Understanding Omnichannel The Next Generation of Content Strategy Kevin P. Nichols Director & Global Practice Lead, Content Strategy, SapientNitro @kpnichols Rebecca Schneider President, Azzard Consulting @azzardconsult @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent AGENDA ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ ⑩ Introductions & Expectations Key Concepts Considerations Roadmap Roadmap: Workshop Exercise Lunch! Cross-Channel Journeys (Including Workshop Exercise) Break! Metrics & Analytics Governance & Tools @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent 1 Introductions & Expectations @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Hi There! Peter Gabriel Big Time @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent About Your Presenters Kevin Nichols Director, Global Practice Lead, Content Strategy, Sapient/Nitro 18 Years experience in the Web Development Industry Key Clients: MIT Open Courseware, Hewlett Packard, Sprint, Intel Rebecca Schneider President, Azzard Consulting, a content strategy consulting & staffing firm. 19 Years experience in Information Management Industries: Retail, Auto Manufacturing, Financial Services, Telecommunications, Luxury Goods @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent About You What is your experience with omnichannel? What are your expectations for this workshop? @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Ground Rules Everybody has a say Parking lot for tangents Limited electronic interruptions please! @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent 2 Key Concepts @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent If someone likes you, they'll buy what you're selling, whether or not they need it. Gene Simmons @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent KEY CONCEPTS ① Intelligent Content ② Omnichannel & Multichannel ③ Personalization ④ Content Marketing ⑤ User Journeys ⑥ Performance-Driven Content @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Understanding Intelligent Content “Intelligent content is structurally rich and semantically categorized and therefore automatically discoverable, reusable, reconfigurable, and adaptable.” – Ann Rockley Source: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/69264/137386/ @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Using Intelligent Content Enables you to create one instance of content and publish to many different channels with optimized content per channel. Desktop Experience Mobile Experience Packaging @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Using Intelligent Content: Benefits Builds logic into the content experience to support personalization, cross-sell/upsell, recommendations based on previous content viewed and contextually relevant content experiences. Recommendations’ Logic Cross-sell & Promo Logic @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Understanding Omnichannel and Multichannel Omnichannel content assumes the overall user engagement with a particular user journey, and serves up content to each step in the process, optimizing channel experiences. Think Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia! Multichannel considers more than one channel. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Understanding Omnichannel and Multichannel @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Understanding Omnichannel and Multichannel @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Using Omnichannel Makes content contextually relevant and builds the consumer relationship Provides singular view of the customer & integrated product inventory across channels Home In-store Commerce Experience @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Understanding Personalization Personalization is contextual content targeted to a user based on his or her needs and behaviors. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Understanding Personalization Content is served up to a user based on any of the following: Who is the user Where the user is Why the user engages What the user engages with How the user engages with the experience When the user engages with the experience Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AN_OREGON_PERSONALIZED_LICENSE_PLATE_WITH_THE_LETTERS_%22WET%22_HOWEVER,_LACK_OF_RAIN_CREATED_A_SERI OUS_ENERGY_CRISIS_IN..._-_NARA_-_555432.jpg @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Using Personalization Develops a deeper relationship between the user and brand, providing specific value or use to the consumer. Contextual Targeting Ratings, Personalized Selections @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Understanding Content Marketing “Content marketing is the marketing and business process for creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract, acquire, and engage a clearly defined and understood target audience – with the objective of driving profitable customer action.” – Joe Pulizzi Source: http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2012/06/content-marketing-definition/think @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Using Content Marketing Increases consumer loyalty and sells more products through meaningful and timely communication. Related Narrative Crowdsourcing Enriched Content @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Understanding User Journeys “User journeys include the end-to-end processes a user follows to complete a particular task.” – Kevin Nichols & Donald Chesnut Source: UX For Dummies, Page 62 @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent User Journeys: Benefits Maps out the path of a user to ensure his or her needs are met by serving up the most useful and relevant content. Keeps the solution and content user-centered. Helps the business make decisions around end-user needs and motivations. Increases conversion and success metrics (when done well) because user is able to complete tasks seamlessly and easily. Provides insight into cross-channel user behavior; can set a baseline which can be further tested for validation. . @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Understanding Performance-Driven Content Performance-driven content is content an organization measures and evaluates after publishing in order to make decisions on future content priorities. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Using Performance-Driven Content Drives the best, most effective and relevant content to a user. Optimizes the work from analytics, insights and competitive assessment so organizations can respond to a user’s content needs. Helps an organization build a publication model around performance. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent 3 Considerations @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Falling in love was the easy part; planning a wedding - yikes! Niecy Nash @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent CONSIDERATIONS ① Planning for Omnichannel ② Content Strategy & Omnichannel ③ Omnichannel Challenges @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Considerations @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Considerations: Business Goals How does omnichannel further your business goals? Do you understand your customer and know how omnichannel will benefit them (and by extension, your company)? What channels do your customers use? What if omnichannel is not the answer? @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Considerations: Target Audiences Who are your target audiences? Do you have any developed personas and/or user data? What do they need/want? What is the plan to provide your audiences with what they need/want? @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Considerations: Operations Executive Support Budgetary Support (over multiple years) Who needs to buy in? What are the political ramifications? • Marketing Plan (internal use) What else is going on? (IT initiatives, budget cycles, marketing campaigns) What is a realistic high-level timeline for rollout (staggered is best)? @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Considerations: Technology What do you need in terms of technology support? Integration with systems and collaboration with IT will be important. What is the technology infrastructure costs and ongoing maintenance needs? What sounds great in theory, may not work in real life. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Considerations: Content What are your content priorities? Channel priorities? How will the content be created? • • Have you done a content inventory and audit? • Externally (e.g. agencies, content creators) Internally (e.g. publication units, content authors) Findings & Analysis? Is this effort dove-tailing with a website redesign or CMS implementation? @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Considerations: Data Needs Personalization – do you have the data you need? • • Can data be shared across systems? • Customer Profiles (active, passive) External Data (e.g. Axiom) Do you need a data warehouse? How will you measure results (positive or negative) • • Metrics are more difficult to put in place after the fact. Baseline metrics are very important @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Considerations: Legal Issues Customers are sensitive to data use (e.g. creep factor) Any regulatory or compliance rules specific to your industry? Privacy laws differ from country to country @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Considerations: Costs Technology Staff Time • Project vs. “Day Job” Consulting/Agency Costs Ongoing funding needed (not just implementation) @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Content Strategy & Omnichannel Planning Big things to consider: Understand your content gaps and needs (inventories!) Content production costs and timeline System integration Prioritize your channels (bring on additional channels later) @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Challenges: Operational/Business Siloed business units Conflicting incentive structures • If a purchase was started online, but completed in-store – who gets the credit? Organizational acceptance of omnichannel (why bother) @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Challenges: Content Cost to create and maintain content • This is not a simple short-term marketing campaign. Additional staffing (or different) staffing model may be required. UX does not always consider all content types. SEO requirements can twist content. • E.g., Keyword overload, Synonyms in navigation @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Challenges: Technology Single View of Customer (SVOC) may be difficult due to system integration issues. Integrated cross-channel inventory is costly Product metadata is often not consistent across back-end and consumer facing systems. Metrics definitions may not be consistent across systems @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent 4 Roadmap @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent ROADMAP ① Overview ② Team Planning & Goals ③ Current State ④ Stakeholder Interviews ⑤ Omnichannel Personalization Roadmap ⑥ Roadmap Exercise @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Roadmap: Overview Plots prioritized and scheduled approach to achieving the short- and long-term omnichannel recommendations. Identifies bottom-up projects to feed it, and immediate opportunities to improve processes and demonstrate value. Start big, not small Revisit roadmap and course correct as needed @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Roadmap: Team Planning Start with a multidisciplinary team • • • • • Content Producing Group(s) Information Technology (architects) Sponsoring Business Unit Representative(s) (with budget authority) Marketing (MarCom) Subject Matter Experts (as needed) Establish core group members, meeting intervals Each meeting should have clear goals and action items A RACI or similar tool may be useful @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Roadmap: Business Goals What is the long term vision for the company? What are the business goals within context of corporate strategy? What are the objectives in place to meet those goals? How will omnichannel advance business goals? Who are your audience(s)? What channels are important to your business? Answer the above as part of a discovery phase. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Roadmap: Current Content Ecosystem Conduct a content inventory • • Content-producing systems, customer facing systems Metadata-producing systems Evaluate Content • • • Gaps Overlaps Overall Quality (Keep/Kill/Edit) o Currency o Voice & Tone @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Roadmap: Stakeholder Interviews Meet with key stakeholders (cast of 1000+ not necessary) • • • • Business Sponsor(s) MarCom Content Producers Information Technology Ask same/similar questions (interview protocol) Provide findings & analysis report Use report to inform roadmap @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Roadmap: Workshops Use workshops to define high-level roadmap that plots strategy for next 2-3 years High-Level Example: Omnichannel Personalization Roadmap (next slide) We will go through a workshop exercise today. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Omnichannel Personalization Roadmap Launch [Foundation] 1. Identify initial personas and segments to target per channel. 2. Establish the content needed to support each group (what do you want to serve up to each segment and persona and to what degree?) 3. Establish the rules for serving up content (if User X indicated he or she is Y in user profile then serve up this content . . .) per channel per user task. 4. Account for taxonomy and controlled vocabularies to enable the experience. Evolution 1. Test existing content by running ongoing metrics and audits to see how consumers interact with the content experience. 2. Identify additional content areas, such as enhanced cross-sell, up-sell. 3. Test assumed customer journeys across channels to verify accuracy and optimize content performance. 4. Roll out enhanced personalization per channel. [9-12 months post launch] Enrichment [18+ months post launch] 1. 2. 3. 4. Integrate omnichannel for all channels. Continue to create immersive content. Leverage new or emerging technologies and techniques. Optimize per business needs, analytics and consumer trends. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Roadmap: Workshop Exercise Sample Company: All Dressed Up (Salad Dressing Company) • See company information handout Use Roadmap Grid Poster with Roadmap Cards to define your strategy, focusing on channel Careful, there may be a few roadblocks placed in your way! @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent 5 Cross-Channel Journeys @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it. John Steinbeck @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent CROSS-CHANNEL JOURNEYS ① Overview ② Creating a Cross-Channel Journey ③ Journey Exercise @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Why Journeys? Places the consumer and customer at the center of the experience Allows content decisions around user needs Helps to create a publishing model centered around end-user needs and content types, as opposed to internal business silos Keeps the focus cross-channel @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Cross Channel Journey - Example @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Creating Your User Tasks Start with tasks the user would need to complete a particular objective or goal • • Review business goals, objectives, etc. Define key consumer objectives (Purchase a product, download a paper, create a profile) Ask yourself: what is everything a user would need to do based on our objectives @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Determining Which Users Complete Which Tasks Use personas and user states to plot out which users perform which tasks. User states could include: • • • • Anonymous—we know nothing about her Repeat visitor—she comes to our site or properties Existing consumer—she has used our products or services and created a user profile with us Influencer—she writes about us @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Turning Tasks Into Journeys Start with persona, user state and high-level user journey task Persona User State User Journey Soccer Mom Anonymous Buy a Product Soccer Mom Anonymous Buy a Product Soccer Mom Anonymous But a Product @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Turning Tasks Into Journeys Create a set of steps that drive the user to complete it Persona User State User Journey Soccer Mom Anonymous Buy a Product – Step One: searches for product in Google Soccer Mom Anonymous Buy a Product – Step Two: clicks on product in carousel goes to product detail Soccer Mom Anonymous But a Product – Step Three: Add to cart @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Turning Tasks Into Journeys Map Channel to each task (Answer the question: which channel is the user in?) Persona User State User Journey Channel Soccer Mom Anonymous Buy a Product – Step One: searches for product in Google Website (Desktop) Mobile (App) Soccer Mom Anonymous Buy a Product – Step Two: clicks on product in carousel goes to product detail Website (Desktop) Mobile (App) Soccer Mom Anonymous But a Product – Step Three: Add to cart Website (Desktop) Mobile (App) @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Turning Tasks Into Journeys Map content to each channel by content type or function Persona User State User Journey Channel Content Soccer Mom Anonymous Buy a Product – Step One: searches for product in Google Website (Desktop) Mobile (App) Product information in home page carousel Soccer Mom Anonymous Buy a Product – Step Two: clicks on product in carousel goes to product detail Website (Desktop) Mobile (App) Product detail page Soccer Mom Anonymous But a Product – Step Three: Add to cart Website (Desktop) Mobile (App) Shopping cart @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Complete the Mapping Validate exercise with key stakeholders May require user testing to document assumptions Refine as needed @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent 6 Metrics & Analytics @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results. Winston Churchill @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent METRICS & ANALYTICS ① Overview & Definitions ② Metrics for Omnichannel ③ Workshop Exercise @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Metrics & Analytics: Overview Metrics: Tangible measures of inputs and outputs. Analytics: Conclusions drawn from metrics. Don’t forget to create a baseline! @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Understanding Analytics and Metrics “Web analytics is the objective tracking, collection, measurement, reporting and analysis of quantitative internet data to optimize websites and web marketing initiatives.” – Avinash Kaushik Source: Web Analytics: An Hour a Day @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Metrics & Analytics: Hard Metrics Quantitative measurements: numbers, facts. It’s the “what.” Examples: • Web & Mobile o Conversions o # Visits o Time on Site • Media o Click-through Performance on Advertisements/Banners • Search o Internal, Organic, Paid – keyword usage When to use: • There is a need to demonstrate a quantifiable return on investment. • Too much anecdotal information is being used to make decisions. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Metrics & Analytics: Soft Metrics Qualitative: stories, feelings/motivation. It’s the “why.” Examples • Primary Research o Focus Groups • Secondary Research o Marketing Trends • Social Listening – Digital Anthropology o Online Behavioral Analysis • Surveys o Customer Satisfaction When to use • Trying to understand customer behavior (needs, motivations, perceptions). • Further understand the hard metrics data. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Metrics for Omnichannel Channel interactions: is the journey effective? • • Trending content Conversion rates post-content interaction. User satisfaction: is the customer satisfied with the Omni experience? • • • • Sharing on social Downloaded content Survey data Bounce & exit rates @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Using Analytics and Metrics Allows you to constantly evaluate your content so that you can make decisions on what to do with it. Helps identify under performing content – which may require rethinking or user experience changes. Provides opportunity to communicate content success (or content failure) to management. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Metrics by Channel (Favorites) Desktop Bounce, Exit rates Conversion rates (however defined) Click path E-mail Response to e-mail CTA Sign-up for e-mail alerts In-Store In-Store pickup from online order QR code usage Packaging QR code usage Print Advertising QR code usage Coupon usage @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Metrics by Channel (Favorites) Product/Technical Docs Number of downloads Number of requests (via form) Bounce, Exit Rates Smartphone/Tablet App Use of social media Acceptance of location awareness prompts Use of specialized app vs. website Conversion rates What is sold in an app vs. website (mobile or other) Smartphone/Tablet Web Orientation changes Use of social media Acceptance of location awareness prompts Location of use (in-store?) What is sold in non-app vs. website (mobile or other) @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Metrics by Channel (Favorites) SMS Number of messages sent (based on message type) Number of SMS CTA responses TV/Radio Nielsen Ratings Specialty code usage Cross Channel/Platform Use of content between platforms Switching from mobile to desktop to app experience Commodity content – preferred method of ingestion @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Metrics Selection Review business goals/objectives Determine which metrics will best measure an objective’s success Use the SMART approach: • Specific • Measureable • Assignable • Realistic • Time-related @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Workshop Exercise Review your roadmap. What metrics would you use to measure success? @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent 7 Governance & Tools @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else. Yogi Berra @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent GOVERNANCE & TOOLS ① Governance Benefits ② Team Model ③ Tools @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Governance: Benefits Provides a structure for content creation and maintenance. Provides a forum for content-related issues. Group members can collaboratively define success measures (reduce silos). @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Governance: Team Model Executive Sponsor Governance Team Strategy Brand Accessibility Legal Taxonomy Content Publishing Taxonomy Working Groups Strategy Operations Technology Marketing @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Governance Tools: Content Calendar Provides central area for content planning and production. Should align with other calendars (technical implementations, marketing campaigns, product releases, etc.) Include go-live dates, dependencies, responsible party @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Governance Tools: Dashboards Provides information on content creation (or other) progress. Helps to identify potential roadblocks. Help to plan for future initiatives. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Governance Tools: Governance Workflow Can be used in conjunction with a RACI chart. Provides clear steps in approval process. Shows hand off points. @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Governance Tools: Review Model @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent 8 Workshop Review @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Are we there yet? Donkey Shrek’s Best Friend & Sidekick @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Workshop Review – Input Needed! What went well? What could be improved? @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Contact Information Kevin Nichols Rebecca Schneider knichols@sapient.com kevinpnichols.com Twitter: @kpnichols LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpnichols rschneider@azzardconsulting.com azzardconsulting.com Twitter: @azzardconsult Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaschneider omnichannelcontentstrategy.com @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent THANK YOU! Kevin Nichols Rebecca Schneider @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent 9 Appendix @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent Suggested Reading LCP Consulting. The Omni-Channel Dilemma. October 2014. http://www.lcpconsulting.com/2014-omni-channel-study/ Trager, Lisa. Stop the insanity! Planning for a Unified Omnichannel Strategy. May 13, 2014. http://www.slideshare.net/tragester/stop-the-insanity-l-tragerfinal5914 Havas Worldwide. Prosumer Report. Building Brands That Matter: The Sweet Spot Between Trust & Dynamism. 2013. http://www.prosumer-report.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/11/HWW-Prosumer-Report-Brand-Dynamism-Hi-Res.pdf Deloitte Consulting. The Omnichannel Opportunity: Unlocking the Power of the Connected Consumer. February, 2014. http://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/uk/Documents/consumer-business/unlocking-the-power-of-the-connected-consumer.pdf Forrester Consulting (commissioned by Accenture and hybris). Customer Desires vs. Retailer Capabilities: Minding the Omni-Channel Commerce Gap. January 2014. http://www.accenture.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Accenture-Customer-Desires-VS-Retailer-Capabilities.pdf Retail Systems Research (sponsored by hybris). Omni-Channel 2014: Double Trouble. 2014. Request report at: http://hybris.com/en/downloads/analyst-report/rsr-omni-channel-2014/715 Jones, Colleen. Clout: The Art and Science of Influential Web Content. New Riders: Berkeley, CA. 2011 @kpnichols • @azzardconsult • #intelcontent