Last week I attended Small Business BC’s annual awards ceremony for business excellence. Since I teach monthly marketing seminars for SBBC, and have helped many entrepreneurs learn to market their businesses over the years, it is always great to see a few of those businesses actually launched and showcased as nominated contestants. Hosted at the Pan Pacific, the event was … [Read more...]
People don’t choose brands, they join them
People don’t CHOOSE brands, they JOIN them. That’s a pretty powerful statement if you pause to think about what it actually means. “Choosing” is about making a selection for now. It’s transactional and it may or may not be repeated. “Joining” is about commitment, now and into the future. It’s about being with others who share you interests and values. The notion of … [Read more...]
Loyalty = Being made to feel special
Valentines Day having just passed, I can’t help but draw parallels between personal relationships and customer relationships, and the reasons we remain loyal. In it’s simplest form, we are loyal to those we trust and who make us feel special. It’s not about loyalty cards and points, or in the case of personal relationships, gifts unto their own. It’s about the feeling that is … [Read more...]
Hotel overstay policy that challenges convention: A brilliant transparent promotion
Good relationships are based on honesty, and building relationships is at the core of a strong business. Yet for some companies, true transparency, and by default, apparent honesty, can seem lacking when guised in corporate policy. We now seek out brands that are honest, flaws and all, because it feels like we can trust them more. For a brand, being transparent and … [Read more...]
The handwritten lines of personal connection
There is something sweetly nostalgic about the handwritten word. In a world where increasingly we conduct communication electronically, to receive a handwritten note or letter seems rare. Yet, there is something intimate about handwriting. The personal style says something about the sender. It’s a piece of them left on the sheet. If you’ve ever saved a letter from a … [Read more...]
