Sometimes support can come from the most unlikely of places. For example, how would you like Steve Jobs to present your business to a global audience?
Sound far fetched.
Posts Tagged ‘marketing’
It Is All Fertilizer
Posted: January 24th, 2010
Author: Michael Regan
Posted in branding, business, marketing | No Comments »
Source Crowsnest Pass Railway Route
The picture is a little before my time (circa 1953).
I started my working career (1966) in Trail BC at Cominco (now Teck Cominco) as a labourer. The work was dirty and dangerous – but not particularly hard and certainly not intellectually challenging. However, looking back, many of things I learnt there are still relevant. One of the most important was in the field of marketing. Which, at that time, was as far from being one of my career goals as a fish trying to fly.
I was working filling bags of fertilizer at Cominco’s Warfield operation.
Resource List for Dec 10th Workshop
Posted: December 7th, 2009
Author: Michael Regan
Posted in Google, SEO, business, marketing | No Comments »
I will be conducting a workshop on "What Every Business Owner Should Know To Maximize Investment In A Website.". (And, no I didn’t pick the title.) With such a huge topic – I thought I had better write a resource list for the attendees. Then I thought – why not share it with everyone.
It is by no means complete – but it is a start. And, the blogs in particular will lead you to even more information.
Website Workshop Scheduled For Biz Owners
Courtenay, BC— In the not-so-distant past, a professional business card was the primary first-impression piece—a necessity for a business to look legitimate. Now, it seems a website is the indication of legitimacy, as well as an incredible business tool that makes geography a non-issue.
Since websites open every business to a global marketplace and level the playing field for small businesses and big businesses alike, most business owners are considering or using a website, but often have questions about designing, programming and maintaining a good website to maximize their investments of time and money—to get the most out of their sites.
Analytic Marketing by MC Hammer
Posted: November 3rd, 2009
Author: Michael Regan
Posted in analytics, branding, business | 1 Comment »
OK – I don’t normally listen to MC Hammer. His music has a good beat – but other than that it leaves me flat. But, were he to target the geriatric crowd – I am willing to bet he would do a good job. MC Hammer understands the value of analyzing his target market.
Olympic Torch Arrives in Comox
Public events can be a great way to bring traffic to your website. News worthy event, such as the Olympic Torch Relay, generate a lot of search engine traffic. To take advantage of these events you need to do two things. First be fast and second have a tie-in to your business.
In the age of digital cameras on cell phones being fast is becoming easier. The problem, of course, is everyone has the same advantage. The good news it – not everyone is taking advantage of it.
Becoming The Next Dooce
Posted: June 3rd, 2009
Author: Michael Regan
Posted in Google, blog, branding, business, marketing | No Comments »
While attending a meeting of programmers and other web geeks, I got to talking with a woman who clearly was non-geek. She told me she was there to learn about blogging and her ambition was to be the next “Dooce”. I did a quick double take – having mentally misspelt the word.
Turns our “Dooce” is a leading “Mommy Blogger”.
A few days later I was reading Seth Godin’s blog on The Next Google. Essentially giving the same advice I give to all our clients who want to be the next whatever – don’t waste your time — it has already been done.
Most of my life I have live in small communities. One common business thread that I see over and over again is
- Some one gets an idea for a new product – say a candy store
- They start making money with their business
- Another candy store opens on the next block.
- Both stores compete by lowering prices.
- Eveyone goes broke
We can easily see the cause and effect in a small market. First there is a limited market – an inelastic market. This puts a limit on the demand. As more suppliers enter the market there are more opportunities for customers to substituted services. The price is reduced to either attract or keep clients. At some point price will be reduced to a point where no one can make a profit.
The Internet is different. The demand on the Internet is large – but fixed. The price is zero – not much room for price reduction. And, there is customer inertia.
Lets go back to our small town. If the new candy store had the same prices, they will only attract people who were dissatisfied with the other store. Customer inertia will keep people at the first store if there is no difference in product, price or service. To attract customers, they have to do something different. Being the same is not an option.
Getting back to our potential “Mommy Blogger”. She needs to either find a niche within the genre that is not being served or define her own blog in another manner. Being the next “Dooce” is not an option.
Two Videos Worth Watching
Posted: April 21st, 2009
Author: Michael Regan
Posted in SEM, business, conversion, marketing | No Comments »
OK – One Video Worth Watching
The link to the Ad Age video is not going to the right video – it seems to have been either archived or the link is broken in some other way. I left the link to Ad Age since they do have some good content.
Sometimes it is just better to let the experts explain things.
The video from Web Pro News gives some great insite into how to get your site to convert visitors to buyers.
The second item is a link to a video at Advertising Age. It is the best discussion I have either read or seem on the value of Twitter. It hasn’t convinced me to Tweet yet – but I am more open to the idea.
How To Drive Away Customers
In a resent post, Matt Cutts – the Google WebSpam guru talks about a problem he had over a data storage device from Data Robotics. The problem was NOT with the device, but an ill-concieved plan to increase revenue by charging for firmware updates.
Of course this is only one example of companies alienating their customers. It has only been a few weeks since Facebook was force to retract their changes to their ‘Terms of Service’ by complaints from their customers.
Historically, things weren’t any better. Coke lost millions with the introduction of ‘New Coke’. Back in late 1950’s sales at Ford tumbled when the Edsel was introduced.
Making chances that benefit you or your business instead of those that benefit your clients is the easiest way to drive away customers. Making changes becuse you ‘think’ you know what the customer wants, as was the case with ‘new Coke’ and ‘Edsel’ is another great way to dirve customers to your competition.
Keep your focus on what your customers really want. (Ask them if you are not sure.) And, make changes that truely benefit your clients – not just to serve the interests of your business.
To Die By Sudden Weath
In his poem "The Ballad of Blasphemous Bill", Robert Service lists "sudden wealth" as one of the many ways a man can die. For businesses as well, suddenly having your business "take off", can cause many problems. In some cases, it has cause businesses to fail.
As your business struggles to stay alive, it is a good time to consider the future.
By now you should have a good idea if you are going to weather this economic storm. If you are – consider the business landscape once the crisis has passed. Some of your competitors will have disappeared – will you be able to handle the increase in orders?. Some of your supplier to may have also scummed – do you have alternate sources? Will you need more space? More staff? How will you finance your growth?
These are only a few of the questions that will need to be addressed. Each business is unique. Only you know what problems are likely to face your business and your area. By all accounts – you have a lot of time to get ready. But, the sooner you start thinking about these problems, the less likely you are to die by "sudden wealth"
