Disqus - Latest Comments for tomoleary

Re: Finding Your Tribe May Be the Hardest Thing You Do

Tom O'Leary — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:26:53 -0000

Very succinctly explained Jeff. Thanks!

In the email marketing game, I am constantly dissuading customers from renting or purchasing email lists. Smaller, more targeted, in-house permission-based lists will always outperform mega-lists any day.

My Tribe
(an impromptu for you)

I want a tribe. I think I really do
1000, 100? No thanks, just a few!
Actually, with none I'd really get relief
I don't want any that would have me as their chief.

Re: The Future of The Internet is Converged Services

Tom O'Leary — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:52:43 -0000

The buzz is because this analysis confirms the prescience of US Senator Ted Stevens, who described the Internet as a "series of tubes" in 2006; by paraphrasing
his definition as "an emerging Internet of Things".

The report also includes a graph, which very clearly shows a "series of tubes"
playing a prominent role in the future of the Internet. See http://tiny.cc/xq66k

Re: The Future of The Internet is Converged Services

Tom O'Leary — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 02:30:25 -0000

Is "an evolving convergent Internet of things" sort of like a "series of tubes"?

Re: 5 Free Formatting Guides on How To Publish Your eBook - GalleyCat

Tom O'Leary — Wed, 25 May 2011 19:02:17 -0000

Thanks, but all of these still fail to make things really clear for non-tech writers. For example, taking a quick look at these files, I am still uncertain about what application I would use to actually create my work. Does it matter? Can I write my book in Word and convert it easily to the right format? I suppose that's why some writers pay others to format their work for publication.

Re: Customer Stalking – When Is Your Twitter Response Too Fast?

Tom O'Leary — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:02:30 -0000

Yes, of course we would. Using Twitter isn't being insincere. But, we are only being "sincere" when we say "Hey, our company uses Twitter (as everyone knows businesses do) and that's what we're doing. We are a business and we are listening for opportunities here and all across the Internet to help people who are either interested in our products or need help with them." We aren't being sincere when we are trying to manipulate people behind their backs to maximize our benefit from them.

It's a rather simplistic deal:

Hey! I'm a sales guy for that company. Can I help? or Hey, I'm a support guy for that product. Can I help?

We're not trying to be something we're not -- we're not pretending we have a personal relationship with people we don't have one with. We're not over-analyzing our interaction with you.

In a physical analogy, we have sales people in the aisles of our shop who step up when someone is looking for help. Our sales people aren't standing behind the racks of clothes eavesdropping for opportune moments of engagement. That's creepy.

...of course, the offer for help shouldn't come across as desperate, self-indulgent or creepy in any way. It should be normal and straightforward...no pressure, just wondering if I can help in any way.

I think it's more about how (personality-wise) that we approach people and not so much about the specific timing of when we approach them. Are we really trying to help them with something, regardless of how it might benefit us or are we trying to persuade them to buy into something whether they need it or not?

Re: Customer Stalking – When Is Your Twitter Response Too Fast?

Tom O'Leary — Wed, 18 May 2011 13:55:50 -0000

I don't know. The fact is that businesses ARE monitoring tweets. Consumers know this. To "pretend" that we aren't -- to pretend that we AREN'T watching constantly in order to capitalize on the channel to communicate with customers and respond to their needs is disingenuous.

The Question:

Is Social Media Psychological Response Strategy Development less creepy than Rapid Customer Service on Twitter?

By being so analytical in the boardroom about how customers respond to our response on social media, aren't we also being a bit creepy? Personally, I think we are (even more so) because we are trying to figure out a way to leverage twitter without our customers being so aware that we are doing so.

I tend to think that the most sincere strategy (i.e. the least manipulative -- the least subversive) is the most ethical. But, then, since when did ethics trump the desire for bottom line results in business?

Re: The Single Thing That Can Sink or Save Your Brand Reputation

Tom O'Leary — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:44:12 -0000

When front line employees are treated/paid like brand managers, perhaps they will start behaving like them. Historically, capitalist/corporatist culture in America expects so very much from the least of its brothers. Profit is built on the backs of the most willing and, often, least paid.

Rather than thinking about how much more we can get from our front line -- or, how much more our front line people can do for us to improve our brand; perhaps we should be thinking, "what more can we do for our front line people?" This shift in approach will more likely create naturally willing and enthusiastic brand advocates on the front line.

Re: The Single Thing That Can Sink or Save Your Brand Reputation

Tom O'Leary — Tue, 10 May 2011 15:31:05 -0000

Too often, front line employees aren't given permission to resolve issues on the front line. They are stifled in tight boxes designed by their employers to control them. It's a catch 22 really, isn't it? How much power are you willing to give to your front line to make audible decisions for the sake of better customer service?

Also, the morale (and subsequent desire to be an enthusiastic advocate for your brand) of an employee is often directly related to the environment created by the leaders of the organization. Are your employees treated like the superstars you want them to be? If not, they might just meet your expectations.

Re: http://www.tweetdeck.com/twitter/ilcpr/~bAiQd

Tom O'Leary — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:56:13 -0000

Hi Amanda. Not sure if you got my earlier reply on Twitter, but the phones seem to be working fine today. Our US office hours are 9-5 Pacific Time. If you continue to have problems, please email me at oleary@infacta.com so I can check into it further. Thanks!

Re: The Pitch That Worked

Tom O'Leary — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:08:50 -0000

Great riff Amber. I suppose we over-complicate most things today. How many complicated diets and exercise programs exist today telling us how to keep weight down and stay healthy? Of course, it's just about eating responsibly and exercising regularly. There is no special recipe needed.

The same is true with email marketing. Define your objective, build a targeted list, offer relevant value, communicate that value clearly and be consistent.

Then, of course, there are many [important] subtleties in email marketing that you could get lost in. Like how to identify yourself as a sender, Subject line length, HTML rendering, deliverability rates, mobile email versions, link placement, landing page effectiveness, etc.

The problem is, unless you have the manpower resources to invest in those specifics, you might end up spending all of your time trying to create a great email strategy rather than implementing a simple, but effective one.

Right on!
.-= Tom O'Leary´s last blog ..An Ode to Mediocrity: Are High Expectations Destroying America =-.

Re: The Business Plan is Dead

Tom O'Leary — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:28:46 -0000

I suppose that the value of the business plan is to get people to think about all of those elements of a business and how they link together. In that sense, a plan will always be beneficial. Couldn't agree more though that the "plan" needs to evolve to a shorter, more easily digestible, scalable and adaptable format -- like widgets that can be connected to tell the right story to the right people.

Re: Exclusive: “Crash” Director Paul Haggis Breaks With Scientology

Tom O'Leary — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:32:27 -0000

It took him 35 years to realize that Scientology was a farce? Not the brightest spark in the bunch, is he?

Re: Bellingham to be new BALLE headquarters, Michelle Long named director

Tom O'Leary — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:10:13 -0000

Congratulations Michelle and Derek! Great work and well deserved recognition.

Re: Want to Work for the City of Bozeman, MT? Hand Over Your Social Network Logins and Passwords

Tom O'Leary — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:52:13 -0000

"...to make sure the people that we hire have the highest moral character and are a good fit for the City..."

And whose moral compass are they using as a guide to determine that? Is there a moral czar working for the city of Bozeman, MT? If so, I'd like to see her online footprint.

I'd also like to see the objective criteria that they would use when conducting social network/email reference checks. What would constitute bad moral character? How would they remove subjective bias from the process?

Perhaps they should investigate all current city employees and conduct moral investigations on all residents living in the city. Surely, they wouldn't want any bad moral characters living in Bozeman, MT - why stop at applicants for city jobs?

Re: It's Down! The Day Google Stood Still (Updated)

Tom O'Leary — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:37:37 -0000

Sorry, I think I pressed cmd-Q when I was in YouTube editing my channel earlier today.

Please accept my sincerest apologies.

Re: Five Methodologies to Deal with Email Overload

Tom O'Leary — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:27:40 -0000

I know that you know that I know that you know that your trackbacks aren't working. I posted a short piece on my blog about what email senders can/should do with these new email management practices in mind.

Email Marketing: 4 Ways to Help Recipients to Take Action

Re: An Outsider's Flawed View Of Silicon Valley

Tom O'Leary — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:53:07 -0000

I suppose that it is apropos that this debate omits what is perhaps the most important lifestyle factor. Women!

I've seen reports which suggest that male-female ratio in Silicon Valley was even higher than in Anchorage, Alaska. I've also heard that the women who are in the Valley have a saying about the nerds in the Valley: “the odds are good, but the goods are odd.”

So when young men dismiss 'life balance', it makes me wonder if they have their priorities right?

On a cold winter's night, I sit by the fire with a warm Apple Air on my lap and my Blackberry in my pocket, set to vibrate. Then I sip on some Bawls and call myself periodically while I browse the latest hot web 2.0 plays from the Valley.

Re: An Outsider's Flawed View Of Silicon Valley

Tom O'Leary — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:47:23 -0000

Gosh. Just read Glen Kelman's original post. Great stuff and very true (for me). I wonder how many families are living in squalor while pursuing a tech fantasy that could be pursued while living comfortably somewhere else?

I imagine that young bucks and does who want a geek lifestyle would find Silicon Valley to be mecca. Why wouldn't they?

Doesn't appeal to me though, and I wouldn't put my family through it. Sure, if I was single and didn't have any obligations to a family, I would (and have) slept in my car for a chance to create something great. I wrote many first chapters of the next great novel while sacrificing personal comforts. But for those of us who want to balance our interest in tech (or anything else) with our love for family and festivals and skiing and kayaking and a cozy 4 bedroom house with lake views and a nice garden; the Valley probably isn't the place to be. And no amount of Valleywag parties would change that for me.

Thanks for linking to Glen's article. He writes well and I'll certainly grab the feed from his blog.

Re: An Outsider's Flawed View Of Silicon Valley

Tom O'Leary — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:49:28 -0000

When I was in Basic Training for the Air Force in the early 1990s, our drill sergeant told us, after returning from observation at a Japanese military training facility, that "If we went to war right now, the Japanese would kick your ass". The same might apply to technology today.

Re: An Outsider's Flawed View Of Silicon Valley

Tom O'Leary — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:44:55 -0000

I always thought that Asia led the way in terms of tech innovation (consider mobile telephony for one). They certainly lead in tech adoption. Then, perhaps you are talking about web 2.0 hype models? Even the valley can't solve our lackluster broadband speeds. Let's hope that all of the bright minds in SV, Seattle, New York and other parts of the US bring us up to speed so that we can be competitive worldwide and not just on Geary Street.

Re: An Outsider's Flawed View Of Silicon Valley

Tom O'Leary — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:09:19 -0000

I don't know. I suppose that some people require physical closeness with other "innovators" to innovate. But doesn't the technology that we're innovating allow us to be 'in the flow' and keep up with the 'gossip' wherever we are in the world? I thought that was the point of it all. The reality is, the big players - the doers (around the world) are going to be networked to the other big players - doers, whether they be in Silicon Valley or the Loire Valley (coincidentally, I live in Sudden Valley here in Bellingham, Washington - about an hour north of Seattle and an hour south of Vancouver.)

Then, I know some people who won't go out to lunch unless they had a friend with them. I think that they never got past Maslow's social acceptance level. Maybe the same is true for tech startups? Some people won't create something cool unless they have cool people giving them affirmation.

The Internet has grayed out geographical lines - redefining 'local' - or at least I thought it did.

Re: Participating In Asset Inflation Can Bite You In The Rear

Tom O'Leary — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:20:35 -0000

Ok, I'll say it. Ass.

Re: Clinton vs Obama Is Like Ali vs Frazier

Tom O'Leary — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:10:35 -0000

I agree about wasteful government spending. But I don't mind government spending that is well spent. Having just returned from living in Ireland for the past 7 years, my tax dollars provided free medical and dental care, and free college (excellent academic quality). Nobody really minds paying taxes in Ireland because you actually get stuff for it - practical stuff that makes living easier. At the same time, the private sector is fueled (Celtic Tiger anyone?) by low corporate tax rates and grants for innovation and small business growth that creates jobs in communities. The balance between responsible government spending and a healthy, capitalist private business environment is possible and a reality in some parts of the world, like Ireland.

One of the points about public health care that many people don't realize because they never experienced it is that in a public health culture like Ireland, everyone is covered and there aren't long waits. I actually wait longer here in the States (with expensive private insurance coverage) for routine appointments than I did in Ireland with Public health care. And the care is comparable, if not a bit more personal in Ireland. Our first two daughters were born in Ireland and it didn't cost us one penny. As a matter of fact, we were given 80 euro each after we checked out of the maternity ward (5 days allowed in the ward rather than 24 hours here in the States). For every child you have in Ireland, you are given 150 euro per month until they are 18 years old. Children are not considered a burden by the Irish government. They are invested in and taken care of.

Also, many people don't realize that , in countries like Ireland, people can carry private insurance coverage on top of the public health care provided to ensure prompt treatment for certain conditions, private rooms, etc.. But those who can't afford private coverage are taken care of very well without stressing about how they are going to pay for it. Tax money in cultures like Ireland are fed back to tax payers in practical, meaningful ways by providing good, quality services for all residents.

We can only hope that such a balance will be found here.

Re: Clinton vs Obama Is Like Ali vs Frazier

Tom O'Leary — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:13:20 -0000

Sorry, that was meant to be in response to hockeydino above.

Re: Clinton vs Obama Is Like Ali vs Frazier

Tom O'Leary — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:12:19 -0000

It would be easy to realize any of those figures if we weren't spending trillions on the unnecessary occupation campaign in Iraq. The reality is that it will take a lot of money to create a good health system, education system (all of those national things that have been neglected for the last 8 years). To say that you're not going to increase spending much is to say that you're not going to improve what needs improvement. You don't get nothin' for nothin'. We're so far behind on so many things, that serious investments are required to bring it all up to acceptable levels of service.

What we should be concerned about is that we are spending $275 Million a DAY on a senseless war. That money could easily fund any of the spending plans above.

http://www.nationalprioriti...