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Archive | January, 2012

Knock-out-the-competition marketing

When we moved into a new house, we got the usual flood of flyers and brochures from businesses trying to get our attention. They all went into the trash. Then we got a nice plant from Freytag’s Florist around the corner — with a $10 gift card for our next order and a stack of […]

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Social media is a party, not a lecture

A classic quote from George Eberstadt, CEO of TurnTo Networks: [Good social media is the] difference between teaching a class and hosting a party. In both, all the participants are in the same room, but the dynamic could not be more different. In the classroom the teacher (the brand) dominates the conversation, and the flow […]

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Are we measuring the right thing?

Robert Kennedy, March 1968: Our Gross National Product…if we judge the United States of America by that – that Gross National Product counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage.  It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for the people who break them.  It counts the […]

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Did you tell them that their opinion counts?

If you want more feedback and reviews from your customers, let them know that you care. People appreciate being appreciated. They want to know that their voice has been heard. Here’s a great example here from TripAdvisor’s email newsletter.

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Abuse of trust

Did you ever wonder why so many consumers hate businesses? Often it’s because businesses take advantage of the relationships we have with them. When I bought a camera from Casio, I was pretty excited about the relationship. I bought several models over the years, convinced many friends to buy one, and blogged about them more […]

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Newsletter #868: The “Use What You Have” Issue

[Welcome back to the Damn, I Wish I’d Thought of That! 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.] Great marketers aren’t just looking for the new and shiny — they’re also looking at how to get the most out […]

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I can’t tell you about this

Seriously, I can’t. I was at the mall and some guy in a kiosk was selling special iPhone screen protectors that are supposedly better-feeling, better-working, and don’t fall off. With a lifetime guarantee. For $20. My regular screen protectors keep falling off or getting bubbles, so I decided to try it. It’s amazing! You should […]

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How long are your shirt tails?

A good men’s shirt has long tails (it keeps the shirt tucked in). A manufacturer can save millions by slicing a few inches off the bottom of every shirt. Bad companies look at this as a spreadsheet question: How much money can we save by reducing fabric quantity? But the most important data never shows […]

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She left me standing there, and I don't know why

I was a customer of a very good web hosting service for many years — until I cancelled my account last month. Cancellation was easy — I did it online and it was hassle-free and efficient. I left with a positive feeling. But they have no idea why I left. Why didn’t they call? Why […]

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