As you know, I really love it when products do what they say they will do, and this one goes way beyond!

The software is easy to install and simple to use and understand.

The features are way more enhanced than I would have ever imagined.  I was really looking for a way to import and export products efficiently, and was pleasantly surprised to also find all of the reporting and CRM functions the software has.

I ran into a small issue getting the software linked up with my database.  The tech support team was quick and responded with the information I needed to get it set up correctly.

If you have a Zen Cart store with more than a handful of products you have to try this software (they have a fully functional 30 day trial).

After you try it I am sure you will agree it is easily worth the price.

And for the record, I am in no way affiliated with this product or the company that makes it.  I just really believe that when a beacon of light shines forth in this sea of inadequate products and apathetic customer service reps, it is in everyone’s best interest to help as many people “see the light.”

TANGENT ALERT!!!!

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I also love how the English accent completely disappears when she starts singing.  That seems to be the case with many British artists now that I think about it.  Actually, when I really start thinking about it, I cannot name any song that is performed with an English accent.  Is it possible that harmony and an English accent cannot coincide?  Does this prove, in some cosmic way, that it is in fact the British that have the accent, and not the Americans?

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Anyway…Bravo Adele!

I have used a few online ordering systems in the past and they all leave something to be desired.  The biggest challenge most online menu ordering systems have is allowing customers to make any changes or special requests to their order.  The Chili’s system tackles this issue nicely.

It is surprisingly fast and accurate and offers a great alternative to ordering delivery on those nights that you don’t feel like going out or cooking.

If only they added the curbside service…then I wouldn’t have to burn any calories in the process of getting my meal.

https://www.chilistogo.com/Pages/MenuPageWebUI.aspx

What’s yours?

http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&srchtype=discussedNews&gid=100106&item=75194468&type=member&trk=eml-anet_dig-b_pd-ttl-cn&ut=10xd9xWoECqkY1

In my mind, marketing falls into 4 distinct categories as they relate to the customer life-cycle:

1. Demand/Lead Generation – The process of converting people whom have never heard of you to show some interest in your company, products/services, or information.

2. Lead Nurturing – The process of turning leads into paying customers.

3. Customer Cultivation – The process of converting one-time customers and product samplers into repeat customers.

4. Customer Entanglement – The proccess of getting your customer so engrained with your business that they become loyal brand evangelists.

I think it is pretty easy to create meaningful metrics in any of these areas that will help you pave the way for future prioritization and marketing goals.

How far back does your data go? One of the things I like to use is what I call a “Trailing Twelve Months Report.” By always looking at the last 12 months compared to the previous 12 months, you eliminate any seasonal fluctuations and get an accurate look at your progress.

With all of that said, and in addition to the aforementioned metrics, I really like looking at one-time customers vs. repeat customers. To me that is where most “low-hanging fruit” (sorry for the cliche) can be found, but I also think it really tells you a lot about the overall health of the company.

I hope that helps.

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Either way, the call was just to let me know that they have added some new services and knew that they hadn’t seen me in a while (I have not been there or communicated with them in at least 2-3 years), but wanted to make sure that everything was okay.

I LOVE GOOD SALES AND MARKETING!!

To me this is good marketing.  It is personable (it was a live call, not an automated system), informative, and non-intrusive.

As it happens, my oil change light has been blinking and I will most likely take it there this weekend.

Way to go anonymous manager at Just Brakes in Chandler, AZ.

I LOVE IT!!

I recently decided to quit working for “the man” and decided to start “doing my own thing” again.  That has been a pretty bumpy ride so far.

After a long and drawn out process, the Wells Fargo Nightmare is coming to an end and the era of Chase has begun.  The shopping site is back up and running!!

And finally, there is this site.  I was assured by someone at GoDaddy that all I needed to do was simply copy all of the files from the old server to this server and…voila…no database connection.  By the time I realized what had happened, I had already deleted the old hosting account and associated database.

What are you gonna do?

And so, we start over…

The day after setting up the account, I received a call from Eric in their “Merchant Services” department.  Eric ultimately sold me on Wells Fargo’s merchant services for being able to process credit cards for my new business.  One of the main selling points was the fact that “funds would be available in my account the day following the credit card transaction.”

My business relationship with Wells Fargo has been nothing short of a nightmare.  It has been so bad at times that I am convinced Ashton Kutcher will be jumping out telling me how bad I got punked any minute.

Here are some highlights from our short time together:

• 9/14/2011 – “Where’s my money?”
• 9/15/2011 – Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood!
• 9/19/2011 – “We have reached a stalemate.”
• 9/22/2011 – “Where do we go from here?”
• 9/23/2011 – Account overdrawn.
• 9/27/2011 – 24 hours…
• 9/29/2011 – 24 more hours…
• 9/30/2011 – By the end of the day…
• 10/10/2011 – “I can do this all day”
• 10/11/2011 – Account overdrawn…again.
• 10/12/2011 – “By the way, your account has been canceled.”
• 10/14/2011 – Really? More charges…again?
• 10/20/2011 – In Collections Now.
• 10/20/2011 – Jamie Lee doesn’t have the power.