This weeks Idea: “You don’t want the girls involved, do you?”

“The girls” at work. Hmm. (Photo credit: SBA)

with Neil Godin  I’m preparing. To conduct a workshop on customer service telephone skills. For the good people who staff the registrar’s office at a local college. And I’m puzzled. I’m puzzled because I still don’t understand a mindset – among both front line staff – and among management at all levels – that mentally, [...]

This weeks Idea: Bite the wax tadpole?

KFC – “Eat your fingers off?”

with Neil Godin I love the outrageous – and the erroneous – in advertising. So. Every now and then I do a Google search for things like “Outrageous billboards,” and “Ad Bloopers.” Just for fun. How much fun? Try these: Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux used the following in an American campaign: “Nothing sucks like an [...]

This weeks Idea: Yoga that’s too hot to touch?

The Yoga Guy. Fake questions. True answers. Brilliant marketing!

with Neil Godin His name is Chris Ridout. He’s the owner of Zoomer Yoga in Coquitlam, BC. You’ve never heard of him. And neither have I. But. Chris is using a marketing strategy that’s as old as the hills (and as new as tomorrow) to guarantee that a lot more people will have heard of [...]

This weeks Idea: You’ve got to be visible – but “this” visible?

Hong Kong street scene. Should our streets be this colorful?

with Neil Godin  An email. From Marketing Dangerously member Len McCormick. With tongue firmly in cheek he writes: “Here are some marketers who know all about getting the message out.  They obviously also don’t have any signage restrictions.  Perhaps we should lobby politicians for changes that will ensure all of our streets can be this vibrant?” Len [...]

This weeks Idea: You’ve got to be visible – no matter what it takes!

An anonymous coffee shop survives because of this sign.

with Neil Godin Driving. On my way to work with one of my favorite clients. M&R Environmental. Here in (beautiful) Burnaby, BC. When my car came to a sudden stop. On its own (I swear). And then swerved toward the curb. And then parked. All by itself. Just so I could get out and take [...]

This weeks Idea: Rita Sheloff: “Marketing Machine”

First her van gets attention (note the eyelashes)…

with Neil Godin I met Marketing Dangerously member Rita Sheloff when she worked with one of my sales coaching clients, Hills Foods (purveyors of exotic meats and wild game), here in Coquitlam, BC., and I remember her telling me that she had a little business on the side. But. Since leaving Hills last October, her [...]