Newsletter ArchiveSUBJECT:The Data Knows You - Where does it stop? The Internet 800 Directory - http://www.inter800.com The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter This issue is for Friday, May 16, 2003 Table of Contents 01. The Data Knows You 02. Where does it stop? 03. Tip Of The Week *01 The Data Knows You For many people searching for a supplier, personalized service is the attribute of greatest importance. This fact is not secret. "Know your customer" is a rule touted in almost all sales and marketing books. The reality is we all like to feel important, and many times, regardless of price, we will pick excellent service. Years ago I was true road warrior, traveling 28 days a month and living out of a suitcase. Any time the staff at a hotel remembered my tendency, that’s where I stayed. The people working at that these hotels earned my business by getting to know me. Hilton Hotels are now building computer files on customer preferences using a system called OnQ, pronounced "on cue". Any time you stay at any of their properties (Hilton, Doubletree or Embassy Suites) your previous requests will follow you. So you might want to be careful about that late night X rated movie or special request for some embarrassing forgotten item. These little tidbits will follow you from place to place and, depending on their security, could be accessible to others. Large companies seem to have the idea that a database of things you have done or requested is somehow the same as a live person that cares about your experience. Maybe they are right. Pollsters believe they can determine how millions of people think, by asking a few hundred. We accept their findings. Maybe we are just creatures of habit, and logging our transactions to predict our reactions is the key to our hearts. If you have any thoughts or ideas you would like to share, please send them to Chuck Arning at chuck@inter800.com We’re Talkin’ Serious” Bone Suckin’ Sauce ! Winner: “Battle Of The Sauces.” Created in true western North Carolina style. Tomato based all-natural, sweetened with honey and molasses Half Gallon Size for 18.99+s/h. Toll-Free 1-800-446-0947 or online http://www.BoneSuckin.com *02 Where does it stop? Okay. We've been through most of the Enron and Big 8 or 6 accounting firms and we are still counting. What's-his-name morality guy just got trashed for losing $4 million on video poker, for heaven's sake! He may have gotten high marks on morality but he is over the board on stupidity. I'm actually starting to agree with those guys in Vegas about plucking their chickens. Having said that, I just received my umpteenth call from a major player in a major public corporation who said, essentially, "Well, we're not going to do what we said that we would." Forget the NDA's. Forget the prior e-mails and telephone conversations. We are just going to take your ideas and run from there. Thanks, though - you idiot. I've never sued anyone in my entire career, which spans over 35 years in business. I've always believed that if your word is no good, then neither is your signature. However, I'm starting to believe that if I had a million in cash lying around then I would just give it to some big-time attorney and say, "Go get 'em!" Whatever happened to "good faith"? Has it been replaced by rationalizing and justifying one's actions? The biggest sins to morality and conscience are rationalization and justification. It's like, "Well I took that money from those people because they were immoral and they would have blown it anyway, so I actually did them a favor." As an aside, since I shared an office with several attorneys for years and was the only person in the office that ever even opened a law book, I feel qualified to do some bashing. Frivolous lawsuits are one of my pet peeves. One of my favorites is about the couple in a Washington park that sued the state because they were struck by lightening and the state had failed to warn them that this was possible when they were camping. Thank God they lost. They obviously had the wrong attorney. However, I am just waiting for some employee to sue his employer, after he was found guilty of embezzlement, because the employer had not stopped him from his actions. I will stop short of implying that I am the only guy in business who feels this way. There are people, like John Riggins at Acxiom, who are examples of living and dealing in morality, GOOD FAITH and his word. John is also a fine Christian and whether one is a believer or not, one would do well in business, and in life in general, to follow his example. If nothing else, it will make you feel better than helping a blind person cross the street. It also might just help your business. Steven Jackson - sjackson@inter800.com Once every second someone searches the Internet 800 Directory looking for someone to supply them with goods or services. Will they find you or your competition? Call 800-299-1879! Tip of the Week Single Click Icons & Folders Want your computer to work like the web? Here's how: 1-Right-click the “Start” button 2-Select "Explore" (This opens Windows Explorer) 3-Click “Tools” and then “Folder Options” 4-Click the Web Style radio button and hit OK. 5-Confirm your pick Your done, programs should now open with a single-click. If you have any tips or shortcuts that you think the readers of this Newsletter will find useful, send them to sjackson@inter800.com Banners? Pay-per-click? Why not target your market with links or information placed in relevant content? The Internet 800 Directory Newsletter offers direct access to business people who are interested buyers. Advertising: Information on how to sponsor this publication: Call 800-299-1879 Thanks for taking the time to review our newsletter for this week. If you know of anyone that might benefit from receiving this newsletter, send them to (http://www.inter800.com/news800/ ) where they can subscribe. All Contents Copyright ©1995-2003 The Internet 800 Directory Subscribe To The Newsletter: |