strategy-customer-value-journey

name	strategy-customer-value-journey
description	Use when the main deliverable concerns full-funnel content across awareness, engagement, subscription, conversion, retention, and advocacy; use 10-content-pillars when that neighbouring workflow owns the primary decision.
metadata	{"portable":true,"compatible_with":["claude-code","codex"]}

Customer Value Journey Strategy

Use When

• Use this skill for full-funnel content across awareness, engagement, subscription, conversion, retention, and advocacy.
• Use it when the requested deliverable needs the domain decisions and acceptance checks below.

Do Not Use When

• Use 10-content-pillars when that neighbouring workflow owns the main decision or deliverable.
• Do not proceed when required evidence, approval, or safety review is absent; return the missing-input path instead.

Required Inputs

Artefact	Source/provider	Required?	If absent
Objective, audience, market, and intended decision	Client or approved brief	yes	Ask for it or state a narrow working assumption
Existing channel, content, commercial, or performance evidence relevant to full-funnel content across awareness, engagement, subscription, conversion, retention, and advocacy	Client systems, supplied files, or verified research	conditional	Mark the check unassessed and avoid performance claims
Approval, policy, budget, access, or risk constraints	Accountable client owner	conditional	Stop before publishing, spending, collecting data, or making regulated claims

Workflow

1. Confirm the decision, consumer, market, and evidence boundary; distinguish the request from 10-content-pillars.
2. Inspect supplied artefacts and record missing or unverified inputs before drafting.
3. Apply the domain framework in this skill and use the decision rule below at each branch.
4. Stop for approval before publishing, spending, contacting people, changing live systems, or making regulated claims.
5. Review the deliverable against the quality and anti-slop gates; if a check fails, correct it and rerun the affected check.
6. Hand off the artefacts, assumptions, evidence, and unresolved risks to the named consumer.

Outputs

Artefact	Consumer	Observable acceptance condition
Full-funnel content across awareness, engagement, subscription, conversion, retention, and advocacy deliverable	Client decision-maker or delivery team	Names the chosen route, owners, sequence, assumptions, and measurable acceptance checks
Decision and risk record	Reviewer or implementer	Links each recommendation to supplied evidence or labels it as an assumption

Evidence Produced

Evidence	Format	Acceptance condition
Input and assumption register	Table or annotated brief	Missing and unverified items are visible, not treated as passed
Release check	Completed quality checklist	All blocking findings are fixed or the deliverable is explicitly withheld

Capability and Permission Boundaries

Read and search are the minimum capabilities. Analysis and planning remain read-only. Edit only files placed in scope; publishing, outreach, spend, personal-data processing, production changes, and certification claims require explicit authority and evidence of success.

Degraded Mode

If files, tools, network, current evidence, rendering, or authorised access are unavailable, return the narrowest useful qualified deliverable. Mark each unavailable check not assessed; never convert it into a pass or invent market facts.

Decision Rules

Choice condition	Action	Failure or risk avoided
Content is concentrated at one funnel stage	Map the missing stage, CTA, channel, and metric before adding volume	More posts reproduce the same funnel gap
Evidence is contradictory or materially incomplete	Pause the affected recommendation and request the accountable source	Confident advice built on an unresolved premise
Authority is limited to analysis or planning	Deliver a read-only plan and approval checklist	Unauthorised publication, spend, outreach, or data use

Quality Standards

• Keep Uganda/East Africa, British English, EAT, UGX, and WhatsApp-first assumptions explicit where they apply.
• Tie recommendations to observed evidence, a named assumption, or a verification action.
• Give the next operator enough detail to execute without guessing ownership, sequence, or acceptance.
• Apply ai-marketing/anti-ai-slop during drafting and block release on an F from ai-marketing/ai-slop-audit.

Anti-Patterns

• Inventing a client metric, audience fact, price, partner, or platform rule. Fix: verify it or label the decision provisional.
• Treating a missing tool, source, render, or approval as a passed check. Fix: mark it not assessed and narrow the output.
• Producing channel tactics before defining the decision and consumer. Fix: state the required outcome and handoff first.
• Copying a global template without adapting Uganda/East Africa access, language, payment, or trust conditions. Fix: record which local assumptions apply.
• Recommending publication, outreach, spend, data collection, or a regulated claim without authority. Fix: stop at an approval-ready draft.
• Reporting activity as success without an acceptance condition. Fix: name the observable result and evidence source.

References

• AGENTS.md

Framework Attribution

This skill applies the Customer Value Journey (CVJ) framework developed by Ryan Deiss and DigitalMarketer. The CVJ maps every customer interaction — from first encounter to active referral — across 8 sequential stages. It is distinct from the RACE framework (Reach / Act / Convert / Engage, Chaffey 2024): RACE focuses on acquisition and conversion; the CVJ extends into post-purchase stages (Excite, Ascend, Advocate, Promote) that drive repeat revenue and referrals. For East African SMEs, these post-purchase stages are the most neglected and the highest-ROI opportunity.

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Required Input

Ask for the following before generating any deliverable:

1. Client business name — trading name used on social media
2. Industry / sector — e.g. professional services, retail, hospitality, agribusiness
3. Country / city — defaults to Uganda / Kampala if not specified
4. Primary goal — e.g. increase sales, grow WhatsApp subscriber list, improve repeat purchases
5. Current platforms — which platforms the client is active on and approximate follower counts
6. Current content mix — rough description of what they post (promotional, educational, mixed)
7. Existing offers — what entry-point and ascension offers exist, or whether these need to be designed
8. Customer lifetime value (approximate) — to calibrate entry-point offer strategy

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The Two Most Common EA SME Failure Modes

Before mapping the journey, diagnose which failure mode applies to the client.

Failure Mode 1 — All Promotional (Stuck at Convert) The client posts discounts, product shots, and price lists. Reach is limited to people already ready to buy. No content builds awareness or nurtures interest. Follower growth is slow; engagement is low; every post asks for money before trust is established.

Failure Mode 2 — All Awareness (No Conversion Mechanism) The client posts tips, motivational quotes, and educational content. Engagement metrics look healthy but sales do not follow. There is no Subscribe mechanism (no WhatsApp opt-in, no follow prompt) and no Convert offer. The audience consumes content and moves on.

Both failure modes stem from the same root cause: treating social media as a single-stage activity rather than a multi-stage journey. The CVJ provides the corrective structure.

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The 8 Stages of the Customer Value Journey

Apply Ryan Deiss / DigitalMarketer's CVJ to understand what the customer is thinking and feeling at each stage, and what social media must do to move them forward.

Stage 1 — Aware The customer encounters the brand for the first time. They are not looking for the client specifically; they are scrolling, watching, or being referred. The goal is to stop the scroll and create a relevant first impression. Customer mindset: "Who is this?"

Stage 2 — Engage The customer consumes content — watches a video, reads a post, saves a tip. They are evaluating whether the brand is worth their continued attention. No purchase intent yet. Customer mindset: "This looks useful / interesting."

Stage 3 — Subscribe The customer opts in to an ongoing relationship: follows the page, joins the WhatsApp broadcast list, subscribes to a newsletter, or saves the number. This is the first active commitment. In East Africa, WhatsApp opt-in is the highest-value subscribe action. Customer mindset: "I want to hear more from this brand."

Stage 4 — Convert The customer makes a first transaction — often a low-risk, low-cost entry-point offer. The goal is to convert a prospect into a buyer, not to maximise profit on this transaction. Customer mindset: "Let me try this."

Stage 5 — Excite Immediately post-purchase, the customer needs confirmation they made the right decision. This stage removes buyer's remorse, delivers a fast win, and sets expectations. Poor post-purchase experience kills Ascend and Advocate potential. Customer mindset: "Did I make the right choice?"

Stage 6 — Ascend The customer has trust established through a positive first experience. They are receptive to higher-value offers, retainers, or premium packages. This is where revenue is made. Customer mindset: "What else can this brand do for me?"

Stage 7 — Advocate The customer shares positive experience unprompted — a testimonial, a WhatsApp mention to a friend, a positive comment. Advocacy is organic and cannot be forced, only enabled. Customer mindset: "I want others to know about this."

Stage 8 — Promote The customer actively refers new customers, participates in a referral programme, or becomes a brand ambassador. This is structured, incentivised advocacy. Customer mindset: "I will tell people about this and here is why they should use it."

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Entry-Point Offers vs. Ascension Offers

Entry-Point Offers (Stage 4 — Convert) Designed to remove friction and acquire a first-time buyer. Profit is not the objective. The offer must feel low-risk relative to the customer's current level of trust.

Examples for the EA context:

• Free 30-minute consultation (professional services)
• Free WhatsApp guide or checklist (coaching, marketing, legal)
• Low-cost trial session (fitness, tutoring, therapy)
• Discounted first order with a minimum spend threshold (retail, food)
• Free audit or site visit (construction, agriculture, IT services)

Design rule: the entry-point offer must deliver genuine value so that Stage 5 (Excite) happens naturally. A cheap-feeling offer produces buyer's remorse, not advocacy.

Ascension Offers (Stage 6 — Ascend) Designed to monetise established trust. Presented only after Stage 5 (Excite) is confirmed. Never pitch ascension offers to first-time buyers before they have had a positive experience.

Examples for the EA context:

• Monthly retainer or subscription (services)
• Premium package or bundle (products)
• Annual contract with a loyalty discount
• Referral reward programme (cash, discount, free month)
• Exclusive membership or community access

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Mapping Social Media Content to the CVJ

Stage	Goal	Primary Platform / Channel	Content Type	CTA
Aware	Stop the scroll; create first impression	Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube	Short video, reel, boosted post, referral content	No hard CTA — invite to follow or watch more
Engage	Build interest; demonstrate expertise	Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn	Educational post, how-to video, carousel, blog excerpt	"Save this", "Comment your question", "Read more"
Subscribe	Capture opt-in for ongoing communication	Facebook (page follow), WhatsApp, Email	Lead magnet post, free guide offer, WhatsApp link in bio	"Join our WhatsApp list", "Follow for weekly tips"
Convert	Drive first transaction	WhatsApp broadcast, Facebook, Instagram	Entry-point offer post, limited availability, social proof	"Message us to book", "Order here", "Claim your free consult"
Excite	Confirm the right decision; deliver fast win	WhatsApp (1-to-1 or broadcast), Email	Welcome message, onboarding guide, quick-win tip, thank-you post	"Here is what happens next"
Ascend	Present premium or repeat offer	WhatsApp, Email, Facebook Retargeting	Upgrade offer, bundle, case study, results post	"Ready for the next step?", "Upgrade your package"
Advocate	Enable and capture social proof	Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp	Testimonial request, review prompt, user-generated content repost	"Share your experience", "Tag us in your results"
Promote	Activate structured referral	WhatsApp, Facebook, Email	Referral programme announcement, incentive post, ambassador content	"Refer a friend and earn…", "Share this link"

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WhatsApp in the CVJ

WhatsApp is the dominant Subscribe and Convert engine in East Africa and must be treated as a first-class channel in the CVJ, not an afterthought.

Subscribe stage — WhatsApp opt-in

• Include a WhatsApp link or number in every bio, post caption, and Story CTA
• Offer a specific reason to opt in: a free guide, a price list, a consultation booking
• Use a welcome message that delivers the promised value immediately
• Segment broadcast lists by interest or purchase stage where possible

Convert stage — WhatsApp broadcast

• Send entry-point offers to the broadcast list with clear, friction-free CTAs
• Personalise where possible ("Hi [name]" in bulk messages increases open rates)
• Respond to enquiries within two hours; delayed responses collapse conversion

Excite and Ascend — WhatsApp follow-up sequences

• Send a post-purchase welcome message within 24 hours of the first transaction
• Include a quick-win resource (guide, checklist, tip) to deliver immediate value
• Follow up at Day 3 and Day 7 to check in and introduce the ascension offer
• Keep broadcast messages under 150 words; use voice notes for warmth where appropriate

Boundary: WhatsApp broadcast management (scheduling, list hygiene, automation tools) is out of scope for this skill. This skill produces the content strategy and message outlines only.

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CVJ Audit — Assessing the Client's Current Content

Before building the plan, audit where the client's existing content sits across the 8 stages.

Step 1 — Content inventory Review the last 30 posts across all active platforms. Categorise each post by CVJ stage using the content type column in the mapping table above.

Step 2 — Stage distribution Count how many posts fall into each stage. Express as a percentage of total posts.

Step 3 — Gap identification Identify stages with 0% or under 10% of content. These are the gaps the content plan must fill.

Step 4 — Mechanism audit Check whether the following mechanisms exist:

• Subscribe: Is there a WhatsApp opt-in link or follow CTA on every platform? (Yes / No)
• Convert: Is there a current entry-point offer? Is it clearly communicated? (Yes / No)
• Excite: Is there a post-purchase welcome sequence? (Yes / No)
• Promote: Is there an active referral mechanism? (Yes / No)

Step 5 — Failure mode classification Based on Steps 2 and 4, classify the client as Failure Mode 1 (all promotional), Failure Mode 2 (all awareness), or Mixed (gaps in specific stages).

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Building the CVJ Content Plan

Apply the following recommended content ratio as a starting point. Adjust based on audit results: clients with a large Aware/Engage deficit should weight more heavily toward the top of the journey; clients with low conversion rates should weight toward Convert and Excite.

Journey Zone	Stages	Recommended Content Share
Top of journey	Aware + Engage	40%
Opt-in	Subscribe	15%
Conversion	Convert	15%
Retention and growth	Excite + Ascend	20%
Referral	Advocate + Promote	10%

For each gap identified in the audit, generate:

1. Three to five specific content ideas for that stage, matched to the client's industry
2. The platform and format best suited to that stage (use the mapping table)
3. The CTA that moves the customer to the next stage
4. The WhatsApp integration point, where applicable

Content sequencing rule: A customer cannot be moved from Aware to Convert in a single post. Design content flows where each stage has at least two to three touchpoints before the CTA advances the customer. Exception: warm referrals (arriving via Stage 8 — Promote) may enter at Subscribe or Convert directly.

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Referral Loop Design (Advocate and Promote)

The referral loop is the highest-ROI section of the CVJ for EA SMEs because word-of-mouth is the dominant trust mechanism in markets with limited consumer review infrastructure.

Enabling Advocate (unprompted sharing):

• Deliver a result so clearly positive that sharing feels natural
• Make it easy to share: provide a WhatsApp-forwardable message, a shareable graphic, a quote card
• Ask for testimonials at the moment of highest satisfaction (immediately after a result is achieved, not weeks later)
• Repost and celebrate customer results publicly to signal that advocacy is valued

Activating Promote (structured referral):

• Design a referral mechanism with a specific incentive: cash reward, discount on next purchase, free session, or loyalty points
• Communicate the referral programme clearly and repeatedly — most customers do not refer because they were never asked
• Create a WhatsApp message template the customer can forward verbatim ("Tell your friend to mention your name and they get X")
• Track referral sources so the incentive can be honoured and the programme can be optimised

Referral loop content cadence:

• Post a testimonial or case study every two weeks minimum
• Send a referral programme reminder via WhatsApp broadcast once per month
• Acknowledge and thank referrers publicly (with permission) to reinforce the behaviour

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Metrics Per CVJ Stage

Map vanity metrics to their correct stage so clients understand what each number actually measures.

Stage	Primary Metric	Secondary Metric	Vanity Metric Trap
Aware	Reach, impressions, new accounts reached	Video views, shares	Likes (measure engagement, not awareness)
Engage	Post saves, comments, shares, watch time	Profile visits, link clicks	Total likes (does not indicate intent)
Subscribe	WhatsApp opt-ins, page follows, email sign-ups	Lead magnet downloads	Follower count (measures Subscribe accumulation, not rate)
Convert	First purchases, consultation bookings, enquiries that convert	Cost per acquisition	Enquiry volume (high enquiries with low conversions = friction problem)
Excite	Repeat WhatsApp engagement, positive reply rate, Day-7 retention	Return visit rate	Post-purchase likes (does not measure satisfaction)
Ascend	Upsell conversion rate, average order value, retainer sign-ups	Revenue per existing customer	Total revenue (does not isolate ascension performance)
Advocate	Testimonials received, user-generated content tags, unprompted shares	Review volume, positive sentiment	Comment volume (not all comments are advocacy)
Promote	Referrals attributed, referral conversion rate, referral revenue	Referral programme participation rate	Shares (shares do not always produce referral actions)

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Quality Criteria

Output meets the standard of this skill if it:

1. Correctly attributes the CVJ framework to Ryan Deiss / DigitalMarketer and does not conflate it with the RACE framework or other funnel models.
2. Diagnoses the failure mode before prescribing content — the plan is specific to whether the client is over-indexed on promotional or awareness content, or has specific stage gaps.
3. Integrates WhatsApp as a primary channel at Subscribe, Convert, and Excite stages, not as an optional add-on; reflects the EA market reality.
4. Provides actionable content ideas for each gap stage, matched to the client's industry and platform mix — not generic descriptions of content types.
5. Includes a referral mechanism with specific, incentivised steps for Advocate and Promote stages; does not treat referrals as organic and unmanageable.
6. Maps metrics to stages correctly and explicitly identifies which metrics are vanity metrics at the wrong stage (e.g. likes as a measure of conversion).
7. Respects the content ratio as a starting point and adjusts it to the client's audit results with a clear rationale for any deviation.
8. Stays within scope — this skill produces content strategy and message outlines; it does not produce graphic design briefs, paid ad campaign structures, or WhatsApp automation code.

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References

• Deiss, R. and DigitalMarketer (2023) The Customer Value Journey. DigitalMarketer.com
• Chaffey, D. (2024) Digital Marketing: Strategy, Implementation and Practice. Pearson
• Bodnar, K. and Cohen, J. (2012) The B2B Social Media Book. Wiley
• Kotler, P. et al. (2023) Marketing Management. Pearson
• Book-driven campaign learning and retention - durable synthesis and current platform-policy gate.