Analyze opportunity
Every business is different. With that, we know someone else’s success with an email target or some other undefined marketing tactic is not necessarily the foolproof recipe for you. What are your strengths? Where are there disconnects? A good Listening strategy will build a pretty solid roadmap and put things in perspective.
Lean is Key
The old Six Sigma methodology helps us understand process and process improvement. Although it has traditionally been used for operational improvement, the idea behind the lean methodology demonstrates potential for driving broad-based innovation, in today’s progressive industry.
We’re entrepreneurs, parents, web developers, business-owners, problem-solvers…
You see, everything we do has a process, and our outcome or performance of delivery, are all variables without solid processes. That’s it. How can you do things better?
Define opportunity and eliminate waste
Here’s a for instance – company A began seeing lower customer satisfaction ratings on a great line of products and began seeing complaints of missing pieces and that the product took too long for delivery. After careful analysis of the production process, it was decided that shipping costs, margin of error, and time could all be reduced if all production were done on-site instead. Ultimately identifying waste, led to quicker turn around, less error due to shipping, and happier customers.
This same strategy can be devised into more the progressive industry we talk about. Listening (the bulk of communication analysis) is for customer service, product management, and greater profit (whatever you happen to define as profit). Are your consumers looking for more takeaways or a higher level of satisfaction? Most importantly, what’s getting in your way of success and flawless deliverability? Get rid of it.
Refine the process and Implement solutions
Part of off all this chaos is a test for our ability to evolve and change. What worked and what didn’t? Did you take a risk and what were the implications? Even though we’re all different, sometimes it’s reassuring to see that someone else is doing what you want to do, especially if you or your company is a bit risk averse – look to case studies and develop your own.
Regardless of the company size, gravitating towards a leaner process of methodology can (and should) be used to eliminate waste for overall improvement! So… delve in, snoop for disconnects and draw conclusions.
What are your thoughts?
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05/07/2010
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