Online Business Adviser

The Forum For Online Business Success

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...

To call this post “What’s In a Name?” would have been too easy. But to answer the question – lots. A bad name can negatively affect

My "collector's item"

perception of your product even if the product itself is good.

Just ask Kraft. By way of context, particularly for my international readers, over the last 6 months Kraft has been looking for a name for their new type of Vegemite. Vegemite is a yeast extract spread that is thick, dark brown and has a tar like consistency. It’s fantastic on toast and has been and Australian icon since it’s creation in 1922. Back in June Kraft released a new version, mixed with cream cheese to make it easier to spread, and has sat on shelves with a label reading “name me”. After a public competition to pick the new name, they settled on iSnack 2.0. The backlash from the Australian public was incredible, and only days after (but not before rebranding 500,000 jars), they announced plans to dump the new name and open up a public vote on 6 of the more “tame” suggestions.  Read more...

Those that have been following some of my tweets during the last week will know that I have been searching for a new laptop. On top of this, I’ve also upgraded my broadband, making this a week where I have dealt with my fair share of sales people and customer service reps.

I always enjoy major purchase shopping, because it lets me negotiate and hammer a sales person (metaphorically of course!) until I get the deal I want. I spent time in four different stores negotiating, along with a friend who was also in the market, thinking that the promise of buying two would buy greater leverage.  Read more...