See Andy's other stuff:

Contact Me >>

Archive | December, 2009

Why social media freaks people out

We’ve all seen executives freaking out trying to chase the social media fad of the day. I’ve always advised them to take a deep breath and chill. In my opinion, the only platforms you need to worry about are the ones where your customers are. Your job is to connect with a community of people, […]

(3) Comments - Read & Join the Conversation

You would have made $5.50, but you were too greedy

I would have bought a $3 bottle of water in my hotel room. Probably two. But you got greedy and got nothing. Someone with a spreadsheet told you that you could get away with selling $7 waters. But no spreadsheet warns you when you’re acting like an ass. No spreadsheet warns you when your pricing […]

(6) Comments - Read & Join the Conversation

A great direct mail campaign

A new parking garage opened up across the street from our office. They sent out this simple direct mail campaign: a flyer and a real pre-paid pass for $5 parking. It’s the first piece of direct mail that we were fighting over. It did what all direct mail should: Get you to open it Convey […]

Comments Off on A great direct mail campaign - Read & Join the Conversation

Newsletter #761: The “Motivate Them” Issue

[Welcome back to the Damn, I Wish I Thought of That Email Newsletter. This is text of the great issue all of our email subscribers just received. Sign yourself up using the handy form on the right.] If you’re trying to motivate people to do something — you’ve got an uphill battle on your hands. […]

Comments Off on Newsletter #761: The “Motivate Them” Issue - Read & Join the Conversation

Follow the Word of Mouth Supergenius conference live, free

We’ve got 30 amazing speaker teaching everything you need to know about word mouth marketing. Follow the live blogging here Twitter search on #supergenius Listen to audio interview with all 30 speakers

Comments Off on Follow the Word of Mouth Supergenius conference live, free - Read & Join the Conversation

The Secret of the Secret Quesadilla

You can order a quesadilla at Chipotle, even though it’s not on the menu. Every parent knows this, because it’s the perfect thing to order for little kids — just cheese and a tortilla. Every parent tells their friends. Result: Tons of word of mouth. Why people share: Because it’s a secret. Because it’s special. […]

(4) Comments - Read & Join the Conversation

Meat of the Month Club

The crew at GasPedal got me an amazing birthday present: The Zingerman’s Bacon of the Month Club. Thanks! (My vegetarian wife got me a membership in the “Eat Your Stinky Meat Alone in the Basement Club.”) Your business should be selling a “thing of the month club” — recurring shipments, monthly installments, or a subscription. […]

Comments Off on Meat of the Month Club - Read & Join the Conversation

Ask for the sale when they are most interested in you

Lots of websites use articles, blogs, and other content to attract visitors. It’s a fine strategy. But the challenge is converting those visitors to buyers. The Spice House in Chicago does an amazing job by putting a shopping cart right inside their recipes. You read the recipe you like and add the products to your […]

(4) Comments - Read & Join the Conversation

The biggest bag of M&M’s you’ve ever seen

Our favorite thank-you gift is a giant 52 oz. bag of M&M’s. It’s ridiculously huge. We get a better response to this gift than when we send fancy gift baskets, expensive cheesecakes, or gourmet desserts. Why? Because it’s surprising. A silly-sized bag of your favorite candy, even if it only costs $8 at Costco, is […]

(2) Comments - Read & Join the Conversation