“You have post-partum depression, ” my doctor said. “And I’m giving you a prescription for Prozac.”
My heart dropped. It was the mid-90’s and Prozac had a bad rap. It was supposed to be addictive. That’s the last thing I needed with 2 toddlers and a newborn.
I protested, but eventually agreed to take the drug for 3 months. After all, I knew I didn’t feel like myself and I wanted my self back.
During the visit, the doctor told me a lot of people living in Michigan had depression. She thought it was because we seldom saw the sun (due to the lake effect). I think she was right. The medication made me feel like myself again. I was very grateful. (And my dose didn’t increase, so no addiction.)
Fast forward several years. I had moved to hot-and-bright southern Utah. I titrated off the medication and stayed my sunny self. Until it rained for 3 days straight. Then I felt sad, blue, and out of sorts – again.
Google was the new MD in town, so I got online and diagnosed myself with SAD (seasonal affective disorder aka depression when you don’t get enough sunlight). I got a light therapy box and eventually purchased light therapy glasses.
One summer my husband began taking magnesium and I tried it as well. I felt a bit more energy, so I kept taking it. In November, I realized I hadn’t put on my happy glasses – even though it had been drizzling and cloudy for a week. I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t SAD anymore.
This puzzled me. What was different from this fall to past years? The only difference I could see was that I was taking magnesium. So I googled it. And voila – magnesium significantly improves depression, including SAD.
I remember thinking, “Wow! You mean I could have taken magnesium instead of Prozac?”
That started my journey of using supplements and alternative health therapies. What I find fascinating, however, is this: Not one of the companies selling magnesium listed “helping depression” as a benefit!
They said it gave people energy. It assisted digestion. It improved ED! (everything says it fixes ED )
This was several years ago, so maybe they didn’t know there are studies showing magnesium helps depression.
Or maybe they didn’t feel comfortable because of FDA/FTC regs.
Or maybe they figured everyone already knew.
Whatever the reason, none of the companies selling magnesium saw this supplement through my eyes.
A UX Strategy looks at Your Marketing through the Eyes of your Customers.
Seeing through your customers’ eyes is more than getting good reviews –
– it gives you empathy and understanding.
- Optimize Engagement – as you anticipate your users’ needs and guide them in accomplishing their goals.
- Improve Customer Satisfaction – by empathizing with your audience helping them solve their problems.
- Build Customer Loyalty – through genuine caring and encouraging buyers to “self-select” that your product is right for them.
- Increase Customer Retention – with transparent business practices that show you care more about their needs than your own.
You still have to figure out where, how, and what to market – but starting from the perspective of your user gives you these answers. You understand “why” your customers buy. You no longer taking a stab in the dark wondering what will work.
A UX Strategy has Four Components
These are the four parts of a UX Strategy:
- Your Company Mission
- Your Audience
- Their Journey
- Your Positioning
Each section is critical to getting an effective UX Strategy. A strategy that will give you a foundation to grow your company for years to come.
In the next few months, I will have posts on each of the four areas above.
Every part of a UX Strategy is unique and comes about in a different way.
As they meld together, you get a fuller understanding of your customers.
