What is your New Year’s Resolution for Your Business in 2012?

I had someone ask me today about their business, “If I could do one thing better, what would it be?”.  As a business consultant, I am frequently asked some version of this question, but today it got me thinking that the close of one year and the start of another is probably a great time to pass along one of the answers to that question that I give to everyone who asks it of me.  Are you ready?  Here it comes!

Resolve for 2012 to fully embrace technology and to completely integrate it thoughout every aspect of your business; from your marketing, to how you work with and interact with clients and staff, to how you manage your administrative tasks and operate your business, etc.

What I mean by this is:  integrate and take advantage of all the benefits that today’s technologies have to offer, including:  webinars and other types of virtual events (including virtual environment events), social media, mobile technology (and I don’t just mean mobile marketing), cloud computing software options, video, email and any other type of technology that will help you increase efficiency, productivity, and profitability. 

Those that don’t choose to embrace technology will be left behind very quickly because 2012, I believe, will be a ‘game-changing’ year for how business is being conducted.  Mobile technology in particular is having significant impact on the way we live and the way we conduct business today. If you continue to do business as you always have, you – and your business - will very quickly become irrelevant.

Think about your business in a new way, for example:

could mobile technology enable your customers to order and pay for your products or services via their cell phone?can you use social media to interact with your customers and potential customers on a more in-depth level so you can be certain you’re providing the products and services they need?will location-based technologies enable you to more effectively target potential customers?

Do you have an email marketing program to keep clients, vendors and staff aware of what’s going on in your business?  If not, why not? Can you make your field staff more productive by dispatching them with tools provided by GPS mobile technology?

Can you get more immediate response to special offers by sending them directly to your existing customers via their cell phones?can cloud-computing technology allow you to access information from wherever you are as long as you have some sort of mobile computing device (think smartphone or tablet anyone?

Can RFID mobile technologies help you manage your warehouse more efficiently?can you be more available to your staff for those decisions only you can make if you’ve embraced the use of a SmartPhone or tablet device?can you cut down on travel costs, and yet increase the number of people that you can effectively interact with to present your products or services by engaging in virtual sales and training programs?can bluetooth or QR code mobile technologies help your firm in the manufacturing or supply chain processes?

Can mobile marketing technologies make your marketing more effective?can you get more people to engage with your website or product videos by enabling them to reach it via QR code technology?would video technology help you more effectively communicate the benefits of your product or service?can mobile technology help you increase the viability of the leads you receive at the next trade show you participate in?

Can participating in virtual trade shows help you decrease travel costs for your staff, and the ‘down time’ that results from that travel, while increasing the number of viable leads you receive?could social media, mobile and virtual technology increase your ability to recruit new employees with higher rates of effectiveness?could the use of mobile technology increase lead generation at trade show events your firm participates in?

So far, I’ve not found one business that I’ve spoken with or worked with that would not be positively impacted by increased integration of technology in their business.  Given that, I now challenge you to consider how technology can help to improve your business – and as a result, your life.  If you would like some assistance in evaluating your business and the options available to you, please contact us, Strategic Growth Concepts is here to help!

Here’s to increased efficiency, productivity and profitability in 2012!

Starbucks builds up rewards program membership via in-store call to action

January 3, 2012

Starbucks is ramping up its mobile strategy and encouraging consumers to sign up for its My Starbucks Rewards program via an in-store call to action.

Via the My Starbucks Rewards program, consumers can earn rewards when they pay with their Starbucks Card. Free drinks and refills are one of the perks of the program.

"Starbucks is wise to include SMS in its broad mobile portfolio,? said Jeff Hasen, chief marketing officer at HipCricket.?

?While its augmented reality app got, pardon the pun, all the buzz this season, it's text messaging product is inclusive of nearly all patrons.?

Mr. Hasen is not affiliated with Starbucks, but agreed to comment as a third-party expert.

Starbucks did not respond to press inquiries.

Mobile rewards
The SMS call to action is featured in a small framed poster.

The SMS call to action

The call to action is positioned near the drink counter so that when consumers wait for their drinks they can text-in to be part of the My Starbucks Rewards program.

The poster reads ?Your next drink could be free.?

Consumers are then encouraged to register with any Starbucks Card and they?ll be on their way to getting free drinks and refills, no membership fee and free balance protection.

Users can either register by going to http://www.starbucks.com/register or by texting the keyword GOLD to the short code 697289 (MYSBUX).

When consumers text-in, they receive a message from Starbucks that thanks them for their interest in the program and includes a link to the My Starbucks Rewards page.

Consumers can text-in to learn more about the program

When consumers tap on the link, they are redirected to a mobile-optimized page where they can register their Starbucks card.?

Consumers can register their Starbucks card

Consumers can sign-in or create and account to complete the registration process.

When users register their card they can protect their balance incase their card is stolen, earn rewards with each transaction, set up Auto-Reload for their card, view transaction history and transfer balances between their cards.

Consumers can also download the My Rewards iPhone and Android application to keep up with their account.

SMS strategy
Using a mobile call to action such as this an effective way for Starbucks to builds its My Starbucks Rewards program.

Additionally, place the SMS call to action in a location where many consumers are daily is smart.

SMS is a great medium to engage consumers and helps marketers build their database.

Consumers do not need a smartphone to participate and can use their feature phone to text-in.

?Much like Macy's is doing with Backstage Pass, Starbucks is giving customers choice on how to engage via mobile,? Mr. Hasen said.