On November 2nd, we relaunched what we call internally as TRtv.tv. It's our internal web communication tool featuring video on demand, learning management, and document management. (among a lot of other things.) Here's a commercial we just did to promote the new launch.
Our Blue Ocean division recently finished this promo for our company. We wanted to capture the emotion and dedication of our people for over 50 years of success.
Great article from one of my favorite sites Mashable.com. (PLUG ALERT : In my opinion, Mashable.com is the best source for the most relevant, timely and entertaining news on social networking and marketplace trends.)
Neil Crocker of Digital Media's article 4 Things Old Media Can Learn From the Music Industry’s Last Decade, describes how Newspapers (aka "Old Media") needs to learn from the music industry and how they adapted to new technology.
There seems to be a lot of confusion about the whole "Free" website/business/social networking scenario. Recently Newsweek magazine propagated more confusion in an article they called "It's Time to Pony Up : Why good Web sites shouldn't be free."
The problem with the article is Daniel Lyons ensites rather than informs. Even by his own admission he's not an "avid member of Facebook" but.... Lyons throws out emotional appeals like "web sites shouldn't be free," and "contrary to the conventional wisdom, people really are willing to pay for online services," and "I think some companies are scared," to try and prove his point that everyone should charge for content on the web.
Unfortunately, he contradicts himself later in the article by using Paltalk.com as an example. His own words here. "For zero dollars, you can trade instant messages on Paltalk with up to 10 people and see their video- streams. But if you want to visit chat rooms and see video streams from hundreds of people, you must pay $14.95 per month, or $60 for a one-year subscription."
For "zero dollars" Paltalk allows users to use there site for nothing. Only when they use premium services does he charge. "Zero dollars" is FREE!!!
I realize many of us struggle with our hard efforts being given away. In my business its very frustrating. But if you fight it you will loose. The key to success is understanding that the marketplace is changing. (And by the way, ain't nothing free!!!) We have to bet more creative in our marketing and selling practices.
Please read Chris Anderson's new book "FREE" to get a better understanding of the new "FReemium" model. By the way, the audio is free on iTunes.
Author Malcolm Gladwell has popularized the term “tipping point”: a point at which bleeding edge becomes cutting edge or even mainstream. PC Magazine defines “tipping point” as the “point in time in which technology, procedure, service, or philosophy has reached critical mass and becomes mainstream.” Some try to draw a line in the sand and declare that “now is the time everything changes”. The problem is the marketplace appears to be a moving tipping point, tipping in some areas of the country before others, and even tipping differently within companies, projects, workgroups and industries.
The firm or individual that is not acquainted with the latest machinery, methods, processes and requirements of their business is at a decided disadvantage in competition and is not in a position to render efficient service to his customers or clients. — Elgin E. Mott, First President of International Association of Blue Print and Allied Industries (1928)
In this film, I share my experience and commentary on the competition between Starbucks and McCafe.
By nature trends so it was time for us to recalibrate and refocus our attentions. The Blue Haze will feature a lot of the same philosophies but be more technology-driven with plenty of film, commentary and multimedia. For those that have been with us the last three years, thanks taking the time to share in the journey...
TO BE CONTINUED
Eventually, if I dig deep enough I reach the "tranquil pause."
The construction industry has come a long way over the last few thousand years, from the clay walls of tribal villages to Egyptian Pyramids and the Grand Coliseum of ancient Rome. We’ve seen steel revolutionize buildings and bridges, allowing us to build monstrous skyscrapers into the clouds.“Eliminate your printer,” they’ll chant as reprographic blasphemy flows off their lips and splashes across their marketing material.
The airline industry is in turmoil. Oil prices have obviously had a big effect, but the airline industry has been in turmoil for a long time. On a recent Southwest Airlines flight from San Antonio to Dallas, it was reinforced to me why Southwest is the only profitable airline left in the industry.
As we ended our flight the pilot came on the intercom to thank us for our business. Paraphrasing, he said "Thanks for choosing Southwest today and helping make us the only profitable airline left in the industry. We realize that you're the reason that is possible." Amazingly, the passengers began to applause. Wow! Now that's loyalty. (And that's why they are a profitable airline.)
Southwest believes in taking care of their internal customers— their employees— and in turn, their employees take care of their external customers. While the other airlines are feeing us to death, Southwest has a much different philosophy. I have included their most recent ad in USA today to illustrate my point.
Rather than making customer service a long-winded set of techniques, tricks and platitudes we’re going to give it to you straight. The simplicity of customer service is it all starts with a problem. Sounds incredibly simple but its incredibly true. Customers do business with you for one simple reason - they have a problem.
A problem is a need that requires help to solve. We need to get out of the mind-set that ‘problems’ are always bad and scary. Problems are just a customer in need seeking your help. They need you! In fact, the problem-to-solution experience is where we find some great opportunities for our team to provide World-Class Customer Service. The bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunity.
An executive of a major general contractor confided in us to watch for a dramatic shift in technological urgency in the next decade. He reasoned that a number of top executives are about to retire and turn major decisions over to younger executives waiting to make their mark by investing in technological solutions. He went on to say that, with the previous decade’s profit boom and increased stock values, retiring executives do not want to invest millions into solutions that they are uncomfortable with or deem too expensive.
As younger executives assume control of the larger companies, they will bring dramatic new perspectives in technology application.
