Summary...

Our research shows a four-stage customer life cycle best sums up how customers interact with companies. First customers discover a product or service; then they explore it in greater detail; next they buy the product or service; and after purchase they engage with the company from which they bought, as well as with other customers. If companies create positive engagements they can drive new discovery -- either by introducing existing customers to additional products or by leveraging satisfied customers to pass the word along to others.

If you want to support this life cycle, you'll need to start looking at the world the way your customers do: As an ongoing sequence of reach channels, depth channels and relationship channels. That's just what savvy marketers are doing -- building their "Reach and Depth and Relationship" channels into "marketing RaDaRs" that leverage all three types.

Depth channels tell your product's story. Your website, your stores and your salespeople serve a common purpose: To give your customers and prospects the detail they're seeking when they explore your product and to guide them to a purchase.

Relationship channels serve your existing customers. Most of the people who sign up for your mailing lists or follow you in social media are satisfied customers. These channels aren't about attracting new audiences or directly driving sales; they're about staying in touch with your biggest fans.

Reach channels get you into the consideration set. Word of mouth and unbranded searches are the two channels your customers use most to discover products, followed by traditional channels like TV ads and in-store displays. Your purpose for using these tools is to encourage customers to explore your offering in greater depth.