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Fundamentals of Customers and Competition, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, Sarah Underwood, Anne Donnellon, Mori Taheripour, Michael Fetters, Geetha Krishnan, and Edward David

This free online course is one of 10 courses available in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women collection, designed for entrepreneurs ready to take their business to the next level.

In this course, you will examine your customers’ buying process and explore the benefits of market segmentation.

Through competitive analysis and identifying your competitive advantage, you will consider how an understanding of your customers and competitors can help you maximize the value of your offer, enabling you to achieve business growth.

This free online course is one of 10 courses available in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women collection, designed for entrepreneurs ready to take their business to the next level.

In this course, you will examine your customers’ buying process and explore the benefits of market segmentation.

By the end of this course, you will have developed a clear Customer Value Proposition (CVP). This will enable you to communicate your business offering to your target audience in a compelling way.

You will also have the opportunity to examine how the development of a pricing strategy can best support business growth.

The 10,000 Women course collection offers a truly flexible online learning experience. You have the freedom to approach the program in any way that works for you – take any course, or combination of courses, to tailor your learning journey to your individual business growth needs. If you choose to take all 10 courses, you will explore all the key elements of your business and develop a thorough plan for your business’s growth.

You can find out more about the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women collection in the FAQs.

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Crafted for entrepreneurs looking to elevate their ventures

Backed by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, a renowned initiative for female entrepreneurs

Led by industry veterans from Goldman Sachs and other established organizations

Provides a solid framework for understanding customer behavior and market dynamics

Empowers learners to develop effective pricing strategies for business growth

Part of a comprehensive 10-course collection offering a holistic approach to business growth

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Reviews summary

Strategic customer & competitive advantage

According to students, this course offers a highly practical and actionable framework for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Learners praise its clear structure and concise content, especially highlighting the development of a Customer Value Proposition (CVP) and insights into pricing strategy as game-changers for their businesses. While overwhelmingly positive, a few learners noted that its foundational approach might feel introductory for those with extensive prior business experience, though it remains invaluable for new or aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to refine their market understanding and competitive edge.

Excellent foundational knowledge for new or aspiring business owners.

"Highly recommend for any entrepreneur starting out or looking to sharpen their focus."

"A solid foundation... great for those new to formal business strategy. Definitely a must-do for small business owners."

"As an aspiring entrepreneur, this course opened my eyes... It's really helped me build a stronger foundation for my startup."

Presents complex ideas in a well-organized and easy-to-understand format.

"The modules were well-structured and easy to follow. The content is concise and to the point."

"Outstanding clarity on customer value and competitive landscape. The course breaks down complex ideas into manageable pieces."

"This course is fantastic for breaking down how to think about your customers and competitors."

Develops a clear Customer Value Proposition and effective pricing strategies.

"The CVP development section was a game-changer for my business."

"It demystified market segmentation and helped me truly understand my target audience. The insights on pricing strategy were invaluable."

"The development of the Customer Value Proposition was exceptionally well-taught. It's practical, concise, and empowers you to act."

Provides immediately actionable strategies for business growth.

"This course was incredibly practical and provided a clear framework for understanding my customers. I immediately applied the concepts..."

"This course provided actionable steps that I could implement right away. Definitely a must-do for small business owners."

"The focus on practical application was a huge plus. The advice on pricing was particularly insightful and immediately applicable."

May lack advanced depth for experienced business professionals.

"The course content is decent, but I felt it lacked depth for someone with prior business experience. It's a good overview..."

"Too basic for my needs. I already have a few years of experience running my business, and most of this was information I already knew."

"While valuable, some parts felt a bit introductory... I was hoping for more advanced competitive analysis techniques."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Customers and Competition, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women with these activities:

Review fundamentals of marketing

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Review basic marketing concepts to strengthen your foundation before starting the course.

Browse courses on Marketing

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Review notes or textbooks from previous marketing courses
Complete practice questions or quizzes on marketing concepts
Attend a refresher workshop or seminar on marketing basics

Curate a resource list for entrepreneurs

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Compile a collection of valuable resources that can support entrepreneurs in their journey.

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Identify relevant articles, books, podcasts, and online tools
Organize and categorize the resources based on topic or stage of business growth
Share the resource list with other entrepreneurs through a blog post or social media

Build a customer persona

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Create a detailed profile of your target customer to gain a deep understanding of their needs and motivations.

Browse courses on Customer Persona

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Gather data from market research, surveys, and interviews
Identify key demographic, psychographic, and behavioral characteristics
Develop a comprehensive customer profile that describes their goals, challenges, and buying habits

Five other activities

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Analyze customer segmentation case studies

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Engage in hands-on exercises to apply customer segmentation techniques to real-world scenarios.

Browse courses on Customer Segmentation

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Identify and analyze case studies of successful customer segmentation strategies
Apply customer segmentation principles to hypothetical business scenarios

Attend a workshop on customer value proposition development

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Gain practical insights and guidance on developing a compelling value proposition for your business.

Browse courses on Customer Value Proposition

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Research and identify workshops on customer value proposition development
Attend the workshop and actively participate in discussions
Implement the techniques learned to refine your value proposition

Conduct a competitive analysis for your business

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Conduct a thorough analysis of your competitors to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and market share.

Browse courses on Competitive Analysis

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Identify your key competitors
Gather data on their products, services, marketing strategies, and financial performance
Analyze the data to identify areas where you can differentiate your business and gain a competitive advantage

Develop a sample pricing strategy

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Create a practical pricing strategy that aligns with your understanding of customer value and competitive analysis.

Browse courses on Pricing Strategy

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Identify different pricing models and their advantages and disadvantages
Conduct market research to determine customer price sensitivity
Develop a pricing strategy that maximizes value for customers

Mentor a fellow entrepreneur

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Share your knowledge and experience by mentoring someone who is starting or growing a business.

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Identify a mentee who is aligned with your expertise
Establish regular communication and provide guidance on business fundamentals
Share industry insights and best practices

Career center

Learners who complete Fundamentals of Customers and Competition, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a company's marketing strategy, from developing and executing marketing campaigns to managing the company's brand. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Marketing Manager by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to identify and target your target audience, develop effective marketing campaigns, and measure the results of your marketing efforts. This course may also help you prepare for the American Marketing Association's Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) certification.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for overseeing the development and launch of new products and services. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Product Manager by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to identify and target your target market, develop product specifications, and manage the product development process. This course may also help you prepare for the Product Management Institute's Certified Product Manager (CPM) certification.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Business Development Manager

Business Development Managers are responsible for generating new business leads and developing new sales opportunities. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Business Development Manager by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to identify and target potential customers, develop effective sales presentations, and close deals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers are responsible for managing sales teams and driving sales growth. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Sales Manager by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to develop and implement sales strategies, motivate and train sales teams, and forecast sales.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Account Manager

Account Managers are responsible for managing relationships with existing customers. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an Account Manager by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to build and maintain customer relationships, identify and resolve customer issues, and drive customer loyalty.

See salaries and explore the career path for Account Manager

Customer Success Manager

Customer Success Managers are responsible for helping customers achieve success with a company's products or services. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Customer Success Manager by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to build and maintain customer relationships, identify and resolve customer issues, and drive customer adoption.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Success Manager

Marketing Analyst

Marketing Analysts are responsible for collecting and analyzing data to measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Marketing Analyst by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to collect and analyze data, interpret results, and make recommendations to improve marketing campaigns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Analyst

Market Researcher

Market Researchers are responsible for conducting research to understand the needs and wants of customers. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Market Researcher by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to design and conduct research studies, collect and analyze data, and make recommendations to improve products and services.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Business Consultant

Business Consultants are responsible for helping businesses improve their performance. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Business Consultant by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to analyze businesses, identify problems, and develop solutions. This course may also help you prepare for the Institute of Management Consultants' Certified Management Consultant (CMC) certification.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Consultant

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs are responsible for starting and running their own businesses. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as an Entrepreneur by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to identify and evaluate business opportunities, develop business plans, and raise capital. This course may also help you prepare for the U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business Management certification.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Chief Marketing Officer

Chief Marketing Officers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a company's marketing strategy. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Chief Marketing Officer by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to develop and implement marketing strategies, manage marketing teams, and measure the results of marketing efforts. This course may also help you prepare for the American Marketing Association's Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) certification.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Marketing Officer

Chief Product Officer

Chief Product Officers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a company's product development and management. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Chief Product Officer by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to develop and implement product strategies, manage product teams, and measure the results of product development efforts. This course may also help you prepare for the Product Management Institute's Certified Product Manager (CPM) certification.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Product Officer

Chief Sales Officer

Chief Sales Officers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a company's sales strategy and operations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Chief Sales Officer by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to develop and implement sales strategies, manage sales teams, and measure the results of sales efforts. This course may also help you prepare for the Sales Management Association's Certified Sales Leader (CSL) certification.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Sales Officer

Chief Customer Officer

Chief Customer Officers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a company's customer service and support. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Chief Customer Officer by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to develop and implement customer service strategies, manage customer service teams, and measure the results of customer service efforts. This course may also help you prepare for the Customer Management Institute's Certified Customer Service Manager (CCSM) certification.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Customer Officer

Chief Strategy Officer

Chief Strategy Officers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a company's strategic planning and implementation. This course can help you develop the skills you need to succeed as a Chief Strategy Officer by providing you with a deep understanding of your customers and competition. You will learn how to develop and implement strategic plans, manage strategic initiatives, and measure the results of strategic efforts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Strategy Officer

Reading list

We've selected 16 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Customers and Competition, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women.

The Startup Owner's Manual

Save

This comprehensive guide provides a step-by-step process for building a successful startup. It valuable resource for entrepreneurs who are looking for guidance and advice on everything from starting a company to raising capital to scaling a business.

The Startup Owner's Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide...

Hardcover

The Startup Owner's Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide...

Kindle Edition

Competitive Strategy

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This seminal work by Michael Porter provides a framework for understanding the competitive landscape and developing strategies to gain a competitive advantage. It must-read for entrepreneurs and business leaders who want to succeed in today's competitive market.

Fundamentals of Customers and Competition, with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Strategic customer & competitive advantage

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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