MBA Geek

Excellent insight for marketers:

Robert Scoble, blogger and entrepreneur, discusses his thoughts on how ideas spread. The public session was part of the Stanford GSB marketing course, the Power of Social Technology (Dr. Jennifer Aaker). A panel of experts, including Robert Scoble, MC Hammer, and Loic LeMeur, discussed how social media can build successful brands.

You know, there are many things that can help market your product, but when the chief of the NSA calles it “wonderful” you know you’re on the right track. This is exactly what happened to Apple when Lieutenant General Keith Alexander, will will be leading the U.S. Cyber Command, went on record speaking highly about the iPad. When a company launches a new product they take a massive risk, and to get a high profile recommendation like that can be a very powerful tool.

It looks like the iPad launch actually went better than iPad planned, it looks like supplies are tight because they underestimated the US demand. The thing about a new product is that you can hardly turn the outdoor lighting on it and see how brightly it will shine. Things have to be kept under wraps while the product is being developed. When Apple announced the iPad, it was already being produced and the amounts to make would already have been agreed.

Still, they can always make more huh?

It’s interesting to see how new products evolve, sometimes out of innovation, sometimes out of a gap in the market. It’s particularly interesting when the gap in the market is artificial, created by legislation that couldn’t even have been conceived a few years earlier. Take for example, the e cigarette market. It’s highly unlikely that unless legislation was created that stopped people from smoking indoors, this market would never have really materialised. Instead today, the market is booming and new products keep getting developed all the time to extend it.

I’ve never really seen one of these, but I’m curious to think what a real smoker thinks of them. Are the adequate in times of need, or are they just a fad?

There’s a lot in the news today about the profit that energy companies are making. Now, while it’s fine for companies to make profit, the man in the street takes a dim view of companies that make exorbitant profit and his expense. And this is just how this energy profit is seen. Wholesale prices have dropped, while retail prices have stayed pretty much level and consumers are feeling cheated by what has happened.

Perception is a very strong thing, and just like you need to do employee screening before you hire someone new, it’s always worth keeping an eye on public perception. your PR team should know all about this, so I’m surprised these big companies have been caught out like this.

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of eSmart Tax. All opinions are 100% mine.

Here’s an interesting promotion that’s being run by an American Tax filing company called E-smart tax. They have a product that lets people file their tax returns online walking you through all the steps that are needed, collecting your information and preparing all the forms you need to submit. They have a number of different offerings ranging from Basic service which is free, all the way to a Signature service that includes tax advice and actual time from a Tax Professional. As I said, the Basic service lets you file for free, but they’re introducing a promotion to make the Deluxe offering available for some people.

So, how do you know if you’re eligible for the free Deluxe service? All you have to do is answer one question “Is your last name Johnson?”. Yup, they’re making the product available for free to anyone who’s last name is Johnson, which is apparently the 2nd most common name in the USA, with more than 2 million people fitting into this bracket. It’s an interesting spin that will definitely get people talking .. especially if their surname is Johnson; and it’s one way to introduce your product to a cross-section of the population spread all around the country. So, now that you know that Johnsons file free, the question I have for you is: Are you a Johnson?

Have you ever considered that your clients may get the wrong idea of what your business is all about? Perception is pretty important and the impression that clients get of you can be tantamount to getting new business. Whether you’re talking about your store front, or even something as simple as your office supplies, all aspects that your clients meet should have a consistent image that reinforces your brand.

Can you think of any good examples of this?