# Helping Customers Understand The Business Problem You Solve | Jeff Koser - 2005

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-sales-evangelist-745326/helping-customers-understand-the-business-problem-you-solve-jeff-koser-2005
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-sales-evangelist-745326/helping-customers-understand-the-business-problem-you-solve-jeff-koser-2005.md
Podcast: [The Sales Evangelist](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-sales-evangelist-745326)
Published: 2026-05-25T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://thesalesevangelist.com
Audio file: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/clrtpod.com/m/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/9a4c5ae9-3c2b-4de1-b101-00df35518ee0.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-sales-evangelist-745326/episodes/helping-customers-understand-the-business-problem-you-solve-jeff-koser-2005
Duration seconds: 1711

## Resource

One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is focusing too quickly on their product instead of understanding the deeper problem their customer is trying to solve. That’s why I wanted to bring back this conversation with Jeff Koser , founder and CEO of Zebrafy. Even though this episode originally aired during the pandemic, the principles still apply today, especially when it comes to standing out in crowded markets and building trust with buyers. Why Surface-Level Selling Doesn’t Work Jeff explained that too many sales reps stop at surface-level conversations. Customers do not buy because your product has more features. They buy because they believe you understand the real business problem they are facing and can help them solve it. That requires deeper research, better questions, and understanding the customer’s world before pitching a solution. The Importance of “Voice of the Customer” One idea that really stood out to me was Jeff’s concept of “voice of the customer.” Instead of only relying on your company messaging, Jeff encourages sellers to learn directly from customers by understanding: the problems customers believe were solved the value created after solving those problems and the measurable business impact the solution delivered That insight helps sellers communicate in a way that feels more relevant and customer-focused. Why Respectful Outreach Matters Jeff also shared why thoughtful outreach matters more than ever. Buyers are overwhelmed with emails, automated messaging, and generic pitches. Sellers who take the time to personalize their communication and genuinely understand customer priorities immediately separate themselves from the competition. At the end of the day, the best sales conversations happen when customers feel understood, not sold to. “We have…

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## Transcript

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