TCNJ axes "Get-It Card"
This note came in from TCNJ about the Get-It Card, a rechargeable mini-credit card that also gave TCNJ students discounts from local merchants. Looks like canceling the program was a responsible business decision.
It is our ultimate desire to offer services that are efficient, successful, and more importantly, mutually beneficial to students, faculty and staff, the Ewing community, and the College. A decision was made this fall to temporarily suspend the off-campus component of the GetIt Card program to examine how shifts in customer usage of commercial credit/debit cards and recent advancements in campus technology have impacted the program.
During this time, TCNJ staff conducted an analysis of all aspects of the program. This included a forum with participating Ewing vendors, held in spring 2007. Additionally, surveys were distributed to vendors and the campus community to solicit feedback about the program. Data received indicated that while vendors were generally satisfied with the program, interest and usage levels varied. Families and students indicated that they were most interested in overall convenience when using this type of service. Feedback also revealed that more of our students/families prefer using debit and/or credit cards (many of which offer reward incentives) to pay for purchases rather than the GetIt Card.
The required upgrade to the College's technological infrastructure occurred during the fall 2007 semester. This upgrade impacted many services, including the GetIt Card functions. While the upgrade allows us to implement some enhancements to the present GetIt Card Off-Campus Vendor program, it also would result in additional costs and fees to vendors, such as the purchase and installation of new hardware.
It is our ultimate desire to offer services that are efficient, successful, and as important, mutually beneficial to the students, faculty and staff, Ewing community and to the College. Based on the information obtained, the GetIt Off-Campus Vendor program cannot fulfill these expectations. Thus, the College will permanently disband the program, effective January 2008.
We are seeking new opportunities for collaborations with Ewing businesses because merchants in Ewing Township are a great asset, providing valued goods and services as community partners. While the off-campus component of the GetIt program is no longer in use, your patronage is important, and we encourage all students, faculty, and staff to continue to take advantage of the wonderful businesses in our local community.
Labels: education
The Inspirational Words of Aunt May
I believe there’s a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most.
Even our dreams.
It's from
Spider-Man 2. I never, ever get tired of hearing this one. Maybe a little contrarian for an entrepreneur, though: you'd think the entrepreneur's dream is the start-up, right? But after all, we have to give up all other dreams we may have to be steady, honest and strong for the company that depends on us.
Labels: character
Making new friends via social networking
I ran across
a blogger named Scott Bradley who has thought long and hard about first contact in the social networking Web sites. Here's a summary of some of his most critical points:
- Of course, he starts off by sending the friend requests.
- But he follows up with a personal message. This is of course possible with the major social networking engines (e.g. Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace):
When sending the friend request put a message in there saying, "Hi _____(their name) I saw you in the _____________(name of the group) and wanted to add you as a friend. I am a (_______) (entrepreneur/business person...etc) who likes networking with other like minded individuals. If you would like to talk feel free to IM me on my screen name [...]. I hope you have a great day!
Here is his line of reasoning:
- You are just sending this message personally to the person saying their NAME...not just some huge message that you generally send out.
- You are edifying them that they are someone that is worth getting to know.
- Are showing them that you have an interest in networking.
- [You] give them the freedom to contact you if they are interested in talking more.
And he goes on to describe numerous random contacts he has gotten as a result. One key he does not emphasize, but that it it is obvious he holds on to, is that he believes so much in the power of the random contacts that he is always ready to move on them. To start a conversation on something relevant.
Now one thing that you have to be aware of...is that it takes a lot of requests for this to happen...but...those that do come to the surface are awesome people.
Those who use the dating Web sites know the same principles are working in meeting potential dates online, but I think we don't see how well the same principles apply with professional contacts. I have only just started to see it myself.
Labels: internet
The Many Weaknesses of MySpace
I weighed in on
LinkedIn not long ago, and I admit I was hasty in my assessment there. I'm gonna do up a new one. But now I want to address MySpace. It's absolutely terrible for most entrepreneurs. The biggest weakness you can see in this conversation I had with my daughter about it:
Ron: myspace question.
Ron: how can i search for keywords in a profile?
Ron: if i do a people search for a keyword, i only get a response if that keyword is in the member's "name." that thing over the photo.
Beth: i don't think its possible
Ron: i was afraid of that.
Ron: it's the biggest weakness in myspace.
Ron: i can't find the people i really wanna connect to without that ability.
Ron: even uncle roger, most of the friends we've gotten for him have come from other people's friends.
Ron: i just can't learn enough from a photo and a caption to tell who it is i want to network with.
But this is MOST people. I try to do a keyword search on MySpace, and I don't normally get keywords that appear in a member's profile. Most of the time, the keyword appears in the caption over the photo, as seen in the photos above, or in some sort of news article. So as a networking tool, I am left without search capability to assist me.
On the other hand, MySpace works pretty well for bands, and some authors and comedians. Because MySpace is designed for nearly random connecting between people, professions that depend on such randomness can flourish there. I can't. I can't even establish an identity.
Labels: recommendations
The Sentinel at the Gate of Success
A guy wrote me frustrated about being unable to get giant companies to advertise on his Web site. The exchange went something like this:
It's apparent the big manufacturers shield their marketing divisions from the real world... well it at least appears that way. So, how does a new corporation pierce those shields and get in contact with the decision makers?
Take PepsiCola... I would love to talk to these people about advertising on ScubaBoard. With over a million visitors each and every month, I think I provide a worthwhile venue for them to promote Pepsi and Scuba. The same can be said for Toyota and Rolex and... take your pick. So far, it has not only been difficult, but downright impossible to make these connections. How would YOU accomplish this?
With my response,
I tried this once before -- encouraging a start-up to send samples of its flagship product to 12 influential potential customers. It didn't cost them much, but they received a response from exactly none of them. The lesson we learned is one of perception: if an advertiser perceives itself to be bigger than you are, it will not be for you to approach them. You will come off looking like you have your hat in your hand looking for a handout. It is for them to approach you.
I still believe that you can reach them via influential customers. If you have (for instance) a celebrity -- even one -- who depends on your site for scuba information, that celebrity's testimonial will be enough to draw more advertisers, which will lead to a stronger set of customers, and the cycle continues. This is the result of viral marketing.
In short, your efforts will not be best spent trying to lure heavyweights (and pulling your hair out when they don't respond). Spend your time trying to build a buzz among those who love you already, and see if you can't lure an influential customer or two to speak out.
I'm not real satisfied with my answer. He isn't either. But there's more ground to cover before he can reel in a big name advertiser.
Labels: recommendations
Finally someone understands!
Ben Casnocha writes this in My Start-Up Life:Contrary to the typical media fantasy of yacht-cruising millionaires wheeling and dealing their way to the next big technology fortune, most entrepreneurship happens in quite ordinary circumstances. Dorm rooms, garages, kitchens, cafes... even bedrooms. Ordinary people, ordinary circumstances, ordinary conversations. But unusual passion. I have not yet finished this book, and it took me quite a while to get to it. But I am looking forward to giving it a full (and very favorable) review. | |
Labels: young entrepreneurs
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