The Cost of Doing Business

I'm reasding about the hikes in gas prices recently, and it really makes me wonder how these companies get away with riobbing consumers.

It essentially comes down to operating expenses, or what we say is the cost of doing business. Pipeline problems, refinery fixes, etc seem to be the cost of bringing the product to the consumer...that's their business, right?

Most "normal" businesses have to purchase new equipment or replace worn out equipment all the time. In mkost circumstances, those costs are absorbed and not passed along to customers.

So why, then, do we the consumer have to pay for the costs of doing business for the oil industry? If you think about it, it seems ridiculous, especially when you see what their profits are! Think about it when you fill up this weekend!

The Power of Your Voice on Social Media

Social media works for comsumers! I know, from a recent experience.

This past winter, a window shattered in my house - in the middle of the night - for no apparent reason. The house is only four years old, so I thought such an issue would be easily taken care of through warranties, etc.

After making some calls, I learned a local retailer, Omni Glass, would be able to service my issues. Upon calls and a couple visits, I was told I would have to pay for the service. I found this to be strange given this was not of my doing.

I tried to raeson with Omni Glass and got nowhere. So I went to the manufacturer, Kolbe Windows in Wausau. They were unresponsive and not very much help initially. So, I hit the social media "airwaves", explaining my displeasure with Omni and Kolbe.

A few days after my posts, Kolbe contacted me and wanted to discuss the matter again. While it took them a while to respond, eventually they DID resolve the matter, actually giving me a brand new sash for my window at no charge.

Omni, meanwhile, is still yet to be heard from.

There's a lesson here...consumers have the power to immediately communicate good or bad experiences to hundreds if not thousands of people. It's up to your company to decide how you are going to handle the situation. Companies like Kolbe Windows, while in business for a very long time, understands the need to be "out there" monitoring what customers are saying.

How is your company monitoring and responding to customers on siocial media? If your answer is that you are not monitoring, you may want to immediately address that communication gap.

What's Behind the Curtain?

Remember that scene in the movie, The Wizard of Oz, where the famous wizard was caught as a phony, saying "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain"?

Well, think of Oz when you select a firm or indicidual to market for your company. What are they really about? For instance, there are all kinds of firms in the Green Bay area who proclaim to know web development and social media optimization. Looking behind their curtains - their own websites for example - we find they can't even link to pages correctly or fold in social media appropriately.

So choose wisely when you choose to partner with a marketing firm. Make sure what they say can be backed up with real work.

What''s Your Pulse?

I follow this blog and it is a great reminder about the incredible power of social media. More specifically, it illustrates what could happen if you or your company ignored social media. Imagine the devastation to netflix if they didn't keep a finger on the pulse of social media!

I have experienced several clients lately who feel monitoring social media is a burden. I argue it's a necessity in today's world! It may appear to be a burden, but people like me can help you develop plans and utilize technology to keep that finger on the pulse...allowing you to know what's being said about your company and products, whether it's good or bad.

 

The Power Of Marketing Consultants

I've been working on bringing in more clients in my consulting business recently, and thought the article below captured why hiring people like me can be very beneficial to your business. Take a look for yourself!

What Do You Expect?

I have to say my recent move to Marquis Yachts has surpassed my expectations and I am loving every minute of it. It got me to thinking about expectations.

So many times in my career and personal life, I have run into situations where expectations were not aligned with others. I firmly believe you must ensure expectations are outlined up front in any marketing effort. That ensures a clear path of communication with all involved.

I encourage you to look at your marketing ambitions and make sure you and your team are meeting - hopefully exceeding - expectations. If not, investigate why you're falling short, then execute a plan to get back on track. If you ever need help, feel free to contact me!

 

Do What You Love!

Have you ever wished you could fulfill your career passions and do what you love to do? Is it eating at you that you have expertise in areas that you are not utilizing in your current career?

Well, then make a change! I have experienced those very things in my professional career, and have had to make some very difficult decisions along the way. But, ultimately, the changes I made were a result of me not fulfilling my career passions. So what did I do?

I simply took a step back, looked at what I was currently doing, then assessed my true skills and passions. I concluded I was not fulfilling my passions and made a change for the better. Today, I can say without doubt that my career is in such a great place, and I am happy, energized and enthusiastic about what I do.

The decisions can be tough, but ultimately you have the control to fulfill your career goals. I love marketing and helping small businesses to large corporations flourish. Find what you love, then go do it!

Have a great weekend everyone!