Many years ago I remember asking a newspaper representative if they were concerned about news stories being voted on by tracking clicks.  The person was perplexed at my question – and stated that their paper was not that sophisticated (this being one [...]]]>

Are you voting for the news with every click you make?

Many years ago I remember asking a newspaper representative if they were concerned about news stories being voted on by tracking clicks.  The person was perplexed at my question – and stated that their paper was not that sophisticated (this being one of Canada’s largest papers).  But that question of the citizen deciding what gets reported has lingered in the back of my mind for several years now.

It wasn’t too long ago that the only way for a tv station or newspaper to know what stories mattered only by looking at ratings, focus groups or subscriptions.  It was a lot of guessing was involved.   But now an online edition of a paper can tell editors down to the second the amount of time your spending on a news story.  They know what stories you read, and what you don’t.

Factor in “rate this story”, “share this story” and “comments” – the citizen is now telling news organizations what they’re interested in creating a full circle feedback loop.   Now the paper reflects what people want to hear.
Clearly the danger is that less popular stories – the early Watergate stories could be dropped and never persued if everything is a ratings game. But the upside is the average citizen can now have a say in what they hear.

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If there’s any hope for Microsoft it is that they deliver products/services customers want, before they demand them.  No more focus groups, expensive consultants [...]]]>

So the New York Times has posted yet another article critical of Microsoft’s failure to launch products that earn any wide spread appeal.  Surprise, surprise.  This time the Kin fiasco.

If there’s any hope for Microsoft it is that they deliver products/services customers want, before they demand them.  No more focus groups, expensive consultants or marketing studies.  Hire smart people and let them take the lead.

No company will move forward by trying to out-study their competition.  Instead study your audience.  What do they want? What do they need.

I was reminded of it today when I was using their MSN Messenger service (or Live or Bing talk, or whatever they call it now).  I typed in a word that was spelt wrong, but my initial thought was – “I can’t believe that’s the right spelling”.  But I’m so used to having my mis-spelt words kindly underlined with a red line (like most of my essays through-out public school).   But for whatever reason Microsoft STILL in 2010 not provide this common courtesy.

Do they need to do a marketing study to see what the ROI on offering spell check in Messenger is??  It’s a mute point – but a very important point.  If Microsoft can’t provide minor improvements on their own, how can they ever hope to be at the forefront of delivering consumers with devices (such as the Zune) that addresses the needs of greater society and become a beloved technology company?

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As I’ve said before 2010 is the year of the tablet, but we need to keep in mind – it’s [...]]]>

So now Nokia is the latest participant in the tablet race.  And who cares?  Maybe the same crowd that thinks there’s still hope for Palm (See my note at the end of this article)?

As I’ve said before 2010 is the year of the tablet, but we need to keep in mind – it’s not about the hardware, but it’s all about the content.  As I see it the only worthy opponent for Apple’s market share is the Google Android, and it comes back to the applications.  And the HP Slate is bound to fail as it will be built on the cumbersome Windows 7 Mobile protocol, great for Netbooks – but not a thumb friendly OS.

The Tablet Market was open to anyone for the past several years, so this 12th hour attempt to get into a market because they need to compete with Apple is doomed to fail.

People seem to forget that the iPad isn’t some whim, rather it’s based on over a decade (plus) of software design, testing and real-world use centered around it’s iPod/iPhone platform.   Early versions of both the iPhone and iPod did have their bugs and flaws.

But at the heart of why Apple will win is content.  Every new iPhone/iTouch/iTunes app, song or video that a person buys is an additional strike against all other competitors.   Windows success as a computing platform can be traced back to being first to market.  As consumers purchased more and more Windows based products, the more entrenched the operating system became.

(This was wrote in April – before Palm was purchased by HP)

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This is one of those – what where they thinking?

Every spring, when patio season begins I always am reminded of how idiotic the Hoegaarden glass is. It’s so ridiculous, I can’t help but think that it’s a way for this European brewery to mock consumption sizes desired by Canadian consumers.

The problem [...]]]>

Hoegaarden's Canadian Beer Vase

This is one of those – what where they thinking?

Every spring, when patio season begins I always am reminded of how idiotic the Hoegaarden glass is. It’s so ridiculous, I can’t help but think that it’s a way for this European brewery to mock consumption sizes desired by Canadian consumers.

The problem is the Hoegaarden glass served up at bars with the beer on tap.  The pint glass should be called a vase of beer.  The glass is HUGE and looks ridiculous on any table.  The glass is thick, heavy and very awkward to lift and hold.   Alongside other glasses on the table it’s disproportionately HUGE.

I can’t stress enough how awkward this class is to drink from.  Virtually every other pint glass I know of are of the shape where you wouldn’t mind walking around with it as you socialize – but not this beast, your arm would tire from holding it up.   In addition, as you get near the bottom of the glass, you feel like a 5 year old who’s drinking from an adult sized cup, as the glass covers your whole face whilst you can see your guest starring back at you (usually with a smirk).
Solution:

So Hoegaarden is not a low-priced beer aimed at low-brow people.  This is a premium, import brand.  The glass should first and foremost convey this to the consumer. Because this is what I define as a summer patio beer, I would highly recommend that they only serve the beer in 1/2 pint glasses or 3/4 pint sized glasses – with the focus on it being a beer best served cold – quality over quantity.  The well designed pint glass has been done.  We know the half pint is the way Europeans enjoy their beers, no reason why Hoegaarden can’t bring this tradition to Canada.

But what will it take to get consumers to make the leap and [...]]]>

So the current state of television is that vast majority of homes have a cable box, and a small minority now have a secondary cable-like box that allows users to pull in video from either their computer or the web.

But what will it take to get consumers to make the leap and switch from picking and choosing programming from the web first before switching on their cable/satellite box?

Intelligent programming. Right now I have to dictate to the receiver what I like, and flip accordingly to hunt out new shows that follow my interesting or time of day needs (like when you like to watch news – maybe after supper).

So web video programming on your TV will really begin to take flight when intelligence is designed into the site features. It already occurs with YouTube with their suggested video features. But we need this to entail all programming – including knowing who’s in the room – is it just you? friends are over? your kids with you? etc.

Smart, dynamic, programming. So the user never has to flip again. Other features like knowing your mood, day of the week, etc. This intelligence will get people off of cable.

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Great, we’ve bought your product but now that we’ve got it home ..

I actually go out of my way to buy Mead Five Star notebooks.  I like the size, the hard plastic cover and the casing covering the wire binding (preventing it getting snagged [...]]]>

The sticker that won't come off - bad brand experience.

Great, we’ve bought your product but now that we’ve got it home ..

I actually go out of my way to buy Mead Five Star notebooks.  I like the size, the hard plastic cover and the casing covering the wire binding (preventing it getting snagged on other stuff in my backpack).

But time and time again I run into the issue of the sticker label never peeling off properly.  It’s too sticky, so the you can’t pull it off in one go as one uniform piece.   Instead your left with sticker residue, which you need to scrape away with your finger nails.  Not something I imagine most people liking to do.

My theory is that when the books are freshly manufactured there’s no issue – the labels come off easily, before the glue sets, so to those at head office are oblivious to what is happening when the products have been on the shelf for weeks (alternatively they are aware of the issue and choose to do nothing).   A major reason why companies even the makers of paper products need to go out in the field and experience their own products as their customers do.  So what is Mead to do?  Simply look at reformulating the glue or alternative methods of adhesion that don’t result in  a label doesn’t peel in one go.

Is this a major issue?  Yes, if you’re a company that wants to create a better brand experience.  There’s no reason for a customer to be fussing with a label – yet they are.   Why annoy the customer?

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If CTV, CBC and Global want to survive they need to create one website Canadians can visit to watch anything they can normally get on cable – [...]]]>

If Canadian Television networks have any desire to survive the next decade they have to do something very radical – join together.

If CTV, CBC and Global want to survive they need to create one website Canadians can visit to watch anything they can normally get on cable – or else sites like YouTube will bury them alive.

Why?

Because I, joe consumer have zero patients to learn 5 different url’s, interfaces, etc.  I want all video content from all television networks laid you 100% the same from site to site to site.

I want to visit one site, and be able to view, search and browse content regardless of network host as equally easy as I can on YouTube.  I don’t want to visit micro-site after micro-site to chase down (try to remember) what shows I want to watch.  Don’t make me visit Comedy Network to watch John Stewart, CBC.ca to watch the National or CTV to see an episode of the Amazing Race.

And if I don’t want to do it, I’m not going to do it.  I’m going to exclude and bypass Canadian networks outright finding the path of least resistance.

Oh the networks won’t go for this.  But all it takes is to set up a Beer Store style consortium where all parties are represented.  Revenue sharing models are created.  And in show commercials are still owned and managed by the host network.

Now go to various Canadian network sites and see how easy it is to quickly find and watch TV shows you’d watch on TV.

Here go try to watch:  John Stewart,  Survivor, The National, CTV Toronto local news.  GO!

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