Goodbye

08:52am 18 Aug 2010 8 comments

This will be my last blog for Stuff. Due to such a heavy workload - I have had to rationalise a few of my activities. So it is with great regret I have to say goodbye.

Thank you all for your comments, your time reading and insights.

I'd love to stay in touch if you like - so please subscribe to my monthly newsletter at www.debbiespeaks.co.nz/newsletter/sign-up.htm or become a fan on my Facebook business page or on email at debbie@successis.co.nz

Thank you!

Plugged in and left out

07:10am 16 Aug 2010 5 comments

I wonder if our family is an anomaly. Saturday was a cold, grey, rainy day in Auckland. After coming home from a pump class, I thought I'd do a bit of work in my office on an upcoming presentation. After half an hour, feeling guilty, I logged off. I grabbed a book and decided to go into the living room where my husband and kids were, as well as the TV blaring with Southpark.

The only ones that paid attention to me were Bella and Gremlin (the photo)

Four of our six children were in the living room. Aaron (14) was playing a game on his iPhone (a hand-me-down).

Matthew was at the desk, on the computer playing some avaition game with headphones on. He's 14 too and had been on the computer for hours.

Daniel - 18 one of the twins was in his bedroom - on his laptop (he spends hours and hours on it).

Why good customer service makes dollars and sense

09:00am 10 Aug 2010 8 comments

BY DEBBIE MAYO-SMITH

Do you prepare yourself for battle every time you pick up the phone to sort out a customer service or purchase problem? I do.

I normally steel myself and make sure to have all my points lined up and a pencil to write down who I have spoken with because you normally have to go back and forth.

So it was with trepidation I called Telecom this morning with a problem. Call me stupid, but I never realised one line of billing (turns out it was for dial-up internet IT) on our account was surplus to needs and shouldn't have been there. For over five years.

I braced myself for a fight - but was utterly delighted to have had it all sorted immediately, unquestioned and without blame. I'm taking hubby out to dinner tonight - he found the problem in the first place.

Now I know I'll get lots of feedback about me being stupid and 'why didn't you check your phone bill more closely' comments. Let me say don't bother - I thought it was for a requirement for part of our website hosting.

Benefits of a Facebook business page

09:04am 26 Jul 2010 6 comments

First if you're a visual person, here's a link to the video I created for the HP small business newsletter on the benefits/features of business Facebook pages.

Don't feel like watching it in action? Here's a list of 12 reasons to consider having a Facebook Business Page

1)Free
No domain, hosting, webdesign, or maintenance costs.

2) Easy.
No prior web knowledge needed. It's all there waiting for you in normal Web 2.0 fashion to fill in the details, upload pictures.

3) Upgradable
A little nervous about the initial set up? Want to add in a few of the advanced offerings? I'll share my secret . I use Student job search www.sjs.co.nz  . A fabulous source for cutting edge, knowledgeable, quick inexpensive assistance as often and when you desire. 

Nine email marketing mistakes not to make

07:41am 03 Aug 2010 11 comments

As a public speaker, I get to observe and sometimes help in marketing the events or conferences I'm involved in. Many are done well. But many are enough to make a savvy or cost-conscious individual weep.

Scenario 1: Again, from scratch

Australian Government department. Five-city speaking engagement that is part of the annual October Business Month. This was the third year the event was conducted. Yet when I asked the organisers about their marketing for the event, they had not kept a record of those attending in previous years. Event marketing had to be done from scratch. To the same people. Yet again.

The website information required people to download a PDF file that was almost 2MB in size (just to find where and when the events were). For those who registered, even though there was a small registration fee, the organisers only kept a record of the individual and their company name.

Scenario 2: Expensive marketing