Pain Point Meaning
: a persistent or recurring problem (as with a product or service) that frequently inconveniences or annoys customers.
Contents
What is a pain point?
Pain points are specific problems faced by current or prospective customers in the marketplace. Pain points include any problems the customer may experience along their journey. Download the latest issue of The Chief Sales Officer for actionable insights for forward-thinking sales leaders.
What are the 4 pain points?
Types of Customer Pain Points – Customer pain points are often grouped into 4 main types: productivity, financial, process, and support.
Why do we have pain points?
What Are Customer Pain Points? – A pain point is a specific problem that prospective customers of your business are experiencing. In other words, you can think of pain points as problems, plain and simple. Like any problem, customer pain points are as diverse and varied as your prospective customers themselves. However, not all prospects will be aware of the pain point they’re experiencing, which can make marketing to these individuals difficult as you effectively have to help your prospects realize they have a problem and convince them that your product or service will help solve it.
Financial Pain Points : Your prospects are spending too much money on their current provider/solution/products and want to reduce their spend Productivity Pain Points : Your prospects are wasting too much time using their current provider/solution/products or want to use their time more efficiently Process Pain Points : Your prospects want to improve internal processes, such as assigning leads to sales reps or nurturing lower-priority leads Support Pain Points : Your prospects aren’t receiving the support they need at critical stages of the customer journey or sales process
Viewing customer pain points in these categories allows you to start thinking about how to position your company or product as a solution to your prospects’ problems, and what is needed to keep them happy, For example, if your prospects’ pain points are primarily financial, you could highlight the features of your product within the context of a lower monthly subscription plan, or emphasize the increased ROI your satisfied customers experience after becoming a client.
However, while this method of categorization is a good start, it’s not as simple as identifying price as a pain point before pointing out that your product or service is cheaper than the competition. Many prospective customers’ problems are layered and complex, and may combine issues from several of our categories above.
That’s why you need to view your customers’ pain points holistically, and present your company as a solution to not just one particularly problematic pain point, but as a trusted partner that can help solve a variety of problems.
What is the difference between pain points and challenges?
CEO at Market Your Message Helping Coaches & Service Professionals consistently sign high-paying clients – Published Feb 10, 2022 Do you feel like you’ve been doing everything right? Like posting content consistently, yet you still aren’t attracting the right people? Most people think that they’re not attracting the clients they desire because of their marketing.
- While this might be true for some people, it’s not for the vast majority.
- Marketing is easy once you map out a plan; the hard part is getting the ideal people to see your posts.
- Unfortunately, the majority of people are struggling with their messaging.
- Too many people focus on their sales pitch and don’t realize they’re losing their prospects’ interest.
I understand that you want to make money, but you also have to connect with your audience. Speaking to their emotional side is what will inspire them to take action. You must speak to their challenge and pain point. Their challenge is the roadblock they face when trying to achieve a goal.
- Their pain point is the emotions they are feeling because of those roadblocks.
- One mistake many people make is forgetting that they weren’t always an expert.
- When you start teaching all those complex strategies and use all the terms that only the experts know, I can guarantee you won’t connect with your ideal clients.
Let me put it like this, say one of your prospects set a goal for 500 followers on Instagram. You’ve probably already surpassed that amount, so you put out a class teaching people how to reach 10K followers. That prospect will see that class and immediately click off because that number will intimidate them.
How can they focus on 10K when they haven’t achieved 500? You have to speak their language and help them accomplish their challenges. Remember that at some point, you were starting. Think about the terms you used, challenges you faced, goals you set, etc. Then, when you teach, speak about those topics because that’s how you’ll get your ideal clients to take notice of you.
Now that you understand what a challenge and pain point is, let me give you three strategies that’ll help you find your ideal client’s challenges and pain points. This is what I have done over the years. Number One: Ask Them You have to ask if you want to know your client’s challenges and pain points.
- Don’t just ask random questions; ask specific questions and get the information you need to know to create better marketing messages that’ll capture their attention.
- Let’s say you’re a fitness trainer focusing on recording a workout video, but you want feedback from your audience so that you can fit their needs.
All you have to do is post a question as simple as, “are you more focused on your arms, legs, or core?” Whichever answer gets majority votes will tell you what type of workout regimen to record, and your audience is more likely to purchase since you’re solving the problem they told you they’re focused on.
- Number Two: Record Your Calls Whether it’s a sales call, strategy, or discovery session, record it so that you can review it.
- For example, a common question asked is, “well, what made you decide to book a call with me,” The answer to that question is what you should be reviewing.
- On that first call, a client will be blissfully honest, bearing you with all of their emotions.
Let’s say their answer is, “I feel like I have to be on a certain level for people to take me seriously.” Once you hear that, you can immediately start making posts based on authenticity or give tips about showing up and getting results no matter what level you’re on.
Number Three: Spying You have to start spying on the communities that already have built-in audiences. For example, you’re probably in 10+ Facebook groups, and I’m sure the members talk about what challenges they face. It’s your job to spy on what they’re commenting on so that you can post content that’ll be useful for them.
With all three strategies, it all boils down to listening. You can ask, review, and spy, but the important part is listening so that you can provide better content. Enjoyed this? Leave a comment for us below! Whenever you’re ready here are 4 ways I can help you grow your coaching business:
Grab a free copy of the Master Your Message Workbook – It’s the road map to attracting the RIGHT clients, positioning yourself as the ONLY solution, never having to beg or convince another person to work with you. – CLICK HERE Struggling to communicate your message Join the Female Coaches Society where other coaches are growing & scaling their business too! In our Facebook group, you’ll learn the ins and outs of growing a coaching business so you can make more income & impact. We’re all about Community, Connections, & Collaborations – CLICK HERE TO JOIN The Female Coaches Society: Community | Collaboration | Connections Our flagship program, Message Remedy™, is your 8-week step-by-step plan to master your message for more leads, sales, and opportunities. Go from unknown and underpaid to undeniable LEARN MORE HERE Message Remedy If you’re already getting leads and sales but you desire consistency and scalability, then our signature program Market Your Message™ is for YOU. MYM is a high-performance mastermind and accountability program for coaches already generating $5k+ per month. CLICK HERE TO APPLY Schedule A Market Your Message Session
What is the opposite of pain points?
Pain points > antonyms » dissolving agent exp. »escape n. »everything is fine exp.
What are pain points at work?
What is an employee pain point? – Employee pain points are specific problems faced by current or prospective employees in the workplace. Pain points include any problems that the employees may experience along their journey. Be it a noisy work environment, multiple meetings, emails, notifications, workload – the list goes on.
What is the highest form of pain?
Trigeminal neuralgia – Trigeminal neuralgia or tic douloureux is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal or fifth cranial nerve. It is one of the most painful conditions known. It causes extreme, sporadic and sudden burning pain or electric shock sensation in the face, including the eyes, lips, scalp, nose, upper jaw, forehead, and lower jaw.
What is the most intense pain known to man?
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also known as tic douloureux, is sometimes described as the most excruciating pain known to humanity. The pain typically involves the lower face and jaw, although sometimes it affects the area around the nose and above the eye.
This intense, stabbing, electric shock-like pain is caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve, which sends branches to the forehead, cheek and lower jaw. It usually is limited to one side of the face. The pain can be triggered by an action as routine and minor as brushing your teeth, eating or the wind.
Attacks may begin mild and short, but if left untreated, trigeminal neuralgia can progressively worsen. Although trigeminal neuralgia cannot always be cured, there are treatments available to alleviate the debilitating pain. Normally, anticonvulsive medications are the first treatment choice. Surgery can be an effective option for those who become unresponsive to medications or for those who suffer serious side effects from the medications.
- The trigeminal nerve is one set of the cranial nerves in the head.
- It is the nerve responsible for providing sensation to the face.
- One trigeminal nerve runs to the right side of the head, while the other runs to the left.
- Each of these nerves has three distinct branches,
- Trigeminal” derives from the Latin word “tria,” which means three, and “geminus,” which means twin.
After the trigeminal nerve leaves the brain and travels inside the skull, it divides into three smaller branches, controlling sensations throughout the face:
Ophthalmic Nerve (V1): The first branch controls sensation in a person’s eye, upper eyelid and forehead. Maxillary Nerve (V2): The second branch controls sensation in the lower eyelid, cheek, nostril, upper lip and upper gum. Mandibular Nerve (V3): The third branch controls sensations in the jaw, lower lip, lower gum and some of the muscles used for chewing.
It is reported that 150,000 people are diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) every year. While the disorder can occur at any age, it is most common in people over the age of 50. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) notes that TN is twice as common in women than in men.
A form of TN is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). There are two types of TN — primary and secondary. The exact cause of TN is still unknown, but the pain associated with it represents an irritation of the nerve. Primary trigeminal neuralgia has been linked to the compression of the nerve, typically in the base of the head where the brain meets the spinal cord.
This is usually due to contact between a healthy artery or vein and the trigeminal nerve at the base of the brain. This places pressure on the nerve as it enters the brain and causes the nerve to misfire. Secondary TN is caused by pressure on the nerve from a tumor, MS, a cyst, facial injury or another medical condition that damages the myelin sheaths,
Most patients report that their pain begins spontaneously and seemingly out of nowhere. Other patients say their pain follows a car accident, a blow to the face or dental work, In the cases of dental work, it is more likely that the disorder was already developing and then caused the initial symptoms to be triggered.
Pain often is first experienced along the upper or lower jaw, so many patients assume they have a dental abscess, Some patients see their dentists and actually have a root canal performed, which inevitably brings no relief. When the pain persists, patients realize the problem is not dental-related.
- The pain of TN is defined as either type 1 (TN1) or type 2 (TN2).
- TN1 is characterized by intensely sharp, throbbing, sporadic, burning or shock-like pain around the eyes, lips, nose, jaw, forehead and scalp.
- TN1 can get worse resulting in more pain spells that last longer.
- TN2 pain often is present as a constant, burning, aching and may also have stabbing less intense than TN1.
TN tends to run in cycles. Patients often suffer long stretches of frequent attacks, followed by weeks, months or even years of little or no pain. The usual pattern, however, is for the attacks to intensify over time with shorter pain-free periods. Some patients suffer less than one attack a day, while others experience a dozen or more every hour.
- The pain typically begins with a sensation of electrical shocks that culminates in an excruciating stabbing pain within less than 20 seconds.
- The pain often leaves patients with uncontrollable facial twitching, which is why the disorder is also known as tic douloureux.
- Pain can be focused in one spot or it can spread throughout the face.
Typically, it is only on one side of the face; however, in rare occasions and sometimes when associated with multiple sclerosis, patients may feel pain in both sides of their face. Pain areas include the cheeks, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, eyes and forehead.
Touching the skin lightly Washing Shaving Brushing teeth Blowing the nose Drinking hot or cold beverages Encountering a light breeze Applying makeup Smiling Talking
The symptoms of several pain disorders are similar to those of trigeminal neuralgia. The most common mimicker of TN is trigeminal neuropathic pain (TNP). TNP results from an injury or damage to the trigeminal nerve. TNP pain is generally described as being constant, dull and burning. Attacks of sharp pain can also occur, commonly triggered by touch. Additional mimickers include:
Temporal tendinitis Ernest syndrome (injury of the stylomandibular ligament Occipital neuralgia Cluster headaches / migraines Giant cell arteritis Dental pain Post-herpetic neuralgia Glossopharyngeal neuralgia Sinus infection Ear infection Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
TN can be very difficult to diagnose, because there are no specific diagnostic tests and symptoms are very similar to other facial pain disorders. Therefore, it is important to seek medical care when feeling unusual, sharp pain around the eyes, lips, nose, jaw, forehead and scalp, especially if you have not had dental or other facial surgery recently.
The patient should begin by addressing the problem with their primary care physician. They may refer the patient to a specialist later. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect if a tumor or MS is affecting the trigeminal nerve. A high-resolution, thin-slice or three-dimensional MRI can reveal if there is compression caused by a blood vessel.
Newer scanning techniques can show if a vessel is pressing on the nerve and may even show the degree of compression. Compression due to veins is not as easily identified on these scans. Tests can help rule out other causes of facial disorders. TN usually is diagnosed based on the description of the symptoms provided by the patient, detailed patient history and clinical evaluation.
There are no specific diagnostic tests for TN, so physicians must rely heavily on symptoms and history. Physicians base their diagnosis on the type pain (sudden, quick and shock-like), the location of the pain and things that trigger the pain. Physical and neurological examinations may also be done in which the doctor will touch and examine parts of your face to better understand where the pain is located.
There are several effective ways to alleviate the pain, including a variety of medications. Medications are generally started at low doses and increased gradually based on patient’s response to the drug.
Carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant drug, is the most common medication that doctors use to treat TN. In the early stages of the disease, carbamazepine controls pain for most people. When a patient shows no relief from this medication, a physician has cause to doubt whether TN is present. However, the effectiveness of carbamazepine decreases over time. Possible side effects include dizziness, double vision, drowsiness and nausea, Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant drug, which is most commonly used to treat epilepsy or migraines can also treat TN. Side effects of this drug are minor and include dizziness and/or drowsiness which go away on their own. Oxcarbazepine, a newer medication, has been used more recently as the first line of treatment. It is structurally related to carbamazepine and may be preferred, because it generally has fewer side effects. Possible side effects include dizziness and double vision.
Other medications include: baclofen, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, pregabalin, phenytoin, valproic acid, clonazepam, sodium valporate, lamotrigine, topiramate, phenytoin and opioids, There are drawbacks to these medications, other than side effects.
- Some patients may need relatively high doses to alleviate the pain, and the side effects can become more pronounced at higher doses.
- Anticonvulsant drugs may lose their effectiveness over time.
- Some patients may need a higher dose to reduce the pain or a second anticonvulsant, which can lead to adverse drug reactions.
Many of these drugs can have a toxic effect on some patients, particularly people with a history of bone marrow suppression and kidney and liver toxicity, These patients must have their blood monitored to ensure their safety. If medications have proven ineffective in treating TN, several surgical procedures may help control the pain.
- Surgical treatment is divided into two categories: 1) open cranial surgery or 2) lesioning procedures.
- In general, open surgery is performed for patients found to have pressure on the trigeminal nerve from a nearby blood vessel, which can be diagnosed with imaging of the brain, such as a special MRI.
This surgery is thought to take away the underlying problem causing the TN. In contrast, lesioning procedures include interventions that injure the trigeminal nerve on purpose, in order to prevent the nerve from delivering pain to the face. The effects of lesioning may be shorter lasting and in some keys may result in numbness to the face.
- Microvascular decompression involves microsurgical exposure of the trigeminal nerve root, identification of a blood vessel that may be compressing the nerve and gentle movement of the blood vessel away from the point of compression.
- Decompression may reduce sensitivity and allow the trigeminal nerve to recover and return to a more normal, pain-free condition.
While this generally is the most effective surgery, it also is the most invasive, because it requires opening the skull through a craniotomy, There is a small risk of decreased hearing, facial weakness, facial numbness, double vision, stroke or death.
Percutaneous radiofrequency rhizotomy treats TN through the use of electrocoagulation (heat). It can relieve nerve pain by destroying the part of the nerve that causes pain and suppressing the pain signal to the brain. The surgeon passes a hollow needle through the cheek into the trigeminal nerve. A heating current, which is passed through an electrode, destroys some of the nerve fibers.
Percutaneous balloon compression utilizes a needle that is passed through the cheek to the trigeminal nerve. The neurosurgeon places a balloon in the trigeminal nerve through a catheter, The balloon is inflated where fibers produce pain. The balloon compresses the nerve, injuring the pain-causing fibers, and is then removed.
Percutaneous glycerol rhizotomy utilizes glycerol injected through a needle into the area where the nerve divides into three main branches. The goal is to damage the nerve selectively in order to interfere with the transmission of the pain signals to the brain. Stereotactic radiosurgery (through such procedures as Gamma Knife, Cyberknife, Linear Accelerator (LINAC) delivers a single highly concentrated dose of ionizing radiation to a small, precise target at the trigeminal nerve root.
This treatment is noninvasive and avoids many of the risks and complications of open surgery and other treatments. Over a period of time and as a result of radiation exposure, the slow formation of a lesion in the nerve interrupts transmission of pain signals to the brain.
Overall, the benefits of surgery or lesioning techniques should always be weighed carefully against its risks. Although a large percentage of TN patients report pain relief after procedures, there is no guarantee that they will help every individual. For patients with TNP, another surgical procedure can be done that includes placement of one or more electrodes in the soft tissue near the nerves, under the skull on the covering of the brain and sometimes deeper into the brain, to deliver electrical stimulation to the part of the brain responsible for sensation of the face.
In peripheral nerve stimulation, the leads are placed under the skin on branches of the trigeminal nerve. In motor cortex stimulation (MCS), the area which innervates the face is stimulated. In deep brain stimulation (DBS), regions that affect sensation pathways to the face may be stimulated.
Write down symptoms. This should include: What the pain feels like (for example, is it sharp, shooting, aching, burning or other), where exactly the pain is located (lower jaw, cheek, eye/forehead), if it is accompanied by other symptoms (headache, numbness, facial spasms), duration of pain (weeks, months, years), pain-free intervals (longest period of time without pain or in between episodes), severity of pain (0=no pain, 10=worst pain) Note any triggers of pain (e.g. brushing teeth, touching face, cold air) Make a list of medications and surgeries related to the face pain (prior medications, did they work, were there side effects), current medications (duration and dose) Write down questions in advance Understand that the diagnosis and treatment process for TN is not simple. Having realistic expectations can greatly improve overall outcomes.
Patients should follow-up with their primary care providers and specialists regularly to maintain their treatment. Typically, neuromodulation surgical patients are asked to return to the clinic every few months in the year following the surgery. During these visits, they may adjust the stimulation settings and assess the patient’s recovery from surgery.
Trial for Treatment Refractory Trigeminal Neuralgia Greater Occipital Nerve and Cervical Region Injection in Patients With Trigeminal Neuralgia The Efficacy and Safety of Pulsed Radiofrequency Combined With Continuous Radiofrequency for the Trigeminal Neuralgia (PRFCRF) Electroacupuncture Therapy for Change of Pain in Classical Trigeminal Neuralgia
Gao J, Zhao C, Jiang W, Zheng B, He Y. Effect of Acupuncture on Cognitive Function and Quality of Life in Patients With Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia, J Nerv Ment Dis.2019 Mar;207(3). This study investigated how trigeminal neuralgia patients improved with accupuncture therapy. The study concluded that accupuncture can be used as an alterantive treatment for trigeminal neuralgia to improve patient’s quality of life. Heinskou TB, Maarbjerg S, Wolfram F, Rochat P, Brennum J, Olesen J, Bendtsen L. Favourable prognosis of trigeminal neuralgia when enrolled in a multidisciplinary management program – a two-year prospective real-life study, J Headache Pain.2019 Mar 4;20(1):23. This is a long-term observational study which looked at how patients with trigeminal neuralgia are medically managed. The study concluded that patients who are enrolled in a medical management program providing them with continous education, optimization of treatment, and support have better pain relief.
The following websites offer additional information on TN and its causes, treatment options, support and more (Note: These sites are not under the auspice of the AANS, and their listing here should not be seen as an endorsement of the sites or their content.)
TNA The Facial Pain Association David’s Journey With Trigeminal Neuralgia
Patient Pages are authored by neurosurgical professionals, with the goal of providing useful information to the public. Julie G. Pilitsis, MD, PhD Chair, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics Professor, Neurosurgery and Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics Albany Medical College Olga Khazen Research Coordinator, Neuroscience & Experimental Therapeutics Albany Medical College Important The AANS does not endorse any treatments, procedures, products or physicians referenced in these patient fact sheets.