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Ugly Is the New Sexy: What You Can Learn From Southwest Airlines | Ep. #814

Oct 23, 2018

Discover what makes Southwest Airlines stand out in the crowded airline market. From their niche focus and unique hub-and-spoke model to striking a balance between efficiency and customer experience, there's much to learn. Tune in for insights on why titles matter, how engaging narratives can enhance marketing, and the importance of optimizing for efficiency while allowing for mistakes. Plus, hear about the fun atmosphere that keeps customers coming back, even if flights can be delayed!

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ANECDOTE

Neil's Delayed Southwest Experience

Neil Patel tends to avoid Southwest Airlines due to frequent delays he has experienced.
He shared a story about a delayed Southwest flight where passengers had to get off the plane and hang out with the crew.

ADVICE

Niche Down Before Scaling

Start your business by niching down and focusing on a small market.
Southwest Airlines began by serving only three Texas cities and took years to gain traction.

INSIGHT

Hub and Spoke Profitability Model

Southwest uses a hub and spoke model that prioritizes profitability over glamour.
They achieve fuller flights and better prices by allowing layovers and efficient routing.

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In episode #814, Eric and Neil discuss what you could learn from Southwest Airlines. Tune in to hear which tactics you should rip from this company.

Eric and Neil have committed to throwing a FREE Marketing School Live Event in Los Angeles, once Marketing School reaches 1M downloads in a 30 day period. Take action: Rate, review, subscribe, and SHARE. Check the progress here!

TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES:

[00:27] Today’s Topic: Ugly Is the New Sexy: What You Can Learn From Southwest Airlines
[00:50] Titles are key, which is why they titled this episode as such.
[01:04] Neil tries to avoid Southwest, because he finds they are always delayed.
[01:40] Eric’s last Southwest flight was delayed and problematic.
[02:10] When Southwest first launched, they focused on serving three cities in Texas.
[02:27] It took Southwest three years to get rolling and gain more customers. The first flights were sparsely populated.
[02:44] The lesson here is to niche down at first.
[02:54] Southwest has a hub and spoke model of business.
[03:20] The airline does a lot of layovers, which allows them to ensure fuller flights and better prices.
[04:15] You can either be efficient or offer exceptional service, but you can’t have both.
[05:05] Southwest is not the best priced airline, but they have a “cool atmosphere” and free alcoholic beverages.
[05:45] Optimize for efficiency, but allow for mistakes/refunds.
[06:15] Think of your business as a funnel and check for leaks.
[06:42] That’s it for today!
[06:48] Go here to see how many downloads the show is getting. Also rate and review to help Eric and Neil meet their goal of 1 Million downloads per month. Hopefully, we’ll see you at the live event in L.A.!