How to Create an Effective User Journey Map

Introduction

Are you able to turn your users into your customers? Are you able to retain your users? And how do you engage your users meaningfully at each stage of their journey? If not, do you know what can help you do all of these at once? Via a User journey map.

One of the most important abilities is your capacity to empathize with the users of the products you create. Especially as a UI/UX designer. You can use user journey maps to capture this empathy and turn it into insightful knowledge about your target market and product. 

Also, you can develop a user flow and onboarding plan that keeps users satisfied, interested, and loyal to your product by mapping the path of your users. But the question here is: Do you know how to create an effective journey map? Do you understand what is user journey mapping to create one that emphasizes your users? Worry not. 

This blog will walk you through everything you need about a user journey map. This includes –

• What is a user journey?
• How to create a user journey map?
• Benefits of user journey maps
• Types, examples, and more. 

Let’s begin! 

What is a User Journey?

User journeys refer to the user’s experience while using a product. It represents the stages and options offered. Furthermore, it discusses the user’s actions and the consequences. Simply put, it helps to understand how a user engages and interacts with your product. 

What is a User Journey Map?

A user journey captures each individual user’s steps to accomplish a specific objective while using your product. It considers every stage of product adoption in your funnel and is typically presented as a visual map. As a result, it puts together a user’s 

• Challenges or pain points 
• Emotions 
• Motivation

It just depicts a person’s ‘journey’ while utilizing your product, showing different user scenarios they may encounter. A UX journey map relies upon user research. And it differs from customer journey mapping. Furthermore, a user journey map is different for every individual. 

Also, the user journey maps focus on different aspects. These depend upon your aim of building them. They may focus on the following – 

• A perspective of the present or the future state 
• A single-stage journey
• A journey from start to end
• User persona

Regardless of what it focuses on, user journey mapping comes in handy while understanding what your user needs. As a result, improving user experience (UX) becomes easier.  

How to Create a User Journey Map?

User journey mapping should be easy with the help of tools like a user journey template. But to use them effectively, you need to get your basics right. 

The following is an overview of the user journey mapping process that you can adopt;

1. Define Your Goal

To begin, ask yourself why. Why are you creating a user journey map? What do I aim to achieve with this user journey map? 

The reasons may be varied. For instance, you wish to improve a specific stage in the journey. Or you want to identify the pain points. In short, outline the aim of creating a user journey map. 

2. Chart Out the User Persona 

Before you begin, you must decide for whom you are constructing a user journey map. The task at hand and the use case will determine the map’s ultimate appearance. Also, the maps will vary from one another when people engage with your projects in various ways.

To create a comprehensive user person, do the following –

• Try to use real data obtained via research and observations. Avoid making guesses or assumptions.
• Question the target users. Ask them simple questions – what they may need, how they may do it, and more. This will help to keep the user journey maps objective and free from biases. 
• Engage them in open-ended questions. This way, you can gather more information and deeper insight. 

3. Map Out the User Persona’s Journey 

This stage is greatly influenced by step 1; That is, the aim of your user journey mapping will determine the stages you will include in your user journey maps. 

For example, only that stage should be added if you want to focus on a particular stage. Be as specific as you can. Outline the journey that brings you closest to your end goal.

4. Point Out the Milestones 

Milestones make it easier to describe the path a user is on. Also, it helps to track where they are on the user journey map at any given time.

For each milestone, you should also establish a clear objective. This way, you can monitor the success rate of each objective. Furthermore, using user journey analytics also allows you to see how your users progress through their journeys.

5. Add Touchpoints 

Touchpoints are the tiny actions required for a user to accomplish a goal. To figure out the touchpoints, answer the question: How will my user do this?

For example, if the milestone is to schedule a post, the following are some touchpoints;

• Log in to the platform
• Create a draft 
• Add the time and date for publishing
• Click “Schedule”

These are your key activation points. But why? Because they help the users activate. To simplify and ensure the user’s progress, create a checklist. This checklist will tell the users what to do to finish the desired task. 

6. Build the Journey

With all the information, it’s now time to create a user journey map. 

Visualize what your user will see at each touch point. Then, create images from it, and add them. Next, identify pain points and friction. Then, use analytics, feedback, and all the available data to find solutions to the pain points. 

A user journey mapping tool makes all of this easier. You may also look at a few user journey map examples to better understand the final outlook. 

The Benefits of User Journey Mapping

By now, you might have a fair idea of the importance of a UX journey map. Besides helping you enhance the user experience, the following are some more benefits of a user journey map –

• Teams often work in silos. A user journey map brings all the teams together. As a result, you can take a collective approach to a problem and find out a solution. Furthermore, once the solution is identified, the teams can work together to achieve the goal. 
• Not everyone is comfortable using extensive case studies, pie charts, or spreadsheets. A user journey map makes everything clear and easy to understand. As a result, the team can retain visual information better. 
• When teams try to solve a problem together, they work together. This enhances cross-team communication and collaboration. 
• It makes optimizing user experience easier, increasing the customer lifetime value (CLV). 
• Increases user retention by reducing friction.
• Makes it easier to introduce new features by highlighting opportunities for improvement. 
• Finally, it helps you understand your product-market fit. 

Types of User Journey Mapping

Now that you have a fair idea about user journey maps, let’s look at their type. 

1. UX Journey Map

UX journey map is for certain products. Typically, apps or websites. You may learn more about how a client uses your service/product. It helps to discover what they might find useful or annoying. This thus enables you to create a product that is more user-centric and easy to use.

2. Sales Journey Map 

A typical sales journey includes awareness, consideration, and decision. A sales journey map helps you understand the journey of the buy through these stages. This can be done across many touchpoints and communication channels. Thus aiding in boosting revenue.

3. Customer Experience Map

User journey maps and customer experience maps are often thought to be the same. But they aren’t. It’s a broad view of the evolution of a customer-brand relationship. Customer journey mapping is of two kinds – current state and future state.

The current state map focuses on interactions in the present. It also considers how you can improve it. In contrast, future state maps focus on innovation. This is done via planning new customer experiences. 

User Journey Mapping Tools

User journey mapping tools make it easier to create a user journey. The following are some of them – 

1. Miro 

Miro is a well-liked, all-purpose diagramming tool with many applications. The tool has an easy-to-use user interface. Furthermore, it offers an unlimited canvas, virtualized sticky notes, pointers, and other charting tools. And you know what’s best? You can collaborate with team members in real-time. 

2. UXPressia 

This tool is for design-conscious people. The user-friendly and lovely maps highlight consumer touchpoints for viewing and customizing the maps for your brand. It’s the ideal tool to use when you need a simple layout and input from all departments.

3. Custellence

Custellence is focused on only one kind of function. Also, it is well appreciated for the same. They provide a range of ready-made materials. These include original storyboard pictures, cards, and lanes. Custellence is worth checking if you want a straightforward product that assists you in finishing the work promptly. 

User Journey vs. User Flow: What Is the Difference?

User journey and user flow may sound similar. In fact, some even use it interchangeably. But there is a little difference. This is what user journey vs user flow looks like. 

A user journey, as mentioned, outlines the user’s interaction with the product. It also includes the milestones and the touchstones the user will meet. In contrast, user flow is from the product team’s perspective. Thus, it outlines what the ideal journey should look like. 

User Journey Map vs Customer Journey Map

A user journey map is very similar to a customer journey map. They both track the point of contact between the user and the product. Also, it considers how the users feel while attempting to finish a task using your product. But there is a difference in user journey vs customer journey. 

A customer experience map is a high-touch map. In contrast, a user journey map is a low-touch map. 

A customer journey map usually considers interaction after the customer buys your product. It considers various departments – from sales to customer relationships. In contrast, the user journey considers interaction within the product. The goal here is to retain the user. And convert them into customers. 

Conclusion

User journey mapping plays an important role in improving the user’s experience of the product. You must do it right to make the most of it. But if you still find it difficult to create a user journey map, don’t worry. 

Experts at CodeTheorem will design the best user journey map for you. Our expertise, versatility, and transparency make us a client-favorite company for all their UX/UI needs. Get in touch with us right away!