Common Sense Lessons

I was parking my car in the morning after reaching office. Not being an expert, I somehow managed. There was a raised iron cover and I parked in such a way that the back tyre was half on the cover and half hanging. Some drivers standing nearby asked me to take it forward or backward. I did, and then they told me if you keep tyre like this, tyre can burst due to pressure. Lesson learnt, though after hearing it, I felt like a fool not knowing it. I remember parking my car like this earlier also but did not think of this.

This reminded me of another small thing I got to know after driving car for more than 10 years. A friend told me that you can push the knob on rear-view mirror to prevent getting blinded by high-beam lights. I felt silly that I did not know this earlier. 

Similarly when two from tyres of my car got burst in a span of few days, I got them replaced with new tyres. The shopkeeper advised to get the new tyres fixed on fron wheels. I said why. He explained the front tyres take engine load so better to have new tyres. Also he suggested that if I am getting two new tyres, better to have both in the front as tyre wear-tear will be same. Common sense after i was told about it. 

Funny how we keep learning things always. By the way when I bought a new car in 2000 or so, I managed to get its back damaged by not applying hand-brake or gear on slope, and noticing my car had slided down and hit a pole. 

How is that for learning by own mistakes.

#car #learning #commonsense #auto #lessons

Grofers and its communication failures

 How a company's communication lapses mar its image can be best exemplified by Grofers. Let me explain with my experience.

They want positive feedback only

The routine Grofers sms asking for feedback says, tell us what you like about us, so that we can improve. Huh!

No call centre, no email

They don't have any call centre/phone helpline and no email for a customer to reach out to them. Only chatbot and chat support. If your query does not fall under any category of their drop down menu, you are screwed, as you can't reach them.

Arrogant Social Media Team

So, when Grofers accepted my two orders, got paid for them and did not deliver, I was shocked. I thought age is catching up with me and I am developing early symptoms of Alzheimer's as I might not have placed the orders and not made payments at the last moment. To reconfirm, I checked Grofers App, there was no sign of these two orders and any payments made by me. So I was less worried about the Grofers orders, and more about my forgetfulness.

A week later I was shocked to see on my Sodexo app that the two debits had actually taken place and Grofers conveniently removed all traces of these orders and payments from their app. If I had not checked my Sodexo transactions record, Grofers would have kept my money happily.

Since there is no option for such weird incident in Grofers drop-down menu and there is no phone/email, I had to tweet to them. The team got back to me in their sweet time and denied that any such transaction had taken place. When I persisted, they asked me to show proof. When I sent them screenshot of Sodexo transactions, they said we have checked and will initiate refund.

No sorry, no apology, no regrets. They acted as if they are doing a favour to me by returning my money. When I pointed this out, they replied, when our systems would have noted, you would have got the money eventually. 

Horrible example of customer service.

#Grofers #delivery #customer #service #fraud #cheat 

Printing Jobs Checklist

As a PR professional, over a period of time we become more of Proof Reader professionals rather than Public Relations professionals. After scanning and checking plethora of print-proofs like annual reports, brochures, newspaper ad creatives, company diaries, calendars, posters, house journals etc., you are bound to become one. The gravity of situation can be understood from the fact that now when I get a printed invitation card from a family or friend, my eyes quickly scan it for printing errors first. Professional hazards, you see. So over past 28 years of work, I can safely proclaim about each possible printing goof-up that I have been there, done that. So here is a check-list to ensure that you can learn from the mistakes of others, including me.

1- If there are last minute changes in photograph and its placement, do check that the captions have been accordingly moved with the photos.

2-If a Hindi or another language translation has been done, please ensure that final changes in the original copy in text and photos have been carried out in the translated version.

3- Check for shifting of dates in a calendar ( going for printing) at different stages of proof correction and final printing. One tab to the right or left can result in the whole lot of prints going waste if dates are screwed up.

4- Please do check the phone numbers being printed in RSVP or at other places. Here too one mistake can cost very heavy.

5- Do take a print out of finally cleared copy just before going to print. It may so happen that the designer forgets to save and sends an older version for printing. If you don't have a proof of the version you gave okay to, your career will depend on the integrity of the designer and the agency.

6- Before taking approval for photographs from seniors, ensure that the photos are high resolution and print-worthy. Because if approval is taken and then photo is of low quality, one will have to seek approval again, which is never an easy thing to do.

7- Before using photos, please ensure that necessary permissions and copyright approvals, where ever required, are in place. If a photo is used and the owner of the brand objects, it becomes very complicated.

8- Triple check names, designations, seniority, placement etc. for diaries, advertisements, invitation cards etc. A slight error or lapse can lead to major consequences.

9- If newspaper ad has to reach far-off areas it is better to give go-ahead to creative much in advance. Newspapers for non-city locations get printed in the afternoons, and if you give creatives for a next day ad in the evening, you will miss out on these late city and town editions.

10- Go for the optimum print run in the first go. Second or third runs are costlier unit-wise. Fixed cost gets added every time, irrespective of the number of copies.

Will add more if I get around to updating this post. 28 years call for 28 mistakes at least. All are not mine, but I was directly or indirectly aware of such goof-ups in real life.

Storyshots App for book summaries

I have been told by experts that I lead a boring life. So be it. But I know this much that books are my ever-lasting love. So I am always on lookout for good reading resources.

Kindle, Bookbub, google books, airtel books, audible, you name it and I would have tried it.

Another good source for pdf books is pdfdrive.net, which has amazing collection of books, which you can download as pdf and then convert to ebook format of your choice using any app. I use ebook converter on android.

Earlier this month, I found this wonderful app on android, called Story Shots. Since then I have been enjoying this app @ one book per day. And it is all free. What they have is summary of the book in three different formats viz. audio, video and text. At times, the content in all three is same, and at times two versions are same. But in half an hour or so, one gets a summary of the book. And they have multiple sources for these versions, so you are not stuck with one person you don't like. 

And all this is free. 

Just thought I will share this resource info with you guys.

Tips for Blogging

Now coming from someone who has written just two blogposts here, it may sound funny. But this is not from me. Like other two posts, this is also pointers to an article linked here.

6 Secrets to Writing a Powerful Blog Post

The article quotes PD James saying “Don’t just plan to write—write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style.”

First tip is on using engaging graphics. Article gives data to support the fact. Pinterest is given as an example of linking graphics effectively.

Second tip is on using a clean design and layout. Example is given of “Born Creative,”  design company by Jennifer and Jason Bourn.

Third tip is on having a unique voice. Example is given of Marie Forleo who says, “create a brand you can smell from miles away.” 

Fourth tip is on connecting with social media, for reach, credibility and authority. Triberr is one place suggested in the article for this.

Fifth tip is on using a call to action. Ask views, refer to another link etc.

Sixth tip is to go against the grain. Be frank and forthright. Article gives the example of Mark Manson, the author of “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck”

Social Media Posts and Corona

When lockdown began in India in late march we could see people sharing Corona  jokes on social media like Facebook. There were trends like saree look, cooking time, house cleaning etc. I was one of those sharing such jokes. Though some were objecting to such funny shares as being insensitive and in bad taste. But I had a different view. I felt that just because we are facing a threat to our lives we can't stop living and laughing. In my view such funny shares were helping people cope with tough times. The depression, tension, stress arising out of being closed in our homes could be lessened if we laughed at things and took it on bravely.

But all that changed when one of my senior colleagues lost his life. The deaths which were just an number for me till then became human. I could not dare to share any funny share related to Corona after that. Each time I got one I was reminded of the senior. Over a month has passed but even now I think thrice about sharing any funny post even distantly related to Corona. 

The increasing deaths show that the virus is no laughing matter. Such is life.

Social Media Policy

Many organizations want their employees to promote the organization/employer on social media, but the social media sites are banned for use in office time. Where does one draw the line between social media sharing of organization related issues and restraints on harmful sharing. 

The article linked below throws light on how to walk the tight rope.

Creating Effective Corporate Social Media Policies

The article gives examples of high profile cases where irresponsible social media use has led to problems. These include Tesla, Keurig, Twitter etc.

The article highlights three themes of a good social media policy.
These include Control, Representation & Legal.

The purposes which flow from these themes include legitimacy of the source, perfect message mix (Sender, receiver, timing), reputation management, distinction between personal & professional messaging, limited liability and way-out of a crisis.