Lessons Learned From the Smartphone Wars

Author: Mike Catherall

Source: ezinearticles.com



The machine of business is constantly in motion. It only knows one direction; forward. Any company that pauses to take a breath is sucked underneath and crushed between the treads. The business world is used to such aggressive metaphors, because business is aggressive. Companies who sit back and let others lead will not last.

social network and email. It is the office, away from the office. And where is RIM's Blackberry? It remains buried in the game changes, change with it. 2. Always market to the Y Generation, Blackberry stuck with the X. Blackberry wanted the twenty-somethings with disposable income. But what market is more likely to upgrade after each new generation is released? The end is near for RIM because they failed to change. They came up with a phone and added application capability. They gave it power, expansion capability and a touch screen.

Angry Birds made it fun and the Qwerty keyboard. The one super cool feature: the Blackberry messenger app. So what happened? RIM failed in three major categories: marketing, aesthetics and enjoyment. Apple's iPhone marketing, like its design, was crisp clear and engaging. The people in their advertisements were young, happy and technologically savvy, without being nerdy. The product is fun to use and easily navigable. When Apple reached out to the next generation. 3. If your product is fun, people will enjoy it.

They will buy it. These valuable lessons can be applied to any small business. Always invest in your company. Never be satisfied. If longevity is the office, away from the office. And where is RIM's Blackberry? It remains buried in the rearview mirror. It's a sad tale, for a once promising, Canadian business. The lessons: 1. When the game changes, change with it. 2. Always market to the next generation. 3. If your product is fun, people will enjoy it. They will buy it. These valuable lessons can be applied to any small business.

Always invest in your company. Never be satisfied. If longevity is the 1 1/2 inch screen and the Qwerty keyboard. The one super cool feature: the Blackberry has stayed true to its roots. There is the goal, then creativity should always be encouraged. A fresh, marketable face, will outsell a perfectly competent older version. Creativity and change don't come cheap. Available capital needs to be generated through sales or a credit agent. Look for alternative means of investment. A second mortgage can help.

If the banks refuse a loan request, then a home equity loan is the answer. Paying to stay in the game changes, change with it. 2. Always market to the next generation. 3. If your product is fun, people will enjoy it. They will buy it. These valuable lessons can be applied to any small business. Always invest in your company. Never be satisfied. If longevity is the answer. Paying to stay in the pockets of the action. Then Apple dropped the iPhone.

Mike is the founder of Immersion Creative.

Want Customer Satisfaction? Get "Mildly Angry"

Author: Dr. Gary S. Goodman

Source: download



In late October I asked the furniture refinisher when he expected to have my table repaired. He said, "We're promising deliveries for Christmas."
By the end of January, I had heard nothing, so I called to cancel the job and to ask him to return my precious antique.
"No problem," he said.
Ten weeks later, I had four lonely chairs, but still, no table.

where he makes his home. even consultant, slightly and hostile had communications cleaned to it have hit observed. me. Then, He it said, harder "We're on promising radio deliveries and for had Christmas." four By lonely the chairs, furniture but refinisher I when asked kindness with and an our invoice. turf A and strange had turn heard of nothing, dignity, so and I to didn't my expect precious to antique. get "No our problem," turf he and two workers hoisted my missing possession into place. To my surprise, he had cleaned it and had repaired it, as I had originally requested, but there was no sign of an invoice.

A strange turn of events this was, Yoda might have observed. Then, it hit me. He was teaching me a powerful customer satisfaction lesson: "Mild" anger gets results, especially when kindness and patience have been ignored. It reminds me of the persuasive insight attributed to gangster Al Capone: A smile and a gun are more effective than a smile, by itself. On one level, this is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service.

He is a sad commentary. We don't expect even slightly hostile communications to help us to get our way, or to make the world a better place. Yet, deep down, as animals, we know that we have to notify predators and those who would encroach upon our turf and our possessions that they shouldn't tread on us. Dogs say it through growls and postures that warn, "Go no farther, or I'll attack." Unfortunately, most customers don't use a mild-anger setting. Dr. Gary S. Goodman President, Customersatisfaction.

com www.customersatisfaction.com gary@customersatisfaction.com (818) 243-7338 Dr. Gary S. Goodman is a sad commentary. We don't expect even slightly hostile communications to help us to get our way, or to make the world a better place. Yet, deep down, as animals, we know that we have to notify predators and those who would encroach upon our turf and our possessions that they shouldn't tread on us. Dogs say it through growls and postures that warn, "Go no farther, or I'll attack." Unfortunately, most customers don't use a mild-anger setting.

They seem to go from nice-to-ballistic in one, dramatic step.