed by research. Making a lot of decisions based on assumptions is dangerous. Once management realizes the benefits of research, they will be more willing to devote more time to it.

It’s time to understand the five steps of a delighted client journey now that your study is complete. The customer journey map:

5 stages to a happy customer journey

 

Discover the five main stages of the customer journey and what information consumers need to be aware of at each one.

Awareness

Most prospective customers start at the awareness stage; when a user has a problem or a need and looks for a solution. Customers are primarily searching for informational articles about products that could ease their problems right now.

Customers prefer instructional thought leadership over promotional or product-oriented insights. Therefore, organizations should avoid overly pushing products on them. Instead, marketing teams could show how their products can satisfy customer wants by highlighting benefits.

Consideration phase

During the consideration stage, customers compare a company’s offers against those of its competitors. By using blog content, success stories, email nurturing programs, webinar registrations, and event registrations; organizations may increase audience engagement.

In their interactions with consumers, CX teams can highlight the benefits; that their products and services offer, making customers more aware of the benefits. During this time, prospects may actively engage with the businesses they are currently considering. If marketing teams can successfully address important challenges that prospects face; they may help customers advance into the next stage of the customer journey. At this point, marketing teams must change their tone from one that is general and informative to a more precise one.

Purchasing or Deciding stage

The first two phases throw a heavy load on marketing teams as they continually gather and develop leads. When someone has reached the decision- or purchase phase; they are ready to interact with sales or service engineers as a marketing-qualified lead. Sometimes people begin the customer journey in this phase if they originally request demos, quotes, or a conversation with a salesperson. These individuals may fill out contact forms for businesses or other conversion points farther down the sales funnel. It includes a paid advertisement that targets the bottom of the funnel.

People often have a narrow list of potential vendors at this point. So, a company that has a great sales process and engaging case studies have an advantage over its rivals. Competitors can speak with an existing customer who is being offered as a reference. It allows for conversations outside of the sales process. Positive relationships and trust also aid in differentiating brands during the sales process.

Retaining stage

The final two steps of the customer journey occur after a transaction. Sales representatives routinely complete the sale, and onboard the customer. And then avoid contacting them until there is a chance for a cross-sell or renewal. On the other hand, prosperous organizations keep communicating with and marketing to their clients; raising the likelihood that repeat business will lead to a higher customer lifecycle value.

During the retention phase, businesses could create a loyalty program or a knowledge base FAQ. They can regularly inform customers of changes to the business or the products. Businesses may also schedule periodic product training sessions or run discounts through the client lifecycle. Regular communication can lead to greater customer involvement, customer value, and education.

Customer happiness is more cost-effective than acquiring new customers. If a company can lower turnover, promote positive CX. Offer those things, customers are more inclined to come and spread the word about its high-quality products and services.

Advocacy stage

Strong consumer advocacy comes after great CX. Positive interactions with a company’s products or services can turn customers into fervent brand advocates. During the onboarding process, businesses should be aware of the expectations of new clients. If customers can recognize an organization’s goals and assess its achievement, they are more likely to support it. Happy consumers increase the several prospective customers; who hear about those experiences and could consider using that business for their own needs.

Customer support can lead to word-of-mouth marketing. It can attract new clients to a brand. Peer-to-peer success stories and case studies are frequently the starting points for people’s purchasing decisions. Businesses may be able to connect; the impact of a single recommendation to a series of revenue gains if the referrals are correctly monitored. Other approaches to measuring customer advocacy include asking clients to take part in case studies. Also, send them a Net Promoter Score survey to learn what they think of the company. These customer surveys and dialogues provide customers with a voice and information about what works and what doesn’t. It can help an organization understand more about its operations and possible areas for change.

Six Simple Steps for Drawing a Customer Journey Map

 

Creation of customer journey map:

• Select the objects to be measured. To design your customer journey and know what to look for, clearly define your objectives.
• Choose the best client for you. Finding out the buyer you are concentrating on and their general demands and preferences should be your first step.
• Identify your consumers’ purchase steps. What actions does your customer take before deciding to purchase your product or service after realizing their problem? After purchasing, what generally happens?
• Map out the touchpoints. Where does your client interact with your business during each stage?
• Customers’ thoughts, actions, and emotions should be included. At each touchpoint, how is the client encouraged to act, feel, and think?
• Consider your odds. Based on your objectives and what your customer journey map reveals; what improvements can you make at each touchpoint or within each stage to improve the customer experience?

When creating a customer journey map, there is no right or wrong approach. A straightforward spreadsheet with columns for phases, touchpoints, thoughts, acts, and feelings might be used to make it. Some trip maps have a more interesting design, with touchpoints and emotions shown and surrounded by several stages.

How to Check Your Customer Journey

A map that your company internally creates based on the phases and touchpoints; it recognizes is predicated on assumptions that aren’t always accurate. To validate your customer journey map, involve the customer in the process.

Instead of making assumptions about how your target audience will respond to your touchpoints; use surveys and customer interactions to learn what they do, think, and feel.

What if, however, some customer journey touchpoints were missed? Or do they erroneously think they encounter them during one phase and do so during another? By chatting with your consumers, you may identify any unfounded assumptions. Also, you can ensure that your map accurately depicts the user experience.

Important findings

If marketing teams are aware of where each customer is in the customer journey; they may decide the appropriate content, language, or tone for customer engagement in each phase and possibly develop new assets. Teams in sales and marketing who are aware of how customers react at different phases can ensure positive CX. Businesses can identify gaps in current strategies, identify what works, and alter particular stages or upcoming campaigns; when they fully understand the customer journey from the consumer’s point of view.

Together with the customer journey, the business, the product, or the service evolves. Understanding the customer journey can help firms react to changing consumer needs and make the required modifications. A team may make better judgments and create Customer experience initiatives in the future; by consulting consumers and potential customers to get their feedback.