Archive for September, 2007

Well, getting ready to head out tommorrow for SMX Local/Mobile conference in Denver, and looking forward to seeing friends in the search marketing world again I’ve not seen since SMX Advanced in Seattle.

I’m very excited about the Local/Mobile marketplace, especially with my developing expertise in working with franchises in internet marketing, and hope to shore that up even more in 2008 with some specific offerings under the PrecisionLocal brand. This is a tough, tough marketplace for consulting as the resources for local search are still quite fragmented and difficult to understand for clients.

Flickr Sets for SMX Local/Mobile

So if you’re going, Twitter me (id: scottclark) to catch up or meet.

Well, it’s WiMax World Week in Chicago, and from news reports, the attendance has almost doubled. WiMax (802.16) is a technology that works a lot like Wi-Fi Wireless Networks but has much greater range since it uses empty frequencies to provide wireless Internet just about anywhere. WiMax speeds are 4Mbit/sec at their best right now. Sprint/Nextel is setting up a service with Clearwire that will cover 100 million people by the end of next year, and demos of WiMax seem to be going better and better.

Wimax World had some buzz about demos of new technology - mostly related to compatibility and backhaul issues. I’m looking forward to hearing more about the end-devices of course. I’ll go out on a limb to say if Apple produces a Newton 2, it will natively support WiMax, and that WiMax will drive a revolution in mobile device simplification (tablets, thin clients) as well as mobile application (video, dynamic news, conferencing.) Intel showed an integrated WiMax card on a laptop at WiMax World. One thing that Sprint said was that the costs of WiMax devices and services will be like using 3G, but they won’t give out SLAs.

WiMax deployments can’t come soon enough for Municiple Wi-Fi projects, because many seem to be sinking.

USA Today provided this list…

•Cincinnati shelved its plan last week for a citywide network because the market is too unstable.

•The Silicon Valley plan for free Wi-Fi is at risk after providers decided local governments must be “anchor tenants” for the service.

•Springfield, Ill., is looking for another partner after AT&T dropped Wi-Fi plans last month.

•St. Louis is trying to figure out how to power Wi-Fi transmitters on 1,700 street lights when they’re not illuminated without spending millions of dollars.

Until then I guess we’ll need to hover around hotspots.

 

I found this on JonathanFields.com, and it resonated.

Some people thrive on the energy of a constant battle. On how badly they can take those around them. Not me. It kills me. And, at least for me, I discovered there is a much better way to launch and grow your small business or reinvigorate your career.

One that leaves you feeling incredibly jazzed about the work you do and the impact you have on your clients, your community and your staff. One that cultivates an atmosphere of gratitude, loyalty, honesty and an organizational work-ethic capable of driving productivity and profitability like never before.

One that positions you as a leader, a philanthropist, a visionary, a mentor and massive-success story, rather than a bastard-boss or back-stabbing colleague who rules over an apathetic, disloyal, thieving workforce who’d be just as happy to see you crash and burn as they’d be watching you succeed.

One that builds your business not with a bullied client-base always in search of someone else to give them a better deal, but upon the relationships cultivated with a consistent, devoted client-base that will often even pay a bit more for the pleasure of continuing to work with you.

Not bad at all….

To all the restaurants offering free Wi-Fi, I say THANK YOU. I love it. Panera Bread led the pack, and more are offering it. But for those of us who are popping in for a quick lunch by ourselves, laptop in tow, what if we need to leave the table for a few minutes - to get a refill, grab our food, or pee?

My laptop is valuable to me mostly due to MY TIME spent installing all that damn stuff (and of course $1400 worth of Dell.) And while I can lock the data as I go, I have a hard time locking the machine itself. And while I don’t carry any huge chunks of personal information on there, it would be nice to snap it on the table. So, how about adding some little security hooks on your tables I can loop my laptop cable through real quick?

It might someday prevent the hassle of having my machine stolen, or worse:

26.5 million U.S. veterans was on a laptop taken from the home of a U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs employee.
330k Social Security numbers of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
243,000 Hotels.com customers were compromised in a laptop theft
13,000 D.C. employees info was let free when a laptop belonging ING U.S. Financial Services was stolen.
A laptop containing debit card information and Social Security numbers of 65,000 persons was stolen from YMCA’s administrative offices.
A Boeing employee’s laptop was grabbed at an airport, compromising 3,600 employees SS#s, addresses and phone numbers.

And I’ll bet at least one of these people just went out to pee for a second.

Google Transit appears to have expanded this morning to include Hampton Roads Transit (HRT).

HRT in SouthEastern VA currently serves 1.2 million people within its 369 square mile service area. Its service area consists of eight cities: Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, the town of Smithfield and the city of Williamsburg (Colonial Williamsburg). There have been proposals for light rail in the past.

photo: Hampton Roads Transit

What’s cool, is that HRT was suggested in this post back in Feb 2006. Nice to see a suggestion go to fruition. In January of 2007, Google began discussions with HRT, and shortly thereafter, HRT began using GPS systems to monitor bus positions.

I always look forward to Seth Godin’s posts, and I’m glad to learn today a new book is coming out (I’ve always been impressed with how quickly his audiobooks follow, too.) The latest is called Meatball Mondae, and you should check it out.
Today, he addresses one of the issues facing many people who spend time in Internet Marketing, at least those who have really done it well. By “well” I don’t mean those who’ve made the “a-list” blogrolls. I mean those who have been able to change the bottom line for clients directly by helping them discover, streamline, or invent approaches to using new media.

I have been trying to develop a questionnaire for new clients that will help me discover their current attitudes about Web Marketing as well as establish expectations. This is not easy. There is a delicate balance between asking the good questions and sounding uninterested in working with them. “The other guys aren’t making us answer these questions.” should be a disqualifying comment, but there is that issue of paying the mortgage, but I’m getting there. My dream is to get to the point where people say “I’m totally impressed that you’re taking the time.”

So to Seth’s point, make sure you realize that the only way to benefit from today’s latest New Media revolution is through full integration within your organization, not by hiring someone to doll it out in sugary snacks in the breakroom.

My question remains… to work together, where can I plug in? Where can I connect with the wiring of your organization and look for places we can apply changes so you can fully take advantage of what’s going on out there. Or do you still consider me a Computer Jockey - someone to pull wires or fix your email? I need to know.

Personal PS: I’ve been blogging a little more than usual because I’ve been a bit bed-ridden these days and it keeps my mind off of it. Hopefully there’s still some good stuff coming out. To my clients, thank you for your patience.

According to the New York Times:

“As part of what Wal-Mart is calling its “Customer Contact Reduction” program, by next week, Walmart.com, the company’s online arm, will no longer give customers a toll-free phone number to call–or any phone number, for that matter–if they have a question.

Instead, they will have to rely solely on the Wal-Mart Web site as their guide to the solution for whatever problem they might have, whether it is a question about a credit card charge or the status of an online order.”

Now, they can move their support centers anywhere in the world without getting middle America upset.. because emails and help files have no accent. Mr. Sam Walton might frown on this. But Sam Walton knew a good deal when he saw it.

Some CRM solutions that are entirely web-based can save a company $20-25 per customer interaction. And if these people are already using the Wal-Mart website to order items, this is not a huge leap.

Postscript:

Seth Godin focuses instead on a system where efficiency (i.e. customer buy or repeat buy rate) is the reward offered to successful operators.

I’d focus on building a system that measures [sales rate before call] vs. [sales rate after call]. If the sales rate goes up, give the call center person a raise. It’s that simple.

I’m trying to envision how one could set this up for customer service organizations.  Sales call centers, yes, but service oriented businesses?  Now we’re thinking long-tail.  We’re talking relationships. You would need some rather sophisticated operators to think in terms of the long tail, but if the philosophy was drilled in from day one, you’d get service centers that acted a lot like brand welcoming committees, who are there to improve your brand BY WAY OF fixing problems.  THAT sounds good.

The Yellow Bikes concept is a community sponsored, all volunteer program dedicated to providing human powered transportation to residents, workers and visitors in and around downtown Lexington, Kentucky.

There were originally around 80 Yellow Bikes meant to be shared among all members of the community for use in and around the downtown area - then people started STEALING THE BIKES. A lot of the bikes are now gone - acquired by private individuals and locked in the bylands far from their intended use - probably far from Lexington by now. Or so I thought…but as David Hohney’s article pointed out that outrage about the bikes’ disappearance has been categorized as one big “meh” so they could be in the sheds and garages of ‘burbs all around town.

But now, we have Christopher Rowe, Bike Wrangler. There’s a new Sheriff in town, folks. But we need to deputize this guy. Take him to the gun range. Arm him with some serious firepower. Give him the power to lock people in stocks downtown, or at least make them ride the bikes on Vine Street or along Main Street between Midland and Ashland … nah, that would be cruel and unusual punishment.� I suggest that you bring the bikes back and quietly lock them somewhere downtown and slowly leave without drawing his attention.

Ok, Christopher … time to get serious now.� put away the spoke clickers and choose your weapons - it’s you against the world. The six shooters will fit in the basket, but the rifles will help at long range. And if you can learn that cool trick where you cock the rifle one-handed while in motion, I’ll bet the intimidation factor will speak volumes. I recommend a warning shot,� ONE warning shot.

But really, people admire Lexington’s efforts here. Take some pride in this effort and bring the bikes back downtown. Otherwise, Christopher cannot guarantee your safety.

Perhaps we should have a Yellow Bike “Hall of Shame” collection of photos and a Google Map. Thoughts? I’ll set it up if people will snap photos of the Yellow Bikes OUTSIDE city limits on PRIVATE property. Let me know what you think. We could send the photos to Christopher . “Turn over the bike and nobody gets hurt.”� � People… do you really want to tangle with this guy?

I’m hopeful that we can proceed with a trust-based system soon, or perhaps a European style rental solution or call solution because downtown is not that big, but just big enough, for a bike to help.

 

First hope…. roses, poetry, a heartfelt request.
Rejection.
Then, it’s seen with another registrar! Lost!
Alas! it turns up on the doorstep in the rain for a tearful embrace.
Mine forever.

A lesson when using Godaddy backorders. Don’t transfer your credits too soon. This happens to me almost every time.

Well, we need a grill. Badly.

I noticed last time the hose was leaking propane gas out the hose while you use it, and someday, it will light up, roman candle style, and give the cook-of-the-moment a magic rocket ride over downtown Lexington, Ky. If it happens, please, someone post it on Youtube for me. Actually, we’ve stopped grilling, so no need to send over Fire & Rescue. Various duct tape suggestions did not earn husband points, and Fall is an excellent time to buy grills.

Our last grill lasted 12 years with 3-4 uses per week. I wanted the new one to last at least that long, and we wanted to find one that was entirely stainless steel - peeling paint just didn’t seem like a healthy condiment for burgers.

So here are two grill purchase experiences that couldn’t be more different. It was fun. (more…)