Home
>
Strategic Planning
>
How Copying the HBO Schedule Can Boost Your Business

How Copying the HBO Schedule Can Boost Your Business

I'm not talking about posting the HBO schedule on your website or sending a Xeroxed copy around to all your customers. When HBO came onto the scene they were innovative, fresh, and willing to do things other people were not.

Before HBO ("Home Box Office") came out in 1985, about the only to way to see a movie was to go to the theater, pray that one of the major networks would be showing one you wanted to see, or watch one you already had. With cable television technology blooming, and American access to the cable networks growing, this new, edgy cable movie company became an instant success.

What about the HBO schedule made them different? They realized that people were willing to pay for television if it carried what they were interested in, and HBO gave them exactly what they wanted. The fact that no one at that time was offering commercial-free movies on cable did not deter them from doing it and doing it well. Because of their proven track record as successful innovators, we can look to HBO for successful business principles that can help our own home business grow and succeed. If you are considering starting a home business but have not done so yet, carefully consider the principles in this article before you make your next move.

To succeed in business you have to do at least one of three things:

1) Offer consumers something that no one else has to offer
2) Offer consumers something at a higher quality than others
3) Offer consumers something at a lower price than others

A Unique Product

We have already discussed the fact that HBO wrote the book on paid subscription movie channels. What does your home business offer? Is it different from what other people are selling? If not, keep reading the article. If you do have something unique to offer, how well are you currently accentuating the differences your product has from other similar products? If your baseball hat design is revolutionary, tell me why ? or I might just assume it's a baseball hat like all the rest.

Many businesses are formed after an expert on a given product or from a service industry takes what she knows and builds on that. They improve the quality of what is already being offered and build a successful business around that. The HBO schedule has constantly added new movies, original programming, and sports events in order to maintain their stance as the highest quality subscription cable channel available. If your business is built around an improvement on another product, don't get comfortable! Invest some time and money into constantly improving your product or process to make sure your competitors don't catch up with you.

Finally, selling a product for less than the price at which your competitor is offering it does not have to mean you have to cut into your profit margin. The key to succeeding in price wars is to minimize your costs, thereby maximizing your profits. Online banks are able to offer substantially higher interest rates on saving accounts and CDs because they do not have to employ as large a staff as does a traditional bank. They cut overhead costs and pass the savings on to us, the consumers. Look closely at the way you buy and move the products you sell. Is there somewhere you could save? Is there something you could downsize or shift in order to streamline your business and lower your overhead costs? Sometimes a website with a thoroughly written FAQ page can save you from having to answer hours of customers' questions over the phone.

Are all your eggs in one basket?

A successful business usually tries to build their business model around a blend of two or all of these options. You may have a superior product and do OK selling it at a much higher price than your competitors, but you will truly excel if you are able to cut costs and expand your profit margin. Do the research and figure out what the best price/quality levels are for your business. The HBO schedule has evolved over the years as the tastes and desires of their consumers have changed. Constantly evaluate who your target audience is and adjust your business plan to compensate for any changes.

Nick Smith is a client account specialist with 10x marketing - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. To find out more about the 10x marketing, visit 10x marketing.

no-contract cleaning service Des Plaines ..

In The News:

Phishing scammers use rnicrosoft.com domain to impersonate Microsoft by replacing "m" with "rn" in typosquatting attacks that steal login credentials.

OpenAI announces new teen safety rules for ChatGPT users under 18, blocking romantic roleplay and requiring extra caution on body image topics.

A 2025 data breach at fintech company 700Credit exposes personal information of more than 5.8 million people through compromised third-party integration partner.

Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.

ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.

ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.

Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.

DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.

Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.

New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.

Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.

New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.

Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.

Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.

New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.

The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.

San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.

FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.

Instagram's new 'Your Algorithm' tool lets you control your Reels feed in real time. The app now gives you power to customize what videos you see.

Major Marquis fintech breach exposes 400,000-plus Americans' data through unpatched SonicWall vulnerability, with Texas hardest hit at 354,000 affected.

Free up iPhone storage fast by clearing large photos and videos from Messages app. Simple steps for iOS users to delete attachments without losing chats.

Scammers are flooding inboxes with fake tracking alerts that mimic real carriers, exploiting the holiday rush to steal logins and personal data.

The Fox News AI Newsletter brings you the latest news on AI technology advancements and the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

How Copying the HBO Schedule Can Boost Your Business

Strategic Planning