Source: flickr Nice piece today in the Standard (prompted by the British Council "The English Effect" exhibition) elaborates on one of the questions we explored last summer in the run up to my School of Life Sermon: how English thrives through copying words from other tongues Normally most of us would imagine there's some unique quality (its flexible grammar, maybe) that enables something to spread but maybe in this case is more it's ability to copy copy copy that works.
Social Media
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Most Topular Stories
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I copy, you copy, he/she/it copies
Herd - the hidden truth about who we are3 Apr 2013 | 11:17 am -
A Web Designer's Burden: Conveying Truth
Forum One Blog Posts - All Blogs17 Jun 2013 | 9:11 amThis year has been filled with fascinating articles in the news that bring attention to photo manipulation. A rather benign example occurred during the reporting of the Oscars. Take a close look at the photos below. Do you remember which dress the FLOTUS actually wore? This year has been filled with fascinating articles in the news that bring attention to photo manipulation. A rather benign example occurred during the reporting of the Oscars. Take a close look at the photos below. Do you remember which dress the FLOTUS actually wore? read more -
Is the marketing world prepared for the PRISM backlash?
Future Visions11 Jun 2013 | 2:12 amThere is a world of difference between safe, anonymous third party cookie tracking and warrantless governmental intrusion into your online life. It’s time that we, the digital marketing industry invested in telling this story. Last week the world learned of PRISM – a US federal initiative that reportedly uses backdoors at major online companies to monitor our private data and conversations - without a warrant. The public outcry at this alleged violation of our personal privacy has been spectacular. While there is still much about PRISM that we just don’t know, the public is now more… -
Geek Reading June 19, 2013
Regular Geek19 Jun 2013 | 9:57 amI have talked about human filters and my plan for digital curation. These items are the fruits of those ideas, the items I deemed worthy from my daily reading. These items are a combination of tech business news, development news and programming tools and techniques. You will note that some of the formatting has changed, and that is due to the change in my process. Formatting, and the information presented, is likely to change a bit as I develop my new process. Announcing Ice: Cloud Spend and Usage Analytics Animation shows flow of attendees during a conference Redis: Very Useful As a… -
Ignore Happy Customers At Your Peril
Sensei Marketing17 Jun 2013 | 4:13 amEarlier this year, along with family and friends, I made my annual pilgrimage to our condo is Orlando, Florida – with fear. It’s not the long lines at Walt Disney World or the hectic Orlando International Airport that I dread; I don’t look forward to flying an American airline with my children who have severe peanut allergies. Unlike Canadian airlines, Delta and other American airlines continue to serve peanuts on their fights, which is problematic for the growing number of people who go into anaphylactic shock from exposure to these small but potent legumes. This means that…
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building43
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Rackspace Startup Program Spotlight On Bucketfeet: Artist Inspired Footwear For Global Beings
6 Jun 2013 | 10:34 amBucketfeet is artist designed footwear. The company’s mission is to find a different artist to design every shoe produced. Talented artists from around the world get the global exposure they deserve, and you get the artist’s vision in an awesome, original shoe. The shoe is the platform to tell the artists’ stories and showcase their art. Bucketfeet collaborations range from working with street artists from Bogota to graphic designers from New York City, resulting in super comfortable, unique canvas shoes that stand out in a crowd. Bucketfeet, a Rackspace Startup Program member, was… -
Rackspace Startup Program Spotlight On okdo.it: Bootstrapped Productivity Software
30 May 2013 | 8:06 amLooking for a task management application that moonlights as email? okdo.it is productivity software that marries email and task management, creating an email application that organizes email messages into tasks. You simply compose a message, add tasks to the message, add attachments if you like and send the message. You instantly have email that’s fully organized by email content, tasks and attachments with applicable due dates and alerts when things are due. “I’ve managed teams and projects for years, so I’ve used the major SaaS project management applications and collaboration… -
Straight Up Startup…Featuring Phil Vickman, Marketing Director Of Promet Source
30 May 2013 | 8:04 amPhil Vickman is the Marketing Director of Promet Source, which helps startups deploy, maintain and support high-value web and mobile applications through the use of open source technology tools. Promet differentiates itself by providing a superior customer experience throughout all facets of the development process, including design, software engineering, project management and quality assurance. He holds an MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His professional career spans as District Manager with ASAP Software and a Partner Development Manager at Sun Microsystems. He founded a… -
Shifu: Making Your Smartphone Smarter
29 May 2013 | 1:51 pmShifu is your smart friend who lives in your smartphone and observes when and how you use your phone. It knows what are the important things which need your attention and when is the right time to show them to you. It’s the Sidekick you always wanted. Shifu is a smart To Do & Task Management tool designed from the ground up keeping your smartphone in mind. We believe that existing time management tools are inefficient because they require you to adjust your life to the tool rather than the tool fitting in to your life. Shifu is our attempt to change this. http://TheSignals.net -
MyTime: The Easier Way to Book Appointments
21 May 2013 | 10:56 amAn easier way to book appointments is finally here. Book whatever you need, when you want, where you want. MyTime has built a place for you to come whenever you want to find open appointments for services you need. You can check off everything on your to-do list, from Haircuts to Oil Changes, all in one place. We also give you access to third-party ratings and reviews right on our site, and offer exclusive discounts on selected appointment times. Now booking an appointment and getting services you need is as easy spinning up a virtual server on the Rackspace Cloud ! Every business on MyTime…
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Social Media Examiner
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Proof That Podcasting Will Benefit Your Business
19 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amPat Flynn of The Smart Passive Income Blog has parlayed his everyday-guy persona into a six-figure income supported heavily by podcasting. “I’ve been able to make a much deeper connection with my audience,” Flynn said. “When I go to conferences, the first thing people who meet me say is, ‘I love listening to your podcast.’” [...] -
4 Easy Steps to Implement a Facebook Marketing Strategy
18 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amDo you have a Facebook marketing strategy? Is your Facebook marketing is working? If you don’t have a strategy with goals in place for your Facebook Page, you won’t know if you are getting a return on your social media efforts! Your Facebook marketing strategy shouldn’t live in a vacuum—it needs to be integrated with [...] -
Research Shows Blogging a Top Focus for Marketers
17 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amDo you ever wonder what tactics, tools and strategies other social media marketers are using? Regardless of how long you’ve been involved in social media, chances are you have some questions that you’d like answered. Questions such as, “What are the best social management tools?” or “What are the best ways to engage my audience [...] -
Facebook Hashtags: This Week in Social Media
15 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amWelcome to our weekly edition of what’s hot in social media news. To help you stay up to date with social media, here are some of the news items that caught our attention. What’s New This Week? Facebook Launches Clickable Hashtags: Clickable hashtags are rolling out on Facebook. “When you click on a hashtag in [...] -
Pinterest Success: Creative Ways to Use Pinterest for Your Business
14 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amDo you use Pinterest for business? Are you wondering how your business can benefit from Pinterest? To learn some creative ways to use Pinterest to help your business, I interview Cynthia Sanchez for this episode of the Social Media Marketing podcast. More About This Show The Social Media Marketing podcast is a show from Social [...]
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TechCrunch
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Wired Editor Michael Copeland Joins Andreessen Horowitz To Lead New ‘Content Strategy'
19 Jun 2013 | 12:20 pmWired Senior Editor Michael Copeland is joining venture firm Andreessen Horowitz. We’ve confirmed with the VC firm that Copeland will be leading Andreessen’s new ‘content strategy.’ Prior to joining Wired, Copeland was a Senior Writer at Fortune and was previously also a Senior Writer at Business 2.0 covering the VC world. Additionally, he held editorial positions at Red Herring, the Venture Capital Journal, the Washington Post and was a reporter for the Oakland Tribune, Orange County Register, and Philadelphia Inquirer. It’s unclear what A16Z’s content… -
Twitter Adds Easier Column Navigation To Tweetdeck For Power Users
19 Jun 2013 | 12:02 pmTwitter added new features to Tweetdeck today that makes it easier to arrange and consume various feeds. Column headers now have “grab handles” in the top-left corner so they can quickly and easily be rearranged. If you are looking at fewer than four feeds, the selected column will now snap its left edge to the sidebar; if four or more columns are visible, the selected column will still be in the center of the screen, like before. Finally, when you click a column icon twice, it will scroll to the top and reveal any Tweets you may have missed, a similar function to Twitter for Mac. -
Founder Stories: Airbnb's Nate Blecharczyk On Being The Only Engineer For The First Year
19 Jun 2013 | 12:00 pmThis week on Founder Stories, I sat down with Airbnb co-founder Nate Blecharczyk. One of the things that strikes me as original to Airbnb’s founding team is that, unlike most startups I can think of, two of the co-founders are designers, and Blecharczyk, who’s a co-founder and CTO, is an engineer. “It’s pretty unusual, and I actually attribute a lot of our success to that combination,” says Blecharczyk. “We see things very differently because of our backgrounds and we’ve discovered that’s an asset. Sometimes it takes a little longer to reconcile… -
Backed By First Round's Dorm Room Fund, Pagevamp Turns Facebook Pages Into Websites
19 Jun 2013 | 11:59 amIt feels like startups are taking more and more steps to make the website creation process as easy as possible. There are companies like Weebly, which offer drag-and-drop interfaces for building websites. There’s Barley, which doesn’t require any layout work at all. And now there’s Pagevamp, which allows you to turn a Facebook Page into a website. The company was founded by Atulya Pandey, Fred Wang and Vincent Sanchez-Gomez, three University of Pennsylvania students (now graduates) who ran a small WordPress design agency while they were in college. What they discovered,… -
Lytro Enables Its Camera's Hidden WiFi Chip, Launches A Companion iOS App (With Animated GIFs!)
19 Jun 2013 | 11:56 amIt sure doesn’t seem like many people have bought Lytro’s crazy light-field camera (the one that lets you focus your photos after you take them) — but if you’re one of those who did: go plug that thing in. Lytro has just released a firmware update that enables the camera’s dormant Wi-Fi chip, along with an iOS app that lets you wirelessly access and share your photos. Oh, and it makes super trippy animated GIFs! Check out the demo we shot with Lytro’s Director Of Photography, Eric Cheng: (I’ll go ahead and forgive Eric for pronouncing…
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ReadWrite
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Qvivo Might Just Be The Cloud Media Service You've Been Waiting For
19 Jun 2013 | 11:18 amEditor's note: This post was originally published by our partners at Gear Patrol. The early years of the digital media revolution promised an unprecedented era of media freedom. Consumers had the power to play vast libraries of video and music on an armada of different devices. Someone just had to make syncing it all easy. Apple realized the opportunity early, and its foresight soon transformed into a billion dollar business. Few remember that the original iTunes was essentially a re-engineered version of SoundJam MP, a music software company Apple acquired in 2000. Most also forget that… -
Ouya Is A Tiny Box Open To Many Game Possibilities
19 Jun 2013 | 9:07 amA few weeks before our Ouya arrived in the mail, my husband was having second thoughts. Like 63,416 others, he’d eagerly parted with his cash (in his case, a cool $225 for the limited edition color and name plate etching), during the throes of Kickstarter hype around the open source Android-based gaming platform. Months later and still no Ouya, he was wondering if he’d made the right choice. He wondered why I, the usually-trusty voice of reason against BioShock Infinite Collector’s Edition pre-orders and Magic: The Gathering rares, hadn’t spoken up. “Now, I kind of wish… -
5 Games That Make Sony And Microsoft's Console War Meaningless
19 Jun 2013 | 6:57 amAfter last week's Electronic Entertainment Expo, the console war drums are now beginning to beat in a frenzy. Microsoft and Sony have unveiled details of their next-generation video-game consoles, the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4. Which one should you buy? We have a radical proposal: neither. Gamers can save themselves both money and mental anguish by taking note: The leading current-generation consoles, the Xbox 360 and PS3, are going to stick around for a while, and they're still getting nearly every huge game release for this year and next. How long? Well, consider this: Sony… -
AMD Stiff-ARMs Intel By Offering ARM Server Chips
19 Jun 2013 | 6:32 amAMD is pushing its chips in on its commitment to ARM-based server technology, announcing the new "Seattle" ARM processor for launch in the second half of 2014. The release of an ARM-based processor built specifically for servers, instead of the smartphones and other smaller electronic devices they currently power, marks a significant step in moving away from the power-hungry and heat-generating Intel-based chips that have dominated the server market for decades, as well as a big opportunity for AMD to get out of the shadow of Intel. AMD is not the first manufacturer to commit to the creation… -
Instagram Videos Could Spell A Billion Dollars Worth Of Magic For Facebook
19 Jun 2013 | 6:02 amFacebook is widely expected to announce Thursday a video feature for Instagram, the photo-sharing service it bought for $1 billion last year. Some are speculating that this is a competitive response to Vine, Twitter's clever short-video app. But what if Facebook had a broader purpose in mind—habituating its users to seeing videos? It's An Ad, Ad, Ad World Marketers are eager to buy video ads on Facebook. But users, used to the quiet experience of reading updates and viewing photos from friends, may find them jarring, especially if the ads start playing automatically. Yet Twitter's Vine has…
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Mashable
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Why Businesses Should 'Act Human' on Facebook
19 Jun 2013 | 12:16 pmNo matter how much thought you put into your social media strategy, the real world can always interfere. Robert Reimann spent more than a week hashing out a plan to boost sales and engagement on the Facebook page for his bike tour business, after being matched with Shane Johnston, a social media marketing consultant from Mashable's Small Business Panel. With Johnston's help, Reimann would launch a contest — along with Facebook ads to promote it — in order to attract more fans and build up an email list of customers, which he would then work to convert into sales. Then the flood… -
The Lytro Camera Finally Gets Wi-Fi
19 Jun 2013 | 11:59 amThanks to its refocusing ability, the Lytro camera does things no other camera can do, but it also lacks a way to quickly share its "living" photos. That is, until today. With a free firmware upgrade, Lytro owners can activate the Wi-Fi chip that's been dormant in their cameras, which works with a new app arriving Wednesday in the iOS App Store. Now that the Lytro's wireless is fully armed and operational, users will be able to immediately share their light-field photos — which until now were only accessible once the user connected the camera to a PC or Mac. With the app, users can… -
Metaio Wants to Bring Augmented Reality Everywhere
19 Jun 2013 | 11:53 amFrom Google Glass to car dashboards to shopping, Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the most talked-about trends in technology SEE ALSO: 7 Ways Augmented Reality Will Improve Your Life At its core, the idea behind AR is to bring additional context to the "real" world. With the advent of smartphones and tablets, the potential for AR to add context in real-life tasks including finding your way around or fixing a car becomes an actual possibility. Although AR gained more mainstream recognition over the last few years, most AR projects are confined to designated proof-of-concepts or specific… -
Facebook Now Lets You Comment With a Photo
19 Jun 2013 | 11:46 amFacebook has started to roll out photo comments, a new feature that allows you to comment on posts with images rather than words. Originally built during a Facebook employee hackathon, photo comments are starting to roll out globally on the web as well as the Facebook mobile site. Users can't yet leave photo comments within Facebook's mobile apps, but they are viewable. The feature is expected to come to those apps in a future update. SEE ALSO: How to Change Your Facebook Relationship Status Without Alerting Friends Adding a photo comment involves clicking a camera icon beside the text box… -
Cher Makes Triumphant Return to Live Stage on 'The Voice'
19 Jun 2013 | 11:38 amLadies and gentlemen, if we could please have your attention, Cher has something important she'd like to share: She's still got it. HMMMM…. Seems There’s MORE BUZZ,about the way I Looked,Than the way I Performed !!YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSIVE STILL GOT IT !!!!!! — Cher (@cher) June 19, 2013 The 67-year-old pop icon last night showed viewers and attendees of The Voice that age is but a number, flaunting her first appearance on the live stage in a decade. For the NBC show's season four finale, Cher and an ensemble of back-up dancers performed "Woman's World," the first single…
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SmartBrief on Social Media
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Lessons from Japanese politicians' social media faux pas
19 Jun 2013 | 9:27 amJapanese politicians are finding themselves in hot water over their social networking, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, w -More- -
The strategic brilliance of Facebook Home
19 Jun 2013 | 9:27 amFacebook Home is a "brilliant bit of business jujitsu" that effectively pulls the rug out from under conventional mobile-oper -More- -
Facebook will put off video ad format to mid-October
19 Jun 2013 | 9:27 amFacebook is putting off the introduction of video ads until mid-October, according to a source, the second delay of the forma -More- The Social Media ROI Cookbook: Six Ingredients Top Brands Use In this free report, industry expert Altimeter explores the most effective "ingredients" for measuring the revenue impact of social media, providing insights and case studies from an array of top companies. Offerpop is happy to make this penetrating study available to SmartBrief readers. Download it for free! -
Evian serves up "Wimbledon Wiggle" social contest
19 Jun 2013 | 9:27 amEvian is promoting a social contest where tennis fans can submit videos of themselves doing the "Wimbledon Wiggle" for a chan -More- -
The sun is about to set on the telegraph business
19 Jun 2013 | 9:27 amIndia's state-owned telecom company, BSNL, processes about 5,000 telegrams a day, but on July 14 it will shut down the servic -More- Sr. RA Specialist Abbott Medical Optics
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Sensei Marketing
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Ignore Happy Customers At Your Peril
17 Jun 2013 | 4:13 amEarlier this year, along with family and friends, I made my annual pilgrimage to our condo is Orlando, Florida – with fear. It’s not the long lines at Walt Disney World or the hectic Orlando International Airport that I dread; I don’t look forward to flying an American airline with my children who have severe peanut allergies. Unlike Canadian airlines, Delta and other American airlines continue to serve peanuts on their fights, which is problematic for the growing number of people who go into anaphylactic shock from exposure to these small but potent legumes. This means that… -
Marketing Conferences Need an Education
6 Jun 2013 | 7:52 amGo to a marketing conference today and what do you see? On stage you’ll witness many ego-laced presentations and thinly veiled sales pitches from so-called experts. You’ll hear session leaders reiterating content from their blogs and, often, other people’s case studies. In the audience, you’ll see attendees tweeting notable one-liners from the presentation while making plans for that night’s after-party festivities. Days later, attendees are back at their desks running through their daily routines with fond memories of the personal connections they made over cocktails, but few… -
Customer Experience Is NOT Marketing
3 Jun 2013 | 5:17 amMarketers, those experts at telling us what we really want, are now saying customer experience is the new marketing. I’m here to tell you it’s not. So one of the challenges with customer experience, when done well, is how absolutely all-encompassing it is. So, yes, the marketing your company does is part of the customer experience, but it’s not the only part. And, yes, the better your customer experience is in reality, the easier it will be to market your brand. Your customers will evangelize for you, thanks to a superior customer experience. But marketing is still… -
The Lesson from Rana Plaza: Bangladesh’s Disaster and Western Brands
28 May 2013 | 8:38 amIt’s rare for a disaster in the poor parts of the planet to have any impact at all in the rich parts. There are probably two reasons that, together, can make the difference. One is its scale. The other is its connection. The news from Bangladesh that a multi-story factory had collapsed is still sending shock-waves. More than 1100 people are dead, and as of this writing the site is still being combed for bodies. And high-profile western brands have become entangled with what would otherwise be simply one more developing-world tragedy. I was recently in London, England, where I watched a… -
Twitter’s #bizforum debate turns 100
20 May 2013 | 9:41 amOn Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 Twitter’s #bizforum debate turns 100 – 100 weeks old that is. I founded the #bizforum Twitter debate 100 weeks ago in response to both the growing popularity of Twitter chats but also my personal frustration at the levity or thinness of many of them. Many Twitter chats encouraged featured guests or the general public to tweet responses to a series of questions within a specific topic of interest. I saw a need to go beyond the broadcasting that these formats either encouraged or resulted in. #bizforum was an experiment at first. A debate format that…
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Martin Shervington
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Streamline & Automate Online Tasks with IFTTT.com
15 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amAttention: Organisations, businesses and individuals – here’s how to automate many online processes using IFTTT.com Over the past couple of weeks I have been exploring how to use IFTTT.com, especially in the context of Google+… This is a huge application, so I want to introduce some of the basic principles that could make life easier, [...]The post Streamline & Automate Online Tasks with IFTTT.com appeared first on Martin Shervington. -
Google Apps for Business
14 Jun 2013 | 6:31 amGoogle Apps for Business will help companies “discover a better way of working” through their cloud based services. If you have yet to experience Google Apps, it can make a tremendous difference to how you think about collaborative working. Introduction When I starting using Google Apps my online world changed forever. No longer [...]The post Google Apps for Business appeared first on Martin Shervington. -
What is Google Plus? A Complete User Guide. (Videos and Blog)
8 Jun 2013 | 7:57 amIf you think Google Plus is just another social site, you are in for a big surprise. What has been created is, put simply, a phenomenal tool for human communication, and much more. But it takes you to experience it, embrace it and ‘get it’ before this realisation really comes. The complete guide to [...]The post What is Google Plus? A Complete User Guide. (Videos and Blog) appeared first on Martin Shervington. -
The Ultimate Google+ Quickstarter Guide (VIDEO)
4 Jun 2013 | 12:00 amThis is a step-by-step tutorial for people looking to get started on Google+, perfect if you want to build up a following, like the one you may have on Twitter and Facebook – but you must keep in mind that Google+ is rather different! Introduction (AWESOME NEW VIDEO!) I know [...]The post The Ultimate Google+ Quickstarter Guide (VIDEO) appeared first on Martin Shervington. -
What is ‘Google Adwords’? And how to use it with ‘Google Plus’ to improve business…
30 May 2013 | 1:00 amGoogle Adwords is the advertising system from Google. If you have a website you may well already be ‘paying per click’ for relevant traffic. But how about the relationship between Google Plus and Google Adwords? Well, this is something you will may well want to explore as well as it could increase your results… Introduction [...]The post What is ‘Google Adwords’? And how to use it with ‘Google Plus’ to improve business… appeared first on Martin Shervington.
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Social Solutions Collective
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4-Step Battle Plan to Destroy Productivity Terrorists & Work Distractions
19 Jun 2013 | 5:07 amFor over 40% of couch warriors, home-workers, & other solo & small-biz owners, the number one obstacle to achieving business goals is “time management.” (Source: The Word Chef’s Solopreneurs and Online Marketing Survey Summary & Report[...]Author informationAnnie SiskAnnie Sisk is a web developer, copywriter, and digital marketing consultant who writes about business productivity at Pajama Productivity. Annie hates stilettos, and loves fuzzy slippers & yoga pants; dark French roast coffee with half-and-half, real sugar, and a dollop of ground cinnamon; Alice… -
Declutter Your Business Day!
19 Jun 2013 | 4:59 am5 Common Sense Time Management Tips Time Management should be your best friend. One of the biggest challenges small business owners face is time management. In the scramble to reel in clients and run the[...]Author informationNancy BabcockOwner at Creative Arts Consulting, LLC.Nancy Babcock – Nancy is the owner of Creative Art Consulting LLC, a social media marketing business dedicated to supporting small business owners, non-profits, and organizations with their social media presence. Nancy made the leap from a 30 year corporate career as a financial business analyst to starting her own… -
Common Sense Tips for Webinar Success
18 Jun 2013 | 5:19 amThis month, the Social Solutions Collective is focusing on “Common Sense and Social Business” as our theme leading up to Social Media Day with the SSC on June 30. When it comes to Webinars, there[...]Author informationTara LamboleyOwner at REV DemandAfter serving in the trenches of technology sales and marketing for over 16 years, Tara Lamboley founded REV Demand in 2011. REV focuses on helping owners of B2B services organizations achieve the sales success they envisioned when starting out in business. Tara has found that one of the best ways for B2B companies to build an interested… -
Common Sense Truths For Authenticity
18 Jun 2013 | 5:03 amThe secret to authentic social media engagement is revealing your personality and speaking to followers like they are friends, not sales clients. After all, they expect more than just promotions, customer service and product photos. Your followers[...]Author informationWilliesha MorrisAdministrative Consultant & Freelance WriterWilliesha Morris has a passion for all things internet. She's taken her experiences as a writer and administrative consultant and melded them with her love of the Web. She now works with entrepreneurs and small businesses with administrative projects, finding their… -
Give A Hoot For Common Sense
17 Jun 2013 | 5:13 amThis month the Social Solutions Collective is focusing on common sense and social business and sharing tips and tricks about using social media effectively without forgetting common sense. How about we take a look at[...]Author informationLaurie ThompsonOwner at SiteMastLaurie is the ship's captain at SiteMast, where WordPress and Social Media meet. She obtained SiteMast over a year ago, and is thrilled to keep SiteMast's legacy going for the coming years. Originally, SiteMast dealt with WordPress only, but slowly and surely the boat is sailing into the busy waters of Social Media. Laurie's…
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Social Media Today
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Social Startups: Nexgate Protects Social Media Messaging from Within and Without
19 Jun 2013 | 8:59 pm“The reality today is you need technology to automate enforcement of social media guidelines and policies,” said Nexgate co-founder and CEO Devin Redmond. “Put guardrails on the roadside and let people go as long as the safeguards are in place.” -
ModCloth: A Rad (and Obvious) Social Media Strategy
19 Jun 2013 | 6:03 pmBrands should delight. Really, that’s what it all comes down to, right? I experienced this “stand a little straighter and smile a little wider” feeling just the other day when I was, uh, shopping online (something I rarely do. PROMISE). Let me tell you about it. -
Pinterest vs. Google+: It's All About the Visuals
19 Jun 2013 | 12:18 pmIf you keep up with the trends in social media, it's no secret that visual content is all the rage these days -- so it's no wonder that social sites are adapting quickly. For now, your target audience may be on Pinterest, but that doesn't mean they won't be tied into G+ sooner than you or they think. -
4 Tools That Make It Easier to Follow Your Friends on Social Media
19 Jun 2013 | 8:32 amOver the past decade, social media has become a popular way to connect and communicate with friends online. But privacy settings on the various networks can make it difficult to find your friends through a simple name search. Here are four of the best tools for reconnecting. -
Brand Management Using Social Media: Alerts and Reporting
19 Jun 2013 | 7:00 amNowadays a brand’s reputation depends in a large part on the online activity and conversations around it. If customers react in a negative way to a certain service or marketing campaign on social media, the influence on the brand’s reputation can be enormous.
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Social Media Explorer
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When to Separate Your Brand From an Emotional Event
19 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amWithin the past 12 months, we’ve seen no shortage of disasters that range from Hurricane Sandy, the mass shooting in Aurora and most recently the Boston Marathon bombings. For some brands, it may appear that the marketing window of opportunity has opened; if so, my advice to you is, shut that window and board it up… immediately. Brands that refuse to shut the window and proceed to capitalize on these emotional events as a springboard for marketing ploys have quickly joined the ranks of ‘worst social media disasters of the year’. Just ask American Apparel (20% Off Sale during Hurricane… -
Life is Good Playmakers – #GivingTuesday
18 Jun 2013 | 11:00 amFew brands attract my love and devotion as strongly as Life is good. Their simple shirts, hats and other accessories have always made me smile. The vibe matches my love of the outdoors, a good dog and a kicked back approach to life. But, today I don’t walk to talk about their clothes and instead share with you something much more important and that is the work that The Life is good Playmakers do to help kids overcome poverty, violence, and illness by using the power of joyful play to heal and strengthen children. When you read their story about starting in 1990 as Project Joy and it… -
The B2B Sales Power Punch
18 Jun 2013 | 5:46 amMarketing has been shining the spotlight on the power of social media over the last few years. It’s been effective as we’ve seen budgets for social media and content marketing increase with hockey stick proportions. Now it’s time to add a new team in the race and look at how these tools can be used to drive sales in the organization. That means we need to take a hard look at where the sales team fits in the mix. I know a few of you just visibly cringed as you think of letting your sales team loose on social media channels, but the reality is that many of them are already there. If… -
Rebooting With Mitch Joel
17 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amThere are few authors I’d recommend buying their books based solely on who they are and what they know. But Mitch Joel is one of them. With his first book, Six Pixels of Separation (Business Plus, 2010) he solidified his reputation as one of the leading minds in digital marketing. His new book, CTR ALT DEL: Reboot Your Business. Reboot Your Life. Your Future Depends On It (XXXX, 2013) Joel is at it again, telling us what we need to know to be successful tomorrow, not just today. The book goes beyond “be social” and “think mobile first” and makes the media… -
5 Key Elements of Viral Content [Infographic]
14 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amThe goal of every content marketer is to have his/her information shared across digital channels by their audiences. This is often easier said than done. What factors contribute to people sharing the content they consume online? In researching the content for this infographic I came across a post in my Delicious archive that helps answer this question. Leo Widrich over on the Buffer Blog wrote a great post about what makes content spread. In it, he analyzes some of the elements that helped one particular blog post get over half a million likes. He also references an interesting research paper…
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Peg Fitzpatrick
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Get ready to rock your Google+
14 Jun 2013 | 6:00 amFive down and dirty tips to rock the socks off your Google+! Are you ready for this week’s Fab Five Friday? Google+ can be a tough neighborhood to break into when you first start. So... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Being Guy Kawasaki’s +1 for the Day
10 Jun 2013 | 5:50 amMany people have asked me what it’s like to work with Guy Kawasaki so I thought I would share a little bit about it. Guy recently wrote an article for Hubspot which outlines the social media... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Writing is a risk
3 Jun 2013 | 6:00 amAre you willing to take the risk? The risk of writing is revealing yourself, unwrapping the layers of your ideas and sharing them with your readers. Will everyone like or identify with everything you... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Have passport, will travel
27 May 2013 | 6:00 amMeeting new people is one of my favorite things about social media. Being active on Google+ has led me to a whole new circle of friends. I’d like to introduce you to one of my new friends:... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
5 branding tuneup tips
24 May 2013 | 5:31 amHow is your social media presence? When’s the last time you gave it an overall tuneup? Being consistent throughout your social media presence is very important but one of the things that... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Social Media Era Of Poking
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Corporate Culture: Bring Your Own Device?
11 Jun 2013 | 11:07 amThese days, everyone has their “device” of choice. There’s always been a great divide of sorts when it comes to people who favor Apple products versus those who prefer PCs. Now, there are so many different types of tablets, laptops, smart phones, and desktop computers. In an office setting, it’s nearly impossible to please everyone when it comes to technology. Everyone is used to using their own devices at home and may be loyal to one platform over another. Personally, if you handed me any smartphone other than an iPhone, it would take me a while to figure it out,… -
Social Commerce: What Is It?
11 Jun 2013 | 6:04 amI pride myself on being on the up-and-up when it comes to social media and Internet marketing. I should be, I blog for quite a few social/marketing/business blogs each month! But this week, I came across a topic that was unfamiliar to me. So of course, I had to delve into it further and learn about this mysterious topic. The article that helped me to discover social commerce, or “s-ecommerce” as it is sometimes referred to, describes social commerce as new Internet retail outlets that rely on peer communication and social networks to gain sales. Gibberish? Kind of. But once you… -
Stuck on What to Write/Post/Share?
20 May 2013 | 10:16 amLet’s face it, whether you are a business or just a casual user of social media or a blogger, sometimes coming up with original content can be downright difficult. Lacking inspiration and not knowing where to find it can be very frustrating. I’m actually guilty lately of referring to thinking of things to write about as akin to running up against a cement wall. Coming up with new and fresh content can be tough. Sometimes, we get into a rut and just think about posting/writing/sharing the same old topics, over and over again. So how can we break out of this rut? Here are a few… -
LinkedIn: Now Multi-Media
14 May 2013 | 8:45 amLinkedIn is now arguably one of the most important social networks to be a part of, particularly if you are a part of the professional world. LinkedIn allows professionals from all over the world and nearly every industry to connect. Both those who are seeking jobs and those who are looking to hire new employees can take advantage of LinkedIn. The network has grown exponentially in the past few years, and now has millions of users and can compete with the other social media giants like Facebook and Twitter. Your LinkedIn profile is a bit more in-depth than other social media networks that you… -
How to Use Social Media for Marketing Research
8 May 2013 | 8:19 amSocial media has had a massive impact on marketing and the way that consumers view businesses. While many businesses are taking part in social media marketing, many fail to see the market research potential that the platform offers as well. These tips and tricks offer simple, easy to implement ways to turn social media into a powerful marketing research tool. Forming your Marketing Research Plan Before you can begin to sift through your various social media platforms for information, you must first form a research plan. With the sheer amount of information that is constantly streaming across…
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@ProBlogger
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Content Creation vs Content Promotion: Where is the Balance?
18 Jun 2013 | 9:08 amA few days ago we published a post on ProBlogger titled ‘Forget about Marketing: Concentrate on Blogging‘, which led to some interesting discussion on Twitter and in the comments. I love the points author Nicholas Whitmore made in the post but I wanted to give a few thoughts, based on my own experience, on developing great content and promoting your blog. Nicholas wrote some great arguments for focusing your energy on writing great content as the central way of growing your blog. He writes: “When you write and publish awesome content on your blog, good things will come your… -
Don’t Be Lazy: 9 Ways to Blog Smarter and Harder
17 Jun 2013 | 8:37 amThis is a guest contribution from Eric Cummings who writes about art and philosophy for On Violence. I’ve been writing this post for three years. What can I say? I’m lazy. Or I should say, I used to be lazy. That’s not the case anymore. Four years ago, my brother and I started taking our writing career seriously. I now write. A lot. On my days off from work, I regularly put in over ten hour days, just writing, editing and re-writing. I’ve learned how to work, both smarter and harder. You can too. (Finally, an admission: though I wrote down an outline for this post three years… -
Forget about Marketing: Concentrate on Blogging
14 Jun 2013 | 8:24 amThis is a guest contribution by Nicholas Whitmore. The title: What on earth does it mean? Well, recently it seems like a lot of bloggers fancy themselves as marketers. You can’t read a post on a blog without seeing a load of other bloggers commenting at the bottom, with a link back to their own site. Of course other bloggers use black hat SEO tricks and other shady tactics in order to drive traffic to their blog. Each to their own you might say, but at the end of the day life can be much, much easier. If you publish blog content that’s truly awesome, everyone else will market your blog… -
Why Your Blog Posts Are Falling Short of Greatness and What To Do About It
13 Jun 2013 | 9:15 amThis is a guest contribution by Belinda Weaver, marketing copywriter behind The Copy Detective. You’ve finished your latest blog post and it’s pretty good isn’t it, isn’t it? Are you sure? Some bloggers think that coming up with ideas is the hardest part of blogging. Maybe you agree. Personally, I think it’s harder to turn an idea into blogging GOLD. I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Writing a really great blog post isn’t simply down to your writing. Sure, you need to use language that will appeal to your reader, and all your verbs need to be the right way up… -
How to Make Your Blogging Dreams Come True
12 Jun 2013 | 8:42 am“ONE DAY I’ll be a full time blogger!” ‘V’ – my wife – must have heard that statement 100 or more times in 2003-2004. Me posing for my first ever press photo in 2003. Out of shot all my neighbours were watching on and wondering why I was videoing a guy taking a photo of me while sitting in my front yard. It would usually be accompanied by a spread sheet and/or chart in which I showed her how the earnings from my blog had grown from $9 per month to $11 per month and me excitedly talking about how if things kept growing like that I’d be full…
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The Social Media Marketing Blog
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This Week in Social Media – 6/12/2013
12 Jun 2013 | 2:00 pmA roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.Each week, I compose a newsletter for our team that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, social media, mobile, communications and marketing in order to keep our wider team up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in their jobs. These are those links.If you have additional links, sources or ideas that might be helpful, I'd encourage you to add some via a comment below or tag me in Google+. And if you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links in the This Week in… -
The Last Thing the World Needs
6 Jun 2013 | 8:47 pmUPDATE: Gary has been in touch with me. Please see below for a clarification.Not sure if you caught the news today that the very talented and successful Gary Vaynerchuk has chosen an employee to follow him around and document what he says.It's definitely not a suggestion you're likely to see from everyone. Or anyone from that matter. Gary has always been a disruptor. He has a great knack for knowing what makes people tick, how to talk with them, what's coming next and how to position businesses to take advantage of that. I have nothing but admiration for his past work, in what he has done to… -
This Week in Social Media – 6/5/2013
5 Jun 2013 | 8:53 pmA roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.Each week, I compose a newsletter for our team that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, social media, mobile, communications and marketing in order to keep our wider team up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in their jobs. These are those links.If you have additional links, sources or ideas that might be helpful, I'd encourage you to add some via a comment below or tag me in Google+. And if you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links in the This Week in… -
Foursquare - HBO Tie-Up is Brilliant
4 Jun 2013 | 1:34 pm#GameofCones is coming. And our prediction is that it's going to be huge.Already a pop culture phenomenon, HBO's Game of Thrones has been a runaway success online, with more memes than you can swing a sword at and online conversations (particularly on Twitter) that accompany or follow episodes.But the latest iteration is pure genius on the part of HBO and Foursquare. In what looks to be a collaboration between the entertainment outlet and the most popular of check-in apps, the program is called "Game of Cones" and it is set to pit the east coast against the west coast, akin to the struggles… -
This Week in Social Media – 5/29/2013
29 May 2013 | 8:23 pmA roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.Each week, I compose a newsletter that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, social media, mobile, communications and marketing in order to keep our wider team up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in their jobs. These are those links. If you have additional links, sources or ideas that might be helpful, I'd encourage you to add some via a comment below or tag me in Google+. And if you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links in the This Week in Social…
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Social Fresh
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6 Brands That Are Mastering Vine
18 Jun 2013 | 2:30 amVine has seen impressive growth since its January launch. The app was released for Android users earlier this month, and has since surpassed Instagram in both downloads and social shares. With more than 13 million users, and counting, it’s now fair to say that Vine is here to stay. It is also clear that Vine means business. We saw brands jump on the Vine-wagon fast and fearless. However, a few early adopters have since become social dropouts. Take Oreo, for example. After their Superbowl social stunt, there was a lot of positive buzz surrounding the brand. They started off strong on Vine… -
Does Your Content Mean Anything?
17 Jun 2013 | 3:14 amContent marketing is the new happy, fuzzy, buzz word for digital marketing. Here is a glimpse at the growth of the term ‘content marketing’ being searched for on Google over the past few years. It is no where near social or SEO searches, but it is growing at a faster pace. Content is not new mind you. But the term is giving new life to the concept of story telling to help sell stuff. To being useful to your customers. To building relationships with customers through long term value. At our most recent social media conference in Tampa, Ted Rubin (@TedRubin) of CollectiveBias talked… -
Facebook Officially Adds Support for the Hashtag
12 Jun 2013 | 10:58 amWelcome to #Hashbook. Today, after a much anticipated holdout, Facebook hashtags are now a real thing. As we have previously written about here on Social Fresh, the hashtag has become a connective thread for users to share their thoughts to a larger audience on social networks. Largely popular on Twitter, Facebook joins a number of other social media sites using hashtags to connect discussions including Instagram, Pinterest, and most recently Google+. From their blog: During primetime television alone, there are between 88 and 100 million Americans engaged on Facebook – roughly a Super… -
Is Schick’s Body Grooming Pinterest Contest Risky or Bold?
12 Jun 2013 | 3:07 amYou wouldn’t normally think that Pinterest and female body grooming go together, but Schick is hoping to stand out and attract the pinning crowd with their unique “Prune for June” campaign launched this month. The contest is centered around five Pinterest boards each dedicated to a different “Trimstyle,” or collection of clothes, food, books, hats, and other things that represent the lifestyle around the topiary stylings one might shave with a Schick Quattro. That’s right, they’re advertising a four-blade razor and waterproof bikini trimmer to women… -
Facebook Ad Changes Are Great For Small Business, But What About Large Advertisers?
11 Jun 2013 | 1:06 pmFacebook announced last week that, in an effort to streamline its ad creation process, the platform will cut the number of ad formats. Retiring ad formats is hardly a new phenomenon, especially with so many new and more effective formats are coming in. But the scale of this change created quite a stir in the online ad world. By cutting half of its 27 ad formats, Facebook is basically revising their whole ad system. The details are currently scant but from the few examples Facebook released to the process the key changes are: Online offer and question ad formats have been cancelled altogether…
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Michelle Lamar
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M2M Technology for Hangers Cleaners
6 Jun 2013 | 6:39 amMachine-to-Machine or M2M communication is a huge opportunity for business growth. Our world is becoming more connected every day. M2M communication enables the flow of data between machines and machines and ultimately machines and people. If you think M2M communication is used only by Fortune 100 companies or that it might be too expensive…think again! Businesses of all sizes are utilizing M2M technology to work smarter and save money. A recent case study shows how businesses can use M2M communication to gain immediate impact. Case Study – Hangers Cleaners Hangers Cleaners… -
Don’t Get on Santa’s Naughty List: Social Media Mistakes
18 Dec 2012 | 11:01 amSpiral16 has a holiday themed social media infographic of the common social media marketing mistakes that will get you on the Big Guy’s naughty list. Let’s be honest–if Santa put everyone who was doing something stupid on the naughty list, it would double! Dig, if you will, an example from this weekend. My friend Henry Copeland, who is CEO of BlogAds pointed out a promotion @kmart launched right after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I think Henry makes an excellent point: Folks have been bashing @kmart for tweeting its toy giveaway hashtag, #fab15toys, in… -
Couple Married in Helzberg Store: Do YOUR Customers Love Your Brand That Much?
12 Dec 2012 | 11:15 amTrue Story: A British couple loved a brand so much that they got married in one of their stores. On Wednesday December 12, Sallie-Anne Shotter and Jon Ross are got married in a Helzberg Diamonds store in Orlando Florida. The retailer hosted the wedding ceremony of Sallie-Anne Shotter and Jon Ross in the Helzberg store in the Florida Mall at Noon. According to the groom: “We knew that we wanted something different for our wedding day, something memorable, but especially fun. To sum everything up, we are getting married in a country we love, in a state we adore, with people who are like… -
Must See Mobile Apps: Over and Netpage
25 Nov 2012 | 8:44 amOver and Netpage are two iPhone apps you can’t miss. This picture was created using Over. I love this app because it allows users to add typography to photos. I’ve tried similar apps but Over is so easy to use! This iPhone app has been out since July–like ten years in the mobile app world–so you might already know about it. Over has gotten raves from the media. Techcrunch wrote a glowing review of the iPhone app: Unlike other photo-editing apps, which let users add filters to make their photos look old-fashioned or fancy or whatever, Over is focused pretty much… -
Twinkies Saved? Gov. Chris Christie on “SNL”
18 Nov 2012 | 12:45 pmThe Hostess Twinkie might be saved from extinction and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appeared on “Weekend Update” on “Saturday Night Live” last night. Coming up on a holiday week, I’m in deep denial about real news and issues! There could still be hope for Twinkie lovers! According Huffington Post, Mexican company Groupo Bimbo might save the Twinkie and other junk food favorites. In 2010, Bimbo bought Sara Lee for $959 million, which includes the Sara Lee brand as well as Entenmann’s and Thomas’ English Muffins. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appeared on…
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Noah Kagan's Okdork.com
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What I learned not eating for 60 hours
12 Jun 2013 | 5:33 pmDuring lunch, while I was scarfing a delicious ham sandwich (bad jew, I know), my friend Charlie Hoehn wasn’t eating. I asked, “What’s up?”. “Oh, I’m on a 7 day fast, ” Charlie said. “WTF. Fer reals,” I said. “Yea, while I was going through some things last year this was one of the few experiences that really helped make my life better,” Charlie said. It also gave him mental clarity like nothing else which made me curious to try. I decided that since I’ve done a 24 hour fast before, going for 60 hours would be pushing myself to the limit. So for 60 hours I… -
How to do Funnel Marketing
21 May 2013 | 3:45 pmWhat’s the first thought you have after you read a really great book? What is it? …Rubs hands together while I use my mind reading skills…. You go look for other books by that author. Why do you think I have bought 5 of Seth Godin’s books? Point being is that if people like your stuff they want more. At the exact moment your customer is interacting with or just found your biz, they are MOST excited! So you want to funnel them into other FUN experiences with you instead of letting them go. They WANT IT. Create a funnel marketing plan to connect them to other fun activities (and… -
How to Get More Subscribers
16 May 2013 | 8:21 pmRecently, I ASSUMED all my Twitter followers also subscribed to this newsletter. But I figured it was worth seeing if that was the case or not. With marketing / business / life, it’s helpful to test your assumptions to see for yourself. So I posted this one tweet: …Got me over 50 new subscribers (daily average is 15) to Okdork. Since it worked on Twitter, I tried posting on Facebook: Can you tell below which day I posted this?? Good guess Okay, let’s check out what I did with My YouTube Channel. I have been hacking with YouTube to grow my readership which I’ll share in FULL detail… -
How I made $2,000 in 20 seconds
30 Apr 2013 | 7:35 pmA few weeks ago I was graciously invited to speak in Australia. They offered to cover flights and hotels. I generally don’t ask for speakers fees cause I love sharing my stories and working with people. And I have put on conferences so I know there are always more costs than expected. …But traveling costs me time, money and I like being at home with my tacos. Because of the coffee challenge, it encouraged me at the end of the conversation, to ask, “What kind of speaker’s fee can you include?” She mentioned, “Uh….I’ll have to ask my team about that.” Noah: “That’s cool. -
One of the Best Cold Emails I’ve EVER Received
18 Apr 2013 | 4:00 amI get about 2 emails a day asking for coffee or advice. Lately, I’ve been deleting them because no one takes even a minute to write a well crafted email. I used to feel guilty but I figure since the person is being selfish, I can be as well. A few days ago I got a surprising email from Dave Daily. BLEW MY MIND. I want to share what an amazing cold email looks like (and dissect WHY it’s so great). Subject: How I lost your Sperry’s.. and apt. And why you should meet with me. (He referenced spending money to meet me already. SEE ARTICLE.) I kept bidding them up.. to…
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socialmouths
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5 Ways to Thank Community on Social Media
18 Jun 2013 | 9:09 amThis is a guest post by Shanna Mallon from Straight North. Using social media is about more than promoting yourself and your brand—It’s about building meaningful connections and nurturing them over time. One powerful way to foster these relationships is through gratitude. When you show heartfelt thanks to the people and companies helping you grow, you demonstrate the kind of thoughtfulness and intention that fuel real connection. So how do you use social networks to thank your budding community? Here are five ideas. On Twitter: Give Someone a Shout-Out Thank the blogger who linked to… -
How To Make Content Marketing Work For Your Business
12 Jun 2013 | 9:01 amGuest post by Josh Pigford, founder of Temper Content marketing may be the new buzz word in digital media, but many businesses are wary of what it means for them. Study after study have shown that this marketing method can be hugely effective for turning your audience into paying customers, but it does require a lot of work. A successful content marketing strategy relies on sharing a regular stream of quality content, and producing this takes a big time investment and a lot of creative thought. The question that many businesses are asking is this: is content marketing worth the effort? What… -
Is Your Facebook Page Performing Above Or Below Average? [Infographic]
24 May 2013 | 10:39 amFacebook is one of the hardest marketing segments to understand for small businesses. Lets be honest, many of them don’t understand it at all. One of the things I always notice is the uncertainty of not knowing if the Facebook Page should perform better. Should we be getting more comments or more Likes based on the size of the fan base? This Infographic by Quintly shows a report of the average engagement Pages get based on their number of Fans/Likes in April 2013. Look for the correct bracket to figure out if your Page is performing above or below average. While this will definitely… -
Building Loyalty through Social Media
22 May 2013 | 9:16 amGuest post by Eileen Bernardo from Viralheat. Loyalty evokes a strong sense of emotion in human beings and is one of the pillars that support successful relationships. Business relationships between brand and customer are no different. When a consumer feels loyalty to a particular brand or product, they tend to stay lifelong supporters and champions of the brand. They promote the product to their peers and continue to look forward to and purchase newer models, editions, etc. Since its evolution and subsequent adoption, social media has changed the way businesses interact with their… -
Facebook Ads vs Promoted Posts: A Side-by-Side Comparison
14 May 2013 | 8:52 amGuest post by Kapil Jekishan from Latestcrunchs Targeting your audience on Facebook is not only painful, but confusing – especially if you want to go down the ‘organic’ path. Hey, I can’t blame them, as any business with interested parties and dollar driven investors want return on their profits. So whilst I don’t agree, I can understand why Facebook has made it difficult for business owners to connect with their followers unless you show them the money. Understandably, several individuals are unhappy with this new paid approach, including Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, who…
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Bazaarvoice blog
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Fix these broken links in your participation chain
19 Jun 2013 | 7:38 amThe term “warm lead” has been a part of sales-speak even longer than “Coffee is for closers.” The idea is that a potential customer who’s already engaged or indicated interest is easier to close. Once a customer interacts in any way, any action that leaves them at a dead end is a failure on the part of the retailer. A participation chain builds small consumer interactions in a logical progression, continuously increasing engagement and maximizing customer lifetime value. Here are a few possible broken links in your participation chain, and how to fix them. In-store: “Just… -
How finserv brands drive revenue through customer conversations
18 Jun 2013 | 8:07 amLet’s face it: Consumers don’t have much trust in the financial industry right now. The recent financial crises have led to a trust deficit; half of consumers say their confidence in the banking industry decreased in 2012. But smart firms are regaining consumers’ confidence by leaning on the people consumers actually do trust – customers like them – for their paid and owned media. Reviews drive acquisition on the brand site As is the case for most high-consideration purchases, consumers research financial products heavily before choosing a brand. Many of them consult feedback from… -
Fast-food chain “proposes” to its biggest social fans, & three more stories
17 Jun 2013 | 7:25 amI’m always on the lookout for interesting articles to share. You can share articles you find interesting with me on Twitter at @Bazaarvoice. Taco Bell puts 8 buzzy rings on it By Bruce Horovitz for USA Today Taco Bell has come up with an idea to get its most influential social fans “engaged.” The company recently sent out eight unique scripted rings to fans who love to tweet and post photos about the brand on Instagram – returning their love with (what else!) jewelry. A handwritten note accompanied each of the rings, which Taco Bell says are symbols of their appreciation for… -
How online-only retailers can sell in the physical world
12 Jun 2013 | 7:12 amWe often discuss how brick-and-mortar stores must become omnichannel, creating online and mobile presences to keep up with channel-agnostic consumers. But what about online-only retailers? They too would benefit from an omnichannel presence in the physical world. Previously online-only eyewear brand Warby Parker recently opened its first brick-and-mortar store. Founder Neil Blumenthal says every brand must be both offline and online: “This is the convergence of ecommerce and bricks-and-mortar. The idea that it’s one or the other is ridiculous. Ecommerce as a term will become… -
Connected Perspectives: Doreen Bloch, CEO of Poshly
11 Jun 2013 | 7:15 am“I believe that personalization is the frontier of the web, and the digital space in general,” says Doreen Bloch, founder and CEO of Poshly. In the next installment of our video series, Connected Perspectives, Doreen explores the intersection of data, personalization, and retail – and how highly-personalized retail is becoming possible both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. She illustrates: “What if you’re eventually going to be able to walk into a retail space that is actually completely blank. But then, as soon as you walk in, it personalizes all of the products on…
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Liz Strauss at Successful Blog
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Entrepreneurial Tips – How to Maintain a Positive Attitude
18 Jun 2013 | 5:27 amBy Ronald Alexander As entrepreneurs, we put work just above everything else. Unfortunately, sometimes when we are working toward something, we forget to maintain a positive attitude, which can lead to additional stress and an unhappy all-around life. The 10 tips listed below will help you to stay positive while at the same time driving your business in the right direction. 1. Work with people that you like It’s easy to be unhappy in a business where you are surrounded by negative people all day. This is why it is vital that you hire and work with people who have a positive attitude and… -
How to Drive Traffic to Your Website For Free
17 Jun 2013 | 10:47 amBy Michelle Rebecca Starting a website is easy; driving traffic can be a little more difficult for many that are just getting started doing business online. There are many people out there that will offer plenty of ways to advertise a website, however many of these options can cost a pretty penny over time. In addition to the initial website costs, many businesses can be inundated with online marketing fees. Finding ways to drive traffic with grassroot techniques that are free is an excellent option for those on a tight budget. Search Engine Optimization Tips There are entire books and even… -
Make your yes count by saying no
16 Jun 2013 | 1:00 amSteve Jobs has a quote about focus being not the ability to say “yes,” but is instead the discernment and power to say “no” to everything else that takes you off your course. This is a slight shift in the interpretation of focus, but it makes a huge difference in the way leaders allocate their time and choices if they wish to accomplish their goals. “Learn to say ‘no.’ It will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin.” ~ Charles H. Spurgeon Take a quick inventory of the time you spend each week doing something for someone else. While… -
Tips for Getting More Facebook Shares
14 Jun 2013 | 5:11 amBy Charles Mburugu Everyone would want to have their Facebook posts shared by as many people as possible. A share is somewhat like a vote of confidence, showing that someone values your content enough to share it with others. Therefore, getting many shares enhances your credibility and exposes your Facebook profile or page to a wider audience. Here are some guidelines which will help you increase your Facebook shares. 1. Post at the right time When you post on Facebook is as important as what you post. Therefore, you need to take time to study the Facebook habits of your audience. In most… -
Simple Sentiment Analysis for Small Business
13 Jun 2013 | 5:38 amStop reading this post right now if you’re rolling in cash, have a team of more than 10 people involved in your marketing efforts, or if your social media headquarters looks anything like this: OK, now that those lucky folks are gone, let’s talk reality for most of us. Are you relying solely on Google Alerts to find out what your customers are talking about? Maybe you took it one step further and set up a Hootsuite column to track Twitter mentions. What are you doing with that information as it accumulates? Welcome to the club. But we can all take it up several notches this week, by…
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12 Most
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12 Most Crucial Considerations when Choosing a Brand Name
19 Jun 2013 | 6:00 am12 Most HE6TKNU4H59Q By Annie Pettit After years spent envisioning, developing, and fine-tuning a new product, the funnest part must be dreaming up a brand name. Pick something cool and fun, and people will love and remember your product. But picking a brand name is not nearly as easy as you might think, particularly now that social media [...] -
12 Most Wildy Popular Pins of All Time on Pinterest
18 Jun 2013 | 6:00 am12 Most HE6TKNU4H59Q By Peg Fitzpatrick Pinterest is still growing like a weed and there are some pins that remain popular and continue to spread. Why look at them? They could help improve your pins by looking at what people like, how they named the pins and what they wrote for descriptions. And let’s face it, aren’t [...] -
12 Most Revealing Questions to Consider About Your Future
17 Jun 2013 | 6:00 am12 Most HE6TKNU4H59Q By Carol Ann Stanger Recently I met with a group of young adults who will be making a number of significant decisions over the next few years. Although we typically think about next steps at events like graduation or milestone birthdays, it’s a good idea to keep asking questions about your future. Here are [...] -
12 Most Meaningful Ways to Communicate Today
14 Jun 2013 | 6:00 am12 Most HE6TKNU4H59Q By Jessica Ann Do you ever feel like your communications get lost in translation? And you’re not starring in the movie alongside Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson? Yeah. Digital communications can do that to you. Even though we’re now more connected than ever, the need to be “always on” can dilute your impact. The varying [...] -
12 Most Massive Worries to Stop Sweating During Your Next Presentation
13 Jun 2013 | 6:00 am12 Most HE6TKNU4H59Q By Dr. Michelle Mazur Do you want to look good on stage during your next presentation? Professional speaker and 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking, Darren LaCroix, posed this question during a presentation at a recent conference I attended. Hands shot up all across the room including mine. Of course, I want to look good on stage. [...]
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chrisbrogan.com
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Not Getting My Podcast?
13 Jun 2013 | 6:35 amWhat? You’re not getting my podcast? Get it HERE. You can: Subscribe via Stitcher Radio (my favorite!) Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe on the Blackberry Network and you can subscribe to me via the Zune part of the XBOX Live store, but there are no direct links (sorry about that)! Want a simple RSS link? I have that too. Also, if you’re not yet subscribed to my free newsletter, it’s highly recommended. : ) Want the most recent episode? Make Your Own Damned Show I’d LOVE to see you there. Already Subscribed? May I BEG you for an iTunes Review? That link goes to the SIMPLE… -
Marketing Vs Owning Relationships
12 Jun 2013 | 4:28 amThe reason most companies and people have a challenge with their marketing efforts is that they’re trying to market and not own a relationship. I found myself wandering through Boston’s Faneuil Hall the other day and happened upon the band, the Ballroom Thieves playing for a crowd. I love watching musicians in street situations, because I learn a lot about pure business from them. They need to get someone’s attention, wow them enough to motivate that person to put a hand into their pocket, and earn some money. It’s pure marketing and pure sales at its best. And when… -
Ownership Starts From Within
7 Jun 2013 | 1:30 amI wanted to share a thought with you about ownership. Ownership starts from within. You start by realizing one day that you can own your choices. It grows. You accept that you can choose your goals. Then, you realize you can create a kingdom or a world or whatever you want to call it (your domain). And from there, your ownership becomes an obsession. Ownership Starts from Within People always seem to ask about a specific moment where everything changed. I don’t believe in them. I believe there are dozens of moments, hundreds. We think there’s only one shot, like that Eminem song. -
Shift Your Social Media Usage to Fabric Mode
4 Jun 2013 | 4:18 amWhen social media came out and for the next many years, people have treated it like a main course. Ultimately, it’s more like a condiment, or a texture. It’s time to move it to the “fabric” mindset. I was talking with Jacq about our upcoming talk at State of Now about how one starts a health reboot. In brainstorming, we both realized that we use social media and social networking tools to help with various aspects of our fitness and health. But we don’t make a “thing” out of it. We just do it. The tools just get us to the information and the people. -
Sponsored Post – Two Weeks of Office365 and Windows
31 May 2013 | 4:44 amI decided to challenge myself and really put Office365 to the test. The following is sponsored by Cloud Powered Work, which is a project with IDG, LinkedIn, and Microsoft’s Office365. Everything in this post is mine, and my opinions are my own. I’ve been dabbling with and enjoying the experience of working with my Dell XPS10 tablet for a month or two now, and I really dig the new Office365 experience. The thing is, my entire business runs on a totally different operating system and using a completely different suite of cloud tools. So I’ve really only been dabbling all this…
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Spiral16
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The Power of the Hashtag: Creation and Adoption
18 Jun 2013 | 11:48 amHashtags are all the rage. They have been for awhile now. I could tell they were reaching some sort of mass culture tipping point the moment people started asking me: “Hey, aren’t you a social media guy? What are those words in the bottom corner of all the TV shows?” This year during the Super Bowl, one of the more amazing stats was that Twitter was being mentioned in 50% of the total Super Bowl ads, up 300% from 2012. Facebook, by comparison, saw a 50% drop in mentions in TV ads. The reason? Hashtags. Now that Facebook is rolling out support for hashtags, everyone is… -
What Do Facebook #Hashtags Mean for Social Marketers?
13 Jun 2013 | 10:15 amNow that Facebook has started to roll out hashtag support,* what exactly does this mean for marketers? I suppose the move was inevitable. After all, it’s the users who have defined the most useful aspects of social media networks since the beginning. Hashtags and retweets are now part of everyday conversation, both on and off the social media grid, while less useful platform trends have fallen by the wayside. Since hashtags are already huge on Twitter, and used to smaller degrees on Google+ and Instagram, it makes sense that Facebook would would ultimately give in and start supporting… -
New Social Media Data in the KUBoobs Controversy
11 Jun 2013 | 1:51 pmThe people behind @KUBoobs are giving the University of Kansas a masterclass in social media PR management right now. Yesterday, the entity known as KUBoobs, which collects user-submitted cleavage pictures of girls wearing KU merchandise, posted this on their Facebook and Twitter accounts: KU Boobs has been ordered to cease and desist by The University of Kansas by June 12, 2013. — KU Boobs (@KUboobs) June 11, 2013 This led many to believe that KU was shutting down the entire operation, or “boobment,” as it’s been called. Instantly, tweets spread throughout the web and… -
Is Social Media Effective in Lead Generation and Affecting Purchase Decisions? [INFOGRAPHIC]
10 Jun 2013 | 9:09 amLet’s face it: Not all infographics are created equal. We like them because they are able to convey a good amount of useful information in a graphically pleasing way. It’s more fun to browse an infographic than it is to read a huge block of text. The following social media infographic is a bit all over the place. It contains some recommendations for companies using social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, but most of that stuff is very basic. There were a couple of stats (from sources that were all over the map) that I zeroed in on and so… -
Do You Need to Change Your Content Strategy?
6 Jun 2013 | 8:15 amOnline content creation, curation, and development are critical to the success of any business. An effective content strategy can increase brand awareness, lead to customer acquisition, foster lead generation, and improve customer loyalty. Everybody from Coca-Cola to American Express are telling stories and becoming helpful resources, while tying in their relevant products and services. But does your company’s content strategy require a reboot? Triple Down on Content Gary Vaynerchuck, one of the first recipients of social media rock star status, has relaunched his blog and says he is…
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New Media Expo Blog
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How to Use the Scientific Method to Write Better Blog Posts
18 Jun 2013 | 10:00 amDespite science not being a strength for me in elementary school, lesson I do remember is the scientific method. I liked the step-by-step process of discovery, and even won the fourth-grade science fair because I was so good at executing this method of experimentation. If you think elementary school science has no bearing in your life, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to use the scientific method to write blog posts. Not every blog posts lends itself well to the scientific method, but if you’re testing a theory or making an argument, it can help lend credibility to your… -
Special Announcement: Introducing Our First Group of Speakers for NMX 2014!
17 Jun 2013 | 6:00 amThis year, we opened registration for NMX earlier than ever before. Today, we’re happy to announce our first group of speakers, which includes several NMX speaker alumni and a few new faces. Early bird ticket prices expire this week, so if you haven’t yet picked up your ticket, register now to see sessions with the following speakers: Aaron Hockley Aaron is no stranger to the NMX stage. In addition to speaking at NMX, he has also written several posts here on the NMX blog. Check out his posts “Image Manipulation Tricks For Bloggers!” and “More Than Words: Better… -
How Social Media is Changing the Face of Hiring
14 Jun 2013 | 10:00 amSocial media has made a huge impact on recruitment and the recruitment process. Companies, head hunters, and recruitment agencies are turning to social media sites to promote available positions, research potential applicants, and make a decision on whether the applicant they have chosen is the best match for their business. On average, recruitment statistics show that around 89% will use social media at some point during the recruitment process to make a decision, with 80% of recruitment agencies using LinkedIn in particular to find potential applicants for positions they are working on. Why… -
10 Tips You Didn’t Know About Attending Conferences
13 Jun 2013 | 10:00 amI’ve been working with NMX for about three years now, and it amazes me the behind-the-scenes info I’ve learned in that time. In order to make your next conference experience go a little more smoothly, I put together this blog post to share some of the secrets I’ve learned. I hope to see you at NMX 2014 putting these tips into effect! (Register for NMX here.) 1. Our hands are often tied…but it can’t hurt to ask. Talk to us! If you have a creative idea or a request, always reach out to the conference staff. Often, the answer you’ll get is no, but don’t… -
How Lying Can Vastly Improve Your Blog
12 Jun 2013 | 10:00 amAllison Boyer (that’s me) is a liar. Lest I be accused of sensationalizing a title for a post that doesn’t live up to the hype, I want clarify something right now. This post is not going to be able how to trick or mislead your readers. So before you start thinking I’m a major scumbag, please understand that I’m only a huge, stinkin’ liar, but to one person: myself. And this post is going to teach you how I lie to myself and why it has helped me vastly improve my posts. It all started with a challenge to myself. After NMX 2013, I heard someone mention that they…
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News from SMP
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Salesforce.com acquires ExactTarget for $2.5 billion
3 Jun 2013 | 5:00 pmSalesforce.com snaps up digital marketing service ExactTarget for $2.5 billionCRM software company salesforce.com agrees to acquire digital marketing SaaS ExactTarget for $2.5 billion Customer relationship management (CRM) platform salesforce.com ... -
Baidu $370 million acquisition creates largest Chinese video platform
6 May 2013 | 5:00 pmISP Baidu creates largest Chinese video platform with $370 million acquisition of PPSChinese ISP Baidu creates China’s biggest internet video provider with acquisition of PPS for $370 million and merging it with its own service iQiyiChinese intern... -
FSB hits out at London streets with Parking Crowdmap
11 Apr 2013 | 5:00 pmFederation of Small Businesses runs social media campaign to highlight impact of parking on London's high streetThe Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has today announced a new tool it hopes will tackle what it describes as a ‘burning political ... -
The British Library to archive a 100 terabytes of web data annually
8 Apr 2013 | 5:00 pmThe British Library to archive a 100 terabytes of data annually to capture the webThe British Library five other libraries will archive 100 terabytes of data annually including UK webpages in a preservative initiative called ‘Capturing the Digital... -
Cyberbullying gets taught a lesson with SUBMIT Documentary Film campaign
26 Mar 2013 | 5:00 pmCyberbullying gets taught a lesson with SUBMIT Documentary Film campaignProducers and filmmakers use film combined with digital and social media to raise awareness of cyberbullying SUBMIT The Documentary initiative integrates face-to-face connecti...
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idaconcpts.com - Ideas and Concepts from Damian Davila
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5 Cool Education Tools to Check Out in Summer
7 Jun 2013 | 9:59 amNothing has made getting smarter easier than the advent of the personal computer and the inception of the internet, and the last decade has seen a huge crop of deep and deeply interesting educational opportunities present themselves online. From toddlers learning their ABCs to adults looking to advance their knowledge of infinitely complex subjects, there is simply no topic left unexplored by the virtual world at large. Whether you’ve got children to keep on their toes over the warm, lazy months, or you’re looking for a way to effectively spend your own sunny afternoons, here are… -
Getting More Out of Your IP Network with SIP Trunking
4 Jun 2013 | 11:17 pmAt idaconcpts.com, we have discussed about VoIP smartphone apps quite a bit. While the use of these apps works quite well for personal use or even small business situations, they do not meet the necessary requirements of medium to large businesses. Larger scale businesses require communication solutions that are able to handle calls between locations with several extensions spread across large distances and power features such as negotiating capabilities and features among all session participants. In this article we will discuss how you can get more out of your IP network through SIP… -
Bill Gates’s Favorite Ed-Tech Startups
3 Jun 2013 | 9:29 pmThe Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF or the Gates Foundation) aims, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and in America, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology. Given that it is the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world, the views of their founders in education have tremendous repercussion within that field. Therefore, it is interesting to learn what Bill Gates’ favorite ed-tech startups are. Here is the list. InBloom What it does: Its services and apps make it easy for educators to find… -
Top Tips For Packaging Your Goods
23 May 2013 | 1:13 pmIf you sell and deliver products in any way, then you may be forgiven for thinking that packaging isn’t the most important aspect of all. Perhaps you have come up with a brilliant product that you are proud of and you see this as the true selling point of your business – as your crowning achievement. You will probably then focus on your web design and marketing, to make sure that people can find out about it and get the information they need and on your profit margins and manufacturing process. As long as it gets there, who cares how it’s wrapped right? Well actually this is… -
4 Great Gadgets for Ocean Sports
10 May 2013 | 2:00 amSince 2007 I have called Honolulu, Hawaii my home. After traveling around the world for many years, from Ecuador to the United States to Canada to Germany to Italy to Mexico and then back to the United States, I cannot imagine living anywhere else. Living in the island of Oahu, I am surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and I love it. With my wife we love to practice many ocean sports, particularly surfing, stand-up paddle boarding and spearfishing. Based on our ocean adventures here in Hawaii, I recommend these four great gadgets for ocean sports. Underwater Camera If you don’t have a…
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Forum One Blog Posts - All Blogs
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A Web Designer's Burden: Conveying Truth
17 Jun 2013 | 9:11 amThis year has been filled with fascinating articles in the news that bring attention to photo manipulation. A rather benign example occurred during the reporting of the Oscars. Take a close look at the photos below. Do you remember which dress the FLOTUS actually wore? This year has been filled with fascinating articles in the news that bring attention to photo manipulation. A rather benign example occurred during the reporting of the Oscars. Take a close look at the photos below. Do you remember which dress the FLOTUS actually wore? read more -
Social Media for Disaster Relief
6 Jun 2013 | 12:14 pmSocial media has become an important tool in helping to plan for, assess, and recover from disasters. Whether used by citizens, aid organizations or world governments social media is enabling those providing assistance to organize and mobilize more quickly than ever before. Here are some examples of how social media has improved disaster relief. Social media has become an important tool in helping to plan for, assess, and recover from disasters. Whether used by citizens, aid organizations or world governments social media is enabling those providing assistance to organize and mobilize more… -
Top 10 Insights from DrupalCon 2013
3 Jun 2013 | 12:31 pmLast week, 17 Forum One developers and strategists joined 3,300 other Drupalers in Portland, Oregon, for the biggest DrupalCon conference ever. We had a “Nodetorious-ly” good time, convening with the Drupal community, learning about the future of Drupal, and exploring Portland. Last week, 17 Forum One developers and strategists joined 3,300 other Drupalers in Portland, Oregon, for the biggest DrupalCon conference ever. We had a “Nodetorious-ly” good time, convening with the Drupal community, learning about the future of Drupal, and exploring Portland. read more -
Can Social Media Help Developing Countries? Absolutely!
3 Jun 2013 | 6:44 amAt a recent Technology Salon Event in Washington D.C. about 30 people from across the development community focused on strategies for using social media for international development. The wide-ranging conversation included many great ideas. We thought we'd take a few minutes to document some of the many ways in which social media can help with international development and promotion of civil society: At a recent Technology Salon Event in Washington D.C. about 30 people from across the development community focused on strategies for using social media for international development. The… -
Forum One's Responsive Prototyping Tool (Proty) Gets an Update
21 May 2013 | 9:18 amWe have great news! Forum One just made a bunch of updates to our responsive prototyping tool, Proty, to make it even easier for you to explore solutions to your digital communication challenges. The new version of the Proty HTML prototyping Firefox extension has been released. This version features several improvements including: We have great news! Forum One just made a bunch of updates to our responsive prototyping tool, Proty, to make it even easier for you to explore solutions to your digital communication challenges. read more
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NowSourcing.Com » Blog
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Ditch the Tie, Dad Wants Bacon!
12 Jun 2013 | 9:01 am -
Health of the Boomer Generation
12 Jun 2013 | 8:25 am -
A Toast to Wine
7 Jun 2013 | 2:44 pmProduced by SpareFoot. Copyright 2013. -
This Week in Infographics #64: Would You Like Cheese With That?
6 Jun 2013 | 12:39 pmWould you like cheese with that? This week everyone is whining (pun intended). The first infographic takes a look at wine. I personally enjoy nothing more than a nice glass of wine and looks like I’m not the only one. This first infographic looks at the numbers behind America’s love of vino. Then we take a look at allergens in the United States. Allergies suck, thats for sure. This infographic highlights the states with the most allergens as well as some tips on how to relieve your allergies. Next up we take a look at kids these days. Children definitely don’t have it easy. -
Pollen, Pollen Everywhere: Allergens in the U.S.
4 Jun 2013 | 12:18 pmFrom: Bankrate Insurance’s InsuranceQuotes.com
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ManagingCommunities.com
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10 Years Ago Today, Heidi Joined My Staff as a Moderator
17 Jun 2013 | 4:42 pmPlease Update Your ManagingCommunities.com RSS Feed Subscription This feed has moved to: http://feeds.managingcommunities.com/managingcommunities I apologize for the trouble. For more details, please read my post on the matter. Thank you. -
Creative People: Listen to Your Community, But Don’t Let Them Tell You What to Do
13 Jun 2013 | 2:02 pmPlease Update Your ManagingCommunities.com RSS Feed Subscription This feed has moved to: http://feeds.managingcommunities.com/managingcommunities I apologize for the trouble. For more details, please read my post on the matter. Thank you. -
Sharing Your Star is One of the Keys to Staying Relevant (a Lesson from Diddy)
10 Jun 2013 | 11:56 amPlease Update Your ManagingCommunities.com RSS Feed Subscription This feed has moved to: http://feeds.managingcommunities.com/managingcommunities I apologize for the trouble. For more details, please read my post on the matter. Thank you. -
Are Online Forums That Don’t Make Any Money Worth Any Money?
6 Jun 2013 | 4:12 pmPlease Update Your ManagingCommunities.com RSS Feed Subscription This feed has moved to: http://feeds.managingcommunities.com/managingcommunities I apologize for the trouble. For more details, please read my post on the matter. Thank you. -
Community Managers Know Where the Bodies Are Buried
3 Jun 2013 | 1:20 pmPlease Update Your ManagingCommunities.com RSS Feed Subscription This feed has moved to: http://feeds.managingcommunities.com/managingcommunities I apologize for the trouble. For more details, please read my post on the matter. Thank you.
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Bokardo
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Mobile-only users?
4 Jun 2013 | 9:14 amNice piece in HBR by Karen McGrane: The Rise of the Mobile-Only User, pointing out that mobile use isn’t just a secondary use case or a killing-five-minutes use case. Money quote: “Mobile-only users aren’t some strange new breed of customer, signaling their desire for different messages, content, and services through their choice of screen size and form factor. They’re just your customer. You can and should speak to them in same way you address all your other customers. They just want to engage with you on the device that’s most useful and convenient for… -
How important is that feature?
3 Jun 2013 | 6:04 amGreat piece by Ken Norton of Google Ventures on feature importance isn’t just linear, but is often order-of-magnitude different: Babe Ruth and Feature Lists. Ken provides a clear example of how the most important feature may be way, way more important than the second or third one. Also, though, one thing bothered me a bit about the article. While formatting was the most important feature in this case, the product wouldn’t have been the product without its collaboration features. While “Sharing” and “Commenting” were on the list of feature priorities Ken… -
The importance of sketching in product design
31 May 2013 | 6:31 amThere are a lot of hurdles to creating an effective product team. Perhaps the biggest hurdle of all is managing the relationships among the product team members and how those relationships affect the process they use to envision, design, and build the product they’re working on. The relationship between designers and product managers is a particularly interesting one because both parties often want to do a little bit of what the other is responsible for. Many PMs want to do some of the product design and many designers want to guide where the product is going. It’s a fuzzy line,… -
Justifying fit and finish
2 May 2013 | 6:13 amIf you’re a product designer this is one of the most important topics you have to deal with. Braden Kowitz of Google Ventures Design, in his recent post Why you should move that button 3px to the left: “Designers notice the gap between functional and delightful, and that’s why we obsess over the little details. But there’s a very real tradeoff between perfecting the design details and building more functionality: getting the details right often means moving slower…So it’s not enough to say “it looks better this way”. Designers need to make a case for why the team… -
Two goals of giving feedback
1 May 2013 | 6:03 amGreat post by Zach Holman of Github: You Won’t Regret Positive Feedback: I think our industry does feedback really poorly. I sure as hell do. My first impulse whenever I see a comp is to shit on it. Honestly. Even if it looks great. Especially if it looks great. We instinctively want to pick apart any deficiencies as soon as possible because that’s how product is created. We build things incrementally, chipping away the rough edges until we have a clean polished surface underneath it all. I think that leads to a feeling that being emotional or cruel is actually helpful during…
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Collective Thoughts
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The Future of Mobility
18 Jun 2013 | 1:31 pmMobile technology is headed towards more personalization. Smartphones will become less touchy, but more sensitive. Improved smartphone features will use gestures and other non-tap inputs to perform operations. In addition to these new features, developers are working on phones use sensors and machine language to recognize other objects. Another goal for mobile technology is to expand its reach to wearable technology. Apple recently received 22 patents for wearable technology in the forms of sneakers, shirts, ski gear, and watches. These devices will be able to do functions such as calculate… -
Is Your Car Safe From Auto Theft? [Infographic]
14 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amAuto theft is a leading crime in the U.S., costing consumers more than $8.2 billion annually. A car is stolen in the U.S. every 26 seconds and only 52% of the cars stolen are ever recovered. Risk factors for theft include car color, model, and make. Neutral colors are stolen most often. Car models which have interchangeable parts are attractive to thieves because they can be broken up and sold for more profit. The Ford F-150, the nation’s most popular pickup truck, is also one of the most commonly stolen vehicles for its parts. To learn more about risk factors and the consequences of auto… -
Green From Room to Room [Infographic]
13 Jun 2013 | 10:57 amAre you looking to make your home more green? For each room, do you know how to best use the color, what shade, and what type of paint to use? Do you know which plants will thrive, and keep the air clean in each room? What flooring is best for each room? The kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom all have their unique qualities that should be accommodated. Check out the infographic below to find out what’s recommended for your renovations, from CertaPro Painters. -
Ditch the Tie, Dad Wants Bacon! [Infographic]
13 Jun 2013 | 6:26 amFather’s Day is ranked fourth among card-sending holidays in the US, racking up a grand total of 90 million cards every year. As for gifts, an estimated $117.14 million was spent on Father’s Day in 2012. This is a 10 percent increase from 2011. Those gifts you’re giving dad may not be what he really wants. A survey of dads found that 35 percent of them want gifts that actually cost money and 13 percent want something electronic. Are material things really the key to dad’s happiness? Apparently not since 40 percent said that they want “quality time” with the… -
A Toast to Wine [Infographic]
12 Jun 2013 | 10:59 amAmericans now make up the largest wine market in the world, consuming 13 percent of the wine produced globally. Almost half of American adults drink wine and 11 percent of wine drinkers take a sip every day. Check out the infogrpahic below presented by SpareFoot to learn more about America’s love of vino.
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Brian Solis
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Small Business Survey: Technology a Challenge and Opportunity, Steve Jobs Recognized as Idol
18 Jun 2013 | 1:32 pmDid you know that the 23 million small businesses in America account for 54% of all U.S. sales? Did you know that small businesses provide 55% of all jobs and 66% of all net new jobs since the 1970s? While big business has eliminated four million jobs since 1990, small businesses added eight million. Why the focus on small business today? It’s National Small Business Week in the United States and to commemorate the occasion, I partnered with Cox Business to discuss the importance of connected consumerism amidst the release of its inaugural small business survey (#SBWSurvey). Available… -
Disruptive Selection: Nature’s Way of Weeding Out the Average Business
13 Jun 2013 | 9:38 amDisruption! It’s everywhere. I live in Silicon Valley where many say that the terms disrupt and disruption have become buzzwords. Pundits believe that the word is losing its promise and impact through the acts and examples of entrepreneurs and businesses that misuse the word to describe intentions rather than associating it with a desired or natural effect. In some of the startup meetings I attend for example, digital disruption is actually a stated business objective. Instead of “killing it” or “crushing it” many businesses are aiming now to disrupt it! Kidding… -
Plugging into the Future of Humanity: Exploring the Human API
4 Jun 2013 | 11:02 amI had the opportunity to present at LeWeb in Paris, arguably Europe’s largest conference dedicated to the future of technology. The theme of the conference explored the Internet of Things, where devices and things connect to one another to perform certain tasks and/or track activities to improve what we already do or make possible what we’re trying to do. The Internet of Things is bigger than we may realize. We are experiencing a shift from a world of inanimate objects and reactive devices to a world where data, intelligence, and computing are distributed, ubiquitous, and networked. My… -
Content is King! Amazon Invests Millions In Original TV Shows…But Why?
31 May 2013 | 9:26 amMy friend Tim Stenovec (@TimSteno) just published a great story on Amazon’s move to create original programming a la Netflix for The Huffington Post. He was kind enough to include me in his article (thank you Tim). He sent along a few questions as I was boarding my flight from NY to LA. As Tim was on deadline, I needed to send a thoughtful response as soon as I’d have the opportunity to turn my phone back on. The quote in italics is what made the cut…but, I also wanted to share the additional thoughts I sent along for context. Amazon’s move is an interesting one indeed… -
Tune in with Twitter TV
30 May 2013 | 4:34 amHave you ever watched TV while using a laptop, smart phone, or tablet? Wait, why am I asking. Of course you have. That’s what we all do now right? So I guess the real question to ask is how often do you use Twitter vs. Facebook while watching TV? In many ways, Twitter is becoming a bona fide second screen experience while watching television. And in many ways, TV may also serve as the second screen to those engrossed in their Twitter streams. If you think about it, the idea that the TV becomes the second screen to digital experiences is rather provocative. Perhaps this is why Twitter is…
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Geek Girlfriends
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Sleep Phones Bring Rest from Snoring and Barking Dogs
11 Jun 2013 | 7:31 pmMy husband snores. My dogs bark at animals that come too close to the house at night. Owls are loud. All of it wakes me up. I still manage to sleep but it’s often irritating sleep. So I was thrilled to try out the cute, cozy Sleep Phones ($40 in black, grey, or lavender.) It’s a simple idea: A fuzzy head wrap with earphones built in. Connect it to a smart phone, iPod, or whatever you have. (There is a wireless version for $100, too. I tried the wired ones.) So it plays whatever sounds you choose to calm you into a blissful slumber and block out the all the sounds that might wake you. -
Busy Day? Put One of These in Your Purse
7 Jun 2013 | 10:31 amWhen I’m busy, I rely on my smart phone. So it’s always on a super busy day, that it decides to start demanding a charge at around dinner time. But I don’t want to stop and charge it. I want to take photos. I want to make phone calls. I want directions. I want to use that time while I’m waiting for my daughter to finish her tennis lesson to catch up on the emails I’ve been ignoring all day. Or I want to use it to tether my tablet to my smart phone’s Internet connection to some of that. So I am a huge fan of the in-purse backup battery. At the… -
Is My Teen Crazy?
6 Jun 2013 | 12:25 pmI have two teenagers. And sometimes I walk away from conversations with them wondering if one of us insane. My daughter has become known for her proclamation, “I am supposed to act crazy! I’m a teenager.” Is all the crazy just drama then? I do know that this is a phase like many others that preceded it and that they will eventually grow out of it. It’s hard to remember that because they look so much like adults. It seems like they are done and should be acting like adults. So I enjoyed spending a few minutes with the graphic above — from the folks who inspired me…
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Dan Zarrella
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[Infographic] Social Calls-to-Action Work
28 May 2013 | 9:37 pmFor more social media data like this, check out my latest book “The Science of Marketing” now! Traditional marketers and sales people have known for years and years that if you want someone to take a specific action, you have to actually ask them to take that action. But for some reason when we made the shift to social media, it suddenly became “uncool” to use calls-to-action. I’ve conducted research into social calls-to-action across multiple channels for the past few years and found that in every place I’ve looked they produce increased action rates. -
[Infographic] How to Get More Likes and Comments on Tumblr
19 May 2013 | 9:03 pmFor more social media data like this, check out my latest book “The Science of Marketing” now! Another social network that has become very popular in the past few years but is marked by a lack of marketing data is Tumblr. It’s a fertile petri dish for some of the web’s most contagious content and has a fascinatingly wide demographic profile. And with the added buzz it’s getting from the much-talked about Yahoo acquisition, social media professionals should not ignore it. Gnip gave me access to the Tumblr firehose a little while back and I used it to collect a… -
[Infographic] Exclamation Points Get More Retweets, but Fewer Clicks
13 May 2013 | 9:10 pmFor more social media data like this, order my latest book “The Science of Marketing” now! In response to a tweeted question from Rand Fishkin I decided to take a quick look at the relationship between exclamation points in tweets and retweets and clicks. I used a dataset of more than 2 million link-containing tweets sent by accounts with at least 1,000 followers and found something interesting. Tweets with exclamation points got more retweets-per-follower, but fewer clicks-per-follower. Tweet This! Share this on Facebook Share this on LinkedIn Share this on Reddit Stumble upon… -
New Data Shows the 7 Most Powerful Calls-to-Action for More Retweets
6 May 2013 | 9:14 pmFor more social media data like this, order my latest book “The Science of Marketing” now! I’m a big fan of social calls-to-action. Previously, I’ve found evidence that they work on Facebook and Twitter. So I wanted to expand my research and see if I could find more words and phrases that were good at spurring people to social action. Using a huge data set of more than 2.7 million Tweets provided to me by the awesome folks at Buffer, I analyzed the use of calls-to-action (like “please retweet”) and their relationship to retweets. To control for number of… -
New Data Shows the Importance of Hashtags on Instagram
29 Apr 2013 | 10:19 pmFor more social media data like this, order my latest book “The Science of Marketing” now! One of the quickest growing social media platforms on the web at the moment is Instagram, but there’s a lack of marketing data about it. I decided to collect data on just over 1 million images posted to the site and found several interesting takeaways. The first, which you’ll find in the infographic below, is the importance of hashtags. Not only do images that include hashtags get more likes than images that do not, there are certain hashtags that are correlated with more likes…
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Bazaarvoice blog
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Fix these broken links in your participation chain
19 Jun 2013 | 7:38 amThe term “warm lead” has been a part of sales-speak even longer than “Coffee is for closers.” The idea is that a potential customer who’s already engaged or indicated interest is easier to close. Once a customer interacts in any way, any action that leaves them at a dead end is a failure on the part of the retailer. A participation chain builds small consumer interactions in a logical progression, continuously increasing engagement and maximizing customer lifetime value. Here are a few possible broken links in your participation chain, and how to fix them. In-store: “Just… -
How finserv brands drive revenue through customer conversations
18 Jun 2013 | 8:07 amLet’s face it: Consumers don’t have much trust in the financial industry right now. The recent financial crises have led to a trust deficit; half of consumers say their confidence in the banking industry decreased in 2012. But smart firms are regaining consumers’ confidence by leaning on the people consumers actually do trust – customers like them – for their paid and owned media. Reviews drive acquisition on the brand site As is the case for most high-consideration purchases, consumers research financial products heavily before choosing a brand. Many of them consult feedback from… -
Fast-food chain “proposes” to its biggest social fans, & three more stories
17 Jun 2013 | 7:25 amI’m always on the lookout for interesting articles to share. You can share articles you find interesting with me on Twitter at @Bazaarvoice. Taco Bell puts 8 buzzy rings on it By Bruce Horovitz for USA Today Taco Bell has come up with an idea to get its most influential social fans “engaged.” The company recently sent out eight unique scripted rings to fans who love to tweet and post photos about the brand on Instagram – returning their love with (what else!) jewelry. A handwritten note accompanied each of the rings, which Taco Bell says are symbols of their appreciation for… -
How online-only retailers can sell in the physical world
12 Jun 2013 | 7:12 amWe often discuss how brick-and-mortar stores must become omnichannel, creating online and mobile presences to keep up with channel-agnostic consumers. But what about online-only retailers? They too would benefit from an omnichannel presence in the physical world. Previously online-only eyewear brand Warby Parker recently opened its first brick-and-mortar store. Founder Neil Blumenthal says every brand must be both offline and online: “This is the convergence of ecommerce and bricks-and-mortar. The idea that it’s one or the other is ridiculous. Ecommerce as a term will become… -
Connected Perspectives: Doreen Bloch, CEO of Poshly
11 Jun 2013 | 7:15 am“I believe that personalization is the frontier of the web, and the digital space in general,” says Doreen Bloch, founder and CEO of Poshly. In the next installment of our video series, Connected Perspectives, Doreen explores the intersection of data, personalization, and retail – and how highly-personalized retail is becoming possible both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. She illustrates: “What if you’re eventually going to be able to walk into a retail space that is actually completely blank. But then, as soon as you walk in, it personalizes all of the products on…
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Beth’s Blog
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Are you a giver, taker, or matcher?
19 Jun 2013 | 6:15 amPoints of Light annual Conference on Volunteering and Service kicks off today. Best Selling Author Adam Grant, “Give and Take” will be doing a big session called “It’s About Science! Unpacking the Relationship Between Volunteering, the Brain and the Body” on June 20th. I was invited to a briefing session with other media and bloggers to learn more. I first head of this book after reading this article in the New York Times back in March, 2013. I immediately ordered a copy and I’ve been reading and re-reading it. So many of the ideas resonate that it is… -
How To Get Started Thinking About Online Peer Learning Communities for Nonprofit Professionals
18 Jun 2013 | 6:07 amNote from Beth: This one of my favorite photos of a workshop I designed and facilitated at SXSW called “Peer Learning Session for Nonprofit Social Media Managers.” The idea was to get folks who do social media for nonprofits sharing best practices about social media adoption and culture change by balancing brief content delivery with lots of interaction. This was a face-to-face session, but the learning was extended online afterwards, albeit briefly, in an organic way on twitter using a hashtag “npsmpeer.” I’ve been interested in this sort of… -
Can Social Media Give the Gift of Life?
14 Jun 2013 | 7:34 amNote from Beth: Two years ago on this blog, Porter Gale published a guest post asking “Can Social Media Save Lives?” and described how Amit Gupta was leveraging his network and social media to find a bone marrow match. This story became a case study in “Measuring the Networked Nonprofit,” to illustrate the value of crowdsourcing and how to measure the return. Taryn Degnan picks up on this them of using social media to save lives to share her observations about the use of social media to find organ donors and her own personal story. Social Media is Saving Lives. -
Reflections and Notes from Personal Democracy Forum 2013
13 Jun 2013 | 6:44 amNote from Beth: If I could wave a magic wand, and ask for a wish related to my work to come true, it would be this: I’d like to spend a year to attend conferences where I don’t know a lot of the content or people and learn and network and blog about the experience. One of those conferences would be the Personal Democracy Forum. Well, a girl can dream, right? The next best thing is to have colleagues who have attended amazing conferences like Personal Democracy Forum and share what they learned. I’m grateful that Kate Wing has offered up this guest post about her… -
The Science Behind Going Viral
12 Jun 2013 | 6:57 amNote from Beth: I’m thrilled to participate in the LinkedIn Influencer Program where I get to write regular posts about leadership, failure, analytics, big data, presenting, and training from a nonprofit perspective. But even better, I’ve had a chance to connect with some of the other amazing folks who write regularly as part of this program. You see, I really enjoy cross-disciplinary learning from other fields and other perspectives. One of the participants is Jonah Berger, Best Selling author of the book, Contagious. We have had a few exchanges about “going…
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Blogworks: India Social Media, Brand Management, Marketing, Consulting, Strategy
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Story in Social Samosa: Narendra Modi Emerges as the Most Mentioned Political Leader on Social Media [Report]
19 Jun 2013 | 5:44 amSocial Samosa recently featured Blogworks’ Most Mentioned Political Leaders January-April 2013 report, which analyses conversations around the most talked-about politicians on social media. You can read the entire story here. -
Story in LiveMint: #NarendraModi – Tracking political conversations in social media in India
19 Jun 2013 | 12:02 amWe partnered with Mint recently to feature Blogworks’ Most Mentioned Poitical Leaders January-April 2013 report, both in their print publication, and their website LiveMint. You can see the full story on their website here. -
Narendra Modi emerges as the Most Mentioned Political Leader on social media #IndiasMostMentioned
17 Jun 2013 | 7:20 pmAs the countdown to the general elections 2014 begins, social media conversations around possible candidates for the top positions have gathered momentum and are likely to reach a crescendo as we get closer. Blogworks has launched the first edition of its monthly India’s Most Mentioned Political Leaders index, analysing the Top 20 Most Mentioned Political Leaders online for the period January 2013 – April 2013. The report gives key findings across six categories. Here are some highlights: Overall Buzz: Narendra Modi, popularly called NaMo, leads with more than thrice as many mentions… -
Download the Blogworks India’s Most Mentioned Political Leaders 2013 Report
17 Jun 2013 | 6:33 pmAs the countdown to the general elections begins, social media conversations around possible candidates for the top job and other political leaders have gathered momentum and are likely to reach a crescendo as we get closer. About the report The first edition of ‘Blogworks India’s Most Mentioned Political Leaders’ analyses online mentions of the top 20 political leaders being talked about, from January 2013 to April 2013. Out of the top 20, we have identified 5 leaders basis their names being compared for the top job amongst stakeholders online and have… -
Winning silver at the Campaign India Digital Crest Awards
11 Jun 2013 | 10:34 pmThe Blogworks submission for Mahindra won a Silver at the Campaign India Digital Crest Awards 2013 in the ‘Integrated’ category. Congratulations to team Mahindra and all partners who work on the programme.
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Soshable | Social Media Blog
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Using Stock Images?
19 Jun 2013 | 7:11 amDo you currently use any stock photos or imagery on any of your sites? For most companies, it’s a hard thing to avoid. The reality is that you’re going to need images, and you’re not always going to have the time or the money to hire a professional photographer or designer to create them for you. We get a lot of questions asking if stock images are okay to use, or if everything should be completely unique to the site, so here are the answers to help your SEO company get the most bang for the buck. The short answer: Stock images do not result in a negative effect on your… -
Never Ask a Question in an Empty (Social Media) Room
19 Jun 2013 | 6:17 amI was consulting with a potential client yesterday and started looking at their Facebook and Twitter pages. Once a day, every day, they would post a question that had very little to do with anything at all. “What was the last movie you watched?” Once a day, every day, they wouldn’t get a response from anyone. It was awkward in a social media way. There was no engagement. The reason was easy to find – their 3000+ Facebook fans had not been engaged with their page for a long time (meaning that nobody was seeing their posts in their news feeds) and their Twitter profile… -
Fantasy Lakes and Mountains Holidays [infographic]
19 Jun 2013 | 5:04 amSince the notorious ‘Red Wedding’ episode of Game of Thrones, social media has been awash with chatter about the HBO’s swords and sorcery series. Those who were not up to date as new episodes were aired had a hard time avoiding spoilers on Facebook and Twitter. Videos of fan’s reactions to the penultimate episode went viral on YouTube, and Maisie Williams, one of the show’s stars, gained a huge Vine following after posting her own humourous take on the shocking plot twist. Now that the show has ended, the next big event for fantasy fans to look forward to is the release of The… -
Is Social Media a Good or Bad Thing?
19 Jun 2013 | 1:19 amAs with so many things in the digital age, there’s good and bad that comes with social media. To ask the question of whether or not it’s good or bad is actually pretty foolish; a meal given to a homeless person is a good act but if it’s loaded with poison it’s a bad act. There are more than 50 shades of gray when it comes to social media. The real question is whether or not social media has had a positive or negative effect on the world in general. There are those using it to send out spam, illegal images, immoral thoughts, and attacks on others. There are those using… -
Are Hand-Me-Downs Acceptable at Your Dealership?
18 Jun 2013 | 2:36 amLook, I get it. I understand that it’s hard for vendors and OEMs to produce a social media solution for their dealers that scales properly while still bringing in good content. I do not, however, understand the concept of not even trying to mix things up. There’s an easy road and a hard road for automotive social media, but there’s also the right road, the one that scales properly while still maintaining individuality and creativity at the core of the service. I know this for a fact. I’ve developed it. It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t hard, either. It took…
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Brains On Fire Blog
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I Wish I Had Known
19 Jun 2013 | 6:03 amI’m the kind of person who lives for the “I wish I had known” articles. I can’t help it- I like learning from others’ mistakes. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to failures everywhere. Inspired by this Businesstips.com post about leadership, I couldn’t help but share. What I have learned (vicariously) through others is that failure is a good thing. It’s a life changing event that brings clarity to and sheds some light on a murky situation… an in between moment of life. A fork in the road moment. But unlike Yogi,… -
Setting standards, taking a stand and finding kindred spirits.
18 Jun 2013 | 5:20 amYou might have caught this speech from the Chief of the Australian Army this weekend. It’s been flying around online for days and many people have made comments, but I particularly agree with this twitter remark from @5tu (Stu Maschwitz): “This is how you say stuff.” Yup. THIS IS HOW YOU SAY STUFF. I realize the Chief of Army is addressing a very, very serious issue and it is an issue that demands our full focus and attention. But his choice of words is so powerful I am going to relate them to business and life. I just have to share my thoughts about his speech because I have never… -
Do Better
17 Jun 2013 | 5:25 am“You do better when you know better.” Some wise and comforting words recently shared with me by my mother-in-law. It was in response to a situation I wish I handled differently. In retrospect, I should had done A, B, and C…yada yada. But at that time, I just didn’t know. I didn’t have the information or the experience. It made me feel better at the thought that we just keep getting better. Keep doing better. The post Do Better appeared first on Brains On Fire Blog. -
When Can’t Means Won’t
11 Jun 2013 | 6:30 amA kayak parade? SURE! Who needs water?! Just last week we had a lovely little pow-wow as a team. It was so refreshing. We reminded one another, and all the new-ish faces (mine included), about why we’re at Brains on Fire. As Robbin mentioned, we got back to our roots. The WHY behind why we do WHAT we do. It was a “stop. collaborate and listen” kind of afternoon for all of us. One of the stickiest phrases from that afternoon has been on my mind since then. Can’t means won’t. (Thanks, Cordell). I dare you to go a week with the mindset that can’t does in fact… -
Get on a plane and go to LA
10 Jun 2013 | 4:44 amMe and Mike, many years ago…That scrappy yellow dog on Mike’s shirt was the logo for our company at the time. We have some shiny smart new faces around Brains on Fire in case you haven’t noticed. So we took a couple of hours to remind everyone of our roots last Wednesday. And share some awesome tacos from Local Taco. Thanks Mary Susan! While we were talking and sharing stories, one of my favorite memories popped in my heart and my head. Years ago, when I first began my journey as an entrepreneur with Mike Goot, we hired a headhunter to help us find a much needed additional art…
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Shai Coggins
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Hope: June 2013 Theme
17 Jun 2013 | 6:51 am“The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.” – Barbara Kingsolver There were days when I was beyond exhaustion over the last few weeks. Days when I couldn’t be bothered to go on the computer, apart from doing my work for clients and supporters of Vervely. Between organising stuff for buying the new house and getting our house ready for selling + coping with my workload + looking after day-to-day stuff, the thought of… -
Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone
21 May 2013 | 5:50 amLife has been anything but still lately, it seems. Strange how that works out sometimes. Just when I was telling myself that I should revel in the stillness – instead of craving for more excitement, more challenges, more dreams – I end up facing one crazy thing after another. Over the last few weeks, I have faced some interesting work-related situations: Celebrating my first year at Vervely! As part of this anniversary, I am currently looking at launching a new initiative. Something that I’ve been wanting to do for some time now. Been invited to submit a couple of quotes for… -
Still: May 2013 Theme
4 May 2013 | 6:19 am“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.” - Lao Tzu Over the last few years, the month of May has become a tough month for me. Tomorrow is my late dad’s birthday. In a few days’ time, we will be commemorating the fifth year anniversary of his passing. About this time last year, I also had to say goodbye to a job I once loved*. It seems to me that I can’t go through this month without tears. Admittedly, I’m already wiping some away as I write this, especially as I re-read some old posts (and comments) like the ones I’ve linked to, as… -
5 Books of the Month
26 Apr 2013 | 5:08 amThe month is almost over and I realised that I haven’t had the chance to share with you my latest reads since February. And, since I haven’t done a Friday Five in a while as well, I thought I’d combine them in this post. Is that clever or just lazy? Anyway, here are the five books to cover my March and April 2013 reads: 1. Prodigy by Marie Lu Prodigy is Book Two of the Legend trilogy by Marie Lu. I’ve been meaning to write about the Legend series since I first came across it last year. The basic premise: Legend/Prodigy is in the YA dystopian genre. It is similar to… -
Gelli Arts Gelatin Plate: Creative Gadget of the Moment
22 Apr 2013 | 7:08 amWhen it comes to art-making, I go through different phases. I love mixed media most of all, of course. That’s why I’m such an art skill and creative tools hoarder. They all tend to be very useful for bringing depth in to my mixed media work. But yes, I go through different favourites at any given time. Right now, I am very much in love with gelatin printmaking. It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that I fell in love with gel monotype printmaking, as I’ve got a bit of a thing for all things printmaking. Even though my last printmaking experiments were done around 6 years ago, when…
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Bare Feet Blog
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OMG! We are rebuilding this site
15 Jun 2013 | 7:23 pmIt is a mess for the moment as we are turning things upside down and chopping off parts that don’t fit. This happens when a new theme is applied in WordPress and we haven’t yet gotten...The post OMG! We are rebuilding this site appeared first on Bare Feet Blog. -
Working with Volunteers: The Nuts & Bolts of Facebook and Twitter
19 Apr 2013 | 2:09 amI am presenting a 90-minute talk on Friday, having been hired by the County of Maui to “help agencies boost their volunteer programs with FB and possibly Twitter. It should be fun, motivating and engaging. People...The post Working with Volunteers: The Nuts & Bolts of Facebook and Twitter appeared first on Bare Feet Blog. -
Hospitality & Tourism Students Meet Social Media
23 Jan 2013 | 3:10 pmThis Friday I am speaking to about 150 Maui high school students who are in the hospitality and tourism track. My friend Pomai Weigert, of Aliʻi Kula Lavender, is determined to get social media best practices...The post Hospitality & Tourism Students Meet Social Media appeared first on Bare Feet Blog. -
Social Media Disclosure Rules Apply Even in Small Communities
17 Nov 2012 | 11:27 amSmall communities are great for mutual support. Sometimes we relax things though that could actually support and protect us. FTC Blogger Rules are just such a case. Here on Maui, we love and support each other...The post Social Media Disclosure Rules Apply Even in Small Communities appeared first on Bare Feet Blog. -
Social Media and Tourism: Let’s Talk Together
26 Oct 2012 | 12:47 pmI have been lobbying for many years to get the three voices together to support local business and build a sustainable, rich visitor experience here in Hawaii. We have many local bloggers and podcasters who have...The post Social Media and Tourism: Let’s Talk Together appeared first on Bare Feet Blog.
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Social Media Marketing
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This Week in Social Media – 6/12/2013
12 Jun 2013 | 2:00 pmA roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.Each week, I compose a newsletter for our team that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, social media, mobile, communications and marketing in order to keep our wider team up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in their jobs. These are those links.If you have additional links, sources or ideas that might be helpful, I'd encourage you to add some via a comment below or tag me in Google+. And if you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links in the This Week in… -
The Last Thing the World Needs
6 Jun 2013 | 8:47 pmUPDATE: Gary has been in touch with me. Please see below for a clarification.Not sure if you caught the news today that the very talented and successful Gary Vaynerchuk has chosen an employee to follow him around and document what he says.It's definitely not a suggestion you're likely to see from everyone. Or anyone from that matter. Gary has always been a disruptor. He has a great knack for knowing what makes people tick, how to talk with them, what's coming next and how to position businesses to take advantage of that. I have nothing but admiration for his past work, in what he has done to… -
This Week in Social Media – 6/5/2013
5 Jun 2013 | 8:53 pmA roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.Each week, I compose a newsletter for our team that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, social media, mobile, communications and marketing in order to keep our wider team up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in their jobs. These are those links.If you have additional links, sources or ideas that might be helpful, I'd encourage you to add some via a comment below or tag me in Google+. And if you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links in the This Week in… -
Foursquare - HBO Tie-Up is Brilliant
4 Jun 2013 | 1:34 pm#GameofCones is coming. And our prediction is that it's going to be huge.Already a pop culture phenomenon, HBO's Game of Thrones has been a runaway success online, with more memes than you can swing a sword at and online conversations (particularly on Twitter) that accompany or follow episodes.But the latest iteration is pure genius on the part of HBO and Foursquare. In what looks to be a collaboration between the entertainment outlet and the most popular of check-in apps, the program is called "Game of Cones" and it is set to pit the east coast against the west coast, akin to the struggles… -
This Week in Social Media – 5/29/2013
29 May 2013 | 8:23 pmA roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.Each week, I compose a newsletter that includes a series of links about current events and trends in the worlds of technology, social media, mobile, communications and marketing in order to keep our wider team up to date on changes, newsworthy items and content that might be useful in their jobs. These are those links. If you have additional links, sources or ideas that might be helpful, I'd encourage you to add some via a comment below or tag me in Google+. And if you’re on Flipboard, you can get these links in the This Week in Social…
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Ignite Social Media
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How to Achieve Brand Marketing Success with Instagram
19 Jun 2013 | 8:45 amIf the brand they manage has an ounce of creativity, Instagram may be a platform for community managers to consider for their social media marketing efforts. So how should brands incorporate Instagram into their social media marketing strategies to achieve Instagram marketing success? Read on for tips and tricks, and also how Instagram could improve its functionality. Marketing Success with Instagram Maximize Your Hashtags The main way of interacting on Instagram is through hashtags. The Vitamin Shoppe has created a great Instagram account featuring photos of food, exercise and healthy… -
How to Lose Friends and Alienate People: What Not to Do as a Brand on Social Media
18 Jun 2013 | 5:45 amIgnite Social Media's President Jim Tobin is fond of comparing social media to a cocktail party. But what happens when your brand's party is a ghost town? Before you run off to frantically search for the latest tricks to add new followers to your fan base, you might want to make sure that you're not actively driving people away. Here are a few "party killers" to avoid in order to cultivate a healthy and engaged community for your brand: Having a One-Way Conversation No one wants to hang out with a party host who does nothing but talk about themselves. Take a look back at what you posted last… -
Social You Should Know: Vine Grows, MySpace Shows, and Facebook Introduces #Hashtags
15 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amVine keeps creeping, MySpace pins its hopes on a $20 million re-launch campaign, and what #hashtags on Facebook mean for marketers in this week's Social You Should Know. Also, Wednesday, June 19 at 1pm EST, my colleagues at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Anita Root, Josh Gunderson and I will present Ignite Social Media's latest webcast: The Art of Building Social Media Marketing Campaigns that Drive Revenue. Register now and join us. Hashtags on Facebook Actually Matter If your news feed is like mine, it was filled with #hashtag jokes on Wednesday when Facebook finally confirmed that hashtags… -
What Brands Need to Know About Facebook Hashtags
12 Jun 2013 | 5:14 pmBrace yourselves. Facebook hashtags are coming. Today, Facebook begins rolling out hashtags on its News Feed, and just like hashtags on Twitter, Vine and Instagram, Facebook's hashtags will be functional. Clicking the hashtag will pop out a feed that shows others’ posts that have included the same hashtag. All hashtags on Facebook, even when uploaded to the page via another platform (like Twitter or Instagram), will function as clickable and searchable hashtags. Facebook expects all users to have this capability in the next few weeks. Facebook Hashtag Brand Opportunities Real-time… -
6 Things to Consider When Executing a Social Media Program Overseas
12 Jun 2013 | 9:04 amSo, you went and won yourself an international client. Well done. Though the Internet allows you to do almost anything from anywhere, there may come a time when you will have to travel overseas. Whether you need to visit company headquarters or cover a product launch at an international conference, traveling abroad is something you need to be ready for. Here are a few things to consider when executing a social media program in another country: Passports This might seem obvious to some, but only about 30% of Americans have a valid passport, so I figured it was worth bringing up. Go ahead…
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SocialButterfly
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Health Care Social Media Review #30: The Research Edition
10 Jun 2013 | 8:57 pmWhere do you turn for the latest research on the impact and influence of social media? This edition of the Health Care Social Media Review (HCSM) provides the latest research your fellow colleagues are studying by highlighting social media research and related resources. Whether you’re talking with your stakeholders, board, manager, customer, or colleague, being well-versed in the research equips you with the evidence and theory needed to optimize your impact. I have yet to attend a social media workshop or presentation where someone doesn’t ask about resources relatesd to social… -
Call for Submissions: Health Care Social Media Review #30
31 May 2013 | 9:30 pmWhat’s the latest social media research you’re reading? Weekly, Daily, a new social media research report or study is released, competing for our attention and analysis. What are some of the latest research nuggets you’ve found most useful? And what are some of the information sources that help you stay up-to-date as the research works to catch up with practice? On Wednesday, June 5, SocialButterfly will again host the Health Care Social Media Review, the peer reviewed blog carnival focused on health care social media, curating some of the latest research and resources… -
How to Rock Social Media Doesn’t Involve Social Media
29 May 2013 | 8:00 pmHow are you rocking social media in just 30 minutes a day? What’s your best tip? One of my favorite people, Beth Kanter, asked her Facebook community this very question after coming across the latest infographic offering advice on the topic (link to full infographic). Given the expanding waistline of digital content, conversations and online communities, it’s a question experts continue to assess and re-assess, adjusting their daily/weekly routines to “keep up”. You may have noticed I’m a bit “quieter” these days. This is because, in the past year,… -
Capturing Awe to Inspire Change
25 Mar 2013 | 6:46 pmHow are you inspiring awe? This week’s Healthcare Experience Design (HxD) conference found at #hxd2013 brings to mind the concept of “awe” in designing for change. Stanford researchers found that awe expands people’s perception of time, alters decision making and enhances well-being. So how do we capitalize on this for health and beyond? How many of us feel like we have too much to do and not enough time? Times is our most valuable commodity. It’s why we don’t go to the doctor, don’t get enough sleep, skip the gym, stress out, or order out. -
Red States. Blue States. These are Social Health States. (Kind of)
11 Mar 2013 | 11:01 amHow social is your state’s health department? Newly announced, the “Social Media for Public Health” Twitter chat will be hosted the second Tuesday of every month at 1pm, EST. The host account, @phsocmed, already has over 50 followers and participants are invited to use the hashtag #SM4PH to chime in. But just how social are our health departments anyway? Research shows we still have a ways to go. A One-Way Conversation A March 2012 study found that 60% of state health departments (SHD) used as least one social media platform. The study itself looked to provide an initial…
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Marketing Roadmaps
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The Pinterest chapter, Part Two:Engaging with Brands on Pinterest and Sponsored Pins
16 Jun 2013 | 6:31 pmDisclosure: I am Vice President, Influencer Marketing at BlogHer. Advertising and social media marketing programs are a significant source of revenue for my company and for the bloggers in our advertising network. And, now the conclusion of my multi-part “chapter” on using Pinterest as a promotional tool. English: Red Pinterest logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia) As you grow your influence within the Pinterest ecosystem, you may get offers for sponsored opportunities. I am not talking about “Pin It To Win It” sweepstakes. I covered why I don’t recommend them to… -
The Pinterest Chapter: A Sidebar on Pin It To Win It
6 Jun 2013 | 6:25 amDisclosure: I am Vice President, Influencer Marketing at BlogHer. Advertising and social media marketing programs are a significant source of revenue for my company and for the bloggers in our advertising network. Reviewing the content for the second part of my “book chapter” on using Pinterest to promote your blog, I realized there was a great deal of content about sweepstakes and contests on Pinterest as a marketing tactic that really merited its own post. So herewith the Pin It To Win It sidebar. Straight up, I do not recommend Pin It To Win It as an engagement tactic. There… -
The Pinterest Chapter, Part One: Using Pinterest To Promote Your Blog
29 May 2013 | 6:53 pmDisclosure: I am Vice President, Influencer Marketing at BlogHer. Advertising and social media marketing programs are a significant source of revenue for my company and for the bloggers in our advertising network. When I wrote Professional Blogging For Dummies in 2010, I tried to make the advice as evergreen as possible. This was challenging at times, as the For Dummies style is very example driven; in tech, this is the very definition of an “annual plant.” Where possible though I gave guidelines that could be applied to new tools based on the simple premise that regardless of… -
BlogPaws 2013: Successful Principles for Professional Blogging session
23 May 2013 | 8:07 amAs promised to all the wonderful attendees at my session at BlogPaws last weekend, the PDF of 10 Principles for Successful Professional Blogging. Thank you all for attending and being such a great group. -
The Marketing Economy: Why advertising still matters in a social media, word-of-mouth world
15 Apr 2013 | 7:00 amDisclosure: I am Vice President, Influencer Marketing at BlogHer. Advertising and social media marketing programs are a significant source of revenue for my company and for the bloggers in our advertising network. Anyone who knows me, even a little, knows how passionate I am about word-of-mouth marketing and the amazing potential of the voice of the customer (blogger or simply happy camper) to move the needle for brands. It’s part of my professional DNA, and was even before the advent of social media. Back then we called them testimonials and put them in case studies and adverts, but…
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The Social Customer Manifesto
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Wishful thinking
3 Jun 2013 | 12:50 pmIt’s funny. People who do dangerous things are often said to have a “death wish.” Skydiving, whitewater rafting, building dangerous contraptions, playing with fire…all often invoke the “death wish” turn of phrase. That’s completely wrong. Those things are signs of wanting to live life to the extent it can be lived. That’s not a “death wish.” That’s a “life wish.” -
Understanding what customers really care about
1 May 2013 | 12:31 pmWhen I was invited to join Swipp earlier this year, I was blown away with the opportunity. I’m fortunate to be part of an experienced team that’s working on a tough, interesting problem – creating a new way to answer the age-old question of “who cares?” (Not only that, but it’s a blast getting a chance to help build an entire platform and ecosystem, not just another app.) We launched our consumer offering back in January and have been receiving great feedback. Since then, we’ve been heads-down making sure that our business customers can tap into the… -
Street Use
24 Mar 2013 | 4:57 pmWhen do we lose our creativity? At what age do we stop seeing possibility, and start only seeing what’s being shown and fed to us? I was at a neighborhood park today and it was packed. The swings were swinging. The teeter-totter was teetering and tottering. The jungle gym was…jungling. The water fountain had a line of kids filling up water balloons. They were filling them up, inventing games and having a great old time. The buzz was palpable. I looked a little more closely, and realized the water balloons weren’t actually water balloons. They were plastic bags. They… -
The Age of Social Intelligence
19 Feb 2013 | 11:49 amCurrent point of view on where social intelligence is headed. Would love your thoughts, comments and feedback! Are we on the right track? Age of Social Intelligence from Swipp -
The Top Five Superbowl Ads (2013)
4 Feb 2013 | 7:01 amThe top five SuperBowl commercials, according to the Swipp community: (All commercials ranked by their Swipp Index -5 to +5, +5 being the best) Tide Stain Saver (+4.6) NFL: Leon Sandcastle (+4.0) Budweiser Clydesdales (+3.9) Gopro (+3.5) Dodge Ram: Paul Harvey (+3.4) Rounding out the top group were Mercedes, Oreo, Audi, Taco Bell and Kia. Mercedes-Benz: The Devil (+3.2) Oreo (+3.2) Audi – Have Fun Tonight – Black Eye (+3.2) Taco Bell – Live Mas (+3.2) Kia Forte: Respect The Tech (+3.2) You can see all the results here: http://swipperbowl.swipp.com. More commentary on how…
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@KokaSexton | Social Selling Expert | Social Marketing
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Complete Social Media Design Templates [infographic]
15 Jun 2013 | 2:09 pmThis infographic was too good to pass up. How many times have you wondered what the best dimensions are for a Facebook graphic or the format for a Twitter background? From LinkedIn company pages to Google plus updates, this infographic gives you the proper dimensions for any social media site. Now you can design social media profiles that really have an impact. -
A Week in Review – Happy Memorial Day
26 May 2013 | 1:58 pmAnother great week with some awesome interactions and goals accomplished. I want to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Memorial Day. As a veteran this day means a lot to me. Here are some pictures from my time in Iraq. I love my kid. Dad what’s Memorial Day? Well it’s a special day that we remember the soldiers that didn’t make it home. Didn’t they have a compass? (remembering he was just playing with mine) I’m sure they did. But sometimes even with a compass soldiers don’t make it home. I’m glad you made it home dad. (I almost cried) View… -
The LinkedIn Meme that Went Viral
21 May 2013 | 2:18 pmLinkedIn is the professional network. Most people understand that LinkedIn is no longer just an online resume but a robust social network where professionals are able to connect, share and gather insights from others in their industry. One of the recent enhancements to LinkedIn is the ability to share rich-media into the activity stream like pictures. Photos in your LinkedIn activity stream?!? I post photos into Facebook but where would the value be in putting an image into LinkedIn? That’s what I wanted to find out. Would I be able to post a picture into LinkedIn and get as much, if… -
My Favorite Tweets of the Week.
19 May 2013 | 3:45 pmThese are a few of my favorite social media updates of the week. It seems like Storify is a great place to collect these for the blog. Not sure if I’m going to continue using them, the last thing I want is to create a bunch of content on the blog and then have to go back in a year and recreate it because Storify changes the system. But for now, lets have some fun with it. View the story “Favorite Tweets of the Week” on Storify -
A LinkedIn Birthday, Great Pictures and Some Awesome Tweets of the Week
3 May 2013 | 7:45 pmIt was a busy week and now that it’s Friday I’m reflecting on some of my favorite moments from social media. I’ve made some nice strides at LinkedIn and some of my work is beginning to pay off. I met some great people in the company this week about how to leverage my talent to help some causes (more on that soon) and I continue to feel blessed that I got a role in a company that gives me the opportunity to grow and help others. I’m also pretty excited for the LinkedIn Cinco de Mayo party this weekend. Happy Birthday LinkedIn! View the story “Favorite Tweets of…
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MarketingProfs Daily Fix Blog
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How to Lose Weight While Blogging
19 Jun 2013 | 7:06 amIf you’ve ever said you didn’t have time to write or exercise more, this blog post is for you. We all wish we could create more content and shed more pounds, but inevitably, both goals get placed behind “doing my job” on the to-do list of life. But that ends today.Today, I’m going to show you how lose weight and create content at the same time. Talking vs. Typing I’m writing this post while walking on my treadmill. In fact I’ve written a lot of posts and even entire chapters of my new book, The Invisible Sale, while exercising or driving to and from the office. I can do… -
What Are the Characteristics of a Good Lead?
18 Jun 2013 | 7:03 amAh, the never-ending question: What makes a good lead? Well, I hate to say it, but it depends upon your specific situation—what you sell, to whom you sell, how you sell, and at what price. But there are also a few universal characteristics that will help you determine when a lead is truly a “sales-ready” lead versus being just an inquiry, research, or a random click. When evaluating how good a lead actually is, start with knowing what a good lead is within your organization. What criteria or profile does the lead need to have for it to be valuable to you? What title, size, industry,… -
Make Your Social #FAILPROOF
17 Jun 2013 | 2:00 pmSocial media fails are an unfortunate byproduct of marketing—and life—on the web. But let’s be honest—they also provide for some major entertainment. So, we have a laugh at another brand’s expense. We sit back, roll our eyes, and pity the poor person who made such a thoughtless mistake. But if you think you or your brand are immune to social media fails, think again. No brand, no matter how small or large, or how big its marketing budget, is safe from social mishaps. You can either choose to learn from the mistakes of others or be destined to repeat them. The #FAIL: Being Shady The… -
Six Big Lessons Marketers Can Learn From Improvisation
17 Jun 2013 | 7:04 amAs in improvisation, all great marketing is storytelling. Few things will stretch your comfort zone (read: scare the pants off you!) like improvisation. Improvisation is a storyteller’s weight training. There is no safety net or edit button—you are creating scenes in real time on stage based on audience suggestions. It can be downright uncomfortable, and yet, as with regular training, the results are worth it. Here are six lessons improvisation can teach us about marketing. 1. Risk Taking In a world of Big Data and analytics, marketing is a heck of a lot of art. Improvisation involves… -
Young Adults Say Goodbye, Radio; Hello, Internet
14 Jun 2013 | 7:20 amAs overall Internet usage continues to grow, it’s continuing to eclipse other forms of media—and for young adults, the internet has emerged as the place where they spend the most amount of time compared to any other type of media. “Radio’s Future II: The 2010 American Youth Study” from Edison Research shows that American young adults, age 12-24, spend nearly three hours a day on the Internet, which eclipses time spent consuming other forms of media. According to survey results, TV came in at a close second, followed by listening to the radio, playing video games, talking on the…
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Digital Trends
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Xbox One pre-orders now sold out at GameStop retail locations
19 Jun 2013 | 12:24 pmGameStop says demand is high for Microsoft's new Xbox One console and that brick-and-mortar stores nationwide are sold out on pre-orders, though PlayStation 4 pre-orders continue to be available. -
You can ‘call it a comeback:’ SRT-backed Viper enters Le Mans for first time in 13 years
19 Jun 2013 | 12:15 pmThe Viper will return to 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend after nearly a 13 year hiatus as a factory-backed race car, which has already given the SRT Motorsports brand a major win in the world of racing. -
Best Firefox Add-ons
19 Jun 2013 | 12:05 pmBurn through the Web with these handy add-ons for Mozilla's Firefox browser. -
Best Google Chrome Extensions
19 Jun 2013 | 12:05 pmBeef up your browser with the best Google Chrome extensions. -
Here’s how to ask the NSA for your records (but don’t hold your breath)
19 Jun 2013 | 11:39 amYou can't ask the NSA to stop collecting information, but you can ask to see or delete your records. Now whether you'll actually get those mailed to you remains to be seen.
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Social Business Strategist
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Two Tools to Manage Twitter Chats With Ease
17 Jun 2013 | 11:29 amIf you participate in Twitter chats regularly you’re as sad as I am to hear that Twitter’s API changes made it difficult for some applications to work. TweetChat.com and TweetGrid.com were both casualties. OneQube As you can see from the screen shot, Smart Stream allows you to follow a hashtag in real-time, see who else is participating, Tweet with the tag already added, enter Twitter user names to feature them within the chat so anyone who is participating through SmartStream will see that user’s tweets highlighted. This is a great new feature so users will be sure to see… -
Social Media Crisis Management -Infographic
3 Jun 2013 | 7:29 amHopefully you’re reading this before you need it. Life is so much easier when you’re prepared isn’t it? This post is intended to help you see a crisis coming and have the tools in place to assist. Monitor first, last and always A well informed team can react before things get out of hand. Set up monitoring tools for reputation management. At a very minimum set up Google alerts, but we recommend setting up additional social listening tools as well to be sure to get timely reporting. The more the better in this case. If you need some free or low-cost listening tools… -
Is Your Website Pinterest Friendly?
28 May 2013 | 12:26 pmPinterest is huge, there’s no denying it , and it’s a great traffic driver to your website whether for products or information. I recently went on a surfing binge building a series of Pinterest boards for a client. These weren’t just pins from their website. Noooo. We recommend that a small percentage of the pins on a board be about you, they should be about the topic and bring together a useful, insightful or just plain beautiful perspective on the topic at hand. The thing is, many websites are still not friendly to “pinning”. Sites that are framed, dynamic… -
Social Networking to Advance Your Career
29 Apr 2013 | 2:40 pmSilicon Valley Tech Women held a panel at the shiny new SalesForce offices in downtown San Francisco entitled Leveraging Social Networking to Advance Your Career. See the photos from DJ Cline here. I moderated this panel of tech rockstars. LaSandra Brill Sr. Mgr., Global Social Media Marketing, Cisco Systems Marilyn Lin Director, Product Intelligence & Enablement, Salesforce.com Erica Lockheimer Sr. Engineering Manager, LinkedIn Jana Messerschmidt VP of Business Development & Platform Relations, Twitter Takeaways from the discussion were many, and largely about developing a… -
Marketing Automation Discussion at SFAMA
24 Apr 2013 | 1:17 pmLast night I moderated a very interesting panel for the San Francisco American Marketing Association on marketing automation. It was an great group for this kind of discussion and I wanted to share some of the takeaways with you. Anyone interested in digital marketing needs to understand these concepts, whether you use automation tools or not. On the panel: Jason Miller – Marketo Kim Stieglitz – Vertical Response Lindsay Mahoney – Silverpop Sean Stoffstall – Ozone David Mitroff – Piedmont Avenue Consulting I’m not going to go in depth here, (you should have…
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SocialTimes
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Stanford Cookie Clearinghouse Aims to Give Users More Say Over Online Tracking
19 Jun 2013 | 8:39 amStanford University’s Center for Internet and Society dove into the nitty-gritty of online privacy today, announcing a Cookie Clearinghouse that will maintain “allow” and “block” lists to help refine which websites should be allowed to set cookies in a user’s browser. “Internet users are starting to understand that their online activities are closely monitored, often by companies they have never heard of before. But Internet users currently don’t have the tools they need to make online privacy choices,” said Aleecia McDonald, CIS’s director… -
Feedly Takes Google Reader Replacement Live
19 Jun 2013 | 7:25 amFeedly today launched a Web RSS reader to replace Google’s, which the company will retire on July 1. Previously, Feedly worked as a browser extension which wasn’t available for Opera or Internet Explorer. “This was one of the most requested features, and we are thrilled to deliver on this today,” the company said in a blog post, referring to user survey results. Google’s move to kill Reader, while unpopular with users, has proved a boon for Feedly, which tripled its user count from 4 million prior to Google’s announcement to 12 million users at the end of… -
Exclusive: More Social Experiences in the Works for Food Network, Travel Channel, HGTV Through Echo’s App Management Platform
19 Jun 2013 | 7:05 amLifestyle networks like the Food Network, HGTV, and the Travel Channel bring out the DIY spirit in viewers, which may be why they have found a home on the second screen. Scripps Network Interactive, which brings these brands to the web, has tapped Echo to power its social interactions with audiences through Echo’s app management platform. The Travel Channel is already leveraging Echo’s real-time platform in the comments section. The network added 25 custom features, including the ability for visitors to sort out the most recent, most liked, or most active comments. The Travel… -
‘The Vines of Sauvignon Blanc’ May Be the World’s Shortest Soap Opera
19 Jun 2013 | 5:26 amMost soap operas drag on for years; this one will wrap up in about two minutes. Then again, do Vine videos ever really end? Logo’s scripted soap opera, “The Vines of Sauvignon Blanc,” consists of 22 episodes, each lasting about six seconds, that will air on Logo’s Vine account, @LogoTV. Logo shared a few details about the cast and the plot: “The Vines of Sauvignon Blanc” follows the heart-wrenching tale of a wealthy vineyard owner who is told he only has two minutes and six seconds to live as his family plots for power and prestige, all while being incredibly… -
Register for Inside Bitcoins Conference Before Midnight
19 Jun 2013 | 4:45 amThere has been a lot of talk surrounding virtual currency and Bitcoin, but what impact will virtual currency have on businesses and how can one make money in this space? Explore the future of this emerging field with industry influencers at our Inside Bitcoins Conference, July 30 in New York City. Attendees will discuss what business and investment opportunities exist, as well as the legal issues facing virtual currency. Don’t delay– prices increase at midnight tonight. You’ll hear from 20+ bitcoin experts on topics including The VC Take on Bitcoin, Bitcoin Boom: The Business…
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Stay N Alive
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Developers: Here's How You Access #Hashtags in Your Apps
13 Jun 2013 | 10:19 pmI showed earlier tonight a way you can access on Facebook.com the stream for any particular hashtag without having to have a link to get to it. I mentioned Facebook would likely release an API for this. Being the idiot that I am I neglected the fact that Facebook already has a search API, and you can start using it right now. Anyone, developers or not, can do this right now. Go to https://graph.facebook.com/search - add to it the URI variable q, specify a query (in this case your hashtag keyword prefaced by %23, the URI-encoded version of the # sign), and they add "type=post" to the URI… -
The Fight for #Conversation - Will There be a Migration From Twitter?
13 Jun 2013 | 9:55 pmThere's no doubt that Facebook launching hashtags is a big thing, especially for marketers, but I think for users too. Now you can add a simple keyword prefaced by a pound sign (#) to any post or comment and immediately let others click and see the entire conversation around that particular keyword. This is really what defined Twitter - it was the ability to have organized conversations through hashtags that made Twitter a breeding ground for conversation. Now Facebook launches hashtags, bringing the same breeding ground for larger conversations to a massive, billion+ active user network and… -
How to View the Stream of Any Facebook Hashtag
13 Jun 2013 | 6:48 pmYesterday Facebook announced that they were finally launching the support of hashtags, a format currently supported on Twitter and Google+. This means any time you include a pound sign (#) followed by a keyword of any sort (try #throughglass for a fun view), it will turn into a link in your Facebook status update or Page post and people can click on it to view all public statuses and statuses they have permission to see on Facebook with that hashtag. There's a shortcut to view these streams of public conversation though. To see the stream of any hashtag, just put… -
Some Google Glass Explorers Getting "Mysterious Package" as Early As Tomorrow
12 Jun 2013 | 12:19 amIn the Google Glass community one Google Glass Explorer posted a rather interesting note today: "I just got a notification from UPS that I have a package sent by Google X to be delivered on Weds. Anyone get something similar? I didn't see any posts about it. It looks very similar to the original random package for the GRID paperweights. I already got my Glass about a month ago from pickup at LA so I'm pretty sure it's not that. IO Explorer but didn't go to Foundry." This note was followed by confirmation by several other Glass Explorers saying they got the same. It appears that some Google… -
#ifihadglass I Would Make Sure I Could Pay for it First
7 Jun 2013 | 1:48 pmWith the gradual notification of the 8,000 or so #ifihadglass applicants for Google Glass recently, I thought I'd come out and say it - make sure you can cover your costs before you book a plane ticket, fly to Mountainview (or New York City), and pay your $1500 to get Google Glass. The truth is, alone, Google Glass just isn't worth the $1500. If you're not a developer, or your company isn't paying for them, or if you're not building a business out of them, they're just not worth it. It appears I'm not alone. Joanna Stern of ABC News agrees with me - be sure to check out her review - her…
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Colin Walker - Social Thoughts
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Is Facebook reinventing its image?
15 Jun 2013 | 1:25 amIs Facebook being forced to reinvent itself adding, new features to reinvigorate its user base and placate the disaffected youth? I have made no secret in the past that I am an admirer of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his vision for creating a socially connected world. After the Facebook Home announcement in April I wrote: “While I am not a big Facebook user I am fascinated by the principles of network science so the company interests me because it displays the most obvious adherence to these principles both in structure and terminology. Networks are about people and the connections… -
Exploring iOS7
11 Jun 2013 | 3:06 amWelcome to an experiment in liveblogging an exploration of iOS7 beta 1 on an iPhone 4S. As I dig through the apps, screens and options in Apple’s latest iteration of iOS I will be updating this post so check back regularly for new updates. iOS7 seems to be quite divisive with some loving it and others feeling Apple went too far. Personally, I want to spend some time with it before making any decisions. My gut reaction is that there are a lot of great features which place Apple back on parity with Android but has it given the iPhone the edge? Let’s see… -
Waiting for iOS7.
10 Jun 2013 | 4:35 amWe are just hours away from the WWDC keynote during which we expect the big iOS7 reveal and the rumour mill continues to turn about a possible Jony Ive inspired redesign. I think we can all agree that iOS needs a new coat of paint, or at least a bit of a touch up, but that should not be the primary focus of the new version and we will be doing ourselves a disservice if we become blinded by the emperor’s new clothes. Apple needs to deliver It looks as though we will have the launch of iRadio to show that Apple is still able to match Google but we don’t want Apple to match anyone,… -
What if Twitter introduced native chats?
31 May 2013 | 1:29 pmTwitter chats are an extremely popular, and many say powerful, way to utilise Twitter for specific topic discussion and it is, perhaps, surprising that the network has not made strides into this area. What if Twitter chats went native? I have made no secret of my recent personal dissatisfaction with Twitter, not as a product but as a medium in which I can express myself and obtain sufficient social value. In case you missed it: I can’t. Facilitator It was over five years ago that I first said “Twitter is a facilitator”: It facilitates connections, friendships, citizen… -
What next for Twitter?
23 May 2013 | 7:43 amTwitter is doing well for itself with burgeoning user numbers, ever more tweets, increasing revenue from advertising and the introduction of new functionality such as the #discover tab and Twitter Cards. I have long been asking, however, if things needed to change. I suggested a form of channels to sanitise the stream and keep topics contained which “Event Pages” seemed to agree with but then disappeared as quick as they appeared. I thought that Twitter could iterate and develop the #discover tab, using it as the default view or a focal point for content discovery. I also…
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Social Media Mom
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A Toast to Wine [Infographic]
12 Jun 2013 | 12:11 pmIf you love a good glass of wine, then you are definitely not alone. Americans now make up the largest wine market in the world and nearly half of American adults drink wine. It’s no surprise that women prefer wine over men, in fact 52 percent of women prefer wine while only 20 percent of men do. What about the top wine destinations in the U.S.? Sonoma County, California is the top wine destination. In fact, California accounts for almost 90 percent of all U.S. wine production. Check out the infographic below presented by SpareFoot to learn more about the numbers behind America’s… -
Pollen, Pollen everywhere: Allergens in the U.S. [Infographic]
10 Jun 2013 | 12:44 pmHow can you, as one of the 26 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, cure the symptoms you experience during the spring and summer seasons? There are simple cures for day-to-day allergy relief, and using natural cures. There is also the option of relocation. There are areas with less allergens, and areas with more. There are also areas that prevent allergen effects, such as those near water. The infographic below, presented by InsuranceQuotes.com presents different options that can help prevent your suffering from allergies. From: Bankrate Insurance’s InsuranceQuotes.com -
Kids These Days [Infographic]
10 Jun 2013 | 8:42 amKids these days are facing new problems that can make highly negative impacts on their lives. Single-parent households, violence and bullying in schools, obesity, and education disparity have become increasingly problematic over the past few decades. To learn more about these issues, check out the infographic presented by Master-of-Education. -
Work After Baby [Infographic]
7 Jun 2013 | 9:39 amWork is one of the main factors that play into modern couples’ decisions to have a child, and their career decisions afterwards. How much time will you have to take off work, and how much income will you be giving up? There are several options available for mothers who either want to continue work or stay home with their child. The Family and Medical Leave Act grants new mothers 12 weeks of unpaid leave, but that’s still only for companies with over 50 employees. About 66% of working mothers have at least a portion of their leave paid. Onsite daycares are also sometimes an option for the… -
How to Negotiate a Higher Salary [Infographic]
3 Jun 2013 | 9:26 amOnly seven percent of women negotiate a starting salary. Why is this? Negotiating your salary can cause a lot of anxiety, mainly because people don’t know how to. You have to make sure you are in the salary negotiation mindset. You then want to plan your approach and also keep score by keeping tabs of all the great things you have done at your job. Check out the infographic below presented by GradSchoolHub.com to learn more about how to negotiate the salary you deserve. Source: How to Negotiate a Higher Salary
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Quick Online Tips
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Delete Urls With Bad Backlinks to Remove Google Penalty
19 Jun 2013 | 3:19 amWhy not delete a bad url on your site and 404 it if thousands of bad backlinks point to it to remove a Google penalty. Many webmasters are using the disavow tool to disregard links, but sometimes there may be thousands of them which might be difficult to find as well as disavow. Remember that removing a huge bunch of back links can also drop your search engine rankings. But what if there are a few specific urls which have the maximum burden of poor backlinks? 404 Bad Urls I read this detailed article about 404 errors on Google and how the Google algorithm deals with them. Clearly 404… -
Change 300×250 Adsense Ads to 336×280 to Make More Money
18 Jun 2013 | 7:46 amIt is a good idea to change all your 300x250px Google Adsense ad units to 336x280px large rectangle because an amazing feature change happened recently. You might be aware that Adsense started serving smaller image advertisements in larger ad units when the smaller image ad unit was higher paying or simply when larger image ad inventory was not available to compete (especially true for 300×600 large skyscrapper and 970×90 super leaderboard ads). Now Adsense team has implemented a similar strategy for the medium rectangle (300x250px) and large rectangle (336x280px) ads as well. -
Inside New Facebook Data Center at Arctic Circle [Photos]
16 Jun 2013 | 3:12 amThe new Facebook data center went live near the Arctic Circle in Luleå, Sweden this week and promises to be a state-of-the-art centre supporting live Facebook traffic across the world. It is notably the first Facebook data centre outside the US. Facebook claims it is the most efficient and sustainable data center and all servers and related equipment is powered by locally generated hydro-electric energy. Why near the Arctic Circle in Sweden? So that the chilly air can cool servers and even use the extra heat to warm offices. It also maintains the highest standards in that servers and… -
Play Cube Slam Game Online
16 Jun 2013 | 2:13 amPlay Cube Slam game online and explore the integrated modern web technologies which take gaming to new levels. Cube Slam is a simple game which my son seems addicted to and cannot stop playing. While at first glance it seems simple to play, as you win and reach higher game levels, the game gets faster and more complex and worth playing. Cube Slam Game Online You can play it single player against the ‘bear’ or choose to play with a friend online. So what is special about Cube Slam? It is the unique mix of modern open source technology deployment that goes behind it that is… -
iPhone Software Update Activates Wireless Emergency Presidential Alerts
15 Jun 2013 | 6:37 amA new Apple iPhone update will activate wireless emergency alerts (WEA) and presidential updates by default on your iPhone 4S and iPhone 5. AT&T announced that all their customers will receive the update and it will be turned on by default. Wireless Emergency Alerts Claiming that it is mandated by law as part of the FCC’s CMAS program, the emergency alerts are meant to inform and alert mobile users to potential emergency situations and get the text message across with a characteristic beep through a different technology, even bypassing congested mobile networks. There are 3 types of…
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PR-Squared - Social Media Marketing and Public Relations
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The collaborative economy + PR
19 Jun 2013 | 7:51 amFriend and colleague Jeremiah Owyang has been talking about his newest framework, the collaborative economy, where consumers provide services directly to other consumers, sidestepping normal supply chains and business processes. He asked SHIFT for our thoughts about how marketing and PR fit (if they do) in this new economy, and the SHIFT team was happy to provide some thoughts. Is there a role for marketing and PR in a world where consumers do business with each other? Read the blog post to find out (spoiler: yes, there is a role). -
How PR will help your customers to buy
5 Jun 2013 | 4:02 amWhat do a kid’s sandbox, critical state theory, automobile purchases, and marketing automation have in common? They’re all part of tomorrow’s webinar at SHIFT Communications on Critical Influence in Social Media. Learn from SHIFT a new way of thinking about how earned media and public relations are impacting consumers and businesses, learn how to measure the influence you have over your audience, and learn ways to build and strengthen that influence. Sign up now for free! -
7 secrets to a successful, enduring business
20 May 2013 | 5:29 amWhat makes an agency successful begins not with fancy corporate jargon or a client roster of well known brands, but with the people at it. Choosing who those people are and who they collectively can be is a daunting challenge overall, but impossible without knowing what you stand for. That’s why core values are so important. At SHIFT, our core values are part of employee reviews. They’re part of monthly team meetings, when team leaders recognize accomplishments by their team members aligned with each of the values. They’re part of our hiring process, and candidates are… -
Nibbling at the Apple
7 May 2013 | 4:22 amIt’s becoming fashionable to take a bite out of Apple. There was Jean-Louis Gassée’s scathing article in the Guardian. There was Jon Gruber (of Daring Fireball) damning Apple with faint praise: blaming the media for cherrypicking the news to weave a narrative about Apple’s slow demise. I expect the chorus to grow louder before it weakens. Blood in the water, and all that. Apple doesn’t do itself many favors. Its trenchant secrecy used to seem cool – and I daresay it would still be considered cool – if not for the fact that a) competitive technologies are legitimately “catching… -
Did you know 70% of Facebook users are mobile?
3 May 2013 | 5:56 am…at least some of the time. That’s the latest in our findings after reading through Facebook’s Q12013 SEC Filing. See what other surprises are on tap for marketers in our summary on the SHIFT Communications blog post.
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The Responsible Marketing Blog
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Don’t ask your customer to make creative decisions for you
10 Jun 2013 | 3:46 pmI’m sure their intentions were good. I was just asked by a company we work with to help them select their logo and website via an online survey. They obviously didn’t know what we do around here. Their message started like this: We are asking your thoughts and feedback on our new logo and website. Your input is invaluable to us as our inspiration comes from you. The inspiration comes from us? A little late for that. If they were looking to us for inspiration, they should have reached out before the first logo concept was developed. You know, that point where they ask their… -
How one college builds trust by educating prospects
4 Jun 2013 | 11:29 pmConsumers today are better informed about the products or services they’re purchasing than at any other time in history. But it’s not because of marketers. In addition to researching on Google, peer-to-peer review sites like Angie’s List and Yelp have quickly become the most effective way for consumers to learn about business products and services. But why is that? I believe it’s because over the years marketers have lost the trust of consumers. And why wouldn’t they? From misleading cigarette ads to products that claim to prevent the common cold or boost your immune system –… -
Hey Abercrombie, take your apology and suck it.
23 May 2013 | 9:57 amOh, Abercrombie. You continue to steal the headlines with your chiseled shirtless teenagers gracing the cover of your shopping bags, scandalous advertisements, and beautiful hand-selected employees. And thanks to Business Insider for bringing CEO Mike Jefferies’ 2006 comments back to life, Abercrombie is once again in our headlines. In case you missed it, in 2006 Jeffries made a statement to Salon.com stating, In every school there are the cool and popular kids, and then there are the not-so-cool kids. Candidly, we go after the cool kids. We go after the attractive all-American kid… -
Role Reversal: Perceptions of Men and Women in Advertising
9 May 2013 | 2:20 pmCheck out this eye-opening video put together by a Women and Gender Studies class at the University of Saskatchewan by Sarah Zelinski, Kayla Hatzel and Dylan Lambi-Raine. They wanted to show how ridiculous media portrays gender roles and stereotypes in advertising through presenting gender roll reversals. As depicted in the video, our parents went through their own generational stereotypes with women striving for perfection at home and men expecting it. At least that’s what the ads told us. So, what if my husband finds out I’m not buying the freshest coffee? Well, he can take… -
Holy Shift: Creepy George will “Fix your transmission”
1 May 2013 | 12:38 amOh, this ad for Arlen Transmission is so bad in so many ways – but like a car accident, I can’t take my eyes off it. It’s got the tackiness and female objectification of the Beacon Plumbing’s ‘fix my pipes’ lady: . . . with a little touch of the classic Vern Fonk “Shipoopi” – Dance! video: Sure, it’s driving word of mouth, but would an ad like this make you more or less apt to hire Arlen Transmission? - – - Credit where it’s due: “Holy Shift” was a comment by Pavos Bannout in the video’s YouTube…
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Web Strategy by Jeremiah
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The Many Forms of Transaction in the Collaborative Economy
19 Jun 2013 | 6:08 amAbove New Image: An advanced view of the Collaborative Economy Value Chain in an ‘exploded’ view. This exclusive image, which was not included in the seminal report on the Collaborative Economy, shows a potential new business model that taps into new transactions beyond traditional selling. In the final phase of “provide a platform” the crowd is building new products. [The Collaborative Economy is an economic model where ownership and access are shared between corporations, startups, and people] First, it’s key to read the full report, and watch the 18 minute… -
The Dark Side to the Collaborative Economy
18 Jun 2013 | 6:56 amAs part of my ongoing coverage of the Collaborative Economy (read all the posts) it’s important we explore all facets of this disruptive trend to corporations not just upsides, but the downsides. I also see that marketplace friction is a sign of disruption as power changes hands, which should make the seasoned web strategist want to look closer. If you’re from the sharing movement and are offended by this post, first, read my opposite of this post is the three drivers of the Collaborative Economy where we’ve documented over a dozen specific attributes that are driving… -
Collaborative Economy: Live Like Royalty Without Owning a Throne
17 Jun 2013 | 5:26 amEver wanted to live a life of luxury but are just shy of a few billion dollars? Now, with simple web technologies, anyone can have access –without owning it. In fact, I’m living this too, as I wrote a personal, heartfelt note to brands, telling how I want an open relationship. As part of my ongoing coverage of the next phase of social business, I’m covering the collaborative economy, where people are sharing goods and services using the internet, you can read the definitive report, or peruse all the posts. A collaborative economy of shared ownership and access in luxury… -
Infographic: Collaborative Economy Startups Proliferating
14 Jun 2013 | 11:41 amThis inforgraphic is part of my ongoing coverage of the collaborative economy (see all posts), which is the next phase of the social business. What’s that? We’ve published a seminal report on what it means for corporations including video, slides and additional resources. Altimeter’s segmented 200 sharing startups to find out why –and how –these disruptive startups are spreading across many verticals, here’s some of the key findings: Excessive influx of startups in every industry. One of the findings is that there is a cambrian explosion of startups,… -
Internet Phases: Past, Present, and Future
11 Jun 2013 | 5:45 amThanks to you, last week’s report on the collaborative economy was readily received, and has been viewed over 26k times, the media picked up on it, and bloggers alike. As we digest what it means, it’s important to recognize this is the next phase in the internet, and the next phase of social business. An interesting finding is that the second era (social) and the third era (collaborative economy), use the same technologies (social technologies) but instead of sharing media and ideas –people are sharing goods and services. This is all part of a continuum and we need to…
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Future Visions
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Legislating the impossible
14 Jun 2013 | 12:28 amThere is no way to undo advancement. There is no way to kill a technology. Regulators and lawmakers can pour money into enforcement, but people will continue to act as they desire so long as the risk/reward payout is worth the effort. Regulators cannot stop BitTorrent, the market must adapt to this reality. Regulators cannot curb recreational marijuana, it's an accepted part of western society. And regulators cannot stop 3D printed firearms, it's simply the emerging technological reality. There are laws we must keep on the books because by giving in we lose our integrity as a society. There… -
Is the marketing world prepared for the PRISM backlash?
11 Jun 2013 | 2:12 amThere is a world of difference between safe, anonymous third party cookie tracking and warrantless governmental intrusion into your online life. It’s time that we, the digital marketing industry invested in telling this story. Last week the world learned of PRISM – a US federal initiative that reportedly uses backdoors at major online companies to monitor our private data and conversations - without a warrant. The public outcry at this alleged violation of our personal privacy has been spectacular. While there is still much about PRISM that we just don’t know, the public is now more… -
You don't have a social media crises
23 May 2013 | 4:59 amImage Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonastana/5274451294/sizes/l/in/photostream/ If your product, policy, support or communications is lacking or broken, your customers will tell you. This isn't a social crises, it's a business challenge to be addressed and overcome. If your constituents believe false rumors about you, you have a communications problem that needs to be addressed. This isn't a platform problem, it's just magnified by the scale of social. The rest is mostly window dressing. -
Photo sharing and storage is still very broken
21 May 2013 | 12:29 amMy primary camera is my mobile phone. I create a ton of media and want a great, free solution for backup, sharing and nagivation. But I can't seem to find any one platform that can do it all for me. Moving Into The CloudI have relied on Picasa for manual photo and video storage for the past three years. Their auto-tagging features are a breeze, making navigation and discovery a pleasure. However, Picasa can get resource intensive, and in today's day and age, I'm looking for an automated cloud solution. And here's the kicker that no platform offers - auto-tagging my kids faces. My kids are too… -
Forget Google Glass, this is the value of wearables
6 May 2013 | 3:21 amThe team at Eidos is really on to something here. Augmenting our reality, focusing our reality and enhancing our human experience rather than distracting from it. Art, science, health, culture, life... this is the future of computing. Eidos - Sensory augmentation equipment (full version) from TJB on Vimeo.
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Professional Blog - Chris Saad
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With Waze, Google has all the pieces to win the next cycle.
9 Jun 2013 | 9:44 amGoogle is close to ending the speculation and buying Waze for $1.3 billion, according to Israeli media.If Google buys Waze it's got nothing to do with either. It's about blocking Facebook and Apple from finishing their suite.Only Google has all the key assets in place to dominate the next cycle. The Mobile OS (Android), The Productivity Apps (Gmail, Drive, Maps, Docs), Next gen interfaces (Google Now, Google Voice Actions), Content (Google Play), PaaS (Google AppEngine and other Cloud Services) and G+ as an emerging social layer. Even Google Glass is playing a role… -
On Twitter, Privacy, PRISM & Bandwagons
6 Jun 2013 | 5:02 pmThe whole Internet is on fire about PRISM right now. Apparently the NSA is wholesale tracking data from 9 major internet companies. Putting aside for a second if this is true or not, or what it really means, I want to address a related story about Twitter's NON-participation in this list. The site Quartz is claiming that it's somehow a big show of strength that Twitter is not listed as a provider of data to the PRISM program. It goes on to explain that this will bolster their IPO as they potentially go on to become bigger than many other tech giants.This seems to be a really popular post… -
Building in someone else's yard
23 Apr 2013 | 11:17 amLoic Le Meur writes over on LinkedIn about his mistakes betting on Twitter with his company Seesmic. Seesmic was a company that produced a series of great Twitter clients for multiple platforms (Mobile, Web, Desktop etc). When Twitter started shutting down developers and releasing their own official clients Seesmic's business was undermined and ultimately shuttered.I'm not blaming Twitter for this strategic change – they did not know they would take that decision at the time when they were fully supporting their ecosystem. I blame myself entirely. I should have never dedicated all my… -
Dark Social and Facebook+
14 Oct 2012 | 9:14 amWorking with large brands at Echo is thrilling. They have the content, products and reach that matter in everyday people’s lives. This means that even small improvements in their Realtime, Social strategy results in big impacts on large groups of people. One of the prevailing misconceptions we find when we first get started with a new customer, however, is that Facebook is Social. Facebook comments, Facebook Likes, Facebook Fan Pages are often seen as the beginning and the end of the social ‘strategy’.For as long as I can remember, my career has been about helping others to remember… -
The Open Web Is Dead - Long live the Open Web
4 Feb 2012 | 10:54 pmYesterday Robert Scoble once again declared that the Open Web was dead. His argument was that Apps and proprietary black holes like Facebook are absorbing all the light (read: users, attention, value, investment) and taking our beloved open platform right along with it. In his post, he kindly (but incorrectly) named me as the only person who really cares about the Open Web. While that's flattering, I think he's wrong about me being the only one who cares. But he is right about the Open Web. It's in real danger. URLs are fading into the background, native Mobile apps are all the rage and…
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Affiliate Marketing Tips from Super Affiliate Zac Johnson
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How to Make $1,000,000 Online $5 at a Time!
17 Jun 2013 | 11:14 amWhen it comes to making money online everything thinks it comes so easy. If you were already successful with an online business and you tell someone that you “make money online” or have an “online business”, they will usually think you are doing porn or have already made a ton of “easy” money. The truth is that the success stories will always be the big news, but no one really talks about all the failures. Mark Zuckerberg has made BILLIONS from starting Facebook and many others are becoming millionaires daily by selling their online start-ups to huge power… -
Make Money with CrushAds Affiliate Network
13 Jun 2013 | 1:40 pmIn today’s world of internet marketing you have a lot of choices when it comes to which ad network you want to start running your ads through. Since it’s somewhat easy to start your own affiliate network these days, it’s more important than ever to know that you are working with a reliable company that not only pays you, but also has a nice history in the industry as well. Today we are going to take a look at CrushAds, who have actually been in the industry for quite a while now… which is something we often don’t see with affiliate networks. CrushAds is also part… -
How to Create a $500 Sponsored Prize Contest for $24.99
11 Jun 2013 | 8:22 amMost of us are constantly worrying about finding new ways to grow our email list. One of the things that have worked very well for me in the past has been sweepstake contests. Not only have they generated a great amount of email subscribers but also created quite an excitement within my target audience. But the problem is that contests are messy. First, they only work if the prize is really big. Second, you have to download and install a contest tool and third, you have to worry about things like legal terms, whether its Facebook approved or not, announcing the winner and delivering the… -
Building Quality Backlinks with SEO Content Network
10 Jun 2013 | 8:29 amWhen it comes to building a successful web site or blog is that is going to generate traffic and leads through the search engines, there is a lot more to think about than just creating quality content. With the internet more alive and social than ever, you need to create a wide variety of incoming links and activity from other sites on the internet. Even if you do have a great collection of incoming links, you will still need to worry about the DoFollow and NoFollow guidelines while also keeping up to date with any recent changes that Google decides to implement anytime in the future. With… -
Using the Brown Box Formula to Grow a Real Online Business
9 Jun 2013 | 7:32 amHave you ever thought about Amazon.com and how they became the powerhouse they are today? It’s quite cool because I’ve been working with Amazon.com since the last 90s and have seen them transform their massive business over time. When I first started promoting them they only sold books, music and movies… now they have everything you can imagine. They’ve also done an amazing job at branding themselves and it’s not just online marketing. Whenever you get an Amazon box shipped to your house, you know it’s from Amazon because of the big smile on that brown box.
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Chad's Blog
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Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: Are You Walking Your Walk?
19 Jun 2013 | 9:25 amIssue No. 24 June 19, 2013 Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: Are You Walking Your Walk? Raising the Barr is a weekly memo, which is always pithy, powerful and succinct. It focuses on innovative ideas by maximizing your life and business while leveraging strategy, content, technology and the web, to help you transform the success. This week’s reflection point: How often do you talk with an expert only to then realize that they are great at giving advice rather than following it? In other words, they either have not implemented or do not use their own expertise. For example: The contractor… -
Chad Presents For The Pittsburgh Consulting Community
17 Jun 2013 | 7:00 amBuilding and Nurturing a Thriving Consulting Practice Are you considering an encore career as a consultant? Just started a consulting practice and want to see faster growth? Are you an experienced consultant who would like to freshen your approach? Join us for this unique opportunity to learn from successful consultants and consulting growth experts. The workshop will focus on three consulting challenges: Building Your Digital Empire Back by popular demand, learn how to leverage technology to grow your consulting practice from web guru Chad Barr, author of Million Dollar Web Presence and the… -
Consistency Is The Key
17 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amI’ve seen many invest their thoughts, energy and hard work in the consistent creation of valuable content posted on their site and blog. And then, due to personal, business or other reasons, they stop developing content. Some, like waves, come and go. Others, like dinosaurs, disappear to extinction. In one of my articles not too long ago, I suggested that Silence is not golden. This became apparent in a recent conversation with one of my clients. During our chat he asked me whether another client was doing ok since she has not been as active as she used to be. When you go silence, the… -
9 Ways To Keep The Spark In Relationships and Business
16 Jun 2013 | 5:00 am© Chad Barr 2013. All Rights Reserved. -
Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: Proper Attribution Please
12 Jun 2013 | 12:08 pmIssue No. 23 June 12, 2013 Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: Proper Attribution Please Raising the Barr is a weekly memo, which is always pithy, powerful and succinct. It focuses on innovative ideas by maximizing your life and business while leveraging strategy, content, technology and the web, to help you transform the success. This week’s reflection point: It was only a few years ago as my daughter, Sharon, while preparing for her ordination as a Rabbi, attended the service and sermon given by another classmate. To her amazement the entire sermon sounded eerily familiar and Sharon…
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@andrewchen
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How to grow your app revenue with DuPont analysis (Guest post)
17 Jun 2013 | 11:00 amAbout the author: Kenton wrote this fantastic piece about analyzing in-app revenue, drawing from his work experience at both Zynga, where he runs their mobile poker product, and before that, Google. You can follow him at @kivestu and his blog here. -Andrew When I worked at Google, Eric Schmidt used to say “Revenue solves all known problems.” He was right. And if you’re monetizing a mobile app today, there is a good chance that in-app purchases (IAP) are a critical component of your monetization (if not the sole pillar).* Yet we don’t have great tools for understanding the mechanics of… -
New college grads: Don’t sell your time for a living
3 Jun 2013 | 11:00 amIf there’s one thing I could tell every graduating student, this is what I’d say: Jobs suck. At least the traditional version of a job, in which you do something you sorta hate, from 9-5p, and are paid for your time to just grit your teeth and do it. Let’s call this the “sell your time” version of a personal business model: You sell your time to an employer, and they pay you for that time. Turns out this personal business model sucks. Even The Onion agrees, in their article Find The Thing You’re Most Passionate About, Then Do It On Nights And Weekends For… -
I’m training new Growth Hackers. Email me.
20 May 2013 | 11:46 amUPDATE: As of mid-2013 I am still talking to designers/developers about this, so please feel free to email me even though this post is a little old now. Thanks! Short version If you’re an engineer or designer looking for a new role, and interested in working with me- please send me a note and introduce yourself. (You don’t have to be in the Bay Area). Here’s my email: voodoo@gmail.com. I’ll reply back to you personally and we can chat more! Also, feel free to forward this on to anyone else that might fit. Here’s the longer version :) Dear readers, A year ago, I… -
Does your product suck? Stop adding new features and “zoom in” instead
16 May 2013 | 11:32 am[Adapted from an answer I wrote on Quora, and thought I'd share it on my blog too.] Adding a lot more features won’t save your product Everyone’s worked on a product it’s failing despite a ton of work behind it. It’s not for lack of great ideas, or a lack of bright minds working long and hard on the product. In the startup world, often this comes because after a new product is launched, there’s a Trough of Sorrow where features are often added to try to spark traction. After a few months of this, and a few shifts in direction, it’s easy to get a… -
Linkedin, Facebook, Google, Twitter, eBay, YouTube, Wikipedia, Amazon, Hotmail, Blogger, Apple: How they used to look
13 May 2013 | 10:00 amThis is an oldie but a goodie I had to share again- here are some screenshots of early web products, some close to their inception, some a couple years later. If you have some other screenshots of early products, be sure to tweet me at @andrewchen and I’ll try to put them up.
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brandflakesforbreakfast
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pranking like it's 1860
19 Jun 2013 | 5:10 amAh more pranks in the name of marketing, and we just can't get enough of them. This one was created by everyone's favorite pranksters, Improv Everywhere, for BBC America's series, Copper. The team took over Black Rabbit Bar in Brooklyn and made it look like a bar in 1860, from the decor, the beer selections, prices, music and even the people... which in Brooklyn, might actually just seem normal and hipsterific. Watch as two unsuspecting guys get pranked in a display of awesomeness. -
movies in 60 seconds
19 Jun 2013 | 5:09 amYou may have heard of 1A4Studio for their fun little 60 second movie recap animations, including Back to the Future, Star Wars, Matrix, and Aliens. Here's their latest for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. -
infographic: this is your brain on creativity
19 Jun 2013 | 5:08 amWhether you are a creative, or have worked with one, you know there's a special kind of madness going on in the creative brain. A brilliant madness. This infographic does a great job illustrating it. Heck yes, unicorn deathmatch. -
second-hand logos
18 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amWhen a company designs a new logo, not much thought is given to all the existing collateral that has the now has-been logo on it...until now. Domino's and CP+B thought rather than turning collateral with Domino's old logo into trash, why not turn it all into something more meaningful? They provided the materials to renowned artists to make goods out of, like scarves and bowls, that have an already kitschy feel to them - and everything is documented on a Domino's Pinterest page SecondHandLogos.com. A slightly green effort that will potentially make some artists some green. Everyone… -
get oatmeal-ified
18 Jun 2013 | 4:59 amThe new never-ending question presented by social media - how to celebrate big milestones of fans, followers, etc?The Oatmeal just hit 1 million fans on Facebook and celebrated their milestone in a fun way - the creator, Matthew Inman, illustrated select photos that fans posted on the wall in the now iconic Oatmeal fashion. Warning: he doesn't like babies. See more here and on the Facebook page.
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Stowe Boyd
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"The idea that a Palestinian state should be established within … Israel has reached a dead end -..."
18 Jun 2013 | 11:07 pm“The idea that a Palestinian state should be established within … Israel has reached a dead end - Naftali Bennett http://t.co/eyRABOrZ1K— Stowe Boyd (@stoweboyd) June 19, 2013 ” - Kerry’s pogostick diplomacy is not working, and we are apparently past a point of no return in Israel. Jodi Roderen, Trying to Revive Mideast Peace Talks, Kerry Finds a Conflicted Israel The current tempest began when Danny Danon, a hawkish member of Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud Party and deputy defense minister, told the Web site The Times of Israel that “there is no majority for a two-state solution”… -
"The ‘skills gap’ is mostly a corporate fiction, based in part on self-interest and a..."
15 Jun 2013 | 11:45 pm“The ‘skills gap’ is mostly a corporate fiction, based in part on self-interest and a misreading of government data http://t.co/8EqHg05M0k— Stowe Boyd (@stoweboyd) June 16, 2013 ” - The NY Times Editorial Board This is a recap of Peter Capelli’s research debunking the skills gap, where companies plead ‘skills gap’ but in fact are unwilling to raise pay high enough to fill so-called ‘unfilled jobs’. It’s a Potemkin village argument. -
"The argument that this sweeping search must be kept secret from the terrorists is laughable...."
15 Jun 2013 | 11:12 pm“The argument that this sweeping search must be kept secret from the terrorists is laughable. Terrorists already assume this sort of thing is being done. Only law-abiding American citizens were blissfully ignorant of what their government was doing.” - Richard Clark, Why you should worry about the NSA Clark tears apart the tissue of lies about NSA domestic spying. -
Water War Between Egypt And Ethiopia?
15 Jun 2013 | 10:14 pmMorsi has such problems confronting him in Egypt that he is sabre-rattling, fulminating about going to war with Ethiopia as that upstream country is proceeding with plans to build a hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile. In principle, damming the river for hydro-power shouldn’t lead to long-term diversion of water, but the energy-starved Ethiopia might start to divert water to local uses — like cash crop food production — which could impact Egypt (and Sudan, by the way), 85% of whose water comes from the Blue Nile. Thomas Friedman, Egypt’s Perilous Drift The headline news… -
"Can innovation and progress really hurt large numbers of workers, maybe even workers in general? I..."
14 Jun 2013 | 8:38 pm“Can innovation and progress really hurt large numbers of workers, maybe even workers in general? I often encounter assertions that this can’t happen. But the truth is that it can, and serious economists have been aware of this possibility for almost two centuries. The early-19th-century economist David Ricardo is best known for the theory of comparative advantage, which makes the case for free trade; but the same 1817 book in which he presented that theory also included a chapter on how the new, capital-intensive technologies of the Industrial Revolution could actually make workers worse…
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ComMetrics | measure for impact - sCRM, ROI
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Why I love social media monitoring
9 Jun 2013 | 5:01 pm4 lessons to help you look smart next time you present social media monitoring data to management.
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Six Pixels of Separation
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The One Key To Successful Content
18 Jun 2013 | 6:59 pmWhat do you think makes someone's content relevant? Last night in New York City, the kind people at Google hosted a book launch for CTRL ALT Delete. Instead of making it the standard fare, I opted to invite Seth Godin to join me on stage to discuss some of the core concepts of the book. My initial thought was to get Seth's take on my theory of business purgatory and then dive a little deeper into the five movements that have changed business forever, along with the triggers that each one of us has to bring to the work that we do. Seth would have none of that. Seth was more interested in… -
Does Retail Understand The Untethered Consumer?
16 Jun 2013 | 4:52 amEpisode #362 of Six Pixels of Separation - The Twist Image Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to. While many companies were still lamenting a basic website back in the nineties, Gary Schwartz was already imagining how content, voice and mobility would change how we connect to one another... and the brands that serve us. For over a decade, Gary has been a leader in the mobile industry. He is CEO of Impact Mobile (offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, etc...), is Chair of the Mobile Entertainment Forum and Chair Emeritus of the Mobile Committee for the Internet Advertising… -
Six Links Worthy Of Your Attention #156
14 Jun 2013 | 8:15 pmIs there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see? My friends: Alistair Croll (BitCurrent, Year One Labs, GigaOM, Human 2.0, Solve For Interesting, the author of Complete Web Monitoring, Managing Bandwidth: Deploying QOS in Enterprise Networks and Lean Analytics), Hugh McGuire (PressBooks, LibriVox, iambik and co-author of Book: A Futurist's Manifesto) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person "must… -
Spend 20 Minutes With A Genius
14 Jun 2013 | 5:48 pmYou're going to read, look at, listen to and watch a lot of content over the weekend. Most of it is going to suck. It's going to be boring. It's going to kill time rather than inspire you to find the time. What if I could give you something to watch for twenty minutes that will inspire you? Nobody does it better than Seth Godin. Don't believe me? Watch this talk on creativity with a theme called "backwards" that was recorded last month in NYC... 2013/05 Seth Godin | Backwards from CreativeMornings on Vimeo. See, I told you :) (and yes, quite candidly, I'm also psyching myself up for… -
Summer Reading 2013
14 Jun 2013 | 5:35 pmThere have been a slew of new business books that have come on to the market lately. Summer should be here... some time soon, right? If you're looking for something to read, here are some new releases that will grab your attention and enrapture your mind (in alphabetical order): Choose Yourself - Be Happy, Make Millions, Live The Dream by James Altucher. About the book: "The world is changing. Markets have crashed. Jobs have disappeared. Industries have been disrupted and are being remade before our eyes. Everything we aspired to for 'security,' everything we thought was 'safe,' no…
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Chris Pirillo
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State of Arrested Development
29 May 2013 | 12:16 pmState of Arrested Development If you’ve ever wanted to see Diana put on her full face, then Pirillo Vlog 399 is the right place! I’m trying to convince her that she can put on an even happier face if she catches up with the first three seasons of Arrested Development, but she’s... Read the full article on http://chris.pirillo.com/ -
Geek Pride Day in the Friend Zone
27 May 2013 | 1:22 pmGeek Pride Day in the Friend Zone Hello, and welcome to Pirillo Vlog 398! Eschewing tradition, Geek Pride Day was celebrated without the use of fireworks, stun-set phasers, or droids of any kind. Here, I try to explain to Diana just how much of a “walking bucket of awkward” I was in... Read the full article on http://chris.pirillo.com/ -
What Do Girls Like?
26 May 2013 | 12:19 pmWhat Do Girls Like? What do girls like? Girls tend to know what boys like, but the opposite isn’t always true. In Pirillo Vlog 397, I ponder this age-old question because most of the people who have registered for VloggerFair happen to be females. That’s right, fellas. If you’re... Read the full article on http://chris.pirillo.com/ -
Presents Made from Meat
25 May 2013 | 11:09 amPresents Made from Meat Now that Diana has happily returned to the Pirillo Homestead here in scenic Issaquah after some time with her family in Texas, things are returning to normal. And she brought me presents! Presents made from meat! Yep. Definitely back to normal. Here in Pirillo Vlog 396, we... Read the full article on http://chris.pirillo.com/ -
The Diana Has Landed
24 May 2013 | 12:18 pmThe Diana Has Landed Houston, Issaquah Base here. The Diana has landed in Pirillo Vlog 395! As most of you who follow this vlog know, Diana was away for a while, visiting family and friends back in her native land of Texas. But now, at long last, she’s finally back! A little time in the sun... Read the full article on http://chris.pirillo.com/
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Common Craft - Common Craft - Our Product is Explanation
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Wonderful Quote and Photos on Explanation
18 Jun 2013 | 4:43 pmMatthew Monteith is a New York-based artist who had an idea for a photo series that captures people explaining artworks to others. Part of his motivation, according to this article on Flavorwire, was a fascination with explanation itself. What follows is my new favorite quote on the subject, by Monteith: I am fascinated with the art of explanation, the moment when one individual, using their own knowledge of an object, both conceptual and historical takes on the task of animating that story and attempts to plant the seed of that idea into the minds of others. These ideas morph into new… -
Overcoming The Illusion of Understanding
17 Jun 2013 | 10:05 amI’m sure you know a friend or relative who has strongly-held opinions about a subject and is convinced that their position is right. But when asked about specifics, it becomes clear that they lack a basic understanding of the working parts that back-up that position. A recent article by Tania Lombrozo, PhD., a cognitive scientist at UC Berkeley, highlights what causes these extreme positions and what can be done to moderate them. Lombrozo’s article is based on a recent paper by psychologist Phil Fernbach of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado. Fernbach found… -
Dropbox: A Case Study in Explanation
10 Jun 2013 | 11:01 amDropbox, with 100+ million users, has become a case study in startup success. But before that success they had a big problem to overcome, one that seems to plague startups everywhere. How they solved it and what that has meant to their company provides a look at the future of business communication and how to engage and turn website visitors into customers. A New Kind of Problem Companies are problem-solving machines. Whole teams and departments exist to solve engineering problems, design problems, marketing problems, and management problems. Dropbox was no different. They saw a… -
New Video on VPNs!
28 May 2013 | 10:13 amBased on suggestions and votes from Common Craft members, we just published a new video called Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) - Explained by Common Craft. What it Teaches: This video explains the business use of Virtual Private Networks. It tells the story of Candice who discovers her new employer’s VPN, which means she can securely connect to the company network over the Internet. •Why normal Internet connections are not secure for business information •Why VPNs make sense for businesses •How VPNs connect employees and remote offices to headquarters •How encryption… -
What Explanation and Design Have in Common
23 May 2013 | 10:17 amWe hear a lot about design these days. Apple products are probably the most popular examples. The idea is that Apple became one of the most valuable companies in the world, in part, because they focus on the design of their products. But what does that mean, really? What do organizations who focus on design do differently? Recently the TV show 60 Minutes featured the design company IDEO, which was founded by David Kelley. At multiple points in the interview, Kelley mentions an idea that is at the core of design and design thinking. The word is empathy. The central tenet of…
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Drew's Marketing Minute.
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Is it time for a website re-design?
18 Jun 2013 | 11:47 amIn today’s marketplace, a company’s website is their first impression with prospects. It’s a rare purchase today that doesn’t begin with some sort of research or due diligence. And as consumers (both B2C and B2B) find themselves more time starved and more web savvy – the research tool of choice is often a Google search. Long before they’ll set an appointment for a consultation or walk into your retail establishment – they’re scoping you out on the web. It makes sense then, that when it comes to your web presence you’d want to put your best foot forward, doesn’t it? And… -
Guilty of the frantic scramble in your marketing?
5 Jun 2013 | 4:55 amI grew up in Minnesota in the 70s and I love football which meant that back when I was a kid, my world revolved around the Minnesota Vikings and our incredible quarterback, Fran Tarkenton. At the time of his retirement, Fran owned EVERY major quarterback record out there. Fran was known as The Scrambler because he was famous for being able to pivot and run around in the backfield, dodging defensive players and giving his teammates time to elude a defender or get open for a pass. He was something to behold. Off the field, he was articulate, intelligent and called a “thinking… -
Is your marketing making you a rock star?
31 May 2013 | 4:39 amMack Collier has hit a home run with his book Think Like A Rock Star* and I really want all of you to get his message. As consumers get more jaded by traditional advertising and marketing that interrupts rather than connects — this book serves up the answer. Why not be so good, create so much goodwill and treat your best customers like the super stars they are — all so you can unleash the word of mouth power of those best customers? We know that there’s nothing more influential than word of mouth and that an endorsement from a trusted friend/source absolutely influences… -
In marketing the constant is change
29 May 2013 | 4:04 amYou know, the annoying thing about clichés is that they’re based in truth, even though that truth may be a bit worn in places. And lately I’ve been very aware of the idiom “the only constant is change” as it relates to business and especially to marketing. Maybe it’s always been this way and our parents and grandparents had to wrestle with constant change too, but it seems to me that the acceleration curve has gotten incredibly steep over the last 15 or 20 years. For example, when I started my career, computers were certainly a part of the mix but we never showed a client a… -
So you want a career in advertising?
21 May 2013 | 4:18 amI was recently contacted by a college student who asked if he could interview me for one of this classes. One of the questions he asked is one I get a lot, so I thought I’d share my answer with you here. If you aspire to be in our business — I hope it helps. If you’re already in the business — what did I miss? What advice would you give to anyone who was aspiring to enter the field of advertising? Yikes… there are lots of things to know but here are some of the biggies. You cannot do it alone so surround yourself with really smart, good-hearted people who you can…
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Gravity7: Social Interaction Design By Adrian Chan
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Social design of the collaborative economy
4 Jun 2013 | 9:52 amMerchant of Venice Lots of interesting attention of late being paid to the collaborative economy. Collaborative economies are of course nothing new. Prior to the rise of capitalism and the organization of society around production and economic trade, most societies were collaborative economies. Though they were bound by traditions, non-monetary trade and exchange, and on principles of gifts, debts, and social obligations. These disappeared when labor was lifted out of social structure and negotiated by means of money. What’s happening today is perhaps less a sign of an emergent… -
Mirror, surface, window – three modes of the social screen
29 May 2013 | 5:14 amUser experience designers like their conceptual models. We are professionally prone to build and rely on models and abstractions — mental constructs known not for their accuracy but perhaps for their utility. In the world of social tools, and of using social for commercial (client) purposes, our models are still well under construction. But due to the greater complexity of understanding the “function” of technologies implicated in social activities and behaviors, concepts are important. Models are less a description of empirical reality and always more a framework or framing. -
Gravity7 to Enterprise…UX and social in the workaday world
23 May 2013 | 1:09 pmI’ve been working in the enterprise now for over a year. As a full throated and once- incorrigible independent, the experience has been fascinating. DeloitteDigital is an incredible group of talent, smarts, and opportunity. Its studio culture is strong and eagerly defended. Its influence on design, development, UX, IT, and many other projects at Deloitte has been measurable. But if anything, I feel like I’m just getting started. The enterprise world is of course a complete 180 from the social startup and before that indie web culture I spent most of my life in. Projects, rhythms,… -
The conundrum of corporate social media use
5 Mar 2013 | 11:35 amThe world of institutional social media use is fraught with tricky choices and ambiguous policy diktats. What can an institution say and not say? What can it do and what should it not do? Is a Like an expression of alignment (alike), admiration (I like that), or endorsement (Like this please, I do)? Is a reblog a verbal act or simply a mediated relay? What’s a follow?! Every and any individual engaged to handle his or her company’s social media engagement must make a hundred choices a day. Whether to post, comment, retweet, and like. Each time walking a line that is at best well… -
Enterprise systems of engagement — social designers needed
29 Jan 2013 | 11:04 amBrushing up on the state of the art within enterprise systems, and the conversations about user experience in particular. This post from 2012 cites the importance of UI and user experience to increasing numbers of enterprise decision makers. The Move from Systems of Record to Systems of Engagement. Little surprise there. The consumerization of technology has birthed a renaissance in design in the past five years. It was just a matter of time before enterprise software and application developers would be forced to catch up. But I don’t think this is just a matter of user interface…
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Social Media Clubhouse
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Why Is Facebook less Popular with Teenagers?
18 Jun 2013 | 8:47 amIs the decline of Facebook only a matter of time? Perhaps. According to a recent study conducted by Pew Research Center, 95% of teens are online to some degree and that number has been consistent since 2006. Reports from multiple sources indicate that kids, especially teenagers, are moving away from Facebook in favor of other platforms. If you’re wondering why that might be the case and you’re a parent, you might just need to look in the mirror to see the answer. read more -
How to Engage Fans and Followers - Marc Fischman of Hyperactivate
17 Jun 2013 | 4:02 pmIn this special episode of Marketing Made Simple TV, Marc Fischman of Hyperactivate discusses how to best engage your brand's followers in this fun and engaging video. And please check out the link at the top of the show to learn more about Activating Fans and Followers. Just click "Yes, please." In this show, you will learn: The real key to engaging your followers and fans Why criteria like Klout score does not work in word of mouth The importance of fun and enabling people to see themselves read more -
Internet Memes for Business: The Good, the Bad…and the Grumpy
16 Jun 2013 | 7:08 pmChances are you have seen an Internet meme by now, especially if you spend any time on social media. Grumpy Cat rules the Internet in much the same way most cats rule their houses. Most people enjoy memes, and for a good reason. Typical memes, by design, appeal to the 12-year-old in all of us – they are either funny, cute, raunchy…or all of the above. Better still? Memes are free and easily transferred between people online – and they hold a great deal of potential for being seen by a lot of people. Enter Internet memes for business; what marketer or business owner would turn down an… -
MySpace, the Social Network that Keeps Coming Back
13 Jun 2013 | 2:28 pmFive years ago, one may have been able to walk into a high school and find a select few who were using this social networking site. I remember hearing some of my classmates talk about it, but didn’t really care too much to investigate further. I eventually signed up for account, but it didn’t last long. I was much more attracted to Facebook. Myspace, founded in 2003, is a social network that is very much music driven. What Myspace’s current Press Room fails to mention, is that the company has had many ups and downs since 2003. Brief timeline of Myspace’s History: read more -
What's the Future of Business? - @briansolis
12 Jun 2013 | 4:02 pmIn this show (click the button in lower right for full screen), noted thought leader and futurist Brian Solis sits down with show host Jeff Ogden for an interesting discussion on the future of business in this fast-changing world. Brian is also author of the new book, What's the Future of Business?" In this show, you'll learn: read more
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Creativity and Ideas Are My Fuel
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Are you a finder, minder, or grinder
13 Jun 2013 | 7:57 amAre you a finder, minder or grinder? I was once told that in the business world, there are three main types of roles: finders, minders and grinders. I feel this best applies to service-based businesses, but it still begs the question: Which one are you? Here is my brief overview of the three types: [...] -
Why It Is a BAD Idea to Try
10 Jun 2013 | 11:32 amHere is a true short story to explain what I mean by “trying is a bad idea“… About a year ago I got in touch with a contact who I was looking to do some business with… I sent him a message that said: “Let’s try and chat tomorrow at 2ish” His response was very [...] -
Reality is Negotiable
5 Mar 2013 | 6:39 amThere is a little business book called The 4-hour Work Week… you may have heard of it. One of the key points from that book is that “Reality is negotiable“… the examples used in the book were things like: “how to convince your boss to let you work from home half the week” etc… I [...] -
The Most Dramatic Commercial Ever?
24 Jan 2013 | 11:43 amIs this the most dramatic tv commercial ever? I love this ad for so many reasons. Leave your comments and thoughts below. -
Simplify Everything & Guy Meets a Girl
22 Jan 2013 | 8:21 amI often see people who are trying to make something seem more complex than it needs to be. Listen here fellow earthling.. complex doesn’t make it more cleverer (irony intended).. if you have a goal and want to achieve it, try simplifying it to the absolute basics. Here is a weird, but perfect example:
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Greg Verdino's Marketing Blog
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How To Take Time Off From Technology
28 May 2013 | 8:18 amFor many people here in the U.S., Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start to summer. And even in an always-on world, summer often gives us a bit of a breather — a chance to slow down, an opportunity to take a bit of time off from work. Two of my colleagues are wasting no time. As I write this, both have already unplugged and set off on extended vacations to remote regions where cell signal is scant and email is inaccessible. Both have made me wistful for a long-ago time when I once took a break with little-to-no access to technology. Or for that matter, a time when it seemed… -
6 Innovation Roadblocks Worth Breaking Through
29 Oct 2012 | 4:59 pmIf there’s a poster child for innovation, it’s most likely Thomas Edison. And if there’s a slogan scrawled across his poster, it’s probably his often-cited quote, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”which is generally believed to relate to his work on the light bulb. If you’re looking for a nicely packaged call for the power of perseverance, the rewards received for taking risks, or the benefits of having a go-get-’em can-do attitude you really can’t do much better than these words of wisdom from the man who gave the world the light… -
The Red Queen Effect in Marketing
24 Oct 2012 | 6:40 amIn the well-known race scene in Lewis Carroll’s classic Through the Looking-Glass, the Red Queen tells Alice, “It takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place Given the pace and pervasiveness of change happening everywhere around us — in technology, in culture, in business, in consumer behaviors and expectations, in media and more — I’d imagine that many marketers feel like they’re racing alongside the Red Queen in Looking-Glass world. Writing and rewriting marketing plans in a constant state of flux. Favoring near term wins over long term value. Adopting agile… -
See the World With Both Eyes Open
16 Oct 2012 | 8:26 amI recently wrote about the curse of knowledge, and — as a recurring theme — my posts often urge business readers to consider common tasks and so-called truths from a new or different perspective. So naturally, I enjoyed Geoff Livingston’s take on a similar topic when he wrote this week about “How Experience Blinds You.” The more experience we gain, the more likely we are to be bound by preconceived notions of the right and wrong ways to get things done. The more likely we are to bring our biases to the table — biases that might have served us well in the past, but might not serve… -
Making Innovation a Core Capability
19 Sep 2012 | 6:12 am“Because the purpose of business is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two–and only two–basic functions: marketing and innovation. Marketing and innovation produce results; all the rest are costs.” – Peter Drucker It should come as no shock that marketers love talking about innovation. And you’d think that if — as Drucker once said — marketing and innovation are the only two basic functions of the enterprise, then the marketers who can crack the code on innovation, bringing the two together into a single, sublime discipline, would be bathing in tubs…
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Ryan Sholin
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May Linkdump
31 May 2013 | 2:02 pmI read a lot of stuff. Or look at it, anyway. I save some of it. I tweet some of it. Not much, really. Here are some of the most interesting/useful/provocative/linkbaitey things I set aside for repeated/deeper/continued consumption since I last published a Linkdump post on April 10, 2013. Teacher Testimonial: How Rap Genius Fixed My English Class: If you haven’t been following my interest in emerging annotation platform Rap Genius, you’re missing out. I like it. I like the annotation tools, complete with a simple Redditish flavor of Markdown, I like the casual copyright… -
#sholinonrap on Clayton Christensen
24 May 2013 | 7:27 amIt’s been a good week for guest speakers here at the office. Gary Vaynerchuk was here on Tuesday, and Clayton Christensen spoke yesterday. Pretty much a coincidence, I think, as their talks were part of two different programs here, but I think Christensen would happily cite @garyvee as an example of his theories in action. So Gary was fun, but I was looking forward to Christensen. There’s a not-too-thin logical chain where I have a job in this industry because of his research getting into the hands of certain early online news adopters. When Gary spoke, I think I promised Sean… -
This is a linkdump
10 Apr 2013 | 2:31 pmAt the risk of doing what I’m best at — overstating the obvious — you might have noticed that I don’t use this blog much anymore. Actually, I do use it, maybe once a year or so, to communicate the fact that I don’t write many blog posts these days, and you should just follow me on Twitter or somewhere else if you’re interested. But that’s barely true. I don’t “talk” about “media” stuff much on Twitter, although I sort of do, depending on how you feel about reading between the lines, but sometimes a GIF is just a GIF. -
11 websites that should never, ever have a Facebook open graph read action that tells my friends what I am looking at on the Internet
29 Nov 2012 | 7:06 amGawker Deadspin Most other Gawker sites, really. Reddit TMZ Amazon Any website mentioning the name “Hunter Moore” Every alternative weekly ever. Yahoo News Slideshows YouTube Anything still hosted at a blogspot.com domain Related PostsI Am Being Followed By HelicoptersThe difference between Facebook friends and Twitter friends5 important things that happened in the last 10 daysZemanta -
Link: How to Use the “Network Density” Formula to Measure the Health of a Community
25 Oct 2012 | 8:14 amI’m a sucker for engagement formulas, especially when they help provide a means to quantitatively track something that sounds as fluffy and qualitative as “the health of a community.” Great ideas here for community managers and related parties: How to Use the “Network Density” Formula to Measure the Health of a Community Related PostsCustomer service, community management, and comment threadsShownarIn which a reader is invited to run a newspaper’s Twitter account for an hour.Zemanta
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SocialFish
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Get Open Community on Audible
19 Jun 2013 | 5:00 am(photo credit) Love audiobooks? Open Community is now on Audible! We have FIVE DOWNLOAD CODES AVAILABLE - all you need to do is drop us a comment below. Just answer any of these questions: How has the growth of online community changed the way you work today? Is community management part of your job? In what way? How has community management changed other business processes at your org (e.g. membership recruitment, marketing, advocacy etc)? Does the leadership at your organization understand the impact of online community on the future of the org? Why or why not? HINT: Maybe this book will… -
How to use storytelling to fundraise online
18 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amAs the Internet continues to grow, it is becoming harder and harder for nonprofits, and especially associations, to fundraise online. The number of scam fundraisers on the Internet that aim to steal people’s money has grown tremendously, making it more difficult for those with a good cause to preserve credibility unless they’re already established as a big brand. Donators are wary of giving to causes ever since scandals have rocked the web. As a nonprofit or association, what can you do to ensure your establishment comes across as credible and truthful? Storytelling – as unlikely as it… -
How MomsRising and charity: water have used Storify & Quora for success
17 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amWith so many social media tools capturing the attention of nonprofit organizations, how should nonprofits decide which tools are the best investment of their time and personnel? Some tools, like Facebook and Twitter, are are a given – but in the case of new social media platforms that continue to emerge and evolve, which tools should community managers and marketing staff focus on? We took a look at two organizations using two of these lesser known platforms to (successfully) advance their missions: Storify and Quora. Here’s how. MomsRising Expands Twitter Efforts With Storify… -
A Little Privacy, Please! Your Rights and Social Media Policies
14 Jun 2013 | 10:00 amThis post is reprinted by permission from Console and Hollawell Attorneys and originally appeared on their blog here. Thank you for the submission! Got something related to B2B, association or nonprofit social media you think would interest SocialFish readers? Send it our way! We’ll consider reporting it here. —————– Your privacy is important to us. How many times have you heard this spiel? “Your privacy is important to us. Read our privacy policy.” If your privacy was really important, would the websites that you visit every day, the ones… -
[SLIDES] How to Identify Influencers the Right Way
13 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amNice deck on Social Influence by Danny Brown, co-author of Influence Marketing, the book I pointed to a few days ago. “Today, influence is determined by how high a social score you have. But that dilutes what true influence is, and places the attention on the wrong people. By focusing on the customer and identifying who truly influencers their decisions at key times in the purchase life cycle, we can target better and gather lead generation, increase customer acquisition, and provide real ROI for influence marketing campaigns.” Influence and Focusing on the Customer from Danny…
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Christopher S. Penn
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Is email open rate decay increasing?
19 Jun 2013 | 4:23 amI was digging around in my email marketing analytics recently and noticed something interesting: the decay in open rates seemed to be much higher than I remember it being. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, email open rate decay is how quickly your audience opens up your email. For example, if you sent an email marketing message on day 1, there would still be people opening it on day 2, fewer on day 3, fewer still on day 4, etc. Each day that passes, fewer and fewer people open your email. The rate of decay tells you how long the shelf-life of your email is: the faster the rate of… -
What’s the best martial art? (a lesson for marketers)
18 Jun 2013 | 3:38 amI was recently asked what, in my opinion, the best martial art was. This is an incredibly common question, and it’s a question that often provokes vigorous, if sometimes juvenile, answers from the martial arts community. The real answer is that martial arts instruction varies so wildly that the style of martial art you practice really and truly does not matter. There are some general goals you might be trying to achieve such as fitness, self-protection, or peace of mind that might lend themselves better to one art or another, but for the most part, most martial arts are good enough for… -
The simplest way to fight imposter syndrome
17 Jun 2013 | 4:39 amIf you’re unfamiliar with the term, imposter syndrome is a general feeling of anxiety that is rooted in believing that you’re not what others believe you to be. If you suffer from imposter syndrome, you tend to believe that you’re not as qualified, as smart, or as talented as outsiders believe, and that you’re effectively an “imposter” or a “fake” who hasn’t been discovered. You tend to believe that anything good that’s happened to you is a result of luck and not your own talents. While not officially a recognized psychological… -
Why influencers matter: Big Data, recommendations, predictions
14 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amYou know what the most fundamental problem with predictive algorithms is currently? I’m talking about predictive things like Google’s Prediction API or Amazon’s Recommended or any of the other shopping-related predictive logic/Big Data packages available to us. The problem is that they are firmly rooted in past history, which means that innovative recommendations are an impossibility. Discovery is an impossibility right now. For example, in Facebook’s Graph Search, you can ask it for recommendations: When you do, it gives you what people who are your friends like:… -
Marketing Over Coffee: Google will penalize your bad mobile SEO
13 Jun 2013 | 5:09 amIn this week’s Marketing Over Coffee, we discuss Marketo, Salesforce, Malvertising, and tons of Google updates from SMX. Watch now: Subscribe now to the Marketing Over Coffee podcast! If you enjoyed this, please share it with your network! Want to read more like this from Christopher Penn? Subscribe now: Marketing White Belt Basics for Digital Marketers is now on Amazon & B&N I recommend & use: SEOMoz SEO software. I recommend: for small business incorporation. The post Marketing Over Coffee: Google will penalize your bad mobile SEO appeared first on Christopher S. Penn : Awaken Your…
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Socialmedia.biz
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WordPress SEO plugins to boost your search results
19 Jun 2013 | 3:01 amYoast, All in One, W3 Total Cache: Which is right for your business? Guest post by Angie Picardo WordPress is more than just a blogging platform. It can also be used as your content management system. Of course, part of managing content is ensuring that your site stands out and can be found among the millions of sites on the Web. One of the main tools for marketing to the right people is search engine optimization (SEO), or how to rank higher in Google’s search results. SEO plugins are ready-made widgets that can be plugged in to your WordPress site to do lots of cool stuff. Plugins… -
5 tips for repairing your damaged online reputation
18 Jun 2013 | 3:01 amPhoto courtesy of robert_a_dickinson (Creative Commons) Monitor and make strides to develop the reputation you want Guest post by Debbie Allen Through my own experience as an online marketer, content writer and blogger, I know that online reputations are very important. I also know that just a few years ago there was a very popular saying that was used by some of the so-called online gurus, and that was to “fake it until you make it.” Unfortunately, faking it may have ruined many people long before they had any chance of making it. You can’t hide from a bad reputation. The… -
Learn to lower your social media inhibitions
17 Jun 2013 | 3:01 amGain support by letting people know the real you This is the first of a two-part series. How much transparency have you shown today? I bet you’re wondering why I am constantly begging you to stop being a nice guy, daydreamer, or introvert when it comes to being online and to put yourself out there. Well, it’s because I am trying to help you break down your inhibitions. I want you to be more willing to treat your social media followers the way they deserve: at the very least like allies, fans, and acquaintances; and, hopefully, like the friends they are or will become. I… -
Content marketing: The secret to getting discovered in search
12 Jun 2013 | 4:02 amOr: Why organizations need to tell their stories Target audience: Marketing professionals, brands, businesses, SEO specialists, social media strategists. Content marketing — a term that would have drawn blank stares just a few years ago — is now becoming recognized as a principal way for any small business, mid-size company or large corporation to get its message out. Done right, content marketing can help an organization tell its story, directly and without filters. And for brand marketers, content marketing has become a key component of today’s marketing toolkit. How… -
Tweet like Guy Kawasaki for Twitter success
11 Jun 2013 | 3:02 amInside Twitter tips from a Silicon Valley entrepreneur People love and hate my friend Guy Kawasaki. Here are some of the least flattering blog posts, including Dear Guy Kawasaki, You Tweet Too Much; Guy Kawasaki is too ‘popular’ to stop autotweets during Boston bombings; Andrew Goodman to Guy Kawasaki: You are Ruining Twitter! and others. Well, I stand by Guy. While I am no Guy Kawasaki with only 44k followers (instead of 1.3 million), and I don’t have minions, Guy and I share our belief that in order to do business online, make money, build clout, grow influence and drive sales, we…
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@Gauravonomics
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StoryStreamLab: MSLGROUP’s Social Curation Software
17 Jun 2013 | 4:07 amI am delighted to share that we have launched MSLGROUP‘s proprietary social curation software StoryStreamLab at Cannes Lions 2013. I helped create StoryStream — along with MSLGROUP’s crowdsourcing software People’s Lab and social analytics software Social Hive Index – with Pascal Beucler, Narendra Nag and Tushar Bajaj. StoryStreamLab collects the most relevant stories on a topic from vetted sources, filters them using semantic analysis and hashtags, ranks them based on social popularity, and enables human curators to publish them on social networks, email… -
Now & Next: Future of Engagement
29 May 2013 | 3:27 amI am delighted to share MSLGROUP‘s new report titled Now & Next: Future of Engagement, which I co-authored with Pascal Beucler and Nidhi Makhija. Ten Frontiers for the Future of Engagement The report highlights the ten most important frontiers that will define the future of engagement for marketers, entrepreneurs and changemakers: 1. Crowdfunding (SlideShare): Inspiring people to collectively fund projects they are passionate about and help bring them to life. Photo from p22earl on Flickr 2. Behavior Change Games (SlideShare): Using game design technique and the power of… -
Future of Engagement #10: Collaborative Consumption
22 May 2013 | 12:43 amPeople use technology and community to choose access over ownership and create a new sharing economy. What is Collaborative Consumption? Source: seyyed_mostafa_zamani on Flickr Collaborative consumption is an important groundswell which is changing the very nature of ownership and consumption. People are sharing the ownership and use of products, services and spaces with others in their communities, or around the world, using community-driven marketplaces that facilitate sharing, renting, swapping, bartering and gifting. The rise of collaborative consumption can be attributed to three broad… -
Future of Engagement #9: Social Live Experiences
14 May 2013 | 1:45 amOrganizations blend technology, community and location to create immersive experiences that blur the boundaries between online and offline. What are Social Live Experiences? Social live experiences blend technology, community and location to create immersive experiences that blur the boundaries between online and offline. Source: pochacco20 on Flickr The rise of social live experiences can be attributed to three broad trends. First, people are constantly live-streaming their experiences by posting updates, photos, videos and check-ins through location-aware smart phones and tablets, creating… -
Future of Engagement #8: Collective Intelligence
28 Mar 2013 | 9:01 pmOrganizations synthesize search, social and sensor data streams into insights that guide smarter actions. What is Collective Intelligence? Photo from jodiejaye on Flickr Collective intelligence involves analyzing the collective actions and feedback of people, finding patterns and trends, and sharing it back to aid understanding and guide action. Organizations, artists and changemakers are using collective intelligence to analyze opinions and behaviors, identify patterns and trends, and recommend actions or inspire change. The rise of collective intelligence can be attributed to three broad…
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GigaOM
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New augmented reality glasses let teachers know when their students are falling behind
19 Jun 2013 | 12:38 pmFor teachers, it can be tough to tell when students are actually absorbing new information. They’re often so focused on the materials and on trying to keep the class alert that they can easily miss body language that suggests that a student is completely lost. Researchers at la Universidad Carlos III de Madrid have developed the Augmented Lecture Feedback System (ALFs), a HUD glasses interface that teachers can wear while giving a lecture. From the display, teachers can see little icons that appear above each student’s head, indicating their comprehension of the given lesson as… -
The best ways to edit and view Microsoft Office docs on your iPad
19 Jun 2013 | 12:24 pmWhen Microsoft quietly released its own editor for Office documents on the iPhone last week, it left something out: a version for the iPad. If the iPhone screen is too small for you to consider viewing and editing important documents, no worries, you still have ways to do so on the larger screen of the iPad. Here are the currently available options that will allow you to view and edit your Office documents on Apple’s tablet. Mobile Office for iPhone, scaled up While it is true that the existing Office app does not have a custom user interface for the iPad, the iPhone version of… -
Meet Facebook’s new network architecture: it’s a fabric
19 Jun 2013 | 12:15 pmFacebook, in its quest to serve its more than 1 billion users, has redesigned its network architecture using a fabric aimed at keeping the site running even the social network continues to scale. The architecture change will also encompass new networking technology, such as the commodity switches that Facebook announced at the Open Compute Project. Jay Parikh, the VP Infrastructure Engineering, at Facebook and Najam Ahmad, director, technical operations, infrastructure at Facebook explained the new networking fabric onstage Wednesday at the GigaOM Structure conference in San Francisco. “The… -
Joyent CTO: The convergence of data and compute will disrupt global profits
19 Jun 2013 | 12:01 pmJoyent’s CTO Jason Hoffman looks for future trends where industries converge. At GigaOM’s Structure conference he pointed out how the internet and computing were transformed when the network and the computer began to converge into one. Likewise, network storage emerged when data and the network converged. Hoffman said today he is keenly interested in examining what will happen when data and compute converge — that’s the next big disruptor. Hadoop represents the beginning of this trend, as Hadoop enables compute directly on top of the data. But Hoffman is also eager to see how to make… -
With Dish (mostly) out of the way, the path is clear for Sprint-SoftBank deal
19 Jun 2013 | 11:43 amDish Network is shelving its plans to acquire Sprint, letting the deadline to counter SoftBank’s $21.6 billion buyout bid pass on Tuesday. That pretty much clears the way for the Sprint-SoftBank deal to close, putting the country’s third largest mobile operator under the control of a Japanese company. Sprint shareholders still have to agree to the deal on June 25, but considering SoftBank just offered to put a lot more cash in their pockets (though weakening Sprint’s future prospects in the process) and that no last-minute trump card from Dish appears to be coming, stockholders will…
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Marketing Land
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Google Issues AdSense Publisher Scorecards For Performance Benchmarking
19 Jun 2013 | 12:14 pmGoogle is introducing a new benchmarking tool for AdSense accounts called Publisher Scorecards. Located on the Home tab in your AdSense account, the scorecard offers a performance summary of your ad settings, webpages and content relative to other AdSense publishers. Each performance category... Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. -
iCrossing CEO Don Scales Leaving Company, Will Be Replaced By Brian Powley
19 Jun 2013 | 11:41 amThree years after iCrossing’s acquisition by Hearst for $325 million, the digital marketing firm’s CEO Don Scales is leaving his post. iCrossing’s current president of North America Brian Powley will succeed Scales as iCrossing’s global president. Scales joined iCrossing in... Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. -
Survey: 96 Percent Say “Do Not Track” Should Be Respected
19 Jun 2013 | 11:01 amA new survey from a group called Consumer Action has an unequivocal message for marketers: do not track us. The telephone survey was conducted in May among 1,000 US adults. The findings are pretty negative, even ominous, for publishers and ad networks. However they should come as no surprise. In... Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. -
Nearly 30 Percent Of UK Travel Searchers Use Mobile Exclusively
19 Jun 2013 | 7:46 amNielsen, xAd and Telmetrics have released new data from their expansive “Mobile Path to Purchase” study (registration req’d) of US and UK mobile consumer behavior. This particular set of data are focused on mobile behavior in the travel vertical in the UK (infographic). As you... Please visit Marketing Land for the full article. -
Google Surveys Glass Explorers With Questions Hinting At Public Sale
19 Jun 2013 | 7:45 amGoogle is gathering feedback from its Glass Explorers via a survey that hints at the company’s plans for selling Glass to the public. The survey asks some general questions (such as how often do you use Glass and why did you get it), but also gets specific about getting feedback that will... Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
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Econsultancy
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Four keys to conversion optimization success
19 Jun 2013 | 11:06 amIf you were to compare the most successful optimization programs side-by-side, odds are you’d notice a lot of similarities. In my job, I speak with a lot of companies about their testing and targeting efforts and have gathered an extensive amount of feedback on the common ingredients that make optimization programs a success. These companies succeed because they’ve established strong collaboration within the organization, have the right tools for the job, and have a well-designed communication infrastructure. While none of these things are necessarily ‘secrets,’ companies must take… -
How Nordstrom sees customers’ changing expectations
19 Jun 2013 | 7:52 amRetail giant Nordstrom competes against other luxury brands like Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue. It sells Citizens of Humanity jeans ($238), leather Prada men’s sneakers ($420), and Jimmy Choo clutches ($620). It does not sell tires. So, why would it take the rubber discs from a customer insistent on returning them? Because that’s how far Nordstrom’s return policy stretches. When the company opened a store in Alaska, it bought the site from a business that sold tires. A customer came in to return a pair, saying he’d bought them at that location. “We figured that was true and… -
Has #Facebook just become #Twitter?
19 Jun 2013 | 5:25 amThe hash has been around for a very long time, it's always riding the zeitgeist, a trendy so and so. One small symbol has come to represent instant access to topics of interest, in the here and now. Utilised by Twitter for years, Facebook have now introduced it. This is no small addition to Facebook. It actually has very significant consequences. Is Facebook about to become Twitter? Will it steal Twitter's real-time, instant access USP? And will it add a whole new dimension to its behavioural targeting capability? The hashtag Innocuous little fellow the hash symbol, I've always looked at it… -
How usable are the UK's top 10 mobile sites?
19 Jun 2013 | 4:55 amStats from IMRG released today show the ten most popular mobile retail sites in the UK. They are, as you may expect, almost the same as the top desktop sites, with the exception of Apple. So, since these retailers have the most popular sites, (and they must be aware of this from their own analytics) you would expect that they have optimised for mobile users. I've been taking a closer look at the sites.. The top 10 UK mobile commerce sites First of all, here's the top 10: According to IMRG, the Amazon UK and Amazon.com sites accounted for over 10% of mobile visits to retail sites in… -
Why marketers should focus on persuadables
19 Jun 2013 | 3:15 amPersuasion is a hot topic. But do you also know which of your customers you can persuade? I recently talked to one of the leading figures in Data Science, Eric Siegel, author of Predictive Analytics. And he concludes that organizations in essence don’t just want to know what consumers will do – they want to know what they can do about it. I never really thought about it that way, but it makes sense right? It turns out that it's not that interesting to know what customers will do. Knowing a customer will click, or doesn't click, will move left or move right, isn't useful data. The key…
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Convince and Convert
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4 Fresh Trends in B2B Social Campaigns
19 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amConsumer brands spent the early years of the social boom using campaigns to collect likes, create conversation, and distribute coupons. Meanwhile, B2B marketers sat on the sidelines waiting for social campaign technology to deliver against their more sophisticated needs. In the B2B space, having people follow you is not enough. You have to go beyond likes and simple conversations. For B2B marketers, the promise of social is user data, and first generation social campaign technologies just weren’t delivering. That’s changing rapidly. Marketers are seeing a tremendous uptick in demand for… -
7 Reasons Your Facebook Page is a Hot Mess
18 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amImage via BigStockPhoto.com A state of disarray so chaotic that it’s dizzying to look at. A mess that is beyond the normal range of disarray. Visual clutter that draws attention to itself. It may sound like I am describing Lindsay Lohan heading into court on a Monday morning. But no, I am describing a Facebook business page lacking a strategy without consistent engagement but has potential to become super-hot. Could this be your business’s page? Facebook boasts the largest user base of any social network, so if your business doesn’t have a solid Facebook presence, you’re simply… -
How to Create Customer Profiles to Reach Your Target Audience
17 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amCustomer profiling may sound like a mug shot lineup of your customers, but the goal of this post is not to imprison your customers. On the other hand, I hope to offer three steps to creating and evaluating the types of people you are looking to sell your products or services to so that you can effectively market to them. A useful customer profile (aka a persona) is akin to a comprehensive how-to guide on reaching your ideal customers. It gives you a structured look at their goals in trying your product, the features and content that matters most to them, and the messaging that will help them… -
Being Loud About 3M’s Quiet but Powerful Innovations
14 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amGreg Gerik, 3M @ggerik Greg Gerik, Social Media Leader for the Global E-Transformation Team at 3M, joins the Social Pros Podcast this week to discuss managing a diverse and international company’s social presence, innovation through product diversity, and why he wants to move away from being associated entirely with social. Read on for some of the highlights and tweetable moments, or listen to the full podcast. Please Support Our Sponsors Huge thanks to our amazing sponsors for helping us make this happen. Please support them; we couldn’t do it without their help! This week:… -
Pringles and Star Wars Channel The Force For Fun in Crowdsourced Video Contest
13 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amThe force is strong with this one. In a galaxy not so far away, a popular snack food brand, Pringles, has joined forces with the iconic movie franchise, Star Wars, to launch a crowdsourced video contest. Themed around, “The Force For Fun,” one video will win $25,000 and a chance to be featured as Pringles national advertisement. The contest is hosted on Tongal, a platform that facilitates creative and video content for brands through crowdsourcing. Described as a, “totally out of this world alliance,” the goal of the campaign is to take a fun, clever, and adventurous approach to…
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Stories Above New York
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Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel Entrance from penthouse, 70 Little West Street
18 Jun 2013 | 8:42 am -
Taxis from rooftop, 700 5th Avenue
14 Jun 2013 | 7:34 am -
Millennium Point, Millennium Tower Residences, The Visionaire from 46th floor, 7 World Trade Center
11 Jun 2013 | 8:48 am -
Court Square, Long Island City from rooftop, JetBlue HQ
6 Jun 2013 | 1:28 pm -
Samuel Gompers Houses from rooftop, 550 Grand Street
3 Jun 2013 | 7:10 am
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The Online Community Guide
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Your Menu Of Discussions
18 Jun 2013 | 11:30 pmLet’s introduce a simple concept, your menu of discussions. Take a look at the latest discussions taking place in your community right now. Do the latest discussions, the ones that display prominently on the landing page of the community, reflect the community image you want to present? Are these honestly the first discussions you want ALL your members to see today? Based largely upon these discussions, members will decide whether or not to participate in the community today. If they don’t see something interesting to them they’re gone until tomorrow. If they don’t see anything… -
Does the Community Manager Need To Be An Expert?
17 Jun 2013 | 11:30 pmPatrick writes you don’t need to be a subject expert to run a community for that topic. Patrick is right. Sometimes you don’t need to be an expert. However, it helps if you are. It helps if you have a large number of existing relationships, a huge passion, and a wealth of expertise on that topic. If you don’t have these, it’s far more difficult to manage a community. This has two implications. First, if you’re hiring a community manager look for evidence of expertise, relationships, and passion. Look for the community managers which have: Existing relationships in that topic General… -
Adding and Subtracting Behaviour
16 Jun 2013 | 11:30 pmLet’s divide community behaviour into two (oversimplified) categories. There is behaviour that adds to the community and behaviour that subtracts from it. You can judge whether behaviour adds or subtracts from the community by judging what would happen if everyone took the same action. If everyone voted in a poll, submitted content, or participated in discussions, that would probably be a good thing (albeit, with the good-to-have problem of managing that level of activity). If every member spammed the community, tried to siphon traffic for their own activities, posted provocative comments,… -
Pre-Launch: Awareness and Relationship Building
13 Jun 2013 | 11:30 pmThe first people that join a community will do it through a commitment to you, not a commitment to your mission. For this to happen, people need to know and trust you. This means increasing awareness and building relationships. It’s hard to launch a community for an audience that doesn’t already have strong relationships with your team. You can’t launch it and hope for the best. You need to begin building awareness and trust months before you open up the platform. Begin this process at least three months before the platform is ready to go live. The more time you… -
Motivation Appeals For Great Community Feedback
12 Jun 2013 | 11:30 pmRead this sentence carefully: “We find no evidence for the influence of customers’ altruism, nor of customers’ desire for improving and enhancing existing firms’ products by submitting ideas” In short, your customers don’t care about you or your mission. Using appeals related to improving products or broader sense of purpose doesn’t work well. What motivations do work well? There are three: Demonstrate personal capabilities and skills (show off/increase standing) Receive recognition of third parties for ideas (recognition) Have fun developing ideas If you want great quality…
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Daily Blog Tips
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Premium Online Courses – The Way To Go?
18 Jun 2013 | 10:02 amA couple of weeks ago I came across an online course about web security. The price tag was right on top of the sales page: $1500. Quite expensive, but I decided to skim through the information anyway. The course runs for 12 weeks, and every week you have two live online sessions with the instructor, where he will present the content of the course and answer to questions as he goes along. On top of that there are practical assignments every week (i.e., students will need to either defend or attack websites, sometimes real ones), and a test in the end to ensure you learned all the essential… -
Mobile SEO, Are You Doing It?
12 Jun 2013 | 5:55 amGoogle recently revealed on a blog post that the rankings of search results on mobile devices will be affected by the optimization of websites for such devices. In other words, the more your content and website design is optimized for mobile devices, the higher your site will rank for users on those devices. It makes sense, after all it would be bad for Google to serve a search result that would be poorly visualized on the device of the user. Here’s a quote from the article: Smartphone users are a significant and fast growing segment of Internet users, and at Google we want them to… -
Diversify Your Income Sources
5 Jun 2013 | 12:21 pmRecently I was reading an interview with Warren Buffett (the most successful investor of all time), and he mentioned that one of the key principles to achieve wealth is to diversify your investments over time. The principle is not new (e.g., never put all the eggs on one basket), but while reading it I realized that most of us (myself included) forget to implement it quite often. If you are an online entrepreneur you should diversify not only your investments but your income sources as well. For instance, don’t rely on a single advertising network or on a single income stream, like… -
Internet Marketing 101: How To Get Testimonials
28 May 2013 | 5:29 pmAs I mentioned on this post, one element that virtually any sales page should have is a list of testimonials. That is, people who bought/used the product in the past and liked it. Getting those testimonials is not always straight forward, so here are some strategies you can use for this purpose: 1. Don’t Use Fake Testimonials I’ve seen people around the web encouraging you to create fake testimonials while you don’t have any. I don’t agree with this approach. First and foremost for the ethical aspect. Second because often it will be possible to identify your fake… -
Do You Use The “30 Days to a Habit” Strategy?
22 May 2013 | 6:33 amThe premise: many studies and researches found that successful people tend to have more habits (positive habits, mind you) when compared to average people. That’s because habits add consistency and discipline to your professional and personal life, traits that are essential to reaching your goals. Examples of positive habits one can have: Exercising for 30 minutes every morning Meditating before going to sleep Remembering and using the first name of everyone, on every interaction Learning a new foreign language every couple of years Settings goals for the day every morning Reading a…
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Poetslife
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Remembering America's Fallen 2013
2 Jun 2013 | 11:45 am -
My New eBook at Amazon
22 Apr 2013 | 7:08 pmIf you have an interest, you can order my new ebook The President is Hostage: Payback's a Bitch at Amazon. Or use this link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CG6NBX4It took me 24 years to write it.The origin is when I went to see a friend who worked for Bush I in the White House. I was surprised by the lack of layered security in and around the White House, despite its reputation as the most secure building in the world. (This was 1989 remember.)My friend suggested I write a white paper of my observations for him to share. I did. Then I got thinking about a novel based on some of those… -
BarleyJuice Celtic Rock for St. Patrick's Month
4 Mar 2013 | 3:33 amWent to see BarleyJuice for an early St. Pat's Day Party (March is St. Pat's Month as BarleyJuice says) at the Sykesville Freedom District Volunteer Fire Company after having seen them at the Carroll County Arts Center for several years. Great craic, as always.My wife once danced with a dance troupe called "Deaf Dimensions" when I was courting her. She has always been a natural dancer, and she had me out on the dance floor doing Irish or Rock steps according to the music Juice was playing. Guess we did alright because our friend, Pat Rockinberg, the Mayor of… -
David Morgan's Poem Re: Life and Silver
1 Mar 2013 | 4:20 pmDavid Morgan Silver 10 Years Out Video LinkAlways love to find poetry inspiring people in the most unexpected places. Here is one. A guy who knows the silver market and, more importantly, projects the silver market 10 years out, and ends with a great poem about what our life means here on earth. Listen to all of this for silver investment information...but more for the poem at the end. My hat's off to David Morgan for ending with a poem. -
My Letter from H. Norman Schwarzkopf
30 Dec 2012 | 2:42 pmH. Norma Schwarzkoff sent me a letter dated 12 January 1991, with four days left in Operation Desert Shield and four days before before Operation Desert Storm began. Beneath a red flag with four gold stars, it reads:COMMANDER IN CHIEFUNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMANDOPERATION DESERT SHIELD, APO NY 09852Dear Mr. Curley, Thanks for sending me a copy of your letter to President Bush. Believe me when I say I will consider all options when it comes to achieving victory. It means a great deal to hear from fine citizens, such as you, who support our efforts in this…
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Louis Gray
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Video: How Startups Can Raise Their Visibility Seed Round
17 Jun 2013 | 8:04 pmStartup success takes more than sharp vision and smart code. Early adopters of your product, along with excited press, bloggers and engaged social users spreading the word can mean the difference. In late March, I gained the opportunity to present to Devoxx France, in Paris, and talk about how startups can find these early first users, how to gain a relationship with top press and use all channels possible to get your word out. Many of the examples are familiar to longtime readers of louisgray.com, highlighting companies launched here, from Feedly, TweetDeck and Toluu, to some of my own… -
Apps and Gadgets Optimizing More of Your Life Data
23 May 2013 | 10:39 pmIt's been just over a year since I started my experiment with Fitbit, tracking not only my every step daily, but also my weight, learning how I measured up against my peers and against myself. The act of tracking my information, and keeping up with my peers, along with an irrational desire to stay atop virtual leaderboards, led me to lose thirty pounds at peak, and with little dramatic effort, I dropped 7 inches in my waist and have had to rebuy clothes more than once.But Fitbit hasn't been the only data tracking app I've made part of my life, and I'm looking forward to more, for information… -
Mobile Data Goes Up, Phone Calls Go Down, Can't Explain That
2 May 2013 | 1:11 amBy the end of last month, Verizon was regularly sending me updates on how close I was to reaching the top of my 4 gigabyte data cap available in the plan I share with my wife. A little over two weeks in, I had used more than two gigabytes, after three weeks a third, and by the end of the billing cycle, I could have hit maximum capacity, had I just left my favorite Spotify playlist on play and asked all my apps from Google Play to update simultaneously.But I was nowhere near capacity for our shared voice plan. Not by a long shot. In fact, the month saw a record low in our actual voice… -
Devoxx France Video: Early Adopters, Press and Social Media
25 Apr 2013 | 3:01 pmLast month, I had the opportunity to travel to Paris, France and speak at Devoxx 2013, with a focus of helping startups raise their "visibility seed round". Often, companies focus on their product, and yes, to raise money - but there's a missing piece, gaining the first customers and first press. Before stepping on to the stage, I sat down with fellow Googler +Alexis Moussine-Pouchkine to talk about mistakes company often make in reaching out to first users and press, and how they can leverage social media.We also talk a bit about Google Developers Live (+GDL), the program I manage,… -
Real Valley Stories: Leveraging Assets to Get One's Way
19 Apr 2013 | 10:06 pmEditor's Note: Part 7 in an irregular series of stories from my 13 years in Silicon Valley. Part 6 talked about the a trade show booth nightmare. This time, an example of how you can leverage opportunity to achieve a goal.Practically every employee has had a point in their career when they have run into friction with management on ideas or strategy. How you deal with this conflict, explain your ideas, and try to convince those who aren't yet sold can have a big impact on what gets implemented and how you are perceived by your colleagues. Hold to your guns too strongly, as I almost…
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She Geeks
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2013 Dodge Dart Review: A Luxury Car at an Affordable Price
11 Jun 2013 | 9:32 amRecently I was invited to test drive the new Dodge Dart for 7 days. I usually don’t review cars – and come from a Chevy family – but decided to take advantage of the opportunity to drive from NYC to my little big brothers’ graduation in Atlanta. Within weeks of receiving an invitation to test drive the car, it was delivered with compensation for my … Continue reading →The post 2013 Dodge Dart Review: A Luxury Car at an Affordable Price appeared first on SheGeeks. -
Samsung Galaxy S4 Review: All Hype or Next Best Thing?
7 Jun 2013 | 6:16 pmAt the unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy S4 in NYC, the first thing I wondered was whether Samsung products were becoming overhyped. The Galaxy S3 was a massive hit and set high expectations for “the next best thing”. Is the Galaxy S4 Samsung’s best phone yet or is just all hype? GALAXY S4 DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE Samsung calls the Galaxy S4 a “lifestyle companion”, which … Continue reading →The post Samsung Galaxy S4 Review: All Hype or Next Best Thing? appeared first on SheGeeks. -
LG Optimus G Pro Review: More Brains Than Beauty
5 Jun 2013 | 8:18 amAndroid may be dominated by Samsung and HTC, but LG is making some noise in the arena as well. LG’s Nexus 4 sold out in less than 30 minutes, though their Optimus G was a flop in comparison to competitors like the Galaxy Note 2. With the Optimus G Pro LG takes another swing at creating a “phablet”. The Optimus G Pro is quite the powerhouse, but … Continue reading →The post LG Optimus G Pro Review: More Brains Than Beauty appeared first on SheGeeks. -
Facebook Home Makes Facebook The Center Of Your Mobile Device
12 Apr 2013 | 4:51 pmGet ready for Facebook posts and Instagram pics to take over your mobile device with Facebook Home. Facebook Home goes beyond being a placeholder for your apps and puts Facebook at the heart of your mobile device. *Requires Facebook app and is only available for the following devices: HTC One X and X+, Samsung Galaxy S3 and Note 2. Cover Feed: The Center of Facebook … Continue reading →The post Facebook Home Makes Facebook The Center Of Your Mobile Device appeared first on SheGeeks. -
Download and Share Android Homescreens with Buzz Launcher
19 Mar 2013 | 9:06 amWhat’s the first thing you want to do when you get a new phone? Customize it, if it’s android! Yet, making your android phone look great requires an absurd amount of time, attention and skills. Ain’t nobody got time for that! Enter Buzz launcher, a new android launcher that makes it easy for anyone to download and share gorgeous homescreens from their android phone! Launchers are best known … Continue reading →The post Download and Share Android Homescreens with Buzz Launcher appeared first on SheGeeks.
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Gates And Railings
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Gate Automation
14 Jun 2013 | 1:41 amAutomated Gates In both residential and commercial sites, automated gates are becoming more and more popular. They not only increase security, they make it easier to monitor who goes in and out of a site or a home without having to walk all the way to the gate whenever there is a caller. You can find automated gates in three kinds of materials – iron, wood and aluminum, but for this article, we will focus on automatic iron or metal gates. How they work Most automated gates work in one of two ways: they can use a swing system or they can use a sliding system. A swing system opens in much the… -
14 Jun 2013 | 1:21 am
14 Jun 2013 | 1:21 amWrought Iron Gates and Railings Wrought iron gates and railings are an excellent way to introduce a touch of class in any home. Rails are usually found inside the house, lining areas around the stairs and upper floors to prevent people and objects from falling over, and they are also used to make fences. Wrought iron gates, on the other hand, are used as entrances to porches, gardens and for entire compounds. For a homeowner who is looking to make installations in your home that will last a long time, wrought iron gates and railings come highly recommended, and here is why: 1.They last a long…
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THINKing
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Creativity Quotes
14 Jun 2013 | 12:14 pmOther Posts You Might LikeQuotes On CreativityQuotes On CreativityCreativity QuotesZemanta -
Creativity Quotes
7 Jun 2013 | 12:10 pmOther Posts You Might LikeQuotes On CreativityQuotes On CreativityCreativity QuotesZemanta -
Creativity Quotes
5 Jun 2013 | 7:27 amOther Posts You Might LikeTop 10 Tips For Developing Blog Article IdeasCreativity 2012 – Week #35Batting 1000Zemanta -
You Are Your Company’s Biggest Internal Communications Problem
28 May 2013 | 10:37 amI recently posted a question on Twitter to find out what my followers thought was their biggest internal communications problem. I was not surprised to find out that it is you Mr. and Ms. Business Leader. If you have internal communications problems at your company, it is your fault, not that of the rank and file employees. You think information is power, and that is why you keep employees out of the loop. One of my followers sent me a follow up email to my tweet that perfectly sums up the other feedback I received: We have a knowledge/information is power culture wherein executive… -
Quotes On Creativity
21 May 2013 | 12:02 pmOther Posts You Might LikeQuotes On CreativityCreativity QuotesCreativity QuotesZemanta
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Firebelly Marketing
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Social Networks to help that Summer Fitness Routine
18 Jun 2013 | 9:14 amIt will officially be summer this Friday, June 21, and for me summer is about getting healthy. Usually, I try to start my healthy eating and routine exercise right after school is out in May, but alas, the middle of June seems to sneak up on me pretty quickly. For those who are in the same boat and need a little extra help starting their summer fitness routine (before summer is officially over) here are some social networks that offer an extra push, no matter what your workout style. Daily Mile Are you into long distance and adventure? If so, Daily Mile is your secret weapon. Daily… -
Mobile Trends for 2013
13 Jun 2013 | 12:50 pmWith mobile technology rapidly growing and changing it is exciting to see what we can expect to happen in the future. I discovered an article written by JWT on the 13 Mobile Trends for 2013 and picked out a few that I already see happening in my own mobile use. Million Ways To Say Hi Yes we still make calls on our mobile phones, the original purpose, but today there are so many faster, more exciting, and richer ways to stay connected to our friends and family. With apps such as FaceTime, Skype, and SnapChat we can visually connect with our friends for a more personal, and fun, way of… -
Pin, Pin, Pin Away
4 Jun 2013 | 12:35 pmHow many times have you pinned something to a board, clicked on it and it took you to an “unavailable” page? You have this great recipe or work-out tip you want to try and then suddenly you’re back to square one. Frustrating. However, there’s hopeful news. Pinterest is working out these kinks in hopes that pins will start to become more useful. Pinterest is working with well-known websites so that pins will have helpful information along with them. Recipe pins will have the website attached with the ingredients, servings and cook time. Movie pins will have the actors and actresses… -
7 reasons I’m thrilled about AllFacebook Marketing Conference 2013
3 Jun 2013 | 7:56 pmAllFacebook Expo 2012 attendees – the smartest man in social media, Brian Carter, along with an uber-cool crew of Adryenn Ashley, Hyla Molander, Caroline Love and others. When: June 5, 2013 Where: Hilton San Francisco Union Square Each year MediaBistro hosts AllFacebook Marketing Conference which provides the world a deep look into Facebook innovations and issues impacting both social media and digital marketing. This year it will take place at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square on June 5th. The event is filled with topnotch speakers and provides up-to-the-minute information that… -
Interview with Chanelle Schneider, Millennial Specialist
24 May 2013 | 7:00 amWith all the studying being done on Millennials, Firebelly decided to interview one of the top Millennial specialist, Chanelle Schneider. Chanelle is a freelance social media manager, the founder of #GenYChat, and currently works as the community director at My Rising Tide. 1. What do you think makes Millennials different? The over 80 million of us were born with qualities that make some of us have a desire to transform our realities by travelling beyond traditional boundaries. Others among us are natural comedians who share our opinions on social networking sites while working to better…
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ConverStations
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Small Steps Leading to Big Outcomes
6 Jun 2013 | 7:32 amTaking small steps – even if seemingly insignificant - can lead to big outcomes. Remember the teachings of Mr. Miyagi: Can't see the video in your RSS reader or email? Click Here! It’s great to be thinking about the big picture, but remember big pictures are composed of small pixels. Putting your phone number above the fold on every web page you have in your inventory Making your phone number “Click-to-Call” for mobile devices Creating a simple product and a submission form for visitors Introduction video on your web page and YouTube Channel These small steps, what… -
Freedom800 Toll-Free Number Extends Reach
3 Jun 2013 | 7:31 amA client extending their reach beyond their current geographic borders asked about getting a toll-free number for their business. We found implementing the service from Freedom800 was so easy and thorough – I’ve done likewise. My new 800 number appears in the sidebar here, in the banner of SmallBizTracks, and on the new business cards and collateral material I just ordered from OvernightPrints. One thing I like best about Freedom800 is you can customize the call routing and forwarding that works best for your business. Since I work solo, my incoming calls go to my mobile phone… -
Make Good Small Choices
9 May 2013 | 2:15 amSince October, my wife and I have been focusing our walk and work to serving in a local rescue mission and with our homeless neighbors – specifically in the area of recovery. One of our most repeated and shared mantras has been, “Make Good Small Choices – They Add Up to Big Results.” Many times in life – and business – we try to swing for the fences every time. Too often we find ourselves in knots or falling over. Sometimes both at once. With the still quickening pace of change and tools, small business owners and rural business might often find better… -
To a Wonder-Filled 2013
1 Jan 2013 | 3:19 amHappy New Year! Here’s to 2013 being a year filled with wonderful times and opportunities to be profitably courageous and positively contagious. Angela and I have invested the previous months focusing our time and energy on a mission field. Our ministry work (Lk 14:23, Mk 16:20) has been fulfilling and, at times, stretching – and we look forward to more exercise in 2013. As I begin to return some attention to business, the work I do will be focused on helping business grow using the SmallBizTracks model. Personal and Spiritual writings will be found on my Armchair Articulations… -
Movement Avoids Overwhelm
1 Nov 2012 | 5:41 amSome of life’s biggest projects are best traveled in small steps. I’ve heard that relocation is one of the three most stressful times of life (along with a wedding and a funeral). Moving has so many … moving parts to it, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. It would be easy to adopt an “I don’t know where to begin” attitude – a sticking point to getting stuck. Begin somewhere and maintain movement, focusing on one task at a time. Don’t worry about seeing the destination at the starting line. This practice has served well in my life, most recently…
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RyanSpoon.com
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Watch ESPN Arrives on Apple TV
19 Jun 2013 | 8:30 amWatchESPN is now available on your Apple TV. Fans now have access to on demand video, live streaming games, and live access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3 and ESPN Buzzer Beater/Goal Line (some content requires video subscription from affiliated providers). There are now multiple ways to get WatchESPN content on your big screen: the Apple TV application and Airplay. “HBO GO and WatchESPN are some of the most popular iOS apps and are sure to be huge hits on Apple TV,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We continue to offer Apple TV users… -
LinkedIn’s Influencers Now Includes Bill Gates
13 Jun 2013 | 11:44 amLike several others (ie Medium, YouTube Channels), LinkedIn has made a strong bet on quality, unique content with their Influencer product. Today, this email arrived which is about as influential as it gets: Bill Gates sharing insights from his influencer, Warren Buffett. It’s Bill Gates’ first post and he already has 25,000 followers. And that raises the interesting balance between private and public content and personas. There is now a public persona for Gates (you can follow him) and a private relationship with Gates (the traditional LinkedIn model). We have seen this balance… -
The Tax of the New. From Incremental to Next
7 Apr 2013 | 4:51 amThe tax of new thinking and building… I like that term set by Julie Zhuo on PandoDaily. The tax is not just the challenge of thinking and building… it’s the challenge of shifting prior and current momentum (philosophically, emotionally, actually, etc). It’s the challenge of placing yourself and your experiences onto unknown paths. But that is of course how any great idea occurs – not through incremental thinking but from the new. “The tax that comes with introducing any new feature into your product is high. I cannot stress this enough. Sure, maybe the new… -
Mailbox and Innovation Around the Mailbox
10 Mar 2013 | 11:22 amI have intentionally attempted to shift my mobile habits to take advantage of new, well-done applications. I tried to replace iOS’s safari with Google’s Chrome application. And now I am trying to replace the core iOS mail app with Mailbox. In trying to do so, three obvious points come along: 1. There is much innovation to be done around core experiences. Ones that come to mind: MessageMe for messaging, Mailbox for mail, Chrome for browser, Tempo for calendar, etc. 2. It is really hard to break personal habits. Regardless of whether or not I prefer Chrome to Safari – I am… -
Today on ESPN3: 86 Live Events
9 Mar 2013 | 10:17 amWant a taste of what makes ESPN3 special? Head over to ESPN3 or access on your mobile app via WatchESPN and you’ll find: - 86 LIVE events spanning - 10 different sports (from lacrosse to basketball to baseball, etc) - both US and international - and across high school, NCAA and professional levels It is part of what makes ESPN and our digital efforts special: a focus on live games, exceptional delivery across any screen, and diversity + breadth of content. Read more on ESPN Front Row.
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New Marketing and Interactive
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Lee This is an Article You Should Write
17 Jun 2013 | 11:30 amAn early pioneer in interactive media, sought after speaker and leading expert on search and social media marketing, Dean Whitney is the Founder of Dean Whitney Interactive. -
Slick New Data Visualizations from Google and Foursquare
15 Jun 2013 | 6:00 amData visualization has come a long way since the good old days of basic trend lines, pie charts, and bar graphs. With the Internet in its prime and smartphone usage approaching its maturity, the... An early pioneer in interactive media, sought after speaker and leading expert on search and social media marketing, Dean Whitney is the Founder of Dean Whitney Interactive. -
Social Media Tactics That Increase Conversions Engagement and Loyalty
10 Jun 2013 | 10:14 amIt’s June 2013 and for those of you still wondering, Social Media is here to stay. With over one billion users worldwide, it’s become a major channel of growth and opportunity for brands... An early pioneer in interactive media, sought after speaker and leading expert on search and social media marketing, Dean Whitney is the Founder of Dean Whitney Interactive. -
Lean Agile Project Management with Asana
3 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amWhen Dustin Moskovitz, a co-founder of Facebook, and Justin Rosenstein, an alum of both Facebook and Google got together to create a tool to manage software projects they built Asana. It’s not... An early pioneer in interactive media, sought after speaker and leading expert on search and social media marketing, Dean Whitney is the Founder of Dean Whitney Interactive. -
App Store Analysis: What’s going on in the world of Mobile?
31 May 2013 | 11:20 amThe wicked smaaght folks over at Empatika just released some great insights into the ever changing App Store (Apple). It’s pretty cool to see the huge changes over the past two months. The... An early pioneer in interactive media, sought after speaker and leading expert on search and social media marketing, Dean Whitney is the Founder of Dean Whitney Interactive.
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The Engaging Brand
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Why social media may not be working for your brand
19 Jun 2013 | 3:37 amWhen I was delivering a corporate training session this month on what it takes to be a social leader in the digital age, it struck me that often the verb "to act" is often used incorrectly. One person said "Oh yes, we realise social is important and we have actioned that by writing a blog and then tweeting it out" And therein lies the issue for most businesses.... Social business is not about acting social, it is about putting your social skills to action. Customers spot people 'acting' social and support the brands who act in a social way. To be honest I generally believe you can't 'act… -
Introducing the New Social Media Slot Machine
18 Jun 2013 | 4:19 amListening to 99% Invisible podcast with the wonderfully engaging Roman Mars I was intrigued by the story that was told about the gambling industry.....how they moved from one line on their slot machines to 3 lines....to encourage further play. Seeing how they 'almost won' encouraged them to try again...Now forget the right and wrongs of gambling it made me think about social media and how social marketing follows a similar marketing plan. Using social media is like that stray top line lemon.....it is an encouragement that the more they engage with your content marketing, the more they will… -
How Smart Marketing is about Help Not Hype
17 Jun 2013 | 7:04 amThis weeks Engaging Brand podcast saw me talking with the wonderful Jay Baer who discussed with me the 'Baer necessities' of smart marketing. I know how listeners love it when Bob put's pen to paper and captures the essence of the podcast interviews so here is a Bob-o-graphic on the elements of smart marketing - and what makes content marketing useful. -
Show 439 - Smart Marketing is about Help not Hype
15 Jun 2013 | 10:09 amThe Engaging Brand podcast covering social marketing, business ideas and brand marketing tips has a new episode but first... The listener winning an Engaging Brand goodie bag - picked from all the people who share, like, tweet about the show to say a BIG thank you from me! - is Christina Lattimer who wins some Harvard Business Gifts as well! Anna Farmery discusses with Jay Baer - "a hype-free social media and marketing keynote speaker, author, and consultant" about how social marketing is all about Youtility the concept that Smart Marketing is About Help not Hype Stop trying… -
Engagement Starts with the Why not the How
15 Jun 2013 | 6:09 amRemember as a child how you asked "But why?" and how as we grow up and learn that it can irritate people we change to "What do you want to do?"So for this weeks Bab's Booster we explore the power of why and how it creates both personal growth and brand engagement The fact that we change our words doesn't mean that we change our feelings....the why always stays critical to us. If we explain why... we provide the inspiration for the 'how' and the 'what'. If you read any books from prisoners or war survivors then they say it is hope that kept them alive...when you lost hope you lost the will to…
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NTEN
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Advice for Aspiring Nonprofit Tech Leaders
17 Jun 2013 | 5:58 amKarl Hedstrom IT Director NTEN As an aspiring nonprofit tech leader myself, I feel both somewhat unqualified to be coaching others on this subject, yet at the same time in a unique position to share valuable lessons from my own professional experience. I also have the benefit of this community's wealth of knowledge on the subject which I have liberally tapped into for this article. -
Leading Through Failure
13 Jun 2013 | 7:00 amShari Ilsen Senior Online Communications Manager VolunteerMatch NTC session panelists share lessons learned during our session, which was supposed to focus on our organizations’ and others’ nonprofit technology failures. In the end, however, we all found that the failures were not of technology, but of leadership – and so were the lessons. Of course, “Leading Through Failure” actually has multiple meanings: How leaders of organizations can successfully guide their teams through times of failure; and how sometimes failing yourself is a great way to be a leader.The complexity in this… -
How Does Organization Structure Affect Online Success?
12 Jun 2013 | 7:00 amNorman Reiss Project Manager, Technology Center for Court Innovation For those of us who have responsibilities in online fundraising / marketing / technology, often our work doesn’t fit within the traditional department structure of most nonprofit organizations. Effective leadership can come from anywhere in an organization. For those of us who have responsibilities in online fundraising / marketing / technology, often our work doesn’t fit within the traditional department structure of most nonprofit organizations. So depending on the results of the most recent reorganization, we may find… -
MCON13: Engaging Millennials for Social Causes
11 Jun 2013 | 8:47 amI'm excited to be an official blogger for the The Millennial Impact Project's upcoming conference, MCON13. MCON is an annual conference, gathering nonprofit professionals and corporate leaders to discuss how to engage and involve Millennials in social causes.MCON13 will take place in Indianapolis on July 18th. Learn from an array of experts on Millennial engagement during the day, with an evening program of headliners discussing investment in Millennials. The impressive line-up of experts includes speakers from Twitter, SeaChange, YouTube, NPR, and headliner, Cory Booker, Mayor of Newark,… -
NTEN Community Voices: Nonprofit Tech Leaders Revisit Their Accidental Techie Roots
11 Jun 2013 | 7:00 amJulia Smith Community Project Manager, Communities of Impact Project NTEN Nonprofit technology leaders are a special breed. Many of the species started down the nptech path from very surprising (and accidental) origins. Here are a few of their stories. After reading the Connected Cause blog post Top 5 Things Accidental Techies Need to Know Right Now, I shared it in the NTEN Accidental Techies Community of Practice and asked what happy accidents brought people to their jobs in the first place. The themes that emerged—from the spirit of curiosity that motivates continuous learning to an…
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PsyBlog
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Can This Simple Trick Stop Athletes Choking Under Pressure?
19 Jun 2013 | 11:29 amStudy finds athletes perform better by squeezing one hand into a fist, but not the other. It's fascinating to watch the rituals professional athletes go through to cope with the unbelievably weird situation they find themselves in. They have to perform precise physical actions, demanding great concentration, all with millions of people watching them, both right there, and on TV. For those who have never played in front of a crowd, it's like the difference between having a relaxed conversation with a friend and giving a speech to thousands of people, multiplied by ten. So, anything athletes… -
How Memory Works: 20 Psychological Insights
14 Jun 2013 | 6:55 amFind out how memory twists, pops, distorts, persists and decays, along with the odd tip on how to improve it. "You think you have a memory; but it has you!" —John Irving. Irving's quote nicely captures our hunch that we are slaves to our memories. Will I recall someone's name? What moment from my past will come back to delight, perplex or daunt me? And at other times we ask ourselves why we seem unable to forget. These uncertainties prompt many people to say their memory is awful, a comment distinguished memory researcher Professor Alan Baddeley hears all the time. But be fair, he argues:… -
Habits and The Unexpected Benefits of Weak Self-Control
13 Jun 2013 | 6:29 amWhy sometimes having low self-control helps you perform good habits. It's not often that anyone talks about the benefits of low self-control. That's because usually low self-control has bad consequences: over-eating, over-spending under-exercising and the rest. That said, there are some circumstances in which being in a weakened state can be good news for our diets, our health or even our credit cards. These arise out of the way that habits work. Typically we perform habits automatically and unconsciously. Let's say you've got a long-established habit of going to the gym before work or of… -
A Woman’s Tattoo Doubles The Chance of a Man Approaching
10 Jun 2013 | 6:27 amThe incredible dating power of a woman's tattoo. Not long ago I reported on a study which found that guitar cases have considerable power over women when they are asked on a date. The French psychologist who conducted that study, Nicolas Gueguen, has been up to his old tricks again on the Atlantic Coast of France. In a new experiment, reported in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, he had some women lying on a beach, face-down, reading a book (Gueguen, 2013). Sometimes they displayed a 10cm x 5cm temporary tattoo of a butterfly on their lower backs and sometimes not. Then another… -
The Confirmation Bias: Why It’s Hard to Change Your Mind
5 Jun 2013 | 5:57 amPeople search for information that confirms their view of the world and ignore what doesn't fit. In an uncertain world, people love to be right because it helps us make sense of things. Indeed some psychologists think it's akin to a basic drive. One of the ways they strive to be correct is by looking for evidence that confirms they are correct, sometimes with depressing or comic results: A woman hires a worker that turns out to be incompetent. She doesn't notice that everyone else is doing his work for him because she is so impressed that he shows up every day, right on time. A sports fan who…
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Usability Counts
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Building a Product? This is the Team You Need to Build Your MVP.
19 Jun 2013 | 10:00 amYou and your friends have this great idea. Bigger than Instagram! Bigger than Twitter! Bigger than Facebook! Bigger than Google! Okay, maybe not. Still, it’s going to be huge. You’ve raised a little money (if you’re lucky), and you want to build a MVP, known as a minimum viable product. That’s the bare minimum you need to get a product out the door and so you can test your concept against customers. Sounds easy, right? Even for a MVP, it takes a village to build a product. The village has several roles, and selecting the right team early can make or break your idea. Your village will… -
iStockPhoto: Designer Truths Infauxgraphic 2013
14 Jun 2013 | 8:49 amYup. That’s about right. You just finished reading iStockPhoto: Designer Truths Infauxgraphic 2013! Consider leaving a comment!Stuff to check out UX Drinking Game | UX Resume and Career Guide -
My History on Foursquare
13 Jun 2013 | 3:18 pmVery cool. You just finished reading My History on Foursquare! Consider leaving a comment!Stuff to check out UX Drinking Game | UX Resume and Career Guide -
UX Week: UX Team of One
13 Jun 2013 | 8:08 amA great video. Worth watching. You just finished reading UX Week: UX Team of One! Consider leaving a comment!Stuff to check out UX Drinking Game | UX Resume and Career Guide -
Google is Missing Social and Their Culture May Be to Blame
12 Jun 2013 | 11:04 amA couple of years ago, I was interviewed by Venture Beat for an article about Google Plus. I firmly believed that large-scale user adoption for the social network was around the corner. It seemed to have a great feature set, and with their search engine they could drive significant traffic to the social network. It hasn’t really happened. The only people I see on my feed are Chris Pirillo, Robert Scoble, and three Google employees I know. With its relaunch, I don’t know now if Plus is ever going to take off. They can’t seem to bridge the gap between using their data to optimize a tool…
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Regular Geek
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Geek Reading June 19, 2013
19 Jun 2013 | 9:57 amI have talked about human filters and my plan for digital curation. These items are the fruits of those ideas, the items I deemed worthy from my daily reading. These items are a combination of tech business news, development news and programming tools and techniques. You will note that some of the formatting has changed, and that is due to the change in my process. Formatting, and the information presented, is likely to change a bit as I develop my new process. Announcing Ice: Cloud Spend and Usage Analytics Animation shows flow of attendees during a conference Redis: Very Useful As a… -
Geek Reading June 18, 2013
18 Jun 2013 | 10:01 amI have talked about human filters and my plan for digital curation. These items are the fruits of those ideas, the items I deemed worthy from my daily reading. These items are a combination of tech business news, development news and programming tools and techniques. You will note that some of the formatting has changed, and that is due to the change in my process. Formatting, and the information presented, is likely to change a bit as I develop my new process. There’s no such thing as Declarative and Imperative GitHub redesigns repos ‘for everyday use’ Avoid Null Checks by Replacing… -
Geek Reading June 17, 2013
17 Jun 2013 | 10:00 amI have talked about human filters and my plan for digital curation. These items are the fruits of those ideas, the items I deemed worthy from my daily reading. These items are a combination of tech business news, development news and programming tools and techniques. You will note that some of the formatting has changed, and that is due to the change in my process. Formatting, and the information presented, is likely to change a bit as I develop my new process. Golang 10x faster than Ruby for web APIs Getting Started with Ember.js findIDP Tech Choices AWS FedRAMP ATO: Difficult to Achieve,… -
Geek Reading June 14, 2013
14 Jun 2013 | 10:09 amI have talked about human filters and my plan for digital curation. These items are the fruits of those ideas, the items I deemed worthy from my daily reading. These items are a combination of tech business news, development news and programming tools and techniques. You will note that some of the formatting has changed, and that is due to the change in my process. Formatting, and the information presented, is likely to change a bit as I develop my new process. Automated Tests as Documentation Wormhole pub/sub system: Moving data through space and time git: Having a branch/tag with the same… -
Geek Reading June 13, 2013
13 Jun 2013 | 9:56 amI have talked about human filters and my plan for digital curation. These items are the fruits of those ideas, the items I deemed worthy from my daily reading. These items are a combination of tech business news, development news and programming tools and techniques. You will note that some of the formatting has changed, and that is due to the change in my process. Formatting, and the information presented, is likely to change a bit as I develop my new process. Streamlining Google Analytics Administration Experience Java EE 7: Moving Java Forward for the Enterprise Perforce Swarm, A Developer…
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Mizz Information
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2013 State of Community Management Report Stresses Importance of Community Managers
19 Jun 2013 | 7:41 amEven though my current role is broader than community management, I'm still a community manager at heart and it's still my passion. So I was super excited to get a peek at the first report of the Community Roundtable's 2013 State of Community Management yesterday and even more excited to see that it contains some great findings that should hopefully help show businesses that community management DOES matter.You'll definitely want to read the report The Value of Community Management in its entirety, but in the meantime a few key findings for you:Almost 40% of organizations surveyed… -
Summer Fun
18 Jun 2013 | 7:30 amLast weekend I went to NYC with Patrick, my sister and her husband to celebrate my birthday. This was Dylan's Candy Bar, where you can get candy-flavored cocktails!Summer is always a tough time for me when it comes to blogging. This year is even worse than usual, what with me still getting up to speed in my new job, freelancing on the side, and trying to grasp the fact that I"m now the mom of a high school senior/kid who can drive. It's all a bit much, to be honest, which means that I'm doing my best to distract myself with other things. The upside is that I'm reading a ton and it's summer… -
Is it Time for Foursquare to Die?
4 Jun 2013 | 6:00 amHelpful "tip" from one of my recent Foursquare check-ins....It's been almost three years since I wrote about "Foursquare fatigue".....yet I confess I'm still using Foursquare just as much as ever. Why? I honestly have no idea. Habit, I suppose. Competition with my husband over which of us will be mayor of the places we frequent together. Vain hope that one of these years either AMC Theaters or Regal Theaters will recognize how frequently I go to the movies (answer: at least once a week, usually twice) and bestow on me a free lifetime pass. Because even after using Foursquare all this time, I… -
Is Bullying the New Black?
30 May 2013 | 8:45 amI'm a somewhat reluctant watcher of Chopped (Patrick watches it and I admit I get sucked in...but it's no Property Brothers!), so last night I figured I'd give Top Chef a try. It was fine--until the insults started. I watched as two of the judges (I know--bad TV watcher--I don't know their names) ripped into several of the contestants, hurling insults and food that wasn't up to par in their opinions. Honestly? It just made me sad...because it's clear to me that while we talk a good game about teaching kids not to bully, reality TV clearly promotes bullying, and lord knows we love us some… -
Could Pinterest's Rich Pins Help Your Organization Sell Products?
22 May 2013 | 6:37 pmIf your organization has members who use Pinterest (i.e. females) and sells products via an online store, you might want to look into Pinterest's new feature, Rich Pins. Rich Pins allow businesses to include real time pricing, availability, and information about where to buy the item pictured. There are three types of rich pins right now: products, recipes and movies (yay!). One of the products on Pinterest's "Products We Love" board. Click the pin to see how rich pins appear on Pinterest.To make it work, you'll either need to be techie enough to know either oEmbed or semantic…
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SiteFox BlogSiteFox Blog
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How WordPress Could Help Your Small Business
28 May 2013 | 5:00 amWe all know that having a website is important for your small business. It acts as an online storefront, attracts new customers, and solidifies the legitimacy of your business. Even though it’s so important, most small business don’t actually have a website – or if they do, many are neither professional nor updated often. The common reasons for having an unprofessional and stale website are; hiring a web designer is expensive, or updating a website requires help from a developer. The truth of the matter is that these excuses don’t have to be the case. WordPress, a free open source… -
5 Article Templates That Will Turn Your Blog Into A Customer Magnet
21 May 2013 | 8:00 amHaving a business blog is a great way to drive new customers and build exposure for your company. But what do you write about? What kind of content will drive results? Just writing a blog to write a blog isn’t enough; to truly be successful, you have to think strategically about topics that will lead to converting visitors into customers. With that in mind, here are 5 thought starters for your next blog post. 1: Explore off-label uses for your product One great way to highlight your product without overtly selling your product is by showing off-label uses. How are people using your product… -
Introducing the SiteFox Developer’s Program
21 Apr 2013 | 8:19 amDo you use WordPress to create websites for small business owners? Are you a WordPress developer that manages multiple websites? If you are, then our new developer’s program is for you. We’ve just introduced a number of features to help you more easily manage your client’s websites and even offer them added value. Members of the SiteFox Developer program receive a discounted rate on all business accounts and priority support for their clients. Use SiteFox to give your clients: Managed and secure WordPress hosting WordPress tutorials for getting started with their website In-depth… -
Five Reasons Why People Hate Your Business Website
6 Mar 2013 | 6:00 amSmall business websites have a reputation of generally being bad. It’s not our fault, web trends keep changing and we’re too busy growing our business to worry about our website. The truth is that as your website becomes more and more important (people look for you online before searching anywhere else), making sure you are giving users a positive experience becomes more important too. Creating a positive experience can be simple; most times the simpler the better, small businesses tend to get in trouble when they try to make things overly elaborate. Here are five things you want to make… -
3 Ways to Integrate Social Media into Your Website
26 Feb 2013 | 6:00 amYour social media presence should only be part of your online marketing strategy. If you want to get the most out of your online presence, it’s important to integrate your social media profiles with your social media hub (your website). Thankfully, tying everything together is easier now than ever before. Almost all the major social media websites have created simple plug and play widgets for bringing everything together. Link to Your Social Media Profiles The first place to start is to ensure that you’ve made it simple for website visitors to find your social media profiles. There are…
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SitePoint » News
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Google Retires Chrome Frame
17 Jun 2013 | 9:58 amAnother day, another Google system bites the dust. Google is retiring Chrome Frame. While an exact end date is yet to be announced, support and updates will cease in early 2014.Chrome Frame is a free plug-in for IE6, 7 and 8 which effectively runs the Chrome (webkit) rendering engine within the oldIE browser. Web developers could send a meta tag or HTTP header to force the browser into Chrome mode while legacy sites and applications retained the default IE view for compatibility.It was a great idea, although the plug-in was slammed by Microsoft as being a “security risk” and… -
12 Free Google Reader Alternatives
14 Jun 2013 | 9:02 amMany of us don’t want Google Reader to die but it’s time to face reality. Google is abandoning the service on July 1, 2013 and no amount of pleading will dissuade them. It’s a huge blow for those who depend on the service such as journalists and people who prefer concise news feeds.Google Reader may have been late to the party but it killed the market for commercial and ad-based RSS readers. Fortunately, some survived and a few new players have arrived…Desktop and Mobile App RSS ReadersThere are number of desktop programs, mobile apps and browser add-ons for viewing… -
Google Reader: Time to Plan Your Exit Strategy
7 Jun 2013 | 12:36 amWe have less than one month until Google Reader closes its doors forever. Despite the pleas and protests, Google is unlikely to have a change of heart. The world’s most-used and successful RSS reader will cease to be on July 1, 2013.While there are alternatives such as Feedly, many depend on Google Reader for managing feeds. There are no painless migration guarantees. Whatever options you’re considering, it’s essential to back-up the feed URLs and starred items you’ve collected during the past eight years. You won’t find much help in Reader itself, but the… -
Happy 10th Birthday WordPress
29 May 2013 | 10:09 amWordPress celebrated its tenth birthday earlier this week. Within that time, the PHP/MySQL open source product has grown from an obscure fork of b2 to become the world’s most-used Content Management System. The first edition was released by founders Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little on May 27, 2003. The impressive statistics:the latest edition has 203,000 lines of codeWordPress 3.5 had been downloaded more than 18 million times25,000 plug-ins are currently availablethere are 66 million known installationsWordPress is used on 66% of sites running a CMS15% of the top one million websites use… -
What’s New in Chrome 27
22 May 2013 | 8:14 amChrome 27 was released on May 22, 2013. You probably have it but can check by clicking the tool icon, then About Google Chrome. If all else fails, download the new version from google.com/chrome.It’s rare to find radical new features in Chrome but there are a few hidden gems…Increased SpeedGoogle has improved page rendering by 5% using “smarter behind-the-scenes resource scheduling”. In other words, it’ll use more of your idle network connection to download stuff.Google claims:our estimates show that when you add up those saved seconds across all Chrome users,…
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Connect - Digital Marketing Expertise from iCrossing
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A kiss on the ellipsis
14 Jun 2013 | 7:40 amAs a happily married man I find very little need to visit dating websites, although I’m a fan of the match.com adverts and quite enjoyed Dates, the new Channel 4 drama show that debuted earlier this week. God forbid if things were to turn sour and I was flung back into singledom, I’ve already got a question in mind that will weed out any potential suitoress: “What’s your favourite punctuation mark?” It’s a polarising question and I’d either be left having a lonely dinner, or get into an interesting debate on the pros and cons of symbols and… -
Apple’s iTunes Radio and the revenge of the music publisher
11 Jun 2013 | 7:56 amYesterday’s launch of Apple’s iTunes Radio streaming service puts Apple in the rare position of playing catch-up to rival streaming services like Google All Access. And, for once, the balance of power in the music industry has tilted in favour of content publishers instead of the technologists. Marketers should also watch to see how successful the iTunes Radio advertising model plays out. iTunes Radio could signal Apple’s willingness to try more ad-supported models for an increasingly mobile society. Apple launched the highly anticipated iTunes Radio streaming service yesterday at its… -
I’m with the brand – making friends with PR
11 Jun 2013 | 3:09 amThe proclamation that the future of SEO lies in influencer and consumer-led activity is music to the ears of content and social specialists, like myself, who value the true engagement that comes from such relationships. This is also where we find much common ground with PRs, community managers and brand teams as well as build trust with marketing managers struggling to knit together increasingly diverse strands of brand communication. “Integrated campaigns with consistent messaging across all channels will yield the greatest results,” asserts Tanya Carter, UK Assistant Online Marketing… -
How SoLoMo can leverage successful business
5 Jun 2013 | 3:45 amI’ve been discussing this with the iCrossing SEO team and there’s no doubt about it: mobile has transformed consumer shopping behaviour. According to research by Google and Nielsen, more than half of consumers who search for items on their mobile devices intend to buy. With 75% UK smartphone penetration predicted for the end of 2013, traditional marketing strategies have had to change. Smartphones allow more opportunities for a business to target and connect with its audiences but in order to succeed, it is critical that they communicate with the right message, at the right time on the… -
How rich snippets influence CTR
5 Jun 2013 | 3:37 amSome of the most commonly asked questions we receive from clients include the potential impact on click-through rate (CTR) from: authors’ photos appearing in Google’s search results video thumbnails ranking for competitive keywords In general, it’s difficult to forecast the impact certain types of rich snippets will have prior to implementation as it would largely depend on several factors such as: The niche itself. Different niches experience different CTR increases. The type of the query i.e. navigational, transactional, informational. The reputation and expertise of the person…
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Herd - the hidden truth about who we are
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Suicide as a disease and the space between
24 May 2013 | 10:48 amInteresting piece in this week's New Scientist on the attempts by psychiatrists (particularly those with advanced neuromania) to explain suicidal behaviour through primarily biological means (in terms of brain abnormalities, genetics and epigenetics) Shame really that the conversation starts off from such a poor premise: "Until the 1980s, people who committed suicide were considered, by definition, to be depressed" (i.e. to be a function of individual pathology). As we wrote early on in the history of this blog, the outbreaks of suicide that many populations see are often… -
Teenage pregnancy and the HERD
21 May 2013 | 2:25 amInteresting piece here about what does and doesn't work to reduce teenage pregnancy in the UK - written from the perspective of the audience (or a recent graduate from teenage). However, one of the things these personal accounts tend to miss is the higher level social mechanisms. Daniel Nettles of Newcastle University classic work suggests that early onset of reproduction in human populations is something that is the result of the population (not an individual) feeling under critical pressure. His analysis suggests the variation in regional rates across the UK is simply explained by this… -
MMR revisited
4 Apr 2013 | 3:07 amSource: NIH Very bad news today re the re-emergence of previously suppressed serious childhood diseases like measles in the UK - thanks to the middle-class mums who choose to ignore scientific evidence and listen instead to anecdote and speculation. MMR is by any measure an extremely safe vaccine, not the toxin blamed by the discredited Andrew Wakefiled and the rumour mill. This is a case when we're all in it together - "herd immunity" -
How long should a ghostbike be allowed to hang around?
3 Apr 2013 | 11:39 amWe've long collected examples of cellotaphs and ghostbikes - those popular floral tributes to the fallen that populate so many streets here in the UK and in the US. I think they're particularly interesting social and cultural phenomena because they are examples of public-created art and monumental social artefacts (rather than stuff created by and for the great and the good for private consumption). Today reveals an interesting problem: how long should a ghostbike be allowed to hang about? Should it be a temporary monument? Should it be a permanent feature? Should they even be… -
I copy, you copy, he/she/it copies
3 Apr 2013 | 11:17 amSource: flickr Nice piece today in the Standard (prompted by the British Council "The English Effect" exhibition) elaborates on one of the questions we explored last summer in the run up to my School of Life Sermon: how English thrives through copying words from other tongues Normally most of us would imagine there's some unique quality (its flexible grammar, maybe) that enables something to spread but maybe in this case is more it's ability to copy copy copy that works.
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C R U C E S
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#BigBoulder 2013
14 Jun 2013 | 11:45 amBig Boulder is a great event in – you guessed it – Boulder. The focus is on Social Data and there were some amazing speakers this year. (Don’t bother trying to sign-up. It’s invite only!) -
The smell of fear
11 Jun 2013 | 1:49 pmGoogle buys Waze for $1.3 Billion!!! Rewind Facebook buys Instagram for a $1 billion!!! Reset These companies aren’t worth anywhere near a billion dollars. I love them and they simply aren’t worth the multiples that are being paid . Why then, did they get acquired for those prices? ... -
Wanted: The GetGlue open platform project
8 Jun 2013 | 8:18 pmI love GetGlue. I like the app and the sense of community it creates. My only issue with the app -more the data – is that it doesn’t address the long tail of “TV” watching. In other words, I don’t watch TV. (Except for Bourdain.) Instead, the majority of my time watching video is online: ... -
New York vs. Tokyo on Foursquare (video)
7 Jun 2013 | 11:21 amHere is another amazing example of data visualization from Foursquare. This one shows a comparison between New York and Tokyo and I saw this at #BigBoulder. Enjoy! -
Hurricane Sandy data visualization through Foursquare
28 May 2013 | 12:35 pmI love data. I especially love data visualization. This is a great video highlighting where people were during Hurricane Sandy. Enjoy!
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Ben Werdmuller
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Owning your data is cool – but having your own awesome site is cooler
7 Jun 2013 | 8:34 pmThis post was originally published over on werd.io, my idno-powered site, where I’m hosting all of my new posts and social media updates. There’s been a lot of news stories lately about how technology companies like Google, Apple, Microsoft and Yahoo! may or may not be giving your data to the NSA. They deny it, news outlets confirm it and it’s hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t real. Whatever your political views, or whether you think government entities should be able to snoop on your phone and electronic communications, it’s hard to argue that the… -
werd.io and idno
31 May 2013 | 5:48 pmI’m posting over at werd.io, a site I’ve set up based on my idno software. I wrote a short technical introduction to the platform: idno is a personal attempt at building a publishing platform that adheres to IndieWeb principles: own your own data, publish on your own site, use existing social websites for dissemination but not as an origin. I’ve also tried to use microformats where possible, allowing every page to contain lightweight semantic information, as well as making it skinnable, extensible, and social. Right now I’m using it as a blog, but the intention is that… -
Respectful software
24 May 2013 | 4:17 pmI’m using the term respectful software to describe software products and services that: Maintain your ownership and control over your data. Allow you to export anything you’ve entered or imported into it. Allow you to extend their functionality with other software, without having to ask them or their developers for permission. Don’t sell your information to third parties. Don’t track your activities outside of the site or app. Don’t use your name, likeness or other aspects of your identity without your explicit permission. Don’t allow your data to be mined… -
HTTP signatures
6 May 2013 | 11:51 amIt looks like I’m not the only person who likes the idea of signed HTTP requests as an authentication method. Joyent and Digital Bazaar have co-written an Internet draft for cryptographically signed HTTP requests: Several web service providers have invented their own schemes for signing HTTP requests, but to date, none have been placed in the public domain as a standard. This document serves that purpose. There are no techniques in this proposal that are novel beyond previous art, however, this aims to be a simple mechanism for signing these requests. Signed HTTP requests are also a key… -
Mobile devices as keys to your personal cloud
30 Apr 2013 | 5:16 pmJotting down some quick notes for something to consider: mobile devices as proxies that redirect content types to services as required, cacheing data on its way to / from the Internet. Some properties and use cases: I take a picture, and my mobile device knows about the services I use that accept photos, and can upload to them automatically when I get a connection. My mobile device has a camera built in, but I can also push from my professional camera to it. I place my mobile device onto a PC to log into it (I may have to authenticate on both devices). My preferences are downloaded from the…
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SuzeMuse
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Three Less Obvious Secrets to Bringing in New Business
17 Jun 2013 | 5:40 amThis year we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the formation of Jester Creative. For 10 years, we’ve been able to consistently provide production services of all sorts – video, web design, digital marketing, print design and training – to a wide variety of clients of all kinds, across many different industries. We feel very fortunate to have worked with so many great people over the years. If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past 10 years about business, it’s that the development of the business never stops. You continually need to seek out new… -
Five Things to Think About
14 Jun 2013 | 4:40 amWeekends are always a great time for unwinding and reflection. Here are a few topics for you to ponder as you head into the end of your week. The Pageview Industrial Complex Ok, call me a Mitch Joel fangirl. I don’t care. This guy just makes me smarter, and he’ll make you smarter too. I admit, this post is so meaty I had to read it a few times for it to really sink in. If you’re at all interested in the future of online advertising and the struggle that brands are having to continue to be relevant in an ever-changing world, then you need to read this. Oh, and while… -
Do You Know Who Your Real Friends Are?
12 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amThis past weekend, I was fortunate to spend time with a bunch of friends – some new, some old, and all wonderful. All real. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that I have become much better at picking my friends. I no longer have time for toxic or negative people, and I’m usually able to weed those people out of my life very quickly. This holds true not only for my in-person friends (i.e. the people I see all the time) and my online friends (i.e. the people I don’t see in-person, but whom I still consider friends). I think that these past 6 years or so, as… -
The Long Road to Building a Community
10 Jun 2013 | 6:46 amCommunity. It’s the buzzword du jour of many a social media guru. Like many other things in the online world, community has become commoditized. There are myriad posts on how to acquire, grow, and influence a community online. “Community Management” is a profession that didn’t even exist 5 years ago. I feel as if we’ve lost sight of what it really means to build and nurture a community. It’s just a catch-phrase now, with a misguided perception that community=popularity=clicks=sales. In other words, if you can build a big community, you’ll sell more… -
Five Things to Think About
6 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amToday is the start of a new series on suzemuse.com. Weekends are always a great time for unwinding and reflection. Every Friday, I’ll help you wind down the week by presenting five things for you to ponder as you head into your weekend. So here you go – the inaugural edition of Five Things to Think About. Tried and False How can we really be sure that the tried and true methods are going to work for us? In today’s tumultuous world, that might not be the best way, says Seth Godin. I tend to agree. Andrew Stanton – the clues to a great story Hat tip to the lovely Dennis…
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Social Networking for Newbies
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How to find former employees on LinkedIn
7 Jun 2013 | 12:03 pmI recently received this question from one of my connections. He wanted to find former employees of a particular company. Please watch this short 90 second video below to learn how to do this. -
How to edit a LinkedIn recommendation you’ve previously given.
4 Jun 2013 | 11:25 amThe new LinkedIn’s user interface is far different from the previous one. I recently received a request from one of my clients on how to edit a recommendation they had previously given. I went to my LinkedIn account and spent about 15 minutes trying to find out where/how to do it. Below is a video that will show you (and save you a lot of time and frustration) how to do it. -
How to create a LinkedIn Company Page with the New Interface
29 May 2013 | 3:22 pmLinkedIn keeps changing its UI (user interface) claiming that it makes the experience better for its members. I find it to be the opposite. Please read my post where I compare LinkedIn and Costco. Anyway, if you happen to have the new LinkedIn interface and you’re wanting to create a Company Page, please watch the short video below: -
How to remove a LinkedIn connection – new interface
16 May 2013 | 4:15 pmLet’s say that you connected with someone on LinkedIn who turns out to be somewhat of a nuisance. How do you disconnect from them? LinkedIn makes it very easy to remove one of your connections – and best of all, they won’t be notified that you removed them. To learn how to do this, please watch the short video tutorial below: How to Remove a LinkedIn Connection If your LinkedIn user interface looks different than the one shown in the video, you probably still have the old interface. LinkedIn rolls out things in phases and they may not have changed yours. Please click on the… -
How to request LinkedIn recommendations
28 Feb 2013 | 6:09 amQuality LinkedIn recommendations are worth a lot. They greatly enhance your Credibility – especially with people who don’t know you. The short video below shows you the mechanics of asking for a recommendation. A few suggestions: Always send a personal message when requesting a recommendation Only ask for recommendations from people you’re certain will recommend you. You need both quality and quantity. Always thank the person after they have recommended you
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GROWMAP.COM
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Startup Crowdfunding: 10 Crowd Funding Sites to Fuel Your Projects
19 Jun 2013 | 12:09 pmImage Credit: SmallBizTrends ~ Click image to read Small Business Financing Options In light of the scarcity of project finances, most entrepreneurs are looking for other avenues through which their business projects can be funded. Crowd funding has been the latest concept of funding innovative ideas where a community funds ideas, projects and well articulated business models. Since its inception, the number of sites and firms that offer this facility is growing tremendously. Here are the top ten sites with respect to crowd funding. Start up addict This is a crowd funding site founded by Tod… -
Get Stumbles, Pins, Tweets, Likes from Viral Content Buzz ~ Win $1700 Contest
18 Jun 2013 | 7:47 amPin This Image! Gerald Weber gave us an early heads up about Viral Content Buzz (VCB) when it first launched. I want to make sure no one missed that VCB allows you to get stumbles, likes, tweets and pins. As if that weren’t enough, Ann Smarty and Gerald Weber know how hard it is to get a new site off the ground – so they’re throwing a big launch contest. You can get more traffic, readers, followers and likes and possibly win cash, too! Viral Content Buzz Contest Prizes: The article that generates most shares from ViralContentBuzz wins $1000 The article that generates most… -
PostJoint Review: Guest Posting Made MUCH Easier
18 Jun 2013 | 3:16 amGUEST POSTING WITH POSTJOINT In a new twist to how guest blogging sites usually work – instead of businesses seeking bloggers to write for them – they submit quality content they would like to have published to PostJoint and bloggers bid for the right to publish that content. GUEST POSTING REQUIREMENTS PostJoint calls the businesses posting the content advertisers. Moderators manually review all guest posts to ensure quality and uniqueness. Guest posts must be well written, non-promotional, and can not be published anywhere else. They can be typed directly into PostJoint or copied and… -
Start-Up Blunders You Can Learn From
17 Jun 2013 | 10:57 pmStart-Up Blunders You Can Learn From Like anything else in life, if you’re thinking of starting a business, you should look to those who have gone before you. While you should take the time to learn from the successes of others, you should also spend time researching their mistakes. It’s reported that only 10 percent of new businesses will still be operating after five years. If you hope to be among that coveted 10 percent, here are common blunders that you should learn from: 1. Failure to Specialize What do you want to do? What do you want your business to be? You’ve got to… -
CISPA is STILL a Threat to Freedom, Privacy and the Internet
17 Jun 2013 | 10:34 amMy apologies to all my readers. I have people assisting me in restoring the hundreds of posts that are missing because of a hosting company server failure. Unfortunately, I had counted on them to manage backing up the site and although they claimed they would restore the site, there were apparently no usable backups. We have been diligently manually restoring content because the only backup was more than a year old. We ask your patience as we train more people to help with the massive task of recreating 100s of missing posts and pages. Thank you. This is the current status of CISPA according…
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TheWayoftheWeb
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Post for admin purposes
11 Jun 2013 | 7:43 amRY59NMSVSRN5 The post Post for admin purposes appeared first on TheWayoftheWeb. -
Testimonials
14 May 2013 | 8:01 amI’d just had a new eCommerce store built in WordPress, added loads of great products at really competitive prices but was lacking the traffic and conversion to really see my online business take off. The Way of the Web was recommended by a friend, they really showed an interest in my business and helped me fulfill its potential with SEO, content and traffic analysis. It’s an ongoing project and they have been with me every step of the way and long may they continue to do so John Wakefield CEO Bargain Biker Brands www.bargainbikerbrands.co.uk The post Testimonials appeared first… -
Top social networks: Guide to images for company pages
13 May 2013 | 4:53 amAre you setting up social network profiles for your business? Or maintaining social media which already exists? Either way, it’s important to make sure your pages and profiles look their best. If you’re updating your company logos, re-branding, or simply want to change images to give your page a refresh, then it’s important to ensure you know the right image dimensions, file sizes and positioning for each social network. So we’ve compiled the requirements in once place. When looking at logo designs, always keep in mind that social media generally requires versions… -
How we redesigned our website and logo
1 May 2013 | 6:31 amWe’re lucky to have a number of talented web designers and developers in our network at TheWayoftheWeb. But we didn’t have a lot of time and money to get a new logo and website up and running. So I thought it would be really useful to share the process we went through… Our new logo: For a long time I’d blogged without investing in a proper logo and identity. So I was enormously grateful to the talented David Darnes when he offered to donate his skills a few years ago to support me starting out as a business. Having originally been influenced in naming my blog… -
Welcome to the new TheWayoftheWeb
11 Apr 2013 | 7:27 amAround 7 years ago, I started blogging on a free Blogspot website, mainly because I had thoughts and ideas about the internet and media which I wanted to share beyond a very small group of colleagues. One day, 5 years ago, I moved my blog onto the current domain and my own self-hosted WordPress site, as I’d grown my readership to thousands of people each month and wanted to give them a better experience. Then almost 3 years ago, I found myself setting up as a freelancer to provide content and marketing to a small group of clients which has since grown – along with my business…
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WordPress.com News
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The Art and Science of Getting Good WordPress Support
19 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amImagine this: it’s been a productive WordPress weekend. You’ve been busy puttering away on the new website you put together for your cat-lovers’ club and you’re pleased with the progress so far. You found an adorable kitty-friendly theme, snagged a memorable site address, added some snazzy widgets in all the right places, and you’re finally ready to introduce your baby to the world. But, wait! Just before making the site public, you notice that the header isn’t displaying your site title and tagline along with the header graphic. What could be causing the problem? -
Stats Wrangling I: Digging into Your Data
18 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amChances are that if you’re running a public facing blog, you’re probably happiest when someone actually reads it. Preferably lots of someones. Your blog’s stats can give you some great ways to get to know a little bit more about your readers, and what it is about your work that most attracts them. While the more liberal artsy types among us might shoo off the idea of obsessively stat trawling as something for the more scientifically inclined, there’s actually something for everyone lurking just beneath the surface, whether that’s inspiration or cold, hard logic. -
The WordPress.com Dashboard Gets a Beautiful Makeover
17 Jun 2013 | 9:03 amEach day, you blog, you create, and you make things with your WordPress.com site. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the code that runs WordPress.com gets updated dozens of times a day, as we deploy improvements. While you can’t see the vast majority of those changes, there is one improvement we can’t wait for you to see: a brand-new, redesigned WordPress.com dashboard featuring better contrast and the oh-so-lovely Open Sans typeface. The dashboard’s new design features Open Sans — the free, open source typeface by Steve Matteson offers a pleasing reading experience. Back… -
DaddyBloggers in the Spotlight: A Father’s Day Roundup
16 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amWriting about family life and parenthood is not simply the province of mothers: dads are carving out their own blogular niche. Single dads, stay-at-home dads, working dads, two-dad families — you can find every perspective on WordPress.com. As the US celebrates Father’s Day, here are some dad blogs we love: DorkDaddy.com What’s the point of having kids if you can’t raise them into die-hard Star Wars fans? DorkDaddy — dentist by day, geek by night, dad 24/7 — uses his blog to chronicle life with this three geeks-in-training. You respond to his combination of… -
Freshly Pressed: Friday Faves
14 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amEvery post that glides into our Reader offers us a fresh perspective and an opportunity to peer into another blogger’s mind. We’re invited to enter new worlds, and examine the shapes, angles, and textures of the blogging craft itself. This week, once again, the diversity of the WorldPress.com community thrilled us. The three posts we selected are powerful examples of the different ends to which writers use their blogs. Lines No serum can replace the living drawn in these lines - this is no paint-by-number out of a box, but an original, a hand-drawn facsimile We take great pains to…
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Social Media Bird Brain
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Rolling Out a New Look for Your Small Nonprofit
12 Jun 2013 | 3:15 pmMaybe your logo's look takes viewers right back to the days of Miami Vice - all teal and purple with shadows reminiscent of neon or totally simplistic because at the time you had to design it yourself and you only had 6 typefaces to your name and a black laser printer. So you go out and get yourself a look more relevant to the time; something that reflects how your small NP has grown. Now you -
Not Content With Content - Four Things a Nonprofit Can Learn from the Private Sector
30 May 2013 | 2:56 pmImage via Revelife.com Business people on nonprofit boards often support attempts by nonprofits to apply business-acumen to the public sector. In recent years, there's been a decided push in this direction to which some nonprofits have dug in their heels. Me - I'm always in favor of balance, which doesn't always mean 50-50. I think each nonprofit has its own definition of balance that -
Five Tools for Your Social Media Intern
15 May 2013 | 3:51 pmVia Unpaid Intern Summertime... and the interns are easy... Well, not really. But if you've made it known that your small nonprofit would like to entertain a few interns for the summer and/or fall, you've probably got a couple interviewed and ready to start. And given that Social Media is a big deal that many small nonprofits can't afford a full-time manager for, you're probably thinking of -
The Battle of the Sexes and Other Interesting Crossed Lines of Social Communication
1 May 2013 | 7:39 pmThought by Jason Griffey, Photo by Pierre Metivier (Flickr) Maybe you've heard the story about the Philosophy 101 student who wrote 'everything is everything else' and got an A for the class term. Yeah, it sounds kinda woo-woo, but to me at least, it makes sense. Especially when talking about the internet and social communications. To illustrate, let's take a look at a few things I found while -
Re-igniting Your Fire Using Social Communications
23 Apr 2013 | 6:38 pmEveryone can feel a little down from time to time. Especially after a big push or a big disappointment. We've talked a lot about how you can use social communications to get your message out, to share your triumphs, to ask for assistance. But have you ever thought of using it on those days that are a little bit darker - when it's a little harder to get out of bed, you're a little slower getting
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Social Media, Internet Marketing, and Life connected | Josh S Peters
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This Blog Is No More… For Now
31 May 2013 | 10:37 pmI’ll keep this short and sweet. I won’t be blogging here much, if at all, any more. The existing posts will stay here, but all content moving forward will be found at the Social Media Launchpad. -
Truth Hype and Value
12 Apr 2013 | 6:06 pmTo read the full post please visit Social Media Launchpad: Look Past The Hype For Truth, Value, And Reliable Information -
What Is An API (Application Programing Interface)?
12 Apr 2013 | 3:33 pmTo read the full article visit Social Media Launchpad -> What Is An API (Application Programing Interface)? -
Last chance to enter the Book A Day Giveaway
12 Apr 2013 | 10:41 amToday is your last chance to enter the Book A Day Giveaway on Social Media Launchpad. The last drawing will be at midnight tonight PST! -
Look outside your industry for inspiration
12 Apr 2013 | 8:45 amTo read the full article visit Social Media Launchpad: Looking outside your industry for inspiration.
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Corporate Eye
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Reviewing 2013 Brand Marketing Trends Six Months into the Year
14 Jun 2013 | 2:08 amWe’re at the halfway point of 2013 and with six months behind us, it’s time to review 2013 marketing trends to see how far we’ve come. In December 2012, I published a list of five brand marketing trends that would shape marketing strategy for the next twelve months. Those trends focused on big data, behavioral targeting, mobile marketing, social media marketing budgets, and the growth multiple screens. Let’s take a closer look at each. 1. Big Data In December 2012, I stated that big data would continue to be a big buzz topic in 2012, and that has certainly been the… -
Investor Relations, Communications and Greek Mythology
13 Jun 2013 | 6:21 amWhen I teach or give a public talk, I like to bring in a variety of sources in order to keep the audience engaged (and also to prove the worth of my liberal arts education earned many years ago). I find that introducing something interesting, which, at first blush has no connection to the topic, helps to get people thinking about what you’re saying. Of course, sometimes it’s the only thing they remember from your talk, but I’m happy if they remember anything. For example, a number of years ago I was given the task of explaining executive benefits at a 7:00 AM meeting. Talk about… -
Brand Trust and Integrity Starts with the CEO
12 Jun 2013 | 3:37 amSince 2009, I’ve been writing about the importance of building brand trust here at Corporate Eye. I’ve given reasons why internal brand building should be a strategic priority and provided questions to ask employees in order to build your brand from within. I’ve called upon CEOs to hire Chief Brand Officers to focus on brand building, and I’ve made it clear that building brand trust must happen from the top down in order to be successful. That means it starts with the CEO. Ben W. Heineman Jr. of the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance and Financial… -
Research Reveals Senior Business Leaders Do Not Understand Social Media
7 Jun 2013 | 9:16 amThe results of a recent survey by Stanford University’s Rock Center for Corporate Governance and The Conference Board should come as no surprise to brand marketers who have to fight executives every day for budget dollars to invest in social media marketing activities. According to the survey of 180 senior executives and corporate directors from public and private companies in all major industries in Canada and the United States, senior business leaders do not understand the importance of social media to their companies. The report authors explain that there is “a disconnect… -
100 Companies that Matter Most in Data 2013
5 Jun 2013 | 1:32 pmOne of the hottest topics in branding and marketing in 2013 is big data, and companies around the world are collecting and storing massive amounts of data. For brand marketers, the challenge is finding ways to effectively analyze and use that data to increase sales. While we’re still a long way to crossing that bridge, there are some companies that are rising to the top of the data industry. Database Trends and Applications put together the DBTA 100 list of the companies that matter most in data in 2013, and it highlights many of the companies that are learning how to harness the power…
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Vino Party - Il blog sul Vino
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Si prospetta una “guerra del vino” con la Cina?
11 Jun 2013 | 3:49 amChinese flag di Scott Meltzer È possibile che possa aprirsi una “guerra del vino” con la Cina per le esportazioni di vino nel loro Paese. La crisi è scaturita a seguito dell’annuncio dell’UE circa misure restrittive sui pannelli solari cinesi, cui i cinesi hanno risposto colpendo uno dei mercati che stanno diventando più floridi per gli europei in Cina: l’esportazione dei vini locali, in particolare francesi, spagnoli e italiani. Il clima di tensione commerciale, dunque, rischia di diventare un boomerang verso i produttori vinicoli italiani, che nulla avevano a prima vista a che… -
Wine & the city 2013 a Napoli
17 May 2013 | 2:31 amDal 21 al 25 maggio 2013 si rinnoverà a Napoli l’evento “Wine & the city” giunto ormai alla sesta edizione. L’evento si configura sempre di più come un nodo cardine nella promozione del vino, dell’arte e delle attività correlate nella zona campana e più in generale del sud Italia. Non si svolge in fiera né in stand, ma in 100 indirizzi diversi lungo la città, dove vengono presentate 70 cantine vinicole italiane di cui l’80% campane, assieme ad eventi correlati tra musica, arte e installazioni. L’obiettivo è quello di fare sistema tra i massimi livelli vinicoli,… -
Vino: la battaglia dell’export punta l’Oriente?
22 Apr 2013 | 1:55 amIncrociando i dati Coldiretti e il Wine Monitor di Nomisma, assieme al punto della situazione fatto recentemente dalle case vinicole al Vinitaly 2013, senza dar nemmeno troppo risalto ai numeri saltano all’occhio un paio di concetti: nel 2012 in Italia, complice la crisi economica, si è bevuto meno vino, mentre mercati esteri emergenti come Cina e Brasile sono in netta crescita in quanto a consumi. Basta fare due più due per capire come, oggi, l’opportunità più importante che il mercato offre alle aziende vitivinicole italiane non è tanto il mercato interno, quanto la grande crescita… -
Il vino e l’apporto calorico
8 Apr 2013 | 6:37 amUn aspetto molto studiato nell’ultimo decennio e relazionato al mondo del vino è quello legato al suo impatto sulla salute, in modo particolare all’apporto che esso è in grado di fornire all’essere umano sia in termini positivi che in termini negativi. In particolar modo, molti nutrizionisti si sono soffermati a considerare il suo “impatto” nell’alimentazione quotidiana di un individuo nei singoli casi di persone sottoposte a diete dimagranti. Innanzitutto specifichiamo che il vino, tra le bevande più antiche del mondo, è ottenuto dalla fermentazione alcolica… -
Vinitaly 2013: il vino italiano leader nel mondo
8 Mar 2013 | 3:34 amSi rinnova il tradizionale evento di Vinitaly a Verona nell’edizione 2013, che si terrà nella bella città veneta dal 7 al 10 aprile, una quattro giorni che vedrà come sempre il vino assoluto protagonista. Diamo anche un po’ di numeri sul vino e sui prossimi sviluppi del mercato. L’Italia diventa leader nella produzione vinicola mondiale, producendo quasi 41 milioni di ettolitri – superando la Francia scesa a 40,5 – e di questi, 24 finiscono per riempire le bottiglie dei vini di qualità, vale a dire gli oltre cinquecento vini con etichettatura Doc, Docg o Igt, di cui potete…
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Chris Abraham
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Signs you may be a social media forager
18 Jun 2013 | 11:19 pmWhen you put lots of energy, time, and passion — but no plan — into your social media marketing and PR campaigns, you’re a forager. And you surely won’t starve foraging. You’ll always be fed. Social media foraging does get protein in the pot, though that protein is generally more in the form of grubs than it is prime grade lean steak. As they say, “look under enough rocks and you’ll eventually find a snake” (to eat). And, growing your followership, engaging heartily and consistently, and building up your Klout and reputation means that… -
You’ve got to get over your fear of being annoying
11 Jun 2013 | 10:53 pmAccording to Jonathan Alter‘s new book, The Center Holds, it was Barack Obama’s young geek volunteers who crushed Mitt Romney‘s “Mad Men” campaign out of the 1960s in the 2012 election. And while much of their success had to do with their collective beautiful mind, it also had to do with something that Mr. Alter said as a matter of fact: they got “over the fear of being annoying.” The whole quote from the below interview on the Colbert Show is, “you’ve got to get over your fear of being annoying” (minute 4:30):The Colbert Report Get… -
12 Essential Twitter Tips from Guy Kawasaki
4 Jun 2013 | 6:54 pmPeople love and hate my friend Guy Kawasaki. Here are some of the least flattering blog posts, including Dear Guy Kawasaki, You Tweet Too Much, Guy Kawasaki is too ‘popular’ to stop autotweets during Boston bombings, Andrew Goodman to Guy Kawasaki: You are Ruining Twitter!, Is Guy Kawasaki Singlehandedly Ruining Twitter? (Part I), and others.Well, I stand by Guy. While I am no Guy Kawasaki with only 43.9k followers instead of 1.3 million, and I don’t have minions, Guy and I share our belief that in order to do business online, make money, build clout, grow influence, and… -
The Perfect Twitter Pitch
2 Jun 2013 | 11:25 pmThis morning I received the following tweet from Simon Ellinas (@cartoono):You’ve been Caricature Assassinated! @chrisabraham Please ReTweet. Use as avatar! #caricatureassassin twitter.com/cartoono/statu…— Simon Ellinas (@cartoono) June 3, 2013 It wasn’t very customized and it was pretty tone deaf, shameless, impersonal, and self-promoting in every way but one: the gift! Attached to this self-serving promotional tweet, however, was a hand-drawn caricature of me. Not only a caricature of yours truly but a very flattering one, to boot:What’s more and even better? In fewer… -
I Just Ordered a Treadmill Desk
1 Jun 2013 | 7:06 amI considered finding a cheap treadmill off of Craigslist and fashioning a desk for it but decided to take a look at the popular LifeSpan treadmill desks. I ended up really liking the TR1200-DT model because it seems to be the toughest and I don’t see myself as using it more than 6-hours/day or needing an electric motor to adjust the height of the desk: set it and forget it.I did a little digging and found a single refurbished like-new TR1200-DT on Amazon’s Warehouse Deals site. So, a hundred dollars or so off, no tax, and free shipping under my Amazon Prime membership — I…
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Steve Kayser
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The New Employee … Partner in Purpose?
15 Jun 2013 | 7:22 amThe post The New Employee … Partner in Purpose? appeared first on Steve Kayser.What type of employee would YOU want to help you in a startup? Or in growing a business? In a struggling business? Certainly someone with drive and...The post The New Employee … Partner in Purpose? appeared first on Steve Kayser. -
For the Fallen – Memorial Day 2013
23 May 2013 | 12:54 amThe post For the Fallen – Memorial Day 2013 appeared first on Steve Kayser.They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them. - From “For the Fallen” by Laurence BinyonThe post For the Fallen – Memorial Day 2013 appeared first on Steve Kayser. -
Storytelling Story-Selling Secret Sources
25 Apr 2013 | 6:31 amThe post Storytelling Story-Selling Secret Sources appeared first on Steve Kayser.Whatever business you're in you have a story. If it's a good story it informs, educates, entertains and helps people down a path to find a solution to the problem they have. The trip down the path is your story.The post Storytelling Story-Selling Secret Sources appeared first on Steve Kayser. -
3 Positive Ways to Deal with the Negative World
22 Apr 2013 | 2:24 pmThe post 3 Positive Ways to Deal with the Negative World appeared first on Steve Kayser.Recent world events that have brought such overwhelming tragedy and negativity can make us spiral downward, creating despairing attitudes and dismal spirits. These affect our work. We’re less productive. We miss our sales goals. We wander away from family and friends. How do we get back on track? Find. Focus. Finish.The post 3 Positive Ways to Deal with the Negative World appeared first on Steve Kayser. -
No Arms, No Legs … No Worries
15 Mar 2013 | 1:13 pmThe post No Arms, No Legs … No Worries appeared first on Steve Kayser.Our times our piled high with difficulty and uncertainty. Stress and anxiety. Problems too big to get your arms around, Too high to climb. Unless ... you don't have legs or arms. The post No Arms, No Legs … No Worries appeared first on Steve Kayser.
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Uber.la - tech reviews, opinion and wit
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Social Media is Pool Party – Drop the Agenda
19 Jun 2013 | 11:25 amBut make sure you keep with the plan of the "party" and not sell too hard. Overselling is one of social media's big problems. So as in real life, and in your social media marketing programs, go with the soft sell. Demonstrate your brilliance without having to brag about it. Then people will be seeking you out for your business advice. // Enjoy the party. Enjoy the summer. -
Everybody Wants Something From You, What Do You Want?
17 Jun 2013 | 12:31 pmSo what is it that puts us in the "What do you want from me?" mode so quickly? Last week I was offering an open partnership and idea/energy exchange. I was rejected. This week, the same person was asking for a business/partnership and I was the rejector. Neither was wrong or right. But we had different agendas. Different approaches. I'm not looking to get into urgency with anyone, if I can help it. -
The Intertwined Cycle of SEO and SEARCH: A Quick Guide
12 Jun 2013 | 5:14 amSOCIAL MEDIA LAW #1: Nobody forwards boring content, unless they are paid to. If you are selling something online and have good visibility to your conversion metrics, PPC may be the best competitive strategy you have. -
Agile Leadership in the Real World & For Personal Use
6 Jun 2013 | 2:06 amAgile used to be a buzzword. Either you were IN or you were OUT when it came to understanding the "agile" model. Today, agile is still alive and well, and driving some of the most innovative development teams in the world. Of course, there's probably an agile 2.0 model that we don't even know about yet, but looking at a few of the agile processes can help us in any aspect of team leadership, project management, and even self-leadership. -
The Four Tracks of Social Media: Let's Start With LinkedIn
29 May 2013 | 10:13 amClear objectives are important to understand what you are wanting to accomplish with your social media program. Also making sure you have the resources (time and people) required to respond should the social part of your program take off.
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Digital Marketing Blog // Digital Operative
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Digital Commerce Revolution Coming to Interactive Day San Diego
18 Jun 2013 | 12:20 amThat’s right! Grab your Molotov cocktails and disdain for industry trends; join me this Friday at Interactive Day San Diego for a session all about Ecommerce. I know, I know. You’re asking yourself how interesting could it be to hear about ecommerce trends and case studies Not only will we cover all the latest trends and data, but I’ll be joined by Rob Fess, Director of Ecommerce from LifeProof. You know that little San Diego-based brand that rivaled the growth of some of the top internet retail companies and was just acquired by Otterbox? Yes that one. Rob and I will be… -
Road to Magento Certification
29 May 2013 | 1:49 pmHere at DO I’ve been assigned the task of pursuing a Magento Certification. Being a Magento Certified Developer has its benefits as outlined in the official website. Here are a few highlights: -Increase your value and income -Showcase your team’s qualifications -Gain additional knowledge through preparation and training -Differentiate yourself from the competition PAVE THE WAY So once you accept the challenge you may ask yourself a few questions: Where do I start? What will I need?Is it going to take long? While I can’t answer the latter, to aid you in your quest, I’ve… -
Makers Quarter – Wins SOTD Award
22 May 2013 | 3:46 pmIn launching any new website, the sigh of relief comes when it goes live without a hiccup. Yet the icing on the cake is when your hard work pays off in the form of industry recognition like a nice Site of the Day award from our friends at CSSDesignAwards. MakersQuarter.com is a great example of responsive website design, complete with custom photography. -
Spring is Here and Kenshoo is in the Air
7 May 2013 | 3:48 pmI’ve read some bold promises from marketing automation software throughout the years. They all seem to promise the same thing… sit back, relax and let our little bot make you look like the rock star of the marketing department. Sayings like, ‘it’s cheaper, it’s faster, it’s easier, it’s more profitable become commonplace in every sales pitch. I’ve been through enough of these pitches throughout my tenure that I’ve grown a sixth sense at cutting through the crap and getting down to what’s really important. When our agency first deployed… -
Got Culture? What it is and How to Get it
7 May 2013 | 3:24 pmI’ve been thinking a lot about culture and what it means and how it can define a company. It’s a trendy buzzword as of late peppering blogs and whispered about at HR seminars with its promises of providing a cool factor to any company. But what is it exactly and how can you get it? According to Frances Frei and Anne Morriss at Harvard Business Review: “Culture guides discretionary behavior and it picks up where the employee handbook leaves off.” To some culture is a guidepost that helps employees understand their company as a whole. If one were to mention Google,…
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Seldom Seen Kid
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The Disappointing Thing About PRISM…
7 Jun 2013 | 4:46 amIs not that US tech companies are alleged to be handing over vast amounts of personal data. It’s not that the current US administration have made the most of the Patriot Act, brought in by the Bush government to spy on their citizens. No. The most disappointing thing about this emerging scandal is that it has taken until now to break into the public arena. Governments have, in times of political or economic struggle, always relied on fear as a way of controlling their people. The US state has used fear of Al Qaeda, terrorism and economic collapse to justify spying on ordinary people as… -
Capcom Blood Pool
11 May 2013 | 1:18 pmCapcom, in support of their latest Resident Evil title Resident Evil Revelations, have created a swimming pool filled with blood. The PR stunt comes hot on the heels of their 2012 human butchery. It’s certainly an interesting way of getting people to associate your gaming brand with blood and gore, and will appeal to their core gamer market, but I can’t help but feel it’s a little contrived. It’s certainly got the Internet interested, with most of the major gaming blogs talking about the stunt – whether it helps or hinders the release of the title remains to be… -
Warburton’s Loaf Sells for £112k on eBay
20 Jan 2013 | 2:41 pmA loaf of Warburton’s bread sells for £112k. I love the Internet. -
NASA Invite Social Media Community to Launch
14 Dec 2012 | 4:17 pmNASA will give 70 members of its social media community the chance to get a behind the scenes view of the US space program and an opportunity to see a launch in-person. The NASA Social, scheduled for January 28-29, will coincide with the launch of NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K (TDRS-K). The selected few visit the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA Socials are in-person meetings with people who engage with the agency through Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and other social networks. TDRS-K is targeted to launch at 8:52 p.m. EST Jan. 29 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V… -
Twitter Photo Filters
10 Dec 2012 | 3:20 pmTwitter have announced that they will be launching photo filters with the latest versions of their iPhone and Android apps. The move comes hours after Twitter and Instagram integration ceased. There will be eight photo filters, all of which can be applied directly in the mobile app. This, along with the compulsory roll out of the new image heavy Twitter profiles, demonstrates just how much value Twitter is placing on imagery and the ease of sharing that content instantaneously. The success of Instagram and PicPlz has shown just how important the ability to share image content is to users.
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the i.d.e.a. brand
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Facebook Hashtags: What Brands Need to Know
19 Jun 2013 | 7:00 amLast week Facebook introduced hashtags to enable users to follow and join conversations about public events, people and topics on a much larger scale. The user experience is similar to clicking on a hashtag on Twitter or Instagram, if you click on a hashtag conversations related to that specific topic are displayed. Another way to follow a hashtag is by simply doing a search on Facebook Graph Search. It’s important to know that not all conversations will be displayed as ...The post Facebook Hashtags: What Brands Need to Know appeared first on the i.d.e.a. brand. -
Paid Summer Art Director or Graphic Designer Internship
31 May 2013 | 9:18 ami.d.e.a. is looking for a superstar intern for the upcoming quarter/semester. This individual should blow us away with their talent and enthusiasm. This is a paid summer internship that requires a three month commitment. A digital portfolio is a plus. A little about you: ▪ A recent grad (preferred) or college student (rising junior or senior or equivalent) majoring in advertising/art direction or graphic design ▪ Can work full-time M-F, 8:30 – 5:30pm ▪ Student portfolio of work that shows ...The post Paid Summer Art Director or Graphic Designer Internship appeared first on the… -
Q&A with Me, Myself & I(.d.e.a.)
30 May 2013 | 7:00 amYear in Review with Ryan Berman – interviewed by Ryan Berman So here we are. 15 months into a new company. Are we where I thought we’d be? What do those next 15 months look like? What were our highlights and low lights? Let’s face it. These are tough questions to internalize and address. So I figured I’d go right to the source for answers. Me. 1. Who knows me better than me? 2. Who better to call me out ...The post Q&A with Me, Myself & I(.d.e.a.) appeared first on the i.d.e.a. brand. -
The Out-of-Home Wrap
29 May 2013 | 7:00 amLike rap music, the out-of-home wrap got its start in the 80’s and is now mainstream. One of the original forms of advertising, out-of-home has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Wrap Impact There has been an onslaught of digital out-of-home advertising into the marketplace with its bright lights and quick turnaround. However, it’s the wrap that’s really made the biggest impact on how out-of-home is used by today’s advertisers. The actual production of the wrap has evolved so ...The post The Out-of-Home Wrap appeared first on the i.d.e.a. brand. -
What Should I Post on Social Media?
22 May 2013 | 10:04 amBrands that jump on the social media bandwagon do so because they’re genuinely interested in engaging with their audience online. So why do most companies fall short in building a community that drives loyalty and engagement? In most cases, it’s because somewhere down the line, brands lose focus on what topics spark engagement. Instead of investigating and continually monitoring what type of content motivates and inspires their audience, they end up bombarding followers with incessant self-promotion and as a result, ...The post What Should I Post on Social Media? appeared first on the…
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Technology & Marketing Law Blog
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Independent Contractor Relationship Between Sender and Advertiser Dooms Spam Claims – Kramer v. NCS
17 Jun 2013 | 4:54 am[Post by Venkat Balasubramani] Kramer v. NCS, 12-1956 (8th Cir. May 28, 2013) Kramer, who operated an internet service provider... -
Facebook Posting of Criminal Trial's Witness List Isn't a "True Threat"--US v. Amaya
14 Jun 2013 | 9:57 amBy Eric Goldman U.S. v. Amaya, 2013 WL 2548393 (N.D. Iowa, June 11, 2013) This is a quite lengthy sentencing... -
Warranty Disclaimer in PC TuneUp's EULA Fails -- Rottner v. AVG
11 Jun 2013 | 12:24 pm[Post by Venkat Balasubramani with comments by Eric] Rottner v. AVG Technologies, 12-10920-RGS (D. Mass May 3, 2013) [pdf] Rottner... -
Online Dating Websites Aren't Required To Warn That Some Members May Be Murderers (Forbes Cross-Post)
11 Jun 2013 | 9:30 amBy Eric Goldman Beckman v. Match.com, 2013 WL 2355512 (D. Nev. May 29, 2013) and Okeke v. Cars.com, 2013 N.Y.... -
CAN-SPAM Violations For Private WHOIS Information and Putting Disclosures in Remotely Served Images – ZooBuh v. Better Broadcasting
10 Jun 2013 | 8:13 am[Post by Venkat Balasubramani] Zoobuh, Inc. v. Better Broadcasting, LLC, 11cv00516-DN (D. Utah May 31, 2013) Spam litigation has waned....
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FreshNetworks Blog
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When big data meets consumer behaviour: social media and our memories (video)
17 Jun 2013 | 3:16 amBox of old photos There is a lot of talk about big data and the social media data that we leave behind us online. In this talk of tools and processes, examples and opportunities, it can be easy to forget what we are dealing with. Social media data is the memories of the people who wrote that post, or took that photo. And memories mean something very specific to us as human beings. In an era where we are talking about a legal right to be forgotten, it’s worth remembering how we usually interpret memories and the value they have for us. I presented at a Forward3D event in May about this,… -
Why young adults are more connected than ever before and what this means for brands
10 Jun 2013 | 4:13 amTaking a photo of Christmas tree (Photo credit: Takashi(aes256)) For today’s young adults (those aged 18-30), access to technology is, alongside education, seen as a critical component of progress and opportunity. A recent survey of 12,000 young adults across 27 countries for Telefónica found that this group believed that not only are they at the cutting edge of technology, but that this gives them a competitive edge. For all brands it is increasingly important to understand how this group of connected consumers behaves, and how to engage them. Here is our summary of four key themes… -
Why Snapchat is about so much more than teens and sexting
16 May 2013 | 4:46 amSnapchat seems to be attracting more interest recently with more users of and more questions about the mobile sharing app which allows you to send images and text (‘Snaps’) to contacts with an ‘auto-destruct’ after a few seconds. In April, CEO Evan Spiegel announced that 150m photos were shared each day, and the app has come under investigation as to whether the images actually do auto-destruct. There is also a perception that the app is a fad among teens, and the auto-destruct nature of the communication makes it suitable for mere frippery or even for sexting. But… -
What’s the secret to being a great leader?
14 May 2013 | 10:59 amLast year I wrote about innovation having attended an Open University Business School event on the topic, and recently I’ve just been to another one all about leadership. Here’s a quick summary of 6 questions and answers that came out of the session: 1. What do we mean by leadership? Professor Jean Hartley took everyone through the 5 Ps: Person – personal characteristics and leadership style(s). Position – e.g. a position of authority often creates access to resource pools, but equally there are many leaders who don’t hold positions of formal authority. Process – i.e. -
Sir Alex Ferguson retires – an analysis of the immediate reaction on Twitter
8 May 2013 | 3:40 amOld Trafford, Manchester (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee) At 09:20 this morning Sir Alex Ferguson retired after 26 years in charge of Manchester United. The club, and the manager, are respected and supported far from the city of Manchester, and reaction was quick to spread on Twitter. In many analyses of event and how Twitter reacts to them, the focus is on volume – just how many people are talking about an issue. But more interesting than this is what people are saying. There is a hypothesis that when there is ‘breaking news’ (at least on Twitter), most of the discussions…
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shesgotclients.com
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About You Becoming the Go-To Expert (New Free Webinar With Me)
7 Jun 2013 | 9:19 amYou know those people you feel like you see everywhere? The ones who seem to enjoy great income, have lots of loyal followers and fans, and experience ever-growing success? They also seem to have a lot more fun, don’t they? I know from experience that they do. But… what makes them so different from you? Are they just lucky? Nope… but they do have SOMETHING that I am guessing you may not (yet). What is it? Click the video below to find out what it is: It’s a simple fact: people who are considered experts in their niche or industry make a heck of a lot more money. They… -
Mastermind With Me This Year? (Plus a Quick Lesson)
20 May 2013 | 10:42 amThis coming weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the entire year–Memorial Day weekend. The unofficial start of Summer means beach time, and there is no other place I’d rather be! This time of year also always reminds me that we’re really close to another year being nearly half over. I’m wondering… how is 2013 going for you in your business? Are you feeling productive? Successful? Where you want to be? If not, I want to share a quick lesson with you about the top four characteristics shared by the most productive and successful entrepreneurs. (These are the ones… -
How to Find Ideal Joint Venture Partners for Your Business
9 May 2013 | 12:55 pmJoint ventures are juicy. They’re all about two or more businesses combining resources to create a win-win situation. Entrepreneurs know they should be “doing” joint ventures (JVs for short)—but the big question is, how do you find good JV partners? You need to find partners who have the same client base as you do, so ask yourself: “who else do my clients buy from?” For example, if you’re a personal trainer, then your clients are also buying the services of a chiropractor or a massage therapist. So, you want to joint venture with a massage therapist, or a chiropractor. Where to… -
FREE Call: What Savvy Entrepreneurs Know: 5 Essential Keys to Guarantee Financial Growth This Year
2 May 2013 | 4:44 pmDo you ever wonder what highly successful business owners are doing that keeps their income (AND their influence) growing year after year? Do you ever sit on the outside looking in at others who consistently launch new offers, run great programs, hold amazing workshops… and wonder how they do it? Do you ever wish you could take a peek behind the curtain and get the REAL scoop on the strategies these high-achieving folks use to fuel their growth? If you’re a smart, skilled entrepreneur who feels that the truly THRIVING business you want is just out of reach, you’ll want to… -
Pricing 911: How to Know What to Charge!
25 Apr 2013 | 12:55 pmIt’s true: most business owners get tripped up on pricing at one time or another. While there’s actually not a truly scientific way to set your prices, there are a few guidelines you can follow to make the process less tricky. 1) First and foremost, remember your big picture clarity: who your target market actually is. Have you done your research about their income level, buying habits and what they tend to spend on services or products similar to yours? Get really clear here. 2) Look at others who sell similar offerings in similar industries and pay attention to what they…
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Online Marketing Blog
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How Public Relations & Communications Can Win the Content Marketing Race
19 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amIn today’s fast moving search and social web, content flows in every direction throughout a variety of platforms, formats and devices. With a global population of over 7 billion, there are over 2.3 billion internet users. More importantly, there are 6.7 billion mobile subscribers – 91% market penetration (source). Ubiquitous internet access is enabling consumers and brands alike to create, consume, publish, interact and transact – anytime, anywhere. At the same time, “newsrooms have 30% fewer reporters than in 2000, which corresponds with 31% of US adults that have… -
Top Content Marketing Posts of 2013
18 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amI think our team has done a pretty good job on this blog of advocating internet marketing tactics according to their practical use over the years. Our goal: To help marketers put things in perspective and make informed choices. One particular area of focus has been on content marketing. Rather than just pontificate about the latest trend, our approach is to experiment, optimize and share what we learn. For example, we’ve implemented content marketing projects for organizations that range from several Fortune 50 companies to Content Marketing World, the Mac Daddy of content marketing… -
Opening Up Twitter Analytics to All – Smart Marketing Move ala Google
17 Jun 2013 | 6:07 amIs Twitter the right place for your social media investment? Whether you have time or ad dollars to spend, this is a question that marketers are visiting and revisiting as the demand for social media performance increases. According to Twitter, 35% of consumers that follow a brand are more likely to purchase from that brand. Twitter users are also 47% more likely to visit the company’s website and 35% are more likely to retweet content from a business they follow. Is Twitter right for you? How do you know the performance of your Twitter engagement and marketing activities? -
Online Marketing News: Digital Agency of the Future, Facebook Hashtags, Google Gets Waze, Apple Money, Amazon Grocery
14 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amImage: Detail of Skyword Infographic The acceleration of social technologies along with continuously evolving consumer behaviors has many agencies in a state of flux and asking: Where to invest resources? Which positions to staff and how to structure the agency to be adaptable and to grow? For the past few years we’ve been modeling our agency at TopRank Marketing to better adapt and integrate. The holistic approach I talk about here and in Optimize are a reflection of the changes we’ve made to better integrate content, social media and search optimization. With this context, I… -
20 Plus Tips on How to Optimize Your Presentations & Public Speaking
12 Jun 2013 | 4:01 amWhat does it mean to “optimize” your presentations? Keywords in your speech? Including your Twitter handle on all slides? Repurposing the slide content through Slideshare, Flickr, Visual.ly and on blogs? The answer is yes – all of the above. And more. More marketing and communications pros are getting on board with the idea that public speaking is fuel for content marketing. The problem is, the focus on creation and promotion centers around individual content objects or presentations. An optimized presentation strategy means having a narrative or story that includes your…
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Comments on: Blog Link Bankruptcy
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By: Garcinia Cambogia
14 Jun 2013 | 4:56 amI don’t create a ton of remarks, but i did a few searching and wound up here Blog Link Bankruptcy — Pistachio. And I do have a couple of questions for you if it’s allright. Could it be just me or does it look like a few of the comments appear as if they are coming from brain dead visitors? And, if you are posting at additional places, I would like to keep up with everything fresh you have to post. Would you list of all of all your community sites like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed? http://00l.com/nl -
By: Marcella
26 May 2013 | 2:16 amłyszał bliżej. Starał się nie spoglądać w Marcella wyrobisko, czując, niby klejnoty rodzinne wpełzają mu wewnątrz, oraz nieco, co do tej pory poprzednio godziną miało majestatyczne podziwu proporcja, staje się symbolicznym robaczkiem, żałosną glistą. Napastnicy nie byli majstrami. Najprawdopodobniej owo zaufani Kirpiczewa, sztabowcy zza biurek, którzy przedtem niegdyś zapomnieli poniekąd przeszkolenie rekruckie. Czekając na widowis. -
By: Garcinia Cambogia HCA
18 May 2013 | 7:59 amEveryone loves it when people come together and share opinions. Great website, continue the good work! -
By: orteza
17 May 2013 | 9:26 amWow! Finally I got a webpage from where I be capable of actually get useful data concerning my study and knowledge. -
By: lustra wrocław
15 May 2013 | 10:13 pmGreate pieces. Keep writing such kind of info on your page. Im really impressed by your site. Hi there, You have performed an excellent job. I will certainly digg it and personally suggest to my friends. I am confident they’ll be benefited from this website.
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Content Matters
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PRISM or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Information Awareness
7 Jun 2013 | 11:30 amIn the last 24 hours, everyone has suddenly become an expert on privacy and national security, weighing in on the NSA's PRISM program. Personally, I have mixed feelings about the program. While we have government assurances that the program is limited in scope, does not target US citizens, and is under close supervision, I'm not sure that I'm completely comforted by that. Rules governing use are hard to enforce, particularly when cloaked in complete secrecy. So, I think that any program like this can be easily misused, which clearly concerns me. At the same time, on a practical level, do we… -
Data Publishing With Content Curation and Aggregation
4 Jun 2013 | 6:48 amThe traditional boundaries of publishing have vanished. Data publishers now create editorial, traditional "content" publishers want to publish data, and brands are hiring journalists to better engage their customers. At the same time, most publishers have stumbled when it comes to content marketing and social media. For b2b publishers, this emerging world can be challenging. Yet, there are some simple ways for publishers to embrace aggregation and curation to drive engagement and to improve their content marketing efforts. I'll be speaking on curation and aggregation this Thursday at the… -
Tumblr is not a blogging platform
19 May 2013 | 12:44 pmLots of great information out there on the Yahoo-Tumblr deal, but I keep seeing posts comparing Tumblr to Wordpress and referring to it as a "blogging platform". While that might be technically accurate, just as you might still refer to Twitter as a "micro-blogging" platform, it reflects little understanding to how Tumblr is used today and why Yahoo is buying it. First and foremost, Tumblr is a social platform. Users post media to Tumblr and it gets shared. A lot. If you look at their user numbers, it tells a lot of the story. As of April, 2013, Tumblr had 170 million users and 100 million… -
I Moved
9 May 2013 | 6:09 amI’m thrilled to share that I’ve just joined Connotate as Vice President, Product Strategy. Connotate is the leader in the web content extraction space. Publishers, ecommerce retailers, financial institutions, government agencies and others rely upon Connotate to aggregate, organize, analyze and distribute web data at scale. Connotate agents can mine content from websites, extracting critical pieces of data, then structure, aggregate and organize that information for use in analytical applications. Clients use Connotate to monitor prices on tens of thousands of items, run background… -
Sales Tax Will Have Little Impact on eCommerce
7 May 2013 | 10:53 amThe web is all a-flutter about the likelihood that Congress will start requiring ecommerce sites (and catalog retailers) to begin to collect sales tax in all states. The bill has passed the Senate and now moves to the House, where its passage is less certain. If it passes, it will clearly be a boon for the states, who now miss out on an estimated $20 billion per year in sales taxes. But it's unlikely to do much for brick & mortar retailers, in their efforts to curb showrooming. In the early days of online commerce, the avoidance of sales tax was definitely a key factor in helping…
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FUEL LINES
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Why Salesloft can change ad agency new business
17 Jun 2013 | 6:57 amDave CurrieCMO The List and CEO Catapult New BusinessA fast and effective addition to your list of new business tools.Guest post by Dave Currie, CMO The List and CEO Catapult New BusinessI’m constantly searching for process improvement, it’s at the very core of the way we do things, and just good business practice overall. Part of my role as a coach to my customers (both internal and external), is to seek out innovative solutions, test and then share them.I’ve always made an effort to know who in my social sphere is ‘on-the-move,’ changing job roles, companies and so on, as major… -
Lee Clow’s Beard: Word’s of Advertising Wisdom
13 Jun 2013 | 7:24 amIf you think social media is hard to comprehend – the answers may be in our past!I was reading an Ad Age aricle this morning, “Lee Clow on Advertising, Then and Now”. Ad Age has referred to Lee Clow as “advertising’s art director guru”. He was a personal friend of Steve Jobs for some thirty years. He’s known for co-creating Apple Computer’s 1984 commercial “Think Different”, which is considered to be the greatest Super Bowl commercial ever.“Working closely with Steve Jobs, Lee Clow went on to create additional… -
Study: 12 Tools That Most Ad Agencies Use for New Business
12 Jun 2013 | 9:54 amThe 2013 Mirren-RSW/US Definitive GuideA helpful resource for any agency owner or employees involved in agency new business.RSW/US and Mirren Business Development co-sponsored a study of tools for new business. They surveyed over 300 agency principals and senior executives to better understand what tools agencies are using and which are the most effective. “New Business Tools: The Definitive Guide,” is a 100 page report that provides a review of all of the tools evaluated which includes:Social Media PlatformsCRM SoftwareResearch ServicesPresentation SoftwareProspect Contact/List… -
Twitter: Instantly subscribe to accounts of every American City Business Journal
6 Jun 2013 | 2:11 pmThe Business Journal is a great tool find and grow your prospective client audience through Twitter. For years, I used The Business Journals Book of Lists for new business intelligence to find the decision makers of prospective clients. I also subscribed to the print editions of The Business Journals in key markets that we targeted. These publications were always very helpful when scouting for new business. They provided comprehensive coverage of local business news in each of their markets.A description of The Business Journals from the website:The Business Journals is the premier… -
10 Steps to Market Yourself As A Speaker for Ad Agency New Business
21 May 2013 | 1:06 pmPublic speaking establishes credibility, a positioning of expertise and can produce a consistent flow of leads.Speaking at conferences, seminars, workshops and webinars is a tremendous asset for agency new business. Attendees are often highly qualified prospects, who are interested in what you have to say. Many will view you as an expert just because you have been deemed qualified to speak at the event.As you speak, your audience gets to know you and begin to form a relationship with you. Most people have a desire to work with other people that they know, trust and like. This can be your time…
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Kneale Mann | Leadership
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Are You a Good Citizen?
19 Jun 2013 | 2:30 amIf you visit here regularly, you may have gathered I have deep passion to help managers become stronger leaders and companies to have collaborative culture. There is ample measurable data available to show any naysayer that a happy workplace creates a more profitable enterprise. This is the work we love doing with clients at the Heart of Culture. Dr. Bret L Simmons is a professor at the University of Reno. We met years ago through Twitter. We have since connected on the phone to discuss our passions for helping people grow, leadership, organizational… -
Seven Percent
17 Jun 2013 | 2:30 amCommunication is at the cornerstone of our lives. We email, text, phone, meet, talk, and connect because we have an inherent need to belong. And there are countless studies out there that point to the way we receive communication. One of the most adopted and accepted appeared in a book by Albert Mehrabian entitled Silent Messages. His research found that the person receiving our messages gives 55% of their attention on our body language and eye contact, 38% to our tone, and just 7% to our words. So how we say it carries more weight than what we say. What do you mean? It becomes even trickier… -
Thanks Dads!
16 Jun 2013 | 5:19 amThe family unit is something we seem to redefine all the time. The days of mom and dad and two kids and a dog and the white picket fence are not as common as they used to be and things have changed over the last half century or so. Divorce, second and third marriages, step kids, half siblings, extended family units, same sex marriages, adoption, etc., all shift our definition of family. So when we look at long standing traditions like Mother’s Day last month (thanks mom, you rock!) and in many countries around the world, Father’s Day today, we can think of the people not the situation and… -
A 12-Step Program for Leaders
11 Jun 2013 | 2:30 amWe like lists. They’re nice and tidy. We can agree or argue over the content or order, but they certainly start conversations. They could be the 10 best restaurants in Philadelphia, the most desirable countries in which to live, the biggest sporting breakdowns in history, etc. As someone who loves helping and coaching leaders, I thought it was time for another list. Argue, discuss, debunk, or perhaps make your own list for leaders. These are in no particular order... • It begins inside us • We're not supposed to have all the answers • Understand what we need and then ask what… -
Workplace Perspective
7 Jun 2013 | 2:30 amWe live in an era where there could be four or five generations in your company. This creates an interesting tapestry of experience and viewpoints which can be both a challenge and an opportunity. Senior leadership could be in their 50's and 60’s while new recruits might be starting their career. Older stakeholders may remember a time when we got our news from a paper and phones had to be hardwired into a wall while younger employees communicate and share through their mobile devices with ease. Junior associates may work quickly through the social web and shorthand texting while management…
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The Fresh Peel
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Future of Global Digital Retail [Infographic]
17 Jun 2013 | 7:24 pmKey takeaways: 21% of consumers conducted a mobile search before making an offline purchase A retailer using data to its full could increase its operating margin by more than 60% 10-25% of social media users use their social networks to make purchasing decisions ExactTarget’s Kyle Lacy also identifies 4 key consumer trends identified in the infographic: Purchase Journeys Evolution: In the future, the retail customer’s purchase journey will likely put more stock in online reviews and social recommendations. Just take a look at the current state of a customer lifecycle to get an… -
Creative Marketing for a New Generation
11 Jun 2013 | 5:33 amCreative Marketing for a New Generation With the introduction of smartphones, social media, and real time information, smart consumers and business owners are finding new ways of reaching clients. New or established, if a business isn’t willing to change their marketing strategies to meet the changing times, they’re unlikely to survive. Why the Need for Branding and Marketing It’s true that if you have a great business, that word-of-mouth marketing can bring you a fair amount of new customers. But you can’t rely on that being true for your company, because that is the exception,… -
Women Continue to Lead Men in Adoption of Social Networks
11 Jun 2013 | 5:02 amNot surprising. According to a March 2013 survey conducted by Burst Media, Women continue to lead men in the adoption of social media sites. 65.4 percent of American adults have at least one social media account for personal use Women are more likely to have an account with six of the top 7 social networks Women are especially more likely to have an account with visual services such as Pinterest and Instagram LinkedIn however, sees a higher adoption rate from men than women Via: Statista -
Tablet Shopping Behaviors Infographic
10 Jun 2013 | 6:00 amThis speaks volumes of why optimizing your eCommerce experience for tablets should be a top priority. 87% use their tablet to browse products online 71% purchase products on their tablet 41% buy an item on their tablet at least once a month 12% make a purchase more often than once a week 49% of tablet shopper’s biggest pet peeve is that retailers’ websites and apps aren’t optimized for tablets 35% say the checkout process is not always optimized on tablet devices -
Mary Meeker’s Internet Trends May 2013
9 Jun 2013 | 7:13 amAs always, the go-to source for online trends.
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Social Networking Watch: News on the Social Networking and Social Media Industry
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Mark Zuckerberg Meets His Critics
18 Jun 2013 | 12:45 pmTHE MOTLEY FOOL - June 17 - For the first time since going public last year, Facebook held an annual shareholders meeting to discuss the future of the company with its rather angry shareholders. Despite the stock’s downturn, there isn’t much evidence that Facebook has to change the way it operates. It has been able to move into the mobile arena with some success. Mobile users make up 59% of the site's active users. Facebook also pointed out that it has had two straight quarters of profitability after initial losses, though it is still dealing with ~$3.339 billion in total liabilities and… -
Rumour: Facebook May Announce RSS Reader
18 Jun 2013 | 12:36 pmTECHTREE - June 15 - Facebook may want to cash in on the disappointment generated when Google decided to kill Google Reader from July 1. Facebook has a media event scheduled for June 20 to show off its own RSS Reader, among other things. by Rahul RSee full article at Tech Tree See all posts on Facebook -
8 Social Networks For Fitness Freaks
18 Jun 2013 | 12:30 pmMASHABLE - June 17 - These social networks are designed to help you stay in shape. Fitocracy - users earn points for each workout activity. Extra Pounds - free weight loss network with an extensive archive of diet blogs, fitness articles, body logs and support groups. Daily Mile - Twitter-like website where you can track, then publicly share, your workout accomplishments. Traineo - lets users log and track calorie-burning goals. MBodyment - collection of fitness-related videos. Spark People - similar in style to Weight Watchers in that it offers a variety of nutrition-based articles… -
FOMO: Is Social Media To Blame?
17 Jun 2013 | 12:23 pmMARIE CLAIRE - June 17 - According to new research, we’re likely to suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) now more than ever. Scientists reported having a “co-dependency” on social media accounts such as Facebook and Twitter is a major cause of the condition. 62% of adults who juggle two accounts monitor their networks daily. 40% said they'd rather get a root canal or spend a night in jail than give up their social networking profiles. See full article at Yahoo! Lifestyle -
LinkedIn Has 20M Members In India
17 Jun 2013 | 12:20 pmBUSINESS STANDARD - June 15 - LinkedIn recently crossed 20M member mark, in India. Here is an interview with Nishant Rao, the country manager, about why is India the next best market after the US. Q: LinkedIn has become active (adding new features) in the last six months. What are the reasons behind this sudden change?A: There was a phase where we have been able to innovate on products. The focus is now turning to get our members a full breadth of products. Q: How successful have you been in shifting from professional tracker to content consumption?A: The shift has been happening over a…
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HighTalk
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You Aren’t in the Press Release Business
18 Jun 2013 | 8:46 amDear PR Professional: Can we talk please? Because it is 2013 and you should know this already. You aren’t in the business of writing press releases. You aren’t in the business of pitching the media. Seriously. Let’s ignore the fact that those two things are tactics and get to the heart of the matter. They are […] -
Going Live!
13 Jun 2013 | 7:53 amOriginal stories. Authentic and visually stunning. Live video broadcasting. Immediate and interactive. Kick-ass targeted distribution. With consumers and media partners. What more could a brand want? Those are the three crucial elements that are baked right into Weber Shandwick’s GoLive, our smart new offering that infuses the real-time environment of digital and social media with […] -
The Simultaneous Rise & Fall of Content
12 Jun 2013 | 7:36 am“We are no longer in the media sales business; we are now in the enterprise technology sales business. My role model is no longer Yahoo’s or AOL’s sales organizations from 2004. It’s Oracle’s.” - Meredith Levien, CRO at Forbes —– In the Age of Content – it is getting harder to sell it. Because we […] -
This Blog Post is Only Worth $49
5 Jun 2013 | 6:27 amSometimes you wonder if the Internet has ruined everything. Case in point: Writing. Writing as most of us know has a long and distinguished history. We celebrate great novelists, short story writers, playwrights, poets and journalists. Shakespeare is an icon. Hemingway a legend. We sing the praises of Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson. But we […] -
Stop Boring Your Audience
3 Jun 2013 | 7:03 amAre you the guy at the party no one wants to talk to? The guy in the skinny jeans and thick eyeglasses wearing an old concert t-shirt who drones on and on about himself? He’s done everything, been everywhere and anything you’re doing he’s already done before – and dismissed it. He doesn’t listen – […]
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Jeff Korhan - New Media and Small Business Marketing
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3 Facebook Hashtag Marketing Tips
13 Jun 2013 | 7:49 pmThe newly launched Facebook hashtags could prove to be the savior of Graph Search – the recently launched Facebook search feature. Graph Search does what it promises – returning search results based on the social graphs of your Facebook friends, fans, and followers. This means that you tend to see search results only for those friends and businesses with whom you are already closely aligned. If you happen to be using Facebook for outreach and marketing, the new hashtag feature will extend your reach dramatically. This will create both risks and rewards, so you will want to choose… -
Connected Economy Alignment is Value
8 Jun 2013 | 4:30 amIn this connected economy, the challenge is not connectivity – but alignment. If you look for differences you will find them; and if you seek alignment, cooperation, and collaboration, you will find that too. This is why learning to effectively manage your business networks is without question the key to your business success. Alignment is the result of taking connectivity to the next level. This is often accomplished by partnering or collaborating to progressively achieve mutually beneficial objectives. Who are these partners? These are logically team members, friends, and influencers,… -
Every Business is Now a Media Company
2 Jun 2013 | 9:55 pmThere was a time when every business courted the media. They (the media) were rightfully considered business partners because they could significantly help any company interested in publicizing an event or similar happening as news. Today, every business (large or small) is now its own media company - and that is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. If your business makes the effort to learn the new forms of media it can build a platform that will become an essential digital asset for connecting with current and future customers. Consumers are Hungry for News “Consumers… -
5 Tips for Using LinkedIn Contacts
23 May 2013 | 7:37 pmLinkedIn is in the process of rolling out LinkedIn Contacts. In addition to several new features that are giving it a new look and feel – if offers enhanced functionality for better managing your relationships and social engagement. There is no question that all of the major social networks want you to use their service as your social dashboard. However, many social networkers prefer to use an independent tool such as Hootsuite to effectively manage their social networks and build relationships. One of the challenges is there is a disconnect between public social networking and… -
Social Marketing is Relationship Selling
17 May 2013 | 4:16 pmThe Social Marketing Process ©Jeff Korhan Mainstream small business will more reliably get better results from social media if they view it more as selling than marketing. Why? Because effective relationship selling is personal, and now marketing is too. As social influences continue to profoundly affect business, just about every business activity is going to require relationship building skills. Traditional marketing or advertising was something you did – to your communities. Whereas, social marketing in our digital environment is something we do – with our communities. That…
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Michael Durwin
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Fear of Google Glass
10 Jun 2013 | 9:19 amThere has been some interesting media attention focused on the dangers of Google Glass. As a Google Glass Explorer I find them interesting, and a little bit sad. Most seem to revolve around the idea that someone wearing Google Glass will be video recording everything they see. That’d be a little tough on the batteries! What’s interesting is that the only difference between Google Glass and a smartphone is that Glass is on your face. Here is a roundup of some of what has been coming out as opposition to Google Glass: -
How Google Glass Works
7 Apr 2013 | 6:42 pmImage courtesy Martin Missfeldt -
A Day With Google Glass
1 Apr 2013 | 12:40 pm -
A Google Glass Movie? New on Kickstarter: Creative Financing
1 Apr 2013 | 9:44 amSo, how does someone without a lot of disposable cash come up with $1500 to own a pair of Google Glass? Rumor has it that Google will be charging Google Glass Explorers $1500 to be one of the first of 8,000 owners of Google Glass. That’s a lot of cash for anyone not in the 1%. Especially when you’re in the middle of buying a new (okay 100 year old fixer-upper) house and just had a baby. Especially when you also have to drive from Boston to NYC to pick them up at a special Google event. So, how am I going to come up with the cash? Kickstarter! I keep trying to make a movie with new… -
Free Google Glass? Still Pretty Cheap Marketing
1 Apr 2013 | 9:34 amA lot has been said about Google charging $1500 to all those invited to their Explorers campaign. To be fair, Google hasn’t said this, only saying that Glass will cost less than $1500. It’s mostly media speculation. It’s quite possible that Google will give them away for free to the 8,000 who’ve been invited. Apple spends $207 to build an iPhone 5. If we use that as a base, if all 8,000 got Google Glass for free, it would only cost Google $1.6 million. That’s nothing when you consider that Apple spent $300 million to market iphones and ipads in 2011 and Microsoft…
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Birdsall Interactive
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Brand Evolution
10 Jun 2013 | 12:17 amA companies brand is a combination of their outward identity (their logo & collateral), their messaging, and their overall users’ experience. The brand is communicated through all mediums to create a unified message and convey their corporate differentiator through public perception. A corporate logo is arguably the most visible and influential of these vehicles. Smart companies are constantly changing and modernize their image, and re-establishing their message to match their services. Here is an interesting array of popular brands, and their evolutions. The post Brand Evolution… -
Mobile Families & Breakdowns [Infographic]
7 Jun 2013 | 2:11 pmDesigning for a targeted mobile demographic has never been more important. But what does the “average” American wireless family look like? Using a variety of sources, CTIA’s Growing Wireless team has developed this infographic that looks at “Today’s Wireless Family” and provides simple tips for parents. As a mobile developer, we can also use this information as a benchmark for developing apps and experiences that are appropriate for targeted demographics. You can read the original article here. The post Mobile Families & Breakdowns [Infographic]… -
‘DomiCopter’ Drone From Domino’s New Ad
5 Jun 2013 | 9:08 amDomino’s UK get’s a 10 for creativity – because who wouldn’t want to have their pizza delivered by a drone? The Domino’s orders would sky-rocket with all the kids wanting to see this neat new delivery boy. In the video, the DomiCopter — created and operated by a drone company called AeroSight — appears to safely deliver a pizza over a large distance. Though it all may seem like a publicity stunt, the UK branch of Domino’s seems quite serious about it. In a press release, the company talks about launching a Domino’s Flight Academy “should… -
To Vine or not to Vine
29 May 2013 | 8:51 amIf you just asked, “What’s a Vine Video?” it’s time you got up to speed on Twitter’s newest mobile app. Released January 2013, Vine allows users to create six-second, shareable videos with their phones. These short videos are then posted and viewed by followers on a stream, similar to Twitter. Vine videos can also be shared on other social sites like Twitter and Facebook, similar to how one would share photos from Instagram. While adding Vine to your company’s social media arsenal sounds like a cool idea, you’re likely wondering, “Does my business really need another social… -
Instagram Desktop Apps
28 May 2013 | 1:15 pmInstagram from your mobile device is fine if you’re a casual user. But if you’re managing or building brands, it can become a daunting task. To help you along, and give you the “big picture” – here are some desktop apps to consider & try out. Pingram — The Instagram-Pinterest mash-up allows you to like, comment, and repin photos from different users, plus add your own pictures with the hashtag #pingramMe. Visual Grub — It’s your Instagram friend feed, right on your Mac. Open this scrolling window alongside your chat application to read and…
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miketrap.com
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"Years ago a friend of mine had a dream about a strange invention; a staircase you could descend deep..."
18 Jun 2013 | 2:47 pm“Years ago a friend of mine had a dream about a strange invention; a staircase you could descend deep underground, in which you heard recordings of all the things anyone had ever said about you, both good and bad. The catch was, you had to pass through all the worst things people had said before you could get to the highest compliments at the very bottom. There is no way I would ever make it more than two and a half steps down such a staircase, but I understand its terrible logic: if we want the rewards of being loved we have to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known.” - Tim… -
Slides from last night’s class. “Most presentation...
18 Jun 2013 | 7:45 amSlides from last night’s class. “Most presentation workshops focus on building better slides. That’s an important part of the process, but what about how to structure your presentation, and ensure whatever result you’re trying to achieve? How can you more effectively build the content of a presentation to do what every presentation is really trying to achieve… moving a group of people from Point A, to Point B? Here’s a structured, logical approach to developing presentations that get RESULTS, featuring entrepreneur, brand guru and PowerPoint Jedi Mike Troiano.” -
Ever seen the phrase, “Designed by Apple in...
14 Jun 2013 | 9:07 pmEver seen the phrase, “Designed by Apple in California” on an Apple product? Here’s what it means. It’s a cliche to love these guys. But I do. -
"Youth and age touch only the surface of our lives."
14 Jun 2013 | 4:57 am“Youth and age touch only the surface of our lives.” - C.S. Lewis -
My partner David Chang presenting Actifio to an audience in...
5 Jun 2013 | 7:42 pmMy partner David Chang presenting Actifio to an audience in Korea. It’s a small world, after all.
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Phil Gerbyshak
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Get some Extreme Leadership
13 Jun 2013 | 5:34 amMany years ago I was introduced to a book that changed my life. It talked about Love and leadership, among many other leadership ideas. The book was written as a fable, which means it wasn’t your typical “this is how you must lead” leadership book. Instead it demonstrated through the power of story how a radical new way of leading, an extreme way of leading, could make a difference in an organization. This book changed the way I led my teams, and it reinforced that it was more than ok to talk about Love with your team. Fast forward a few years and I got to meet the author. -
Three Unexpected Lessons Learned After Leaving Corporate America
31 May 2013 | 9:39 amOn May 31st, 2010, I completed my last day as a corporate employee. My last work day was May 27th. It was a wonderful Friday, and I turned out the lights in the place as the last manager on duty before a nice long 3 day weekend for Memorial Day. I didn’t turn in my company issued BlackBerry or my access card. My e-mail wasn’t shut down. And I knew I’d see everyone in a few weeks when I got back from some work I had already booked out of state, as my former employer wanted me to work on a project for another 90 days as a consultant. The lessons I learned started in earnest… -
The 3 R’s of DIY Video: Record, Rinse, Repeat
8 May 2013 | 6:21 am[Today's guest post…..Sean is the Head of Business Development at Bravo Video, which enables businesses to capture video from customers, users and fans - right over the web.] Notice any trends lately on Phil’s blog? If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed a handful of self-recorded videos in some of Phil’s recent posts. Knowing what we know about Phil, my guess is he’s on to something. We also know that video is incredibly powerful, so I won’t spend too much time arguing this point (although I do feel the need to mention that a recent… -
Help Stop Human Trafficking in Milwaukee and Beyond
30 Apr 2013 | 10:22 amDid you know Approximately 27 million people a year are trafficked worldwide for labor and sexual exploitation. Of these, 80% are women and 50% are children. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. Estimated to generate $32 billion annually, it is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Due to increased media attention, many Americans are more aware of the horrors of trafficking. But most perceive it to be a crime isolated to the far corners of the globe rather than a domestic or local issue. Trafficking victims have been identified in cities, suburbs, and rural area in all 50… -
Discover the Power of Story Telling for Your Small Business
26 Apr 2013 | 9:30 amOne of the most important tools you have as a small business owner is the power of storytelling. Your story makes the difference between someone buying from you, and someone buying from someone else. Not directly mind you, but indirectly. All of the marketing you do, all of the people you hire, and yes, all of the reasons you’ve started your business, they all matter to somebody, often to you. What story gets passed down from generation to generation? That your company had another record year in 2008? Or that your company was founded in 1997 by a single dad looking for a better way for…
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We First Blog
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Why the best way to grow your brand is to focus on “We”
14 Jun 2013 | 9:47 amI wanted to share some insights from a recent interview I did for Speaker magazine about how to develop effective branding strategies and enhance engagement by focusing on “we.” We First has helped many organizations — from Global 500 companies to nonprofits — to effectively pursue “the art of inspiring customers to champion your brand.” The funny thing about Fortune 100 companies and associations is that they are not so different: they are both groups of people connected around shared values or a common purpose. You can listen to the full interview, but here are the key… -
Monsanto, Abercrombie & Fitch, And The Greatest New Threat To Your Brand: Your Customers
4 Jun 2013 | 8:59 amAt the end of 2010 I wrote about the ‘Coming Decade of Radical Transparency.’ My prediction for 2012 was the ‘Rise of Consumer Activism.’ We now find ourselves in mid-2013 and these two issues have combined, leaving brands facing a well-informed, media-savvy and mobilized audience intent on punishing behavior that does not serve the greater good. This challenge did not emerge out of thin air. Emboldened by the citizen and consumer activism of the Arab Spring Revolutions and #OccupyWallStreet, these customers (especially Millennials and Gen Z) have grown up in a… -
Making Your Business the Best In the World and For the World
23 May 2013 | 10:46 amWith the ability for people to tune in and ask questions from all over the world, G+ Hangouts are a certainly a powerful social technology worth exploring for your brand and community building efforts. We recently kicked off the first in a series of G+ Hangouts we’ll be hosting throughout 2013, and our featured guests were Dave Cobban, Citizen Mobilization Director of Sustainable Business & Innovation for Nike, and Jay Coen Gilbert, the Co-Founder of B Lab. Our topic was From Profit to Purpose: How Business Can Build a Better World. During this hour, we discussed not only the theory… -
Sustainable Brands Istanbul: What brands must do to ensure their sustainability initiatives succeed
20 May 2013 | 10:16 amLast week I had the privilege of speaking at Sustainable Brands Istanbul, and I wanted to share some of the insights from the event. We heard several fascinating presentations from speakers such as Marc Mathieu at Unilever (lower image) and Christiaan Maats, the founder of OATS shoes that both highlighted how sustainability has become a way of being rather than doing business. Among the discussions several key issues stood out: 1. What is Sustainability? As the conversation around the role of sustainability in business matures at different paces around the world, the definition of… -
LIVESTRONG is #StillStrong and Sharing Its Story
17 May 2013 | 8:29 amToday is LIVESTRONG Day and the anniversary of the launch of their now iconic LIVESTRONG wristband. Since 2004, the Foundation has recognized one day each year as LIVESTRONG Day to honor the 28 million people living with cancer. Yet this year marks a special opportunity: to drive the conversation past the Lance Armstrong controversy and shine a refocused light on the incredible ways the organization impacts thousands of lives every day. Many people will probably find the actual breadth of contribution by LIVESTRONG both surprising and inspiring. While most people are aware of the foundation,…
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Interactive Insights Group
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Superlist of Content Marketing Templates and Checklists
3 Jun 2013 | 8:09 amAnother Superlist? Say it isn’t so! Are you looking for a good editorial calendar template to use for your organization’s content marketing? How about a title evaluation scorecard that provides a checklist to help you create more engaging headlines? Need a readability checklist to help you design web pages that are more readable? Well, look no further. The Content Marketing Institute has published a superlist of templates, checklist, scorecards and questionnaries to help you make your content marketing efforts top notch. Go here to get them! -
How to Measure Your Content’s Effective with a Pyramid Method
1 Jun 2013 | 7:27 amFinding it challenging to measure the effectiveness of your content marketing efforts? It’s not an easy task. Here, from Content Marketing Institute is a method to measure the impact of your content marketing using a “pyramid method”. The pyramid they suggest includes three separate sections with these key measurements: Primary content indicators: Measurements your CXO wants to know about (e.g., sales, costs savings, retention rates). Secondary content indicators: Measurements that helps you make a case for the primary indicators above (e.g., lead quality, lead… -
8 Ways to Create the Perfect Facebook Post
2 May 2013 | 11:43 amWe recently updated our Superlist of Social Media and Content Marketing Case Studies and one of the enhancements that people really like is the Facebook Page section. This section provides examples of the myriad ways smart companies are using their Facebook pages successfully to engage customers and grow their businesses. I recently discovered a terrific Blueprint for the Perfect Facebook Page Infographic from Salesforce that provides great tips for creating the perfect Facebook post. In sum, the recommendations are: Keep your post copy short and your tone personal. Target your… -
Updated & Expanded: Superlist of Social Media & Content Marketing Case Studies & Examples
14 Mar 2013 | 1:36 pmUPDATED AND EXPANDED!! Much has changed in the world of social media since we first published our Superlist of Social Media Case Studies in 2008. A plethora of new social media services have come and (some) gone. More and more organizations are using social media tools in unique and creative ways. It’s a rare organization that isn’t using some form of social media these days. But finding and learning examples and case studies of good social media remains important to anyone wanting to improve their organization’s social media program. Therefore, we decided to update our… -
Spring Cleaning Your Facebook Page for Timeline
1 Apr 2012 | 8:26 amFacebook’s Timeline for Pages is here. If you haven’t refreshed your page for Facebook’s Timeline feature, you should do it soon. Here are a couple of guides to help you with Spring Cleaning Your Facebook Page: View the story “Spring Cleaning Your Facebook Page for Timeline” on Storify
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Are We Connected?
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WordPress Categories and Tags
18 Jun 2013 | 12:40 pmBlogger has Labels, Wordpress has Categories and Tags. What's the difference and why you should develop a "Category Plan" for your Wordpress Website The post WordPress Categories and Tags appeared first on AreWeConnected.com. [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] -
Time of Day is important
17 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amThe 11th in the series of… 20 Secret Blogging Tips in 20 Days Every time I hear the number 11 I think of Elevenses Check out the bottom of this post to see the rest. What time of the day should your post publish? That’s a great question. Generally I would think that ANY time [...] The post... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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The Tyler Hayes
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startupquote: I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that,...
16 Jun 2013 | 9:43 amstartupquote: I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying. - Jeff Bezos -
Photo
14 Jun 2013 | 6:55 pm -
This Lost in Translation scene is a classic. Which is why I...
14 Jun 2013 | 8:50 amThis Lost in Translation scene is a classic. Which is why I can’t believe I never noticed this until now: the two women in the background are cracking UP. -
@willimholte playing with @cameranoir
11 Jun 2013 | 7:20 pm@willimholte playing with @cameranoir -
iheartapple2: Designed by Apple in California
10 Jun 2013 | 2:56 pmiheartapple2: Designed by Apple in California
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SociableBlog
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Responsive Design – What, How To, Confusion
19 Jun 2013 | 8:28 amThe world of information technology has come a long way, since its inception. Things that were in vogue a year back seems ancient in retrospect; that is the pace at which we are moving. Today internet browsing is not restricted to just your desktop computer, you can now browse the internet, on the palm of ... -
Is It Possible To Earn Some Extra Cash For Doing What You Already Do Online?
18 Jun 2013 | 8:36 amWell, startup Qmee thinks they have the answer. In summary, Qmee is a free browser app that offers cash rewards when you search online. Once installed (which takes a few seconds), Qmee works seamlessly in the background so when you search in any of the usual search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo or even on ... -
Alternative Types of Content that Will Increase Organic Traffic
17 Jun 2013 | 3:38 amContent, content, content – this is all I have been hearing about in the past few years. The problem is that the only type of content that people seem to be perpetuating, is written one. Unfortunately, although written content is the most wide-spread traffic building strategy at the moment, it is also poorly done. It ... -
Could IM and A Private Message System Save Foursquare?
15 Jun 2013 | 10:13 amI hate to say it, as a keen Foursquare user and the mayor of 25 different locations, but Foursquare is in trouble – reports claim that the company recently borrowed $41 million, generating just $2 million in revenues last year. Despite more than a million businesses claiming their venues on the location-based social network, Foursquare ... -
Cool Image Search Tricks
14 Jun 2013 | 3:04 pmGoogle Image Search is one of my most commonly used tools. Usually, it is for personal use or social media sharing. I have a habit of finding funny images as a visual response to things people say. I have always really enjoyed the way it gives a more direct interpretation of my reaction, and Google ...
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AdesBlog.com
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How to Watch Netflix and Hulu Outside of US
2 Jun 2013 | 10:34 pmNetflix and Hulu are popular VOD (Video On Demand) services in the United States. Unfortunately it takes ages for these services to come to countries like Malaysia. Spotify took more than a year after it launched its services in the US in July 2011. Luckily, with little bit of tweaks here and there, you can watch these US restricted services anywhere in the world. In this post, I will cover how this can be done. You don’t have to be technical person to do this. 1. Get a VPN (Virtual Private Network) What this means is that, you connect to a server that is based in the US, and all your… -
Guestblog at Digitals.me
30 May 2013 | 2:14 amMy friend Ganee has a new project called Digital SME. It’s an online magazine targeting SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in Malaysia. The project is in Bahasa Malaysia. The project’s aim is to become a leading resources site for helping SMEs in the field of online marketing and advertising. To support him in his initiative, I have guest blogged on the platform “Important tips to consider before setting up your company website“. Thanks for Ganee for his translation to BM. If you are a startup or traditional SME in Malaysia that would like to learn more about online… -
WebHostingBluebook.com review
27 Mar 2013 | 3:40 amThe following is a paid review of a web hosting resource site WebHostingBluebook.com. If you are new to web hosting, this site has a very useful learning center that covers topics like: How to choose a web hosting provider How to choose bandwidth and how much is enough Should you chose dedicated or shared servers Should you chose managed or unmanaged hosting plan Should you use Linux or Windows based servers etc. The site also covers 3 top hosting providers and compares them extensively on all levels of features and services provided. They have also reviewed them in depth in the following… -
How to Backup All Your Instagram Photos
24 Dec 2012 | 12:43 amIn light of the latest brouhaha over the Instagram Terms of Service, this might be a good time for you to back up all your Instagram photos. Just to be safe, you know! Below I will address two ways to backup your Instagram pictures; 1 – your existing Instagram pictures and 2 – a way to auto-backup all your future Instagram pictures as well. Backing up all your existing Instagram photos Instaport is a great way to backup all your existing Instagram photos. It’s very simple to use, all you need to do is to connect using your instagram login and all your Instagram pictures will… -
Efficient Way to Consume Content on the Web
30 Oct 2012 | 2:02 amFor the past few months this is how I consume the content on the web and mobile, I primarily use this method to read longer blog posts and articles. I also use it to save articles so that I can read them later. What’s the current problem? You would ask “what’s the current problem that it requires this kind of solution?”. Well, the current problem is that there are many great blogs and websites on the web that are simply difficult to read. This could be due to many reasons. Here are some of them: using small font sizes for the content using dark backgrounds behind the…
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Social Networking Watch: News on the Social Networking and Social Media Industry
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Mark Zuckerberg Meets His Critics
18 Jun 2013 | 12:45 pmTHE MOTLEY FOOL - June 17 - For the first time since going public last year, Facebook held an annual shareholders meeting to discuss the future of the company with its rather angry shareholders. Despite the stock’s downturn, there isn’t much evidence that Facebook has to change the way it operates. It has been able to move into the mobile arena with some success. Mobile users make up 59% of the site's active users. Facebook also pointed out that it has had two straight quarters of profitability after initial losses, though it is still dealing with ~$3.339 billion in total liabilities and… -
Rumour: Facebook May Announce RSS Reader
18 Jun 2013 | 12:36 pmTECHTREE - June 15 - Facebook may want to cash in on the disappointment generated when Google decided to kill Google Reader from July 1. Facebook has a media event scheduled for June 20 to show off its own RSS Reader, among other things. by Rahul RSee full article at Tech Tree See all posts on Facebook -
8 Social Networks For Fitness Freaks
18 Jun 2013 | 12:30 pmMASHABLE - June 17 - These social networks are designed to help you stay in shape. Fitocracy - users earn points for each workout activity. Extra Pounds - free weight loss network with an extensive archive of diet blogs, fitness articles, body logs and support groups. Daily Mile - Twitter-like website where you can track, then publicly share, your workout accomplishments. Traineo - lets users log and track calorie-burning goals. MBodyment - collection of fitness-related videos. Spark People - similar in style to Weight Watchers in that it offers a variety of nutrition-based articles… -
FOMO: Is Social Media To Blame?
17 Jun 2013 | 12:23 pmMARIE CLAIRE - June 17 - According to new research, we’re likely to suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) now more than ever. Scientists reported having a “co-dependency” on social media accounts such as Facebook and Twitter is a major cause of the condition. 62% of adults who juggle two accounts monitor their networks daily. 40% said they'd rather get a root canal or spend a night in jail than give up their social networking profiles. See full article at Yahoo! Lifestyle -
LinkedIn Has 20M Members In India
17 Jun 2013 | 12:20 pmBUSINESS STANDARD - June 15 - LinkedIn recently crossed 20M member mark, in India. Here is an interview with Nishant Rao, the country manager, about why is India the next best market after the US. Q: LinkedIn has become active (adding new features) in the last six months. What are the reasons behind this sudden change?A: There was a phase where we have been able to innovate on products. The focus is now turning to get our members a full breadth of products. Q: How successful have you been in shifting from professional tracker to content consumption?A: The shift has been happening over a…
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prTini
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20 Sources for Creative Inspiration from Medium, a New Content Publishing Network
19 Jun 2013 | 1:00 amIt’s happened to all of us: We sit down to write and end up staring — paralyzed — at a blank screen (or page, if you’re partial to old-school pen and paper). It’s times like this when we need some creative inspiration … a little something to spark our own imagination. If you’ve exhausted all your “typical” creative outlets, I’d like to recommend a new one: Medium. According to founder Evan Williams (yes, that @Ev): Medium is a new place on the Internet where people share ideas and stories that are longer than 140 characters and not… -
Do You Have a Virtual Role Model?
17 Jun 2013 | 1:00 amThere’s a line in the documentary, Miss Representation, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Whether you buy into the concept of “lean in” or are just committed to living live on your terms, you may find yourself in unchartered territory. While energizing and exciting, this can also be overwhelming at times. And, for those of us in PR, known for being a stressful career path, you may sometimes feel isolated … or like your “normal” friends just don’t get it. That’s where virtual role models or mentors can be especially… -
Geben Communication’s Must Read Articles – Week of June 10th
14 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amEach week, Geben will compile and share some of our favorite PR and social media articles. As we close out this new week, here are some of this week’s must-reads: 20 Experts Select Key Content Marketing Metrics Marketing agencies will disappear in 10 years, study says Online Sentiment Surrounding Gordon Gee’s Departure as President of OSU Sponsored Facebook Posts Aren’t Just For Companies Anymore The Importance of Mentors Why You Should Tweet Your Way Into a Career-Changing Mentors Heart Do brands really need to demonstrate sympathy during national crisis? The Mobile Shopping Life Cycle… -
Technology, Commerce and the Future of Shopping
13 Jun 2013 | 1:00 amFrom bazaars in the town center, to “bazaars” on Etsy — technology has drastically shifted how we buy and sell. Whether you spend your money on Amazon and eBay, or RueLaLa, Birchbox or Warby Parker, the shopping experience evolved as technology advances. In recent years, as tech developments have accelerated, we’ve seen rapid changes and new commerce opportunities emerge; however, we’ve also seen a desire to support local retailers, just like in the “olden” days. And, some of our favorite brick-and-mortar stores are leveraging technology to level the… -
10 Tweetable Takeaways from “Digital Marketing Analytics”
11 Jun 2013 | 1:00 amUnderstanding customers. Monitoring competitors. Improving products and services. Measuring ROI. Digital marketing is evolving. With it, so are the tools and platforms used to measure and analyze digital marketing data. In fact, according to Krux’s second annual Cross-Industry Study, data collection has grown 400% year-over-year while the number of data collectors has doubled (more than 300 “parties” were observed in the 2012 CIS, compared to 167 the previous year). In their new book “Digital Marketing Analytics: Making Sense of Consumer Data in a Digital World,” authors Chuck…
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Tech in Asia
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Dolphin Browser Hits 80 Million Installs, Refreshes Android App to v10
19 Jun 2013 | 8:00 amSino-US startup Dolphin Browser has reached 80 million installs around the world for its iOS and Android browser. Today, Dolphin is also being bumped up to version 10 on Android with a revamped interface and a couple of new features. The MoboTap team behind Dolphin Browser told us a few weeks ago that they’re now targeting new users in Southeast Asia, and that seems to be paying off with with strong growth in Southeast Asia alongside its main user-bases in the US, China, and Japan. It comes pre-installed on KDDI phones in Japan, which is a big boost. Dolphin Browser reached 50 million… -
Why Israel is a Startup Nation
19 Jun 2013 | 6:30 amUriel Peled is the co-founder of Israel-based startup Visualead, a company that transforms QR codes into visual QR codes using its patent-pending technology. Some call it a miracle. Others an enigma of the culture. But the statistics surrounding the amount of high-tech startups that are conceived in Israel is astounding. A small country, with roughly 7.6 million people, has approximately 4,800 startup companies and attracts far more venture capital per person than any other country in the world. Dubbed as The Startup Nation, Israel outweighs the United States in venture capital investment per… -
eBay and HomeShop18 Add Food and Groceries For Indian Customers
19 Jun 2013 | 6:09 amIn an eerie bit of coincidental timing, both eBay India and homegrown e-commerce site HomeShop18 have added food and groceries to their product ranges starting from today. In their respective announcements, eBay says it has 1,600 products ready for Indian e-shoppers – mainly packaged things like cookies, cereals, drinks, and sauces – while HomeShop18’s line-up is limited to an odd assortment of only “olive oil, drink concentrates, and mocktail syrups”. HomeShop18 will add ready-to-eat items in the coming months, the Amazon-esque company points out. The new range… -
Chinese Foodie App AiMeiWei Cooks Up $2 Million in Funding
19 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amCall us gluttons, but we love food and foodie apps. And there’s certainly no shortage of either those things in China. One such app is AiMeiWei. Literally meaning “love delicious food” in Chinese, AiMeiWei has just revealed that it has secured $2 million in funding to fuel the growth of its Foodspotting-style social app for Android and iPhone. While this was divulged only today to Chinese tech blog 36Kr, AiMeiWei actually pocketed the money last summer. The series A round was led by ABC Capital, with participation from Gobi Ventures and the Shanghai University… -
Digital Music Sales in China Hit $75 Million (No, We Didn’t Miss Any Numbers)
19 Jun 2013 | 2:48 amDigital music revenues are on the rise in China – albeit very slowly, and to a not very impressive level. According to figures from music industry group IFPI, digital music sales in China saw a 49.8 percent annual increase to $75.5 million in 2012. That’s a small number from a massive country. Indeed, that’s just $0.13 in digital music spending for each one of China’s 564 million web users. In stark contrast, China’s e-commerce market will bring in an estimated $177 billion in sales this year. Total recorded (and legal) music sales in China hit $92.4 million last…
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Capture the Conversation
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A Guide To Google’s Think Insights
18 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amThis year, Google launched its updated Think Insights website. Maybe one reason it hasn’t been written about much is due to what some may have deemed a slow evolution of the concept since we first saw it in 2011.Google is no stranger to deprecation, as many of us have recently experienced from the phase-out of Google Reader. So when the company sees enough data and user feedback to justify a new iteration, it moves accordingly.Such is the case with the new Think Insights – aimed at providing one, definitive Google destination for digital marketers. Perhaps that goal, alone, merits… -
Behind the Scenes: Musana Chalk Scribe
13 Jun 2013 | 8:30 amDon’t get me wrong, I love our whiteboard video scribes. No matter how many we do – we continue to find new and interesting ways to tell our clients’ stories. But with one of our illustrators, Bryce Widom, being a superbly talented chalk artist…we were inspired to try something completely different. A chalk scribe.Serendipitously, around the same time we were asked by Kaesi Solomon of CU’s Social Impact Scholar Recognition Award to create a video for their latest recipient – the Musana Community Development Organization in Uganda. We approached Kaesi and the… -
Visual Storytelling: The Key Weapon to Content Marketing
11 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amMany of us have years of experience chasing technology for marketing purposes. Thanks to social networks, we’ve naturally been driven to a host of metrics that include attributes of “engagement” and conversations shared online.This, in turn, has fueled the content marketing race – and ultimately, the quest for producing what is most relevant or valuable to a company’s current and prospective customers.As we compete in this context to draw attention for our brand and offerings, perhaps one element has remained constant above all others: the power of visual storytelling.Why? Because… -
What You Need to Know About Marketing Automation
6 Jun 2013 | 2:16 pmEvery five years or so, we see the emergence and maturity of something really significant in the ever-changing world of marketing. From search marketing to social media, these are business game changers that open new opportunities and avenues to achieve a competitive edge.Although marketing automation isn’t really that new, it’s evolution is deserving of far more attention. In essence, marketing automation is software that helps streamline and automate a number of important marketing tasks.For example, these tasks might include the automation of sending email, split testing… -
Pinterest’s Rich Pins Better Connect Images To Brands
30 May 2013 | 8:00 amPinterest entered a new social media arena this week by announcing an innovative way to let brands promote and utilize pins. How did they do this? The answer: rich pins. Rich pins focus on pins from brands’ websites to make them “more actionable,” according to CEO Ben Silbermann.The new types of pins are separated into three categories: products, recipes, and movies. Each rich pin will provide dynamic, real-time information to the pinner and viewers. Many brands are already applying this new technology, like Netflix, Nordstrom, Good Housekeeping, and more. Although Pinterest is…
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Buzzom
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Quantum mechanics to provide most powerful cyber security
19 Jun 2013 | 12:57 pmImage source: http://www.stanford.edu/ The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has reported that a team of Australian scientists is working to create a cyber-security method which will be impenetrable and will be the most powerful method conceived till date. For this purpose the theory of Quantum mechanics is being used. The new technology is being developed for the Australian government which has cyber security high on its agenda. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has reported the development of the new cyber security method. The team is working on a technique they have named quantum… -
Google Cites First Amendment Changes US Court Gag Order
19 Jun 2013 | 12:53 pmImage source: http://mashable.com/ Google has always maintained transparency in its dealings, and now with the Prism program threatening to compromise user data, the internet company has taken a strong stand to protect its user rights. Google has cited the First Amendment and gone to a secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, challenging the gag order under which it is barred from disclosing the requests that the US government makes to the internet company to get access to user data. Earlier this month, Google had been barred from disclosing to the world the requests made under the… -
Google Aims At Simplifying Web For Indian Users
19 Jun 2013 | 9:26 amimage source: http://lunadigital.tv/ Indian internet users will be able to find answers more quickly from now onwards to all their common queries, announced Google India. A new initiative has been started by Google India, which will help simplify the way Indian users use the internet. The initiative is called ‘Start Search India’. Sandeep Menon, Director, Marketing, Google India said that the initiative is aimed at the new Indian users who are joining the internet every day. The internet service provider aims to provide more convenient methods for these users to search and browse… -
Battery Technology To Get A Boost With Wearable Technology
19 Jun 2013 | 8:44 amImage Courtesy: http://gadgetsteria.com/ The erstwhile unglamorous battery may find its place in the limelight in the near future. Wearable technology like bracelets which can monitor physical movements, wearable glasses and clothing with in-built sensors all use the battery technology, and are hailed to be the next big technology revolution, experts say. Forrester Research of the US conducted a study in which 5% of the people said that they use some form of wearable device that monitors movement. Of all the people who participated in the research, 28% said that they use wearable computers on… -
WhatsApp soon to be banned in Saudi Arabia
18 Jun 2013 | 3:40 amimage source: http://allthingsd.com/ WhatsApp may soon have to shut shop in Saudi Arabia, if the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) were to have its way. A communication platform tool like WhatsApp is very hard for the state to control. It also is increasingly used as a substitute for international calls and texts and this is a major revenue killer for the telecom companies. Saudi Arabia has been trying to get a stronghold in controlling the cyberspace in the age of smartphones and easy Internet. The kingdom has also been trying to get the communication platform…
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McKremie Online Marketing Blog
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How to Create a Content Marketing Calendar
28 May 2013 | 9:34 pmAny business that wants to capitalize on the potential returns from content marketing should have a content marketing calendar. This is an overarching calendar, or schedule, of all forms of content marketing performed within an organization. Ideally, this schedule should be broken down into each component of content marketing that is used and then also [...] -
How to Write Edgy SEO Titles that Go Viral
14 May 2013 | 12:29 amEvery content provider wants their content to be shared along as many paths as possible. This is the foundation for why content marketers are in the business they are in: to create buzz about what they provide. Achieving this buzz can be difficult and is based on more than simply the general public’s whims at [...] -
The Wrong Way to Do Social Media Marketing
28 Apr 2013 | 12:09 pmBy now, companies large and small understand that social media is a great way to promote brands and build customer relationships. This knowledge does not come without a learning curve. Several large corporations have made social media blunders that have caused them to come into the online news spotlight, as well as to be discussed—not [...] -
How to Tell if Your SEO Company Sucks
21 Apr 2013 | 4:09 pmSearch engine optimization is certainly a tough industry for your average business owner to understand. All of the complicated lingo regarding keyword density, backlinks and citations can make the owner of a small business’ head spin. For this reason, many of them leave the technical mumbo jumbo to the SEO Company, and simply look at [...] -
What’s the Difference: Content Marketing Vs. Inbound Marketing Vs. Digital Marketing
16 Apr 2013 | 10:13 pmContent marketing, inbound marketing, digital marketing…marketing, marketing, marketing. What’s a business owner to do when faced with all these sub-categories of promoting their business to potential customers? It’s enough to create a marketing madness that isn’t a positive one, but that instead has you wanting to digital your content and market it inbound, or something [...]
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Position² Blog
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Google’s Matt Cutts Announces a Slew of Search and Webmaster Updates
14 Jun 2013 | 7:29 amGoogle’s Webspam team head Matt Cutts made a bunch of search and webmaster announcements at the SMX Advanced conference on 12 and 13 July 2013. Here are the highlights of the announcements: Google is currently rolling out a new algorithm to target more spam industries and ‘illegal’ SEO and linking tactics used by them. Matt Cutts confirms Google’s Panda updates are rolled out monthly and run over a 10 day period. Google Webmaster Notifications will not show example URLs – Most, if not all, of the manual penalty notification emails from Webmaster Tools will include a few examples of… -
Facebook Adds Twitter Style Hashtags and Ends Sponsored Search Ads for Now
14 Jun 2013 | 7:11 amFacebook Launches Hashtags According to Facebook, a whopping 4.75 billion pieces of content are shared on the site. People converse about brands, products, public figures and local businesses. Facebook has now launched hashtags to help people and brands discover these conversations and engage with them. Currently, hashtags are available to some people and Pages. It will be rolled out more broadly in the weeks to come. Here is some crucial information about the hashtag launch for marketers: If you are running ad campaigns with hashtags on other channels already, you can give those campaigns a… -
Facebook Hashtag can Impact Brands and Matt Cutts on Search, Webmaster Updates and much more… | Best of the Week
14 Jun 2013 | 5:39 amThis week’s hot news, events and videos from the online marketing and social media world. From the Position² Blog This Week: 12 Creative Tips to be a Top Brand on Vine Want to know how to make it big on Vine? Read our blog for 12 creative ways to do it… How to Improve Your Social Media Marketing Return on Investment Facebook Hashtag: How Facebook Hashtags Can Impact Brands Twitter Starts Rolling Out Tweet Performance Analytics to More Users Facebook To End Sponsored Search Ads — For Now Marketers Are Not Publishing Enough Content … -
12 Creative Tips to be a Top Brand on Vine
13 Jun 2013 | 5:41 amVine is Twitter in a visual format. Tweets limit you to 140 characters and a Vine puts a stop at 6 seconds. When the time allowed for expression is this less, you have to make good use of it. Vines are short, crisp videos which offer a plethora of opportunities for brand promotion. The limited duration of Vines helps in driving your point home quickly with impact before viewers get bored and desert you. Following are some pointers to help you get more out of Vine: Make Conversations with Followers Strike up interesting conversations with your followers using a Vine video. Such interactions… -
Google Adword Image Extension, 10 Ways to Get More Leads From LinkedIn and much more… | Best of the Week
7 Jun 2013 | 11:05 amThis week’s hot news, events and videos from the online marketing and social media world. From the Position² Blog This Week: 10 Ways to Get More Leads From LinkedIn LinkedIn is a great source of leads. Check out our blog to know some of the best ways to generate leads on LinkedIn. Make These Changes to Help Digital Marketing Fulfill Its Potential Facebook Drops ’Sponsored Stories’ As It Pares Down Ad Formats Altimeter Report: The Collaborative Economy How to Use Pinterest Rich Pins: What Marketers Need to Know Infographic: How B2B…
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The Next Web
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Skillz picks up $5.5 million in funding to expand its real-money mobile gaming platform
19 Jun 2013 | 12:00 pmSkillz launched its real-money tournament platform on Android back in April, and the startup has won some cash of its own in the form of a $5.5 million Series A round led by Atlas Venture. Since launch, the company has reached over one million users across games that have embedded the Skillz platform. The funds will be used to expand Skillz’s marketing and customer service teams and reach out to more developers. Skillz founder and CEO Andrew Paradise said: We’re expanding rapidly based on the success of our early developer partners…We always knew cash tournaments would significantly… -
Tomorrow on TNW: Your chance to ask Convene’s founder Chris Kelly your entrepreneurship questions
19 Jun 2013 | 12:00 pmStreaming live on The Next Web, Convene founder Chris Kelly will answer questions from readers at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) Thursday, June 20th. As part of the Young Entrepreneur Council’s #StartupLab initiative, a virtual mentorship program, Chris will appear live via video chat broadcast on this site. Christopher Kelly, 30, is a successful serial entrepreneur who co-founded Convene to capitalize on converging trends in real estate and workplace collaboration. The company has experienced triple digit year-over-year growth by repurposing underutilized commercial office space and defunct… -
Microsoft gives a sneak peek of Office Web Apps real-time co-authoring across Windows, Android, and iOS devices
19 Jun 2013 | 11:44 amMicrosoft today released a sneak peek of how Office Web Apps real-time co-authoring will work across Windows, Android, and iOS devices. Unfortunately, the company still doesn’t have a date for when this collaborative feature will be available. The demo comes in the form of a 14-minute YouTube video (the juicy part starts around the 5:30 minute mark): As is emphasized multiple times in the clip, this first look is at a pre-release version of Office experiences on the Web. You can see how real-time co-authoring will work not just for basic editing across Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, but also… -
Taiwan’s SOPA slapped down following planned public digital outcry
19 Jun 2013 | 11:35 amTaiwan has removed plans, at least temporarily, for a bill that would have led to more than partial censorship of parts of the Internet for its citizens. The parallal most obvious is that of the proposed SOPA law, which would have seen a similar effect in the United States. As with SOPA, many in Taiwan were set to oppose the law. Why? Even partial censorship of the Internet hands agency of what you can read and think to a third-party, which is antithetical to a clear, functionally operating democracy. Here’s what Taiwan was contemplating: Draft legislation to block links at IP and DNS level… -
Wallaby 2.0 for iOS adds Foursquare integration to its roster of credit card talents
19 Jun 2013 | 11:24 amThe US-based credit card optimization service Wallaby has released the second version of its iOS app today, bringing more granular control over cards and adding integration with Foursquare. While the phrase ‘credit card optimization’ would often (at best) push many people towards taking a short nap, what Wallaby actually does is pretty nifty. Essentially, it allows you to add your existing credit cards to your account and then just use a Wallaby card instead. It then automatically decides which card to use based on which will provide the best bonuses, cashback or frequent flyer miles, for…
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Atomthought.com
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4 trends for online coupon sites in 2013
15 Jun 2013 | 11:08 pmA recent Comscore- Pulse of the Online Shopper study (June 2013), shows that “consumers want more choices when shopping online.” Of course more choices lead to comparison. The mobile and social channels seem to play a vital role in the way consumers shop, and the study also offers interesting insights: ” 47% respondents (of the -
Interview of Sahil Shah: Co-Founder, CupoNation.in
15 Jun 2013 | 10:51 pmCuponation.in is the latest entrant in the online couponing space in India. Founded by Chirag Rakshit and Sahil Shah. CupoNation aims to become the largest coupons and deals website for Indian online shoppers. We are pleased to publish an interview with Sahil Shah, Co-Founder below: Please tell us about CupoNation, how it started, where are -
How a Start-up is Boosting the Indian Economy in a Small Way!
23 Apr 2013 | 10:42 pmAbout 4 million young people graduate every year in India .(This includes engineering graduates), which makes us a nation with one of the largest pool of talented and skilled population in the world. However almost 75% of this population is underemployed and unemployed If we take last 5 years data- we can fathom that at -
Tryst with Categorization in a Classifieds Platform
12 Apr 2013 | 9:28 pmWhen I started tradusads a C2C classifieds platform at ibibo, one of the many thoughts that engulfed the product strategy was – Why do all classifieds platform have a directory based approach or a newspaper style to categories? For e.g. why do we have matrimony as a category in India? Why don’t we have Mobile -
The Sharing Economy
24 Mar 2013 | 8:23 amIf I ask you to rent out your car when you are not using, and make additional money ; perhaps the answer would be ‘no’, at best you would skeptically ask “do these concepts work”? Getaround.com, a car sharing company in San Francisco, has signed up 10,000 vehicles in less than 2 years! This is
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Jennings Social Media
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Social Media Infographic Reveals Shocking Data: 52 percent of marketers have found a customer via Facebook
7 Jun 2013 | 5:30 amAccording to a recent infographic produced by Wishpond, social media ROI is delivering shocking results... -
Jennings Social Media Marketing Celebrates a Decade of Business in June
31 May 2013 | 7:42 amBy Joe Davis, content marketer at JSMM & Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM & VBM June 2013 marks the 10 year anniversary of Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM). While the company’s core offerings have morphed many times, undergoing several strategic brand changes to overcome social media demands in the marketplace, Valerie Jennings has been at the helm since its founding in June 2003. Clients range from publicly traded to start-up companies, and Jennings attests that her business’ strategic insight into the many layers of social media, SEO, PR and comprehensive online marketing has… -
JSMM & VBM News Brief!
23 May 2013 | 3:54 pmBy Joe Davis, content marketer at JSMM We have been extremely busy this spring at Jennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) and Viral Bolt Media (VBM)! Here are some key highlights from the past several months. Please let us know if you have any questions by emailing valerie@jenningssocialmedia.com or calling 816.221.1040. JSMM added eight new clients this spring: The addition of eight new clients has diversified our portfolio and led to a lot of amazing opportunities in JSMM, as well as VBM. Industries range from sports to finance and consumer retail products to commercial interior… -
JSMM & VBM Announce Summer 2013 Video Blog Packages: VBM Rolls Out Newest Promotion
17 May 2013 | 10:17 amJennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) and Viral Bolt Media (VBM), a sister company to JSMM announced new summer video blog pricing. A video blog (vblog) is a video weblog that captures the essence of a subject matter expert, discussing key points of content. These short excerpts are not to be confused with a promotional Web video as they constitute the core messages of a particular topic without much editing or special effects. -
JSMM Announces Newest Client: TITLE Boxing Club® – Parkville
10 May 2013 | 10:14 amJSMM is very excited to be lacing up the gloves with TITLE Boxing Club® - Parkville on developing a knockout social media strategy.
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Relationship Economy
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Managing Intangibles That Create Tangible Results
18 Jun 2013 | 2:09 amOften when you attempt to engage management in a discussion about the importance of managing intangibles their body language and attention span screams disengagement. It is as if the word “intangible” has become the politically incorrect word forbidden from corporate speak. At the same time the business world is being surrounded with a growing body of evidence that intangibles have significant impact on corporate performance. HBR, Fortune, Forbes, Business Week, Fast Company, Inc., Wall Street Journal Editorial and a host of other top media stories are dominated by evidence of… -
What If Human Capital Was An Asset On The Balance Sheet?
17 Jun 2013 | 2:13 amAs digital technology continues to play an ever increasing role in our economy how we define and measure that which creates our economic value will be transformed. It is becoming evident that today’s accounting methods are missing a large part of how and what creates value for a business. We’ve become obsessed with measuring the productivity of people, processes, products and customers as pieces to optimize and count on the operating statements as income and expenses. Yet most of these items are actual assets but our accounting systems do not count them as so. As information… -
The Assets That Matter Now
14 Jun 2013 | 2:00 amThe mental models that many business leaders rely on to run their businesses is wrong. They believe that building or buying tangible assets and selling said assets to buyers is the way to build a sustainable business model. It used to be but no longer is relevant to the buyer preferences in the 21st century. The industrial era was based on mass production, productivity, process efficiency as the means to optimizing profit. Business trained people to run machines, processes and other people at maximum efficiency as if “people” were merely cogs in the wheel of labor all aimed at… -
What Is A Balanced Narrative?
13 Jun 2013 | 2:16 amA medium sized business has been in business for over 30 years. It has over 200 employees and operates on very thin margins. Small errors can cost lots of money and even the loss of lives. The owner works long hours and deals with stressful situations on a daily basis. The owner is a man of character, dedicated to people and carries everyone’s mistakes on his own shoulders. He has an operations manager who has been loyal yet lacks formal management education. The operations manager constantly creates internal conflicts and makes poor decisions that end up costing lots of money. The… -
Measuring The Whole Not Just Some of The Parts
11 Jun 2013 | 2:11 amSometime in the near future the next generation of business leaders will look back on today’s business practices and wonder whether we really cared about results. Today’s management practice are centric to measuring anything and everything that moves. Whether it be a process, a product, some form of media, people, markets and all things tangible that can be measured and correlated to the achievement of results. We even consider some of the intangibles like the number of followers, fans tweets, like’s and friends as a measurement that means something to the recognition of a…
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Edelman
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Festival Season
19 Jun 2013 | 9:07 amIn less than six months, Edelman UAE worked on a number of major local events like the Dubai International Film Festival and Gulf Film Festival. In the process, a lot was learned about what makes a successful event, from the announcement through execution. Claire Parker, who has a wealth of experience managing these events in the UAE, shared how her Abu Dhabi Festival team recently orchestrated a successful event across the board. Media fatigue – “This is the biggest thing we deal with,” Claire told me. “Especially for festivals that last multiple weeks or ones we manage on a yearly… -
Good Money – Where PR and Meaning Meet: Business + Social Purpose at Edelman
18 Jun 2013 | 8:52 amhttp://annaholcombe.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/where-pr-and-meaning-meet-business-social-purpose-at-edelman/ The post Good Money – Where PR and Meaning Meet: Business + Social Purpose at Edelman appeared first on Edelman. -
A Guide to Facebook #Hashtags
18 Jun 2013 | 8:49 amFacebook officially launched their long-rumored support of #hashtags. While hashtags had always been a tool for discovery and conversation on Twitter, these tools now make Facebook a much more robust platform for discovering shared trends and interests amongst your connections. Simply put, this feature makes the need to leave Facebook, far less appealing. When Facebook launched their News Feed redesign in March, they made it clear that the filtered feed options were to help users discover more of the things they cared about. This same concept applies to the rollout of #hashtags as posts that… -
Edelman takes the “60 Miles or Bust” challenge to San Francisco
18 Jun 2013 | 6:53 amIn the past four years, Edelman has taken to the streets of Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and Chicago to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. On June 21, 26 Edelman employees from across the U.S. will embark on another three-day journey, this time, through San Francisco. Walkers from as far as New York, Dallas and Atlanta will be uniting on the West Coast as part of 60 Miles or Bust — Edelman’s fundraising team for the 60-mile walk to fight against breast cancer. So far this year, our team has raised more than $71,000 and is still continuing their efforts until the walk begins! “The… -
Forget Money and Power
18 Jun 2013 | 5:32 amThe best career advice I ever received also turned out to be my own best measurement of personal success: “Get out of your comfort zone.” And so I did. In very short order, I took on a challenging new job responsibility, got divorced, started a blog and even revived my rather beige living room with two hot pink cowhide rugs (probably fodder for an entire blog of their own). Perhaps, then, it’s no surprise that when Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) recently asked for a new metric of success beyond money and power, both of which can be limiting and short-sighted, I immediately thought…
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The Blog of Matthew Loop | Chiropractic Internet Marketing
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12 Free Chiropractic Graphics to Post on Facebook
14 Jun 2013 | 9:40 amI’m absolutely THRILLED to announce the launch of The Ultimate Chiropractic Graphics package! The product went on the market yesterday and our email has been blowing-up with rave reviews from doctors. It consists of 365 done-for-you, professional chiropractic images that position you as the go-to health expert in your town. These include everything from chiropractic education, research studies, health quotes, and optimal lifestyle tips. You can grab 12 free graphics at this link. Once on the page, just scroll down about 1/4 of the way and you’ll see the download. Post the high… -
3 Keys to a HIGHLY Profitable Online Business
10 Jun 2013 | 8:21 amIn this powerful video, you’ll discover the 3 keys to having a highly profitable business in ANY economy. The critical concepts presented here work like magic and help you overcome any challenge or obstacle you face. The video was filmed after our white water rafting excursion on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. Click the play button below to view. Did you like this post? If so, click the Facebook “like” button below and share it with your friends! Related Blog Posts: Before You Start an Online Business, Watch This FIRST! Online Passive Income Case Study: $7,000 Per Month… -
Before You Start an Online Business, Watch This FIRST!
20 May 2013 | 1:20 pmBefore starting an online business, watch this video first. You’ll discover how to avoid the MOST common mistake many beginners make that keeps them a slave to their business. Not learning this lesson early-on costs many entrepreneurs the freedom and flexibility the so desperately desire. You’ll also find-out the dirty little secret most internet “gurus” would rather you not know about how much they actually sit behind a computer weekly. This might just SHOCK you! The video below was shot at the luxurious and beautiful Sofitel Santa Clara in Cartagena. I highly… -
How to Get a Celebrity Endorsement for Free [video]
16 May 2013 | 8:18 amHere’s a powerful short video reveals the #1 secret to getting a celebrity endorsement and how ridiculously simple it can be. The benefit of doing this is that you’ll be perceived as the most credible business professional in your city / town or in your online niche. This, in turn, leads to EXPONENTIALLY more new customers, clients and sales. For filming, we were on location at the beautiful Castillo San Felipe de Barajas in Cartagena. Click the play button and watch the video now. Did you like this post? If so, click the Facebook “like” button below and share it… -
Charles Ramsey: America’s New Hero (Interview and 911 Call)
7 May 2013 | 5:18 pmToday, while on Twitter, I noticed a blog post by Global Grind titled, 13 Reasons Why Charles Ramsey Is The Most Epic Hero In History. The headline naturally sparked my curiosity so I clicked and had a look. I’m SO GLAD I did! In case you’re not familiar, Charles Ramsey has become an instant internet sensation. He helped rescue Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, two girls that made headlines a whopping 10 years ago when they were kidnapped. Below is the actual video interview. The story is very inspirational, but to hear Charles tell it is hilarious! It totally made my day. I think…
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Diva Marketing (Blog)
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BlogPaws ~ Beyond A Tweet
27 May 2013 | 7:34 pmBlogPaws ~ Turn corner - a cute puppy. Turn a corner - a cute kittie. Turn a corner - a cute ferret named Snotface (really!). BlogPaws ~ Turn a corner - hundreds of people passionate about sharing their love of animals and pets. BlogPaws ~ Turn a corner - talking pets and social media. Turn a corner - talking pet rescue. Turn a corner - talking pet So when BBF Yvonne DiVita asked if I would join in the 2013 BlogPaws festivities and present a session on Twitter for pet businesses .. how could I say no? Especially when the press was in attendance! The challenge: to step-up a presentation for a… -
What Is Your One Big Truth About Social Media?
13 May 2013 | 5:45 amThe truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time but it ain't goin' away. ~ Elvis Presley Just One Crowd Sourced Question Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and other social networks changed how we think about "social media" from those long ago days of the blogosphere. However, I wondered if the "truths" of social media also changed. Is social media still about people-to-people conversations or is monetization the focus? Has social media become a ghost writer's paradise or is transparency still critical? What does authenticity mean in 2013? Just Once Crowd… -
7 Step Secret Sauce Recipe For Social Media Success
3 Apr 2013 | 7:58 pmHe: I need more traffic to my blog, more followers to my Twitter account and more likes on my Facebook. Me: So I told him the 7 Step Secret Sauce Recipe For Social Media Success. In all candour, it's nothing new but as a reminder I thought I'd pass along. 1. The End Game - Start with the end game in mind .. or as marketers might say -- your goals. What do you want to achieve? What is success to you? Is it gaining a new audience or repositioning your brand with current customers? Is it building stronger relationships with your employees? 2. Know Your Audience - The more you understand the… -
Social Sharing
11 Feb 2013 | 6:18 amRemember the all important word we were taught in kindergarten? Share. We shared crayons, books and sometimes our PB&J sandwiches. Through sharing we made new friends. What we didn't understand, at least at five I had not a clue, was that from these small interactions we were creating a unique 'classroom community' that was a little different from the other kindergarten classes. Taking that idea into the social web .. each social network and digital community we particiapte in has its own culture influencing our experiences. In the social web we're sharing like mad. Some people might say… -
Super Bowl 2013 Lights Go Out But Oreo's Twitter Team Has A Light Bulb Moment
3 Feb 2013 | 8:48 pmWhen The Baltimore Ravens might be walking way with the 2013 Superbowl win, but when it came to social media marketing Oreo won the viral prize with a simple tweet. When the lights went out in the Super Dome tonight the savvy Oreo Twitter team had a brilliant light bulb moment. Within minutes their tweet ~ "You can still dunk with the lights out" was was being shared across social networks, on blogs and picked up by main stream media. When I first checked there were 10,521 retweets within 41 minutes. Let's do a little sideline analysis. The Plays Content: relevant, creative, fun,…
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Magnitude Media
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Clipping Content Not Fair Use
18 Jun 2013 | 11:41 amDoes your company clip content or repurpose content it finds on the web in an attempt to “curate” content for your customers or subscribers? If you’ve worked with us on a project, you know that we tell clients to create original content and to be very cautious how and where they curate content, if they [...]The post Clipping Content Not Fair Use appeared first on Magnitude Media. -
New Report on the Digital Agency of the Future is Out!
11 Jun 2013 | 8:22 amI am one of 16 contributors to Skyword’s new report on the Digital Agency of the Future, out today. I join such future thinkers as CP+B, Digital Influence Group, iProspect, King Content, Likeable Media,Mindjumpers, Omnicom’s Resolution Media, Raidious, The Search Agency, and Voce Communications, among others. In it we discuss some of the changes we see in agencies and marketing, what we think you [...]The post New Report on the Digital Agency of the Future is Out! appeared first on Magnitude Media. -
Social Media Metrics for Dummies: Win a Signed Copy
5 Jun 2013 | 6:00 amStarting today, you have a month to win one of 10 signed copies of my book, Social Media Metrics for Dummies, over on GoodReads. Good luck! Goodreads Book Giveaway Social Media Metrics for Dummies by Leslie Poston Giveaway ends July 05, 2013. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win If you aren’t [...]The post Social Media Metrics for Dummies: Win a Signed Copy appeared first on Magnitude Media. -
Publishing Industry Growing Pains at Book Expo America
2 Jun 2013 | 9:54 amI spent the last few days at the book lover’s Mecca: Book Expo America 2013. I noticed several things this year that made it stand out in contrast to my past pilgrimages to BEA (I’ve attended as an author, speaker, buyer, retailer and marketer). The most glaring things centered on the overall atmosphere and a [...]The post Publishing Industry Growing Pains at Book Expo America appeared first on Magnitude Media. -
Prepare For Facebook Changing News Feed, Adding Graph Search
7 Mar 2013 | 10:30 pmIf you are one of the many people out there who hate it each time Facebook makes a change to how you view it, each time it violates your privacy or tweaks your settings – brace yourself. Facebook is about to change things up again in a big way with two new iterations of the [...]The post Prepare For Facebook Changing News Feed, Adding Graph Search appeared first on Magnitude Media.
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SocialTimes
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Stanford Cookie Clearinghouse Aims to Give Users More Say Over Online Tracking
19 Jun 2013 | 8:39 amStanford University’s Center for Internet and Society dove into the nitty-gritty of online privacy today, announcing a Cookie Clearinghouse that will maintain “allow” and “block” lists to help refine which websites should be allowed to set cookies in a user’s browser. “Internet users are starting to understand that their online activities are closely monitored, often by companies they have never heard of before. But Internet users currently don’t have the tools they need to make online privacy choices,” said Aleecia McDonald, CIS’s director… -
Feedly Takes Google Reader Replacement Live
19 Jun 2013 | 7:25 amFeedly today launched a Web RSS reader to replace Google’s, which the company will retire on July 1. Previously, Feedly worked as a browser extension which wasn’t available for Opera or Internet Explorer. “This was one of the most requested features, and we are thrilled to deliver on this today,” the company said in a blog post, referring to user survey results. Google’s move to kill Reader, while unpopular with users, has proved a boon for Feedly, which tripled its user count from 4 million prior to Google’s announcement to 12 million users at the end of… -
Exclusive: More Social Experiences in the Works for Food Network, Travel Channel, HGTV Through Echo’s App Management Platform
19 Jun 2013 | 7:05 amLifestyle networks like the Food Network, HGTV, and the Travel Channel bring out the DIY spirit in viewers, which may be why they have found a home on the second screen. Scripps Network Interactive, which brings these brands to the web, has tapped Echo to power its social interactions with audiences through Echo’s app management platform. The Travel Channel is already leveraging Echo’s real-time platform in the comments section. The network added 25 custom features, including the ability for visitors to sort out the most recent, most liked, or most active comments. The Travel… -
‘The Vines of Sauvignon Blanc’ May Be the World’s Shortest Soap Opera
19 Jun 2013 | 5:26 amMost soap operas drag on for years; this one will wrap up in about two minutes. Then again, do Vine videos ever really end? Logo’s scripted soap opera, “The Vines of Sauvignon Blanc,” consists of 22 episodes, each lasting about six seconds, that will air on Logo’s Vine account, @LogoTV. Logo shared a few details about the cast and the plot: “The Vines of Sauvignon Blanc” follows the heart-wrenching tale of a wealthy vineyard owner who is told he only has two minutes and six seconds to live as his family plots for power and prestige, all while being incredibly… -
Register for Inside Bitcoins Conference Before Midnight
19 Jun 2013 | 4:45 amThere has been a lot of talk surrounding virtual currency and Bitcoin, but what impact will virtual currency have on businesses and how can one make money in this space? Explore the future of this emerging field with industry influencers at our Inside Bitcoins Conference, July 30 in New York City. Attendees will discuss what business and investment opportunities exist, as well as the legal issues facing virtual currency. Don’t delay– prices increase at midnight tonight. You’ll hear from 20+ bitcoin experts on topics including The VC Take on Bitcoin, Bitcoin Boom: The Business…
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VIRALBLOG.COM » Viral ideas.Trends. Inspiration
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Driverless Cars: Do You Bet On Google Or Mercedes-Benz?
19 Jun 2013 | 9:00 amRobots might rule the world but who will create the first driverless cars: outsider Google or Mercedes-Benz? Get the answers here. Larry, Sergey and the rest of the Google gang are striving for world domination. That includes driverless cars. But what about car manufacturers like Tesla, BMW or Mercedes-Benz? Before placing your bets, get the insights here. Google Driverless Cars The Google driverless car is a project that involves developing technology for robotic cars. Click here to view the embedded video. The project is currently being led by Google engineer Sebastian Thrun, director of… -
Social Media Usage Up, Traditional Media Suffers
19 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amThe rapid increase in social media usage led to a decrease in the popularity of traditional media like TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines. Last 3 years consumers have massive embraced social media. In 2012 consumers were spending 3 hours and 7 minutes online for social media, on a daily basis. How does your strategic media planning adapt? Infographic: The Impact of Social Media & Web Video Voucher Codes Pro crunched the number in an infographic after gathering data from YouTube, Netflix, TechCrunch, eMarketer, and Digital Marketing Ramblings. The infographic shows the dramatic rise in… -
Social Media Usage Up, Traditional Media Suffers (Infographic)
19 Jun 2013 | 1:09 amThe rapid increase in social media usage led to a decrease in the popularity of traditional media like TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines. Last 3 years consumers have massive embraced social media. In 2012 consumers were spending 3 hours and 7 minutes online for social media, on a daily basis. How does your strategic media planning adapt? Infographic: The Impact of Social Media & Web Video Voucher Codes Pro crunched the number in an infographic after gathering data from YouTube, Netflix, TechCrunch, eMarketer, and Digital Marketing Ramblings. The infographic shows the dramatic rise in… -
How Much Is A Social Media Influencer Worth?
18 Jun 2013 | 8:00 amSocial media influencers are increasingly used by brands to advertize for products or services. Social media marketing company IZEA has researched the worth of influencer tweets, blogposts, photos, and such. Influencer marketing has been around for a steady while now. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: all can offer brands many influencers. But no one actually knows how much a brand should pay an influencer. Until now. IZEA, a social media marketing company that connects brands with influencers in multiple countries, has done a study on the current state of social media sponsorship. The following… -
How To Rock Your Brand With Celebrity Endorsements?
18 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amIn a simpler time, celebrity endorsements for a national product made good sense. In those days, it was a simple transaction. The celeb would endorse your product, lending his or her vibe, and everyone made money. Today’s marketing strategies demand a bit more finesse. Read along to get actionable insights. Rock your Brand with Celebrity Endorsement In the 1950s, Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix was endorsed by Ozzie and Harriet. By the late 1970s, more than 10% of TV commercials featured a celebrity endorsement. Marketing has evolved. Today, the relationship between celeb and product has to be…
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Pamorama | Social Media Marketing Blog
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A Beginners Guide to Content Marketing
16 Jun 2013 | 2:24 pmContent marketing has changed the way consumers research and buy your products. Every day, people form impressions of brands from many touch points: Ads, product experiences, tweets, Google, Facebook, blog posts, websites, and conversations with family and friends. Unless they are actively shopping for something, a lot of that information passes them by. But when something triggers their buying impulse, those stored impressions become critical — they are top of mind as consumers look to making purchases. In the traditional sales funnel, consumers begin with a set of potential brands and… -
7 Popular Types of Social Media Fans [Infographic]
9 Jun 2013 | 11:47 amIf you’re using social media to market your company, you know that social media fans are not all alike. Many different types of people follow you on social networks. While every person is different, social media fans and customers can be broken down into roughly 7 categories. Once you understand who these customers are, it’s easier to target them to improve brand awareness, find leads, and drive sales. Here’s a look a who they are, why they’re following your brand on social media, and what to do to get the most out of them. The folks at ReachLocal, a localized-marketing… -
4 Tips for Providing Value to Your Social Media Fans and Leveraging the Network Effect [Infographic]
8 Jun 2013 | 2:57 pmAttract brand ambassadors by building relationships with fans and offering them what they’re looking for. Whether your customer community is large or small, the glue holding it together is devotion to your brand and the products/services you sell. Your social media fans will purchase more from you and are more likely to spread the word about you than customers who haven’t connected with you via social media. What is the network effect? The network effect is a phenomenon through which a product or service becomes more valuable as more people use it, thereby encouraging… -
Social Media is Key to B2B Content Marketing [Report]
1 Jun 2013 | 5:55 pm91% of B2B marketers now use social media as a content marketing tool. B2B marketers are distributing their content on social networks more than ever before. A recent study conducted by the Content Marketing Institute and Marketing Profs confirms that content marketing remains a top priority for B2B marketers, with the vast majority leveraging the practice as part of their marketing strategy. But many are uncertain about how to successfully employ the many tactics available to them. Content marketing is the art of communicating with your customers and prospects without selling. It is… -
7 Facebook Marketing Case Studies
19 May 2013 | 4:26 pmLearn some inventive ways to integrate Facebook into your social media marketing strategy. Every day, businesses are inspired to bring creative marketing ideas to life on Facebook in ways that have a real impact on their bottom line. Many have discovered how to leverage their Facebook communities to strengthen brand loyalty and communicate directly with customers. As your company invests in the social network for marketing, advertising, and branding, it’s useful to have a few examples of what others have done with the platform. These case studies look at the goals, approaches, and…
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Exploring Conversational Media
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Five takeaways from 2013 State of Community Management Report
19 Jun 2013 | 7:10 amWhen I started my career in social media and community management, I was a bit intimidated and nervous. Things were changing quickly and I was trying to absorb everything I could read and learn from really smart folks. One of my former bosses suggested that I check out the Community Roundtable – that was 2008 – and I was happy to check out the information that Jim Storer and Rachel Happe were producing. Little did I know that less than two years later I would sign up for the Community Roundtable and now consider both of them good friends. So when I received a message in the CR Network to… -
Cartoon of the day
18 Jun 2013 | 9:19 pm -
Cartoon of the day
18 Jun 2013 | 6:03 am -
Perception Versus Reality
17 Jun 2013 | 4:19 amNo matter what type of job you have, chances are that there are times when you take yourself or your job way too seriously. In the digital and social space, this is often our own Achilles heel as press clippings and blogs within the space help puff out our chests and inflate our own feelings of self-importance. It is OK to nod your head and agree, because it happens to everyone (this author included). As I write this post, I am utterly exhausted and it’s not from pulling a 40+-hour week or even doing work-related activities. Instead I am fresh off an exhausting weekend to Story Land with my… -
Cartoon of the day
16 Jun 2013 | 9:26 pm
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Social Media B2B
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Create an Unfair Advantage in B2B Social Media with Competitive Intelligence
3 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amAs B2B companies reach new levels of maturity in their social media marketing, the savvy ones recognize the golden opportunity available to them by studying what their key competitors are doing through social competitive intelligence. While most companies are focused on building out their own social channels, listening to their buyers, engaging with their buyers and influencers, a few B2B companies have realized the unique opportunity afforded them by studying what their competitors are doing. The multitude of listening and measurement tools available can be, and should be, applied to… -
10 Ideas to Make Boring B2B Social Media Posts Captivating
1 May 2013 | 4:20 amMany B2B marketers are still trying to figure out social media for their companies. Years of product marketing driven writing, or content as we now call it, has honed their skills on features-based marketing. No matter how exciting your products and services are, this kind of marketing is boring. And it is not going to work in a social media context. Prospects and customer want solutions to their problems. They don’t want to hear about your products in a blog post. Once you identify your target audience and their pain points, you can begin creating top-of-the-funnel content to connect… -
B2B Social Media Success Starts with Measurable Objectives
10 Apr 2013 | 4:36 amB2B Marketers are always comparing their company social media efforts to other B2B companies. What are other companies trying to achieve? What is working? What are their biggest challenges? In a recent survey Ascend2 asked 687 business leaders, marketing executives and practitioners from around the world just those questions. And good for us they separated out the answers for B2B companies. Some of these results were featured on eMarketer, but you can download the full Social Media Marketing Strategy Report for free from Ascend2 (registration required). Below are a selection of the results. -
Integration, Content and Analytics Drive B2B Digital Marketing Success
19 Mar 2013 | 4:00 amIn a recent study, CEB’s Marketing Leadership Council and Google found that 57% of the buying process is complete before a B2B buyer ever contacts a salesperson. And their results showed an even higher number, 70%, in some instances. The researchers used their interviews with more than 1500 decision makers and influencers in a recent major business purchase at 22 large B2B organizations (spanning all major NAICS categories and 10 industries) as the basis for their Digital Evolution in B2B Marketing whitepaper. The authors contend that mastering the following three topics are required… -
How To Find the Best B2B Social Media Linkedin Groups
28 Feb 2013 | 5:56 amMost people learn how to use Linkedin by building a network of professional connections. Some even take the time to post updates to their activity feed. But if you haven’t noticed yet, not a lot of people hang out in the activity stream on Linkedin. The lion’s share of real engagement happens in Linkedin Groups, especially for B2B companies. But not all Linkedin Groups. Most are veritable spam fests where unscrupulous marketers spam links to promotions or try to drive clicks to their blog posts. So how do you find the really good Linkedin Groups? How can you tell which ones are…
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{grow}
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The ultimate guide to becoming a blogging superstar
19 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amBy Mars Dorian, Contributing {grow} Columnist I am a self-proclaimed social media rockstar, without any credentials, so I feel more than qualified to present you with the Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Blogging Superstar. Warning: The following blog post will help you gain instant money & fame. This is guaranteed, or your money back, which you didn’t pay, so there’s no conflict of interest here. Step one. Read anything by the following list of authors: 1) Seth Godin – “Tribes” 2) Seth Godin – “Purple Cow” 3) Seth Godin – “Linchpin”… -
How social media case studies can jeopardize your strategy
18 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amI’ve been thinking about the surprisingly important role that business case studies play in our marketing efforts, and I’ve come to realize that in some cases, they may actually HURT our businesses. Let’s look at the two-edged sword that is the business case study … The tipping point First, let’s examine why case studies usually play such a helpful role in the evolution of digital business. Case studies strike fear in the hearts of resistant business leaders. By embarrassing them with the obvious success of others, we sell fear in the morning and redemption in… -
The end of an analog life
16 Jun 2013 | 1:02 pmI’m going to take a break from the usual stream of marketing tips, tricks, and observations here on {grow} to get a little personal and weird. I think that is good once in a while, right? This week I have been forced to come face-to-face with the end of my analog life … and it is distressing. I am preparing to make a house move. And, in fact, with the kids out of the house, it’s time to downsize. That means there is no more room for a lifetime of accumulated crap. As I write this, I am facing a mountain of my “analog” treasures — record albums, CDs. -
Making good choices. A {growtoon}.
14 Jun 2013 | 2:00 amJoin the growtoonists each Friday for a humorous take on marketing, social media, and current business events. Kacy Maxwell is a guy who loves his work, family and a good challenge. See more of his cartoons at everything is media. CommentsNice one for dad to chew on by Claudia LicherRelated StoriesInappropriate Attire. A {growtoon}.Acquired. A {growtoon}.Fashionably Google. A {growtoon}.Almost there. A {growtoon}.The magic of social media. A {growtoon}. -
The Radiohead Guide to Branding Excellence
13 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amBy Christopher Craft, {grow} Community Member Radiohead’s masterful management of their brand is a blueprint for excellence. The genre-blending band became icons through their extensive and diverse music catalog, but the deeper lessons lie in how they keep creativity at the center of their brand’s promise. They record creatively. They market creatively. They distribute creatively. They perform creatively. I’ve recently learned that two of my favorite authors and branding minds, Mitch Joel and Mark Schaefer, are also huge Radiohead fans. This discovery has inspired me to present to you…
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AdamVincenzini[dot]com
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Help vs. Hype: Marketing's Most Intriguing Battle Heats Up
11 Jun 2013 | 9:00 pmIn almost every presentation I work up, there is one line that invariably finds its way onto a slide: "Adding value through the timely publishing of useful content is the best way to generate goodwill in the communities you operate in." A blogger who I really respect a lot, Jay Baer, has just published a book called Youtility and the tag line for it is: "Why smart marketing is about help not hype." The extended blurb for the book goes on to explain the importance of being useful in the age of information overload. This perfectly articulated observation from Jay really struck a chord with me… -
David Warner's Twitter Tirade Becomes an Instant Social Media Cautionary Tale
17 May 2013 | 9:05 pmIn the last few hours, yet another Twitter-storm has sent the traditional media into a spin and sports administrators into damage control. Let's go through the time line of events and then take a look at what all involved parties can learn from the very public event. Australian Cricketer David Warner (@davidwarner31) is currently taking part in the Indian Premier League cricket competition. He woke up this morning to an article written by News Ltd journalist Robert "Crash" Craddock (@CrashCraddock1) who highlighted the pitfalls of the world's most lucrative cricket competition. His… -
10 of the Most Useful New Social Media Tools of 2013 (so far)
3 May 2013 | 8:54 pmIt's been a while since I've cobbled together a post that looks at some of the newer social media tools making an impact around the web. If you haven't come across one of these posts before, the aim is to highlight some of the hidden gems which can make your online life a bit easier, as opposed to talking about the more mainstream tools that get the big chunks of air time. Some similar posts from the past can be found here. Enough reminiscing for now, let's take a look at the new tools, sites and web and mobile apps worth having on your radar. 10 of the most useful social media tools of 2013… -
The 7 different types of social media consultants
30 Mar 2013 | 4:22 amOver the last few weeks, I've sat in a bunch of meetings where the skill set of social media specialists have been a hot topic. The reason why there is so much debate about it is because there are so many different types of people, of widely varying experience, who can occupy positions with a social media remit. On the back of these discussions, and to help organise my own thinking on the subject, I thought it might be useful to try and classify the different types of social media consultants and the pros and cons of each. It is difficult to categorise these types without making some… -
30 great business, innovation and marketing quotes for the wall in your office
10 Mar 2013 | 9:31 pmI'm a huge fan of quotes. I like the way they help validate the values you consider important and question ones held by others. I also think quotes tell other people a lot about who you are and who you aren't. In a previous job, we had a wall covered in our favourite quotes, each serving a different purpose depending on what the priority was on any given day. So, when I was searching for some of my favourites the other day I thought it'd be fun to compile a nice list of them, and share them here on my blog. I'd really like to add to the list too, so if you have your favourites handy, drop…
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360i Blog
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360i Takes Home Top Agency Honors at Digiday Awards
13 Jun 2013 | 12:34 pmWe are thrilled to announce that Digiday has awarded 360i with top agency honors in this year’s Digiday Awards competition, which recognizes excellence and breakthrough achievement in digital media, marketing and advertising. 360i was the only agency to win across multiple categories. In the ‘Judge’s Pick’ portion of the competition, Digiday’s editorial team named us the ‘Most Innovative Agency’ of 2013. We attribute this recognition to our culture of curiosity, passionate and persevering team members and amazing clients who are willing and eager to stretch the boundaries of… -
Oreo Helps Fans Honor Their Fathers with ‘Dad T@ts’
13 Jun 2013 | 10:44 amToday, Oreo is bringing a little wonder to Father’s Day by creating custom ‘ink’ dedications for fans in social media. Following the fanfare that Mother’s Day brings, the brand is helping ensure dad gets the love he deserves too. The digital campaign, called ‘Oreo Dad T@ts,’ inspires people to celebrate dad in a fun, imaginative way. Here’s how it works: All day, @Oreo is inviting fans to tweet a description of their pop with the hashtag #OreoDadTats. The brand will be creating customized tattoo designs in real time based on the descriptions, then sending them back to fans to… -
#Finally: Hashtags Arrive at Facebook, Unlocking a New Arena for Public Chatter
13 Jun 2013 | 8:44 amSix months after being named ‘word of the year,’ the hashtag is coming to Facebook. Yesterday, Facebook announced the first in a series of new features that will make it easier for its users to carry on public conversations – beyond their circle of ‘friends’ – within the platform. This marks a significant shift, as Facebook has traditionally built its conversation platform in a more limited, non-public manner. Beginning today, users will be able to click through hashtagged words on Facebook. Upon clicking, they will be able to view all public posts – from both individuals and… -
What Marketers Need to Know About Apple WWDC 2013
12 Jun 2013 | 9:10 amMonday marked the beginning of Apple’s wildly popular Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). The WWDC Keynote has historically been the site of many new product launches – particularly centered around iOS – and this one has been no exception. Most of the discussion so far has focused on shiny new hardware, and the dramatic aesthetic changes to iOS. Amid these high-profile announcements, Apple announced several developments that will specifically affect digital marketers. iTunes Radio Apple’s entry into the world of music streaming isn’t a surprise, but some of the… -
New Content Series from National Drives Value for Busy Biz Travelers
10 Jun 2013 | 7:52 amAs many of us can attest, it’s hard to stay fit when you’re constantly on-the-go – especially while traveling for business. Recognizing that many of its travelers are health-conscious, 360i client National Car Rental wanted to do something to help road warriors with their healthy living efforts. National has recently launched the ‘Healthy Business Traveler’ program – an influencer marketing effort that provides a value-add for its customers through simple, straightforward tips that travelers can use when they’re on the road for business. For this campaign, National partnered…
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Addicted To Social Media
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Review: Headfirst HTML with CSS & XHTML
19 Jun 2013 | 9:11 amInternet marketing and social media marketing are dependent upon having a strong understanding of the language of the Internet. HTML is the language of the web, and it’s practically impossible to send out an eNewsletter without knowing a ‘bit’ of code. Understanding how HTML and CSS and XHTML work together, and how to create a [...] Click to go to the site to see the full article! -
A2SM Podcast #91 – Twitter’s New Features
9 Dec 2011 | 2:39 pmIn this episode Neal, Seth and Jody discuss Twitter's new features, Google+ allowing phone calls in hangouts, Facebook is nipping at Google's heals and letting private photos go public and much more. Click to go to the site to see the full article! -
A2SM Podcast #90 – Neal’s Hacking
2 Dec 2011 | 9:00 amIn this episode Neal, Seth and Jody talk about the benefits of Google Plus, whether or not the FTC/Facebook ruling will do anything, Arabic is the fastest growing language on Twitter and much more. Click to go to the site to see the full article! -
A2SM Podcast #89 – The Pepper Spray Edition
25 Nov 2011 | 9:00 amWe're missing Neal (he's on Daddy duty), so Seth and Jody are joined by the Queen of Google+ herself Lynette Young. In this episode the gang talks about Google+ trending topics, Lt. Pike and the pepper spraying incident at UC Davis going viral on the web, Facebook is acting like Prodigy and much more. Click to go to the site to see the full article! -
A2SM Podcast #88 – Only You Can Protect The Internet
18 Nov 2011 | 9:00 amIn this episode Neal, Seth and Jody talk about how the record and movie industries are about to bring down the Internet, Google+ has it's third best week for traffic, Youtube gets a facelift, Twitter can predict who will win the presidency in the US and much more. Click to go to the site to see the full article!
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Mindjumpers
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A Call For LOVE From All Over The World
19 Jun 2013 | 4:57 amEach year, Mindjumpers has been working for clients that do good – such as IRCT (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims) and Hjerteforeningen (the Danish association for heart diseases). This year, our eyes are on the fight against HIV and AIDS – for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF). Elton John AIDS Foundation is a global organization trying to fight HIV and AIDS with love and compassion – as love is what we need to overcome the stigma that comes with HIV and AIDS, letting more people get tested and get the treatment they need. Mindjumpers’ role is… -
The Digital Agency of the Future [Report]
12 Jun 2013 | 12:05 amMindjumpers has contributed to a new report issued today by Skyword. The report deals with how digital agencies today are facing a new fragmented reality. Agencies need to define and drive relationships for brands by developing content that will engage audiences and motivate them. This also means that they must rework traditional metrics to identify opportunities for growth. The team at Skyword has interviewed top digital agencies asking them about how agencies are adapting to media convergence and the evolution of search and social media. Mindjumpers among others has offered insights and… -
How to Use Pinterest And The New Rich Pins Features
5 Jun 2013 | 12:00 amPinterest is one of those platforms that has now become established among prime players such as Twitter, Facebook and Google+. With more than 48 million unique visitors globally, Pinterest has gradually been developed, and lately with the launch of rich pins, Pinterest has been optimized for brand presences. Pinterest is especially a platform where people go and find inspiration, collect items found on the web onto boards to share with their network. You can follow users with similar taste and interests as you to repin what they have pinned or find items across the web on your own. In that… -
Resonate – New Sound Tool to Spark Your Creativity at Work!
28 May 2013 | 12:44 amThe page is blank. Just as your mind. The only thing that concerns you is how you will make your deadline. What do you do? You could turn the radio on and hope to hear an inspirational song, or you could log on to Resonate and listen to music that inspires people in the same business as you. Ad Age and Spotify have joined together and made a new platform for communities. With Resonate you can use music to express the identity of your company and help spark the creativity at your office. When you have signed up and made a profile you are able to create playlists based on themes, moods and… -
The Social Newsroom: Pieces of the Puzzle
23 May 2013 | 2:10 amIt is impossible right now to discuss brands and social media without hearing about the Social Newsroom and real-time content marketing. Oreo brought it to the world’s attention and made it big with their Super Bowl ads, but the concept continues to gain attention from companies and is attracting even more questions about how brands can integrate it into their current social media strategy. As a concept, the purpose of the Social Newsroom is to deliver real-time, viral content that is relevant and highly engaging with a brand’s online audience – putting news, trends, online buzz and…
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The Next Web » Social Media
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Facebook copies Twitter yet again, launches hashtags to let users add context and discover shared interests
12 Jun 2013 | 10:30 amFacebook today announced that it is bringing hashtags to its service, letting users add context to a post, indicate that it is part of a larger discussion, as well as discover shared interests. The company says hashtags have become “a vital part of popular culture” and since it has seen users using them on the social network organically, it has decided to actually implement the feature. While you could always technically create a hashtag on Facebook (just put a # before any word), they will now be clickable, taking you to a feed of what other people and Pages are saying about that event… -
Facebook opens its first data center outside the US, near the Arctic Circle in Luleå, Sweden
12 Jun 2013 | 7:16 amFacebook today announced it has opened up its newest data center in Luleå, Sweden, a small town at the northern tip of the Baltic Sea, which is just 100km south of the Arctic Circle. This is the company’s first data center outside the US, and one of the largest of its kind in Europe. Facebook chose Luleå for at least three big reasons. First, it’s a prime location to take advantage of outside cooling: the temperature has not been above 30°C (86°F) for more than 24 hours since 1961 and the average temperature is around 2°C (36°F). Next, dams on the Luleå river generate so much… -
Minilogs lets you bookmark and share content via ‘Web playlists’, raises $266,000
11 Jun 2013 | 11:50 pmAfter a private beta warm-up, today sees the launch of Minilogs, which aims to make it easier for people to bookmark and share a variety of rich digital content through Web ‘playlists’, or logs. Backed by a fresh round of seed funding to the tune of 200,000 euros ($266,000), Minilogs basically wants to build a social bookmarking app that is fit for today’s Web. By creating logs, which are essentially collections of links to photos, videos, sounds, maps, slides and whatnot, Paris, France-based Minilogs lets users easily save, organize, remix and share different types of media, unlike a… -
Facebook launches new local currency payments API, gives developers till September 12 to switch from Credits
5 Jun 2013 | 11:27 amFacebook today announced the launch of its local currency payments API. At the same time, the company has given developers a fixed deadline to switch: Facebook Credits support will end on September 12, 2013. As a result, Facebook also plans to deprecate Payer Promotions for Facebook Credits, and will start to support Payer Promotions for local currency “within the coming months.” Facebook-sponsored support for TrialPay offers are also going away, though TrialPay will continue to support these for Facebook and its developers by offering a direct integration solution for developers. -
Twitter now lets you edit your profile inline, including drag and drop for header and background photos
31 May 2013 | 11:36 amTwitter today rolled out a revamp of its profile editing functionality: everything can now be done inline. This includes not only updating the information on your Twitter profile, but you can now drag and drop your header and background photos straight from your computer. Twitter engineer Patrick Ewing revealed the update in a tweet, along with a YouTube video to explain the feature further: You guys. We did it. Twitter has inline profile editing & drag and drop photo uploads! youtube.com/watch?v=ZkP8ri…Thank @jondkoon, who led this. — Patrick Ewing (@hoverbird) May 31, 2013 Twitter has…
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Rich Baker's Blog
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A retweet is not an endorsement.
3 Jun 2013 | 11:51 pmIt is an amplification of a tweet I have seen. I may agree with it. I may not agree with it. I may be shocked by it. I may be saddened by it. I may seek to encourage debate. I may want to raise awareness. It is not an endorsement. It is an amplification. -
Google Atmosphere - London 21 May 2013
20 May 2013 | 12:03 pmFor those that know me, since 2009 I've been active in the corporate social media space, pioneering the use of twitter for crisis PR and online customer service.Back then, it was a relatively new phenomenon, and the work I was doing was greeted with interest, scepticism and in some cases, fear. Myself and other early adopters predicted the impact social media would have on people and business - including what it would mean for how organisations are structured.I was hopeful that with this new way of communicating, and building relationships, the wall between customers and employees would thin,… -
This is Water
17 May 2013 | 7:19 amIn 2005, author David Foster Wallace was asked to give the commencement address to the 2005 graduating class of Kenyon College. However, the resulting speech didn't become widely known until 3 years later, after his tragic death. It is, without a doubt, some of the best life advice we've ever come across, and perhaps the most simple and elegant explanation of the real value of education.The totally awesome theglossary.com made this video, built around an abridged version of the original audio recording, with the hopes that the core message of the speech could reach a wider audience who might… -
Richard Baker @ Google+
25 Jan 2013 | 10:46 amSome healthy discussion (and disagreement!) happening on the Employee Engagement G+ Community! Join in!via plus.google.com -
I must be crazy..
29 Dec 2012 | 10:13 amMy New Year’s resolution? I’m giving up alcohol. For January. For Cancer Research UK.I know. Unbelievable but true! I’m becoming a Dryathlete.All through January I’m not going to touch alcohol. Now, if you know me even slightly you'll be aware that I like a drink. So this is a fairly hefty challenge for me.I’d love it if you could spare a few pence - the cost of a soft drink will do it! Every pound helps Cancer Research UK bring forward the day when all cancers are cured - and with one in three people having cancer at some point in their lives you'll…
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Courtney Engle
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Apple WWDC 2013
10 Jun 2013 | 10:10 amTesting out a liveblog plugin for WordPress by liveblogging WWDC. 39.9323987 -77.66025439999999 The post Apple WWDC 2013 appeared first on Courtney Engle. Read more by Courtney Engle Robertson. Courtney Engle - Helping Business Owners Unlock Hidden Profits by Streamlining Social Media, Local SEO, and Mobile Marketing - Chambersburg, PA -
In the Papers
24 May 2013 | 7:00 amWhat methods of advertising are you using in your business? Do you still advertise on terrestrial radio, over-the-air or even cable access television, or in print newspapers? Have you tried hanging fliers on community billboards? Do people use your business card to request service? While I am the first to suggest digital advertising options, in some markets may still work this way. I like digital because it’s easily measured and quantifiable. You can get specific phone numbers or direct people to specific pages within your your website if you really want to measure the results… -
Facebook sharing to pages on mobile
23 May 2013 | 7:00 amDid you notice that Facebook recently enabled mobile sharing to now include pages, groups, and friends timelines? I stumbled upon this rather accidentally. Click share on your Facebook mobile app and see what your options are. Now if we could just interact with other pages via the Facebook Pages app. 39.9323987 -77.66025439999999 The post Facebook sharing to pages on mobile appeared first on Courtney Engle. Read more by Courtney Engle Robertson. Courtney Engle - Helping Business Owners Unlock Hidden Profits by Streamlining Social Media, Local SEO, and Mobile Marketing - Chambersburg,… -
How to Import Tumblr into WordPress
22 May 2013 | 7:00 amDo you want to switch from Tumblr to WordPress and keep all your content? With the news that Yahoo is buying Tumblr, many people are starting to move to WordPress. The news of Yahoo’s acquire means that for those using Tumblr as their main website, it’s time to move. When Yahoo acquired news app Summly, it quickly shuttered the app and rolled its features into Yahoo’s news system. I would expect Tumblr to be rolled in, despite Marissa Mayer’s promise to not screw this up. We’ve seen the new features coming to WordPress that make it as easy to draft… -
Geotagging Your Website for Improved Localization
21 May 2013 | 7:00 amStanding out with Local SEO takes some work, but it isn’t too difficult. When I search for coffee in my town, I should get results for nearby coffee shops. If I go to another town, the results should reflect that location. How this happens is with a bit of code. Business Address First, you need to tell the search engines where your business is located. Your contact page and main page of your website should include your physical address in a way that is readable by search engines. For that, I like the Local SEO contact form, as well as the Local SEO plugin by Yoast. Additionally,…
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The Social Workplace
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Social Tools, Social Workplace?
30 May 2013 | 12:37 pmSource: Bring Your Own Service, Microsoft Press Release, May 27, 2013 Nearly half of employees report that social tools at work help increase their productivity, but more than 30 percent of companies underestimate the value of these tools and often restrict their use, according to new Microsoft research. The survey asked 9,908 employees in 32 countries and found that 39 percent of them feel there isn’t enough collaboration in their workplaces, and 40 percent believe social tools help foster better teamwork. More surprisingly, 31 percent said they are willing to spend their own money to buy… -
Star Trek Out of Darkness and Into Enterprise Mobility
17 May 2013 | 8:13 amThis article originally appeared: What Star Trek Can Teach Us About Enterprise Mobility, Citrix Online Photo courtesy of: Legoagogo via Flickr Being on the Starship Enterprise was like being in the workplace of the future. In fact the Enterprise operated with the same challenges that enterprises face today. Everyone had lots of devices, needed access to lots of different apps and desktops from these devices, and the ability to share data and do this with complete security and control. On top of that, everyone wanted the ability to work at any time, from any device and from anywhere. The… -
Commit. Engage. Excel. Keeping and Engaging Your Talent.
16 May 2013 | 12:28 pmTalentKeepers just released its 2013 Talent Engagement and Retention Trends Survey Report which is now the largest and longest running study of its kind. This year’s research signals another shift in nearly every aspect of how organizations manage human resources is underway, and finally this time the shift is signaling a brighter outlook. This optimism shows up in a wide range of measures as organizations gain confidence and take a longer view in planning their talent strategies. In all, it’s a great, comprehensive report and a valuable read for any human resources and employee… -
The Business Impacts of Talent Intelligence
13 Mar 2013 | 2:41 pmLast year, Oracle President Mark Hurd outlined the ways that executives can use HR intelligence to help them make better business decisions, shape the future of their organizations and improve the bottom line. He highlighted that talent management is one of the top three focus areas for CEOs, and explained how HR intelligence can help drive decisions to meet business objectives. Hurd urged HR leaders to use data to make fact-based decisions about hiring, talent management and succession to drive strategic growth. To win the race for talent, Hurd explained that organizations need powerful… -
Recognizing a Multigenerational Workforce this Employee Appreciation Day
1 Mar 2013 | 4:00 amHappy Employee Appreciation Day! In order to help you quickly identify generational differences as well as motivators and themes for recognizing employees of every generation appropriately, Michael C. Fina, a leading provider of global employee recognition and incentive programs, launched a new infographic: “Appreciating A Multigenerational Workforce”. The infographic allows managers and leaders to quickly identify generational differences as well as motivators and themes for appreciating employees of every generation appropriately. “While it is important to recognize employees every…
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CompuKol Connection » Blog
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Building Credibility as an Expert
18 Jun 2013 | 2:00 amAs you are building your credibility, there are many things that you can do before you actually meet a single client or prospective client. Positioning your brand is critical before you do anything else. Everything else will follow after that. Your first step Laying the groundwork is extremely important for your business. Of course, your business branding is of the utmost importance. The more prepared you are and the stronger your branding is, the more effectively you will be viewed by your clients and prospective clients. When you first start to build relationships and a reputation, you… -
The Twitter Relationship Stairway
6 Jun 2013 | 2:00 amAll things Twitter is upon us. You can do a simple search on Google and pull up a huge number of entries on Twitter or you can go to one of your favorite blogs and search for Twitter posts to reveal numerous articles. There is definitely a fascination with micromedia and this particular network. I must be fascinated too, as I seem to be using it as one of my main sources of communication these days. Will another type of network launch and fascinate me…sure, but for now, I think there’s a lot of opportunity for relationship building on Twitter. Because I have my TweetDeck open all… -
Reputation Management – Foresight is the Best Medicine
4 Jun 2013 | 2:00 amReputation management is a hot topic for companies, especially with social media and the growing importance of review sites and word of mouth referrals from friends and associates. While consumers do not always need to see 100% positive feedback, dealing with a larger scale reputation issue takes more work; in this case, proactively predicting issues is the best medicine. Even when companies take care to execute best practices, there is always the possibility that there could be one or two upset customers or even a disgruntled employee who can launch an attack online. Everyone knows the old… -
Having a User-friendly Landing Page for QR Codes
1 Jun 2013 | 2:00 amYour landing page on your website is critical to the success of your business. With technology at its current height of sophistication, considering QR codes in the design is critical to you. The purpose of your landing page The purpose of your landing page is to attract people and get your visitors to eventually be converted to people who will buy from you. With that in mind, it is important to understand that if not you don’t relate appropriately to your visitors, you may very well end up not being able to convert those visitors into leads at any point. Once a person lands on your landing… -
Running Effective Promotions Through Social Media
30 May 2013 | 2:00 amRunning promotions through your social media channels is an effective way to draw and engage more people than you ever had before. There are many ways to accomplish this and it should be part of your social media strategy. When it comes to promotions through your social media channels, it is important that you go about it in the most appropriate manner possible so that you are able to achieve whatever you want. There are several things that you should keep in mind before you even begin and if you follow this advice, your promotions will prove to be successful. What is needed to run a…
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all the news that's fit to blog, tweet & post
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SlideShare Adds a Great Social Dimension for Marketers
3 Jun 2013 | 1:02 pmIf I’ve said it once, I’ve said it at least a hundred times—one of the things I enjoy most about my work is the necessity to keep up with social platforms and what they can add for businesses. SlideShare was something that I hadn’t given much thought to until I started writing this new article, published on GigCoin today. Suffice to say, SlideShare is most definitely a force to be reckoned with! Read the full article on GigCoin. -
How to: Create Engaging Content
28 May 2013 | 3:44 amIs all content created equal? I think not. There’s some that is clearly more engaging than other types of content. The art of course is to know what will engage your target audience and once you’re confident–do more of it. Regularly. Today in my new article on Social Media Examiner, I discuss 26 Ways, an A-Z guide for creating engaging content. Read the full post. If you’ve found your way to my blog as a result of the article, welcome and thanks for stopping by. You may want to check out my portfolio. Feel free to drop me a line in the comments below or via… -
Latinos: Social & Mobile Study
15 May 2013 | 5:00 amI’m a big fan of Infographics, especially ones that are beautifully designed and illustrated plus contain a summary of valuable research. Love this one, Latinos on the Road: A Social and Mobile Ride, from Social Lens Research: -
Social Media Marketing Tips from #SMMW13
8 May 2013 | 5:18 amOver the past five years, social media marketing has grown by leaps and bounds. The rules of engagement have steadily been evolving and there’s now a body of tried and true experiences to learn from. Social media marketers have been asking for guidance and at Social Media Marketing World 13, their wishes were granted. I’d even go as far to say–exceeded. Today, in my new article on Social Media Examiner I discuss 26 Tips that resonated loud and clear over the two day conference. Read the full post. If you’ve found your way to my blog as a result of the article, welcome… -
Mobile Apps for Business and Social Networking
23 Apr 2013 | 4:30 amMobile apps have taken the business world by storm. Apps are targeted to specific interests and needs. And, can assist carrying out business tasks and networking on the go. Today, I have a new article on Social Media Examiner, 26 Mobile Apps to Improve Your Business and Networking. You can read the full post there. If you’ve found your way to my blog as a result of the article, welcome and thanks for stopping by. You may want to check out my portfolio. Feel free to drop me a line in the comments below or via the contact form.
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The Anti-Social Media
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Caturday
1 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amThe post Caturday appeared first on The Anti-Social Media. -
F*#& You! Friday – Blogging and Journalism
31 May 2013 | 4:00 amBloggers aren’t journalists. When a blogger accepts a gift as compensation and another gift to give away, that isn’t journalism. When a blogger spews her or her point of view with no facts, that isn’t journalism. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a blogger’s perspective and opinions. Just don’t forget they’re not out for factual accuracy and have an agenda to fulfill. The post F*#& You! Friday – Blogging and Journalism appeared first on The Anti-Social Media. -
Guest posts dilute personal blogs
30 May 2013 | 4:00 amI’ve been paying attention to a few personal blogs that have become less than personal. In our world of constant publishing, we’re all playing a desperate game chasing Internet celebrity and a meaningless personal brand. I get that. But what I don’t get is when every single post on your-name.com is a guest post from some no name hack. These posts claim to be written by some VP or CXO you’ve never heard of. Because someone’s title is supposed to lend them credibility. Right. In reality, we all know these guest posts were we written by a copywriter locked working… -
You don’t have to engage
29 May 2013 | 4:00 amSocial media birthed a cult of engagement. The engagement cult believes that no matter what, you need to respond to the mentions of your brand on social media. Have a comment? Better respond to it. Unfounded customer complaint on Twitter? Better answer it. Shitty product review? Better acknowledge it. And so on. The problems of the world will be solved if we simply engage them head on with a half-hearted line of text. But this isn’t true. For many brands, the sheer volume of mentions across media, both social and otherwise, is just too much for them to respond to in any kind of… -
Don’t try to impress me with your writing
28 May 2013 | 4:00 amI am a terrible writer. I use curse words. My paragraphs are two sentences. I almost always miss typos and grammar errors. Still, for all my flaws, I hate how you write. You try to impress complete strangers. You take too long to get to the point. Your Facebook posts are longer than War and Peace. You try to use long words to sound smarter than you are. Ugh. We live in a world of constant content. We birth millions of ideas, only to let them die within an instant. Quality has fallen by the wayside for quantity. The only thing we can hope for is the serendipity that a post, an image or a video…
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HubSpot's Inbound Marketing Blog
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5 Simple Ways to Boost the Impact of Your Marketing Automation Workflows
19 Jun 2013 | 1:00 pmWe've talked about the basics of marketing automation workflows quite a few times before. If you're reading this post, you are probably already running a few workflows. So I'm not going to talk about how to get them started -- though if you want a refresher, here is a pretty comprehensive guide. Instead, I want to talk about what to do after you've got a few workflows under your belt. I think many marketers (myself included) get so excited that they have some workflows running in the first place that they kind of forget about them once they are set up. Lots of people don't… -
Apple's iDilemma: Can Apple Escape the Whirlwind of Disruption?
19 Jun 2013 | 9:30 amIn 1997, Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen coined the term “Innovator’s Dilemma” to describe the situation in which a company becomes the victim of its own success and gets toppled by new technologies. The term gets bandied about quite a bit, but lately it has been applied to an unlikely target, a corporation that until recently has been seen as invincible, superhuman, and immune to the forces that disrupt ordinary organizations: Apple. Roger McNamee, co-founder of private equity firm Elevation Partners, tells Bloomberg TV: “Apple is caught in a classic… -
Must-Read Small Business Advice From Real Entrepreneurs [SlideShare]
19 Jun 2013 | 5:00 amSmall businesses are deceiving. Why? Because there's really nothing small about them. The ideas that spark them, the minds that lead them, the risks that advance them, and the heart that goes into them -- they're all pretty ... big. Not to mention, small businesses have been responsible for over 67% of the net new jobs created from mid-2009 to 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That ain't peanuts. We know that small businesses get their name from company size -- generally, businesses with fewer than 500 employees are considered "small" -- but I've always heard that… -
What You Need to Know This Morning: June 19, 2013
19 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amIf we were playing a game of Truth or Dare right now, and I choose "Truth," and your question was "What are you doing right now?," my answer would be "Sleeping." That's a lot of what-ifs, but it's my way of telling you that today is day one of a three-day staycation that I am so excited for. But it's also my way of showing you that I love you, dear reader. I wrote this roundup before I left with all the need-to-know stuff from the past 24-ish hours. (And seriously, this first one is like ... need to know stuff.) So hope you enjoy it! 1) Dumb Ways to Die Ads can work --… -
59% Say Running a Small Business Is Harder Today Than 5 Years Ago [INFOGRAPHIC]
18 Jun 2013 | 1:00 pmSmall businesses don't exactly have it easy. And with new marketing technologies emerging at a rapid pace in recent years, it's no wonder 59% of small business owners say it's harder to run a small business now than it was just five years ago. But "harder" may not necessarily be a bad thing, considering 72% of small business owners also expect their 2013 revenue to outperform their 2012 revenue. This all according to some new survey data from Constant Contact, brought to our attention by AllFacebook. The survey asked 917 small business owners to explain what it's like running their small…
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33 Charts
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Figure 1 – A Safe App for Medical Images?
15 Jun 2013 | 12:56 pmThe latest mobile app for doctors is Figure 1, which has been touted as ‘instragram for doctors.’ Figure 1 is a crowdsourced medical library that allows individuals to post clinical images from their mobile devices. The concept makes sense. Images in medicine represent a great way to teach and tell a story. But I’m bearish on Figure 1. Here’s why: Low barrier to post. Figure 1 facilitates ease of posting. Low barrier to entry is good when sharing pictures of you and your buds on the strip in Vegas. Immediacy and nowness isn’t so good when what we’re sharing requires… -
Doctors on the Record
11 Jun 2013 | 12:55 pmDuring a clinical encounter recently the mother I was visiting with reached down to the phone sitting on her chair and discreetly hit a red record button. Increasingly, parents are interested in recording their encounters with me. Sometimes one parent can’t be present for a visit. Perhaps the mother of an inconsolable 6-week-old wants to remember what her fatigued brain won’t allow. It got me wondering if my communication is different when I’m on the record? I think so. Recording a conversation isn’t necessarily the same as creating a useful piece of media. When… -
What Should Medical Students Know About Social Communication?
9 Jun 2013 | 11:00 pmAs you may or may not know, I am responsible for fashioning a new curriculum in digital literacy and professionalism at Baylor College of Medicine. I’ll offer more details over the coming weeks. Until then, I need your help. Concerning digital communication tools and the growing public space for dialog, what the things that you believe a graduating physician should know or be able to do? We have this well-detailed but I realized that there are people who read this blog who may be able to make some amazing contributions. And it seems that the more I think about this, the scope of… -
Doctors Using Social Media: No Longer New
9 Jun 2013 | 2:30 pmThis week marked the departure of blogger Mike Sevilla from public view. Operating as Doctor Anonymous in the earlier years of medical blogging, his colorful contributions to the big conversation will be missed. The thinking surrounding his decision is here. I have a couple of thoughts about Mike’s silence and how the world turns. Things aren’t like they used to be. The early days of blogging were magical in many respects, but they’re gone. And while we may romanticize the small world feel of the early years, there’s just as much about the mid-2000′s worth… -
Pool Safety and the Rise of Empty Health Messaging
1 Jun 2013 | 9:25 amIt’s June first. Cue up the pool safety blog posts. It’s a predictable part of every hospital’s editorial calendar and a rite of summer in the health infosphere. We want desperately to be timely and seasonal. But the end result is the same: Year after year, post after post, empty copy that fills space but falls flat. Content farming masquerading as stuff that anyone actually cares about has become the new norm for health communication. We fool ourselves into thinking that another search optimized, sterile, cookie cutter list of vapid, predicable tips make a difference. New…
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Talk It Up!
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8 Things I Learned from 8 Years in Podcasting
5 Jun 2013 | 9:19 amSecrets from a podcasting geek I am very much looking forward to this afternoon's talk on podcasting at the Emerging Media Conference! Thanks to the fabulous Jenn Matthews for inviting me to speak on one of my very favorite topics in the world: podcasting, that most intimate and enduring of social media. A sneak peek at my mini-keynote talk for this afternoon: -
Putting the "social" back in social media: IRL
29 May 2013 | 3:08 pmIt's easy to skip this week's social media event, especially when you're busy and it's cold and rainy. Here's why you shouldn't. I'll admit it; I've been out of the social media loop a bit lately, with Social Media Breakfast out of commission and my position at Spoken taking up most of my brain space. Plus, I figure, how many times can we really talk about how Facebook sucks now and how Tumblr and Vine are all the rage? What can you get from a live event that you can't get from Mashable? Last night, it was chilly, rainy and generally unpleasant going-out weather. But I'd missed the last few… -
How NOT to respond to negative comments on Facebook
19 May 2013 | 6:53 pmLessons learned from the Amy's Baking fiasco on Facebook I'll admit it: this post is primarily shadenfreude, only thinly masquerading as helpful advice. In the age of all-access internet, I find the actions of this couple quite hard to believe. The truth is that most of you are probably already aware that you shouldn't yell at people, call people names or lie on your company Facebook page. If I needed to tell you that, we would have a lot more work to do together before you typed one more keystroke in publicly available social media. However, some Samy and Amy Bouzaglo never got that message. -
Social Customer Service in Action
1 May 2013 | 4:50 pmAt the GartnerCRM summit, an enlightening session using real customer case studies and data to show the trends and techniques for winning customer service on social media Jenny Sussin, Principal Research Analyst at Gartner with a primary focus on social for CRM, gave this informative session on not only what is happening in terms of social customer management but also how to start initiatives and what to expect when you do. A brief summary of her presentation follows, with some of my own editorial comments thrown in. Approaching Social Considering that 340 million Tweets are exchanged every… -
Writing your own user manual
27 Apr 2013 | 8:27 pmThe session at #shesgeeky Seattle on writing your own user manual. Write your own user manual from Heidi Miller
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Wave: "tracking how people and brands use social media"
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Analysis of online reviews helps you find out why consumers bought your product
18 Jun 2013 | 2:17 amConsumers cite the reason for their purchase in 37% of online reviews, making those a valuable source of insight. Last week, we saw how online consumer reviews can help brands get specific feedback into every aspect of their product. In contrast, fan comments in brands’ own Facebook communities tend to be quite general and don’t offer as much detail. Extracting these purchase drivers can help brands focus on why consumers buy their product, whilst leaving aside likes and dislikes which don’t impact purchase. Consumers cite the reason for buying a product in their online… -
MAC Cosmetics, NASA and Oreo get personal with Facebook and Twitter fans – Top 10 social media lessons
12 Jun 2013 | 3:22 amLesson number four: Giving social communities a more personal edge can boost positivity and engagement. In the last few weeks, we’ve been celebrating our 500th blog article by going back through the years and picking the top ten social media lessons. Lesson three looked at how Twitter allows brands to provide real-time exclusive content. This week, lesson number four shows how brands have benefitted from building brand personas to address fan communities. Having a brand persona can help lift the corporate barrier, by helping the brand come across as just another friend or… -
Asking fans how they maintain their home drives fan conversation within home appliance communities
11 Jun 2013 | 4:15 amElectrolux, Zanussi and Whirlpool drive a higher proportion of consumer comments in both their Facebook and Twitter communities by asking fans questions about home-keeping. In the last few weeks, we have seen that consumers join white goods’ Facebook communities because they provide a space to discuss day-to-day running of the home and usage tips for home appliances. Brands such as Electrolux and Indesit, who focus a fifth of their content strategy on home-keeping topics, drive higher community engagement than others. This article looks more specifically at which white goods… -
Auto brands show Pinterest can be used to engage both men and women
7 Jun 2013 | 8:55 amAutomotive brands show that although Pinterest is a female-dominated social network, male-oriented brands can still use it to engage their target market. Considering that women account for almost 80% of Pinterest's user base, it's no surprise that the social network has been most popular among fashion, beauty, parenting and home decor brands. However, traditionally male-oriented brands such as automotive brands have also built Pinterest communities, in view of reaching as many consumers as possible. But are they reaching their target market? We looked at automotive brands Mercedes-Benz, Audi,… -
Nivea Venezuela use Twitter as a real conversation tool
7 Jun 2013 | 6:19 amNivea Venezuela show how brands can encourage positive online interaction on Twitter, by responding quickly to consumers tweeting at their handle. WaveMetrix have recently shown how analysing response time can help brands who use Twitter for customer service. However, for FMCG brands like Nivea, tweets from consumers tend to be positive and conversational rather than complaints. The challenge for them is to respond quickly in order to keep the consumer dialogue going and encourage further engagement. WaveMetrix analysis shows that @NiveaVenezuela respond to consumers tweeting at them…
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Social-Media
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Is Facebook The Next Myspace?
16 Jun 2013 | 12:59 pmFacebook, the hugely popular (originally Harvard based) social networking service, was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. Fast forward seven years and Facebook INC. has roughly one billion users and is the second most visited website worldwide – right behind Google. However, as of late Facebook has taken a slight dip in popularity, leaving competitive websites such as Twitter and Tumblr to gain user traction. Facebook is still attempting to claw their way back from a widely upsetting Initial Public Offering and critics… -
4 Surprising Trends Changing the Future of Retail Marketing
11 Jun 2013 | 3:31 amWe know that things are changing. I’m beginning to notice one industry changing faster than the rest… retail. The global retail brand’s consumer has/is evolving with the advent of new technology and channels. And with new channels…. comes the need to change strategy and tactics. With more marketing metrics and tactics than ever before, modern marketers must look at the current trends to prepare their strategies for the future. The four trends outlined in the presentation are as follows: The customer purchase journey is evolving. Multi-channel, omni-channel,… -
20 of the Best Email Designs in the Country (PDF)
30 May 2013 | 7:37 amAs many of you know, my team at ExactTarget’s goal is to help create white papers and research reports that make your (marketers) job easier. I’m proud to announce a new deliverable that was designed through internal and external research of hundreds of emails by our design team and Chad White. With the help of a Pinterest board, we tracked and organized the best email design in the country. This is the amalgamation of that Pinterest board. A swipe file is a record of your top-performing campaigns that you return to for learnings and ideas. It was this concept that inspired us to… -
5 Things You Shouldn’t Post On Your Social Media Sites
14 May 2013 | 1:35 pmSocial media is a superb item to use for marketing and promotion, but sometimes it can appear annoying to some of your followers without you even realizing it. Begging for “re-tweets” on Twitter is amongst one of the most annoying habits, and that does not include just me. According to David Siteman Garland at Rise to the Top, many users find this motive of begging annoying and many just surpass it when received. Spamming someone’s Facebook wall or Twitter timeline is another massive annoying habit. This includes posting links to someone’s wall or tagging them in pictures they have… -
My Journey Out of Debt Step #7: Pay Off Your Mortgage Early
3 May 2013 | 7:05 amDid you know that the vast majority of self-employed millionaire businesswoman (98%) are home owners? Not only that, but about one in three (34 percent) has a ZERO mortgage balance! One in five has a balance under $100,000, and only 4 percent has a balance of $500,000 or more. (SOURCE: Stanley, Thomas J., Millionaire Women Next Door, p 9). While some may argue that it’s more “tax-savvy” to maintain a mortgage on your primary residence, I perceive the benefits of a zero mortgage balance to outweigh the cons: 1. One of the biggest benefits of paying off your mortgage is…
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Web Ink Now
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PR vs marketing vs social media
18 Jun 2013 | 11:53 amOn the Web, there is very little differentiation between types of content. People don't really care where they get the best content: mainstream media, content created by organizations (what I call brand journalism) or things that people share via social media. Arguing that one is more legitimate (mainstream media) leads to flawed marketing and PR strategic decisions. In an offline world, marketing and PR are usually separate departments with different people and different skill sets. Creating silos in companies for marketing and for public relations and for social media doesn't work when… -
What Mick Jagger Teaches us about Public Speaking
13 Jun 2013 | 7:53 amLast night, my friend Nick Morgan and I caught the Mick Jagger Show... er, the Rolling Stones... in Boston. It was a terrific show. Nick is my speaker coach, so we used the Stones show as a "field trip" to watch a master performer in action. And boy, is Sir Mick a master. There is no doubt that anyone who speaks in public can learn from Mick Jagger. As Nick says, "Any time I get a chance to see a legendary performer like Jagger, I jump at it, because it's a chance to learn stagecraft useful for public speakers." The rest of this post is jointly authored: What Mick Jagger Teaches us about… -
Reinventing your product category for a new market
10 Jun 2013 | 6:53 amOne of the best parts of being active on the global speaking circuit a chance to learn from marketers working in a wide variety of businesses. Yesterday I delivered a keynote speech at the Oticon Marketing Boot Camp. Oticon is based in Copenhagen and is the oldest hearing aid manufacturer in the world. The Marketing Boot Camp is a gathering of 200 hearing care professionals, Oticon staff, and outside speakers. What do you think of when you consider hearing aids? I think of skin-tone colored instruments that people use but they want to hide. Usually, needing a hearing aid means you're getting… -
The revolution in business today
7 Jun 2013 | 2:50 pmI recently finished Mitch Joel's new book Ctrl Alt Delete: Reboot Your Business. Reboot Your Life. Your Future Depends on It and enjoyed it very much, I asked Mitch to answer some questions for us. As I was reading. it struck me how similar Mitch and I think. We're both talking about the revolution going on in business today, but we come at if from different perspectives. Oh, and we’re both live music fans Mitch is President of Twist Image - one of the largest independent Digital Marketing agencies in North America (although he prefers the title, Media Hacker). So while I spend my days… -
How long does it take you to respond?
3 Jun 2013 | 7:58 amOn Friday, I presented at BMA Blaze, the Business Marketing Association's annual conference. I delivered a mini-keynote and then led a panel In the Moment: How and Why to Do Real-Time B2B Marketing with: - Matt Petitjean, Vice President, Corporate Marketing, ADP - Rich Jurek, Group CMO, The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc. - Jeff Beringer, Global Practice Leader, Digital + Social Media, GolinHarris During my talk, I used an audience response system to get a sense of the 500 or so senior B2B marketers in the room. My question was "How long would it take you to respond online to a…
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DMM 月額アリスJAPAN ch 新着情報
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エステでハメられたボインちゃん 奥田咲
19 Jun 2013 | 12:43 pm129分奥田咲----アリスJAPANアリスJAPANエステ 単体作品 巨乳… -
超！！キモちE潮吹き 小島みなみ
19 Jun 2013 | 12:43 pm138分小島みなみ超！！○○アリスJAPANアリスJAPAN単体作品 潮吹き 美少女… -
美少女看護婦こじみナース 小島みなみ
19 Jun 2013 | 12:43 pm120分小島みなみ----アリスJAPANアリスJAPAN看護婦・ナース 単体作品 手コキ… -
メンズ潮吹きエステへようこそ 朝日奈あかり
19 Jun 2013 | 12:43 pm129分朝日奈あかりメンズ潮吹きエステへようこそアリスJAPANアリスJAPANエステ 潮吹き 手コキ… -
レイプ学園 文化祭ストリップショー 川上奈々美
19 Jun 2013 | 12:43 pm119分川上奈々美レイプ学園 文化祭ストリップショーアリスJAPANアリスJAPAN学園もの レイプ・強姦…
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We Are Social
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Top Facebook Pages in the US, May ’13
18 Jun 2013 | 8:13 amFollowing on from their UK report, Socialbakers have just released their top Facebook Pages in the US May 2013 report. The report delivers the rankings of the most popular, engaging and responsive US brand and media pages on Facebook, along with the top 3 most engaging individual posts from US pages this month. They’ve included Global pages alongside local US pages, ranked by their US fan count. -
Top Facebook Pages in the UK, May ’13
18 Jun 2013 | 3:04 amSocialbakers have just released their top Facebook Pages in the UK May 2013 report. The report delivers the rankings of the most popular, engaging and responsive UK brand and media pages on Facebook, along with the top 3 most engaging individual posts from UK pages this month. They’ve included Global pages alongside local UK pages, ranked by their UK fan count. -
We Are Social’s Monday Mashup #168
17 Jun 2013 | 11:48 amListening and responding in social media is vital to protect sales According to McKinsey, an unnamed telecoms brand found that negative online buzz hurt signups by 8%, effectively off-setting any gains from their entire TV spend. It underscores a really important point: it is quite literally pointless to put money into TV advertising if you are not also listening and responding to consumer queries and complaints on social channels. Fan-created content vital for brands on Youtube Research from Cisco has found that by 2017, online video will be even more popular than social networking. Although… -
Working with Clear Channel at Cannes
13 Jun 2013 | 8:23 amAs you may have read in Campaign, we’re thoroughly excited to be working together with Clear Channel Outdoor at this year’s Cannes Lions, on a series of Twitter-based debates exploring creativity in the modern world. Every day throughout the festival we’re inviting two influencers to lead a debate about a topic on their own Twitter feeds, using the hashtag #canvas. We’re working with some inspiring creatives, including Faris Yakob (award-winning strategist and creative director), Mark Cridge (founder of creative agency Glue), Laura Jordan Bambach (creative director at… -
Vine – the good, the bad and the ugly
12 Jun 2013 | 8:18 amThe Wall recently carried the following article from me, commenting on the rise of Vine and how brands are beginning to use the platform. There have been various battles to try and win the short form video war over the last few years. We’ve seen a number of platforms have a stab at it; Viddy, Cinemagram, Socialcam, YouTube Capture, ptch, Threadlife, Klip… the list goes on. Despite some decent attempts, and the occasional celeb backing, no clear winner emerged. Then along came Vine. Set up last year, and bought for an undisclosed sum from Twitter in October, it took the short video world…
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tcapushnpull.com
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How to Translate Your Social Media Metrics into Sales
19 Jun 2013 | 10:30 amIt’s a given that almost all brands are present on social media these days. So now, CEOs and COOs are looking to community managers and saying, “Show me the money!” We’ve already discussed the importance of providing clients regular reports, but it’s also good {and in your best interest as a community manager} to know how your actions will in turn, create sales and revenue for your client. There are lots of tools out there to help you show your boss’s boss the stats. But what you really need to know is how social media terms translate into sales. Think of it as a series of… -
So, Your Franchisees Have Social Media Accounts; What Now?
14 Jun 2013 | 12:46 pmHaving your franchisees manage their own social media accounts can be both beneficial, and challenging. If managed well, they can drive sales and spread your messaging. If managed poorly, they can cause an avalanche of damages ranging from brand disconnect, to full on PR crisis.We’ve laid out the pros and cons of allowing franchisees to have social accounts. If you have decided that this works for your business, then the next step to having a successful campaign is creating social media guidelines for your employees and community managers. Creating a social media marketing guide… -
Instagram: Revolutionizing Brand’s Visual Marketing Campaigns
7 Jun 2013 | 5:58 amA picture’s worth a thousand words, right? So maybe that’s one of the reasons why Instagram recently catapulted into social media stardom. Or maybe it’s because when Facebook purchased the visual marketing platform, it grew 500% in one year. Whatever the reason, Instagram firmly planted itself in the professional social media ring in early 2013. As all platforms do, when they first start out, Instagram was a great place to share what you were doing, eating, where you were going and who you were with throughout your daily life — but solely visually.But as all social media platforms… -
How to Host a Mini-Campaign on Social Media
31 May 2013 | 12:51 pmLast week we talked about The Five Reasons to Hire an Agency for Digital Management, two of the most important reasons being strategy and integration.Many people still believe that managing a brand’s social media accounts are the same as managing your own personal accounts. Unfortunately accounts that follow the “fly by the seat of your pants” method tend to fall short. Users are left wondering what they’re actually getting out of being a fan. If you don’t have the budget or manpower to run a full-on social media campaign, the best thing to do to keep your page lively and on point… -
Five Reasons to Hire an Agency for Digital Management
24 May 2013 | 8:13 amWith the influence of social media growing rapidly, more and more business leaders are seeing the importance of creating and maintaining a presence on the plethora of social platforms. Social media marketing allows brands to interact with consumers in a completely different way than ever before. We have clients who come to us with other marketing needs but maintain their social media management in-house. While we understand it may be more economical for businesses to make these decisions, we strongly advise against this and recommend that you hire an agency {preferably us!} to manage your…
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Social Media Network - Marketing
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How To Post On Facebook With #HashTags And Yet Be Legible - Social Media
16 Jun 2013 | 12:05 pmRecently Facebook introduced #HashTags. They are amazingly useful when you want to find and be found as well. However for your Audience to read this is a little difficult. Have you seen Posts that have almost every alternate word #Hashtaged?!Soon your Posts will be meeting a blind eye. Your Audience will not be looking at your Post. With the result while you will be found in plenty of searches you will not be able to create interaction and a relationship with your existing Audiences. Here is a solution to this:Post your Content on Facebook without #HashTags. Below your… -
How To Promote Your Facebook Page On Facebook Without Spending - Social Media
10 Jun 2013 | 2:34 amSpreading your Facebook Page becomes a huge necessity in your Marketing efforts. Promotion takes place via Facebook and outside media. On Facebook you need to Post on Status Update what you are doing with regards to your Facebook Page. Inform people on why they should join your Page. Why should they like it. It is important for them to know two things: One is that your Facebook Page is ready for them to join The other is to get them to know why they should join. I have seen many promotions talking about the Page and that it is a fantastic Page that one is… -
The One Small Difference Between B To C And B To B Social Media Execution
2 Jun 2013 | 12:30 pmFrom your Clientele list you know how many of the Business Houses are on Social Media. Business Houses could be selling to Consumer B-C or to another Business House B-B. Whatever be the Target Audience - if Client's Audience is on Social Media then your Client too is required to be present there. You also know that the way to Communicate for B-C and the B-B Audiences is little different. Not that any should be non-creative thinking. However the desired results from the Communication drive us to think appropriately. Similarly, when you are on Social… -
How To Analyse And Measure / The ROI Metrics For Social Media
21 May 2013 | 4:15 amMeasuring Social Media can end up being a tedious task if not done with right Objective. You need to be clear on what exactly you are looking at. Measuring will go hand in hand with the objective and the reason as to why you ventured onto Social Media Platform. It is essential that you discuss and make sure that every concerned person is in tune with your Measuring Metrics. This is to be done at the very beginning. Over the course of time as your Page Members grow there will be fine tuning and tightening of the Metrics; however it is best to have a direction from… -
Social Media BackLinks
5 May 2013 | 9:55 amA very big part of managing and nurturing your Social Media Business / Brand Page is to be found on Search Engines. Other important reasons are Brand Image, Customer Care, Relationship Building etc. Search Engines like Google.com have been long enough on the net to know how to recognize good and healthy links and url. One of the ways to come up ahead on the search engine listings is to have BackLinks. Technically, BackLink is an inbound html code that points to your website. You probably are wondering why you would want a BackLink. This means that,…
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Simply Zesty Blog Posts
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Apple To Sell Video Ads on iTunes Radio & Apple TV
19 Jun 2013 | 9:30 amiTunes Radio, Apple's free streaming music service, isn't going to be out until Autumn, but the company has already thought of the ways in which it will advertise to users. -
Why Using The Force On The Elevator Is A Bad Idea
19 Jun 2013 | 8:00 amIt would be cool to have the powers of the Force, but just think of all the trivial things you could do with such a power. This prank, played on students at King's College London sees it being used to open elevator doors for no reason. -
Facebook's Business Gets Boost As It Hits 1 Million Active Advertisers Mark
19 Jun 2013 | 7:00 amIt's always nice to celebrate a milestone, and Facebook has gone for a rather low-key celebration as it revealed that it now has one million active advertisers on the site. -
Why Does Twitter Hate Its Desktop Apps So Much?
19 Jun 2013 | 5:47 amTwitter has a major problem. While it refuses to improve the static experience that is its website, it also seems content with running its extended apps, Tweetdeck and Twitter for Mac and PC, into the ground. -
Agency Stops Constant Smartphone Checking In Bars With Novel Approach
19 Jun 2013 | 4:00 amIf you or your friends suffer from the problem of constantly checking your phone any time you're in the pub, one ad agency has come up with a way of stopping this habit.
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FutureComms
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HTC One: ‘Mobile of the Year’ or ‘Over-Hyped Toy’?
10 Jun 2013 | 2:42 amImage Credit: DailyTech When the good people at Phones 4u gave me the opportunity to get my grubby mits on the new HTC One smartphone, I jumped at the opportunity. As an Android devotee and a loyal HTC customer who has an upgrade due imminently, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. How does the latest HTC handset cope as a full-on comms device? Can it really compete with Samsung’s Galaxy S4? And can it revive the ailing company’s fortunes? Let’s find out… First Impressions The HTC One is fast. Very fast. But more on that in a moment. The first thing you notice about the One is… -
Stats that Explode the Myth that Facebook Promoted Posts Suck. (Maybe)
5 Jun 2013 | 5:02 amImage credit: The Guardian With Facebook becoming an increasingly pay-to-play platform for brands, Page administrators are often left with little choice but to use the promoted posts function in order to reach the very people who’ve signed up to get their news and updates. Promoted posts are widely rounded upon for being extortionately expensive, especially when compared to standard Facebook CPC/CPM advertising. I’ve not exactly shied away from vocalising my own irritation at this state of affairs, but the fact is that Facebook’s not about to reverse its business model anytime soon, so… -
How Mobile Devices are Changing Shopping Behaviour [Infographic]
30 May 2013 | 1:12 amThe development of mobile devices is changing the face of online shopping. Over 85% of global internet users use the web to make purchases, resulting in a worldwide e-commerce economy worth in the region of $1 trillion. A new infographic from Dell highlights some of the key changes in behaviour that smartphones and tablets are prompting. And a quick look at some of the key statistics reveals some of the psychology of shoppers using mobile devices. Incredibly, 81% of smartphone purchases are spontaneous and unplanned. It would appear that the purchase barrier is significantly lower on a tablet… -
Why Facebook Really Doesn’t Give a Toss that You Hate It
28 May 2013 | 7:33 amIf you’re an admin of a Facebook page, you’ll more than likely be growing more and more pissed off with the way the site is developing. Advertising has gone from being an optional extra to being a front-and-centre, in-your-face necessity if you want to communicate with the community you’ve lovingly cultivated over the last few years. And yet when you use it from a personal perspective, you’re only too aware that the increasingly invasive nature of the ads in your own newsfeed is getting out of control and irritating. It’s impacting user experience, and that’s not good news… -
The True Reason for the Death of Post
23 May 2013 | 3:20 amThe postal service has been under threat for many years. Since the widespread adoption of forms of electronic messaging (primarily SMS and email) in the late 90s, the death knell has been touted as just around the corner for ‘snail mail’. In retaliation and, perhaps, preparation for the inevitable, long-time post guardian the Royal Mail (in the UK) has attempted to modernise and to diversify; to drag itself into the 21st century. But after listening to an interview on BBC Radio 4 yesterday morning on my way to work, I can categorically say that the postal service will die. Soon. It seems…
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The Sociable
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Firefox, not Apple or Android, will become Nokia’s biggest competitor in the smartphone market
11 Jun 2013 | 1:52 pmNokia, in recent years, has been a company afflicted with mixed fortunes. While the Espoo giant attempts to remain optimistic about its fortunes (and indeed, some good news stories have been coming) there have been several high-profile setbacks. While the phone manufacturer has become the largest selling handset in many developing markets, it has, embarrassingly lost top spot in its home market to Samsung. However, the Finnish phone company has seen some important growth. The company has overtaken ailing BlackBerry to become the world’s third most popular phone maker, and its devices have… -
Why Yahoo! buying Hulu is the best move they can make
10 Jun 2013 | 1:00 pmMarissa Meyer has pushed full-forward on Yahoo!’s new personality, attempting to inject something of what made Google great into the ailing search engine company and bringing it well and truly into the 21st century. In recent months, there have been several cultural changes, not least of all, the controversial ‘home ban’, stipulating that employees must now work from Yahoo! Offices, but also a spate of high profile purchases. Most recently, Tumblr which went for a cool $1 billion and Summly an app developed by a 17 year old London teen, who is now worth €20 million. Now, Yahoo! has… -
All the winners from the 2013 Irish Social Media Awards #sockies13
30 May 2013 | 2:52 pmO2 Ireland were the run away winners at this year’s Social Media Awards, bagging three gongs – including the Grand Prix. At a packed event in Dublin’s Clyde Court Hotel there were the usual shenanigans we expect from the sockies – audience members were soaked, inappropriate jokes were made, and epic space hopper battles were had (the space hoppers were removed from the room). But the biggest battle was between last year’s Grand Prix winners, Vodafone, and their main rivals, O2 Ireland. Although they swept the board last year Vodafone lost out to O2, who took… -
Interview: How to get your start in the digital marketing industry
21 May 2013 | 2:50 pmIt’s usually the first rule of SME marketing – don’t let the work experience guy near your company’s social media accounts. But with more freshmen opting for digital marketing degrees, and more small companies using the social web to reach their customers does this ‘rule’ stand any more? Next Saturday, May 25, one of Ireland’s leading digital marketers, Damien Mulley, will be hosting a free digital marketing seminar that will help students get their start in the digital marketing world. Speakers from the industry will explain what it’s like to be a digital marketer and… -
Starbucks and McDonalds, not Google or Nokia, will decide the future of wireless charging
20 May 2013 | 2:30 pmMany of the day-to-day technologies we now take for granted have been brought about by corporate sponsorship, i.e. a single company or conglomerate throwing its weight behind one idea or another. The latest corporate power struggle is one that’s quite literal. Several companies are arguing over the future standard of wireless charging. And those that could influence the decision the most won’t be technology companies. The argument currently raging is one of power, between the Power Matters Alliance (PMA) and the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Both these companies believe that…
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Pam Marketing Nut
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Ultimate Content Marketing Editorial Calendar Template Every Marketer Needs
18 Jun 2013 | 3:10 amContent marketing is at the core of every business regardless of your industry, niche, age of company or primary communication medium used. Social media, blogs, websites, podcasts, videos, YouTube Hangouts, Twitter chats, in person meetups and network events all center around conversation and engagement. At the core of any conversation is content. What is content marketing? Content marketing is an umbrella term encompassing all marketing formats that involve the creation and sharing of content in order to engage current and potential consumer bases. Content marketing subscribes to the… -
25 Signs You’re a Social Media Tool Bag!
15 Jun 2013 | 10:00 amWe’ve all seen them. The people who preach all day about quality over quantity and relationships yet they buy followers, fans and tweet 500-1000 auto tweets a day. Call them fake, tool bags, trying to get by. Call them whatever ya’ want it doesn’t really matter. They fool a few people with their fake social proof. That is, until they do the double click. Eventually the truth usually comes out and the smoke and mirrors are revealed. If not, those who believe usually become a clone of them. It’s been a long time since I wrote a post of this sort. I figured, what the… -
Social Media Strategy: No, You Don’t Need the Kitchen Sink
13 Jun 2013 | 7:55 amHow many times have we heard business leaders state “but I have tried everything and we are seeing no results using social media”? Let’s break down the statement “I have tried everything but have no results.” Results - When you say results what exactly do you mean? What are you measuring? Did you actually set goals and objectives? Do you know what your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are? Do you know what success looks like? If you haven’t set goals, don’t have KPIs and don’t know what success looks like then how can you say you are not… -
IBM’s Survey Says… It’s Time to Own the Customer Experience! #GetRealChat Recap
10 Jun 2013 | 8:29 amWhat are leading marketers doing different to drive better engagement, build relationships and business result? How are they using technology, cross-channel marketing, email marketing, mobile marketing, data, analytics and collaboration to deliver upon their brand promise? How are they using all of these things to design the best possible customer experience at every touch point? How are they making decisions? How quickly are they embracing new social and mobile and location based strategies and tactics? IBM recently released their 2013 State of Marketing Survey which included a survey of… -
Big Data + People + IBM #SmarterCommerce = Passion. Huh?
5 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amWhat do you get when you add together big data, people, and IBM Smarter Commerce? Yes, it’s true. You get passion. The past week I have been trying to narrow it down to one single word to describe my experience at the IBM Smarter Commerce 2013 event in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference was held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. IBM did an amazing job at combining great business with great fun. Amazing tracks, conversations and the event was even capped off with a fantastic concert at the the Grand Ole Opry House featuring Foreigner, Gin Blossoms and Uncle…
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MachoArts | Design, Social Media, Blogging tipsMachoArts | Design, Social Media, Blogging tips
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The Photography Fad of Our Day
18 Jun 2013 | 3:20 amToday everything is about the “now.” We are an immediate society who thrives on expediency and deliverance in the moment we request it. More people in the world have cell phones, and a majority of those phones have cameras. There is so much information rushing through the world today, and all of us seem to be finding our way into the current. Digital information is always immediate, and with so many cameras and digital media websites it’s no wonder we are deemed the “YouTube Generation.” If we’re going to be thrust into such an advance digital age, why not accept The post The… -
5 Web Design Mistakes Novices Make
9 May 2013 | 4:25 amAs a web designer or business owner, you’ve probably seen it all when it comes to novice web design creations. On the one hand, it’s understandable that small-business owners need to stay within budget while getting their online business up and running. What they don’t understand is that sometimes the shortcuts that save money in the short-run end up costing a lot more down the line. These five web design mistakes are ones you can present to potential customers when trying to help them understand why it’s worth their while to pay for your services. In the end, having a The post 5 Web… -
Friday Photography Inspiration #89
26 Apr 2013 | 12:39 pmThis post is a part of our weekly photography inspiration series. Each Friday we feature some of the most professional and amazing photographs captured by talented photographers from all around the world. Here are latest photographs for your inspiration. If you like this post feel free to share it on Twitter and Facebook. Photography Quote of the Week: “While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see.” – Dorothea The post… -
Experimental photography: long exposure, infra-red and special lenses
25 Apr 2013 | 12:40 pmExperimental photography is perfect for those who are tired of taking normal photos. Allowing photographers to throw out the rule book and truly express their creativity, experimental photography can produce some fascinating and unique shots. With a vast array of experimental techniques out there, there are virtually no limits to what types of photo can be achieved. From being savvy with camera settings to utilizing special lenses, there are plenty of ways to get some awe-inspiring shots. Here is a guide to experimental photography, and some ideas on how to take some excellent, albeit… -
Would You Turn Down a High Five From Tom Selleck? No – and You Shouldn’t Turn Down Outbound Links Either
24 Apr 2013 | 6:44 pmA nasty rumor has been going around the web and it has caused a lot of problems for bloggers, webmasters, SEOs, link builders, and even site visitors and readers. In an effort to hold on to Google’s ever important PageRank, some people are unwilling to link out to other websites and only link internally within their own site. The thought being that linking out to websites will make their PageRank flow right out the door and they’ll lose everything they’ve been striving for. But this is a backwards way to approach the web and it creates a poor web experience The post Would You Turn Down…
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Jessica Malnik
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The Future Of Content Marketing
8 Jun 2013 | 8:43 pmWhen Scott Monty, Gary Vaynerchuk and C.C. Chapman, three of the best and brightest minds of our industry (people who I respect to an umpteenth most degree), get into a Twitter debate on the future of content marketing, you better believe I would be paying attention. If you haven’t already, I would highly recommend reading their full exchanges. Here’s Gary’s second video. And, I would strongly encourage you to read Scott’s post, related to Gary’s intial article on Forbes, here. Pure brilliance. With all the epic points being spilled out in 140 characters… -
My No BS Advice For 2013 College Grads
2 Jun 2013 | 10:30 pmHere’s a dirty little secret. Your college degree doesn’t matter. It’s just a piece of paper that you spent thousands- if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in tuition money- to get after walking across that big shiny stage. Your college classes, college major and that shiny piece of paper with your name on it (ie. diploma) don’t define you. Anyone can learn how to artfully cram for a test, and memorize countless theories, statistics and historical events. For those who know me, I know you are probably shocked I wrote that. I went to college and got my degree in… -
The History of Typography (VIDEO)
12 May 2013 | 12:09 pmFor those who don’t know, I’m a bit of a font nerd. I’m fascinated by how much typography has changed over the years. I came across this awesome stop-motion video on Vimeo on the history of typography. I couldn’t resist sharing it here. The History of Typography – Animated Short from Ben Barrett-Forrest on Vimeo. -
What Makes A Great Conference?
9 May 2013 | 7:29 pmI’ve always had two views of conferences. They are either really good for networking and getting the pulse for the community or they are focused on actionable takeaways with insightful examples. I have never seen a conference master both really well. Until I went to Userconf in NYC last week. For those who aren’t aware, Userconf is a conference entirely around customer support, specifically geared to community managers, support managers, product managers, and anyone interested in learning how to create awesome customer touchpoints. It’s put on by Uservoice and CoSupport. -
Is The “Social Media Kool-Aid” Running Out?
21 Apr 2013 | 10:18 pmWill 2013 be the year social media pros stop drinking the kool-aid? I recently read a great post from John Trader on PR Breakfast Club on this very topic. John(@john_trader1) wrote: “2013 is the year that we start to think about the unique qualities that define our own markets and how we can leverage industry advice based on custom metrics that drive meaningful analytics instead of a knee jerk reaction that incorporates advice without taking into consideration the wants and needs of our own communities.” I couldn’t agree more with John’s analysis. The days of carefree…
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Smedio
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10 Must-Have Marketing Technologies
17 Jun 2013 | 8:35 amOver the years, there have been drastic and rapid changes in marketing technologies. In fact, advances in the technology behind online marketing take place so frequently it’s a challenge to keep up with everything. Marketing professionals also have to carefully examine how any new marketing technologies will work with new and existing marketing initiatives. With all of the marketing tools and solutions available to help with marketing automation, customer relationship management, social media, analytics, email, and project management, it’s easy to lose focus. Here are 10 must-have digital… -
Tony Hawk and Operation Smile: Spreading Joy One Smile at a Time
12 Jun 2013 | 2:26 pmThis post was co-written by Amy Neumann. Watching a child beam with joy, a wide smile across her face, can fill you with wonder, awe, and inspiration. The happiness children carry with them is unbounded and expressed at every opportunity, big or small. But for some children with cleft lip or cleft palate, even the simple human emotion of smiling is impossible. Operation Smile, and world-renowned athlete Tony Hawk, are on a mission to create more smiles. “To most of us a smile is an effortless expression. Something we take for granted, like eating, speaking, socializing. There are… -
Goodsearch: Your Simple, Everyday Online Actions Can Help Others
10 Jun 2013 | 1:48 pmThis was co-written by Amy Neumann. The best portion of a good life is little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness… ~ William Wordsworth In a recent interview with Scott Garell, CEO of Goodsearch, we talked about some of the ways their “search with heart” model has grown, now encompassing multiple ways your simple, everyday online actions can help your favorite cause. More than 15 million people used Goodsearch last year to support more than 100,000 non-profits and schools. Since 2006, Goodsearch users have raised more than $9 million, participated in over 1.1 billion… -
7 Offline Activities That Drive Online Success
4 Jun 2013 | 10:49 amI’d like to share my thoughts on a topic that’s rarely discussed: offline tactics for driving online business success. Many internet marketers who promote the so-called “internet lifestyle” fail to mention that much of their online success is the result of actions they took offline. In some cases, focusing on the right offline activities can give you more ROI than online marketing. Here are seven activities you can take that will boost your online business. 1. Invest in quality business cards Business cards may seem low-tech and old-fashioned but they are still as effective as ever. -
How to Optimize Your Marketing for the Visual Marketing Revolution
21 May 2013 | 11:25 pmThe growing impact of visual elements in content development has given birth to a new kind of marketing – visual marketing. These elements include photos, videos, infographics, comics, memes, slideshows, and other visual content. One reason for the growth of this trend is in many cases, data and complex ideas are more clearly expressed through visual imagery. Moving forward, any effective marketing campaign will need to make use of a strategic combination of visual marketing content. What is visual marketing? Visual marketing is the strategy of using visual aids to communicate your…
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ReelSEO Video Marketing
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Apple Video Finds Emotionally Compelling Stories in Apps
19 Jun 2013 | 1:30 pmApple's "Making A Difference...One App at a Time" is a great example of telling stories and compelling audiences rather than strictly saying "Look at us and all these great things we can do!" type of ad. Finding an emotional resonance in your video is one of the chief aspects you look for in video creation. -
Charity: Water Shows How Video E-Mail Campaigns Can Be Successful
19 Jun 2013 | 11:30 amA recent study in the e-mail video campaign of charity: water sheds light on how to create an e-mail campaign that works, that compels rather than annoys. The trick: only send to people who want to receive these e-mails, don't ask for the money, and compel people to want to help. -
Can A Mobile Phone Shoot Business Videos? [ReelRebel #42]
19 Jun 2013 | 9:30 amUsing the camera in your phone to shoot a business video can be an attractive thing for people looking to create video on the cheap. Unfortunately, with these types of cameras, the limitations are such that there are very few instances when it makes sense to use them. -
5 Tools Online Video Marketers Can Use for Best ROI
19 Jun 2013 | 7:30 amDiscover 5 tools to help you leverage your online video marketing. From video hosting to rich-content social media posts, we'll take you through some of the most innovative services for displaying and sharing your videos online. -
Vine Catching Up to YouTube In Social Media Engagement
18 Jun 2013 | 12:30 pmA new study conducted by SocialBakers is seeing some pretty impressive gains by Vine compared to YouTube when it comes to engagement rates on Twitter. Vine has only been around for 6 months and for the most part, only on iOS, so catching up to YouTube on the social media platform is impressive.
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gabycastellanos.com
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Oferta de Trabajo: WANTED: Cultural Content Manager by socialphilia
27 May 2013 | 8:36 am¿Crisis? ¿¡QUÉ CRISIS!? Como ya sabéis socialphilia goes global, estamos en España y estamos en Latinoamérica, por eso te buscamos a ti, estés donde estés, para unirte a nuestro equipo. Creemos en el karma y confiamos en el dharma, quizás todo esto te suene a chino pero no importa, todo lo que tú debes saber es esto: WANTED: Cultural Content Manager Hombre o mujer, con experiencia en Social Media (al menos tres años) y amante de la cultura. Ojo, no buscamos un cultureta, buscamos a alguien con intereses serios y reales para cubrir el puesto de Content Manager… -
Oferta de Trabajo: WANTED: Social Media Strategist by socialphilia
22 May 2013 | 8:43 am¿Creías que ya lo habíais visto todo? ¡NO! Seguimos reclutando al mejor equipo ever y tenemos una nueva oferta de trabajo que ofreceros. Como ya sabéis socialphilia goes global, estamos en España y en Latinoamérica, por eso te buscamos a ti, estés donde estés, para unirte a nuestro equipo. Creemos en el karma y confiamos en el dharma, quizás todo esto te suene a chino pero no importa, todo lo que tú debes saber es esto: WANTED: Social Media Strategist Hombre o mujer, con experiencia en Social Media (al menos tres años). Buscamos un cerebrito, alguien que sea fan de los… -
Oferta de trabajo: WANTED: Content Manager para socialphilia
21 May 2013 | 5:59 amEsta semana estamos más emocionados que cuando se juntaron por última vez las Spice Girls, así que ¡aprovechad! Como ya sabéis socialphilia goes global, estamos en España y en Latinoamérica, por eso te buscamos a ti, estés donde estés, para unirte a nuestro equipo. Creemos en el karma y confiamos en el dharma, quizás todo esto te suene a chino pero no importa, todo lo que tú debes saber es esto: WANTED: Content Manager Hombre o mujer, con experiencia en Social Media (al menos tres años) y con la capacidad de crear contenido de interés para una de las marcas “más… -
WANTED: Entertainment Digital Manager by socialphilia
20 May 2013 | 7:13 amYa sabéis lo que dicen, crisis significa oportunidad así que prepárate porque esta puede ser la tuya. Como ya sabéis socialphilia goes global, estamos en España y estamos en Latinoamérica, por eso te buscamos a ti, estés donde estés, para unirte a nuestro equipo. Creemos en el karma y confiamos en el dharma, quizás todo esto te suene a chino pero no importa, todo lo que tú debes saber es esto: WANTED: Entertainment Digital Manager Hombre o mujer, con experiencia en Social Media (al menos tres años) manejando equipos de Community Managers, que siga por lo menos 3 series de TV (os… -
Me encanta: Sport Club Do Recife : Immortal Fans
24 Apr 2013 | 1:16 pmCuando las cosas estan bien hechas, hay que aplaudirlas. Mis queridos amigos y compañeros de Ogilvy Brasil han hecho esta maravillosa campaña para el Sport Club Do Recife, que da gusto verla, a que si? Con un concepto maravilloso, “Fans inmortales: tus organos seguiran disfrutando del equipo” es uno de los mejores gritos a fans que he leido/escuchado en mi vida. No solo emociona, sino ademas hace que los fans sean mas fans, “prometo que mi corazon seguira latiendo por el Sport”, hermosas palabras que hace que a una que no le guste el futbol (a mi) se haga fan del…
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Pam Marketing Nut
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Ultimate Content Marketing Editorial Calendar Template Every Marketer Needs
18 Jun 2013 | 3:10 amContent marketing is at the core of every business regardless of your industry, niche, age of company or primary communication medium used. Social media, blogs, websites, podcasts, videos, YouTube Hangouts, Twitter chats, in person meetups and network events all center around conversation and engagement. At the core of any conversation is content. What is content marketing? Content marketing is an umbrella term encompassing all marketing formats that involve the creation and sharing of content in order to engage current and potential consumer bases. Content marketing subscribes to the… -
25 Signs You’re a Social Media Tool Bag!
15 Jun 2013 | 10:00 amWe’ve all seen them. The people who preach all day about quality over quantity and relationships yet they buy followers, fans and tweet 500-1000 auto tweets a day. Call them fake, tool bags, trying to get by. Call them whatever ya’ want it doesn’t really matter. They fool a few people with their fake social proof. That is, until they do the double click. Eventually the truth usually comes out and the smoke and mirrors are revealed. If not, those who believe usually become a clone of them. It’s been a long time since I wrote a post of this sort. I figured, what the… -
Social Media Strategy: No, You Don’t Need the Kitchen Sink
13 Jun 2013 | 7:55 amHow many times have we heard business leaders state “but I have tried everything and we are seeing no results using social media”? Let’s break down the statement “I have tried everything but have no results.” Results - When you say results what exactly do you mean? What are you measuring? Did you actually set goals and objectives? Do you know what your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are? Do you know what success looks like? If you haven’t set goals, don’t have KPIs and don’t know what success looks like then how can you say you are not… -
IBM’s Survey Says… It’s Time to Own the Customer Experience! #GetRealChat Recap
10 Jun 2013 | 8:29 amWhat are leading marketers doing different to drive better engagement, build relationships and business result? How are they using technology, cross-channel marketing, email marketing, mobile marketing, data, analytics and collaboration to deliver upon their brand promise? How are they using all of these things to design the best possible customer experience at every touch point? How are they making decisions? How quickly are they embracing new social and mobile and location based strategies and tactics? IBM recently released their 2013 State of Marketing Survey which included a survey of… -
Big Data + People + IBM #SmarterCommerce = Passion. Huh?
5 Jun 2013 | 3:00 amWhat do you get when you add together big data, people, and IBM Smarter Commerce? Yes, it’s true. You get passion. The past week I have been trying to narrow it down to one single word to describe my experience at the IBM Smarter Commerce 2013 event in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference was held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. IBM did an amazing job at combining great business with great fun. Amazing tracks, conversations and the event was even capped off with a fantastic concert at the the Grand Ole Opry House featuring Foreigner, Gin Blossoms and Uncle…
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Social4Business
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Learn how to Plan your Social Media Content
17 Jun 2013 | 7:21 amOne of the biggest issues many business owners have with social media is: “What to Say Online” So, if this is your same thinking… do not panic. It is very common for many businesses to make the jump to using online marketing and social media for their business and then get stopped once they throw [...]The post Learn how to Plan your Social Media Content appeared first on Social4Business. Related posts: 8 Steps to Creating your Social Media Marketing Plan Planning your Social Media Content Learn more about Social Media for your Business -
What’s Trending Online?
13 Jun 2013 | 1:00 amKnowing what is trending online with regards to social media marketing is key for businesses and to consider incorporating into their online marketing plans. IMAGES…PICTURES…GRAPHICS...It’s all the same – something visual. This is really the biggest thing happening with online marketing and also getting better results in reach and reaction from people online. It’s why [...]The post What’s Trending Online? appeared first on Social4Business. Related posts: The Hidden Factor to Social Media Marketing & Online Networking Are you Still Struggling with What… -
Are you Still Struggling with What to say Online?
12 Jun 2013 | 1:00 amIf you are struggling with what to say online, first let me reassure you that you are not alone. This is the most common stumbling block most people and businesses have when it comes to marketing their business online. My secret is to help clients pick out a good mix of three types of content. [...]The post Are you Still Struggling with What to say Online? appeared first on Social4Business. Related posts: Social Media training … at Summer Camp! The Hidden Factor to Social Media Marketing & Online Networking Would you say that Online if your Gramma was Listening? -
Ask Kathy: What to do When you Setup Your Facebook Page the Wrong Way
27 May 2013 | 8:00 pmRecently Bobbie emailed me because she had setup her Facebook business Page in a way that she has a Personal Profile in the name of the Business AND the Business Page itself, owned by that Biz identity. It happens often, people miss a step and discover later on they have setup their Facebook Business Page in a [...]The post Ask Kathy: What to do When you Setup Your Facebook Page the Wrong Way appeared first on Social4Business. Related posts: Fixing your Facebook Business Page Facebook Changes – Page View Facebook Business Profile Setup – the Big Question answered -
Tracking your Marketing Plans and Efforts
24 May 2013 | 1:00 amOne thing I find many people forgetting to do when they start using online marketing tools is to create their reference point for growth and numbers. In order to know if you are seeing a difference from your results, you need to have a frame of reference to start with. What numbers do we make [...]The post Tracking your Marketing Plans and Efforts appeared first on Social4Business. Related posts: 8 Steps to Creating your Social Media Marketing Plan Social Media Marketing Strategy – Why you need one Email Marketing – Why you need an Email List
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Prepare 1
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Never Never Give Up
14 Jun 2013 | 7:04 amHave you ever reached the point of giving up? Just throwing in the towel. Some of you may be at that point today. It is always darkest before the dawn, and there is hope. Being an ex athlete, I pay attention to teams today and how easily they give up. We’ve seen it and can sense when it is happening, especially with our teams.We also can see it in business. I’m a big Blackhawks hockey fan and one of the first Christmas presents I received was a pair of skates. The Blackhawks are in the Stanley Cup finals, which is the super bowl of hockey. Early in the first game of the Stanley Cup… -
How to Maximize Your Time in Social Media
7 Jun 2013 | 7:56 amSocial Media Marketing is not totally free. It takes time devoted by you or someone on your staff which does cost money. However, like anything else in business, you need to have a goal, a strategy, be committed, and be flexible because these platforms are changing all the time. What does your Social Media Footprint say about you? 62% of marketers are using social media for 6 hours or more weekly. 36% for 11 or more hours weekly. 17% of marketers spend more than 20 hours each week on social media. This is an INCREASE over 2012, when 59% reported 6 or more hours a week and 33%… -
Turning Your Negatives into Positives
31 May 2013 | 5:05 amA little boy came home from school and seemed troubled. His father sensing something was wrong asked his son what was the matter? His son responded, I think I flunked the math test today. The father responded quickly that he needed to be more positive. His son quipped back, I’m POSITIVE I flunked the math test. Sometimes our days and thoughts are like this. You are your most important critic. There is no opinion as vitally important to your well-being as the opinion you have of yourself. The mental picture of your self is the key. You are the writer, director and star of either an Oscar… -
Top 7 Social Media Platforms Used by Business
24 May 2013 | 8:56 amSocial Media Marketing, are there benefits? That’s one of the questions I’m most frequently asked. If I put in the time will I get results? How much time do I need to put in to get results? Here are the latest Social Media Marketing survey results. How Marketers Are Using Social Media to Grow Their Businesses Video marketing holds the top spot for future plans: A significant 76% of marketers plan on increasing their use of YouTube and video marketing, making it the top area marketers will invest in for 2013. Marketers want to learn most about blogging: While 58% of marketers are… -
How to Reclaim Your Edge: 5 Tips
17 May 2013 | 7:25 amSocial Media Networking and the pace of business continues to change. Today it is changing daily. How do you keep up with change? My father taught me, the day you stop learning is the day you die. He believed and lived that until he drew his last breath. Recent studies show that successful people are voracious readers and learners. Gone are the days of coasting. We’ve all done it, we know others who have coasted, and today we probably know people…hopefully no family members that are coasting. Right? I’m too old, I’m too young, I’m too tired, I’m too out of…
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Leader Networks blog
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Social Business Performance Snapshot [infographic]
17 Jun 2013 | 5:55 amIn this age of social business insecurity, every company wonders where are we in relation to our competitors and peer organization? What are the stages of social business that most companies go through before reaching their peak performance level? Are we tracking? Where should we be aiming for the future? To answer these questions, Leader Networks teamed up with the wonderful Society of New Communications Research (SNCR) to conduct a longitudinal study. Our new Social Business Benchmark results offers the ability for companies to compare how they fare. … -
So Just How Social is Your Business (Really)? The Results of Our New Benchmarking Study
6 Jun 2013 | 10:36 amOver the past few years, social media has been focused on digital marketing. For many organizations, doing social media means using the online channel as a broadcast platform – a digital megaphone if you will. While this is a start, it doesn’t really represent the true magnitude of a social experience, because it is largely one-sided. Instead, the social experience needs to be a full-circle where online exchanges are actionable and have an operational impact. Listening and doing need to be connected. Now that we are getting more comfortable with digital engagement… -
The Market Research Nuggets Most Companies Ignore (at their peril): Comments In Online Communities
22 May 2013 | 8:40 amA customer shares an insight within your company’s online community. He somehow found the time in between meetings, phone calls and lunch to share a suggestion, idea or complaint in a discussion thread. “It would be great if the XYZ product would … ,” he writes. What does your company do with that customer input? This is the $1,000,000 dollar question -- literally. Should you: Choice #1: Fail to notice it? Because the online community is large or understaffed, the customer suggestion falls through the cracks. Choice #2: See it and leave the customer… -
Why Your Doctor Can't Be Your Online Friend
2 May 2013 | 4:57 amThe boundaries between the physician - patient relationship have always been difficult as the relationship is based on trust, intimacy and the ability to share information from both sides of the desk. This relationship has grown more complex due to the rise of social media engagement. Physicians are being friend-ed, followed and reviewed across the digital channel like crazy, placing the doctors that care for them in difficult positions regarding the confidentiality of their patients who often don't think about the impact of their digital-buddy request. Similarly, due to the ease… -
What Online Communities Can Learn From a Master Convener: Eva Perón
25 Apr 2013 | 6:23 amAs I sit at my desk thinking about a new blog post topic, I struggle to write. Not because of a lack of topics, but because this is my first day back from a glorious vacation. We all know that post-vacation tension between enjoying the past and needing to return to the business at hand. But in this case, I am delighted to realize that my trip to Buenos Aires makes for excellent fodder for a community-related discussion. My fascination with Argentina's obsession with Eva Pern, First Lady of Argentina (1946-1952) started shortly after I landed in the airport where her…
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The Brainchild Group
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Rolls Royce Ghost Sitting on Black Forgiato Rims
11 Jun 2013 | 3:02 pmOur good friends at Ghost Motorsports recently purchased a Rolls Royce Ghost to add to their collection, but as sweet as it is from the factory, that just wasn't enough. -
The Importance of Having Contact Information on a Website
30 May 2013 | 6:22 pmRecently I was working with a start-up client's website development team to create an e-commerce site for their products. And while doing so, even though I'm on the marketing side of things, I noticed an issue that had to be rectified. -
Tips for Getting More Followers on Instagram
30 Apr 2013 | 3:40 pmSo you've created an Instagram account and you're dying to get more followers. You're hunting for the secret sauce, but just haven't found it yet. Well, welcome to the club! -
Brainchild Update: New Website, New Clients, New Ideas
26 Apr 2013 | 1:52 pmAnother sunny Friday in Los Angeles and we're more excited than ever! Not only is the weather perfect, but we have a ton of cool stuff in the works. -
Social Media Consulting Rates Remain Steady, Overall Cost Rises
25 Mar 2013 | 9:56 amFollowing up to an article I wrote sometime back on social media consulting rates, I've noticed that hourly and monthly rates have remained steady for the past 6 months, however costs have increased overall.
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Myrland Marketing Minutes
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Lawyers: Content Marketing Is Your Digital Handshake
18 Jun 2013 | 6:27 amRemember the old days when advertising used to be the only way you could be certain your message was being communicated properly? I helped buy tens of thousands of dollars of TV, radio and billboards every year, and sometimes every month, when I was with Time Warner because it made the phones ring. You could write press releases, but you couldn’t always count on the journalist or reporter delivering the information just as you wrote it, or giving you the credit you deserve. We worked with PR counsel while at Baker & Daniels to try to get on the radar of those who wrote about… -
Without Building Relationships, This Is All A Waste.
10 Jun 2013 | 10:04 pmBUILD RELATIONSHIPS, NOT THINGS. As part of a discussion taking place in a private Facebook group I’m in for members of a course taught by Carrie Wilkerson and Paul Evans, a co-member expressed her appreciation to Paul and Carrie for the reminder they gave in their materials that what everyone should be focusing on is building relationships not things. Paul and Carrie are right. While I acknowledge that you still have to build the “things,” which are the products or services you sell, I also know that if you don’t have anyone to sell them to, you’ve wasted your… -
Lawyers: Are LinkedIn Skills Endorsements & Recommendations Unethical?
7 Jun 2013 | 2:15 amThis past Monday, I had the pleasure of being the passenger on an 11-hour drive back to Indianapolis from our vacation to Virginia and South Carolina. When I could get a signal [Sprint, you really need to up your game in the South], I caught up on some reading. One click led to another, and I found myself on the ABA Journal’s website, of course! It was bound to happen, even though I had a whole tote bag full of non-work magazines and books at my feet. I guess I’m a news and information junky when I only read one of those magazines the entire 9 days, but read a plethora of general… -
Lawyers & Law Firms, Are You Paying Attention To Your Brand?
22 May 2013 | 7:59 amA Guernsey Cow (Photo credit: Wikipedia) SUSPEND YOUR SKEPTICISM Put your skepticism on the shelf for just a few minutes, okay? I know some of you think you don’t need a brand. You might be thinking: Brands are just for cows. Brands are for the consumer products’ companies, or for larger law firms, but not for yours. “Branding” is what got Brobeck in financial trouble, thus causing their implosion because they spent millions advertising it on CNN and similar venues (hogwash). During the past decade, the “experts” convinced you it couldn’t be done… -
Lawyers: The World Has Changed, So Have Your Buyers
16 May 2013 | 8:44 amProfessor David B. Wilkins, Professor of Law at the Harvard Law School, gave the opening keynote at the recent Legal Marketing Association, or LMA, International Conference, reminding us there are structural changes going on in law firms and the world that should be causing all of us to sit up and pay attention. He is part of a group that conducted extensive research into corporate buying decisions when it comes to legal work. Here are a few thoughts he shared that might be worthy of your attention, along with my related takeaways for you to consider. YOUR CLIENTS DON’T SHOP THE WAY…