Sunday, January 11. 2009
Dance with your date! That sage advice was from my mother and she always had those sayings that covered a multitude of situations to provide guidance. “Dance with your date” was mom's way of saying, "when you ask a girl out on a date, you pick her up, take her to the dance, you dance with her, you do your best to insure she has an enjoyable time, and you return her home safely…at a reasonable hour". That advice also included a list of don’ts!... You don’t cancel your date if something better comes along, you don’t run off with your friends to talk and leave her out, you don’t stay at the event if there is even a hint of trouble, and you never, ever, dance with someone else! I still benefit from that simple and direct advice today, because I have been married to a wonderful woman for 26 years! So, what does that have to do with business? Glad you asked!
Apple Computers needs some advice from mom. "Dance with your date." I LOVE Apple. I love their ads on TV. (witty, heartwarming, and deadly effective) I have been a client since the Apple IIc got me through my MBA program a hundred years ago. I mean, who can argue with the innovative creative, and now required iPod? or their wireless networking advancements?…but in the last year or so, I am beginning to feel like a date that is being neglected. Can a company enjoy so much success in other areas of their business that they forget who brought them to the dance? The short answer is yes, but the answer down deep in my heart is, “I hope not, because I really love them!”
Most businesses rely on loyal clients who will not only return over and over again to buy, but will also bring their friends and neighbors with them. Raving Fans is a book about creating the kind of customer who will continue to buy, support, and even sell your products for you…because they feel loved, cared for, and listened to even when the conversation may be a little mundane. Customers are your date, and you better treat them right, or word will get around… The iPhone is an incredible piece of engineering and the most progressive piece of technology that I have seen in a long time, but I don’t own one. My Blackberry has more functions that I need and has been more reliable than the iPhone, according to users I encounter. My latest MacBook and my airport extreme wireless device (purchased at full price) have not performed nearly as well as my Powerbook model, or the other 5 apple computers that have served my family… could it be that the shine is off the apple?
I have been in to visit the “Geniuses” at the Genius Bar (as Apple calls their on-site repair technicians) and I get the standard responses that I used to get from PC repair shops. “It checks out OK with us”, “It should not be doing THAT!” Can you leave it for another 10 days so we will take a look, again?” What has happened to the Apple of old? Has the reliability, durability, and the super knowledgeable technical help that was so much apart of the sale, disappeared once we got to the dance? I can’t believe that’s true, but as the crowd thins, and the refreshment stand closes, I am beginning to wonder where my date is…
Are any of your clients be feeling the same way? Now, more than ever, you need to dance with your date!