The success of a business relies heavily on its ability to retain customers and build long-lasting relationships. One of the many challenges companies face along the path to this goal is the phenomenon of customer churn, which can be categorized into two types: voluntary churn and involuntary churn. Both types of churn can impact a company's bottom line and hinder growth, but understanding and addressing voluntary churn is particularly crucial for product managers because, as you’ll see, it’s directly linked to their product's value and customer experience.

The role of a product manager is to develop and manage a product throughout its lifecycle, ensuring that it meets customers' needs and contributes positively to the company's overall objectives. As a key stakeholder, product managers are directly affected by voluntary churn and must be equipped to identify its causes and devise strategies to mitigate its impact. By focusing on understanding the reasons behind voluntary churn and implementing targeted retention initiatives, product managers can improve customer satisfaction, increase customer lifetime value, and ultimately, drive growth and profitability for their company.

In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into the concept of voluntary churn, its implications for product managers, and effective approaches to reduce it. We’ll explore the importance of gathering customer feedback, optimizing the customer onboarding process, and enhancing customer support, among other strategies. By understanding the factors contributing to voluntary churn and implementing the right measures, product managers can help their companies build strong customer relationships, minimize customer attrition, and secure a competitive edge in the market.

Defining voluntary churn

Voluntary churn refers to the situation where customers actively choose to stop using a product or service, cancel their subscription, or switch to a competitor. This type of churn is driven by the customers' dissatisfaction with the product, service, or overall experience provided by the company.

Voluntary churn is particularly concerning for product managers because it directly correlates with the perceived value of their product, customer experience, and the effectiveness of their customer retention strategies. The higher the voluntary churn rate, the greater the indication that there is a need for improvements in the product, customer service, or overall customer satisfaction.

Voluntary churn vs involuntary churn

Voluntary churn and involuntary churn are two distinct types of customer attrition that can impact a SaaS company's growth and revenue. Voluntary churn occurs when customers actively decide to cancel their subscription or discontinue using a product or service due to dissatisfaction or unmet expectations. For a SaaS company, voluntary churn may result from factors such as a complex user interface, lack of essential features, poor customer support, or the emergence of a better alternative in the market. For instance, if customers find that a project management software is not user-friendly or lacks the integrations they require, they may choose to cancel their subscription and switch to a competitor's product.

On the other hand, involuntary churn happens when customers stop using a product or service due to external factors beyond their control or the company's control. These factors are not directly related to the customers' experience or satisfaction with the product. For a SaaS company, involuntary churn could be the result of a customer's business closing down, budget cuts, or a change in the customer's industry that renders the SaaS solution irrelevant. For example, a company that subscribes to a social media management tool may experience financial difficulties and be forced to cut their marketing budget, leading to the cancellation of their subscription. In this case, the decision to discontinue the service is not a reflection of the product's quality or the company's support but rather a result of external circumstances.

Understanding the differences between voluntary and involuntary churn is crucial for SaaS companies to devise effective retention strategies and target the right areas for improvement. While involuntary churn may be challenging to predict and mitigate, focusing on reducing voluntary churn by addressing customer pain points, enhancing product features, and delivering exceptional customer support can significantly contribute to a SaaS company's long-term success.

The impact of voluntary churn on product managers

Voluntary churn has a significant impact on product managers and their ability to drive growth and revenue for their companies. Here are some ways in which voluntary churn affects product managers:

1. Loss of revenue - the most apparent effect of voluntary churn is the loss of recurring revenue from customers who discontinue using the product or service. This lost revenue can hinder the company's growth, making it challenging to achieve financial goals and reinvest in product development.
2. Increased customer acquisition costs - as customers leave, companies need to invest more resources in acquiring new customers to replace those who have churned. Customer acquisition costs tend to be higher than the costs of retaining existing customers, which can put additional financial strain on the company.
3. Negative impact on brand reputation - high voluntary churn rates can signal dissatisfaction with the product or service, which can harm the company's reputation. Unsatisfied customers are more likely to share negative experiences with others, which can deter potential customers from considering your product or service.
4. Hindrance to product development - voluntary churn can serve as a roadblock to product development. When product managers are constantly trying to address customer dissatisfaction and churn, they may have less time and resources to devote to innovation and improving the product's features and functionality.
5. Difficulty in forecasting and planning - high voluntary churn rates can make it challenging for product managers to forecast future revenue and plan for product improvements or expansions. The uncertainty created by customer attrition can lead to hesitation in making long-term strategic decisions.

Strategies for reducing voluntary churn

Product managers play a crucial role in minimizing voluntary churn and enhancing customer satisfaction. Implementing the following proven approaches can effectively reduce voluntary churn and contribute to a company's long-term success:

1. Collect and analyze customer feedback - regularly gathering and analyzing customer feedback is vital for understanding the factors contributing to voluntary churn. By identifying areas of dissatisfaction, product managers can make data-driven decisions to address these concerns. Incorporating customer feedback can lead to product improvements, an enhanced customer experience, and ultimately, a reduction in churn.
2. Enhance customer onboarding - a well-designed onboarding process can lay the foundation for a positive customer experience and decrease the likelihood of churn. Product managers must ensure that new customers enjoy a seamless onboarding experience, complete with clear instructions on product usage, access to helpful resources, and prompt support when needed. A successful onboarding process can significantly impact customers' long-term relationship with the product and the company.
3. Improve customer support - exceptional customer support is critical for retaining customers and preventing voluntary churn. Invest in training your support team to handle customer queries effectively, empathetically, and promptly. Providing multiple support channels, such as email, phone, live chat, and social media, can make it easier for customers to reach out and receive the assistance they require. Additionally, utilizing customer support tools, such as helpdesk software and chatbots, can improve efficiency and response times.
4. Foster customer engagement - engaging customers through regular communication and updates can help maintain their interest in your product and reduce the risk of churn. Product managers can leverage email marketing campaigns, in-app notifications, webinars, and social media to share valuable content, product updates, and tips for making the most of their product or service. Engaged customers are more likely to feel connected to the brand and less likely to churn.
5. Offer personalized experiences - personalization can make customers feel valued and foster a sense of loyalty to your brand. Analyze customer data to understand their preferences, needs, and behavior, and tailor your product offerings and communication accordingly. Personalized marketing, product recommendations, and customer support can enhance trust and loyalty, reducing the likelihood of customers leaving.
6. Monitor and address churn triggers - keep a close eye on customer behavior and usage patterns to identify potential churn triggers, such as a decline in product usage, negative feedback, or frequent support requests. Proactively addressing these issues and offering assistance can prevent customers from becoming dissatisfied and leaving.

By incorporating these strategies into their customer retention efforts, product managers can effectively reduce voluntary churn, ensuring customer satisfaction and promoting business growth.

To learn more about the various types of churn, and how to counteract them as a PM, read our blog: A practical guide to customer attrition for product managers