Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
If you ring up what it would cost to do research for your target audience through focus groups and surveys your budget would frown and the response rate would haunt you in your sleep. How do you get good solid information and even get a content bonus on the side?
On the Livestrong site there is a Share your Story section that allows your LIVESTRONG story to be shared with other readers. I am not sure how long the option has been running but 5673 sounds like a pretty good response rate to me. For the Livestrong Foundation whether they know it or not, but they now have 5673 different entries of what it means to overcome difficulties.
BOTTOM LINE: This ain’t your grandpa’s company anymore. This is the norm. This is the way. No more banner ads. You need authentic content, and Ignite HQ can help you get it.
Tags: livestrong
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Friday, March 27th, 2009
We always hear that communication is key. Internal communication can make or break a customer experience. The worst is jumping on a promotion and then asking an employee about it and then you get the response, “No, I haven’t heard of that. I can’t help you.”
A lot of value can come from meeting regularly with your employees and discussing new procedures, products, promos, etc. You should also keep it candid. Don’t try to rule the conversation. Chances are your employees have tons of questions and concerns. The last thing you want it conspiring behind cubicles. Keep it open. Keep them happy.
Customers often have questions and concerns if they visit your business often. Suggestion boxes are great but where is the accountability? If someone asks you a question face to face and their wallet is keeping your electricity flowing, you might want to follow up with them. Email and phone work, even if you don’t have a solution right away. Show them you care.
Facebook and Twitter can be great places for opening up a Q&A for internal communication or with customers. Ignite HQ can help you maintain relationships and execute these sessions.
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Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
I think sometimes companies get so worked up with out of the box strategies and ways to reach their customers that they forget the basics of personal communication. I learned back in kindergarten that if you make a mess it is best to fess up. In your customer contacts, it is best to be up front and honest. Anyone can and will see through false social smoke and mirrors.
The thing that comes to mind right away is product recalls. If you know faulty merchandise is in the hands of your customers you need to get on the ball and start sending some emails. If you hope the problem will go away and that no one will find out, don’t quit your day job. Know your products back and forth and be ready with the tough questions. If a certain model isn’t right for a customer get them the right one.
When your participating in blogs and forums, don’t be afraid to rock the boat. Just make sure your rocking it in the right way. That isn’t ‘code’ for sneaky behavior or product pushing. Be there to inform with an authentic voice.
The least favorite blogs and twitter feeds are those that constantly drop links. Let them know there is a person behind the screen every once and a while. I have been following Lance Armstrong for a couple weeks now and I don’t know a more authentic person to follow. Last thing you want to portray to your followers is that their getting an automatic robot updating the account. Talk about the game, tweet your drink, ask goofy but thoughtful questions. I don’t care what business your in. Do it.
Ease up on the blog advertising. It can be very easy to clutter up the sidebars with useless widgets. You don’t need to tell people your a blogger, their at your blog. Believe me, they know already. Focus on the content and try not to exploit your readers to banner ads. 2001 called, they want their blog back.
At IgniteHQ we can help you understand your audience and cater to them. We listen. We understand. Were real people talking to real people.
Posted in consulting, gathering, interaction, listening, social media | No Comments »
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
Lately I have been seeing my Facebook friends donating their statuses to certain causes.
John Doe is the 1,345,489th person to donate his status to support saving the tuna.
I think it is great to make people aware of your cause but as far as getting real results I would hope organizations dig a little deeper into their strategy. I worked with a business who insisted on using Paypal “Donate” buttons on their website. There is some debate with using Paypal. Personally I think if you want to make it ultra easy for someone to make a donation it is a solid choice.
Most people I have talked to have a Paypal account, even my mother who struggles with the right-click. I have heard some people calling it un-professional or ‘cheap’ looking. Yeah I guess it’s not the cutest little payment button I’ve ever clicked but when your talking non-profit your talking no scrill.
I donated $10 one time to my friends snowboarding fund about 6 months ago. I had some money from an ebay transaction I felt I could part with. I would do it again if I had the chance but she never sent a thank you email. Not a big deal but definitely send an acknowledgment email if your going to take peoples cash.
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Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
This last Sunday night I was drifting in and out of sleep during the Oscars. The phrase “Slumdog Millionaire” kept sounding in my head as I was nursing a Dr. Pepper. After about the 7th award or nomination, not sure, I finally searched the trailer on my iPhone.
I’m no movie buff but has anyone else noticed a huge shift in movies? These producers obviously rolled with the market on this one and absolutely ruled the awards ceremony. Ahem…best film…or something like that?
When you talk about social media and drawing in customers you can use all the twitter feeds and blogs and facebook groups(careful, these can come off annoying) to listen and interact with your customer. But unless you have a viable product/service that people identify with or love to use; forget about it.
A couple extra hours in the garage working on that thinga-ma-jig is worth more then email blasts. Speaking of twitter, Erin here at Ignite is theorizing the gossip magazines will be struggling if actors start their own twitter accounts. I agree and disagree. If I can follow John Mayer to get the real story thats great…but my wife who loves the bullcrap opinions of the magazines might not care as much.
I say hang in there People magazine , don’t sell that Cancun abode just yet.
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Thursday, February 12th, 2009
Ok I’m addicted to my iPhone. There I said it. For long periods of time I just stare at it. Last week I got some water damage and now it won’t turn off. Maybe it has made a love connection with me and wants to stay on all the time? If your an ‘iPhoner’ you may be suffering from the current addiction I am.
I feel like a 14 yr. old girl. Constantly checking for texts, looking at my iPhone when people are talking to me. But here’s the deal, easy touch screen is ultra awesome to use and quick to type out emails. The app store is great, I currently have 3 twitter account on my iPhone rather then confining myself to just my phone number to one account.
I’m a huge camera freak so Josh will be happy to know I have stayed up to date with the camera technology. The iPhone camera is impressive, for the outdoor scenes I want to remember, it works great.
Do you iPhone or Blackberry your life away? I use to rock the Blackberry Pearl so I’m not mud slinging, both are good pocket machines and great for keeping up to date on facebook and blogs.
Tags: blackberry, iphone
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Friday, February 6th, 2009
I could post some famous website to give all the answers on finding your audience online. I could post the most famous Facebook groups where conversations are updated by the second. But in all honesty, the joy of engaging in conversation is finding it yourself. It’s always fun do research and spend time finding that perfect conversation that you identify with and can contribute to.
For example, I’m a huge fan of Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey. In about 3 seconds I can find the official Deep Thoughts site, but the fun part was finding homemade Deep Thoughts by an avid skier on a ski forum I like to visit every so often. Google is a great search engine and widely used, but if your looking for the real gold you have to dig deep.
You really get what you put into it. If it takes you less then a couple minutes to find what you “think” you are looking for, I’d say keep searching. Make sure to play in the sandbox before you start telling everyone in a forum about your product or service. Nothing worse then a SPAMMER with less then 5 posts under their belt.
I’ll even leave you with my own “Deep Thought”.
If you find yourself spending too much time online chatting with strangers and playing subscription video games, you can finally attribute the coke cans and crushed chips all over your living room. Ah yes, thats where that came from.
Tags: deep thoughts
Posted in gathering, interaction, listening, social media | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
Let’s be serious. Valentines day is this holiday retailers came up with to ride the Christmas season coat-tale sales. For us guys were having to get off the comfortable couch, goto the store, and sequel another shopping escapade. And you thought you were done for a while….
You always hear the grumble from the men but I’d like to dedicate this post to the retailers out there. Thank you. I’m grateful that you invented this holiday out of thin air to strengthen my relationship with the misses.
Absolut Vodka has done quite the campaign for defining an Absolut World. This one of a protest group fighting SWAT is probably one of my favorites. I’m looking for their Valentines Day video. I don’t drink so I’m not affected by this advertising at all because I don’t drink….TRUE or FALSE? You choose.
This year I got my wife a gym membership, do you think that’s sending the wrong message? “Honey! I love you! Hit the gym and work on those abs.” I’ll keep brainstorming on something really charming, this might not go over well.
Tags: valentines day 2009
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Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
Just want to try out my Gravatar. I was a bit bugged my image wasn’t coming up but now it should be. Let me know what you think is best, this funky goggle picture of me upside down…or? I probably have some grad e school pictures of me in a suit. For now this is the Adam you get to see. Enjoy!
The above picture was actually of me on my 10th B-day I think. Lets just keep the comments and questions to a minimum. But wait…nevermind. Ask away! After all, this is a blog.
Tags: gravatar
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Monday, January 26th, 2009
I always got picked last for kickball in grade school. You line up with 20 of your friends and then someone randomly becomes a team captain who then proceeds to begin the chopping block. Those who don’t get picked or picked last walk away with heads hung low not sure what to do with themselves. Talk about damaging.
In this consumer oriented marketplace no one is picked last. Everyone has a voice. No more shutting people out. No more scratching them off the roll. Blogs, social sites, micro-blogs….these are the arenas for your customer to scream their opinions on the cyber roof tops. You can try to turn it off. Write them an email maybe. How does one turn a situation around resulting in a customer deleting their critical post?
When your utilizing social media to achieve company goals know that your entering a whole new playground. You play by their rules. You get water when they want it. And if your lucky, smart, and have that look…hopefully you won’t get picked last. And if you do there is always tomorrow’s recess.
Tags: consumer interaction, damage control
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