The trouble that some 20th century business models are having with new, 21st century paradigms have some parallels with the rise and fall of great societies. Complexity may be the cause of its own downfall because it is affected by the law of diminishing returns. But this observation makes some implicit assumptions that may not hold true for long. What if the new paradigms had some form of immunity to this historic law?
Are Complex Business Models Really Dead?
April 3rd, 2010iPad Strategy Misunderstood
February 4th, 2010
Segmentation is the heart of marketing because it is the best way to guarantee the relevancy of the offering, of the value proposition, and of the messaging to the target market. So, by definition, what is aimed at one segment does not necessarily please another segment, nor should it. This “Marketing 101″ lesson seems lost on the mass of skeptical technology enthusiasts who do not see in the iPad what they were hoping for. But make no mistake: the iPad is a transformational product. Apple intends to capitalize on the momentum of the iPod and iPhone to rope in enough partners and spark another revolution.
The New Normal and the Consequences for Marketing Strategy
August 20th, 2009
Many savvy observers are convinced that this recession will not just be a temporary pause in a generally upward economic trend but will represent a “reset“, a point from which the US economy is going to operate differently moving forward. The probable long term contraction of consumer spending will have some important consequences for marketers, mainly: international marketing and exporting are going to become key components of the recovery with business investment as a corollary.
Strategic Marketing Case Study: Thin-Film Solar Technology
June 29th, 2009
Solar power has been a topic of discussion and high hopes for decades now. Actually, that is not a very good sign. Solar power technology still needs to “cross the chasm”, to become a widespread technology that can effectively compete with electricity generated from fossil fuels. Success is not so much a matter of popular acceptance of the technology which is high overall, but mostly a matter of cost. Here’s a suitably hot, summer mini-case study on the future of the solar power business.
7 Keys To Customer Retention In Tough Times
May 6th, 2009
The customers that have been powering your growth in the good times have the highest potential for being the source of future growth. What can be done in terms of customer retention now to maximize revenue in the tough times and prepare for recovery?
21 Signs That Your Company Is Not Customer-Driven
April 27th, 2009
Companies talk a lot about being more customer-driven, but it mostly remains just talk. It makes for good PR internally and externally. The question is whether a transition has really been made away from being mostly product-driven. Here is a selection of practical signs that indicate that a focus on products is preventing your company from unlocking real value for customers.
Should Your Company Switch To a Low-Cost Strategy?
April 21st, 2009
When it comes to competitive advantage, the recession is re-dealing the cards. If you suspect that the value your company delivers is seen as being too rich, now is the time to do some forward-looking thinking to decide if the basis on which you are competing needs to change.
Has Your Company Fallen Into One of These Four Strategic Traps?
April 14th, 2009
For a management team, it is hard to accept that a strategy that was birthed after so much work, discussion, and compromise is leading to limited growth, or worse. That is the predicament that many SMBs find themselves in, and it can be painfully apparent especially in these times. Here is a framework that describes four common strategic traps, some of them uglier than others, identified by examining the combination of two strategic biases (see diagram). Read the rest of this entry »
So Little SMM Budget, So Many SMM Experts
April 9th, 2009
Those who have accumulated some early knowledge about Social Media Marketing (SMM) bemoan the number of self-proclaimed experts that crowd this new field. Indeed, thousands of Internet professionals are trying to capitalize on the spectacularly successful platform for marketing purposes. It is also true that much of the “expertise” out there is pretty generic and that the myriad blogs and comments often add little original insight. Read the rest of this entry »
Marketing vs. Sales: How do Porcupines Mate?
April 7th, 2009
The litany of stories illustrating the often sour relationship between Sales and Marketing never seems to end. It really should not be so, although some of it is probably inevitable. After all, both groups have a lot of passion all of which is directed towards achieving an identical objective: more revenue.
