Marketing people can learn a lot from their kids–or other people’s kids. Kids tend to put things in the simplest of terms and rarely over-think things. That is the problem with most business/marketing plans. The simpler something can be boiled down for the user the better. If it can’t be boiled down easily then perhaps [...]
What does John McCain and Exxon have in common? Both are bad at marketing. Why? Do I really need to define pandering for you? Okay, then I will. Pander – According to the dictionary is: “To cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses” Pander – According to Wikipedia: “In [...]
In a time when companies are finding their market shares being eaten by online monsters like Google the best thing isn’t to try and duplicate the lack of features they offer but offer more features. I was a AAA member, no longer. Why do I need them when I have Google? Sure, they offer auto [...]
Recently I had a problem with a hinge on my Dell laptop. I called Dell and thanks to our company’s service agreement they came and fixed it free. That sounds good except it took longer for me to make the appointment than it did to fix my laptop. All the technician had to do is [...]
Why does Netflix have a cult following? Well if you read an email I received from them you’d understand. “Dear Charlie, As you may know, we had issues with our shipping systems this week. As a result, we didn’t ship DVDs to you in a timely manner, and you likely didn’t receive email letting you [...]
Although those of us with marketing degrees hate to admit it, but marketing is often common sense. So, when you own a restaurant and someone starts an impromptu car show in front of it what does common sense tell you to do? 1. ignore them?2. call the police to tell them to get out of [...]
The geniuses are at it in Philly. The Philadelphia Inquirer has decided not to publish news first on the web. Nope, they want to save the sacred cow. They will instead hold stories until the paper hits your doorstep. Great idea!! You wouldn’t want to try and compete with CNN, Yahoo, the local television stations [...]
I wrote a few days ago about how Sony doesn’t care about you or I because they just blast us with the same emails. Well they should take their lead from Netflix on how to send an email that shows just how important a customer you are to them. I got another email from Netflix [...]
Here is the dilemma. Your a rock star and you need to sell CDs. Remember those? The round plastic spinning things? Well those CDs actually make more money for a rock star than selling their songs on iTunes. So, how does a rock star sell CDs when no one wants them anymore? Give them a [...]
I just got off the phone with a survey company. They were surveying me about my recent interaction with GM. The amazing thing was how great my experience with GM was. I’m surprised too. The story began with me emailing a few of their executives to complain about how my 2006 GMC Yukon was rusting. [...]
