Peoples Don’t Learn…

Bell Canada has been handed down a $1.25 million (CAD) fine after its employees posted fake reviews of Bell apps. The carrier “encouraged” staff members to post glowing testimonials of the MyBell Mobile and Virgin My Account apps on the App Store and Google Play. Unfortunately, these overenthusiastic write-ups neglected to mention that they were written by people on Bell’s dollar.

 

Read the full article on Engadget by clicking HERE

You Must Have Seen It…

You may have done it yourself. One of your friends most likely did it. “It” is the recent Facebook hoax that by cutting and pasting (“No Sharing!”) a BS paragraph will stop Facebook from either (a) charging you money to use FB or (b) dis-allowing FB to use your postings and keeping them your private info (or (c) – Both!)

Or, maybe last week you shared the Macy’s (or Shoprite or whoever) fantastic offer for $100 off a $100 purchase. Wow! What a deal!!

Why do so many people post these things over and over? Because they aren’t thinking about the details. Why not? People are busy. VERY busy. We only have a few minutes to relax and catch up with friends and family (that’s why we’re on FB to begin with! How easy is it to see what cousin Doris is up to!)

We’re busy. We’re running our businesses. We’re helping our kids. We’re running our lives. Here comes the unsolicited advice (hey, it’s my blog.)

One: Stop and smell the roses. And think (to paraphrase “Does anyone remember THINKING?”) Would a legitimate business (especially one that advertises on TV ALL the time) offer a 100% discount? Probably not (it’s not a great business practice) and if they did, they would probably take out a much larger ad in a more selected medium to promote it. If FB was going to charge, it would probably make the TV news (and, since Zuck has all our emails, they would let us know themselves – not through a friends post.)

Two (self-serving ad here – see if you can spot it  smiley-face):  If you’re too busy running your business, hire folks (internally or consultants to help.) Hire an accountant to do your books. Hire a lawyer for legal or HR issues. Hire a marketing firm (*cough cough) for better sales results. Get help so you can concentrate on what YOU do best.

That’s it – rant over. Thanks for reading

-aw

New Postal Rates – 5/31

In case you missed it, here are the new USPS rates, effective 5/31/15:

  • First-Class Postcards will increase from $.34 to $.35 each
  • Additional ounces for First-Class mail will increase from $.21 to $.22
  • Certified Mail base fees will increase from $3.30 to $3.45
  • Certified Mail Return Receipt Green Card fees will increase from $2.70 to $2.80
  • Certified Mail Electronic Return Receipts will increase from $1.35 to $1.40
  • International First-Class Letters will go up from $1.15 to $1.20
  • One ounce First-Class flats will increase to $.98, and 2 ounce pieces will be $1.20
  • Registered Mail letters will increase from $11.95 to $12.20
  • The price of a First-Class Stamp will remain at $.49

More Excellent Customer Service

Last week, I bought 2 tickets to the Blues, Wine and BBQ Festival in NJ, sponsored by the Garden State Wine Growers Association. The festival was to run from noon until 5, and we arrived at about 1:15.

After a wait to get to the front of the parking line, the very kind police officer directing traffic told me “Sorry, they’ve completely overbooked the event. We can’t let anyone else in.”

Disappointed, I emailed the GSWGA asking for a refund. Here’s the response I received from John Cifelli, Executive Director:

Adam,
What happened Saturday was unfair to you and disappointing to everyone involved, us included. I apologize for your experience. We could not have anticipated the crowd that attended (or in your case, tried to attend). We will have you fully refunded by the end of the week, and I would like to offer you two tickets to a future event as well. If you would share your mailing address, I will mail you these tickets.
See… See that right there. THAT’S the way you do it. “We screwed up, we’re sorry, here’s how we’ll fix it.
And from that, he gets pub on my blog, my FB page and a few other places. That folks, is excellent customer service in the wake of a disappointing “purchase.”
Learn from it – and do it.

Website Mobile Optimized? It Better Be

Google has begun penalizing websites that aren’t mobile optimized. They have tweaked the algorithm for mobile searches to favor sites that look good on smartphone screens, and penalize sites with content that is too wide for a phone screen and text and links that are too small.

While Google updates its algorithm frequently, some experts consider this to be the most significant change in years. Google actually warned website operators in February that the change was coming, and gave them tips on how to prepare.

The change is also important for Google. Searches from mobile devices now surpass searches on personal computers.

Google also wants more users to surf the Web on their phones. “As people increasingly search on their mobile devices, we want to make sure they can find content that’s not only relevant and timely, but also easy to read and interact with on smaller mobile screens,” a Google spokeswoman said.

First 2015 Seminar

I’m happy to announce our first seminar of 2015 – Facebook for Businesses in 2015!

We’ll go over what’s new, what’s changed and how it all impacts your business marketing! PLUS there’s an open networking session (and yes, munchies!)

Click below for the details and I hope to see you there!

Eventbrite - Facebook in 2015 For Businesses
 

And Who/How Gets it Right…

So no more than a few hours ago did I write about how a company is shooting itself in the foot with Social Media. READ THIS NOW TO LEARN HOW CUSTOMER SERVICE SHOULD WORK. Yes, I’m yelling but y’all really really really need to read this from an article in Forbes:

“I recently received a message from a good friend named Eileen Scully. She shared a heartwarming story from her friend Michael John Mathis. Michael had posted the following message on Facebook recounting an episode of lost glasses on a train:

I just experienced possibly the very best customer service of all time. A few weeks ago, I accidentally left my beloved Warby Parker reading glasses on the Acela. Annoyed, I bought myself another, identical, pair the following day. Today I received an unexpected package containing not one, but two pair of those same reading glasses, a copy of “On The Road” by Jack Kerouac and the following note:

Read the entire article HERE. Then memorize it. Then read it again.  THIS IS HOW BUSINESSES NEED TO WORK TODAY.  

Want to know how to go “viral?” DO THIS!

PS – I purchased my latest pair of glasses from Warby Parker and they truly do ROCK as a company – even without the above story!

 

Gee, How Can This Possibly Go Wrong?

The New York Post has a story that the Union Street Guest House in Hudson, NY, fines couples $500 for every negative review posted online (on any website) by one of their guests. And, it will also fine you $500 if you’re staying there to attend a wedding at another venue in the area, but leave a negative review about your stay.

The hotel has supposedly had this policy on its website:

Please know that despite the fact that wedding couples love Hudson and our inn, your friends and families may not.

If you have booked the Inn for a wedding or other type of event anywhere in the region and given us a deposit of any kind for guests to stay at USGH there will be a $500 fine that will be deducted from your deposit for every negative review of USGH placed on any internet site by anyone in your party and/or attending your wedding or event. If you stay here to attend a wedding anywhere in the area and leave us a negative review on any internet site you agree to a $500 fine for each negative review.

Gee, this couldn’t possibly backfire – could it???? (Current Yelp reviews HERE)

Read the entire article HERE

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