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The Value of Treating People Kindly

July 12, 2008 – 5:11 pm

Although it would be impossible to measure the value of kindness – it’s easy to see of feel the effects of the opposite.

I’m not much of a Karma person, but I do know how I like to be treated – with respect and kindness.  In turn, I do my best to treat others with respect and kindness.   There are many communities on the web where respect and kindness are rare.  Personally, I avoid those places.

While not easily measured – we can be certain of the presence of value.  For example, I find myself to be more productive and less distracted when I’m treating others with respect/kindness and being treated the same.  Productivity and focus equals value.  Imagine the added value an organization or community could have if kindness and respect were the norm – rather than the exception?  I would suggest the financial return would be tremendous in an environment such as this. 

What’s confusing is why so many people refuse to encourage an environment of respect and kindness?  Perhaps it’s ignorance?  Then again, maybe it’s simply a lack of desire.  Once you understand the value in this kind of behavior – you begin to view a rude and disrespectful environment as a type of immature overhead – sucking profits off your bottom line.

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Ed | Psychology, Value | Comments (0)

Why I’m Pissed About the High Cost of Oil

July 6, 2008 – 10:19 am

With a single barrel of crude oil selling for nearly $150 – our politicians continue to do nothing.  While it’s quite popular to bash George W. for this problem – he’s not anymore at fault than all the other politicians who’ve had a vote the past 20 years.

Why are oil prices this high today?  No, it’s not the Iraq War.  It’s basic economics – the daily world demand for oil is a little more than the world can produce in a single day.  Prices have no choice but to continue to rise until an economic equilibrium is reached.  So, why am I pissed?

In 1994, I was a college senior – studying for an undergraduate degree in Business Administration – specializing in Finance.  The Dow was making record highs each week as it was in streaking ever higher in the 4000 range.  Yep, that’s right, record highs in the 4000’s.  The economy was only beginning to take off and we should have seen it coming.  Economic growth requires a lot of fuel.  Yes, the lack of vision by democrats & republicans alike are costing ordinary citizens like you and I $100’s of dollars per day and it will get worse before it gets better.

Politicians need to be held accountable.  Perhaps they could start by answering these questions:

 Why are we NOT drilling for oil in those places where we KNOW oil exists?

Why wasn’t the government offering MAJOR incentives for electric/hybrid automobile development back in the 1980’s? 

 Why do we have restrictions on where we can drill for oil?  I’m all for saving the whales – but not if it requires killing the people!

Why do politicians continue to block the path to new oil refineries?

I realize that not everyone has the same idea about the best technological path to pursue in the future- however, why limit ourselves to only one path?  From my perspective, we need action in all of these areas.  We need more oil production SO drill everywhere we know there will be oil!  Increase the incentives for people to purchase hybrid vehicles.  Increase incentives for companies who develop critical technologies to further fuel efficient vehicles.

Why am I pissed about the high cost of oil?  Because the politicians who have been running the U.S. for the past 20 years have allowed other countries to get a firm hold on our balls and squeeze.  Maybe you like that kind of thing but I don’t!

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Ed | Politics, Very Off Topic, Other, Personal | Comments (0)

The Value of Your Vote

July 6, 2008 – 9:34 am

How often have you heard the phrase “my vote probably won’t count anyway”?  It’s unfortunate that we sometimes feel this way – however – nothing could be further from the truth.  Do you remember the Florida recount?  If not, I’m sure you heard of it.  If there’s one thing the Florida recount should have taught every voter in the U.S. is that his/her vote does count. 

I’ve often wondered why so few people vote but yet everyone finds a voice to complain about their elected officials.  Since we’ve already established your vote does count – why wouldn’t you choose to exercise this precious freedom?  After all, the political system is designed to begin with the vote of the people.

If you would like to learn more about the voting process, I would highly recommend you take a look at this voting guide – written by my friend Giovana.  It’s one of the most comprehensive, independently written voting guides I’ve seen in a while.  What makes this guide so special?  I couldn’t find much bias in it and that is unusual. 

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Ed | Politics, Very Off Topic, Other | Comments (0)

Google Knol – No Threat to Squidoo

January 29, 2008 – 8:10 pm

The recent announcement of Google’s new project – Google Knol – prompted this post from Seth Godin.  Having been a Squidoo Lensmaster for about a year now – I see no reason to believe Google Knol will negatively affect Squidoo.

Although Knol and Squidoo have similar business models – the motives behind the creation of content for them aren’t the same.

For example, anyone familiar with Squidoo understands that a quality lens is the key to building traffic and a successful lens.   In this case, quality equals usefulness, remarkable or something worth saying twice.  If you’re familiar with Seth Godin – you understand this type of usefulness has nothing to do with “appealing to the masses” and everything to do with world views of individuals in “small groups”.

The announcement of Google Knol suggests that a quality Knol will be dependent on a number of “Google defined” factors – which could be thought of as “an appeal to the masses”.  For example, a quality Knol about holsters might need to include content about gun holsters (i.e. ankle holsters, shoulder holsters, hip holsters, etc.), cell phone holsters, flashlight holsters, etc.

You can see the difference?  The goal of someone generating content for a quality Google Knol is to be “blessed” by Google with organic traffic (think about the Adsense potential).  Whereas, a Squidoo lensmaster isn’t concerned with organic Google traffic – she’s focusing on what’s remarkable and worth saying twice.  If she creates that – traffic will come.

In this way, Squidoo will always have an advantage over Google Knol.   Google needs “the masses” – Squidoo doesn’t want them – not in that way.   

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Ed | Squidoo, Google | Comments (8)

The Financial Value of Information

November 28, 2007 – 5:47 pm

Thinking about the financial value of information is sometimes confusing.  Years of information analysis have led me to one conclusion.  That is, information (alone) is worthless.   Analyzing and learning from information is equally useless unless you take the next step.

Synthesizing information into useful knowledge upon which alternative courses of action and actionable decisions can be implemented cannot be easily valued and it’s rarely mentioned. 

Before purchasing another “how to” book or reading another blog post about “how to do this or that” – you might want to read Web Analytics: An Hour a Day  by Avinash Kaushik.  Not only is this a great book about Web Analytics – it can also serve as a model helping you learn to synthesize information into knowledge and discipline yourself to implement that knowledge to achieve a desired goal (i.e. higher conversion rates, better SEO, etc.)

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Ed | Leveraging Information, Web Analytics, Online Business Tips | Comments (1)

Seth’s Meatball Mondae and The Long Tail - An Opportunity of Choice

November 12, 2007 – 2:36 pm

Thinking about The Long Tail and Seth Godin in Meatball Mondae: week 9 reminds me of the importance of “little things that make a big difference”.

More choices now than ever before - will the number of choices double, triple or more in 3 to 5 years?  What does it mean to you, your blog or business?  Will you have 2 to 3 times the competition?  Is your Brand strong enough to do nothing (make no changes)?  Are you “choice proof”?

In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell illustrates the tremendous importance of “little things that make a big difference”.  Does your business model strategically incorporate these little things – Brand independent little things?  Failing to pay attention to these could be the difference between adapting and overcoming vs. being overcome by choices. 

Three Little Things:

*  Think of your web traffic as an opportunity for building relationships and trust – rather than a sales opportunity. 

*  Treat each one of your customers as a potential maven, persuader or connector.  These people (the sneezers) are the viral life blood of your business – you don’t need them spreading anything but joy, love and sunshine about you.

*  Quality customer relationships yield greater trust and authority.  With more choices available, consumers will increasingly seek this trust and authority (i.e. they’ll be looking for relationships to help them make choices - when their friends can’t help - they’ll have you).  Make certain you have a permission marketing program in place.  Your potential customers are increasingly seeking quality relationships – make them easy to find.

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Ed | Marketing | Comments (2)

Sexiest Blog Ever Awards

November 8, 2007 – 8:43 am

Does your blog have what it takes to win the Sexiest Blog Ever award for the month?  If you think so – proceed to http://www.sexiest.blog.ever.com – leave a blurb and enter your blog for a chance to be the Sexiest Blog Ever.

Each month, we’ll take a look at the blogs entered and choose one we feel is the Sexiest Blog Ever for that month.  If you win, your blog will be featured on http://www.sexiest.blog.ever.com for a month.  Think of all the free publicity, traffic and links you’ll receive. 

What does it take for a blog to be the Sexiest Blog Ever?  The criteria changes every month – the blog will be chosen in a subjective manner – in other words – we’ll choose based on our mood at the time.   

The Sexiest Blog Ever will be chosen on the 15th of each month so be sure to visit the site around that time – you might be the winner!

Good Luck!

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Ed | Squidoo, Other | Comments (2)

The Destructive Power of Stupidity

November 4, 2007 – 8:38 pm

Thinking about the destructive power of stupidity – that is – saying something stupid or doing something stupid – leads to an awe of those things “small”.  More specifically, how saying or doing something small but incredibly stupid can wreak financial destruction upon one’s self.   

The current buzz surrounding Dog and his “stupid message” is a sobering reminder of the destructive power of a simple (but avoidable) stupid mistake.  Shows are being cancelled, endorsements withdrawn, etc.  Financial value that took years to create is forever lost.

Although he’s the latest victim of “stupidity” – Dog’s is only the latest in a long line of examples of simple but financially destructive stupid mistakes.  Rush Limbaugh and his very short career as a sports caster, Jimmy The Greek and his infamous remarks, Trent Lott, etc.

What’s remarkable - “high profile” people – at least those who attempt to maintain a “socially acceptable image” - continue to fall into the trap of stupidity.

 At the opposite end of the spectrum, “stupid mistakes” have the power to create financial value.   Although Paris Hilton didn’t need the publicity – her stupid mistakes resulted jail time – which resulted in an incredible amount of positive media coverage.   Go figure.

What’s the lesson?  First, you need to make sure you understand which end of the stupidity spectrum you happen to be on (Dog’s or Paris’s) – then proceed with your “stupid mistakes” (or lack thereof) with caution. 

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Ed | Other | Comments (0)

Google’s War on Paid Links Similar to War on Drugs?

October 10, 2007 – 3:53 pm

Although I’m not at all comparing paid links to drugs – I find it interesting to analyze Google’s war on paid links in the context of the “War on Drugs” - with one major difference.  By creating such immense value in links – Google is now waging war against something it created.  Anytime something has value – it will have demand.  Much like the war on drugs – Google’s war on paid links is not winnable.   The only way for Google to win their war against paid links is to remove the value (they created) of links in general.  If links had no value (no demand) there would be no market. 

It is amusing to watch the sparring matches across the blogosphere – where SEO’s are supposedly outing those websites selling links.   Rumors of Google penalties (and legitimate penalties) have webmasters running in all directions – some looking for cover while others hammer away at Google’s unfairness. 

Of primary concern to me is the manner in which Google is willing to wage this war.  Unlike those fighting the war on drugs – Google is a business – and she can pretty much do whatever she wants.  It would be unfortunate to see webmasters or websites receive penalties not deserved.  Thinking about the “report paid links” option now available in Google’s webmaster tools – you’ve got to wonder exactly how they go about verifying those reports. You can only hope Google would not penalize a webmaster or website unless she is certain the penalty is deserved.

Regardless, Google’s terms of use are clear – like them or not – no drugs – I mean no paid links allowed.

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Ed | Google | Comments (4)

Do Customers See you Face First or Hind-End First?

October 9, 2007 – 5:34 pm

Imagine owning a traditional apparel business in a mall.  Your main entrance is intricately decorated with attractive products.  Glass displays are sparkling clean with sales and specials prominently displayed for visitors to see upon entrance.  In essence, you’ve created an attractive Meatball Mondae bundle – designed to unfold in a linear fashion as customers experience your business.  While this approach might work in an old fashioned mall – I wouldn’t recommend it with an online business.  Early in my online retail career – before I learned about website analytics – visions of online customers politely entering my store through a professional looking homepage dominated my dreams.  The visions were always the same – customers would land on my homepage – see the great products offered, BBB credentials, website security, etc. – then proceed directly to the product and checkout pages.  Unfortunately, this dream was rarely coming true.  I soon learned that many of my customers weren’t even seeing my homepage.  They were searching for specific products – finding my store in the SERPs – and proceeding directly to the product of interest.  The bundle I had carefully crafted wasn’t being unbundled like I had imagined.  This revelation led to some adjustments on my part.  Each page of the store would need to be treated as a potential “first impression” – each page would need to be a marketing element on its own. 

After making some adjustments to accommodate this asymmetric customer behavior – my sales approximately doubled.  As Seth points out – bundles are becoming a thing of the past.  No longer can you expect a potential customer to walk into your online store in a “normal” fashion.  You’ve got to unbundle your bundle, unbundle your thinking and adjust your online business to accommodate information specific customer behavior - treating every page of the site as if it’s the only page a customer might see before the checkout page. 

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Ed | Advertising, Online Business Tips, Marketing | Comments (0)