(Not so) Lazy Sunday Post: Cultivating Fans

My family ADORES Cook Out- a relatively regional favorite driveup (mostly) hamburger joint.

It quickly replaced the one from my youth- Central Park (although no place will EVER top their fries!)

Cook Out is justifiably a favorite with many people because of their low prices, quick service, and good food.

Why am I talking about Cook Out? As mentioned before, they have killer customer service. I stopped recently after work one night to pick up five of their combos. The combos are another story. For $4.25, you can have their "entree item" plus two side items and a drink! Seriously.

They delivered EVERYTHING in a five meal order, correctly I might add, in less than 10 minutes through the driveup.

This type of service coupled with a GREAT product has produced some RELIGIOUS fans! Just look at Cookout on Facebook. 65 thousand fans without anything on the page!

And if that wasn't enough, there are competing fan websites out there:

http://www.cookoutnc.com/index.php

and

http://eatcookout.com

Fans have put up websites that rank tops on Google if you search for Cook Out. That's devotion. The company still does not have its own website even though it has franchises in 75 cities. Not bad for a company that is barely 20 years old!

Here is a great little review to illustrate the deal with Cookout.

Now, why do I mention them? This is how you cultivate fans isn't it? Especially such devoted fans. Good service and good product. Provide those in hamburger slinging or any business and you will get some fans.

Slow Death or Rebirth for Myspace?

Are we really watching the slow inevitable death of Myspace? With the integration with Facebook complete and the push towards what appears to be a mobile only function , isn't it time to call this one? One report says that Myspace is making $200 million less this year. They are functionally giving up on Myspace Music , which was always their bread and butter. Without the music tie in, why would people BOTHER with Myspace? I'm talking about it because my wife's band has used every medium known to mankind to promote themselves online and Myspace has been nothing but dead weight from the very beginning. Only bands and their most ardent fans go there. The rest are on Facebook. There is talk of selling Myspace, but who in their right mind would consider it? This will have some interesting implications for bands down the road. Many use Myspace as their de facto website, just pushing their domain name onto the customizable site. Now apparently, Reverbnation , a North Carolin

Check out my appearance on the The Toddcast Podcast

Click and watch the podcast recording of my appearance on the Toddcast Podcast Such a fun time!

New Life

It's weird, sad and slightly freeing. I've been headed towards a completely different life for a lot longer than I even knew. It took me a while to catch up to realize it was happening. Thankfully, I was cognizant enough to see it finally and mostly ready for it. It's amazing when you have the rug completely pulled out from underneath you. The adjustments are jarring. I made mistakes, but like most I learned from them, adapted, and tried my best to do better. The reason you see that truck next to a storage place? That's the sum of my life right now. Never take for granted that you will work hard for something or someone, and it will end up meaning very little. You are guaranteed nothing, owed nothing, promised nothing. Anything and everything can be taken away in a heartbeat. I wrote this to my kids a while back: I tried to be the best father I could be based on what I knew when I knew it and how I could. One of the lessons for your life needs to be: you need to b

Todd Lyden

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