Crafting a Customer Journey Map- A Guide to The Steps
Strengthening client relationships is no walk in the park. This requires a deep comprehension of their needs and addressing any hiccups promptly. The customer journey map tool simplifies such issues. For elaboration on how to create the desired map, check out our unmissable article below!
What is CJM?
A customer journey map (CJM) translates a customer's interaction with a brand or product. This infographic is a table that visualizes all the points of contact encountered by consumers since their first interaction.
A map of this nature showcases a client's actions, as well as their thoughts, emotions, and issues encountered with utmost confidence:
Observe the customer journey map sample as an illustration. The horizontal axis charts the customer's interaction path with the company, while the vertical axis outlines their touch-points, feelings, concerns, and objectives at every stage.
Also Read: Selling price of a product
Crafting a customer journey map is essential to boost the overall customer experience. This tool offers several benefits, including the ability to:
Visually map the user's journey
By visualizing a customer's journey, companies can better understand their customers and figure out where they drop off.
Identify areas for improvement
Companies can use CJMs to identify areas for improvement in design, user experience, and functionality. By visualizing the customer journey, companies can detect points of pain or confusion that could be improved. How to create user personascan also be identified using the customer journey map. By understanding user behaviors and motivations, companies can create a more personalized customer experience that caters to their needs.
Increase the customer lifetime value
By understanding the customer journey, companies can identify opportunities to better engage with customers and increase their lifetime value. Companies can use CJMs to create more effective campaigns and offer tailored to each journey stage.
Through CJMs, companies can identify areas for improvement and make changes that will positively impact the customer journey. By creating a practical map, brands can improve overall customer experience, increase lifetime value, and gain more loyal customers. Ultimately, CJMs are a powerful tool for understanding customers and creating an experience tailored to their needs.
What Does the Customer Journey Map Look Like?
The customer journey map typically forms a table with graphic elements, wherein columns denote the path stages, and rows show relevant information for each step.
A customer journey map in infographics is also available: confident and distinctive.
The form you choose doesn't matter. What counts is that company employees can understand the map, which must provide the necessary information to generate ideas that enhance customer experience.
What Differentiates a Confident Customer Journey Map?
Discover in-depth what blocks the CJM encompasses and each of the vital functions it performs:
Also Read: Phases of Product Development Process
Stages of Interaction
The map's foundation lies in a sequence of client interaction stages, from initial contact to parting ways. The number and formulation of these stages vary across specific businesses but typically encompass the following client path:
- Being aware of a requirement
- Examining for information or solutions
- Acquiring and installing
- Receiving/Obtaining after-sales service and support
- Buying again or using further
- Suspending use or transferring the preference to someone else.
Points of Contact
In a customer's journey, each stage encompasses touchpoints for interaction with the company. Categorizing each point into online and offline, there are several interactions to choose from.
Each of these points impacts customer satisfaction to some extent, so it's essential to emphasize them.
Actions
Effecting change is facilitated by outlining clients' steps to reach their goals.
EXAMPLE: Stage: Order a taxi through the application.
Solution: Proceed to book a ride with effortless ease by launching the taxi app on your smartphone.- Register an account with a simple one-time process.- Select your pickup and drop-off locations while opting for the suitable car class.- Confidently tap the “Order” button without hesitation, and relax as you’re efficiently transported to your destination.
Translating actions into words is only sometimes necessary. You can display them using visuals like Uber did, for instance, diagrams or screenshots of the app. These visuals can illustrate the points of interaction with ease.
Criticality of the Stage
To ensure suitable prioritization, evaluating critical touchpoints about overall customer satisfaction is helpful. No need to overcomplicate; a mere differentiation among three levels of importance – low, medium, and high – should alleviate any confusion.
Goals and Expectations
Determining the client's objectives at each journey stage is crucial. Meeting client expectations is helpful, but exceeding them is even better, creating a 'wow' moment that leaves clients impressed and delighted.
EXAMPLE: Stage: Order a taxi through the app.
Goal: Efficiently securing a quality ride with a competent driver.
Expectations: The user's route will be free of any hindrances, with plenty of nearby cars, ensuring I'll arrive at my destination promptly.
Thoughts and Expectations
This segment of the map facilitates the company's ability to empathize with its customers and enhance their understanding. To craft compelling messages, employing the vocabulary of the clients is crucial.
At the CJM support center, individuals often inquire during the assistance process: “Can I speak to the same representative again? Is my identity kept confidential? Is our conversation recorded? What impression did I make?”
Barriers and Recommendations
List all the hurdles that customers come across in achieving their goals. Even the small things that prevent buyers from proceeding can be jotted down.
Creating a customer journey map minimizes barriers and fosters a seamless process. In addition to pinpointing obstacles, it’s crucial to provide recommendations for their elimination.
EXAMPLE Stage: Website registration
Barrier: The client disconnected due to the email address confirmation going to spam.
Recommendations: Recommend the client to add the address to their contacts, resend the letter after a brief period, or let them execute simple tasks without registering.
Our customer journey map consists of primary blocks of information. To gain a better understanding of your client, we suggest supplementing the map with additional relevant details:
- Each step must be measured (to gauge effectiveness).
- Time (to analyze the user's time investment).
- Hold each point of contact accountable.
Summary
Remember that customer journey mapping is not the end game, but it provides vital insights into enhancing the customer experience. Hence, it is paramount to prioritize ideas for eliminating obstacles and selecting simpler ones to implement with the maximum impact.
After selecting the winning ideas, we shall prepare a detailed action plan, including task assignments to specific team members, to streamline the user's journey and ensure the utmost convenience.
Ensure to update the map from time to time. For instance, after eradicating significant barriers to the customer journey or introducing new communication channels, customer needs and behavior change. Only a current map can operate fully and provide reliable customer assistance.
