Chance Bliss » ecommerce http://www.chancebliss.com The strength of a GRIZZLY, the reflexes of a PUMA, and the wisdom of a MAN. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:55:59 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Marketing Genius? http://www.chancebliss.com/2009/02/27/marketing-genius/ http://www.chancebliss.com/2009/02/27/marketing-genius/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:07:55 +0000 admin http://www.chancebliss.com/?p=544 If you have ever worked with a marketing department, rarely does the word “genius” come to mind. However, I would like to tip my hat to the people who came up with the concept of coffee cake. Coffee cake is one example where just simply changing the name of something creates a completely new avenue.

I think this is how the that historical conversation went:

Marketer 1: “Dude, we are not selling enough cake!”

Marketer 2: “I know. I saw the numbers. My bonus is going to suck this year” [big sigh]

Marketer 1: “I don’t get it. Cake is awesome. So why aren’t people eating more of it?”

Marketer 2: “Maybe because there’s only a limited number of birthday parties in a year?”

Marketer 1: “Yeah. It’s not like people are going to eat cake for breakfast everyday. [big laugh]”

Marketer 2: “Wait just a minute! Said that again?” [light bulb appears]

Marketer 1: “People aren’t going to eat cake for breakfast.” [slowly]

Marketer 2: “Who says people can’t eat cake for breakfast?” [defiant tone]

Marketing 1: “That just might be crazy enough to work!” [fist pounding on the desk]

Marketer 2: “But we can’t call it just “Cake”. It needs something else. Something more breakfasty.” [scans room for some clue]

Marketer 1: “What about just “Breakfast Cake?” [raises finger in air as if it was a great idea]

Marketer 2: “Too generic.” [rolls eyes in contempt of co-worker]

Marketer 1: “Morning Loaf?…” [meek tone]

Marketer 2: “I leave one of those every morning after my first cup of coffee.” [big laugh]

Marketer 1: “Coffee Cake?” [grasping at straws]

Marketer 2: “That’s it! People love coffee, but they need something to stuff their fat faces with in the morning. Why can’t that be cake?” [the 2 marketers hi-five and the scene fades to black]

And the rest is goes down in delicious pastry history…

]]> http://www.chancebliss.com/2009/02/27/marketing-genius/feed/ 1 Ad Blocking Solution http://www.chancebliss.com/2009/01/26/new-ad-blocking-solution/ http://www.chancebliss.com/2009/01/26/new-ad-blocking-solution/#comments Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:20:57 +0000 admin http://www.chancebliss.com/?p=466 New total ad blocking solution!!!

My Screen Before – Riddled with Ads :(

photo3

My Screen After – Actual photo. Absolutely no image editing!

photo4

Web sites tested:

  • Yahoo
  • MSN
  • MSNBC
  • AOL

OS Compatibility:

  • Apple OS
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Linux
  • Amiga
  • Commodore 64 (Warning! Not Fully Tested)

Browser Compatibility:

  • Internet Explorer
  • Firefox
  • Opera
  • Safari
  • Chrome
  • Netscape Navigator
  • Mosaic

Awards

  • Winner of the 1st Annual 2009 “I could have thought of that!” Awards
  • More to come…
]]> http://www.chancebliss.com/2009/01/26/new-ad-blocking-solution/feed/ 2 “Read Full Article” button makes me read less http://www.chancebliss.com/2009/01/14/read-full-article-button-makes-me-read-less/ http://www.chancebliss.com/2009/01/14/read-full-article-button-makes-me-read-less/#comments Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:07:00 +0000 admin http://www.chancebliss.com/?p=419 This started on Yahoo a few months ago, but my frustration has finally boiled over to a point where I have to say something. The “Read Full Article” button on the majority of Yahoo’s new articles is quite possibly one of the dumbest features implemented by Yahoo. Instead of just scrolling down through the article, now you have to stop half way through to click “Read Full Article” to uncover the rest. This is especially annoying on an iPhone. Trying to click that little button is a hit or miss.

I’m assuming Yahoo did this to reveal the content at the bottom of the page. However, the stuff at the bottom is completely useless. It’s a mess of related search terms, user recommends, other related articles, RSS feeds, videos and of course, ads. In some cases the bottom area has more text than the actual news article itself.

This might prove to be the final nail in the coffin for Yahoo and me. Nice knowing you Yahoo. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

]]> http://www.chancebliss.com/2009/01/14/read-full-article-button-makes-me-read-less/feed/ 1 Sexy user manuals? http://www.chancebliss.com/2008/02/20/links-for-2008-02-20/ http://www.chancebliss.com/2008/02/20/links-for-2008-02-20/#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:48:07 +0000 admin http://www.chancebliss.com/2008/02/20/links-for-2008-02-20/ I’ve written my fair share of user manuals, help sections and FAQs. Very few people actually read them, but maybe that’s because they’re not sexy enough. Kathy Sierra of Creating Passionate Users explains how creating beautiful manuals will create passionate customers. Here’s an example I mocked up. Enjoy.

sexy_manual2.jpg

 

]]> http://www.chancebliss.com/2008/02/20/links-for-2008-02-20/feed/ 0 Links for 2008-02-13 http://www.chancebliss.com/2008/02/13/links-for-2008-02-13/ http://www.chancebliss.com/2008/02/13/links-for-2008-02-13/#comments Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:24:39 +0000 admin http://www.chancebliss.com/?p=7 Why Amazon sells used diapers (and Diapers.com doesn’t)
This is an great article from Mark Hurst of Good Experience on how small details can create buyer confusion with hilarious results. I’ve always noticed how Amazon tries to shoe horn every product into the same template. Consistency in layout and function is a nice virtue, but it must be applied with common sense. What works for selling a lawn mowers might not work for diapers.

The Rock sounds like Barack
Someone in the office pointed this out to me. They really do sound the same. Too bad Huckabee doesn’t sound like Chuck Norris. He could roundhouse kick McCain in the head.

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