What's in it for me?

Did my Christmas food and gift shopping at Walmart.  I know my enviro-friends will read that statement and gasp.  "No!  That corporation is evil!  They sell mass-produced goods at cheap prices, which takes up space at landfills.  Boo Walmart!"

I could have shopped at a less controversial competitor.  The pricing is about the same.  But it's convenient at Walmart.  They have food, and it's pretty good.  For gifts, the selection was large and the pricing competitive.  The biggest plus of all: there were lots of cashiers.  The other store, you're lucky if half the cash registers are open, meaning long lineups every time I shop there.

The moral is: if you want people to follow your philosophy, make it convenient for them.  Make the experience and outcome a pleasant one, and the customers will come.

A Third Party

One of the hardest things an organization has to do is reach an audience that is resistant to your message.  Although this may turn out to be a lucrative market, how do you get them to listen in the first place?  Utilize the power of a third party that they trust.

Figure out who the key players are, and if you think they will resist your message, try creating a relationship with their allies first.  Then the people you're really trying to target can receive a soft introduction to your organization, via a trusted ally.

Gift of Time

The media is reporting that a lot of consumers are cutting back on spending this Christmas.  Personally speaking, I think it's great!  I think it's about time we focus less on material giving, and more on what really matters:  family, friends, and neighbours.

We need to revive an almost-expired tradition: the business lunch.  Why not take a favorite client out for lunch, instead of talking only via phone, as a holiday gift?  They would probably appreciate the casualness of a daytime meeting, as most people's evenings are full of Christmas events.

P.S. If anyone wants to take me out, I love lunchtime meetings!