Subscribe to Working Visually on LinkedIn to get the newest monthly edition delivered straight to your inbox!
Too often, sales teams work in silos, leading to inconsistent messaging and a diluted value proposition. This disconnect can hinder growth, slow productivity and weaken customer engagement. Overcoming these challenges starts from within. Success is not just about meeting quotas. It is about aligning strategy, communication, and customer experience in a clear and human-centered way.
Sales teams are frequently tasked with explaining complex offerings that are difficult to articulate. At Throughline, we help clients visualize that complexity and tell compelling stories that drive alignment, spark transformation and yes, even accelerate sales.
The Importance of a Map
Imagine you're on a road trip and suddenly realize you're lost. You might stop to ask for directions or, more likely, open your favorite GPS app to figure out where you are and how to reach your destination. Visual strategy maps function the same way for organizations. They provide clarity, context and a clear path forward.
A sales team without a map often gets lost in a sea of disconnected slides. On the other hand, a well-designed map simplifies complexity and provides a clear, adaptable narrative. Instead of merely telling customers how your products can help them, maps enable you to visualize how your offerings directly address their most pressing challenges.
Over the past two decades (we are 21 now), Throughline has developed hundreds of visual maps and placemats. Some are printed leave-behinds tailored for audiences to take with them, while others are interactive and show real-time data to allow for deeper exploration of key topics. These tools transform abstract concepts into tangible and engaging narratives.
With 65% of customers preferring remote or digital self-service over traditional interactions (Source: McKinsey), a strategy map can serve as your most effective entry point. It helps you tell a focused, relevant story. Our clients consistently report stronger client engagement, shorter sales cycles, increased productivity, faster onboarding and more qualified leads.
Beyond the Map
While maps are just one of the ways we support sales teams, Throughline is more than an enterprise strategy firm. We are also a full-service creative agency. Our capabilities span branding, communications, video production, customer experience design and much more.
We don’t often share our clients’ work, and for good reason. It is their story to tell. But when a story becomes public, we’re proud to have played a part. Our GenAI for All scroll-e-learner has been featured on Deloitte’s website for over 2 years. This dynamic, immersive learning experience expands upon the idea of a map and is a powerful tool that leverages visual metaphors to educate employees and aid clients in better comprehend the application of generative AI. You can learn more about this work on our website.
Find yourself curious about our latest innovative work or what we could do for you? Let us know. Throughliners love a challenge!
‘Til next time,
The Throughline Team