Posted by JulieD, 10:23 amOctober 21, 2009 under Publishing | 
Barnes and Noble have released a new eReader, which looks suspiciously like the Kindle with a few “Look I’m Different” features.
(I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. Not at all. I just wonder why it has to be white and rectangular and look like a clone. Surely there are other designs?)
Here’s a side-by-side comparison, based on B&N’s site comparison and a Kindle user’s experiences (mine!).
I’m glad there’s competition, because it means that Amazon will have to improve the Kindle and someone else might invent something that breaks the mold and is wonderful. Of course, as an early adopter I’m rolling my eyes at the prospect of that, but I went into this with my eyes open!).
As a reader, I think it’s a good thing, because it probably means that more books will be available in ebook format and in multiple ebook formats. There seems to be a move towards making ebooks multi-platform and maybe more hardware will encourage that.
I’m also not sure if I should be concerned that the booksellers are now also the manufacturers of the device that holds the books AND, in many cases, the publisher of the content as well.
Posted by JulieD, 9:25 amOctober 11, 2009 under Marketing |
What’s more likely to tip you over from browser to buyer:
- a detailed list of features and benefits
or
- an enthusiastic recommendation by someone just like you?
Consumers are pretty savvy these days, having been bombarded with advertising since they were babies. They are skeptical of your claims about your product. They know your job is to sell it to them.
How Do You Make Your Decision To Buy?
Most people will ask around for recommendations (if you’ve ever hung out with a group of new mothers, you know what I’m talking about).
The best thing you can do for your product or service is to show your customer how it has helped other people just like them.
Get Your Customers on Camera 
Have your happiest customers talk directly to prospects by interviewing them.
It doesn’t take much time or money yet is incredibly powerful.
Here’s how:
- Get a cheap and easy-to-use video camera like the Flip UltraHD Camcorder
(mash the big red button to start recording, mash it again to stop, plug into the USB port of your computer, copy to your computer using the super-easy included software, click ‘upload’ to send it to YouTube)
- Identify your happiest customer, ones who will rave unashamedly about what you’ve done for them.
- Take them out for dinner, a drink, a walk in the park or invite them in to your office.
- Ask them some warm up questions to get them used to the camera (you don’t even have to turn it on for this).
- Then ask them to talk for about 2 minutes on what your product or service has done for them and why they’d recommend it.
Technicalities of Recording a Video
- Keep it short (people will watch 2 minutes but not 10)
- Keep the camera at eye level
- Focus on their face
- Try to have good lighting on their face (bring a lamp if you need to)
- Sit next to the camera so they’re looking at you while they’re talking.
- And keep it short (did I mention that?)
It’s amazing how powerful an amateur video of a happy customer can be, posted on your ‘reviews’ or ‘testimonials’ page. Try it and let me know how it works out.
Posted by JulieD, 12:57 pmOctober 1, 2009 under Websites and Social Media |
Phoenix Karate – Created website architecture and look & feel, SEO and keywords, contracted graphics work, created Content Management System, created mailing list, incorporate ad space and management in sidebars, create graphics for ads and feature boxes, write news and blog updates, research and write weekly newsletter, conducted video interviews and clips to embed on site.
