Camel_Trilogy

The Secret to Great Customer Service: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Success

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 04:55:00 GMT

In the ever-evolving world of business, the quest for exceptional customer service and satisfied customers remains a timeless challenge. How should we treat our customers, and how should they treat us? Is the customer always right, or are there times when they need gentle guidance? These questions have puzzled business owners since the dawn of commerce, when the invention of the wheel first promised to make life easier.

Reflecting on these questions, I stumbled upon an ancient Chinese proverb: "If you want to be happy for an hour, take a nap. If you want to be happy for a day, go fishing. If you want to be happy for a year, inherit a fortune. But if you want to be happy for a lifetime, help somebody else." This simple yet profound wisdom suggests that the key to lasting happiness—and by extension, successful customer service—lies in helping others.

This idea resonates with another timeless teaching from 2,500 years ago, when Jesus preached, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This Golden Rule emphasizes empathy and mutual respect, foundational elements of excellent customer service.

Could the secret to outstanding customer service really be as simple as these ancient teachings suggest? Let's explore how these principles can be applied in modern business.

1.Empathy and Understanding. When faced with a dissatisfied customer, it's crucial to empathize with their situation. Imagine yourself in their shoes and consider how you would like the issue to be resolved. This approach not only helps in calming the situation but also builds a connection with the customer, showing them that their concerns are valued.

2.Listening is a powerful tool in customer service. By truly hearing what the customer is saying, you can address their concerns more effectively. This not only resolves the immediate issue but also fosters trust and loyalty.

3.Problem-Solving.Instead of viewing a complaint as a problem, see it as an opportunity to improve. Work collaboratively with the customer to find a solution that satisfies both parties. This proactive approach can turn a negative experience into a positive one, enhancing the customer's perception of your business.

4.Honesty and Transparency: While the adage "the customer is always right" is widely known, there are times when customers may need guidance. In such cases, honesty is the best policy. Politely and respectfully explain the situation, offering alternatives or solutions that align with their needs.

5.Going the Extra Mile: Helping others, as the Chinese proverb suggests, can lead to lasting happiness. In business, this means exceeding customer expectations. Whether it's a follow-up call, a personalized note, or a small gesture of appreciation, these actions can leave a lasting impression.

In conclusion, the secret to great customer service may indeed lie in these ancient teachings. By helping others and treating them with empathy and respect, businesses can create a positive and lasting impact. As we strive to make our customers happy, we not only enhance their experience but also pave the way for our own success and fulfillment. So, the next time you're faced with a challenging customer, remember the wisdom of the ages: help them, and in doing so, help yourself.

Hugs from TheCamel

When Your Get Up and Go Has Got Up and Gone

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 05:07:37 GMT

Ah, the digital agency dream! The freedom to set your own hours, the thrill of building something from scratch, and the joy of staying in bed all day because your motivation decided to take a vacation. We've all been there. One moment you're ready to conquer the world, and the next, you're contemplating if you can run your business from under the covers. Fear not, fellow business warriors! Here’s a guide to reigniting that spark when your get up and go has got up and gone.

1. The Snooze Button Tango

First things first, let's address the elephant in the room: the snooze button. It's tempting, isn't it? Just one more tap and you can dream a little longer about that tropical island getaway. But here's a tip: place your alarm clock across the room. This way, you'll have to physically get out of bed to turn it off. By the time you've stumbled across the room, you're halfway to being a functioning human. Plus, it's a great way to practice your morning dance moves!

2. Coffee: The Elixir of Life

If motivation had a flavor, it would undoubtedly be coffee. There's something magical about that first sip that transforms you from a groggy zombie into a semi-alert human. So, brew yourself a cup of your favorite blend and let the caffeine work its wonders. If you're not a coffee person, tea or a refreshing smoothie can do the trick too. The key is to find your personal elixir that kickstarts your day.

3. Dress for Success (Even if No One Will See You)

Working from home has its perks, like wearing pajamas all day. But sometimes, a lack of motivation stems from feeling too comfortable. Try dressing up as if you're heading to an important meeting. It might sound silly, but putting on your "power outfit" can boost your confidence and productivity. Plus, you never know when an impromptu video call might happen!

4. The To-Do List: Your New Best Friend

When you're feeling overwhelmed, a to-do list can be your savior. Start with small, manageable tasks and gradually work your way up to the big ones. There's nothing more satisfying than crossing items off your list. It's like a mini celebration each time you do it. And if you're feeling extra adventurous, add "make a to-do list" to your list just so you can cross it off immediately. Instant success!

5. Dance Like Nobody's Watching

Sometimes, all you need is a little music to lift your spirits. Create a playlist of your favorite upbeat songs and have a dance party in your living room. Not only will it boost your mood, but it's also a fun way to get some exercise. Remember, the goal is to have fun, so let loose and dance like nobody's watching (because they probably aren't).

6. Phone a Friend

When motivation is low, reach out to a fellow entrepreneur or a friend who understands the struggle. A quick chat can provide a fresh perspective and remind you that you're not alone. Plus, sharing a laugh or two can work wonders for your mood. Just make sure the conversation doesn't turn into a marathon gossip session!

7. Reward Yourself

Set small goals throughout the day and reward yourself when you achieve them. Whether it's a piece of chocolate, a short walk outside, or a few minutes of scrolling through your favorite social media, having something to look forward to can keep you motivated. Just be careful not to let the rewards overshadow the work!

8. Watch TheCamel.co Live Stream Replays

Shameless Promotion, LOL, at least you can have a laugh rather than be miserable.

In conclusion, when your get up and go has got up and gone, remember that it's perfectly normal to have off days. The key is to find what works for you and embrace the journey with a sense of humor. After all, laughter is the best motivator. So, get up, get moving, and show the world what you're made of!

Hugs from TheCamel

Why Humans Are Still the Picasso of Graphic Design in the Age of AI

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 02:07:35 GMT

Yes we have to pay humans (How dare they ask for money some ask) But Folks In a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing, it's easy to imagine a future where robots are designing our logos, creating our advertisements, and even picking out the perfect shade of blue for our websites. But before we hand over our graphic design tools to our silicon-based friends, let's take a moment to appreciate why humans are still the reigning champions of creativity in the design world. Spoiler alert: it’s not just because we can appreciate a good cup of coffee while working!

The Human Touch : More Than Just Opposable Thumbs

AI might be able to churn out designs faster than you can say "Helvetica," but it lacks the human touch. There's something about the way a human designer can capture emotion, tell a story, and connect with an audience that AI just can't replicate. It's like comparing a hand-knitted sweater from grandma to a mass-produced one from a factory. Sure, they both keep you warm, but only one comes with a side of love and a hint of mothballs.

Creativity : The Unpredictable Muse

AI is great at following patterns and algorithms, but creativity often thrives on breaking the rules. Human designers have the ability to think outside the box, color outside the lines, and occasionally spill coffee on the canvas, creating a masterpiece by accident. AI, on the other hand, would probably just short-circuit at the sight of a coffee stain.

Humor : The Secret Ingredient

Let's face it, AI doesn't have a sense of humor. It might be able to generate a pun or two, but it doesn't understand the nuances of wit and sarcasm. Human designers can infuse humor into their work, making it relatable and memorable. After all, who doesn't love a good visual pun? Just imagine an AI trying to design a funny cat meme—it would probably end up with a picture of a toaster.

Empathy : Designing with Heart

Graphic design is not just about making things look pretty; it's about understanding the audience and designing with empathy. Humans have the ability to put themselves in others' shoes (or flip-flops, if that's your thing) and create designs that resonate on a deeper level. AI might be able to analyze data, but it can't feel the joy of a child seeing their favorite cartoon character or the nostalgia of a retro design.

The Happy Accidents

Some of the best designs come from happy accidents—those unexpected moments of brilliance that occur when a designer is experimenting and playing around. AI is programmed to avoid mistakes, but humans know that sometimes, a little chaos can lead to something extraordinary. It's like the time you accidentally added too much chili to your soup and discovered a new favorite dish.

The Human Connection

At the end of the day, design is about connecting with people. Human designers have the ability to build relationships, understand client needs, and collaborate in ways that AI simply can't. Plus, humans are much better at handling client feedback without overheating or needing a reboot.

In conclusion, while AI is a fantastic tool that can assist in the design process, it lacks the creativity, empathy, and humor that make human designers truly exceptional. So, the next time you're admiring a beautifully crafted logo or a cleverly designed ad, remember to thank the human behind the screen. After all, we're the ones who can appreciate the finer things in life—like a perfectly brewed cup of coffee and a well-timed joke.

Love & Hugs from TheCamel

Customer Service is a Rollercoaster

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 00:30:35 GMT

Customer service is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you're gonna get. Sometimes it's a sweet, delightful experience that leaves you smiling, and other times it's a bitter, nutty mess that makes you question your life choices. Let's dive into the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of customer service, with a sprinkle of humor to keep things light.

The Good : When Customer Service is a Dream

Picture this: You walk into a store, and you're greeted with a warm smile and a genuine " How can I help you today? " The staff is knowledgeable, attentive, and goes above and beyond to ensure you leave happy. It's like finding a unicorn in a field of horses.

Good customer service is like a well-choreographed dance. The staff anticipates your needs, answers your questions before you even ask them, and makes you feel like the most important person in the room. It's the kind of experience that makes you want to write a glowing review and tell all your friends about it.

Take, for example, the time I walked into a coffee shop and the barista remembered my name and my usual order. I felt like a celebrity! Or the time I called tech support and the representative not only fixed my issue but also gave me tips on how to prevent it from happening again. These moments are rare, but when they happen, they restore your faith in humanity.

The Bad : When Customer Service is a Nightmare

Now, let's talk about the bad. We've all been there—stuck on hold for what feels like an eternity, listening to the same annoying hold music on a loop. When you finally get through, you're greeted by a disinterested representative who clearly hates their job. It's like talking to a robot, but less helpful.

Bad customer service can turn a minor inconvenience into a full-blown disaster. Imagine ordering a pizza and receiving the wrong toppings. You call the restaurant to complain, and the person on the other end of the line acts like it's your fault. They offer no apology, no solution, and you're left hungry and frustrated.

Or how about the time you tried to return a faulty product, only to be met with a barrage of questions and skepticism? "Are you sure you didn't break it yourself?" they ask, as if you're trying to pull off the heist of the century. Bad customer service can make you feel like you're in an episode of a hidden camera show, waiting for someone to jump out and say, "Gotcha!"

The Ugly : When Customer Service is a Horror Show

And then there's the ugly—the stuff of customer service nightmares. This is when things go so horribly wrong that you can't help but laugh (or cry). It's the kind of experience that makes you want to write a strongly worded letter to the CEO.

Picture this: You order a product online, and it arrives broken. You contact customer service, and they promise to send a replacement. Weeks go by, and nothing arrives. You call again, and they have no record of your previous complaint. It's like being trapped in a nightmare.

Or consider the time you were overcharged for a service, and when you called to dispute the charge, the representative hung up on you. You call back, only to be transferred from one department to another, each one less helpful than the last. By the end of it, you're ready to pull your hair out and scream.

Customer service can be a rollercoaster ride of emotions. When it's good, it's a dream come true. When it's bad, it's a frustrating ordeal. And when it's ugly, it's a horror show that leaves you questioning your sanity. But through it all, we can find humor in the crazy and hope that the next time we need help, we'll encounter a love story instead of a nightmare.

The big question? Does you Company offer Hearts or Bad Dreams Service?"

Love & Hugs from TheCamel

Is the Google Algorithm the Assassin of Business or an Angel in Disguise?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 03:16:50 GMT

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, businesses constantly grapple with the intricacies of search engine optimization (SEO) to maintain visibility and relevance. At the heart of this struggle lies the enigmatic Google algorithm, a complex system that determines the ranking of web pages. This raises a good question: Is the Google algorithm an assassin of business or an angel in disguise? Does it protect businesses from the onslaught of AI-generated content, or does it secretly promote such content?

The Role of the Google Algorithm

Even though we all whinge about it, Google's algorithm is designed to deliver the most relevant and high-quality content to users. It evaluates numerous factors, including keyword relevance, site structure, user experience, and backlinks. Over the years, Google has rolled out several updates that have helped drive us mad and think they are the enemy, such as Panda, Penguin, and Hummingbird, to refine its search results and penalize low-quality content. (Yes, Google loves animals, but only the ones that help it hunt down bad content!)

The Assassin Perspective

From one viewpoint, the Google algorithm can be seen as an assassin of business. Frequent updates and changes can disrupt established SEO strategies, causing businesses to lose their hard-earned rankings overnight. This unpredictability can be particularly detrimental to small businesses with limited resources to adapt quickly. It's like playing a game of whack-a-mole, but the moles are your website rankings, and Google is wielding the mallet.

Moreover, the algorithm's stringent quality standards can be challenging to meet. Websites that rely on outdated SEO tactics or produce subpar content may find themselves penalized, leading to a significant drop in traffic and revenue. In this sense, the algorithm acts as an unforgiving gatekeeper, eliminating businesses that fail to keep up with its evolving criteria. Think of it as the digital version of a bouncer at an exclusive club—if your content isn't up to snuff, you're not getting in.

The Angel in Disguise

Conversely, the Google algorithm can be viewed as an angel in disguise. By prioritizing high-quality, relevant content, it ensures that users receive the best possible information. This focus on quality benefits businesses that invest in creating valuable content and maintaining a user-friendly website. It's like having a personal trainer who pushes you to be your best, even if it means a few sore muscles along the way.

Furthermore, the algorithm's emphasis on user experience encourages businesses to improve their websites, leading to better engagement and higher conversion rates. In this way, the algorithm fosters a competitive environment where only the best content thrives, ultimately benefiting both users and businesses. It's survival of the fittest, but with fewer lions and more keywords.

AI-Generated Content: Friend or Foe?

The rise of AI-generated content adds another layer of complexity to this debate. AI tools can produce vast amounts of content quickly and efficiently, raising concerns about the potential for low-quality, spammy content to flood search results. However, Google's algorithm is designed to detect and penalize such content, ensuring that only high-quality, relevant information ranks highly. It's like having a spam filter on steroids.

Interestingly, AI can also be a valuable ally for businesses. When used responsibly, AI tools can help generate high-quality content, optimize SEO strategies, and analyze user data to improve website performance. In this context, the Google algorithm and AI can work together to enhance the digital landscape. It's a bit like Batman and Robin—together, they can tackle the villains of bad content.

Balancing Act

Ultimately, the relationship between the Google algorithm and businesses is a delicate balancing act. While the algorithm can be ruthless in penalizing low-quality content, it also rewards those who invest in creating valuable, user-centric websites. Businesses that adapt to the algorithm's evolving standards and leverage AI responsibly can thrive in this competitive environment. It's like walking a tightrope—one misstep, and you could fall, but with the right balance, you can reach new heights.

Conclusion

So, is the Google algorithm the assassin of business or an angel in disguise? Ok, I'm going to sit on the fence LOL.The answer lies somewhere in between. It can be a formidable adversary for those who fail to meet its standards, but it also serves as a guardian of quality, ensuring that users receive the best possible information. By understanding and adapting to the algorithm's criteria, businesses can harness its power to their advantage, turning potential challenges into opportunities for growth.

In the end, the Google algorithm is neither purely an assassin nor an angel. It is a complex, evolving system that reflects the dynamic nature of the digital world. Businesses that embrace this complexity and strive for excellence will find themselves well-positioned to succeed in the ever-changing landscape of search engine rankings. And remember, in the world of SEO, it's always best to keep your friends close and your algorithms closer.

You've Lost That Loving Feeling: Rekindling the Love Between Client and Supplier

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 01:59:03 GMT

Ah great song by the righteous brothers, famous in the movie top gun, “ you never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips, and there's no tenderness like before in your fingertips ”.

One of those songs you reach for the tissues and have a google old sob.

But it's not just personal relationships that can have us grab the microphone and start serenading.

In the world of business, relationships are also paramount. Just like in personal relationships, the bond between a client and a supplier can experience highs and lows. There are times when everything seems perfect, and then there are moments when it feels like you've lost that loving feeling. The love that once fueled a thriving partnership can fade, leading to lost business and broken hearts. But why does this happen, and more importantly, how can you mend the relationship and start doing business again?

Why love can fade

1. Lack of communication: one of the primary reasons relationships falter is poor communication. When clients and suppliers stop talking openly, misunderstandings arise, expectations are unmet, and frustrations build up. Regular, transparent communication is the lifeblood of any successful partnership.

2. Unmet expectations: over time, expectations can change. If a supplier fails to meet the evolving needs of a client, dissatisfaction can set in. Similarly, if a client becomes overly demanding without recognizing the constraints of the supplier, tension can arise.

3. Complacency: when a relationship becomes too comfortable, complacency can creep in. Suppliers might stop innovating or providing the exceptional service that initially won the client over. Clients might take the supplier for granted, leading to a lack of appreciation and recognition.

4. External factors: market changes, economic downturns, or new competitors can strain the relationship. These external pressures can shift priorities and resources, making it challenging to maintain the same level of commitment and enthusiasm.

Business is lost

When the love fades, the consequences can be severe. Lost business means lost revenue, missed opportunities, and a tarnished reputation. Clients may seek out new suppliers who promise better service or more competitive pricing. Suppliers, on the other hand, might lose a valuable client and the steady stream of income they provided. The ripple effect can impact both parties' bottom lines and their standing in the industry.

Bring back that loving feeling, mending the broken heart

1. Open the lines of communication: the first step in mending a broken relationship is to start talking again. Schedule a meeting to discuss the issues openly and honestly. Both parties should come prepared to listen and understand each other's perspectives. Clear, transparent communication can help rebuild trust and set the stage for a renewed partnership.

2. Reevaluate and reset expectations: take the time to reassess the expectations on both sides. What has changed since the relationship began? What are the current needs and goals? By realigning expectations, both parties can work towards a common objective and avoid future misunderstandings.

3. Show appreciation: a little appreciation can go a long way. Clients should acknowledge the hard work and dedication of their suppliers, while suppliers should recognize the loyalty and business provided by their clients. Simple gestures of gratitude can reignite the spark and foster a positive atmosphere.

4. Innovate and adapt: complacency is the enemy of any relationship. Suppliers should continuously seek ways to innovate and improve their offerings. Clients should be open to new ideas and approaches. By staying dynamic and adaptable, both parties can keep the relationship fresh and exciting.

5. Address external factors: if external factors are straining the relationship, address them head-on. Collaborate to find solutions that benefit both parties. Whether it's adjusting pricing, exploring new markets, or finding ways to streamline processes, working together to overcome challenges can strengthen the bond.

It's not easy folks

Rebuilding a business relationship takes time and effort, but it's worth it. By addressing the root causes of the fading love and taking proactive steps to mend the relationship, clients and suppliers can rediscover the joy of working together. The renewed partnership can lead to greater success, mutual growth, and a deeper appreciation for each other's contributions.

In conclusion, losing that loving feeling between a client and a supplier is not the end. It's an opportunity to reflect, reassess, and rebuild. With open communication, mutual respect, and a commitment to innovation, the love can be rekindled, and the business can thrive once more. Then you can meet up at a karaoke and sing a new song, “that's what friends are for”.

Love & Hugs from TheCamel

Reconnecting Through Facebook: Rekindling Relationships with Old Clients

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 10 May 2024 02:55:22 GMT

Introduction:

In today's digital age, social media platforms like Facebook have become powerful tools for businesses to reconnect with their old clients. This blog explores how you can leverage Facebook to find and encourage your previous customers to use your business again. We'll delve into the process using an example of finding a long-lost friend and the joy of reestablishing that relationship. And hey, who doesn't love a good reunion story?

1. Utilize Facebook's Search Function:

Facebook's search feature is like a detective's magnifying glass, helping you find those long-lost clients. It's time to put on your virtual Sherlock Holmes hat and start sleuthing! Search for your old clients using their names, locations, or any other relevant information you have. Once you find them, send a friend request or a message to initiate contact. Elementary, my dear business owner!

2. Personalize Your Outreach:

When reaching out to your old clients, it's time to channel your inner smooth talker. Mention specific details about your previous interactions or transactions to jog their memory. Show them that you remember the good times you had together, like that time they bought your product and rocked it like a fashion icon. Express genuine interest in reconnecting and let them know that you've missed their fabulous presence in your business world.

3. Share Engaging Content:

Let's face it, Facebook is like a virtual circus, with all sorts of entertaining content vying for attention. To stand out, you need to be the ringmaster of engagement! Create and share compelling content on your Facebook page that makes your old clients go, "Wow, this business knows how to entertain!" Whether it's informative blog posts, hilarious videos, or quirky memes, make sure it's something they can't resist sharing with their friends. Laughter is the best marketing strategy!

4. Leverage Facebook Groups:

Facebook groups are like secret societies, where your old clients might be hiding in plain sight. Join relevant groups and become the undercover agent of connection. Engage in conversations, offer helpful advice, and sprinkle in some witty remarks. Show them that you're not just a business owner, but also a master of banter. Who knows, you might even find some new clients along the way!

5. Run Targeted Ad Campaigns:

Facebook's advertising platform is like a magician's hat, full of tricks to grab attention. Create targeted ad campaigns that make your old clients go, "Abracadabra, I need to check this out!" Use eye-catching visuals, clever copy, and irresistible offers to make them stop scrolling and take notice. Just remember, the real magic happens when they click that "Buy Now" button.

6. Offer Exclusive Promotions:

Everyone loves a good deal, especially when it's exclusive! Offer your old clients promotions that make them feel like VIPs. It's like rolling out the red carpet for their return. Make the offers time-limited or available only to a select group of customers, and watch them scramble to get in on the action. Who knew your business could be so exclusive and glamorous?

7. Provide Exceptional Customer Service:

Once you've successfully reconnected with your old clients, it's time to show them that your customer service is as smooth as butter. Respond promptly to their inquiries, address any concerns with a touch of charm, and go above and beyond to exceed their expectations. Make them feel like they're getting the royal treatment, because hey, they deserve it!

Conclusion:

Facebook presents a remarkable opportunity to find and encourage old clients to use your business again. By leveraging its search function, personalizing your outreach, sharing engaging content, joining relevant groups, running targeted ad campaigns, offering exclusive promotions, and providing exceptional customer service, you can rekindle relationships and foster long-term customer loyalty. And remember, a little humor goes a long way in making those connections even stronger. So go forth, reconnect, and sprinkle some love and laughter along the way!

Love and Hugs from TheCamel!

Unleashing the Marketing Magic:

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 06:46:02 GMT

How Ai Can Add a Touch of Humor to Help Small Digital Agencies Stand Out.

In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, small agencies are constantly seeking innovative ways to stand out from the crowd. Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI), the secret ingredient that can take your marketing efforts to the next level. But who said marketing can't be fun? In this blog, we'll explore how AI can be used to inject a little humor into the marketing activities of small digital agencies, making your brand shine brighter and your audience chuckle along the way.

1. Personalized Customer Experiences :

Imagine a world where your customers are greeted by an AI-powered assistant with a witty sense of humor. This virtual companion not only provides valuable information but also engages customers in humorous conversations, leaving a lasting impression. By personalizing customer experiences with a touch of humor, small digital agencies can create a unique brand identity that resonates with their audience and keeps them coming back for more.

2. Data-Driven Decision Making :

AI algorithms have an uncanny ability to crunch numbers and analyze data faster than you can say "marketing guru." By leveraging AI's data-driven insights, small digital agencies can make informed decisions that hit the bullseye. And why not add a little humor to the mix? Imagine presenting your team with data reports that not only inform but also entertain, making those strategy meetings a little more enjoyable and memorable.

3. Smart Content Creation :

Content is king in the digital realm, and AI can be your creative sidekick. AI-powered tools can generate clever and humorous content ideas that capture your audience's attention. From witty social media posts to engaging blog articles, AI can help small digital agencies deliver content that not only educates but also entertains. Get ready to unleash your agency's creativity and make your audience laugh out loud.

4. Hyper-Targeted Advertising :

AI algorithms are masters of understanding your target audience. By analyzing user data, AI can help small digital agencies create hyper-targeted ad campaigns that hit the mark. And why not sprinkle a little humor into your ad copy? A clever punchline or a funny visual can make your ads stand out from the crowd, capturing attention and increasing the chances of conversion. Get ready to make your audience smile and click that "Buy Now" button.

5. Predictive Analytics :

Predicting the future may seem like a job for fortune tellers, but AI can give your small digital agency a competitive edge. With its predictive analytics capabilities, AI can analyze historical data and trends to help you anticipate customer needs and stay ahead of the game. And why not add a touch of humor to your predictive analytics reports? Injecting a funny anecdote or a witty remark can make those reports more engaging and enjoyable to read.

Conclusion :

AI is not just a tool; it's a marketing magician that can transform small digital agencies into laughter-inducing, brand-building powerhouses. By harnessing the power of AI and infusing a little humor into your marketing activities, you can create personalized customer experiences, make data-driven decisions that entertain your team, generate smart and funny content, target your audience with precision, and predict the future with a smile. So, embrace the magic of AI and get ready to captivate your audience, one laugh at a time.

Love and Hugs from TheCamel!

The Secret Sauce of Success: An Algorithm With A Dash Of Humor

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 04:33:06 GMT

In today's competitive business landscape, capturing customers' attention is crucial for success. With the rise of digital marketing and the ever-increasing noise in the marketplace, businesses need to find innovative ways to stand out. One effective approach is to develop an algorithm that can help businesses captivate their target audience. In this blog, we will explore the key steps to creating an algorithm that can capture customers' attention and drive business growth.

1. Define Your Target Audience:

The first step in creating an attention-capturing algorithm is to clearly define your target audience. Understand their demographics, preferences, and pain points. Conduct market research, analyze customer data, and gather insights to develop a comprehensive understanding of your ideal customers. This will serve as the foundation for building an algorithm that resonates with your audience.

2. Identify Key Engagement Factors:

To capture customers' attention, it's essential to identify the key factors that engage them. These factors can vary depending on your industry and target audience. Consider elements such as personalized content, compelling visuals, emotional storytelling, interactive experiences, and social proof. By understanding what engages your audience, you can tailor your algorithm to incorporate these elements effectively.

3. Leverage Data and Analytics:

Data and analytics play a vital role in creating an attention-capturing algorithm. Utilize tools and technologies to collect and analyze customer data, website analytics, social media metrics, and other relevant information. This data-driven approach will help you identify patterns, trends, and customer behavior, enabling you to optimize your algorithm for maximum impact.

4. Develop Personalization Strategies:

Personalization is key to capturing customers' attention in today's digital age. Leverage your algorithm to deliver personalized experiences to your target audience. This can include personalized product recommendations, tailored marketing messages, customized landing pages, and dynamic content. By making customers feel seen and understood, you can significantly enhance their engagement and loyalty.

5. Implement A/B Testing:

A/B testing is a powerful technique to optimize your algorithm's effectiveness. Create multiple versions of your algorithm and test them against each other to determine which one performs better. Experiment with different variables such as headlines, visuals, calls-to-action, and user interfaces. Continuously analyze the results and refine your algorithm based on the insights gained from A/B testing.

6. Embrace Automation:

Automation can streamline your algorithm's implementation and execution. Leverage marketing automation tools to deliver personalized messages, automate customer interactions, and optimize content delivery. By automating repetitive tasks, you can focus on creating compelling content and refining your algorithm to capture customers' attention more effectively.

7. Monitor and Adapt:

Creating an attention-capturing algorithm is an ongoing process. Continuously monitor its performance and adapt as needed. Stay updated with the latest industry trends, customer preferences, and technological advancements. Regularly analyze customer feedback, engagement metrics, and conversion rates to identify areas for improvement. By staying agile and responsive, you can ensure that your algorithm remains effective in capturing customers' attention.

Conclusion:

In a crowded marketplace, capturing customers' attention is a challenge that businesses must overcome to thrive. By creating an algorithm that is tailored to your target audience, leverages data and analytics, embraces personalization, and incorporates automation, you can significantly enhance your ability to captivate customers. Remember to continuously monitor and adapt your algorithm to stay ahead of the competition and deliver exceptional experiences that resonate with your audience. With a well-crafted attention-capturing algorithm, your business can drive growth, build customer loyalty, and achieve long-term success.

Love and Hugs from TheCamel!

We Gotta Change the Song in 2024

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 04:57:55 GMT

Happy New Year, fireworks, champagne corks popping, people hugging, joy, smiles all round wow for a few minutes before midnight and a few minutes after it's a pretty special moment must admit. If you have had a miserable year, it's a feeling of, “ Glad that one's gone, let's make this one huge ” and if it's been a great year? Well it's a smile and a grin thinking of another year of making hay whilst the sun still shines.

Bad habits are banished, promises made ah yes folks “ auld lang syne ” might be a good song to sing but then sorry to spoil the mood LOL, we get a few days in and boom reality sets in. Those habits you promised to throw away, the weight you said you would lose, the exercise you would begin just to name a few of those before and after midnight moments, well they didn't happen, but hello its early days right, there is still hope.

Yes, young Jedi’s It's early days yet, so good or bad business, deals won or lost still too soon to call, so breathe easy.

But let me remind you all of a very important point at this early stage of the new year, a time when 2024 is a mere toddler still dressed in nappies and yet to be toilet trained. Take yourself back just before the stroke of midnight before all that fun and frivolity and ask yourself a question, how many times did you hear the statement, “ Can you believe how fast this year went ” I lost count, and If I threw in the amount of times I asked myself the same question? It was a LOT.

So, not to be the Patron Saint of Disappointment, but even though the year has been the same in length of time since Adam fell for the apple trick, its traveling faster each time you look at Eves Watch (apple joke lol) If things don't get on the right track from the moment your out of the starting blocks of 2024, if you don't have a plan of action, set some goals, a rich relative or a good lawyer to bail you out, quicker than you can say auld lang syne? You will humming the words to Liquor Store Blues, “ One Shot for my pain, one shot for my sorrow ” Thank you Bruno Mars.

So my first bit of good old shared wisdom for 2024? “ People Don't Plan to Fail, They Fail to Plan ” Love that quote, have you ever wondered who wrote it? Well folks thanks to good old Wikipedia. It was written by John James Beckley who was an American political campaign manager and the first Librarian of the United States Congress, from 1802 to 1807.

Good old John was a pretty smart bloke and his quote is a goodie, so in 2024 it's a good thing to start changing your theme song, and rip into some new motivating, inspiring, toe tapping lyrics to lift your game and winning percentage.

To help you on your way and being the generous man I am, let me share with you a few points you should consider. So grab your trusty pen and paper if your Old school, or iPad if you're not, and follow me down the yellow brick road to fame and fortune.

First make a plan to rise and shine early each day, set that alarm to ringy dingy at 5am and roll your tired and weary bones out and scream lezzzzzzzzgoooo.

But don't go straight to work, plan to use this early opener for some “ you” time, spend an hour on exercise, walking, reading the bible, listening to some new motivational stuff like speeches from me LOL. Use the time to grow, spiritually, mentally, use the time to settle its YOU time and you need it.

Now, from this moment the normal thing is to encourage you to set goals for your business, sales goals, performance goals, human goals and yes 1000% you need to do that, but I class it as you know that you don't need me to advise yet again one more time.

The song I’m encouraging you to sing, the tune to hum in 2024 is all about you, your family as I have learnt one thing that if I'm right and second if my family is right, my business is right.

So, start the day early and well, add in some notes to the song for dinner with family and no phones, sing with the wife or husband, harmonize with the kids over the playground not with the TV, make sure that every day there is a plan, a goal to live life and love with those close to you (Just like the carpenters song)

You do that? And I guarantee that by the end of 2024 the song you will sing? “ The Time of My Life ” and Dirty Dancing was a great Movie and your life can be the best it's ever been.

Go Get 'em.

Love and Hugs from TheCamel!

We Made It!

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 02:52:53 GMT

Wooooooow! Can you believe we made it through this rollercoaster of a year? It's been a wild ride, filled with unexpected twists and turns, but here we are, standing tall and proud.

This year has been a whirlwind of emotions. From the highs of achieving personal milestones to the lows of facing unforeseen obstacles, we've experienced it all. But you know what they say, " Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get ." Just like Forrest Gump, we've embraced the uncertainty and kept moving forward.

In the midst of chaos, humor has been our saving grace. Laughter truly is the best medicine, and it has helped us navigate through the toughest of times. Whether it's sharing funny memes, cracking jokes with friends, or binge-watching our favorite comedy shows, humor has brought us together and reminded us to find joy even in the darkest moments.

This year has taught us valuable lessons that will stay with us for a lifetime. We've learned the importance of adaptability and resilience. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, we've discovered our inner strength and the ability to overcome any challenge that comes our way. As the saying goes, " What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. "

In this journey of survival, remember, you are not alone. TheCamel.co is the duda Expert for duda Solutions, and we are here to help. Just like a trusty companion, we offer our expertise and support to navigate the challenges of building and managing your online presence. Whether you need assistance with website design, optimization, or any other duda-related solutions, we've got your back. And now is the perfect time to optimize our businesses by reviewing performance, setting goals, planning for success, engaging with customers, and evaluating our online presence. Together, we can overcome any obstacle and thrive in this ever-changing digital landscape.

As we bid farewell to this challenging year and with the year coming to a close, let's celebrate our incredible strength, resilience, and ability to adapt in the face of adversity. Remember, tough times don't last, but tough people do .

So, let's raise a glass to our survival, embrace the new year with hope, determination, and a sprinkle of humor, and know that TheCamel.co is here to support you every step of the way.

Sending warm hugs from TheCamel Team!

Put the 'Joy' Back

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 05:07:48 GMT

In today's world, it seems like everyone is talking about DIY ( do-it-yourself ) and AI ( artificial intelligence ). We're told that we can do everything ourselves, from fixing our cars to designing our own websites. And we're constantly bombarded with news about how AI is going to take over our jobs.

But in all this excitement about DIY and AI, there's one thing that's often forgotten: the importance of client engagement.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against DIY or AI. I think they can be incredibly useful tools. But I believe that they should be used to complement, not replace, human interaction.

I remember when I first started my own small business, I was so focused on creating self-service everything. I wanted to automate as much as possible so I could scale my business quickly. But what I soon realized was that I was missing out on something crucial: building relationships with my clients.

I started to see that my clients weren't just numbers on a spreadsheet. They were people with real needs and concerns. And they wanted to feel connected to the business they were doing business with.

So I started to make a conscious effort to reach out to my clients on a personal level. I took the time to get to know them, understand their needs, and build rapport. And what I found was that it made all the difference in the world.

My clients were happier, more loyal, and more likely to refer me to their friends and colleagues. And I was happier too. I enjoyed it more and I was more fulfilled.

When it comes to client engagement, it's important to remember that your clients are people. They have feelings, they have needs, and they want to feel connected to the businesses they do business with.

At TheCamel.co , we know that client engagement is not just about the initial sale. It's about building long-term relationships with our clients and providing them with the support they need to succeed.

That's why we're dedicated to providing our clients with the highest level of support and service . We have a team of experienced Duda experts who are always available to answer your questions and help you get the most out of your Duda websites.

We believe that our dedication to excellence in support and service is what makes us the duda expert. We're committed to helping our clients succeed, and we're always looking for ways to improve our support offerings.

So if you're looking for a Duda partner who is dedicated to providing you with the best possible support and service, look no further than TheCamel.co.

Remember, in this increasingly digital world, the human touch is still essential. Let's make client engagement a priority and put the " joy " back into doing business.

Hugs!

The Sherlock Holmes of Conversions: How AI Cracks the Code for Website Success

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 06:43:08 GMT

Hey there, fellow web wizards and conversion seekers! Today, we're delving into the marvelous world of AI-driven Conversion Rate Optimization ( CRO ) tools. Imagine having a digital detective at your disposal, scrutinizing user behavior like Sherlock Holmes on a case, to uncover the secrets to boosting website conversions. Elementary, my dear reader!

You might be wondering, " AI analyzing user behavior? Isn't that a bit like having Spock analyze the emotions of a Romulan? " Well, not quite. AI has a knack for understanding human behavior that's eerily similar to the mind meld, minus the pointy ears.

Remember that iconic line from " The Matrix "? " I'm trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it. " With AI-powered CRO tools, they not only show you the door, but they hand you a map, a compass, and a neon sign pointing towards conversion gold.

So, how does this digital Sherlock Holmes do it? Picture this: your website is a crime scene, and user behavior is the evidence. AI swoops in like Sherlock, analyzing every click, scroll, and hover, searching for clues to why some visitors are leaving before they convert.

It's like having a virtual Moriarty, but in a good way! AI identifies patterns and trends faster than you can say, " Elementary, my dear Watson. " It can tell you if users are getting stuck on a particular page, or if they're clicking away faster than the Flash on caffeine.

AI doesn't just present you with a laundry list of data points. It's more like having your own personal stand-up comedian, narrating the user's journey with quips and jokes. " And here we have User X, doing the hokey pokey on the checkout page. They put their left foot in, but then they took it out... "

As Captain Jack Sparrow would say, " The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. " AI pulls out the pearls of wisdom from its digital treasure trove, offering insights that could rival even the wiliest sea captain.

In the immortal words of The Beatles, " I get by with a little help from my friends. " With AI-driven CRO tools, you're not just improving website conversions; you're forming a dynamic duo, a Batman and Robin of the digital world, tackling challenges and emerging victorious.

In conclusion, my conversion-obsessed comrades, AI-driven CRO tools are the sidekick you never knew you needed. With humor, insights, and a touch of cinematic flair, they transform your website into a conversion powerhouse. So, embrace the AI detective within, and let's crack the code for website success! To the conversions, and beyond!

Hugs from TheCamel.co team

AI as a Partner, Not a Replacement

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 08:20:46 GMT

In the bustling world of technology, it's easy to get swept up in the notion that artificial intelligence (AI) is out to replace us, rendering our skills and expertise obsolete. However, the story of TheCamel.co, a dynamic digital agency, paints a different picture. They have embraced AI as a partner, not a replacement, and their journey is a testament to the incredible possibilities when humans and AI work hand in hand.

Remember that episode of "The Simpsons'' where Homer gets a robot butler named Gil? At first, Homer is skeptical of Gil, but he quickly realizes that Gil is a valuable asset to the family. Gil takes care of all the chores, leaving Homer free to pursue his hobbies, like watching TV and eating donuts.

Fast forward to today, and I'm here to tell you that AI isn't a replacement; it's a partner. Our journey with AI has been nothing short of extraordinary, and it's a tale worth sharing.

TheCamel.co's Dilemma

TheCamel.co, a dynamic digital marketing agency, had always prided itself on its ability to connect with clients on a personal level. Our team of creative minds thrived on understanding the unique nuances of each business we partnered with. It was this personal touch that set us apart, and we weren't willing to let it go.

However, as the digital landscape evolved, we found ourselves grappling with the sheer volume of data and tasks. It seemed impossible to maintain the personalized experience we were known for while efficiently handling the growing demands of our clients.

The AI Arrival

Enter AI, the technological marvel that promised to revolutionize the way we work. We were skeptical at first, fearing that integrating AI into our processes might strip away the very essence of what made us TheCamel.co. But, curiosity got the better of us, and we decided to dip our toes into the AI waters.

AI: A Catalyst for Creativity

Contrary to our initial fears, AI didn't replace our creativity. Instead, it became the catalyst that allowed our creative juices to flow freely. By automating repetitive tasks like data analysis and report generation, AI liberated our team from the shackles of monotony. This newfound freedom enabled us to focus on what truly mattered – crafting innovative marketing strategies tailored to each client's unique needs.

Embracing Change and Learning

Of course, our journey with AI wasn't without its challenges. Learning to work seamlessly with AI requires time and effort. We had to adapt to new tools and methodologies. Mistakes were made, but as we learned from them, we grew stronger.

Let me break down how TheCamel achieved this fantastic synergy:

1. Complementary Roles : At TheCamel.co, AI became a diligent assistant rather than a replacement. It handled data crunching, leaving the creative thinking and decision-making to the talented human team members. This split of responsibilities enabled TheCamel to deliver quicker, data-driven results without compromising quality.

2. Continuous Learning : TheCamel agency embraced a culture of perpetual learning. Team members eagerly adopted AI as a valuable learning resource. They perceived AI as a mentor offering insights and suggestions to enhance their skills and strategies. This mindset nurtured growth within the organization.

3. Experimentation and Adaptation : Most people on TheCamel.co, championed a culture of experimentation. The team fearlessly ventured into new AI-driven approaches, welcomed the lessons from their mistakes, and adjusted their strategies accordingly. This adaptability kept them ahead in a swiftly evolving digital landscape.

4. Client-Centric Approach : TheCamel.co remained unwavering in their commitment to clients. They harnessed AI to gain a deeper understanding of client needs, predict emerging trends, and personalize their services. This approach enabled them to offer tailor-made solutions that resonated authentically with their clients.

AI is a bit like Gil. It's not here to replace us; it's here to make our lives easier. When we use AI to automate repetitive tasks and gain new insights, we can free up our time and energy to focus on the things that are truly important.

In the end, TheCamel.co's story is a testament to the incredible potential of AI when it is viewed as a partner rather than a replacement. It's about embracing technology while valuing and nurturing the human skills that make innovation possible.

The takeaway here is clear: AI isn't here to take our jobs; it's here to enhance them. When we recognize this and leverage AI's capabilities to amplify our own, the possibilities are limitless. TheCamel.co's journey is an inspiring example of how humans and AI can collaborate to achieve unprecedented success in the digital age. In a world where technology continues to advance, their story reminds us that the future is bright when we embrace AI as a partner, not a replacement.

Hugs!

Ai Can Build a Website, But Can't Sell Them (We Do!)

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 08:47:12 GMT

Ever seen AI whip up code like a DJ in a nightclub? Well, that's cool and all, but hold on a sec, 'cause TheCamel team dons the hat of the duda experts. We understand that a website isn't just a digital placeholder; it's your online identity, your virtual storefront, and your brand's megaphone to the world. While AI can construct the frame, TheCamel team adds the dazzling paint, intricate details, and the secret sauce that turns websites to Digital Customer Attraction Solutions.

In fact, we recently released our newest website solution package: TheCamel Site 360! TheCamel Site 360 is a full circle solution for sensational websites on Duda. It's everything you need to create a website that will wow your visitors and turn them into customers ( including Ai Generated Content! )

Now, while AI can dazzle with its web designs, the real question is, can it actually sell 'em? Short answer: nah, not really .

This is where TheCamel team steps in, armed with expertise in all things duda – from web design to development , and even digital marketing , you name it!

Remember the joy of talking to a human, not a robot? TheCamel team capitalizes on this magic. While AI struggles with empathy, humans have the advantage of understanding fellow human needs and desires. Just like Jerry Maguire's " You complete me ," TheCamel team completes the circle by adding the human touch that AI lacks. It's like watching a superhero duo – AI handles the tech, while humans conquer hearts.

Ever seen those scenes in superhero flicks where the hero swoops in just in time to save the day? Yep, we're like that, but with digital marketing tricks up our sleeves. We take your website from being the shy kid in the corner to that cool kid with the spotlight. We won't let your site just sit there hoping for attention; it'll grab attention by the collar and make a lasting impression.

Imagine this: AI humming away in its virtual workspace, creating a website that's a masterpiece in itself. And then... silence. The website stands alone, hoping for visitors that never seem to arrive. But hope alone won't drive site visits, generate subscriptions and sell products.

Ahhhh, but fear not! TheCamel team is here to harmonize this AI-created symphony. We know that selling is about weaving a story, engaging emotions, and creating an experience. We’re the orchestra conductor, ensuring that every note, every instrument, and every marketing strategy is in perfect harmony. After all, a website without TheCamel team's touch is like a song missing its chorus – it might sound okay, but it won't be a hit.

So, next time you find yourself with a stunning AI-created website that's struggling to make waves, remember that TheCamel team is just a click away. We are the duda experts for duda solutions.

Ready to give your website the oomph it deserves? Chat with us and let us sprinkle magic on your digital presence. After all, AI can build the stage, but TheCamel team ensures it's always a sold-out show!

Hugs!

The Secret Weapon with Ai? Oldies are Goodies

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 06:57:42 GMT

Panic Merchants? Are you one of them since November last year folks? Yes, November last year ChatGPT hit the google waves and with a lot of help from “The Sky is falling, Armageddon is here, Life is over, Will all become Slaves” media, a lot of us hit panic station zebra and started to review books on “How to live on the Poverty Line” Ai? Was going to rule the world, take our jobs, and life as we know it is over.

Well hello 7 months later? Those of us that have sent out a heart emoji to WallE (that's what we call Ai at TheCamel) are not living out the back of our car folks, we have gotten over the initial shock and awe moment and decided not to hang out the white flag of defeat but more to start singing, “With a Little Help From My Friends” (love you beatles should never have broken up) and make all this excitement work for us and put us all back on the road to fame and fortune.

Wow, what we have learnt about WallE in those seven months is crazy and I could write blog after blog, do livestream after livestream on the subject but today lets us all share in the one great secret we have learnt, a secret that has made this old bloke smile. What's the secret? Folks with Ai? Oldies are the Goodies, the secret weapon.

Ai can do so many things, it can write, it can speak, it can code, do chat all sorts of things but it can only do what its been taught to do (by those energy drinking stay in the dark programmers) but what it can't do? Drum roll please, it cannot think and feel like us humans, it can't get all lovie dovie, it can't see and feel you need a tissue, yes whilst WallE looked all cute and cuddly in the movie, deep down folks he's still a robot.

Relationship building, strategic customer relationships, the Human touch? Well it can only be done by humans and you know who does it best? The older generation. And my dear folks is and will be the secret weapon of digital agencies.

Now I could go on and on writing Comedy Central words of wisdom on why the oldies are the goodies, in the spirit of teamwork, I'm going to throw over to my fellow contributor, say hi to ChatGPT folks, and let them explain it.

WallE your up buddy.

Thanks Boss, You know In a world where technology seems to reign supreme and human connections are often sacrificed at the altar of efficiency, there is a group of individuals who possess a superpower that sets them apart from the rest: older people. Yes, you read that right! While the younger Gen Z may be tech-savvy and AI-driven, the ability to build meaningful relationships remains a remarkable asset of our beloved seniors. So, let's dive into this unique superpower and explore why it shines even brighter in the age of AI.

The Wisdom of Experience: First and foremost, older people have a wealth of life experience that no AI algorithm can replicate. They have witnessed the rise and fall of trends, faced triumphs and failures, and learned invaluable lessons along the way. This wisdom provides them with a nuanced perspective and enables them to connect with others on a deeper level. After all, who can resist the sage advice and anecdotes that come with age?

The Art of Conversation: While Gen Z may have mastered the art of text-based communication and emojis, older people still hold the secret to captivating face-to-face conversations. They have a knack for storytelling, embellished with captivating details and a sprinkle of humor. When was the last time Siri made you burst into laughter? The ability to engage others with heartfelt conversations and genuine laughter is a true superpower in today's tech-driven world.

Genuine Empathy: In the era of social media and virtual interactions, younger generations have grown accustomed to superficial connections and online personas. But our beloved seniors excel at the fine art of empathy. They have honed the ability to truly listen, understand, and connect with others on an emotional level. Whether it's lending a sympathetic ear or offering a comforting shoulder, their genuine empathy fosters deep and meaningful relationships that AI simply cannot replicate.

The Humor Effect: Life can be challenging, and a good sense of humor is often the best armor one can wear. Older people have a natural ability to find humor in everyday situations. They bring laughter into our lives, often with their infectious wit and unexpected one-liners. Let's face it, no AI can quite match the joy of sharing a hearty laugh with someone who has perfected the art of comedy over decades.

In a world where technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, the ability to build relationships remains a precious human asset, particularly possessed by older people. Their wisdom, storytelling prowess, genuine empathy, and knack for humor make them the true superheroes of connection in the age of AI. So, let us cherish and learn from our seniors, for they hold the key to maintaining the essence of humanity in this ever-evolving digital landscape. Remember, there's nothing quite like a warm smile, a heartfelt conversation, and a genuine connection that only the magic of human interaction can provide.

Thanks WallE for that insightful additional comment, and love it you called me Boss. So Folks what golden nugget of advice can I give at the end of this month's blog? In the words of Al Pacino, “Don't Fear it Embrace it” Ai has a lot to offer all digital agencies now and the future, but another asset you should be looking at and making sure you have as part of your team is a little bit of grey or in my case baldness as The Secret Weapon with Ai? Oldies are Goodies

Hugs to all

Are You a Charity Event or a Brand

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 05:46:40 GMT

The best Boss I ever had, a bloke named Vince, sadly this month passed away. It hit me very hard as I am the salesman I am, the boss I am, in a lot of ways because of him. Yes, there were others that mentored and motivated me along the way, but wow, Vince was special.

Vince had a way, he was the most awesome salesman, he had this incredible ability to get you to outperform yourself every single month and he was famous for many sensational quotes, that I have stolen and claimed as my own LOL.

I can remember Vince, just coming up to you as you were sitting at your desk and would just say, “ Hodgie, who is the best looking bloke you know ” The answer would always be “ you are, Vince ” and he walked away with a cheeky laugh and strut. My team today has to suffer when I ask that question.

When the sales month was over and a new month started, it didn't matter how much you sold the month before, the records you broke, or the profits you made. His new month 8 am speech would always be the same. “ Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to a new month and can I start by saying you’re only as good as your last performance, and today is a new show ” All designed to put you in a place of not having a minute to rest on your previous reputation, it was the slate is clear. “ What's your plan to make a target this month, Hodgie? ”

Vince, like most of the greats I had met over the years, was an absolute animal, hated to lose. His whole attitude is if they don’t buy from us they won't buy from anybody. He would grind and grind, spend whatever time was needed, and never let a real buyer go out that door without a deposit being laid on the table. He was that cheeky he would ask to see how much money they had in their wallet just to qualify if they were real buyers or not. Ahhh, I loved the guy.

When a negotiation was tough, I would walk into his office and ask for help and he would always say, “ Hodgie, you’re better than this, how can you come and beg me now, you have only been trying for an hour? Go back and keep trying, don't come back without an order as I will be embarrassed ” I laugh about it now, but wow, the amount of sales I closed because of that short speech.

One of my favorites? If you had a client make a crazy offer, and you went into Vince’s office and asked could this be done, he would shout (to make sure the customer heard him) and raise his hands in the air, and say, “ Hodgie what do you think we are, the Salvation Army? Hello, you want to give things away, are you crazy? We are not a Charity, Hodgie .”

I would walk back into my office, people would usually feel sorry for me and we would start the negotiation again to move above the Salvation Army price and move towards a profitable sale.

I have stolen that one too, “ We are not a Charity, we are a for profit, we are not The Salvation Army ” speech. My team has heard it many times.

But you know what, dear listeners? When I think about it, a lot of businesses actually operate that way. They have this tendency to operate like a “ Not For Profit ”. They make margins that would even embarrass the Salvation Army, and usually, they do it in the early days of hanging the shingle and putting the open for business sign on the front door.

It's like they are embarrassed or shy, and Harry or Harriet's bully customer will bully them into doing a job that makes no money, and make you feel like they are doing you a big favor as you just started and you need the business. Wow, how big of them.

Well, team, I'm here to tell you it’s time. It's time to make money, it's time to be bold and beautiful, it’s time to get your worth, it’s time to develop the brand of YOU or whatever you want to call it.

Yep, puff up that chest, be bold, have no fear you are worth the respect and the quoted price folks, and guess what? Yes, you guessed it, I'm going to give you a bunch of five, to be exact, reasons why you should.

So, let me keep you in suspense and first ask you if you have a super sexy logo? If not get one, do you have reviews front and center on your website? If not, make that happen as soon as you stop reading this sensational awesome blog. Do you have a newsletter? How's that Facebook page looking? Do you have a sexy banner? Post everyday? What about videos? Nothing like the Ten Commandments, just 30-90 second promo clips on why you're the best. And before you say “ can't afford that ” your iPhone or Samsung is as good as most cameras and Facebook makes it easy.

Now, just to show you how sexy branding can make you look so special and exciting, and command a fee that you truly deserve, I'm not going to write the five reasons you should start branding and the reasons why. I'm going to show you how they look when they are branded.

So, put on your sunglasses, I tell you, as this looks good.

How special is that? Wow, it deserves an Academy Award for best production and screenplay, I tell you.

All jokes aside young Jedi knights, as my dad always said, “ Even if you don't know what you're doing? Look at the part ” Branding? Makes you look the part, gets you respect, and justifies people paying a professional price.

And with the increase in revenues? You can make a donation to The Salvation Army or a Charity of your choice.

Big Hugs ( they are free ) from TheCamel.co

The Power of Helping Hands to Success

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 10 May 2023 12:23:00 GMT

Have you ever felt like you were stranded on an island, all alone in the world?

Yeah, me too.

But the truth is, no man (or woman) is an island. Feeling alone and helpless is a common experience for many of us, but it's important to remember that we don't have to go through life alone. No matter how big or small our dreams and goals may be, having someone to rely on can make all the difference in achieving success. This is why building a strong support system is crucial in both our personal and professional lives. That's where the power of helping hands comes in.

This idea is echoed in popular culture, from movies to songs. Take, for example, the movie "The Lord of the Rings." In this epic fantasy adventure, the main character Frodo is tasked with destroying a powerful ring that could spell the end of the world. However, he cannot do it alone. Along the way, he relies on the help of his friends and allies to overcome obstacles and succeed in his quest.

And don't forget about "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers. When the going gets tough, we all need somebody to lean on. The chorus says:

"Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on"

The message is clear, when we help each other, we all succeed.

So, let's talk about building a successful business. You might think you need to do everything yourself, but that's a one-way ticket to burnout city. Trust me, I've been there. That's where TheCamel.co comes in. We've got a team of experts who can help with everything from development to web design to digital marketing. And we don't just offer a one-size-fits-all solution. We take the time to understand your unique needs and tailor our services to fit.

At TheCamel.co, we know you don't have time to waste. That's why we're all about finding quick and effective solutions to help you achieve your goals. Our team is always ready to offer support and advice whenever you need it. And with unbeatable prices and top-notch expertise, you can't go wrong.

So don't be a lone wolf trying to do everything yourself. That's just silly. Let TheCamel team be your helping hand on the path to success. If you want to learn more about what we can do for you, head over to our website at https://www.thecamel.co/ .

Remember, success isn't a solo mission. We all need help from time to time, and it's important to have a support system in place to help us achieve our goals. Whether it's in our personal or professional lives, we can benefit from the power of helping hands. So, don't be afraid to reach out to others for support, and don't forget that TheCamel.co is always there to help.

We are the duda Expert for duda Solutions. Together, we can conquer the world, one helping hand at a time.

Cheers, mate!

AI in Digital Marketing: Terminating Myths and Embracing Realities

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 10:13:01 GMT

If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably interested in how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the game in Digital Marketing. Let's start with the basics: AI refers to the ability of machines to learn and make decisions like humans do. It's pretty much like that movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terminator. Except, instead of trying to kill us, AI is here to make our lives easier.

Now, there are a few myths surrounding AI and its use in digital marketing. The first one is that it’s going to take over our jobs. But let’s be honest, we could all use a bit of help with the day-to-day grind. AI is just here to lend a hand, not replace us. Plus, it’s not like we’re living in a dystopian future where robots rule the world… yet.

Another myth is that AI is too expensive for small businesses to use. This couldn’t be further from the truth. There are plenty of affordable AI tools out there that can help small businesses get ahead in the digital marketing game. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly important for small businesses to adopt AI technology if they want to compete with the big guns.

Now, let's get to the juicy stuff - the realities of AI in digital marketing. The first reality is that AI is changing the way we analyze data. By using AI algorithms, we can gather and process data much more quickly than we could before. This means we can make more informed decisions and improve our marketing strategies in real-time.

Another reality is that AI is making it easier to personalize our marketing efforts. By using data-driven insights, we can tailor our marketing campaigns to specific audiences and create more engaging content. This is where we can truly get creative and channel our inner Leonardo DiCaprio in Inception to make our marketing campaigns stand out.

So, what's TheCamel.co looking at with AI? Let's take a look at some practical applications of AI in digital marketing. One example is chatbots. These AI-powered assistants can handle basic customer inquiries, freeing up time for human marketers to focus on more complex tasks. Another example is predictive analytics, which uses AI to forecast future customer behavior based on past data.

In conclusion, AI is not something to be feared or avoided. It’s an incredibly useful tool that can help us improve our digital marketing strategies and reach more customers. And, as they say, “no worries” if you’re not sure where to start. There are plenty of resources out there to help you navigate the world of AI in digital marketing. It is not a myth or a sci-fi fantasy. It's a real technology that's already changing the game for businesses big and small. So, if you're not already using AI in your marketing, maybe it's time to start. And if you need any help, just remember what they say in that classic Aussie movie The Castle: "It's the vibe of the thing."

Hello It's "Artificial" Intelligence

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 13:39:40 GMT

Hello my fellow Jedi Knights. Wow, what a month it's been in the good old web world. Yes, part of it has been the normal whining and complaining by my fellow inmates (work-from-home people) on how tough things are. But, you also have the reversal from the “Optimist Prime” crowd. I don't know if they tell stories or they are actually doing well, or maybe, they know something the rest of us don't. But I find all the conversations fun and exciting and worth the price of admission. However, the number one topic this month? Drum roll please (but I think the theme from Star Wars would be better) as yes folks we are all talking about AI or Artificial Intelligence.

Now, depending on which news you read or listen to, AI can be either what the world has been waiting for, or it can be a nightmare on Elm Street Part 55!

I have written before in one of my should have been Pulitzer prize blogs, I think, about my Will Smith type love for AI. I loved Will (before the academy awards slap, silly Will) in the movie iRobot. He sums up my feelings so well in one scene. He is having a coffee with the CEO of US Robotics (USR), and offers a marketing suggestion for a TV ad.

It went like this. Will Smith said, “So okay, you see a carpenter making a wonderful chair, and then you see a robot make a better chair twice as fast, and then at the bottom of the screen it reads, ‘USR shittin’ on the little guy’.”

You see folks, Will had little love for robots. Yes, they had taken away all the mundane jobs for people, such as garbage collection, FedEx delivery, waiters, the list goes on. And those people fell for the pitch just like people did in real life, that robots will do the jobs we don't want to do, when the fact is? They take the jobs and that leaves no jobs. And for many? They have nothing to do.

So in the total scheme of things? Call me old school, but I am a bit like Will Smith. I see robots as totally shittin’ on the little people and a serious problem in years to come unless we all get used to living in a welfare state.

Ok, hold the bus, I am getting all serious and political and can feel people starting to leave their seats screaming, “That's not the sort of blog we are used to. Where's the humor, frivolity, sarcasm? Hello, get back in the groove or we will think this is written by AI”.

Well, after slapping myself (sorry Will ), I am back in the groove, fellow little people.

So, was all the news this month all about robots making a perfect unemployed world? NO, we are a few years away from that LOL. The noise was all about ChatGPT and a few others, and how they can write better content faster, do code, create facebook posts, leap tall buildings in a single bound, and overall it was the end of the world for freelancers and the little guy. But a massive opportunity for the bigger guys and some smaller ones who also have the greed gene.

All of a sudden like quicker than you can “Slap” (sorry Will, last one promise), people I know well that could not put together a sentence, let alone spell without their kids checking it, were writing award winning social media posts. Their blogs which the last one they wrote were ready to go in a museum, all of a sudden they had Pulitzer prize winning wikipedia word count blogs all shiny and new.

Yes, the drug had hit, people were hooked faster than Blue Magic that Denzel Washington's Character made in the movie American Gangster (Love ya Denzel, he calmed down Will). Like these people who averaged a post every birthday were all of a sudden asking Facebook for more room, I tell you. They were lighting up the world with this free of charge ChatGPT and thinking wow even their mothers will be impressed.

Was the content good? Was it worth the read? Well, compared to this writer's literary genius, of course not. But, would it pass the test of the average punter out there? To be honest, it would. Like the scene in iRobot, good old ChatGPT could write better and faster than the average bear.

But what did I notice? Well folks, I am glad you asked. What I noticed was what I titled this blog, all that fancy stuff was written by? “Artificial” Intelligence.

What do I mean? It lacked emotion, humor, sarcasm, wit (the sort of stuff you read each month in this blog). It read well but it was cold and lifeless. It was? “Artificial”

Do I think AI has a place? Doesn't matter what I think really, the dice has been thrown, the cement has been mixed, the water has boiled. Folks, AI is here, ready or not. I think no choice AI will be the go-to in basic content, social media posts, all the things the “little guy” (freelancers) make money from, so they will need to find a new game to play.

BUT, for the special stuff, for the emotional, touchy feely stuff, the stuff that separates humans from them? I believe we (Humans) still have the edge. The people that write all that good stuff? We do for us, our readers, our viewers, and our audience. AI? Does it because it's told to!

Love n hugs to you all, and AI or a robot? Can't do that.

Rising to New Heights

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 05:06:30 GMT

Celebrating a Decade of Overcoming Challenges and Rising Up

It's been a ripper of a ride for TheCamel over the last decade! TheCamel has faced its fair share of challenges over the past ten years, but it has always risen above them all and has become a true legend in the industry and a trusted name for its customers. As we celebrate our 10th year anniversary, we are proud to do so with the concept of " Rise Up ".

Overcoming Challenges LIKE A BOSS

Like any other company, TheCamel did not always have it easy. Despite the hurdles and headaches, we've taken 'em all on with steely determination in our hearts and a good dose of Aussie grit. Our " Rise Up " theme symbolizes our unyielding drive for greatness and our unwavering stance against any challenge that comes our way.

Staying CONNECTED is What Matters

At TheCamel, we believe in the power of building strong alliances with our people. Over the years, we've built solid relationships with our customers, crew, and partners. Our dedication to keeping these bonds strong, no matter what hurdles come our way shows that together with our alliance, we will " Rise Up ".

A BRIGHTER Future Ahead

As we turn our gaze into the future, TheCamel's more determined than ever to reach new heights. As we continue to " Rise Up ", we're committed to continuing our tradition of excellence and exploring new opportunities for growth not just for your websites but for your business as well.

Come and Celebrate with Us!

We can hardly contain our excitement now that TheCamel's reached its 10th year anniversary! And we reckon this is a cause for a big celebration with all our customers, employees and friends. With the " Rise Up " theme leading the way, we're looking forward to a bright future filled with more achievements and growth.

As our Shane likes to say, " What got you where you are today, is not good enough to keep you there ." This bit of wisdom highlights the importance of growth and always striving for improvement in our personal and professional lives. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to become complacent and simply rely on past successes to carry us forward. But as the message points out, that just won't cut it anymore. In any field, the landscape is constantly changing. technology and design trends are advancing, markets are shifting, and competition is getting tougher. To stay ahead of the pack, it's crucial that we keep learning, that we push ourselves out of our comfort zones, and take calculated risks.

So, how can we make sure we're always moving ahead to " Rise Up "? Here's a few pointers:

Keep learning: Always have an open mind and be willing to take on new knowledge. Keep an eye out for new opportunities and be willing to have a crack at them.
Keep improving: Whether it's through study, going to conferences, or doing online courses, make sure you're always working on your skills and know-how.
Mingle with others: Reach out to people in your field, go to events, and build connections with like-minded people. These connections can open up new doors and give you valuable nuggets of wisdom.
Take a calculated punt: Don't be afraid to take a shot and chase your dreams. Of course, it's important to weigh up the potential upsides and downsides before making a decision, but taking bold moves can lead to some sweet rewards.

So let's have a crack at making sure we're always climbing the ladder. By trying out these tips and heeding the wise words of Shane, " What got you where you are today, is not good enough to keep you there ," you'll be on the right track to reaching new peaks and making the most of every opportunity.

This message is a gentle prod to keep us all from becoming complacent, and to keep striving for better things. It's a journey, not a destination, and the more we push ourselves, the further we'll get.

Thank you to all those who were and are part of TheCamel's journey, and here's to many more years of rising to new heights! And don’t forget, “Rise Up”!

Cheers!

We Are Here to Help

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 07:08:50 GMT

Here we go its 2023, New Year, out with Old in with the New, Clean Slate, Fresh Start ahhh the list of exciting motivation could go and on, I actually love the start of a New Year, to me it's just a whole new Mountain to Climb or a chance to have another go at the summit after slipping down the ice in the last few months of the year before LOL.

At TheCamel.co every New Year we do the same thing, we set two themes, one theme is for the team and one is for the Company. We use that theme to set the stage of what we want to achieve for the year. We have had lots, always a statement we put on t-shirts and always a matching song which becomes like an anthem.

Over the Years we have have had some awesome themes, “This is the Moment” “United We Stand Divided We Fall” “Nothing's gonna stop us now” “This is Me”

I get so excited when we do our theme launch at our yearly get together party at the start of the year (TheCamel was born in January so good time to celebrate) Nothing beats a super introduction speech (humbly delivered by me) and then boom the theme song blasts in the background and will then spend the next year lifting, motivation, inspiring our team to go above and beyond in greatness, well that's the plan LOL.

So, what's the plan for 2023? Glad you asked.

My Goal for 2023 was to really “UP” the service and support game, my belief is the world is getting so deep into automation, Ai, a major “Differentiator” will be service and support. Everybody and his dog (I apologize if I offend any puppies who read my blog) are into faster, quicker, cheaper. I do not want to jump on that train. I want to make sure yes we do all that but move over Disneyland, “The Happiest place on Earth”, will be doing business with TheCamel.

BUT? I need a song, and a theme.

It was just before the Christmas break and that thought was running through my mind and all of a sudden out of the blue like a bolt of lighting I was hit by this song, “Help” Not the Beatles version (yes it was the original) but this version https://youtu.be/dv54giOSRKs sung by the awesome aussie talent John Farnham.

When he belts out the line, “Help me if you can I’m feeling down, and I do appreciate you being round” wow the hairs on my arms stood up and then, “ And I do appreciate you being round” OMG I felt like the support angels had opened up in the heavens, trumpets were sound, rays of sunlight breaking through the clouds yes folks it was a spiritual uplifting moment which ended when he sang, “Won't you please, please help me” I felt a need to answer the call.

I imagined poor suffering souls being on the end of a call with somebody form a strange land pretending to be from another country, I visioned frustrated consumers chatting with a BOT, trying to find the answer to how to stop a light from blinking and get the new TV working, OMG yes we are all trying to make things faster, leaner meaner but in the end? It boils down to the desperate pleas of? “Won't you please please please help me” Thank you Whispering Jack (John Fnarnhams nickname)

At last, my theme for TheCamel team in 2023 was sent by the gods of support, at last I have a tune that can drive the team to greatness, but I need one more thing, I need a tagline to put on tshirts.

The song is great, but it needs a simple phrase that ties it all up, that links the mammoth anthem of service, that the mere mention of that phrase will be a call to action for the team. So my beloved audience let me share what will be the phrase that will drive us at TheCamel to make sure that in 2023 you will not be begging, “please please please help me”

We will say from the moment you call or text, drum roll please.

“We are here to help” and that is what we will do. In 2023? TheCamel? Will Help you.

The team theme? That's the next blog.

Hugs to all.

Jingle Bell Rock, Wow So Fast

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 00:08:51 GMT

Can you believe it, my fellow reindeer lovers? Like hello, what happened to Happpyyyyy New Yearrrrr? Boom, all of a sudden we are “deck the halls” with bells of holly and let's whack that credit card till it needs CPR time.

Like where did the year go? And let's add to the mix, only less than twelve months ago, we were all locked up, masked up, miserable and depressed, addicted to Netflix, many pounds heavier, relationships pushed to the limits, zooming with everyone including our therapist? And now, Covid who?

It's been the craziest of years, with more ups and downs, twists and turns, ins and outs than riding the Kinda Ka at Six Flags. (That's the world's best roller coaster BTW)

But guess what? We made it.

Yes, folks despite all the doom and gloom, the stock markets didn't crash, Covid did not kill us all, people are still working, we are all still buying and life has gone on.

But I must admit, your most likely like me, you're a little tired and will be super excited when the 23rd of December rolls around for most of us and we get a chance to take off the saddle, kick off the boots, and rest our weary little bodies for a spell (plus eat like little piggies went to market with all that food, a little wine, and a few songs with the kin folk).

However, not to be the deliverer of bad news or joy killer, BUT, sooner than you can be dashing through the snow? Auld Lang Syne will arrive, Xmas trees will become firewood and we will all be back at it again.

My question for you all my super readers, are you going to start the awesome opportunity of 2023 same old same old? Or are you thinking about adding a little sugar and spice to your business life?

Ok, maybe I was a little too cryptic there. “Get to the point oh Blog Guru” I hear you say. Are you going to open up the doors to your humble business with the same look and feel that you left with? Same website, same marketing, same social media, same words to describe your academy award-winning customer performance? I’m so excited you said NO.

Am I saying let's dump it all? NOOOOOO, what I am saying is at a minimum “Let’s sexy it up”.

Let’s agree to take a look at the first web impression customers get of your website. Let's replace those pictures of you with wide collars and flared pants with new and exciting options. Let's change the color from fluoro to something warm and friendly. Let's get rid of that Wikipedia content that nobody reads anyway and get straight to content that excites people to book and buy, and? Let's make it awesome on mobile.

Next step? Let's take a good look at all the content we have on that customer attraction program (website to mere mortals) and start to make sure you have “keywords”. Yep, the words that mention the company, the brand, the location, the product and the services, so Google can find you blindfolded.

Last but not least, let's take a good look at our social media. Let's sexy up the banner, add some new posts, do a quick video for Tik Tok, add lots of pictures of products and happy customers to Instagram, and post those awesome reviews.

Wow, I'm excited just writing it. So, how good will you feel doing it and most importantly? How great will your customers feel when they see it? Change is such a wonderful thing.

And that, children, will do us for 2022. It's been a pleasure sharing all this fun and frivolity, and the occasional piece of marketing brilliance (I say that humbly of course). I pray you all have a safe and sensational holiday break, and let's bring on more fun and games (and lots of money) in 2023.

Hugs to you all.

After The Rain Has Stopped

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 08:29:34 GMT

Last month we wrote about the nasty tsunami and what if it ripped through Google and we had to find other creative ways to promote our business. I know that a lot of people went into a cold sweat needed a drink at the mere mention of the fact and start screaming “Oh NO”.

I mean, think about have you seen the videos on YouTube on what happens to the average teenager when you take their smartphone off them just to eat the family dinner? They hyperventilate, have panic attacks, start to pace the floors, they are like chocolate addicts that have not had a fix in days and like that is just after 2 minutes.

The average millenial has not known life without the internet and smartphone, so to them it's like you're taking away the very air that they breathe. For those that are in business that have not known life without Google, apps, automation, and the like, the thought of a Google tsunami? Pretty much brings up fear of rehab and withdrawals, and a guaranteed scream of “Life is over” or a bunch of blank looks from a room full of marketing gurus.

In reality? People in 2023 are really not equipped, but thrillseekers we gotta stick to script, so sorry, Google lights out, tsunami has passed, we have to grab the mop and buckets, start cleaning up the mess, we have to then get on with business or else we are all going to starve.

So, the next question? What do we do now?

Glad you asked, coz the author of this thought provoking literary masterpiece (and so humble) just happened to have lived through “the good old days” of monthly celebrations, happy hours, freedom of speech, no woke or pronouns, business lunches (that went all day) and my training consisted of being thrown the phonebook or a street directory as they were both full of leads! Ah, yes the good old days and can I also add I did a lot of jobs that paid commission only, and the body needs food and water to keep knocking on doors, so sales? Was a must.

I could probably end this now by just saying, “Work Hard” but we have to have more than 450 words so let's keep going.

The number one answer from all the brilliant people I have spoken to and asked this Google tsunami question is most likely the best advice I can give. What do they almost unanimously advise as the number one thing to do? Networking.

Yes, folks put on some comfortable shoes, brush those pearly whites, wear clean underwear (my mum's advice) and start spreading the gospel of “Your Business” and your infectious personality.

The great part about networking? It's free, just shoe leather and perspiration. First up? Go to places where people meet and chat - a pub, a church, a networking breakfast club, a free seminar, anywhere there are people mingling. Just start to say hi and hand out business cards, swap stories, and then phone numbers.

The second answer? An undiscovered, rarely worked gold mine. Referrals, go back over all the customers you have had in the past, before the Noah's Ark tsunami moment, and say hi, how you doing, how is life, and just ask the question, “ Hey, whilst I’m at it, you seem to be happy (pray they are) with service, work, support, product that you’re happy with that I gave to you, could you recommend a friend or family member I could give a call that might enjoy the same type of service, work, support, product that you're happy with?”

Just those two simple actions alone will get the business mop cleaning up the tsunami leftover sludge and get you back in the game again.

Yes, there is a lot more but hello we need to write a new blog every month so I need to keep the ideas in my stash.

So there you go folks, is a google tsunami the end of your world? Nope, it can actually be a lot of fun, getting out, chatting to people, life is awesome and you might just sell a few things as well.

Big hugs to all.

Internet Typhoon

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 04:29:06 GMT

These past weeks, good old mother nature has really packed a nasty punch. In the Philippines, it's the “Rainy Season” which means guaranteed everyday it’s best to pack your umbrella and a hat as sooner or later the clouds will roll in and whoosh a major downpour, making planning a day out a risky proposition.

On top of the daily routine, it's typhoon time and every week there is some little cloud out in the ocean that takes some wind and rain steroids and then the press does the same and next thing you know there is talk (read fear) of Super Typhoons, batten down the hatches, houses are gunna fly, water will be deep, lives will be over. Last week we had one of those, but like most of them, it was all huff and puff and as soon as it hit land? Pfft it was just a storm.

Then in Florida, they had Ian. Yep, Ian was a little cloud that took some deep breaths, sucked up a whole bunch of ocean, and in a short period of time, hit the coast as a hurricane (same as a typhoon) and billions of dollars of damage and loss of life. It was sad and terrible. But it's a gamble you take when you choose to live in a tropical paradise or close to the ocean huh, like it or not, sooner or later, one of those storms will hit hard and you may have nothing left.

Most people still stay, most people just grab that mop and bucket, hammer and nails, and start all over again. Very few move, they just wait it out for the next one and pray it won't be “super”.

Typhoons, hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, and tsunamis are terrible natural disasters. Yep, you can get a little notice, but in reality, they hit and only when it's over can you see the damage, make a plan, and get to rebuild. They take you by surprise, can ruin you, or they can make you. Before it happens, most people would not be thinking “today is Natural Disaster Day”. Life would be pretty much normal from the time the rooster crows till the moment the stars start to shine.

Yes, people may have an emergency plan, or a survival bag packed, but normally everything inside has passed its used-by date and the batteries are flat before you get to use it.

Where is this blog going? Like so far it sounds pretty gloomy, not my normal happy-go-lucky, full of humor, and brilliant ideas. Well, hold the bus kids. Like Christmas? It's coming.

All this natural disaster, no advance warning, OMG what would you do stuff made me think. What if the internet and social media had a disaster? What if a flood ripped through all those buildings holding the “cloud” (funny really, the cloud is actually on the ground LOL) An earthquake rocked it all and millions of gigabytes fell into a big deep crack in mother earth?

What if the repair time was months? OK, it was only an internet thing (don't want to ruin the plot of this story). Yep, houses still stand, nobody died, and people still have jobs but, NO Social Media, NO Google, NO Youtube, it was just some strange ecological algorithm that went viral and knocked all that stuff out.

What's in your disaster recovery bag? What would you put in place to make sure the wheels of commerce keep turning? What are the safety blankets, the MREs, the alkaline batteries, and first-aid supplies of your business should the internet algorithm AI-driven tsunami hit?

Good question huh? I guess those born before fax machines, landlines, stamps on letters, printers, talking to each other might be having heart palpitations at this stage, and all those that still know how to drive a manual car might be thinking wow back in the day now.

No facebook posts about your last offering, no tik tok videos of your dancing staff or you in a tutu, no obsession with google's front page, no PPC, no SEO, OMG, can you imagine it?

Well, actually back in the dark ages less than 13 years ago there was no Facebook, 25 years ago there was no Google, and 25 years ago there was no internet at all. Yes, my dear readers not so long ago, we had nothing. Nothing and hello we still did business and we built great businesses, we sold things and we sold a lot, we had customers and wow they were actually loyal, we survived for a lot longer than 25 years.

So, in reality? An internet tsunami you could and would survive, you would make it to the promised land of a restored connection, and have a “thank you Jesus” moment.

I actually ask this question on all my webinars, “What would you do if there was an internet tsunami?” and I have to say every guest class it as one of the best questions as you really have to think.

We were a lot more creative back then than we had to be. There was no autopilot AI, a lot more into networking, relationships, LIVE and in person.

Now at this stage, I would normally start to roll off ideas, thoughts and actions, but my dear thrill seekers, today is not that day as we are going to have part two of this blog.

Today I'm going to leave you with that question, “What would happen if there was an internet tsunami?” and let you grab a cold beer or a warm coffee and ponder.

Then next month when I write part two, “After The Rain Has Stopped” then we can throw some ideas around of emergency actions, lifeboats, rescue planes etc, etc.

Big Hugs to all. Stay Dry.

Duda vs Wordpress? Who Cares, It's a Website

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 04:52:53 GMT

Duda vs Worpress (or Wix, Weebly, even my Mum’s scone recipe). The headline “Duda vs Wordpress” I see on so many posts drives me insane. First up, a “Love” disclaimer, I love you Duda and all who sail with you. This blog has nothing to do with the CMS to CMS rivalry, go for it Duda I got ya back at all times you’re da best.

Ok, taken care of the possible lawsuits and unhappy people, so here we go. LOL

Oh hang on before I go any further, let me also say to the “pronoun” advocates that I am a he/him and for the sake of the exercise this literary masterpiece shall be written as he/him will use he/him as the example so if you see he/him please mentally replace that with whatever you see fit and I apologize in advance for any stress that may cause you.

Ok, now I think we have taken care of all potential unhappiness, so let's get down to what this is all about. Where was I? Oh, yes CMS to CMS rivalry. Here we go, lights, cameras, action.

So, you get the Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter notification, “ding ding” new post and there it is, a new post by Harry Clagg digital agency why you should choose the CMS he uses over the other brand, and it happens so much. Some of the agencies spend countless hours of graphic capability to tell you why brand A is better than brand B. Their posts will in most cases get zero attention, but I am sure, if the social media provider gurus had a “yawn” icon it would be used often. Just on that, don’t you feel a little weird when somebody posts a “lost a loved one” announcement and one of the main options is “like”? Even a “heart” feels sort of out of place.

So, the digital agency will look at their work of art post, grab a beer, and have a big sook feeling dejected that yes another moment of social media fame has been neglected by their audience.

My point? Do you blame your customers for pressing the “yawn” button? Coz in reality, to your customers, yes yours, what difference does it really make? It's a website, okay. And, 99% of what's out there CMS wise will do the job for the majority of business and their needs.

Yes, if you're Duda. WP, Wix, or Weebly, of course you have to promote your greatness and speciality and why you are whoopin the other guy and make Google smile. But for you, the agency, what do you, and what should you promote and post? What is the exciting noise you can make to get those likes and smiley faces being clicked like the shoot button on a Xbox?

You need to be posting what makes the great great, and the great is? YOU.

Yes folks, another gold nugget of business success I present to you. Start being your own cheer squad and don’t be shameless about it, as that's what the punter with the credit card in hand wants to hear and most importantly be convinced and comfortable with. “Why pick you?”

Think about for a minute, go back to the day when you had pimples and your heart would beat, you would start to sweat every time you would see the gal of your dreams pass you by. What would you do to get her attention? Would you place a sign up all over the school, make a facebook post with a picture of your dad and say, “Wow look at my DNA, I’m perfect” or “My dad has the nicest personality and hello I have his genes”.

No, you would be going out of your way to impress, to make noise on why you’re the ideal candidate to pull her heartstrings and take her to that prom or a hamburger lunch at In-N-Out (best hamburgers in the world, by the way).

If you went for a new job, would your resume be full of the greatness of your former employer? Would you be promoting their unique features and benefits, or would you be telling the world how good you were at your job and what an asset you would be to them?

Are you getting my point folks? Yes, the number one thing for you to shout out to the world? Is how good you and your business is and the fact is that you could design a website using electronic crayons and it would be a business changer for them. Yes, your CMS is important like any fast car? It only wins races with the right driver.

So, when you're about to make a new post today, on the job of creating an awesome graphic moment ready to make those enthusiastic to not only click that like button but call you?

Brag about yourself, show off your latest creation, post those reviews, a glowing recommendation from your Mum or ex wife, tell and show them that no matter what? “You're the one that they want Ooh ooh ohh” (RIP Olivia Newton John)

Have a great day. Hugs to all.

PS. Make sure its a duda site.

Learn When To Stop

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 03:05:10 GMT

Have you ever been on a crowded street with lots of people and noise? You feel like everything is a mess and you just want it to stop. Well then, why don’t you sit in a coffee shop corner, sip a black "Barako" coffee, and think about everything in your life.

As I grow older, I realize that one of the most important things we should all learn is when to stop. Many facets of our lives need us to know when it’s time to put a brake on some things. What exactly do I mean? For example, I learned that I should know when to stop working and take a breather, to stop resting and start acting, to stop talking and begin listening, and more.

Despite the fact that working long hours and getting up early is a common daily routine for all of us, this is a reminder for everyone that this is unsustainable in the long-term. Take time to relax and refresh. If people continue to overwhelm their physical and mental energies without rest periods to allow themselves enough time to recover, they will eventually feel burnt out and experience more negative effects than positive. We must learn when to stop working and take a rest.

On the other hand, it can also be said this way: You must know when to stop resting and begin working. Yes, you do have your coffee break, but that coffee break is just 15 minutes, not 30 minutes. Yes, you do need your lunch break, but it is 45 minutes - 1 hour rather than 90 minutes. Yes, you can talk to coworkers about random things, but not too long that it will take your entire shift. You must know when you have had enough rest, enough time for recovery and growth. And when it is time to return to work, you should then tell yourself and the others, "Alright! Let’s get back to work!"

Right now, there are way too many people who talk more than they listen. Let me ask you this: Do you remember the last time you lost your cool while arguing with a partner or with a colleague and said something that stirred the pot? Sometimes you just need to learn when to listen to others instead of just you doing all the talking. We've all been in the position before when we said the wrong thing at the wrong time. Who knows, maybe the other has the solution you have been looking for, if you just had time to listen to them instead of just yapping away.

There have been times when TheCamel.co has struggled as a business, but what makes us still standing and kicking? We know when to let go of things that won't work, learn from our weaknesses, and pursue things we know that we are good at.

As the saying goes, “ Set your goals high, and don't stop till you get there .” So, if you’re looking for a new or improved first web impression for your business, TheCamel.co team got your back!

With TheCamel.co as your partner, you don’t need to keep searching anymore because we are the duda experts for duda Solutions. We are always ready to shed some light on your Digital Customer Attraction needs.

So, what’s stopping you now?

How about we have a chat over a cup of coffee? (And enjoy your free virtual cake with a cherry on top, lolol)

Hugs!

Tender Loving Care

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 08:19:31 GMT

"People make mistakes. Nobody's perfect." This is probably one of the most used phrases you have heard of. While it is cliché, in reality, it's as true as it can get. As humans, we can't seem to get away from it. Everyone, from the average Joe up to the most successful people have had their fair share of mistakes.

Let me introduce you to Thomas Edison, the inventor of the humble lightbulb. Before successfully creating the lightbulb, he tested out thousands of materials to make it work. That's a lot of trial and error. You’ve also heard of Michael Jordan, he missed more than 9,000 shots - some of which should have been the game winning shot for his team - before he became one of the greatest. Even today’s richest people like Bill Gates used to present machines to people that ended up not working at the time of the presentation. Oof right?

Still, even when they made those mistakes, through perseverance, they eventually succeeded. But, is that all there is to it? Can mistakes be easily overwritten by sheer determination and trial and error? In a corporate environment where mistakes can cost you a lot of time, energy, and most importantly money, is hard work the best way to deal with it?

TheCamel.co has been up and running for over 9 years now. Just like everyone else, we've had our fair share of errors.

Let me tell you a quick story, I have been with TheCamel for a little over 3 years now. If you read this far and haven't noticed it yet, this blog is a bit different as Shane is not the one writing this. He's had an accident and needs to get all the rest he can get, which means no writing as well. Don’t worry as he’s been cleared by the hospital and is on his way to a full recovery. Anyway, here goes -

I was accepted at TheCamel as a designer. To be honest, I was not a guru in design and I barely even knew how to use photoshop. But still, TheCamel hired me and taught me everything there is to know about the field. As you may expect from a novice, I've made a number of oopsies along the way. My designs were not up to quality, I missed some marks when it comes to edits, and I downright broke a website! Oh the horror I felt when I saw that happened.

Of course, seeing as this is business, I received a lot of verbal beatings (no worries, it’s the family friendly kind of course lol), warnings, and memos along the way. It's not as simple as sorry boss, I'll do better and viola, everything has been fixed. I had to act accordingly and fix the mistakes that I committed, and of course, accept the consequences that followed.

Pretty standard right? But here's the thing, in all I went through I have never felt total discouragement amongst those mistakes. Why? Because that’s how TheCamel reacts to them. TheCamel understands that along the way, mistakes are bound to happen, especially for someone like me back then who was in the process of learning. They are willing to invest in the team and nurture them to be better. I was never talked to like I will be scratched off the list. It's always “you know why we are speaking to you right? These are the consequences of your mistake. It costs us something, it is unfortunate, but don't let it bring you down. You have learnt something new, use it.“

Why am I telling you this? Well, in every success story out there, they always focus on the "overcome any obstacle” attitude you should have. That it's always no matter the situation, I never stopped, I never faltered. It can't all be down everytime right? Eventually, if I just keep going at it, the wheel will turn and you will reach a higher point, right??

While that's all true, inspiring, and motivating, let's not miss an important part of their story. Their support system. The environment that supported them through those tough times.

Edison's mother encouraged him during his early years, she lifted him at the stage of where he started to learn things by and for himself. As Edison put it, "My mother was the making of me. She understood me; she let me follow my bent." Jordan, despite missing the supposed game winning shots, continued to be trusted by his team to continuously make them. With Bill Gates, his family kept backing him up too no matter what.

This is what TheCamel does best. It creates an environment where you never feel discouraged despite your mistakes, and allows you to learn and grow further. In this field of work, you can never really truly learn and understand something if you haven't experienced it firsthand. The feeling of making a mistake, and the desire to act and fix it, and finally, a stepping stone that will help you in future. I believe this is what sets the company apart from most corporate businesses out there. The understanding, the drive to nurture and upskill, and the patience to teach. Not everyone is the same, some people can handle mistakes better than others. Some can brush it off and proceed, and some dwell in it for a while. However, having a safe place where you know that you are trusted despite dropping the ball at times surely helps with confidence and headspace.

With me? I am a bit of both. There are times where I can take a breath and move on, and there are times where I get anxious due to my errors. But with everyone's help, I was able to use my experience and aim to be a better employee. Just like what I have mentioned, I have been with TheCamel for a little over 3 years now, and despite my earlier mistakes, I became fortunate enough to be trusted and be one of the heads of the company.

Do I still make mistakes? Definitely. But what changed? I now have 3 years worth of experience. I have numerous cases that I can use as a reference. I have learned accountability, and responsibility. And what hasn’t changed? TheCamel's attitude. I am still in a phase of continuous growth, and TheCamel supports that no matter what. As a head, I am always aiming to treat my team the same as what the company has treated me always.

So, if by some chance this question pops in your head "How does TheCamel handle mistakes?" It is through patience, understanding, and teaching accountability and responsibility. There are always consequences for every action, make no mistake about that, but as Bryant Mcgill said "Everything worthwhile takes time, nurturing, and love. When something isn't working, love it more, nurture it more, and give it more time."

You’ll never know. Maybe that struggling employee that you have now is the next key player that you are looking for.

Hugs.

Kiss Of The Cobra

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 06:26:54 GMT

If you have been to Thailand or India as a tourist, you may have seen one of those Snake shows. It's the show where you see a cobra become mesmerized by some young handler that moves around, taps the cobra on the head, and occasionally will kiss the snake. The snake will attempt to strike, but with speed, the handlers will quickly move away. Now some people say the handler is safe as the cobra has had its fangs removed, but I have seen a few videos on YouTube that show the handler missing the beat and the cobra taking the chance, and boom, fangs or no fangs, it looks like it hurts.

The bites would hurt, it could also kill you. There are worse snakes to be bitten by, the cobra is at number 3 on the hit list. Their venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite, up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce, is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant. That’s a teaspoon! The kiss of a cobra? Is quick and nasty, just like some google reviews, it’s full of venom!

Yes, folks the cobra only has one intention when they are lining you up for a vulnerable moment and strike those fangs and deliver that kiss. Its death and destruction, the person sitting back with the smartphone or laptop, is the same. Poised and ready to strike fear in your heart just like the kiss of the cobra, but with keystrokes and a bad google or social media review.

A cold meal, a lack of attention, and a moment where you let your service halo slip, boom, they will strike that keyboard with so much venom that it's guaranteed to suck the life out of your butcher, baker, candlestick-maker business.

There are no heads up and no chance of giving a reason, it’s a cobra kiss review first and accept explanation later. Wouldn't matter that you just lost a loved one or were going through personal trauma. You could have been hit by an earthquake or swallowed up by a tsunami, you have not treated them like the king or queen they consider themselves to be and you're going to pay. And usually, like the cobra stands up and puffs up before they strike? These cobra kisses will proudly proclaim, “I am going to post this on social media and ruin you and your business”. Wow, stand proud. Not!

In all honesty, why do people do that? I can understand the cobra, it needs to eat and protect itself so, of course, it uses its god-given destructive talent to make that happen. But why would another human being get the ultimate satisfaction in bringing down a business or another human being for a cappuccino with not enough sugar, or an Uber that took a wrong turn?

Now, King Cobras live in northern India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, so if you're reading this and living in one of those places, I suggest you watch your step when walking through long grass. But if you’re like the majority who live in suburbia or another country? You're safe, but if you do get bitten? As long as you can get to a hospital, there is an anti-venom, and if you get that on time you will survive. So there is good news and bad news.

Kiss of the cobra review? Well, that also has good and bad news. The bad news? If you get a venom infused comment from a Harry or Harriet consumer or customer, and you don't check it on time, potentially there will be no anti-venom for your business and it could suffer, or worse it could have permanent damage. The good news? If you catch the review on time, there is an anti-venom of steps in place to help you fight another day.

First let me say this, the cobra? In actual fact, they don't want to bite you, they would prefer to run away and eat a rat or something. But if you tap them on the head and grab them by the tail, they might sink those fangs in and deliver that fatal teaspoon. It's a defense mechanism or a way to get lunch. Harry or Harriet? They do it for spite or a moment of glory, so if you're one of those types, a kiss of the cobra reviewer, I will request nicely you go and eat a rat and leave the poor innocent alone or you go down the anti-venom method.

If you have a true complaint, a valid reason to get upset, or are not happy with a product or service, do what people used to do before the “like” button was invented, contact the company or business and see if you can sort things out.

I, personally, had a situation the other day, a restaurant we go to a lot, always super happy, but this one day the food was the worst we ever had. Now instead of raising it up and being ready to sink my fangs in via social media, I gave them the benefit of the doubt that something might be wrong. I messaged them instead of giving them a bad review. They were so happy! The reason behind the bad food day was solid and understandable, they offered a solution, and we both went on to live a long and healthy life. They also thank me for not making it public.

What if I did sink in the fangs? What if I did leave the kiss of the cobra? What if you have had that happen to you? What can you do? What tourniquet can be used to stop the venom from getting to your business’ vital organs?

Don't panic, relax, and go to work. First up, make sure you reply immediately to the cobra kiss. Nothing worse than silence and Google will help you more if you have tried to do something. Next, contact the client if you can, stay calm, and hear them out. It may have been your fault, one of your staff may have had a bad hair day and let you down. Who knows, but let them say their piece, try and solve the situation, and politely ask them to delete the review.

What if none of that works? Make sure you fix any issues, be nice, and get as many positive reviews as you can so potential customers see more good than bad.

The best advice? Stay out of the long grass and don't annoy the cobra. Keep your service great, monitor your products’ and people's performance, and never tap the cobra on the head or give anybody the chance to have a reason or an opportunity to give you a kiss of the cobra review.

Hugs to all.

Hard Work? There Is No App For That

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 09 May 2022 07:16:37 GMT

Persistence overcomes resistance. It's not just about talent, it's about hard work. I heard that a lot as I was growing up. I heard it even more along the way. It was usually the answer I would find when studying the reason for success. I read about people like Colonel Sanders (brag I met him twice) of KFC fame starting at 65, door to door trying to sell his fried chicken dream, Ray Croc (I met him once) being not so super at 52 and then boom working hard on the golden arches and making it big with Hamburgers. Yes, many old school stories like that we have heard at every motivational conference, but in this digital age with zillionaires created from apps, influencers on Youtube, crypto kings, reality TV super stars, does hard work still pay?

“There's no talent here, this is hard work. This is an obsession. Talent does not exist, we are all equals as human beings. You could be anyone if you put in the time. You will reach the top, and that's that. I am not talented. I am obsessed.” – Conor McGregor Former UFC Double Belt Champion, $200 Million Businessman

Ok, so Conor spoke those words this past couple of years. It was not from “way back in the day”, in 2012 he was worth 50k, in ten years it was 200 million. He was a plumber, no MBA, and he earned it by hard work, by getting smacked in the mouth on Saturday nights after training two times a day, seven days a week. Along the way (yes, a little naughty) he used his personality, ring savvy, made some great moves, worked hard, and became a truly bankable brand. Proper Twelve Whiskey (his brand) in one year went from zero to one of the highest sellers in the world and he recently sold the brand for 600 Million.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has two great quotes.

“In 1995 I had $7 bucks in my pocket and knew two things: I’m broke as hell and one day I won’t be.” – Dwayne Johnson

“Success isn’t always about ‘Greatness’, it’s about consistency. Consistent hard work gains success. Greatness will come.” – Dwayne Johnson

In 1995 he had $7, in 2022 with a lot of hard work and consistency? His personal net worth is close to 400 Million. His Teramana Tequila is the fastest selling tequila in history and his sports drink Zoa Energy went from nothing to taking massive market share from the biggies like red bull and monster in less than a year.

You can see I don't mention social media owners, rappers, or influencers, as frankly I have zero time for them. I love the long time blood sweat and tears style of success. The Rock (brag he sent me a personal message once) and Conor’s words lift me up (hey so does Ray Croc and The Colonel).

The problem is that in today's world the “Hard Work” school of thinking is a hard one to push. Not a lot of people want to prescribe it. It's easier to sell the influencer, crypto, app, get rich instant, just add water story than it is the hard work struggle no sleep kind.

If I look at TheCamel.co? It's been a long hard tough 9 years. We didn't start with $7 like The Rock, but it was close. And many times along the way we got closer again to that number when it was time to pay the bills. We didn't get belted in the Octagon on a Saturday night like Conor to earn our dollars, but wow we got a lot of kicks in the guts disappointments along the way.

But with hard work and persistence, we made it. We are not fully there yet but we are on our way. I mean, we just got the honor of becoming a branded Solutions Partner with duda, there are only five of those in the world and we did it. A lot of hard work and persistence to get to that point, we have the bruises to prove it, and the lack of sleep to honor it.

So my friends, after all the preaching inspirational words of failure to success, rags to riches, we come to the fork in the road point, “what’s my point in this blog?”

My point is? Never give up.

Yep, in our case along the way there were many times where it was all way too hard, the days were long, and the rewards were few. But deep down in my gut, I truly believed that if we just get up, if we just take another deep breath, we can make it another round.

This past few years, Covid has pounded us all, the war in Ukraine hit us just when we all thought the rain had cleared, we look at the road ahead, and there is yet another hill to climb. You may be thinking, “Enough, not again” let's throw in the towel.

Well folks, let me cover that thought with another famous quote and I will take a little credit for this one, “Don't give up, get obsessed. If it was easy? Everyone would do it”

Welcome to the minority, the view when you get to the top of the mountain is awesome, I will be the first to welcome you there.

Success? There is no app for that.

Hugs to all

Dress The Part

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 07:09:35 GMT

When I write a blog, I look to some strange places for inspiration to get to the message. I use movies a lot, there will always be a scene stuck in my mind that I will drag up when I am thinking of how I can make a point. I use life experience as I have been to so many places, had so many different styles of people in my life and like movies, there’s a moment that all of a sudden will come back when the blog evolution starts.

This one? Well, the motivation for this one, like many times before, is my Dad (RIP). He was a wise man, I tell you. He had so many inspirational one liners when I and many others asked his opinion on things. My dad taught me so much. So, before I start to think too deeply and start searching for the tissues to wipe my little sook, let me get to this topic and the gem one liner he offered up for that.

It could have been a sporting event, an interview, a date, you name it, but when I asked my dad his advice on how I should present myself? He would always reply, “Dress the part” . First up, you will look like you know what you're doing, second part is you might impress them, and third part which I have used before, “There is no second chance on a first impression”. So, dress the part and make a good one.

What did he mean by “dress the part”? He meant clean shaven, suit and tie, polished shoes, clean teeth. He meant all documents in hand, he meant flowers on a first date. Yes, a lot of those things are now really back in the day. But, they were so important back then to make sure you had a knock ‘em dead set it right from the get go first impression, set the scene for potential greatness or success. I must be honest, the flowers resulted in some sensational first dates and if I also gave them to the gal’s mum? Wow, I would get invited to dinner as well. Shame that is no longer fashionable.

But, we are here today to talk about websites, first web impressions, “dress the part” for a google search, customer attraction. And, this blog is going to be a shameful product plug for TheCamel.co. LOL. So, let me stop beating around the bush with my back in the day stories and get to the point.

When we talk about, “dress the part” for a website what are we talking about? Well, like the first date, or an interview, you need to make sure there is a bit of “wow, you have gotten my attention” when you knock on the door or step out the lift!

Your website? When you survive the google lucky dip, should be an attention-grabber, look awesome, and exciting. But sadly, like a good set of clothes to “dress the part”, a real customer attracting website does not come cheap. So, sadly in this day and age, a lot of businesses have a heart attack at the price of a website that is truly going to show their business in an awesome light, one that displays they are dressed for the customer attraction part.

So they revert to the low cost route, DIY, or they get their next door neighbors kid, or a relative that has some tech skill to make a quickie website for them. Hey, it may not look the best but it’s “something”. The attitude is when you make money then you will invest in the best.

Well, do you want the good news or the bad news? The good news? I can't think of any when it comes to yucky websites. The bad news? Remember what my dear old dad said? “There is no second chance on a first impression”. If your website is ugly? Harry or Harriet customers will just click away and find a better looking date.

So, drum roll please. With all that in mind and knowing there is a massive need for websites to look sensational and be attractive and guarantee you get invited for dinner, TheCamel.co said “Let’s do this” and we created TheCamel.co Rent A Site.

We now give you the opportunity to have an awesome first web impression, a real customer attracting program, and instead of mortgaging your house to pay for it? You can rent it.

Yes folks, no need to find 1000’s of dollars, it's here right now for only $69 a month (I told you this blog would be a no shame product push LOL)

Do I hear a cheer from the crowd? Yes, no drama, no worries, just an awesome website that our team of graphic design legends will create for you. We will host and support it. All you need to worry about is taking names and orders.

So folks, here is your chance to “Dress the part”, TheCamel.co Rent A Site has arrived.

Big hugs to all!

One Size Fits All? Sometimes Not.

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:36:24 GMT

Good old COVID has been a bit of a life-changer (understatement, sorry) for most of the humans occupying this rock in the Universe we call Earth. They say it takes 21 days to change a habit. Well, for the majority of us, COVID has been around for close to 730 days. Wow! So, no doubt we have changed some habits - some good, some bad.

Yes, our eating habits have changed. In fact, 39% of the world has actually gained weight these past two years. We have been drinking more with over 41% of the planet admitting they indulge in the 5 pm cocktail a little more than they did before. You would think that being locked inside might cause a leap in one stat that the birth rate would go up? But hello, bedroom habits changed as the new baby rate has dropped close to 16% since COVID started.

Yes folks, lots of things have changed. Some have gone down, but a lot has gone up, and one of the biggies? Our shopping habits have changed dramatically. Yes, we may not have been able to travel outside as easy and enjoy the pleasures of the local mall. But hello, it didn’t stop us from the joy of whacking the credit card on the table and keying in the last four digits with a smile and then spend a day or two looking out the window, eagerly waiting for the prodigal son of boxes or parcels to arrive.

Global eCommerce sales hit a record of 27 trillion dollars in 2021, a massive increase over 2020. Maybe people spent more time online shopping than making babies LOL! But hello, it was a massive uptrend.

I was imagining people laying on the sofa, a glass of red beside them, an open fireplace (imagine romantic online shopping scene) browsing Amazon, looking for that new outfit to wear to the rubbish bin and back (as that's as far as some got with lockdowns). A cute little number catches their eye, the price excites their Visa Card, delivery is local (most likely made in some obscure place but who cares) and bonus “One Size Fits All”.

Like Elton John playing Rocket Man on a Steinway, you punch those card numbers on the iPad, hit send and lay back and enjoy a sip of that awesome red wine. So happy in the thoughts and contented knowing your purchase will soon be on its way.

A day or two later, the doorbell rings, you greet a delivery person like a long lost friend. And without your feet touching the floor, you take that little bubble-wrapped bundle of joy into the kitchen to unwrap and let your purchase free.

There it is, just like the one of twenty pictures you look at in all its glory. Yes folks, that “One Size Fits All” trash removal ensemble is screaming, “try me on”. But now the nightmare begins. You can’t even get it over your head. The one size fits all was designed not for Snow White but would be perfect for anyone of the seven dwarfs!

Yes folks, sometimes, not often, but sometimes online shopping companies are not good church-going people and they tell lies. One size fits all? Should actually be “One Size Fits Some!” Shame on them.

Now at this stage, all of you who are regular readers of my blog will note the same pattern - open up with some stats and background, build a story, add in a little humour, and then lead into answering your question, “What's this got to do with websites, or SEO, or Google Ads?” Well, I am so glad you have stuck with me through the other 650 words. So, without anymore fun and frivolity, drum roll please, here we go.

Websites $100 a month, Websites only $300 setup then a low $100 a month, so easily fill in the form, add your details, and your website will be delivered to your inbox in 24 hours etc etc. Have you seen ads like that? Have they popped up randomly in your beloved Facebook feed?

Those ads, those websites, are “One Size Fits All”. And when they arrive in your inbox, they could be - One Size Fits Some.

You might be a plumber and the website setup and design might be good for a local Mexican food takeaway. You might be a funeral home and the color scheme and design might be best for a clown that performs at kid’s parties. You might be a hairdresser and the website would be best for somebody that only cuts long grass as a landscaper. Yes, like the awesome pictures of the garbage collection outfit, the facts and details of the online super special website might not be as advertised.

But let's be fair, some might work, but in reality? The quick and easy website might be okay for when you first start up. Might work well for quick and easy business. However, maybe it's also a good idea to look at a custom site. It doesn't have to be a one-off by some designer with Picasso as their last name that charges you zillions, but at a minimum, some custom work that makes sure it fits your business, tells the right story, is a great first web impression and converts customers.

So, if you’re looking for a new or improved first web impression for your business, a new customer attraction program (website to any newbies) instead of just clicking on that oh so enticing Facebook website ad, maybe put another log on the fire then let your fingers do a little walk on that iPad screen whilst you have another sip of that awesome wine and search for “Local Website Designers”. See how one of them can make you something that is not off the rack, will fit like a glove, and attract the right customer attention. Enjoy the wine!

Hugs to all.

Stop Being a Google Ghost

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 10:30:25 GMT

I can remember it like it was yesterday, laying there frozen in my bed, head under the sheets, slowly but surely lowering them so my eyes could peek into the darkness. My 10-year-old heart beating so fast looking at the shadow of the door, totally believing that I heard a creaking noise, and I could swear that I saw it open a little further. I would quickly duck my head back under the covers thinking it's here and it's coming to get me. I would let out a loud scream and within a minute my superman Dad would appear, the light would be switched on, the fear would be gone and I would be safe and secure. And my Dad would tell me and I would believe, “There are no such things as ghosts”.

Ok, how many of you my super troopers had nights like that? Where you totally believed things in the room would float across the ceiling, doors would open, and normally you would get these scary thoughts after you watched something on the TV, or read a book, or worse, your big brother or sister would set you up for the scary fall by telling you some ghost story just before you went to sleep. Yep, when you're a kid? Ghosts are pretty scary things.

But hey, even when we get older there is still a little ten-year-old that can jump out anytime we get a scary shock in a dark dingy place, otherwise, hello how could they make money out of horror movies? There is big money to be made in invisible things. Look at Ghostbusters, ghosts are a profit center LOL.

But what do horror movies and ghosts have to do with business? As this blog is called “Stop being a Google Ghost”, I best quickly make a connection. So what's a Google Ghost? It’s a business that cannot be seen in a google search and folks in the world we live in today, if your business is a google ghost, that's a no-profit horror movie! How’s that? Did I connect the dots?

A google ghost is invisible, makes no noise. What do you need to do? It is like my Superman Dad and turn on the lights, baby, make some noise, use your superpowers.

Superpowers you are saying? What are they? I'm glad you asked LOL. Yes folks, your superpowers for making sure you're not a google ghost are magical digital marketing tools. SEO and SEM are the true ghostbusters for google enlightenment.

Yes, a little bit of Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing will make sure you have a peaceful night sleep and not fear the dark. But “I can't afford that” is normally the cry. Well, TheCamel.co has heard your screams and we have created a whole bunch of programs that will make sure your business is not called Casper (yeah, he was a friendly ghost, I know).

But seeing as we are a friendly bunch at TheCamel.co, here are some awesome free tips to help you get the ball rolling and turn on the google light.

That website? Make sure all the pictures you have are sized right and load quickly, make sure you tag them with names your business can be identified with. When you write the content for that first web impression, always have keywords within the content that describe what your business does, what products or services you have. Always share your website URL within your Facebook page (you do have one don't you?) Get excited about hashtags.

Just those simple actions alone will be a big help in making sure that to google? You're no longer a ghost but starting to be visible.

But if you're after a total Super Natural Cleansing and really want to make sure nobody runs away screaming for the safety of your competition, all I can say is, who you gunna call?

TheCamel.co Digital Marketing Team, will make sure you're no longer a google ghost.

Hugs to all.

Evolution Every Business Needs One

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 01:56:56 GMT

Every business has four phases of life. First, you have the start up. If you make it through that, as sorry to say a lot don't, then you have the growth stage to go through. I must admit when you go through the growth stage, sometimes, you wish you stayed in the start up phase, I tell you. All going well, you make it through growth? Then boom, you're into the crossroads, renewal/rebirth, or decline.

Yes Folks after years of a hard slog maybe you're still struggling or have seen fame and fortune but as the saying goes, “What got you where you are today is not good enough to keep you there”. What was working may no longer work, customers might find the grass greener on the other side, you will be faced with reinventing yourself or? Buying a padlock and looking at help wanted.

At TheCamel? We have a word we use for this time and we have done it several times over the past 8 years, we call it an “Evolution”.

I’m not talking about evolution as in creating the world from scratch, no need to throw out the bath water. What I’m talking about is taking a real good look at what's working and what's not, what square pegs are in round holes. Standing in the background and asking yourself, your team, even your customers some serious questions and then, planning and executing an evolution.

But folks, standing in the background and asking serious questions? It's not easy and many avoid it. Nothing worse than looking in the mirror without makeup and seeing wrinkles and lines. What about those extra pounds around the waste line? We as humans don't like to see or hear not so good things, we much prefer to have our ego’s stroked, we also don't like to make waves, we are a happy lot when we keep the “Status Quo'' and don't upset the apple cart.

Well, thrillseekers (as you have to be one to enjoy an evolution), trust me on this, if you don't like a little pain and suffering, upsetting some of the natives, I suggest you go and grab the remote control and watch Netflix and don't read any further. Your evolution mission, once you decide to accept it? Will not be an easy one.

Our mission impossible moment started around six months ago. We looked around, and in all honesty, things were starting to get a little “comfortable”. The days seem to roll into each other, the process procedure although working well? Really just went through the motions. Our website? Was like a collection of old and new, all over the shop. One customer said, “It’s easier to do a google search to find what we need from TheCamel than navigate its website”. Harsh, but when I checked, they were right.

Our Social Media pages were good, but pictures of puppies and jokes were starting to appear more than good exciting content worth reading, as it was easier. Yes, we got a lot of thumbs up likes but little to none participation.

Complacency, not innovation, had really started to set in. The evolution shake was needed.

So, I set up a meeting with all the team leaders and we had a proper sit down. We took a good look at our website, social media pages, and then we took it even further as there was a lot of dust and cobwebs, and that had to go. PDF”s, product information pages, products themselves, the list was huge.

What was next? A plan and a date. We had to avoid the “It’s working, why change” mentality. We needed to get some fire back in the belly, excitement in the wings, that awesome start up phase of a new business, that energy, that's what I wanted this evolution to be like, to make a massive difference.

The date was set to January 1st, 2022. Let's bring in the New Year with a bang. Let our evolution be the fireworks of TheCamel.

The team was put in place, we delegated, and we went to work. And the result? Is awesome. Not just in the revamped look and feel of all that changed and improved, but the best feeling is the new renewed energy of the team and our customers. It was well worth the pain and suffering.

So my advice? If you’re years into the startup phase, you have made it through the growth stage, and now you're at the crossroads of “what’s next”? Maybe, now is the time as the great fashion designer Karl Langerfirld said, “ Evolution is the key, for the next step”

So, grab the team, shake the tree a little, turn the boxes upside down, clean out the cupboards, make a great plan, don't be shy, put a completion date to everything and enjoy the evolution. Enjoy the rebirth and renewal rather than the misery of decline.

Big Hugs form TheCamel.Co®

As the Clock Winds Down

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:30:23 GMT

Wow, just like that, boom, we head to December! Can you believe it? It was only a minute or two ago we were singing auld lang syne, lighting the fireworks, telling each other lies about New Year's Resolutions, and boom, here we are at the end of the 2021 line. And what a year it has been. Starting off with good old Covid still in full swing, no planes, trains, and automobiles, still all masked up, and it's only been the past couple of months we have seen a change in that.

Now? Yep, we are allowed out and about. Most of us have been jabbed, a few can start to fly, we get to visit family and friends. But, we are still looking over our shoulder, CNN and all the other doom and gloomers make sure we still live on the edge between optimism and panic.

Yes, I have hated being stuck inside. I'm a lover of trees and fresh air, motorbike rides, dates with my wife, and little itty bitty places off the beaten track, and boy of boy, do I miss travelling. But 2022? I'm an optimist and I think with all the wonder drugs coming out of the woodwork, more people vaccinated, sooner than later, Covid will just become a thing we have to be careful of but will not rule our lives (CNN will remind us) and we can start to really rebuild. Yes folks, 2022 will be a chance to change.

Have you gone through some changes in 2021? I know, of course, like most of us, you have added a few pounds to the waistline, the hair got a little unruly, you and uber eats became first name basis, and all the delivery guys know where you live. You maybe had a different relationship with your partner in life, the kids, or you drove each other mad LOL. Guarantee, you have watched all and repeated everything on Netflix. Well folks, as the song goes, like it or not? “The times they are changin”. And December? Is a good time to get ready for those times.

I can guarantee you that when you were making those promises to yourself, January 1, 2021 motivation was high, excitement was in the air, but as the months rolled on, well, “Let’s Gooooo” become more like, “Let’s Goooo, Tomorrow”. Well, here we go again.

But this time? It's different, there is a different smell in the air, a spring in the step. Yep, 2022 is not going to be like 2021. It's going to go from zero to 100 faster than a Bugatti, I tell you. So, what are your plans? 2021 may have been a time of treading water, but no more young Skywalkers. Now, it's time to really start paddling.

And to be honest? It will need more than a spring clean. Yes, we can give the website a little makeover, maybe change that Facebook banner. All of that is good, but what is really needed? A real change.

You have four week kids. So, take a good look at your products and services, what you're offering and how you offer. Review all those PDF’s, take a good look at your reviews, your blogs. If your first web impression is your showcase? You need to change that mannequin in the front window and it needs to be a real change.

What about you personally? A makeover, a new hairdo, upgrade the t-shirts, trim the beard, get yourself ready for what will be. I guarantee an exciting time and no chance to play catch up. You have to hit the change road up and running from January 1st, 2022.

So as the clock winds down? Grab that clock, open up a brand new Eveready AAA, plug her in and turn that slow clock of life into the Energiser Bunny and get ready. Start singing, “I can see clearly now... Look all around, there's nothing but blue skies. Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies.”

Put away the umbrella, you wont need it.

Big Hugs form TheCamel.Co®

Coming Out of Covid Hibernation

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:25:40 GMT

Yesssssss! At last, the vaccine numbers are up, yes, people still get sick but not as bad, death numbers are going down, and ladies and gentleman, I am happy to announce that the world? Is starting to open up again. Let's put on the blue face makeup, and in our best Scottish Accents, do I hear a cry of “freeeedommmmm”.

I was thinking about my blog today and to me it's like, “Wow, we are coming out of hibernation”. You know how animals go to sleep during the winter when it's all snow and no fun, then sometimes seven months later they wake up to sunshine, fun times, beach, and BBQ’s (Yeh, I know animals don't have BBQ but they eat the leftovers so it counts LOL)

So I thought I would quickly study hibernation so I can get all clever and relate it to this blog. Good old google gave me this.

During hibernation an animal lowers its body temperature, slows its breathing rate, heart rate, and metabolic rate - the rate its body uses energy. Waking takes time and uses up an animal's energy reserve. Many animals once thought to hibernate, including bears, really only enter a lighter sleep-state called torpor.

To prepare for this big sleep, animals will eat, eat, and eat so they store lots of body fat to make it through months and months with no food. If we look at a bear as an example? In preparation for hibernation, bears may eat more than 40kg (90 lbs) of food per day before laying down to rest. The top performers may bulk up by a staggering 450–550kg (1000lb-1200lbs), effectively doubling their body weight, in other words they stack it on.

So, if we compare this Covid Hibernation to an Animal Hibernation? Well, bad idea, we can't LOL. You see, it's like the opposite. We all got stuck at home and became Zoom and Netflix junkies. We also went from Trim and Slim to little Baby Bears as we all ate so much and our idea of exercise was picking up and pressing the remote!

But, checking further, hibernation in the dictionary means an extended period of remaining inactive or indoors. So, I’m good, it works. But, we can look at what the animals do when they finally wake up and how they get ready for the sand and sea, good times of summer brings.

So, the animals will wake up, they will do the old bend and stretch, scratch their backsides, put on their sunglasses, and take a walk outside to see what's up. Then? They will start to think about food as they have lost all that weight they put on, do some exercise to get all those muscles working, find a boyfriend, and make babies (I think a lot of babies were made during the Covid Hibernation), and the whole circle of life starts all over again.

For business? Coming out of the Covid hibernation and an animal's long winter sleep have a lot in common.

We have all been locked up for almost a year and a half. Our business went in 99% of cases totally online. Employees, if you have them? Well, they all stayed home, grew hair and beards, wore shorts but put on a shirt and tie or hair and makeup for zoom calls. Customers did the same and all became professional online shoppers, order-makers and zoom-takers. And btw? We all got fat doing it.

But now? We are about to wake from our slumber, bend and stretch, and get back to normal business. And whilst the animals start to potter around, see how things are, look for some food and make baby bears, we have to start to get back into the swing of things.

We have to take the covers off, open the doors, sweep the floors, polish the silverware, vacuum the dust, clean that sign and open up for business. More than that, we have to let our customers know we are back. Check and change our website, update our social media, get out a newsletter, maybe even get all the marketing brains in a huddle to think of new offers and services to offer, “Rise and Shine” to our customers as they also wake from their slumber.

Yes, dear readers of TheCamel good news, it's timeeeeee (Love UFC) and let's get excited. Let's get a hustle in our step and get ready to stock up those cupboards and replenish those bank accounts after this Covid Winter.

And the other good news? You will be so busy you might even lose some of that winter weight you are so unhappy to be carrying around!

Like Captain America waking up after his sleep in the icy waters, grab that shield, open up the doors, and say, “I can do this all day”.

Hugs to all.

Out of Covid Hibernation Checklist

Take a good look at your Website, might not need a total change but at least give it a bit of a spring clean.
Think about a Newsletter and Social Media Posts that make announcements that you're back and open and excited for business.
Join a Gym to help with that Hibernation weight loss (Optional)
Smile and Be Excited that you made it through the Covid Winter and enjoy the good times ahead.

Muzak To The Ears Not The Eyes

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 08:19:00 GMT

Music soothes the soul, calms the savage beast, and back in the day, it was playing in the background when we shopped, stood in an elevator, it was even played in the background of large factories. It wasn't just any music, it was Muzak. It was music that was designed to relax or excite, change the mood, get you to shop till you drop, or work and not watch the clock.

Yep, you could be sobbing whilst walking into Final Clouds Funeral Home to arrange Aunt Glady’s moment of resting in peace, kleenex tissues mopping up the tears, when all of a sudden you open the door and specially prepared Muzak hits your ears and calms you down, so you’re ready, willing, and able to slap that plastic down on the latest and greatest final resting place.

A shopping spree with the crazy out of control five-year-old becomes a true sanctuary of peace as soon as you walk through the mall doors and the Muzak playing specially orchestrated Christmas music? Lifted your burdens, you made peace with the crazy child, and soon, you're ready to hand over your hard earned cash with a smile for the latest and greatest of whatever you didn't need.

Yes, dear listeners from the 1930’s right up until the 80’s, Muzak was in our ears and according to some, altering our behavior to get us in the mood to shop and work at superhuman levels.

Muzak had its own orchestra and developed background music using what was referred to as “stimulus progression”, customizing the pace and style of the music provided throughout the workday in an effort to maintain productivity in the workplace.

But people started to wake up. A growing awareness among the public that Muzak was targeted to manipulate behavior resulted in a backlash, including accusations of being a brainwashing technique and court challenges in the 1950s.

In the 80’s, a famous rock star Ted Nugent made a bid to buy the company so he could close it down. He famously said, "Muzak is an evil force in today's society, causing people to lapse into uncontrollable fits of blandness". Nugent further said, "It's been responsible for ruining some of the best minds of our generation."

Stimulus progression even made its way into websites, and yes, in the early days of Online Extravaganza Business Showcases, you could click on a link, grab a nice cup of hot chocolate or a glass of red, cuddle up with a blanket, and scroll through endless amount of words and pictures whilst being serenaded by stimulus progression in the background.

And that folks, after my history lesson, brings me to the point of my Words of Wisdom from TheCamel today.

Back in the day when there was but a few websites and people had patience, where FB likes and TikTok 5-seconds of joy did not exist, music, endless Wikipedia text, and encyclopedia product descriptions had a place in the first web impression business.

But now? NOT! Nobody is going to be sitting there with a cup or glass of joy and diligently studying all that information you believe is important. If they don’t get there in a six-second rush of “show me what I need”, then “send me to where I book and buy”? They will click off in a heart beat and move on to another site that will fulfill their needs and desires.

Yes, we have to be strong as there will still be a few customers out there that would love music, a breakdown of “About Us” that reads like a report from Ancestry Dot Com. But, you have to be strong and tell them it no longer belongs. Websites are all about tell them, show them, as fast as you can get to the point, and then, give them an exit via a Credit Card take away, a booking a table, or making an appointment app.

Your design advice should be driven by the lyrics of a great song by KC and The Sunshine Band, customers should be humming in the background, “That’s the way, ah huh ah huh, I like it”

Hugs to all.

TheCamel.Co Words of Wisdom Takeaways (Just in case you don't have patience LOL)

Website design must stick to SHOW and TELL what customers want to book or buy.
Give enough information that will lead to a purchase/booking or a call to action to contact.
Steer away from gimmicks like Music (not even for funeral homes) or flickering lights.
Make the design exciting but focus on the fact it's now a Marketing Machine not just a Website.
Don't be afraid to tell your customers something wont work.

Don't Let Success Lead To Failure

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 00:57:00 GMT

Bruno Mars sang the song, “I wanna be a billionaire so %%$#$% bad”. (Word change to protect your ears LOL)
It would be a theme song ringing in the ears of many little kids, teenagers, young up and comers, oldies but goodies, those wanting a sporting career, business, APP builders, Silicon Valley stars, and even today all those hanging on to the tiktok or YouTube dream of becoming an “influencer”. Guarantee all of them would have that song on their mindset playlist.

Some of those? Might not have to do too much, huge amounts of luck, right place right time, a blessing of a viral video or two and boom no need to sing anymore as they have made it. But for the average Joe or Joanne? It's a hard slog to greatness, and most get to keep singing the song and a few get to upgrade to the bling and sing!

To be a billionaire, to be at the top of the game is not easy. It’s late to bed early to rise, it’s blood, sweat and tears, it’s win some lose some, it’s taking risks, it’s knockouts and knockdowns, training and learning, it's hard, that's why only a few make it.

But when you get there? Wow, life changes, you’re part of the haves, not the have nots, you can do what you wanna do, be what you wanna be, yehhhhh. I mean money doesn't buy happiness but it sure helps. You can eat out every night, drive that car that all watches as you pass by, bling yourself to the max, you can be 100% Versace on the floor and pay someone to mop that floor.

Or? You can tone it down, not be as noisy about fame and fortune and just be a humble rich person. The thing about being rich? It gives you the choice.

BUT, haha, you thought this was going to be all Varsace and Rolex. Well, let me bring in some Target and Timex! Yes, folks there is a but, and the but is? Luck or hard work, viral or sweat, that billion can only bling for so long, let you have a fridge full of Cristal Champagne for so long, Caviar for so long long. That billion is not a never ending supply, it needs to be replenished or you will go looking for the Bruno Mars track on a borrowed phone and start singing again or you might change to Barbara Striesand belting out “Memories” sobbing as you hum, “The Way We Were”.

Hard work, training, the key? Never stop doing either. The problem with success? It can very easily lead to failure. If you take a look at the one hit wonders, the overnight success stories and you throw in a few that have done the hard yards, paid their dues and made it and then failed, 99 times out of 100, it’s for the same reason the gold turned to tin. It’s because they stopped doing the things that made them successful.

The golfer hit a thousand balls a day in practice but stopped when they won the first major, the basketballer hit the hoops 8 hours a day but stopped when they reached the NBA, and the businessman forgot about the importance of customers the moment they treated them as a number not number 1!

I know with TheCamel, we have worked long and hard, and had so many days where we wondered how we would keep the roof over our head and the power on. We have gone from 2 people to 200 People, from getting excited about our first $100 dollar order to our first $10,000 order. From accounts to major accounts, we have earned our stripes, we have given blood, sweat and tears to be where we are. But folks, we have always focused on two things. First, success? Can lead to failure. And second? If, the relationship is right? Everything else will fall into place.

We have the very first customer from eight years ago still doing business with us today, the first Major account we won 5 years ago? Despite severe competition from bigger than us, we still have that account and we have secured the contract twice. We have been going for eight years and we have team members that have been with us from the beginning, last year we awarded 5-year service awards to 35% of our team.

Yes, we have upgraded where we do business, our equipment, even the chairs we sit on but we have never forgotten the service, the relationships, and the fact that high level performance leads to great profit not the other way around. And every single business day we start the day thinking the same, every problem we face we always make sure we go back to basics.

If you look at the champions that hang on to that fame, they keep replenishing those billions and have no need to sing that Bruno Mars song. They always make sure they continually train on the basics, the foundations of what got them to success, as the moment you lose focus on that? The downhill slide will begin.

So folks, remember we don't close sales, we open up a relationship. At TheCamel we have the attitude that our customers are like our family and that's the way we treat them and we never want to lose them. It’s performance before profit and people don’t care what you know or what you have? Until they feel and know how much you care.

Focus on that, and hum, “I’d catch a grenade for ya”. That's the key to ongoing customer success, and that's how TheCamel.Co® sings it and does it.

Hugs to all.

Wisdom Action

Remember what got you where you are today is not good enough to keep you there, always have Goals for Increased Performance. If you don’t have a Goal? Make finding a Goal your Goal.

Do a Regular Customer Health Check. Ask your clients, “How are we doing, are we looking after you? Where can we Improve”

Do a Regular Team Health Check, How are they doing? Where do they need Help, where do they need Training. Say “Hi” give them some love randomly.

Focus on all Relationships, remember if the Relationship is right? Everything falls into place, and If The Relationship is good? Any fall is not so far.

Why Waste Time?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 08:13:00 GMT

I wonder what would happen if interviewed 100 people as they lay taking their last breath (a nice way of saying dying) and you asked just one question, “What would you like more of”?

What do you think would be the answer 99 out of 100? I say 99 as at least one would not get the answer out in time lol. Do you think it would be “more money”? “Success”? If it was an athlete would there be a sigh and then the words “more trophies or medals”? A film star, would they cough and then say, “another film”?

I don't think that’s what people would take a big deep breath and say. What I do think is that they would all say, “more TIME”. Yes folks, it's the only thing we have no guarantee how much we have but when the clock is ticking down on the last final moments, wow, we would do anything to have more. But, we treat it like it's an endless supply.

And when that clock is ticking? We usually do a greatest hits showreel in our heads, a bit of a, “This is Your Life”. We smile at great things, fun we had, love, ahhh so wonderful (violins in the background). But then we kick ourselves with the “If Only” moments. The time we wasted doing things that gave us no joy, added no value, created no best of the best in our newsreel of life. Think about bucket lists, don't have a sense of urgency until you have been given a use by date!

We should be waking up each day, springing out of bed and be streaming, “What will I not waste time on today?” rather than “What am I doing today, Siri?” And definitely, we should be reviewing all the things we do, that in reality, are a waste of time.

There are so many things we do in our personal lives that really are a total waste of that precious time. Seeing as we spend a majority of our time working, these blogs are supposed to be about business. Noting that around 30% of our time is spent working just in case you didn't know, maybe, we should put a little of that time in focusing on what is the best use of time rather than a waste of it.

Now, being the wise old man that I have the glorious privilege of becoming, I can think of so many ways I have seen and see people waste precious time in business. One of the biggest time wasters? Reinventing the wheel.

Yes, instead of spending time doing fun things like finding new customers, making old ones happy, celebrating at the pub when you have a big win, you still see people day after day, burning the midnight oil, staying away from fun and business building things and wasting precious time reinventing the wheel.

Things that can be easily purchased from others, services that you can use, in our website world, the templates that will make your sites look like Picacsso designed them, widgets that will guarantee you tech guru status, SEO and Google Ads services that will make your clients smile with success that you bring to them.

Now, if you are a truly gifted person, a real Avenger that has all the talent and ability in all these areas, can walk on water, leap tall buildings in a single bound and are faster than a locomotive? Bravo, more power to you. But, if you're just like the rest of us mere mortals and gifted in one particular area of excellence? Do that and do it well, the other stuff? Why waste time, and why reinvent the wheel?

When faced with finding a design, looking at a function and wondering OMG how long will that take? Do a quick google search, find some that does that, let the butterflies escape from your wallet and save time and let them do it.

And then? Spend the time you saved on quality fun stuff like finding new customers, having a great lunch, playing golf, having a manicure, and relaxing, so you can live long and prosper.

So folks, the wheel does not always need reinventing. Time is limited, use it wisely. Remember, you can't recycle wasted time, 99 out of 100 people can't be wrong!

Hugs to all.

What Are You Worth?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 08:21:00 GMT

You will notice the title of this new blog is not, “What is your time worth?”. The normal question that seems to be thrown around when you're thinking of a quote or looking at how long you will spend on something or even deciding if it's worth doing.

We also might ask these questions when somebody has wasted our time or we have wasted our own. We or others will always narrow it down to a dollar figure. Well, today my fellow workers of the hard slog, we are going to face the fact. The fact is we can't always put a dollar amount on everything, we must look at the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, “What are you worth”?

Why am I focusing on this? Well, glad you asked (you know I say that every blog lol). The answer is if we put a dollar value on it, like a per hour per day type of gauge, the level of importance can easily drop. We can fall into the “I can cope with that amount” and be prepared to lose it.
But, if we ramp up the level of importance to “what are YOU worth”, well, folks the stakes in the game have risen.

Are you getting my point yet?

Let me give you an example. I read one particular forum everyday for the world's best website builder from our mates at Duda. On this forum are agencies, big and small, from all over the world, asking for help, airing and venting grievances, posting the occasional joke. It is actually very entertaining, but one type of post always grabs my attention and I see it so often.

And it goes like this, “I have been working, looking, searching for a solution to XYZ problem for 20 hours now, (sometimes even days) I have found solutions where I can buy it, but looking for help with an “easy fix”.

So, like hello, 20 hours already wasted with the high potential of more, a solution was found in the first 5 minutes maybe, but no, we don't wish to let the butterflies escape from our wallets we would prefer to waste even more precious time looking for that holy grail of help called the “easy fix” we could also add in there, “Free”.

Now, if we look at the “what’s your time worth”, we could easily say these types have wasted maybe hundreds of dollars in the quest for gold, but that has no impact as they are happy to work with the loss.

But If we look at it from the “what are you worth” angle, and we ask ourselves what could you have done with that extra time? Wow, like a bolt of lightning striking, things are a lot different.

Instead of wasting all that 20 hours searching through google or posting on every forum, FB page, sending emails to others, texting etc etc. You could have been playing golf, spending time with the family, cooking a great meal, working out, watching Netflix, going for a walk, flying from one side of the world to the other, finding bigger and better accounts. So many wonderful awesome things you could do with 20 hours, no way could you put a value on these things, the happiness to you, the family, health benefits, quality of life, how powerful is that.

So, folks, the moral of the story? When looking at the time wasting efforts you are about to put in, when considering the option of buying something or saving a few bucks. Don't think of the hourly rate as the yes or no button.

Ask yourself, “what are you worth” your life, happiness, family, your business success? Use the question to increase the value of you and your time and guess what? You will stop wasting it.

Hugs to all.

Panic Versus Planning

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 06:54:00 GMT

Ok just in case you have not heard these, let's set the scene for this month's blog. First of all, let me introduce Benjamin Franklin who once said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Now, Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father of the United States. Franklin helped to draft the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and he negotiated the 1783 Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War, so he made some pretty good plans.
And then, we have Taylor Swift, a famous singer, once said: “Just because you make a good plan, doesn’t mean that’s what’s gonna happen.” Wow goooo Taylor.

We could also take a look at what God says about it. Proverbs is a book of wisdom and chapter 21 verse 5 advises, “The plans of the diligent surely lead to success, but all who are hasty surely head for poverty.”

So three schools of thought when it comes to planning. Good old Ben who said that planning is the key, and Taylor who said, what the heck maybe just go with the flow, and last but not least, God, and really who is gunna mess with God?

Ok, now the scene is set, let's put it all into context. It's obvious that in life and business, planning is a pretty important key, so it's a good idea to break out the pad and pencil, have the laptop or iPad lined up ready to tap tap and focus, dream, and plan.

But then, out of the blue, from nowhere, once in a lifetime, like a thief in the night, booom, Covid, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, floods, plagues of locusts, rivers turning red (got all Ten Commandments Charlton Heston lol) and all those awesome plans? Well, all that great planning can instantly turn to panic!

I think about all the business in Melbourne Australia. Yep, they, like all of us, got hit badly with Covid lockdowns, 100+ straight days in fact, but then things improved, less people got sick, and thank you, Hallelujah, lockdowns stopped and went back to business. Then? After a couple of weeks of planning to make hay while the sun shines, boom, more cases and when the clock strikes midnight, like Cinderella, your business turns into a pumpkin and you're in another lockdown.

You could have spent hours and hours creating the most perfect of plans but it's all going out the door so fast in a heartbeat and no doubt panic station zebra will set in and you could be reaching for Dr. Johnny Walker for help.

So at this stage you will no doubt be asking, “Ok, Camel Guru what's your advice on this?” Glad you asked.

My advice? Don't panic. Easier said than done, I know, but it's a fact. We must remember you’re the leader of the pack, captain of the ship, and your team, customers, family, bank manager, will be looking to you for a plan. So, what's it going to be?

You have to have a plan B, and my advice is don't be afraid to use the rest of the alphabet. Next, don’t fall into the trap of perfectionism, it’s tempting. But as the saying goes, it’s often better to “fail fast.” Get your new experience out there, and see if it’s working. Some people get so precious protecting the plans they have made, they fall into the “let's stick to the plan, I worked so hard on it”. Well folks, sometimes you have to bury your pride to survive.
So, my advice when all of a sudden, boom, things take a potential turn for the worst? Grab some chocolate and a can of whatever energy drink or Starbucks and start thinking way outside the nine dots and don’t be scared to give any plan a try. There is no such thing as a bad idea, it's all a matter of timing. Give it a shot, if that one doesn't work? Try another and remember that other old saying:
“If at first you don't succeed? Try, try again.”
Go get 'em.

Hugs to all.

Share The Love

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 06 May 2021 05:48:00 GMT

Pretty Woman — wow what a movie! Richard Gere and Julia Roberts loved that movie and so did a lot of people. The film resonated with audiences — it grossed almost half a billion dollars worldwide becoming a huge blockbuster that propelled Roberts into stardom (and eventually the highest paid woman in Hollywood), and earned her an Oscar nomination.

Yes, it was a love story, rags to riches, but it was an entertaining story that you would have no problem letting your kids watch. But those of you that read my blog often (relatives and friends LOL) you will know that I always get a message out of movies and Pretty Woman has a lot.

My favorite scene in Pretty Woman? The shopping scene. Let me refresh your memory or fill you in. Richard Gere's character gives Julia Roberts character a great big wad of cash to go and buy herself some new clothes, and he sends her to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills to spend that cash.
Now if you didn't know, Rodeo Drive is like the Mecca of brand names in Beverly Hills, wall to wall Versace, Gucci, to name a few. The street is literally filled with Bentleys and Ferraris parked along the street whilst the owners go shopping, it's not for the light of wallet.

So, Julia rocks into one of the branded houses, all ready to upgrade the clothes she is wearing, which in those stores? Her current attire is more of Target and Kmart rather than the Haute Couture (expensive) she is about to view. And the sales people? Do they run to her and offer a glass of the very french best, a chair to sit on, whisper sweet words into her ears?

No, they look down on her, treat like she has no cash, no hope and no right to even be there.

She exits, stage right, upset and drops into another store, they look at her as a customer and wow she spends up big. The best part? She goes back to the first store, with an arm full of bags and says to the gals behind the counter, “Yesterday, you wouldn't serve me, you work on commission right? Big mistake”

The big mistake? They didn't “Share the Love”

Yes, folks secret of business success number 21 in the top 100? “Share the Love”

It's because creating a relationship with both new and potential customers allows businesses to offer a more personalized and enticing customer experience. In a recent study, 86% of customers claim their experiences are just as important as the actual product or service they purchase.
Just in case you missed it, let's read that again - “with both new and potential customers”. That's why the title of this awesome piece of literary brilliance (too much?) is titled “Share The Love”

Yes, it's super important that when anybody walks into our store, office, calls us, sends an email for the first time we treat them like absolute VIP’s. I was taught way back in the day, that when somebody walked into the showroom? That might be the only customer I have all day so treat them like that.
The problem is we tend to lessen the love the longer they are with us. It becomes like an old married couple, he or she will understand, he or she knows me, I don't have to tell him or her they know how I think, they know I love them.

Well folks, let me tell you, there is no time limit, no quota on hearing and feeling love, and if not there, not feeling it from you? There is always another store to get it from.

So the Pretty Woman moral to our sales story? Share the Love, not just when you're romancing your clients but even when you're old and grey.

Hugs to all.

An Intimate Moment

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 04:42:00 GMT

I remember standing next to my dad, looking way above the countertop and seeing this distinguished looking man, perfect hair with a sprinkle of grey, freshly starched white coat and even a tie. He had that movie star look, I tell you, and 55 years ago it was true, could have been a Charlton Heston type (Ben Hur, Ten Commandments).

His name was Mr. Keyte and he wasn't an actor, he was our local pharmacist. He called my dad Lindsay and my dad called him Mr. Keyte. Back in the day, Mr. Keyte was like that, as was Dr. Spangaro (our local doctor) and Mr. Humpries, the local newsagent, and Mrs. Barnes, who owned the local milk bar and created the most awesome milkshakes for 5 cents.

All had wonderful hair and all wore starched white coats and all called you by name when you went to the pharmacy, the doctors, the newsagent, the milk bar, the dress shop, hairdresser or barbers, it was local, and it was intimate.

Fast forward to 2020 and wow what a difference, t-shirt and converse with no starch, hair all over the shop, tattoos and nose rings maybe, no first name potentially, you're just a number. Chains stores, and 7/11, and a milkshake? Well, the only intimate part of that is when you screw off the top of the plastic container. Yep, it's about as intimate. Well, I could drop lots of examples but this is a family blog so I will behave.

But then, (thunder clap, organ music in the background) something happened (more thunder claps with choirs singing ahhhhhhhh music) yes early 2020 Covid hit and things changed. No more visiting the 7/11 for that plastic moment, no more swiping the credit card at the mall as you purchased the latest and greatest Nike shoes from the t-shirt and denim body piercing right to life behind the register. Yep, all that joy gone in the blink of an eye, and then it was just you, your credit card, online and Uber Eats!

A few months past, we all got used to being stuck inside, we became addicted to Netflix. After getting sick of ordering online, we dragged the pots and pans out of storage and dusted off the cookbooks and started to (more choirs singing) cook for ourselves and the family and another strange phenomenon occurred, we started to communicate with each other across the dining table and not by text.

Yes, folks can you see the trend starting to form? Can you see the build up to what this blog is all about? Well hold on to your hats there is a mighty moment coming.

Time went by and the gates were slightly open and we could venture outside, travel down the street and at last do what we all need to do, SHOP. But this Covid moment has changed us. We are no longer looking for the ultimate in Mega Malls. The thought of brushing bodies with other humans, standing in lines dreading the sound of a sneeze or a cough has changed us. Yes folks Covid has taken us back in time and we are now searching for something we all thought was lost.

We want to shop local again. It's safer. we need to talk to people again as we miss it, we need to have an intimate moment again. (Orchestra and choir rise to deafening Hallelujah moment)

The times have changed, even those that used to jump on the big bird with passport and luggage on wheels for the international experience are now looking local and what sites and sounds they can feel. Local tourism, local shopping, is seeing an interest that they thought was lost. Covid? Has changed us.

That intimate moment has returned, but are you ready for it? Is your business ready for it, is your website, your social media ready for it?

You may have given up in early 2020, after years of trying hard you may have thought those days are gone, nobody cares about the little guys and gals anymore. You may have posted on Facebook Business every month or so, you may have had a yearly anniversary update of a picture or two on your website. Well folks it's time to join the revolution.

Get local with your website, with your social media. Start posting new and exciting stories and pictures about what's going on in your local business. Now is the time to start treating that website like a shopfront that local people walk past everyday, stop to see what's in the window, wave at you or pop in for a chat.

Now is the time, now it's local. And now? It's time to get intimate.

Enjoy the moment as it will be around for a while.

Hugs to all.

It’s Nice to be Nice

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 08:13:00 GMT

Covid has created many phenomenons, like weight gain. It’s become part of the Covid routine, LOL, people dancing on Tiktok that maybe should sing instead (maybe not), and Zoom calls, like hello I feel like a Hollywood extra as I spend half my day in front of a camera. I do laugh though as I have a nice shirt, clean shaven (Including hy head) but the bottom half is in shorts and flip flops.

One major area of boom time is online, like online shopping, online ordering, online doctors appointments, you name it. It’s all now online and with that major boom, people are busier, websites are being pushed, new sites are being built, SEO and Google Ads are huge, and so ladies and gentlemen the pressure to make sure all things are running right is hot.

When things break, people want them fixed, when new things are needed they want them “yesterday”, so support people and salespeople are busier than ever, and that busier? Has created another phenomenon.

“Some people are not nice.”

Yes folks it appears that it's easier to be a horrible nasty person online, to be rude, aggressive, there is all sorts of words I could use, but this is a family show, so I will just refer to these people as “Pooie People” LOL.

The folks that have lost any form of patience, truly believe that we, the support and salespeople, are their slaves and should drop everything and wash their feet when commanded and if we miss a spot? They have every right to abuse us and humiliate us so bad that our poor dead relatives roll in their graves in fear.

It's not just the threats, it's THE THREAT, the ultimate power these people have and use with absolute ease, they wield this ultimate power with not a care in the world. The threat that flies across the line, chat or email, “I will kill your business, I will post bad reviews, nasty comments on Facebook etc etc”

Yes, the fact you have not dropped every other task to help them as they are “SOOOO” important, the fact that you're human and maybe made a mistake, the fact that they may have also made a mistake, all these facts mean nothing to them. They will be happy that you and your family are cast out to the street and beg for food when they ruin you with Social Media revenge and terror.

Yes, my fellow recipients of nasty customer misery, these people have lost something along the way, and no longer realise, “It’s nice to be nice!”
These people have watched “Hell's Kitchen” and decided that Gordon Ramsey is their role model and regardless, if you make a mistake, like a pan of uncooked salmon, they have every right to rip your head off.

But hang on, isn't there a better way? (Trumpets play angelic music, and a chorus of people in white sing Hallelujah) Yes, all praise the gods of niceness there is.

Folks, there is a very famous old book. It’s been around for thousands of years. A lot of houses have a copy, maybe pride of place somewhere, or maybe gathering dust in a box in the attic. This book is full of some great quotes and recommendations on how we should treat each other, one great quote by a bloke named Jesus goes like this.

Luke 6:31

“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.”

And that my dear mates brings me to the moral of my little story today. If you have an issue with something broken, or maybe somebody made a mistake, or maybe that quote you're asking for is taking a little longer than what makes you happy? Before you decide to take the blue nasty pill and bark all sorts of bitterness down the line, or set fire to your keyboard with words that would make your Grandma cry, think about what Jesus wrote.
Then take a chill pill, send some roses and not rocks and remember, “It’s nice to be nice”.

Hugs to you all.

Be a Troll, Not a Bergen

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 23:54:00 GMT

As we enter into one whole year of Covid lockdown, yep, can you believe it? I am constantly, like I have no doubt zillions in the world are, finding ways and means to get over the Covid blues, Covid exhaustion, Covid fatigue, whatever label you want to call it, but all I do know? It sucks!

Yes my mates, I am a total looking through rose coloured glasses, glass half full, super positive, self-motivated machine, but even me, well my glasses occasionally fade to black, the glass tips over and breaks, and the machine refuses to start in the mornings.

It's tough. I have, of course, like most of the planet that has internet access, fallen in love with what Netflix has to offer and the other day I was scrolling for a movie to help me overcome my blues and boom there she was, “Trolls”. Nothing like a bit of Dreamworks magic to lift you out of the doldrums, and I'm a sucker for a good old musical even if it's a cartoon with cute little people with superpower hair.

There are some great songs in Trolls, and I bet you're thinking that I will use those songs and lyrics to base this blog uplifting content on? Well yes, there are some great songs, like take a listen to “Get Back Up Again” and some of the words.

Looking up at a sunny sky, so shiny and blue and there's a butterfly

Well, isn't that a super fantastic sign

It's gonna be a fantastic day

And what about “Can't Stop The Feeling”

I got that sunshine in my pocket

Got that good song in my feet

Listening to those two songs alone would make an awesome blog and surely get you up dancing in your chair and casting off the face mask and screaming at the top of your lungs, “Covid ain't gonna get me down”.

Well yes, I did tap my feet and I was pretending I was Justin Timberlake dancing round the house, but the real message, the real breaker of the Covid blues?

The Bergens.

Yes my fellow cartoon connections, Trolls is not just about happy colorful fluffy figures of joy, it also is an equal opportunity movie so has Misery and Depression as part of its plot, and the central figures for that are the Bergens, and what a sorry sad tribe they are.

They are grey, no colour, their goal in life is misery, and they truly believe the only way they will find joy in life is if they eat a Troll. There is a main scene where the Bergens start singing a sad song, shoulders dropped, cutting flowers and I mean the flower, Bergens hitting Bergens, Baby Bergens throwing up on Mummy Bergens, they are miserable. It reminded so much of how people are walking around today. Yes folks, good old Covid has turned a lot of us into Bergens.

But, high above the Bergen City are two Trolls, watching the sadness below, and what do they do, they start singing and dancing LOL.
Now it all sounds a little simple I know, but in reality? It's true, this Covid can get us down and turn us all into Bergens or we can give each other a hug, turn on “Can't Stop The Feeling” , start dancing and become Trolls.

I love it. They even set their alarms for HUG TIME and regardless of what drama is going on, they drop tools and hug so they forget about the tough times. The Bergens on the other hand just continue to walk around looking for more and more reasons to be miserable.

So folks, I know it's tough out there, I know it's hard to lift up sometimes. I know you're worried about how this will all pan out, I know you're thinking of how to keep the customers coming in, but, you have to keep going kids as a lot of this depends on you.

So, let me leave you with the greatest motivation I got out of Trolls, above the Bergens, a mantra that I am now saying when the Covid Blues try to turn me all Bergen. Here you go, repeat after me.

I got this feeling inside my bones It goes electric, wavey when I turn it on All through my city, all through my home We're flying up, no ceiling, when we are in our zone.

Enjoy the flight, hugs from TheCamel.Co® .

Disney Level Service

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 04:49:00 GMT

Care Like Mickey and Tinker Bell

I have a great mate of mine, John Dwyer or JD to his mates. He is an Aussie from the Gold Coast, superstar Marketing Advisor to the stars www.theinstituteofwow.com and when asked about customer service, his favourite quote (and he has a few) “You have to aim for Disney Level Service”.

What is Disney Level Service? A great quote from the Disney organisation is "We aim to deliver WAY BEYOND good customer service.......after all, everyone EXPECTS good customer service. We aim to deliver EXTRAORDINARY CUSTOMER EXPERIENCES!"

Back to JD, his quotes like most of his jokes, over the years I just nodded my head, rolled my eyes every time I heard him say that about service, but it wasn't until a couple of years back that I really got smacked right between the eyes and totally understood what the old fella was on about. And would you believe it, it actually happened at when-you-wish-upon-a-star Disneyland, itself. And not just any Disneyland, I am talking about the one and only original Anaheim USA Disneyland.

And it was a moment I will never forget.

I t was 2018, and we had a business trip to the USA planned, a lot of people to see, and meetings to have, but seeing as we were travelling all the way we thought we might also fit a little site seeing into the trip.

As luck would have it, a month before we were set to leave, this stormtrooper was attacked by one of Asia’s finest tummy bugs, star performer it was, will spare you the gory details but my once former Greek Adonis frame was transformed into one that was modeled on the guy they kick sand in his face on the beach. Rapid weight loss and on top of that, I ended up acquiring lactose intolerance. So, I looked and felt like a shriveled up old man, rather than the GQ poster boy I was used to.

I was not a happy chappy, had to fight off comments from family members such as, “I don't mean to pry, but is there something you’re not telling us about your health”. It was miserable, but being the Trojan I am and having paid for the ticket, hi ho Silver, jumped on Philippines Airlines finest and Home of the Brave, Land of the Free we were headed.

Yes, we had great meetings, met some awesome people, but it was freezing cold (us tropical people don't do cold well). I was feeling off, not looking great, overall? I was not at my gold medal winning performance self.

The thought of lining up at Disneyland for hours to get on a bunch of rides that threw me upside down and sideways, was not high on the excitement list, but unless I wanted to face an even worse thing called divorce? It was giddy up, bad luck Mickey, Goofy, Minnie here we come.

Disneyland is pretty incredible, good old Walt had the right idea. It does look pretty awesome when you arrive, but hello, from the moment you get in its wall to wall to wall, people and everywhere you turn? There are things to buy, buy, buy. I was in major whinge mode, all I kept saying? OMG how commercial is this place, where is the fun in that?

Next thing, we are in a line to have a picture taken with the famous Tinker Bell. Not happy but I’m doing it. One by one people cozy up next to the little blonde-haired, super white teeth gal in green, big SMILE and like a production line, next, then next, and finally, it’s our turn.

Tinker Bell asked me how my day is and can you believe it? I am whinging to Tinker Bell at how commercial Disneyland is, it's all about money, money, money. Like hello, it’s Tinker Bell.

Now, the key to this? All the characters at Disneyland are in character. So the gal playing Tinker Bell for the day? Is Tinker Bell, and Snow White, the Evil Queen, Minnie, Mickey, they are totally in character. They answer questions with Disneyland speak.

Tinker Bell was a real fairy, and she listened to my whining and just looked at me and said, “All you need to feel better? Is have faith, trust, and a little Pixie Dust” and all the fairies here need you to believe what I just said, coz every time people say, “I don't believe in fairies, there's a fairy someplace out there that falls down dead” And you don't want that do you?

OMG, I was converted, I hugged Tinker Bell, shouted: “I believe”. I was like a new convert to Christianity or Amway, I tell you, I walked like I was floating on Pixie Dust, it was awesome.

And then, there was Mickey.

We spotted Mickey and Minnie surrounded by people all vying for the selfie shot so we joined the queue and whilst we were moving forward a strange thing happened to me. It was like I was transported back in time, all of a sudden I was like 5 years old. It was a Sunday night and the family were sitting around the black and white telly, all excited as we were about to watch the weekly episode of Disneyland, and as the clock ticked over to 6 pm the magic would start and so would my Dad’s singing.

Like clockwork, dad would start in harmony with the TV singing, “When you wish upon a star'' which was the theme song played at the beginning of all Disney TV shows. It stuck with me that memory and no matter how old, no matter where I was in the world, anytime I heard that song I thought and still think of my dad RIP.

Oops back to the story, all of a sudden, we were at the front of the line, Mickey outstretched his arms and I fell into them and this 60-year-old stormtrooper became a 5-year-old kid. All the pressures of business and the health issues went out the door and I was in the arms of Mickey just sobbing but feeling so safe and secure.

Memories of my dad, my childhood all just hit me, but Mickey knew and gave me a nod as I had to let go and make way for the next selfie player.

But it wasn't over folks.

Mickey and Minnie were done with the 30-minute photo op and were ready to make their way back inside to have a cup of tea or maybe cheese and biscuits as Mice do. I was talking to my wife about how special that moment was, what it really meant to me and how glad we had come, I was using all the Kleenex, and I felt a tap on my shoulder, it was Mickey and he opened those big arms again and gave me another hug like he knew I needed more than just a selfie.

A Disney moment, I will never forget, a truly Extraordinary Customer Experience.

Mickey, Tinker Bell? They really worked on the principle of people. Customers don't really know how much you know? Until they know how much you care.

And that kids, is today’s blog message, and a good one for 2021. What is your plan to deliver awesome service, to really focus on showing your customers how much they mean to you?

This COVID year has been so tough on us all, I am sure so many of you reading this right now would love a little pixie dust from Tinker Bell or a comforting hug from Mickey.

I can’t arrange that, but what I can do is leave you with a reminder and ask you to take a walk outside tonight, close your eyes and hum this.
“When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are... when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true”

Enjoy the wish, and your dreams, be in the moment and make sure that 2021 is your year of delivering Extraordinary Customer Experience.
Hugs from TheCamel.Co® !

The Greatest Show

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 01:42:00 GMT

“It's everything you ever want

It's everything you ever need

And it's here right in front of you

This is where you wanna be“

What a movie! The Greatest Showman, Hugh Jackman at his singing and dancing best, it really did, “Come Alive” an awesome story of how one man’s dream became reality. How he gave a group of “Unwanteds” the chance to live their dream. He took a dirty down and out building and turned it into the Greatest Show, a place as the song goes where everything is right in front of you, everything you need, this is where you wanna be.

I'm so excited, I want to run away right now and join the circus, lol, but seeing as I have a business to run and a blog to write for you my mates, I will just enjoy the show.

Show? The Greatest Show? Well, my fellow walkers of the sawdust, that's what today's blog is all about. To set the scene, let me go back in time for just a moment, let's start at the beginning, shall we?

Yes, it was February 2020 and you were the star under the big top of your business, loyal fans visiting or calling everyday to be excited and entertained about your products or services. Diners sitting at tables enjoying the awesome food and surrounding. Ah! everything you ever wanted, everything you ever needed was right there in front of you, and you were humming, this is where I wanna be!

And then… No need to tell the horror story, you know what happened in March, the curtains closed, but you better believe we are still here and that's not the end of the show folks. Get ready, and I mean, ready!

Yes, folks as I have been preaching in my vlogs ( are you subscribed? ), COVID days are soon to be over. Yes folks, we have a vaccine, so 2021 is soon to be “The Greatest Show” on earth and we need to be ready for the grand opening.

We need to make sure that everything our customers, new and old, want. Everything they ever need is right in front of them and that is where they wanna be.

And, what will be one of the stars of this Greatest Show? Your website.

Yes, your website is now more than ever going to be opening, the first impression, the excitement builder, the ticket-taker of your Greatest Show, your business.

But hang on, you're saying, I can hear you, you, oh guru blog writer you said, there's a vaccine, it will be over, won’t things go back to normal? No, folks things will never be normal again. Eight months has changed the way we look at this Circus called life. We need new acts, new color, new surroundings, new offers, new ideas, we need now to make sure our website shows people that this? Is the place to be.

So, take a good look at the dusty old site and get ready to add some glitz and glamour. Get ready for new exciting content, videos, integrate and work with social media , embrace eCommerce, online booking, sharpen up on updates and offers. Change and then change it again.

Make that website a reason to “roll up, roll up”, make that website the main attraction, the opening act of your Greatest Show.

Big Hugs to all!

Under Pressure

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 01:39:00 GMT

I was thinking I can start this blog off with the opening of the song by the great band, Queen. So sorry we can’t embed music, so here we go, “dum de de dum dum”, you get the mood?

Ah, but the lyrics are really good.

It's the terror of knowing what this world is about.

Watching some good friends screaming, "let me out".

Tomorrow takes me higher, higher, high!

Pressure on people, people on streets.

I tell you fellow stormtroopers, unless your last name is Bezos, Zuckerberg or Ma, this year 100% I guarantee there are times that you or some good friends have at some stage screamed, “Let me out” then chanted, dum de de dum dum, pressure.

It's a tough time for all of us business warriors, Covid time, and this past two weeks we had the added joy of two typhoons (Hurricanes for my USA Mates, Cyclones for my Aussie Mob) so the thought of screaming “Let me out!” has crossed my mind more than once.

So this month's bunch of motivational literary joy will be focused on another line of that great song, “Tomorrow takes me higher, higher, high!” Yes folks, the greatest piece of advice I can give to lift you from the doldrums? Tomorrow is another day, yes it may be poo as well, but, you have to at least have an open mind and give it a shot!

I can hear you all from the rafters right now saying, “That’s not enough, give us more than a one-liner”. So OK, let me share with you other things that are in my lift myself up from the economic gutter, throw away the razor blade and long length of rope doom and gloom alternatives.

To be truthful, I do live by, “Tomorrow is another day” and I do believe it gives us the chance to start over again. Yes, it was bucketing down with rain, with the typhoons, the wind was tearing off the roofs of houses, power gone, internet gone, but sooner or later that wind has to run out of puff and we will get the chance to clean up the mess and give it another crack at rebuilding.

This Covid thing can't last forever. I know after five months of it I was totally screaming, “Let me out” but then I just thought, hello, I grabbed the mask and face shield and started to plan on being bigger and better.

So, today? No more screaming “Let me out” no more humming the mantra of dum de de dum dum. Today, you will be thinking, planning and making “tomorrow” your focus.

Start with little things, grab a trusty old writing pad, start listing down some small things, the goals you want to get done, get moving on, that way we can get moving to shrug off the doldrums and get back into the “winning” feeling again. It's the winning feeling that pressure works on beating up, so we want to bring the winning back baby, back and knock that pressure where it belongs, behind us.

And start singing a new song, get your best Marvin Gaye dancing shoes on and start humming this one. “Don’t you know that there ain’t no mountain high enough. Ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough. To keep me from getting to you, baby”. Whatever your baby may be, it’s your goal. There may be obstacles on the way, but you can overcome them to reach that goal.

You got this!

Big mountains of hugs from TheCamel.Co®

Is It Right, Is It Just, Is It Fair

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 07:23:00 GMT

I do love Netflix, in fact, I could say I am totally addicted. They create these Incredible series on some of my favorite subjects - cooking, sports history, powerful and important people of history, love them all so much but my favorite? Crime investigation stories. Wow, I tell you, once I get started on episode one, the day can quickly be swallowed up with, “I have time, let’s watch one more”.

Yep, I love them. I love how they show all the background, the investigation, all the drama. They go deep into the science of DNA, police interviews, it’s so exciting and of late the best one? Has been about wrongful convictions. Convictions where the science of DNA has been pushed way beyond its limits.

You see my fellow Sherlocks, DNA in its purest form? Sorry, do not pass go, do not collect $200, you're going to jail no matter what you say. Good old blood, saliva, hair, even the little bits of skin, we leave a trail of in everyday life. Well folks, to those DNA science kids, it’s like Hansel and Gretel, those DNA breadcrumbs will lead them all the way to, “Guilty, Your Honour”.

BUT, as I said, this series was all about those that have been “wrongfully” convicted by DNA science. I’m talking about times there is no body, no weapon, the person has alibi’s like they were sitting in a confession box at the time with the local priest, or having dinner with their grandmother, but hello, sorry, somebody believes, “they really did it” and they will do anything to make it stick.

This is where DNA, goes way too far. Science never sits still, and now? They can take a little piece of DNA and copy it, and copy it, and copy it and sooner or later they can put Mr. or Mrs. Innocent “Possibly” at the scene of a crime, “statistically”.

And those scientific guys and gals are super salespeople and like Anthony Robbins in full flight at a seminar? They can give a jury a presentation that when they are done, those 12 people will be thinking and believing they can walk on fire, and Mr. Innocent? Hello, the priest lied and, heaven forbid, so does the grandmother!

Next thing you're most likely saying is “Good story, I will watch Netflix, but hello, why am I bringing this diluted many, many times to make sure your guilty DNA into this blog?” Well, I am glad you asked that LOL.

This Netflix series reminded me a lot of customer complaints, bad reviews, etc.

You have to ask yourself, Is it right? Is it just? Is it fair?

Like real pure DNA, no argument if you’re guilty. If Mr or Mrs Customer sends you an email, make a call, post a review and it’s 100% bonafide you or others did them wrong? The website was ugly, your SEO didn't perform, your support missed something, the weather was bad, tsunami, earthquake whatever, well suck it up, cop the slapping with a wet fish, the potential words that would make the priest and your grandmother blush, and think, “guilty as charged” and fix the problem. And really, it’s ditto with the customer. BUT??? The internet and social media, although oh so wonderful and awesome, just like DNA, it has however bought a culture into the game that is not right, not just, and not fair. We might have found out who was innocent or guilty, fixed the issue, “all rise” no charges laid and everyone goes home, then all of a sudden, either you or your customer think, “No way” and you start the Copy DNA process. You email them or they email you, they post on social media, then you reply, they post a bad review and then you try and get rid of it. All of this is designed to find somebody guilty regardless. All of this is designed to keep going and going, copy and copy, post and post, until someone regardless of is it right, just, or fair? Wins. It can go on and on, waste time, effort, money, can destroy relationships even a business, and it's a culture thing that social media, emails, and the ease of hitting “send” has created. So, what is the answer? Well, my little Sherlock Sleuths, today I will leave you with a question, not an answer. When hit with a complaint, a bad review, or an eeooow comment, ask yourself, “Is it right? Is it just? Is it fair?” Then act accordingly, and stay away from copy, copy, and copy, and somebody wins. Hugs to all. I'm back to Netflix, yippee.

What’s Your Secret Sauce?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 05:34:00 GMT

Hey fellow stormtroopers, put your hand up if you have become addicted to Netflix in these Covid locked up times? You're not alone. I will need therapy when this is all over I tell you. Netflix, old movies, documentaries, even the low-budget singing and dancing love flicks my wife forces me to watch. Yes, so big huge shoutout to Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph for their Netflix vision.

Ok, enough of the Netflix promotion. Where was I going? Ah yes, movies and secret sauce. I'm good now.

Supporting my addiction, I was watching “The Founder” awesome movie about Ray Croc and the Mcdonald's Story. Great acting by Micheal “I'm Batman” Keaton. Yep a lot people say OMG, what a shark, he stole the idea bla bla, I just yell Beetle Juice twice as I'm scared to say it three times and focus on his brilliant marketing skills and passion for the “secret sauce“.

Ditto when I start to think of another take-away giant, KFC and I remember Colonel Harland Sanders (have they made a movie about him?) and his passion for those “secret eleven herbs and spices”.

Having spent time with both those fine eating establishments as a humble servant I can tell you that both secret sauces, ”Mcdo Secret Big Mac Sauce” and ”KFC 11 Herbs and Spices” were super popular. I mean even my puppies loved it when I got home they would go insane licking and smelling the stuff that embedded my very pores. But, like hello, billions of burgers are sold all over the planet. Many a cock-a-doodle-doo (chickens) were sent to finger lickin’ good heaven to support the Colonel’s cause! Ray Croc and Colonel Sanders’ new how-to-make secret sauce and boy of boy, the new how-to-promote it.

Both made empires with borrowed money, preached the gospel of secret sauce with a passion and no sooner than you could say “Beetlejuice” (only twice) they were zillionaires. Ray Croc kept going, but the Colonel sold out but the legend still lives on.

Now ask yourself, are the Mcdo burgers really that great? Is KFC honestly finger lickin’ good as it’s awesome or is it because there are not enough napkins so no choice you have to lick? Do you really care? It's quick, it fills a hole. There are a zillion other places that give you the “break you deserve today” (that was a Mcdo Jingle back in the day). There are chicken places on every street making the claim they have the best chicken you will ever eat, but they didn't have you humming “ Get a Bucket of Chicken ” with kids smiling and heading to that nearest chicken bucket spinning sign and ordering up big.

Yes, my fellow lovers of life, Mcdo and KFC do what so many others all over the planet do, and the secret is not just the sauce or the 11 herbs and spices, the real secret sauce is the TOTAL package. They know it, they promote it, and it's made them bigger and better above all those that do the same.

So, (drum roll please) what is your “Secret Sauce”?

No doubt when we do a google search for what you do, there are zillions of others in the same business. So what makes you finger lickin’ good? What is it about you that makes people think they deserve a break today, or totally agree when you say, “We got it all for you”?

So, whilst you’re at home in these Covid times, wondering what is gunna be the game changer, to get you in front ahead of the game? Ask yourself, “What is your Secret Sauce”, ”What is it about you and your business that's different and above the crowd”, ”What makes the great, great”. Then, put that in your about us on your web page, promote it on Facebook, make a YouTube Video singing it.

Your goal? Is just like the most famous Mcdonalds ad campaign of all time. Your customers will be thinking, “I’m lovin‘ it” when they think about you.

Hugs to all from TheCamel.Co®

Keep Dancing

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 00:48:00 GMT

Hey fellow stormtroopers, and yes, we are all stormtroopers, waking up each and everyday constantly challenged by the COVID storm, battering down the hatches, constantly thinking, NEXT.

Next, as in next idea, next move, next plan. It's a bit like Musical Chairs. You know that game? A bunch of people in a room, not enough chairs for all, music starts, people dance around, and without warning, BOOM, the music stops and you all rush rush trying to find a spare chair. No chair? No more dancing, you're outta there, and to make matters worse they keep taking chairs away, people keep fading away until there is only one chair and two people. Round and round, music playing, hearts pounding, and then no more music and only one player remains.

Now the thing about Musical Chairs, you watch everyone and when the music is playing, there are those that never move far from a chair, Harry or Harriet, they just shuffle shuffle, tap dance in the same place, all they think of is the anticipation of the music stopping, no way do they want to miss that chair. They play it safe and secure, but if the music stops and they miss a chair? They walk away, feeling a little devastated at their loss, and maybe the rest of the night will not be as good, they didn't enjoy the game at all.

Then there are the others, George or Georgina. They feel the music, the moment, they laugh and enjoy. They are dancing, having fun, and when the music stops? Well, they are excited if a chair is there, but if not, wow they have had fun, hug and laugh with a few people, grab another drink and think about how to enjoy the rest of the party, and are up and attem, ready for the next game.

The winner? The final one sitting on the last chair? Well, they have more of a sense of relief that they made it, sit down on that chair, and work hard at getting the pulse rate down. They are usually the standing tap dance don't move far from the chair, Harry and Harriet types, so fun was less than focus. But who cares when the last song played? They still had a chair.

So, my fellow stormtroopers, what is this "Old Oracle of Inspiration" advising today in his words of wisdom?

Well, these business times can be a little like Musical Chairs. Each and everyday is offering a new tune to dance around the chair with rules and regulations, up and down COVID numbers, customers coming and going, doors opening and closing and opening again, masks on masks off. Ahhhh, it can drive you crazy.

You can choose to just stick close to the chair, just shuffle, don't make any sudden moves or changes, just focus on the fact the music is sooner or later going to stop and you will have the safety of being close to the chair and sitting down to take a breather.

Or, you can start singing, "Stayin' Alive" disco beat in your head, do your best John Travolta impersonation, show some "moves", enjoy the show, smile, be happy, and if you miss the chair? Hey, let's have a drink and get on with another game.

Yes folks, you can sit back and just do what you have done, just shuffle along, don't make any dangerous moves, don't venture far away from the safety of the chair, sooner or later, all will be right with the world.

Or? You should be dancingggggg. Yeah, get those mailouts going, calling customers, making offers, chasing new business, updating your website, have a go at becoming a YouTube sensation and vlog your way into your customers new and old hearts, post on social media like a teenager with the latest selfies or things they have bought on eBay, show off your latest websites or exciting news.

My advice? Be like George and Georgina. Keep dancing.

Next Song Mr. DJ!

Hugs to all from TheCamel.Co® .

All by Myself

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 08:12:00 GMT

Okay, close your eyes (not yet as I haven't told you why LOL). Think of Celine Dion belting out the lyrics to one of her most famous songs, "All by myself, don't wanna be, all by myself, anymoreeeee". Okay, now close your eyes and imagine that.

Wow, great set of lungs (was one of my dad's great ways to describe a good singer) Celine has, and love that song. I'm just wondering, have you actually hummed that in your mind a few times in your business building life?

Have you been slaving away over a hot PC, building a website, kids in the background saying, "Where are you, we want to play?", partner in life wondering and mumbling, "When will I see you again?". Friends and family, church, gym, wow, the list could go on of those that miss you. I mean you can get that deep into doing things yourself, become such a hermit the FBI has you on the "missing persons" list!

Then all of a sudden, one day, you will have the Celine snap and boom you will start singing the hypnotic tune, "All by myself, don't wanna be, all by myself, anymoreeeee". Enough is enough, you and all those around you want your life back. Yes folks, it's a common song sung amongst us fearless entrepreneurs hitting the road towards riches and fame.

Guess what? There is no shame in it when you get to this point, in fact, it's a really good thing. Yes, we all understand that "nobody does it better than us" (you) and we also understand that "by the time I explain it, might as well do it myself". But you know what? Steve Jobs didn't build iPhones, even the first APPLE? He got somebody else to do it and he sold it.

So, maybe, just maybe, it's time to look at yelling, "FREEDOM" and getting some help, and you want to know the best part? You will most likely end up making more money, spending time with the kids, the wife, going to church, playing golf and you need not fear your face ending up on an FBI Missing Person Poster.

Yes, fellow star troopers, maybe it's time to get excited about a new word, a new way of doing business. What is that you might be saying? FULFILLMENT PARTNER . Wow, now say it with me, ok, take a deep breath and say it, Fulfillment Partner. Feels good, huh?

Yes, there is help and hope. People to help you build sites , do SEO, SEM , support, edits, and changes, all of which will give you the hope of making more money and having more fun.

So, start singing, people. Get ready, there's a change coming, and open up to the idea of a Fulfillment Partner (did I say TheCamel.co) and together let's make a difference.

Hugs from TheCamel.co

Are We There Yet?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 07:24:00 GMT

A road trip with the kids can be a parent's nightmare. Potty stops, fighting in the back seat, God help you if you lose internet signal, and then once all forms of entertainment have expired (with modern-day kids this can be 5 minutes) you will hear from the back seat the dreaded cry of "Are we there yet?". And, it will get louder and louder until you're there or you park on the side of the road, throw your wallet in the back seat, and walk away into the wilderness.

This whole COVID thing has got a lot of us screaming, "are we there yet?" Like hello, it's been for some of us 10 weeks locked up, some of us have gotten fat, a lot have gone broke, we have gotten rid of some old habits, picked up some new ones, our sanity has been pushed to the limits and we all pray that soon? We will be there.

The question is? Where will we be?

It's being labeled as the "new normal". Well folks, if this is normal I don't want it, but I suppose no choice huh. From the rubble of economic Armageddon, we must all rise. Wow, that was poetic LOL.

The next question on all your lips will most likely be, "Well, old wise one, how?" Haha fooled you, I have no idea.

You think I'm joking? I mean really, there is nothing new in rebuilding from ground zero. People have written books about it, given speeches about it and YouTube is full of how-to videos on how to rebuild after a train wreck, bad marriage, storm damage, bankruptcy, bad hair day. But show me the book or video, find me the master motivator that can show us all how to get over a script that reads like the book of revelation?

Yes, my little stormtroopers, this good old COVID was a one time performer but wow did it bring the house down. But that's the way it is. Okay there you go, the cold hard truth of the matter, it is what it is and now we have to deal with it. Yes, we have arrived at our destination kids. So giddy up, hi ho silver, grab hold of your shoelaces, drag that extra 5kg off the sofa, it's time to get busy.

The good old days are gone and we have to forget the way we did it and we have to learn a whole new way to play the business game. Walk in traffic, face to face, to name a couple of oldies but goodies are gone. Get used to and master E-commerce, online ordering, home and office delivery, Zoom meetings and presentations, social media, call to action, website pop-ups, first web always changing impressions , online video demonstrations – these are the new words and these are the new skills of New Normal Business 101.

I know it looks gloomy, and yes it will be tough, but let me give you two quotes to use to rise. First up, yep it's a catastrophe, but we are all far from defeated, as the great kung fu master Bruce Lee said "Defeat is a state of mind; no one is very defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality." So folks, we will not accept it, it's not our reality.

Next, from the Grammy Award Winning Song of 1999 by Jefferson Starship, remember these Lyrics: "We built this city on rock and roll"

So, put on your best tunes, tie up those laces, move that extra 5kg, start singing and get to work and rebuild your city.

Hugs to all.

Fantasia Can Arise Again in You

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 07 May 2020 05:04:00 GMT

Fantasia is dying, the nothing is spreading. Does it hurt? No, you don't feel a thing. There is just something missing, and once it gets hold of you, something more is missing every day. Soon there won't be anything left of us, people don't believe in their dreams anymore.

People without dreams? Are easy to control.

The Never Ending Story, 1984.

Released over 36 years ago, one of my favorite movies of all time, a kids movie supposedly, but it has become one of the greatest movies of all time. Messages way beyond the original audience of children it was designed for, and when I watched that movie again? All I could think of is how close the "Nothing" and "Covid19" have in common.

Folks, it's not catching the virus that's the real issue. Yes, you might be one that does or a beloved family member and that's so sad. But my champions, it's the "Nothing" the virus has created and placed in our souls that is the real killer.

Unlike the virus itself which is so nasty, the "Nothing" it has created in our soul? You feel no physical pain, there is just something missing, and once it gets hold of you, something more is missing everyday.

As business owners, we need to have that something, it's the core of what has gotten us to where we are today. It's that something that has kept us holding on these past few months, and it's that something that will make sure we see this through, get to the other side and build on our dreams once more.

It's the ideas, the dreams, the passion. That's our motivation, that's our something. Yes, it will be tough. Yes, it will take time. Yes, in most cases a total rebuild of what took you years to get to.

My champions, you will need new ideas. You will need to be creative and there will be times the nothing tries to grab hold of you again, reach inside and grab hold of the something, and drag you back down.

But my friends, hold on to one absolute truth, keep it in your mind, put a sign on the wall, chant it every morning when you wake up, believe in this:

If you dream, if you never stop dreaming, if you truly believe and commit to that dream? Fantasia can rise again in you.

Start dreaming, you got this!

Love n' hugs to all.

The Real Thing

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 01:36:00 GMT

Do you remember the Ads? "Coke, it's the real thing!"

Okay, in this day and age it would be whacked by major health groups as "the real thing" for way too much sugar causes obesity in children, will rot your teeth, etc. But, back in the 70's? Wow, Coke was the real thing. On a hot steamy day, nothing beats an ice-cold (well, maybe a beer) Coke, popped that top off, and wow, was an awesome feeling, your throat freeze and you gulped it down.

The reason behind the campaign was that research showed that young people seek "the real, the natural, and the original as an escape from phoniness". That was true, but "the real thing" was also a dig at Pepsi. Coke and Pepsi had been fighting over who was the best Cola 1898. Coke always claimed to be the original. They were "the real thing".

It's not just been Coke that has made "the real thing" campaign. Ford did versus GM, Budweiser used it against craft beers, Mac versus PC's, even Audi and BMW sparred over who was the "original luxury European".

But, today, I am focusing on "the real thing" and I'm not going to give you a calorie count lecture as I have to be honest when I was in my Mummy's tummy, her number one craving was that red can. So, I was drowned in the black bubbly stuff and have loved it all my life. Mind you, my dad drank Johnny Walker, so that might explain the other beverage I enjoy LOL.

What I'm talking about is widgets for our beloved Duda platform , and I'm talking about the real thing! Original bonafide widgets, built by experts , TheCamel.Co® . Widgets that make the Duda platform do even more special things without you trying to do that matrix coding thing. Yes, folks, out in this big bad world there are now others having a shot at the title, and I'm boldly shouting out maybe they might not have fizz or flavour that lasts!

Yes, all can look good, claims can be made and yes they might quench your websites' thirst for something special. But folks, a little caveat emptor ("Buyer Beware" for those that didn't study Latin at school), when you buy a widget from TheCamel.Co® , you can be rest assured it's been built, tested and guaranteed to work in peace and harmony with the Duda platform, and even more? TheCamel.Co® will be there as we have been since 2013 to support you when you need it.

I would say we are "the real thing" but my favourite can of fizz has that slogan already. I will just say, " With TheCamel widgets , you will sleep better at night".

Hugs to you all!

Communication is now "King"

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 05:40:00 GMT

Ok, it's here now and it will be around for a long time. So, like it or not? Hold on to your hats, tighten your belt and get ready to make some changes and make them fast. The old saying, "What got you here today, is not good enough to keep you there" is more powerful than ever. So what is it that's arrived, what is the game-changer, business interrupter? COVID-19, folks.

Yep, like a thief in the night (sounding biblical huh) the virus has arrived and in a heartbeat has changed the way we all have to live and how a business not only needs to operate but survive. The big huge question is? What do I do? (It's more like a desperate scream really.)

So what do I feel? I believe this will be in waves for our business and websites . Everyone has immediately jumped to get clients (and the clients themselves have done it) to get online ordering, e-commerce etc. Corona updates have popped up on so many websites, but I believe that is just a short term solution as we will all be competing for a narrower market. So the next wave? Communication, not content, will be King. Websites and social media will have to work as partners. Websites will have to be updated more (pop ups, etc. which Duda does so well). Videos will become a huge thing, so, home pages will need a redesign for that. This is where we need to look – what apps, widgets, design tips, and advice will help us communicate, excite, interest our clients and customers more. You need to have the mindset people can't go window shopping for a while now, so they will web window search more than ever. Searching overall, they can spend more time than ever. So, how is your website going to communicate and operate better than anybody else? Very quickly everyone will be online ordering, what will make your site different?

Videos, do you have those on your site? I'm not talking about 30-minute home page type things. I'm talking entertaining, informative 5-minute updates and promotions. What's that Facebook page like? Instagram? Do you have a plan to update those daily? Do you have a pop up plan for your website? Specials, offers, announcements? What about online chat? Do you have that installed on your site? Are you manning battle stations so you get a question and BOOM, like Flash Gordon you answer it?

The Virus, has changed the game folks, and you better change just as fast. Hey, you're most likely sitting at home anyway, so what fun it will be to communicate with your customers. Wow, so giddy up my young skywalkers and enjoy the ride.

Stay safe, keep those hands clean and the sanitiser close by.

Hugs to all.

What’s Happening with TheCamel.co in 2020

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 07:22:00 GMT

We really wanted to make 2020 a huge year for Duda Pros and TheCamel.Co® , so during the last months of 2019, we asked a lot of questions. We ran polls, sent questionnaires, all themed around:

“What could TheCamel do to help you?”

“What could TheCamel do to help build your business?”

“What could TheCamel do to help you sell more Duda sites?”

and

“What could TheCamel do to stop you doing things yourself, so you could do more of other money-making things?”

The feedback from everyone sent us to the dungeon, created long nights, a lot of Monster Energy cans were emptied, and we came up with what we believe will help the Duda community needs. Two new products from TheCamel, and I wanted to share them with you.

First, TheCamel.co Mates Club. More than just a subscription, we’re giving the VIP experience to the registered members. From discounted technical and design expertise on demand, high-priority assistance, first-in-the-line treatment & exclusives, and more. The feedback showed us that the Duda community has issues with designers that have little, if any, development skills, developers with little high-level design skills, agencies with both skills but not enough of either one sometimes. Cost-effective Duda platform tech or Duda design expertise on demand was identified as highly desirable by the Duda community, so, TheCamel.co Mates Club was created.

Mates Club will be launched this March, so stay tuned!

“No need to find a backroom freelancer that has no idea of the Duda platform, beg on Facebook for help, or even if you just don’t feel like doing it. Just come straight to TheCamel, we're your mate, we'll get it fixed!”

Second that was asked for? A professionally designed low cost 5-10 page site. Welcome TheCamel.Co® Site180 , a fulfillment package, built and optimised by the expert designers of TheCamel using Duda or TheCamel templates, published in ten days or less.

“Wow, Duda Pros and agencies can now focus on building bigger sites or stop playing drag and drop. Get TheCamel.co Site180, publish more sites and make more money!”

Last but not least, it was not part of the data gathering but a company choice. TheCamel will launch a new look and branding this year. New website, new brand, still Jeffery the camel but an evolution. He is evolving to have a sophisticated global brand identity . Well, that’s the plan. Hope you’re as excited as us!

Hugs from all of us at TheCamel.

Another Year Whizzes By

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 02:36:00 GMT

Wow! Can you believe it? All the fun and games we have had, joy and sorry, ups and downs, words we have written and you have read, and in the blink of an eye, whoosh, it's all over and we start again.

Yes, folks, father time waits for nobody and 2019 which was only a young puppy a little while back, now has grey hair, lost it's teeth, walks with the help of a cane, and is being readied for exit stage right as we welcome the new kid on the block, 2020. And, not just a new year folks, we are talking a new decade.

So much has happened these past ten years. It's actually hard to believe it, but, let me fill you in on a few things that just started this past ten years, and I think a few will shock you.

First up, I guarantee you have used this at least one time today, most likely it's the last thing you look at before you go to sleep, it's your best friend on a flight, helps you cook, what am I talking about? The iPad. Yes folks, it was first launched in 2010 and as we close out this decade over 400 million of them have been sold.

What about when you turn on that light when it gets a little dark and the white light LED fires up? Do you think they have been around a while? Nope. They hit the retail market back in 2010 also.

So many things have happened this past 10 years and it only seems like it's all happened in the blink of an eye. What about apps? Wow, we take them for granted everyday on our smartphones, but they were just being planned in 2010 and now literally millions of them are waiting for us to download. And when we think of the apps we click a lot? Well, when you use UberEats in the next day or two, think about this - it's only been around since 2014!

So much in ten years, and when it comes down to websites? The sexy responsive website design you have now was not even possible until 2011, and it's only been since 2014 that mobile web overtook the desktop in daily views by internet users.

These are just a few of the incredible changes that have happened this decade just imagine what's going to surprise us all these next ten years? "Wow" is all I can say.

The end of the year gives us the chance to reflect, but it also gives us a chance to instigate an age-old tradition, and what is that? New Year's Resolutions. Yeah, I know most people say just before midnight on the last day of the year, "I'm never gonna bla bla bla again", and the very next day they are back at it. But some? Well, they actually stick to it.

So what's your New Year's resolution? You don't have to tell me now, but make sure you make one. What is one of mine? To make sure TheCamel.Co® keeps designing and creating awesome sexy websites using the sensational Duda platform. To keep helping our mates like you sell more websites, so you can be well on your way to fame and fortune. And, I promise that on January 1st 2020? I will get to work to make sure it happens.

Big hugs from TheCamel.co and wishing you an awesome decade ahead!

Tell Me A Story

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:21:00 GMT

"Once upon a time..." is how it usually starts. Then, it can be good, bad, happy or sad, interesting or boring. It can take a few moments or be a month's read. Its readers might not want to put it down or use it to start a nice warm cozy fire. A story? Has a lot of power. It can be one that can be remembered, or it can be one that is soon forgotten.

I have heard some great stories in my time, and also, had a lot that my mind was in wander mode or they might as well have been a lullaby as they quickly put me to sleep.

The best stories? Were those that made me truly feel I was in them. When I was a kid, I loved stories about action and adventure. I loved it when I truly felt I was the pirate in a battle, swords swinging in my head, or the texas ranger racing away on a horse chasing the bad guys. Page after page I would be excited, not wanting to put that book down, chapter after chapter.

I'm also a bit of a softie. I have read books and fallen in love with the heroine, truly imagining her in my mind, sometimes drifting away, closing my eyes and wishing she was real.

Yep, stories are powerful, entertaining and when you feel part of them? That is when they are a great story.

So, what's your story?

Haha, you knew I was going to ask that, didn't you?

I'm not talking about your personal story (that's because this is a business blog LOL). I'm talking about your website, social media business story. What is in the chapters that your customers read each day? Does it inspire to read more or turn the other page and look for another book?

Is it exciting? Does your story have heroes and action? Does it also have a soft side, where it's loving and caring? Is it different, does it take your customers to places where they truly feel they are part of it?

Or, is it really a bunch of same old, same old?

Your website should be a great story, always making your customers involved. Ready to keep going, excited to see what's coming next. Great pictures, information, offers.

Your social media should be the same. Always different, every post is a winner, not just the same old post time and time again. If your page just does offer-after-offer or push to sell sell sell, it will soon fall into same old same old and nobody will read it.

Even Facebook has a feature called "Stories". Use it to offer something different, instant ways for your customers to see, think, and click, just to see "Wow, wonder what's in this chapter".

So folks, take a look at your website and social media pages today. Are they a book you don't want to put down? Or, are they just another way to start a cozy fire and relax whilst you search on your iPad for a book worth reading?

Hugs to all!

Watch The Bounce

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 06:24:00 GMT

Have you ever been to a store and you know exactly what you want and the salesperson comes up, asks you a few questions, and then proceeds to show you everything in the place that you don't want? Like, you have no need to see and you end up getting so frustrated, you find a reason to leave?

You know what I'm talking about, don't you? You were so excited, VISA Card was all polished ready to be handed over, you had rearranged the furniture at home and created a "spot". You had told the family "wait 'till I come home". Heck, you even announced it on social media, "So excited to be buying XYZ after all this time, wow, yippee and yahoo, super customer is in the house"

And then, some overzealous, technical driven person ruins the party as they feel totally obligated to show you everything about ABC product, including the family history of the person on the production line that made it, and the chemical makeup of ingredients, but all you want to do is BUY IT. Arghhh, Torture!

Well, (here it comes...) your website could also have an overzealous problem and people may just be leaving for the same reasons.

So, "how can this be?" you may ask. Well, let me help. Stats are a wonderful thing .

Yes, folks, Duda websites have awesome statistics and one, in particular, is the key to identifying potential overzealous pages (or boring, not needed). It's called... drum roll, please. " BOUNCE RATE ".

Yes, this delicious sounding stat will give you a clue and change your life. Bounce rate will tell you how much of your precious customers land on a page and then run away.

The key? If the bounce rate is high (above 55%), it's likely that page has attention issues. If it's low (below 40%)? That is the pure gold page and is guaranteed to be showing them what they want to see and book or buy.

So, now that I have your attention, what should you be doing? Well, start treating those stats as your very best friend and part of your marketing department. And, if you see a page that shows a bounce rate that is higher than a hot air balloon on a Sunday morning? Suggest you kick it to the curb, replace it with one that shows 'em what they wanna see and book or buy.

Be kind to customers. Keep them interested, excited and booking or buying, and the stats? Will help you do that .

Hugs to all.

Facebook? Love You, Hate You!

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 02:54:00 GMT

Like a bad birthmark from birth, love it or hate it, Facebook? We are stuck with it. Yes folks, Facebook reminds me of those movies where a virus takes over the world. People try and run and hide, but sooner or later, it will creep up and (WiFi permitting) get you, no matter where you hide.

With over 2 billion people on this planet now using it, best we accept our fate my fellow "click" likers and learn to at least put up with it. Or, we can master it and make it work for us.

Like it or not, Facebook can be an awesome tool for any business, big or small. But like websites, we can sometimes treat Social Media as a "set and forget". Okay, we have a page, the logo is on our website, let's focus on real business tools, can be the call of many business owners.

Your customers though? Well, they are a little more committed to that smartphone and all the wonders it can provide.

There is nothing worse than the moment they scream with joy noticing your business has that thumbs up logo. But the joy turns to boredom and a sigh when they visit your page and notice the last post was a picture from well over two years ago. Worse still if the only post they find is a really bad customer review from that person who was not pleased with their well-done steak being tough or super soapy car wash leaving smudges all over the place.

Yes, Facebook can be the promoter or destroyer of your business on Social Media. So, it's a really good idea if you learn the basics of maintaining a page.

Now, you will be saying, "oh great Camel, my Yoda of advice, how?" Well, the technology age has brought us some good, great and awesome things. Google being one of them, YouTube being another, and you can use both of them to do a search and then watch some awesome videos (for free yippee) that will make you an absolute master at the art of Social Media Management.

So what's my suggestion?

If your company's Facebook page has lots of likes, reviews, up to date daily informative posts that create engagement, well, I present to you the Gold Star and well done.

If your page falls into the no post since we made it mob? I think you best put down Candy Crush or Online Poker Star and get to work.

Big hugs from TheCamel.Co®

Money Never Sleeps

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 23:51:00 GMT

“Money never sleeps.” A famous quote from the great movie, Wall Street. Michael Douglas on a beach talking to Charlie Sheen on one of those old state-of-the art back in the day brick phones. Wow, they were awesome, you were seriously rich if you had one of them. But today’s little blog is not about the awesome Motorola brick, it’s about money not sleeping. However, I think some of us let it have a little nap.

Now more than ever, money doesn’t sleep. It’s like the world has gone into overdrive in its “I want it NOW” attitude, we want instant noodles, instant success, instant love and we won’t wait for it, heck, you even get a free pizza if they are late.

We want our messages returned instantly, we want the Internet super-fast, we want instant approaches for loans, we want things in stock at stores, we want people to like a post on Facebook as soon as we click enter, we even watch it until somebody does and comparing if they are taking too long.

Yes folks, back in the day, Michael Douglas was so right, and now? It’s like a philosophy of life and a guide to business success.

But? As I said, some of us in tech land sometimes let the money have a snooze.

We have our customers lining up to get websites fast, they want service with a smile but delivered at warp factor six, and what do I notice?

So many questions asking for help, questions looking for free this or free that, questions on Facebook in Forums, questions that don’t always get answers, questions that can slow the process down whilst we wait to find the answers.

That’s okay, right? It’s good to find things for free, it’s good to seek help, or is it?

Well, if you can pay for something and get it straight away, no need to slow the process and be well on to your way of getting paid faster. Well, maybe it’s not such a good thing.

If you spend hours and hours looking for a “FREE” image, maybe it’s not such a good thing. Yes, I totally understand we get all excited when we don’t have to pay, but in reality, is it false economics?

I made the choice a long time ago to stop searching always for free stuff. I spent money on software licenses, I have email accounts I pay for, I have an account with shutter stock. I send my team on training courses I pay for rather than free webinars.

Why? Because I get things done faster. It’s more reliable, more effective, and my money? Never gets to sleep.

So break away from the revenue slumber. Think about using some experts, get reliable tools, enjoy life more. Maybe you can spend more time on the beach, but without the Motorola Brick.

Big hugs and have a great day!

Silence is NOT Golden, CRM makes your Business Loud

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 07:23:00 GMT

It's been a week of it. What am I talking about? A week of the same old questions. It goes like this, "Oh guru of business building, please share with us your secrets to success".

Okay, that was a joke. Just thought I would make the opening sentence a little more movie tone. Nobody actually asked, I just read a lot of Facebook posts like that. But, it's a question asked by many, and it's usually accompanied by other questions of a digital nature.

"Should I use LinkedIn, should I run FB ads, what's better – Instagram or Facebook, should I write a blog, what's your thoughts on Google Ads, do you think a DIY Site Builder is a good idea", and last but not least my, all-time favorite, "how do I get more leads?" Okay, now I will shove some question marks in so as to make the "write properly" mob happy ???? There ya go.

What would be my answer to these questions? What pearls of wisdom would this old wise one share with his digital admirers? (Wow, I like that!)

Well, to be honest, they are all good, but it's horses for courses thing, digital marketing.

Where do your customers come from? What do they read? Where do they post their moments of family madness, quotes of distinction, pictures of the latest family gathering or embarrassing weekend party? Those that book or buy your awesome products or services, what is their choice of internet trolling?

If you can answer those questions, you're halfway there on the best place to invest your hard-earned cash on the gambling table of digital marketing .

But? Yes, my superstar fellow business builders, there is a BIG BUT. Do you actually know your market? Have you asked questions, studied your orders, or have you basically kept silent?

Have you sold things, delivered them and never asked for feedback? Do you make posts on your LinkedIn, FB or Instagram and its really just ads that make your page look like an overstuffed letterbox of promotional flyers?

Do you have a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) program that screams for customer feedback and information rather than a "silence is golden" program that takes their money, then you sit back in your comfy chair sipping on a latte waiting for another golden opportunity?

Okay, I will get all serious now, enough of the flippant rambling.

One of the greatest systems you can implement in your business is a CRM program that includes a consistent follow-up agenda. It will give you so much data to make some noise and get more bookings and buyers. You will be on a first-name basis with all the best places in town.

And the best part? It will even remind you. Wow!

But a CRM costs money. You will be screaming as your latte goes down the wrong way. Fear not my fellow believers, the old google search will deliver the goods when you type "free" whilst looking for a CRM program to help you make some noise or you can spend some money, the choice will be yours.

The main thing? As they say at Nike, "Just Do It"! Get a CRM for your business. Start making some noise , get the information you need to find the customers that book or buy your product, and then? Follow Up! Follow up your existing customers and sell them more, as guess what? That's also free. Wow! If you do it properly, FB and Instagram will be for happy snaps and not your hard-earned cash.

Hugs to all from TheCamel.Co®

Template or Custom Sites

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 01:30:00 GMT

"To be or not to be?" Wow, I'm getting all Shakespeare on you all today. What I should be saying is " To custom design or not custom design? " – that is the question.

And it is the question most people ask when they are getting ready to put the cold hard cash down and get a new first web impression built to promote their business.

I can make it a little easier for you. Custom anything? Means more cash. Pick any industry – houses, cars, motorbikes, and yes, websites. You mention that word "custom", and the red carpet will be rolled out for you. The people behind that counter will be searching the internet for private schools for their kids, Swiss bank accounts for the money they are going to make from you. It's an exciting time. Custom equals KACHING.

Have I put you off the word already?

I do understand. I mean you want to stand out from the crowd, you don't want people to hit your www. and see pretty much the same as what your competitors have got, I feel you. So, you will be looking for a custom design chat, and you will enjoy it until that "how much" moment. Then, most likely you will be surrounded by bright lights, sirens, and people yelling "Clear!" whilst they try and bring you back from the sticker shock moment.

Well, fear not fellow entrepreneurs. There is an answer – Templates.

Yes, design awesomeness can be yours without the need to mortgage your house to pay for it. You can get that individual look that will get your customers' fingers itching to hit that click to contact, book or buy.

TheCamel.Co® templates are not just sensational in design. We don't just have 100's of business sector or industry templates to choose from, what we also have is? We have designed them to be modular in use.

TheCamel.co makes sure you can mix and match to achieve the design you crave for, a design that will definitely make your www. stand out from the crowd, but, it won't be at a custom cost that will put you in line with others meeting the bank manager.

So get excited, think of all the extra cash you will be able to spend on other great business building moments like promotions, digital marketing or even better coffee.

To be or not to be? No question. TheCamel.co templates are the answer.

Have a sensational week and big hugs from all of us at TheCamel.Co® !

E-commerce Shopfronts

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 04:32:00 GMT

I have really enjoyed my time back in Australia for three weeks, a chance to meet with customers who are really now like family, and a chance to meet with family. I get to eat food that I have craved for years, and unless you have lived a long time away from your homeland that might be hard to understand.

Fish and chips, sausages in between two pieces of bread, lamb roast, real steaks, ahhhh the list goes on at the pain I have suffered of missing these foods the past few years. But soon it will be over, and I will be back to rice. I will even give up the knife and fork and go back to spoon and fork.

The other great thing after being away for a while is you get to visit places you have seen for a while, and oh boy, do you notice the changes.

Yesterday, was one of those days.

We went to visit an old friend in Richmond – that's one of the oldest suburbs in Melbourne. Years ago, if you lived in poverty, you lived in Richmond. In 2019? If you're in the highest tax bracket (read rich), you live in Richmond. It's super expensive.

But anyway, Richmond was famous for the main road, Bridge Road,

it was like the super shopping strip back in the day – super busy, super shops, it was awesome. Even a few years ago, groups would hire buses to shop there. But as kids? We would get dressed up, walk up and down being all goo goo eyed at the incredible shop fronts, new fashions, toys, TV's, it was sensational. But in 2019? Wow, the place is a ghost town of the retail world.
Now? In a lot of cases, little cafe's with Facebook searching customers buying one cup all day for free Wi-Fi have become the new mannequins!

So many empty shops, where have they all gone? E-commerce land in most cases.
Yes, when you search the old internet you will find them, but there is a big difference. The thrill of going down Bridge Road back in the day was the awesome shop fronts, always changing, always grabbing your attention, they had this "Come on inside" aura about them. In a lot of cases, the e-commerce stores don't have that. They all look pretty much the same, seen one seen them all.

So, what is the old Camel trying to get at today?

Well, we can't go past the fact that e-commerce is the way to go now. It's cheap real estate, and like Uber and Airbnb, it makes life tough to do things the old way. But there are some of the old ways of street strip retail that can be brought over to e-commerce.

Change your shop front often. Far too many e-commerce sites have the same home page. Yes, the products do change, but that first impression, the original "Wow", gets a bit stale and gathers dust over time. Keep it fresh, add some excitement, or people visiting will think "same old same old" when they visit.

The old shops always added, "Super Sale", "New Arrivals" banners to their windows. Do the same with pop ups and banners on your site.
Use the old school street marketing, the attention-grabbing front window look to your e-commerce site and keep your customers interested and excited . Use Bridge Road as your trigger. Keep your site exciting and your customers will remain excited.

Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

It's A Small World After All

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 00:02:00 GMT

"It's a small world after all". What a song, but in fact it's actually a ride at Disneyland that started in 1964 and is still around today. Super amazing the ride features over 300 audio-animatronic children in traditional costumes from cultures around the world, and according to Time Magazine, the song is the most publicly performed song of all time.

Now, am I writing about Disney because of my last blog?

Is this another super customer service information sheet? No, I just started humming the tune when I was thinking about the theme for this blog.

The truth? When it comes to customer attraction these days, it truly is a "small world after all" and I bet you're humming the words as you read.

What's the small world I am referring to? Well, without me making you hold your breath for too long, let me tell you, it's a small world after all because of the gadget you have in your hand right now or the one that's sitting beside you whilst you're looking at the screen of its bigger brother.

Yes, the small world is your mobile phone , (the bigger brother by the way is the tablet). How small is it?

In 2019 the number of mobile phone users is forecast to reach 4.68 billion. The number of mobile phone users in the world is expected to pass the five billion mark by 2019. In 2016, an estimated 62.9% of the population worldwide already owned a mobile phone. In fact, if we look at the USA, 95% of the total population own a cellphone and a whopping 77% have a smartphone.

So that's 77% of 327 million people are connected to the internet and surfing every day, 11 hours a day on average to be exact, glued to 5.6 inches of screen (according to the latest stats).

Wow, I am a Wikipedia of statistics today you might be saying, but what point am I going to make?

The point is, let's sing together, "It's a small world after all" then you can sing another song, with our websites why are we treating them like, "It's a big big world"

Ahhhhhhhh the penny drops. With Google saying it's all mobile first and with the overwhelming stats showing it is mobile first , we are still having daily conversations about 26-inch screens and megapixels, worse are the Mac brigade who have giant TVs times two sitting on the desk viewing the latest web creation. So maybe, just maybe, when it comes to designing your latest and greatest customer attraction program first web impression , maybe we should start moving to a mobile look and feel as the major priority. Keep the desktop till last and start singing in unison The Camel's favorite Disney song, "Let It Go". "Let it go, let it go, can't hold it back anymore, the mobile only matters anyway!"
Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

When You Wish Upon A Star

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 02:34:00 GMT

Sunday night a long time ago (yes, I am that old), we would have an early dinner and then all the family would sit around the black and white TV with our eyes glued to the screen, our hearts pounding waiting for the song to start, and then we would hear those famous words, "When you wish upon a star" wow the magic would begin, Disneyland was on the teli.

Magic moments that have never disappeared...

and I never realized how much until this past year when I crossed something off my bucket list, I got to visit Disneyland, not just any Disneyland, I am talking about the original in Anaheim.

Wow, my heart was pounding just like I was 5 years old as I walked through those awesome gates, just like I had imagined and this magical place did not disappoint. And don't let me start on my moments with Tinker Bell and Mickey Mouse, just sensational.

Yes, that's Disneyland, yes, it's expensive, yes the lines are long, yes they attempt to sell you as much as you can carry out of the place with a lorry, but no matter how much you beat that credit card to death? You will be smiling the whole time.

Yes, the Disney experience, the Disney level of service is the ultimate.

Is yours?

Do your customers feel awesome and fulfilled? Do they enjoy every moment?

Now, at this stage you're saying, "Hello" OK for them they have zillions of dollars, mega numbers of staff, of course they can offer that "Disney" level of service. But, when you think about 99% of the time, you're only ever dealing with one person at Disneyland and your business is the same, it's just you and the customer. So, why can't you offer the same level as Tinker Bell and Mickey Mouse?

You maybe wonder what is the driver behind the Disney level of service? When Walt Disney was opening Disneyland, he wanted to describe what he wanted people to feel when they were an accessory to great customer service , what did he want them to feel? "People can feel perfection" was his answer, and that is what drives Disney.

So kids, what's the message in this blog? What perfection do you want people to feel with your customer service?

Do you have a plan in place? A standard? Do you treat a question like it's a sale, a complaint like it's an opportunity to shine?

A total customer service program is a must for any business. You want your customers to walk away, to end a phone call, to comment on Facebook with the words that were the ending of the Disney theme song.

"Your Dreams Come True."

Have an awesome day and hugs from TheCamel.Co®

The Advantage of the Lost Art of Loyalty

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 06:23:00 GMT

Today I am going to discuss a subject near and dear to my heart, and possibly one of the best bits of business building advice I can pass on to all the budding zillionaires who await my blog with joy and excitement every single month (well my kids read it, lol) Yes, a subject that takes me way back in the day to my childhood, where that Jedi master of life (my father) taught so many great things. You see, my dad was so much from the great school, that “old school” where champions were made, and I was lucky to have witnessed so much of that old school and in this new school I get to use what I had witnessed and pass it on. Ah, a tear is forming in my eye and the keyboard is wet as we speak.

One of the major things I learnt from Yoda, I mean my father? Loyalty.

Not just loyalty to family and friends but commercial loyalty. In the 87 years my dad walked the earth, he drove the same brand of car, went to the same doctor, same pharmacy, same bank, used the same mechanic, I think he even used the same brand of tyres. My father was not a minority tribe back in the day. Loyalty was a pretty common ingredient in the culture of life elixir. There was no internet, Google, e-commerce, social media, so you couldn’t just jump from search to search looking for a deal. You had to actually go and visit people, so the relationship became a critical part of a business transaction not just the bottom line.

But loyalty was a two-way street.

Not only were consumers like my dad looking for a relationship, so were the business of the day. Knowing you by your first name, even your kids’ names, your likes and dislikes, what team you supported, they would know as much as they could so the relationship became super solid and hard for a competitor to break. But more so it made the consumer have a guilt feeling if the thought of leaving crossed their mind.

Now, you’re most likely saying at this stage, “Well, hasn’t CRM just replaced face to face customer knowledge, isn’t it all just the same it’s just automated now, we contact our customers what more do you want!”

Well, yep you would be right. CRM and automation have made sure we bombard our customers with emails, texts, social media posts on all the wonderful new things we have for sale to help them overload those bits of plastic they keep in their wallets.

So, what is the major difference between words of wisdom from blokes like my dad – old school customer relationships compared to the automated world of customer contact of today?

If I had to zero it down to one major difference, I can sum it up in this one great statement.

“People don’t care what you know, until they know how much you care.”

Back in the day, personal CRM had feelings compared to the state-of-the-art automated CRM of today.

You would walk past a shop and get a wave. When you walked into a business, the first few moments were spent talking about YOU, how was life, how are the family, what about that football team you support and how they are doing this year. Heck even the doctor asked about life before he whipped out the blood test order form.

The art of loyalty was driven by another soon-to-be extinct culture and that is “sincerity”. The big question? Can loyalty and sincerity be saved? The bigger question is, can they be profitable?

You bet your MasterCard they can. And I guarantee you an awesome business builder awaits you, as the statistics show that since Adam was a boy and had no interest in women with apples, it costs a lot less to keep a current customer than it does to find a new one. Loyalty will keep your current customers. And a lack of sincerity, will lose them.

So, what’s the plan? Start getting into loyalty mode.

It doesn’t have to be a full-on platform or package from the start. You can begin small. Get a newsletter going, start a database of all customers, send them birthday wishes, just start showing you care about them, not just when you want to sell them something.

I can promise you that even with a small level of showing care? They will be thinking of you first when they are in need of a product or service.

Big Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

Do Ask for Help or Not? The DIY Question

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 07:05:00 GMT

Fast and Furious fantastic movies, lots of action, drama and boy oh boy they have the sexiest, fastest custom cars. New cars from Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi and let’s not leave out all the hot rods from back in the day, the 1970 Dodge Charger. Talk about awesome, that beast.

Yes, they all look sensational with custom paint, loads of chrome, all sorts of engine modifications including that awesome supercharger on the Dodge sits well with the name of the movies, all these cars look seriously “Fast and Furious”.

I always ask myself two questions when I see these movies.

First one , do you think these cars come out of the factory looking special and being able to do twice the speed limit, stop and go to match the same. The second question? Do the people that do these cars up to look as great and perform like they do just drive on down to the local parts store, hand over the credit card, fill the trunk full of go-fast good-looking goodies roar home and fit them all themselves? I mean the Nissan GTR straight out of the factory looks mean and is one of the fastest accelerating cars on the planet. The Dodge Charger back in 1970 was one of the best muscle cars money could buy...

...why mess with them?

Well, it all boils down to the need for speed and the ego challenge of having something special, so then you have another two choices. Bend the old credit card buy the parts and do it yourself or hunt the internet for a custom shop and bend the credit card and let them do it for you.

Either way, you end up with something special, that’s faster and looks different. You can then pop on the shades, and pretend you’re Vin Diesel!

Ok, I have now set the scene to answer the big question of “What’s this got to do with websites?”

Glad you asked, you know right out of the box, website platforms can go fast, make super sexy awesome sites , and the Duda platform TheCamel.co™ uses is no exception. In fact, it’s one of the fastest and easiest to use.

BUT, sometimes you or your customers “feel the need for speed” and some customization, some warp factor internet performance is what your heart desires or what the customer needs. You can DIY a lot of these or? TheCamel.Co® becomes your fast and furious option.

Widgets, workarounds, all sorts of tech work, we are the performance specialists. Think of us when you need some extra chrome, louder exhaust, more zoom in your website.

And just like the culture of all the Fast and Furious films, “Salute La Familia”, we will treat you like family.

Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

Get To The Point, Will You?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 07:57:00 GMT

Like a never ending roller-coaster of color, text and pictures, that is my day as I walk past so many PC screens at TheCamel.Co® . Super designers working their fingers to the bone, left click, right click on the poor abused mouse. And on the odd occasion I stop and take a long look at some of these awesome designs and the websites that will soon be greeting potential customers of the website owner.

When I take a good look, what do I think? Get to the point, will you!

Like hello, word after word, sentence after sentence, scrolling down the page. Descriptions of products and business that reads like those bad old English plays, or love letters from highly depressed love birds that haven’t seen each other for years back in the day (You know, before FB and Instagram where an emoticon has replaced having to describe how you really feel). Flowery words, common statements, things that make the potential booker or buyer of services scream in pain and jump to another site looking to be fulfilled by great website content. What do I mean? Standard statements such as “Our Highly Reliable and Efficient” or “ When looking for a reliable” and what about “Comfortable Surroundings Ideal For” that are then followed up by line after line of content that really doesn’t grab anybody’s attention but more importantly have no triggers to activate the buyers’ credit cards to be launched from their wallet and joyfully numbers are entered and a purchase is made. Yes, you can spend a fortune on making a new website the most awesome first impression , a real lights, camera and buyers’ action, but then, when it comes to the message? Quite often it’s, “Yep, we can just use the existing text”. Well, that was okay back in the day when people were watching the television size PC screens pretending, they were working, but now? Well, it’s all on the phone or tablet. People have the patience of a Mayfly (just in case you didn’t know, they are born, make babies and die in a 24-hour period) so you need to have great content that grab attention.

So, when it comes to content for your brand spanking new Customer Attraction Program, what do we recommend at TheCamel.co™?

First, maybe get a professional to write, let the moths be free from your wallet or bend that credit card a little further and hire a pro to get it sensational for you. Second? Get to the point, make it like the trailer of a movie rather than the whole show, tell ‘em what you need to tell ‘em and show them how to get it or book it. Big Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

Website Hoarders

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 07:32:00 GMT

Reality TV? Have to love it and it’s become a sensation these past few years. They have taken everyday life situations, good, bad, crazy and turned them into half hour episodes that people become addicted to.

One of those that I find amusing but also sad is "Hoarders".

Hoarding is seriously a tough thing, and it's not just those featured on the show, even everyday life can get caught up in it. I have noticed in Asia it’s also part of the culture to keep every box and bag when a new item arrives in. The excuse is “You need it for the warranty” but hello, that’s usually for 12 months. So why do highly valuable space get taken up by boxes of the black and white TV arrived in 1973? Shoe boxes that remain long after the things had been fixed and glued a few times?

Yes, hoarding can be so bad it’s worth 30 minutes of prime-time Cable TV. It can be the dusty old boxes in the house that fall on your head every time you open up the wardrobe. Some bad enough to send you the building on the hill and therapy. Others just drive the family crazy.

What I have discovered? There is such a thing as website hoarding.

Yep, when TheCamel.co™ gets a new brief to build a brand spanking new super sexy website , to replace the old one that was built when that black and white TV was delivered, the hoarding syndrome can appear.

The brief will show the old site has enough pages to make Wikipedia jealous and the site owner will always say, “Yep, need to cut those 500 pages down a little”, that’s when the problem starts, and hoarding can set in.

Blogs from 1985, reviews for 2001, testimonies potentially from Moses, owner bios that include things they did in kindergarten up until the present day, pages and pages of hoarded information that when you challenge the site owner they will scream, “But somebody might read it”.

Well, I’m here to tell you folks, “people won’t read it”...

...and if they do?

Take all that information and place it in a PDF vault that you can give them access to if they send you an email address.

Not only will people not read it, those big fat old pages will slow your site down to a snail pace and then Google won’t read it either.

Yes, the Twitter age has changed the consumer mentality, those hypo active little consumer treasures need their information fill in 280 characters or less, it has to be in their face or in a one finger swipe, or a button push, and they are not interested in what you did after your relatives got off Noah’s boat!

Websites can't be accessibility compliant without sacrificing design, interactivity and general user experience for visitors without disabilities. That’s where Dopa comes in. They offer reference articles about compulsive hoarding and other important psychology topics for those with serious eyesight, motor coordination, and cognitive disabilities.

So, my dear friends, when you have decided your business needs a new customer attraction program?

TheCamel.co™ will be happy to help and advise on how we can put your old site on weight watchers and trim it down. You, your customers, and Google will be happy, and you can buy a bigger TV, but? Throw away the box.

Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

References:

Hoarders from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoarders
Compulsive Hoarding from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsive_hoarding

Words Are All I Have

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 08:36:00 GMT

Cast your mind back 20 years ago (I’m taking it for granted I have a mature audience LOL). Why 20 years? Well, it was back in 1990 when the first internet providers started to supply email addresses as part of their packages, and it was in 1996 when email really took off with the masses as a little business called Hotmail made it a worldwide revolution when they offered free email address.

Yes, only 20 years ago we had to use what is now a foreign concept to contact friends and family. We had to actually write them a letter and post it. Wow, it’s sad that the XYZ generation of today don’t have the thrill of waiting for the postman to deliver mail.

Back in those days, we wrote letters, sent cards, we had to really think when we wrote.

Words were important.

Yes folks, you could win a heart, change a mind with the words you used in those cards and letters. Super powerful messages of joy the mailman could deliver.

So, the usual question that comes to mind when reading my blog now starts to appear on the tip of your tongue or top of your mind. Well I’m glad you asked that question, and here is the answer.

When TheCamel.co™ builds a website? Content is King.

Yes, my super blog supporters, you can have the best-looking web s ite on the planet with all the flash boom and bang money can buy, with pictures of products that would be at home on the Pirelli calendar. But, if the words aren’t there, if the content is lame? The website is not going to be in the consumer or Google game .

The consumer? With the right words you can definitely take their heart away. You can get them to truly imagine the benefits of your products, the reason they need to eat your food, or create the desire to stay at your hotel.
With Google? The right words, the best content can have that Google algorithm getting all excited as it crawls your website. So excited that it pushes your page further and further up those ever-important Google rankings.

So, what do I suggest?

Well, if you’re going to spend your hard earned cash on a new super website, you best spend time not just on that first web impression image selection but also spend time (or hire somebody else) to make sure that the content you have contains words that will make that site a "Content King". With great images and awesome content, your business will be “Staying Alive” rather than singing another famous Bee Gees song, “ Tragedy” . Big Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

You Had Me At Hello

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 07:52:00 GMT

Lately, I have been doing something a little different when I look at some of the websites we create at TheCamel.Co® . Normally, I would spend time taking a real good long hard look, scrolling up and down, reading deeply, but now? I go for a “what’s unique” approach.

Here’s how I do it...

...I just walk past a designer’s screen and glimpse at a site and if it grabs my attention in the first instance, sort of like “You had me at hello moment” I take a second look at the site. What do I look for next? I look for another immediate gratification, I look for what’s “unique” about this business. What has the business owner written about themselves, what main headline is singing to me, and I’m here to tell you folks, this is where a lot of business websites, I believe, are way out of tune!

Let me use dentist as an example (we have had a run on dentists sites lately) so a lot of them tickled my fancy on the first glance test. I felt that “Wow, you got my attention baby” moment so I moved onto flirtation step number two looking for that headline that makes this one different than all the rest.

What did I see? Lots of quote that made me yawn.

“Gentle and Caring”

“Painless Professionals”

The list goes on. Immediately I thought to myself, “that’s what they all say” as let’s be honest, can you honestly say, my dear readers, that the majority of work performed by a dentist is totally painless? Yes, they smile and whisper sweet nothings in your ear, be gentle and caring, have sexy soothing music playing in the background, but? The dentist still hurts.

Now, at this stage would normally launch into my “We can fly to Mars but the dentist still hurts speech” but I will stay on script. But I am right in what I say.

So, when I looked at those headlines, I started to lose interest in the site. I kept asking, where is the Unique Selling Point here (USP’s baby)?

If you and I sat down and looked at 100 Dentist websites I would bet my lunch money that we would find most of them would use the attention grabbing (yawn) sentences as the start of the big pitch on why you should choose this dentist to play with your pearly whites over another.

What about, "No Pain No Gain"? Yes, a little twinge but what a smile you will have! Too Much? Ok, let's look at TheCamel.Co® , we design and build websites.

What is our USP? Our attention-grabbing headline?

We don’t build websites, we build “ Customer Attraction Programs ”.

We don’t build websites, we build “ First Web Impressions ”.

Are you getting it now?

So, do you market beds and bedding, or do you sell “Dream Machines”. What about the local tyres shop, do they sell and supply tyres? Or do they sell “Rolling Black Rubber Safety Machines”. Hamburgers? or “Full and Happy Tummy Supplies”

Ok, some may sound a little funny but at least they will get people attention and that’s what it’s all about – to make people stop, and look further, to see that you’re unique and want to know more.

So, grab a moment, sit back take a deep breath and ask yourself that questions, “What will be my USP? What will get them at Hello?”

Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 01:43:00 GMT

I can remember back in the day (Disclaimer: Don't get all politically correct on me now) coming home from work and sitting down with my dad and we would discuss friends and their choice of relationship. I would often say to him, "I have no idea what she or he see in him or her".

Then, in normal wise old dad fashion he would say, "Son, beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

I would often shrug my shoulders and say, "Well, I think x or y is blind then" and walk away.

I mean, have you had your best friend introduce you to the latest love of their life, you do all the right things, are polite and then as you walk away you say, "Are they crazy, what do they see in them?"

But, it's not just with partner choice, is it? Have you had one of your friends come up to you with shopping bags in hand super excited screaming, "Wait till you see what I just bought". They then proceed to model the dress, t-shirt, top, blouse, whatever and you're smiling and saying, "Wow, how nice" but in reality, you say, "OMG, did the shop not have a mirror".

Be it our choice in partners, decisions we make on wardrobe choices, sometimes we have to wonder what was in our friend's mind at the time.

And yes folks, that brings me to the point of TheCamel.Co® blog to say, "What has this got to do with websites "?

Well, I'm glad you asked.

As a fulfillment partner for Duda websites , the designers at TheCamel.co™ get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly, not just in sites that are existing. But, like the shopping bags with new clothes, we get to say "Wow, that's nice" when we get a build form, but deep down we are thinking, "Ahhh what are they thinking?"

Yes, many people have designed old websites or are looking at a new site and definitely there is no mirror in their house or office! Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but with the importance of your first web impression , maybe somebody else should be designing your website.

Even if you're a designer, the same still applies.

Why? Well, at TheCamel.co ™ we have a bit of advice we give to everybody when it comes to that first web impression look and feel. We advise you to design with WOW. Now, is that WOW as OMG Super Awesome, Fireworks, Steven Spielberg directed design? No, it's WOW that stands for What Others Want , that WOW.

Your website, like it or not, is not for you, it's for your customers.

It's not a glossy brochure of pretty pictures and ego stroking text about us! The role of that Google attracting URL is to excite and encourage current or potential customers to enquire, book, buy or make a reservation with you.

The design of your website should be 100% focused on that WOW criteria and that my dear friends can often be a design that has issues with what you want in your shopping bag.

So, what do we suggest at TheCamel.Co® ? We highly recommend that you take somebody shopping with you and make sure the shop has a mirror! Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but there is no second chance on a first impression. So, maybe it's time to let somebody else design.

Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

The Misery Magnet

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 08:52:00 GMT

Have you ever gone into a store to buy something, could be some clothes, shoes or even a big item like a new house or a car? Maybe it was a spur of the moment decision or you could have planned for a long time, but the attitude you had was, "Yippee! Let’s go shopping".

You walked into the store, office or showroom, full of that excitement and then you're greeted by a grumpy salesperson and boom like a balloon losing air you feel deflated and you’re not having any fun anymore.

You know what I’m talking about, the “Misery Magnet”.

That person who is having a bad day and wants you to feel the same way. I don’t know if something went wrong in their day, maybe they were born that way, maybe they just hate their job, but the look on their face, the attitude they have, is just outright ruined your ‘Yippee” moment.

So, what do you normally do? Well, if you're anything like me you quickly say, “Have a great day!” and leave them to wallow in their own self-pity. You then try and find another place and hopefully "Misery Magnet" will be replaced by an "Energizer Bunny" of happiness, ready to assist you and take your cold hard-earned cash, but you will enjoy every moment of it.

Have you had these moments?

Sure, you have. But, that’s all about face-to-face stuff. What about in this digital age we all live in where our keyboard has replaced our shoe leather and gas, and our fingers are truly doing the walking? Well, just the same, except, it's your website that can become the "Misery Magnet" now.

Yes, a tired worn out old website or a brand new one with the personality of a cold storage facility is the new killer of that "Yippee, I am ready to buy" feeling. But, trust me, it's worse than it was. Yes, technology has made business faster, but, it also allows customers to move from your business to another in the click of a keyboard . No need to even find a car park.

The numbers don’t lie. If your potential booker or buyer can't find what excites them in under 15 seconds, they will walk away and find another (if your site is slow, it's even worse). So, you best make sure that your first web impression is really just that, grab the attention, get them interested, make offers, have call to actions, get ready to do some business, and as a bonus make them smile whilst they are doing it.

TheCamel.co™, as a Duda Fulfillment Partner,...

...the best advice we can give you today when it comes to how to build a website that will attract customers ? Design it and get it built in the Duda Platform with an attitude of “There is no second chance on a first impression”. And TheCamel.Co® guarantees you, there will be no "Misery Magnet" and your customers will feel like they just did business with the energizer bunny. Do I hear a "Yippee"?

Big Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

Good News Bad News All News

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 01 May 2018 03:50:00 GMT

Well, the news is finally out. No more avoiding it, running away from it. No special software or magic potions can help you. What am I talking about?

Bad Reviews!

Yes folks, Google has finally put its foot down (How many times you ask) and like it or not, if your site gets good news, bad news, any news must stay on the site or social media page and you have to manage it. Try anything shifty or shonky and it’s not going to help your rankings.

Now, is this a good thing or a bad thing?

For me, I have always been a firm believer that sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me, and the great thing about bad news is it gives me the chance to share good news.

But I’m a permanent optimist and humbly I am also a marketer. So, it’s a skill I should have and am lucky, other business would be the same and be able to handle the occasional bit of customer venom.

What about the average butcher, baker, candle stick maker out there? What can they do when the customer offloads the unhappy pills on the website or social media pages?

You know what I’m talking about, those reviews that are not nice, can be a bit caustic and automatically send the fear of business ruin up your spine, when you read what nasty things some people can write.

It doesn’t matter that some of those might be real or some might be from ex-employees, ex-partners, ex-romantic moments they are nasty, and you have to do something about them.

Now, the normal thing is a scream, followed by where do I get the magic potion to delete them, and be weary there is people on the internet that will take your money saying they can use pixie dust and make things disappear. Well, it’s not true.

As I said from the start, you have no choice now.

You must work on these moments of sadness and disappointment.

So, what’s the plan?

Number one on the list? Take a deep breath.
Number two on the list? Never reply to the nasty review in the first five minutes, so combine point one and two. Go for a walk, have a coffee, no need for a breakdown, all is going to be ok with the world.

Why do we breathe and wait? Because you might end up writing something nasty back.

No matter what, stay calm and reply with dignity even though you want to sometimes let fly. But, remember others are going to read what you say. Offer a “Sorry” if it was a problem with product or service, offer a solution, ask for a reply, and reply to that. Keep the conversation going until you get a smile.

And the ultimate goal? The critical review turns into a star review about the way you handled it.

A good question now and something to think about, “Do you have Facebook Messenger linked to your Duda Website ?” TheCamel.co™ developers have created a Duda widget just for that, so why not give them a buzz and have it installed.

So, as my dear old mum (RIP) used to say? Good Better Best, Never Let It Rest, until your Good is Better, and your Better Best.

Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

The Elevator Pitch

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

A very wise man once told me that if I can’t tell people what my business is all about in 30 seconds, I need to practice harder. Yes, this wise old man was describing what’s commonly referred to as, “The Elevator Pitch”.

So, what is it really? Well, good old Wikipedia tells us this: " An elevator pitch, elevator speech, or elevator statement is a short description of an idea, product, company, or oneself that explains the concept in a way such that any listener can understand it in a short period of time. This description typically explains who the product/company is for, what it does, why it is needed, and how it will get done. "

And the whole idea is you should be able to do that in the same time it takes for an elevator ride, so between 30 seconds and two minutes.

I thought a lot about that today. Why? Well, as a Major fulfilment partner of the Duda Platform we look at literally hundreds and hundreds of websites every month as they get built at TheCamel.Co® , and today, you know what I thought? Have we gotten to the point where a website has to be like an elevator pitch? And then I looked at a bunch of sites with that in mind and I was, to be honest, shocked.

So many of these sites ramble on and on, show me a bunch of pretty pictures, have so much Wikipedia waffling text on the front page or they have none. Only a select few actually got the point right in my face of that very first page and hooked me into an attitude of, “ WOW I want to know more ” or, “ Where do I sign? ” The elevator pitch is surely missing. Now, you might be thinking, but hey it’s a showcase, the front page is like the front door before people go inside and have a good look around and see what they see and then make a choice if they want to contact us and do business. We must show people, pictures of our food, our place, our products, our services, our buildings, our children, dog, cat or pony! People must be given the chance to browse. Well folks I’m here to tell you, your website is no longer a library!

It’s a first web impression marketing machine and that first page they hit better be an elevator pitch of what you’re all about, what you can do to satisfy their needs, how you will do that and press here to get it done.

And you need to think that’s all this is going to excite them enough and have a call to action button right within eyes reach on the Duda Website to press and email or call you.

And you need to think that’s all this is going to excite them enough and have a call to action button right within eyes reach to press and email or call you. You must start to think when you’re in what-do-I-want-my-website-to-look-like mode be stimulated by that quick elevator ride, there will be no scrolling down on this page so make sure it’s all right smack in their face. Think of a 21-inch screen, a ten-inch tablet and a six-inch phone.

Use that space TheCamel.Co® develops for you as your first web impression about your business and ask yourself what do I want potential customers to see in 30 seconds and make them buy the book and not join the library!

Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

References:

The Elevator Pitch from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevator_pitch

There's Life in the Old Girl yet!

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

First up, let me apologize to anybody that might immediately cry “ahhh” with my title and call the equal opportunity police. “There’s life in the Old Girl yet” was a favourite saying of my dear old Dad (RIP) so out of respect for back in the day, I am saying it as he did.

So, when did my dad use that famous saying?

Well, when we were a young struggling family, a long time ago in a land far away, we had a very old car that was basically held together by metal in between bits of rust. This ‘old girl’ as my dad called her would get us from A to C. What about B, you might ask. Well, B was occupied with our car usually breaking down when she felt like it.

Bit of a cough and splutter and then she would stop. Dad would use some choice words, usually found in RAP songs, turn the key time and time again until finally, he would exclaim, “There’s life in the old girl yet” and our car would fire into life and we would be heigh-hoing silver away, leaving B and moving onto C.

I suppose the common question might be why didn’t we just buy a new car?

Well, to be honest, the roof over our heads and eating was more important at that stage of life so, a new car was well and truly at the bottom of the bucket list and we also had a big soft spot for her.

Everyday TheCamel.Co® being a Major fulfillment partner of the Duda Platform , we see a lot of business first web impressions. We see a lot of websites that remind me of our old car.

They are huge and slow, take a long time to fire up that first page. We will usually say to the client that we think it’s about time to retire the old timer and move into something new, fast, better performing, sexy, etc.

But, like our situation back in the day, not every business is in the position to spend thousands of dollars on a brand spanking new customer attracting , and Google exciting first web impression sites.

Well, here is the good news, “There might be life in the old girl yet!”

Yes, when funds are a bit low, there is a few interim things you can do to give the old gal a new lease of life even if it’s just for a short time until the piggy bank has more coins.

What about a facelift for the front page?

Yes, seeing as there is no second chance on a first impression, why not give what gets seen first? A fresh look and feel, update some of those pictures, text, and hey, you could even look at sprucing up of your logo.

Why not look at a single landing page for the latest and greatest of your products and services? You can then use that page as a promotional tool that potential customers can have a call to action that will give them the choice to buy and book or go to the main site and look a little more.

With the Duda Widgets TheCamel.Co® develops , we can make that old girl sing a new song.

These little things are not a bad idea not just when the fund is a little tight. Maybe you have a huge website with lots of pages of information, a database and it’s a massive project to replace all of that, a facelift or landing page might be what you’re looking for until you sort out what is the next best move.

Ok, these are not a permanent fix, even our old car, in the end, had to be replaced. But at least, it will give the chance to get some life out of what you have until you’re all cashed up or have the right time to build something new, lean, and awesome.

So now, when you look at your website instead of a sigh, just think, “ There might be life in the old girl yet .”

Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

Is Your Website a Timex Watch in a Digital Age?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

"Live Free or Die Hard" what a movie! Bruce Willis playing John McClane, the super scene where he launches a police car at a helicopter full of bad guys and then he gives the classic one-liner, “ I ran out of bullets. ”

It’s a great movie, old school John McClane versus a super geek who is trying his best to use the Internet to destroy the USA as we know, and he almost does except using brawn and brain, John McClane once again saves the day.

In one scene, the IT Guru, who is the bad guy explains to McClane why he will win and why evil will overcome good and he drops the classic line, “ John, you’re a Timex watch in a digital age .”

What was his point?

Well basically, John McClane who even struggled to use a PC was no match for the digital world fight he had on his hands with an IT Guru who could use every online tool in his arsenal to make absolute destruction.

So why did I use this super famous movie quote in this month’s blog title?

Well, according to some social media digital players, our good old business websites are Timex watches and, with all you need is a Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram to rule the world.

Hmmm, well I’m here to tell you, folks don’t go buying that idea, your website is more important than ever.

Why? Well, Facebook just made a major change in an instant and it’s going to be so hard to get those posts you relied on so much to get shared all over the planet on the future customer's news feed.

Yes, the major digital watch (Facebook) decided that an old Timex principle was important, that being community, family, friend’s news, in fact, it was more important than stuff posted to just sell stuff.

So, I imagine for those businesses that were sold on the social media is all the love you need for your business promotion are crying in their beer right now, yes, bit dangerous to have all your eggs in one basket, but there is hope.

Get to work, ask for help, and get that old website immediately back into tip-top google searching -
customer exciting shape.
Make some sexy changes, get it looking super special on mobile, create a call to action, give people a reason to buy and book from your site. TheCamel.Co® Duda Designers can design and develop a super special website using the Duda Platform to help you.
Get the keywords right, do some SEO work so Google can start ranking you in all the right pages.

As for Facebook, what will you do with that page?

Well folks, that is going to require a total change in strategy and you’re going to have to start sharing more love and caring and will cover that in our next blog.

TheCamel developers have any made it easy for your Duda Website to be happy with Facebook as they have built a super Widget we can install on your site to help the Love.

So, wind up that Timex watch, be excited and look forward to next month’s fun blog on building a business community.

Big Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

References:

Live Free and Die Hard Movie from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Free_or_Die_Hard
John McClane from Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McClane

Happy New Year!

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Oh no! It’s almost the end of the year. I can hear Santa revving up the sleigh, hangovers be readied for New Year’s Eve, Visa Cards busting at the seams as they get whisked through the machines at year-end sales. We can also extend the busting seams to pants as we eat way too much food at Christmas dinners.

Yes folks, faster than you can say “ TheCamel.co™ Duda Dynamic Design ”, 2017 has flown by and 2018 awaits.

So, the normal thing in blogging land is to do a review of 2017 and mention the highs and lows, well for me? Who am I to break tradition.
This year, on the knocker we have published (including this gem) 12 sensational blogs. We have covered so many subjects, caused some controversy, upset a few, made happy a lot more.

We have written about SEO, Design, Social Media, Hackers, Reputation Management , Duda Widgets how to make a good rabbit stew (ha-ha just threw that one in to see if you’re concentrating) all written with a bit of humor but ending with what I hope have been words of wisdom and practical advice.

Next point of an end-of-year blog is to give a “Crystal Ball” of what you think will be the movers and shakers of 2018?

Well, TheCamel.Co® has dusted off his Crystal Ball and is now ready to give his predictions for 2018.

I believe that mobile will of course continue its importance. When you design a Duda website or give that information to somebody to build it, you will really need to focus on how it’s going to look on a tablet and a mobile. Get the TV Screen vision out of your brief and start to really focus on how the customer is going to see it on what they really use, 10-inch and 6-inch screens.

Start to really focus on making the whole trilogy of customer attraction. So, what is that?

Website, Social, SEO.

Make the Duda website right, work that Facebook page, get some SEO work in place. You can write a blog every so often, or you can get TheCamel.co™ to write it for you. Use the website for promotions, with the Duda Platform and the Duda Widgets TheCamel.co™ has developed we can design awesome sites for you.

To sum it all up? In the words of the great football coach, John Kennedy? In 2018, “Do Something”. Don’t just build a new site and leave it stagnate for a year, don’t post on your FB Page when the mood takes you, work those key words and phrases in blogs and start to put promotional pop ups on your site.

Remember, that website of yours is not as it was, it’s now a Customer Attracting Marketing Machine, ready to offer products and services to those that view it.

Have fun, don’t eat too much, enjoy the time with family and be safe!

Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

There is no such thing as a free lunch!

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

If you are a motor mechanic and a customer walked in to ask for a tune and an oil change, would you offer them a seat on a nice cozy couch, make them a coffee, escort their family to send them into a service bay, work away with tender loving care for a few hours, present the keys back to the customer, say "Hey it's on us" and smile as they drove off?

I could ask the same question to a pub owner, a butcher, a baker, even a candlestick maker saying, "would you provide any service at all and just take a smile as payment?"

Okay, in between you saying to yourself, "Has TheCamel.Co® lost it, is he crazy?" Let me ask why. As in, why would you not do all that work for free?

Well, you have bills to pay, employees to consider, you must make a living as the old saying goes "Money doesn't buy happiness," well, let me say that your life would be miserable without money, fast.

The only problem? There is a lot going on in this world for free! FREE websites, FREE Software, FREE Free Duda Widgets,Social Media , FREE all sorts of things and people are clamoring for free stuff. This now leads us to the topic of this blog, "There is no such thing as a free lunch!"

Somewhere along the line, somebody must make money out of something, so they'd avoid the miserable category.

Free Website Builder? Of course, it's free but the hosting is not, and if you want the site to look great, we hope and pray that your technical ability is above left and right click of a mouse and also, beyond drag 'n drop. Then, if you need any of the sexy features, oops! Sorry, they are not free but seeing as you're halfway done might as well pay for those, too hard? Well, we can give you online help but that will cost you $X.

Free applications and software, wow great idea! You can really make the site shine now, but that is just the standard. You can't do anything free version with ads (as we need to pay for stuff you know). So hope you don't mind if your customers get the occasional pop-up video of Dolores Bath, House and Spa weekly specials. But, you need the app or software now you're in, so best to drag out the trusty Visa card.

All a bit much? Well, what about Facebook? Hey, you can make a free business web presence on that, no need at all for a website. You will even save yourself the hosting fees.

Great idea! But hang on, do you really think they will share with all your likes for free all those sexy posts about exclusive offers you're making? Be fair, they have multi-zillion on dollar salaries to pay, so sorry if you want all your customers to see what you're offering? That will cost you money each time and if they don't like your posts, sorry, that's all subject to the automated customer (read Robotic) service department of Facebook. So maybe you will have to adjust it to some zillion times to make it more of a picture than an offer, but hey, it's free!

Let's not also forget they are not just your customers, they belong to Facebook and they can also use the information to send competitor ads as well.

So, it's time folks, what's the point of all this today, am I anti-free stuff? No, I'm not. What I am trying to say is not all things for your business growth should be put in the FREE basket. The things that are super important, those first customer impressions - your website, those customer grabbing needs like SEO, booking services, etc. Maybe they are important enough to invest a little, to maybe look at experts to help you.

TheCamel.co™ are the experts, we design and develop websites using the Duda Platform . We can build you a cost effective sensational first web impression, we have our Duda Specialists that develop awesome widgets for the Duda Platform that will make it sing.

Then, your business can move towards the success path you want and deserve, and you can buy people lunch!

Big Hugs from TheCamel.Co®

No Is The Hardest Word

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Elton John had a famous song, “Sorry seems to be the hardest word”. Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the song about a romantic relationship which is falling apart. The song has a chorus that pretty much explains the heartache, “So sad, so sad, why can’t we just talk it over, sorry seems to be the hardest word”.

Oh, the tears are falling on my keyboard as I type those words.

Must be honest, I really disagree with Elton and Bernie, I really don’t think “Sorry” is the hardest word, I think NO is.

Think about it for a minute, if we said “NO” more often we would not have to say sorry, would we? Most relationships get into trouble as one or the other didn’t say NO to a mistake so ended up in a so sad, so sad SORRY conversation. Many people have lost their license as they didn’t say, “NO” to the last drink and end up so sad.

So sad your honor and I am truly “Sorry” for what I did as they get their license taken away.

You could look at most, “Sorry” conversations and it would be a good bet that if you or somebody else had said, “NO” there would not be a conversation and nobody would be getting into trouble or feeling sad sad situation.

S o, what has this song got to do with Duda websites, TheCamel.co™ development, SEO and other business-related stuff ? Well I’m glad you asked that question. Let me share my thoughts.

A lot of issues with non-performing websites those being ones that don’t convert lookers into buyers, and SEO work that does not convert to good rankings that allow people to find your website, both of which usually have a “Sorry” it’s not working conversation attached either with a designer or you with your customers or business partners could have been different if somebody said NO.

No to what, you might be asking? Well, in the case of the website, NO to way too much insignificant content, NO to lots of bells, whistles and moving objects that really have no impact, NO to a major focus on the desktop and not enough on the mobile. NO, to features and fixtures that have no focus on getting people to book and buy. NO to way too much reading and not enough clicking to action.

With SEO? NO to key words or phrases that will not narrow down the search to you, your business, where you are and what you sell or supply. NO to wanting to win a global search when you’re making hamburgers in downtown suburbia.

The good news? Unlike the song, the relationship can be fixed, a little bit of good SEO work, informative website design from TheCamel.co™ team using the Duda Platform, some great widgets from our Duda Specialists will set the right music and have your business singing a love song to your customers and Google and then? No need for “Sorry”, you can move onto another song like “Happy Days are here again”.

Hugs from T heCamel.co™

Seemed Like a Good idea at the Time

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 02 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

I live in a fantastic city, it’s alive, it’s vibrant, shopping centers are busy, super market checkouts are long and the trolleys are full. I see more and more new cars on the road. It’s super exciting! A sign that all is doing well and prosperity is happening.

With all this success you start to see newer commercial buildings sprouting up to occupy the skyline and even old ones going through renovations. These commercial spaces need people to fill them and I imagine some people, young and old getting the old entrepreneurial juices running once they see a little spare cash in the bank account or maybe other family members have and they are the ones to take down the for-rent sign.

Yes, suddenly, these new cashed up wanna-be-successful business people get a flash in the head, fireworks start going off, a potential million-dollar idea is in process, dream of Porsches and Yachts stream through their brains as they tell the boss goodbye and start dumping that bank balance or a close family member on a deposit for one of those fresh new office lots or just renovated street front shop.

Yes, it all seemed like a good idea at the time.

I say good idea at the time for a reason. The reason is?

Well, I see all these new buildings and renovated ones having a lot of the for-lease signs being replaced with work in progress. I see a lot of new furniture, new clothing racks and people and stock arriving, but pretty soon I also see the removals’ coming, closing down sale signs falling and being replaced with “For Lease”.

You see, the problem is that 80% of those that get that overdose of entrepreneurial juice running? Fail and run out of money juice within the first 12 months of operating.

So, what are the major causes of failure?

Not Seeking Professional Advice
Lack of Good Customer Care
Copying Others
Lack of Experience
Unaccountability
Lack of Personal Growth
Poor Location
Lack of Focus
Wrong Expectation
Quitting Too Soon

So why am I writing about this today when I normally discuss websites, Duda Websites, SEO and stuff like that. Well, at TheCamel.co™ we need the new business to be around, as we want to build Duda websites, and do SEO work. Our Duda Specialist team need to keep developing and building Duda Widgets . I also know that a lot of other business need business’s to stay around to service as well so we can all help each other.

So, let me give you a little advice, something I have used to build a successful business that has grown but most importantly made it past that first one year and was not part of the 80%.

When you have one of those, “Seems Like a Good Idea” moments? Stop and listen to a great quote from Abraham Lincoln. A quote that I use every day to press the pause button when my mind starts to run faster than common sense.

When asked what he would do if he has six hours to cut down a tree? Abraham Lincoln replied, “I would spend four hours sharpening my axe”

So, folks, before committing your cash (or others) putting the deposit on a Porsche or a Yacht, grab the idea, a few sheets of paper and start thinking through a good business plan.

We would be excited to help with a new Duda Website or even help with some of our awesome Duda Widgets to ramp up your current Duda Platform .

Spend a little time sharpening that axe before you attack the tree.

Big Hugs from TheCamel. co ™

Belle of the Ball

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Let’s take a little stroll back memory lane for a moment, can we? In my case, it’s more like a marathon but it only seems like yesterday. Let’s roll back and remember our High School days. How awesome were they? Puberty and pimples, what a joy! For the boys, it was the embarrassment of the voice breaking, biceps started to be a focus. As for girls? It was a matter of all sorts of things. But, back in the day it was the start of the importance of how you look and what people said about that. They were tough, emotionally charged times, but one thing is for sure and that is suddenly like a chicken popping out of an egg, boys and girls finally started to notice each other in strange and unusual ways and one major event of the High School Year made this “Attraction” more noticeable than ever, what was it that fired up the intensity to a fever pitch?

The High School Ball.

Wow, did life get exciting the moment that event was announced at the morning assembly. Screams of “What will I wear?” could be heard across the school yard, boys whispering to each other, “Who are you going to ask as your date?”. But that was just the preamble. The whole focus was that suddenly, these teenagers became like a bunch of crazy people totally focused on looking their best to make sure they got noticed by the ones they wanted to be noticed by.

Mums were stressed about dresses and hair, dads were stressed with paying for this and for that, hours would be spent at shops, hairdressers, suit hire would be flat out as all the boys tried to come to terms with tying a bow tie for the first time in their lives. All this action to make sure of one thing, to make sure you looked great and smelt great, so you would be noticed by the ones that you wanted to be noticed by. To be the Belle of the Ball? Was an important moment in your life.

So, what does being the Belle of the Ball and a TheCamel.co™ Website have in common?

So happy you asked that question. Well, your website? Is always trying to be the Belle of the Ball, to be the one that’s noticed more by the people you want it to be noticed by, and who do you really want it noticed by? Ah, the best-looking partner in the room, that one you secretly lay in bed at night thinking about, yes, the Front Page of Google!

So, like the teenager was trying on the best clothes, going to best hairdresser, covering up all those pimples with as much foundation as possible, your Website to be attractive to the one that matters most? Needs some special treatment. Luckily, TheCamel.co™ develops all its websites on the Duda Platform so we are using the best.

Key words, call to action, mobile friendly and optimized, SEO work, all these are the things you need to make sure are in place to be attractive to the one you need to be attractive to. Getting your content right, having pictures the right size, using TheCamel.co™ Duda Widgets to add special touches, these are the hairdressers and suit hire of your business today.

So, if you want to be the Belle of the Google Ball, make that front page so those that you need to notice are lining up for that first dance, make sure you have an SEO Plan in place, or maybe get somebody to help you out.

At TheCamel.co™, we have the designers to build awesome Duda Websites , Duda Specialists that develop sensational Duda Widgets so we are totally prepared to make your business look great at every ball.

Big Hugs from TheCamel. co ™

I Feel the Need.. The Need For Speed

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Ok famous line from a famous Movie, Top Gun. Wow, adrenalin packed 90 minutes, F18’s zooming across the sky, dog fights, it was awesome and that one line from Tom Cruise, “I feel the need, the need for speed” has become the catch cry before you put the pedal to the metal and zoom off down the highway or if you’re lucky strap yourself into your F18 and go and catch the clouds. I don’t think many of us would have an F18 sitting in our garage huh.

These days though, I feel the need for speed is no longer just screamed out by the petrol heads and sky pilots, that one line has become part and parcel of every web site build design sheet presented to a builder.

Yep, thanks to good old Google making us all 100% paranoid our potential customers will leave us quicker than you can say “Jester’s Dead” (another famous line in Top Gun) if our websites don’t load in under a few seconds. “The Need for Speed” is high on a customers want list.

The point is though that the majority of customers want this speed, but they also want the site to be sexy, awesome, state of the art, graphically enhanced, a few special effects here and there, like "hey! I need to stand out from the crowd type site". (This is on top of the often asked for minor request of being page one in Google).

So, at this point... Let me clarify a major issue, for something to go fast?

We must consider a very important issue and that is weight. Formula One cars, MotoGP bikes, F18’s, horses even humans can go fast as long as long as they don’t weigh a lot, and if you want to go faster in any of these? Well, you have to start throwing out some ballast.

Heavyweights don’t win the 100 meters at the Olympics, folks.

So, let’s look at that website. When TheCamel.co™ designs a Duda Website we ask?

Do you really need those 5000 pictures? What about that 190 pages of technical text? Those three videos you wanted to play on the slider? Do you think you can do without them?

When your customer is requesting speed but they still want all the goodies, maybe you should start singing “Highway to the danger zone” and remind them that’s it’s hard for a pig to fly and we might need to let go of some of the goodies, streamline the site a little, stick to facts and click to call, use more PDF’s and zippyty doo dah that site will fly.

It’s not just design that will help, TheCamel.co™ with its Duda Specialists builds all sorts of Duda Widgets inhouse that will lessen the code on a site making it much faster. Our Developers knowledge of the Duda Platform gives the ability to make workarounds that can give your Duda site even more Google Edge .

Then you can ride off into the sunset on the back of a motorcycle and let the credits roll.

Big Hugs from TheCamel. co ™

Still Water Ends Up Smelling Bad

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Nothing better than seeing a pond in garden, water lilies, maybe even frogs hopping around. You see birds fly by, then once they spot the clear crystal water they can’t help themselves but swoop down and have a bit of play in the cool refreshing water. It’s easy to keep the pond full of happiness, just need to keep the water fresh and alive, mix it up a bit, and for years it will be a real live place of activity and new life, what a joy! But what if you don’t add water, what if there is a genuine lack of attention and TLC? Well, it will start to turn green, the frogs will pack up and run away and “Croak” somewhere else, the birds will fly past, take a quick smell and let out a tweet of “eeeooww” and visit another pool close by. Yep, still water sooner than later ends up smelling bad and nobody will visit and the pond ends up being a green and yucky mess.

TheCamel.co™ believe that business websites are a lot like a pond in the garden of your business.

When we build you a new Duda Website they start off all clear and glimmer, customers bounce along and visit, business blooms. It’s a real joy for you and everyone else when it’s all brand new.

Then as time goes on? You stop adding things, changing things, updating things. Your customers visit until the smell is bad and the scream of “eeeooww” shakes the PC screen or their phone shakes in their trembling hands and sooner than later they go and visit another pond (‘business’).

Yes folks, like the pond in your garden, your website not only needs TLC. It needs some regular churning up and a top up with fresh water to stop the stagnation process.

Yes, those pictures of you or your products look a little stale after you have seen them a few times. That menu when viewed is greeted with “Wow we have eaten all of that”. The specials you put up when your TheCamel.co™ Duda website was first made live 5 years ago? Well, they no longer even manufacture those products.

So today, the advice we are going to give is simple - Don’t let your website turn into a smelly pond where nobody wants to visit.

Get regular with your updates (Or get TheCamel.co™ to do it), treat your website like you do your social media pages, get weekly offers going, make sure you’re updating your pictures. If you have an active social media program, make sure you have a live feed on your website so it’s always in a state of constant refresh.

You do all this and I guarantee you nobody will say “eeeooww” about your site and it won’t become a green and yucky mess.

And to make sure your website is always being refreshed, TheCamel.co™ Duda Specialists are always developing new Duda Widgets, finding workarounds for Duda Sites to make sure your website is always fresh.

I can’t guarantee you will be visited by frogs though, LOL.

Big Hugs from Big T heCamel.co™

Robotic Websites

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Ok, a serious blog today about a serious question. Automated website builders? We see it every day and we get constantly asked if we believe automated site builders can create great customer attraction programs. Every time I get asked this question, I think of a great scene from the movie I,Robot when the character played by Will Smith is trying to explain why he really dislikes robots. Will Smiths says: “Um, look, this isn't what I do, but I've got an idea for one of your commercials. You see... a carpenter, making a beautiful chair. And then one of your robots comes in and makes a better chair twice as fast. And then you superimpose on the screen, "USR: Shittin' on the Little Guy". That would be the fade-out”. Maybe I’m old school like Will Smith was in the movie. But, my feelings are that everything that is creative in this world? A human does it better. A robot must be programmed to do it. It’s not natural, it doesn’t come from the heart. So, do I believe automatic site builders are a good thing? The answer is a big NO. What’s more, I love the joy I see on a fresh graduate’s face when they start a new job and design their first site. I love it when one of our crew make a design that a customer sends them a big huge rap and grateful words. I love what our crew create. Now before I get attacked by all the technocrats on being old school, let me add in some details that are not emotionally motivated. The auto builder features that say they can just search all your current sites details and content and copy it over to a new site? Yes, possible but it’s a bit all over the place and a human must take over and make it look at least clean and tidy. An auto builder using a template and your typing input? Yep, that can work but you end up with a bunch of clone sites. Customer attraction programs is what we call them not websites. And, if your site is going to be the first web impression potential customers see of your business, don’t you want them to see the best? So, maybe it costs a few dollars more. Maybe there is a little back and forth. But in the end, it’s all about no second chance on a first impression. And, you should let your customers see the best of you. Unless…Your selling to Robots huh.

Fear Factor

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 02 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Do you remember that show? Wow, they would have a bunch of people go through a series of three stunts, all super dangerous, like driving fast cars over a bridge, or through fire and explosions. But, the stunts that usually got everybody talking were the eating strange disgusting things or lying in a glass case having a close encounter with all sorts of nasty stuff. Some of the things they made people eat were shocking. A quick sample of delicacies include African cave dwelling spiders – nasty things with big long legs with claws at the end of them, and hello they were alive and had to be chewed before swallowing. What about sheep’s eyes? Yep, these lovely little balls of cooked joy are bad enough but to make it worse, the contestants were surrounded by live sheep looking at them straight in the eye whilst the contestant devoured one of their relatives former looking glass of life. Tarantulas, snakes, raw sewerage, all sorts of fun and joy made for a super show. Yes, just the thought of this stuff was enough to elevate the “FEAR” factor but the host, Joe Rogan, was also famous for really talking up the fear. Telling the contestants how disgusting the thing was they were about to eat, really talking it up before the contestant could look at it and have attempt to do the task. The silly part? Often the stuff they had to eat although looking awful really had no taste or wasn’t that bad at all, you just must get it past the lips! LOL. When it comes to talking up the fear factor in the web world? I tell you, Joe Rogan does not compare to what the SPAM emailers get up to. They can send you information so awful and frightening that you will swear your super sexy website is a disaster and has every problem except for maybe the plague! I read them, customers read them, then get me to read them and it is very scary. They will have stats upon stats telling us how we have “100’s” of issues with our website. The fear factor they build up is terrible and you get to the point you’re even worried your customers might catch a virus if they look at it. Yes folks, the fear factor driven up by these email spammers form all sorts of strange and wonderful lands is not just scary, it’s a pain in the you know what. Is the fear real? In most cases no. They will pick all sorts of obscure, mean-nothing, technical issues that really have zero to do with the performance of your site. All they want to do is create the illusion of a tarantula on the plate, a rat in the sewer and make you as scared as possible for you to email them back and sign up for something that really you don’t need. So, if you get those emails? You can be on the safe side. Don’t even get involved in the show, do a quick check with google or your web developer to settle your nerves, then maybe find a crunchy bowl of scorpions to munch on whilst you watch Joe talk it up on the reruns.
Have a great day!

Is your Desktop Website a Gas Guzzler?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Back in the day, the 70’s to be exact, you could hear the sweet sounds of Simon and Garfunkel singing “Bridge over troubled water” whilst you cruised the streets in your 1970 Ford Galaxy. The song was number one and the figures for the Galaxy? Wow, you would be so excited as you achieved an average of 12mpg! Which was okay as gas was only 36 cents a gallon. But fast forward ten years and wow what a difference. You’re now squashed into a Honda Hatchback as gas has hit $1.31 a gallon and you’re singing along to blondie belting out the hit “Call me” Yes, ten years is not a long time but wow did things change for the car industry back in the 70s. The old gas guzzlers just could not do it anymore and no longer fit the market. But the big three kept making them and sooner than later they had acres of unsold cars whilst the Japanese imports had a waiting list and people ready with pen in hand to sign on the dotted line. The website business in 2017 has a lot in common with the 1970s Car industry, and the gas guzzler now are desktop sites. The big game changer is not the price of gas, it’s the evolution and expansion of the mobile connection. 3g, 4g, Wireless, Fiber Optic – all these speed demons have made it so we are now a Mobile World. You won’t see people walking around the streets carrying a gas guzzling desktop computer on their back. They will have the mobile in hand or they will be sitting on the toilet looking at their next consumer purchase on the new awesome IPad. Yes folks, for the desktop design? There is a “bridge over troubled water”! But? Like the big three back in the day, a lot of business will stick to the old, gotta look awesome on the 26-inch screen, and let’s just shrink it down for those customers that choose the phone or the tablet to look for us. The fact is? The thinking should be the reverse. We should be thinking, “wow, how can make the site look awesome on mobile and the desktop should be the end game”. We should be focusing on how to make our websites’ Customer Attraction Programs that get consumers wanting to book and buy rather than sit there and read. So, guys and gals, let’s not sing when you’re weary feeling small, let’s get all excited, let’s get into the new age, break away from those troubled waters, give the gas guzzler a rest and get into the Mobile Evolution, and if you need help? Call me…
Big Hugs from T heCamel.co™

There is no shame in using a Professional!

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Okay, so you have the manual. You have all the shiny new tools. You have just purchased from the local hardware store. All the bits and pieces of your soon to be party venue pergola are laying there and ready to go. You even bought a pair of super tradesman overalls so you would at least look the part. Yes, you’re about to become a DIY person. Heck, you even have the iPad sitting on a side table with YouTube how-to videos paused and waiting.

But, half way into the operation, your fingers are swelling from being whacked with the hammer one too many times, the neighbors have called the police to report offensive language, your dog is hiding under the table as he is scared the hammer throw might greet him, your partner and kids have packed their bags and taken to the shelter of a Motel down the road.

Worse, still you’re finding more parts and wondering where they were supposed to go?

It’s at this time you fall to your knees, clasp your hands and beg to the DIY Gods, “Send me a Professional!”

Folks, there is no shame in using a Professional. Plus, it saves medical bills, potential jail terms, relationships, and is kind to animals!

I don’t hear of this everyday with the Pergola crew, but I do hear horror stories with business people trying to build a website. Even more, we get professional building them that cry out for help when things are not going according to plan and a little extra skill is needed.

Let me say it once again, there is no shame in asking for help.

Think about it, like the carpenter that builds Pergolas for a living, he has most likely built many of them so he knows what he is doing. He probably has more tools. Guarantee you, he has some special ones that make the job faster, easier and more precise.

Websites are like that as well. Most business people are busy running a business they might build a website once in a lifetime. We build 100’s a month, we have the latest computers, software, designers that are up to date on all the latest trends as well, we should as that’s the business we are in.

So, like the professional carpenter, a professional web fulfillment partner is a great idea.

And there is no shame in using a Professional.

Be kind to your pet, family and look after your health. When building a website, or if you get into a little bit of a bind, don’t throw the keyboard at the wall, call a professional fulfillment partner and let us do the work whilst you play games on the tablet or walk the dog.

It’s Time to Turn on The Lights.

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 00:00:00 GMT

“Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does.” - Steuart H. Britt

Yes folks, a lot of business today are winking at customers in the dark. No nice way of putting it and it’s about time you turn on the lights.

Yes, I know you have spent the cookie jar on the brand new super sexy website. I also know that you are spending money every single month on SEO, Social Media Marketing maybe even pay per click. You might have an AdSense account that’s crippling your credit card and still you’re not lining up to put a deposit on that Ferrari from the awesome profits of your business!

Well maybe, just maybe, you are getting the people to look at that super sexy website. Maybe you are also ranking well on the good old google search. Yes, that dark room maybe full of men and women ready to joyously receive that wink, but as the title goes…It’s time to turn on the lights.

I see it so often when I look at a business stats whilst they are offloading to me over good old skype, I hear the cry, “I’m getting traffic, why am I not getting sales”, or “why do people look at my website and quicker than you can say lost sale, they leave?”

Well maybe, just maybe, when they go to that super sexy website that’s all they see. Yes, it looks sensational, has all the latest flashy video sliders, awesome pictures of you, testimonials from super happy customers. But something must be missing, what would that be? Incentive.

Yes, a great website, Google rankings, PPC, Social Media Marketing even AdSense are all designed to do one thing. What is that you might say? Well, they are designed to send people to your website, once they have achieved that, their job is done. What’s the next job? Give the customer a reason to call you, to book, to make a reservation, to ask for a visit, take a test drive, give them an…Incentive.

With our websites, it’s easy we have a feature called InSite. It can be a pop up, it can be activated by time of day, device type, geo locations, all sorts of ways. It can be activated when somebody gets to your site first time, second time, or every time. What they will then see is an offer, an incentive, a discount, whatever you like. If the website is the hook? A super special awesome designed correctly programmed InSite will be the bait.

An InSite incentive is the light of your website, a special offer. Yes, that’s the wink to show them you’re interested. So, make it part of your advertising ideas each month. Look at special events you can link to promotions, think about what second time customers are looking for, think about the sort of discounts a first-time customer might want to see, think of announcements, news, anything. Just start turning on the lights of that website for all to see.

And who knows that first wink? Might end up with a date or even more!

Hugs from T heCamel.co™

Do you have a $10 Business?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Years ago, Bell helmets (You know, those things that protect your head when you hit the ground) had a game changer marketing idea. It was very simple, “Ten Dollar Helmets for Ten Dollar Heads”. You see, Bell helmets were not cheap. You could buy a helmet for $10, Bell was five times that. But the big question Bell got you to ask yourself? What is your precious skull worth? Bell sold a lot of helmets.

Bell, did it again only recently with their campaign, “Does your kid have $100-feet and a $10-dollar head”. They were after the bicycle and skateboard market of children. Basically shaming the parents into the fact they would spend $100’s on the latest Nike shoes but pick up a $10 head protector for the little pride of their life from the local store. It worked again, Bell sold a lot of helmets to protect the future leaders of the world!

So, what am I thinking? Well, it goes like this.

“If you have a $10 business, build your own website”

Why can I say that? Well if 75%+ consumers are using the internet to search for a product or service that you and many offer, you best make sure that the first impression they get of your business is a good one, or else, more than likely they will go somewhere else.

You best make sure the site is all ready for mobile and looks super special. You better make sure that all the images are spot on, that the text is right, that keywords are the best, you best make sure of all that.

You better make sure, it’s to the point, has call to actions, and don’t forget information must be easy to find so the site should be a navigational joy, or else, they will go somewhere else. And don’t get me started on make sure the site is not slow.

Yes, you best make sure your DIY website is a winner, or else it could quickly turn your business into a loser.

They don’t, “Let their fingers do the walking in yellow pages” and call you up and ask what’s on the menu. No, they whip out the trusty phone or lay in bed looking at the iPad and search away. Nowadays? It’s close to the movie Wall-E and you can search book and buy from the comfort of your good old recliner chair.

So, you best make sure your first impression they see is super special, eye catching, awesome in setup and ready to take them by the hand and lead them down the buyer and booker aisle.

Yep, Bell was right, and I think in this case? So is TheCamel.

If you value your Business more than $10? Get a professional to help make the first impression awesome.

Armageddon And It's Your Fault

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Two versions of Armageddon – there is the biblical version which is all about the last big fight between the Good Guys (God and Angels) and the Bad Guys (Devil and his mob), huge big nasty brawl erupts, but in the end the Good Guys win.

The second version? Is a Movie where a huge asteroid is on a collision course to earth, if it hits, there will be Global Destruction (Armageddon). But like the Godly version, yippee there is a happy ending. Bruce Willis presses the button, nuclear bomb explodes and the asteroid is blown up and the earth is saved. All of this happens whilst Aerosmith sings in the background. Wow, what an ending!

Now, why are we talking about Armageddon? Well, this week we had the worst of the worst technical disaster with one of our hosting companies. It was Technical Armageddon for them. The good was attacked by evil and next thing you know, all their servers were blown up by a nuclear explosion and nothing was left to salvage (All files gone!).

What did this do? Well, it killed all our emails plus a few of our clients, lots of our of painstakingly created online forms disappeared. It was an issue. For us, we had a back-up plan and quickly were up and running with good old Gmail. For the clients, however? Well, we fell into the Godly version of Armageddon, that being Good versus Evil, and sorry it’s your (Ours) fault.

I say Good versus Evil as when things go wrong, good people can very quickly turn evil. Yep, you mess with the emails of a lovely old couple running a florist shop, you disconnect their e-commerce gateway in anyway and they will turn into fire breathing dragons quicker than you can say “Law Suit”! And hello, I don’t care what happened “It’s your fault” will be the signature of every text message/Facebook posting/Twitter tweet, heck, they will even screen shot the issue and post it on Instagram.

Now, regardless of the fact that it’s a supplier that had the Armageddon moment, that lightning had struck the building where the server was held or even an asteroid (keeping with the movie theme) had demolished the entire city, regardless of what the soon to be poor supplier is telling you about ETA of the issue being rectified, the mature age florist gives you the same sentence each time you chat….It’s your fault and get it fixed now.

It’s a terrible thing times like this. Customers are yelling at you, all you’re hearing is, “When will it be fixed?” “You’re ruining my business” “I will sue you” and you’re also harassing the poor server guy who is trying to rebuild life amongst the rubble of melted hard disks.

So, what are my pearls of wisdom for these Armageddon moments? Keep people informed.

Yes, regardless of how much abuse you will get, tell your customers what’s going on before they ask you, keep emailing them, post messages on your Facebook page, good news bad news anything is better than NO news.

And remember, either the Godly Armageddon, the Bruce Willis movie or your technical meltdown?

There will be a happy ending.

Hugs from TheCamel.co™

Welcome To The Hotel California

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT

“You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave”. What an awesome song, and would you believe it was recorded by The Eagles 40 years ago? Like hello you can go to any b ar anywhere in the world and once the karaoke is on you can be guaranteed you will hear some Chinese, Indian, African, German, Italian you name it nationality belting that song out and playing Air Guitar when the lead break arrives.

Is this blog about international singing and drinking? No, but the theme behind this month’s blog is that one line in that awesome song, “You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave” Yes that one line sums it up and an issue in the business world of today, something that has become almost an addiction to all those that have hung up a shingle and printed business cards.

Yes, if a new song was written maybe the verse would relate to the Hotel Google, and once you check in, once you get addicted to the holy grail called "Front Page" and the never-ending quest to find it, you can never leave.

Yep, you’re stuck in that Hotel and you will never visit another as that quest for Front Page, the belief that has been driven by the 'You need that Front page, it’s all that matters' of many an enticing SEO Email from some obscure place in India or some place that ends in STAN, tells you no way can check out baby. Yes, it doesn’t matter what else you do it’s that front page that is going to make you a gold card holding success story ready to sign up for the corporate jet!

But you know what? I think there is another song we need to start playing, we need to start humming the tune to another Eagles song when opening those emails, we need to sing along to “Lying Eyes”

Yes, folks, I think we have been sold the biggest lemon story of all time, there is more to life than just spending all our hard-earned cash chasing that front-page position, there are other ways to get those customers pounding on the front door, getting that phone to ring off the hook, get those tables reserved, sell those awesome clothes, get people dancing in those new shoes, it’s an age-old system that was around way before Larry Page and Sergey Bin went through puberty (Google Founders).

That system? Promotion driven by another lost art called Imagination all wrapped up in good old fashioned hard work.

But let me make it simple, Promotion? Tell people you’re in business. Yep, hand out business cards, blast it on Facebook, use your website, change it often. Tell people you have great offers, write them on the back of business cards, post them on Facebook have them as popups on your website and get them to tell others and reward them for doing so. Yes, repeat business, referral business will do awesome things for your business and it’s a lot cheaper than what the friendly Indian or Uzbekistan SEO hero is going to charge.

So, consider those “Lying Eyes” and “Check out of that Hotel”, get creative with your website and your promotions and I guarantee you that soon you will be drinking those “Tequila Sunrise” as you enjoy “Life in the fast Lane” (Wow I got four eagles Songs into the ending LOL)

Big Hugs from T heCamel.co™

TLC ( Tender Loving Care )

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT

You know, when a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower”. Doesn’t matter how much sun it gets, without water, bit of daily TLC it will simply just fade away.

Relationships? Well, If you love someone and they reject and neglect you, if there is very little TLC, you gotta move on, there’s no point in running around in circles for someone when there’s no reward.

I had a friend that did a lot of marriage and relationship counselling, I asked what is the major issue in relationship problems. Is it being unfaithful, not seeing eye to eye, lack of communication, what is it that causes many people to split? Was a simple reply, “Not enough TLC”?

Yes, those little hugs, simple notes, occasional SMS, little gifts for no reason, date nights, all those little TLC thingies’ that make our hearts go “Pitter Patter” and let us feel like we are young lover again.

Sad part about it? When I asked the same person what is the number one cause of infidelity, what is the key ingredient that starts people to look at others? Well, it’s also TLC he told me. Yep, when you’re not getting TLC from the one you love and you start getting it from another, a random compliment, a gentle smile, some flirting. Sooner or later the little neglected flower inside of you will start to feel the sunshine and start to “sprout”.

So if you want to keep the love of your life on the line? Try a little tenderness.

Statistically? “We know that it costs more to acquire a new customer (roughly seven times) than it does to sell to an existing customer, so it makes sense to spend much more of your marketing effort “Giving some TLC” with people who know you rather than with absolute strangers.”

Ok, so we SPAM them with email marketing campaigns, we send them Happy Birthday to you, but end it with, “Time to Renew”, Merry Xmas, Happy New Year, Valentine’s day, you name it. But, we often end it with a salutation that leads to a prod to a Sale.

Sort of like buying your wife a mop, or your husband a lawn mower for a gift (or to be politically correct, either way around) The sentiment is nice but they know what you really want!

Drop the, “and by the way part” of those emails or phone calls and just a simple say “Hi” and say thanks for being my customer, I appreciate you. Send a reward, offer a discount, give them something that doesn’t require them to buy something.

Don’t always offer the mop or the lawn mower, start sending some roses, or maybe give them a call and hum a few bars of Grenade…I’d catch a grenade for you, throw my hand on a blade for you..Yeh Yeh

Your Attitude Determines Your Attitude

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 01 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMT

I really love UFC, yes I know violent sports are bad but hello have you checked out the Video games your kids play (or you play) or the tunes they are playing? So let’s leave the “Righteousness” and let me get on with my blog.

In UFC I have a favorite, I love Conor McGregor, Irish Guy super star. Yes he did lose but yes he won the return bout and I love his attitude. He is so exciting, so awesome that he took UFC to another level, when asked what it is that gives him awesome attitude he replied with this: "This is an obsession. Talent does not exist; we are all equals as human beings. You could be anyone if you put in the time. You will reach the top, and that's that. I am not talented, I am obsessed."

Yep, there was, is and will be, “Talented” people in the UFC, but how many will have that, “Obsession” In business I have met so many with awesome Talent, but ZERO Obsession, and I have seen them beaten soundly by people with less talent but huge amount of “Obsession”

Every month we see resume after resume pass over our desk of people that have great talent in design, SEO skills, admin but when you talk to them, well the feeling of the conversation is like when choosing dead fish at the market for Dinner, the fish doesn’t talk much!

But let’s get back to people with “Obsession” like Conor, why is it so awesome to work, to be part of a team, to be served by, sold to by people that have got real Attitude, real excitement are so awesome to work with, to buy from, to be with? Rather than look at a Salmon laying on ice!

Because it makes it a Joy, not a pain.

Yes, when you're involved with great attitudes, it’s a Joy to come to work, it’s a joy to hand over your cash for a purchase, it’s a joy to get in the car after it's been serviced, it’s a joy to eat that meal that’s just been served. You walk, drive gee you even skip down the street with an awesome attitude yourself, sure beats that, “Wish I wasn’t here feeling”

So what is the main point I’m trying to get across today? I would say it’s to think about that Salmon that’s lying on the bed of ice, looking at you, you're looking back at thinking about what you will do with it, how you can make a really great meal out of, how it will please other’s that eat it. You have an awesome attitude about what you’re going to do with that poor dead fish.

So, if you want to get more out of your business, if you want a team that makes you want to jump out of bed to work with, if you a service department that people are queuing up to be looked after by, if you want a restaurant that people are lining up for?

Be Obsessed about what you do, don’t be a Salmon on ice!

Good Things Are Worth Waiting For

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Famous Quotes on the Subject:

“Don’t Rush Things anything worth having is worth waiting for” “Patience is a Virtue” “Good Things come to those who wait”

Reality:

“We are on a deadline” “I need it yesterday” “I could have built the Internet in the time it’s taking you” “We have been waiting so long, are they busy killing the cow” (I heard that at a restaurant LOL)

Just remember when things take time, it takes 6 months to build a Rolls Royce and 13 Hours a Toyota!

Well in actual fact even though virtually every single piece of a Rolls is made by hand it only takes 3 ½ months to build one, but it’s a famous quote when talking about is quality worth the wait.

Back in the day when I was a pimple faced hamburger flipper, it took 110 seconds to make a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and people would still complain, if you look at a quarter pound premium steak from an awesome 5-star Restaurant that’s going to take 30 minutes, perish the thought of the wait, but hey you can Maccas or Michelin huh!

The question we must ask, that in this day and age with people having less patience and focus than a Goldfish, will people still wait for the best or do they have the attitude near enough is good enough or in this age of chasing Pokémon, do they want the best made in the same time frame as the worst?

I think it’s more and more they want the best but want it like NOW.

I find it crazy that people who have a website, have zero patience when it comes to seeing the new updated version. You will get a brief one day and the phone will start the second day, “Are we done yet, can I have a preview” It’s not as if the world is going to find the current website and say, “hey let’s wait for the newbie” before they make their decision.

Do people realize that websites are a little bit like a Rolls, a lot of its done by hand. Sure you can use the latest and greatest Artificial Intelligence Site builders that will take content and quicker than you can say “Algorithm” The IRobot presents you with a website, but it’s not that sexy, stuff is all over the place and the site needs to be cleaned up to have any form of Customer Attraction.

Sort of like the quarter pounder from your local Maccas, yep its quick but Lettuce is hanging off the side, ketchup is all over the box but hey its quick.

So folks when ordering your brand new super site, take a moment and ask yourself, is your business a Maccas or a Michelin? A Toyota or a Rolls, then sit back relax and let the designers do their work and create something awesome.

Enjoy the day.

Hugs from T heCamel.co™

Love could be just around the corner!

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know 14 million couples define themselves as having a long distance relationship,3.75 million married couples are in a long distance relationship and 75 % of all engaged couples have been (at some point) in a long distance relationship. 10 % of all marriages in the United States started out as a long distance relationship. Wow Love is in the air.

Well get ready for the tissues as I prod your memory with the title of a great Movie ABOUT LDR’s. “Sleepless in Seattle”. What a tear Jerker LRD Movie that was. Meg Ryan and Tom Hank’s were two lost lovers bought together first by a radio program and then via email and finally from coast to coast meeting in the middle with one huge Kleenex moment Line, “We Better Go, Shall We” atop the Empire State Building, ahhh so Romantic.

So what is the Sleepless in Seattle market of the Internet? What brings people together from Coast to Coast, Country to Country? Ecommerce. There are 12-24 million e-commerce stores selling products on the internet around the world today. This sounds like a huge number and an incredibly competitive market, but surprisingly only a small subset, 650,000 stores, are selling more than $1,000 US annually. The vast majority of online stores are simply not generating any meaningful revenue.

Yes, those that do have a great LDR, make it work but statistically only a few make it to a truly worthwhile relationship. But like a lot of boys and girls watching Sleepless in Seattle we in Business all hope and pray that maybe it will be like that someday in our relationships, and somebody our customers will sweep us into their arms and say, “We better Go, Shall we”
But the point behind this blog today is not to promote Ecommerce, the point of my blog today is to say, “Hey” what about the Guys and Gals that live close by, maybe they are ready and waiting for love to? Why are you sending signals across the planet when Love could be just around the corner?

Are you running your SEO Like an LDR? Are you using keywords and phrases to sell steaks in Paris when your restaurant is in the suburbs of Oceanside in California? Are you promoting your discounted Tyres in Uzbekistan when the customers drive past your store in Sydney Road in Coburg? Do you deliver Pizza to Budapest from your corner store in Sunnyvale?
Is your whole SEO and Google Strategy more of an LDR than Local? Do you have a website full of key phrases like, “Best Vegetarian Pizza California” rather than “Best Vegetarian Pizza, Smith Street, Finleyville” what about, “Discount Tyres Victoria” rather than “Discounted Tyres, Smith Street Collingwood”?

How to avoid an LDR with your business in Google? What magnificent secrets are those spam emails from Russia trying to share with you after you spend $1000’s? Well folks I’m going to share it with you, something that has been passed down to me from Generation to Generation and I’m not going to ask you to email me for it.

The Secret? Think like your customers do and create your keywords like that. Wow So Simple huh. Yep, if your Billy Blog Customer sitting at home consoling yourself whilst watching Sleepless in Seattle and feel the need for a Pizza to satisfy your emotional status, what would you type in Google to find the place to stop the Hunger Pangs? If you looking at a set of tyres balder than the Rocks head, what words would you place in the Google Search Box to find a place to replace those round black road holding Rubber?

I will guarantee you it would not be an LDR Sentence, it will be a deep and meaningful, close to where you are plea for satisfaction.
Get Local with your Keywords and Phrases, stop looking for Love in all the wrong places, get local and have more of those moments when your customers pick up your product, look at your menu, and whisper…

“We better Go, Shall we”

Big Hugs from T heCamel.co™

Ménage a Trois

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Wed, 01 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMT

That’s French for three people having fun. You might be thinking “OMG! TheCamel blog has gone X rated” or I have moved to the dark side of the force and am writing saucy 450-word romantic blogs. Well, sorry to disappoint you kids. This blog is about “3somes” but the tame version. I just wanted to get your attention with the title. LOL.

But let’s give the blog title some legitimacy huh. Let’s think of some famous, “3somes”.

I must admit though that as a pimple-faced teenager, my mind did go wandering with the Trio of Charlie’s Angels. Farrah Fawcett with the freshly blow waved hair running along the beach was pretty exciting. And, let’s not forget the sensational Beyoncé heading up, “Destiny’s Child” – ahhh memories.

When you see flared tight pants, big hair, open shirts with a rug of hair, what music comes to your mind? Do you start to hum, “You should be Dancing…Yeh”? Do you then imagine three brothers singing in high pitched voices (Helped by the tight pants)? Yep, the Bee Gees, were an awesome Trio and they got us dancing in the 70’s.

If you think of 3 crazy funny guys, you might think of the 3 Amigos Movie. But if you go back in the day, the original crazy guys were Mo, Larry and Curly. These guys pocked each other’s eyes, hit each other over the head with barbells, got up to all sorts of NO Good as the Three Stooges.

The Three Tenors, Ghostbusters, Alvin and The Chipmunks, The Three Musketeers, Three Blind Mice – wow so many 3somes have been famous over the years.
And now? What is the 3some that’s on your mind, the “Ménage a Trois” of your business’ life? Drum Roll Please…

Multi-Screen. Desktop, Tablet and Mobile.

Yep, gone are the days of being loyal to the one and only. That one and only being desktop. Now, it’s a case of getting adventuress with a 50 Shades of Grey attitude and inviting Tablet and Mobile to the party.
What happened to the loyalty? Why can’t we have the monogamous relationship we were so comfortable with? Why do we have to get down and dirty with 3 devices? Well folks, it’s the Sodom and Gomorrah attitude of Wi-Fi and 3g, 4g oh gee has created.

Yes, anywhere access has turned us all into shameless hussies, and no choice you best get with the program. Having the attitude that when all is right with a 26-inch screen is not going to cut it anymore with your customers. Shrinking that big view down to a smaller, then smaller view is no longer acceptable if you don’t supply a multi-screen solution to your customers viewing needs. They will leave you sooner than a bad smell in a bar!

Multi-screen, dynamic content, different design styles for all devices, views and actions that want to make the users say, “Yummy! That’s what it’s all about now”. Get to the point buttons and bars. People don’t have the patience to scroll and scroll to find that important information anymore, they want it NOW!

So with Bee Gees scream “Staying Alive” in the
background, I leave you with words from a song of another famous 3some, Peter, Paul and Mary. This song pretty well sums up what’s going on in the web world now and why multi-screen is so important.

“The times they are a changin’.”

200 Miles an Hour but Really Hard to Park

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 29 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport – wow what a car! Top speed of Warp Factor 6, and can also stop so fast that your head has to play catch up with your body when the brakes are applied. 16 cylinders, 4 turbochargers, and you can pick one up for the bargain price of 1.5 million dollars. But sad to say, it’s sold out so better luck next time. Considering an oil change costs $20,000 and a new set of four tires is $25,000, well it might not be a bad thing there are none left. But hang on, did I tell you they are really hard to park?

So you have to ask yourself what use would these cars be? Like the average speed on the highways all over the world (except the German Autobahn) is 60 miles an hour and the Veyron can do that before it thinks about second gear and it has 6 more gears to go! It has a ground clearance of a whopping 4.6 inches, so say oops and find another way when faced with the speed bumps of today’s suburbia. Did I also say unless you’re at the front door of any 5-star luxury hotel, it’s really hard to park!

Some people love them and laid down the hard cold cash to get one, but they are not exactly driving them around with the partner, kids and Muffin the pet poodle. But hang on, it has no back seat so forget the kids.

Yes, 200 miles an hour might be fun and exciting, but it can also be useless except for the privileged few. I think if you had a quiet moment alone they might also whisper, “fun but really hard to park!”

The big question? Do you have a 200 MPH website that’s really hard to park? Or maybe you’re thinking about one?

It’s a really good question, and I must admit we see a lot of them. Websites that have got so much flash boom and bang that you would think that Steven Spielberg advised them, sites that have so many twists and turns to find information that you wonder if frustration was the reason behind the site rather than information!

These sites have Forums, plus log ins, plus lots of brochures, plus enough videos to rival You Tube, plus plus, plus everything else you can imagine, and oh my absolute favorite words and words and words that will make the Encyclopedia Britannica look like a magazine.

Yep, all these things can make a site looks like it can do 200 miles an hour, but gee it’s difficult to park!

The Bugatti Veyron might be “oh so nice” in the garage but if a quick trip to 7/11 is on the cards, I think the BMW parked next to it might get the nod for the brisk little sojourn. It will do the job just fine and still looks sexy.

So what’s a website really supposed to do? It’s supposed to promote your business, give people enough information that will allow them to make a choice on booking or buying and it has to be a great first impression, that’s it.
Maybe, instead of getting into a design that will go 200 mph? Maybe, it’s best to look at a design that’s like a BMW – still fast, still sexy, but you can easily park it!

Death by Facebook

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMT

Heresy. Back in the year 1022 it was a scary time, you had to watch what you said and did as the Church was all powerful, if you were part of the Church and you said the wrong thing - you could be labeled a “Heretic”. Then the next thing you know, your life could be getting a little warm as they burnt you on a stake. The powers at the time soon discovered this labeling could be a good thing to get rid of enemy’s, get other people’s property even their wives. So all of sudden accusing anybody of being a Heretic was the norm for getting even or disposing of the opposition.

It was popular as they could burn 200 at a time, all you need do was accuse and then it was up to the accused to prove they were innocent, bit hard though as they were usually tortured and the only way to stop the pain was to admit guilt.

In 1692 in a place called Salem they had the famous Witch Trials, same process you could be accused of being a Witch and then you had to prove you were not, usually torture was put in place and the only way yet again to stop the pain was screaming, “I am a Witch” this would stop the pain but yep you guessed it, once again your “confession” would book you for a final appointment with a stake to hold you up, whilst they fire quickly toasted you.

What’s the point I’m making here? Well, unlike a lot of my blogs this one is totally serious. If we fast forward to 2016 we have a new brand of heresy accusation and global Salem witch trials. Yes, folks we have death by Facebook.

Death of personal or business reputation is a big and scary issue, and like heresy and the witch trails no need for proof, all that is needed is a post on a Facebook Page or a 140 character tweet!

Upset customers back in the day would call you, visit you, write a letter. Not now baby, boom Facebook post, share with friends of friends and faster than a duck’s digestive system the world will know, “You did me wrong.”

Disgruntled employee, jealous opposition? No need for any long term plotting. With just a Wi-Fi connection and a smartphone, boom they have got you in all sorts of trouble.

The scary part? Like Heresy and the Witch Trials none of what is posted has to be true, what will be the torture? Usually finding out the post or tweet has been around for days and worst case has gone viral and you have been wondering, “Where did the customers go?”

Yes, it does suck, and yes it’s not fair but I reckon the people smelling BBQ on the stake were saying exactly the same thing.

So what is a Guy or Gal to do? Well, first up we have to realize that this sort of thing is here to stay, we also have to finally let the penny drop that Social Media is a critical part of our business planning, it’s no longer something that we set up and forget, post when it’s our anniversary. We need to monitor and manage FB pages and Twitter.

It’s called Reputation Management, and either do it yourself as part of your daily chores or you pay somebody to do it, but like a having CCTV, Burglar Alarm, Fire Extinguishers and PC Virus Protection it is best to be safe than forever sorry.

As sadly, unlike the times of Heresy, or the Salem Witch Trials? Death by Facebook is not going away.

Hugs from TheCamel. co ™

Gimme Some Lovin

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

I had a friend that was an executive coach sort of like a psychologist for business people. He would visit high flying executives once a week for an hour and let them blurt out every single thing that was driving them crazy about their business. They would whine on about bad staff, bad products, rotten customers and my friend would listen. Not a bad gig as he got paid crazy money for that one hour of work.

The funny thing though? He told me that maybe after only one or two session maximum, these corporate gurus would complain about work and people, after those sessions they would quickly move to people closer to them, their kids or their partners and sometimes both. The other interesting fact? Most of the sessions ended in tears, yep big girls and boys cry.

What was the reason? They all said, “ Gimme Some Lovin ” (great 60’s song Blues Brothers Movie) Play music

Yes, they felt their lives were more going through the motions, get up, eat breakfast whilst the kids read Facebook and partner is on Instagram, go to work and read emails and hardly talk to a soul, skype conference calls with people you have done business with for years but never had a beer with them.

Work all day, go home, eat dinner and kids would be there back into Facebook and partner may have swapped to Twitter just for something different! Closes the night off watching cable whilst kids play Clash of Clans and partner screams at Candy Crush, all too much for this battle weary lack of love corporate warrior.

So now we get to the point in my blog where I relate this topic to your business, I know you are waiting for it, well drum roll please.

Would guarantee that a few of you reading this will also be shouting at the top of your voices, “Hey Give me some love too!” so I send you a big bear hug, but you won’t be the only ones. Guess who else feels a little lack of affection, you only want me for a dollar and needs the occasional cuddle crew?

Some of our Customers!

Yes kids, if we did a survey and found why customers leave us, I bet we will find its got little to do with better price, or product issues. Its more to do with they didn’t feel love.

They remember the day you first met, when you answered every call, when you sent them, “Hey just want to know you’re Ok” messages (Even though you were really fishing for orders) They remember they had the feeling of special, like they were the only account in town.

Now? They get an invoice, a reminder and often the only call is to ask for them to pay the bill.

So maybe now is a good time to get some action happening, rekindle the spark, start spreading the love. Send an email just to say “Hi” don’t ask for anything ask them how they are. Maybe give them call, ask them for a coffee and then ask them about life. Show some interest for more than their wallets!

They say it cost more money to get a new customer rather than keep an old one so this blog has the added benefit it will save you money how good is that?

The summary? Won’t it be great when your customers don’t scream, “ Gimme Some Lovin ” but start singing to the World “ You to me are Everything ”

The "N" Word

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 05 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT

You have done all the work, had a many a sleepless night, times are a little tough, you have given the presentation of your life, you really need this deal and the next word that comes out of the potential customers' mouth starts with…N. Yep the N word is tough. So what is the N word? NO.

We can hear lots of words that can send shivers up our spine but the NO word has a way of ruining your day, especially if what you need your family, your staff, your investors, suppliers in fact all links in the food chained to hear the word yes.

I don’t really think it’s a word that just gets to us when we have our own business, I don’t think anybody really enjoys hearing the word NO. The thing about NO is that its associated with a lot of pain and suffering from the “Get GO” of life and usually hearing that word meant we were about to lose a chance at not having fun.

As a toddler you would always be reaching for something that was great fun to play with but Mum thought otherwise, and quickly Mum would come out with that NO word. As teenagers when offered the chance to go to some sensational party at the house of the person your Parents always warned you about, NO would quickly change your mood to, “You have no idea how embarrassed I am” NO doesn’t sit well when told the lawn needs mowing rather than sitting with your mates having a beer screaming at the weekends footy match.

So you see “NO” is a word we are conditioned with over the years to associate with, “NO” more fun. So of course when you hear NO as a big grown up its going to have the same effect, the only difference is you not going to kick and scream throw soft toys around a Clients office, slam the door on your way and threaten to “Never speak to you again”

Yes, are all grown up now, so we have to treat the word NO with a little bit more professionalism? So what is my feeling about the word NO.? We’ll let me say three things. 1.Get used to it, not afraid of it.
2.Every person has the right to use two words, Yes and NO.
3.Have an attitude of they may not be saying NO to everything you are presenting.

Think back in time to the moments NO had such an impact on you, I am sure that in a lot of cases with a little bit of negotiating you could get to play with another toy that could do you any harm. That party? Unless it offered the chance of absolute mayhem with a little give and take, agreeing on some terms and conditions often you would get to go. As for the Lawns? I can bet you did them on a Sunday nursing a hangover and a grin from watching your team win the game.

Making a bid, doing a presentation, offering your service in an essence have the same criteria as stuff we were asking permission do when we were kids, and just as it was back then NO can be the first word that will pop out of the parent sorry customers mouth. The secret? Just like back in the day if you really wanted to play with that toy, if you really wanted to go to that party and if the game was a matter of life and death? You had a plan B for that first NO.

So, when the old N word comes along, think of how many times over the years you have turned that into a YES and enjoy the negotiation and if it doesn’t work out? Hey at least you don’t have to go to your room without dinner and you want be banned from playing Xbox! One thing for sure, even though today may have a disappointment, New chances? Like the sun will shine the next day.

The Party's Over, I Guess Will Call It A Day

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT

If you love something throw it away if it comes back it was yours if it doesn’t? Then it was not.

How many times have you been told this when thinking about Love is a many splendored thing? I suppose you’re wondering what has TheCamel blog come to? Has it turned into a Dorothy Dicks help and advice on relationships? Well the truth is this month’s topic is all about “Letting Go”.

I’m not talking about the song from frozen that your kid’s, nieces or nephews drive you mad with whilst sitting in the back of the beloved SUV, I’m talking about letting go of customers or those that are trying to be and I highlight the word “Trying”.

You know the ones I’m talking about, the ones that want everything for nothing, those that want a silk purse whilst paying for a sours ear, the ones that see your time nowhere as valuable as there’s, the ones that only have one word, “Urgent” in there vocabulary, the ones that push and push until your supply of valium runs out and your destined to spend time in exhaustion rehab.

I can find sentence upon sentence to describe these people but my favorite word and one that is a cry for “The Party’s Over” in TheCamel.co™ camp is….TOXIC.

Toxic? If we look it up in the dictionary there is no real nice description for it, overall its listed as poisonous and really bad for your health, well I think that pretty much describes what a Toxic Customer could do to you and your business.

Why am I bringing this up rather than my normal happiness and joy blog? Well to be honest I spend a major part of my day helping people build a customer attraction program business and I lose count how many are screaming “Help Me” with customers both potential and current that are killing them and their business. I often get asked how do I let them go, or should I.

So when is a potential or current customer Toxic? When they are affecting you or your business, when they make it hard to move forward on new things, when you go into cold sweats when you see an email, from them or their number comes up on caller ID. Then sure as the sun rises you have a problem that needs to be dealt with. And I tell you like a cold drink on a hot day your going to feel awesome when you take some action.

Am I saying you have to change your number, leave town or have Jason Bourne visit them? No you can have a nice chat with them explain the situation and draw a line in the sand of behavior they cannot cross.

You have to try that first, as you never know maybe nobody has told this bully that in this school yard? Their behavior is not acceptable. They may then see the light, the evil of their ways and change to a point where they qualify for Sainthood!

But, if they don’t, if they cannot change, if the relationship is toxic and has an impact on you and your business even your health, what do I suggest?

Well climb into the SUV with the kids and start to sing loudly...Let It Go, let it Go.

Have a great day Hugs from TheCamel.

How Many Fingers Behind My Back?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Ok, I’m standing in front of you, I put my hand behind my back and ask you to tell me how many fingers I’m holding up. Now if your name is Superman that’s just way too easy as the good old X-ray vision will take over, and if you’re the famous Las Vegas magician David Copperfield? No problem give me a harder task you will say.

But if you’re just a poor little no super human talent designer from TheCamel.co™ ? It’s going to be a real big guess and most of the time you’re going to be wrong. Let’s pray no money is bet on this mind reading exercise.

But boys and girls it still gets me that every single day our wonderful customers are asking how many fingers they have behind their back when it comes to designing and building a brand spanking new Customer Attraction Program (website to those still stuck back in the day).

I actually asked around the office today, “What is the number one painful part of your day” I was shocked it was not driving to work in traffic, not being paid enough money, no Panadol left in the medicine cabinet for a hangover. No. The number complaint yelled out in unison?
“We are not Mind Readers” and that’s what you have to be to tell people how many fingers they have behind their back!

Is there a miracle you might be asking? Well I’m glad you did, yes folks there is a superpower available for us mere mortals, a tool so powerful it can turn the average day into pure joy and happiness for our designers. What is that Super Power? Where do you get it? Is it hard to find?It’s called a “Design Brief Sheet” and its downloadable form our website, how simple and easy is that, and I’m sure many other zillions of people in the graphics business world have something the same.

Yes, download the little form or in our case we make it easy you can complete it online, click a button and it will automatically be sent to the good old Camel. Fill out all those little boxes, attach the pretty pictures heck you can even give us links to sites that have sent you into rapture and then we can go about creating your masterpiece with no need for therapy or Valium. So please next time you’re about to build a brand new graphically inspired business building Extravaganza, think of the mental health of those that are going to build it for you and fill out that brief form.

You will be happy at the goodness you have done for mankind, then you can take the hand from behind your back and shake the one that has created that awesome first impression.

Enjoy the day and remember no Second Chance on a First Impression.

"Brochures don't sell things, people do."

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Then like a bolt of lightning, the man I admired (and feared) the most - my boss and my mentor - stared at me and screamed from his office, “Come Here!”. Like a little boy ready to meet the principal, I rose from my desk and slithered into his office ready to take the punishment I knew was coming.

He looked me in the eyes, threw a crumpled up brochure on his desked and simple said, “You know what son? Brochures don’t sell things, People Do” he ended that quote with “Now get out of my office and start selling and stop being a representative of Sam the Printer”

He also banned me from the cupboard that contained the brochures. It was scary and tough but I tell you it changed me so fast and I sold more than ever from then on and I enjoyed a great lifestyle all because I stopped the glossy brochure routine and started asking buying questions.

So how does this walk back in history, motivational gem of a story get us back on the subject of websites? Well, your site is a salesperson for your Company, so we have to take a look and ask ourselves: Does it ask buying questions, or is it really just a brochure? Pretty to look at but really people just smile say thank you and walk away until they find another that asks them the, “Do you want to buy today?” question.

Yes, sites have to have a sensational first impression and that is why we design Customer Attraction Program, but looking great at a party doesn’t mean you will be popular! You have to do something, talk to people, ask questions and then you will leave an impression.

So what’s the missing link?

Take a good look at your site right now. Does it look great? Awesome pictures? Shakespeare text? Does it show all your products, services in a fashion that you are proud of? If you a restaurant, does your mouth get all mmmmmm when you look at the menu and the pictures? When your all excited, ready to book or buy is there a button ready and waiting for you to press and instantly like you’re in a trance enter your credit card details?

Is there a Call to Action? As that’s the missing link.

Call me, Buy me, Book me, Find me, Carrier Pidgeon me. Is there one or is there more Call to Actions when you have the buyer or booker ready willing and able to spend cold hard cash?

If the answer is Yes? Well done your website is a Salesman, if the answer is No? Better get rid of the Brochure!

Hugs from T heCamel.co™

Stop Beating Around the Bush and avoid the Waffle

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMT

I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains of ragged mountains ranges of droughts and flooding plains, and I love the fact there is no beating around the bush and no waffle in that great Poem written in 1908 by Dorothea Mackellar (everyone thinks it was Banjo Patterson).

I think every Australian can not only sing Waltzing Matilda (that was written by Banjo) but they can also recite at least one paragraph of that awesome poem. Straight to the point no beating around the bush and with no waffle. Both describe what Australia is truly like and as an Aussie what you miss when you’re far away from the old home land.

So what does, “Beating around the Bush” and “Avoid the Waffle” have to do with a great poem and song? Well, they are also great Australian Icons, typical Australia phrases that tell people to get on with it and get to the point and that is what this month’s blog is about.

Yes folks, when it comes to the front page of your Online Business Presence (website to old schoolers) you have to stop beating around the bush and avoid the waffle! At this stage you’re calling for a translation right?

People are visiting your site for the facts, why they should buy something or book with you. They want to know what is hot and what is not, what are the key benefits of your business, what is the major reason they should search no more and just spend their hard earned cash with you.

It’s not only your customers want to know that, by the way it’s also Google. It still amazes me how much waffle I see text wise on a site and rarely do I see key words or even a business name inserted into the text so Google can find it, no wonder sites have trouble ranking.

So yes your online presence has to be an awesome first impression but your content also needs to have a wiggle in its walk!

So how to avoid beating around the bush and too much waffle? Think about the Old Elevator Pitch. Yes, I know it’s an old school technique but it works. Imagine you’re in an elevator and the customer you have always wanted to get, the food critic you have always wanted to eat at your restaurant or bar, that famous celebrity you wish would walk into your store take a Selfie and you could Facebook your way to fame. Now? You have a few floors of, “Going Up” to impress them on why they should visit your business.

What would you tell them, what excitement would you share, and what facts would you bare?

Well those words of wisdom contain the secret sauce of what content should be on the front page of that first web impression. So write that elevator pitch down, read through it, clear away the bush and the waffle and not only will customers love you more, but so will Google.

Enjoy the day and remember, No Second Chance on a First Impression.

Hugs from The Camel

Websites and Social Media Who needs them? Everybody, silly question!

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

In this day and age, you would think the title says it all and any other words in this blog are a waste of time, as every business needs to have a website and seeing as 800 Million are on Social Media? One way or another you would be pretty safe to say that your communication with Customers also needs you to get involved in Social Media. So I should shut up, all is right with the world? If I go to your Business website it’s all up to date? Works awesome on Mobile and it’s all about Call to Action. Your Social Media pages? Wow the ink is still dry on the post you put up this morning and the tweets are chirping? Instagram proudly show pictures from your latest events and not a silly selfie to be seen? Ok at this stage its ok if your shuffling paper and feeling uncomfortable as you know your website is a disaster and the last post you made on Facebook was Happy New Year. Why is it ok? Well you’re in the Company of many. Yes more than 70% of the world has a website that’s not been updated in a while graphically let alone working on Mobile or Tablet and as for Social Media? They still think. “Like” is mainly for the latest posts of your kids, holiday snaps and the awesome motivation picture or silly video you found on a friends page. The other side of the coin, the group that get it that the world has changed 360 degrees this past two years? Wow they have the latest and greatest dynamic websites that have promotions, call to action post and are treating them like a Customer Attraction Machine and that’s exactly what the website is doing, “Attracting Customers” That group there Social Media is buzzing with the 30/60/10 postings. 30% Owned content, 60% Curated and 10% Promotional, yep you don't want see nonstop nothing on those pages. Have I been tough enough? Yes folks this month’s blog was not my usual Flowers and Chocolates, it was more like Rocks and Roses! Frankly, I hear a tune each day that I get a little sick of. That tune goes along the lines of, “My Website doesn’t rank on Google” the Chorus then goes to, “I am getting no business from this site”. Well that fact is? You get what you work for! A nd if you're not using your website as a Customer Attraction Program, not changing promotions often, not updating, not having any call to action. If you’re Social Media Pages are like a desert when it comes to new posts, if they have comments that are nasty as you never check it, if you have enquiries that you never answer? Well, your lack of attention is getting you the same in return. NO Customer Attention. But there is hope, repent and get on it today, right now. Change that website update that Facebook Page, Tweet away and sooner than later all will be right with the world. Enjoy the day and remember no Second Chance on a First Impression Hugs from TheCamel.co™

The Sky Is Falling

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

There was a story I heard when I was a child about a chicken that believes the sky is falling when an acorn falls on its head. The chicken decides to tell the King and on its journey meets other animals (mostly other birds) which join it in the quest. Now this story is told many ways and there are many endings but the one I heard? A fox invites them to its lair and there eats them all. The moral of the story? Well it’s interpreted as a warning not to be a chicken, have courage and don’t believe everything you’re told, or make sure you stay away from Foxes! Back in 1999 there was a “Sky is Falling” moment in our lives and it was called Y2K. We were told that when the clock strikesmidnight on New Year’s Eve the world as we know it technology wise will collapse. Computers all over the world would go haywire, all sorts of Armageddon type stuff would be upon us and the data we thought was safe would be eaten by the nearest fox. Well the clock struck midnight and what happened? Nothing. But along the way, wow did people make money selling stuff that would save you from the perils of the fox. Now we have a new version of story that’s making us all run around like Chickens with our heads chopped off and this one we give thanks to Google. This Chicken Little moment is being called “The end of the world for all your google rankings”. Yes, if your website is not Mobilised by the 21st of April, boom you will go crashing down in flames and fall into the abyss of page 3 to 5 million in a Google search, OH NO we cry. Just like Y2K you have people running around all over the place trying to sell you things to make sure this calamity does not happen to you, they scream, “The Sky is Falling” we will save you, for a price. Ok, let me be honest this is only partially a fairy tale, it is true that Google is changing its algorithm and you need to be Mobile but hello it’s not the end of the world unless you’re one of the lucky (like Jackpot one in a zillion lucky) few that make it front page without paying for it. So yes you need to get your site Mobile but to be honest with you there is a few more things you need to do as well that will help more than paying a bespeckled SEO black/white/grey/red hat. You need to have a sensational first impression website, you need to have updated monthly promotions or special offers on that site, you need to advertise and promote that site in your business so you educate customers to look at it and you need to update it more than each turn of the Century! Do those things? And I can promise you the sky won’t fall and Foxes won’t bite you. Now sweet dreams, I hope you enjoyed the story. Don’t let the bed bugs bite. Enjoy the day and remember: No Second Chance on a First Impression. Hugs from TheCamel. co ™

Mobile has changed everything, have you?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

The Year is 2002 just a mere 12 years ago. President Bush has just given the order to invade Afghanistan, The Euro was launched, Brazil wins the World Cup, and Red Hot Chili Peppers are huge in Music. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linked In are not around yet, neither are Ipads and Android is still a Machine in a Sci Fi Movie. And wow NTT Docomo launches the first Mobile Broadband Network offering the massive speed of 200kibits a second. Fast forward a mere 12 years later? President Bush has a Museum, Brazil lost the World Cup some guy named Bieber is cool and the World is obsessed with KK’s bum! 850 Million People are into FB Likes, Twitter Tweets and Linked In is now your resume to update. As for Broadband? Well now you can get 5Mbits a second using 4g whilst you’re walking down the street. In 2002, Print Media was still huge, business filled Magazines, and Newspapers even Local Newsletters with advertising. Local Business flooded our letterbox with flyers and special offers “Junk Mail” was the reading of choice when you were sitting on the Toilet! In 2014? Print Media is struggling, advertising floods our phones, push offers flash before our eyes depending on our geolocation, text messages say we have won a zillion dollars they just need your banking details! And Ipads and Tablets now are the reader of choice when sitting in the smallest room in the house! Yep, Mobile has changed everything, have you? The Big Guys with stacks of cash have gotten with the program and now run all things Mobile. Yes they have had the financial capacity to take advantage of all these new and flash goodies to make sure they are at the forefront of the customer’s eyes and ears in the fast paces mobile age. Unfair you might be screaming, wish I had the cash for that. Well folks let me share with you another wonderful fact about technology as the years from 2002 till 2014 have flashed by. That incredible Technology that’s been the hunting grounds of only the rich and famous? Well it got cheaper, and it became linked to another term that was not around in 2002 that term is, “Open Source” Open Source opened the padlocked doors of Technological Advancements to the little guys, giving us the opportunity to do just what the big guys do, yes Mobile has changed so much but now more than ever we have the chance to grab hold of that change and make major differences to our Business. But sadly let me share another statistic with you, with all this great stuff ready and waiting to launch your possible corner shop into the stratosphere? Less than 10% of Small to Medium Business is Mobile, so 90% are still stuck back in 2002. Well, TheCamel.co™ is on a mission to change all that. Our Trilogy Customer Attraction Program has all the features and facilities to make sure that your business can not only catch up to 2014, but rocket way past it. Twice a month we will be sending out our blog to you on how you can take advantage of all the incredible new opportunities the Mobile World can offer you and your business and how they can be used to make sure of a couple of really important points.

How to Attract New Customers
How to keep them.

And last time I checked these two points are what it’s all about, and that hasn’t changed in the last 12 years, in fact that hasn’t changed since they sold the first wheel! We look forward to sharing more exciting news on how we can help you and your business in our next TheCamel.co™ Blog Enjoy the day and remember “No Second Chance on a First Impression”, Get Multi Screen! Hugs from TheCamel. co ™

With Mobile The Margin of Error? Is a matter of Inches!

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Because in either game – life or football – the margin for error is so small. I mean, one half a step too late or too early and you don’t quite make it. One half second too slow, too fast and you don’t quite catch it. Al Pacino. Any Given Sunday Or a simpler version from Get Smart the TV Series. “Missed it by that Much” Yes folks the margin of error when trying to get your Company message across a Mobile screen is a matter of inches and you could miss it by “That Much” Why? Well frankly you only have a small amount of real estate on a mobile so you best focus on what’s important and what’s not, sadly a huge percentage miss the mark. People still don’t get it, you still have the main focus on 26 inches rather than 5, still thinking that all that Wikipedia information that only take a “little” room on the desktop is going to swallow a “Lot” of room on a Mobile Phone. Still not understanding that those sensational right across the screen images of the glitzy corporate foyer and sexy hammer models are not going be bothered with by the no patience Mobile, “I’m ready for Action” Searcher. Yes the margin of error in your Website Presence in this wonderful age is a matter of Inches. So the new buzz words that will assist you? “Dynamic Content” Wow sounds like a label on a new soap powder doesn’t it? You see after the dust has almost settled on the pros and cons of Responsive versus Dedicated mobile and Dynamic Content has risen as the design process you now use to make sure you win that game of inches. Responsive although showing a mobile view was still just a shrunk down version of what the big screen viewers were seeing, so you had the problem of really just keeping the stone age web builders in business! A dedicated Mobile site was really good and every Tom Dick and Harry with zero design experience but heaps of selling prowess was in the market to help you. But the problem became the opposite when tablet and desktop users wanted to play, they were all reaching for the reading glasses or using the long arm view. So along comes the Super Hero of Website design, ‘Dynamic Content” wow. So what is this super power that will save the world and take away the need to lose that Glamour Look by hanging reading glasses around your neck! Dynamic Content allows one website that caters for all inches, I can hear the scream from the Glitzy Web Builders office now, “Hello that’s responsive” ha ha we win. Well sorry it’s not, and you Mobile boy’s best go back to selling used cars. Dynamic Content gives the Big Screen Boys and Girls all that wonderful but sometimes useless information, flash and pretty pictures they sit up at nightime and read (Most Companies when designing a site think that happens) But when it comes to those that use the tablet as the weapon of choice for the Google dance? Tablet Content can be totally adjusted so the viewer only gets to see what’s important to them which is usually a loss of the Wikipedia info and some of the close up pictures of the shiny floors of a showroom or the model trying to make a hammer look sexy! When we get down to a Mobile Look? Well it’s all about, Call to Action” so you will most likely just see a logo, sexy background and the get to the point info with a call to action button asking that cheeky scary question, “Buy now” Which by the way? Is really what 80% of Mobile searchers really want to see. So in this Website Game we play, what are the Inches? 26, 10 and 5. Desktop, Tablet and Mobile and with Dynamic Content? You can arrange the players so you have a better chance of winning the Secure the Customer Game! Enjoy the day and remember no Second Chance on a First Impression, Get Mobile Hugs from TheCamel.co™

The Dog Chasing Its Tail only Digs a Bigger Circle

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Strange title you may be thinking, well I thought about it for hours and it was the best description of what I want to cover in this blog, so what has a dog chasing its tail got to do with Dynamic Content Customer Attraction Programs or as some old schoolers refer to them as, “Websites” So glad you asked that question LOL. Well when I’m having a build conversation with some clients I quite often get to a point where I sip my frothy cappuccino and start staring in the distance and vision a crazy puppy running around in Circles trying to catch its tail and all its doing is just digging a big circle hole, and often the puppy looks a lot like the client I’m talking to. They will be telling me, “I really need this look” or I really need this picture, I really need this text, I really need this information, I really need all this stuff as it’s important to, “ME” Can you see the circle starting to build under the lovely and cosy swivel chair? Yes, the new Customer Attraction Program is being driven by the desire of, “I” and “ME” no mention whatsoever about, “THEM” and who is them you maybe asking? Well THEM is a very important part of any business, them are customers new and old, and they don’t run around in circles when seeking to eat, sleep, drink, buy they run full steam ahead on a mission to secure there prize. The circle is a problem with a lot of business owners when designing a new site, they really need to bury a little ego and self-promotion and get more into selling the Sizzle of The Business, focusing on what is going to drive customers Straight to their door rather than straight ahead to someone else. So how do we stop the running around in circles and digging a hole, how to make sure we are not being driven by, “I and ME” attitudes when looking at how our brand spanking new dynamic content suite should make those potential customers be like little tail wagging puppies when they see it. We should be driven by “WOW” or What Others Want, that’s the way to design a site and at TheCamel.co™, we are WOW experts! Enjoy the day and remember no Second Chance on a First Impression. Hugs from TheCamel. co ™

Comfortable Threesome

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Ha Ha got you with the title, I bet you thought this would be a blog about some raunchy night in some down and out Hotel! Well sorry to disappoint you, but this is about a threesome for your business. The Threesome your customers use to look for your sign that you’re open for business, The Laptop, Tablet and Mobile Smartphone, or as I now call them, “The Trilogy” Yes I have fought long and hard and been a real no way but Mobile Phone man for a long time now, I have written blog after blog on my thought on this but guys and gals I am here to repent, “I have seeeeen the Light! Studying day and night I discovered a bunch of statistics and as I am a great believer in Math I find these stats don’t lie! I have now seen my wayward ways, repented and behold I see the “Trilogy” You see when dear potential customers start the search for a place to eat, things to wear, a bed to sleep, a car to drive they don’t just reach for the joined to the hip Mobile Phone. No they use whatever is closest, and that depends on where they are at the time. In the Office it’s the desktop or laptop, in the car and walking around it’s the Smartphone and in the comfort of the home relaxing on the couch? It’s the Tablet. Yep, to get to our customers, to show them what we have, to promote to them we need to take the “Trilogy” into account. Consistency is another thing these potential customers also look for. They want the experience they start with no matter what the device, to be consistent, sort of like when you fold the page in a book your reading so you can pick up where you left off. No need to think, “Where was I” So, whilst some are screaming you need to be responsive or you need to be dedicated, while some are saying you need a desktop and a mobile strategy, while they are saying that I’m saying you need to have a threesome, you need to service the trilogy. One site that looks and operates seamlessly on all three devices, one site that is a call to action, one site that is focused on marketing to a moving and fast paced generation, one site that will consistently get your message across all three devices. What site is that? Well The Camel just happened to develop one and it’s called, “Trilogy” a threesome your business will really enjoy! Enjoy the day and remember no Second Chance on a First Impression, so your website? Sexy it UP! Hugs from TheCamel.co™

Mobile Users Don’t READ they ACT

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

If one thing drives me and my crew of Sexy Site Builders crazy what would it be? Customers that won’t listen to us, to reason, to facts, to statistics. What is it they won’t listen to? Forget about all the stuff that you think is important, “Mobile Users don’t read, they act. No matter how we try it’s a never going to win battle with so many, they still want pages and pages, did I say “PAGES” of information, facts and figures, specifications, DNA, Results of their High School exams. Heck I think some would put there full family tree on the site if you let them. Yes, we tell them that a lot has changed over the past years, people now have an aversion to stuff they don’t want to know about so your Mobile site better get straight to the point or its going to be game over and as soon as you can say, “Next” Potential customers will change to disgruntled searcher. Times have changed and when that trumpet roars and a prospect arrives on your Mobile site and they are looking for a place to stay, a steak to eat, a beer to drink, a shoe to fit, a dress to impress, a car to drive, a plane to catch you better have just what they are looking for at the touch of ONE button or I promise you that will be all over faster than the referee can count to ten. So let me try one more time. When designing a Mobile website remember, “Less is Best” shy away from the need to compete with Encyclopaedia Britannica or winning a Guinness record for the most amount of useless information. Sit back, find a nice clean sheet of A4 Paper and Pen, or a Tablet that pretends to be paper and ask yourself what you would want to know if you were looking to buy an outfit, have dinner or go on a holiday. I can guarantee it will be simple stuff like, are they close by to where you are or where you want to be, do they have what you want, in the right colour or size, how much is it, do they have pictures, has anybody else raved about the place, how do you contact them. Let me see? That makes around 6 buttons you will need on a Mobile site, not 465. When you have completed the task, turn the nice white but scribbled on page over (or refresh the TAB) and ask the same question of your business and write down the answers. Guess what you have just done? Created your new Mobile Site with buttons that will make people act not information that will put them to sleep. Enjoy the day and remember no Second Chance on a First Impression, Get Mobile Hugs from TheCamel.co™

The Silence of Big Empty Houses

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Big Empty Houses they make look absolutely magnificent on the outside as you drive up those long driveways with stones that go crackle crackle under your car tyres (Well in the Movies it’s like that) As you step up to the huge double front doors and insert the key you can hear the tumblers turn and a echoing, you feel a creaking as the door opens.

Once inside you walk across the polished wooden floors and each step is like a team of dancers are following you, you look around and all you see is space and you have to use your imagination on where you could place your favourite sofa, where’s the closest plug for that lamp that shines a light for all to see.

Yes a Big House may look grand, but with no furniture, no people, no cat or dog, kids, The House? Is Silent.

Is your website really just a Big Empty House?

Ha ha you were wondering when I would get to the story behind this blog huh?

Big Huge Websites with no real content, no comfy sofa, are oh so silent as nobody visits them. You have to open up the doors and windows, spruce the place up a bit, fill the place with joy and laughter make it interesting, throw yourself a “Web Warming” party, make your site an Open house!

Building the website in all its glory is not going to do it, that’s just a big empty house so to make sure it doesn’t become silent, what are we going to do? Well I’m glad you asked that question and the answer is? SEO, or we can use its proper term, Search Engine Optimisation.

Why do you need SEO? Well without it you end up in the biggest house with the most silence and that house lives on page 2, 3 and 10,000 of Google!

If you’re going to fill your big house website up, to avoid moving to page 2 or 3 street of Google and the dreaded sounds of silence what do you need to do? What are the Comfy Sofa, Cat, Dog or kids you need?

Blogs, Back links, News, Social Media, Meta Tags, Keywords yep get the big SEO moving truck to load up with these and arrive at your front door and start filling that big old website up with action and then the sounds of silence? Will be replaced with a deafening ROAR.

Unless you want to have a bad back lifting all the furniture yourself? You may want to look at getting a professional SEO moving Company to help you, let them do the heavy lifting and you just take care of your new house guests.

Enjoy the day and remember no Second Chance on a First Impression, so your website? Sexy it UP!

Hugs from T heCamel.co™

I Need to Hire More Mind Readers

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

“If you could read my mind love, what a tale my thoughts could tell.” – Gordon Lightfoot Great song actually, but it does bring up a very good point, how many people in your life expect you to be a, “Mind Reader”? Who are these people? Well they are easy to identify. They use words like, Logical and Obvious. They often say things like, “It’s just common sense” or “It stands out like dogs balls”, and the biggies “You didn’t follow my feelings” and “I shouldn’t have to explain” Yes these words, and sentences have sent many of us on the path of self-meltdown, words and sentences uttered by wives to husbands, children to parents, teachers to students and in our case? Customers to Website Designers! I have watched grown men and women who have spent years earning a degree in Graphic design become sweating, grovelling fools when these words and sentences have been uttered. I have seen Companies close to the financial brink of disaster as projects driven by these famous words, “You should know what I mean” suck the very life force out of a design team and management. In the end, I lay down upon the ground, I am joined hand in hand by what used to be confident and talented people now just red bull driven nervous wrecks, We all join in a group hug and reach to the sky and proclaim to the customers, “We are not bloody Mind readers! But we are expected to be, and then when timelines are missed, projects have dragged on all money in the budget has been spent? The dear customer that has created Design Armageddon wants to find another crew that, “Understands what they want” How do we fix this potential Psychotic episode? Well it’s a simple thing called a “Brief” and it’s accompanied by a little task called a ”Sign Off”. A lovely document with questions that require a mandatory answer, that must be accompanied with pictures or drawings that words cannot explain. All those little, “Do Ya Feel me” moments rather than, “This is what I mean” will guarantee that Valium is not needed as part of the daily diet of a web designer. To make it easy let me use the tune that’s very popular at the moment, “It’s all about the Bass” just change the words keep the tune. Change the words to, “It’s all about the brief, ‘bout the Brief, NO trouble”. So Happy singing and happy site building, as that tune will keep you and your crew far away from Happy Holidays Home for the Designer Insane! Enjoy the day and remember no Second Chance on a First Impression, Get Multi-Screen. Hugs from T heCamel.co™

Is Online Shopping the Dottie for Retail?

info@thecamel.co (The Camel ) — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 00:00:00 GMT

Ali Baba the Online Giant at 25 Billion US Dollars was the largest IPO in the history of mankind, yes a Company that employees 22,000 people mostly in China, delivers over 10 million products per day, has sales in excess of a billion dollars a day, but? Has no retail space and employs no Pimple faced Salespeople.
Well, if you have pimples and your goal in life was to sit around from 9-5 waiting for Mr or Ms Customer to walk through the doors of a Mega Mall, and then you assist them to stuff those shopping bags like a turkey on Thanksgiving? Maybe you need to learn Online Customer Support , why? Online Shopping just might be the “Dottie” of retail! Yes folks, with credit card in hand our precious customers can now shop to their hearts content day and night in the comfort of their own home for almost anything their little fingers pushing a mouse can find. No parking jerks to worry about, no traffic to get frustrated about, no need to look in the mirror to check the way you’re dressed. You can be sitting in your PJ’s or naked if you like and grab that little plastic sucker from any bank and scream at the top of your lungs, “Add to Shopping Cart” No need to worry about sizes and fit either as when its convenient just hop into that local super mall and try on those shoes, those skinny jeans or other stuff on, never mind buying it as joy oh joy you can save a few bucks when you rush back home put on the slippers sip on a latte and, “Click and buy” All sounds so perfect doesn’t it? But hang on there is more. Not only can you have the joy of no fuss Pjama shopping, but according to the emails and Facebook online ads? There is a zillion dollars to be made if you open your own online store. Wow how’s that for a set of Steaknives? So not only can you join the 10 Million++ a day that shop on Ali Baba? You can also be one of the millions of people offering to sell the same products as Ali Baba, how good is that! Yes again with that trusty little credit card you can go online and build your very own online store and be in business with drop shipped items in a jiffy. You might be thinking at this stage why I gave this blog the title of, “Is Online Shopping the Dottie for Retail” How can I compare the dominance of Online Retail to a vicious life-sucking bitch from which there is no escape? Well, China has a workforce of over 750 Million and only 22,000 people in China work for Ali Baba, and they are selling and delivering all those products online, the big question in a couple of years? Where is the Pimple Faced Shop Assistant going to get a job? I think maybe they should also learn how to drive a Delivery Van! Enjoy the day and remember no Second Chance on a First Impression, Get Multi-Screen. Hugs from TheCamel.co™