What are the best ways to stay up-to-date on industry trends and customer needs as a CSM in sales?

To stay on top of industry trends and better understand customer needs in my role as a Customer Success Manager, I make it a habit to regularly read industry blogs, participate in webinars, and attend relevant conferences. Networking with peers and engaging in customer feedback sessions provides valuable insights. This mix of formal and informal channels keeps me well-informed and attuned to the dynamic landscape of both our industry and our customers.

In my experience there are a few ways a CSM can stay on top of industry trends and customer needs: -Attend Industry Conferences -Network with Peers -Keep an eye on competitors (via social, website, blogs etc) -Follow thought leaders on social media (LinkedIn is a great way) -Ask for customer feedback, what they feel of the service/product they receive from you and any suggestions to improve service/product -Collaborate with other departments -Read books and take other offered courses

Managing success starts with defining success. To stay on top of trends and the needs of customers, we need to be in regular communication with customers. Continually update what success means to the customer and what problems are popping up and preventing them from achieving that success so we can develop strategies to overcome them. Newsletters, podcasts, and industry events are all great but the reality is they are the result of what I shared above. If we want to be the ones out in front and on top of shifts in the market then we have to be in the market and getting our intel from the source. Start with questioning customers until you have a clear definition of success and then listen intently to the reasons why they're not there.

It's about inspiration and education.... for YOU. In a CS world where everything's largely mapped in processes, it remains important to uplevel you, the professional behind them all. Thus, you need to keep yourself on your toes. Read blogs, podcasts, attend events, follow some leaders on Linkedin. The idea is not to agree with it all and put it in practice, but reading other's accounts of situations you might be in will inspire you to think differently. Think more broadly. This is the #1 skill for any professional. Use linkedin, and set an alert for the topics you're interested in. Join some groups. It's really easy to get started.

Social media can be overwhelming. There’s a lot of info to sift through. Like your diet, you have a choice what information to consume. Make healthy choices that feed your mind what you need to know to stay on top of key industry trends. Once a month, go through the list of people and companies you follow and revise as needed. Keep following those who feed you useful, healthy information and unfollow those who waste your time. Keep your feed in focus.

Engaging in online communities is a fantastic way to stay in the know. These groups let you chat with other CSMs, sales whizzes, experts, and even customers! It's a hub to swap ideas, tips, and get advice from people who've been there. Join platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Slack, or seek specialized forums. Also, don't miss out on webinars or Q&A sessions – they're treasure troves of expert insights and networking opportunities. Dive in and learn from the best!

Just attended my first Boston NetSuite User group meeting and had such a blast. There is something to be said about meeting people in person rather than through zoom or over the phone. These groups allow you to form relationship at events that can only grow your career, experience, and business

Every (major) city in every part of the world has 1-2 groups that are organizing informal meetups for CSMs on the regular, next to the larger industry conferences that focus on them as well. There's a massive benefit to turning up to these, as it allows you to connect to like-minded peers and exchange valuable best practices to propel your personal career forward. Especially in CS, it's a hard job! We deal with clients & escalations every day, which requires us to be nimble. Have a support network, that perhaps has dealt with certain situations before and can give us guidance. That, next to the friendships made, is probably the most important reason to get out there and connect.

As a CEO, I advocate joining online communities for continuous learning. Interacting with fellow CSMs, sales professionals, and industry experts in these forums fosters a collaborative environment. Exchanging insights, tips, and feedback with peers is invaluable. Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Slack offer diverse communities, while niche forums cater to specific industries. Participation in online events, such as webinars and workshops, enriches knowledge and expands networks. In the ever-evolving business landscape, staying connected and engaged in these virtual spaces ensures our leadership team remains well-informed and adaptable, a key ingredient for sustained success.

Definitely , Another way to stay updated on industry trends and customers needs it's better to join online communities like LinkedIn, Facebook, Slack, or Quora, or look for niche forums and groups that cater to your specific industry or customer segment. These communities does provide critical information and ideas ?? how the industry is shaping and how the customer needs and goals are changing and how to address it. Participate is the key to learn , join the community and connections as per the industry and needs routinely checks ?? and follow ups on the update and contribute in terms of asking insights or putting your thoughts around

Among the things that I have found extremely helpful is to research customers customer segment. The success of your customer depends on their ability to positively impact their customers. What the customer success team needs is a process to 1. Understand what services do the customers provide their customers 2. Understand the competitors of your customers that offer those services 3. Market positioning that your customers have and seek It is with this base understanding you can now apply industry / technology trends to help your customers. Recommend to take a consultative approach to helping your customers and it will automatically turn into an upsell and cross sell opportunities - more importantly it will build trust with the customers

I think the more I can make customer visits/meetings, the faster I can get information. Because I care about understanding who my customers are, what they do, and what they want, I constantly research them and try to read and understand their websites completely. This strengthens my communication with my customers and gives me up-to-date information about my customer's fields. On the other hand, active customers are generally those who live the trend of the day. For this reason, I can stay up to date by researching customers who are active and whose trade volume is growing.

I’d say to set up a regular meeting cadence with your product team so you can hear what’s important to them and your future product offerings. This gives you an opportunity to ask any question and hear well reasoned responses for you to adapt to your liking. If you do take in customer feedback, I recommend connecting with other SMEs and some end users. It’s good to have both views. Hopefully your product team casts a wide-net and knows how to find/capture the new items hitting their radar.

CRM it's helping all sales to improve the relationship with the clients, following up with the clients and keep in touch with them after the sale, on their birthday and retention of the clients to turn them loyal to your place.

Keeping tabs on customer needs is vital, and regular customer research is key. By diving into their goals, challenges, and feedback, you understand them better. Surveys, interviews, reviews, and tools like Google Analytics help gather this info. With CRM software or customer success platforms, you track behavior and preferences. This data guides you to enhance services, spot upsell chances, and boost customer loyalty. It's like having a roadmap drawn by your customers themselves – invaluable for success!

Participation in events with colleagues drives innovation and understanding of current trends. In-person conversation naturally drives new ideas and ways to look at current issues your colleagues are working to tackle. Humans naturally share more in a direct human to human environment.

Participating in industry events is a fantastic way to keep your finger on the pulse of what's happening. Conferences, seminars, and trade shows bring together big names and fresh ideas. You learn from leaders, grab hold of new tech, and hear success stories. Networking is golden too – connecting with other CSMs, sales gurus, and potential customers broadens your perspective. Plan ahead for events that match your industry, making the most of these opportunities to grow your knowledge and connections.

Asistir a eventos para construir relacionamiento es muy clave , este relacionamiento puede potenciarse mediante LinkedIn siempre y cuando tengas el interes real de aportar valor basado en tus experiencias

This is an important one for me personally. You learn many things at these events. You can see who is supportive of who, who are the customers you see regularly at these events, and you can network and target new or existing customers to build a better relationship.

As a woman in sales, I firmly believe that understanding the dynamics of business goes beyond the confines of an office. Networking, direct client interaction, and engagement with industry events are pivotal sources of invaluable information. Actively participating in events not only keeps you ahead of industry trends but also fosters relationships that contribute significantly to professional growth. Take advantage of every opportunity!

Enrolling in online courses is a fantastic way to level up in the world of customer success. These courses aren't just about getting a certificate – they're about learning new skills and strategies that make you a top-notch CSM in sales. Platforms like Coursera or Udemy offer a wealth of courses tailored to your industry or the skills you want to polish. Communication, problem-solving, and more - these courses unlock doors to better service and career growth. Dive in and watch your expertise soar!

Cursos online, para mim é uma das maiores oportunidades deste século. Basta ter disciplina e aproveitar o oceano de possibilidades de cursos para o auto-desenvolvimento. Um dos meus últimos cursos online abordou os seguintes temas: atendimento ao cliente, tecnologia e conhecimento funcional.

Agree, Taking online courses provides stay up to date on industry trends and customers through real life learning ,theory and case studies Skills like communications , decision making and project management and team lead are crucial skills to succeed and can be acquired by these courses which enhance performance at work place , job promotions and overall boosting the morale of the person . courses like M.B.A , MCA or many professional courses which can be completed by sitting anywhere in the world and holds much credibility when it comes to quality. Overall, in my view learning through online courses to acquire new skills and gain knowledge is surely a great way to go and become successful

Continuing education helps to keep individuals in the best possible position to take advantage of new technology and trends in their respective industries. Online courses offer a refresher of source material and deepens one’s understanding of their area of expertise. This reinforces professional development and improves performance.

I disagree with this in general. Training and learning is always important, but you need the most current information to stay ahead of the competition. In many cases by the time this information is collated, dressed up, and programmed into a course it very well may be outdated.

It’s important to network within your industry. If in IT services for example you need to be friends with the top OEMs like Microsoft, SAP, AWS and so on. Their sales teams can keep your knowledge base upto date. Analysts like Gartner, Forrester etc are treasure troves of industry knowledge. They need to be your friends. Trade Magazines and their editorial teams are good sources too. Joining industry associations like Nasscom, TiE or CII etc can help you stay in touch. Academia is a good source given their research focus. Participate with start ups in your industry. They usually work at the cutting edge of technology.

Staying up-to-date on industry trends and customer needs is crucial for a Customer Success Manager (CSM) in sales. In my experience, it’s important to Attend Industry Conferences and Events. For instance, participate in industry conferences, webinars, and trade shows. These events are great for learning about new trends, technologies, and strategies.

This question feels like a trick! My clients are INUNDATED with new hyped-up information! A favorite client of mine once said, ‘Look Lisa, I have 30 years of experience in my field. No offense, but you can’t beat me. What I need from you is to simplify the noise from relevant news. This is what I care about (listed 3 topics) - everything else is off of my ruthless priorities.’ I passed along only hot topics when my client asked for more information - it is my job to help my clients stay focused on their priorities which drive the greatest impact in business!

1. Analyse after business, feedback from customers to figure out their preferences and pain points. 2. Analyse lost orders to know about the gaps in your proposals or shortcomings of your solutions. 3. Before submitting proposal, have a F2F meeting with users of your products and solutions at customer end to clearly understand what they look for

Always good to get back on the floor to have a real-world feel of trends, expectations and direction. Conduct your own litmus test in-house or visits to your direct competitors and top brands/performers. You'll be amazed what you'll discover through simple observations...