Inside the Subtle Marketing Shift That Changed Roomba's FortunesHow lowering expectations and downplaying its own technology helped a cutting-edge company reach a whole new customer.

Let a robot replace you.For years, this wasiRobot'spitchfor the Roomba, its robotic vacuum cleaner. And for years it worked well, generating strong annual sales growth for the Massachusetts firm. There was only one problem: A sizable cohort of potential consumers didn't believe it. These were people who valued an immaculate home. They worked hard at it. They didn't think a robotcouldreplace them. And they were right. It probably couldn't.

Related:How to Make the Right Sales Pitch