Is your business being stalked?
They say imitation is the sincerest flattery form.
Yet its effect on the source (you) can range from mildly inspiring to downright maddening.
Let’s table some shades, to colour this copycat world.
Copy cat
I once had a client at the bleeding edge of their field.
They were so ahead of their time, almost everything they did was a first. Read more
Accounting practices need marketing just as much as anyone else. Marketing isn’t, as many people imagine, just about advertising and trying to help the sales team make a sale. And yes it may eventually come to that, but marketing in the truest form, the very foundation of it, lies with the customer. It is understanding what your customer’s points of pain are, what they need (not necessarily “want” in the words of Steve Jobs) and then creating a solution. It doesn’t end there. You need to ensure that the solution is delivered in the right way, the easiest way for your customer to access – deliver the optimum customer experience. You also need to consider how what you are offering is going to differ from what everyone else in the market offers. What is going to make you unique? Why should they buy ‘it’ (whatever ‘it’ is) from you? There are then decisions on how to price the product, where to distribute it and only then do you start the work of promoting it. Read more
I’m assuming, if you’re reading this article, that you’re an accountant or at least working in the industry in some capacity. Let me ask you a question … “As an accountant what is the most important thing you do for your clients?” Over the years I’ve been given any number of responses to this question.
Some say, “Keep my clients safe & compliant”.
Others say, “Make their lives easier”.
While many say, “Get them a big tax refund”.
However, the most common response I receive to this fundamental question is, “to add value”. Read more
You’ll often hear business experts say that in order for your venture to be a success you’ve got to ‘work on your business as much as you work in it’.
Easier said than done.
With many small business owners running a solo show, it is often a struggle to find the time to not only be the CEO but also be your marketing, sales, finance, compliance, customer service, admin, reception, HR and IT departments. And to not allow these crucial tasks fall to the sidelines. Read more
There’s sure to be some pretty tired faces around Australia this morning, as over 2.4 million people tuned in to watch the 2012 Australian Open marathon final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal last night.
As the clock ticked past midnight, and Nadal forced the game into a fifth set with a nail biting tie breaker win, the game officially became the longest final in tennis history. Finally, just seven minutes shy of 6 hours, Djokovic took the main prize.
So how does this game apply to business life? Read more
User reviews: useless, useful or just plain used?
Twice in a blue moon, I leave Empire House.
It’s nice to describe new experiences.
Sadly, a ticket company censored one of my event reviews – which further dampened the fun.
At first I was chuffed to be asked to comment.
Now I see it as a cynical grab for (selected) content.
BAD ticket company! 
Asking for it
My positive review of Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking got up.
My negative review of Sting’s Symphonicity didn’t.
(Both are below.)
The censorship wouldn’t have bothered me, had the ticket company not solicited my feedback in the first place.
You know how I hate broken promises.
When will firms realise how damaging these are to relationships?
Stage fright
These entertainments occurred a while back.
Since then, I’ve watched buyer/user/customer reviews take centre stage.
You can do them on Amazon (great fun) and now eBay (risky).
Reviews were also key to my printer purchase.
Depending on handling, I think reviews are a double-edged sword that could:
- Carve you a bigger chunk of your market.
- Take your head clean off.
What do you think?
Your view
Do you:
- Write user reviews?
- Use them in your business?
Why (not)?
We sure would appreciate your
feedback.
Appendix 1: Carried by a majority
The show started bang on time to a full house. The old theatre didn’t seem to have a dud seat. Carrie was confident, polished and engaging. The audience warmed to her from the start and there was obviously a lot of affection for her in the room.
The set was cosy and the slides were good, though a bit too far back to see properly sometimes. Great gags came regularly, but the truth was even funnier. There was a lot about Carrie’s early life and more about the craziness of Hollywood relationships.
The only surprise for me was that there wasn’t much about … drinking! Given the title, I expected a lot more on this topic. But that was my only grizzle. Carrie’s audience participation was great fun and unusually kind. She seems as decent as she is funny and frank.
I laughed out loud many times and my wife thought the show was fantastic. At over $100 a ticket, I thought it was a leetle steep. But for the Star Wars, Hollywood and gay icon fans in the audience, I suspect there was ample value for money.
All in all a very good show. Proceed with confidence!
Appendix 2: Stung
Sting was wonderful, I imagine.
It’s a pity there were twice as many tickets sold as vantage points.
Those in front of the stage were fine. For hundreds of others perched on the sidelines like me, however, there were only muffled booms and a fine view of the concrete shell of the Myer Music Bowl.
You couldn’t move without crushing someone’s plastic cup. I heard several muttered recriminations about being ripped off and I certainly felt my $105 ticket would have performed better service in the toilet.
Drinks were $9.50 a pop, so I couldn’t even afford to drown my sorrows.
A miserable evening of dashed expectations.
A full refund would be a good start.
An apology would also help.
Look beyond your labels!
Ever heard the saying ‘money follows pain’?
In short, prospects don’t care about you; they care about healing their hurts.
Make ‘em feel good and you’ll make a fortune.
I recently saw this maxim played out magnificently in a supermarket. Read more
Have your cake. Eat it. Keep the plate!
Last year I realised my competitors aren’t.
This year I’ll help them get more business.
They won’t get a bigger slice of the ‘pie’ (i.e. market) at my expense.
Rather, we’ll all enjoy a BIGGER pie.
This could work for you too.
Winner winner
It started when Sarah Mitchell scored a new client from a conversation on this blog.
In the past I’d have fumed, ‘That should’ve been my client!’ Read more
Smart business resolutions for all SME’s.
There’s a New Zealand online business I came across the other day, which may as well have had a photo of me pinned to their mood board when they conceptualised it.
From the moment I spotted an ad for it on another blog, to the moment I followed them on their Facebook page. Read more
For anyone who knows me out in the ‘real world’, they’ll definitely know that anything by Michael Buble has never been on my iPod play list. And that’s not due to me having no appreciation for what it is he has to offer to the musical world and his adoring audiences, his music is just not my cup of tea. Read more
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