Sure, make tech available to everybody! Let’s get it out there. Everyone should have access to it. But, wait. What? The people you gave access to the tech don’t know how to use it? It’s not easy? Why not?
Because we’re too focused on giving tech access to everyone but not supporting users with easy-to-digest education on how to use the tech. Not everyone is tech-savvy. Not everyone grew up with tech or feels comfortable using it. Ask anyone how many features they use on their mobile devices. I bet that most people only use less than 10% of the features. They would if they could, but they don’t know-how.
Then, there’s the problem of access. Sure, some stores had classes – pre COVID – and taught people how to use the tech. But, those same people had to get onto the Internet to schedule an appointment. Ugh. It’s like your cable went out, and you were told to go online to schedule a date to get it fixed. I’m not kidding. That has happened.
I’m not trying to be funny. I’m dead serious. Education has to precede democratization. Here are some ideas on how to make that happen.
Build With Them in Mind
Talk with your prospects or early customers to bring them into the building process. Incentivize them to take ownership of what you’re doing together. Focus on color, style, theme, usability, flexibility, and content. I’m not a design expert, but those areas are top of mind. Try to find a solution that will not be a one-size-fits-all, but one that can adapt to as many different people and scenarios as possible.
Help People Make Sense of Your World
Not everyone gets something when they read it. Some need to hear it; watch it. Create a podcast. Develop a video. Communicate what you have to offer in many ways so that people can have options of consumption. You may be a better listener than a reader. Younger generations may want to absorb information through digital means like a video or an animated presentation. Take note of the various tastes of your audience and include them in your solution.
Bring Them Into Your Community
Use powerful words and emotive language when welcoming your audience into your community and family of subscribers. Be excited! Be genuine. Express how you feel and share personal examples of how your platform has worked for you. Let them know how successful your team has been using the technology and that you want to share it with others. You’re not selling to them as much as you are bringing them into your life. Their success is going to be yours too!
Go the Extra Mile with Support
Reach out to your contacts regularly to check-in, see how they are doing, offer support. Maybe reiterate what you last talked about. Show you care because you do! Get back to them within a reasonable timeframe with feedback on ideas you explored on your last call. You may even be lucky enough to share an update on the product or use cases that would benefit their business as well. Your current customers are your first line of support to maintain and grow your business. Keep them engaged!
Invest in Their Success
Add them to your email list. They will want to hear from you a lot. Don’t only email them once a month. Find an appropriate cadence that shows you have actionable ideas to share that will go toward making their business successful. You’ve built a solution that they’re using. Guide them on how to use it successfully. Keep tabs on what precisely they’re using in the product and encourage them to level up.
I’m no product expert. Recently I had the pleasure of experiencing how real product leaders worked when I was on-boarded by Greg Ferguson at UPilot. If you want to learn more about how to make your product a success, listen and learn from successful people like Greg’s team, who are educating people on how to use their MVPs right now.