2008 August

On a flight earlier this month, I found myself stuck without my mainstay reading material.  I'd finished one book earlier in the flight than I'd expected, and with my son asleep on one arm I couldn't reach the carry-on.  So I did what any resourceful woman does and I improvised.  I picked up the NWA World Traveler magazine (hmm, normally not a big draw for me) and flipped through it.  I had about half an hour to muddle through and I was determined to make it with my sanity intact (I typically...

It may be an innocuous-sounding creedo, but in my opinon, Know Thy Customer is likely one of the top three Truths a brand should live by.  I'll talk about the other two Truths I hold dear in the next two posts. I'm what many would call a loyal customer.  In the past eighteen years, I've purchased the same brand of vehicle (with the exception of one transgression in my youth).  Since footing my own rent and buying my own groceries, I've always bought the same brand of butter.  And I only buy one brand...

I've come to read a fair amount of material from marketing/customer service expert and author Pete Blackshaw.  I found a recent article in iMedia Connection titled "Marketers Love Conversation, Unless the Consumer Starts It" where he talks a bit about what I'll label as "perfunctory" customer (consumer) feedback solicitation as opposed to genuine interest for the purpose of process or product improvement solicited in a manner that speaks to overall concern for experience. As described by me above,...

It's no big revelation that consumers are oriented far differently  - in terms of information - today than one, three, and five years ago.  I'm speaking of information stimuli and how consumers evaluate them: [is it considered a] credible source - is it viable stuff, something I can trust and leverage? [is it considered a] valuable source - is it good stuff, something deep, engaging, interesting? specific preferences of the delivery media or vehicle - can I get it how I want...

Do you remember those elementary/middle/high school days, when permission was needed from a person of authority in order to visit the library, use the restroom, see the school nurse (or otherwise roam the halls aimlessly)? I was reminded of that age-old process for gaining approval [in order to facilitate completion of a task] today when I took my 6 yr old to meet his first grade teacher. At the risk of oversimplifying things,  I'm suggesting that the necessity of acquiring a Hall Pass to get where...

Subtitled:  Hold A Mirror Before Pointing That Finger Recently I've become interested in reading and learning notable quotations. Many that I consider most eloquent and insightful happen to have been written by those who might be considered to have accomplished great things in their lifetimes.  However, I do not believe that one necessarily has to achieve greatness in order to do great things.  Or even communicate great things. Below is one quote that strikes a strong chord: Theodore Roosevelt:...

Subtitled:  Give Me Something to Believe In I have to say, this Winn-Dixie (regional grocery chain) tagline printed on a traditional paper sack, surprised the heck out of me.  I snapped this pix from my Motorola Q while on vacation last week in the Florida panhandle (affectionately known as Lower Alabama to us local folk) for the express purpose of initiating a conversation about connecting with your consumers (at the very least, your target audiences) in such a manner that will enable Persuasion,...

A couple of things are striking me as post-worthy: "Not all that rotates is gold." - Jerry McGovern and Word of the Day for Wed., Aug. 13, 2008 chichi \SHEE-shee\, adjective:    Affectedly trendy. ******************************************************************* So although I'm posting remotely (purportedly on vacation, although perhaps the very act of me posting implies that there's a "not so much" factor inherent), these two blurbs make me think about approaches to site design. ...

Social networking sites are built by individuals, and the power comes solely from the collective voice of the group. An overt appeal to raise funds or market a particular message is a risky proposition in an environment that is largely designed to reject central control and corporate messaging in the traditional sense. This is both the risk and the opportunity: You lose control of much of your message, but you can tap into far more powerful authenticity than traditional approaches allow. Therefore,...

Wikipedia defines a maverick as "a person who shows independence of thought or action; a non-conformist or rebel."  This loose definition could be considered appropos when taken in context with the old western-comedy television series staring James Garner, a poker-playing cowboy who "flimflammed the bad guys, but only when necessary." What is the relevancy of a maverick in today's workplace, one might ask?  There are likely a number of positions and opinions.  These are a few: Maverick...