In today’s digital landscape, creating a seamless user experience is paramount for B2B brands aiming to build trust and long-lasting relationships with their audience.
Doug Hughmanick, the head of creative at ANML, a branding powerhouse, shares his expertise on how to achieve this.
Here are key takeaways from our conversation with Doug, offering valuable insights for B2B marketers.
The Foundation of a Strong User Experience
According to Doug, the core user experience is crucial for brand perception. “If your marketing is excellent, but the core user experience doesn’t meet expectations, it will reflect poorly on your brand. We focus on creating a solid foundation for the user experience and then extend that outward to other branding elements.”
This highlights the importance of ensuring that every touchpoint, from marketing to product interaction, meets user expectations.
At the heart of Doug’s philosophy is the concept of removing friction for the audience.
“It’s all about removing friction, reducing the work for the audience, and making it as easy as possible for them to take the next step in their journey. All of these aspects matter and relate to branding and how the brand is perceived,” Doug explains.
In a world where user attention is fragmented, simplifying the user journey is crucial. Whether it’s navigating a website or interacting with a product, each touchpoint should be intuitive and straightforward.
Doug draws on Jeff Bezos’s famous quote: “Your brand is what other people say about you when you’re not in the room.”
He stresses that in today’s digital world, branding is more important than ever. “If you’re not crafting a user experience that meets expectations, your marketing efforts can fall flat. Reviews and feedback will reflect poorly on your brand if the product experience doesn’t match the marketing.”
Internal Ownership and Cohesion
This is why Doug advocates for branding from the inside out. By starting with the core user experience, companies can build a strong foundation. “We define the vision for the product, understand who it’s for, their problems, and their journey,” Doug notes.
This user-centric approach ensures that the brand promise is delivered consistently, building trust and long-term relationships with users.
Inconsistent messaging is a common pitfall for many brands.
Doug emphasizes, “Inconsistent messaging creates confusion and friction for the user. It’s important to ensure the social media voice matches the website and product experience.” When users encounter different voices and styles across various platforms, it can erode trust and create a disjointed experience.
Doug emphasizes the need for a designated role to oversee the user experience internally.
“There isn’t a specific title for this role, but someone needs to own it, whether it’s the CMO, a Chief Experience Officer, or a Creative Director. This person should ensure cohesion across different departments and that the brand vision is communicated consistently.”
This role is essential in maintaining a unified vision across various teams and ensuring that all efforts align with the brand’s core message.
Doug further explains, “It’s about thinking of the user journey as one cohesive experience. From the social media advertisement to the landing page to interacting with the product, each step should feel natural and consistent.” This unified approach helps maintain a coherent brand message and enhances user satisfaction.
Reducing Friction and Personalization
To streamline the user experience, Doug suggests focusing on reducing friction and making interactions as intuitive as possible.
“Reduce friction for the user and make the experience as intuitive as possible. Personalization can help, making the experience more relevant to the individual. Keep content scannable and straight to the point.”
By simplifying navigation and tailoring experiences to individual needs, brands can create more engaging and effective user journeys.
Brands often stumble by lacking consistency and creating confusion with too many entry points.
Doug points out, “One common mistake is lacking consistency across different groups. Confusing terminology and too many entry points can overwhelm users. It’s crucial to have a clear and cohesive path for users to follow.”
Simplifying navigation and maintaining a consistent message across all touchpoints is essential for a positive user experience.
Strategic Ownership and Broader Perspectives
Doug highlights the importance of having strategic decision-makers with a broad range of skills.
“Having people with a range of skill sets who can think about the entire project helps. It’s about having someone owns the journey and ensure there is no breakdown as it moves from one group to another.”
Additionally, looking beyond direct competitors for inspiration can provide valuable insights. “While looking at competitors is crucial, it’s also important to look at other industries for inspiration. There can be valuable takeaways from different fields that can be applied to your own.”
Translating a seamless digital experience to offline interactions is also vital.
“The key is to maintain consistency. For example, the messaging and visuals used online should extend to physical spaces like event booths. When someone visits your website after an event, the experience should feel cohesive and aligned with what they saw and heard in person.” This consistency builds trust and reinforces the brand’s message across all channels.
Interconnected Branding
Finally, Doug stresses the importance of viewing branding, marketing, and product as interconnected elements. “Think of branding, marketing, and product as interconnected. Ensure a seamless, intuitive flow across all user touchpoints. It’s about creating a cohesive journey that meets user expectations at every step.”
By integrating these elements, brands can create a unified and compelling user experience that drives engagement and loyalty.
Building a seamless B2B user experience requires a holistic approach, strategic ownership, and consistent execution across all touchpoints.
Doug Hughmanick’s insights provide a roadmap for brands aiming to create a cohesive and effective user experience.
By focusing on branding from the inside out, reducing friction, and ensuring consistency across all touchpoints, brands can build trust and foster long-term relationships with their audience.
As Doug aptly puts it, “Think of marketing, product, and brand as interconnected. Ensure a seamless flow between them to create a cohesive user journey.”
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