How Good Is Your Survey?

by Michael Keane

Have you ever taken a survey and the right question wasn’t asked mainly because it entailed a third party product or service? I’ve recently been asked to fill out a few and I’m seeing a big gap and opportunity for building a better survey. That area opportunity is that each company can get a customer’s feel on how other companies products are experienced. Generally, most companies create surveys on just their own products. Hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. have a massive opportunity in looking more in depth at the different products that they agree to sell or use to create the best customer experience.

One grand example is the hotel industry. The hotel industry is one where most of the products are from third party vendors. In the surveys I have received after a stay, rarely is there a specific question on a product or service from a third party vendor. At best, there is a catch all question at the end. With third party vendors’ products being so intricate in a customer’s experience, the hotel industry would do better with more in depth surveys being produced. .

Restaurants are another field that can improve on their surveys. Questions on the food can include where it came from, how it was treated and how it got to the restaurant. Questions on the furniture, seating process, and payment process should also be explored. There is a multitude of vendors and food providers that are looking for feedback on their product or service.

There is also a big opportunity in terms of revenue for these companies. With having the ability to affect the nature of the consumer market as well as non-direct vendor markets. By simply charging a fee to include other companies products on their surveys, a new and large revenue stream is created. Another stream of revenue that can be enhanced is the pricing that each vendor pays in order to have access to the host company’s customer base.

This type of enhanced survey will also give insight into whether or not a product or service should be kept or ended. Third party vendors will be continuously motivated to make sure their products and services stay in front of the host company’s customer base.  Including the third party survey will help do that.

Many good results can be had by opening up surveys to products and services of third party vendors. Companies in the service industry are well motivated to do so. There are opportunities to increase revenue, provide better services, and improve their image within their own customer market. The wrong survey might not hurt the business. But the right, informed survey can improve customer retainment and continued business success.

Bullied Comics release

Friends,

Today, with the help of Mascot Books, the first edition of Bullied Comics is now on sale for only $8.00!!! It is for sale on Amazon, and Barnes and Noble in an eBook version.

If you are looking for a reason to purchase a copy, here are a few:

- This is the beginning of an improving and exciting storyline that will help all kids with bullying. You can cement yourself as a part of pioneering this project forward.

- A portion of the sale of each purchase (not just profits)  will go to PACER's anti-bully center. They do an amazing job and deserve as much help as we can give.

- Each copy is only $8.00. There aren't too many other things that will provide as much value for this price.

- The author Dan Keane has a passion for this issue like no other. He is fully committed to improving kids lives through this comic.

- Dan's artwork is second to none.

Don't forget to tweet and Facebook message (tagging @bulliedcomics) that you made the purchase. It will create momentum and a random tweet will be chosen on November 1st and the winner will receive a free T-shirt from Bullied Comics and KeaneVCC. Make sure and visit Bullied Comics Facebook, Twitter and email (bulliedcomics@gmail.com). We are always looking for new partners and development help.

As always, thanks to all who made this moment possible.

Mike

Massive Influence of Wikinomics Series

by Michael Keane

Recently, I revisited Macrowikinomics, by Dan Tascott and Anthony Williams. This book was written in 2010, as a follow up to the successful 2006 book Wikinomics. They speak about how to get the world rolling again after the crash using massive upheaval techniques in specific areas including Finance, Industrialization Processes, Education, Healthcare, Media and Communication, and the public's involvement and manipulation of government. I originally picked up the book years ago as notes were given by many important heads of business and government including Mark Parker (Nike), Eric Schmidt (Google), Noel Tichy (University of Michigan), Klaus Schwab (World Economic Forum), and others. With a recent revisit to the book and think back through the development of business processes, it seems that a lot of people took this book to heart. There is massive development in almost all areas covered in this book either by existing companies/organizations at the time, or by newly created businesses/organizations. The one element that seems to be evident in most of the improvement is that there is a high level of collaboration (vertical or horizontal) within each space.

Is there something in your business that corresponds with this collaboration thought pattern. Would using technology and collaboration have a disruption within your industry in some way. Would a small change create the possibility for an even larger change?

I fully recommend MacroWikinomics. There is a new book on blockchain that will be on the list of books to check out. Bankers beware. You are next in the line of disruptors.

This is an opinion article. The opinions were fully unsolicited. Please do your own due diligence before acting on this article.

July View Report over 1,000 views (Ford, Elon Musk, Bank of America, more)

There were over 1,000 views of KeaneVCC and partners posts during the month of July. This is the most ever had. The simple reason is that popular topics with thoughtful analysis is happening for these posts. The quality of the ad placement through Google Adsense is also improving as the views are increasing.

Some of the popular posts are below

 - From KeaneVCC

1) Thoughts on Musk's "Master Plan" (link here)

2) Charity Heroes (ALS Version) (link here)

- From KDK Fund

1) Additional Shares of Ford Purchased (link here)

-From KDK Options

1) BAC Call Trade Now Profitable (link here)


**As always, this blog is to be read as opinion. Please do your due diligence before acting on any information read here.**

Positive Movement On Veteran Homelessness

by Michael Keane

This story from the Huffington Post (link here) came up. While I am sure the numbers are not as good or as bad as said, there is positive movement towards lessening veteran homelessness. This story should be looked on as an opportunity to continue this movement. Give a call to your congressperson, or local pol that helps with homelessness. I know I will.

 Per disclosure, I am a former Marine.

**As always, this blog is to be read as opinion. Please do your due diligence before acting on any information read here.**

Thoughts on Elon Musk's "Master Plan"

by Michael Keane

Some people have been heavily questioning the “Master Plan” of having all electric vehicles including large trucks created by Elon Musk. But there might be a misconception within that “questioning” thought pattern. For one,  notoriety might not matter to Musk. It may not be that Musk is looking to be the sole or primary supplier of the vehicles. He might know of other companies working on the issue and feels his vocal support of the project will give the industry a boost.  Ultimately, though, this is only a part of his master plan. It is well known that his true master plan is to see humans get to Mars and that means fuel.

Mr. Musk has clearly and regularly shown his indifference towards others opinions of him and his strategies. Part of the reason is that he understands that he is going after some seriously large issues and knows that a straight line to success is laughable but also that success is attainable. When you look at his history, it is full of both successes and failures. But there is always progress. When the project is successful, the progress is paradigm changing. A great early example is Paypal. Even when there is a failure (think projects for Tesla and SpaceX), there is still progress.

There are many small companies doing great work on creating this reality. But because of uncertainties, some companies are nervous about their own sustainability. Hearing positive comments and support from Mr. Musk gives a sense of inspiration to continue the hard work of innovation that currently going on in this space.

Environmentally speaking, there are few people that are driving the needle forward in getting the rest of us off of fossil fuels. This master plan seems to be the next step in the process. If you could have this as your legacy, wouldn’t you try and do the same. At the very least, we should be out in the marketplace supporting these missions in any way possible. This article is one of those ways.

With all of that said, the main master plan is what is probably driving all other master plans of Mr. Musk. Getting humanity to Mars is not easy. Especially from a private citizen like Mr. Musk. It is really something that he and his team are not afraid to take on other master plans in order to succeed in the Mars master plan. They have found success in driving down rocket costs and fuel is one major component of that plan.

Moving the process of electric vehicles is one major goal of Elon Musk. His announcement of the master plan for it undoubtedly will move the process forward. Will it end up exactly how his master plan expects? Probably not. But it will probably be darn close. It will probably be even better as now more people and visions will influence and be influenced by the announcement. Now is a great time to get that electric vehicle idea out and worked on!

Per disclosure, KeaneVCC’s partner KDK Fund owns shares of Ford. KeaneVCC has also recently written blog posts on the effects of the electric vehicle on the insurance, oil, and local taxing authority areas. You can find the link here.     

Charity Heroes (ALS Version)

by Michael Keane

Have you heard the recent news in the fight against ALS? The link to the story is here.

We at Keane Venture Capital and Consulting would like to assist in driving forward more heroes like the ones in the story above. Do you know of any doctors, researchers, fundraisers, and those fighting for lives?

Let's make sure they are the ones getting thousands of follows and retweets about their progress. The more we can put a focus on these individuals and organizations, the quicker we all will succeed.

Today's hero is John Landers, PhD. Great job!