When we came up with the idea of Moosecatch we wanted to find an effective way for local store owners to communicate with their customers in a way even the customers would benefit from. On the journey we realized the service is as effective for any business, be it big or small, local or global, broad or niche.
The idea of what to do with our services however remains the same. Here it is:
Keep your customers updated
People shop your store because they like what you have to offer. But, unless you don’t have that prime location in the big street they won’t be able to keep up with new arrivals, markdowns or new services. How many times haven’t you, when shopping for yourself, been disappointed when those great shoes were left in all sizes but your own? Only because you didn’t know they had arrived in the first place.
If people like your stuff – help them! With microupdates on what you unpacked today, that the chairs in the window are marked down or that you start selling stuff from a young up-and-coming Belgian designer. Your customers want to know!
Create a VIP club
Everyone wants to be special. To get those offers, invites and pieces of information no one else get. Why not use that? Dare to address not everybody for little but a few for a lot. Invite your favorite customers to cocktails, pre-sales, trunk shows and special markdowns. With Moosecatch you can reach people on the move, using text messaging (SMS), which opens up for spontaneous ideas. And, remember. Nothing spreads to others such as limited offers.
Establish last-minute service
The travel industry has understood this for years. But last-minutes-deals make sense even if you’re a hairdresser, a massage therapist, run a playhouse, cinema or a local boat business. We guess there are over thousands other examples out there. If only your offers are good enough a microupdate in the right time will be highly appreciated.
Offer special deals
2 for 1. 10 percent off, Cut VAT, get a free gift etc, etc. There are a lot of special deals that if used wisely can generate traffic to your store. As Moosecatch use text messaging it’s a great way for Internet based coupons. Our advice is to limit your offers and don’t sprinkle the all over. Everyone wants to be special.
4/09/2009
The moose is loose!
We're live and public. Still in what we call private beta - there are some bugs and bees that have to be fixed - but the site works as it should for anyone who wants to use it.
With Moosecatch you can do this:
Check out our own updates at http://www.moosecatch.com/moosecatch
With Moosecatch you can do this:
- Get your own microupdates site ready in minutes
- Send short and fast news on sales, events, new arrivals, sudden changes etc, etc.
- Reach customers by text/SMS, email, RSS, social networks (like Twitter and Facebook) and on your own Moosecatch site
- Let the customers share the messages with friends using exactly the same tools
- Display the messages on your own homepage
Check out our own updates at http://www.moosecatch.com/moosecatch
4/03/2009
Social media is the answer - but what was the question?
In a panel discussion at Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco the enterprise use of social media were discussed by the ubiquitous social media researchers Jeremiah Owyang, Charlene Li and Peter Kim. The discussion is perfectly summerized in blog posts by Jennifer Legio and Lauren McKay.
The conclusions may feel familiar. Companies, especially the senior management, need to understand what social media is really about. It's not about campaigns it's about relations. Great use of social media demands cultural change.... The bottom line, as so often in marketing: To few companies understand.
Or. Is it researchers that don't understand? And social media geeks?
In the end of the day good marketing communication is about addressing the customer's needs in a way that make them buy as often, as much and as pricy as possible. A dialogue can't be a goal, it's a mean.
Made with enthusiasm and passion a Facebook group can be a great asset for brand building, word-of-mouth and dialogue. Same thing goes for Twitter or Myspace .
But a lot of customers don't care about you that much they will be friends of yours on Facebook. Often they may care but they rather want to visit your store, hang out with other customers in real life, listen to good music, shop great stuff and feel pampered. After all that's why you invest in your store, isn't it?
At Moosecatch we love social media. We love the dialogue with friends, business partners and our future customers. But we think it's to important to make it fit in any company, in any situation. Because it doesn't. Goal first, means then.
The conclusions may feel familiar. Companies, especially the senior management, need to understand what social media is really about. It's not about campaigns it's about relations. Great use of social media demands cultural change.... The bottom line, as so often in marketing: To few companies understand.
Or. Is it researchers that don't understand? And social media geeks?
In the end of the day good marketing communication is about addressing the customer's needs in a way that make them buy as often, as much and as pricy as possible. A dialogue can't be a goal, it's a mean.
Made with enthusiasm and passion a Facebook group can be a great asset for brand building, word-of-mouth and dialogue. Same thing goes for Twitter or Myspace .
But a lot of customers don't care about you that much they will be friends of yours on Facebook. Often they may care but they rather want to visit your store, hang out with other customers in real life, listen to good music, shop great stuff and feel pampered. After all that's why you invest in your store, isn't it?
At Moosecatch we love social media. We love the dialogue with friends, business partners and our future customers. But we think it's to important to make it fit in any company, in any situation. Because it doesn't. Goal first, means then.
4/01/2009
Moosecatch vs Twitter
Here is a great down-to-earth story on how retailers can use Twitter in their marketing. Not least it comes with some great examples. More and more enterprises are using Twitter and some are very successful in doing it. With Twitter you can stay in touch with your customers and keep them updated with special offers, new products etc. Twitter is great for dialogue and feedback.
So what tiny whole in the market is Moosecatch trying to fill out?
Moosecatch will serve retailers and service outlets with microupdates just like Twitter. But without obligation for the user to register. Instead users can chose any channel they like: email, text (SMS), RSS or just by visiting your company's Moosecatch site from time to time. The information can also be feeded to your regular homepage.
The reason for this? Most people don't use Twitter. Most people do not even use Facebook. But still there is a whole bunch of customers who want to know what's happening in your store.
With Moosecatch there is no dialogue. So it's not good for feedback. If you want feedback or get to know your customers better, use Twitter, Facebook or any other social network where it's likely a great deal of your customers will hang out.
Use Moosecatch to send great offers, updates about new arrivals, new events, 2 for 1 or last minute deals. Everything you know your customers will be truly happy about and sad to miss.
Then, if your customers like what you have to offer, Moosecatch makes it super easy for them to share it with their friends.
Remember. We are the moose moving your catch.
So what tiny whole in the market is Moosecatch trying to fill out?
Moosecatch will serve retailers and service outlets with microupdates just like Twitter. But without obligation for the user to register. Instead users can chose any channel they like: email, text (SMS), RSS or just by visiting your company's Moosecatch site from time to time. The information can also be feeded to your regular homepage.
The reason for this? Most people don't use Twitter. Most people do not even use Facebook. But still there is a whole bunch of customers who want to know what's happening in your store.
With Moosecatch there is no dialogue. So it's not good for feedback. If you want feedback or get to know your customers better, use Twitter, Facebook or any other social network where it's likely a great deal of your customers will hang out.
Use Moosecatch to send great offers, updates about new arrivals, new events, 2 for 1 or last minute deals. Everything you know your customers will be truly happy about and sad to miss.
Then, if your customers like what you have to offer, Moosecatch makes it super easy for them to share it with their friends.
Remember. We are the moose moving your catch.
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