It may not be typical but it's what we do

Ever since my first job (that wasn't am allowance based chore from a family member) I have been told that there is a 'way' to do whatever job it was. From bus boy to waiter, to sales guys, to consultant, to Mnager to director and the dozen or so stops in between. 

There is a 'way' to run a company and a 'way' to launch a web service and so on. Now, I completely believe that there are dos and donts out there and good practices and such but I don't think that there is just one 'way' to do anything. Never have. 

That preamble was nessaccary because I've put a lot of thought into the marketing resources we have available for EQI and •gbot•. There is little argument that FB and Twitter and being social in general (Pinterest, blogs, reddit, this one, that one, the next one, the one I don't even know and the rest) are very essential peices to the marketing puzzle. But what is the 'way' to use them? 

Well, I know what other companies are doing-- buy this, value prop that, did you know this, it's a day of some kind, look what I ate, etc. As it turns out, that really isn't our voice as individuals and therefore doesn't really work as the voice of •gbot•. 

Our posts and ads at •gbot• may not be the 'way' that everyone else is doing it but we are finding our Way everyday just a little bit more. I had an acquaintance i bumped into recently say to me 'oh, you do those tweets for •gbot•? Yeah, I cam see that. They are ridiculous,' and I was very flatter/insulted by that. I was insulted because I'm not sure being labelled 'ridiculous' is good (it's definitely not a skill on my LinkedIn profile) and I was flattered because he remembered the tweets. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: don't be afraid to be different and try something new. Worst case scenario, you'll be remembered. 

Now go and download •gbot• for free, communication over! 

@GBOTCANADA: Meanwhile, in Toronto Canada, high grocery prices menace the city... But wait, here come the free •gbot• app to save the day! #savethepig 

The Internet of flyers

I recently started hearing the term 'the Internet of ______' being used a lot more often lately. I love this concept: a new innovation or invention that will literally change the way we interact with the world. 

I think about Elon Musk and Tesla Motors or the fair catch rule etc. I also think about how Groupon and Companies like Snap by Groupon really changed the coupon space and made the 'Internet of coupons.' Coupons had been around for, whatever, forever and the first 'internet coupon pioneers' didn't really pioneer that much at all. They only snapped a pic of a paper coupon and threw it up willy knilly on the line. Coupons were still just coupons even though they were technically on the line.

It wasn't until Groupon (I like to think it was Groupon) and maybe LivingSocial really changed how we interact with coupons what can be couponed and what that means for us, the couponers, did a real 'Internet of Coupons' happen. They made a multi billion dollar industry overnight and, for better or worse, they are here to stay. 

Although coupons and flyers are very similar on the surface, there hasn't yet been an 'internet of the flyer' yet. A lot of people have tried, but I don't feel that a PDF of a paper store flyer is really that innovative and definitely hasn't impacted my world. 

With very little ego, I truly feel that the software in the •gbot• app is truly unique and will be the standard moving into 2015. I feel that the •gbot• concept will by the Internet of the Flyer Space for grocers and other retailers. 

Check out our new •gbot• demo video at http://youtu.be/xpcYU4-SkpA Download the app for free. Shop easy & save money, everyone.