#141: Standing out from the Crowd, website tweaks, saving money on everyday items, and a BIG marketing lesson from Virgin Media
April 7, 2011Episode #141 – “Standing out from the Crowd, website tweaks, saving money on everyday items, and a BIG marketing lesson from Virgin Media.”
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I start this episode by sharing a situation I encountered recently when buying a mount for my plasma TV. When browsing the local stores, there were many choices, and only one option stood out. Find out why I bought it, because it’s an interesting marketing principle you can use in your small business.
This week’s viewer question is via video, and relates to how people view your website when they first load the page. I suggest some tweaks that I hope you can take advantage of in your Internet business.
Do you like saving money? I do, which is why I share a popular resource to enable you to do just that in your local region, on all kinds of products and services.
This week’s BIG marketing lesson is from Virgin Media, a UK company that provides all kinds of utilities under one umbrella. Their marketing is a shining example of what you SHOULD do when communicating with your customers. See if you can identify with the obvious mistake that most businesses make by comparison.
As usual, let me know your opinion about the topics covered in the show to help your small business this week – leave your comment below, it’s really easy to do, no registration required.
Enjoy the show!
Regards,
Having trouble viewing this week’s episode? Try the QuickTime version.
Feedback / Questions: Send me a message or question about your business, you just need a webcam connected to your computer. It’s fast, easy, and free. Note: You might be famous! In submitting a video (just click on the reply button below), you agree to the possibility of having your video shown in a future episode of the show to assist other viewers with their small business marketing.
April 7th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
I’m not sure why the video is appearing inside the player as a smaller window, we’ll look into finding out why that’s happening, bear with us…
Andrew
April 8th, 2011 at 4:05 am
I think your show is great but I can’t believe that you continue to “flog a dead horse” – the NAME “Microwave Marketing”. Listen to your playback – every time you say it you are having to explain why it’s called that! Your usual advice is “it should do what it says on the tin” If it were my product I’m sure you would be telling me to re-name it rather than EXPLAIN it. Everytime you mention it my mind sees images of warming up food rather than quick marketing advice. Having said that… when I get past that I would like to receive it….so I’d be happy to have a free subscription even if it isn’t called “Marketing in Minutes” (and especially if it is – you are welcome to use this). Great show and you have pioneered what will be massive – web TV. Unfortunately you could easily go the way of TV stations and lose viewers BECAUSE of the adverts.
April 8th, 2011 at 6:02 am
For the magician/illusionist, I recommend going to http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/
they have a free training course. Good luck
April 8th, 2011 at 6:44 am
I really think that instead of holding an ugly portfolio and to add extra stuff to take with you (while you are already frustrated by all the stuff you carry) you can simply use you phone camera to take a picture of everything and keep it on your cell until you are in front of your laptop !!!
This is how i do it and i never loose a paper !!
April 8th, 2011 at 7:32 am
I absolutely love Groupon and Living Social….though, I like the UI on Groupon and their ipod app.
April 8th, 2011 at 8:26 am
For the magician/illusionist. I personally will jump off a site if I cannot determine at least the range of prices no matter the marketing message. Like adding to what Andrew said with affordable packages starting as low as….
April 8th, 2011 at 9:28 am
I’ve used one of those coupon sites, I don’t remember which. Here in the high-tech city of Austin, Texas, I think we get four or five of these “daily deal” e-mails a day. But they’re easy to scan in my inbox, and they make it easy to use them, so I’ve taken advantage of a few “deals.” Printed the coupons right on my PC and used them with no troubles at the retailer… nice!
April 8th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Croupons is a bit like eBay… Great for buyers looking for a steal… But not so good for product sellers.
Why?… Because they are the very worst kind of lead… ‘Freebie Seekers’ (buyers with perpetual bargain basement mentality)… If you think you can up-sell them to your High Ticket item, you’ve got a hard road to hoe.
There are easier ways to promote your products and services, rather than cheapening your business in an attempt to convert skinflints.
Research shows, Croupon and it’s clone look a likes, make all the money, and the buyers get all the benefits… While the product/business owner pays the costs.
Let’s look at it another way…
Buyers of Mercedes Benz will never be persuaded to trade down to a Dihatsu simply because they’re cheap…
Conversely, Dihatsu devotees will not suddenly switch to Mercedes Benz, because their first installment is half price.
You have to work hard to change a deep rooted state of mind… Thankfully, there is much lower hanging fruit.
April 8th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Yes, I have used Groupon on several occasions and have found that it works just great. As a side note, I find that every place I have used it, the merchant misses a great opportunity to maintain me as a customer. What a shame.
April 8th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
I totally agree with Glenn, Groupon attracts mostly bargain hunters with little repeat business. If it works for you then fine. If your business is based on price, then you’re in trouble. It’s a race to the bottom. Ans just like Glenn said, Ebay is just full of bargain hunters.
April 8th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Have NOT used Groupon but will try it out.
Thanks!
April 8th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
Ya its a very good site… its very nice…. business is also a part of our health..
April 10th, 2011 at 1:42 am
This is actually the second instance I’ve noticed your blog in the last few weeks. Seems as if I ought to bookmark it.
April 10th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Haven’t been a huge fan of groupon lately. I’ve had some issues with the last 2 I’ve purchased and had to get refunds for them. I also agree that when I use them the merchants often don’t try to get me to come back. I guess they just assume more people in the door will result in repeat business.
I’ve found living social to be better than groupon, haven’t had as many fine print issues.
I’ve heard many horror stories about groupon putting companies out of business or costing companies tons of money, but I honestly feel the companies need to be more responsible before they offer something that isn’t a win for them.
April 17th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
Your tip for writing in a relaxed style is a good reminder as I plug away on my White Paper. Thanks, good timing for me!
April 21st, 2011 at 6:10 am
I’ve used Groupon and Living Social, both for finding great restaurant meals at wonderful prices. It was a great way to get me in the door. However I agree with many of the comments above, there was no further marketing done once these businesses got me in. I loved the food (at least in one case) and thought I might come back, but not at the regular prices. Perhaps another, smaller discount coupon for a second visit would get me hooked on a particular dish…
April 21st, 2011 at 7:35 am
Groupon is great for deals, but more importantly it’s such a great business model. Smart business owners know it’s purely a marketing tool, a way to reach new customers, and NOT a sales tool. In the short term they usually lose money on their Groupon deals, but should more than make up for the losses in new customers and future business. In fact I’ve become a customer of several local businesses I first found out about on Groupon, businesses that I may otherwise have never heard of.
April 21st, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Hi Andrew…A side note about About Virgin Media. That company is one of many that is under the umbrella of the Virgin Group. Richard Branson is the person who started the company years ago with Virgin Records. I have read a couple of Richards books, I highly recommend them if you have the time. He is a self promoter and a marketing machine. Thanks for another great episode. Pete
April 25th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
Hi,
This is my very first visit to your video blog. You are providing some very good business advice.
In our industry we help people make some extra cash recycling while helping the environment.
I would like you to talk about recycling opportunities in a future show.
Best,
Karen
April 25th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Hi, Andrew
You hit the nail right on the head with the title of the video and website. Not only do most small businesses website suck, but their online marketing sucks even worse.
I just uploaded a video to my YouTube Channel “5 Reasons Why Most Businesses Do Video ALL Wrong”…you can view it at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8q9BlFvW8I
Feel free to use my video on your blog and if you do please email me so we can thank you personally in our next video.
April 25th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Just wanted to give you an update. I’m travelling for a few weeks so look out for the next episode in the second week of May
Regards
Andrew
May 1st, 2011 at 7:49 am
Andrew, great show today.
This is all very exciting.
Thanks for a great show as usual.
Juan
May 2nd, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Hi Andrew! I enjoy a lot your job! Today’s show was great! Best Regards!
May 4th, 2011 at 11:17 am
Hi Andrew
Thanks for the info, love your site.
As for Groupon, it is a great way to support small business who aren’t vey well known.
All the best
Joumana
May 4th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
Andrew, the idea of receiving daily emails from Groupon made me cringe! I’m already receiving WAY too many emails…no thank you Groupon
May 6th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Andrew I watch your show and thought you would appreciate it.
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/apple_of_their_eye
You go to check this out. There is a video a the bottom the article if you are not a reader.
Lee Carson
May 9th, 2011 at 7:02 am
Andrew, nice information in here, thanks a lot.
October 21st, 2011 at 4:48 am
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