• by July 18, 2008

Hahahah. In the past retailers and service providers were fairly insulated from sharp peaks in demand. The rare exceptions were things like Black Friday and radio promotional stunts like cheap gas at a specific location.

Seriously, this is the challenge of the always-on age: level the peaks, fill the valleys.

Heck, it wasn't until the Gulf War that people realized there was a potential for round-the-clock news.

Now, we have real time updates and ubiquitous media coverage. Even a little-known blogger can trigger a stampede of traffic with the right message and a receptive audience.

Given that, marketers need to be careful about minimizing the public outcry of disappointments that accompany too much business, while finding ways to use these tools to generate business during off-peak periods.