random thoughts of a t1 junkie
It is always tragic when an industry or a trend jumps the shark and laggards join the fold ready to position themselves as a life-long virtuoso. It happens too often; countless so-called experts emerge from their bungholes to express their perspective regarding a topic which many have cherished and enjoyed for years. Sadly, it seems […]
Is there a meal or specific food that you remember as if you had it yesterday, no matter how long ago? Have these experiences shaped your personal palate and influenced the food and drink you consume to this day? Surprisingly, after nearly fifty years, I almost understand how my neanderthal brain functions, and with that, […]
It was only just a moment ago when the complaints were abundant, and opinions varied on the best way for retailers to release their allocated whiskeys. Everyone was an expert and no matter who you spoke with, raffles were the devil’s work; and first come, first served releases were the only way to be fair. […]
In case you haven’t noticed, bourbon has become big business over the past several years with some bottles being valued at astronomical amounts. It seems every few days I am asked to evaluate and approximate the value of a bottle of whiskey. They are either bottles from a private collection, something a “friend” found, or […]
Let me start by saying thank you to my Mom, Dad and my Grandparents! You raised me and taught me many things and although I am grateful for many of the life lessons (granted I still don’t understand all of them), instilling a sense of courtesy and manners has to be the best. My never-ending […]
For many years I have been fortunate to work in industries which I greatly enjoy….these include chocolate, alcohol, gambling and tobacco. In full disclosure, I agree, three out of four of these should be regulated and advertising should be measured so that underage persons are properly informed of risks associated with them.
I think best at 38,000 ft. It could be the solace of having to stop from the busy daily rat race and being forced to sit for extended periods of time or the miniature Jack Daniel’s that continue showing up for me but it is the perfect time to stop and ponder…this is my time, […]
QR codes, those funny square symbols that keep showing up on print ads, direct mail, POS signage, TV and even on email and web sites have been a constant topic of discussion for several years. What are they? How are they used? Who scans them? Are they effective?
It’s another election year here in the U.S. and it seems we’re once again stuck with voting for the best of the worst or whomever stays standing or has enough cash to keep advertising and talking. So, I thought I’d put together a list of fictional (TV/big screen) presidents whom I would vote for, if […]
Companies spend a significant amount of time and money creating incentives to attract new customers. This is an age-old tactic that continues to be used because it works. These incentives range from free services, percentages off their contracts or some other perk or tchotchke. Regardless of their success, I have always wondered depending upon the […]
Recently I came across a request on Twitter for an effective means to update the .htaccess file to redirect all pages to a new domain without having to update for all subdirectories. Here are a couple choices which can be easily placed in the root .htaccess file. OPTION 1 (this does not need the RewriteEngine […]
With the recent announcement from ICANN of the release of potentially new domain extensions beyond the existing (com, net, org, edu, etc.) we have to wonder what is the value to businesses to obtain them? Many of our clients have significant investments in their domain names and at first glance, this new “opportunity” from ICANN […]
We’ve all heard it before and those of us who are blessed with children, nieces and nephews have perhaps even told them once or twice; you can do anything and accomplish anything if you just put your mind to it and work hard. Somewhere along the way as adults have we forgotten this or just […]
Over the past twenty years I’ve been fortunate to have worked with a number of great companies and helped develop and manage their various CRM and loyalty programs. Many of these include National City Bank, Makers Mark, Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Canadian Mist, Kentucky Lottery and Purina to name a few. With any loyalty program and marketing […]
One of the most common questions as marketers we receive is how often to communicate with our prospects and consumers. Regardless if it is door-to-door, telemarketing, direct mail, email and now social media, the question has always been the same, how often is too much?
Here’s a radical thought, social networking, social influence and social media are not new, only their vehicles and tools of engagement have evolved.
For many brands it is often a common tactic to utilize a sweepstakes or contest to engage consumers and grow their marketing database. Often, we find ourselves discussing with clients the advantages and disadvantages of both of these tactics when growing and engaging their consumers. Here’s a brief summary
Recently I responded to a question on LinkedIn regarding the future of search; SEO boon or a Ban – Is SEO a boon are ban in this internet marketing world? Will SEO exist in 2015? In response, I think the better question is, what will the internet, mobile web and connected devices be like or be […]
I recently saw a question on LinkedIn inquiring about the difference between CRM (customer relationship management) and BCM (business contact management). Often these are considered software packages for managing information about your contacts however the purpose and usage between them within an organization can be quite different.
Recently I decided to answer a question on LinkedIn, “What are 5 ways to improve a web site design for free?” Typically, these are the types of questions I avoid for a variety of reasons however I this to be an interesting opportunity to get past the ordinary technical responses.
There is constantly a lot of chatter regarding the business model of twitter and how, as a service, it is going to make money. Along with this, there are continual debates regarding the growth, decline and overall engagement of users who are participating in the micro-blogging service. Regardless, there is no doubt that there are few […]
Since late 1994 I’ve been extremely fortunate to have been able to work within the Internet industry and witness the incredible evolution the web has given us. From 14.4k modems to ISDN lines and T1’s, Netscape Navigator, IE 3.0
As marketers we’re always looking for a new way to engage users. Secretly, we desire all users to become excited about a promotion, return frequently and ideally tell their friends about it. We have all tried a variety of tactics to accomplish these results. Recently, I heard of Pepsi’s new corporate responsibility promotion and they nailed it!
Over the past twenty years I’ve sat back and watched America become the politically correct society. An overwhelming acceptance of mediocrity and although the most powerful economic and military force the world has ever seen American has developed a steadfast policy both home and abroad of “please, don’t let me say anything that might piss you off”.
Have you ever noticed how many anti-depressants there are on the market? No, seriously, there have to be fifty and that’s an understatement. Now here’s the $64,000 dollar question, why? What purposes do they all serve? To keep us all happy maybe?
As I was walking in my neighborhood mall a few days ago, I came to a harsh realization about myself. A realization that nearly floored me, but made perfect sense after I thought about it for a while.
The history of the stupid people is as long and rich as any race or culture that exists on earth. Their influence can be found in nearly every ancient and modern civilization. Yet, unlike many peoples that have adapted and evolved in response to external and internal influences over the centuries, the stupid people have […]
Technology is a scary thing.