Where do you start your Internet day?

So where do you start?

When you first jump online, what’s your ‘leaping off’ point? For many of us, it’s the usual suspects: Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Wikipedia. Oftentimes, it’s the default that came pre-loaded with our operating system.

A forgotten portal (home page) that may be making a comeback is MSN. Microsoft’s recently made some noise in the interactive space with its Bing search engine. Since Bing’s US launch in June of last year, Microsoft has increased its US search engine market share. According to Wikipedia, Bing increased its ‘search share’ from 8 percent to 11.3 percent in the last 6 months of 2009.

Microsoft first got into the search game in 1998, but was quickly dwarfed by Google and its meteoric rise. I am an avid Google user for searching, but I'd really like to see someone push the mighty company to make the search behemoth even more competitive. Maybe Microsoft's Bing is that answer. 

I’ve ‘tested’ other home pages over the years (iGoogle, My Yahoo), but I’ve stayed true to MSN.com. The others have certainly presented more appealing offerings from a usability, look and feel, and content standpoint, but MSN became familiar – and I’ve stuck with it.

I noticed something different during a recent visit to MSN.com. It was like someone moved my remote control – something just wasn’t right. A large ‘The new MSN is coming’ banner screamed at the top of the page: ‘CLICK ME’. I couldn’t resist.

So before I give my breakdown of this bright and shiny MSN.com, do me a favor and tell me 2 things:
1.    Where do you start your Internet day? Why?
2.    Check out the new (Preview) MSN and let me know what you think.

Stay tuned for next time when I’ll review the new and improved MSN.com.

Until next time,
Dan Naden

Hyatt's Lost Pines: THE place to vacation near Austin

Nestled amongst the 'Lost Pines' of Central Texas is a true gem -- the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa. My wife and I had a chance to chill for a few days at this beautiful, rustic destination.

I had visited this location once before for a convention, so I was very aware of the allure of the scenery. Being there for 'business' was good, but 'pleasure time' was 'AAAAAHHHHHHH'.

3 'experiences' soar to the top from a memorable weekend.

Giddy-up: It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and the Hyatt presents a litany of options for the 'relaxed' guest: rafting, archery, kayaking, and much more. The most appealing selection for us on that day was horseback riding. My wife and I had 'limited' rides under our belts, yet we loved the special trail ride adjacent to the majestic Wolfdancer Golf Club (next time -- I'll bring my clubs!). The people at 'Renegade Trailhead' were extremely helpful and kind to us horse riding 'newbies'.

S mores: Both nights of our stay offered a dessert that spells: OUTDOORS. Melt a marshmallow over the fire; surround it with a piece of decadent chocolate and a crunchy graham cracker and you've got a S MORE. Nothing equals Texas under the stars like munchin' a s more by a cracklin' fire. Unbelievable.

Trails in every direction: If you have a few days to visit the Lost Pines Resort, bring your hiking boots. Take a casual stroll alongside the lazy Colorado River or push your endurance with a longer push through the nearby McKinney Roughs Nature Park. The 'accommodations' are exceptional, but you'll be immediately drawn to the meandering trails at every turn.

I highly recommend the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa. As a 'customer', I was engaged and satisfied throughout my stay.

Oh, one last thing: Tell 'Scarface' (my horse) that I said 'hello'.

I can't wait to visit again soon.

Until next time,

Dan Naden

Learn how Southwest Airlines excels at e-mail marketing

Southwest Airlines is ALWAYS cited as a customer-focused, fun airline. When I fly Southwest, I know I’ll be uniquely surprised by the pleasant, cheery nature of everyone involved – from pilots to flight attendants and gate workers.

Amazingly, Southwest continues to deliver fantastic service at incomparable prices in the airline industry.

Everyone LOVES a deal (me included!!). I recently signed up for Southwest’s ‘Click ‘N Save’ newsletter in hopes that I could save some money. I’d like http://www.southwest.comhttp://www.southwest.comnothing better than to open an e-mail with huge discounts to far away exotic places, or perhaps a low rate to visit my brother or parents.

If you own any business (large or small), and are doing (or have thought of doing) e-mail marketing, there’s plenty to learn from Southwest Airlines.

1.    Subject Line
Let’s start with the subject line. If your ‘customers’ don’t like or don’t understand the subject line, they won’t open your e-mail – period. You may have the sharpest graphics or the ‘most slick, well-written copy known to man’ within the e-mail, but it is money wasted if the e-mail is not opened.

Southwest’s subject line: Say goodbye to winter with warm-weather travel

This particular e-mail’s open rate in snowy climates like Toledo, Detroit, Chicago, and Baltimore must have been HUGE as workers snuggle in for the long work week. I used to live up north. By mid-February, you are ready for the spring’s triumphant entrance. How many vacation hours do I have left?

2.    Call to action
Imagine that you’ve written a wonderful subject line like: Say goodbye to winter with warm-weather travel. Your customer is now taking time out of their busy day to read your e-mail. What are you going to do with those precious seconds?

Southwest nails it within their e-mail by stressing the urgency with ‘3 Days to Save’ and ‘Book by Thursday’. If you were ‘on the fence’ about vacationing, you are now convinced. It is time to pick up the phone and call the wife, husband, or significant other about those vacation plans NOW.

Southwest maximizes the brief window that they have with their customers by gently prodding: DO IT NOW.

3.    Pleasant
Sure, this is subjective, but this e-mail just puts you in a good mood for a Monday morning. The color scheme is very pleasing to the eye. Yes, you may have meetings all-day, but Southwest makes it very convenient to take a few minutes and book that vacation that you’ve been delaying for too long.

The imagery - from the wide-pan of the city of Sacramento to the lady lounging on the inner tube – pulls at our emotional strings. To put it bluntly, when I can picture myself in Sacramento, or floating on a tube in the ocean, I am ready to spend money.

Follow these 3 tips from Southwest Airlines and get your e-mail marketing on the right track.

Vacation anyone?

Until next time,
Dan Naden

Want an additive with that? HEB Adds Additech’s Fuel Service to its Gas Pumps.

I make it part of my weekly routine to fill up the ol’ Ford at the HEB. I stock up on groceries and then ‘fill er’ up’ at the ultra-convenient gas station – just about a touchdown pass away from the monstrous HEB.

A recent fill up had me mesmerized at the new Additech/HEB gas pumps. Yeah, I know, it takes a special kind of person to get excited about gas pumps.

HEB had recently ‘up-sized’ this gas station with a car wash. Now, they were hoping to ‘increase their share of wallet’ with a convenient ‘fuel additive’ service (right at the pump).

I’ve seen the ‘at the pump’ fuel additive service at numerous pumps around town, but it is new to the ‘very crowded’ HEB fill-up station. I’ve never personally ‘up-sized’ my car’s fill-up, but it has piqued my interest. I do have a suggestion that may convert more customers.

I have to ask:
Does a consumer really know that they need this?

If they don’t, how can HEB/Additech educate them that this is a must-have?

How can HEB/Additech push them to make this ‘impulse’ buy at the pump?

I have a suggestion for HEB. I believe this ‘hint’ would dramatically increase the ‘take rate’ on the additive service.

I would introduce a 3rd option (in between the entry-level and premium service). Currently, there are just two ‘fuel additive’ options to choose from on the screen.

By adding a 3rd option, you are establishing a middle ground that many consumers will gravitate towards. Most won’t pick the high-end option (do I really want to spend top-dollar on something I really don’t understand?) or the low-end option (will I get any benefit out of something so cheap?). The 3rd ‘middle’ option moves the ‘high-end’ down and the ‘low-end’ up, creating interest for people who probably weren’t inclined to ‘take the offer’.

This ‘theory’ is expertly presented in a book that I am reading titled: Predictably Irrational. If you are at all interested in how humans think (or sometimes don’t think!), you’ll want to give this a read. There are numerous examples cited that show how the slightest changing in pricing or pricing options can yield huge gains.

I’d love to see HEB and Additech add this option to their fuel pumps. I would think it would help drive more results in this new category for HEB. At the very least, they could ‘test and learn’ their way to better conversion rates in this new category.

Note: I am fascinated by the marketing/merchandising that is becoming commonplace on gas pumps.

In fact, I wrote about this very topic on Naden’s Corner a few years ago.

Until next time,

Dan Naden

Mighty Fine Hamburgers: Now That’s Good Eatin’

Mighty Fine Hamburgers: A lunch time place with a buzz that’s strong as an alarm clock at 6am.

When I visit a lunch-time venue, I usually evaluate it based on 3 criteria:
1.    Quality of food
2.    Cleanliness
3.    Atmosphere

Mighty Fine Hamburgers, located in North Austin’s Arbor walk shopping center, scores big on all counts.

Quality: I like a menu that’s simple and straightforward. MF Hamburgers does not disappoint. This place does not stray from burgers and dogs and it displays no reason to ‘branch out’. I had the burger and fries and loved it!  The burger, brimming with lettuce, tomato, and onions, was tasty and ‘right-sized’. It was a good size to slay my appetite, but did not ‘overdo it’.

Cleanliness: The floors were clean and the tables had that shiny ‘pull up a chair’ look. I was impressed that the staff was diligent and quick to clean a mess from a departed guest. Everything felt ‘FRESH and NEW’ about this establishment. Let’s hope time does not wear off these alluring characteristics.

Atmosphere: By 12:15pm on a weekday afternoon, this place was ALIVE. There wasn’t an empty seat in the house. Word has quickly spread that this place delivers a fine meal. From a ‘sneak peak’ into the burger prep area to the casual cafeteria-style tables, Mighty Fine Hamburgers puts a solid meal experience first and ‘accessories’ a distant second.

I give a BIG ‘thumbs up’ to Mighty Fine Hamburgers in Austin, Texas.

Note: Check out the Mighty Fine Video Remix:
It’s a short commercial clip that goes beyond clever.

Until next time,

Dan Naden
Naden's Corner

Yes, I know that this is the 2nd burger post in a row!!!