Expert insights. Personalized for you.
A security lapse at online grocery delivery startup Mercato exposed tens of thousands of customer orders, TechCrunch has learned. The company fixed the data spill, but has not yet alerted its customers. MORE
a downtown-based fintech startup, is adapting to the Covid-19 crisis by helping its customers adapt Finli Inc., MORE
It reminds us that our customers, especially early adapters, must want to continue to use our products to the extent that they “would be very disappointed” if unable to do so in the future. The post Your “drop dead” question for a customer survey first appeared on BERKONOMICS. MORE
Your customers know what they want more than you do. This week’s insight came from personal experience and from a good friend who advanced the notion of the “teacher-customer” years ago. I internalized this phrase, recalling the many times I had partnered with customers to design new feature-functionality into my hotel computer system back when such systems were brand new to the industry. The customer would be the first to receive the new functionality in a new release. MORE
Is your marketing focus product-centric or customer-centric ? With a wealth of products now available, customers look for the most memorable experience , not just the best product. Amazon is very customer-centric, but it can make all the difference in retail as well as online. One of the keys to a successful customer-centric strategy is understanding and measuring your customers lifetime value (CLV), since customers are definitely not all the same. MORE
The world keeps changing, and visible business strategies that worked well in the past, including being the premium brand or low price producer, simply don’t get the customer loyalty they once did. Today, customers are looking for real relationships, a memorable shopping experience, and satisfaction of a higher purpose. What you say in your mission statement means nothing unless customers see you and your team living it every day. Highly focused customer segment targeting. MORE
Santa Monica-based Invoca , which provides call tracking and analytics software, says a new study it ran shows that website experience and customer experience has become much more important in the era of COVID-19, particularly in big ticket purchases. The company is in the business of providing tools to help companies with customer support and call tracking to support companies with customer support. invoca covid19 customer support software call analytics MORE
Thursday, January 24, 2019 -- TCVN Program: Customer Development. Who is your customer? Join other entrepreneurs for a detailed workshop that will give you a different perspective on how to find and keep customers. TCVN now features four educational tracks in four specific areas. MORE
They forget that adapting their company and themselves as their customers evolve is the key to long-term survival. Think of Blockbuster and Toys ‘R’ Us , both of whom missed customer changes and the move to online. Create an overt strategy to react to emerging customer trends. MORE
Irvine-based CloudBlue , which develops a platform to let telecommunications companies, technology distributors, managed service providers, and others to sell cloud and digital services, reported a win today with HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC). According to CloudBlue, HGC will use its platform to power the "HGC Marketplace". Financial details of the win were not announced. CloudBlue is owned by Ingram Micro. MORE
Santa Barbara-based Yardi , which develops real estate management software, reported over the holidays that it has been selected by a customer in Singapore. yardi real estate management software customerAccording to Yardi, JMD Group of Companies will manage its real estate assets with Yardi Voyager, Yardi's cloud-based propert management and accounting software. Financial impacts of the deal were not announced. READ MORE>>. MORE
Attracting the right customers is the key to success in business, whether you have a new startup or a mature enterprise. These days, branding is less about products or solutions, and more about the overall customer experience and expectations. MORE
Today’s customers demand more than a good product; they expect a great customer experience. A few companies are leading the way, including Apple with their iPad and iPhone, offering irresistible stores with friendly experts, elegant packaging, and customer service that never ends. MORE
Entrepreneurs and business executives seem to be even more focused on their technology than the rest of us, and less inclined to listen to the voice of the customer, even if they remember to ask. I doubt if any of these are really listening to their customers. MORE
Los Angeles-based legal software developer American LegalNet is reporting a new customer win this morning, with law firm Blank Rome LLP. american legalnet legal customer software docket calendarAmerican LegalNet said Blank Rome LLP has purchased its eDockets court-rules-based calendaring and docketing systems software, as well as Docket Direct local/federal court feeds and Smart Dockets court date calculator app. Financial impact of the win was not announced. MORE
Much has been written recently about the requirement to focus today on the total customer experience, as a competitive edge or even for survival. Traditionally, you just worried about the quality of the sales transaction (price, speed, service), but the “customer experience” now includes ease of pre-sale shopping, post-sale support, with a connected relationship throughout. Delight customers with personally tailored options. MORE
Los Angeles-based financial software developer BlackLine said on Thursday that it has expanded its customer base, adding such notable customers as Volvo, Waymo, AstraZeneca, the operator of Applebee's, and many others to its list of 2,700 companies who are using its products. plus international customers such as AstraZeneca, Aviva, Blue Prism, Chorus New Zealand, NHS National Services Scotland, Volvo Car Group and Western Power. MORE
Repeat customers, raving fans, angry backlashers, commodity shoppers. Here’s another way to look at the ladder to an ideal customer loyalty relationship. Customers hate this, especially when they have a complaint. I am not suggesting that you create a competitor, only that if this is the case, you should find a way to exceed customer expectations greatly. You don’t want your customers to buy strictly because you have become their “habit of comfort.”. MORE
San Diego-based Cubic Corporation said this week that it has named Min Wei as the company's Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. Cubic, which provides services to the transportation, defense, and training markets, said that Wei will lead a new customer experience function, handling global quality, configuration management, logistics support and customer experience. cubic chief customer officer executive MORE
With the advent of the Internet, social media, and instant communication via texting, customer expectations for service, as part of their entire customer experience, have changed. They expect you to be there, to know their history as a customer, and to treat them with priority and respect. Everyone today is looking for a knock-your-socks-off customer experience, and they know the best companies out there are already doing it. Company finds customers based on interests. MORE
First customers are critical. Your first customers for any product or service form your reference base, the important group of allies that your marketing and sales people rely upon when attempting to create buzz and make a mass market for a new product. If the product or service is especially complex or expensive, send someone from sales or marketing or even R&D to the customer location at the moment of first use. Make your customer a partner in the process. MORE
Foothill Ranch-based iBASEt, a developer of software for the manufacturing sector, said this week that it has named both a new Chief Customer Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The company said it has promoted Scott Baril to the Chief Customer Officer role, and named Daniel de Haas as its new Chief Financial Officer. MORE
Contrary to popular opinion, viral marketing has not eliminated the need for old-fashioned lead generation to bring customers to a startup. Display ads on mobile devices, including video and audio, also offer a new opportunity to reach target customers. MORE
Entrepreneurs have always believed that their product or service must show real value to customers, but today the smart ones are even able to make their marketing valuable. Customers don’t even see this as advertising. Customers relate to other humans and relationships. MORE
For decades, efforts to satisfy customers have been built around demographics – capitalizing on race, ethnicity, gender, income, and other attributes. Customer personalities define customer experience, and sets what they love, and what they hate. MORE
Yet, these days, I am seeing overwhelming evidence that customer buying decisions, especially with consumers, are often based on emotional and psychological factors , including passions from others, your experience, and social relationships. Highlight benevolence to customers and society. MORE
Today’s customers are much more in control of their buying decision, as they have more choices and more information than ever before. Bloom’s classic book, “ The New Experts: Win Today's Newly Empowered Customers.” This new world is all about empowered customers. MORE
Most leaders agree that poor customer service is a business killer today, in terms of lost customers, reduced profits, and low morale. Yet the average perception of customer experience has not improved. Know your customers intimately. MORE
Los Angeles-based SteelHouse , which develops online retargeting and advertising software, has named Rory Mitchell as Chief Customer Officer (CCO) at the company. steelhouse chief customer offier executive retargeting advertising softwareMitchell was previously VP of Client Success at SteelHouse, where he has been for less than a year. According to SteelHouse, Mitchell has over 17 years of experience in the area, and was previously at Experian Marketing Services. MORE
Santa Monica-based secure messaging app developer TigerText , which provides secured text messaging for the enterprise and healthcare markets, has signed up a customer in Chicago. tigertext chicago secure messaging texting healthcare enterprise customerTigerText said that Chicago Cardiology Institute (CCI), which treats cardiovascular disease in Illinois, has deployed the company's secure messaging products as part of a HIPAA compliance effort. MORE
New generations of customers respond better to the “ participative ” approach, where they get to provide input via social media and the Internet. You should be constantly trying new approaches via social media and online, and asking for feedback and input from influencers and customers. MORE
Most businesses spend big money testing their brand logo, catchy marketing phrases, and demographics, but spend little time training and validating that their employees can and do deliver exceptional experiences to their customers. The result, according to an often-quoted Gallup survey , is 70 percent of workers not fully engaged, and poor customer experiences. Keep your team happy to create engaged customers. An unhappy team member can’t create an engaged customer. MORE
Most startups are happy to find any customer, and will hang on for dear life to every one. Every smart entrepreneur needs to realize that trying to treat every customer the same, with limited resources, may mean that you are treating them all poorly, or at least limiting your own growth. MORE
Gemist Inc. wants to bring the bling direct to consumers MORE
Too many business owners still think of “ customer support ” as an after-sale process to rectify customer problems with completed transactions. With the advent of instant communication and social media, customer service starts at the first hint of interest by you, and never ends for repeat customers. One bad customer experience will kill not only one customer, but many future ones, who hear the message via social media and friends. MORE
Los Angeles-based TaskUs , which provides outsourced customer support and other back-end support for technology companies, said today that it has named Jarrod Johnson as Chief Customer Officer. johnson jarrod technology executive officer customer chief taskusJohnson was previously SVP of Sales at TaskUs, and will be based in the company's Dallas offices. Johnson also had served at ACS and IBM. MORE
Having the best solution is a good start these days, but a solution alone is no longer enough to keep customer attention and loyalty. Your competition is global, so today’s customers are demanding world-class service. Tie customer experience to all compensation and recognition. MORE
One of your employees is approached by an employee of a customer or of a supplier, stating that “It sure would be great to work in your company.” The recruitment traps. It has happened to all of us who have been leaders in business long enough. MORE
As an advisor to entrepreneurs, I find that I often have to remind them that the world of customers has changed since they started their last business. Pushing yourself on customers by touting features and price doesn’t work anymore. Rethink every process from a customer perspective. MORE
For decades, efforts to satisfy customers have been built around demographics – capitalizing on race, ethnicity, gender, income, and other attributes. Customer personalities define customer experience, and sets what they love, and what they hate. Even businesses with highly specialized market segments will find it more effective and simpler to focus on who customers are as people, rather than the “what” of their demographic attributes. MORE
Los Angeles-based Centerfield , a company which provides marketing and customer acquisition to the residential services, business services, and telecommunications markets, says it has launched a new product, called Insights by Scout. According to the company, the new product provides customer intelligence, and is part of its Dugout platform to automate customer acquisition for its customers. centerfield customer acquisition marketing services analytics MORE
As a long-time business executive and adviser to entrepreneurs, I see a definitive shift away from customer trust in traditional business messages, and the executives who deliver them. Customers these days are turned off by timeless safe messages, delivered repeatedly on traditional media. MORE
Los Angeles-based fintech startup Dave , which offers up an online banking service which helps users build their credit, announced on Thursday that it has named Mia Alexander as its new VP of Customer Experience. Alexander was most recently VP of Customer Experience at Green Dot, where she had been for over 16 years. According to Dave, Alexander will oversee the entire customer lifecycle of its 3.8 million customers. MORE
Today’s customers are overloaded and overwhelmed by too much information, so making a decision is a challenge. You may think this is only important to your marketing and sales people, but in reality it doesn’t matter how great your product or technology might be, you won’t succeed if you don’t understand your target customer decision process. No matter how certain you are that your solution perfectly matches customer needs, you will be wrong. MORE
Customer Related Topics 
Startup Professionals Musings
APRIL 14, 2021
Yet, these days, I am seeing overwhelming evidence that customer buying decisions, especially with consumers, are often based on emotional and psychological factors , including passions from others, your experience, and social relationships. Highlight benevolence to customers and society.
Startup Professionals Musings
FEBRUARY 21, 2021
Most startups are happy to find any customer, and will hang on for dear life to every one. Every smart entrepreneur needs to realize that trying to treat every customer the same, with limited resources, may mean that you are treating them all poorly, or at least limiting your own growth.
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Startup Professionals Musings
DECEMBER 23, 2020
Today’s customers demand more than a good product; they expect a great customer experience. A few companies are leading the way, including Apple with their iPad and iPhone, offering irresistible stores with friendly experts, elegant packaging, and customer service that never ends.
Berkonomics
MARCH 11, 2021
It reminds us that our customers, especially early adapters, must want to continue to use our products to the extent that they “would be very disappointed” if unable to do so in the future. The post Your “drop dead” question for a customer survey first appeared on BERKONOMICS.
Startup Professionals Musings
JANUARY 8, 2021
Most leaders agree that poor customer service is a business killer today, in terms of lost customers, reduced profits, and low morale. Yet the average perception of customer experience has not improved. Know your customers intimately.
Berkonomics
JULY 27, 2017
Your customers know what they want more than you do. This week’s insight came from personal experience and from a good friend who advanced the notion of the “teacher-customer” years ago. I internalized this phrase, recalling the many times I had partnered with customers to design new feature-functionality into my hotel computer system back when such systems were brand new to the industry. The customer would be the first to receive the new functionality in a new release.
Startup Professionals Musings
DECEMBER 13, 2020
Having the best solution is a good start these days, but a solution alone is no longer enough to keep customer attention and loyalty. Your competition is global, so today’s customers are demanding world-class service. Tie customer experience to all compensation and recognition.
Berkonomics
AUGUST 3, 2017
First customers are critical. Your first customers for any product or service form your reference base, the important group of allies that your marketing and sales people rely upon when attempting to create buzz and make a mass market for a new product. If the product or service is especially complex or expensive, send someone from sales or marketing or even R&D to the customer location at the moment of first use. Make your customer a partner in the process.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 22, 2020
Entrepreneurs have always believed that their product or service must show real value to customers, but today the smart ones are even able to make their marketing valuable. Customers don’t even see this as advertising. Customers relate to other humans and relationships.
Startup Professionals Musings
JANUARY 29, 2020
Entrepreneurs and business executives seem to be even more focused on their technology than the rest of us, and less inclined to listen to the voice of the customer, even if they remember to ask. I doubt if any of these are really listening to their customers.
socalTECH
FEBRUARY 19, 2021
Foothill Ranch-based iBASEt, a developer of software for the manufacturing sector, said this week that it has named both a new Chief Customer Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The company said it has promoted Scott Baril to the Chief Customer Officer role, and named Daniel de Haas as its new Chief Financial Officer.
socalTECH
MARCH 6, 2020
San Diego-based Cubic Corporation said this week that it has named Min Wei as the company's Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. Cubic, which provides services to the transportation, defense, and training markets, said that Wei will lead a new customer experience function, handling global quality, configuration management, logistics support and customer experience. cubic chief customer officer executive
socalTECH
MAY 2, 2019
Los Angeles-based financial software developer BlackLine said on Thursday that it has expanded its customer base, adding such notable customers as Volvo, Waymo, AstraZeneca, the operator of Applebee's, and many others to its list of 2,700 companies who are using its products. plus international customers such as AstraZeneca, Aviva, Blue Prism, Chorus New Zealand, NHS National Services Scotland, Volvo Car Group and Western Power.
Berkonomics
NOVEMBER 24, 2016
Repeat customers, raving fans, angry backlashers, commodity shoppers. Here’s another way to look at the ladder to an ideal customer loyalty relationship. Customers hate this, especially when they have a complaint. I am not suggesting that you create a competitor, only that if this is the case, you should find a way to exceed customer expectations greatly. You don’t want your customers to buy strictly because you have become their “habit of comfort.”.
Startup Professionals Musings
SEPTEMBER 25, 2020
The world keeps changing, and visible business strategies that worked well in the past, including being the premium brand or low price producer, simply don’t get the customer loyalty they once did. Today, customers are looking for real relationships, a memorable shopping experience, and satisfaction of a higher purpose. What you say in your mission statement means nothing unless customers see you and your team living it every day. Highly focused customer segment targeting.
Startup Professionals Musings
NOVEMBER 17, 2018
For decades, efforts to satisfy customers have been built around demographics – capitalizing on race, ethnicity, gender, income, and other attributes. Customer personalities define customer experience, and sets what they love, and what they hate. Even businesses with highly specialized market segments will find it more effective and simpler to focus on who customers are as people, rather than the “what” of their demographic attributes.
Startup Professionals Musings
JANUARY 11, 2020
They forget that adapting their company and themselves as their customers evolve is the key to long-term survival. Think of Blockbuster and Toys ‘R’ Us , both of whom missed customer changes and the move to online. Create an overt strategy to react to emerging customer trends.
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 29, 2021
New generations of customers respond better to the “ participative ” approach, where they get to provide input via social media and the Internet. You should be constantly trying new approaches via social media and online, and asking for feedback and input from influencers and customers.
Startup Professionals Musings
FEBRUARY 3, 2020
Today’s customers are much more in control of their buying decision, as they have more choices and more information than ever before. Bloom’s classic book, “ The New Experts: Win Today's Newly Empowered Customers.” This new world is all about empowered customers.
L.A. Business Journal
MAY 18, 2020
a downtown-based fintech startup, is adapting to the Covid-19 crisis by helping its customers adapt Finli Inc.,
socalTECH
JANUARY 2, 2020
Santa Barbara-based Yardi , which develops real estate management software, reported over the holidays that it has been selected by a customer in Singapore. yardi real estate management software customerAccording to Yardi, JMD Group of Companies will manage its real estate assets with Yardi Voyager, Yardi's cloud-based propert management and accounting software. Financial impacts of the deal were not announced. READ MORE>>.
socalTECH
MAY 29, 2015
Santa Monica-based secure messaging app developer TigerText , which provides secured text messaging for the enterprise and healthcare markets, has signed up a customer in Chicago. tigertext chicago secure messaging texting healthcare enterprise customerTigerText said that Chicago Cardiology Institute (CCI), which treats cardiovascular disease in Illinois, has deployed the company's secure messaging products as part of a HIPAA compliance effort.
socalTECH
AUGUST 9, 2019
Los Angeles-based fintech startup Dave , which offers up an online banking service which helps users build their credit, announced on Thursday that it has named Mia Alexander as its new VP of Customer Experience. Alexander was most recently VP of Customer Experience at Green Dot, where she had been for over 16 years. According to Dave, Alexander will oversee the entire customer lifecycle of its 3.8 million customers.
TechCrunch LA
APRIL 14, 2021
A security lapse at online grocery delivery startup Mercato exposed tens of thousands of customer orders, TechCrunch has learned. The company fixed the data spill, but has not yet alerted its customers.
Startup Professionals Musings
APRIL 1, 2020
Attracting the right customers is the key to success in business, whether you have a new startup or a mature enterprise. These days, branding is less about products or solutions, and more about the overall customer experience and expectations.
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 4, 2019
Is your marketing focus product-centric or customer-centric ? With a wealth of products now available, customers look for the most memorable experience , not just the best product. Amazon is very customer-centric, but it can make all the difference in retail as well as online. One of the keys to a successful customer-centric strategy is understanding and measuring your customers lifetime value (CLV), since customers are definitely not all the same.
Startup Professionals Musings
JUNE 5, 2019
Too many business owners still think of “ customer support ” as an after-sale process to rectify customer problems with completed transactions. With the advent of instant communication and social media, customer service starts at the first hint of interest by you, and never ends for repeat customers. One bad customer experience will kill not only one customer, but many future ones, who hear the message via social media and friends.
socalTECH
APRIL 25, 2018
Los Angeles-based TaskUs , which provides outsourced customer support and other back-end support for technology companies, said today that it has named Jarrod Johnson as Chief Customer Officer. johnson jarrod technology executive officer customer chief taskusJohnson was previously SVP of Sales at TaskUs, and will be based in the company's Dallas offices. Johnson also had served at ACS and IBM.
Berkonomics
JANUARY 9, 2020
One of your employees is approached by an employee of a customer or of a supplier, stating that “It sure would be great to work in your company.” The recruitment traps. It has happened to all of us who have been leaders in business long enough.
socalTECH
OCTOBER 12, 2020
Santa Monica-based Invoca , which provides call tracking and analytics software, says a new study it ran shows that website experience and customer experience has become much more important in the era of COVID-19, particularly in big ticket purchases. The company is in the business of providing tools to help companies with customer support and call tracking to support companies with customer support. invoca covid19 customer support software call analytics
socalTECH
SEPTEMBER 19, 2019
Los Angeles-based Centerfield , a company which provides marketing and customer acquisition to the residential services, business services, and telecommunications markets, says it has launched a new product, called Insights by Scout. According to the company, the new product provides customer intelligence, and is part of its Dugout platform to automate customer acquisition for its customers. centerfield customer acquisition marketing services analytics
Startup Professionals Musings
JANUARY 5, 2020
As an advisor to entrepreneurs, I find that I often have to remind them that the world of customers has changed since they started their last business. Pushing yourself on customers by touting features and price doesn’t work anymore. Rethink every process from a customer perspective.
socalTECH
AUGUST 29, 2016
Los Angeles-based legal software developer American LegalNet is reporting a new customer win this morning, with law firm Blank Rome LLP. american legalnet legal customer software docket calendarAmerican LegalNet said Blank Rome LLP has purchased its eDockets court-rules-based calendaring and docketing systems software, as well as Docket Direct local/federal court feeds and Smart Dockets court date calculator app. Financial impact of the win was not announced.
L.A. Business Journal
AUGUST 3, 2020
Gemist Inc. wants to bring the bling direct to consumers
socalTECH
AUGUST 19, 2019
Irvine-based CloudBlue , which develops a platform to let telecommunications companies, technology distributors, managed service providers, and others to sell cloud and digital services, reported a win today with HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC). According to CloudBlue, HGC will use its platform to power the "HGC Marketplace". Financial details of the win were not announced. CloudBlue is owned by Ingram Micro.
socalTECH
AUGUST 1, 2018
Los Angeles-based SteelHouse , which develops online retargeting and advertising software, has named Rory Mitchell as Chief Customer Officer (CCO) at the company. steelhouse chief customer offier executive retargeting advertising softwareMitchell was previously VP of Client Success at SteelHouse, where he has been for less than a year. According to SteelHouse, Mitchell has over 17 years of experience in the area, and was previously at Experian Marketing Services.
SoCal Tech Calendar
JANUARY 23, 2019
Thursday, January 24, 2019 -- TCVN Program: Customer Development. Who is your customer? Join other entrepreneurs for a detailed workshop that will give you a different perspective on how to find and keep customers. TCVN now features four educational tracks in four specific areas.
Startup Professionals Musings
AUGUST 16, 2019
Most businesses spend big money testing their brand logo, catchy marketing phrases, and demographics, but spend little time training and validating that their employees can and do deliver exceptional experiences to their customers. The result, according to an often-quoted Gallup survey , is 70 percent of workers not fully engaged, and poor customer experiences. Keep your team happy to create engaged customers. An unhappy team member can’t create an engaged customer.
Startup Professionals Musings
DECEMBER 18, 2020
As a long-time business executive and adviser to entrepreneurs, I see a definitive shift away from customer trust in traditional business messages, and the executives who deliver them. Customers these days are turned off by timeless safe messages, delivered repeatedly on traditional media.
Startup Professionals Musings
JUNE 12, 2019
Much has been written recently about the requirement to focus today on the total customer experience, as a competitive edge or even for survival. Traditionally, you just worried about the quality of the sales transaction (price, speed, service), but the “customer experience” now includes ease of pre-sale shopping, post-sale support, with a connected relationship throughout. Delight customers with personally tailored options.
Startup Professionals Musings
MAY 28, 2017
With the advent of the Internet, social media, and instant communication via texting, customer expectations for service, as part of their entire customer experience, have changed. They expect you to be there, to know their history as a customer, and to treat them with priority and respect. Everyone today is looking for a knock-your-socks-off customer experience, and they know the best companies out there are already doing it. Company finds customers based on interests.
Startup Professionals Musings
JULY 20, 2020
Contrary to popular opinion, viral marketing has not eliminated the need for old-fashioned lead generation to bring customers to a startup. Display ads on mobile devices, including video and audio, also offer a new opportunity to reach target customers.
Startup Professionals Musings
MARCH 16, 2019
Today’s customers are overloaded and overwhelmed by too much information, so making a decision is a challenge. You may think this is only important to your marketing and sales people, but in reality it doesn’t matter how great your product or technology might be, you won’t succeed if you don’t understand your target customer decision process. No matter how certain you are that your solution perfectly matches customer needs, you will be wrong.
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