Nilofer Merchant: August 2006 Archives
Here you’ll find a collection of blog entries published during the month of Nilofer Merchant: August 2006.
Dash used Stealth just Right
By Nilofer Merchant on August 28, 2006
Is there ever a good reason to not tell everything to everybody? Yes, there is. Surprise you that I would say that? In relationships, power is not the key to connection. So, don’t deceive or cajole in personal relationships, where…
How are Synergy and Ajax Technology related?
By Nilofer Merchant on August 26, 2006
When buzz starts to happen in Silicon Valley, the same terms are used over and over again, with a completely different definition for the same words. Yesterday, a client of ours came in for a quick-stop ‘consultation’ to review a…
Churn and Burn or Ways to Go?
By Nilofer Merchant on August 25, 2006
It is true that, over time, strong technology consumer companies will win market share from weak companies. However, there’s one nearly surefire way to make sure you don’t fail. Focus. You got know enough to know if you’re going to…
Go-to-market Mix in the Web 2.0 Era
By Nilofer Merchant on August 24, 2006
It’s been 40+ years since E. Jerome McCarthy published Basic Marketing, the business book that introduced the “4 Ps” (product, price, place/distribution and promotion) to the world. While the categories still hold true, what was once considered the leading edge…
Reminder to Self: Networking is a Must
By Nilofer Merchant on August 22, 2006
Okay, I normally don’t network. I’d rather be at home, in my pajamas with either a good book or my laptop. And networking itself has a bad rap. But I do believe that people can bring joy to our work…
Consumer technology matters but only to a few…
By Nilofer Merchant on August 21, 2006
Consumer technology matters, sure. But remember that most of consumer technology stuff is something people made up and then found someone willing to buy. I profess to have done this with web authoring software, and countless other tools. Consumer marketing…
Getting over ourselves!
By Nilofer Merchant on August 18, 2006
We in Silicon Valley try and buy happiness. We believe money brings freedom. We believe seeking happiness through security will fill us up. We believe seeking happiness through status will fill us up. We believe seeking happiness through power will…
Do you know what drives purchase?
By Nilofer Merchant on August 17, 2006
Consumer goods like P&G have always invested in knowing how their sales and marketing activities drive purchase. See this article from July 10th, by Ellen Byron featuring James Stengel who is the Global Marketing Officer for P&G. In it, Mr….
Developer Programs Key to Upward Cycle
By Nilofer Merchant on August 16, 2006
In grade school, one of the key determinants of popularity on the playground was how quickly you were selected when the time came to choose up sides for basketball, baseball or soccer. In the same way, the developing business model…
Lasso truth and clarity with good effective questions
By Nilofer Merchant on August 15, 2006
Attractive, intelligent, strong, and an insightful persona. You might remember her. Throughout the 70’s, there was this superhero show called Wonder Woman. Her powers were derived from “Amazon concentration,” not as a gift from the parents or gods. Besides those…
Scandals rock the Valley; need for an ethical check up
By Nilofer Merchant on August 14, 2006
Just when we thought the technology “depression” was over, we face another scandal that, if I’m right, will rock the general investor confidence in technology investments. You know what I’m talking about. Options backdating. This is a time for an ethical check up and discernment training.
Don’t be the Dinosaur Brought down by Mosquitos
By Nilofer Merchant on August 10, 2006
Emerging Business Models can destroy your current business Working in Silicon Valley, there are a few hundred new acronyms and technologies introduced each year that need to be understood. Being a trusted advisor means that clients need my firm and…
Dream More, Learn More, Do More
By Nilofer Merchant on August 7, 2006
This week, Rubicon is about to reach a new economic threshold which represents another level of performance and scale. It’s a small milestone in the scheme of things, but a measure of how far we’ve come as an organization and…
Metrics: Getting rid of Voodoo in Marketing
By Nilofer Merchant on August 4, 2006
It’s time for marketing to get out of the realm of voodoo and spin, to create a more defensible position for budget dollars and develop a more secure “seat at the table” by demonstrating the business champion skills they…
Adaptability & Change is a High Class Problem; 5 things to review
By Nilofer Merchant on August 3, 2006
As a CEO of my own firm, and a change leader working with CMOs of world-class brands, the constant in my life is helping organizations to adapt to new situations and challenges. As Bryan Ward used to say, this is…