Quill Tips - Marketing and Business Blog

Can your modern business benefit from the old-fashioned way?

Carol Dorman - Monday, August 29, 2011

In a time not too long ago, in a place not too far away, Eunice Jones made a phone call to an insurance company and spoke to … another person! A human, just like her. A being with thoughts and feelings. Someone whose spontaneous responses to her questions reflected a true understanding of her situation and a genuine desire to make her happy.

Incredible as this may sound, Eunice was not taken aback by this. Nor was she alarmed or confused. Instead, she simply went about her daily business, knowing that the insurance company regarded her as a VIP and could always be expected to treat her as such.

Eunice’s next-door neighbours, Bruce and Val, were about to go on holidays. With trusty old Viscount attached to his beloved HG, Bruce drove down to the local service station to fill the tank.

Not only did the attendant pump the fuel himself, he also washed the windscreen, checked under the bonnet and, after wishing Bruce carefree driving, gave Val a wink and a packet of barley sugar to eat on the way!

“Surely not,” you say. “How could this be? What strange lives these ancient peoples lived.”

Of course, today things are different. We’re blessed with super technology that automates responses and enables us to fly through transactions at the speed it takes to punch a number.

We’re empowered to do most consumer-oriented tasks ourselves, from scanning our own groceries to electronically banking. And, if we ever get confused by the process, we’re encouraged to “Please stay on the line as your call is important to us and will be answered by the next available operator.”

Imagine a modern day business operating in an old-fashioned way when it came to customer service. A bank manager who remembered your name. An insurance executive who personally visited you after a loss. Sales people who made shopping for small ticket items as enjoyable as shopping for the big ticket things.

What a point of difference!

Could your business measure up to Eunice’s expectations? Would Bruce and Val be your biggest fans?

If not, maybe it’s time to take a look back in time for an old-fashioned new way of thinking.

Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Social Media: Where is it? Why is it? What does it all mean?

Carol Dorman - Thursday, April 22, 2010

Unless you were kidnapped by aliens and have been living on another world for the past few

years, you would have heard the incessant buzz that is Social Media.

Now, I'm no expert on this new sensation but I do recognise its potential for spreading

my business message so am eager to learn all about it.

Here's what I've gleaned so far ... and to be honest, it may not be much more than what

our friends on Planet 'Ahh-ya-got-me' already know, but it's a start:

1. Make the decision whether or not to use a form of social media for business BEFORE you

catch-up place' filled with juvenile games like Farmville and Cafe World (and other

suoıʇɔɐɹʇsıp ʎןןıs).

2. Don't feel compelled to follow someone on Twitter simply because they follow you. Sure,

it may seem like the polite thing to do but what really matters is the quality of your

contacts, not the quantity. If you don't genuinely have an interest in their 140 character

pearls of wisdom, don't follow them.

Hey, Life's too short to read bad tweets!

3. Then of course, there's YouTube. Apparently, YouTube's the second biggest search thingy

on the Web - edged out only by 'The Google'. So it makes sense to have some kind of video

presence if you want to raise your profile in cyberspace. Hey, it worked for SuBo.

Add to these the various other social media platforms that you can Link In, Digg in and

Squidoodly diddly in - it's no wonder I'm a tad confused!

Thankfully, there's stacks of information out there to help make sense of it all.

Kirsty Dunphey has a fab article on her blog here, which is well worth a look.

Here's to taking off the training wheels!

Social Media: Where is it? Why is it? What does it all mean?

Unless you were kidnapped by aliens and have been living on another world for the past few

years, you would have heard the incessant buzz that is Social Media.

Now, I'm no expert on this new sensation but I do recognise its potential for spreading

my business message so am eager to learn all about it.

Here's what I've gleaned so far ... and to be honest, it may not be much more than what

our friends on Planet 'Ahh-ya-got-me' already know, but it's a start:

1. Make the decision whether or not to use a form of social media for business BEFORE you

catch-up place' filled with juvenile games like Farmville and Cafe World (and other

suoıʇɔɐɹʇsıp ʎןןıs).

2. Don't feel compelled to follow someone on Twitter simply because they follow you. Sure,

it may seem like the polite thing to do but what really matters is the quality of your

contacts, not the quantity. If you don't genuinely have an interest in their 140 character

pearls of wisdom, don't follow them.

Hey, Life's too short to read bad tweets!

3. Then of course, there's YouTube. Apparently, YouTube's the second biggest search thingy

on the Web - edged out only by 'The Google'. So it makes sense to have some kind of video

presence if you want to raise your profile in cyberspace. Hey, it worked for SuBo.

Add to these the various other social media platforms that you can Link In, Digg in and

Squidoodly diddly in - it's no wonder I'm a tad confused!

Thankfully, there's stacks of information out there to help make sense of it all.

Kirsty Dunphey has a fab article on her blog here, which is well worth a look.

Here's to taking off the training wheels!

Unless you were kidnapped by aliens and have been living on another world for the past few

years, you would have heard the incessant buzz that is Social Media.

Unless you were kidnapped by aliens and have been living on another world for the past few years, you would have heard the incessant buzz that is Social Media.

Now, I'm no expert on this new sensation but I do recognise its potential for spreading my business message so am eager to learn all about it.

Here's what I've gleaned so far ... and to be honest, it may not be much more than what our friends on Planet 'Ahh-ya-got-me' already know, but it's a start:

1. Make the decision whether or not to use a form of social media for business BEFORE you sign up. That'll prevent your Facebook page becoming an 'old acquaintance and school chums catch-up place' filled with juvenile games like Farmville and Cafe World (and other suoıʇɔɐɹʇsıp ʎןןıs)

2. Don't feel compelled to follow someone on Twitter simply because they follow you. Sure, it may seem like the polite thing to do but what really matters is the quality of your contacts, not the quantity. If you don't genuinely have an interest in their 140 character pearls of wisdom, don't follow them.

After all, Life's too short to read bad tweets!

3. Then of course, there's YouTube. Apparently, YouTube's the second biggest search thingy on the Web - edged out only by 'The Google'. So it makes sense to have some kind of video presence if you want to raise your profile in cyberspace. Hey, it worked for SuBo.

Add to these the various other social media platforms that you can Link In, Digg in and Squidoodly diddly in - it's no wonder I'm a tad confused!

Thankfully, there's stacks of information out there to help make sense of it all.

Kirsty Dunphey has a fab article on her blog here, which is well worth a look.

Here's to taking off the training wheels!

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

A few tips to help make writing easier

Carol Dorman - Friday, November 27, 2009

Do you often find yourself sitting in front of a blank screen, wondering where your inspiration went? Don't worry, the answer may be as simple as a little tweak to your writing technique.

The first thing to remember is that in order to write, you don't have to be chained to your computer. Hey, technology's wonderful and I'm the first to admit that without my computer I'd be really stuck. But when it comes to writing, taking a break from that electronic comrade may be just what you need to set your creativity free.

Make a decision to enjoy the experience of writing - of expressing yourself in text and then set yourself up so that it happens.

1. Get a notebook. Now, I'm not talking about your average office style notebook. I mean a really nice hard cover book that's a reflection of your personality. Perhaps it's conservative and faux leather, maybe it's loud and groovy; whatever it is, it should make you smile when you see it.

2. Choose the perfect writing instrument for you. A pen that glides effortlessly over the paper and is comfortable to hold. Perhaps, like me, you like to write with a pencil - freshly sharpened and not too fine. When you feel comfortable with the instrument, you'll notice your handwriting will seem neater and you'll find yourself enjoying the simple act of putting pen (or pencil) on paper.

3. Location, location, location! Take your notebook and pencil somewhere nice. By the fireplace on a cold day or out on the terrace in the sunshine with a plunger of coffee beside you. I've written business proposals in a park and a sales letter on a mountain. Let yourself be inspired!

4. Just write. When you have the first 3 steps in place just write. Even if it's off topic - you'll either get back on topic eventually or create something else that you can still use and be proud of.

Happy writing!

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Welcome to Quill's Brand New Site!

Carol Dorman - Tuesday, May 19, 2009

It's taken a little while but it's finally here. And thanks to the wonderful web workings of Waratah Web I reckon it's pretty darn cool! (But hey, I confess a little bias ... )

Seriously though, I look forward to bringing lots of useful information for you to use in your business ... and maybe just some fun horsin' around stuff too. (Sherbet told me to say that ;D)

Cheers,

Carol

Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink