by Daria Steigman on February 25, 2009
My latest business column is out. And it’s all about where entrepreneurs go for business advice.
My approach is to have an informal advisory board of smart people. Mine have great business instincts, good marketing ideas, and business development savvy. And they’re not afraid to tell me when I’m off base. Because as any entrepreneur who’s been successful knows, you have to seek, listen, and take advice.
Read my latest column for IABC’s CW Bulletin. Then please come back and tell me: Where do you go for business advice?
Tagged as:
Business,
Entrepreneurship,
IABC,
Independent Thinking
by Daria Steigman on February 23, 2009
Have you ever wished you could skim through a video post?
I have a secret. I don’t like watching videos. Send me a link to a 5,000-word article and I’ll dive in. But send me a video link and odds are high I’ll click it off in a few seconds.
There are some notable exceptions. Videocasts that break out the discussion into timed segments are okay, because I can move to exactly what I’m most interested in. Chris Brogan’s force of personality occasionally lures me to watch him–but only when the video posts are short. And Ike Pigott has a wonderful series of 12-second videos that speak to the audience and give you that hmm moment that spurs further discussion.
For the most part, however, I’ll stick to print. Written posts put me in charge–of my time, and how I consume the information.
What about you? I’d love to hear why you do–or don’t–like videoblogging.
Tagged as:
12seconds.tv,
Chris Brogan,
Communications Strategy,
Ike Piggott,
Social Media,
videoblogging
by Daria Steigman on February 18, 2009
I’m a business owner, so I get the idea of up-selling products and services. But you have to know when to do it, and when doing so will drive business away.
Case in point: the Exxon station down the street from me. I swiped my credit card as usual, filled up the tank, and hit the “Yes, I want a receipt” button. Then I got a very annoying “See clerk for receipt” notice. Once inside, I had to wait until the clerk finished selling lottery tickets to another customer. To sum up:
- I had to pull out my purse, lock up the car, and go inside.
- I had to wait in line just to get someone to print out my receipt.
- The clerk didn’t use the opportunity of my standing inside his store to either apologize for the wait or to thank me for purchasing gas at his station.
Next time I need gas, I’m going to the Amoco station across the street even if it means a left turn across traffic. They let me get in and out without leaving the pump area. Plus, when they’re not busy, they offer to squeegee the windows or put air in my tires–free of charge.
Which business would you recommend?
Tagged as:
Customer Service,
Exxon Mobil,
up-selling
by Daria Steigman on February 17, 2009
This isn’t going to be a post about dating, relationships, or Valentine’s Day. But when was the last time you heard a guy say he was looking forward to “getting to the communication”?
That’s a key line from an advertisement by online dating service eHarmony that has been running on ESPN News. Apparently eHarmony just held a “free communication weekend,” presumably in honor of Valentine’s Day.
The ad caught my attention because it seemed so out of place on a sports network. (That and the guy uttering a phrase that no real person would actually use.) So here’s the bigger question: who is the target audience? If I’m watching a sporting event, I’m not likely to turn it off and log on to fill out a “29 dimensions of compatibility” questionnaire.
Why do you think eHarmony is advertising on ESPN? Smart move or waste of money?
Tagged as:
advertising,
eHarmony,
ESPN NEWS
by Daria Steigman on February 12, 2009
What would you do to reinvent business?
It didn’t take $18 billion in Wall Street rewards to corporate failure to realize that the way we do business has to change. The debris from our old models is littered across the U.S. and global economies. But what should 21st century companies look like?
A group of 35 academics, social commentators, management consultants, and CEOs took on the “what has to change” question at a meeting 12 months ago. From that, according to Gary Hamel, emerged 25 challenges for business. Some–such as redefining leadership and increasing trust–are pretty obvious. But others offer food for thought. The list includes expanding and exploiting diversity, breaking up with the status quo, and empowering renegades. It’s a fascinating starting point for a critical discussion.
What else should businesses do to restructure and thrive? What would you add to the agenda?
Tagged as:
Business,
Leadership,
Restructuring
