Improve Customer Experience by Borrowing Ideas

Creativity is essential in our highly competitive business environment. As technology and options expand, customers’ expectations for higher value are always rising. Companies that use creativity to understand, anticipate, and exceed customer expectations are the companies that grow, keep jobs, and thrive.

To win higher share-of-wallet from customers, avoid the temptation to simply charge them for things that used to be free. And avoid the temptation to copy your competitors’ desperate moves. We see this rampantly in the airline industry. Not only is it a nuisance for customers, but it also saps out whatever fun there used to be in doing business with those companies.

Borrowing ideas from other industries and disciplines is one of the best ways to make breakthrough improvements. (Note: “borrowing” in this case means creating an innovation — not violating a trademark, etc!) I recently participated in a panel discussion for a medical center that wants to improve customer experience and profitability. Some ideas we considered included:

– Texting customers, to reduce waiting time: Some airlines are calling or texting passengers whenever a gate change or similar modification in plans occurs — this reduces uncertainty, anxiety, and wasted effort and time for customers. For a medical center, patients could wait in their car or be productive instead of sitting in a (perceived) germ-filled waiting area.

– Providing kiosks, to process arrivals and payments: Some stores, libraries, hotels and airlines use kiosks for self-service processing of check-out or check-in. For a medical center, patients could swipe their membership card to alert the doctor they’ve arrived at the appointment, avoiding the need to wait in line for the receptionist.

– Valet parking, for easy in-and-out: Restaurants and hotels make it easy for customers to get down to business (or pleasure, rather) by bypassing the process of finding a parking space and walking. For a medical center, patients could better manage their on-time arrival and reduce sometimes painful walking, and parking congestion for other patients is reduced.

These are just a few examples. But what if your company — and the airlines — begins to look around with an open mind at what’s working well for other industries and disciplines? You may very well find lucrative paths to differentiate your customer experience in ways that delight customers. And you may also find some creative ways to add revenue streams that customers will gladly pay for, because of the additional value you’re providing.

Image licensed to ClearAction by Shutterstock.

Source: B2C

Meghan Markle Watching ‘The Crown’ To Learn Royal Etiquette Ahead Of Prince Harry Marriage Is False

Meghan Markle watching “The Crown” on Netflix to learn royal etiquette is fake news. There is no truth to a report that Markle who is engaged to Prince Harry is watching the popular Netflix show to help her learn more about royal etiquette and protocol. Rather, the story originated with a tabloid.

Where did this fake news originate? Life & Style published a story reporting that Markle was relying on “The Crown” as a “cheat sheet” now that she is engaged to marry Prince Harry. Life & Style claims that the show “isn’t just a guilty pleasure for Meghan; it’s insight into her in-laws.”

The gossip magazine goes on to say that an alleged “source” says, “Whenever Prince Harry isn’t home, Meghan watches the show to learn about royal etiquette.”

“With her wedding approaching,” continues this alleged source, “Meghan is nervous she won’t get through thousands of pages on royal protocol in time her big day, so she’s kind of cheating the system by watching the show.”

However, there is no truth to the story, according to Gossip Cop. Life & Style fails to identify any single source for their claim. “The Crown” has won raves from critics and viewers and there are indeed royal historians on staff to ensure the program is largely accurate. Thus, viewers are generally watching a relatively authentic look at royal life.

Gossip Cop notes that there have been no new protocols established in various areas to keep up with modernity in the 21st century for the royal family. While Markle could certainly see on the show how a fictionalized version of Queen Elizabeth once acted during her early reign, it’s laughable to suggest the series could actually be a substitute for all that she needs to learn today in 2017.

Markle is actually getting etiquette lessons in the ways of being a royal, along with safety/security training and more instruction. She also has to learn decades of royal history, well beyond just 1947-1964. As overwhelming as it all may seem, she’s not going it alone.

Here are some reactions on social media to Markle and “The Crown.”

Meghan Markle watching The Crown like pic.twitter.com/novE0y7fGl

— Melly in DC (@mellyindc) December 30, 2017

Sweet idea that "Meghan Markle will be playing herself in #TheCrown" but HAVE YOU SEEN THE CROWN? (real life Crown let alone the TV show.)
I hope meghan won"t be sucked into the Royals" endless nasty petty power plays.

— RiverJordan (@csjordan19) December 30, 2017

Do you think Meghan Markle has binged The Crown? I would be interested in her hot takes.

— Taylor Tucker (@taybrettl) December 30, 2017

In season 12 of The Crown will Meghan Markle get to play Meghan Markle?

— Peter Tanham (@PeterTanham) December 29, 2017

In all seriousness someone should make Meghan Markle watch The Crown before she gets married so she can gtfo of such an oppressive institution and stat!

— Kelsey Goldberg (@KelseyFGold) December 29, 2017

Based on an award-winning play (“The Audience”) by showrunner Peter Morgan, this lavish, Netflix-original drama chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) from the 1940s to modern times. The series begins with an inside look at the early reign of the queen, who ascended the throne at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. As the decades pass, personal intrigues, romances, and political rivalries are revealed that played a big role in events that shaped the later years of the 20th century.

What did you think of the fake news that Markle was watching “The Crown” to learn royal etiquette? Did you believe the fake news or see people sharing it falsely on social media? Let us know in the comments section.

Photo Credit: Source

Source: B2C

Meghan Markle Watching ‘The Crown’ To Learn Royal Etiquette Ahead Of Prince Harry Marriage Is False

Meghan Markle watching “The Crown” on Netflix to learn royal etiquette is fake news. There is no truth to a report that Markle who is engaged to Prince Harry is watching the popular Netflix show to help her learn more about royal etiquette and protocol. Rather, the story originated with a tabloid.

Where did this fake news originate? Life & Style published a story reporting that Markle was relying on “The Crown” as a “cheat sheet” now that she is engaged to marry Prince Harry. Life & Style claims that the show “isn’t just a guilty pleasure for Meghan; it’s insight into her in-laws.”

The gossip magazine goes on to say that an alleged “source” says, “Whenever Prince Harry isn’t home, Meghan watches the show to learn about royal etiquette.”

“With her wedding approaching,” continues this alleged source, “Meghan is nervous she won’t get through thousands of pages on royal protocol in time her big day, so she’s kind of cheating the system by watching the show.”

However, there is no truth to the story, according to Gossip Cop. Life & Style fails to identify any single source for their claim. “The Crown” has won raves from critics and viewers and there are indeed royal historians on staff to ensure the program is largely accurate. Thus, viewers are generally watching a relatively authentic look at royal life.

Gossip Cop notes that there have been no new protocols established in various areas to keep up with modernity in the 21st century for the royal family. While Markle could certainly see on the show how a fictionalized version of Queen Elizabeth once acted during her early reign, it’s laughable to suggest the series could actually be a substitute for all that she needs to learn today in 2017.

Markle is actually getting etiquette lessons in the ways of being a royal, along with safety/security training and more instruction. She also has to learn decades of royal history, well beyond just 1947-1964. As overwhelming as it all may seem, she’s not going it alone.

Here are some reactions on social media to Markle and “The Crown.”

Meghan Markle watching The Crown like pic.twitter.com/novE0y7fGl

— Melly in DC (@mellyindc) December 30, 2017

Sweet idea that "Meghan Markle will be playing herself in #TheCrown" but HAVE YOU SEEN THE CROWN? (real life Crown let alone the TV show.)
I hope meghan won"t be sucked into the Royals" endless nasty petty power plays.

— RiverJordan (@csjordan19) December 30, 2017

Do you think Meghan Markle has binged The Crown? I would be interested in her hot takes.

— Taylor Tucker (@taybrettl) December 30, 2017

In season 12 of The Crown will Meghan Markle get to play Meghan Markle?

— Peter Tanham (@PeterTanham) December 29, 2017

In all seriousness someone should make Meghan Markle watch The Crown before she gets married so she can gtfo of such an oppressive institution and stat!

— Kelsey Goldberg (@KelseyFGold) December 29, 2017

Based on an award-winning play (“The Audience”) by showrunner Peter Morgan, this lavish, Netflix-original drama chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) from the 1940s to modern times. The series begins with an inside look at the early reign of the queen, who ascended the throne at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. As the decades pass, personal intrigues, romances, and political rivalries are revealed that played a big role in events that shaped the later years of the 20th century.

What did you think of the fake news that Markle was watching “The Crown” to learn royal etiquette? Did you believe the fake news or see people sharing it falsely on social media? Let us know in the comments section.

Photo Credit: Source

Source: B2C

Meghan Markle Watching ‘The Crown’ To Learn Royal Etiquette Ahead Of Prince Harry Marriage Is False

Meghan Markle watching “The Crown” on Netflix to learn royal etiquette is fake news. There is no truth to a report that Markle who is engaged to Prince Harry is watching the popular Netflix show to help her learn more about royal etiquette and protocol. Rather, the story originated with a tabloid.

Where did this fake news originate? Life & Style published a story reporting that Markle was relying on “The Crown” as a “cheat sheet” now that she is engaged to marry Prince Harry. Life & Style claims that the show “isn’t just a guilty pleasure for Meghan; it’s insight into her in-laws.”

The gossip magazine goes on to say that an alleged “source” says, “Whenever Prince Harry isn’t home, Meghan watches the show to learn about royal etiquette.”

“With her wedding approaching,” continues this alleged source, “Meghan is nervous she won’t get through thousands of pages on royal protocol in time her big day, so she’s kind of cheating the system by watching the show.”

However, there is no truth to the story, according to Gossip Cop. Life & Style fails to identify any single source for their claim. “The Crown” has won raves from critics and viewers and there are indeed royal historians on staff to ensure the program is largely accurate. Thus, viewers are generally watching a relatively authentic look at royal life.

Gossip Cop notes that there have been no new protocols established in various areas to keep up with modernity in the 21st century for the royal family. While Markle could certainly see on the show how a fictionalized version of Queen Elizabeth once acted during her early reign, it’s laughable to suggest the series could actually be a substitute for all that she needs to learn today in 2017.

Markle is actually getting etiquette lessons in the ways of being a royal, along with safety/security training and more instruction. She also has to learn decades of royal history, well beyond just 1947-1964. As overwhelming as it all may seem, she’s not going it alone.

Here are some reactions on social media to Markle and “The Crown.”

Meghan Markle watching The Crown like pic.twitter.com/novE0y7fGl

— Melly in DC (@mellyindc) December 30, 2017

Sweet idea that "Meghan Markle will be playing herself in #TheCrown" but HAVE YOU SEEN THE CROWN? (real life Crown let alone the TV show.)
I hope meghan won"t be sucked into the Royals" endless nasty petty power plays.

— RiverJordan (@csjordan19) December 30, 2017

Do you think Meghan Markle has binged The Crown? I would be interested in her hot takes.

— Taylor Tucker (@taybrettl) December 30, 2017

In season 12 of The Crown will Meghan Markle get to play Meghan Markle?

— Peter Tanham (@PeterTanham) December 29, 2017

In all seriousness someone should make Meghan Markle watch The Crown before she gets married so she can gtfo of such an oppressive institution and stat!

— Kelsey Goldberg (@KelseyFGold) December 29, 2017

Based on an award-winning play (“The Audience”) by showrunner Peter Morgan, this lavish, Netflix-original drama chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II (Claire Foy) from the 1940s to modern times. The series begins with an inside look at the early reign of the queen, who ascended the throne at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. As the decades pass, personal intrigues, romances, and political rivalries are revealed that played a big role in events that shaped the later years of the 20th century.

What did you think of the fake news that Markle was watching “The Crown” to learn royal etiquette? Did you believe the fake news or see people sharing it falsely on social media? Let us know in the comments section.

Photo Credit: Source

Source: B2C

4 Email Marketing Mistakes You Might Be Making

Successful email marketing tips and tricks are everywhere, yet even with the plentiful resources and the availability of marketing software, mistakes can still be made. The little–but sometimes big–mistakes are often avoidable. Take a look at these 4 mistakes businesses commonly make when building and executing email marketing campaigns.

1. Mishandling unsubscribe

Your customers should have the ability to easily unsubscribe with no more than 2 clicks. They shouldn’t have to enter the email address that they are unsubscribing or a password or have to receive a confirmation message. When you make it tough for recipients to unsubscribe, all it does is cause them to complain and mark your emails as spam or block you as a sender. If multiple recipients do the same, your reputation as a sender will rapidly deteriorate and your deliverability will take a hit as a result. You don’t want your messages to start going directly to the spam folder where they won’t be seen at all.

2. Failing to use an email marketing system

If you are trying to manage your campaign without the help of a professional email marketing system, it’s likely you aren’t noticing much growth. Nearly 50 percent of the intended recipients probably won’t ever receive the message you send for a variety of reasons.

It’s also a bad idea to send a message in BCC! Not only does this lead to mistakes; it’s also slow and fails to allow for personalization. Many providers block these forms of emails and the recipients will recognize that this email is part of a mass mailing.

According to Statista 2016, the open rates for personalized messages were 18.8 percent compared to 13.1 percent without personalization. This is why more and more businesses are turning to easy-to-use email marketing companies like Campaign Monitor–a perfect solution for to today’s rapidly growing businesses that need automation and beautifully-designed emails. Brands are using email personalization to increase engagement and foster loyalty.

3. Underestimating the sender and subject line

One big key to the success of an email marketing campaign has to do with two very simple yet overlooked elements: the subject line and the sender. These two things are critical if you want the recipient to decide to go ahead and open your message. It’s important to recognize the ways to make email marketing more effective, and one way to do that is through an interesting subject line free of typos. Choose words that attract attention so the reader wants to open your message; just make sure the subject is consistent with the body of the message. Also make sure they recognize you; don’t change the sender info!

4. Neglecting to optimize your emails for mobile

If you’re still making this mistake, it’s past time to fix this! More than half of all email messages are opened on mobile phones so make sure your emails are mobile-friendly and you will boost your business. Ensure the font size is at least 12 points, 14 points is even better. Also don’t place links too close to another one. You want the links to be clickable without your reader zooming in. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to click a link and bumping the wrong one. Speaking of links, make sure you don’t send out messages with broken links.

Email marketing can deliver excellent results when done correctly. Do everything you can to avoid the most common recurring email marketing mistakes. It is worth your time and effort to have an email marketing campaign, hands down. Use these helpful tips to maximize success and your email marketing campaign will help your business grow exponentially.

Source: B2C

4 Email Marketing Mistakes You Might Be Making

Successful email marketing tips and tricks are everywhere, yet even with the plentiful resources and the availability of marketing software, mistakes can still be made. The little–but sometimes big–mistakes are often avoidable. Take a look at these 4 mistakes businesses commonly make when building and executing email marketing campaigns.

1. Mishandling unsubscribe

Your customers should have the ability to easily unsubscribe with no more than 2 clicks. They shouldn’t have to enter the email address that they are unsubscribing or a password or have to receive a confirmation message. When you make it tough for recipients to unsubscribe, all it does is cause them to complain and mark your emails as spam or block you as a sender. If multiple recipients do the same, your reputation as a sender will rapidly deteriorate and your deliverability will take a hit as a result. You don’t want your messages to start going directly to the spam folder where they won’t be seen at all.

2. Failing to use an email marketing system

If you are trying to manage your campaign without the help of a professional email marketing system, it’s likely you aren’t noticing much growth. Nearly 50 percent of the intended recipients probably won’t ever receive the message you send for a variety of reasons.

It’s also a bad idea to send a message in BCC! Not only does this lead to mistakes; it’s also slow and fails to allow for personalization. Many providers block these forms of emails and the recipients will recognize that this email is part of a mass mailing.

According to Statista 2016, the open rates for personalized messages were 18.8 percent compared to 13.1 percent without personalization. This is why more and more businesses are turning to easy-to-use email marketing companies like Campaign Monitor–a perfect solution for to today’s rapidly growing businesses that need automation and beautifully-designed emails. Brands are using email personalization to increase engagement and foster loyalty.

3. Underestimating the sender and subject line

One big key to the success of an email marketing campaign has to do with two very simple yet overlooked elements: the subject line and the sender. These two things are critical if you want the recipient to decide to go ahead and open your message. It’s important to recognize the ways to make email marketing more effective, and one way to do that is through an interesting subject line free of typos. Choose words that attract attention so the reader wants to open your message; just make sure the subject is consistent with the body of the message. Also make sure they recognize you; don’t change the sender info!

4. Neglecting to optimize your emails for mobile

If you’re still making this mistake, it’s past time to fix this! More than half of all email messages are opened on mobile phones so make sure your emails are mobile-friendly and you will boost your business. Ensure the font size is at least 12 points, 14 points is even better. Also don’t place links too close to another one. You want the links to be clickable without your reader zooming in. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to click a link and bumping the wrong one. Speaking of links, make sure you don’t send out messages with broken links.

Email marketing can deliver excellent results when done correctly. Do everything you can to avoid the most common recurring email marketing mistakes. It is worth your time and effort to have an email marketing campaign, hands down. Use these helpful tips to maximize success and your email marketing campaign will help your business grow exponentially.

Source: B2C

How to Make Insanely Slow Times on Social Media Your Best Times

How to make insanely slow times on social media your best times

There’s no reason to completely give up on your social media during the holidays. Like the gym in December, those quiet times can be the best times to get to know people better. Being the only one in a tweet chat or the only person to comment on a Facebook post ensures that you’ll connect more deeply with whomever else is there. Here are some more ideas.

Photo by perzonseo

Be More Personal

Have you been enjoying all the personal shares and photos of holiday adventures people share during the holidays? Falling snow, unusual gifts, and even desert scenarios are perfect for sharing–and for commenting upon. If sharing personal stories isn’t part of your brand, maybe sharing stories from one of your client successes you would do. For more ideas about marketing during the holidays, you might like: How to Succeed with Social Media During the Holidays.

Be More Interactive

Comment on other people’s memories and successes. Sometimes people share sad memories during the holidays, so why not show a little compassion and start a conversation with someone going through something you’ve been through yourself? We all know someone who’s having a rough time.

Don’t Post as Much

You could slow down and not post as often as you usually do. If you’re a blogger, maybe you could put out a post or two that’s very short and to the point, rather than focusing on a longer article.

Slow Down for Winter

Why not take a hint from Mother Nature and let winter dictate a slowing down period, as Carol Venolia suggests in her article Slow Down for Winter? If your social media has slowed down, how has that affected your marketing? Please let me know! Thank you.

Source: B2C

Low Sales? Use This Checklist to Figure Out Where You’re Going Wrong

Don’t let low sales dash your dreams. Use this marketing checklist instead to figure out where you’re going wrong.

Yeah, it might take a little revision — or a whole lot — but if you’re serious about success, you can’t settle for mediocre any longer.

Ready to get started?

1. Audit Your Images

Listen, it’s time to stop with the crappy photos already. You’re better than that. (And your customers deserve better than that.)

Anyone — yes, anyone — can take great product photos with a little effort and practice. So audit your photos with a harsh eye and replace any that are distracting, blurry, or otherwise low-quality — you’ve got no excuses.

Bad photos don’t entice customers to buy. They also don’t entice people to pin them on Pinterest or share with friends on Facebook — and they also won’t be picked up for PR opportunities, like features for blog posts or local news spots.

Maybe you’ve got hundreds of products so this task seems overwhelming. If that’s the case, set a goal of taking — and replacing — 10 photos per week. (Or whatever number sounds realistic to you.)

Choose your top sellers first and then work your way through the rest. It might take a while, but it will pay off in the long run.

2. Check Your Shipping Prices

A funny argument for offering free shipping

Say you’re selling sandals for $12.99, but you’ve listed your shipping rate as $12. Are you actually surprised when people abandon their cart as soon as they see that strangely high rate?

I know shipping is a difficult component of being an online seller, but set your rates too high and it’s no wonder you’re experiencing low sales.

I can’t tell you how many times I personally have not gone through with a sale for the sole reason of shipping being unrealistically high — and I know it’s the same for many shoppers.

Whether you work free shipping into the cost of your product or lower your rates, figuring out a shipping-rate strategy that works for you and your customers should be one of the first items you implement from this marketing checklist.

3. Reread Your Product Descriptions and Titles

Would you buy your products based on your product descriptions and titles? Be honest.

If not, it’s time to revise.

Product Descriptions

Your product descriptions must be free of grammatical and spelling errors, so run them through both a spell-checker and a site like Hemingway App to catch any issues.

They also need to be descriptive — so make sure you’ve included the essential details, like what fabric your T-shirts are made of or what your handcrafted candle smells like.

The goal of your product description is to tempt the browser to buy — so get creative. Here’s a good example from Wix Wax Candle Company, a handcrafted candle seller on Scott’s Marketplace:

Did someone just peel an orange!? A tangy, juicy orange scent with just a touch of floral thyme.

See? They did a great job of explaining to readers what this candle fragrance smells like in a persuasive manner.

Product Titles

Your product titles need to be literal — this is not the place to get crazy creative (do that in your product descriptions).

For example, “Girl dancing in the rain on a stormy weekend” doesn’t tell me anything about what the product actually is. Is it a painting? A mug? A T-shirt?

And who is it for? Women? Children? Men? Anyone?

If you aren’t specific with your title, people won’t find your product when they’re searching — and it’s not as eye-catching to those who do come across your item.

4. Consider How You Treat Your Customers

Are you ignoring your customers when they call because you’re too busy? Do you sometimes not respond when social media followers send you messages or leave comments?

Are you taking a while to respond when someone wants a question answered before they make a purchase? How do you handle complaints, refunds, and otherwise unhappy customers?

Everything you do, from waiting five days to answer a customer question to getting a little snarky with an upset customer, can mean lost sales and a bad reputation online.

5. Perform a Quality Check

How is the quality of your products? Are you skimping or cutting corners somewhere? These little details are noticeable — and might be why you’re not getting return buyers.

Use this marketing checklist as a prompt to ask yourself what you can do to improve the quality of your products.

If your customers see the value in buying from you, they will be likely to recommend your products to their friends, and, hopefully, buy again themselves too.

6. Stop Ignoring Your “About Us” Section

People want to know about the brands they’re buying from. And whether it’s a curiosity thing, a personal-connection thing, or simply a credibility thing, forgetting to fill out the ‘about us’ section of your online store is a serious mistake.

Show your customers you’re a genuine (and credible) local business with a story to tell instead of leaving this space blank.

7. Consider if You’re Ignoring PR Requests

I’m not going to name names, but as director of content marketing for Scott’s Marketplace, I know firsthand how many people don’t reply when offered free promotional opportunities for their business and products.

For example, I might email 50 sellers from our site offering them a free blog post feature that highlights their products and I’m lucky to get five replies — and that’s being generous.

I know you’re busy. I know you’re overwhelmed. And I know it’s easy to put things like this on the back-burner.

But if you want to get serious about sales, ignoring PR opportunities is only going to hurt your business.

8. Revisit or Create a Marketing Strategy

If you sell on an online marketplace, you might expect that the customers will come to you — and they may. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to do your part to promote your products.

Revisit your marketing strategy (or create one) if you haven’t already. Include all your marketing efforts — from email newsletters to social media sites and the frequency you’ll be using each one.

Is there a new social media site you can try? Are you still spending time on a social site that’s not been effective for your business? Do you have an email list and actively send to your subscribers?

What should you start doing? What should you stop doing? A marketing checklist like this will help you keep track of what’s working and what isn’t, and prompt you to reevaluate often.

9. Take a Look at Your Shipping Timeframe

This checklist has already covered your shipping rates, but let’s talk about your shipping timeframe now.

First of all, do you clearly state your shipping policy on your online store for your customers to see? Or do you leave them to guess as to when their package might show up?

An inconsistent shipping timeframe means your customers will never buy from you for gifts, holidays, or last-minute needs. And if they have no idea when to expect their package, you will also come across as unprofessional and unreliable.

Even worse, are you promising customers will receive their items within a certain timeframe and then sending them late?

Nothing will make a customer angrier than over-promising and under-delivering. And we all know that angry customers take to social media to express their unhappiness — which leads to a bad reputation for you.

Decide on a timeframe that’s realistic for you — and your customers — and stick to it. No exceptions.

10. Perform a Boredom Check

Keeping customers from getting bored is an important (ongoing) component of this marketing checklist.

What can you do to entice repeat buyers?

• Can you add variety to an existing product?


• Offer it in a different color?


• Add a new feature?


• Or create something new entirely?


• Are you able to switch things up according to seasons and holidays?

Whether it’s offering your bath bombs in a seasonal scent or creating a T-shirt design based off a current trend, variety is not only the spice of life, but the ingredient that keeps customers coming back for more.

11. Analyze Your Product Prices

Are you charging too much for your products? Or are you charging too little that it’s making you want to cut corners and put out a lesser quality product?

Both of these scenarios are hurtful to your business and dissuade people from buying.

12. Do a Google Search

If you don’t Google your business regularly to find out what customers are saying about you, you’re making a huge mistake. Whether really good — or really bad — reading customer reviews will give you crucial insight into how your customers feel about everything from your product prices to your customer service.

And keeping on top of reviews means you can respond to any negative reviews you find to (hopefully) make things right.

But if there’s nothing about your business online, that’s not good either.

Setting up a social presence will help improve your business’ credibility, as well as getting a little local publicity going for your products. The more positive mentions you have of your business online, the more likely people will be to trust you enough to make a purchase.

Use This Marketing Checklist on the Reg

Keep this checklist handy so you can refer back to it on a regular basis. Constant analysis and improvement will help you stay on top of what your customers want — even before they know themselves.

Yes, improving your sales will be an ongoing process, but as the wise Yoda once said, “Do or do not. There is no try.”

Will you use this marketing checklist to improve your business?

This blog post was originally published on The DRIVE Blog.

Source: B2C

Shark Tank Update: Father Figure

Father Figure

Company: Father Figure

Founder: Andrew Bentley

Season: Appeared on season 9 in the week 5 episode

Father Figure offers functional and fashionable clothing for new fathers. The paternity wear company seeks “to support and inspire dads” with their line of clothes and accessories that includes bandana burp rags and denim shirts.

According to their website, the lifestyle brand was created “to support and inspire” new fathers. “In our survey of 350 millennial dads in the US we learned that it’s important to nearly all dads to be actively involved in the care taking of their children,” however, many felt as though parenting-related companies needed to better understand their needs with more dad-centric products. Products include a Booker denim shirt, Luca t-shirt, water bottle and bandana burp rags. Prices range from $20 to $128.

When Bentley originally appeared on “Shark Tank,” he came in asking for $80,000 for 15 percent equity. Daymond John thought it was too early for an investment, while Lori Greiner said she could only offer her advice. Guest shark Sara Blakely liked Bentley’s story and the branding of the clothing, but made no offer because she didn’t know what she could add to the business. Ultimately, he walked away without a deal.

Bentley spoke with Business 2 Community about Father Figure’s experience on the show and what their next steps are. Take a look at the Q&A below:

Q&A with Father Figure’s Founder Andrew Bentley

What was your strategy for navigating “Shark Tank”?

• The application process is rigorous and fairly long. I spent about five months working through the process of contracts, pitch scripts and display designs. At the same time I was going through the selection process, I was also preparing for the show appearance. Being prepared is even more important when entering the Shark Tank, compared to other investment meetings, because it’s such a dynamic environment. They only air about half of the pitches that they film. Given the fact that the sharks didn’t know anything about Father Figure and my pitch was being judged by its ability to entertain a primetime audience as well as my company’s business merits, there’s a lot to mentally juggle. I made sure I knew my material by writing out answers to 110 questions the sharks typically ask. I also researched each investor extensively, including reading two books written by sharks. But the most important aspect of my preparation was conducting mock pitches. I’m a confident speaker but going through full-length mock pitches with friends, in character, helped me see my blind spots.


• I also wanted to stay healthy. The hyper-drive tendencies I see in my entrepreneur friends can be a recipe for disaster while preparing for big business events. I scheduled time to exercise and relax with people I love. For me, that meant doing my favorite activities—cooking dinner, reading, playing basketball and going for runs.

How has Father Figure changed since the episode was first recorded? Since it aired?

Traffic to my website has certainly increased. I’m also looking at being more inclusive and thoughtful in product development. I am taking some of the feedback from the sharks about product development seriously.

Is there anything you would have changed about your time spent in the tank, including your pitch and valuation?

• In the weeks leading up to the pitch, I would probably try to relax even more. I was prepping for 12 hours a day and I should have found more balance.


• I’m fairly happy with my performance in the tank. If I had to do it over again I would have spent more time conversing with and pitching directly to Sara Blakely, the guest shark. She was the closest to giving me a deal and I think we could have worked really well together. I love her story, her personality, Spanx and the fact that she’s such a caring and involved parent. I had some ideas for a potential partnership with her that I didn’t share. I wish I had done that.

I’m happy to announce that I’ll be on an upcoming episode of Shark Tank! You can watch me pitch my company, Father Figure, to the sharks on Sunday Oct. 29th at 9pm EST / 8pm CT on ABC. It’s a dream to be able to share my vision to build a company that “strengthens the loving bond among fathers and their children” with the world. Will I strike a deal with one of the celebrity millionaire / billionaire investor sharks? Or maybe I just trip on the floor rug and spill burp rags all over everybody. Tune in to see! A big thanks to those friends who supported me during this rigorous process, including Fausto Araujo and his beautiful baby, who will be on the show with me. And a super big kiss to my beautiful wife for being encouraging and loving, through it all. #SharkTank #fatherfigureco @wordsbyezekiel @faustojm #parenthood #parenting #abc #sharktankabc

A post shared by fatherfigureco (@fatherfigureco) on Oct 17, 2017 at 7:35am PDT

Who’s your favorite shark?

I have a lot of respect for all the sharks. I bet each of them would be a remarkable conversation over a beer (or wine in Mr. Wonderful’s case). “Shark Tank” was one of my favorite shows before I became an entrepreneur. It’s such a smart show and doesn’t dumb down the negotiations for the audience. That’s quite unique for primetime television. I was targeting Sara Blakely, Daymond John and Robert Herjavec heading into my pitch. Although, a few weeks before, I found out that Robert wasn’t on the panel the day I filmed. I was bummed about that because he seems to be someone that will take a leap of faith on an entrepreneur, despite the existence of business question marks if he connects with said entrepreneur. I appreciate that since the sharks are in their ninth season and it could be easy to suffer from investment fatigue.

Despite not getting a deal, do you think “Shark Tank” was the right move for your business?

Yes, for several reasons. When deciding whether or not to apply for “Shark Tank,” I sketched out the potential outcomes. Obviously, I wanted to get a deal but being on the show and not getting a deal was one of the most favorable outcomes for me.

• For one thing, it’s such an honor to be selected and I feel thankful for the opportunity. The show received around 50,000 applications and only around 100 or so are aired each year. The fact that the producers believed in Father Figure and me gives me a lot of confidence.


• I was able to stand in front of America and talk about why I love being a nurturing primary caretaker to my son. And I did it with two of my friends, who are also men of color. There are so many untrue, negative stereotypes about men of color and fatherhood. Those stereotypes aren’t the reality in this country. Being able to showcase three men of color holding their children and talking about whey they love being a dad was a huge win in my book.


• Also, I received a lot of traffic, sales and attention from the press. In the 24 hours after the show originally aired, I had more traffic to my site fatherfigure.co than I had the entire year since I launched.


• The preparation process was also a forcing function for improving my business plan and to be more forward thinking.

What are Father Figure’s next steps?

I spent the summer finding a new manufacturing partner in order to decrease cost and increase quality. My next immediate steps are to find some partners to launch new print designs for burp rags and swaddles. I’m looking for some dads that have strong parenting voices in entertainment or sports that want to co-design some prints and products. Eventually, I want to build a workplace that embodies the company’s mission. I imagine a place where being a nurturing parent is encouraged. I love the idea of having a daycare or nursery on site. In terms of products, I want to become a lifestyle brand for fathers. I imagine developing products for fathers at different stages of parenting. Now that I’m a parent to a toddler, I’m thinking, “What do I need as a stay-at-home dad here?”

This feels so right. Our first Instagram post. father figure is here! #fatherfigureco

A post shared by fatherfigureco (@fatherfigureco) on Oct 27, 2016 at 7:20am PDT

Where do you see this industry in 5-10 years?

I think the paternity clothing and accessories industry will start to emerge in the next few years. Right now there are only a few companies that are testing the waters and learning what dads want and what a community of dads needs. Eventually, you’ll see some strong brands present in department stores. I also hope with that rise comes positive content—books, commercials, journalism—about the increase in active parenting in the new generation of dads.

What would you say to people who want to start their own business?

If you can, stay at your current job while you test the waters of your new venture. I recommend a crowd-funding platform like Kickstarter to generate some financial capital and test the demand for your products. I encourage all entrepreneurs to frankly discuss their plans with their family before taking the leap. Starting a business is a group process. You’ll need to think through finances for your company but also your family. Also, be diligent about all aspects of your business plan. Things will change as you move forward but you should have a general plan for production, marketing, brand building and sales.

What advice would you give to entrepreneurs who want to make it on “Shark Tank”?

The process is a ton of work. Make sure you know what you’re trading away when you commit to applying and preparing for the show. Also, make sure to work hard and be kind to people at “Shark Tank” in the process. The production teams appreciate when you get things back to them quickly.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Getting a behind-the-scenes view of the show operations was fascinating. Everyone I encountered at “Shark Tank” was phenomenal to work with. I was surprised at how much they cared about Father Figure and me. They truly wanted me to succeed in the tank and beyond. It was a lot of work but I had a great team at “Shark Tank” in my corner. By the end, I felt close with that production team and miss working with them. They were tremendous at their jobs and the whole thing was a well-oiled machine. At the same time, there was a huge wall between the sharks and the production team when it came to preparation. The sharks really have no idea who walks through those doors. That makes discovery during the pitch super interesting.

Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length

Source: B2C

Game Of Thrones And The Walking Dead Are Top TV Pirated Shows For 2017

Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead are among the top shows that are pirated by TV viewers.

The annual piracy lists have begun to be published with the first one taking into consideration the most pirated TV series of the year. TorrentFreak published the results which indicates piracy figures for TV episodes are down on last year. Though Game of Thrones had a shorten season.

However these numbers are from public BitTorrent trackers and several other sources for the site. Online streaming and downloads from filelocker services are not included since there are no public sources to draw data from, so total piracy numbers are much harder to calculate.

Game of Thrones has consistently broken a lot of records. Most seasons, it notches higher ratings than it had the year before, and last year, its season 7 premiere drew the largest audience of any premiere to date. The series has broken records for the highest ratings of any HBO show in the network’s history.

Over the years, the dynamics of Game of Thrones piracy have changed, with the arrival and growing popularity of HBO Go, HBO Now, and another avenues for legal streaming of the network’s shows, which have eliminated the justification by some pirates that the lack of an HBO subscription left them with no choice. Changes in the ease and availability of pirating technology, as well as faster download speeds, have also changed the dynamics over time.

Game of Thrones remained the clear favorite of piracy with the big budget fantasy series winning the title for a sixth year in a row. Rick and Morty and the Prison Break revival were new to the top ten this year with Westworld and Lucifer dropping out. The Top 10 are:

1. “Game of Thrones”

2. “The Walking Dead”

3. “The Flash”

4. “The Big Bang Theory”

5. “Rick and Morty”

6. “Prison Break”

7. “Sherlock”

8. “Vikings”

9. “Suits”

10. “Arrow”

George R.R. Martin’s best-selling book series “A Song of Ice and Fire” is brought to the screen as HBO sinks its considerable storytelling teeth into the medieval fantasy epic. It’s the depiction of two powerful families — kings and queens, knights and renegades, liars and honest men — playing a deadly game for control of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, and to sit atop the Iron Throne. Martin is credited as a co-executive producer and one of the writers for the series, which was filmed in Northern Ireland and Malta.

Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman, this gritty drama portrays life in the weeks and months following a zombie apocalypse. Led by police officer Rick Grimes, his family and a group of other survivors find themselves constantly on the move in search of a safe and secure home. But the pressure each day to stay alive sends many in the group to the deepest depths of human cruelty, and Rick discovers that the overwhelming fear of the survivors can be more deadly than the zombies walking among them.

What do you think about Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead being the most popular shows to illegally download? Let us know in the comments section.

Photo Credit: HBO

Source: B2C

Daniel Craig’s James Bond Lost Denis Villenueve As Director Due To Frank Herbert’s Dune Remake

Daniel Craig looks to be returning to the James Bond franchise. Now, the discussion has led to who will direct the next James Bond film. At last report Yann Demange was the front runner, while Denis Villenueve was actor Craig’s personal choice for the new James Bond project.

Villeneuve expressed enthusiasm about doing a James Bond film, but his commitment to a new adaptation of Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” has prevented him from doing so. In a recent conversation with Screen Crush, the filmmaker discussed the decision saying:

“I would love to [direct Bond]. I said to [producer] Barbara [Broccoli], I would love to work with you and with Daniel, but I’m engaged. [Laughs] I will love to do it, honestly. I’m a spoiled filmmaker right now… I think Daniel Craig is a fantastic actor and I would like to, but several months ago I came into do ‘Dune’ and I engaged myself. I committed myself and I’m someone that doesn’t step back.

I remember I committed to do ‘Enemy,’ they came with ‘Prisoners‘ I said, ‘I need to do Enemy first,’ and I had to break to bend the schedule. I did the same with ‘Arrival‘ and ‘Blade Runner [2049].’ I did ‘Blade Runner,’ one of my conditions was that I would have time to do ‘Arrival’ first. Once I commit, I commit.

When Legendary offered me to do ‘Dune,’ on a silver plate? Which was like my dream project that I’m dreaming to do for 30 years? I said yes right away. I want to honor that. It doesn’t mean the movie will happen, maybe in six months the movie will – and Bond is an old fantasy of mine, but I can’t be in two places at the same time. It’s a strange year because I would love to do a James Bond. I need to focus.”

Dark Horizons reported that the fate of “Dune” seems unclear at present as adult-targeted science fiction seems a no go zone for many studios at present. Whatever happens, the new Bond film is on track for a Nov. 8, 2019 which means it has to begin filming by the end of next year at the latest.

In related news, Villeneuve‘s ambitious sci-fi spectacle Blade Runner 2049 neared a three-hour runtime that Ridely Scott would come to blame for the audience shunning the film. Villeneuve proudly stands by the length and message of the final theatrical cut.

Thirty years after the events of the first film, a new blade runner, LAPD Officer K (Ryan Gosling), unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. K’s discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner who has been missing for 30 years. The film also stars Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, with Dave Bautista, Edward James Olmos and Jared Leto.

What do you think about the possibility of Villenueve once directing a James Bond film? Who would you like to see direct the next James Bond film? Let us know in the comments section.

Photo Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Source: B2C

Roy Moore Winning Alabama Senate Seat Over Doug Jones Is Fake News

Roy Moore winning the Alabama Senate seat in the close election race with Doug Jones is fake news. There is no truth to a report that Moore won the special election for the Senate seat left vacant by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Where did this fake news originate? Potatriot Post published the fake news article reporting that Moore won the Alabama Senate seat.

An email from the Alabama Secretary of State to the Roy Moore campaign has been leaked to the Associated Press. A staffer in the main newsroom told our reporter in the field that they should have the second verification they need to release the news by 10 AM Friday that Roy Moore has won the Alabama special election.

The news, which will come as a shock to many, is exactly what Moore was expecting once the votes of American patriots in the military came in and the reason why he refused to concede the race to Jones.

However, there is no truth to the above story. Rather, Alabama officials on Dec. 28, 2017 pushed aside a legal challenge from Moore and certified Jones as the winner of this month’s Senate election. An Alabama judge dismissed Moore’s last minute lawsuit to delay certification of the Alabama special election results until a “thorough” investigation of “potential election fraud” was conducted.

The New York Times reported that Jones’s margin of victory was 21,924 votes, with more than 1.3 million ballots cast. Moore has not conceded his losses in the 2006 or 2010 Republican primaries for governor, and there is speculation that he might run for governor or attorney general.

“As I said on election night, our victory marks a new chapter for our state and the nation,” Jones said. “I will be an independent voice and work to find common ground with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get Washington back on track and fight to make our country a better place for all.”

Potatriot Post carries the following satire disclaimer at the bottom of each article:

sat·ire ~ˈsaˌtī(ə)r

noun

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, OR ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

If you disagree with the definition of satire or have decided it is synonymous with “comedy,” you should really just move along.

The fake news article was later stolen by a “real” fake news website by the name of “patriotunited.club” which Hoax Alert noted is part of a network of sites that has previously stolen content from other sites. Patriotunited does not include a satire disclaimer with the content.

Here are some reactions on social media to Moore’s lawsuit and the certification.

I"m not a lawyer, but I know a lil bit. Isn"t an affidavit supposed to say something like "under penalty of perjury?"

Since his phrase "under oath" is vague and therefore completely meaningless?

— Andrew Brennan (@andbrnn) December 28, 2017

Roy Moore"s case for throwing out the Senate election results in Alabama is at least as plausible as Donald Trump"s claim that he actually won the popular vote in last year"s presidential election. https://t.co/Bm5n888aCE

— Jacob Sullum (@jacobsullum) December 28, 2017

Just read there were claims he took a polygraph test after election to prove he was innocent of charges. Don"t know why he didn"t do it before the election. https://t.co/D7LhW5kJEe

— Gail Digilio (@1grandmamean) December 28, 2017

By the way: Roy Moore falsely blaming his loss on “voter fraud” — rather than on the fact he was a stupid, hateful, embarrassing, shameless, unpopular, child molesting cartoon caricature of a Southern bigot — does real lasting damage to the legitimate cause of election integrity.

— Jerry Christmas (@JerryDunleavy) December 28, 2017

I didn"t vote for you, Roy. I voted for Doug Jones. As did my husband and next door neighbors. So, deal with that and please go away.

— D lind (@Sannbailey) December 28, 2017

Well, Judge Roy Moore is officially a loser, but we knew that (and then some) all along. Let him govern his horses. Keep him away from people.

— Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) December 28, 2017

Well God is clearly in His glory now that He has placed Doug Jones in office. I only see one fraud. Thy name be @MooreSenate

— Lisa Anselmo (@Lisa_Anselmo) December 28, 2017

What did you think of the fake news that Moore won the Alabama Senate seat? Did you believe the fake news or see people sharing it falsely on social media? Let us know in the comments section.

Photo Credit: @MooreSenate

Source: B2C

Maximize B2B Website Retargeting with Content

Marketers tend to put a ton of energy and resources into getting visitors to their website. Once you’ve accomplished your goal of getting a potential client to your website, it’s critical to get them to convert or, if they aren’t ready to convert, to stay in front of them until they are ready. A lot of articles talk about how to maximize conversions with great B2B website design, but not a lot of articles talk about how easy and inexpensive it is to stay in front of website visitors. That’s where website retargeting comes into the picture.

A Quick Word on Website Retargeting

If you aren’t already familiar with website retargeting, it’s a strategy for staying in front of website visitors after they leave your website without converting (or completing the desired action). You’ve definitely seen it, especially if you’ve visited well-established websites like Amazon. Think about it, after you’ve left a brand’s website, you suddenly start seeing ads for that brand on different, unrelated websites (including sites like MSN, CNN, Forbes, Entrepreneur, etc.). That’s retargeting. It involves a cookie being put on your browser when you visit the initial website.

Ideally, every B2B marketing and website strategy includes an element of general retargeting. This is often a general branding message that includes your firm’s value proposition or service offering. However, we recommend that brands maximize their B2B website retargeting by also running content-specific campaigns, in addition to the general branded campaigns.

Why Use Content to Retarget Visitors?

Why should brands use content pieces to retarget their B2B website visitors? We’ve broken it down to five main reasons why content helps firms get the most out of their website retargeting.

1. 
   

   Become a True Resource

   
   

Often, your B2B website design is the first interaction that a potential client has with your brand, especially if they are performing an online search. At this point, they are likely just out kicking tires. So, what separates you from all the competitors? Creating a retargeting campaign that highlights a premium piece of content that helps the prospect in their job establishes your brand as a true resource. You aren’t selling them at this point, you are merely providing them with a resource to help them.

2. 
   

   Build a Relationship

   
   

No one gets married on the first date. (Well, most people don’t.) Particularly in the B2B space, the key to converting a prospect into a new client is a strong relationship. Offering a piece of content to retarget a potential prospect, who is likely still learning about your company, builds trust. It shows that you understand what they are looking for and what they need.

3. 
   

   Get More Mileage Out of Content Efforts

   
   

A lot of resources typically go into creating great content pieces. Retargeting campaigns are a great way to promote those pieces and get them in front of your ideal audience. The bonus here is that the audience has already shown initial interest in your brand or services. By incorporating content into your retargeting strategy, you can see the hard numbers on how many prospects are converting into new website leads.

4. 
   

   Nurture and Incentivize the Prospect

   
   

Your sales process may take anywhere from 30 days to 6 months or more. Typical email and phone call nurturing campaigns may not be the best strategy or best use of your internal resources. Content marketing is a great way to continue nurturing a prospect and incentivize them to return to your B2B website. It’s passive nurturing that ensures the prospect comes back to the website and your brand will be top of mind when they are ready to make contact. It also requires fewer resources than an entire sales team.

5. 
   

   Give Back to Current Clients

   
   

Let’s not forget your current clients. It takes less effort to keep an existing client than it takes to win a new one. However, many companies forget this task and stop nurturing the relationships once the deal is made or the sales process is over. Retargeting using content is a great way to continue building value with existing clients and to upsell clients as well. By leveraging a variety of content that meets various client and prospect needs, you are reinforcing the idea that your brand is still the best fit for their needs. You are saying you understand what they need and are anticipating that need.

If you do nothing else after a new B2B website design launch, you should definitely start a general retargeting campaign. We recommend maximizing your retargeting efforts by launching a content-specific campaign as well.

Source: B2C

Tips for Creating Next Year’s Budget

FirmBee / Pixabay

The new year brings opportunities to make your small business more successful. There’s no better place to start than with your annual budget. It encapsulates your revenue and expense expectations in a single spreadsheet. Here are some handy tips for creating your new budget:

Analyze last year’s budget:

How closely did your estimates match actual experience? You probably under- or over-estimated at least some of your cash flows. Learn from your mistakes to set your numbers more realistically, wishful thinking aside. If your data shows a trend throughout the year, incorporate it into the new budget. Some numbers are harder to estimate – if you have a lot of these, try doing a best-, worst- and average-case version of the budget.

Break it up:

You should break down your annual numbers into monthly ones. This gives you the ability to incorporate seasonal differences that more closely match your cash flows. It also lets you apply actuals and revise numbers based on experience.

Budget in a cash cushion:

A good budget will incorporate a cash cushion to help you survive sudden crunches. Near-cash securities such as T-Bills are a fine place to stash the extra cash. Even if it’s an unusual year that doesn’t see unpleasant surprises, extra cash will certainly come in handy sooner or later.

Seek help:

Do you find setting up and working a budget confusing? Don’t fumble through it. There are many resources available to you to assist. We recommend our Business Budget Smart Sheet, which will help you analyze your spending patterns, streamline areas of overspending, gauge the cash flow impact of fixed and variable costs, and much more. If you need more help, speak with your accountant or tax specialist.

Make adjustments:

Are you selling more units each month and losing money on each sale? Bite the bullet and raise your prices (and slash your expenses). Calculate your new revenues based on higher prices and incorporate into your budget. Do the same when you reduce expenses. For example, you might find it cheaper to subcontract out some of the work that you currently do in-house. Your budget should reflect your best ideas for making a profit.

Create recession contingency budget:

At the time of writing, the U.S. is enjoying a growing economy. What would happen to your business if we suddenly fell into a recession? It will happen sooner or later, and you’d best be prepared by creating a recession budget as a contingency. The recession budget is based on conserving cash in the face of lower demand for your product or service.

Remember, budgets are planning tools, not straightjackets. Remain flexible, and you can always turn to IOU Financial if you find yourself short of cash despite your best planning.

Source: B2C