Customer Journey Map: How to Prepare One for Your Online Business

In an earlier post, we gave you a brief introduction to customer journey maps.

A customer journey map is a tool used by businesses to visualize the journey a customer takes from initial awareness of a product or service, through to purchase and beyond. The map is designed to help businesses understand what steps a customer goes through, what their needs are at each stage, and how best to meet those needs. By understanding the customer journey, businesses can optimize their marketing and sales efforts to improve customer satisfaction and retention.

The difference between customer journey maps for online businesses vs offline businesses

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the answer will depend on the specific business in question. However, in general, customer journey maps for online businesses may be different than customer journey maps for offline businesses.

This is because the customer journey for an online business will often be different than the customer journey for an offline business. For example, an online customer may start their journey by researching a product on Google, whereas an offline customer may start their journey by walking into a store and seeing a product on the shelf.

As such, the customer journey map for an online business will need to take into account the various touchpoints that a customer may have with the business, including online research, social media, and email marketing. Whereas the customer journey map for an offline business will need to take into account the various touchpoints that a customer may have with the business, including in-store interactions, print advertising, and word-of-mouth.

Steps in creating a customer journey map for an online business

In order to create a customer journey map for a WordPress website, you will need to follow these steps:

First, you will need to identify your customer persona 

• One of the most important steps in creating a successful online business is identifying your target customer. Who are they? What are their needs and desires? What motivates them? 
• Answering these questions will help you create a customer persona, or a fictional representation of your ideal customer. With a customer persona in hand, you can make sure that your website, marketing materials, and product offerings are all tailored to appeal to your target audience. 
• Creating a customer persona is not an exact science, but it is an important exercise to undertake nonetheless. Start by brainstorming some basic information about your ideal customer, such as their age, gender, location, and so on. Then, flesh out your persona with more detailed information, such as their lifestyle, interests, and values. 
• Once you have a good understanding of your customer persona, you can start thinking about how to reach them online. What kind of messaging will resonate with them? What channels should you be using to reach them? 
• By taking the time to identify your customer persona, you can set your online business up for success. 

Map out their journey on your website.  

• This means understanding what steps they will take in order to achieve their goal on your website. 
• When it comes to understanding how a customer navigates a website, it is important to consider both the user experience (UX) and the customer journey. The customer journey is the path that a customer takes in order to achieve a specific goal, such as making a purchase. The UX is the overall experience that a customer has while using a website, taking into account factors such as ease of use, design, and functionality. 
• Mapping the customer journey can be a helpful way to understand how customers navigate a website. This can be done using a variety of methods, such as heat mapping and click tracking. Heat mapping involves tracking where users click on a page and using that data to create a visual map of where users are spending the most time. Click tracking involves tracking which links users click on and in what order, in order to understand the path that they take while navigating a website. 
• Both heat mapping and click tracking can be useful tools for understanding how customers navigate a website. By understanding the customer journey, businesses can make improvements to the UX of their website in order to better meet the needs of their customers. 

Create a visual representation of the customer journey 

• There are a number of different ways to create a customer journey map, but using a template is often the quickest and easiest way to get started. There are a number of different customer journey map templates available online, so make sure to choose one that’s right for your business. 
• Once you’ve selected a template, the next step is to start filling in the details of your customer’s journey. Begin by adding the different steps a customer takes on your website, starting from the home page and ending with the purchase or goal completion. For each step, identify what the customer is trying to do and how they’re feeling. 
• Once you’ve completed your customer journey map, take a step back and review it as a whole. Look for any potential areas of improvement and make note of them. Then, start implementing changes to your website based on your findings. With a little time and effort, you can use your customer journey map to make significant improvements to your online customer experience. 

Review your customer journey map and make sure that it is accurate and up-to-date

• This is an important step in ensuring that your website is providing a positive customer experience.
• Updating your customer journey map regularly is also important to ensure that it accurately reflects your customers’ current experience.
• By doing so, you can identify any areas where improvements can be made to the customer experience.
• Additionally, regular updates can help you to identify any new touchpoints that have been added to the customer journey.

Conclusion

The customer journey map is a powerful tool for online businesses. It allows businesses to see the big picture of the customer experience, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions about where to invest resources. By understanding the customer journey, businesses can create a better experience for their customers and build loyalty and trust.