How Product Managers Can Learn To Understand Their Customers: Techniques For Product Managers To Better Understand What Their Customers Really Want
By Jim Anderson
()
About this ebook
If you want to be successful as a product manager than you are going to have to be able to create products that solve problems for your customers. In order to do this, you are going to first have to understand your customers – what are their wants and needs?
What You'll Find Inside:
* HOW TO MOVE FROM CUSTOMERS TO PARTNERS
* WHAT PRODUCT MANAGERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CUSTOMER LOYALTY
* WHY PRODUCT MANAGERS NEED TO LEARN TO LOVE THEIR CRAZY CUSTOMERS
* PRODUCT MANAGERS DON’T LIKE SURPRISES: KNOW YOUR PRODUCT’S CUSTOMERS!
In order to be able to answer questions like this, you may find out that you are going to have to fire some of your customers – they are just too expensive for you to try to keep happy. Ultimately you want to change the relationship that you have with your customers and move towards being seen as more of a partner than a vendor.
In some cases, one of your customers may start to use your product too much. In these cases you'll need to be able to find a way to tell them to stop using it. You'll be able to do this if you've found a way to have a real relationship with your customer. However, along with this comes the risk of perhaps finding out too much about a given customer.
Once you have a customer, you may not have them forever. Customer loyalty is a fickle thing that product managers need to understand. One way to increase loyalty is to customize your product and engage in some niche marketing.
All customers are not created the same and so product managers need to take the time to understand their differences. This means learning to love the crazy ones or realizing that you may be selling primarily to grandparents. Take the time to study product managers who know how to do this right and in the end, make sure that you don't end up surprising your customers – nobody likes that!
Jim Anderson
J Jim Anderson is Visiting Research Fellow in the Department of Educational Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London. His work focuses on: theories and methods of second language learning and bilingualism, including Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL); multilingualism and new literacies; and language policy. Underlying this is a commitment to an integrated and inclusive approach to language and literacy education incorporating the areas of foreign and community/heritage language learning as well as English as an Additional Language and English mother tongue. Jim is co-director with Dr Vicky Macleroy of the Critical Connections: Multilingual Digital Storytelling Project launched in 2012.
Read more from Jim Anderson
CIO Communication Skills Secrets: Tips And Techniques For CIOs To Use In Order To Become Better Communicators Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnmasked: Exposing the Cultural Sexual Assault Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Reverse Mortgage Dangers Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Power Distribution Unit (PDU) Secrets: What Everyone Who Works In A Data Center Needs To Know! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5IT Manager Budgeting Skills: How IT Managers Can Request, Manage, Use, And Track Their Funding Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow Software Defined Networking (SDN) Is Going To Change Your World Forever: The Revolution In Network Design And How It Affects You Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelivering Excellence: How To Give Presentations That Make A Difference Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow To Give A Great Presentation: Presentation Techniques That Will Transform A Speech Into A Memorable Event Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCustomer Lessons For Product Managers: Techniques For Product Managers To Better Understand What Their Customers Really Want Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecrets To Planning The Perfect Speech For Motivational Speakers: How To Plan To Give The Best Speech Of Your Life! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIT Manager Career Secrets: Tips And Techniques That IT Managers Can Use In Order To Have A Successful Career Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProduct Manager Product Success: How To Keep Your Product On Track And Make It Become A Success Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBuilding The Perfect Team: What Staffing Skills Do IT Managers Need? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProduct Development Lessons For Product Managers: How Product Managers Can Create Successful Products Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCIO Business Skills: How CIOs Can Work Effectively With The Rest Of The Company! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat CIOs Need To Know In Order To Successfully Manage An IT Department Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow To Become A Better Speaker By Changing How You Speak Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Secrets To Planning The Perfect Speech For Lawyers: How To Plan To Give The Best Speech Of Your Life! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProduct Failure Lessons For Product Managers: Examples Of Products That Have Failed For Product Managers To Learn From Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecrets To Planning The Perfect Speech For Marketing Managers: How To Plan To Give The Best Speech Of Your Life! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLadies, Women, and Wenches: Choice and Constraint in Antebellum Charleston and Boston Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMarketing Skills For Product Managers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPrinciple-Based Leadership: Driving Your Success as a Leader Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to How Product Managers Can Learn To Understand Their Customers
Related ebooks
Sales Secrets For Product Managers: Tips & Techniques For Product Managers To Better Understand How To Sell Their Product Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStaffing Skills IT Managers Must Have: Tips And Techniques That IT Managers Can Use In Order To Correctly Staff Their Teams Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsData Capabilities A Complete Guide - 2019 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCustomer Centricity A Complete Guide - 2019 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow To Build High Performance IT Teams: Tips And Techniques That IT Managers Can Use In Order To Develop Productive Teams Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaster data management A Complete Guide - 2019 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCustomer Centric A Complete Guide - 2019 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMDM of Product Data Solutions Second Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOpen Financial Data Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hire Like A Pro Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMonthly Subscription Business Model A Complete Guide - 2020 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEDI A Clear and Concise Reference Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProduct Analysis A Complete Guide - 2020 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSelf-Service Data & Analytics Third Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSingle customer view Second Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaking Technology Investments Profitable: ROI Road Map from Business Case to Value Realization Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Voice of the customer A Complete Guide - 2019 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Manager's Guide to Presentations: Ace your presentations and make your mark as a rising star in your organization Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsContent Strategy A Complete Guide - 2021 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBusiness Transformation Office A Complete Guide - 2019 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMultichannel Customer Analytics The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMDM and Metadata Standard Requirements Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMeasuring Customer Experience The Ultimate Step-By-Step Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCohort Analysis A Complete Guide - 2020 Edition Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Product Portfolio and Program Management PPM Complete Self-Assessment Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingscontingent workforce Standard Requirements Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe 7 Fundamentals of Loyalty: A Guide to Building Strong Customer Relationships Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKnow your customer Third Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBusiness Process Intelligence A Complete Guide - 2020 Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Marketing For You
Affiliate Marketing For Dummies Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Freedom Shortcut: How Anyone Can Generate True Passive Income Online, Escape the 9-5, and Live Anywhere Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Copywriter's Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Copy That Sells (4th Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Win In Court Every Time Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mastering ChatGPT: 21 Prompts Templates for Effortless Writing Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Emotional Intelligence: Exploring the Most Powerful Intelligence Ever Discovered Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Psychology of Selling: Increase Your Sales Faster and Easier Than You Ever Thought Possible Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Passive Income Cheat Sheet Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Propaganda Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Six Figure Blogging Blueprint Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Passive Income Playbook Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Millionaire Next Door Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Exactly What to Say: The Magic Words for Influence and Impact Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Best Credit Repair Manual Ever Written Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5INSPIRED: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Obviously Awesome: How to Nail Product Positioning so Customers Get It, Buy It, Love It Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Robert Cialdini's Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion Summary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone's Mind Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Quiet Leadership: Six Steps to Transforming Performance at Work Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The YouTube Formula: How Anyone Can Unlock the Algorithm to Drive Views, Build an Audience, and Grow Revenue Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step StoryBrand Guide for Any Business Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for How Product Managers Can Learn To Understand Their Customers
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
How Product Managers Can Learn To Understand Their Customers - Jim Anderson
Do You Really Understand Your Customer?
If you want to be successful as a product manager than you are going to have to be able to create products that solve problems for your customers. In order to do this, you are going to first have to understand your customers – what are their wants and needs?
In order to be able to answer questions like this, you may find out that you are going to have to fire some of your customers – they are just too expensive for you to try to keep happy. Ultimately you want to change the relationship that you have with your customers and move towards being seen as more of a partner than a vendor.
In some cases, one of your customers may start to use your product too much. In these cases you'll need to be able to find a way to tell them to stop using it. You'll be able to do this if you've found a way to have a real relationship with your customer. However, along with this comes the risk of perhaps finding out too much about a given customer.
Once you have a customer, you may not have them forever. Customer loyalty is a fickle thing that product managers need to understand. One way to increase loyalty is to customize your product and engage in some niche marketing.
All customers are not created the same and so product managers need to take the time to understand their differences. This means learning to love the crazy ones or realizing that you may be selling primarily to grandparents. Take the time to study product managers who know how to do this right and in the end, make sure that you don't end up surprising your customers – nobody likes that!
For more information on what it takes to be a great product manager, check out my blog, The Accidental Product Manager, at:
www.TheAccidentalPM.com
Good luck!
Dr. Jim Anderson
About The Author
I must confess that I never set out to be a product manager. When I went to school, I studied Computer Science and thought that I'd get a nice job programming and that would be that. Well, at least part of that plan worked out!
My first job was working for Boeing on their F/A-18 fighter jet program. I spent my days programming fighter jet software in assembly language and I loved it. The U.S. government decided to save some money and went looking for other countries to sell this plane to. This put me into an unfamiliar role: I started to meet with foreign military officials in order to explain what my product did.
Time moved on and so did I. I found myself working for Siemens, the big German telecommunications company. They were making phone switches and selling them to the seven U.S. phone companies. The problem was that the switches were too complicated. Customers couldn't tell the difference between one complicated phone switch from another complicated phone switch.
The Siemens sales folks were in a bind. They didn't know enough about how the switches worked to tell their customers why they should buy them. Siemens reached out into their engineering unit looking for anyone who could help the sales teams out. I put my hand up and overnight I became a product