Comments on: “Need Inspiration? Try Looking Outside Your Industry” by Cheri Nikkel http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/ Copywiting coach and expert interview Shaune Clarke talks about direct response marketing, copywriting, expert interviews and more. Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:52:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Pam Gitta http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/#comment-862 Pam Gitta Tue, 30 Jan 2007 13:40:54 +0000 http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/#comment-862 It means I can hope that they're following the "touch them 7 times rule," but I'm afraid it means that the first time worked. *sigh* It means I can hope that they’re following the “touch them 7 times rule,” but I’m afraid it means that the first time worked. *sigh*

]]> By: Terri http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/#comment-800 Terri Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:31:13 +0000 http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/#comment-800 Pam, Quite the little cliff-hanger at the end of your post! I'll bite. I have my own ideas, but what does that mean to you? Pam,

Quite the little cliff-hanger at the end of your post! I’ll bite.

I have my own ideas, but what does that mean to you?

]]> By: Pam Gitta http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/#comment-799 Pam Gitta Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:00:45 +0000 http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/#comment-799 One of my local grocery chains has a membership program and they hit it *hard.* Every week in the paper are the members-only specials (and once you get in the store, there are always un-advertised specials too). They offer you a 3-cents-per-gallon discount on gas with your membership card. They make it easy to use: you just hand the card to the cashier or hold it up to the special reader at the pump. Piece o' cake. Is it a coincidence that they're the second-largest chain in Northern Illinois? I also have an example of "bad" borrowing...one day last week, my daughter came home and handed me the flyer she'd found wedged in the front door. It was orange, and looked like a door-hanger except that there was no cut-out for the knob. It said, "Sorry we missed you," and there were three check-boxes: one each for "Delivered," "Unable to make delivery," or "Please call to schedule." The third box was checked and an 800 phone number was below with a tracking number and all kinds of good stuff. At the bottom, "GIFT NOTICE" printed in a big black box. I ran a check on the phone, and it's one of our local cable providers. I think it's bad because it's deceptive, and because it's not done very well. If you're going to make it look like a door hanger, go all the way. What worries me, of course, is this is the second one we've received in a month, and you know what that can mean...... One of my local grocery chains has a membership program and they hit it *hard.* Every week in the paper are the members-only specials (and once you get in the store, there are always un-advertised specials too). They offer you a 3-cents-per-gallon discount on gas with your membership card. They make it easy to use: you just hand the card to the cashier or hold it up to the special reader at the pump. Piece o’ cake.

Is it a coincidence that they’re the second-largest chain in Northern Illinois?

I also have an example of “bad” borrowing…one day last week, my daughter came home and handed me the flyer she’d found wedged in the front door.

It was orange, and looked like a door-hanger except that there was no cut-out for the knob. It said, “Sorry we missed you,” and there were three check-boxes: one each for “Delivered,” “Unable to make delivery,” or “Please call to schedule.” The third box was checked and an 800 phone number was below with a tracking number and all kinds of good stuff. At the bottom, “GIFT NOTICE” printed in a big black box.

I ran a check on the phone, and it’s one of our local cable providers.

I think it’s bad because it’s deceptive, and because it’s not done very well. If you’re going to make it look like a door hanger, go all the way.

What worries me, of course, is this is the second one we’ve received in a month, and you know what that can mean……

]]> By: Terri http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/#comment-794 Terri Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:25:35 +0000 http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/#comment-794 There are two things that give me the heebie-jeebies this time of year -- the coyotes howling in my front yard at night -- and taxes. I can’t do much about the coyotes, as people are generally reluctant to lend me a firearm, but I can help my tax guy. Several weeks ago, I got a “reminder letter” about booking him early before the dreaded tax season sneaks up on us. The tone was authoritarian, to say the least. His opening sentence was, “This letter is to confirm our understanding of the terms and objectives of our tax services and to clarify the nature and extent of the tax services to be provided.” Talk about warm fuzzies… Instantly, my anxiety level rose. I even thought of switching to another accountant. But then I realized that I could help him. He’s not a bad guy. He just has no idea of the effect accountants have on the rest of the general population. So I made an appointment with him. Sure, we’ll get my taxes taken care of, but we’ll also discuss “softening” his approach as well as cross-marketing strategies with other local businesses. (perhaps he can offer a coupon for a free bottle of Tylenol at the local pharmacy after clients leave his office) He’s open to the conversation, at least. I’m not looking for clients who are accountants, but it’s just one example of an industry which can use a “different” approach. There are two things that give me the heebie-jeebies this time of year — the coyotes howling in my front yard at night — and taxes. I can’t do much about the coyotes, as people are generally reluctant to lend me a firearm, but I can help my tax guy.

Several weeks ago, I got a “reminder letter” about booking him early before the dreaded tax season sneaks up on us. The tone was authoritarian, to say the least. His opening sentence was, “This letter is to confirm our understanding of the terms and objectives of our tax services and to clarify the nature and extent of the tax services to be provided.”

Talk about warm fuzzies…

Instantly, my anxiety level rose. I even thought of switching to another accountant. But then I realized that I could help him.

He’s not a bad guy. He just has no idea of the effect accountants have on the rest of the general population. So I made an appointment with him. Sure, we’ll get my taxes taken care of, but we’ll also discuss “softening” his approach as well as cross-marketing strategies with other local businesses. (perhaps he can offer a coupon for a free bottle of Tylenol at the local pharmacy after clients leave his office) He’s open to the conversation, at least.

I’m not looking for clients who are accountants, but it’s just one example of an industry which can use a “different” approach.

]]> By: Ryan Healy http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/#comment-718 Ryan Healy Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:18:40 +0000 http://www.shauneclarke.com/need-inspiration-try-looking-outside-your-industry/#comment-718 This is speculation... but how about Starbucks to Jamba Juice. Fully customized coffee beverages to semi-custom fruit drinks... and all in less than a couple minutes. Ryan http://www.RyansBlog.com This is speculation…

but how about Starbucks to Jamba Juice.

Fully customized coffee beverages to semi-custom fruit drinks… and all in less than a couple minutes.

Ryan

http://www.RyansBlog.com

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