Does “Everybody” Need A Web Site?

Mary Schmidt

Sep 28, 2005

Sure, I’m just a bit prejudiced - my biz card says “Albuquerque, Santa Fe and the Virtual World.” But recently I was chatting with a local business owner and she said, “Oh, sorry I didn’t get back to you, but I didn’t check my email last week.” No, I wasn’t offended, but I was embarrassed for her.  Ouch!  Why does she have the email address on her business card? 

Same type of thinking often happens with web sites.  A company will spend mondo time and money on getting a site up, and then get

In Marketing Troubleshooting, Web Bytes

Manolos at K-Mart?

Mary Schmidt

Sep 26, 2005

Via Doc Searls - ran across the Manolo Blahnik blog (“Manolo loves the shoe!”) Now, I think it’s a kinda fun way to waste a few minutes while I have my second cup of coffee.  What’s puzzling to me is the strategy (? is there one?) behind his web marketing.  Is this a parody site?  Am I’m not getting the joke?

Why would a seller of obscenely over-priced elitist “limo shoes” (They’re so dang uncomfortable and impractical, you don’t want to walk for more than a few feet) have such a cheesy web

In Marketing Troubleshooting

“Paging Dr. Oleta Picklesimer!” or What’s in a Name?

Mary Schmidt

Sep 26, 2005

So, what’s in a name?  Would you think a cardiovascular surgeon named Oleta Picklesimer would have instant credibility?  No?  What about Dr. Billy Paul Loughridge?  Oleta was one of my college friends; I have no idea what happened to her, but she was scary smart, at OU on a “creme de la creme” academic scholarship.  Billy Paul?  He is a cardiovascular surgeon, with a national reputation.  Of course, both of these folks hail from Oklahoma, which has a very Southern culture.  Names like Oleta

In Marketing Troubleshooting

Be different! (And, have something to say.)

Mary Schmidt

Sep 19, 2005

As Oscar Wilde noted, “There are only two kinds of people who are really fascinating: people who know absolutely everything, and people who know absolutely nothing.”  Hmmm…so where does that leave us bloggers, not to mention political pundits? (Randi Rhodes and Bill O’Reilly - here’s looking at you, you crazy kids.) 

Since I know that I don’t know everything - I was “holed up” (as my Southern Mama would say)  over the weekend, trying to get caught up on my teetering stack of business

In Brain Food, Marketing Troubleshooting

Nano, Oh Nano!  I’m in Love. (Lust?)

Mary Schmidt

Sep 17, 2005

Apple continues to up the ante in cool, with its next gen Ipod, Nano.  It’s all about (good) design, baby.  And, I’m deeply, deeply envious that my friend and collaborator Roxanne at Bare Feet Studios had one of the first in Hawaii (thanks to her partner, Shane.) 

Putting aside my personal feelings, the Time article (link above) well describes how design integrated with blazing technology (beauty and brains) makes for a great business strategy.  Of course, Jobs is gambling (as Time points

In Marketing Troubleshooting

“Forget about the nickel.”

Mary Schmidt

Sep 16, 2005

Seth Godin shares one of my pet peeves - piddly amounts of change.  Particularly when I’m rushed and trying to juggle hot coffee, laptop and whatever else I’m hauling between plane connections and client meetings…And, the barista just stands there, looking bored, watching me dig for coins.  Of course, I frequently do what we all do in such cases - hand over a twenty for a $3.05 tab and then have to juggle the change (oops, dropped that quarter; I’ll just let it go, I gotta run.)  Seth’s idea is

In Marketing Troubleshooting, Pet Peeves

Does anybody not know what this is?

Mary Schmidt

Sep 15, 2005

  I was astonished when reading New Yorker - the entire issue’s ad space was bought by Target.  Each ad more creative than the next. 

I’m a huge fan of Target - both as a consumer and a marketer.  However, the key point to remember is that they didn’t just launch the logo and do New Yorker ads and expect people to flock to their stores.  Target worked hard for years to build the brand as cool, fun and the place to go for many of us, for everything from make-up to lamps.

In Marketing Troubleshooting