Online marketing musings
London-based online marketing consultant. Mostly using this blog to post my musings on marketing and business from the perspective of an ex 9-5 man.
Why No iPhone Version Of Apple Website?
I was browsing the apple website on my iPhone when it hit me that this is a HARD website to browse on the iPhone. Lots of images, multi column layout, and navigation elements on the top and sides of the pages.
It's pretty ironic that amazon, google and other sites have come iPhone-flavoured for a LONG time and apple.com hasn't.
Apple should fix this. Better yet, build me an Apple Store App. Chances are that if I have an iPhone I'm probably quite well targeted to buy apple products. You could even send me special offers and give me advanced notice on new products. The possibilities are endless. What about letting me pay for things in-store through my iPhone? Anyhows, bottom line, get me an apple store app now!
Filed under //
Ideas
Comments [0]
The World Needs More Bailouts
There's nothing like a crisis to get governments to take action. The recent pumping of near 2 trillion dollars into the international banking system is a welcomed example of this. It's reassuring to see governments act decisively and effectively when we're facing a potentially destructive situation.
But what about the other challenges facing the world? What's the crisis point to trigger action, 2 trillion dollar action, on things like the environment and world poverty?These issues are at least as important as propping up our banks.
Filed under //
Ideas
Comments [0]
Stock Market Crash Kills The Internet
A new service from the team behind meetup has got me thinking about a how the current stock market crash could impact the internet.
The service called 'UnplugYourFriends' allows you to send a digital intervention to friends spending way too much time online. They have a very cute video on the site and in general it's a very fun idea. But cuteness asides, I think it could signal a wave of anti-internet sentiment.
Before you declare 'humbug', think about the news in recent weeks. There has been a significant and unprecedented backlash against the mainstream financial banking system. World stock markets have been crushed by a lack of confidence, not just in the short-term performance of certain stocks, but in the entire financial underpinning of our societies.
Couldn't there be a similar crash of confidence in the established system online?
The ramifications of the recent market madness won't fully play themselves out just yet, but I think they'll get people thinking about how the world currently works. When this system was created a few hundred years ago, the concept of limited resources, environmental impact and human right weren't even considered. Does it really take a genius to figure out this might no longer be working for us?
Similarly, might there not be a point of critical mass where we realise that we're sick of people telling us about their personal philosophies and selling us their latest ebooks on their blogs? A point where we'd rather call our friends up and go have a drink with them, rather than exchange Facebook wall messages? Where you might pluck up the courage to talk to a girl in a coffee bar instead of sign up for an online dating service? I personally hopeso. And I believe that www.unplugyourfirends.com will not be the first service of it's type to try help people move offline.
Filed under //
Ideas
Internet Marketing
Comments [0]
Most Popular Posterous Users - HOT GIRLS
Now I know this isn't very politically correct. But I'm gonna throw out a theory here. It's fundamentally this, every time a hot girl signs up for a posterous account and starts posting, she gets a disproportionate amount of attention. Mostly from the guys on Posterous. Is it that we're just a bunch of geeks that crave women's attention in any shape or form or is it that the hotties just happen to have very interesting posts? I am not sure, but I tend to take the CYNICAL view on this one.
Comments [3]
Useless Marketing Tactic 2 - Design By Committee
Lots of people have spoke of the evil of Design By Committee. But let's step into the real world a second, why does this happen and how can you avoid it?
I think there is one reason that can answer both of questions....INERTIA.
Bosses, managers, department heads etc feel that unless they build a critical mass of stakeholders, the committee if you will, what they want to do WONT get done. They just won't be able to overcome the inertia unless they have enough people to back them up and support them in pushing that boulder over the hill. The problem is that your new website, account processing system, CRM tool isn't a boulder, and you won't get the best out of it if it's thrown into to the hellfire of design by committee.
To resolve this, you need to use the force of INERTIA in your favour. Be the leader, take on the inertia by yourself and push things forward. Make the decision, make the arguments, spot the vulnerabilities and get your tribe of technicians together to build the system.
I think there is one reason that can answer both of questions....INERTIA.
Bosses, managers, department heads etc feel that unless they build a critical mass of stakeholders, the committee if you will, what they want to do WONT get done. They just won't be able to overcome the inertia unless they have enough people to back them up and support them in pushing that boulder over the hill. The problem is that your new website, account processing system, CRM tool isn't a boulder, and you won't get the best out of it if it's thrown into to the hellfire of design by committee.
To resolve this, you need to use the force of INERTIA in your favour. Be the leader, take on the inertia by yourself and push things forward. Make the decision, make the arguments, spot the vulnerabilities and get your tribe of technicians together to build the system.
Filed under //
ex 9-5 man wisdom
Internet Marketing
Comments [0]
Useless Marketing Tactic 1
Documenting your competitors' current advertising...WHO CARES what they did, are you gonna copy them? Even if you did by the time you get your 'cloned' online campaign out the door they'll be on their next campaign.
'Of course we're not gonna copy it, that's ridiculous' you might say. So what then? You wanna compare/contrast? You want to let THEM influence your path? One way or another you're copying them. So forget about it, come up with your own marketing campaign!
Filed under //
ex 9-5 man wisdom
Internet Marketing
Comments [0]
Lights Out
There was a blackout in half the town I live in for about 2 hours. Everything was still and quiet. We lit candles and read. It was very relaxing actually. It also made me realize how much electricity I was using (wasting).
Do we really need so many lights on all the time. Can't the street lights just come on when someone walks by. And shouldn't we be building power sources into all our houses?
Comments [0]
Comments [0]