The Customer Success Pro Podcast

Discover the evolving role of customer success in driving growth without the pressure of traditional sales. Embrace the expansion mindset by building trust and engaging meaningfully with customers. Learn to recognize key signals for upselling and navigate common pitfalls. Collaboration between customer success and sales teams is essential for unlocking new opportunities. Practical steps for fostering relationships and facilitating growth are shared, ensuring customer success professionals can add value while enhancing revenue.

Explore the transformative power of AI in customer success. Discover how it alleviates administrative burdens and enhances efficiency in daily tasks. Learn to avoid common mistakes when adopting AI, and see how it can revolutionize discovery calls and quarterly business reviews. Anika Zubair introduces practical applications for forecasting renewals and managing customer relationships. Plus, get insights into training AI as a revenue-generating co-pilot to elevate your success strategies.

Parul Bhandari, a Chicago-based Customer Success consultant, shares insights on building impactful retention programs. She emphasizes the necessity of aligning with customer goals and the role of early engagement in setting up successful strategies. Parul discusses her journey into fractional consulting and the trend's rise in the industry. The conversation also highlights the importance of adapting retention efforts as customer relationships evolve, with a focus on viewing challenges as opportunities for growth in customer success.

In this episode of the Customer Success Pro Podcast, Anika Zubair emphasizes the importance of building genuine human relationships with customers. She discusses the challenges faced by Customer Success Managers in managing multiple accounts and the need to shift from transactional interactions to strategic partnerships. Anika outlines common mistakes CSMs make, such as only reaching out when they need something and failing to personalize communication. She introduces principles for building strong relationships, including being relevant, consistent, and human. The episode concludes with actionable challenges for listeners to enhance their customer relationships.Get your FREE QBR Revenue Guide: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/resourcesGet on the VIP Waitlist for RevUP Academy: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/revupChapters:00:00 Building Lasting Customer Relationships02:15 Customer Management in CS05:34 Myths in Customer Success10:10 Principles of Strategic Relationships15:44 Consistency Over Intensity19:34 The Human Element in Customer Success22:18 Actionable TakeawaysConnect with Anika Zubair: Website: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikazubair/CSM RevUP Academy: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/revupSend Anika a text :) Want to be our next guest? Apply here: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/podcast-guest Book Anika as a speaker at your next team event: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/team-event

Discover how to transform customer success strategies from reactive to proactive. Learn to define success through the customer's eyes and map their journey effectively. Automation of touchpoints is discussed for boosting efficiency, while a risk and opportunity framework ensures ongoing engagement. Regular strategy reviews are emphasized for sustained improvement. Gain actionable insights to enhance your skills and drive exceptional customer outcomes!

Discover how storytelling transforms customer success and upsell strategies. The discussion highlights the human element in engaging narratives that resonate with clients. A structured storytelling method is introduced, focusing on customer challenges and future aspirations. Practicing these storytelling skills can significantly improve upselling techniques. Tune in for actionable insights that can elevate your customer connection and drive revenue!

In this episode, Anika Zubair discusses the vital collaboration between customer success and marketing with guest Ashna Patel. They explore how aligning these two functions can drive growth, retention, and upsells. Ashna shares her journey from customer success to marketing, emphasizing the importance of messaging and cross-functional teamwork in enhancing the customer experience. The conversation highlights the need for customer success professionals to leverage marketing resources and insights to better serve their customers and achieve organizational goals. In this conversation, the speakers discuss the critical alignment between marketing and customer success teams, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to enhance customer retention and product adoption. They explore how effective messaging and nurturing relationships can drive growth, and the role of AI in shaping the future of customer success. The discussion highlights practical strategies for cross-functional collaboration and the need for open communication to ensure that both teams work towards common goals.Signup to the VIP Waitlist for RevUP Academy: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/revupTimestamps:00:00 Introduction 02:52 Ashna Patel's Transition from Customer Success to Marketing06:06 Understanding the Bow Tie Model in Customer Journey09:10 The Role of Marketing in Customer Success11:53 The Importance of Messaging in Customer Engagement15:02 Aligning Marketing and Customer Success Teams17:54 Leveraging Marketing for Customer Retention and Growth20:54 Building Cross-Functional Relationships for Success32:39 Team Alignment for Customer Success35:05 Marketing's Role in Customer Retention39:55 Nurturing Customer Relationships42:04 Effective Messaging Strategies48:15 Cross-Functional Collaboration for Success55:30 Conclusion and Key TakeawaysConnect with Anika:LinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramWebsite: thecustomersuccesspro.comCoaching with Anika: CSM RevUP AcademyConnect with Ashna Patel:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashnapatel92/Ashna Patel is a former award-winning Customer Success leader turned Marketer, bringing over a decade of experience in customer engagement, retention, and growth. After years of driving customer success strategies, she transitioned into marketing to bridge the gap between pre- and post-sales, leveraging her deep understanding of customer needs to fuel demand generation and customer marketing. Apart from this, Ashna is also passionate about helping professionals build personalized systems to prevent burnout, enhance productivity, and achieve sustainable success (personally and professionally). Send Anika a text :) Want to be our next guest? Apply here: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/podcast-guest Book Anika as a speaker at your next team event: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/team-event

Discover how to spot the telltale signs of customer churn. Learn to debunk common myths surrounding customer retention. Explore proactive strategies for engaging at-risk clients before it's too late. The discussion emphasizes a five-step framework for identifying those in danger of leaving. You’ll also uncover effective communication tactics and how to create a robust churn prevention playbook to retain valued customers. Tune in for practical advice that could transform your customer success strategies!

In this episode of the Customer Success Pro podcast, Anika Zubair discusses the common pitfalls in customer expansion strategies and emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement. She highlights that expansion should not be treated as a one-time event but rather as an ongoing process that requires continuous conversations and guidance. Anika provides actionable strategies for identifying growth triggers, building expansion pathways, and reframing discussions around customer outcomes to drive successful upsell conversations.Signup to the FREE Masterclass: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/masterclassChapters:00:00 Introduction03:11 The Myth of Expansion Timing06:06 Proactive Strategies for Customer Growth08:54 Building an Expansion Pathway12:10 Reframing Expansion Around Outcomes15:01 The Importance of Continuous Conversations18:14 Listener Challenge and RecapConnect with Anika:LinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramWebsite: thecustomersuccesspro.comCoaching with Anika: CSM RevUP AcademySend Anika a text :) Want to be our next guest? Apply here: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/podcast-guest Book Anika as a speaker at your next team event: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/team-event

In this episode of the Customer Success Pro Podcast, host Anika Zubair speaks with Melanie Fay, an enterprise Customer Success Manager at Goldcast. They discuss Melanie's journey in customer success, her transition between various roles, and her innovative approach to customer engagement known as the 'anti-check-in.' Melanie shares her experiences managing a large book of business, the importance of delivering value in customer interactions, and strategies for understanding customer goals and outcomes. The conversation emphasizes the need for CSMs to adapt their approaches to meet the evolving needs of customers and to provide meaningful engagement beyond traditional check-in calls. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the evolving landscape of customer success, emphasizing the importance of understanding customer needs, effective engagement strategies, and the transition from traditional check-in calls to value-driven discussions. They discuss the significance of frameworks for customer conversations, the role of storytelling in enhancing customer relationships, and the necessity of taking ownership and leadership within the customer success domain. Additionally, they explore practical tips for managing a large book of business through segmentation and the importance of being creative and adaptable in communication strategies.Enter the Planhat Giveaway!Win an all-expenses-paid trip to Planhat Open: www.planhat.com/giveawayTimestamps: 00:00 Introduction01:52 Melanie Fay's Journey in Customer Success06:01 Transitioning Between Roles and Companies10:00 The Anti-Check-In Approach13:13 Managing a Large Book of Business17:03 Delivering Value in Customer Interactions21:13 Understanding Customer Goals and Outcomes25:02 Innovative Strategies for Customer Engagement27:00 Understanding Customer Needs and Engagement30:08 Frameworks for Effective Customer Conversations33:04 Transitioning from Check-Ins to Value-Driven Discussions35:06 The Role of Storytelling in Customer Success39:04 Taking Ownership and Leadership in Customer Success43:14 Segmenting and Managing a Large Book of Business47:03 Key TakeawaysConnect with Anika:LinkedInYouTubeTikTokInstagramWebsite: thecustomersuccesspro.comCoaching with Anika: CSM RevUP AcademyConnect with Melanie Faye:https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-faye/I’m Melanie, a CSM living on a small island on the East Coast in Canada. After running my own business for years, I knew when I landed my first CS role that it was meant to be. I’ve been working in Customer Success for nearly 4 years and have been fortunate enough to gain experience in different industries like digital events, HR tech and accounting tech. Most recently, I was supporting mid-market customers at Keeper.app and am now moving into an Enterprise role at Goldcast. I’m excited to get back to my roots Send Anika a text :) Want to be our next guest? Apply here: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/podcast-guest Book Anika as a speaker at your next team event: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/team-event