For most companies, getting to (or staying on top of) any market segment and beating the competition is a constant battle. Companies fight this battle in many ways on a daily basis, and innovation is always a key weapon. But for most companies, "innovation" has always been closely tied to PRODUCT innovation—"how can we develop the latest and greatest widget that none of our competitors have and that everyone will want?"

When you think about it, this approach makes a lot of sense because a company's products (or services) are the physical, tangible embodiment of their work and success, meaning you can actually SEE the innovation in a new product or service. But is developing new products the only way for a company to innovate? What if you're a company like Coca-Cola who can't really improve or change their product (we all recall what happened when they tried in 1984)?

In 1998, Doblin, a global innovation firm that helps leading organizations find human-centered solutions to business problems, discovered the concept of the Ten Types of Innovation to help companies identify new opportunities beyond products and develop viable innovations. One of its findings was that not only is new product development the place where most companies concentrate their innovation resources but also that, on its own, it provides the lowest return on investment and the least competitive advantage. Additionally, Doblin's research introduced some critical concepts that can empower marketing organizations to create innovation in a very powerful way. Read on and we'll explain how.

Marketing Within the Ten Types of Innovation Framework

The Doblin model visually structures its findings with a color-coded spectrum that illustrates innovation taking place before, during, and after the development of a new product or service.

While marketing can truly affect any stage within the model, the right side of the spectrum, which covers the four types of experience innovation, is typically what's most directly connected to "marketing". Experience innovations focus on the customer's wants and needs during or after making a purchase—in effect, shaping the customer's relationship with the company. Because it is customer-facing, experience innovation makes a dynamic impact on marketing strategies. Let's take a look at how each type of experience innovation can make a difference in your company.

Service Innovation

Service Innovation deals with the ways you amplify the VALUE of your product or service with the support and "service" you offer. An innovative service enhances your product by making it easier for customers to use and enjoy. By offering access to personalized service that accompanies a purchase, you can increase the utility, performance, and value of that purchase in the eyes of your customer.

Some other examples of Service Innovation:

• Kroger Grocery Stores diversified the services they offer by building other stores (like Starbucks and Fred Meyer Jewelers) within the larger store for convenience
• Time Warner Cable pledged to improve in-home service after years of complaints
• Zippo offers a lifetime warranty/replacement on every lighter they sell.

Channel Innovation

Channel Innovations are concerned with how you deliver offerings to customers and users. Allowing your customers to buy your products in the most convenient and enjoyable way reinforces the user’s overall experience with your company. The channel itself can be physical, digital, or otherwise, but the way a product is distributed becomes part of the marketing strategy itself. (Here at ATA, we chose an inbound marketing strategy to organize how we share our expertise with our potential partners - learn what it's all about here.)

Some more examples of Channel Innovation:

• Amazon Prime Air revolutionized package delivery with drones
• Zappos eliminated frustration in online shoe shopping with free shipping and returns
• Cars.com brought the car lot into the digital age

Brand Innovation

Brand Innovation encompasses how you represent your products and business. In some cases, "brand" is used as an umbrella term for the sum of a company’s marketing strategy and the identity marketers create for the company. Wrapped up in that identity, however, are promises of a certain experience that customers will come to expect. By innovating your brand, you are essentially deciding which promises, verbal or nonverbal, you want to market to your customers. This ensures that customers can recognize and remember you.

Some more examples of Brand Innovation:

• Toms shoes donates "One for One" of every item sold, cementing the brand's altruistic image
• Esurance committed to saving customers money with 100% online brand that cuts out the middleman
• The Lincoln Motor Company promises luxury quality vehicles and driving experience

Customer Engagement Innovation

Customer Engagement Innovation focuses on the ways your company fosters compelling interactions. When you engage with your customers in new ways, you're connecting your brand with their lives and, hopefully, their needs and aspirations. These connections help you learn how to better serve your customers and allow them to feel like an integral and appreciated part of your business. Not to mention if you can nail customer engagement, you'll create memorable moments that really stick with your customers.

Some more examples of Customer Engagement Innovation:

• American Express created an entire twitter account for replying to customer queries and feedback
• Sephora shows you how to get the most out of makeup purchases with in-store makeovers, at-home samples, and personalized, expert advice
• The North Face tailored its customer loyalty program to offer adventurous experiences as rewards, proving that it knows its outdoorsy audience's wants and needs.

Innovative Marketing Makes Your Company More Competitive 

Innovations in experience can bring your company to life and get your brand out of the stores or webpages and into your customer's day-to-day. And focusing on the comprehensive experience that extends beyond the tangible products or services you sell and has proven to boost your ROI and bring forth step-function change within your market segment. As you can see from the examples above, the innovative possibilities within the experience side of the Doblin model are limitless, allowing your organization to resonate with your target audience as an innovator even if the new product pipeline isn't as robust as you'd hope.