Archived Posts - September 2009

09/24/2009

Personalize Your Business Communications - Thank Your Clients

  Let your clients know you appreciate their business   A few years ago, I moved back to Denver and was looking for a beauty salon that would service all of my beauty needs in one location. It can be challenging to find a full-service salon to meet all of your specific beauty needs, so I asked around for recommendations. I got a personal recommendation from my mom; she really liked the hair stylist at this particular salon, so I went to try it out. Wow, was I impressed with the experience!   I walked into the salon, which was located right off of a very busy street in town. …

09/16/2009

Don't Make Me Think! (Book Review)

Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think was popping up in so many “must read” lists, I couldn’t pass it up. This book outlines Krug’s “common sense approach to Web usability,” and is indeed a “must read.” Don’t Make Me Think does not cater only to Web usability professionals. Anyone who manages a Website will find the material to be easily digestible. You do not need the vocabulary of a seasoned Web professional to get value out of this book. The book’s title is also what Krug refers to as, “Krug’s First L …

09/15/2009

Using SMS Text Messaging for More Than A Good "LOL" - A New Social Marketing Strategy

A New Use for SMS Text Messaging: Over the weekend, I helped out at an event in Downtown Denver.  This event was a scavenger hunt to win a $15,000 engagement ring donated by a local jeweler. Over 250 couples showed up for the race in hopes of winning the ring. The key to winning the ring was to receive the highest amount of points by a certain time in the day. Now you may be asking yourself, what does this have anything to do with Social Marketing? It is important to note that when couples registered for the event that were required to enter their cell phone number and cell phone car …

09/14/2009

Call Tracking Services Improve ROI Measurement

09/14/2009

Client Relationship Building - Critical to Your Long-Term Business Success

Changes in the world have made Relationship Marketing to your existing client-base more important than ever. Some of these key changes include: Unlimited access to information and options Decreased overall brand loyalty Perceived and actual commoditization of products and services Blogs, rating systems, and other consumer-driven publishing platforms The downturn in the economy The trend towards the personalization of all products and services Never before has the consumer had so much influence over the products and services they purchase.  Previously, bu …

09/14/2009

How Much Are Your Bananas? – An Experience-Based, Pricing Model Case Study

Whether you are selling bananas, professional services, or manufactured goods, the client experience you create dictates the price that you can charge and your overall level of client satisfaction About a year or so ago, on my semi-daily visit to Starbucks, I noticed that they started selling bananas.  The cost was .90 each. This seemed pricey especially since bananas are available at every grocery store for quite a bit less. I began to notice that some mornings there were no bananas. When I asked why, they told me that on many of days, the bananas sell out early. Starbucks also has c …

09/10/2009

When Customer Incentives Become the Expectation

A friend of mine recently moved to Denver and bought a new house.  Being new to Colorado, she was unfamiliar with American Furniture Warehouse.  As she was perusing the ads a few weeks ago, she was absolutely elated to see that AFW was having a huge Labor Day Sale.  I just sort of chuckled to myself, and went on about my day.  I figured I would let her stay excited; she'd learn soon enough. What she will come to know, is that AFW is ALWAYS having a sale; there is nothing really special about this particular "Labor Day Sale."  Last month it was a "Back t …