Content Snare’s Post

We asked 4 Laudable customers what their favorite feature was... And got 4 different responses 👀 1. G2 review campaigns (s/o Tim Van Lew!) 2. Case study generation (s/o Luis González) 3. Customer approval links (s/o Kelly O’Halloran) 4. Searchable quotes tagged by topic + feature (s/o Melanie Paddock) 💥 𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭: we're getting better quotes from our 10 minute mini-interviews with customers than from the 60 minute "case study interviews" we used to do. I have my theory on *why*, but curious what you all think...?

Ace your next interview with final prep tips, from staying calm to mastering follow-ups. Finish strong and leave a lasting impression. https://hubs.li/Q02YVFC40

SCARY STORY TIME 👻 You’re home alone, prepping for a customer interview. Sifting through hours of call recordings. You get that feeling…the hair standing up on your neck… 😳 “I 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 there’s a nugget of gold in here somewhere.” But wait, what’s that creeping in the corner of your Slack? *𝗚𝗔𝗦𝗣* It’s Laudable 😈   Ask it to do the prep for you - and watch it 𝙙𝙞𝙜 𝙪𝙥 customer insights across _all_ call recordings. Suddenly, your customer stories are alive 🧟♀️ ️And your case study prep? No longer cursed ⚡️ Want some paranormal power in your Slack? DM me, I’ll set you up with a free trial. (Real customer, just anonymized👇🏻)

In our early days of writing customer stories, the common belief I often heard was to NEVER share your questions with a customer before a customer story interview. The thinking was that it would make the customers’ answers rehearsed and wooden. But… that advice always felt off to me, ESPECIALLY when it comes to the questions about metrics. If we really want our customers to be the hero of the story, then we need to help them come to the interview prepared and confident to answer our questions. (No one knows metrics off the top of their heads.) But, of course, this is just my opinion. I was curious how others feel, so I posted a poll here on LinkedIn asking: 👉 ‘For customer stories, do you send the interview questions to the customer ahead of the interview?’ 👈 Of the 70 respondents: 📊 60% said: Yes, we send all of the questions ahead of time 📊 29% said: We just send a summary of them ahead of time 📊 7% said: We only send the metrics questions 📊 And only 4% said: No, we don’t send any of them ahead of time So it looks like most customer marketers are now firmly in the ‘share ahead of time’ camp. All that said, I have one more question: What is your favorite interview question? I’m working on a new interview cheat sheet for the community with everyone’s favorite interview questions. I’d love to hear yours below! And if I include it in the cheat sheet, I will of course give you credit. #CustomerMarketing #CaseStudy #SaaS #UpliftContent

I do a lot of interview prep with the finance professionals I work with and this is my favourite question to ask them to see how they answer. “What’s your favourite thing about Excel?” What I’m looking for is not just something about the tool, but seeing an actual passion and love for it! “VLookups” or “Pivot tables” are red flag answers, too simplistic. Answers like “I love how you can take all the complexities of the world and simplify them into one framework that you can control” or “I can’t really decide between an INDEX MATCH or an XLOOKUP” show enthusiasm and expertise. Whatever questions you get asked at an interview, think about how you could answer to show that passion and love you have for what you do - you’ll be much more memorable that way! You know what I’m going to ask now don’t you….. What is YOUR favourite thing about Excel??

Here’s the process we use to create case studies that help close deals: 👉 Step 1: Create your “customer hub” and collect notes BEFORE you need them. 👉 Step 2: Use a simple “PSR” framework to interview your customers. 👉 Step 3: Repeat the “PSR” structure in the final version. Dan McDermott will be teaching the entire process, from interview to publication on Thursday 5/30 at 11 am MT. Here’s what you’ll get: ✅ A customer hub you can copy. ✅ An email template to book the interview. ✅ The interview questions to ask. ✅ A template for the “final” format. ✅ A “no-brainer” flowchart to keep things organized. Interested? Comment “Yes” below and I’ll send you an invite. (Side note: Make sure to connect with me so I can DM you!)

I just finished reading System Design Interview – An Insider's Guide: Volume 2, and I can’t recommend it enough for anyone looking to improve their technical problem-solving skills. It is an excellent read for those looking to excel in system design. It’s packed with useful insights and practical advice that can help you tackle technical problems more effectively. Happy reading!!!

📈 Why Analytical Insights Matter in Case Prep 📈 In the journey toward acing a case interview, one thing is certain: knowing how you’re progressing can make or break your prep. Imagine training for a marathon without a training plan. You may make some progress, but it's not likely that you would hit your goal. Here's why having real-time, data-driven insights from Aurora Prep on your performance is essential in case prep: 1️⃣ Identify Strengths & Weaknesses Early Aurora Prep's analytics give you a clear view of where you're excelling and where you need improvement. This means you can double down on your strengths and work on your weak spots—no more guessing. 2️⃣ Personalized, Targeted Prep Our insights allow you to adapt your preparation based on what's truly needed. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, you can tailor your practice, making it more efficient and effective. After all, these interviews tend to pop up fast. 3️⃣ Track Progress Over Time With data, you get a clear picture of how you’re progressing. Seeing improvement week over week builds confidence and keeps you motivated. 4️⃣ Reduce Anxiety Knowing exactly where you stand can bring a sense of control and calm. Data-driven feedback assures you that you’re on the right path or helps you adjust course quickly if needed. Investing in a case prep platform that delivers real-time, analytical insights isn’t just a luxury; it's a necessity. Case prep isn’t just about practicing—it’s about practicing the right way. So let's get you to #PrepBetter and start your prepping with www.AuroraPrep.com today. #PrepBetter #CasePrep #Consulting #Analytics #InterviewPrep #DataDriven

I messed up in my interview last week. They asked me 3 questions in 1. 1. Could you tell me how you're reaching stakeholders? 2. How do you demonstrate value to non-user stakeholders? 3. What is the strategy for continuously showing value? I got stumped and told a story of how I renewed and grew a customer. In the last 2 minutes of the interview, I asked… “Are there any reservations about moving me forward?” They told me I didn’t answer their ROI question. Time ran out, so I couldn’t explain myself. I sent a follow-up email, sharing more details about their question. But then, it was already too late. Taking this as a learning experience. Learn from my mistakes. ↳ Get clarity if you don’t understand the question thoroughly ↳ Organize your thoughts for complex questions before answering ↳ Pause and speak slower to ensure your response meets expectations What would you have done if you were me?

When talking to customers... (aka ‘doing user interviews’) you are not looking for approval. You are actively seeking criticism of your idea and work. (which helps you see holes in your thinking) That’s why it’s so hard. The reward? If you do it right - 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑏𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑢𝑐𝑘, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑙𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘, - a digital product that makes you money. ____________________________ Helping you succeed with your digital product. Product strategy consultant. No daily rates. No monthly retainers.