Turn the pain of switching into a promise by removing friction and rewarding commitment. Design migrations, guarantees, and data portability that convert barriers into benefits.
Which barrier is a classic switching cost you can flip into a benefit?
Homepage color change
More push notifications by default
Data migration time—offer automated imports and setup credits
Logo redesign
Which proof best reduces perceived risk of switching?
Money‑back or outcome guarantee tied to migration milestones
A longer FAQ
Anecdotes on social media
Unrelated awards
What pricing move aligns with switching‑cost value?
Permanent discounts only
Upfront surcharge for switchers
Temporary dual‑run pricing or credits to cover overlap with the incumbent
Hidden termination fees
Which design reduces learning cost for new users?
Force a complex tour before use
Command mapping and import of preferences from the old tool
Remove all help content
Change all shortcuts arbitrarily
What is the healthiest form of lock‑in?
Growing relationship value via better outcomes and ecosystem, not punitive traps
Device‑specific DRM without reason
Data export blocks
Opaque contracts with severe exit fees
Which KPI shows switching costs have been neutralised?
Higher vanity traffic
More marketing emails sent
Number of menu items
Time‑to‑first‑value for switchers converges to new‑logo cohorts
A buyer worries about downtime during migration. Best mitigation?
No backups
Staged cutover with parallel run and rollback plan
One‑time big‑bang at peak hours
Turning off monitoring
Which sales asset helps justify switching ROI?
Office tour video
Model of one‑off switching costs vs. recurring savings and upsides
Brand sizzle reel
Generic market share chart
What policy fosters trust while enabling exit?
Proprietary formats without docs
Fees for basic exports
Self‑serve export in open formats and documented APIs
Export by ticket only
Which onboarding approach reduces cognitive switching cost?
Use unexplained jargon
Progressive disclosure with contextual tips tied to user intent
Disable undo
Dump all features on first launch
Starter
You can identify barriers; now convert them into migration perks and protections.
Solid
Strong—your roadmap reduces friction while deepening relationship value.
Expert!
Expert—your switching design creates lock‑in by choice, not force.
