Online Business Adviser

The Forum For Online Business Success

On the weekend I caught up with friends for breakfast at a local café. They had turned up earlier than me and already ordered. I sat down and ordered a coffee, and then had a look at the menu. It was from here that an almost comedic service routine started.

I was asked not long after ordering if I’d like to order a meal, which I did. At the same time, my friend ordered another coffee and had it arrive about 5 minutes later. Still no coffee for me. The waitress then came to clear my friend’s plates and asked if we would like anything else. Perhaps my meal, or at the very least my coffee?

So then I got my breakfast. Still sans coffee. After asking yet again for my morning caffeine fix, I was told “we’re really busy”. Not “sorry”, just “we’re really busy”.  Read more...

Yesterday I was shopping for my wife’s birthday present, and was at the counter when I was asked if I had a Myer One card. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been asked this question – it’s the stock standard one that all Myer staff are required to ask.

But something different happened today. When I said no, I was asked, “would you like to apply for one?”

This is the first time I’ve ever had a sales person try to upsell me to their rewards card, and it made me wonder how many new card customers Myer is missing because not all of their staff ask this. Obviously not everyone would say yes (I still didn’t) but even if it gathered a few more applicants a day then surely it’s a worthwhile exercise?  Read more...

A few weeks ago I wrote about how you position your business to place you ahead of your competitors, using the coffee shop in my office foyer as an example.

Today, I noticed something else they are doing that puts them ahead of the competiton. Pre-paid coffee cards.

Nothing fancy, just a regular coffee loyalty card except this one is pre-paid for 10 coffees. Why is this brilliant? Well for one – the nearest ATM to work is about a 10 minute walk, or you can get cash out from the supermarket that is about 5 minutes away, but need to spend at least $10 in store to do so.  Read more...

If you are one of the many businesses that have decided to create an online sales channel, there is a good chance that you are already operating a bricks and mortar business. If you do, you need to make sure that your online experience extends your business and doesn’t just duplicate it.

Think about it - the experience of a physical store is pretty basic. Products are lined on shelves, register at the front. People come in, browse around, perhaps buy something and then leave.  Read more...