Business

Mark goes to a jeweller and asks how much to remove links from his watch bracelet. The jeweller says £7 to which Mark declines and moves on.

Mark goes to another jeweller and asks the same question. This time he is told £10. Again Mark declines and ponders, how can it be so expensive for two minutes work?

By chance, Mark talks to a man selling mobile phone mods and unlocking. Again he asks about his watch bracelet… just £2 he says. Sure enough, two minutes later the watch fitted perfectly. Mark tipped £1 and thanked him kindly.

Mark reflected. The jewellers had no other customers and no materials to purchase… a simple task with simple tools. Once upon-a-time this would of been free.

If the short term greed was set aside… if a smile with courtesy was forthcoming… Mark would of recommended the jewellers to friends… or later thought to buy a precious ring.

But the bad vibes were spread and it came at a cost, Two minutes of kind could barely be lost. To one kind person, to many Mark say, returning with money, another day.

Business and Current Events

I can’t tell you just how impressed I am with the X Factor. It’s not the competition itself that blows me away, it’s how the events management, production and marketing comes together to be, without doubt, the best there is, period.

A lot of that excellence comes from Syco TV. Every week I watch Syco TV do their magic and tonight’s X Factor final was simply jaw dropping; how good that must be for all attendees. If I could invest in Syco TV then I would of done it a long time ago and faster than I can blink.

I am sure there is something to be learned here and I’m thinking it simply comes down to the idea that if you want to give the best experience then you MUST demand exceptional teamwork and you MUST MUST MUST hire exceptional people.

Life and Net

In the online world, “what are you wearing?” is a turning point; a phrase widely interpreted as flirtatious. Some might say the question defines a relationship, that the question may or may not be welcomed. Yet when we meet people in Real Life, the question disappears as the answers are obvious. More so, in Real Life compliments of someone’s appearance will often be flattering and appreciated.

With that thought I want to ask, why does the abstraction to text or voice make the net such a personal place? And if a growing relationship leads you to ask that question, maybe it’s a smarter move to meet the person for real?

Current Events and Technology

In recent years there has been some controversy about amputees competing against able-bodied athletes. This is the result of significant advancements in prosthetics. Amputees are mutating from “brave individuals” to “dirty cheats”. That someone with titanium legs might actually be considered unfair competition. So how long before the Paralympics become the main event with a completely new and defining set of rules? Right now you’re going to laugh at me for considering a human running 100m in 4 seconds… but when they do it you will be hooked.

Fast forward to current events about the Smarthand European Research Project in Sweden. A robotic hand wired to the users brain, returning the sensation of touch. Yes, amazing and undoubtedly the birth of a new race, a new human race bringing us closer to our science fantasies.

But as I started, the excitement for such liberation is a bumpy road and the war against cyborgs will come. No, really, a difference between humans and super humans. The fight for employment on a different front and the fight for religious values.

To know this is the future we simply look to the past. In the 1950s science fiction sold us a happy future, lots of free time because robots were going to do everything for us. Many of us would never have to work again. But today, the unemployed are the cancer in society, an unwanted tax.

My question to you is, as we redefine ourselves, can we retain compassion and humanity or must we go to war?

Net

Google AdWords:

We’re sorry, the new AdWords interface does not work with Opera. We recommend using Firefox 3, Internet Explorer 8, Safari, or Chrome to manage your AdWords campaigns.

…unless, of course, you change the browser identification in preferences. So what is it about a giant tech company, overflowing with talent, that it can’t write a web app compatible with Opera? Conflict of interest?

Business and Net

The volume of people trying to monetise their content is ever growing. All the things we consume for free is begging for a universal micro-payment system.

Tiny-tiny payments for news, sports, emails, music, games, porn, twitter… As the train rolls, as more money feeds new startups and applications, the possibility of that need being satisfied is getting closer.

We are comfortable paying online. The problem is, we tend to pay one provider at a time, often in a form of stored credit. It could be better.

There is a fear that charges, however small, can turn consumers away very easily. A need for fearless; consumers will pay and stay if there’s convenience, simplicity and widespread acceptance.

As consumers, we’re waiting for a super cheap and widely accepted currency which has no passwords and is built into our web browsers. The key is automation. It would auto-accept payments for specified users and sites. It would feature price controls and sport an online meter in a status bar.

There are plenty of micro payment systems and sometimes their media attention seem to burst into life; remember how e-gold was going to change everything?

The big credit card companies could do more but, frankly, I think they are too greedy and too icebound. This revolution will be taken by fresher players.

The alternative to micro payments is a prolific rise of content from aggregators and portals. A single point of content, not just all-you-can-eat music but all-you-can-eat-everything.

Domain Names

Moniker have a portfolio lock feature and they also claim to of never lost a domain. I think they should back that up with an insurance policy… that way, you know if they ever had to pay out, for sure they would not want to pay out more than it’s true worth.

I know their appraisals are recognised by the IRS but I think something like this would bring a lot more legitimacy to this business. A put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is philosophy.

Business

It is often said, smaller businesses can be more agile than their bigger competitors. This is especially more important when you consider the big guys can often deliver lower prices. So today I just want to remind people how communications, making yourself accessible and approachable, can help to differentiate yourself from your rivals. Consider this; as a consumer, how easy is it for you to talk to the big companies?

Look at your competitors website, where is their telephone number? Do they make you jump through hoops before giving out their number or contact form? Is their telephone service costly or drawn out? Does their telephone service try to push you back onto their website?

Of course, a lot depends on individual companies and the markets they serve, but generally speaking, having thousands of customers can lead companies to become too zealous in their cost cutting. That equates to more automation and more customers per account manager than ever before. Some would say you have to be tough, but honestly, a bad reputation spreads quicker and last longer than a good name.

So here are some quick fixes:

1. Put your telephone number at the top of every page, or at least a direct link at the top of every page.

2. Don’t make your customers register or sign-in first. Make it instantly useful and to the point.

3. On a contact page, don’t offer FAQs or knowledge silos, put them on a different page. Give them real human-to-human contact; build real relationships with the hands that feed you.

4. Make your phone menus to the point. Don’t drag it out with the human operator as the last option. And don’t try to steer your customers to your website… honestly, if a customer wanted your website they would figure it out, really.

5. Feel free to put your email addresses on your web pages too. Simple screening is possible to block unsolicited mail.

Rethink your philosophy. Break down barriers, open your arms and welcome your guests with enthusiasm. Good luck!