2007, here we come!

2007, here we come!
Andy Stetzinger
12-26-06


2006 has been a great year for us at Keything. Looking at industry trade sources, 2007 is going to be even better.


Poplular Mechanics, Wired, C|Net, and various other sources have all listed VON, or "Video On the 'Net", to be the biggest thing for 2007. They point back to Google's purchase of YouTube, and then state that they still don't see a clear business model.


We do see a clear business model when it comes to video. We're doing it, and if you're in our affiliate program, you're part of the Video Revolution.


To summarize what Scott and I have been saying these last months about Business Models:

• You have to have an idea.


• You have to have a plan for that idea.


• You have to take action on that plan.


• You have to accept the failures.


• You have to get back up, and continue taking action.

A recap our stance on Video:

• Video for video's sake is dead.


• There is no successfull business model surrounding "Stupid Videos".


• Use video to build trust and likeability.


• Use video to enhance your landing pages.


• Use video to effectively communicate to your audience.

Make 2007 "The Year" for you and your business. Not sure how to make that happen? For starters, use our Free Resources:

• Our Blog - Published Each Tuesday


• Our PodCast - Published Each Wednesday


• Our Newsletter - Published Each Thursday Night

We're opening up some spaces in our KeyThing Coaching Program in January. If you'd like some information about that, feel free to Contact Us.


We wish you the best success for 2007.


Andy Stetzinger
KeyThing Marketing Technologies

Why Testing is Mission Critical?

Why Testing is Mission Critical?
Scott Dennison
12-19-06

As we move toward the delivery of our VideoVcard product to a strategic partner this week, we had the opportunity to discover fist hand, how important testing is in the process.


It is in this phase of product launch that both parties get to see if our ideas work as intended.

As we learned almost immediately, the set-up of a new account seems easy enough and should be easy for customers. After all, it is easy for us to do...

So the partner goes in to set up his account and... oops... hmmm... why does it do this, and this and this?

And, what's going on with that?

And how do I get it to do this or that?

Mild frustration quickly became fascination and opened the door to a wonderful learning opportunity. A few settings were changed, and the database was cleared to mimic a new customer entering for the first time.

Next was navigating the customers Kodak Easyshare software that manages their pictures and videos wherein we discovered it was better to pull the video directly from the camera and bypassing the software completely.

Finally with the video uploaded, encoded and approved for use by the customer, we had only one final challenge and that was to update the background to one of the customers choosing.

In the initial attempt the new background was selected, but the update button was not pressed, so the system did not accept the change.

Once the sequence was done correctly, everything worked perfectly.

So what were some of the lessons in this exercise?

First is that engineering listens to and clarifies the vision of the client / partner. They then proceed to build it to function as described.

Sales learns how to describe what the product will do and how it all works. But as sales is prone to do, they make it sound really easy...

Once the customer / client / partner begins to use the product, the real learning can begin. It's in that time of the user interfacing with the product that you can bring engineering, sales and customer experience all together as one entity.

So I am glad we had the experience, because now we can deliver a better product and a better user experience. And that is the secret to a more profitable venture!

~Scott
KeyThing Marketing Technologies

Are You Ready For Business 3.0?

Are You Ready For Business?
Andy Stetzinger
12-11-06

20 years ago, the world simply wasn't ready for IBM's
"Big Idea". I recall my friends father, a corporate sales
sales rep for IBM, and him trying to explain this wild
idea to me. He said people wouldn't install applications
on their computers at home or the office, they'd
subscribe to them, and have them "delivered" via cable.

"Just like TV", he said.

While I struggled to understand exactly what he was
talking about, or how it would work, I couldn't help
but think there was "something" to what he was
describing. At the time, I was into "BBS'ing"
-calling other local computers with mine to exchange
messages, play games, or download files. I could
comprehend the concept IBM had, but had no clue as to
how it would be implemented.

Neither did anyone else.

Fast forward to today's world. Just about everything
is online, including Word Processors, Spreadsheets,
Databases, and other essential office tools. Google
is blazing the trail to replace the current monolithic
operating systems with a very thin client that does
nothing more than connect to the Internet. All of
your tools, systems, programs, and games will all be
accessible from any computer with an Internet connection.

But not too soon.

While "server sided applications" are easier to
maintain, cost less to deliver, and have a higher ROI,
there are still many hurdles to overcome. Security,
availability, speed, and browser compatibility are
just a few of the concerns facing this brave new world.

The Internet can be a double edged sword at times.
It can make business much easier for us, yet it can
bring us to our knees when it is unavailable, or
something horrible happens. It makes no promises -
no guarantees. The world relys on 60 year old
technology that, in some cases, is literally held
together by duct tape!
(not in our offices though, rest assured!).

Businesses today have moved much of their efforts
online these days. While there are still a few people
out there who refuse to take the step, they are a rare
breed, who have been in a successful business for quite
some time. Start-ups and young businesses alike can not
afford to miss their online audience.

Has the Internet changed the way people do business?

Fundamentally, no.

People still do business with people they like and
trust. They just do business a lot faster these days
with the technology available.

The key thing is knowing what tools and resources are
available to you today, and how best to use them
together.

Having an idea is good.

Having an idea that you can actually implement
and benefit from - that's great.

Andy Stetzinger
KeyThing Marketing Technologies

Observations on seminars and life

Observations on Seminars and Life
Scott Dennison
12-05-06


In the last month, I have been to two major Internet conferences. The first was the Glazer-Kennedy Information Marketers Summit in Atlanta. The other was Michael Penland's Internet and Joint Venture Marketing Super Conference in Orlando.

The reason I mention these is that I have some observations to share...

First, I will admit that I did not attend either conference for the educational opportunities, however both had an impressive line-up of speakers, trainers and authors with powerful information to share.

The primary reason I go to events such as this is for the networking opportunities. On breaks in the hallway, you can meet some very interesting, and impressively successful people.

Often, just by spending a few minutes with these folks, you can identify ways to partner or create alliances with people who you might not otherwise have any chance to meet.

With a bit of effort, you can turn strangers, who you often read about in the press, into friends and sometimes even create partnerships.

But not everyone will take advantage of such an opportunity. Or more often than not, they cannot take advantage. Because they have not settled on what it is that they want to do in the first place.

It's not uncommon to see some of the same people come to the conferences year after year and they still have not implemented anything from the conference they attended last year.

Sometimes these folks are upset that the speakers will make an offer at the end of their presentation. Too often, attendees refer to these offers as a "pitchfest". What a shame... You see, some really great examples of how to sell from the platform are found in these conferences. A student of selling can learn alot, simply by watching and listening.

And if you know what you do, if you are clear on what your mission is - their presentation or pitch will not distract you from the project you are currently involved in. You may even determine that this speaker holds a key to the success of your project.

However, if you are unclear on what your project is and what your burning desire is - then the speakers and their offers may just cause you to change direction. If you do that regularly, you will never accomplish much.

It's much like the old expression that a flashlight can light up a room, but the same light - tightly focused can become a laser beam and cut through steel.

~Scott
KeyThing Marketing Technologies