Evil Business Models: AT&T
If you follow Nilofer or Mike, you know Nilofer got hit with a $10,000 mobile data bill from AT&T for a recent trip to Canada. Not only do the rates go up once you cross the border, the billing increment changes from MB to Kb! The net-net is mobile data service in while roaming Canada is 3000% the domestic rate. Yikes! What’s a person to do? The charges are legitimate; albeit unconscionable no matter how one measures these things.
Online Reviews Second Only to Word of Mouth as Purchase Influencer in US
A broader investigation into how business can exploit online community underlines the importance of online information in driving purchase decisions, but the most influential information is beyond the direct control of companies selling products and services. Courting the small fraction of Internet users who write online reviews and comments is a very important task for many companies, but one they often neglect.
Many companies downplay the importance of online communities because only a few percent of all Internet users contribute to them heavily. What they don’t understand is that most other Internet users read those reviews and rely on them heavily when making purchase decisions. Taking good care of online communities can be a huge money-saver for companies trying to get more marketing impact from limited budgets.
Articles
Za Book Title
By Nilofer Merchant on June 10, 2009
Many people have helped me pick the title of my new book in contributing ideas or reviewing options. It seemed only fair to update you now that we’ve made the decision. (in this case, we means the great team at…
Open Letter to Carol Bartz on Helping Yahoo Thrive
By Rubicon Team on February 3, 2009
Congrats on your new role. For many of us in the tech industry, Yahoo is more than a company, it’s a Silicon Valley icon. By putting in the kind of strong management you represent, I hope the board is signaling the company’s intent to reinvent itself and thrive once again. Your opportunities speak to opportunities for every tech firm, so we’re going to make this an Open Letter in the hope that everyone can learn from the experience you’re about to have.
When the Best Defense is Growth
By Michael Mace on September 21, 2008
If your business is targeted by a larger competitor, the natural response is to want to play defense — to squeeze pricing, take special care of the channel, maybe do some promotions and guerrilla marketing. We’d never advise you to take your eye off a competitor, but the defensive reaction isn’t always the best way to fight. A larger competitor will expect you to do these things, and will usually be well prepared for siege warfare. They’ll be ready to match your pricing and outspend you in the channel in order to drive you out of the market.
Dear Rubi
By Bruce LaFetra on September 20, 2008
How do I measure the culture of my company, and hold the team accountable for it?
Move Quickly to Strategic Alignment
By Nilofer Merchant on September 19, 2008
Executives at the helm of companies from small firms to large enterprises spend much of their time thinking about how to drive growth. But putting those thoughts into action can challenge even the most seasoned leader. Often executives focus on the “what” of strategy at the expense of the “how” — neglecting the “how” makes success a long shot.
Looking Beyond Web 2.0
By Michael Mace on September 18, 2008
A popular sport in Silicon Valley is arguing about what exactly Web 2.0 is or is not. Is it about collaboration? Social networking? Custom services? We think the argument misses the point. Web 2.0 is just an effect of a broader trend: the fundamental remaking of the software industry as a result of the Internet.
Avoiding Strategy Failure
By Nilofer Merchant on September 17, 2008
I’ve watched strategy being developed within companies like Adobe, Apple, Autodesk, and Nokia. I’ve seen strategy created by individuals. I’ve seen the big suits of Bain and McKinsey at work. I’ve seen it done well, and occasionally I’ve seen it done poorly. Having read more than 100 books that define the best thinking on strategy, I’ve noticed that following the existing methods often doesn’t yield success. It’s not just the methodology. Here are five reasons strategy fails in businesses:
Passion: Santa Clara University Keynote
By Nilofer Merchant on July 2, 2008
Nilofer Merchant, founder and CEO of Rubicon Consulting, gives a keynote address for the Santa Clara University Women’s Leadership Conference. Her topic is Unleash You! Your power, ideas, leadership.
Warning: Don't adopt the software services model in increments
By Michael Mace on June 23, 2008
Like an oyster, software as a service business models are best consumed in one gulp rather than nibbled over time.
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Community!
By Nilofer Merchant on June 23, 2008
Last Friday, I went to a party in Atherton and met two CEOs who used the word “community” as their secret sauce.
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