When people are sharing more and more with each other and strangers, when audiences are splintering, when the relationship between a company and it’s customers is far more measurable, spending millions of dollars on “brand awareness” would seem hilarious – if it wasn’t sad. In other words: “You don’t want the kind of high-production stories …
Category Archives: Customer Relationship
Theres Always More Than One Way
“Don’t ever allow yourself to believe that there is only one way to make ideas real.” – Scott Berkun Stated more traditionally, “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.” The great thing about roadblocks is they force an evaluation of goals. For example, you’d like to publish a book and are continually rejected …
Put the Ask After the Parade, Not Before
A month or so back I got a knock on the front door. It was a couple high school kids asking for donations for the marching band’s new uniforms. I wasn’t thinking about the marching band at that moment. Nor was my wallet right next to the front door. Tonight, moments before Jen and I …
Pledging to Put Money Where Mouth Is
Yes, I will contribute five dollars each to five podcasters who don’t use paid sponsors. Help show a listener-supported model will work and add your name to the pledge. If you’d rather just support a podcaster, might I recommend: All of us at PodcastMN Croncast Evil Genius Chronicles This Week in Tech
Podcasting is Closer to Voicemail than Radio
Yesterday, I listened to the latest from the Podcast Brothers featuring an interview with Todd Storch. You’ve probably gleaned that I don’t see the viability of an ad subsidized podcast. As I’ve mentioned in the economics of podcasting, existing broadcasters have huge amounts of money sunk into transmitters, spectrum, studios, and talent. The easiest way …
Continue reading “Podcasting is Closer to Voicemail than Radio”
The IKEA Furnishings Subscription Model
I had a couple of apartments completely furnished via IKEA. As I’m sure you know, once assembled Billy isn’t going anywhere. Drooping and wabbly, the Billy entertainment system lasted – to the day – as my last rental lease. Not a bad thing, I didn’t have to move it. Though it did leave me without …
Even the Almost Perfect Customer Experience Takes 15 Years
I bought a car last week. We’ve been looking for another one for some time and not been real happy with what’s available (anything under 20 mpg just seems irresponsible). My father-in-law has a fantastic, nearly 15 year old relationship with a dealership. He’s purchased every car I’ve ever seen him drive there. When Jen …
Continue reading “Even the Almost Perfect Customer Experience Takes 15 Years”
Fake Data to See if Anyone’s Paying Attention
When putting together a prototype for usability testing, it’s best to use realistic data. If you’re evaluating the readability of a search results screen, put in the actual results. If you’re evaluating a check-out process, make all the information throughout the entire process real. Then, after, tweak the data just slightly. Make it humorous, make …
Continue reading “Fake Data to See if Anyone’s Paying Attention”
Are Newspapers in the News Business or Fish-wrap Business?
Doc Searls: “If your paper is worth so much (and it is), and you want to charge for it, how about charging for fresh news, and giving away the stale stuff?” The ‘more-for-new-less-for-old’ model is a good one. Let’s take a look a couple industries where it seems to work well: Movies If Jen and …
Continue reading “Are Newspapers in the News Business or Fish-wrap Business?”
Circling Vulture Part 2
A couple days back, I wrote a half-formed rant on the current state of department stores (Picky Customer or Circling Vulture). This morning, while skimming my blogroll [opml] in search of a pick-me-up, Hugh McLeod 1) knees me in the groin 2) points and laughs. He did both in his Cheapest or Best post. First, …