Just passing by but soooo curious. What other company can create such buzz about a new product!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Who posts reviews anyway?
While waiting to be seated at a new restaurant yesterday I was overcome with boredom. You see, I was promised a 20 minute wait for a table but as we approached 45 minutes without a spark of acknowledgement from the hostess, it seemed time to check them out. I pulled out my iPhone and checked into Yelp. I can’t say my research was terribly enlightening. It was a new place with both excellent and fair reviews. I’ve learned to take the poor ratings with a grain or two of salt, unless that’s all there is.
After 45 minutes we were finally acknowledged and after 50 were offered a less than desirable spot. But, since we were next and had been waiting, it was offered as a favor. We took our seats and waited again. It was another 10 minutes before the first of the wait staff addressed us.
OK. Here was my opportunity to get back at them for their rudeness. I too, could post a review and warn potential patrons about this slight. I began preparing my missive in my head. Then, finally. A menu. A meal. And, low and behold, the prices were very reasonable and the food was quite good. Then the owner stopped by to say hello. He was such a nice fellow and had had his share of difficulties with his original restaurant that had been there previously and succumbed to a mysterious fire.
I’ve never posted a review. I’m now wondering what it will take for me to do it. I felt this place deserved a second chance and I was not going to be the one to devise their doom. Not me!
But, the moral of the story is that I had the power. I just chose not to use it – this time. It’s an interesting and scary thought to know that as businesses, we are all vulnerable. Of course, it’s a wonderful opportunity to know what our clients think of us and to make sure we are always operating in their best interests. But it seems it might only take a couple of irate and/or unreasonable posting to destroy us! Guess we’d better pay attention.
Who posts reviews anyway?
After 45 minutes we were finally acknowledged and after 50 were offered a less than desirable spot. But, since we were next and had been waiting, it was offered as a favor. We took our seats and waited again. It was another 10 minutes before the first of the wait staff addressed us.
OK. Here was my opportunity to get back at them for their rudeness. I too, could post a review and warn potential patrons about this slight. I began preparing my missive in my head. Then, finally. A menu. A meal. And, low and behold, the prices were very reasonable and the food was quite good. Then the owner stopped by to say hello. He was such a nice fellow and had had his share of difficulties with his original restaurant that had been there previously and succumbed to a mysterious fire.
I’ve never posted a review. I’m now wondering what it will take for me to do it. I felt this place deserved a second chance and I was not going to be the one to devise their doom. Not me!
But, the moral of the story is that I had the power. I just chose not to use it – this time. It’s an interesting and scary thought to know that as businesses, we are all vulnerable. Of course, it’s a wonderful opportunity to know what our clients think of us and to make sure we are always operating in their best interests. But it seems it might only take a couple of irate and/or unreasonable posting to destroy us! Guess we’d better pay attention.
Who posts reviews anyway?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Know what your community wants to know and tell them
It seems obvious. Why spend efforts posting information no one is going to care about? I can’t count the multitudes of posts I’ve seen alluding to something I have no interest in and even more bazaar – the obscure coded messages that lead me to believe that everyone “gets it” but me.
There are really two lessons here.
First: Gather friends and connections that are relevant to your own interests. It’s not a competition about how many "friends" you have. It’s quality, not quantity. I can’t help but recall a client of a mailing house who insisted that the mailer send their collateral to a list of ancient, and non-deliverable names because their list would not have been large enough otherwise. (duh!).
Second: Communicate something of value to the audience. Again, it’s not much different than relevant-target marketing at its best. Why would anyone take the time to read your story if it doesn’t resonate for them? Of course, in the world of Social Media, along with targeted communications it’s critical that it offers something of value. That is, information - not a blatant directives to buy.
So, now my quandary: If I get no responses from this post does it mean I’m posting meaningless dribble? - just what I’ve said not to do.
There are really two lessons here.
First: Gather friends and connections that are relevant to your own interests. It’s not a competition about how many "friends" you have. It’s quality, not quantity. I can’t help but recall a client of a mailing house who insisted that the mailer send their collateral to a list of ancient, and non-deliverable names because their list would not have been large enough otherwise. (duh!).
Second: Communicate something of value to the audience. Again, it’s not much different than relevant-target marketing at its best. Why would anyone take the time to read your story if it doesn’t resonate for them? Of course, in the world of Social Media, along with targeted communications it’s critical that it offers something of value. That is, information - not a blatant directives to buy.
So, now my quandary: If I get no responses from this post does it mean I’m posting meaningless dribble? - just what I’ve said not to do.
Monday, January 11, 2010
It’s 2010- time to start moving on those resolutions.
Happy New Year Loyal Bloggers
We’re going to wrap out arms around this Web 2.0 thing one way or another. We could sure use your help. Chime in. Please. It seems many of us have a great handle of different aspects of this brave new world. Nobody has it all. If they say they do, they’re kidding themselves. It’s changing way too fast.
We are very excited about the suggested marketing potential of social media but at the same time, trying to tread lightly. It’s not the same world we group up in. The messaging will not come from exclusively the seller anymore. The sellers have to take a leap of faith (that is, have confidence in their product) and let the marketing happen. It will anyway. They at least need to follow it. The fun part is the balancing act. We have powerful marketing tools. Tools that have been effective for decades. They won’t go away. We should continue to use them. Send your direct mail. Broadcast your TV or radio spots. Publish. Publish. Publish. Anyway you know how. But prepare for a two way conversation that is often initiated from the other side. Know what your customers think of your products and what they are telling their friends. Figure out how to leverage their recommendations. Deal with their concerns. Prepare for change.
And feel free to argue with me.
We’re going to wrap out arms around this Web 2.0 thing one way or another. We could sure use your help. Chime in. Please. It seems many of us have a great handle of different aspects of this brave new world. Nobody has it all. If they say they do, they’re kidding themselves. It’s changing way too fast.
We are very excited about the suggested marketing potential of social media but at the same time, trying to tread lightly. It’s not the same world we group up in. The messaging will not come from exclusively the seller anymore. The sellers have to take a leap of faith (that is, have confidence in their product) and let the marketing happen. It will anyway. They at least need to follow it. The fun part is the balancing act. We have powerful marketing tools. Tools that have been effective for decades. They won’t go away. We should continue to use them. Send your direct mail. Broadcast your TV or radio spots. Publish. Publish. Publish. Anyway you know how. But prepare for a two way conversation that is often initiated from the other side. Know what your customers think of your products and what they are telling their friends. Figure out how to leverage their recommendations. Deal with their concerns. Prepare for change.
And feel free to argue with me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
