By: Beth VanStory and Jennifer Apy
Getting new residents and their families to become aware of and consider your senior living facility is neither easy nor cheap to do – which is why it’s absolutely critical to converting as many of those who contact you as possible.
Fri, Oct 1, 2021 — Why innovate? Your business depends on it. By Angus Robertson, Ahmet Abaci and Beth Somplatsky-Martori In the first blogs in this series, we talked about how to get started with innovation and ideation, and building a business case – essential components in what we are calling the “Stage Gate Lite” approach to fostering and accelerating new product and service ideas within your organization. Now it’s time to talk about what happens when the rubber hits the road. And trust us – this can be a very messy part of the process. We are reminded of a quote from that famous innovation guru, Mike Tyson, who once said that “everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” At this point, though you may have some glancing blows aimed in your direction, we hope in this blog to give you some processes on how to handle this turmoil and maintain your course.
Fri, Jun 25, 2021 — In case you hadn’t noticed by the amount of extra cash you’ve had to spend at the gas pump, in stores, or with your vendors, inflation is back – with a vengeance. According to U.S. Labor Department stats just published, inflation pushed up to 5 percent for the 12 months ended May 31 – a 13-year high. For many marketers who have spent the past 18 months riding a stomach-turning economic roller coaster, this news may seem hard to understand – or to put into context.
Thu, Jun 10, 2021 — Part 4: Business Case – The Second Phase Gate By Angus Robertson, Ahmet Abaci and Beth Somplatsky-Martori As we prepare to discuss the second phase gate needed to validate your new product idea – the business case – first, a juicy story. You may remember a while back hearing of a new company that was going to revolutionize the process of delivering freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices to the masses. Named Juicero, the product hinged on a Keurig-like drink machine that would turn bespoke packets of fresh ingredients into the kind of juice you’d get from an extractor – without the mess and the need to raid the local farmer’s market.
Thu, Jun 3, 2021 — Part 3: Concept Development – The First Phase Gate By Angus Robertson, Ahmet Abaci and Beth Somplatsky-Martori It takes more than luck, randomness, or the alignment of the stars to achieve success. Reaching our more earth-bound goals requires studious planning, hard work – and the ability to narrow our focus in the face of the shiny objects that compete for our attention
Fri, May 28, 2021 — Part 2: Harnessing Entrepreneurial Energy For Improved Success By Angus Robertson, Ahmet Abaci and Beth Somplatsky-Martori The road to nowhere is littered with loose ends: Half-finished projects, great ideas that died on the vine, and wasted resources that chipped away at profitability and the bottom line. In a world where startup energy and entrepreneurship are prized, there certainly is no lack of passion about that “one great thing” that is going to transform the company and change the world.
Tue, Dec 29, 2020 — In my younger years, I loved the thrill of a challenging winter rock and ice climb. I found one at Maiden Cliff, which rises 800 feet above a lake in Maine. In late winter, sun-melted snow joins with natural seepage, freezes overnight, and creates giant icicles attached to the rock. What the sun helps to create, it also taketh away. Ice that is climbable with reasonable safety in shade can, after direct sun gets on it, soften, break away from the rock, or simply melt.
Thu, Dec 3, 2020 — The initial success of many small to mid-sized companies comes from an innovative product or service they developed. Passionately designed, promoted, and differentiated from competitors, it resonated with their customers. However, despite this early excitement and success, many companies fail to maintain a focus on innovation. Markets, customer needs, and technology are constantly changing. Those that recognize this and respond will drive growth and ensure a sustainable business for years to come.
Wed, Nov 4, 2020 — “If the people don’t want to come out to the ballpark, nobody’s going to stop them.” -Yogi Berra A powerful, sales-producing change that most companies can make quickly: Find messaging that is not working very well, and replace it. This is especially important when marketing an innovation.
Thu, Apr 2, 2020 — With the right vision, appropriate resources, and more than a sprinkle of luck, a really good idea can quickly become a sensational success. When that happens, as late-night comedian John Oliver might say, such an idea becomes “a thing.” Unfortunately, when a good idea becomes “a thing” — like the product equivalent of John, Paul, George, and Ringo – the quality can suffer if too many producers try to put their imprint on the hit record. The idea can get watered down, generalized, and misused.