Well, I received 19 PMs that convinced me I shouldn't let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch of bananas. Bad apples certainly create a disincentive for posting, but others have shared much with me, so it would be selfish of me not to post.
Let me get in one last word, though. "Did not".
I spoke with the President of our company for about 25 minutes late yesterday afternoon, not to gripe, but to have some questions answered, and, because I'm aware of his background, to get a sense of why someone who left a prominent position with a billion dollar company would go to TSIG. I didn't ask that question; my sense is that James Guild saw an opportunity worth taking a risk for.
Let me just say a few things. JG, by his own account, is a result-oriented person. He will not "create" news for the sake of pacifying (and misleading) investors. He believes various so-called news items were prematurely released in the past, and MY sense is this modis operandis has been abandoned. Is there "news" right now, this week? I was given no indication that there will be. How about next week? Probably. And please consult your dictionary as to the meaning of 'probably'. Bottom-line speaking, "once there are numbers, the share price will take care of itself". JG gave no hard numbers, no date-certains, and we discussed this when I discussed any objections he might have to my writing about our conversation. He told me nothing that could be remotely considered "inside" information, and said specifically that he told me nothing that was not already public knowledge.
I asked questions in 4 main areas: private placement; website functionality; teleservices contracts; and, the new webmaster, Greg Brown.
My (read "MY") concern with the private placement is that the website will lack funds to be completed, and that there will be no funds to engage in marketing. Other than those concerns, I don't care about the PP. No, the PP is not done, market conditions and other factors have hindered completion. He does not know when it will be completed. When and if it is completed, a news release will so announce. Don't believe rumors. Yes the website will be done, and yes the marketing campaign will commence. When? Should be by mid-November. SHOULD BE.
Funds sufficient for marketing? "You'd be surprised how much can be done with no money". The internet offers all sorts of "inexpensive" (my word) avenues for advertising, and these will be taken advantage of. More specifics I did not persue.
As a directly corelated (sp?) aside, re-read Dixie on guerrilla (Webster's offers two spellings) marketing. Acquaint yourself with what's known in the marketing world as "affinity" marketing. I don't know marketing from the proper name for my funny bone; I'm sure I'll be enlightened on both accounts.
Affinity: close relationship, connection. Example given by JG (EXAMPLE): The football Giants say "come to the game on Sunday and receive your free MusicCard, sponsored by the NY Times". The Card is appropriately customized with a logo, LT's image, etc. The Giants pay 99 cents to CCI (.99 x 70,000) for each 5-unit Card. Some use the Card, some don't. Five units are used quickly by some; so they purchase another from CCI at a cost of $10.99 or $15.99, or whatever the cost is. Say $10.99. $5 goes back to the Giants for each direct (or, I presume, other designated vendor) CCI-purchased card, and CCI keeps the remainder. The scheme creates a financial incentive for the Giants to pay a minimal primary fee to distribute the Card; with luck, they make back the original outlay and more by re-purchases of the Card. CCI makes money on the Giants' original outlay, CD purchases, and new Card purchases.
"Premium services" marketing. The Giants have no problem filling the stadium. The Mets had, I believe, 2 Beanie Baby giveaway days, and those were the largest crowds they had all year except for the Yankee series. Marketing offering a premium to the consumer. Affinity: our Card helps you, it helps us. The cost is minimal, the potential return is greater, so why not do it.
Now think on a grander scale. Say a nationally/internationally known soft drink, college campuses. Yes, it all has to be implemented, but the potential is obvious.
Any specific contracts yet? Not with the NFL, but one with another professional sport is being finalized, perhaps (PERHAPS) by next week or the week thereafter. There are ten to twelve deals currently being worked on, one or two close to fruition.
Teleservices I kind of glossed over, but we discussed that more and more large and small companies are realizing the benefits of out-sourcing their call centers.
Greg Brown was recently hired as an in-house webmaster to complete and improve on an ongoing the website. I know, poor sentence construction. He's experienced and good. Before the website marketing is commenced, you will notice a "new look", predominantly cosmetic, to the website. I don't know website construction from my backbone; I'm sure someone will enlighten me on both accounts. JG gave me Greg's e-mail address (gsb@tsig.com), and said why not speak with him directly. Someone who knows something about these matters should do so, and why not report back.
That's about all. Nothing hard and fast, for those who require that sustenance. Plenty promising, for those who can survive and perhaps thrive on that sustenance. JG is upbeat, I'm upbeat. There's my plug. Thanks to all for the PMs. I woke up early to get this down so folks going to work might have a chance to read it before heading out the door.
Now, would you believe it, I have to go get the kids ready for kindegarten and daycare. Go ahead, I've steeled myself...
Regards, TS (forgive typos and mis-spellings, it is early, and I'm out of time) |
