Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

 

Are You Putting Technology Before Your Customers?


Which is more important the technology or the customer?

The one thing about the online world you can be sure of is change.It seems like every day there is a new technology being addedwhich will make the internet more accessible.As online marketers, we strive to keep up with all these trendsand incorporate them into our marketing arsenals.

Going back to when the internet started, it was a bit of a nerdyplace to be, with lots of people communicating in text only.Some savvy individuals saw how this growing community could be exploited and used to advertise their wares, and with all the hyperlinking joining them to other sites they could be easilyfound.

Then the world wide web evolved from the basic internet adding pictures and multimedia and eventually adding videos too, and it became even more useful to marketing. Added in with emailwhich made it possible to reach a large audience at low costthe web became irresistable to businesses.

Each step forward brings with it even more opportunities for us online entrepreneurs to get our messages seen.

But as it marches on into new technologies are we all missing the point somewhat?

We all need our ads to be seen, but often we seem to be spendingmore time wrestling with new technology than actually working.Everyone is jumping on the blogging bandwagon at the momentand offering xml and rss feeds to get their messages out.

Flash video, along with audio, and video streams is also being used extensively, and often unneccessarily to market products.

But even more alarming is the reliance some people are placingon this new technology, to the point of abandoning traditionalemail and websites.

Let me relate this recent story which actually happened.

I received a newsletter which I read regularly, andlike many others the owner was having problems with gettinghis email newsletter through spam filters. Like many newsletterpublishers he had decided to publish his newsletter as a webpage.He started sending out regular emails when the newsletter was available, and including the link to read it. All ok so far.

It was shortly afterwards I received an update from this newslettertelling me that it would no longer be available as a web page, butwould now be an rss feed only. And telling me if I wanted to carryon reading I should download some software to do so.

Whoa, backtrack there.

Your subscribers can only read your newsletter if they downloadsome extra software and learn how to use it?

I emailed the owner to point out that I thought it was a bad idea.You want your subscribers to stick with you, make it easy for them,the reply I got was that I should join the 21st century, if I wantedto read his newsletter he would tell me how I should do it.

No I don't want to read it that bad thanks anyway.

So before you go running headlong into the latest technologicalmarvels of the internet, think about what your customers need.Do they have the latest greatest browser to view your latest greatestmultimedia masterpiece?Will they need to download some extra software just to view yournewsletter?

Subscribers are humans too you know, and as humans they are ficklecreatures. They will stick with you while the goings good and easybut make them work to stay with your newsletter and you're historyas there are plenty more good newsletters they can get free.

Flashy animations, and new technology can be impressive, butput your customers first, and use the technology only if it helpsthem.

Doug Titchmarsh

Doug Titchmarsh runs several sites including http://www.cashinonline.info andhttp://www.titchmarsh.com and publishesan e-zine for marketers online and offwhich you can get by sending an email todouglastitchmarsh@getresponse.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Customer Service - Google News

Capital One Recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for Outstanding Customer ... - EON: Enhanced Online News (press release)


Capital One Recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for Outstanding Customer ...
EON: Enhanced Online News (press release)
(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Capital One (NYSE:COF) has been recognized by JD Power and Associates for outstanding customer service across its Retail Banking, US Card and Small Business Card call centers. The call centers received certification by ...
Capital One Call Centers Recognized for ExcellenceMMD Newswire (press release)

all 10 news articles »

Frustrated With Virtual Customer Service? Microsoft Tries to Help - Wall Street Journal (blog)


Frustrated With Virtual Customer Service? Microsoft Tries to Help
Wall Street Journal (blog)
By Deborah Gage People who are forced to engage in online chats with virtual customer service agents–or who are passed from agent to agent without getting their problems solved–are likely to get highly frustrated and take their business elsewhere.
Microsoft Teams up With 24/7 for Customer Service SoftwarePCWorld
Microsoft Teams Up with 24/7 on Customer Service SoftwareDestination CRM
Microsoft reaches agreement with 24/7 on speech-driven customer-service platformThe Seattle Times
Fox Business
all 47 news articles »

Bernthal, The Way It Oughta Be: Customer Service - KPLR 11


Bernthal, The Way It Oughta Be: Customer Service
KPLR 11
If you can build some customer service skills I think you will stand out among your peers. Sure it's no law school or medical school but what this country really needs is some good customer service. Here was my recent experience.

and more »

Alcatel-Lucent banks on customer service - Communications, Engineering & Design Magazine


Siliconrepublic.com

Alcatel-Lucent banks on customer service
Communications, Engineering & Design Magazine
The French company is using software acquired through its 2008 purchase of customer service specialist Motive to boost the capabilities of some of its existing products, Greg Owens, director of customer experience solutions marketing, ...
ALU revamps tools to enhance customer experienceRethink Wireless
Alcatel-Lucent Makes Its Customer Experience Management Motive ClearSacramento Bee
Alcatel-Lucent extends 'Motive' brandBroadband TV News
Telecoms.com
all 49 news articles »

Telcos pledge improved customer service, but regulation looms - iTWire


Telcos pledge improved customer service, but regulation looms
iTWire
The telecomms industry has made its last bid to escape regulation of its customer service practices by the ACMA, with the submission of a revised Telecommunications Consumer Protection Code to the ACMA for registration. In November last year the ACMA ...
Action group rejects telco industry codeThe Australian
Full Spectrum: getting tough on telcosZDNet Australia

all 18 news articles »

Customer Service satisfaction survey figures down in 2011 - Reno Gazette Journal


Customer Service satisfaction survey figures down in 2011
Reno Gazette Journal
FERNLEY--After compiling the most recent Customer Satisfaction Survey results from area residents, City of Fernley staff attributed the resulting low satisfaction results to the City Council's passage of the debt bond assessment, which was designed to ...

Microsoft and 24/7 Inc. team up to build a better automated customer service ... - BetaNews


BetaNews

Microsoft and 24/7 Inc. team up to build a better automated customer service ...
BetaNews
Microsoft and 24/7 Inc. have joined up to develop a next-gen automated customer service platform that pairs big data analytics with touch, speech, and gesture interfaces for a more mobile-friendly self-service customer experience.
Microsoft Unveils Microsoft Dynamics CRM MobileMobile Enterprise
Dynamics CRM Going Fully Mobile with Update from MicrosoftNewsFactor Network

all 118 news articles »

Interbit Data Expands Sales and Customer Support Teams for Its Healthcare ... - MarketWatch (press release)


Interbit Data Expands Sales and Customer Support Teams for Its Healthcare ...
MarketWatch (press release)
Joining Interbit Data as customer support specialist is Reiko Foster. Reiko comes from IntraLearn Software Corporation, where she provided customer technical support and training for nine years. Reiko has extensive experience in software sales support, ...

and more »

Playworld Systems Launches PlayPod(TM), a 24/7 Mobile Customer Support Tool - MarketWatch (press release)


Playworld Systems Launches PlayPod(TM), a 24/7 Mobile Customer Support Tool
MarketWatch (press release)
It provides instant access to individualized installation and maintenance data and customer service links as well as fun play tips. PlayPod is a value-added service that works when users download the free Tag mobile app to a smartphone at ...

and more »

Office Depot Named as Finalist in Stevie(R) Awards for Sales & Customer Service - MarketWatch (press release)


Office Depot Named as Finalist in Stevie(R) Awards for Sales & Customer Service
MarketWatch (press release)
The international competition recognizes excellence in disciplines that are crucial to business success, and honors the accomplishments of sales, customer service, and call/contact center professionals worldwide. -- Sales Support Team of the Year: An ...
B2B Marketing Leader, Televerde, Executive to Judge National Business Awards ...San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
OFFICE DEPOT, INC.: Office Depot Named as Finalist in Stevie(R) Awards for..4-traders (press release)

all 16 news articles »

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

AusTrade Domain Is For Sale - $15,000 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.AusTrade.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker