Monthly Archives: September 2011

Groupon deal performance: down and to the right

Posted on September 12, 2011 by

This is another graph that caught my eye from the study posted by Harvard and Boston University researchers: This bears out what I’ve been hearing from Groupon insiders. In the latest amendment to the S-1, Groupon also reported that its … Continue reading →

Posted in daily deals, groupon

Why running a Groupon can destroy your Yelp ratings

Posted on September 12, 2011 by

A recent study by researchers at Harvard and Boston University confirm statistically something that I’ve long suspected: Running a Groupon can destroy your Yelp ratings. I generally recommend that restaurants and service businesses avoid running Groupons because the short-term economics … Continue reading →

Posted in daily deals, groupon | 8 Comments

Groupon’s newest class action and what’s going on in Groupon sales org

Posted on September 9, 2011 by

A purported class-action lawsuit filed last month by former Groupon employee Ranita Dailey accuses the couponing giant of underpaying overtime for sales employees. The suit alleges that Groupon required non-exempt sales employees to work overtime and then incorrectly calculated the … Continue reading →

Posted in daily deals, groupon | 3 Comments

Why Google’s acquisition of Zagat matters

Posted on September 8, 2011 by

Today, Google announced its acquisition of Zagat, the company that publishes the venerable restaurant and hotel review guides. It’s a terrific acquisition. If Google executes correctly, this deal could be as significant as the YouTube deal has been. (I was … Continue reading →

Posted in facebook, foursquare, google, groupon, yelp | 1 Comment

My policy on anonymous sources

Posted on September 6, 2011 by

I’m wrapping up a successful trip to Chicago where I had the opportunity to meet with Groupon PR and several Groupon insiders, talk with merchants and experiment with Groupon Now in a market where the product has sufficient density for … Continue reading →

Posted in daily deals, groupon | 1 Comment

Oregon chiropractors ban Groupon type deals; dentistry board has concerns

Posted on September 2, 2011 by

The Oregon Board of Dentistry is notifying dentists that running Groupons and other daily deals may violate rules against “unprofessional conduct.” From the board’s Web site: !!NEWSFLASH!! Internet Coupon Advertising!!! Please Read!! The Board has recently become aware of different … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Thoughts on love, hate and Twitter, blogging

Posted on September 1, 2011 by

If you’ve been following me on Twitter or reading this blog, you’ll undoubtedly have noticed that I frequently use words like “sucks,” “shitty,” “terrible” and “horrid.” I also frequently use words like “brilliant,” “genius,” “amazing” and “great.” So, you may … Continue reading →

Posted in usability | 1 Comment