Why do people wait 5 minutes for a spot that is only 1 minute closer to their destination?
In our get it now, need it now society, convenience plays a huge role in our lives. Companies have wisely responded with all sorts of free delivery policies and incentives.
In the city of New York, delivery has become expected. If you don’t deliver (and deliver for free) you are a dinosaur.
It’s astounding what people pay for convenience.
Room service is a service that makes money charging people for service to their room. Supermarkets in the city charge you a premium to deliver your just purchased goods.
Fresh Direct is a business built on convenience. They charge you a turkey sandwich and a frank for wanting groceries delivered to your door. Franks anyway, I think it’s a rip off.
But, people love it. People are lazy. People don’t want to move. And people don’t want to be bothered picking out their own fresh veggies.
I always thought the coolest thing about NYC was the fact that you could get McDonald’s delivered. What a McTreat!
How can you sell your products more conveniently to your customers?
If your customers are online be there. If they aren’t; find where they are. Then be there.
Marketing has become convenient marketing.
Make it as convenient as possible for your customer’s to buy from you. As soon as it’s annoying and, well, inconvenient, the purchase will be aborted.
Whatever you’re selling you must make it as easy as cake for your precious customers to get what they want from you. Any extra clutter is going to divert people.
You’re in business to serve people. Whatever product/service/idea you’re selling! Your number one priority should be to serve those people like they are family. You are nothing without them. Write this down:
I am nothing without my precious customers!
As a loyal reader to my blog (and I thank you!), I wouldn’t practice what I write about unless I made my posts easily accessible. The more convenient it is for you to get my posts, and the more choices you have to access my posts, the happier you will be. (Hopefully!)
3 ways you can read my blog:
- Continue to check my blog every 35 seconds for new posts
- Subscribe to my blog and get new posts in your RSS reader
- Or, subscribe for email updates and get an email directly in your inbox with the freshly baked, warm, gooey inside, chocolate melting new post. (“Mmmm!, that sounds delicious, how do I do that?”)
On the right side of my blog, after you scroll down a smidgen, you’ll see a box. Just enter your email address, click subscribe and you’ll get an email confirming your subscription. Open the email and activate your subscription.
That’s it.
And just in case you are hesitant, I’d never rent, sell, or share your email address with anyone.
And never is a strong word. But, that’s because I am nothing without my precious customers!
Mr. Gilbert,
Is there a point to your blog? It seems as though you have a decent mind for advertising, but what in fact do you do? Is there a product that you are selling, putting together or simply working on right now that will make you a household name? Anyone can write a blog about marketing and advertising in the modern world. What makes you unique is what you will do with your knowledge.
FYI – I am the VP of a multi-national ad agency and have been following your work for the past few months on a tip from a young professional friend of mine who went to school with you at Binghamton.
Be well. I look forward to your response!
Mr. James,
I appreciate your decent words. With all do respect, I highly doubt you are the VP of a multi-national ad agency.
There are a few reasons why I say this and if I am wrong then I truly apologize.
Regardless, I will answer your question because someone out there whether it’s ‘James’ or not wants to know.
I am also kind of glad you asked me this question because so far the feedback I have been getting sounds like this: “Ya know Adam, I really am so impressed with your blog, I love your ambition, passion, I think you are really smart, a great writer, I actually enjoy reading your blog and look forward to new posts, you are so funny, etc., etc., etc., blah, blah, blah but what’s the point of your blog?” I’ve literally heard that hundreds of times in the last month or so.
What is the point of my blog?
Mmmm, well I have a ton of ideas, thoughts, observations and if you’ve been reading the past few months my passion for marketing and entrepreneurship is extremely evident. (One of the reasons why I doubt you are a VP is that VP’s are always looking for extremely passionate, ambitious, tenacious people.)
I can talk about business all day long. It is my passion. I am extremely lucky to have found my passion early on. I also respect my ideas and believe in myself. If I didn’t respect my own ideas, I wouldn’t have a blog. And if I don’t respect and believe in my ideas, then who will?
What do I do?
Well currently, I work for Ernst & Young where I focus on hedge funds and private equity funds. I tare up financial statements and have learned so much. Accounting is the backbone of all business.
As far as marketing/advertising I started two companies in college http://www.Bingcoupons.com and Ultimate Discount Card (www.MyUDC.com) both of which were marketing/advertising based businesses. They were both very profitable and helped businesses grow their business; another one of my passions.
I read every business/marketing book I can get my hands on.
I also created http://www.DrPetSit.com which was a pet-sitting business that I built up to 20 loyal clients all through marketing and advertising as well as http://www.VisualMelt.com, a web design company to help companies embrace technology, not fear it.
Finally, one of my dreams is to write a book. Not sure what it’ll be about but if I want to write a book then I need to write. The more I write, the better I’ll get. I could dream all day about writing a book but how am I ever going to write a book if I don’t write now and no one knows about my writing. So, I started this b.l.o.g.
Is there a product that I am selling, putting together or working on right now that will make me a household name?
Yes. I am working on a few ventures that have major potential. These businesses could be multi-national like your ad agency. In fact, if they aren’t then I have failed as an entrepreneur. One of them is http://www.WhatsHereNow.com.
What do you mean by anyone can write a blog about marketing and advertising in the modern world (modern world as opposed to what?) I totally agree with you. Do it. Start a blog. Marketing is all around us. I can write all day long about observations, ideas I get, etc.
The difference between me and 95% of this world is that I actually started several businesses and have the desire to constantly keep learning and soak everything up. I have experience building a company from scratch and marketing my own products. But, I have a lot to learn and a lot to do in this world! I’ll never stop learning.
What makes my blog unique is this: I try to make every post as unique and entertaining as possible. Not such an easy task. I don’t just write crappy, boring posts. I try to make my posts as witty and clever as possible. I can sit here all day writing boring terms, strategy, ideas, suggestions, etc. I can do that all day along like so many other blogs. Not many people would enjoy reading it. And, more importantly, I wouldn’t enjoy writing it. Entertainment is essential and as you can read my personality radiates through my writing. I also try to focus.
There are so many people out there with so many different types of topics on their blog. I rather focus. I come up with ideas for posts that aren’t marketing or business related all the time. But, I stay true to my roots and discipline myself to only write about marketing/business. That is what I know.
If it passes my mom test, (a former English teacher) which lately has been with flying colors then I know it’s pretty good. My mom is tough on me and a tough critic but that’s good because it’s only made and makes me better. If I can make you laugh a little, make you think a little, help you learn a little and keep you entertained then my purpose for this blog has been served.
Not everything has to be for monetary compensation. Like I said, I am just extremely passionate about marketing and business and what better way to share my thoughts, etc.
As far as uniqueness keep reading my blog because I plan on writing something about being unique in the near future.
I partially agree with you. My mind is unique. I am unique. I am one of a kind. I’ll always be unique.
Someone who uses their knowledge and creates a successful enterprise or any enterprise is a doer. If you don’t do, then you are dreaming. I am a dreamer but also a doer!
I hope this answers your questions and I’d love to chat on the phone or grab lunch sometime.
Thank you for your continued support and loyalty!
I hope this helps.
Best,
Adam