Blogs
Why I gave Anthill’s Readers’ Choice Award to Scott Handsaker of Eventarc… with ‘smashing’ results.
Last week, I caused an online ruckus by questioning whether Cool Company Finalist LeadBolt should be named our 2011 Cool Company Awards Readers’ Choice winner. LeadBolt totally annihilated the competition – because its business model is based on triggering online actions, such as Facebook Likes. Starlettos, the first runner-up, had courted reader praise and social media reactions the old fashioned way – by rallying their mates. So, who should get the award? Short-cutting LeadBolt or hard-working Starlettos? The results were smashing.
Was our Readers’ Choice Award hijacked? (Or was it always going to be a sanctioned exercise in new media manipulation?)
Can you remember the winner of TIME magazine’s Most Influential Person poll in 2009? Was it Barack Obama? Oprah Winfrey? The Dalai Lama? No, it was Moot, the pseudonym of 21-year-old Christopher Poole, a college student and founder of online community 4chan.org. So, why the long winded introduction to this year’s Cool Company Awards Readers’ Choice Award? Did we get gamed?
The four-second question that will double the value (and visibility) of your business
Businesses make this mistake time and time again: their customers buy from them but they never get their details. Then they just sit around and hope and pray that they will remember them…that somehow the “exceptional” service they have offered will keep them coming back for more.
How retail has changed and the importance of customer service; an interview with Phil Staub
Phil Staub is the Executive Chairman of General Pants, one of Australia’s largest fashion brands. As a successful entrepreneur, he explains why good customer service controls the retail game.
Anthill hosts Australia’s most elevated elevator pitch
On Thursday, eight Anthillians were given a pitching opportunity like no other — access to two prominent Australian investors in a hot-air balloon, while floating over Victoria’s Yarra Valley. Some might call it, Australia’s most elevated elevator pitch! Seven entrepreneurs (and Anthill founder James Tuckerman) earned the opportunity to ‘hang’ with AngelCube’s Adrian Stone and Adventure Capital’s Darcy Naunton… some 2,000 feet in the air.
If you’re not a cloud business, you’re doomed.
Zach Nelson is CEO of NetSuite. He was named one of the 10 Visionary CEOs of 2008 by InternetNews.com, after guiding the company through its 2007 IPO. He helmed it from startup to one of the world’s leading cloud computing companies. So, it’s not surprisingly that he should hold this view. Yes, he is biased. But is he wrong?
Here’s my response to some recent feedback. Was I too harsh?
Naturally, we receive feedback all the time from Anthill readers. Much of it is helpful. But, sometimes, the feedback contradicts what we know to be true, based on the cumulative behaviours of hundreds of thousands of site visitors. Rather than provide a polite but generally meaningless response (like, “Thank you for your feedback. We welcome and respect the views of all our readers”), I often try to explain why it is that we do things the way we do. But, today, I’m feeling a bit guilty. Too harsh?
Is your role functional or is it vital? Chances are, you’re kidding yourself.
As you can imagine, I get sent books all the time. It’s one of the perks of being ‘Mr Anthill’. Despite being a prolific reader, only a few ever capture my attention. And an even smaller number capture my imagination. Several weeks ago, I was sent the Australian edition of ‘Become a Key Person of Influence’ by Daniel Priestly. I read it in an afternoon. And, several weeks on, my imagination is still buzzing.
Branding, customer service and how to handle challenges in business; an interview with Emanuel Perdis
Emanuel Perdis is the dynamic Managing Director and co-founder of Napoleon Perdis Cosmetics. He has overseen and implemented double-digit business growth for the brand, every year, for the past fourteen years, turning over $80 million a year, employing a team of almost 500 staff. In this Q&A Interview with Alex Pirouz, Perdis shares what it takes to create a global brand, why customer service has been a crucial part of the organisation’s success and the best way to handle challenges in business.
The top 10 tips small business owners should consider when choosing an accounting software package
Choosing the right accounting software package is a hard task for anyone, especially small business owners. What’s right for other business owners may not be compatible with your small business. That’s why I have come up with the top ten tips you should consider when choosing an accounting software package. These are sure to make your job simpler and less time consuming, so you can get on with running your business.
Find Us on facebook
Sponsored by How to become a Key Person of Influence
Key People enjoy a special status in their chosen field because they are well connected, well known, well regarded and highly valued.
Sponsored by Google
What do you know about Google AdWords? This hub was developed to answer the questions you already have, and those you haven't thought yet to ask.
Sponsored by AusIndustry
AusIndustry is a specialist program delivery division within the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
