It was a clear day and the temperature was a little above zero, unusual for the middle of January in the nation’s capital. But I hardly noticed the weather as I was lost in a world of my own having finally achieved a childhood dream. As I walked on onto the airport apron, approaching my aircraft, I was a little nervous. I had flown before but, having just been issued my private pilot’s license (PPL), this was the first time—not counting my flight test—I would be what is known as the “pilot-in-command.”
Continue reading “What does it take to learn to fly?”Microsoft’s transition to a customer-centric company
High-technology products can be divided into many different categories. One such segmentation is to divide products into those you want to use vs. those you have to use.
For the first group, many Apple products almost certainly come to mind. Its devices are beautiful and designed to enhance the overall user experience. Together, the hardware and software are recognized as being among the best—if not the very best—around.
When it comes to products you have to use, however, did Microsoft come to mind?
Continue reading “Microsoft’s transition to a customer-centric company”Getting the pricing right is harder than it seems
On the surface, getting your pricing right should be easy. You look at the value your product provides users and understand the amount they are willing to pay through price-sensitivity testing. Then, keeping your competition in mind, you set your pricing so you maximize the overall revenue.
Continue reading “Getting the pricing right is harder than it seems”What is “customer delight”?
Have you ever tried to use a new product and, instead of going through the documentation, simply followed the steps that seemed logical to you? If it worked, did you think “cool, they thought about that” or “the product understands me” or even “I wish every product I used were this easy”?
Customer delight is about putting a smile on a user’s face when he tries your product. It’s about understanding the users and delivering a great experience that enables them to be more creative, productive, or innovative when it comes to their tasks or the goals they are trying to achieve. It is about customers loving your product and wanting to use it rather than using it only because they have no choice. It’s ultimately about having a product that matters to the customer, one that builds an emotional connection with them.
Continue reading “What is “customer delight”?”