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JOURNEY TO THE VALLEY: DAY 3 – STUDENT FOR A DAY IN GEORGE WASHIINGTON UNIVERSITY

Of learning to spend for your customer and not yourself.

After a full 2 days back-to-back mega hectic schedule in Select USA, we had a more easy-going schedule for the day as most of the time will be kept for travelling to San Francisco later of the day.

Our main stop was George Washington University where initially I thought we would just be introduced to their innovation programme. Boy was I wrong!

The main programme coordinator, Mr. Bob Smith, (www.linkedin.com/in/thebobsmith/) beyond just introducing us to their entrepreneurship and innovation programme, went deep into certain core fundamentals on startup growth.

Bob focused a lot on the explanation for this slide for great regional growth

What intrigued me greatly was the part on “Spend the money on your customers, not your headcount” which Is something I would typically see among startups. On paper that sounds pretty straightforward, but in hindsight, are we actually focusing initiatives on that beyond just keep hiring for your own company?

 

Focusing your effort on your customers

In other words, the advice suggests that companies should allocate their resources, time, and money in a way that benefits their customers first and foremost. This could involve investing in research and development to create better products and services, improving customer service and support, or developing marketing campaigns that appeal to target customers.

By focusing on customer satisfaction and investing in ways to improve the customer experience, companies can build strong, long-lasting relationships with their customers, leading to increased loyalty, repeat business, and ultimately, greater success for the company.

In contrast, if a company prioritizes internal expenditures over customer satisfaction, it may risk losing customers to competitors who prioritize the customer experience.

Ideally, all companies should prioritize customer satisfaction as a fundamental strategy for growth. However, in reality, there are many companies that do not make this a top priority.

Some companies may focus more on short-term gains, such as cutting costs and increasing profits, rather than investing in their customers and the long-term health of the business. They may overlook the importance of customer satisfaction or prioritize internal company expenditures over customer needs.

Other companies may have a culture that does not prioritize customer satisfaction or fail to understand the value of investing in the customer experience. This can lead to a lack of innovation, poor customer service, and a failure to stay competitive in the market.

Ultimately, the companies that prioritize customer satisfaction and invest in the customer experience are more likely to build a loyal customer base and achieve long-term success.

Here are five main points summarizing how a tech company can prioritize customer satisfaction and invest in the customer experience:

  1. Conduct user research: Conduct user research to understand customers’ needs, behaviors, and pain points.
  2. Provide excellent customer support: Offer 24/7 support, provide multiple channels for customer support, and train support staff to be knowledgeable and empathetic.
  3. Improve product usability: Improve the usability of products through usability testing, product design, and clear instructions.
  4. Personalize the customer experience: Personalize the customer experience through personalized recommendations, messages, and promotions.
  5. Develop a customer-centric culture: Develop a customer-centric culture by setting customer satisfaction metrics, incentivizing customer satisfaction, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

All of this done right, I believe, would definitely increase you viral coefficient for your business.

Visiting George Washington University at Washington DC

Dr. Kev having a discussing with Mr. Bob Smith

We had a delightful sneak peak into their programme with medical students! Totally awesome to see entrepreneurship being trained into these professionals that could someday potentially create a revolutionary medical product perhaps?

Founder pose! Infront of the George Washington Head-Bust.

All in all, my 3 days trip in Washington DC left me with great golden nuggets, making things looking really exciting for days to come in Silicon Valley.

With a 6-hour flight in tow, I shall then start Day 4 in San Francisco!

Read all about it here when its up!