The Customer Detective
I write about how to use detective-grade forensic investigation techniques to do great research fast.
Democratizing Insights: How "Good Enough" Research Is Breaking Down Ivory Towers
The Right Hand by Dr. Ari Zelmanow This newsletter is for founders and product teams who want to identify growth opportunities using customer and UX research thatβs fast, cheap, and good enough. π Reader, I am not a huge fan of NASCAR, but that doesn't prevent me from marveling at the engine underneath the hood. That powerful piece of machinery has a lot to teach us about scaling research impact. As a detective, I learned that the more eyes we had on a case, the faster we solved it. The same...
Research Should Be About Predicting the Future, Not Just Documenting the Past
The Right Hand by Dr. Ari Zelmanow This newsletter is the right hand for founders and product teams who want to use detective-grade investigation techniques to identify growth opportunities using customer and UX research thatβs fast, cheap, and good enough. π Reader, Think about this: When hunting serial killers, do detectives just document bodies, or do they work to prevent the next murder? I'll tell you what worked when I was tracking someone who was attacking unsuspecting victims in hotel...
The Customer Research Competency Ladder: How to Make Everyone in the Business a Better "Researcher"
The Right Hand by Dr. Ari Zelmanow As a criminal investigator turned customer investigator, I am the REAL Sherlock Holmes of consumer and market behavior. This newsletter is the right hand for product and UX folks who want to learn detective-grade investigation techniques to do great research faster. π Reader, There was a time in my career when I was teaching at the police academy. When I was teaching new police officers (and detectives), we used a system for evaluating how well officers...
π Beyond Gut Instinct: Evaluating Evidence for High-Stakes Business Decisions
The Right Hand by Dr. Ari Zelmanow As a criminal investigator turned customer investigator, I am the REAL Sherlock Holmes of consumer and market behavior. This newsletter is the right hand for product and UX folks who want to learn detective-grade investigation techniques to do great research faster. π Reader, As a former metropolitan police detective turned product research expert, Iβve spent decades evaluating evidenceβfirst in criminal investigations and now in understanding customers and...
The Future of Research: Why Fast, Cheap, and Good Enough Beats Perfect Every Time
The Right Hand by Dr. Ari Zelmanow As a criminal investigator turned customer investigator, I am the REAL Sherlock Holmes of consumer and market behavior. This newsletter is the right hand for product and UX folks who want to learn detective-grade investigation techniques to do great research faster. π Reader, I'm about to ruffle some feathers in the research community. But sometimes the truth hurts. The research teams of tomorrow won't survive by clinging to academic-level rigor and...
π― Why Speaking the Wrong Language Can Kill Your Research (Literally)
The Right Hand by Dr. Ari Zelmanow As a criminal investigator turned customer investigator, I am the REAL Sherlock Holmes of consumer and market behavior. This newsletter is the right hand for product and UX folks who want to learn detective-grade investigation techniques to do great research faster. π Reader, As detectives, we had roll call every day, where they shared important updates. So, let's kick off this week with our version of the roll call. π§π« Advocating for UX Resources with NNg....
π The Typing Pool Mystery: What Dead Professions Tell Us About the Future of UX Research π―
The Right Hand by Dr. Ari Zelmanow This newsletter is the right hand for product and UX folks who want to use customer research to predict better product outcomes. As a criminal investigator turned customer investigator, I teach product teams how to think like detectives to do great research fast. π Reader, I'd be doing you a disservice if I didn't share some upcoming events with you. π§π« Advocating for UX Resources with NNg. I have been hard at work building a brand new course for the Nielsen...
Stop Guessing, Start Listening: Customer Stories as Your Competitive Edge
The Right Hand by Dr. Ari Zelmanow This newsletter is the right hand for product and UX folks who want to use customer research to predict better product outcomes. As a criminal investigator turned customer investigator, I teach product teams how to think like detectives to do great research fast. π Reader, Before we jump in today, I have a few time-sensitive updates to share. π£ FREE Webinar. Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 12 pm EST, Stravito is hosting a FREE webinar, Making UX...
From Beat Cop to Research Pro: Why Experience Trumps Theory Every Time ππ
The Right Hand by Dr. Ari Zelmanow This newsletter serves as the right hand for product and UX folks who want to use customer research to predict better product outcomes. As a criminal investigator turned customer investigator, I teach product teams how to think like detectives to do great research fast. π Reader, Ever see someone walking down the street and know they're carrying a concealed weapon? I have. Not because I read it in a book. Not because someone told me. But because I've seen it...
π Why Every Product Decision Is Like a Detective's Case Theory (And Why That Matters) π§©
The Right Hand by Dr. Ari Zelmanow This newsletter serves as the right hand for product and UX folks who want to use customer research to predict better product outcomes. As a criminal investigator turned customer investigator, I teach product teams how to think like detectives to do great research fast. π Reader, Let me share something that might blow your mind π€―: Every single product decision that is made is actually a prediction. Think about it... We are predicting that Action A will...