Comments for Dr. Burt Smith's Blog http://www.drburt.com/Blog Dr. Burt Smith is the president and founder of Executive Marketing Information, an Oklahoma-based marketing consultancy. He is the author of The Great Game of Networking. He is an award-winning past-president of the American Marketing Association and holds two professional certifications in marketing and one in total quality management. He customizes presentations around the topics of marketing, sales, leadership, customer satisfaction systems, quality, branding, organizational design, and networking. He is also a champion auctioneer and one of his most Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:20:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 Comment on When Should You Change a Strategy? by Susan Starr Kremeier http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/07/31/when-should-you-change-a-strategy/#comment-111 Susan Starr Kremeier Sun, 03 Aug 2008 04:15:42 +0000 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/07/31/when-should-you-change-a-strategy/#comment-111 This is a good lesson in life and in marketing. I love your website! This is a good lesson in life and in marketing.
I love your website!

]]> Comment on Hung Out To Dry? by Julie Boyd http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/06/10/hung-out-to-dry/#comment-103 Julie Boyd Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:12:24 +0000 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/06/10/hung-out-to-dry/#comment-103 Thanks for the link in this post, Burt. I love new uses for old things as a marketing tactic (and as a way to recycle). I quickly emptied my Bounce dryer sheets box by using them in several ways mentioned on the Web site, thus prompting me to buy another box earlier than normal. As a marketer you have to appreciate that! Thanks for the link in this post, Burt. I love new uses for old things as a marketing tactic (and as a way to recycle). I quickly emptied my Bounce dryer sheets box by using them in several ways mentioned on the Web site, thus prompting me to buy another box earlier than normal. As a marketer you have to appreciate that!

]]> Comment on Googlish Maxiumus! by pinetrees10 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/04/02/googlish-maxiumus/#comment-100 pinetrees10 Wed, 21 May 2008 15:21:32 +0000 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/04/02/googlish-maxiumus/#comment-100 When it comes to free directory assistance, you have LOTS of choices, including several that have been around since well before the Google version and others that have come out since. They differ in some important ways, so try them all out and see which one(s) you prefer. You may want to try them all every so often just to see what's new! Grin! I prefer the ones that have operators to help when the automation doesn't recognize me and that also don't restrict me to only business searches - sometimes I need to find people, too! 1-800-YellowPages (800-935-5697) 1-800-411-SAVE (800-411-7283) 1-800-555-Tell (800-555-8355) 1-800-Call-411 (800-225-5411) 1-800-Call-Dex (800-225-5339) 1-800-Free-411 (800-373-3411) 1-800-Goog-411 (800-466-4411) 1-800-Info-Fast (800-463-6327) 1-800-The-Info (800-843-4636) When it comes to free directory assistance, you have LOTS of choices, including several that have been around since well before the Google version and others that have come out since. They differ in some important ways, so try them all out and see which one(s) you prefer. You may want to try them all every so often just to see what’s new! Grin!

I prefer the ones that have operators to help when the automation doesn’t recognize me and that also don’t restrict me to only business searches - sometimes I need to find people, too!

1-800-YellowPages (800-935-5697)
1-800-411-SAVE (800-411-7283)
1-800-555-Tell (800-555-8355)
1-800-Call-411 (800-225-5411)
1-800-Call-Dex (800-225-5339)
1-800-Free-411 (800-373-3411)
1-800-Goog-411 (800-466-4411)
1-800-Info-Fast (800-463-6327)
1-800-The-Info (800-843-4636)

]]> Comment on Would You Drop Your Mortgage Check in a Rusty Mailbox? by Ed (from mystrategicplan.com/blog) http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/04/30/would-you-drop-your-mortgage-check-in-a-rusty-mailbox/#comment-94 Ed (from mystrategicplan.com/blog) Tue, 13 May 2008 23:48:00 +0000 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/04/30/would-you-drop-your-mortgage-check-in-a-rusty-mailbox/#comment-94 I guess they get away with it because most people look at it and say "wow- it's so neglected and worn and yet they still get my mail to the destination." Lowered expectations as a strategy? ;) I guess they get away with it because most people look at it and say “wow- it’s so neglected and worn and yet they still get my mail to the destination.”

Lowered expectations as a strategy? ;)

]]> Comment on WTGBRFDT? by MyStrategicPlan/blog | Strategic Planning: Innovation Killer or Enabler? http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/04/14/wtgbrfdt/#comment-75 MyStrategicPlan/blog | Strategic Planning: Innovation Killer or Enabler? Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:43:20 +0000 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/04/14/wtgbrfdt/#comment-75 [...] second, written by Dr. Burt Smith, titled WTGBRFDT?, says the following: Next time you find yourself saying, “We need a strategic plan…” think [...] […] second, written by Dr. Burt Smith, titled WTGBRFDT?, says the following: Next time you find yourself saying, “We need a strategic plan…” think […]

]]> Comment on WTGBRFDT? by Ed Adkins http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/04/14/wtgbrfdt/#comment-74 Ed Adkins Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:21:33 +0000 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/04/14/wtgbrfdt/#comment-74 While I agree with your sentiment concerning failed plans (most are written for no better reason than to have one), that doesn't mean that all plans are useless, innovation-stifling roadblocks. The problem that needs to be solved is how to go from a useful plan to implementation. I find it's usually the lack of followup, and even the lack of flexibility that make plans sit around collecting dust. Guiding principles are needed as well- I totally agree with you about that- they make decision-making a snap. Anyway, you bring up fantastic reasons why plans so often fail- I've just found that categorically dismissing strategic planning isn't the answer- so much as fixing the process. While I agree with your sentiment concerning failed plans (most are written for no better reason than to have one), that doesn’t mean that all plans are useless, innovation-stifling roadblocks.

The problem that needs to be solved is how to go from a useful plan to implementation. I find it’s usually the lack of followup, and even the lack of flexibility that make plans sit around collecting dust.

Guiding principles are needed as well- I totally agree with you about that- they make decision-making a snap. Anyway, you bring up fantastic reasons why plans so often fail- I’ve just found that categorically dismissing strategic planning isn’t the answer- so much as fixing the process.

]]> Comment on Don’t Do It, Starbucks! by Brian Blake http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/02/15/dont-do-it-starbucks/#comment-58 Brian Blake Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:09:58 +0000 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/02/15/dont-do-it-starbucks/#comment-58 Amen! It's that freakin' Wal-Mart mentality: Be the cheapest. Period. What happened to "Be the Best"?! Brand yourself as 'the best' and charge a premium price ~ unapologetically. You ARE worth it. I rarely go to Starbucks... Never have... Probably won't in the future... $1 cups of coffee won't get me to go more often, either. However, I have always respected how they created a loyal following. I know people who buy $5 cups of coffee from them virtually every day. That's incredible to me. How are those people going to feel when the $1 cups are introduced? Duped? You bet. And, at that price, what's the difference between them and 7-11? Oh, you can get gas at 7-11! :) Amen!

It’s that freakin’ Wal-Mart mentality: Be the cheapest. Period.

What happened to “Be the Best”?! Brand yourself as ‘the best’ and charge a premium price ~ unapologetically. You ARE worth it.

I rarely go to Starbucks… Never have… Probably won’t in the future… $1 cups of coffee won’t get me to go more often, either. However, I have always respected how they created a loyal following. I know people who buy $5 cups of coffee from them virtually every day. That’s incredible to me.

How are those people going to feel when the $1 cups are introduced? Duped? You bet. And, at that price, what’s the difference between them and 7-11? Oh, you can get gas at 7-11!

:)

]]> Comment on You Don’t Like It? Leave! by Brian Blake http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/02/04/you-dont-like-it-leave/#comment-54 Brian Blake Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:11:10 +0000 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/02/04/you-dont-like-it-leave/#comment-54 GREAT observation, Dr. Burt! I've always questioned the "No job is too big or small" mentality. In doing my work, there have been a couple of times that I realized, "Yeah... That job IS too big for me" and instead of creating frustration between my potential client and myself, I was able to turn it into an opportunity to send business to a friend's company who SPECIALIZED in what my client wanted done. We all won. I think the key is to know what we do, and do it well. Not to say that we can't grow and expand, but maintaining a focus on our best offerings, and not letting the quality of our performance slip, is essential. GREAT observation, Dr. Burt!

I’ve always questioned the “No job is too big or small” mentality. In doing my work, there have been a couple of times that I realized, “Yeah… That job IS too big for me” and instead of creating frustration between my potential client and myself, I was able to turn it into an opportunity to send business to a friend’s company who SPECIALIZED in what my client wanted done. We all won.

I think the key is to know what we do, and do it well. Not to say that we can’t grow and expand, but maintaining a focus on our best offerings, and not letting the quality of our performance slip, is essential.

]]> Comment on How’d You Like to Get a Nasty, Filthy, Worm-infested e-mail? by Brian Blake http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2007/12/27/howd-you-like-to-get-a-nasty-filthy-worm-infested-e-mail/#comment-52 Brian Blake Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:57:55 +0000 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2007/12/27/howd-you-like-to-get-a-nasty-filthy-worm-infested-e-mail/#comment-52 Brilliant! Believe me, I will be sharing this little trick with a lot of people I know. Thanks, Dr. Burt, for the heads-up! Brilliant!

Believe me, I will be sharing this little trick with a lot of people I know. Thanks, Dr. Burt, for the heads-up!

]]> Comment on Where’s The Shark? by Chris Wilson http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/01/08/wheres-the-shark/#comment-50 Chris Wilson Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:37:11 +0000 http://www.drburt.com/Blog/2008/01/08/wheres-the-shark/#comment-50 It's funny how something that was somewhat of an accident taught us the importance of what you don't see and how powerful it can be. It's that scarcity that lets our minds wonder and derive our own assumptions, which in the end is more powerful than if we were given all of the answers up front. I know that's not exactly the point you were making here, but I thought it was interesting. It’s funny how something that was somewhat of an accident taught us the importance of what you don’t see and how powerful it can be. It’s that scarcity that lets our minds wonder and derive our own assumptions, which in the end is more powerful than if we were given all of the answers up front.

I know that’s not exactly the point you were making here, but I thought it was interesting.

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