Sorry to be the one to tell you. Unless you've got 60% market share, they really don't care. What they do care about, is them. So whenever you engage with the marketplace, make sure it's about them. Their hopes, their aspirations, their problems.
And if you don't believe me, think back to the last time you were at a social gathering. Did you ever run into a Penelope ? Did you run away? Will your customers?
And, truth be told, they still don't really care about you - even if you're the 800 lb. gorilla. They only care because they don't want you to roll over in your sleep and kill 'em.
When was the last time you heard anyone raving about their IBM PC? Their relationship with Microsoft? I'm sure there are many people who love doing business with both - but they love doing business with the people in the company ("Joe always takes care of me" "Susan really groks that code!") - not the gorilla.
And, then there are all the local offices of the Big Clueless Companies. The young salesman, Scott at Verizon, your local Comcast office, and so on. Local touch is always a deal maker (and breaker) regardless of your market share.
Posted by: Mary Schmidt | 16 July 2007 at 08:24 AM