Do we really know?
When shopping for outside services to help connect us to our customers, we see lots of language about ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and overall efficiency. There may be a case study and some hard data to go along with it… maybe a whitepaper?
It’s important to find a way to provide an accurate view from the customer’s perspective. Clients want to know what the experience will really be like, before making a commitment.
There’s no such thing as “risk-free” when we put something new in front of customers.
Stripe provides an ecommerce portal for anywhere on your site without navigating the customer offsite for processing. And they’ve done a great job demonstrating how the system works and looks from both ends.
So, now you’re thinking: “Great- they’ve mastered the art of taking screenshots and uploading demos. Bravo. What’s so great about that?”
Stripe has gone a step further. A customer-focused leader might wish to try the service from the end-user’s perspective, regardless of how robust the screenshot and demo are. (Have you ever bought a product only to realize the demo made things look unrealistically easy and gorgeous? Unfortunately, I could name several.)
Donate just $1 to a worthy cause. In this case, it’s Watsi, a web-based service that helps fund much-needed medical care to patients who can’t afford it. Stripe lets you use their service to process the payment! You get to see the real deal for yourself, as a customer would.
I’m glad to say my own dollar was well-spent on two fronts. 🙂
You not only have to appeal to your customers, but to your customer’s customer.
Stripe knows their customers want to provide a simple and elegant experience for the end-user, and to walk in their own customers’ shoes. This clever suggestion provides a chance to do that before bringing an actual customer into the process, all while doing a bit of good for the world.
What are some clever ways you’ve seen B2B companies give clients a chance to see the experience from the end-user’s perspective?