Personalizing Customer Journeys

In the last 3 months, I've audited 50+ LinkedIn profiles for founders across industries. The results? Eye-opening. Most founders fall into predictable traps with their LinkedIn presence: 👉 They have professional achievements but amateur presentation 👉 They invest in business operations but neglect personal branding 👉 They know their value but struggle to communicate it effectively After transforming these profiles, here's what actually moved the needle: 1. Strategic Profile Photos We replaced casual selfies and cropped group photos with professional headshots that conveyed approachable authority. This single change increased profile visit-to-connection ratios by 35%. 2. Headline Transformation Generic titles like "Founder at XYZ Company" became strategic positioning statements that instantly communicated what they bring to the table. For example: "Helping eCommerce brands increase AOV by 40% | Founder of ConversionBoost | Ex-Shopify" 3. Banner Optimization This prime real estate is wasted by 90% of founders. We converted these into powerful CTAs with: 🍀 Clear offers 🍀 Specific results 🍀 Ways to connect The founders who implemented this saw a 27% increase in direct messages. 4. Authentic About Sections We completely rewrote these sections to balance personal journey with industry expertise—showing both the "why" behind their mission and the "how" of their solution. The key was weaving authentic storytelling with clear evidence of capability. 5. Custom Content Strategy For each founder, we created 60+ industry-specific content ideas tailored to their unique: 👉 Expertise 👉 Target audience 👉 Business objectives Unlike generic "thought leadership," these strategies focused on connecting with potential clients through problem-solving content. The results were transformative: One SaaS founder received 3 partnership offers within weeks A sustainability consultant was shortlisted for an industry award they didn't apply for A B2B service provider hired their dream CTO after attracting attention My biggest takeaway? Most founders try to implement unfocused LinkedIn "hacks" without a coherent strategy. They generate views but not sales. The founders who succeeded focused on strategic positioning first, engagement second. Your LinkedIn profile isn't just digital wallpaper—it's often the first impression potential clients, investors, and talent have of you and your business.

Are you generating enough value for users net of the value to your company? Business value can only be created when you create so much value for users, that you can “tax” that value and take some for yourself as a business. If you don’t create any value for your users, then you can’t create value for your business. Ed Biden explains how to solve this in this week's guest post: Whilst there are many ways to understand what your users will value, two techniques in particular are incredibly valuable, especially if you’re working on a tight timeframe: 1. Jobs To Be Done 2. Customer Journey Mapping 𝟭. 𝗝𝗼𝗯𝘀 𝗧𝗼 𝗕𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲 (𝗝𝗧𝗕𝗗) “People don’t simply buy products or services, they ‘hire’ them to make progress in specific circumstances.”  – Clayton Christensen The core JTBD concept is that rather than buying a product for its features, customers “hire” a product to get a job done for them … and will ”fire” it for a better solution just as quickly. In practice, JTBD provides a series of lenses for understanding what your customers want, what progress looks like, and what they’ll pay for. This is a powerful way of understanding your users, because their needs are stable and it forces you to think from a user-centric point of view. This allows you to think about more radical solutions, and really focus on where you’re creating value. To use Jobs To Be Done to understand your customers, think through five key steps: 1. Use case – what is the outcome that people want? 2. Alternatives – what solutions are people using now? 3. Progress – where are people blocked? What does a better solution look like? 4. Value Proposition – why would they use your product over the alternatives? 5. Price – what would a customer pay for progress against this problem? 𝟮. 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 Customer journey mapping is an effective way to visualize your customer’s experience as they try to reach one of their goals. In basic terms, a customer journey map breaks the user journey down into steps, and then for each step describes what touchpoints the customer has with your product, and how this makes them feel. The touch points are any interaction that the customer has with your company as they go through this flow: • Website and app screens • Notifications and emails • Customer service calls • Account management / sales touch points • Physically interacting with goods (e.g. Amazon), services (e.g. Airbnb) or hardware (e.g. Lime) Users’ feelings can be visualized by noting down: • What they like or feel good about at this step • What they dislike, find frustrating or confusing at this step • How they feel overall By mapping the customer’s subjective experience to the nuts and bolts of what’s going on, and then laying this out in a visual way, you can easily see where you can have the most impact, and align stakeholders on the critical problems to solve.

Throughout my decade-long journey in the tech industry, if there's one lesson that’s stuck with me, it’s this: your connection with your customers is everything. At Supersourcing, we’ve woven this belief into the fabric of our business. And trust me, it’s made all the difference. Here’s how we keep our customer focus sharp and true: - Listen First, Act Fast: Early on, I learned that listening isn’t just about hearing words; it’s about understanding your customers' underlying needs and emotions. We prioritize active listening—through regular feedback loops and candid conversations—so that when we act, it’s both swift and deeply aligned with what our clients actually want. - Tailored Solutions, Not One-Size-Fits-All: One of the most transformative shifts we made was moving from a transactional mindset to a partnership approach. It helps us understand our clients’ bigger picture—what are their goals? What keeps them up at night? We tailor our solutions to align with these insights, making our support feel less like a service and more like a collaboration. - Transparent Communication Builds Trust: I can’t stress enough how much transparency has contributed to our success. It’s about being upfront, even when the news isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Our clients appreciate honesty, and this straightforward approach has helped us build strong, lasting relationships based on trust and mutual respect. - Proactivity Is Key: Waiting for a problem to arise means you’re already too late. We’ve built a culture of proactivity—whether it’s checking in on developers regularly or anticipating potential roadblocks, we aim to address challenges before they turn into problems. These strategies have been pivotal in driving not just customer satisfaction but loyalty and advocacy. It’s about being more than a vendor; it’s about being a partner who genuinely cares about the success of those we serve. How do you keep your client relationships strong and authentic? I’m eager to hear your thoughts!

I believe it's inevitable that niche, deeply researched content is the future of content marketing in b2b. So much so, that we're betting the house on this thesis at storyarb. What you're about to read is our exact content marketing strategy that we'll be using to drive trust & revenue for our business in 2025. Feel free to copy (or better yet, hire us to do it)... Step 1: Who is our Market of 1? - Head of Marketing at a growth-stage B2B business (>$10m rev) Step 2: What are the specific goals of our content strategy? - Add value: every piece of content should be bookmark worthy...so high value that our ICP feels compelled to save it & reference it later to improve at their job - Build trust: +20% MoM direct site traffic - Drive qualified pipeline: +20% increase in demo requests from ICP Step 3: What channels are we focusing on? - Rented: Long-form blog content + Exec social content - Owned: Weekly editorial email newsletter Step 4: What are our content pillars? - Content Marketing - Demand Gen - B2B Step 5: What does the content strategy look like in practice? 1) Interview/research-based case studies (not customer case studies) Series name: Fine Tuned Description: A deeply researched, highly detailed breakdown of the most successful content demand engines in B2B. The channels, the content formats/focus, the funnel, the metrics, the team/responsibilities. Additional: Weekly release of a Fine Tuned essay (on storyarb site) that is email-gated to read the whole thing (and amplified via our newsletter & exec social) 2) Weekly/bi-weekly email newsletter Newsletter name: The Lead Description: Option 1 - Curation & commentary on the best content marketing campaigns that companies were actively doing in the wild this week Option 2 - A long-form case study on a content marketing campaign that a B2B company is actively doing with our analysis After the playbook have a section that has links to content marketing news, tools/strategies, and ofc our Fine Tuned essay from the previous week. 90% value add, 10% value extract 3) Exec social from 3 storyarb employees Abby Murray: Persona: The Content Marketing Agency Owner 1-liner: Stories from running storyarb that has lessons/stats/wins/updates interwoven. Alex Lieberman: Persona: The Content & Marketing Obsessed Entrepreneur 1-liner: Spotting trends, brainstorming ideas, and identifying genius in the world of content & marketing Magda Cychowski:  Persona: The B2B Content Marketer 1-liner: Breaking down specific strategies that content marketers & b2b demand gen teams can take to level up their org. Additional: - 90% of the content should be value add, 10% should be value extract. - Each person should be boosting each Fine Tuned (case study) and Lead (newsletter) through the lens of their specific persona to drive their distribution to our email capture & owned audience.

Don't Just Satisfy Your Customers—Delight Them! In the service industry, especially as a corporate trainer, I’ve learned that success doesn’t come from just meeting expectations—it comes from consistently exceeding them. When we delight our customers, we create relationships that go beyond transactions. We build trust, loyalty, and a sense of belonging that makes our clients return time and time again. ✨As Maya Angelou famously said, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."✨ From conducting countless training sessions, I’ve realized that clients remember the extra effort you put in to customize solutions for their needs or the small gestures that show you truly care. ✨They’re not just looking for a service—they’re looking for an experience.✨ How can we delight our customers and retain them for life? Here are some simple yet effective ways I’ve applied in my journey, which you can too: 👉Understand their true needs: Go beyond the surface and dive deep into what they really want, even if they haven’t articulated it. 👉Customize your approach: Whether it’s a product, service, or training program, tailor it to suit their unique challenges. 👉Be available and approachable: Customers value responsiveness. When they know you’re there for them, it builds immense trust. 👉Offer more than expected: Surprise them with bonus resources, faster delivery, or an added value they didn’t anticipate. 👉Ask, listen, act: Seek feedback and show them you’re serious about improving based on their input. 👉Build relationships, not just transactions: Focus on long-term connection, not just short-term gains. Think of your customer as a guest in your home. You wouldn’t just serve them tea—you’d make it special by offering their favorite snacks, engaging in meaningful conversation, and making them feel valued. That’s the essence of delighting a customer! ✨ Delight isn’t a one-time act—it’s a culture. Let’s make every interaction memorable, meaningful, and impactful. What’s one thing you do differently to delight your customers and make them feel special? Share your ideas below—I’d love to learn from you! #CustomerDelight #CorporateTrainer #ServiceIndustry #CustomerExperience #CustomerRetention

Most companies don't need more content. They need better, more strategic, value-driven content. 🚀 👉 Copying your competitors? It only adds to the noise — it doesn’t differentiate you, and it definitely doesn’t drive pipeline. Here’s what to do instead if you're serious about scaling content the smart way: → Audit your existing content — identify what's driving outcomes (not just traffic). → Align your strategy with your Sales, Product, Success, and Support teams — integrate real customer feedback into your content plan. → Map your content to the full buyer journey — awareness → consideration → decision → expansion. → Focus on intent over volume — not every high-volume keyword matters to your funnel. → Identify opportunity gaps where you can genuinely add value, not just "rank." → Build content clusters around your core solutions to strengthen topical authority. → Refresh and optimize existing content regularly to keep it aligned with evolving customer needs. → Treat SEO as a distribution channel, not a content strategy. → Prioritize formats that match intent — blogs, webinars, guides, comparison pages, customer stories. → Measure what matters: influenced pipeline, sales velocity impact, time-to-value reduction — not vanity metrics. Content marketing isn’t about churning out more. It’s about building a real growth engine — one piece of strategic content at a time. Need help turning your content into a revenue-generating machine? Drop me a DM and let's get talking! 👋 #contentmarketing #b2bsaas #b2bmarketing #saasmarketing #seostrategy #b2bcontent

🛍️🎯 Personalization in B2C Marketing: Enhancing Customer Experiences In the realm of B2C marketing, personalization is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance customer experiences and drive brand loyalty. Let's delve into the importance of personalization and explore strategies for tailoring messages, recommendations, and promotions to individual consumer preferences: **1. Understanding Individual Preferences: Personalization starts with understanding your customers on an individual level. Collect data on their purchase history, preferences, and interactions with your brand across various touchpoints. **2. Segmentation for Targeted Communication: Use segmentation to categorize your audience based on shared characteristics. This allows you to create targeted marketing campaigns that resonate with specific groups, delivering more relevant content. **3. Tailored Messaging and Content: Craft personalized messages that speak directly to the interests and needs of your customers. Whether it's email marketing, social media posts, or product recommendations, tailor the content to match individual preferences. **4. Dynamic Website Content: Implement dynamic content on your website that adapts based on user behavior and preferences. This can include personalized product recommendations, content suggestions, or even a personalized homepage experience. **5. Personalized Email Campaigns: Leverage personalization in email campaigns by addressing recipients by name and recommending products or content based on their past interactions. Use dynamic content blocks to tailor the email content for different segments. **6. Recommendation Engines: Implement recommendation engines on your website and other digital platforms. These engines analyze user behavior to suggest products or content that align with individual preferences, fostering a personalized shopping or browsing experience. **7. Behavioral Retargeting: Utilize behavioral retargeting to reconnect with users who have visited your website but didn't make a purchase. Display personalized ads showcasing the products they viewed, encouraging them to return and complete the transaction. By embracing personalization in B2C marketing, businesses can foster stronger connections with their audience, increase customer satisfaction, and ultimately drive higher conversion rates. 🛒💻 #B2CMarketing #Personalization #CustomerExperience

You don’t build loyalty through rewards—you reward customers for already being loyal. Big difference. Loyalty programs are primarily designed for customers who have already demonstrated consistent engagement and loyalty to your brand. The goal isn’t to create loyalty through rewards, but to recognize and strengthen it. By offering rewards, perks, and recognition, you can maximize their lifetime value, whether by increasing purchase frequency, boosting basket size, or encouraging referrals. Tactics like tiered rewards, exclusive access, and personalized incentives help reinforce their commitment and make them feel valued. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀:  For customers with the potential to become loyal, the strategy shifts. These customers have shown higher engagement but haven't fully crossed into the loyal customer category. To convert them, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is key. Tailor rewards based on their behaviors and preferences to create a sense of exclusivity and recognition. It’s also crucial to stay top of mind through strategic touchpoints—whether via targeted email campaigns, loyalty app notifications, or personalized offers that speak directly to their interests. Offering a path to higher-tier rewards as they engage more frequently can further motivate them to commit to your brand long-term. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀:  Casual customers require a different approach. They won’t become loyal overnight, and the objective here is gradual nurturing. For this segment, it's all about increasing touchpoints and staying relevant. Broader offers, such as discounts, time-sensitive promotions, or entry-level rewards, help keep them engaged without overwhelming them. The goal is to activate them periodically, ensuring they interact with your brand from time to time. By keeping consistent offers flowing, you maintain visibility, and over time, some of these casual customers may transition into the potential loyal customer segment. ----- Ultimately, loyalty is about retention, not conversion. The focus is on maintaining a strong relationship with those who already support your brand and steadily nurturing others to deepen their commitment over time.

How many times have you logged on to Linkedin and found yet another email that starts with: "Hey [First Name]," followed by a generic pitch that does not concern your interests or needs. Sound familiar? We've all been there. And it's frustrating. As a fractional CMO/Consultant, I've seen this happen repeatedly. Businesses think they're doing personalization right but need to do better. It's not enough to use someone's name or company. 👉🏾 True personalization is about understanding their challenges, goals, and needs. For example, on LinkedIn, scroll through their feed and see what they post, talk about, like, and comment on. This helps as a starting ground on how to approach them and what to discuss. So, instead of sending a LinkedIn message that says: "I'd love to connect and learn more about your business," try something like: "I noticed you're working on [specific project]. I have some ideas on how you could [achieve a specific goal]. Would you be open to a quick chat?" See the difference? It's not just about being personal; it's about being relevant. And when you're relevant, you're not annoying — you're helpful. 👉🏾 So, think about this the next time you craft a personalized outreach campaign. →"Would I find this message valuable? →Does it address my specific needs and interests?" If the answer is no, it's time to return to the drawing board. 👉🏾 Also, tools like Crystal Knows help you fine-tune your message and tone when reaching out to maximize the impact of every conversation. Let's aim for genuinely helpful messages, not just another annoyance in their inbox. What do you think about personalized outreach? #b2bmarketing #demandgeneration #leadgeneration #ABM

Your customer journey map is missing the 8 touchpoints that matter most. You've optimised your ads, polished your landing pages, and A/B tested your emails to death. But whilst you've been obsessing over the obvious touchpoints, your customers have been forming opinions about your brand in places you've completely overlooked. These hidden moments of truth determine whether customers stick around or silently disappear. The good news? Your competitors are probably ignoring them too. 1. Pre-awareness Influences • What it is: Social conversations & word-of-mouth before formal brand discovery • Why it's missed: Difficult to track & attribute • Optimisation tip: Create shareable content specifically designed for peer-to-peer sharing • Impact potential: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2. Post-Purchase Onboarding • What it is: The critical first 24-48 hours after purchase when buyers seek validation • Why it's missed: Teams focus on acquisition, not retention • Optimisation tip: Create "success accelerator" emails with usage instructions • Impact potential: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3. Product Documentation • What it is: Help guides, FAQs, & support materials • Why it's missed: Often delegated to technical teams without marketing input • Optimisation tip: Inject brand personality into help documentation • Impact potential: ⭐⭐⭐ 4. Customer Support Interactions • What it is: The conversations with service teams that shape perception • Why it's missed: Viewed as cost center, not marketing opportunity • Optimisation tip: Create scripts that highlight complementary products/features • Impact potential: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5. Digital "Dead Ends" • What it is: 404 pages, out-of-stock notifications, & other negative pathways • Why it's missed: Seen as technical errors, not opportunities • Optimisation tip: Transform dead ends into discovery points with recommendations • Impact potential: ⭐⭐⭐ 6. Transaction Confirmations • What it is: Receipts, shipping notifications, & order confirmations • Why it's missed: Treated as operational communications only • Optimisation tip: Include personalised next-best action recommendations • Impact potential: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 7. Post-Usage Check-ins • What it is: The period after customer has used your product for intended purpose • Why it's missed: Customer journey maps often end at purchase or initial use • Optimisation tip: Create timely follow-ups based on typical usage patterns • Impact potential: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8. Community Participation • What it is: Customer-to-customer interactions in forums & social spaces • Why it's missed: Difficult to scale & often understaffed • Optimisation tip: Identify & empower customer advocates within communities • Impact potential: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Your marketing doesn't end where your analytics dashboard stops tracking. The brands that will win tomorrow are already investing in these invisible touchpoints today. Which one will you optimise first? ♻️ Found this helpful? Repost to share with your network.  ⚡ Want more content like this? Hit follow Maya Moufarek.