Web Performance, Branding, and Social Media
The CTO of the blogosphere asks: What kind of software would you like developed?
Option 1: Build a product in 12 months that is simple and easy to use but only meets basic requirements. Upon completiion, this company will only fix bugs and provide minimal updates every six months; training through FAQs and some [...]
In: smp
22 Sep 2005Lovely Rita she ain’t.
EV1Servers Hunkers Down for Hurricane Rita
CEO Robert Marsh says the company has more than 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel on site, and has procured an extra generator in case grid power is unavailable for an extended period. “We anticipate that the coming storm will have no impact on our operations,” Marsh said [...]
In: smp
11 Aug 2005Today, by special delivery, I got notice that FIOS is available at my house.
I called Comcast and asked how they were going to match this offer. They offered me $29.95/mo. for 6 months.
Now, because of my unique situation (i.e., requiring a semi-permamnent IP address to allow people to access my servers), I may be stuck [...]
In: smp
5 Jul 2005I recently switched all of my phone services back to Verizon. Today, I got a phone call from my former provider, MCI.
I have never experienced telephone slamming before, but “Tiffany Johnson” from MCI exposed me to the seedy side of the telephone market. I know why MCI is slamming departing customers: they need to get [...]
In: smp
8 Jun 2005Dear Arrogant Monopolistic Cable Operator:
The day of reckoning is upon you. Your formerly monopolistic power has been drained by years of failed mega-mergers, media plays, satellite providers and gross mis-management. Your cash cows are showing signs of Mad Cow Disease.
The final straw for me is your incredibly pig-headed strategy of price inflexibility on your high-speed [...]
In: smp
17 May 2005Johnnie Moore posts a great quote from Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, made in an interview with Wired.
A piece of art is not a loaf of bread. When someone steals a loaf of bread from the store, that’s it. The loaf of bread is gone. When someone downloads a piece of music, it’s just data until [...]
In: smp
16 May 2005eBay Stores announces its new logo…SO WHAT?
eBay, this is not something that you should announce. Make it happen, have people talk about it…let it spread. This is not a talking point that Meg Whitman needs to have in her backpocket.
Focus on making your customers happy, one at a time, like you used to.
Via Seth Godin
In: RANTING
10 May 2005Oh look! Brand managers think that the Dinosaur campaign is a clear and concise way to break through the clutter…[here]
…and insult users who have a perfectly functional piece of software (Office 97, 2000, XP) by calling them dinosaurs.
Hugh is right: Branding is Dead
In: smp
9 May 2005The organization moved to Exchange 2003. Chaos abounds. Work e-mail should return to normal in about 3 days
We finally got the money out of the CRA for the sale of our house in Canada in October 2003
We finished preparing the house for the arrival of the grandparentals tomorrow
I think I have started a discussion in [...]
In: smp
9 May 2005After pounding through a number of incredibly clearly written books in the last week, and being completely absorbed in brilliantly written blog posts, I have decided that it is time to start translating the jargon at my company.
From today on, I refuse to speak the buzzwords. I want to have genuine conversations with our customers. [...]