Now and Zen Japan

Jeff Crawford is the president of Zo Digital, a bi-lingual digital marketing agency he founded over seven years ago. He describes many of the mistakes foreign companies make when setting up their web presence in Japan and explains how to remedy these issues. What hidden gems can be discovered in your site analytics to improve  eCom sales. Why Japanese sites are often so busy and loud. Simple and practical advise on how to increase traffic and improve conversion rates through "Authoritativeness" and "Trustworthiness". This might sound a bit technical but Jeff explains it all in a very easy to understand style. I guarantee you will become more digital marketing savvy after listening to Jeff's stories and advise. Other topics we discuss:

• The biggest mistakes foreign firms make when launching web sites in Japan
• What is a "YMYL" site (Your Money or Your Life)
• How Google ranks and evaluates websites
• Simple methods to increase your site's E.A.T. (E = Expertise)
• Isn't "User Experience" subjective?
• The best and worst way to create web "content"
• Google voice search SEO is coming
• The most important web site page for Japanese (26:23)
• Key Word research and how to master the nuance
• What many Japanese think about the typical western website 
• How much companies should invest in SEO as a % of sales
• How does understanding analytics specifically improve ones business (29:34)
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea

Zo Digital: https://www.zodigital.jp/
Jeff Crawford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffcrawford/

Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

Neil Butler is a 40-year Tokyo veteran and CEO / Publisher of Metropolis Magazine. Neil is well-known in Japan from his successful 13 year stint with Australian Meat & Livestock where he coined the catch-phrase "Aussie Beef" and you will hear this great marketing success story during this episode.  However for the past 13 years, he has been the driving force behind the free Tokyo magazine Metropolis and its on-line version. Neil talks about his numerous challenges he has faced in the publishing business and some of the opportunities he has discovered during this pandemic.  He offers advice on working in Japan, his proudest career accomplishment in 40 years, and why he loves working for Metropolis magazine despite the financial difficulties. I used to work for Metropolis back in the 90's when it was still called Tokyo Classifieds, so we exchange a couple of interesting stories about working for this iconic, 27 year old publication. This was great opportunity to catch up with an old friend,  share a couple beers, and swap stories, and that's exactly what this episode sounds like. Other topics we discuss:

• The Meat Marketer to Metropolis Publisher story, in his words
• How a free paper generates revenue, and these challenges
• What sets Metropolis Magazine apart from other publications in Japan
• Waffle machines, consulting, and Augmented Reality (AR). How Metropolis has discovered opportunities during this pandemic
• Why gaining trust has been his biggest challenge working in Japan
• "If the magazine does not make money, why continue publishing it?"
• The sales pitch which convinced the Tokyo Metro to put Metropolis magazine into their kiosks
• The Japanese "shoganai" culture and we create a new word: Shoganai-shugi
• The great "Aussie Beef" marketing success story
• Two Free Unsolicited Business Ideas, at least I tried 

Metropolis Magazine: https://metropolisjapan.com/

Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

A fascinating look into the on-line gaming business in Japan with Aiko Smith, the CEO of Aloha Shark Casino. Aiko has more than 15 years experience in this exciting industry and is one of the pioneers in the Japanese on-line casino market. This episode you will hear how Aloha Shark localizes their site for Japanese players, learn about on-line casino’s “Payout Percentage” and how this compares to other forms of gambling in Japan. How the potential future legalization of land casinos in Japan will effect her business, who is a typical on-line casino player in Japan, the largest payout on Aloha Shark most recently, and finally Aiko offers a free $20 trial bonus for Now & Zen listeners. If you are lucky, listening to this episode could literally be worth your time! (Details at the 31:30 mark) Other topics we discuss:

• Click HERE to claim your free $20 bonus (Once on Aloha Shark site, go to the top right corner and click "Create Account")
• Why on-line gambling is a legal gray-area in Japan
• What is required to start an on-line casino
• Analyze the culturally risk-adverse Japanese society and how this fits with on-line casinos
• Her most important duties as CEO of Aloha Shark
• How she got started in this industry
• Discuss the 還元率 Kangenritsu “RTP%” The Return To Player % of on-line casinos
• The most popular on-line casino games in Japan
• How players “cash-out” after winning
• The Pandemic effect for Aloha Shark
• The importance of Customer Support or as Aloha Shark calls it “Casino Concierge”
• How Aloha Shark has localized their site and games specifically for Japan
• Suggestions for 1st time players, including a risk-free $20 offer 
• Click HERE to claim your free $20 bonus (Once on Aloha Shark site, go to the top right corner and click "Create Account")

Now and Zen Japan: https://www.nowandzen.jp/
Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

Katheryn Gronauer is the founder of Thrive Tokyo. She is a cross-cultural trainer and business coaching entrepreneur based in Tokyo.   We speak about the most common cultural frustrations newcomers to Japan face and how she helps them overcome these challenges.  As a young entrepreneur, discuss self-branding and how she markets her services, how her early start in health coaching led to the beginnings for Thrive Tokyo, an in-depth analysis of Japanese communication styles and why this topic is often the biggest mystery for foreigners in Japan, and the "Oh crap" moment and results, when she landed her first big corporate client. Other topics we cover:

• How to balance "localizing" oneself vs. keeping true to your own style
• Discovering many cultural issues are similar and predictable
• Most effective methods for marketing herself
• Using her youth and upbringing as a competitive advantage
• Cultural struggles vs. emotional struggles for foreigners in Japan
• Explains her new membership program called the "Accelerator"
• Dives into some unique Japanese cultural values
• Not one but two, "Free Unsolicited Business Ideas"

Thrive Tokyo: https://www.thrivetokyo.com/
Katheryn Gronauer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katheryngronauer/

Upgrade your future = Dale Carnegie Japan: http://enjapan.dalecarnegie.com
Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

Learn how to become a confident public speaker, a more effective presenter, and the formula for influential story-telling.  Dr. Greg Story is the president of Dale Carnegie Japan and the best-selling author of "Japan Sales Mastery" and "Japan Business Mastery". We discuss successful sales techniques and how the sales process will change post COVID and other topics from his books. We debate if his six different podcasts is "too much content", and Greg tells stories of true-life experiences which compliment his great business tips, insights, and advise. Being a 6th- degree black belt in Karate and 36 years in Japan, this episode is a really fascinating talk on how actions and choices effect ones life and career. Other topics we cover:

• Why public speaking skills are so important to your career
• Tips on how to relax before a public presentation
• How to "bullet-proof" yourself against hostile audience questions
• The 4 elements of a successful presentation - simplified by Greg
• Why he decided to "niche-down" and have 6 podcasts instead of 1
• His biggest "pet-peeve" when listening to other presenters
• Discuss the contents and background of his two best-selling books
• How Karate changed his life, his perspective, and his career
• The meaning behind his favorite untranslatable Japanese word = "Zanshin"

Greg Story: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregstory/
Dale Carnegie Japan: https://www.dalecarnegie.com/ja/locations/japan
Japan Dale Carnegie TV: https://www.youtube.com

Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

Deanna Elstrom is a veteran brand marketer, brand strategist, and consumer insights specialist. She has recently launched her own company called Somi Insights, where she combines her love of branding with a fascination of how culture influences human behavior. Japanese consumers is a key area of Deanna's expertise as she led two major agencies during the past seven years in Japan.  We discuss the the Japanese name "Somi" which she coined, we learn the big difference between "insights" and "findings", great examples of how culture influences behavior in Japan, a cultural analysis into why Japan is ranked #58 on the Global Happiness Index, and stories of her first experience in Japan as a teenager and how this  crafted her Japan journey. Other topics we cover:

• The meaning of "Somi", a made-up Japanese word
• Japan and the dilemma of happiness
• The difference Somi Insights brings to the Japan market
• Findings vs. Insights explanation with examples
• Omotenashi and Sustainability balance
• She questions my Japan kitchenware market "insights"  
• Interesting Japan beauty market discoveries 
• Her favorite untranslatable Japanese word = Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu
• The Japanese and Western interpretation of what "home" is
• "The researcher is the consumer voice, keep the consumer voice as a superpower"  

Somi Insights home page: http://somiinsights.com
Deanna Elstrom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-elstrom

Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

Eric D'Ignazio is a 14-year Japan hospitality veteran who's resume includes InterContinental Hotels and the The Accor Group.  Eric has spent his entire professional life working in Japan and has had a very non-traditional hotel career path where he eventually became Representative Director at Accor for seven years. It seems his destiny was to work in hospitality as he got his start as a child working at his grandfather's Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. Eric recants the training and cultural insights gained from his career start with a very traditional Japanese company. We talk about his new company AssistINT he co-founded, focused on hospitality industry consulting and IT development for Japan market-entry.  And, we discover numerous mutual coincidences among our Japan journey, which leads to some interesting comments. Other topics we cover:

• Childhood lessons from working at his grandfathers Italian restaurant
• What makes Japanese hospitality the best in the world
• The "Omakase" mindset and guest expectations in Japan
• The difference between Omotenashi and Hospitality  
• Consistence and Courtesy - What foreign companies can learn from Japanese hospitality
• Predictions for the future of Japan 
• The challenges of hospitality recruiting and training and how to address this
• Tekizai Tekisho - the Japanese 4 character idiom explained
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea   

AssistINT: https://www.assistint.com/
Eric D'Ignazio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dignazio/

Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

Dive into the world of traditional Japanese sword making with craftsman Taro Asano. He is one of only a handful of practicing "Kajiya" (a person who forges Japanese swords / Katana) still in Japan. He also offers a workshop in English where people come to make their own custom-forged "Samurai knife". It's a unique once in a lifetime experience. We discuss all things Katana, how he became a Kajiya, his future plans - which include taking on a 20-year old American apprentice and creating a You-Tube channel to chronicle their adventures, and why Japanese sword/ blacksmithing  is more popular with foreigners than with Japanese. Other topics we cover:

• How long and what it takes to become a Kajiya
• His thoughts on the Master - Apprentice relationship
• Insight on forging steel and the processes he employs
• Learn why 70% of his workshop participants come from the same field
• The rules and etiquette around handling a Japanese Katana  
• Why he makes kitchen knives in addition to swords
• Is the myth you have to register your Katana with the police true?
• Plans for his 20-year old American apprentice
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea   

Asano Kajiya: http://asanokajiya.com/en
Asanokajiya Studio (You Tube): https://www.youtube.com/channel/

Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts

Meet a true Hospitality Professional. Mr. Matthias Sutter, the Rep. Director of Shangri-La Hotels Japan and the GM of the Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo.  We discuss Japanese customer service, how different nationalities have different hospitality expectations, his two requirements for anyone to succeed in the hotel business, and how starting off in Food & Beverage helped craft his strong sense of hospitality.  We also talk Trip Advisor, hotel rankings, and the guest comments he likes the most.  If you are curious about how luxury hotel GM's think, practice, and teach customer service and hospitality, this episode is a must-listen. Other topics we cover:

• Why hotels are an "El Dorado" for customer service
• The three topics to never discuss with hotel guests
• Different cultures have different interpretations of hospitality
• Japanese service vs. other Asian countries
• Preparations for the Shangri-La Kyoto opening
• Guest comments which led to innovative and successful promotions
• Hotel "brands" have separate DNA, thus some customer focus differences   
• Japanese "guest comment" tendencies
• The Free Unsolicited Business Idea   

The Shangri-La Hotel Tokyo: https://www.shangri-la.com/tokyo/shangrila/

Great Sleep Starts Here = gugu Sleep Company: https://gugu.jp
Japan Adventures via Camper Van = Dream Drive: https://www.dreamdrive.life

• Use the code word "ZEN" to receive discounts