ProductCamp SoCal 2011

Last weekend I got to attend my first ProductCamp.  The pcSC (ProductCamp SoCal) took place at Cal State Fullerton and there were over 300 people who attended.  One of the sessions I got to sit in on was with Sean Van Tyne.  Here are my notes for those who didn't get to attend it:


Ask watch and listen - The Customer Experience Revolution

• Have you heard the Betty Crocker cake mix story?  They made instant cake mix so you just needed to add water, but no one was buying it.  Turns out, after asking the customers why they weren't buying it, they learned that people wanted to feel like they were doing more and to have "the experience of baking." So, they adjusted the mix and made it so people would add eggs and water.  And, it sold.

• According to JD Power, only 9% know what they're doing in regards to the customer experience. (WOW!)

• Donald Norman wrote about emotional design.  An emotional connection is so important.

• The difference between customer experience and user experience:

Customer experience - very long, totality from seeing first message through to the end
User experience - when they use/ touch the product

• 5 is the magic number of target users to get feedback from -- gives you about 80% of things you'll need to change (the key is these people must be your target).

• The things you learn in observation, you will not learn with any other methodology.

• Creating a customer profile is so important.  You need to know who you are talking to so you can know what to say.

• Trust the data... Let the data lead you where to go.  Don't guess... You don't know what is in the mind of the customer.

• Analytics do a great job of telling us what the problem is, but observing our customers will tell us why.


It was a great session and I look forward to checking out his book when it comes out.  Sean co-wrote The Customer Experience Revolution with Jeoffrey Bean, which will be available in January.  Check it out here.

Sprint ad as a tribute to Jobs

I just wanted to share this ad, because I love it!
Click here to see it full size

Life in Cali

It's been a long time since I've added a blog post here.  There's been a lot going on.  I've graduated from my MBA progam, moved to California and been doing something new and different (a bit of a career twist).  I've been working with marketing firms and agencies here in Orange County to help them get freelancers and contractors for marketing, design, creative and interactive projects.

Check out Hiring Digital, a blog I've been working on to focus more information on my local market and everything that's out there in marketing and interactive.

Almost there...

So, many of you know that last year I embarked on a journey to get my MBA. I'm just one edited paper away from being finished and it seems a bit surreal.  It has been a process that has taken a lot of time, money, thought, learning and analyzing. It also leads to a lack of sleep and free time. Though a challenge, I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with Kennesaw State University's Coles College. Figured since I'm at the end of the program, it would be a good opportunity to list three things I learned from my MBA that aren't the usual things you hear, but are just as helpful:
 

1. Just say no.

We can't do everything.  Time management and prioritization are very important skills to have.  Saying no is something I have had to work on.  My friends say I have an addiction to volunteering.  This is because I love to help others.  I'm very lucky and have lots to be grateful for, so I like to try to pass that on to other people who might need it, too.

However, I had to realize that prioritizing is not a bad thing.  Just like saying 'no' doesn't have to be a bad thing.  In order to properly contribute to anything or anyone -- a relationship, a job, a charity -- you need to make sure you can give to them in a strong and consistent manner.  If you can't, you're both better off finding other avenues to reach your goals.

I did this a lot at work, too.  I would take on additional projects to help get things done, but would stretch myself thin.  Doing everything well is not possible.  But finding people who can do well what you can't (or might not have time to do) is possible.  That brings me to lesson #2...


2. Your team is everything.

There are some people who just don't seem to care.  I was paying for my MBA myself and made a lot of changes in order to go back to school.  And many other people make sacrifices to go to school, whether it is money, time, and/or sanity.  Then there are some people you come across who just don't seem to care.

I care about doing a good job, but that doesn't mean that everyone else I'm working with will.  Your team of people -- coworkers, boss, vendors -- is so important.  If you can surround yourself with thought leading, analytical, question asking, smart, nice people, then you will be so much better off.  Finding the right company and group of people to work with can be hard, and it can take some people many years of their career to do so.  It's always a good idea to mix up talents, too.  I may lack something in finance (yep!) that can be made up by another teammate's strength.  But my strategic and marketing-minded thinking may be just what they need.

Sports, work, whatever... this is important in all of these things.  Your personal support team is very important, too.  I know this because I have amazing support from my family, friends, and boyfriend.  And my puppy... he's always there at the end of the day, too.  Your team can also be supportive when you are looking for new work or opportunities.  We all know how important it is to get yourself out there and network!


3. Celebrate your successes.

Enjoy yourself.  Life is too short to not take time for the people in your life and also some of the little things you like to do.  I managed to work it so that I could do my International Marketing elective as a study abroad trip to Italy.  Amazing!  There was one interesting thing I saw in Italy... their perspective on work.  It was definitely important, but they focus a lot on family and community.  If we can't enjoy ourselves after a long day or week at work, then what's the point?

Flipped off

So, last week it was announced that the Flip video camera will be as extinct as a cassette tape.  Read the story here on Mashable.  That got me thinking... there are some very clear winners and losers that come out of this story:

WINNER #1 - Pure Digital
They designed the Flip camera and sold out to Cisco in 2009 for $590 million.  That'll buy a lot of iPhones!  Then you'll have one device with a great HD video camera built in to the same place you have your music, phone, email, and camera.  Which brings me to Winner #2...

WINNER #2 - Smartphones
The iPhone leads this charge, with Android sneaking up and Blackberry still holding its own.  They are all challenging each other to be better.  Which brings me to Winner #3....

WINNER #3 - Consumers
These devices get cooler and more convenient every year.  We now have tiny phones that video, take pictures and do all kinds of crazy things thanks to apps.

So, looks like the main loser here is Cisco.  Spending a ton of money on something another company created and not keeping up with the technology or the competition.  No good at all.  Complacency will get you nowhere.

First day in Italy

Playing catch up, here are a few observations from my first day in Italy:

Saturday, March 5

 

We arrive into Rome and I’m immediately noticing the difference in billboard advertising.  In the US, we have been moving towards digital billboards, but in Italy I see faded, rough billboards that look extremely aged.  Interesting the difference in the medium across the world.  Also, I notice right away that small cars are the norm here in Rome.  They are necessary to fit on the roads and zip through traffic.

It is also interesting to see how drinks are served at restaurants.  In the states, we are used to fountain drinks and free refills.  Here in Italy, there are almost solely cans in restaurants.  Bottles are available in the states and I heard McDonald’s has fountain drinks (you’ll have to ask for ice if you want it).  The Coca-Cola brand is still very visible here in Italy, as shown on this can with the character on the Coca-Cola Light (same as Diet Coke).  Cokes were often the same price or more than a glass of wine.

One thing that is also present as you venture out in Rome is the revenue that must be generated by tourism.  As we got to the Vatican, I realized that tour guides are a great resource for tourists and should be marketed to them as such – especially because you often get to skip the ridiculously long lines.

International Marketing

I just returned from an international marketing trip to Italy for an MBA class.  It was really interesting to see how companies in another company position themselves and work within government parameters to address specific concerns in markets around the world. I'll make sure to share my presentation once it's completed. For now, I will attempt to catch up on work and school along with kicking this jetlag.