It may easily come to be that we look back on this week as the turning point—the beginning of DotComBust 2.0.
On Friday, Facebook has its IPO, which is predicted to be the biggest offering ever, pricing the company at $100 BILLION, which for 900 million users, that's pricing us each at just over a $1. Yes, there is money to be made, but somehow the grubby hands of investors pushing the amount higher reminds me of Q1 2000 ... the era of pipe dreams where techonomics seemed to print money out of thin air even though the business models weren't solidly vetted.
Or not. Yes, there will likely be a market adjustment, which will later be called Techplosion 2.0; however, as the realm of mobile and tablet leap forward, combined with Social Business (the next wave of Socialness), there will be unforeseen opportunities. We will connect users, content, and marketing in ways that enrich lives. Getting above the fray will be difficult, but the real-time opportunities will finally come forth. The promises of all things being geared to one's particular interests will marketplaces, products, and services that build on one's natural inclinations and curiousities. And, THIS WEEK may be the history-marking turn of events to push technology—and of us—into a new direction.
In fact, I wish so many content sites (WebMD, Dictionary.com, Yelp) would stop trying to push their app, thus forcing users to click past "no thanks" to get to the content. I don't want to go to separate apps as it's like going to separate devices. I have the web browser in my hand, just let me use it!
The only heavily content driven app that I don't feel the need for "linkyness" is iBook—which is a jillion times better than the Kindle app for iPad in that it, emotionally-speaking, feels like a book. When I'm reading a book, I'm LOST in the book and don't want to go away from the story. I love the built-in dictionary; however, I've no need to troll the web. I also think the NYTimes works as a separte app as it's all the news fit to print, but frankly, it's just a personal preference ... or shall I say quirk.
Every other content-rich app is just a way of taking me from the browser to replicate some offline notion; however, "app" is short for "applications" and applications imply functionality. Thus, keeping my calendar or contacts or music or even discovering the artist of the music is a functional process.
So, content-rich apps, listen up: Save the time and money because from a usability standpoint it's a low ROI.
I know this is my industry; however, I can't help but think Facebook has lost it's way when I see headlines about how FB+Timeline or FB+Instagram can benefit marketers and advertisers, yet see nothing about how the service benefits THE USER! <sigh>
The success of social media is, at the crux, about connecting with people you know. Yes, sure, we all have our brand affinities, but that doesn't mean I want a daily conversation with every brand I love.
My question to fellow marketers and advertisers---what do you want to see in your News Feed? Because that's how we'll get to understanding what benefits the user.
Meet Ella. She’s got big webbed paws, flip-floppy ears, and a great disposition. At 15 weeks, and 20 lbs, the vet says this adorable Lab-mix will get to about 50lbs.
We fostered Ella for three weeks at our home while she recovered from severe kennel cough, and really got to know this exemplary puppy!
In that time, Ella proved that she’s quick to learn, well socialized with people, and even gentle with little kids and toddlers.
This sweet puppy is nearly housebroken (hasn’t had an accident over a week!), can sleep through the night, and knows the word “outside.” In addition, she knows “sit”, "come" (with a whistle at the end), "drop," does not pull on leash (provided you use the method in the book), and is learning “off” and “down." For training, we have used a combination of crate-training and the book “Just Say Good Dog” by Linda Goodman.
Ella has yet to get swatted by one of our cats, and in fact has been very calm and showed low prey drive. In fact, only shows exhibition of “play bow”, then moves to submissive poses hoping to entice them to come play. Within such a short time, she is already allowed off-leash with the cats as long as there is supervision in the room.
Ella is part of the rescue program at Bark n’ Bitches, she is also well socialized with other dogs as well as people. It is up to the new owners to maintain this. All dogs in the program are up to date their shots, spayed or neutered, and micro-chipped. Also included is a free health check by our licensed veterinarian and lifetime memberships to www.mypettrainer.com and www.lostmypet.com.
We do not place dogs on a first come first serve basis, but rather to the home best suited for them. Bark n' Bitches asks for your support by taking advantage of the generous 20% one time shopping discount once you adopt. An adoption fee, application, and contract are required. Please direct all questions to fixurpet911@yahoo.com. All our dogs can be seen 7 days a week. If you are interested in meeting one of our dogs you can call us at 323.655.0155 after 12:00 noon. Please call ONLY to meet a dog. You can meet our dogs at Bark n' Bitches Dog Boutique, 505 N. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036.
Now, just because I'm a woman with two cats, does not mean that I'm a crazy cat lady. In fact, that's sexist. At some point, we're going to get a dog ... and no one would ever dare say, "oh, she's the crazy dog lady." However, last night, I did go see a kooky animal lady who lives with some rats, a chicken, 13 cats, and perhaps a few other critters and has used clicker-technique to train them all to do amazing tricks so that now they travel around the country with their amazing cat circus! Yes, cat circus!
And those cats should be in movies! Or at least commercials!
The Acro-Cats (acrobatic cats) and The Rockcats (they play "music" and the band includes the chicken on tambourine & cymbals) put on a purr-fect show of old-fashioned entertainment that's just delightful. For about an hour thisteam of kitty kats performed some amazing stunts while Samantha Martin, the trainer, spoke about how she found each cat (a rescue) and how she works with many animal shelters to foster other kitties until they find their forever homes. Samantha also mentioned the importance of training to have a cat go into the carrier (via a whistle), as it could save a cat's life in an emergency.
What's amazing is Samantha's dedication and creative energy to working with these animals. That, yes, they're working for food and she's working for showmanship, but together they are putting on a show. And cats, who are normally aloof, seem to be enjoying themselves and the crowds and the travels. Her hours of work provides education and entertainment, while also pushing the boundaries of what we all think is possible. Come on, she has 13 TRAINED CATS!
My fave of the evening was Jax, she's almost a year-old and she's clearly smart as a border collie ... her tiny little paws looked so cute as she walked on the ball, rolling across stage. And Pinky the guitarist in the band—you have not lived until you've heard a cat strum a guitar.
So, who attends cat-fest events, such as these, well, it's difficult for other cats to attend as, you know, most don't like to travel, but I did meet the guardian/caretaker of Sparkle, the advice giving cat. She showed me pictures of Sparkle, and told me about Sparkle's new book ... clearly Sparkle is an intellectual cat (does not understand the athletic undertakings of the animals in this traveling show).
All in all, the event reminded me of Geek Love and the idea of what happens to these kittys after the curtain comes down.
Congratulations to Bret McKenzie on his win last night. You know him, he's "the cute one" from Flight of the Conchords.
Sure, it was the category with 50:50 odds, yet the song is wonderful and it was the only time during the hours-long event that I genuinely cared who won. In fact, all the songs he wrote for the movie were great and should've won a statue; although, I guess if they had also been nominated then it would've lowered the odds and ensured a win for that trite Disney-esque song in Rio.
So, let me know: Are you a muppet of a man? Or a very manly muppet?
The issues raised by Occupy Wall Street are ones that concern many Americans, and offer a cultural insight to what customers want from the businesses in which they buy goods and services. It's not that protesters want everything to be free and on the barter system—no, these protests are in response to feeling that the game is rigged.
Publicly traded companies are beholden to the shareholder; however, over time, the game has shifted from long-term goals with solid annual (or longer-term) profits to the short-term vision of clever accounting to show quarterly profits. So how can corporations connect and communicate with today's consumer sentiment?
1) Customers Are Shareholders Too: Although not direct owners of a company's shares, customers are the ultimate decision-makers on whether a business will be profitable or not. Keep this in mind, and be respectful of consumer power. Look deeper into your company's actions and adjust corporate policies to reflect the sentiment of your customer audience. If your values align to your customer's values, then you will ensure loyalty.
2) Work More Closely on Implementing Shareholder Proposals: These are people who own stock in your company and are willing to go through economic ups-and-downs with you; however, many proposals that seem would seem fair to your customers, do not get buy-in or support from the top—instead they get a fight. Some common and easy-to-implement shareholder proposals that should be considered. --End Golden Parachutes: Nothing's more outrageous to the average American then knowing someone got millions for a job they failed at when the most people will get fired without severance. Although not all packages are for a job poorly done, these agreements offer a high payout for --Develop Sustainability & Responsibilty Reports: Explain what you're doing that's good—whether it be environmental or worker's rights in Southeast Asian factories—and attach dollars to the costs (or cost-savings) involved. Layout a long-term plan for how the company is taking responsibility for its actions
3) Invite People To Own More Shares: Explain to customer's that you want them to be involved in the direction of the company and invite them to become shareholders as well. This says, "we're all in this together."
Put another way, banking customers are beginning to wonder why they have to pay so much in a variety of fees, when they (in good faith) give banks their money to hold, and thus the banks can make money by: 1) loaning that money out, or 2) by receiving a fee everytime the consumer pays for a purchase with their bank card. In other words, consumers KNOW that the banks make money off of their money and their shopping habits. And they also know that the banks are not losing money, they're just not making as much in profits.
So what's a big bank—or big business—to do?
3 Ways Businesses Can Manage Fees in a Positive Manner
1) Create Clear Fee Structures: Consumers don't like to be nickled-and-dimed, look at all the ruffled feathers from the new policies in the travel industry. It's infuriating, and worse, creates brand animosity where customers feel the need to tell relatives, collegues, and friends about how they suddenly and unexpectedly had to pay for this, that, and the other thing. Nominal services or items that used to be free, but now have significant costs make me feel that they just lost at the shell game.
2) Give Consumers Something for Free: Studies show that by giving someone something, improves happiness. Now that corporations have the rights of people, they need to act like people and give. Nominal things that can be given for free: once-a-month use of a non-bank ATM (e.g., 7-11 or the competitor big bank) or one cocktail per customer on a flight. Even if the corporation doesn't earn the emotional benefit of giving, the recipient does and these small things can create incredible goodwill and loyalty.
3) Charge for Services that Can Be Done More Cheaply Online: If someone still wants a paper bank statement in the age of the internet, charge them $3 per month—it's a little high, to help boost conversion, but not so much that it's outrageous when one considers the cost for printing, paper, mechanical envelope stuffing, and postage. Those who decide it's worth $36 a year, will happily pay the fee, while the rest of your customers will log on. This is similar to the fee airlines impose for booking through the call center and the results have easily increased online usage and reduced customer booking calls, all of which is saving the airlines millions.
That said, businesses need to be conscientious of what the fee is for: will the customer perceive this to be understandable or annoying? For example, flying from Los Angeles to Europe with a plane change on the East Coast—suddenly there's a bag fee because the traveler is in domestic airspace, even though the full route of the ticket is to another continent. That's a nickled-and-dimed technique that should have the fee immediately waived the moment the customer checks in (online or at the terminal).
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Ultimately, consumers want a positive experience when interacting with the businesses they've chosen to trust. The protesters of Occupy Wall Street and Bank Transfer Day are more likely the beginning ripples of what will be a larger wave as this decade progresses. It is imperative that businesses understand consumer sentiments (as the people who run the business are consumers to!) and respond in-kind.
Well, now that it's been six months, I'm spearheading a new attitude for myself, it's called: Embrace L.A.
This weekend I hit up an art faire and some small theater action, and there was something similar about both experiences that points to a larger trend. In our information-overload digital age, nothing is unique in its wholeness.
At the Beverly Hills "Affaire in the Gardens Art Show," many of the artists presented high-end canvas prints of their paintings (sometimes using fancy terms like glicee to indicate something more than a computer print). And not even in small-batch limited editions. This was a trend noticed at the Renegade Craft Faire as well. It's great that artists are finding ways to support themselves; however, it's just a nicely-inked print, then what value does this art object have long-term? These are just Pokemon cards for the hipster crowd; whereas, a brushstroke still denotes an artists labors that are an emotional and financial investment for the buyer. By turning this paradigm on its head, will artists lower their overall value by making their work cheaply ubiquitous?
As for the theater, there's a definite movement of antiquated and new. The other month, went to see the Jane Austen improv team which was hilarious and quirky. So thought I'd give some other mash-up a try and went to Pulp Shakespeare. The concept is fun; however, if you haven't seen Pulp Fiction (or haven't seen it recently) you spend the entire time trying to sort out what's happening in the movie and then carrying it to the scene. Thus, the Shakespearean language is just a device rather than being transportive to another time/place. I think this lies in the fact that the Pulp Fiction script does not lend itself to emotional portrayals. Overall, the acting was good and a special call out is deserved for the guy who played the Sam Jackson character—he was commanding and his impersonation of that character came through effectively, while still being tongue-in-cheek.
In the world of performance, this trend is fascinating because although not all of it will hit, there's always been something interesting in re-setting Shakespeare (think the Ian McKellen version of "Richard III")—how do our modern stories flesh out when seen through an antiquated lens?
In a post-Lawrence Lessig remix world, anything is up for grabs in the creation of new; however, checking out the recently launched Canvas site I simply feel dumb, old, and shocked that "these kids today" waste so much time making stuff like this:
And yet I'm completely fascinated that a website of remixing words and images can genuinely make me realize that the Generation Gap has shifted. It's here. It's happened. I'm now on the other side. <sigh>
