Short, mediocre interview with Jeff Bezos.
July 6, 2005There are a couple interesting bits. USATODAY.com - Amazon CEO takes long view.
Excerpt:
Q: Where do you see e-commerce going in the next 10 years?
A: I think there'll be more change and opportunity in the next 10 years than over the last 10 years. Look at all the raw materials we use: computers, disk space and bandwidth. Every year, they get cheaper and more powerful. I love it that our raw materials keep getting cheaper and more plentiful. We have to say, "What kind of innovation can we layer on top of that, that will be meaningful for our customers?"
Q: What's Wall Street's biggest misconception about Amazon.com?
A: I think one of the things people don't understand is we can build more shareholder value by lowering product prices than we can by trying to raise margins. It's a more patient approach, but we think it leads to a stronger, healthier company. It also serves customers much, much better.
We are dedicated to the notion of, year in and year out, lowering prices and getting more efficient so we can afford to do that.
Permalink | TrackBack (0) | Comments (3)
NewsGator now has a free online version
July 1, 2005To compete with Bloglines no doubt. Looks interesting.
Link: NewsGator Online.
Venture Voice, Entertaining Entrepreneurship
July 1, 2005 in 3 out of 5 stars, A blog , A podcastVenture Voice, Entertaining Entrepreneurship: Interesting Podcasts of interviews with high profile and successful entrepreneurs (so far). Gregory Galant and Aaron Quint Well the site is quite young, so we'll see what the future holds, but they are off to a stellar start. They landed some whales for the first 3 interviews.
What is it?
Who makes it?
Why is it the killerest?
- Dick Costolo of FeedBurner
- Philip Kaplan of F___d Company and AdBrite
- Joe Kraus of JotSpot and Bnoopy (formerly Excite)
I listened to all of them yesterday and enjoyed the inside story, ramblings and ideas put out by these guys who know their stuff. Inspiring and informational. I think Greg (a super sharp guy) is still finding his interviewers stride, which must be very hard to do over the phone. The audio quality is also tinny because it's over the phone (maybe these guys need to try Skype?). Free like kittens Reviewed by Carson McComasWhat could be improved?
How much does it cost?
Rating?
Creating Customer Evangelists
July 1, 2005 in 5 out of 5 stars, A bookCreating Customer Evangelists: A book that teaches you how to take your company's best customers and build them into influential, loyal, and enthusiastic evangelists. Ben McConnell and Jackie HubaWhat is it?
Who makes it?
Why is it the killerest?
In my own experience as an entrepreneur--doing business is a process of trial and error, learn-as-you-go, practice-makes-perfect work. Most of us burn piles of money, effort, time and
energy just trying to figure out what works. If we manage to have some
success before we run out of any of those things, then we pay very
close attention to what worked, and we try to do it again, and again,
and again. Learning what those things are is tough, especially when
it's done by trial and error (which is what most of us do, which is why
most companies don’t survive).
The most critical component to a successful business is having something people will buy. The second most critical component to a successful business is getting people to buy it. This is also known as sales and marketing; marketing in particular (because a good product will sell itself). And we all know that the most powerful and least expensive marketing is word-of-mouth marketing.
And we all want as much of it as we can get.
Take Krispy Kreme (KK) donuts for example. Aside from a few billboards helping folks know where the store is located, KK does virtually no advertising. Their stock price has hit a few snags of late thanks to the anti-carb craze, yet, they are a house-hold name, they are adored by anyone lucky enough to have one in their city, they always have insanely long lines, and everyone I know is an absurdly loyal word-of-mouth marketer for them. Or more precisely, everyone I know is an absurdly loyal customer evangelist for them. Remember this story? About the Krispy Kreme opening in Mishawaka Indiana where a customer sat in line for 17 (yes, SEVENTEEN) days awaiting the opening of the store? Fierce customer loyalty. The press went nuts. Oodles of free marketing.
Every business wants to know how to tap into that. Or better yet, create that. And for those that don't have the resources (or luck) to run through piles of money in trial-and-error mode to figure out exactly how to hit the word-of-mouth marketing target, authors Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba have saved us the hassle.
Creating Customer Evangelists is an extraordinary book. The authors studied several companies (including Krispy Kreme) that have created customer evangelists. The authors then identified exactly what those companies did to make that magic happen.
The presentation is clear, brilliant, enlightening, and extremely exciting.
As a business person you likely find yourself trying to determine exactly what works, trying lots of new ideas, straining to recognize what works.
Well, I loved this book because the authors identify those elements that work. They outline the elements needed to create the kind of word-of-mouth marketing success every business needs, and then explain how to incorporate those elements in your business.
Here, in a nutshell, are the key tenets covered in the book:
- Customer plus delta: How customer feedback drives word of mouth
- Napsterize your knowledge: As knowledge is shared, it becomes more valuable
- Build the buzz: Understanding the roles of megahubs and network hubs
- Create community: Why customer communities are valuable and drive sales
- Make bite-size chunks: Strategies for simplifying complex sales so customers tell others
- Create a cause: Crossing the emotional chasm with customers so they believe in you
Just reading them again gives me warm fuzzies. This is a book I read and found myself clinching my fist--YES! I get it! That makes sense!
I love good business books; I've always got one I'm nursing along. But this one really stood out. I left the book with solid ideas that I implement today. I've started to incorporate them into my own business, and advise clients how to incorporate them into theirs. And I've begun to see the fruits. Better customer loyalty, increased connection with customers, increased spread by word-of-mouth. Plus, I have a whole basket full of great ideas, inspired by the book, which I can't wait to pursue.
The book is growing slightly dated in the companies, they profiled, but absolutely not in the principles they teach. This book is 100% relevant today.
Note: The authors also have an excellent blog, and a free ebook to freshen up the case studies with more current examples. $16.50 at Amazon Reviewed by Carson McComasWhat could be improved?
How much does it cost?
Rating?
BookPool.com
July 1, 2005 in 4 out of 5 stars, A store, A websiteBookPool.com: Discount Computer Books. They've got all sorts of computer books, and at excellent prices. The prices. They're stellar. For example, I was able to get 4 SQL Server books there for $117 including 2nd Day Air Shipping. At Amazon the same books would have been between $135 and $180 (depending upon shipping options) for 2nd Day Air.
Plus, BookPool.com was able to fulfill and ship my order much more quickly than Amazon.com tends to.
I've ordered from them a number of times, they're completely worthy of my repeat business Not much in my mind. Sure, Amazon.com lets you browse books, see ratings and stuff first (but hey, there's no reason you can't do that, and then go buy your books on BookPool.com). BookPool just sells books, cheap and fast. Reviewed by Michael K. CampbellWhat is it?
Why is it the killerest?
What could be improved?
Rating?
Permalink | TrackBack (0) | Comments (0)
Send2Fax
June 29, 2005 in 0 out of 5 stars, A service, FaxingSend2Fax: An email based faxing service. Send2Fax, LLC All together now: "Efax sucks!"
The idea is great, and they get a brownie for pioneering it into the public sector. But they also suck. They use a proprietary file format so you have to download their clunky spam ridden software to view faxes. Their customer support is atrocious. They are expensive ($12.95/mo + $0.20/page for toll free). Note: you can get free efax, but if your usage goes above the smallest amount (don't recall the limit) then they force you to upgrade, or they'll cancel your number. It's real cute.. But I'm not here to (only) rail on efax. Send2Fax is where it's at.
With Send2Fax, they send (email) your faxes in PDF format. No stupid proprietary reader required. They are reasonably priced, and from what I've seen, reliable. They rule because they are everything good about efax, with none of the evil. $1.95/mo + $0.15/page ($4.95 setup fee) billed from $20 deposits. More. Reviewed by Carson McComasWhat is it?
Who makes it?
Why is it the killerest?
How much does it cost?
Rating?
Demoted! Now recommending FaxPipe.
11 Ways to Improve Landing Pages
June 29, 2005 in 4 out of 5 stars, A magazine article, An article, An idea11 Ways to Improve Landing Pages: A great article on improving your ad landing pages. Michael Nguyen for Digital Web Magazine Similar to a post I wrote last week about dramatically increasing your conversion rate from ads, particularly Google Adwords ads. It has great tips and best of all a before-and-after, "hands on" where he shows how to apply his tips as he changes a terrible landing page he found, into one that would actually work. Good stuff. Reviewed by Carson McComasWhat is it?
Who makes it?
Why is it the killerest?
Rating?
Permalink | TrackBack (0) | Comments (0)
Skype
June 28, 2005 in 5 out of 5 stars, A piece of software, FreeSkype: Free Internet telephony that just works. (It's their slogan, but it also happens to be 100% true.) Skype Skype is probably the new Internet enabled technology I'm most excited about. It's simple, you install it, hook up a microphone to your computer, call your friend anywhere in the world (who must also be using Skype if you want to talk for free, or for a couple cents/min you can call a normal phone). And miraculously, without any hoop jumping, configuring, or other shenanigans, it just works. Beautifully too. I use it over broadband so can't speak to dial up, but I speak regularly with clients and friends all over the world. Germany, Venezuela, Mexico, Florida, Idaho. Imagine talking to the whole world for free. Skype rocks! Skype has built in IM, which is cool but it would use some of the features of the more mature IM programs. Still, it's very cool. I'd love them to do video, and I think they will. There are some plugins for Skype video (one called vSkype) that supposedly work well. Free as the moon and the stars and the air and the clouds. Reviewed by Carson McComasWhat is it?
Who makes it?
Why is it the killerest?
What could be improved?
How much does it cost?
Rating?
Dropload
June 27, 2005 in 4 out of 5 stars, A service, File uploading services, FreeDropload: A service where you can send big files to others, without having to email it to them. Because it's flat simple to do something that everyone struggles with -- getting large files to someone else. Typically people email them. Have you ever waited for a 10MB email? It's not fun, Dropload solves this problem.
It works by allowing you to upload a file, which then triggers an email to your recipient, they click a link and download at their leisure (as long as it's within 7 days). You get an email when they've picked it up. It's a tad spare in features, but honestly, it only does what it purports to do. Performance can be weak when it's slammed. I love it. Free as a bumblebee. Reviewed by Carson McComasWhat is it?
Who makes it?
Why is it the killerest?
What could be improved?
How much does it cost?
Rating?
Campaign Monitor
June 27, 2005 in 5 out of 5 stars, Email newsletter management, Hosted softwareCampaign Monitor: Web based email newsletter and list management software for web designers. Switch I.T. (now Freshview) It's going to be hard to explain the ecstacy I experience each time I use this service. For years I've been trying to find the perfect tool to manage email newsletters for myself and my clients. Just when I thought no one could get it right, Campaign Monitor came along and blew my socks off.
They handle everything, from capturing your subscribers, sending your campaigns and delivering very sexy reports straight to your clients. Plus, the software is continually updated and they provide you with loads of tips and articles on getting the most out of email marketing.
The best part - you get all this for only a penny an email. And you only pay when you use it (no silly monthly charges or anything). Honestly, this thing just rocks. Hmmm.... this is a tough one the thing is near perfect. For the anal-retentive in me, there are some totally unimportant quirks where you can't delete some of your past campaigns. $5 + 1 cent/email Reviewed by Carson McComas What is it?
Who makes it?
Why is it the killerest?
What could be improved?
How much does it cost?
Rating?