Category listing: June, 2008
In the world of online retail, I’m not sure there’s a better model than Zappos. So many articles have been written that I don’t need to include my own. However, I will tell you that my mother-in-law was so impressed by their extraordinary customer service, that she saved to show me the HANDWRITTEN THANK YOU note that was included in the shoebox she got after ordering online. That took a few short minutes of their time, but that effort made a huge impact on one customer.
Watch this 9 minute video that tells how Zappos actually tries to bribe their new employees into QUITTING! That’s right, dangle some big cash incentives to have their new customer services walk away after a few weeks on the job. You gotta watch the video to see why they would do something like this! One quote from the accompanying article:
Companies don’t engage emotionally with their customers—people do. If you want to create a memorable company, you have to fill your company with memorable people.
Even our good friend Seth makes an observation about Zappos. And you know when Seth is impressed, it’s impressive!
So in this cluttered world of retail, what are you known for? How do you stand out in the crowd? What are people writing about you?
- Randy
* Speaking of differentiation, you need to reserve July 1st for a workshop on this topic – the workshop will be in the North Richland Hills area (details will be provided upon enrollment) and will be at 7a – 8:30a so that you can attend and then have the remainder of your day to implement all the great ideas you are going to get. If you are facing stiff competition (from direct OR indirect competing forces), you have to got to attend – there are only 13 seats remaining, so you need to reserve your spot today! It’s only $50 to enroll! TO START YOUR ENROLLMENT – GO HERE!
Something’s going on now!
Last week, we got impassioned pleas from Joe (read it here) and Mike as well (read his letter here).
I guess with Father’s Day approaching, the heat is on . . . and some guys are feeling anxious about the gift they are about to receive. They’re crying out “Enough Already!” – just moments ago, a 3rd letter came in from Jerry at JerrysWorld.com. Similar to Joe and Mike, Jerry is pleading for help – stop the madness about powertools, golf and now Jerry’s dilemma. These men want something else for Father’s Day!
Can we just sit back and do nothing? Are we perpetuating the problem by assuming men want the same thing every year? Is it time to break out and get something better for Father’s Day? Only a few days left before Sunday . . . could it be possible that the men you know REALLY feel like Joe, Mike and Jerry . . . could they be pleading for something more . . . something DIFFERENT!
This year – be unique and help spread the word . . .
Sure all the “big guys” are using social media more and more (generally, social media can be blogs, RSS feeds, podcasts, email marketing, social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Plaxo . . . all the the “new ways” of marketing using the internet). But how does a small business use social media in their marketing strategy. Well, I will tell you that most small business owners that I have talked to are still learning to use a blog – so alot of the other Web 2.0 tools are not even in their marketing arsenal.
At one recent workshop, we asked the dozen participants and not even ONE small business owner was incorporating a blog into their web strategy. Do you realize what an opportunity you are missing? Blogs drive traffic to your site (increasing your search engine ranking) and they offer an incredibly candid opportunity for you to put a personality alongside your products! People can actually know (and start to like) you even before they start doing business with you.
Not sold yet? – listen to this podcast interview by John Jantsch, creator and founder of Duct Tape Marketing, the world’s most practical small business marketing system! This is a guy who wanted to sell more fishing lures. Fishing lures. This is probably even considered “very small” business by some and look at the powerful return on his investment by incorporating social media into his SMART marketing strategy.
As a Duct Tape Marketing coach here in Fort Worth, I can help you do the same for your business. As a marketing coach, I am eager to see you implementing these important (and sometimes FREE or low-cost) tools into your marketing strategy.
-Randy
** Speaking of using the web to spread your message, have you seen what Mike is doing – it’s Father’s Day and he’s on a crusade!!! Check it out!
