Retaining customers - USPS doesn't get it
Tue, Oct 6 2009 02:57 PM
| Permalink
Another reason the United States Postal Service (USPS) is behind the times is the classic PO Box. I went to renew the PO Box for Color by the Sun today. I got a renewal notice via email (which is a nice feature, btw) last week that told me I could renew for 6 months for $55. So I'm at the counter and told the clerk I wanted to renew. He asked if I would like to renew for 6 months for $55. I asked him how much it would be for 1 year. He said, oh, a hundred and something. Then he checked and it was $110 for the year. I sarcastically replied, wow, what a deal. Give me 6 months then. Just out of curiosity, I called my local UPS Store to inquire what the box rates are for the UPS Mail Service. The UPS Store worker told me that a small box would be $16 month, so 6 months would be $96, or I could do 12 months and get 3 months free. So $144 for the year for the UPS Mail Service or $110/year for the USPS service. The UPS Mail Service has several additional benefits, like getting a real address, package notification by text or email, accepting of packages from all carriers, mail forwarding, and call-in mail checking by phone.
I did a brief search on the number of PO Boxes and found that most Central Business Districts (CBDs) have over 100,000 PO Boxes available. I don't know what the "unused" rate is for USPS PO Boxes, but I'd be willing to bet that if they offered a $10 discount for 1 year and made it an even $100/year, they would retain more PO Box users. They would have signed me up for a year on the spot.
Retaining customers should always be a priority. Using a little common sense marketing and giving your existing customers some incentive to renew for a longer term is easy. Thinking like a business isn't so easy when you are part of the government.
I did a brief search on the number of PO Boxes and found that most Central Business Districts (CBDs) have over 100,000 PO Boxes available. I don't know what the "unused" rate is for USPS PO Boxes, but I'd be willing to bet that if they offered a $10 discount for 1 year and made it an even $100/year, they would retain more PO Box users. They would have signed me up for a year on the spot.
Retaining customers should always be a priority. Using a little common sense marketing and giving your existing customers some incentive to renew for a longer term is easy. Thinking like a business isn't so easy when you are part of the government.
|
Avoid putting the "kabosh" on a presentation
Fri, Sep 11 2009 12:59 PM
| productivity, small business, presentation, business
| Permalink
For many people, the thought of getting up in front of their peers or people they don't know causes the pulse to race and anxiety to rise. Practicing in front of a mirror, friends and family members will help alleviate the worry and also improve your delivery. Here are some basic presentation tips called the The 10/20/30 Rule of Powerpoint from Guy Kawasaki and an ironic "How to Give a Lousy Presentation" to help you in your journey.
The "factory model" is dead...
Thu, Aug 13 2009 05:28 PM
| entrepreneurship, small business
| Permalink
Great interview with Seth Godin. Here's an excerpt:
Question: Marcy Shinder:
Over the more than 20 years that OPEN has been serving business owners, we’ve seen the resilience of entrepreneurs to adapt to changing times. But are you now forecasting a change as profound as that which precipitated the industrial and digital revolutions? Are you saying that there’s going to be a radical difference in the way that future business models are formulated?
Answer Seth Godin:
"I think so. The biggest single difference is that the whole factory model is dead – the mindset that says that the purpose of the corporation is to raise money and build a factory, and the purpose of the factory is to make lots of stuff that people will buy. That’s gone, it’s over. The way we train, the people we hire, the products we make, the way we sell them – is approached in a different way now. The new paradigm is two or three guys, setting up a couple of desks and laptops in their garage, conquering their own corner of the web, and maybe making $1 million or more in their first year. All the brains and emotion are migrating to service-related businesses that stress their horizontality rather than verticality. It’s a mass-customization, high-bandwidth connectivity kind of paradigm."
Here's a link to the full article.
Question: Marcy Shinder:
Over the more than 20 years that OPEN has been serving business owners, we’ve seen the resilience of entrepreneurs to adapt to changing times. But are you now forecasting a change as profound as that which precipitated the industrial and digital revolutions? Are you saying that there’s going to be a radical difference in the way that future business models are formulated?
Answer Seth Godin:
"I think so. The biggest single difference is that the whole factory model is dead – the mindset that says that the purpose of the corporation is to raise money and build a factory, and the purpose of the factory is to make lots of stuff that people will buy. That’s gone, it’s over. The way we train, the people we hire, the products we make, the way we sell them – is approached in a different way now. The new paradigm is two or three guys, setting up a couple of desks and laptops in their garage, conquering their own corner of the web, and maybe making $1 million or more in their first year. All the brains and emotion are migrating to service-related businesses that stress their horizontality rather than verticality. It’s a mass-customization, high-bandwidth connectivity kind of paradigm."
Here's a link to the full article.
Tribal Leadership
Fri, Aug 7 2009 04:27 PM
| entrepreneurship, change, business
| Permalink
I've been following how Tony Hsieh of Zappos and other companies structure their business models. This is a great audio book that can be downloaded for free that describes how companies at different stages function.
If you are an entrepreneur and love learning about business, this is a must listen/read. I plan to get the Kindle version after listening to the audio.
http://www.zappos.com/tribal.zhtml
If you are an entrepreneur and love learning about business, this is a must listen/read. I plan to get the Kindle version after listening to the audio.
http://www.zappos.com/tribal.zhtml
What does it mean?
Advice on equity when starting a business
Fri, Apr 3 2009 03:17 PM
| startups, small business, partnerships
| Permalink
This information would have saved me lots of mistakes along my journey in starting and forming businesses. If you are considering starting a business (AND ESPECIALLY PARTNERING) you should read this. There is something about guys and wanting a business partner. You need to treat it like a marriage and carefully consider all avenues before signing the papers.
Here's the Advice on equity blog post from Seth Godin.
Here's the Advice on equity blog post from Seth Godin.
Is your social media user name taken?
Tue, Mar 17 2009 09:01 AM
| Permalink
One of the questions I get asked is "Where do I start to get involved in social media?" I blogged about this question specific to Twitter, but there are many different avenues for social media.
The first step is deciding what your strategy is for using social media. What is your "end in mind" or the results you want to achieve for your business?
Second, how do you plan to support this initiative? How much time can/will you or someone you hire devote to it?
Third, create realistic expectations and tie your social media strategy into your overall business strategy, marketing strategy and specifically your Web strategy.
Then get educated on some of the social media tools. Currently, some of the most popular are Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Digg, LinkedIn and YouTube. However, there are more out there than you think.
You can check your desired username (business name) at www.checkusernames.com
The first step is deciding what your strategy is for using social media. What is your "end in mind" or the results you want to achieve for your business?
Second, how do you plan to support this initiative? How much time can/will you or someone you hire devote to it?
Third, create realistic expectations and tie your social media strategy into your overall business strategy, marketing strategy and specifically your Web strategy.
Then get educated on some of the social media tools. Currently, some of the most popular are Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Digg, LinkedIn and YouTube. However, there are more out there than you think.
You can check your desired username (business name) at www.checkusernames.com
Social networks for entrepreneurs
Mon, Mar 16 2009 03:46 PM
| social networking, small business
| Permalink
Social media is the new buzz on the Web. For entrepreneurs looking to connect with other entrepreneurs, Mashable, The Social Media Guide, posted an article on the Top 10 Social Networks for Entrepreneurs.
If you are running your own business or aspire to start your own business, this is a great list of social networking sites for entrepreneurs.
If you are running your own business or aspire to start your own business, this is a great list of social networking sites for entrepreneurs.
Small business productivity on the iPhone
Sat, Mar 14 2009 11:47 PM
| small business, iphone, apple
| Permalink
As a small business owner, I know the challenges of wearing several different hats during the course of the day. I also run the business using Apple computers, which many in the business world would think absurd. But I enjoy using my Macs and they are pretty much trouble free. I can count on them to work at all times.
I also use an iPhone for email, calendaring, taking notes, and recording important thoughts, such as ideas for blog entries. I came across an article in Inc magazine about iPhone apps for business and thought I'd share it. While I admit they don't fall into my daily use on my iPhone, they might come in handy for other small business owners using Apple computers for their business.
I also use an iPhone for email, calendaring, taking notes, and recording important thoughts, such as ideas for blog entries. I came across an article in Inc magazine about iPhone apps for business and thought I'd share it. While I admit they don't fall into my daily use on my iPhone, they might come in handy for other small business owners using Apple computers for their business.
Overwhelmed by Social Media? Yeah, I know.
Wed, Mar 11 2009 09:49 AM
| productivity, twitter, time management
| Permalink
I've been using social media tools for several years now. My most recent education has come with Twitter. I've been using the tool Twitter for about 5 months now. Over the past 2 months, I've gotten a fairly good handle on what it can be used for and how to use it.
I've also found myself enamored and addicted to Twitter. I have been using Tweetdeck on my desktop and as my followers grow, the people I'm following grows as well. I just glanced over at my All Friends tweets this morning, they are at 493. Can I read all those? No way. I've also created groups, but those are starting to run over the rim as well.
I read a great blog entry today called How to Boost your Social Media Productivity - A Guide for Busy People. Even the list of how to optimize your Twitter experience is a bit overwhelming. But take it easy and just pick a few to start with. I read Tim Ferriss' entry on How to use Twitter without Twitter owning you - 5 tips and I plan on implementing his suggestions.
I think I'm going to have to give up Tweetdeck for now, unless I can figure out a more productive use for it.
I've also found myself enamored and addicted to Twitter. I have been using Tweetdeck on my desktop and as my followers grow, the people I'm following grows as well. I just glanced over at my All Friends tweets this morning, they are at 493. Can I read all those? No way. I've also created groups, but those are starting to run over the rim as well.
I read a great blog entry today called How to Boost your Social Media Productivity - A Guide for Busy People. Even the list of how to optimize your Twitter experience is a bit overwhelming. But take it easy and just pick a few to start with. I read Tim Ferriss' entry on How to use Twitter without Twitter owning you - 5 tips and I plan on implementing his suggestions.
I think I'm going to have to give up Tweetdeck for now, unless I can figure out a more productive use for it.