8 ways you can use mind maps with customers and clients

Here are 8 powerful ways in which you can use mind maps with customers to delight and impress them.

Many business people use mind maps on the “back end” of their business – supporting internal operations and processes, such as project management, strategic planning and market research. But very few people are using these powerful tools on the “front end” of their business – with prospects, customers and clients.

Here are 8 ways you can use mind maps with these important external audiences:

1. Conduct a brainstorming session with them
2. Use it to present your research and recommendations to them
3. Use it to perform a situation or needs analysis with your client
4. Use it with them to conduct problem identification or root cause analysis
5. Use it for scenario planning, to help your client chart a profitable future course.
6. Use it to show the stages, activities, milestones and deliverables of a project management plan.
7. Use it to clarify the intangible aspects of a complex process, system or situation
8. Use it to surface and deal with any objections or negative perceptions of why something won’t work.

I hope this inspires you to use mind mapping with your customers or clients! Thanks to two consultant friends of mine, Gary Klaben and Paul Williams, for contributing to this list.

If you are utilizing it in a customer-facing role that hasn’t been listed here, please add your thoughts and experiences in the comments section of this post. I look forward to your insights!