Back to Basics

When you're living in a Web2.0 world, it's all too easy to get caught up in the glitz and flash of the internet and the endless amount of tech tools available to businesses today. Social media and e-commerce are surely effective ways to reach customers, but if the recession's taught us anything, it's that the basics of business are even more important -- offering a quality product and great customer service for a fair price.

A short commentary, provided by Steve Strauss for USA Today, echoes that sentiment and then some. He even pits Smith and Wollensky Steakhouse against his local Outback Steakhouse to prove his point -- and Outback wins!

When asked about the secrets of his success, the owner of the local steakhouse offered:

• "'It's all about your people' - whether its customers or employees, helping them helps you.
• 'Make it local' - especially with a national franchise, but really with any business, [the owner] believes that contributing to local charities and participating in local community events creates connections which pay off for everybody.
• 'Business is a marathon, not a sprint' -- think long-term."

Normally here is where we would share our take on the subject, but Strauss pretty much sums it up for us:

"This idea, that old school business values, traditions and strategies, can still make a big difference in this e-world, makes a lot of sense. So often these days things like leveraging assets, social networking, e-commerce and branding are discussed so much that they may seem more important than traditional business factors like service, value, hard work, appreciation, courtesy and know-how.

But they are not."