Puppy vs. Puppy

As the Super Bowl approaches, every major advertiser out there seems to be looking for a way to capitalize on the days leading up to the big game.  Personally, I've been waiting on the latest puppy ad from Budweiser.  I love dogs and puppies (like most of the rest of the civilized world), and Budweiser always tells a great story in the Super Bowl ads they run.

As I was eagerly awaiting this year's installment, along comes the GoDaddy version.  I didn't like it.  Oh, don't get me wrong, the puppy was adorable, but the whole message was very forced and awkward, and I'm not crazy about the idea of just shipping a puppy off to someone who spotted a picture they liked on a website.  And it was clear right away that a lot of other people didn't like the ad either.  In short order, Go Daddy nixed the ad saying they would run another one, and that they weren't really bad people.

Which leaves me wondering--was that ever the real ad or were they just doing that to needle Budweiser and/or capture some eyes and ears that otherwise would bypass them in a heartbeat?

The skeptic in me is pretty sure this was the plan all along.  What do you think?

Enchantment Book Chat #7 - Chapters 11 & 12

We've come to the conclusion of Enchantment!  I hope you've enjoyed the journey and picked up a practical nugget or two along the way.  The answers/comments for this blog post are due Thursday, May 8 at 9am.

Here are the last questions:

1. The principle of Underpromise/Overdeliver is a simple way to enchant. Have you experienced this as a customer?  Maybe you've made such promises as an employee?  As a customer how did you feel?  How about as an employee?
2.  What one key takeaway did you have from the "How to Enchant Your Boss" chapter?  What's the first thing you'll try as you start your professional career?
3.  Have you ever been caught by the Dopeler effect?
4.  What do you think of Guy's checklist?
5.  What's one thing you've done differently as a result of reading Enchantment?

Enchantment Book Chat #6 - Chapters 9 & 10

Chapters 9 and 10 focus on very different topics, but ultimately it all gets back to creating interactions that delight the audience, whomever they may be.

Here are the questions for Book Chat #6:
1. How did Guy's list of factors for increasing the enchantment power of websites and blogs jive with your own personal experience?  Anything he missed?  Any particular one that you find extra important in your own experience?
2. Did you find any new takeaways from Guy's points on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube?
3. What did you think of the Japanese design principles?  How could you incorporate these principles in the work that you do?
4. Most of you are not far along enough to be the "boss" yet, but what points in the "Enchanting Employees/Volunteers"  did you find most important?  Perhaps you've experienced them from the other side of the equation or seen a characteristic or two in someone else that you would like to emulate.

Enchantment Book Chat #5 - Chapters 7 & 8

The deeper I go into this book, the meatier it gets.  Really good stuff all around.

Here are your questions for this Book Chat:
1. What do you think about the idea that true change happens at the middle and bottom of a society.  Where does that leave leadership?
2.  What is your favorite reciprocity principle?  Why?
3.  Of the team roles listed under "Diversify the Team" which team role do you think you play?  Which role do you aspire towards?
4. What do you think of Chris Anthony's personal story?
5. Which general principles of push technology are your favorites?
6. How will you change your presentation style, email communication, or Tweets based on Guy's recommendations?

Enchantment Book Chat #4 - Chapters 5 and 6

Chapters five and six point our attention to the implementation phase of enchantment. Two big tasks come with implementation--launch and overcoming resistance.  Both are huge hurdles for any business.

Questions for this Book Chat:
1. What brand can you think of that has a great story?  Even if you don't personally use or even like the brand.
2. Which is better increasing or decreasing the number of choices available to customers?
3. Generally college students are eager and willing to try new things.  When have you found yourself to be reluctant?
4. How have you seen social proof in action?  What happened and how were people influenced?
5. How important is it to enchant all the influencers?

Enchantment Book Chat #3 - Chapter 4

In Chapter 4 we learn about the importance of being prepared (the Boy Scouts were right), and the pitfalls that come if you aren't.

Questions for Book Chat #3:

1. What/who is in your Enchantment Hall of Fame?  Which of the necessary qualities listed does he/she/it have?
2.  What is your reaction to Guy's trash can experiment?  What have you ever seen or tried that was similar?
3.  What company have you noticed that has "Removed the Fences"?  Or the flip side, what companies have built unnecessary fences that make doing business with them more difficult?
4.  Anything else from Chapter 4 that "enchanted" you?

Enchantment Book Chat #2 - Chapters 2B & 3

Here we go with round #2 on Enchantment.  I hope you are learning some key points from Guy.  I think someone's been quoting him on Facebook, so I'll take that as a good sign.

Questions for this time:

1.  What do you think of Guy's other Likeability factors?  I'm particularly interested in what you think of his encouragement to swear, especially when there is some perception in the world that swearing is for people who don't know what other word to use.  See previous post on the importance of a strong vocabulary.
2.  Do you know any Mensches?  Which characteristics does that person exhibit?

Everyone should answer:
3.  What is your positioning statement?  How did you arrive at your statement?