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Day 15: Interview with Naomi Dunford!

September 13, 2010 By 40 Comments
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We’ve just passed the halfway point of the Customer Love Challenge, and I thought it would be a good time to take another look at the blog post that started it all. And who better to re-energize us than the woman who inspired #customerlove to begin with?

I spoke to Naomi Dunford of Ittybiz.com about an hour ago, and couldn’t wait to post the interview. And she offered to start things off by doing the introduction:

[audio src="http://completeflake.com/audio/Naomi-Dunford-LaVonne-Ellis.mp3"]

Right-click to download MP3: Naomi Dunford 28 min. 20 sec.

Naomi talked about:

  • Making sure you’re focusing on the people who BUY.
  • How to toot your own horn: Just DO it — use what you have.
  • how to use segmented lists to target specific subsets of people.
  • The subtle mental shift between just trying something like #customerlove out — and getting serious.

Naomi, Johnny B. Truant, and Lee Stranahan are hosting a “ridiculously awesome,” pre-Blogworld Expo event on Oct. 13th in Las Vegas: Question the Rules Con 2010 — and she REALLY wants to see you there. I committed in the interview to at least showing up in the lobby and waiting for peeps to come out so I can meet you all. So look for the lady with the long, grey pony tail looking all socially anxious. Please say hi.

Thanks, Naomi!

Filed Under: Interviews, Make Customers Love You Tagged With: ,
  • Anonymous

    Good stuff Lavonne. This is the first interview that I’ve heard with naomi. I need to get her on BlogcastFM soon, most likely after blogworld. As I mentioned on Twitter, I have a bunch of ideas for you. So, hopefully that will help.

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Awesome, Srini! Looking forward to hearing your ideas!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://rawfoodswitch.com Nathalie Lussier

    Looking forward to meet you at BlogWorld Lavonne. :)

    Great interview you two!

  • http://www.thehorseyset.net RhondaL

    That was good. Thank you, LaVonne and Naomi. I’ve been dragging my feet about starting a list. And I love the idea of going to a conference location and just hanging out. Er, I suppose, that’s another phrase for “stalking.” :) Still, that was an informative interview. Great job!

  • http://www.wakeupcloud.com/ Henri J

    This was a great interview, LaVonne! Always love the interviews with Naomi. And yes Srini, get her on BlogCastFM asap!

    I’ve actually bumped into The Complete Flake. I don’t know when, but it was memorable. I remember you were a voice coach, so that’s already awesome! Now I also know you as the person who interviewed Naomi.

    Keep rocking!

  • http://kirstyhall.co.uk/blog/ Kirsty Hall

    Great interview, LaVonne & Naomi – thank you. Even though I’m as useless as a chocolate teapot right now, I thought it was inspiring.

  • michaela

    Love the interview. I learned lots. Thank you.

  • Anonymous

    Great interview. I learned a lot! (Even though I’m not technically part of the #customerlove challenge and I’m just sitting on the sidelines as a cheerleader). This is a good reminder to pull together an email list (or lists).

    Naomi hit the nail on the head about the two kinds of people thing. As much as I love supporting all the people involved in the challenge, I’m pretty much broke so I won’t be buying anything from you guys right now. (Sorry.) But that doesn’t mean I won’t buy stuff in the future. It also doesn’t mean that I don’t have contacts that wouldn’t otherwise know about you if I didn’t shout it from my personal rooftop/twitter/Facebook account. And I know I’m not alone in that. So, if nothing else, this challenge broadened everyone’s horizons and friend lists and potential client lists. So, of course, Naomi is right again – you can’t lose here.

  • http://twitter.com/MargieDrube Margie Drube

    Thanks much for the the “Naomi shot”. I always feel inspired or re-inspired when I hear her voice and even when I read her posts. I’m really feeling challenged on how to build the list. I’ve got to get a list… Thanks!

  • http://abbykerrink.com Abby Kerr

    LaVonne –

    I wondered how TWO of your commenters have the exact same baby. Then I realized that that’s your new avatar for the Gravatar-less. Right on! :)

    Loved the interview. Knew I would. Good going.

    – Abby

  • http://peggiearvidson.com Peggie

    Oh good god. you’re NOT going to buy from me? I’m outta here! (can you see the steam harrumphing from my ears?!)

    I love you for you.

    And what I’m finding is that my “friends” people somehow lead to the customers — if for no other reason than the fact that they keep me authentic and real and well, me. Your feedback is key to me because you’re my friend.

  • http://peggiearvidson.com Peggie

    Great interview. And I hope it’s not wrong to say that I just love the way Naomi says Abooot.

    and yeah. good stuff.
    I’m on like 3 of those subsets.

  • Naomi Dunford

    Wow. That totally freaked me out, too. And I would never have figured out the gravatarlessness thing either. #I’mCuteButNotTooBright

  • http://www.imagemaven.com Marlene Hielema

    Wow, reality check and “Customer Love Challenge” boost all at the same time.

    Best advice – Your Twitter people will probably not buy from you.

    Really good to know that, so I won’t bust my ass to sell to them and feel all let down by them when they don’t buy, but stick to my subscribers instead. If my Tweeps buy, great, but those pals can definitely be there for moral support and help me when I’m stuck and need a kick in the pants or a virtual hug.

  • http://twitter.com/eagledove11 eagledove11

    Can I just say ~ DITTO ~ to everything Slackermomspeaks said please ?
    Good because it was spot on for me too !!

  • http://twitter.com/eagledove11 eagledove11

    Oh just one thing ….
    It was a ‘Bloody Brilliant’ interview from both of you!!
    Loved your voices . . . very melodious to one’s ears . . . thank you very much!!
    And ~
    Great questions and great answers ~
    Damn but you girls are good!!
    warm hugs
    {From someone with a terrible aussie ‘accent’}

  • http://abbykerrink.com Abby Kerr

    Yes, get Naomi. {Naomi, you listening?}

  • http://www.thecreativewriter.co.uk Sarah Charmley

    Really enjoyed listening to this interview, LaVonne. Thanks.

  • Anonymous

    You are sweet Peggie :) – and I actually did buy from you when you had a special deal for “quick reads”! It was wonderful and very helpful. And so much fun because I got to talk to you finally. So I’m good for a few bucks lol!

  • Mike Korner

    Thank you both! Excellent interview.

  • http://peggiearvidson.com Peggie

    well of course You did — because you rock like that and because I want to encourage all my peeps to get a “taste” of what I do and get rewarded with specials and “quickies”. I think I need a sales page called quickies, what do you think?

    Sheesh I need to start sleeping more before mouthing off. lol

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Thanks Nathalie, I’m looking forward to meeting you too!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Thanks for the comment, Rhonda! I found starting a list to be intimidating,
    frankly, but MailChimp is free and has video tutorials to help you get
    through it. Naomi talks about segmenting a list, which I’m just starting to
    think about doing. It’s a little more complicated, but MailChimp talks about
    that too. You know, somebody should put together a course about setting up
    and managing email lists!

    Hope to see you in Vegas. :)

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Thank you so much, Henri! Yes, we’ve bumped into each other online
    somewhere, and I can’t remember where either, lol. Maybe Dave Navarro’s
    Group Mentorship forum?

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Oh sweetie, I’m sorry you’re feeling bad. But you’re never useless – just
    being you is very useful! Love you.

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Thanks so much for visiting and commenting, Michaela!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Cheerleaders are an important part of the team, so thank you for
    contributing your positive energy!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Thanks, Margie. I always get a good shot in the arm when I listen to or read
    Naomi. I know what you mean about being challenged about how to build a
    list. For me, the first problem was overcoming my fear of setting one up.
    MailChimp is free and has lots of video tutorials that are helping me
    navigate the maze. As far as getting people to sign up… the best advice
    I’ve heard is to ask. And remember what Naomi says — “If you’ve got
    something good and you don’t promote it, you’re a dick.” Harsh but true!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Do you think the baby is confusing? I just love to look at that little
    buddha-face.

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Ditto!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Thanks, Peggie! I wish I could interview Naomi every week and just pick her
    brains. She’s awesome.

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Hmm, I just put that baby in there because I love looking at it. Too
    confusing?

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Good points, Marlene, and even if they do buy from you, eventually that well
    runs dry. Your list has made it clear they want what you’ve got. I need to
    pay more attention to my list!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Yes you may! And thank you for another delightful comment!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    You are so bleeping sweet — I love your comments, thank you! And what do
    you mean, ‘terrible aussie accent’? Don’t you know we yanks are nuts about
    Aussies?

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Seconded!!!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Thank you so much, Sarah, and thanks for visiting!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Thanks, Mike, and thanks for visiting!

    ~LaVonne

  • http://www.marsdorian.com/ Mars Dorian

    Nice interview – and I can’t remember her cussing – did you aim for a family friendly PG rating ? ;)

    Anyways – especially the last part about being on a mission and really burning the bridges hit gold with me. There’s merit in being under pressure, even though that’s not a healthy permanent state ;)

    Nice work you two !

  • http://completeflake.com/ LaVonne Ellis

    Thanks, Mars! Naomi is a dream to interview. :)

    ~LaVonne

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