Marketing Lessons from Mud
May 2nd, 2008
I’m a dog person. And one of my dogs is an 8-year old, 100-pound Chocolate Lab very appropriately named Mud. He didn’t exactly get the brains of the litter, but I love him nonetheless. In fact, I think I’ve learned some things from ol’ Mud that I can apply to the marketing world:
Always be happy to see your customers. Whenever I come home, there he is – tail wagging, tongue hanging out, tap-dancing with excitement. He doesn’t know what kind of day I’ve had or if I’m in a good mood or bad. But there’s no hidden agenda. He’s ready to hang out. To listen. To just let me know that he’s there.
If customers kick you, always come back for more. Let’s make it clear that I’ve never kicked my dogs, but I think you get the idea. Mud is as loyal as the day is long. Sometimes he does get in trouble and he gets a stern talking to – but he always comes back the next time, tail wagging and ready to play.
Be ready to do just about anything your customers ask. Mud isn’t always happy about getting a bath or taking his meds, but he does it anyway. In the end, it’s the best thing for him and he knows it. So he does what it takes and listens to what I have to say to him.
Be prepared to grow together. Mud and I have learned about each other’s personalities, our habits (bad and good) and patterns. I guess that’s what naturally happens over time. We’re comfortable with one another, but it’s an investment of time and patience on both our parts.
So maybe the above points are a stretch and too simple, but there’s beauty in simplicity, right? And I would say there’s beauty in Mud, but that’s a REAL stretch.
Other posts by Spike.
Jenny says:
This is why I love dogs. They are truly man’s best friend!
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:59 amkamran says:
I spent all weekend thinking about this issue, some of it with our Labrador, Sophie, curled up at my feet. Some with our beagle, Molly the Wonderbeagle, in my lap.
May 6th, 2008 at 10:32 amI was ‘cyphering on’ the dichotomy of our two breeds of companions. Such different models!
Sophie Labrador understands 97 spoken commands and has been seen in Petsmart being walked by my 4 year old with only a bit of string as a leash. Sophie was once well known about town as the dog in the old Mustang convertible, top down, red bandanna on.
Stoic and unmoving.
People would absolutely freak out at the sight of a black Lab sitting in the passenger seat, pleased as punch, not trying to leave.
She was on watch, and she was not going anywhere without me.
Unwavering.
The perfect client and employee.
Molly Wonderbeagle, rounds out the team, and inspires me to dig a bit deeper into my enthusiasm for the world. Her whole body shakes with excitement, her ears lie down flat on her head, and she brays at the sky the moment I get home. I could be gone for 6-8-10-12 hours- no matter, she is just glad to see her old man. If I forget something and zip back in after only a few minutes, she still goes through the same routine. Con brio.
She has no way to measure time, she just knows to show up, eager to please.
No amount of documentation or motivational tapes could whip her into that frenzy, only her innate ‘beagleness’ that she brings to the game.
The ideal client services rep.
We are a team, us three. Howling at the moon, kindred spirits.
Jacki Hollywood Brown says:
I wrote about how much I learned about business from a horse:
http://tinyurl.com/4zrheo
May 8th, 2008 at 5:15 amSteve Hartman says:
The Streets Don’t Lie…
Through mismanagement and inexperience eBay has eroded the trust of millions and the publishers in the ePN program. Read this forum post about how John Donahoe and Steve Hartman are quickly becoming the laughing stock of the affiliate marketing commun…
October 17th, 2008 at 1:42 pm