Knowledge Is Power So Why Stop Learning?

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER SO WHY STOP LEARNING?

Chris Kell 28th August 2008

Recently we decided to expand our account management team and advertised on various job websites. Obviously this led to the inevitable 1,000 calls from recruitment consultants all telling me they had the best candidates, despite the fact the advert stated Strictly no recruitment agents...

Anyway, that moan aside, we received a large amount of CV's and whittled this down to about 7 or 8 for interview. Following these interviews, most were immediate no's for one reason or another so I contacted them via email to thank them for their interest and wish them the best of luck. Interestingly, not one of these people emailed or called me to ask for any feedback on WHY they were unsuccessful. Busy though I am, I would have happily provided this feedback and explained, for example in one case, that saying the job appeals because you're looking for an easy life really doesn't sell you very well.

Inquisitive by nature I have always asked for feedback if unsuccessful, from interviews throughout my career, to pitching on website projects. Why walk away not even understanding the decision making process? I find it astounding that so many are happy to go away and make the same mistakes again rather than asking a few simple questions to understand where they went wrong. If I don't win a website project, I want to know why so that next time, I'm even better prepared.

In the same way, six months ago we started sending out customer comment cards with all invoices. Who better to tell you how you're doing than your customers? Many clients have taken the time to complete and send back the form and we learn from this feedback. Good feedback confirms where our main strengths are, poor feedback gives us a welcome kick to make changes or improve in certain areas so that next time, that feedback is good too.

Moving offices this week means that the reply cards we haven't used will be sent for recycling but rest assured, this is something we'll continue to do once we have our new stationery printed - why stop learning?

Notes and Queries...

I totally agree with this Chris. Feedback from interviewers is vital as you are being evaluated by someone who is completely objective and can therefore provide you with an honest, unbiased response.

Leana 28th August 2008

OTHER ARTICLES

THINK TANK

Digital Agencies Likely to be in Demand in 09
Why digital channels are bucking the downward trends in the wider economy, and how digital agencies will be looking to profit from the growth in this sector
What if Google just shut up shop?
Chris has a ponder about what would happen if Google just vanished tomorrow - and what it would mean for businesses.
Flash Websites And Google - The Lowdown
Piper takes a stroll through Google's treatment of Flash, and what it could mean for your website rankings
How legal is your website?
Doug takes a look at the legalities of owning and running a website and the perils and pitfalls that await the unwary.
Beyond SEO: Online Advertising and Google in 2009
How Google's total ownership of the search market and increasing self-promotion at the expense of the rest of the web is making savvy online operators look at other promotional options.
HTML Emails & Outlook 2007
Coding an HTML email is fairly straight forward, getting it to display correctly in Outlook 2007 is another story, it's a bit like using really simple language when talking to someone who doesn't understand English very well...
Canonical Domains, HTTPS, and Sundry Malarkey of a Geek Nature
How unwary site owners or developers can fall foul of Google's use of 'canonical domains' for its rankings, and the kind of strategies you need to deploy to counter any such problems.
“Cloaking” Content for SEO (Or What Happens When Your SEO Company Isn’t Telling What They’re Up To)
How we've caught another SEO agency playing dangerous games with a client's website and why it is no basis for a long-term internet marketing strategy

How to Reindex Your Website Quickly in a Search Engine
"I think you are right Paul about reindexing. Effectively, good links are the first step to this goal. I have the same problem with this value site: http://www.referencefatburner.com/"
Georges Junior
How to Reindex Your Website Quickly in a Search Engine
"Let's see if this helps with the problem i have been having. http://www.atomsolutions.org Sorry for spamming site"
Adam
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) - No Secrets. No Mystery.
" Hi everyone, starting, or have a small business? and want more customers? check out http://adwido.com a free site for uploading video ads for your business,they also have image uploads. The more sites you can link to the greater your market will be. They have a free link exchange as well. Don't get left behind, check us out for more info."
Brian
What Makes a Good E-Commerce Website?
"Great Article Zoe"
Rob Abdul Exommerce Expert
Why is Content So Central to SEO?
"I have used this nifty tool before with this current site: http://www.floridamlsconnct.com www.floridamlsconnect.com its great for tracking google ranks, and preparing and testing keywords and meta tag titles. "
Using the Butterfly Effect
"This story is a great read, every little bit does help in teh big scheme of things. I have done some updates to: http://www.floridamlsconnect.com www.floridamlsconnect.com and it is taking a while for it to be reindexed. "
Jon
How to Reindex Your Website Quickly in a Search Engine
"I have the same problem with a site I have done updates to a while back: http://www.Floridamlsconnect.com www.floridamlsconnect.com and so far it is taking a bit of time for the site to become reindexed. Hopefully we will find a solution soon. "
Jon
How to Reindex Your Website Quickly in a Search Engine
"Thanks, let me see if this works for me... http://www.joshuahowden.com"
Charles Howden
How to Reindex Your Website Quickly in a Search Engine
"I have the same problem too. I registered a domain http://www.help4shoppers.com about six months back but I did not use it immediately and just left it there because my girlfriend was busy. She plans to use this domain to host her shopping guide and shopping tips forum. Shopping is an obsession of her's and believe me, she's really good at it. I did a site: but google came up empty, so it looks like my domain got de-indexed because I left it empty for too long?"
JohnnyB
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) - No Secrets. No Mystery.
"Hey starting, or have a small business? and want more customers? check out http://adwido.com Its a free site for uploading video ads for your business, they also have image uploads to. They have a free link exchange as well. The more sites you can link to the greater your market will be. Give it a try you wont be disappointed. We will send u in the right direction. "
Brian