There are a handful of vocations ideally positioned for connecting with customers on a regular basis via audio (podcasting): Politicians Motivational Speakers Professional Consultants Musicians Poet, Author, or other Professional Writers If your vocation is in that list, find a speech or presentation and hit record. Then send it to your most passionate customers. It’s …
Author Archives: Garrick van Buren
I missed another 1-on-1 Bike Swap
The 1-on-1 Bike Swaps are a great way to celebrate spring and autumn, clean out your garage, and race un-ride-able bikes around a track bordered with empty PBR cans. The May 22 bash was the second one I missed. Gene, Hurl, if you’re listening – add an RSS feed to the 117 blog. Thanks.
How Netflix Could Use Recommendations To Increase Subscriptions
One of the challenges of highly customer-driven systems like the iPod, Tivo, and Netflix is the keeping it fresh. I wrote about my experience with this problem last fall (New, Unexpected Music on Your iPod). I’m sensing the same “2,000 songs and nothing’s on” wall with Netflix. Sure, there are 50 discs in our queue …
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Business Casual Saves Energy
In an effort to dramatically reduce the heat pollution caused by Tokyo’s air conditioners, Japanese businessmen will be dressing business casual this summer. No jackets and ties after June 1. Read the full story at the New York Times: Is a Salaryman Without a Suit Like Sushi Without the Rice?
Drawing the Line with Corn
Despite (or because of) growing up among fields and fields of it I’m not a big fan corn. It’s alright in pancakes (especially from Maria’s) and Red Hot Blues, just not on the cob, frozen, or in a can, or in my food as a sweetener. I’m not the only one. Mexico’s sugar industry has …
First Crack 43. Web 2.0 in Minneapolis
My coverage of Jim Cuene’s Web 2.0 presentation at the May 2005 Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association salon. One on one comments with attendees and Jim’s full presentation. Lots of insight into the current local interactive marketing scene vibe. Once again, I slide the Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle into conversation. Listen to Web 2.0 in Minneapolis [1 …
The Buzzword Blacklist
Here’s a small (and growing) list of meaningless, negative words that I’d like to strike from my world. User Consumer Content Sticky Leverage Synergy Facilitate Doc Searles has a nice follow-up on these terms and language in Relating to Customers …customers don’t like being “consumers” or “targets.” Being “reduced” doesn’t stir their hearts, either. Least …
Introducing the ProjectMaker Dashboard Widget
The ProjectMaker dashboard widget is quick and easy way to create consistent groups across your iApps (Mail, Address Book, iCal) for your projects. Download the ProjectMaker Dashboard Widget Drop your comments and suggestions to the ProjectMaker Widget’s permanent home.
Designing for Beausage?
One of the things that continues to inspire and intrigue me is how the marks of previous uses communicate how to use something to a new audience. In the non-electronic, non-disposable world of say, a rural Midwestern farm in the 1980s; the wear on the barn door shows you how to open it, the path …
A Business Model for Abundance
Heretofore, most business were founded on the idea of scarcity. Being the One and Only as Seth Godin describes. If you’re the only vendor offering something, it used to be easy to make money. Just convince people you’re the only one that can solve their problem. Then surround yourself with huge barriers to entry while …