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I suck at email. I think. It's a form of technology and communication that fascinates me. Fundamentally, email hasn't changed that much since it was first invented. Most of us still struggle with how we sort, file and keep conversations across devices and email addresses. The rest of us take part in daily gladiator-like battles against the inbox. I'm usually quite good at taming my inbox (though, I rarely get to inbox zero). Lately, it has become embarrasingly unwieldy (and, if you're reading this and I have yet to respond to your email, I will... promise... and, I'm sorry!). Email reminds me…
Social Media
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Email. You're Doing It Wrong.Six Pixels of Separation23 Mar 2015 | 8:07 pm
Marketing Day: Facebook & Twitter Display Rise, Dot Coms Rule & Google Cookiegate In UKMarketing Land27 Mar 2015 | 1:00 pmHere's our recap of what happened in online marketing today, as reported on Marketing Land and other places across the web. The post Marketing Day: Facebook & Twitter Display Rise, Dot Coms Rule & Google Cookiegate In UK appeared first on Marketing Land. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
3 Tips for Using Social Media To Land Your New JobIgnite Social Media25 Mar 2015 | 9:26 amWe all know how social media is a game changer when it comes to finding a job and networking in the professional world. Recruiters and companies are beginning to invest more in social recruiting and candidates are simultaneously becoming more aggressive in their job search, particularly over social media. With this new and ever-evolving playing field, what can you do to help ENGAGE with companies? Here are a few simple steps to create targeted and effective messaging to potential employers to boost your visibility in the job market and use social media to land your new job. It really…
6 Social Media Monitoring Tools to Track Your BrandSocial Media Examiner24 Mar 2015 | 2:00 amDo you monitor online conversations? Are you looking for new tools to track your mentions? Whether you want to observe quietly, learn about your customers and what they're looking for, respond to critics or simply engage in conversation, you need to know what people are saying. In this article I'll share six tools to use […]This post 6 Social Media Monitoring Tools to Track Your Brand first appeared on Social Media Examiner. Social Media Examiner - Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle
Tip: You are not tweeting enoughSocial Fresh4 Mar 2015 | 5:24 amI saw a benchmark study recently, from HubSpot, and a couple of their Twitter benchmark stats made me worry. HubSpot surveyed 7,000 of their customers, who I would anecdotally guess are more digitally and social savvy than the average business, on a ton of digital marketing topics. Check out the full benchmark report here (email gated). Your business is not tweeting enough The two stats that made me stop are how often these 7,000 businesses tweet, on average. They averaged less than one tweet per day. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if your business is tweeting once a…
Writing an Effective Design Brief: Awesome Examples And a Free Template To Get You Started26 Mar 2015 | 8:00 amYou've gotten a lead on a really sweet client. The kind that makes you do a happy dance. You quickly research their company, their branding and their social media outlets. You're ready to make a Skype date to talk about their needs and goals. You usually grab a pen and pad and scribble notes while talking with them. And you're so excited about the project, ideas are already flowing that you can't wait to start. But what happens when you get off that client call and realize you forgot to ask some important questions? You don't want to start your design only to discover that what you…
10 Menu Psychology Hacks Restaurants Use to Make You Order More25 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amWhether we like it or not, marketing and psychology have been fast friends for a long time. So it's quite likely that pretty much any design has at least some elements that were chosen specifically to get you to feel a certain way or take a certain action. Call it what you will — subliminal messaging, the power of suggestion, manipulation — but businesses are constantly cooking up ways to influence your decision-making, restaurants included. In fact, the restaurant industry has its own special toolbox of psychological strategies called menu engineering. Menu engineers study the visual…
5 Reasons Your 9-5 Routine is Killing Your Creativity24 Mar 2015 | 8:00 amChances are you're more than familiar with the "traditional" 8 hour work day. In at 9, out by 5. It's commonly regarded as the "norm" for working class citizens. While it may be arguably one of the most common rituals throughout society, it's not necessarily the most productive one. In fact, hardly any of history's greatest minds adhered to this ideal. Honoré de Balzac, the French playwright, was asleep by 6pm each night. He then woke at 1am to start writing, continuing through until 8am when he had another short nap. After this nap he worked…
50 Of The Best Email Marketing Designs We've Ever Seen (And How You Can Create One Just As Good)23 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amIn case you hadn't heard, email marketing isn't dead. In fact, the reality is quite the opposite. By the end of next year, it's expected that the total number of worldwide email accounts will increase to over 4.3 billion. Like it or not, we live in a time where people like to email. It's fast, convenient and most important – effective. As a business tool, McKinsey & Company found emails to be 40 times more successful at acquiring new clients than either Facebook and Twitter – just one of the many interesting statistics to support the success of email…
20 Typography Mistakes Every Beginner Makes – And How You Can Avoid Them19 Mar 2015 | 8:00 amMuch more than just arranging pretty fonts on a nice background, typography is an essential part of most designs — one that can make or break a whole project. Unfortunately, typography errors tend to make a bigger statement than good typography. Mistakes stick out like a sore thumb, while thoughtful typographic choices blend so nicely with the overall design that you might overlook them. So if you want to get your message across without distracting typographic errors, learn to recognize some of the most common mistakes below, and use this article as a final checklist before wrapping up your…
Social Media Examiner
Split Testing: How to Improve Your Site Conversions27 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amDo you split test the opt-ins on your website? Want to get better results? To learn how to create effective split tests, I interview conversion expert Joanna Wiebe. More About This Show The Social Media Marketing podcast is an on-demand talk radio show from Social Media Examiner. It's designed to help busy marketers and business […]This post Split Testing: How to Improve Your Site Conversions first appeared on Social Media Examiner. Social Media Examiner - Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle
How to Use Visual Content to Drive More Traffic26 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amDo you create images? Do they inspire your readers to take action? When used strategically images, slide decks and infographics can drive traffic to your business. They also offer the opportunity to provide further value through your content. In this article I'll share three creative examples from businesses that used visual content to drive traffic […]This post How to Use Visual Content to Drive More Traffic first appeared on Social Media Examiner. Social Media Examiner - Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle
26 Blogging Tools to Simplify Your Life: An A-Z List25 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amDo you have a company blog? Are you looking for ways to improve it? Everything counts in blogging. In this article I'll share some must-have tools for your business blog to help you do all of that and more. #1: Accentuate Social Follower Counts Arqam is a different kind of social toolbar. It doesn't share […]This post 26 Blogging Tools to Simplify Your Life: An A-Z List first appeared on Social Media Examiner. Social Media Examiner - Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle
Social Sharing Habits: New Research Reveals What People Like to Share24 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amAre you curious about which type of social content gets the most shares? Are social shares part of how you measure social marketing return on investment (ROI)? Do you wonder which social channels' users share most frequently? In this article you'll discover the most recent findings about what types of content get shared most, which […]This post Social Sharing Habits: New Research Reveals What People Like to Share first appeared on Social Media Examiner. Social Media Examiner - Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle
6 Social Media Monitoring Tools to Track Your Brand24 Mar 2015 | 2:00 amDo you monitor online conversations? Are you looking for new tools to track your mentions? Whether you want to observe quietly, learn about your customers and what they're looking for, respond to critics or simply engage in conversation, you need to know what people are saying. In this article I'll share six tools to use […]This post 6 Social Media Monitoring Tools to Track Your Brand first appeared on Social Media Examiner. Social Media Examiner - Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle
TC AppleCast 11: If You Had To Choose Just One – Apple Hardware Or Apple Software?27 Mar 2015 | 6:37 pmOn this week's episode, we discuss both a lengthy profile of Tim Cook, as well as a full biography of Steve Jobs. We also cover some concrete announcements, including the open-sourcing of React, Facebook's (potentially better than UIKit) UIKit alternative, and the acquisition of database company FoundationDB by Apple, and what that might mean. But wait, that's not all! We… Read More
Ellen Pao's Statement On Losing The Kleiner Perkins Case: "The Battle Was Worth It"27 Mar 2015 | 4:55 pmDirectly after the jury announced its final verdict in Ellen Pao Vs. Kleiner Perkins Caufield, in which it ruled against all four of Pao's claims of gender discrimination and retaliation, Pao held a very short press conference at San Francisco's Superior Court. Flanked by her lawyers Alan Exelrod and Therese Lawless, Pao read a short statement. Embedded above is video (amateur… Read More
Google Blasts Media Implications That It Runs That Town27 Mar 2015 | 4:45 pmGoogle, a search company, fired back today at a string of reports published in the Wall Street Journal over the past few weeks that have brought the company and its business practices under scrutiny. The collection of pieces implied that Google has decision-tilting influence in the federal government, and that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) all but went against its own internal views of… Read More
Genomics Needs A Killer App27 Mar 2015 | 4:14 pmGenomics has undergone a major shift in the last year. The drop in price in the past decade from $3B to $1K to sequence a genome is the 10X force likely to cause an inflection point in a number of health-related industries. But despite the price, right now genomics is a niche product in large part used in and promoted by academia. Read More
15 TechCrunch Stories You Don't Want To Miss This Week27 Mar 2015 | 2:20 pmThis week's tech news included big announcements from Facebook and Y-Combinator, a sighting of the Tesla Model X on the road, a controversial Indiana bill that has tech leaders up in arms, and the launch of Periscope, a Twitter app that has potential to change the way we communicate online. At TechCrunch HQ we launched our new daily show, Crunch Report, a roundup of tech news airing… Read More
Here's A New Way To Step Into A Virtual World27 Mar 2015 | 1:38 pmOccipital's mobile 3D-scanning sensor goes virtual.
Your "Strong" Password May Be Weaker Than You Think27 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amThose password-strength meters are often misleading.
Why Facebook Messenger Is A Platform—And WhatsApp Isn't26 Mar 2015 | 3:35 pmBecause Facebook wants to own all the chats, everywhere.
Oculus Rift Is Coming, And Facebook Wants It To Be Your New Reality26 Mar 2015 | 1:40 pmVirtual reality is here, but just barely. So far, that is.
It May Have A Billion Users, But YouTube Isn't A Sure Thing Just Yet26 Mar 2015 | 1:24 pmRivals are everywhere—now including Facebook.
Oops! 15 things Britney did again on the 15th anniversary of her iconic video27 Mar 2015 | 4:33 pmIt's hard to believe that it's been 15 years since the debut of Britney Spears' "Oops! ... I Did It Again." It seems like just yesterday she danced right from the surface of Mars and into our hearts wearing that red pleather jumpsuit See also: The Top 10 Most-Followed Twitter Accounts She's made a few mistakes since then (notably Kevin Federline), but the sweetheart of '90s pop seems to have her life on track right now with her lucrative Vegas show, Piece of Me She still doesn't get everything right, though — none of us do. We're all destined to make the same mistakes over and over…
Antarctica may have just set its highest temperature on record27 Mar 2015 | 3:27 pmAntarctica, Earth's coldest, most barren continent, may have just set a remarkably unusual weather record. An Argentinian research station on the rapidly warming Antarctic Peninsula recorded a high temperature of 63.5 degrees Fahrenheit (17.5 degrees Celsius) on March 24, according to reports from Weather Underground If this is investigated and verified by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), it could become the highest temperature on record for the entire continent of Antarctica. See also: Insane video of elite sailboat doing a 'death roll' in Southern Ocean The warmth at the…
Adorable dog tries to steal a treat in a nail-biting caper27 Mar 2015 | 3:25 pmPut your paws up and hand over the treats. Pepper the dog finally finds her opportunity to sneak a treat off the kitchen counter in an action movie-style short from YouTube filmmaker Jason Merrin. Despite all her best moves, poor Pepper is constantly being thwarted by her mortal enemy. You win this round, cat. World's luckiest fan of 'The Wire' interviews its showrunner at the White House Adorable baby hippo's pool party seems like a pretty chill afternoon Woman moves her way through 100 years of fitness fads in 100 seconds Will Ferrell has a cockatoo and he doesn't want to talk about…
Amanda Knox murder conviction overturned by Italy's highest court27 Mar 2015 | 3:05 pmItaly's highest court has overturned the murder conviction against Amanda Knox and her ex-boyfriend, bringing to a definitive end the high-profile case. The decision by Italy's Court of Cassation is the final ruling in the case, ending the years-long legal battle waged by Knox and co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito. Both Knox, who was awaiting the verdict in her hometown of Seattle, and Sollecito have long maintained their innocence. See also: Italian village reportedly sees more than 8 feet of snow in under 24 hours The Court of Cassation overturned last year's convictions by a Florence appeals…
Google teams with Johnson & Johnson to improve robot surgeon vision27 Mar 2015 | 3:00 pmGoogle wants in on the operating room, at least so it can help robot surgeons to a better job. The search giant and inveterate experimenter has partnered with Ethicon, one of the U.S.'s biggest operating room tools and equipment suppliers, to develop new vision systems that could improve results when using robotic surgery tools. A division of Johnson & Johnson, Ethicon "makes a host of surgical products and is in the overwhelming majority of hospitals around the country," said Johnson & Johnson VP of Media Relations Ernie Knewitz. See also: 9 jobs robots could replace in 2015…
Charlene Li
My New Book "The Engaged Leader" is Now Available!17 Mar 2015 | 1:28 pmFirst time I'm holding the book, @SXSW Bookstore I'm excited to unveil my latest book, The Engaged Leader, available today. I held it for the first time on Friday and there's nothing like that first view of your "baby". I wrote the book for all of the leaders who know they need to engage in digital […] The post My New Book "The Engaged Leader" is Now Available! appeared first on Charlene Li .
Announcing My New Book "The Engaged Leader"19 Feb 2015 | 10:07 amMy work with CEOs and other leaders has proven time after time that the wisdom and experience a great leader brings to the table are the keys to making his or her digital transformation stick. Any one of the tens or hundreds of digital natives within your organization can teach you to use Twitter, but […] The post Announcing My New Book "The Engaged Leader" appeared first on Charlene Li .
Creating a Culture of Content — Empowering Your Employees3 Dec 2014 | 10:53 amContent marketing is hot, but it is not solely created by, inspired by, or used by marketing. Rather, content needs exist throughout multiple facets of an organization – think sales, customer services, thought leadership, recruiting, etc. The result: more and more organizations are focused on creating what Altimeter calls a "Culture of Content" (CoC) to […] The post Creating a Culture of Content — Empowering Your Employees appeared first on Charlene Li .
How Good Is Your Social Business Governance?14 Nov 2014 | 6:19 pmIn our research and client work at Altimeter, one of the most misunderstood issues we see is social business governance. I've seen it defined as everything from social media policies and risk management to organizational structures. My colleague Ed Terpening and I just published a report on how to think about governance – and in […] The post How Good Is Your Social Business Governance? appeared first on Charlene Li .
Lessons from the Fall of the Berlin Wall11 Nov 2014 | 11:24 pm25 years ago, I was living in Amsterdam watching the events unfold in Berlin, as the Wall Fell. I saw history in the making on the TV and wanted to be there to witness it. I bought a ticket and took the night train to Berlin, arriving early Saturday morning. I found a youth hostel, […] The post Lessons from the Fall of the Berlin Wall appeared first on Charlene Li .
Sensei Marketing
Does Your Business Need A Personality to Succeed Online?15 Mar 2015 | 1:01 pmA new report by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) highlights the importance of Display Rising Stars ads – a collection of six units that include the Billboard, Filmstrip, and Pushdown – "in giving more personality to the brand." When I first scanned the report, I expected to see statistics about the increase in traffic driven or the number of leads converted by this new crop of digital advertising technologies. Instead, the big data point was that 65% of survey respondents reported that these ad formats increased the awareness or presence of the brand in their minds.
Your Business Doesn't Need A Facebook Page2 Mar 2015 | 5:06 amI'll start this post with the disclaimer that the title may be a little misleading. This article won't argue that businesses can't benefit from Facebook pages but it won't kneel at the altar of Zuckerberg either. The goal here is to shed some light on misconceptions generated by "social media gurus" about the importance of Facebook pages for business, and why your business probably doesn't need one. Social media marketers will extoll the merits of Facebook fan pages because, well, they're drinking their own Kool Aid. They will share usage statistics such as the average…
Your Blog Should Not Require A Topic Generator23 Feb 2015 | 9:55 amI started blogging more than ten years ago. During this time, the reason I blogged – and the focus of those blogs – have varied based on my personal experiences and situations. It began with a small blog that shared my personal views on business and morphed into a corporate blog dedicated to starting debates on specific marketing topics such as customer acquisition, customer development, customer experience, and influence marketing. Along the way, I've contributed to a variety of other online publications such as 12Most.com, business2community.com, the Huffington Post, and most…
Marketing Management, Choosing Leads or Branding9 Feb 2015 | 5:47 pmThis is part of an occasional series by the principals of Sensei Marketing on the issue of Marketing Management. Too often marketers are required to make decisions for which the right answer is "it depends." Factors such as the business environment, the political environment, past sales performance or even internal politics can influence our decision making. Further, marketers are sometimes measured on results after the fact, using different criteria than those used to make the decision in the first place. Consider this case: As a marketing manager, you have a choice between running…
Smartphones and the Numbing of the American Mind5 Feb 2015 | 2:27 amSmartphone usage is on the rise. Yeah, I know; no big surprise there. Smartphones have become an appendage that we turn to almost constantly for the time, news, communications, entertainment, and directions. Here are some staggering stats (according to a study conducted by Tecmark) In an average week, a smart phone user picks up his/her phone more than 1,500 times The average smartphone user uses his/her device for three hours and sixteen minutes each day – or the equivalent of almost one full day a week. Almost four in 10 users admitted feeling lost without their gadgets. Many owners…
Martin Shervington
Let's connect at SMMW15!23 Mar 2015 | 9:20 amInspired by Chris Brogan's post about networking with him at SMMW this year, I thought I would create one too! 1. First things first…and most imporant! Please come and say hello! I am there to connect with you. Really. I want to meet you. 2. If you would like my opinion about Google+ and its future,... Continue Reading >> The post Let's connect at SMMW15! appeared first on Martin Shervington.
20 Things I Learned From My Incredibly Smart Mentor7 Dec 2014 | 5:01 amBack in the late 1990's when I first threw myself into the dot com world with a project called 3courselunch.com (online, bite sized learning in your lunch hour) I had the good fortune to connect with an incredible man name Tim Healey. For the next three years, almost every day – and I mean 5+... Continue Reading >> The post 20 Things I Learned From My Incredibly Smart Mentor appeared first on Martin Shervington.
The Art of Social Media4 Dec 2014 | 7:39 amIt was less than two years ago, and before Plus Your Business launched, that Guy Kawasaki gave me my first big break in Social. Well, I say 'break' but over a period of around six months he endorsed me and shared content both within and beyond Google+. Without his support, well, things certainly would have... Continue Reading >> The post The Art of Social Media appeared first on Martin Shervington.
Social Media Marketing World 20156 Nov 2014 | 5:33 amWant to see many of the top social media marketing speakers from around the world? Well, this is the place to be in 2015. And I am there too! The post Social Media Marketing World 2015 appeared first on Martin Shervington.
Everything I've learned about running Google+ communities, I learned waiting tables.25 Oct 2014 | 11:28 amSince their launch at the start of December 2012, I have focused much of my time and attention on running Google+ communities. What I have been reflecting on lately is the process of 'serving' people and where this skill comes from. As such, I thought I would connect it to a time when I lived... Continue Reading >> The post Everything I've learned about running Google+ communities, I learned waiting tables. appeared first on Martin Shervington.
Social Media Today RSS
5 Tools to Track Dark Social Sharing27 Mar 2015 | 4:02 amDark social refers to all of the sharing activity that occurs through the copying and pasting of URLs, but which largely goes undetected by most Web Analytics programs, such as Google Analytics, Omniture or any other application. How can it be measured? Read on.
The Limitless Focus Group27 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amWhen experts want to study animal behavior they don't go to a zoo, they go to the species' natural habitat, because that is where they are in their truest form. I believe this is analogous to marketers gathering information from a traditional focus group versus using what I call the Limitless Focus Group of consumers sharing their insights through social media networks.
Hashtags: When Too Many Hurts Too Much27 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amTest your outlets and your audience's engagement when you begin to use hashtags. Maybe your audience loves hashtags on Facebook but doesn't engage with you on Twitter when you use them?
5 Productivity-Increasing Tips to Reach Your Blogging Goals27 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amIf you are running a lead generation campaign using a landing page from your blog or site, a skill you ought to learn is A/B testing. This lets you measure the results of two pages you have created with the same offer and see which one gathers the most leads.
7 Rules You Must Follow for Email Marketing27 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amOften through no fault of your own, some people will unsubscribe from your newsletters. But how many of you can say you have promptly removed these recipients off your mailing list? I personally have been subject to these annoying emails. Even though you have pressed unsubscribe, you continue to receive them. It really makes you despise the company doesn't it? Why would anyone in their right mind ever want to buy anything from that company again?
Social Media Explorer
Google Analytics: How to Use Custom Segments to Up-Level Your Reporting19 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amThe use of Advanced Segments on Google Analytics can be very valuable in giving us a deeper and more accurate picture of performance. Segments allow us to run a control group analysis in which we can isolate different groups of users and compare them to show us where we should be allocating future investments and strategy. In measuring social's impact on consideration and conversion, Google Analytics defaults to last-touch attribution, which provides a very narrow view and gives minimal credit to the channel. However, we can create segments that measure the behavior of social media users…
The Single Best Way to Protect Your Company from a Social Media Crisis18 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amCompanies often think they're protecting themselves by avoiding investing in a social presence. In fact, they're leaving themselves as wide open as possible to the risks, without gaining any of the benefits. Although poor management can turn one complaining customer into a full-blown PR crisis, the very worst social crises are generally caused by a much deeper problem that reaches into the past, before the crisis began. Many companies leave themselves exposed by being reticent in developing their social presence. Your customers don't need you to have a Facebook page to express their…
Do You Have Social Media #FOMO or a Social Media Strategy?17 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amLet's begin by defining FOMO for those not in the know; FOMO is an acronym for "Fear of Missing Out." We all have FOMO at various times in our lives and, yes, this extends into our professional lives, as well. As marketers, it is our job to figure out the most cost efficient way to drive qualified leads/sales. Not only do we need to drive qualified leads/sales, but we also have a quantity of leads/sales that we need to produce. How do we meet the dual goal of driving the right lead/sales volume at the right cost? By measuring and evaluating every marketing dollar spent using key…
Let it go16 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amOur customers are getting more and more savvy and honestly fed up with our tactics. We make an effort to impede their progress at every turn. We have ads in front of them all day. They know we are subsidizing their free social networks. They go out of their way to skip ads, block posts, and so on. In fact, a Pew study from 2013 that said 86% of internet users have taken steps online to remove or mask their digital footprints." The number 1 reason: hackers. The number 2 reason: ads! We were put in the same bucket as hackers, friends. When you couple this with the fact that the C-Suite is…
Raising the bar: Customer relationships13 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amThe past few months I have been a little focused, some may say obsessed, with lowering the bar. From my post on creating less content to my ideas on having a point in your social media marketing. I've been talking about being more deliberate, I've encouraged people to lower the bar in terms of being useful instead of human and being a trusted resource instead of a thought leader. Well, today, I want us to raise the bar on one thing: customer relationships. People are publishers now. These people are your customers. And we desperately want to be in a relationship with them, the kind of…
Social Media Era Of Poking
Social Media Fails: When Good Brands Go Wrong5 Mar 2015 | 11:26 amWhile there are many articles out there telling you what to do with social media, it's just as important to understand what not to do. We take inspiration from a few companies that have fallen flat on their faces when it comes to using social media. USAirways Gets Inappropriate Last year, after some back and forth tweeting with a disgruntled USAirways customer, the person managing the social media account sent a graphic and offensive image that was seen around the world. Where They Went Wrong: While USAirways sticks with its story that tweeting the image was an accident, the fact is…
Toyota Comeback: What's Helped to Turn This Company Around13 Feb 2015 | 8:34 amFrom 2009 to 2011, Toyota faced one of the company's largest scares in history. Fresh off a 1.1 billion dollar settlement, and the recall of over 8 million vehicles for problems relating to gas pedals, sticking to floor mats, concern over the potential dangers of Toyota vehicles began trumping its long-established history of reliability. Four years later, almost everyone is back where they were before — praising the company for being one of the most innovative companies in the world. How did they achieve this remarkable turnaround? Innovation Through Planning Ahead To its…
How to Keep Customers Happy in a Digital Marketplace4 Feb 2015 | 2:58 pmThe art of doing business used to mean a lot of interaction, hand-shaking and face time. Small business owners in particular had a greater chance of closing a deal when they met with their customers and put a face to their business name. The digital age has changed all of that, of course. While it has accelerated a lot of the steps in the sales process, it has taken the human aspect out in many ways. There are tactics that business owners can use, however, to build better relationships with customers that they have never actually met. Building a friendly website. You will notice that I did…
4 Simple Ways to Build Up Your Email List9 Jan 2015 | 10:46 amFor small businesses, the customer or client list is at the heart of the operation. The goal of customer recruitment is to keep them around for longer than a single sale or experience, after all. A smartly built and maintained email list can ensure that your small business remains on the mind of your customers long after the initial interaction. An effective email list does not need to take a long time to create; you can accelerate your list building with the right approach and resources. Take a look at just a few of the ways to build a solid email list quickly: Ask on your website.
Unlock these 6 Secrets to Better Email Marketing27 Nov 2014 | 9:32 amEmail marketing is dead! …at least that's what some corners of the Internet would like you to believe. But take one look at the numbers and you'll find that email marketing is not a dying breed. In fact, it remains one of the strongest channels for driving sales. A recent study by the Direct Marketing Association found that 66% of consumers recently made a purchase as a result of an effective email marketing message. That's more than direct mail, social, telephone, or mobile advertising. How well does your business use email marketing to reach your customers? Could you…
Blog Post Idea: How I Do It Posts26 Mar 2015 | 7:19 amRecently I shared a simple technique that I use to come up with ideas to write about on my blog – answering a beginner question. While not really rocket science I had a number of readers contact me privately with thank-you messages appreciating the nudge to write that type of post. Today I'd like to suggest another simple technique for coming up with blog post ideas. It's simple yet is perhaps one of the most powerful types of posts I've used on my own blogs many times in the last 12 years. I call these posts the 'how I do (or did) it' post. How I did (or…
3 Secret Weapons I Used to Launch My Fulltime Blogging Career24 Mar 2015 | 7:23 amThis is a guest post by Jeff Goins of Goins, Writer. "I'd like to be a writer," I told my friend one day when he asked what my dream was. "But that'll never happen." And I quickly went back to moping around, waiting for my big break. At the time, I was working for a nonprofit as a marketing director, secretly wondering what it might be like to write for a living. Little did I know how close I was to my goal. My was staring me right in the face the whole time. I was just blind to it. "Every great dream begins with a dreamer," Harriet Tubman once said. "Always remember, you…
7 Commonsense Tips to Improve Your Next Expert Roundup22 Mar 2015 | 7:41 amThis is a guest contribution from Neil. Are you wondering why your expert roundups are not living up to your expectations? Why you are never getting the level of response some other people are getting? After all, the idea behind creating an expert roundup sounds foolproof on paper. Get eminent experts to answer a question for you. Gather the responses and publish the ultimate answer to that question. Get your experts to share the content and then leverage their audience to get a viral post. There is no way you can fail! But the reality is a bit different. My first expert roundup (January,…
Grab Your Ticket for the 2015 ProBlogger Training Event19 Mar 2015 | 6:47 pmYesterday we released tickets to the 2015 ProBlogger Training Event on 14-15 August here in Australia on the Gold Coast. As I write this post 560 bloggers, speakers and team have grabbed their tickets (400 of those went in the first 10 minutes) and under 150 tickets remain. This year we've got attendees coming from all states and territories in Australia as well as attendees flying in from the USA, New Zealand, India and Fiji. Attendees not only come from all over the place but come from a wide spectrum of niches (everything from bloggers blogging about Fashion, to Health, to Travel, to…
Where to Find Free Images Online19 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amIn a perfect world, we could all take amazing photos, edit them scrupulously, and somehow manage to have enough props and stylish flair to snap the exact image you need to illustrate your post. In the real world, we have access to other talented people who do that instead! I've lost count of the posts I've pinned, sent to Evernote, or emailed to myself that round up great places to find free images on the internet. To save myself that headache (and hopefully you too!) here they all are, finally, in one place. Pin it for yourself! Tweet this: 27 Places to Find Free Images Online:…
Scott Monty
This Week in Digital - March 20, 201520 Mar 2015 | 9:07 amIt's back to reality after SXSW, Apple TV joins the cord-cutting movement, the NY Times makes good on its digital innovation plans, Facebook is so money, Twitter is in testing mode, Instagram needs more business, using Uber for "bar roulette," a milestone for data-driven PR, spending on data-driven marketing is up, what Americans- including Mark Zuckerberg - are doing to ensure their privacy, a search for tranquility, the math behind insane startup valuations and more, it's This Week in Digital.A roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.Each week, we compose a newsletter…
This Week in Digital - March 13, 201513 Mar 2015 | 3:09 pmA new heirloom that loses value in two years, the closing of a tech publishing icon, Millennials may not deserve all of those trophies, the cable industry gets more bad news, Facebook unleashes its firehose of data, funding for Snapchat, Uber and Lyft, content strategy secrets to make you successful, Uber pledges more women drivers, what's holding back podcasting, why you need a marketing technologist, Disney holds the future of wearables and more, it's This Week in Digital.A roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.Each week, we compose a newsletter that includes a series of…
This Week in Digital - March 6, 20156 Mar 2015 | 5:05 amSurprises galore from Mobile World Congress, a telecom company cracks wise, the inspiration behind Geico's new ads, why senior communications executives exempt themselves from digital skills, Krispy Kreme needs to read Sherlock Holmes, a social network for financial executives, the Future of Marketing 2015 ebook, who wins in the Uber vs. Lyft battle, native advertising has a trust problem, The Infinite Dial 2015 has the latest digital and audio trends, better podcast measurement, watch Charlie Rose and Chris Hughes go at it and more, it's This Week in Digital.A roundup of relevant links…
This Week in Digital - February 27, 201527 Feb 2015 | 6:57 amForget llamas and blue/black vs. white/gold - it's Pebble Time, the world's most popular brands, the future of mobile search, major hires at Amazon and BuzzFeed, the intersection of porn and marketing, Facebook is concerned about suicides, Twitter hates trolls, YouTube loses money, Roadie and Roadster hit the collaborative street, a boost in podcast listening, using Google Analytics to know if your marketing is working, the number one city for tech and more, it's This Week in Digital.A roundup of relevant links affecting our industry.Each week, we compose a newsletter that includes a…
5 Steps to Develop a Stronger Brand Narrative in Social Media23 Feb 2015 | 11:30 am[Editor's note: the following is a guest post by Peter Friedman, CEO of LiveWorld]Social media is a dynamic, never-ending flow of conversation and relationships among and between customers and the brands they. Expressing a brand in that context is very different from deploying a traditional marketing campaign. That's why taking your brand social doesn't start with a Facebook page or a clever tweet. It starts with considering how you'll develop a brand narrative through your customers' experiences and share them in this interactive space. At LiveWorld we've developed a model called…
Social Fresh
Tip: Do not focus on Facebook17 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amBleacher Report is one of the most popular sports news websites in the world, so much so that they are competing with the likes of ESPN, CBS, etc. And they are not committed to Facebook, which is a different strategy when compared to most publishers. As the largest social network with a ton of tools designed for publishers and content marketers, it is easy to focus on Facebook as a distribution and audience channel. Lucia Moses at Digiday did a great breakdown last month of how Bleacher Report thinks about Facebook and their overall traffic strategy. Why would the Bleacher Report not want to…
Top 3 Ways Brands Can Utilize the Meerkat App13 Mar 2015 | 10:52 am"It's 9:00 on a Saturday, my regular thoughts shuffled in, there's a new app right in front of me, blowing up on Twitter and LinkedIn." New apps are always coming up in the social media space, claiming to be the latest and greatest in photo or video. The latest app generating a great deal of buzz is Meerkat, a live video-streaming app with Twitter integration. My friend, @CarlosGil83, had been using the app all week, streaming live coverage of him discussing social media, branding and talking about his journey from unemployment to the interview and hiring process. @CarlosGil83 talking…
Simplify Your Content Discovery Process: 4 Expert Tips10 Mar 2015 | 7:36 amContent discovery itself is no longer the challenge. The challenge is discovering unique AND quality content. Sorting through thousands (and sometimes millions) of tweets, posts, and emails each day can be a daunting challenge. Thankfully, Jason Falls seems to always be a step ahead of the rest of us when it comes to discovering and sharing quality content. So, we invited Jason on the Social Toolkit Podcast to dive a bit deeper into his process, how he discovers the best of the best on the web. "On the internet today, there's a lot of noise and NOT a lot of signal."…
Tip: You are not tweeting enough4 Mar 2015 | 5:24 amI saw a benchmark study recently, from HubSpot, and a couple of their Twitter benchmark stats made me worry. HubSpot surveyed 7,000 of their customers, who I would anecdotally guess are more digitally and social savvy than the average business, on a ton of digital marketing topics. Check out the full benchmark report here (email gated). Your business is not tweeting enough The two stats that made me stop are how often these 7,000 businesses tweet, on average. They averaged less than one tweet per day. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if your business is tweeting once a…
4 Proven Content Tips To Grow Your Community19 Feb 2015 | 3:57 amBuilding a community of one demographic is one thing, but building a community of multiple, various audiences is something completely different. It takes a different approach, and at times, a completely different set of skills. Savannah Peterson has built dozens of brands. She has helped design and build a major Kickstarter project. And she currently manages the growing community of 3D printing leader, Shapeways. Shapeways relies heavily on various niche communities, from comic fans to jewelry makers to Bronies (you'll have to listen to learn about the Bronies). Savannah…
Building consumer-generated content into the brick-and-mortar experience23 Mar 2015 | 6:35 pmWe've all seen it in the news - but in spite of the unwavering headlines, announcing the timely death of brick-and-mortar retail, we seem to have hit a wall. New stories are emerging in the industry, which suggest that brick-and-mortar still holds importance in the marketplace. The truth is, that physical stores still have sizeable, significant and strategic business benefits for retailers and brands alike. From the American retailer LL Bean to Google, organisations are re-building their bridges to the abundant offline world. But, why? "The Experience Economy" – that's why. In a…
10 SXSW sessions you absolutely can't miss!12 Mar 2015 | 9:11 amAre you new to SXSW and have no idea which sessions to attend? Maybe you are just overwhelmed by the hundreds of options available to you. As Social Media Strategist at Bazaarvoice, I'm uniquely qualified to survey the SXSW landscape for the best sessions related to consumer-generated content and the world of e-commerce. I've complied a list of ten sessions that you don't want to miss. Friday, March 13th sessions Beacons, mPay, and the Great Shopper Reboot From showrooming to webrooming, consumers started using personal technology to transform the shopping experience long before…
5 Bazaarvoice experts answer your consumer-generated content questions – Video10 Mar 2015 | 8:28 amWe hope you enjoyed our virtual bootcamp "Maximizing Your Social Currency: How Consumer Feedback Drives Sales" and that we met our goal of showing you new ways the consumer voice can help build your business. The entire event is now available on-demand for you and your colleagues. This link is your All-Access Pass to all the recorded presentations, download dozens of documents from the Resource Library, and see how Bazaarvoice products can help you in the Solutions Showcase. 9 Myths of Consumer Content You're Still Falling For – BUSTED! Making the Most of Conversations with…
Endurance accessories brand uses reviews to win customers5 Mar 2015 | 6:42 amIt's challenging for small companies to make a big impact. But endurance accessories brand Sealskinz has found a way—using the power of consumer generated content. Established in 1999, Sealskinz empowers outdoor enthusiasts with its waterproof, windproof and breathable products. As an emerging brand in an industry most shoppers aren't familiar with, and with few competitors making similar products, reviews from users provide potential customers with product insights that traditional marketing can't match. "We're a relatively new brand in a space that very few companies…
Yelp Suing Companies for Undermining Authenticity26 Feb 2015 | 8:33 amFor the last few years, Yelp has been the center of much conversation regarding the authenticity of review sites – often with people questioning the company's unclear guidelines for accepting, filtering, and posting consumer reviews. But this week, Yelp is making headlines for its stand against inauthentic review practices. The company is suing RevLeap, a reputation management company that claims it can help companies hide negative reviews by filling their Yelp pages with positive reviews. Though RevLeap insists they are employing fully legal practices, Yelp has filed a suit for violation…
Content Will Never Be King26 Mar 2015 | 7:43 amYesterday, I had the pleasure to sit down with my friends Darren Rowse and Brian Clark. The last time the three of us sat quietly was in 2008 or 2009 when we launched the Third Tribe group (ah, memories). I joked that I wanted to bring that back and we could call it Sixth Tribe. You know, Third Tribe 2.0. Alas. Content Will Never Be King The conversation was brief, fun, and sprinkled with some melancholy about the fact that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Darren is thriving with his Problogger events and his Digital Photography School. Brian is running Copyblogger Media,…
Content Marketing as a Food Truck: Rethinking Content Marketing In A World of Splintered Attention25 Mar 2015 | 6:05 amWith well over a billion users, Facebook must easily rank as most people's "where I see interesting stories and click" tool of choice. Sure, us nerds might point to Feedly or Flipboard, but that's not "most people." That's the enlightened. Some of us get our favorite sites to our inbox. But that's more rare than not. What seems most true, however, is that hardly anyone stops by someone's actual blog any more (or say "site" in case you bristle at the word "blog.") If people aren't visiting blogs directly any…
Are You Going to Social Media Marketing World? SMMW1522 Mar 2015 | 9:50 amI'm going to Social Media Marketing World in San Diego next Tuesday through Thursday. I'm doing two OFFICIAL things that I'll stop explaining because I keep getting it wrong. Beyond that, most of my time is my own (I've got two other formal obligations and a few friend obligations). I thought I'd write out what my hopes are for the event, in case you and I have some shared interests we should cover. First and Foremost I'm definitely there to meet and connect. If you SEE me somewhere and find some dumb reason NOT to connect with me, stop it. Go the hell up…
How a $200 Chromebook Earned my Company $28,000 in Ten Days21 Mar 2015 | 8:08 amThis is the Acer Chromebook 11 CB3-111-C670. It's about the size of a Macbook Air, kinda. It runs the Google Chrome OS, which means it's pretty much like a browser-only deal. All the apps you use are web-based. And this device helped me make $28,000 in ten days. Could a Chromebook Make You More Money? I suspect you already know the real answer to how this worked. This Chromebook isn't the most powerful computer in the universe. If you have a lot of tabs open, it doesn't work well. So, I don't have many tabs open. (hint one) Continue ReadingThe post How a $200…
What Writing A Great Sales Letter Taught Me About Everything19 Mar 2015 | 8:26 amI can count on one hand the number of times that something I've tried to sell has been well-received by the people I serve. You know how some kids are a late bloomer? That's me with most of the things I sell. People buy them years later sometimes. But this time, I really struck gold. How We Write Our Sales Letter Sequence I learned a lot while putting together the now-defunct webinar version of Online Course Maker. (Let me reiterate: the WEBINAR VERSION IS GONE). First, I learned that there's such a thing as too much information for a format. I tried to cram way too much…
Video Killed The Television Star: Why Total Fragmentation Is The New Norm27 Mar 2015 | 3:25 pmMoment in time—the world seems obsessed with the renaissance of app led live video streaming and the rivalry between MeerKat and Twitter backed Periscope. Debating who will win is a moot point. The real winner is digital video in all its forms—especially if it involves a popular app like Snapchat or a mobile optimized popular platform such as Netflix. The demise of traditional television happened somewhere around the time that YouTube began gaining popularity alongside with DVRs that empowered us to skip ads. Since then, things have only gotten worse for traditional, tied to the box…
It's Not The Size of SXSW, It's How You Use It21 Mar 2015 | 3:51 pmBefore SXSW Interactive had even gotten a chance to take its first breath, media outlets like Mashable were already asking if it had jumped the Shark? The sentiment is understandable. After all these years, SXSW is still kind of enigma. Some call it a conference and others say its more of a festival. Some say this year's SXSW felt "somber" while others asserted that fresh break through technology such as MeerKat, reasserted its relevance as a place where new startups can get their footing and enchant early adopters in the process. Other's still question its value for marketers and agencies…
MeerKat Is The Next Big Thing. But For How Long?6 Mar 2015 | 7:22 amLive video streaming is nothing new. Many have tried it—and it's always sort of taken off, but never really went "mainstream". MeerKat might just change all of that. But how will we know? For starters, it's got a really good shot at stealing the show at SXSW next week—a venue that's been known to uncover the next big shiny object in social. It was after all, SXSW that put Twitter on the map, then subsequently Foursquare and more recently though with less impact, Vine. But what exactly is MeerKat? Part Snapchat, part Twitter, and part video streaming app—MeerKat lets you effortlessly…
Ruling The "Aggregators" With Creative and Editorial Talent14 Feb 2015 | 3:14 pmOnce upon a time I was a Creative Director. Creative Directors typically come from one of two backgrounds—"art" or "copy". Having more of a visual design foundation, I started there—but also learned the techniques of "concepting" and getting to what's known in the marketing industry as "a big idea". Things were simpler back then... Big Ideas vs. Ruling The "Aggregators"Today, if you want your message and or communications to break through—you must understand how the "aggregators" work. What's an "aggregator"? Google, Facebook, Twitter, E-mail, Text Apps, Snapchat, Flipboard... it's…
Five Things I Learned In Five Years16 Nov 2014 | 6:59 pmAccording to the US Department of labor—the average tenure at at job for 2014 is 4.6 years. In less than a month, I'll be celebrating five years at Edelman, so I thought it would be a good time to reflect in what can be learned in five years, not just on the job but in life as well. I'm a big believer that looking back can help you look forward, so here are are a few things I've learned over the past five years. Mentorship Comes In Many FormsThe traditional image of a mentor is someone who takes you under their wing, puts time aside for you, and imparts wisdom—often a more senior person…
The Many Many Social Media Accounts of The Late Late Show26 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amThis week James Corden took over the hosting duties of The Late Late Show with James Corden (formerly The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson) and one of his first acts was to invite fans and viewers to follow the show on a variety of social networks (many of which actually exist). Here's what the segment looked like. Obviously made for laughs, the montage also addresses a brand's need to carve out a presence on social media channels that fit your needs. Corden goes comically overboard of course as no one would need (or could ever hope to keep up with) the number of accounts he…
The Economics & Big Money of March Madness24 Mar 2015 | 6:00 amIt's that time of year again. College Basketball fans are in full frenzy with the start of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and March Madness. The tournament is big money for the NCAA, gamblers, broadcasters, and the cities hosting tournament games as this infographic from WalletHub shows. The projected economic impact on Indianapolis, who will host the final three games of the tournament, is a whopping $70.8 million and last year CBS and Turner Broadcasting cashed-in to the tune of $1.13 billion in ad revenue. They aren't the only ones benefiting as American beer…
Another Successful Planet Comicon for Kansas City17 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amEvery year the ides of March bring Planet Comicon back to Kansas City. As has been the case the last couple of years, this year's event took place in Bartle Hall over a three-day weekend celebration of comic books and pop culture. Using the S16 platform I ran queries over the weekend which we can use to look back over the show's social media footprint from the past three days and examine which special guests earned the most mentions as well as the language used by guests discussing the show. Rather than search for all the media, comic, and cosplay guests I handpicked an eclectic…
Hashtag Round-Up – #WeaselPecker, #YourMum & #BeefBan10 Mar 2015 | 12:12 pmSince the introduction of the hashtag to social media in 2007 it has been used to promote discussion from everything ranging from brand marketing and fan support of a product to #whyimsingle. We've talked about hashtags in the past discussing #FreeSimmons & #ThatsWhatCountryBreakfastDo, #NAACPBombing and #JeSuisCharlie, the improper use of #WhyIStayed, and the use of hashtavism. Today we'll look at three more hashtags which have recently caught our attention. The picture of a weasel unexpectedly riding on the back of a woodpecker went viral leading to several inventive takes…
Love & Life – Evolving a Personal Brand with Elegance & Style4 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amBranding is everything. It not only lets potential clients, fans, and advocates better understand both you and your message but, if consistent, it helps you better promote and tweak you message over time. Crafting a brand message that meets you needs while making you attractive to others is a skill that the two women discussed below have managed to do with a sense of elegance and style. Actress Shay Mitchell's profile in both Hollywood and social media got a huge boost when she was chosen as one of the four leads of ABC Family's Pretty Little Liars in December of 2009. The show,…
New Media Expo Blog
Breaking It Down: What The Different NMX Passes Get You Into26 Mar 2015 | 11:27 amNMX attendees have the option of registering for several different pass types: VIP Pass, Content Creator Pass, and Exhibits Only pass. As we have a variety of events happening at NMX, I thought it would be a good idea to list the type of passes we offer and the events you can get into. Here you [...]
Telling More, With Less25 Mar 2015 | 8:39 amby Donna Freedman – NMX Speaker Want to keep people reading your site? Keep this old journalism adage in mind: "Show, don't tell." Your job as a writer isn't to force-feed facts so that readers will be sure to Get Your Point. Yesterday was the hottest day I can ever remember. My clothes were sticking [...]
NMX Speaker Spotlight: Shawn Collins24 Mar 2015 | 8:35 amToday we're profiling Shawn Collins. Shawn along with his Affiliate Summit partner, Missy Ward are presenting "Monetizing Your Blog Using Affiliate Marketing" at NMX on Monday, April 13 at 1:45 p.m. 1. Without repeating your online bio word for word, tell the NMX community who you are and why you're so good [...]
NMX Speaker Profile: 5 Questions With Tom Webster23 Mar 2015 | 4:40 amDeb's note: I met Tom Webster in 2008 when I was the Community Manager for BlogTalkRadio and we had a booth at BlogWorld '08. Tom had dinner with the BTR team, and I was impressed not only by his dry sense of humor – he kept us laughing throughout the meal – but also [...]
NMX Speaker Profile: 5 Questions With Lynette Young3 Mar 2015 | 10:41 amLast year, Lynette Young set the tone for an awesome event by opening NMX 2014. This year Lynette's returned to co-present a breakout session with her friend, Hunter Boyle. What follows is a brief Q & A with our good friend, NMX speaker and superfan, Lynette Young. Simply put, I work with people (who sometimes [...]
Is Your Logo All It Could Be? [Infographic]20 Mar 2015 | 11:35 pmThe logo you design to represent your business will have an impact on your customers far longer than any other advertising tools you may use. This one symbol can deliver a message, provoke an emotional response, or trigger quick and useful associations in your customers. You can take advantage of all of these results, but in order to do so, you must have a well-thought out and executed logo. Think about some of your favorite companies. Now think about their use of meaningful symbols. There's probably some correlation between which companies popped into your head first and the quality of…
4 Benefits of Investing in Startups13 Mar 2015 | 2:18 amThere has been a lot of talk in recent years about investing in startups. A number of high-profile startup company success stories may have made it seem that putting money into a startup is a surefire way to get a return on your investments. However, for every successful startup, the are a number that fail, taking down investors as well as the company itself. This does not mean that startups are a poor investment; however, it does indicate that they generally work best as part of a diversified portfolio. These are four of the advantages of including startups in you investment portfolio. 1.
Three Ways To Enhance Your Marketing Campaign7 Mar 2015 | 12:34 pmAs many business leaders know, experiencing profound conversion rates and attaining ongoing expansion and elevation necessitate the implementation of a sound marketing campaign. Yet in many cases, corporate leaders don't know which principles they need to implement to improve the quality of their advertising efforts. If this is your challenge, it doesn't have to be an issue any longer. To ensure that your marketing campaign is optimized to achieve tangible results, be sure that you're implementing these three simple strategies. 1. Connect With Leaders In Your Industry One of…
4 Ways to Enhance Overall Business Efficiency Through Employees26 Feb 2015 | 3:35 pmImproving business practices can strengthen the core of the organization. By implementing a few changes, greater efficiency may be possible. This can affect everything from sales income to marketing expenses. Although technology plays a prominent role in how the business performs, there are other aspects that you may want to consider. Focusing more attention on the capabilities of employees can have an incredible impact. Here are 4 ways to enhance overall business efficiency through employees. 1. Focus On Strengths Providing challenges for employees is one thing, but putting them in…
A Quick Explanation of Mortgage Protection Insurance20 Feb 2015 | 4:27 pmOften people get mortgage protection insurance confused with other forms of life insurance. It is important to understand what this type of insurance is, so you will know exactly how you and your family can benefit from it. The reason for having this type of insurance Upon your death, this type of insurance will pay your mortgage. In many cases, it will pay off the entire balance owed on the mortgage, so your home will be owned free and clear by your beneficiaries. For a man or woman who has dependents, this can be a gift of love. In the event of your death, the home that shelters your loved…
NowSourcing.Com » Blog
Getting Some Local Louisville Love27 Mar 2015 | 8:15 amOn the heels of our recent return from SXSW, NowSourcing has been honored by The Greater Louisville Enterprise Corporation as one of 2015's Fast Dozen companies. Fast Dozen companies must have revenue over $1 million per year and have 20% growth each of the last 3 years. Companies must be based in Louisville. In addition, Fast Dozen companies must have been operating for at least 4 years and have at least 5 employees. The 2015 Fast Dozen Companies are: 21c Museum Hotels LLC Blackstone Media Network LLC Boice.net Component Supply LLC InGrid Design LLC modulR LLC NowSourcing Inc.
The State Of The Union Of Nonprofits [Infographic]26 Mar 2015 | 9:02 amNonprofit Capacity Conference
Top 20 Most Expensive Bing Keywords [Infographic]20 Mar 2015 | 9:24 amWordstream
Children Are Dying And A New Treatment Could Save Them [Infographic]17 Mar 2015 | 8:55 amThe Race To Yes
SXSW Survival Guide13 Mar 2015 | 8:16 amIn order to prepare ourselves and others for the marathon that is SXSW, we've compiled comprehensive guides for every part of the trip. Starting from three weeks out, we outlined exactly what needs to be done to ensure a successful trip to SXSW. SxSocial For the kick off we started by getting the word out about SxSocial: a great platform for getting to know people before you actually get there. This tool not only helps you make new contacts and maintain old ones, it also lets you manage your badges and book hotel reservations. Create a profile, let others know who you are and why…
Homesteading Today and How to Quickly Turn Your Community Against You26 Mar 2015 | 3:50 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.
You Might Be Martin Scorsese, But Who's Steven Spielberg?23 Mar 2015 | 3:50 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.
My Community Management-Focused SXSW 2015 Recap19 Mar 2015 | 8:17 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.
Abuse of Power and Corruption: How Law Enforcement Officers and Online Community Moderators Can Avoid Them12 Mar 2015 | 3:50 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.
Online Community Moderator Metrics9 Mar 2015 | 3:50 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.
Collective Thoughts| Collective Thoughts
Nonprofit Strategies26 Mar 2015 | 10:29 amThe economic climate has taken its toll on nonprofits. Learn more about their struggles from this infographic. />
3 Big Brands That Hit It Out of the Park with Blogger Design Collaborations20 Mar 2015 | 10:52 amIt's a no-brainer that brands everywhere are partnering up with bloggers to boost their profile and sales. According to Social Media Today, 74% of global marketers say they will use 'influence marketing' as part of their marketing strategy in the next 12 months. Brands see how a photograph (otherwise known as styled snap) can sell an item out faster than any other form of marketing, so they're learning to capitalize on this influence more than ever before. If a styled snap from a blogger can push product out the door that fast, collaborating on a clothing line featuring the blogger…
Defeating Duchenne17 Mar 2015 | 10:07 amThere's a new treatment available for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy called eteplirsen, but unfortunately the FDA approval process has stalled. Learn more from this infographic.
There Are Ample Reasons To Be Envious Of Austin6 Mar 2015 | 11:25 amAustin isn't just a great tech city. It's also a great place to live and play. Learn why you should be jealous of Austin from this infographic.
Travel to Cuba From America3 Mar 2015 | 8:56 amYou can't plan a beach vacation to Cuba just yet. Learn more about the eased travel restrictions for Americans who want to travel to Cuba from this infographic.
Brian Solis
Digital Transformation Starts with Reimagining the Customer Experience25 Mar 2015 | 5:11 amAll customers are not created equal. This is also true for relationships. No business has the same relationship with their customers as you intend to have with yours. The thing is though, you must first define what a relationship with your customer looks and feels like and in turn, how they would describe it to their friends and colleagues. This is where the future of customer experience begins. At a time when technology is affecting how people go through life, one thing is becoming clear, everything is changing and that also affects the business of business. At the same time, technology is…
SXSW Jumps the Shark (Again?), The Meerkat Craze and Twitter's Questionable Developer Relations – ContextMatters #620 Mar 2015 | 10:07 amJumping the Shark Has Jumped the Shark SXSW is a special event. It is what you make it and what you allow it to be. And, that's what makes it both personal and serendipitous. That doesn't stop people from asking every year whether or not SXSW has jumped the shark. Did you know that jumping the shark was a Happy Days reference? Chris and I talk about why SXSW is important and we speak to attendees about why they travel to Austin to experience it. Meerkat, Meerkasting Craze and Twitter's (Lack of) Developer Relations Meerkat mania was everywhere at SXSW and the livestreaming…
Meerkat and the Ephemeral State of Livestreaming19 Mar 2015 | 5:05 amBy now you must have heard about Meerkat, the latest tech media darling that lets people tweet (stream) live experiences with friends and followers on Twitter. It's basically an easy to use app that combines ephemeral livecasting/livestreaming on top of the Twitter platform but through a dedicated screen where participants can see video, who's watching as well as the Tweets between them. I call it Meerkasting and yes, it's already a verb. I realize that most of the words I used up until this point were either geeky or buzzwordy. Leading up to the big SXSW Interactive event…
Insights: Interviews on The Future of Social Media as Curated by Anil Dash and Gina Trapani17 Mar 2015 | 10:55 amI've long admired the work of Anil Dash and Gina Tripani over the years. In many ways, each has shaped my perspectives in new media and its impact on our professional and personal lives over the years. It came as no surprise that Dash and Tripani collaborated on yet another project. This time, they created ThinkUp, a social media service that offers daily insights about you and your friends on Twitter and Facebook. To celebrate the launch of their latest venture, they assembled some of their most thoughtful colleagues to share their thoughts on the future of social media. The result…
Creating Truly Personal Omni-Channel Customer Experiences16 Mar 2015 | 5:26 amWhen I was in London, I visited the Smart Focus HQ to shoot a series of videos, host a webinar and also sign books for local marketing professionals (videos and webinar accessible here.) While there, something unplanned and very cool began to surface and I'm excited to share the result with you here. We assembled all of the content, organized it, and developed additional material as a dedicated ebook. I've embedded it below or you can read more about it at Smart Focus. Creating Truly Personal Omni-Channel Customer Experiences Customers are more connected and more informed than…
Geek Girlfriends
Automatic Smart Driving Assistant18 Mar 2015 | 2:37 pmThis is a guest post, written by Dennis Baum Christina and I SCUBA dive together. In California, diving involves lots of time in the car getting to the beach. When she's driving one of the cars she's reviewing, she demonstrates the cool tech in new cars: lane guidance, adaptive cruise control, self-driving technologies. I am always dutifully impressed. But when we hopped into my 2002 Toyota Tacoma and, by habit, I plugged my ancient GPS into the cigarette lighter, I was embarrassed and felt the need to apologize for its antiquated ways, "Not a lot of tech in here," I said.
Bosch Coming to Amazon Prime21 Jan 2015 | 6:24 pmLast year, I watched the pilot to Bosch (starring Titus Welliver, who I liked as Silas Adams in Deadwood.) I didn't expect to like it. But I was curious about the Amazon Prime people's approach to original content. (Don't have Prime? It's awesome.) They made the pilot, then asked viewers to tell them if they should do a season. So I watched, just to have a voice. And I was very quickly hooked. Dark, edgy, great performances. The script is tight and based on Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch book series. I voted, "Yes!" And I was apparently not the only…
My Daughter Tries the High-Tech Venus Swirl™ Razor6 Jan 2015 | 10:13 amThis is a sponsored post. Thank you Gillette Venus for supporting my blog! The race to get out of the house and into traffic so we can crawl slowly to my daughter's first-period class is behind us, our coffees are secured in cup holders, the final touches have been put on teenage hair and makeup. Ava smiles at me, impish, and puts one foot on the dash, exposing a lot of leg. "Go ahead," she implores me. "Touch it!" Oddly, this is a common morning ritual. She is happy with her baby-soft, just-shaved legs. As her mother, it's my job to admire her hairless handiwork. "I finally…
Emily Chang - Designer
lucky to find some magic lefts out there today15 Mar 2015 | 2:53 pmInstagram filter used: Crema View in Instagram ⇒
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wednesday ghosted by the sun11 Mar 2015 | 1:42 pmInstagram filter used: X-Pro II View in Instagram ⇒
Beth's Blog
Nonprofit Crowd Funding Success Formula: Robust Planning, Networks, and Blessings26 Mar 2015 | 11:03 amAfter publishing this post about Save the Children's Crowd Funding Campaign – where I mentioned the Dalai Lama Foundation's successful campaign, I noticed this tweet in my stream from Brian Rusch the former deputy director for the DLF: Woohoo! The crowd-funding campaign I ran for the Dalai Lama Foundation got a shout-out on @kanter's blog today! http://t.co/7FZnJT2rLq — Brian Rusch (@alohalife) March 25, 2015 I'm always on a higher path of learning. So, I reached out to Brian to learn more about the inside story of their success and lessons learned. The…
Crowdfunding: Can Partnering With An Internet Celebrity Make Your Campaign An Overnight Success?25 Mar 2015 | 8:27 amAsk any high school boy who likes video games who PewDiePie is and they will tell you that he is the most watched video personality on YouTube. The main focus of PewDiePie's videos is his commentary and reactions to various video games as he plays, captured on video and shared on his YouTube Channel. PewDiePie's channel is the most subscribed channel on YouTube,and reaches over 34.8 million subscribers. Currently, the PewDiePie channel has received over 8 billion video views. Due to his popularity, PewDiePie's coverage of indie games has created an Oprah effect on video…
Case Study: How Human Rights Watch Leverages Employee Personal Brands on Twitter24 Mar 2015 | 8:36 amThere are no better champions for your organization's communication's strategy than your staff. Leveraging the networks and personal brands of your staff as champions can help your organization's communications strategy have more impact. With a few guidelines and a little training, employees can use social channels effectively in service of your organization's mission AND their own learning. I asked colleagues what nonprofits had good employee champion programs and Chris Tuttle pointed me to Human Rights Watch. I interviewed Jim Murphy, Senior Online Editor,…
A Few Good Tools To Manage Your Online Professional Network Connections20 Mar 2015 | 11:34 amFlickr Image: Myles Grant The last two posts I published on professional networking, "Smart Professional Networking Online" and "Tidying Your Online Connections" prompted some great discussion when I shared on Facebook. Heidi Ketroser Massey and Nancy Schwartz asked about tools to help manage the process. This post was inspired by that discussion. Back when I first started working, my best professional networking tool was my Rolodex. Whenever I met someone new, the business card would get added to it, along with some notes on how we met and their expertise. Whenever I…
What If Your Fitbit Could Also Track Your Environmental Footprint?19 Mar 2015 | 10:23 amHere is pic of super cool blue band @fitbit that CEO @parkjames wears. Not commercially available #atlantichealth pic.twitter.com/5vE4aEvk4i — Steve Clemons (@SCClemons) March 18, 2015 Yesterday, I participated in two seemingly unrelated events that generated that question. Fitbit and fitness/health apps offer many benefits — they help us become more aware of our healthy habits by measuring and producing data. The social component of the apps, sharing data with friends and competitions helps us sustain behavior change. On a systems level, the aggregated data can help public…
Brains on Fire
Friday Fotos | Remodel Edition27 Mar 2015 | 1:09 pmNew map for our old office space. New conference table…coming soonish. A cool way to think about what drives us. Cleaning day! Wishing you a purrrrfect weekend. The post Friday Fotos | Remodel Edition appeared first on Brains on Fire.
I hope you get pneumonia.23 Mar 2015 | 8:40 amIf I move again, it will be to a really tiny house like this one. About four years ago, I got pneumonia. Trust me. Coughing up blood makes you listen hard to a doctor's advice to stay in bed. So I canceled my fancy plans to meet with a client on the west coast. And canceled all my calls and meetings. No one really even batted an eye. It was rather humbling. Then I went to bed for a solid week and an entire weekend. I spent a lot of time thinking during those ten days. About what mattered. And what didn't. I didn't check facebook or email or twitter. I just slept and slept and slept…
Friday Fotos | La-La Land Edition20 Mar 2015 | 10:54 amPie for Pi Day. Our ancient floorboards are becoming our new conference table — and we can't wait to see the final result. Greenville goes to (BOF)LA. Beau doing a little nasal proofing of our handiwork. Hope your St. Patrick's Day was good and green. The post Friday Fotos | La-La Land Edition appeared first on Brains on Fire.
How to Be Good: It's So Obvious That It's Not18 Mar 2015 | 6:56 amFor some reason, whenever I go grocery shopping, I find myself drawn to a random row of product in the baking aisle. The "weird flours," if you will. I always wonder about the people who are purchasing those little bags of coconut flour and hazelnut meal. "What are you doing with all that chia seed," I find myself wondering. It's like they're all part of some kind of super secret culinary club. Don't mind us. We're just hanging out in inconspicuous packaging on the middle shelf. Move along. Nothing here to see. Except it turns out there…
What's your moonshot?16 Mar 2015 | 6:23 amA couple of weeks ago, I attended a Rapid Ingenuity Blitz in NYC. Greg Galle from Future Partners shared Google's criteria for moonshot idea during the Blitz. 1. Must be an idea that will affect a million people. 2. People will say you are nuts. 3. Yet you still believe it's possible. Don't you just love that? I found myself watching a video of Sophia Amoruso, the founder of Nasty Girl the other day and I thought again about this moonshot notion. Whether you like her products or not, she's barely 30, she's empowering young women to dress how ever they…
Life, Inspired
Woodland Fantasy: New Hand Drawn Clip Art Set Available!4 Mar 2015 | 10:49 pmReally pleased to share with you my latest hand-drawn clip art set offering on Etsy: Woodland Fantasy. It's a set that I feel really proud of – the theme, the colours, the elements… They all seem to have worked well together when I was creating this during the Trends 2015/16 class at Design Garden. And, I've been really inspired to put together all sorts of different things when I was working on this set. I was hoping to pull all the things I'm working on before I share this. But, I realised that I was falling into that trap of 'waiting until…
Inspiration of the Moment: 03-20153 Mar 2015 | 2:54 amOne of the things I've been hoping to start doing on this blog is to do a new version of my old round-up posts. I used to do all sorts of them – Friday Five, Web Wednesdays, etc. But, as this blog continues to evolve, my approach changes too. With 'inspiration' as this blog's new focus word, I thought that an inspiration-of-the-moment feature is something worth trying here. The general idea is to share with you some of the things that are inspiring me at any given time – colour palettes that I am loving, home décor and personal style ideas, favourite food…
New Design – Nautical Adventures: Icons19 Feb 2015 | 11:15 pmBack in December 2014, I shared my new adventure in surface pattern design. That's when I made my first pattern available via RedBubble. It was very exciting for me to see my design on items properly for the first time. Over the last few weeks, I've been busy working on new designs quietly on the side. I haven't shared any of them on the blog and I've only given a tiny preview (from a different collection I'm working on) through this blog's Facebook Page. And, I haven't made any of my new designs available to the public. Well, not until now, that…
Best Books of 201423 Jan 2015 | 12:04 amWhen I first posted a call on the best books that people have read for the year on my social media accounts, I was thrilled to see what everyone had to share. Some of the recommended books make it to my 'To Read' list. And, I visit revisit the lists regularly. For those interested, here are the links to: Best Books of 2012 and Best Books of 2013. Now, I'm really excited to have a third list to refer to. Thanks again to everyone who contributed! Personally, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to complete reading about 30 books in 2014. I've read many more, but I…
'Grow': Word of The Year 201511 Jan 2015 | 9:15 pmHappy new year! Yes, I know that almost two weeks has passed since 2015 started. And, I am also aware that it has been a month since I last blogged here. I've been avoiding these long breaks over the last few months, but this time, I got defeated. Again. We all know that the holiday season is always a bit hectic. The wisest move would have been to give myself a break and make that official. But, I was overly confident that I would find the time to blog, regardless. Silly, me. I'm not going to give you the details of my holidays – but, needless to say, it was more hectic…
Bare Feet Studios
To Do and Forget: Managing the Incomings25 Mar 2015 | 1:30 pmI am the lucky winner of a life that involves managing or participating in many different projects, and many different styles of projects. I've noticed that just keeping track of the ideas and the assignments had become a stressor extraordinaire. I love and use Basecamp for a few of my "top level" projects, as I can track or organize my diverse assets,... The post To Do and Forget: Managing the Incomings appeared first on Bare Feet Studios.
Here's Hope for Workaholics16 Mar 2015 | 7:56 pmI am in a writer's group and also I also coach a mindful social business group where we each post daily progress and process notes about how well we are inching along to our daily, weekly, and session goals. The Q&A is designed to motivate and feed the brain so it wants to do more, by acknowledging accomplishments of any sort, and... The post Here's Hope for Workaholics appeared first on Bare Feet Studios.
Stop Learning and Start Doing2 Mar 2015 | 7:10 pmIt's not often you'll hear such a barking-style suggestion from me. But I've decided that analysis paralysis has taken on a whole new realm in the world of using the internet to grow your small business or entrepreneurial venture. Webinars proliferate. Joint Ventures and VIP Days are hot. You've got to know all about lead capture pages. What is happening in your... The post Stop Learning and Start Doing appeared first on Bare Feet Studios.
Mindful Social Media23 Feb 2015 | 7:26 pmIt's not an oxymoron! The post Mindful Social Media appeared first on Bare Feet Studios.
A Love Letter to The Amazing Andrew Sullivan5 Feb 2015 | 8:25 amI have been reading you, Andrew, since 2004 – 4 years after you started blogging. You were more conservative back then, but always brilliant and weird. Those two qualities really drew me to you. I've been talking about you several places, but so much is coming up today that I am choosing a public homage – that also turns out to be... The post A Love Letter to The Amazing Andrew Sullivan appeared first on Bare Feet Studios.
Ignite Social Media
Brands Lose 100K+ Fans After Facebook Purges Accounts26 Mar 2015 | 2:32 pmHave you noticed a recent drop in your Facebook fan count? Maybe your engagement rates have spiked? Wondering what in the world happened? The answer is surprisingly straightforward, and looks like it could be quite beneficial. Over the last couple weeks, Facebook has deleted millions of voluntarily deactivated and memorialized accounts, leading to reductions in brand fan counts. Thankfully, none of the changes caused a huge percentage drop like we experienced with The Great Instagram Purge of 2014, but the reductions were still noticeable. Looking at a dozen different brands, we saw an…
New Video Data Reinforces Social Media Video Effectiveness26 Mar 2015 | 8:50 amWith the rise of video, you've probably taken another look at how video views are counted and valued. Is a video view simply an impression? Are video "click to play" elements considered as brand engagements? Do auto-play views "count" the same as a "click to play"? In yet another attempt to show social media video effectiveness and position itself as a leader in video consumption, Facebook commissioned a new study from Nielsen to calculate how video ads on Facebook could impact brand awareness, message association, and lift in ad recall. Finding: Video ads have value, even before they…
Five f8 2015 Announcements Marketers Should Care About25 Mar 2015 | 12:45 pmFacebook's annual developers conference, f8, kicked off today with an announcement-filled keynote continuing last year's themes of Stability and Control. Much of the conference will focus on introducing developers to new ways to build on top of the Facebook Platform (not to be confused with the Facebook apps you and I log into every day) but a few of today's announcements could impact how brands engage consumers on the social network. Streamlining Sharing to Facebook Owned Apps Facebook is clearly committed to its siloed app strategy, which Mark reiterated in his opening speech, saying the…
3 Tips for Using Social Media To Land Your New Job25 Mar 2015 | 9:26 amWe all know how social media is a game changer when it comes to finding a job and networking in the professional world. Recruiters and companies are beginning to invest more in social recruiting and candidates are simultaneously becoming more aggressive in their job search, particularly over social media. With this new and ever-evolving playing field, what can you do to help ENGAGE with companies? Here are a few simple steps to create targeted and effective messaging to potential employers to boost your visibility in the job market and use social media to land your new job. It really…
Where Are Your Customers in Social Media?20 Mar 2015 | 9:29 amOrganic reach has become the bane of many social media marketers. Staying up to date with Facebook's algorithm changes is rapidly becoming a full-time job, and getting your brand message into your fans' News Feeds without paying for it is specialist work. This can become even more apparent in the retail sector, where a brand's social media presence is not just about brand building and engagement, but also about actually driving customers to purchase products. It's a fine balance to strike, but a recent survey conducted in January 2015 in the UK offers some insight into consumer…
New Adventures with 10up22 Mar 2015 | 2:00 pmIt's such a weird feeling. Since I began this blog in 2004, I've been able to say I was truly hired exactly one time. That day was Jan 9, 2013. In 2004, I was employed by Northrop Grumman. In 2006, I left NG to pursue the startup world, I took up residence at b5media as […]
Dishonesty in Digital Marketing18 Mar 2015 | 3:48 pm$9.99. We used to look at that number, scratch our heads and rationalize the price as a marketing tactic to make buyers believe a product was cheaper than it was. This is all based on the psychology that $9.99 looks cheaper than $10 visually. $99.99 isn't $100 because it's not a 3-figure number. It's a 2-figure […]
Adding a Time Start to WordPress Media Embeds9 Mar 2015 | 2:39 pmEver have those times that you'd like to share a piece of media but have it start at a particular time? I did recently, and figured I'd share my solution. It turns out, WordPress does not support this feature out of the box (though you could argue, theoretically, that it should).
If I Had to do it All Again27 Feb 2015 | 4:24 pmAs I sit here tonight, at a bar, typing on the WordPress app (which will undoubtedly make my fingers cramp typing long form), I'm thinking about my life. What has made me a man, a developer, a friend, and lover (I can even get in Oxford commas on the app!) In exactly five hundred and […]
The Internet is About to Become WAY Faster20 Feb 2015 | 8:08 amEarlier this week, the big news in the tech space surrounded the completion of the HTTP/2 Spec. Gibberish, gibberish, gibberish. What does this mean for the internet? The short version is: it's about to become way faster. Faster is extremely important if you want to make money from traffic to your site. Or, you know, if […]
Koka Sexton | Social Selling Tips | Social Marketing Leader
#ContentMarketing Highlights for the week.8 Mar 2015 | 6:55 pmIt was a good week for content marketing. From fun infographics to some great tactical use of blogs and design, this week was filled with amazing things. Here is a collection of items I found valuable this week on social media. View the story "CONTENT MARKETING HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE WEEK" on Storify Powered by WP Bannerize
The New #SocialSelling Index Makes Success More Predictable31 Jan 2015 | 9:54 amThere have been some major leaps made in the evolution of social selling in the past few years. One of them is the creation of the Social Selling Index, the score that LinkedIn can give to a sales professional; a company; an industry; a region; or globally that benchmarks the activity of sales people being active social sellers. LinkedIn Sales Solutions recently released this infographic outlining some of the changes made to the Social Selling Index and how it makes the score an ever more predictable formula for sales people.
Content Marketing Resources27 Jan 2015 | 8:50 amThe great thing about being in intent marketing is that there are so many other content marketing professionals creating…you guessed it, content. Here are some of the best social updates that talk about content marketing on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter and other social networks. These are some great resources for people that are trying to step up their content marketing game. View the story "Must read marketing articles" on Storify Powered by WP Bannerize
Highlights from LinkedIn's GSK25 Jan 2015 | 6:38 pmLast week was LinkedIn's Global Sales Kickoff, this year it was hosted in Los Angeles at the famed Nokia Theater where some of the biggest award shows in the world take place. This is my second GSK for LinkedIn [you can see the first one here] and it was bigger and better than the last. I have been to many GSK's in my career either as a participant or a speaker and no one does it like LinkedIn. I was prepared for the grand scale of things but even being prepared didn't fully set me up. It was so great to see so many sales people I know and it was wonderful to have the…
A collection of #SocialSelling posts for the week17 Jan 2015 | 2:36 pmI've put together a series of articles that will benefit sales professionals.These are social selling knowledge and strategy posts that I found valuable and thought you would like to see also. Some of these articles are very rich in data that can help drive decisions within your organization. Most of them are around LinkedIn as the social media tool to us but there are some that talk about Twitter and other social networks too. View the story "Favorite #SocialSelling Posts of the Week" on Storify Powered by WP Bannerize
MarketingProfs: Marketing Opinions
The B2B Customer Journey Is Beginning to Look a Lot Like the B2C Version27 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amB2B marketing and B2B customer journeys are becoming more like their B2C counterparts. Here's how they're changing. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Seven Must-Have Metrics to Keep in Your Email Marketing Toolbox26 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amHow are you measuring the success of your emails? Chances are you're already using some basic metrics. Here are some other important ones to include. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Five Ways Marketing Technology Will Transform Our Industry25 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amNearly 2,000 marketing solutions are available to today's marketers. How is all that technology changing the marketing landscape? Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Content Marketing Performance: A Framework for Measuring Real Business Impact24 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amRecently, my colleague Susan Etlinger and I teamed up on a research project about content's business value. Here's a look at what we discovered. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Three Reasons White-Labeling Your Products Is a Fab Idea (and Two Reasons It Isn't)23 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amInterested in white-labeling? Then make sure you weigh these pros and cons. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Digital Trends
Hearthstone players charge into Blackrock Mountain on April 227 Mar 2015 | 7:02 pmHearthstone fans finished with Curse of Naxxramas and anxious for a new single-player adventure don't have much longer to wait, as Blizzard has revealed that the Blackrock Mountain adventure add-on will be released on April 2. The post Hearthstone players charge into Blackrock Mountain on April 2 appeared first on Digital Trends.
Windows updates led to 25-minute delay of German basketball game27 Mar 2015 | 6:59 pmA German basketball game was delayed for 25 minutes because the Windows laptop powering the scoreboard started installing updates. In the German Professional Basketball League, that's 10 minutes over the maximum delay time. The post Windows updates led to 25-minute delay of German basketball game appeared first on Digital Trends.
This guy's experience with Comcast was so bad, he's selling his house27 Mar 2015 | 6:14 pmEven taking into account their less-than-stellar track record, one potential customer has had so many problems that it looks like he's going to have to sell the house he just bought three months ago. The post This guy's experience with Comcast was so bad, he's selling his house appeared first on Digital Trends.
Like Uber for private jets, Victor makes the old way to book look like coach27 Mar 2015 | 5:15 pmUntil now, booking a private jet has been an archaic nightmare that resisted change due to one simple fact: Anyone with the cash to book one was too busy to care. But Victor CEO Clive James knew there had to be a better way. The post Like Uber for private jets, Victor makes the old way to book look like coach appeared first on Digital Trends.
Fighting fire with bass? Sounds crazy, but these college students are making it happen27 Mar 2015 | 4:11 pmYou've probably heard of fighting fire with water, and even fighting fire with fire -- but what about fighting fire with sound? It might seem like the stuff of science fiction, but a pair of enterprising students from George Mason University have built a machine that does just that. The post Fighting fire with bass? Sounds crazy, but these college students are making it happen appeared first on Digital Trends.
Janet Fouts
Evernote – Change the Way You Take Notes12 Mar 2015 | 11:26 amProductivity software? Tried it. It never does what I need it to do and I spend more time setting it up and loading stuff into it than I do actually using it. Most of the apps I'd tried also had accessibility issues. Sometimes they synced, sometimes they didn't and I was constantly maintaining the tool that was supposed to make my life easier. Until now. In a nutshell, Evernote lets you add information to a database that is accessible through the web, a desktop app, and your iPhone, or smart phone. Items are tag-able and fully search-able so you can add pretty much anything, run…
Are you an intentional marketer?8 Mar 2015 | 3:52 pmAre you intentional with your social marketing? Most marketers will say yes–or at least most of the time, and hey, nobody's perfekt right? Today I want you to think about your intentions for using a specific network and ask yourself a few questions. Take a moment to think about each of the networks you are engaging on and write down your answers. I'll tell you what to do with them in a minute. Why did you choose this network? Because somebody told you you HAD to be there? Because your competitor is? It seemed like a good idea at the time? Because your market is there? You like…
Meercat jumps on Twitter Video5 Mar 2015 | 9:14 amPeople are jumping on Meerkat, a relatively new app that allows us to live stream video directly to Twitter through the app. Here's how it works: Download the iOS app to see who is streaming or click this link to see who's streaming #meerkat on TwitterUse mentions on Twitter to comment or comment through the app and join the conversation there If you're streaming a Meerkat video it's pushed to your followers on Meerkat in real time and viewable on Twitter in real time Followers can "re-stream" your broadcast to their own followers in real time too You can…
Marketers- Stop multi-tasking social media26 Feb 2015 | 2:35 pmWe all *think* we're doing great when the Twitter alerts are rolling, Email's pinging, Facebook is always open and your RSS feeds are pushing you new content to share. Efficient right? Yeah. No. The thing is, study after study shows us that multi-tasking is a myth. You're not multi-tasking at all. Rather, you're serial tasking and shifting your attention from one task to the other. In fact, the time it takes you to switch from one task to another can increase the overall time you spend on these tasks by up to 40%. Don't your adoring fans deserve a mindful focus…
Just get us the Millennials! #Marketing #Fail30 Dec 2014 | 12:53 pmI can't count the number of times I've sat in meetings with brands large and small and heard the marching orders. "Just get us the millennials". This mind set is short-sighted and mindless old-school marketing at best! Millennial's are just one demographic in your potential market and you need to think carefully before you focus entire marketing campaigns on them. First let's look at the demographics over the last couple of years: 77 million Millennials (18-36) make up 24% of the US population 23% of Millennials have a Bachelor's degree or higher,…
SocialTimes Feed
Social Media Jobs: Freelancers Union, Wirecutter27 Mar 2015 | 4:30 pmThis week, Freelancers Union is hiring a blog and community manager, while The Wirecutter needs a growth editor. Major League Soccer is seeking a senior director of media, and CurtCo Robb Media is looking for a social media manager. Get the scoop on these openings below, and find additional social media jobs on Mediabistro. Blog and Community Manager Freelancers Union (Brooklyn, NY) Growth Editor The Wirecutter (New York, NY) Senior Director, Media Major League Soccer (New York, NY) Social Media Manager CurtCo Robb Media (Malibu, CA) Social Media Editor The Hired Guns (New York, NY) Find more…
WWE Immortals Updated with New Characters, WrestleMania 31 Content27 Mar 2015 | 1:30 pmWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and WWE announced the release of a major content update for WWE Immortals on mobile devices. The update brings new characters to the game's roster and introduces the new Events System, giving players a chance to receive rewards in limited time challenges. The roster update includes two versions of iconic Superstars, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Macho Man Randy Savage. Austin is available as the Texas Rattlesnake and as an Icebound Watcher, while Savage is available as a Renegade and as the Macho King. These characters are part of the game's planned…
Mark Zuckerberg No. 25 on 'Fortune' World's Greatest Leaders27 Mar 2015 | 1:00 pmFacebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg placed No. 25 on the new World's 50 Greatest Leaders for 2015 list from Fortune. Fortune wrote in its mini-profile of Zuckerberg: \"Everyone knows Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook when he was 19, but because of that extraordinary beginning, everyone tends to underrate the role he has gone on to play,\" says Silicon Valley eminence Peter Thiel, who himself has had an outsize role in the tech revolution. \"Keeping the company relentlessly focused on the long-term future, he is the opposite of a quarter-to-quarter Wall Street CEO, and that's…
Why Google+ Is Dying (and Nearly Dead)27 Mar 2015 | 12:30 pmJust a few years ago, Google+ seemed to be the social media platform to watch. Facebook and Twitter enjoyed a much brighter spotlight with far greater user numbers, but Google+ had something powerful neither of them could boast—the support of Google. The Google name has been a symbol of technological prowess ever since the search engine rose to near ubiquity, gracing highly practical, widely used products like Google Maps and Google News. It made sense that a social network developed and supported by the web juggernaut would ultimately prove to be successful. For a time, Google…
Facebook Users Get Ringside Seats to WrestleMania 3127 Mar 2015 | 12:00 pmFacebook is getting into the ring for WWE's WrestleMania 31 with a Trending experience for Sunday night's event. The social network's Trending experience for WrestleMania 31 will feature ring entrances, match clips, interviews, locker-room commentary and training videos, and Facebook users will be able to see posts and comments from celebrities, WWE personalities, media outlets, influencers and friends. During the event, WWE's on-air announcers will encourage fans to take part on Facebook, and fans in attendance at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., can check in to join…
Techipedia | Tamar Weinberg
What's Your Work Ethic? An Argument for Remote Employees19 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amWe live in a connected culture. Whereas a mere decade ago, we were on a slower Internet (for the most part), strides in technology have enabled us to be more productive in our online communications. Email is still a pretty ubiquitous method of chatting with people around the world whether for business or pleasure, and new collaboration tools such as Slack and HipChat create always-on virtual meeting experiences. Video chat speaks to our accountability for our presence by a computer, and facilitates global meetings, enabling a seamless culture wherever one is. Our cellular devices are…
A Startup's Struggles and Successes in Influencer Outreach: How to Set Up Your First Blogger Campaigns12 Mar 2015 | 5:50 amAs many of you know, I'm working with influencer marketing platform, The Shelf. The article below is not mine but is probably one of the best guest posts I've ever received here. It was originally posted on The Shelf's blog (which by the way, is amazing), but I wanted to amplify its lessons because this post is oh-so-great. This article is authored by Lauren Jung, co-founder of The Shelf. Every PR or marketing person who is focused on journalists or bloggers should read this. Without further ado, this is a great story: Working with bloggers can be a somewhat daunting task if…
Does Social Media Impact Sales at Tobacco and Adult Themed Stores?11 Feb 2015 | 6:46 amWhat is the value of social media as it relates to retail ROI? Is there a point in putting sharing buttons on my e-commerce website if I don't know how that translates to actionable data regarding revenue? Everyone is doing things with respect to social, but in e-commerce, what is the point? Can I even truly attribute social data to return on investment? These are good and absolutely fair questions. AddShoppers** is one of the coolest technologies I have ever seen for the e-commerce space and is the only offering I have encountered that has such a breadth of data on social ROI in online…
PR Pros: You're still doing it wrong, even if you have a six figure income4 Feb 2015 | 5:03 amI don't know about you, but if someone tells me my process is tedious and expensive, I may be receptive to hear what they are saying in the hopes that they can help me improve my life, either personally or professionally. Seven years ago, I didn't believe inbox zero was ever possible. Today, I sell training modules on my inbox zero process. Public relations, especially in the age of blogging, has been quite a nightmare, to the point that in 2009, I called most PR pros public relations spammers. Many have blatant disregard for what people write about, and will use a distant mention…
Why Customer Service is the Future of Social Marketing28 Oct 2014 | 5:30 amIn 2006, social media was building steam in the United States. With the rise of Facebook's popularity, the launch of Twitter, and the surge of influence from social news sites like Digg, social media looked to be a great breeding ground for marketers to make their mark. And make their marks they did. Digg was an incredibly powerful platform to drive traffic and pageviews to reasonably good content. Initially, the network really had the cream of the Internet crop on its frontpage, and the "Digg effect" would take websites down just like that. Visitors flocked to the homepage…
Stay N Alive
Facebook Quietly Launches Ads API for ALL Developers26 Mar 2015 | 2:03 pmSome amazing things have been announced at Facebook's annual developer conference, F8, going on yesterday and today in San Francisco. From new apps for Facebook Messenger, to a platform for Internet of Things, to one of the most amazing explanations of the value of virtual reality I've ever seen, Facebook has by far made up for last year's F8, which I suggested was a bit uninteresting. But one thing went unannounced that I think bears merit, and I discovered it within their "Developers Garage" here at the conference as I was talking to people working for Facebook at the various booths. That…
No Known Solutions In Sight for Copyright Issues or Monetization for Facebook Video25 Mar 2015 | 2:55 pmAt Facebook's now annual F8 developers conference, 2 issues seemed to be on the mind of developers and content creators in the audience of their "What's New With Facebook Video" session: copyright infringement and in-video monetization. But when asked about it, Facebook seemed mute.Among the features launched at Facebook F8 this year was the ability, just like Youtube, to embed native video from Facebook on websites and other 3rd party products (see video below). This launch allows further distribution of video, and improves the capabilities of video shared on websites to be shared beyond…
How to Find the Fans of Your Facebook Page19 Dec 2014 | 3:31 pmI had a client ask me the other day if they could identify their 10,000th fan for a giveaway. The truth is on Facebook, they don't make it easy to know who your fans are. In the Facebook API it limits you up to only a few hundred fans that you can retrieve (and that only works on occasion). You can use Graph Search and a combination of a couple Google Chrome extensions to download up to about 5,000 fans (I've never been able to get more). But to get the entire list hasn't been possible until I discovered this one cool hack, and it sorts it by most recent person who liked your page! Here's how…
The Entirely Contextual, Peer-to-Peer, Self-Aware Future of Technology6 Nov 2014 | 12:13 pmThis article is part of the 'Think Further' series, sponsored by Alger Financial Management. For more 'Think Further' content and videos, click here.As I talk to others in the tech industry, I'm often asked, what's next for technology? First there was the PC, then the web. Then came the dynamic web experiences and "web 2.0". Following that came social media, mobile, and the appearance of all your friends and family, as well as personal information into that web experience. So what's next? The future of technology is all about the end user. It has no servers. It has no "destinations"…
Google+ Isn't Dying. Facebook Isn't Dying. The News Feed is Dying.22 Oct 2014 | 11:00 pmPaul Adams, inventor of Google+ Circles, and an all-around smart guy, wrote a post I shared earlier today on Facebook about basically the death of "the destination". His post really resonated with me. I've long wondered, with the death of Google Authorship among other things being removed from Google+, if plus.google.com would stick around, instead being favored as just a layer across all Google products (Google+ therefore still definitely having a future). I've come to the conclusion of this: The idea of "a news feed" will be dead in the next 5 years. Facebook as you know it will be…
Quick Online Tips
How to Open Mailto: Links in Gmail by Default24 Mar 2015 | 8:58 amHave you clicked mailto: links (email links) on websites and want them to open in Gmail. When I decided to install email links at bottom of these posts, I would...Read full original article at How to Open Mailto: Links in Gmail by Default©2015 QuickOnlineTips. All Rights Reserved. Related posts: How to Make Site Search Default Google Chrome Search Engine Shocking! When Hackers Edit Disavow Links File 1000+ Gmail Emoticons!
How to Delay Loading of Non Critical CSS to Increase Mobile Site Speed22 Mar 2015 | 11:26 pmIts a good idea to delay loading of non critical CSS to speed mobile site page speeds. Probably you use lots of CSS files to style your site, and this...Read full original article at How to Delay Loading of Non Critical CSS to Increase Mobile Site Speed©2015 QuickOnlineTips. All Rights Reserved. Related posts: How to Increase Site Speed by 200% Easily How to PHP Flush Buffer Early to Speed Website Loading 4 Best Web Page Speed Tests to Make Your Site Faster
How to Dispay Sharper Logo on High Resolution Screens18 Mar 2015 | 7:39 amDoes your logo look blur and pixelated on iPad retina display screen? Why does the logo of your favorite top blog look sharper? Here is the secret to display sharper...Read full original article at How to Dispay Sharper Logo on High Resolution Screens©2015 QuickOnlineTips. All Rights Reserved. Related posts: How to Change WordPress Login Page Logo & Background Activate Instant Login Access Alerts for High Server Security Your Blog NEEDS an Awesome Logo
View Bootstrap, Font Awesome in WordPress Visual Post Editor7 Mar 2015 | 10:44 pmHow can you view Bootstrap styles and Font awesome icons in your WordPress post editor. Currently if you use these 2 essential design elements, the changes are not visible in the...Read full original article at View Bootstrap, Font Awesome in WordPress Visual Post Editor©2015 QuickOnlineTips. All Rights Reserved. Related posts: How to Add Font Awesome Icons in Bootstrap How to Add Custom CSS Styles to WordPress Post Editor Use Bootstrap for Powerful Web Design
QuickCache to ZenCache: Fix WordPress Caching Errors6 Mar 2015 | 2:30 amAs you migrated from WordPress caching plugin QuickCache to ZenCache, did caching stop working. We have been using Quickcache as our default WordPress caching plugin for several years now. Now QuickCache...Read full original article at QuickCache to ZenCache: Fix WordPress Caching Errors©2015 QuickOnlineTips. All Rights Reserved. Related posts: Now Get More Free Dropbox Space upto 18GB! 3 Tips for Choosing a Usenet Provider
Social Media Wise
The Internet and How It Is Related to Social Media21 Mar 2015 | 4:09 pmThere are several popular social media sites nowadays and these are the websites with hundreds of millions of active users and even with billions with some of these. These are the internet websites where people can do live and real time interactions with other people globally, share pictures and ideas, or making interactive discussions, with friends, family, or anybody within their circle. I recently discovered a vibrant community on facebook discussing cosmetic surgery. The private community of plastic surgery addicts was surprising quite large and very active. They rant'd and raved about…
The Impact of Internet and Social Media21 Mar 2015 | 4:08 pmSocial media is the platform where people share their ideas, make comments about certain things, or just make social interactions with people, their friends and family, and practically all people they are in contact with. This cannot be done without the internet though, thus social media are the internet sites where these people make these interactions and connections with various people. Personal conversations and other interaction types are made through this platform, and there are many types of these interactions done. This can be through the social media sites, forums, and even the blog…
What Internet And Social Media Have Given To The World21 Mar 2015 | 4:08 pmThis magic called internet has given us a lot of things that has benefited the whole world through the years. Since the dawn of the internet and how it was widely used by everyone around the world, it has connected everyone and now it is like we can't live without it. Well for the old generation they can live without it but for the generation who got caught with the wave of this great popular tool, it is like something that they should always be hooked on. Now it has also produced another rather addictive item that all of us are hooked in too which is social media. Internet and social media…
How to Use Social Media to Increase Your Business Profits21 Mar 2015 | 4:08 pmA lot of people are now into online stuff. Regardless of age, people are now registered on different types of social media and networking. This fact is given much consideration by people involved in small and big businesses which is why they come up with websites, social pages, and any more to reach out to their target market. Since social media is not a great hit, a lot of people running different kinds of business use this medium to reach out and distribute their products and services to the public. All of these activities are done simply for one same purpose: to increase business profits.
Using Social Media to Promote the Business21 Mar 2015 | 4:07 pmEstablishing a presence is what should be done to a business and this can be done efficiently if you have an online presence. Whether your business is the traditional business or you have this online, having a presence on the net will add to this success. If you will note, the biggest brands in business are on the net, and they are doing this even if they have already attained success. Getting popular on the internet will get you a name and a brand that will be exclusively your own. This may not be easy to do though, but there can be no regrets if you do this, especially if you attained the…
Web Strategy by Jeremiah
How Investors are Sharing their Money into the Collaborative Economy17 Mar 2015 | 6:29 amThe raw data for this article is available in a publicly-shared database in this Google Sheet, which you can access to see additional details. VCs, investors, and banks have increased their bets on the Sharing/ Collaborative Economy in greater amounts than ever before. The Collaborative Economy is an economic model that uses commonly available technologies to enable people to get what they need from each other. You've likely heard of the sharing economy, crowdfunding, P2P lending, the Maker Movement and cryptocurrencies. Each of these is a part of this emerging economy. I've met with many…
How the Technology of the Collaborative Economy all Works Together1 Mar 2015 | 6:52 amIf you've used Uber, Lyft, Airbnb, oDesk, Kickstarter, or Lending Club, you've participated in the Collaborative Economy, ever wondered what's powering it behind the shiny user interface on the app? The Collaborative Economy is an economic model in which people use commonly available technologies to get what they need from each other. To put some stats on how large the startup ecosystem of companies in this space is, here's some facts: The Mesh Directory is tracking well over 9,000 startups in this market. These startups are in twelve industries as documented on the Honeycomb…
Liberals and Conservatives Both Love & Loathe the Collaborative Economy25 Feb 2015 | 12:17 amBy Jeremiah Owyang, Founder, Crowd Companies and Alan Webber, Government Insights Research Director, IDC, (profile and twitter). Last week, A version of this article appeared in the WSJ. The Collaborative Economy is emerging as the defining societal narrative for 2015 and beyond. In this burgeoning, economic model, individuals use commonly available technologies to obtain resources from their peers, like use of homes, cars, money, and other goods and services. These technology-based companies enable people to bypass inefficient corporations, find favorable alternatives to entrenched,…
Your Tech Startup Doesn't Need to be in Silicon Valley.23 Feb 2015 | 8:30 amBy Jeremiah Owyang @jowyang, living in Silicon Valley since 1997. My long-time, close friend, Chris Saad, wrote a helpful essay on 39 tips for startups. He shares many suggestions, based on his personal experience, in the startup world, from his home country of Australia, and in Palo Alto, and in the heart SF's tech district SoMa. While I agree with 38 of his tips and suggestions, I'd like to discuss the merits of tip number one. Dear readers please know, I first chatted with Chris in advance, he was aware I was writing this, as I certainly don't like to surprise a friend. Chris gives…
Self-Driving Cars Disrupt the Crowd19 Feb 2015 | 4:53 amGoogle and Uber are building self-driving cars, it's rumored that Apple is going to be building self-driving cars, Tesla has launched driver-assistance features, and many traditional auto manufacturing companies are advancing their features to include driver assistance and, eventually, automation. Ride sharing and car sharing pave the way for the self-driving car industry. Ride sharing startups, like Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, BlaBlaCar, and car ownership-sharing, like Getaround, DriveNow, Car2Go, RelayRides, and Zipcar are paving the way for this market. Society is learning we don't need to…
solar feed crenk-feed
Solar Energy Risks to Health27 Mar 2015 | 8:17 amSolar energy is a potential free electricity and water heating source. It has the power to take advantage of electricity in remote areas of the world. It seems to offer health and safety with power, but is it? Rarely health risks of solar energy are mentioned. This may be partly due to the limited use of this energy source. It may also be due to the lack of research in this area. Some have begun to study the health risks of solar energy, however, and if you study long enough, some estimates are available. Solar Thermal Risks Health Solar energy Health risks inherent in the design and…
Should We Give Solar Power Another Try?25 Mar 2015 | 3:24 amCities in many countries suffer degradation of air quality. Oxygen levels are decreasing every year making it harder to breathe. Our water is actually much more polluted and trees are dying. The human race has made decisions that are harmful currently causing our planet to fade. Perhaps returning to the things we use at the beginning of the life of the human race is the best solution. Solar energy can be the answer to many current problems as the sun has always been a source of heat and light. Throughout the history of the earth, the sun's energy has never been used as a source of…
Irresistible Reasons To Create Your Own Solar Power At Home24 Mar 2015 | 2:22 am1. promotion of government: the federal government offers discounts for the use of clean energy. For example, wind turbines and solar energy systems installed at the end of 2016 are eligible for a tax credit of 30 percent. A tax credit is better than a tax deduction to take money directly from their taxes instead of leaving your taxable income. In other words, you can benefit from lower electricity bills and lower taxes. 2. Increase the value of the house: There have been several studies showing that selling prices are higher for households with solar certifications and durability that homes…
Solar Energy Alternative Methods23 Mar 2015 | 3:11 pmThey tired of your electric bill go even higher? Is it possible to do something about it without breaking the bank? Well, if you've thought about going solar, but do not want to spend thousands, you're in luck. There is no reason you have to feed all its solar house. Everything helps. Say you use a lot of energy every month. Whether it's an old A / C and even water heater or combine this with a huge pool, energy costs add up quickly. Even outdoor lights low power increase your electricity bill. To begin to fall, as the use of solar outside lights? They are charged during the…
How You Can Avoid Solar Energy Pitfalls23 Mar 2015 | 11:38 amWhile solar energy is a good alternative energy source, there might be some errors. Hopefully this article will help you avoid scammers, inflated prices and other problems associated with solar energy systems. The first thing to do is do your research. Prices can vary greatly between systems. Although it seems that many manufacturers offer systems that contain most of the same parts, the price and quality will be different. You may be tempted to go the cheap route, but end up paying for repeated repairs or even a replacement system. Here's the difference between a system of…
Professional Blog - Chris Saad
New Opportunities5 Mar 2015 | 6:48 pmToday I'm searching for new opportunities.Over the last 5 years at Echo I've lead product for the team who built the Echo Real-time Developer Platform from 0 to 85 Billion API calls a month, some 30+ shrink-wrapped consumer social products and the super slick drag-n-drop Echo Experience Studio with 100+ customer deployments.We've powered amazing brands like Salesforce, AWS, WWE, ESPN, NASDAQ, USA Networks, Washington Post, Coke, Fanta, AT&T, Scripps Networks, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and many, many more.It's been an amazing journey with a passionate and dedicated team - I'm…
Context Matters Episode 5 - FB Suicide Prevention, Cocaine use in SF & Do you need to be in Silicon Valley?4 Mar 2015 | 8:03 amSee the full show notes
The Collaborative Economy Technology Stack v11 Mar 2015 | 5:28 pmMy friend Jeremiah Owyang (twitter, website) is the analyst researching, defining and leading the conversation on the Collaborative Economy. I, along with Rahim Fazel (twitter, website), assisted him to create this diagram as a visual aid for newcomers to the space.See Jeremiah's post for the full detail.
Context Matters Episode 4 - Medium vs Twitter, Culture war in San Francisco26 Feb 2015 | 8:07 amSee the show notes
39+ tips for building a startup after 15 years of success and failure21 Feb 2015 | 9:36 amI've been working on startups in one form or another since about 1999. I started hanging out in Silicon Valley informally in 2008, and moved formally at the beginning of 2009.In Silicon Valley there's a particular flavor of startup that gets built. One where you "raise money, grow fast and make an impact". In Silicon Valley "Success" is about being validated by a large market (most important), investors (less important) and "making the world a better place". By this measure, I feel like I've had some share of big wins and great outcomes. More importantly, though, I've…
Des Walsh
Become a Thought Leader with Blogging – Part 224 Mar 2015 | 11:40 pmIn the first post of this two part series, I shared some thoughts about using blogging to establish or promote yourself as a thought leader. For that I focused on what some would see as a group unlikely to be persuaded to blog, CEOs. In this second post of the series I share some results of a few hours searching for examples of CEO blogs with interesting, useful content. I found seven really interesting blogs by CEOs. In this post I comment on three of them and hope to comment on the others in a separate post in the not too distant future. Two things in particular stand out for me with these…
Become a Thought Leader with Blogging – Part 125 Feb 2015 | 11:26 amA Big Moment in San Francisco, 2003 Twelve years ago, at a Coachville conference in San Francisco, one of the sessions that had a big impact on my business and my life was titled "Become an e-Celebrity with Blogging". It was a lightbulb moment. Not that I wanted to be a "celebrity" but that I saw how blogging could help me share my story and promote my coaching business globally. As it did. I have no doubt that blogging and – more broadly – social media have helped me operate in a bigger field and build a network more deeply and widely than I could have expected otherwise. That…
Getting on the Bus with Zeusvision12 Jan 2015 | 5:34 pmOn the Bus A while ago in the post Zeusvison Levels the Outdoor Advertising Playing Field I wrote about an exciting new venture in which the Zeusvision company was putting ads on the side of buses, but with a very special twist of interest to anyone in small business, especially because of the amazingly economical aspect – with ads for as little as $99. As I wrote in that post: Think of Zeusvision as a huge iPhone™ on wheels that can position itself wherever the client desires, delivering customized multimedia messages and experiences for as little as $99. It was great to have been…
Are you aiming up for 2015?31 Dec 2014 | 8:49 pmAiming Up It's that changeover time again, New Years, when we put behind us what was not so good in the year just ended and indulge in some hoping and dreaming about a better picture for the year ahead. In this post I'm sharing some thoughts and experience about aiming up, setting some stretch goals, not settling for more of the same. It's not about New Year's resolutions. At least not the way I think of them. I don't know about you but I'm not great on New Year's resolutions. Probably too many in the past that I have not kept. But I do think…
Chad's Blog
Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: Are You Self-Sabotaging Your Web Site?25 Mar 2015 | 2:25 pmIssue No. 116 March 25, 2015 Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: Are You Self-Sabotaging Your Web Site? This week's reflection point: I want to share a few examples of how clients can self–sabotage their website and possibly their business. Several years ago, while developing the web site for one of our clients, she contacted our team requesting that we change the font size from 12 points to 11.75! I would admit that to the naked eye, there is absolutely no way to discern the difference so I contacted her to understand how she arrived at such a request. To my amazement, she was spending…
Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: Are You Surrounded By Genius?18 Mar 2015 | 4:08 pmIssue No. 115 March 18, 2015 Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: Are You Surrounded By Genius? This week's reflection point: I just returned from the amazing Million Dollar Consulting convention in Atlanta where I was privileged to learn from the many great minds there as well as provide my presentation to the group. I was surrounded by some of the top minds in the world as I realized that the constant evolution of my wisdom is due to the brilliant minds around me. Some are alive and many are available to me in my extensive library. Let me share some of the highlights of last week's…
Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: The Virtual Workplace11 Mar 2015 | 2:13 pmIssue No. 114 March 11, 2015 Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: The Virtual Workplace This week's reflection point: Over the past 5 years I have worked primarily from my home office while my team continued working from our main office. I loved the new arrangement as I found it convenient and it worked extremely well for me. Then, as a couple of our team members moved out of state and a couple of our new hires lived overseas, I approached my "home" team to see if they would like to work from home. The answer was a resounding yes! It's been over a year since we closed our physical…
Join Me at The Million Dollar Consulting® Convention10 Mar 2015 | 9:59 amJoin me tomorrow with Dr. Alan Weiss, Dr. Marting Seligman, 8 other expert presenters and colleagues from all over the world for an amazing experience that has never before been provided for solo practitioners and boutique firm owners. http://www.alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/million-dollar-consulting-convention/
Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: The Purpose of Technology4 Mar 2015 | 2:08 pmIssue No. 113 March 4, 2015 Raising the Barr Weekly Memo: The Purpose of Technology This week's reflection point: I love technology, its use and especially its impact. What makes no sense to me is using technology for technology sake rather than leveraging it to achieve great results and improve the quality of our lives. The critical aspect when investing in technology is to identify how it is going to improve your business, knowledge, enjoyment, and your life. Once you identify these, focus on getting the most out of that technology so you reap the potential rewards. One of the most…
Meet me and Eric Ries at a private event on March 21st – here's how to attend4 Mar 2015 | 11:41 amHi everyone, I'm hosting a fireside chat (whatever that is!) with Eric Ries on 3/21. It'll be at a private event in the Dogpatch neighborhood of SF, and I've saved a few seats available for my regular readers to attend. A couple topics I plan to touch on: How Eric and I met in 2008 as unknown/unread bloggers :) Going from zero to global movement for the Lean Startup Biggest lessons – what worked and didn't The new Kickstarter campaign he's putting together How growth fits into the Lean Startup framework What's Eric's up to now, and…
Personal update: I've moved to Oakland! Here's why.24 Feb 2015 | 3:42 pmMy new neighborhood, in Jack London Square, Oakland, CA. Where'd you move? I moved to a tiny neighborhood called Jack London Square in Oakland. Yes, it's named for that guy that wrote about the gold rush. I've only been here 3 months but I really like it so far. Previously, I lived in Palo Alto for 5 years, then about 2 years in the Lower Pac Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, but had never really spent much time in the East Bay. I had sort of heard that people were moving from SF to Oakland, but didn't really have a reason to check out the neighborhood until a few…
The most common mistake when forecasting growth for new products (and how to fix it)23 Feb 2015 | 10:30 amForecasting weather is hard, and so is forecasting product growth. Startups are about growth Paul Graham's essay in 2012 called "Startup = Growth" makes a big point in the first paragraph: A startup is a company designed to grow fast. Being newly founded does not in itself make a company a startup. Nor is it necessary for a startup to work on technology, or take venture funding, or have some sort of "exit." The only essential thing is growth. Everything else we associate with startups follows from growth. The other important reason for new products to focus on…
The race for Apple Watch's killer app17 Feb 2015 | 2:48 pmThe upcoming race As the release of the Apple Watch draws near, we're seeing press coverage hit a frenzied pace – covering both the product, the watch's designers, sales forecasts, and the retail displays. That'll be fun for us as consumers. But for those of us who are in the business of building new products, the bigger news is that we have a big new platform for play with! The launch of the Apple Watch will create an opportunity to build the first "watch-first" killer app, and if successful, it could create a new generation of apps and startups. Why…
My top essays in 2014 about mobile, growth, and tech6 Jan 2015 | 12:30 pmHello readers, Happy 2015 and hope everyone had a relaxing holiday. As always, more essays are coming soon for the next year. In the meantime, I wanted to share some of my essays published here over the last year. If you want to stay up to date, just make sure to subscribe for updates. Also, thanks to the SumoMe team (specifically Noah Kagan!) for supporting my hosting costs. I've used SumoMe since the product was in alpha and find it immensely helpful in building an audience. Thanks, Andrew The essays Without further ado, here's a selection of essays published in 2014: Make…
Social Gears
A Great Example of How To Aggregate Your Social Media16 Mar 2015 | 11:00 amGetting an email from Twitter stating "you have a new follower" is always a good thing but when one comes through like this it's even better! Phil Faranda has been on the cutting edge of real estate for a long time. It is why he uses Follr and integrates his single property Websites into his Profile Website: To setup your own Follr Profile Website click here. To create single property Websites visit AgencyLogic.com.
Why Upgrade to Follr Professional?3 Mar 2015 | 6:33 amPeople often ask what the difference is between the free version of Follr Personal and the paid version. There are lots of differences, here are some of them: Social Stream – Follr Professional displays up to 30 posts from each social source going back up to 180 days. This is far more content than our free version. Web Links – Add links to all of your profiles, blogs, services, Web sites and all other Web links that matter to you. With Follr Professional you can add up to 50! Documents – Add a printable résumé/CV, sales documents, product or company information, portfolio,…
Have You Visited The AgencyLogic Real Estate Community?20 Feb 2015 | 11:51 amWe regularly cover the activities and great software features coming out of Follr but did you know about the AgencyLogic Real Estate Community? The community allows real estate agents to: 1. Chat and share ideas with other agents 2. Read real estate news 3. Sign up for referrals 4. Laugh at the 'Just for fun' posts 5. View social media content 6. Watch videos And lots, lots more! If you want specific content added including new discussion threads just let us know. Did we mention it's free? To join the community simply click here!
Digital Storytelling – Changing People, Perceptions and Lives12 Feb 2015 | 11:00 amIn today's society we have the tools to be connected anywhere at any time. The scene is repeated almost every day. People will stand in line with their cell phones to make a call to someone just a few feet away. We may believe we are connected with technology but in many ways we are becoming more disconnected socially. This prevents us from finding and telling those deep personal stories, or as Jim Jorstad, says "We don't dive deep to find the emotional stories right in front of us." Jorstad, an award-winning journalist and filmmaker, researches how people can use…
How You Can See What Social Network is The Most Effective10 Feb 2015 | 11:00 amIf you are a Follr Pro user you get detailed statistics that show you many things! To access your statistics simply log into your account and click your profile image in the top right corner: Click the 'Statistics' link which will show you the available reports: You can see who has visited your profile: and also where people researched you. Are they more interested in your Facebook account or LinkedIn profile? This is invaluable information because it tells you where you should be focusing your marketing efforts: Click here to create your Follr account today!
flavor of someone's home26 Mar 2015 | 5:24 amDid you grow up eating flavored rice and noodles from Knorr? The memory seems to be the most comforting thing now that we are older we and more aware of the ingredients in these bags. Knorr wants to capitalize on that nostalgia in their new campaign that touts "The greatest flavor on earth? The taste of home." So, live a little and go get your self a bag of cheddar broccoli rice and forget about the unpronounceable ingredients.
online banana buying26 Mar 2015 | 5:19 amThere is probably a grocery store in your area that offers online shopping that enables you to simply swing by and pick up your produce, but it comes with fees and at a premium. Well, Walmart wants to get in that game with a pick-up only grocery store that doesn't have displays, signage, or anything else that you would come to expect from a grocer. This is either a brilliant idea, or a 17-year-old high school boy is going to be picking out your tomatoes. Good luck!
high coffee reviews26 Mar 2015 | 5:13 amIf you are ever in the Netherlands and you want a cup of Joe you probably shouldn't go to a "coffee shop." Well, Amsterdam based coffee brand Moyee realized the confusion so they took some coffee to the "coffee shop" to get patrons' reviews. The results are... interesting. Would you trust the opinion of a stoner for your morning boost?
dinner, AirBnB style25 Mar 2015 | 5:10 amOh, if only this were real. Miami Ad School students in Berlin dreamt of a world where visitors to a city in a new county could book an home-cooked meal with a local, much like you can book a room via AirBnB. The concept is called AirBites and it is awesome. Are you listening AirBnB?
play your debt away25 Mar 2015 | 5:09 amYou spend 4+ years in college and sometimes it feels all you're left with is a plethora of useless knowledge and a boatload of student loans. Well, a new company called Givling lets graduates put that useless knowledge to the test for the opportunity pay off their student loan debt. For just $0.05 a round, players can compete to win $ for answering questions correctly. They can also add themselves to a queue, where once Givling's funding reaches $10MM they will start paying off each person in line's student loan debt. Seems like a no brainer.
Stowe Boyd
"Sign up for Work Futures Exhaust, a weekly email of curated links from @stoweboyd..."18 Mar 2015 | 8:45 am"Sign up for Work Futures Exhaust, a weekly email of curated links from @stoweboyd http://t.co/du9XXKphDC Issue 1, next Wednesday— Stowe Boyd (@stoweboyd) March 18, 2015" - Part of the re-apportioning of my writing/curation, I am launching a Curated (workfutures.curated.co) weekly email of curated links, which will take away some of what I have been doing here, at stoweboyd.com. Meanwhile, I have already started to write medium and long format writing to Medium: the social affordances are better than Tumblr, and the new changes to the editor here make it very hard to post. And, of…
"China used more cement in the last three years than the United States used in the entire 20th..."17 Mar 2015 | 6:57 am"China used more cement in the last three years than the United States used in the entire 20th century http://t.co/2uRRqeNhSo— Stowe Boyd (@stoweboyd) March 17, 2015 "
Google Offers Cheap Storage for Certain Kinds of Data16 Mar 2015 | 1:11 pmGoogle Offers Cheap Storage for Certain Kinds of Data: Google's long game, in other words, is positioning itself as the cloud computing company for all kinds of data analysis, something that it at the heart of its search engine business."It's not about storage, it's about what you'll do with analytics," said Tom Kershaw, director of product management for the Google Cloud Platform. "Never delete anything, always use data – it's what Google does."The search giant is indeed notoriously data-driven, down to analyzing people's drive times to lunch before it decided to offer…
Republicans' new climate strategy: just ban the words 'climate change' | Jeb Lund12 Mar 2015 | 7:14 amRepublicans' new climate strategy: just ban the words 'climate change' | Jeb Lund: You might have missed it, but Florida has solved climate change. Our state, with 1,300 miles of coastline and a mean elevation of 100 feet, did not, however, limit greenhouse emissions. Instead, the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), under Republican governor Rick Scott, forbade employees from using terms like "climate change," "global warming" or "sea-level rise". They're all gone now. You're welcome, by the way.It's pointless to call linguistic distortions of reality…
Photo12 Mar 2015 | 7:10 am
Six Pixels of Separation
The Digital Reality27 Mar 2015 | 7:10 pmDo you really think that Google Glass is a flop? I don't. Google Glass did - and will do - what it was intended for. Now, before I go on, let me explain: Google probably hoped (assumed) that more and more would find these glasses cool, interesting and worth it to wear. From a fashion standpoint, it flopped. Without question. Still, it pushed a notion forward, and this notion was no different than the early cell phone manufacturers, who believed that individuals would walk around and talk on phones wherever they may be. We have a bad sense of history when it comes to these things, but it…
Email. You're Doing It Wrong.23 Mar 2015 | 8:07 pmI suck at email. I think. It's a form of technology and communication that fascinates me. Fundamentally, email hasn't changed that much since it was first invented. Most of us still struggle with how we sort, file and keep conversations across devices and email addresses. The rest of us take part in daily gladiator-like battles against the inbox. I'm usually quite good at taming my inbox (though, I rarely get to inbox zero). Lately, it has become embarrasingly unwieldy (and, if you're reading this and I have yet to respond to your email, I will... promise... and, I'm sorry!). Email reminds me…
My Week At The TED Conference23 Mar 2015 | 6:52 amEvery Monday morning at 7:10 am, I am a guest contributor on CHOM 97.7 FM radio broadcasting out of Montreal (home base). It's not a long segment - about 5 to 10 minutes every week - about everything that is happening in the world of technology and digital media. The good folks at CHOM 97.7 FM are posting these segments weekly to SoundCloud, if you're interested in hearing more of me blathering away. I'm really excited about this opportunity, because this is the radio station that I grew up on listening to, and it really is a fun treat to be invited to the Mornings Rock with Terry and Heather…
How To Pick Winners In The Digital Age22 Mar 2015 | 10:26 amEpisode #454 of Six Pixels of Separation - The Mirum Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to. Rohit Bhargava is here to help. The trend curator, founder of the Influential Marketing Group, and the bestselling author of five business books (including his latest, Non-Obvious), has a special skill when it comes to seeing trends in business, marketing and communications. His signature annual, Non-Obvious Trend Report, has been viewed more than half a million times online, and has established Rohit as one someone who is able to both curate what is important today, tag it for tomorrow…
Six Links Worthy Of Your Attention #24821 Mar 2015 | 3:43 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 see".
Chris Pirillo
Ask My Brother Adam Anything27 Mar 2015 | 7:28 pmYou asked, and my brother Adam (aka @frojive) answered your questions in this special Ask Adam Anything TLDR! Thanks to our Super Gnomies for making this all possible! Curious about what becoming a Super Gnomie means for you? Check out the details here! TLDR – Ask My Brother Adam Anything... Read the full article on http://chris.pirillo.com/
How to Shake Your Rump26 Mar 2015 | 7:17 pmAs Pirillo Vlog 1061 demonstrates, every family should know how to sing and dance with cuts of meat! Read the full article on http://chris.pirillo.com/
Will You Stream Games on YouTube eSports?26 Mar 2015 | 6:44 pmWe face new challenges and find new opportunities — keeping on top of it all is just the tip of the iceberg! But at least the X-Files is coming back… Thanks to our Super Gnomies for making this all possible! Curious about what becoming a Super Gnomie means for you? Check out the details... Read the full article on http://chris.pirillo.com/
Don't Think, Just Drink25 Mar 2015 | 7:44 pmWhat do you think causes March Madness? We try to get to the root of this epidemic in Pirillo Vlog 1060! Read the full article on http://chris.pirillo.com/
What Does LockerGnome Mean to You?25 Mar 2015 | 3:00 pmIn this TLDR, I ask the big question: what does LockerGnome mean to you? TLDR – What Does LockerGnome Mean To You? Pirillo Vlog 1057 – Trader Joe's Grocery Haul and Coffee Talk From LockerGnome and Beyond National Puppy Day How to Track Your Dog's Location and Activity with Tagg... Read the full article on http://chris.pirillo.com/
Common Craft - Common Craft - Our Product is Explanation
New Video: Encryption on the Web3 Mar 2015 | 10:36 amFor our latest video, we're going behind the scenes of the Internet and taking a look at encryption and how "keys" help keep our sensitive information secure as it travels from computer to computer. Here are the highlights as an ExplainerGIF: Do you want to learn to make animated GIFs like the one above? We'll teach you. About This Video: Encryption is a fundamental part of using the Internet securely, but it is mostly invisible to the user. This video explains the basic idea of encryption and specifically the two types of keys that are used online: symmetric and…
2000 Cut-Outs5 Jan 2015 | 3:37 pm2014 was a big year for our Cut-outs. The library doubled in size and Common Craft members are using the images in all kinds of projects. In fact, we recently reached a milestone. Our library now contains over 2,000 Cut-outs, all in Common Craft Style. Our goal is to provide a libary that gives you enough visuals for any kind of project. Whether it's a presentation, video, infographic or blog post, the Cut-outs can create a fun and engaging style. Look for a lot more Cut-outs in 2015.
Net Neutrality - Explained by Common Craft2 Dec 2014 | 9:55 amToday we've published a new video that explains Net Neutrality. Note: This video release is special. For the first time in about four years, we're publishing a version of a new video on our website and YouTube so that it can be shared easily. Why? Because it's about a complex and important subject that could impact all US internet users. This subject deserves to be understood by everyone, so we want to make that easy by making it more sharable. Watch the video now on YouTube or Common Craft. About This video: The debate on Net Neutrality is about the future of the Internet and outcomes…
Amazingly Simple Animation About Addiction21 Nov 2014 | 11:25 pm"Nuggets" is an animation by German animation director Andreas Hykade. It's an instant classic that exemplifies the beauty of simple yet meaningful communication. It's a must-watch: Viewing in email? Watch it here.
GoAnimate for Schools - Now with Common Craft Cut-outs19 Nov 2014 | 3:23 pmWe love to see students and teachers work together on Common Craft style videos. Almost every day we see photos and videos from classroom projects like this one. You can find 100's Common Craft style videos on YouTube. While these live-action videos are awesome, Common Craft style videos can also be created using GoAnimate's online video maker. Last year, we partnered with GoAnimate to offer Common Craft Cut-outs as an upgrade to their standard product. Today, this access has been extended to teachers and schools. GoAnimate for Schools + Common Craft GoAnimate for Schools offers the…
Drew's Marketing Minute
How effective is your email marketing?17 Mar 2015 | 6:17 amEmail is still one of marketing's greatest tactics but how effective is your email marketing? It's easy to understand the allure of email marketing. It's cost effective (but not free), it's easy to plan and execute in advance and very few people don't access their email every single day, so in theory – the audience is engaged with the medium. So why do so many efforts fall flat? I think we almost take it for granted. We think just firing off an email without thinking through the steps will still be effective. But the reality is, there are many elements that can make or break…
Creative versus strategy6 Mar 2015 | 5:54 amCreative versus strategy. For as long as I've been in advertising and marketing – there's been that age-old tug of war. Should advertising and marketing tools be creative/clever/funny/pretty or should the emphasis be on strategically driving the sales message? As you can imagine – the real answer is both. An ad, website, brochure, e-book etc. that is visually interesting and has a compelling message is much more likely to have impact when it comes to trial or purchase of whatever is being sold. But sooner or later, compromises need to be make due to budget, timeframes, or other…
Love advice is not good marketing advice27 Feb 2015 | 5:29 amAs we celebrated Valentine's Day this month – there were many a cliché uttered in the name of love. I want you to remember that in most cases, they don't work as well as marketing maxims. Love advice is not good marketing advice. In fact, in general I might suggest that you shun cupid's advice when it comes to marketing your organization. Let me give you a few examples. Absence makes the heart grow fonder: While this may be true in human interactions, buyers have a very short attention span. When your marketing is sporadic or worse – nonexistent, you can't expect a prospect to…
Win a copy of Peter Shankman's book – Zombie Loyalists5 Feb 2015 | 6:22 amMarketing and PR guy Peter Shankman just releases a new book (Zombie Loyalists) that is on a topic that is near and dear to all of us at McLellan Marketing Group. Given that our tagline is "create a love affair with your customer" the idea of having rabid fans who are a marketing tsunami is clearly one we endorse. Peter's book drives home the point with this alarming statistic combination: 80% of companies think they provide superior customer service, and 8% of customers agree. What that should mean to you is — you can crush your competition if you get this right.
Use your inside voice – why your employees should be your #1 audience2 Feb 2015 | 5:19 amWhen people think about marketing, they typically think about external marketing – marketing tactics aimed at potential customers. But no business can afford to forget to actively and regularly market to its own employees. In fact, your employees should be your #1 audience. I'm not sure why business owners and leaders don't see the importance of targeting their employee base, but it's often either completely forgotten or it's one of the smallest line items in the budget. Why is marketing to your own employees so important? Who usually interacts with your clients? It's not…
The Buzz Bin
From Your Cup to the Global Stage: 5 Reasons Why Coffee's Future is Brighter than Ever27 Mar 2015 | 5:10 amThis month, I attended the most buzz-worthy conference of the year. No, it wasn't SXSW (although the crowd in attendance was probably equally stimulated) – it was the National Coffee Association's Annual Convention. And, yes, it was just as delicious as it sounds. Between sipping samples from vendors around the globe, I absorbed a lot about coffee's past, present and future. My lessons began with the legend of Kaldi the goat herder, who first discovered Coffea Arabica when his flock became unusually frisky after ingesting some bright red berries while grazing in the Ethiopian hills,…
What I Learned While Touring Japan26 Mar 2015 | 7:09 amI recently took a journey halfway around the world. And while I love to travel, I had no idea that I would fall in love with a place that was so vastly different than what I'm used to – especially after 20 hours of flight time. If I'm being honest with myself there are two times others should avoid me – before 10 am on any given day and after approximately fifteen minutes on a flight. I think most people know that Japan's healthcare system is above average. In Japan, a person's entire medical history is attached to their social security card. No faxing documents from one…
Starbucks' #RaceTogether Campaign and the Shift toward Pro-Social Brands25 Mar 2015 | 7:54 amPhoto credit: kcconfidential.com If you've been to a Starbucks in the past week, you may have seen something other than your name written on the side of your coffee. The company recently launched a new campaign encouraging baristas to write "#RaceTogether" on coffee cups in order to engage customers in discussions about race relations. While the sentiment behind this initiative may be good, the public response was not. As it turns out, standing at the register with a line of caffeine-deprived customers waiting behind you, anxious to get their coffee and be on their way, may not be the…
How Brand Sponsors Maximize March Madness24 Mar 2015 | 7:37 amMore than bragging rights are at stake this month. It's March and the madness is real for 16 major brands that scored a chance to advertise the NCAA tournament as an official sponsor. This is a huge opportunity for companies to reach a very seasonal, niche audience of more than 10.7 million viewers and increase brand engagement – a must considering the NCAA pay-for-play investment totals hundreds of millions of dollars. Each sponsor receives access to NCAA logo marks, TV airtime, tickets, hospitality, and more, but standing out from the crowded "sweet sixteen" sponsors can be a…
An Afternoon In The Middle Market23 Mar 2015 | 6:49 amEarlier this month I had the opportunity to spend an afternoon listening to a panel discussion, hosted by Dale Kurschner, Editor-in-Chief of Twin Cities Business. The panel included some pretty notable middle market heavyweights, including Archie Black, President & CEO of SPS Commerce (a leader in cloud-based supply chain management solutions), Paul Lidsky, President and CEO of Datalink (a complete data center solution and services provider), Gary Maharaj, CEO of SurModics (provides surface modification and in vitro diagnostics technologies to the healthcare industry), and Maureen…
Greg Verdino's Marketing Blog
Join Me at Brand ManageCamp 201526 Mar 2015 | 12:27 pmI'm excited to announce that I'll be taking the stage at Brand ManageCamp for the third time on October 2nd — and I'm hoping to see you there. If you're not already familiar with this event, it might be enough to know that BMC has been listed by one Forbes.com columnist as a must-attend conference for anyone looking to stay ahead of the trends shaping the future of marketing. If that's not enough, you might be swayed by this year's all star line-up that, aside from yours truly, includes unmarketer Scott Stratten, relationship returner Ted Rubin,…
What is Digital Transformation, Really?5 Mar 2015 | 10:42 amEveryone's talking about 'digital transformation'. C-suites and boards list it among their top 2015 priorities. Newly minted experts abound. Big consultancies have launched dedicated practice areas, despite being as in need of transformation as their clients are. Digital agencies paint 'transformation' as just another fancy way to say 'marketing' in order to claim it as their own. And for every expert, consultant, journalist, futurist, keynote speaker, marketer, executive and analyst who utters the phrase' digital transformation', the words come to mean something different.
The Discovery of Water12 Feb 2015 | 10:46 amMarshall McLuhan once pointed out that "Fish did not discover water," going on to explain that, "in fact, because they are completely immersed in it, they live unaware of its existence. Similarly, when a conduct is normalized by a dominant cultural environment, it becomes invisible." We are all immersed so deeply in something that it becomes invisible to us. To those of us who swim in digital transformation, what's new is what's normal. We already live and work in a world where the world's largest media companies create no content, the most valuable taxi service has no…
White Collar Robots26 Jan 2015 | 10:54 am"Technology gets better, cheaper and faster at a rate biology can't match." – C.G.P. Grey If you're interested in the ways automation (aka robots) will affect the world of work, I highly recommend "Humans Need Not Apply" – a 15 minute primer on the current state and future possibilities for robotics in the workplace. While it's not difficult to recognize how robots might replace blue collar workers and take on repetitive tasks, the video's most eye-opening moments begin around 7 minutes and 25 seconds when the creator — C.G.P. Grey — looks at how large populations of…
Digital Is the Answer. Now What's the Question?23 Oct 2014 | 12:00 pmIn early 2007, I wrote a piece for Mediapost about the need for brand marketers to become video content makers. It began, There's an old advertising joke that goes like this: "The answer is a 30-second spot. Now, what's the question?" Today, you could make a similar joke, simply replacing the word 'digital' for the phrase '30-second spot,' and have a pretty fair indictment of the many marketers who presume that digital is the solution to the questions that haven't yet been considered. This might seem like an odd statement coming from someone who makes his living as adigital…
[Cool Infographic Friday] Awesomizing YouTube27 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amVia. ———- (photo credit)
Data-Driven Millennials in the Social Sector26 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amAre you a millennial that wants to make a real impact in the world? Do you pledge to make a difference that can be measured? If you answered "yes" to both of these questions, your likelihood of being the next generation of nonprofit leaders is "very high" on a Likert scale – extra points if you know what a Likert scale is. For the first time ever, data scientists are becoming the most desirable group of people on this earth. If you didn't get the memo it reads: nerd is the new cool. More recently, the art of crunching numbers to inform decisions and make predictions is…
Assessing Your Culture is Next on #CultureChat25 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amThis Thursday at 1pm ET we will host another #CultureChat on twitter, and the topic will be assessments. CultureChat is a (now) monthly chat on twitter for anyone interested in the topic of organizational culture, and particularly those who want to create strong ones (fourth Thursday of the month, 1pm ET). Our previous chats discussed the impact of the Millennial generation on cultures today and the role of HR in culture work. Thursday's topic will focus on culture assessments. There are a lot of assessments out there, so how do you know what works the best? Can you even measure a…
[RESOURCE] Creating a Culture of Innovation – 8 Ideas That Work at Google24 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amReceive Your Complimentary White Paper NOW! "Creating a Culture of Innovation" Eight ideas that work at Google. We don't have a secret formula for innovation, but we do like to share our eight guiding principles and show how we apply them inside Google. This Google for Work perspective explains how IT leaders like you can help create a culture of continuous innovation in your organization by giving users the tools they need to: Think 10X bigger Collaborate easily Use data to make the best choices Learn how IT can use technology to change the way your company thinks and…
How To Create A Successful Blog For A Business or E-Commerce Website23 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amMany business owners and e-commerce site operators overlook the power of blogging, mostly because the traffic isn't directed to their product or services pages, so they wonder "why bother?" Yet, have you ever tried to promote or build links to your product pages? It's not easy. How many Twitter or Facebook users do you imagine want to click-through to a page selling webinars or cloud accounting services? And how many reputable publications will let you insert a promotional pitch and link back to your product pages? Unless you have a beautiful, unique and creative product, getting…
Christopher S. Penn
Should you have a social media marketing patron?26 Mar 2015 | 5:32 amIn one of many conversations yesterday at Social Media Marketing World, I was asked, "How does someone new get started building a following?" While there's no cut and dried answer that makes it easy, one of the accelerators you can use to jump start a program is to leverage a patron, an idea What is a patron? In this context, a patron is someone who's willing to "sponsor" your social identity into a circle of influence and trust. This can be something as simple as someone retweeting your content on a consistent basis to their audience, or something as…
Where to find me at Social Media Marketing World25 Mar 2015 | 6:27 amAs many others are, I'll be attending and speaking at Social Media Marketing World. If you'd like to talk about how I and SHIFT Communications can help your company with all things social (especially measurement, analytics, and down-funnel marketing), data-driven public relations, come find me and say hello! Wednesday: Evening reception on the USS Midway. Look for the guy avoiding crowds and instead checking out World War II weaponry. I anticipate being difficult to find. Thursday: Invisible in the morning. Floating around during the afternoon. If you want to say hello, any time…
Opportunity cost and assisted conversions24 Mar 2015 | 3:53 amIn the last post, I emphasized picking your marketing strengths and putting your focus behind a chosen few methods. This is leveraging opportunity cost, the cost of doing one thing and not doing something else. Every choice in life has an opportunity cost: When you eat at restaurant X, you're not eating at restaurant Y or at home. When you watch television, the time you spend watching TV is time you could have spent on something else. When you focus on SEO as an inbound marketing method, the time you spend optimizing your site is time you could have been sending email or tweeting. Thus,…
Being louder isn't the answer23 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amWhen you want to hit a target, do you walk up to it with a large hammer and hit it? Or do you nock an arrow and pierce it with a well-aimed shot? When you want to amplify the flavor of a dish, do you add more of every ingredient? Or do you find a particular spice, a specific flavor, and add just more of that? When you want to be heard in a loud room, do you simply shout louder? Or do you whistle, tap a glass, or even sing one musical note? All three of these are examples of how to apply force in a focused way to generate an effective result. As the digital space gets noisier, more crowded,…
What home improvement stores should teach you about buying marketing technology20 Mar 2015 | 4:01 amEver gone to a big-box home improvement store? I certainly have. They're a DIYer's paradise most of the time. My favorite section is usually the sharp objects portion of the store, where the knives, axes, machetes, and other pointy things are kept. When you're in the store looking for tools or supplies, how do you decide what to buy? I recently bought a new electric screwdriver; this is the general process of how that happened. First, you have to get a sense of where to look. Screwdrivers and refrigerators aren't going to be in the same section. Taxonomy counts! Once…
3 Ways That Your B2B Social Media Marketing Needs to Be Helpful21 Mar 2015 | 12:17 pmIllustration by Duncan Hull Post by Daniel Kushner Founder, Oktopost The rise of social media over the past decade has forever changed the way businesses go about capturing, pursuing and closing leads. Nowadays, B2B purchasing only takes place once prospects have begun to truly trust a vendor that they're looking into, as relationships are now formed far earlier in the purchase cycle, with buyers investing heavily in self-service research – often across several digital channels. For vendors, this changing dynamic calls for enabling the research process. Today's digitally…
Gary Vaynerchuk at Launch: Traditional media holding on for dear life5 Mar 2015 | 4:35 amGary Vaynerchuk at Launch: "We adore human interaction." (Photo by JD Lasica) There were lots of remarkable moments at the eighth Launch Festival, which ended a three-day run Wednesday at Fort Mason in San Francisco: Investor legend Peter Thiel exhorting entrepreneurs to find a space and "create a monopoly." Pundit Glenn Beck declaring, "We don't need the media. I trust my neighbors." Forty or so founders taking to the stage to launch interesting new startups. But there's only one Gary Vaynerchuk, and he made his first appearance at Launch a…
Why community & marketing should be best buds27 Feb 2015 | 1:30 amMaria Ogneva of Sidecar, right, with Evan Hamilton of Zozi and moderator Irene Koehler (Photo by JD Lasica). Target audience: Community managers, businesses, brands, digital marketers, advertising agencies, SEO specialists, entrepreneurs, educators, journalists, Web publishers. Here, in the year 2015, the term community building no longer seems to command the heft and respect it once did. Today it's all about growth hacking and social sharing and co-creation. But, old school or not, community building still matters. For startups. For small businesses. For brands. For corporations.
Startup Grind: 'Find your golden purpose'12 Feb 2015 | 1:16 pmJeff Hoffman, who was part of the founding team at Priceline and now runs ColorJar. Target audience: Entrepreneurs, startup teams, businesses, anyone who cares about innovation. I'm back from Startup Grind 2015 in Silicon Valley's Redwood City, an annual two-day affair that attracts thousands of entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world. Here's my Flickr photo set of 47 shots from the conference, which featured Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger, Bill Maris of Google Ventures, Stripe co-founder Patrick Collison and Houzz co-founder Adi…
Best practices for nurturing B2B leads captured via social media15 Jan 2015 | 1:42 pmPost by Daniel Kushner Founder, Oktopost Thanks to the reality of social media's astounding adoption rates, B2B marketers are finally moving away from the debate as to the value of their activity on the main networks. With so much of the world now spending significant amounts of time on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and the like, it simply makes the most sense to leverage these platforms to reach your intended audience – this is where they are, so this is where you have to be. Despite all the talk about silos being a thing of the past, B2B social media marketing activity is…
About Gigaom9 Mar 2015 | 5:57 pmA brief note on our company Gigaom recently became unable to pay its creditors in full at this time. As a result, the company is working with its creditors that have rights to all of the company's assets as their collateral. All operations have ceased. We […] About Gigaom originally published by Gigaom, © copyright 2015. Continue reading…
Fear, food and the internet of things at SXSW9 Mar 2015 | 4:19 pmUnfortunate timing means I'll miss a huge chunk of this year's South by Southwest Interactive festival happening in my hometown of Austin, Texas this year. I'm both saddened a bit relieved since it is my 14th year attending the festival, and it will be a nice […] Fear, food and the internet of things at SXSW originally published by Gigaom, © copyright 2015. Continue reading…
Apple's take on the smartwatch: Elegant evolution9 Mar 2015 | 3:30 pmAfter attending the "Spring Forward" event to get all of the remaining Apple Watch details and then getting some hands-on time with the device, I walked away with mixed emotions. On the one hand, debuted a polished product that was very responsive in my use. On […] Apple's take on the smartwatch: Elegant evolution originally published by Gigaom, © copyright 2015. Continue reading…
Apple Pay on the wrist: How Apple's watch gets around the ID problem9 Mar 2015 | 3:10 pmApple only gave a fleeting demo of how contactless payments would work on its new Apple Watch at its Spring Forward event on Monday, but it was an impressive one. You select a card from Passbook in the watch interface and then tap the wearable device […] Apple Pay on the wrist: How Apple's watch gets around the ID problem originally published by Gigaom, © copyright 2015. Continue reading…
All you need to know about HBO's new HBO Now streaming service9 Mar 2015 | 2:57 pmHBO Now is almost here: HBO officially announced plans to launch its online-only streaming service dubbed HBO Now during Apple's spring event Monday, and promptly managed to confuse everyone with an exclusive that isn't quite exclusive and a price that's not set in stone. Time to […] All you need to know about HBO's new HBO Now streaming service originally published by Gigaom, © copyright 2015. Continue reading…
The Virtual Handshake: Opening Doors and Closing Deals Online
Visit Teten.com and ScottSocialMediaAllen.com for Latest Blog Posts26 Mar 2015 | 8:19 amMy coauthor Scott Allen and I continue to write about online networks, but for simplicity we're not doing it here at TheVirtualHandshake.com. To keep up with our research, visit Teten.com and ScottSocialMediaAllen.com for our current writing.
Redesign of Teten.com and TheVirtualHandshake.com26 Apr 2012 | 7:09 amAssembling a WordPress Website My mother and I met Daniella Norwood, the owner of ella j designs, and her husband Brian Bigda at a Lean Startup Machine weekend at which I was a judge. She did a great job redesigning my mother's site, DancetimePublications.com, so I hired her to do a redesign of Teten.com and TheVirtualHandshake.com. I'd love your feedback on the site. I definitely recommend hiring Danni for your WordPress needs. Enter Danni: David's RFP included: upgrading Teten.com and TheVirtualHandshake.com to the latest version of WordPress, modernising the design of both…
SEC Charges Adviser with Defrauding Investors via Social Media Sites4 Jan 2012 | 10:28 pmOn Wednesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a Chicago-area investment adviser, Anthony Fields, with fraudulently promoting more than $500 billion in fictitious securities on several social media sites and issued two alerts and an investor bulletins regarding the risks investors and advisory firms face when using social media. "Fraudsters are quick to adapt to new technologies to exploit them for unlawful purposes," said Robert B. Kaplan, Co-Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division's Asset Management Unit. "Social media is no exception, and…
The Perfect Content Curation Tool?15 Dec 2011 | 9:10 amMaybe I'm just lazy. Maybe I'm overly ambitious. Maybe a little bit of both. All I know is. blogging as much as I would like to is a freakin' lot of work! I do write original stuff sometimes – and some pretty good stuff at that, I think. I'm also a decent curator of content. For example, Linked Intelligence has grown into the definitive unofficial source for all things LinkedIn. But being a good curator is tedious and time-consuming. And a lot of the reason for that has to do with a sub-optimal workflow. At the moment I've cobbled together several tools,…
Fun with Klout9 Dec 2011 | 8:57 amI'm not going to bash Klout. plenty of others have done that already, and besides, I like getting free stuff, so, more power to them! I just want to have fun with them. A few weeks ago, I did a post about Wikipedia's fundraising ads, entitled Jimmy Wales, Serial Killer?, which got retweeted by a few people. Well, thanks to that, Klout decided that "Wales" and "Serial Killer" were topics I was influential about (sorry, didn't get a "before" snapshot). Now, they weren't among my top 3, which were "Social Media",…
Marketing Land
Marketing Day: Facebook & Twitter Display Rise, Dot Coms Rule & Google Cookiegate In UK27 Mar 2015 | 1:00 pmHere's our recap of what happened in online marketing today, as reported on Marketing Land and other places across the web. The post Marketing Day: Facebook & Twitter Display Rise, Dot Coms Rule & Google Cookiegate In UK appeared first on Marketing Land. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
Sexual Diversity Organization Combats 'That's SoGay' With #TheGaySweater27 Mar 2015 | 12:29 pmThe non-profit advocacy group worked with Saatchi & Saatchi Canada to put together the campaign. The post Sexual Diversity Organization Combats 'That's SoGay' With #TheGaySweater appeared first on Marketing Land. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
UK Court Rules Google Must Face Privacy Suit Over "Cookiegate" Scandal27 Mar 2015 | 9:48 amAn appellate court in the UK ruled earlier today that British iPhone users could pursue their privacy suit against Google arising out of the "Cookiegate" scandal of 2012, which involved circumvention of Safari browser privacy settings. In addition to a UK government investigation a... Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
Facebook, Twitter To See US Display Revenue Share Rise As Yahoo, Google Slip27 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amTwitter is expected to supplant Yahoo as the third largest seller of display advertising in the US in 2015. The post Facebook, Twitter To See US Display Revenue Share Rise As Yahoo, Google Slip appeared first on Marketing Land. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
Understanding Consumers' Emotional Fingerprint: Why Sentiment Is Misleading27 Mar 2015 | 6:05 amColumnist Rick Miller believes marketers need to move beyond sentiment analysis and instead take a deeper look at consumers' emotions. The post Understanding Consumers' Emotional Fingerprint: Why Sentiment Is Misleading appeared first on Marketing Land. Please visit Marketing Land for the full article.
Convince and Convert
The Key to Social Selling is Social, Not Selling27 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amImage via BigStockPhoto.com The opportunity to make money on social is quickly being embraced by sales teams who are eager to incorporate social selling into their sales tactics. While this excitement around a new method of selling is great, diving in headfirst can be dangerous if you don't understand what social selling really is, or what outcome you are looking to achieve. As Devon Wijesinghe, CEO of Insightpool, so perfectly puts it in his most recent post, "Everyone talks about social selling, like the adage when people discussed relative to big data: 'It's just like teenage…
What Marketers Need to Learn from the Entertainment Industry26 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amImage via BigStockPhoto.com Whatever business you think you are in, you are now in the entertainment industry—and most marketers are ill-prepared. It used to be so easy. We would simply buy up media space, interrupt people's favorite TV show or magazine, newspaper, song, or news and beat them over the head with high rotation, repetitive sales pitches until they just gave in. It was like corporate water boarding—There should really be a UN inquiry into the marketing practices of the Mad Men era through today. But thanks to the digital revolution, consumers no longer have to watch or…
How to Create an Unforgettable Integrated Campaign26 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amMarch 20, 2015 marked Europe's largest solar eclipse since 1999, with 90 percent of the sun covered in parts of the UK. Never one to shy away from a timely occasion, Oreo launched an integrated #oreoeclipse campaign targeted at consumers in the UK across print, out-of-home, and digital. Suffice to say, the thoughtful approach shone brightly amid a social media sea of eclipse-themed activations. Oreo Eclipses the Sun—Literally Quite possibly the most clever extension of this campaign lived in print. Yes, print! Oreo partnered with The Sun newspaper in the UK to "eclipse the Sun,"…
Why You Should Be Building Trust, Not Traffic25 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amI have a friend in SEO who consistently pumps out posts about strategies to drive "massive traffic" to your blog or website. As any experienced marketer knows, nearly all of this traffic is represented by people who take a quick glance at a link and then never come back again. They are little more than tourists to your site. When I asked him why he put so much emphasis in this area, he replied, "Where there's traffic, there is hope." That's a nice sound bite, but frankly a lousy marketing strategy. If I presented a marketing strategy based on "hope" to my boss, I would…
5 Simple Tweaks to Optimize Your Form Conversion24 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amWhen it comes to form conversions, small changes can make a big difference. A few minor modifications to your form's design, messaging, or layout can lead to major gains. By using a measured and strategic approach to deploying these changes (and keeping track of what works), you won't just make an impact on your current campaign—you'll create a roadmap for success in future projects. To help kick off your own Project Conversion, here are the top five form areas to optimize today. Call to Action As marketers, we want to make our communications with customers as turnkey as possible.
The Online Community Guide
Introducing People26 Mar 2015 | 9:29 pmYou've been through as many patronising icebreakers as I have. Here's a better way of doing it: "What if instead of introducing your friend as Jennifer the nurse, you started introducing her as Jennifer, one of most thoughtful people you know, or Jennifer the friend who helped you move in when you didn't know a soul in this city. Introducing your friends for who they are rather than focusing on what they do will remind them they are loved before and beyond their titles. It's an easy way to remind them that you see them for their hearts instead of their…
Constructing Symbols and Collective Identity25 Mar 2015 | 9:22 pmTrace the history of almost any flag. Clearly the colours and design weren't put together by accident. They reflect something about the country's history and its members. The challenge isn't to create a cool design, but to accurately reflect the history of those the flag represents. At our SPRINT USA workshop, I asked all 20 groups of 5 people to design themselves a flag. It was a difficult assignment. They have a blank page and four members they've just met. Most groups resorted to something funny, it's the safe option. Symbols help create a sense of collective identity.
Alerts24 Mar 2015 | 9:52 pmGoogle Alerts aren't a secret, but they're rarely used. If you're looking to introduce fresh news and expertise into your community on a daily basis, set up alerts for various terms related to the topic. Every morning you'll get an e-mail with the latest news. Filter the most interest, useful, and quirky. Share the best news with your members. Soon you'l find people visit the community as a source of information.
How To Stack The Odds In Your Favour To Launch A Successful Online Communities23 Mar 2015 | 9:09 pmPublishers have trained themselves to back winners. They use the following criteria: 1) The author has a big audience. 2) The author can write well (skills) 3) The author has a clearly defined target audience. 4) The book has a powerful hook (new popular idea/trend/problem). The publisher provides the infrastructure (production, distribution, some marketing) and the author provides a sellable product. Stack the Odds in Your Favour This criteria reduces the risk of an expensive failure. Publishers bet on authors with a…
12 Social Psychology Hacks to Rebuild Customer and Employee Loyalty22 Mar 2015 | 10:39 pmCustomer and employee loyalty are hitting record lows. We've lost faith in the companies we buy and the companies we work for. It's costing our businesses dearly. On April 21, I'll be participating in my first webinar in a year with our friends at Moz. The webinar will cover 12 social psychology hacks to rebuild customer and employee loyalty. You can sign up here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1052096653448152577 Also check out the other webinars.
Daily Blog Tips
Facebook's Dynamic Product Ads: Everything You Should Know About24 Mar 2015 | 6:11 amA few days ago, Facebook announced the launch of their new advertising unit, Dynamic Product Ads, to help businesses promote their products or even entire product catalog to shoppers across any device. With Product Ads, business owners can dynamically showcase more products in a single advert, while Facebook users can discover the most relevant products, both on mobile and desktop devices. Here is what you need to know about Facebook's new Dynamic Product Ads: How Are Product Ads Different to Other Facebook Ads? The new advertising unit is different from other Facebook ad units in many…
Not A/B Testing Your Website Ads? AdPushup can help you optimize your Ad Revenue17 Mar 2015 | 4:51 amOne of the most important things you can do as an online entrepreneur or website owner in order to increase your revenue is to constantly keep testing things to figure out what does and doesn't work with your users. For instance, you should test multiple headlines, landing page copy and formats, call-to-action buttons, and even ad units (something that almost everyone forgets to test) to ensure that after testing, you always end up with the winning combination of elements. How often should you be running such tests? Some people take an extreme position on this: They say that you should…
4 Steps for Securing the Evergreen Content for Your Blog10 Mar 2015 | 6:25 amWhen trying to create a successful blog, and be a renowned blogger, you should work towards the goal of building a certain online image for yourself. The best approach is to find a topic you can blog about – something interesting, useful, omnipresent etc. in other words, evergreen content. Picking a topic, however, is only scratching the surface, and in order to ensure your achievements, you need to provide readers with sound advice, good content, proper grammar and sentence structure. Think about what you love and what can be useful to others at the same time, for example, keeping up…
A Brief Introduction to Influencer Marketing, and Where to Get Started3 Mar 2015 | 1:56 amThis is a guest post written by Tamar Weinberg, VP of Customer Success of influencer marketing platform The Shelf. The Shelf is a social influencer marketing platform ensuring that you connect with the most relevant influencers. The Shelf's technology includes patent pending brand and ecommerce indicators. Within the last few years, influencer marketing has really gained momentum. But what is it? The truth is, it's a challenging topic to broach, because there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Each brand and each vertical may have a different definition of an influencer, but as…
How to Create Ridiculously Good Content – Interview with Ann Handley24 Feb 2015 | 7:33 amAnn Handley is a best-selling author, keynote speaker and the world's first Chief Content Officer. Named the most influential woman in Social Media by Forbes, she is a monthly columnist for Entrepreneur magazine and a member of the LinkedIn Influencer program. While researching the Top 25 Social Media Marketing Books to Read in 2015 I came across Ann's latest book, Everybody Writes, a Wall Street Journal bestseller, which obviously made the cut. Everybody Writes is your go-to guide to creating ridiculously good content. Ann was kind enough to chat with me about how we are all writers and…
Nate Ritter
Guess Who Makes $166,220 Per Hour?18 Mar 2015 | 10:37 amThis infographic is crazy!
You Have to Spend Money to Make Money, the Saying Goes31 Jan 2015 | 3:23 pmIt's true: you can build a business and even market that business for free. You might even find a small amount of success. If you want to find real success, though, and earn a real living you're going to have to spend some money. Moreover, it is better to spend money now to find success later than to try to scrape money together later when you're trying to avoid failure. This is true of any industry and business type. Just ask the musicians who have to buy instruments to play and equipment on which to record their songs. Ask the retail shop that had to lease sales space and pay for the…
Hacked! It Absolutely Can Happen to You15 Jan 2015 | 5:33 pmWhy don't you have a solid, third-party, commercial security solution running on your machine right now? Here are a few of the answers I most commonly hear: I'm fine with whatever shipped on my system. Those antivirus programs are more dangerous than going with nothing. I'm not a high-priority target. No one would want my stuff. I don't surf porn or open email attachments. I'm safe. What do I need protection from? I'm an expert. That stuff only happens to idiots and newbies. I've been meaning to do it when I have some time. It's like a one and a million chance. It couldn't…
What is Technical Debt?16 Dec 2014 | 9:17 amA few days ago our office bathroom locks were changed (the bathrooms have doors to the outside which are locked), so we were issued a new key by property management. One key. We are an office of 6+ people. This is where I introduce what "technical debt" is. Each day, to get into the bathroom, because we're guys and we don't put things where we're supposed to (near the door), there's a search for who went to the bathroom last, and supposedly who has the key. Naturally, this could have dire consequences. Let's "hypothetically" say that…
The Importance and Prevalence of Databases in Modern Computing9 Dec 2014 | 12:18 pmYou might not realize this but databases are pretty much at the root of everything in Information Technology. If you use any type of computer, you access and create databases on a daily basis. For example, the contact list on your smartphone is a database; so is your "Friends" list in Facebook, your wish list at Amazon – along with the record of your previous orders, the activity page for your Fitbit, and the radio stations you create on Pandora. Databases are everywhere, and database management systems control how that data is used and accessed. Types of Database Management Systems…
Louis Gray
FriendFeed's Closure Another Painful Loss from a Vibrant Era of Social Media9 Mar 2015 | 3:00 pmAmidst all the Apple watch hoopla today, FriendFeed's blog announced the long-ignored social networking pioneer was finally going to be taken out back behind Facebook's brilliant new campus and be put down for good. With the network's acquisition five years behind us in the rear view mirror, and user statistics consistently down, mothballing the once unique and vibrant community seemed only a matter of time, and the time has come.The closure will be by no means without pain. For the many people who made the site their center for capturing their updates around the Web, from the simplest status…
YouTube Kids: Smart, Mobile First, and Child Sized.23 Feb 2015 | 3:45 pmIn December, I wrote about viewing technology through the eyes of a child. As much as I think of myself as an early adopter and 'with it' net citizen, I'm equally amused and amazed at the activities my own kids rapidly learn and partake in when it comes to technology and the Web, how things and concepts once considered the future are commonplace. And their eyes, unvarnished by the way things have always been, highlight shortcomings in our software and websites that historically have been designed for fully literate adults on the desktop.I've been particularly excited to watch (and trial)…
Adult Problems Stink. I Blame Drew's Cancer. #BlameDrewsCancer12 Jan 2015 | 11:30 amI quickly glossed over it during my first post of the year, when I said "Adult problems can be a real pain," but I'd be skirting around some big issues if I didn't go deeper on some very real drama that in years past would see me aggressively pounding the drum to draw attention to their pain, hoping to rally others to their cause. But as I get older, and, as a result, my friends do too, struggles with health, family, work or finance are hardly isolated - making it somewhat selfish to choose one cause against another. And that sucks.Nearly five years ago, +Drew Olanoff, one of the best…
10 New Year's Resolutions (for you) for the Year 20151 Jan 2015 | 7:30 pmA new year is a somewhat arbitrary point in time to mark change. But tradition has it that we do two things when the calendar turns from December to January. We look back on the previous year, either with pride over accomplishments, or dismissal of bad experiences, and we optimistically expect the best for the coming twelve months.In years past I've put forth fun predictions for the world in tech. And trust me, I have some predictions, but I'll hold those close to the vest. Working at Google makes predicting the future like cheating. And I won't bore you with a list of my own resolutions for…
A Successful 100k Steps Leads to a Sore, Yet Happy, Christmas25 Dec 2014 | 9:30 pmMonday's personal record setting Fitbit dashboardLast week, I introduced a crazy and audacious goal, of knocking out 100,000 steps (as measured by Fitbit), in the name of personal achievement and to raise money for Camp Taylor, a summer camp for children with heart disease, in honor of colleague Ken Norton's son, Riley. And I'm beyond happy to say our adventure was a success.As chronicled on all the social channels (Twitter, Facebook and Google+ for starters), +Stephen Mack and I passed the 100,000 mark shortly before 10 pm Monday night, after 16 hours of pavement pounding fun…
ConverStations: Small Business Improvements
A Simplified Guide for Naming Business Products27 Mar 2015 | 8:42 amWritten by Susan Finch Entrepreneur reported a professional naming firm charges up to $80,000 to develop a name. That figure also often includes working with a professional linguist, graphic design services such as a logo and other collateral. It's also possible to get a basic service for $50. Whether you hire a professional or pick a name on your own, there is a science behind it. Here's what to consider before you register that name: Come Up with Creative Direction Conceptualize different buckets or creative directions when you're naming products. Put each name into a…
Six Steps to a Safer Workplace27 Mar 2015 | 2:38 amWritten by Tatiana Castano A safe workplace can lead to fewer injuries, but it can also make a big difference in a company's profit margin. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that employers pay nearly $1 billion a week just to cover direct workers compensation expenses. Here are six ways to boost workplace safety: Establish Clear Safety Rules Safety guidelines will vary depending the company. Rules for a roofing company would likely include requirements that employees use safety equipment like full body harnesses to avoid fall-related injuries, which OSHA…
Learning from Social Media's Role in Healthcare Informatics26 Mar 2015 | 9:20 amWritten by Jane Miller With the U.S. government mandate toward electronic medical records, there has been a rise in health informatics jobs. With that rise has come a need for more tech-savvy individuals in the healthcare industry. More than just an IT job, health informatics means more than just knowing how networks work. Healthcare providers are finding that healthcare informatics also means knowing a thing or two about social networks. If your small business focuses on social media marketing and strategy, it would be wise to consider expanding your repertoire to this growing niche. Here…
6 Small Business Trends to Watch For in 201526 Mar 2015 | 3:11 amWritten by Julie Ellis Pay attention small business owners! There are many new and exciting things coming down the pike in 2015. If you would like to spend 2015 increasing revenue, and making sure your employees are happier, take a quick look at these small business trends of 2015. Content Based Marketing/Developing Social A Responsibility Reputation Forget about traditional advertising methods. Customers aren't paying attention to them when they see them, and they skip over them whenever they are able. If you want to grab the focus of potential customers in 2015, you'll have to…
MyCreativeShop Empowers Owners Through Online Design25 Mar 2015 | 2:45 amWritten by Dustin Hodgson Milton Glaser once said, "There are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for." Here at MyCreativeShop we want to make it easier for small business owners to create designs worthy of a WOW. Let me go ahead and give you the marketing diddy in one long sentence. MyCreativeShop empowers small business owners by offering 1000s of customizable templates that can be dynamically modified using the industries most innovative online design editor. For us, the greatest compliment does not come in the form of a testimonial, but…
Social Media Today RSS
5 Tools to Track Dark Social Sharing27 Mar 2015 | 4:02 amDark social refers to all of the sharing activity that occurs through the copying and pasting of URLs, but which largely goes undetected by most Web Analytics programs, such as Google Analytics, Omniture or any other application. How can it be measured? Read on.
The Limitless Focus Group27 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amWhen experts want to study animal behavior they don't go to a zoo, they go to the species' natural habitat, because that is where they are in their truest form. I believe this is analogous to marketers gathering information from a traditional focus group versus using what I call the Limitless Focus Group of consumers sharing their insights through social media networks.
Hashtags: When Too Many Hurts Too Much27 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amTest your outlets and your audience's engagement when you begin to use hashtags. Maybe your audience loves hashtags on Facebook but doesn't engage with you on Twitter when you use them?
5 Productivity-Increasing Tips to Reach Your Blogging Goals27 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amIf you are running a lead generation campaign using a landing page from your blog or site, a skill you ought to learn is A/B testing. This lets you measure the results of two pages you have created with the same offer and see which one gathers the most leads.
7 Rules You Must Follow for Email Marketing27 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amOften through no fault of your own, some people will unsubscribe from your newsletters. But how many of you can say you have promptly removed these recipients off your mailing list? I personally have been subject to these annoying emails. Even though you have pressed unsubscribe, you continue to receive them. It really makes you despise the company doesn't it? Why would anyone in their right mind ever want to buy anything from that company again?
Direct Marketing Observations
Don't Mistake Activity for Effectiveness in Social Media23 Mar 2015 | 11:26 amThe world of the content marketer/social media marketer is changing. I had mentioned in a previous post how it resets every day. When it does reset, we no longer are responding to what our readers, followers and fan say as much as we're responding to what the analytics tell us in regards to consumption habits and trends from the previous day. What that tells us and what a lot of old school social media marketers will tell you (old school being about eight years… ) is that the art of engagement has now become a science. The conversations, have been lost. How do we get back to our…
The One Mistake Every Marketer Makes with Social Media Every Day18 Mar 2015 | 7:42 amI promise you that what I'm about to say is worth reading. Before I elaborate though, let me stress that I am qualified to post something so link-baitish as this. I've been knee deep in social for the better part of 8 years. So much so, that it seems that not a year goes by now where I either hear or read about how social media doesn't work or is useless or is dying. Let me put that notion to bed quickly. It does work, it is not useless and it is not dying any time soon. If anything, social media might be the Benjamin Button of digital these days. But I digress. You're…
The Content Paradigm Shift17 Mar 2015 | 8:55 amI'm cutting to the chase. and feel free to disagree with me at any point when you think I'm wrong. Content curation tools are great. No really, they are, except all they do is pull the content in and that really is just half the battle. The content game played by every brand, everywhere, in some way, shape or form, is finding that content, every day, manually interpreting it and then tailoring it to their audience and then pushing it out. Every day. Brands can and will measure its effectiveness, they fish where the fish are, and every day they push out more content. In the hopes…
Why is the Customer Experience so Hard to Deliver On?16 Mar 2015 | 9:11 amYou'd think brands would know what the customer wanted at this stage of the game, right? It's 2015 and companies left and right keep talking about their new mandate of delivering on a quality customer experience. providing a powerful and memorable customer experience, etc. etc… It's almost as if what has happened up to this point didn't matter or was not a quality experience. I guess, what I want to know is, what have I been getting all of these years? You might want to say this out loud: "Companies just now, are starting to actually care and do something…
Does #IoT Mean Anything to Us Yet?8 Jan 2015 | 12:49 pmThe short answer is no. The easy answer starts with Google's Nest. Which is a smart thermostat. From there things have quickly spriraled out of control so to speak. In a short time The Internet of Things has become akin to what it was like when social media became a "thing.". Everyone is writing about it, everyone is talking about it and everyone is trying to figure out what it does, what it means and how it will affect us. Maybe this infographic will help.
The Engaging Brand
Ultimate Trick to Going Viral26 Mar 2015 | 2:37 amKindness is magical. We all remember it. We all feel the warmth and care that kindness brings. And we all share about those acts of kindness. Why though is kindness magical? I mean who wouldn't want to be considerate, who wouldn't want to be generous and friendly? Something so human, something so humane shouldn't be magical, it should be expected. Social marketing is often defined. Definitions vary and arguments rage on whether social marketing is good or bad…yet for me social, in all it's forms, is just applying kindness in your business. It is about all aspects…
One Tip That Will Blow Your Customers Away25 Mar 2015 | 9:37 amIf only business was as simple as a transaction….and yet getting more transactions is often at the heart of many business worries. This is how I love to see selling…. A sale is like a meal; an appetiser, main course and always a dessert.Click To Tweet The main course is the acceptance and delivery of the offer. The appetiser is the marketing and where social can play a huge role. Social should tempt, should give enough but not too much and leave people happy but wanting more. The dessert is so often forgotten. It is the special treat that makes people smile. It is a…
Define Your Point of Difference Like Van Gogh24 Mar 2015 | 7:59 amDo you truly understand your point of difference? For many entrepreneurs it is one of the hardest parts of developing your brand. It should be easy but being average, being similar is what we are all trained to do. We are taught to fit into the norm yet the norm is what is boring us allClick To Tweet One way that I try and rebel against my own thinking is to watch, listen and read different points of view and learn different skills. At the moment I am watching The Big Painting Challenge, a series in which amateur artists compete and each week they must draw three different images using the…
526 Lessons of Frugal Innovation From Emerging Markets23 Mar 2015 | 7:23 amWhat can we learn about frugal innovation in the emerging economies? That is what I was inspired to look at following this Ted Talk by Navi Jadjou. Navi is an innovation strategist and has drawn "..inspiration from frugal innovators in emerging markets and helps businesses with limited resources discover unexpected ways to succeed." The Ted Talk was based on his wonderful book called Frugal Innovation: How to do more with less – free e-short and you can learn more at the Frugal Innovation Hub. Listener of the week is Bill Howell. Thank you for sharing about the show…
What really gets me about social media is this….19 Mar 2015 | 4:57 amWhat really gets me about social technology is this…. People see it as the ANSWER FOR their business rather than a QUESTION FOR their business. Technology is not hard, even for non-geeks like me! No, the hard part is…. deciding what your business is about, how it is different to everyone else and how share these with the world. Yet people concentrate on the social media technologies – which one should I use, how do I use it, how do I measure social engagement? Those questions are a subset and can only be answered by knowing the human technology behind your brand. We…
Brass Tack Thinking
Having Purpose To Your Story.26 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amIf you read yesterday's post, you saw me mention my talk at W2O's PreCommerce summit. I figured I'd share it with you. The point here is that storytelling, whether you're a blogger or a corporate marketing executive or anyone inbetween, must have purpose to be successful. The reason "content" doesn't succeed or blogs fall flat or videos don't get views is that they're missing a certain something that can't really be measured on a spreadsheet. If I believe in what I'm doing, what I'm talking about, what I'm selling…
On Being Real About Failure.25 Mar 2015 | 9:12 amI gave a talk a couple weeks ago at the W2O Precommerce Summit at the invitation of the lovely Aaron Strout and Bob Pearson. When I was thinking about the 10-minute speech – which is much harder than you think – I asked Aaron if there was anything in particular he'd like me to talk about. His answer was that he wanted me to talk about the differences in storytelling as an individual contributor – a blogger, an "influencer", a content creator – and then storytelling as a professional representing an organization. My thesis was simple: the difference is…
I've Missed Blogging.23 Mar 2015 | 5:45 pmBut I sat here for a long time, wondering what to blog about. Paralyzed is probably more accurate. See, BTT used to be one of those "influential" blogs that people knew about and included on lists because I wrote about social media stuff when a lot of other people weren't writing about it (yes, that definitely had something to do with it, timing is everything). The problem is, my hook became my roadblock. After a while, I just didn't have that much unusual to say anymore about social media. The work I do is far more broad than that – I'm a marketer,…
Where I'm Headed Next2 Oct 2014 | 7:15 amDrumroll, please… I know you all have been waiting on the very edge of your seats to find out what I'm doing next, haven't you? Ok, well even if you haven't been sitting here hitting refresh, I wanted to finally give you the big update. Because I've been bursting to tell you since I'm already hard at work and having a blast. I've taken the role of SVP of Marketing for Sysomos, a social analytics and intelligence platform. It's obviously an industry that I know and love, given my history with the fine folks over at Radian6. And I've…
Why Social Media Engagement Numbers Suck (And What We Should Really Worry About)5 Sep 2014 | 10:21 amIt's not really a new topic, but it keeps cropping up. Social media "engagement" numbers and "conversations" just aren't living up to expectations. This recent article on VentureBeat focuses on Facebook's dwindling organic reach and paltry commenting and sharing activity, citing some research from Forrester that says that engagement is pretty abysmal overall for big brands (this is important, more on this later). What happens in the wake of this kind of discussion? The battle cry becomes "social media isn't worth the investment", littered with everything from the…
Things We Like (March 2015)25 Mar 2015 | 10:20 amA monthly roundup of our favorite nonprofit tech resources and other goodies. Read more posts on our blog. We start off Things We Like by suggesting what you'll be doing on April 29th: attending the 5th Women Who Tech TeleSummit program. Whether you attended 2015 SXSW Interactive or not, here is a brilliant round-up by Joleen Ong and Amy Sample Ward. Amy Sample Ward was also one of 16 nonprofit experts to round up innovative fundraising trends in this new era of philanthropy. Here's an innovative trend we'd love to see in a new era of fashion: making textiles from bananas and…
Deep in the Heart of #NPTech: It's time for our #15NTC Round-up24 Mar 2015 | 2:27 pmThese socks were made for walkin'The 2015 Nonprofit Technology Conference in Austin, TX was a-mazing! We ate BBQ by the pound, celebrated inspiring campaigns and community members, rode around on Segways, and did a lot of photoshopping. Of course, we learned and shared a ton too. Check out this ridiculously long list of 15NTC content.Did we miss anything? Please let us know in the comments!ResourcesCollaborative session notesSession presentationsSession recordingsDiscussion forumPicturesOfficial photos, Trav Williams, Broken Banjo PhotographyPhotobooth photos, AbilaHeadshot photos,…
Tech Is Everyone's Job24 Mar 2015 | 1:04 pmAmy Sample Ward CEO NTEN: The Nonprofit Technology Network Technology is everyone's job because being an effective organization making real progress towards the mission is everyone's job. Let's face it: It's 2015. Technology is a central part of how we do our work, communicate, and even fundraise. The idea that technology – from decisions to training and even testing new tools – would be something reserved for a single staff person or department doesn't simply meet the needs we have as organizations anymore.
15NTC WordPress Day: Event Recap24 Mar 2015 | 12:46 pmChrissy Rey Founder and President Pongos Interactive What happens when you bring together 200 developers, power users, content managers, community organizers, and IT-decision makers that are either using or considering, WordPress? A lot! Here's a recap of the first ever WordPress Day for Nonprofit Professionals at the 2015 Nonprofit Technology Conference. We did it! The first ever WordPress Day for Nonprofit Professionals was a success. WordPress Day was a full day of content geared toward developers, power users, content managers, community organizers, and IT-decision makers who either…
Adoption Is Integral to Your Tech Project Success: Highlights from #15NTCtechadopt24 Mar 2015 | 11:06 amTucker MacLean VP of Sales & Marketing Exponent Partners Learn these tried-and-true methods to plan for successful user adoption and, ultimately, a culture that embraces technology at your organization. It happens to us all… we get excited about a new technology solution and forget what it may take for our organization to make the most of it. Unfortunately, without careful attention to system adoption, your solution can be doomed to sit unused, even if its functionality is wonderful! The good news: there are tried-and-true methods to plan for successful user adoption and, ultimately, a…
High-Fat Diet May Disturb a Range of Thoughts And Feelings27 Mar 2015 | 6:05 amTreat your gut well and this is why your brain will thank you. » Continue reading: High-Fat Diet May Disturb a Range of Thoughts And Feelings » Read HealthiestBlog.com, the new site from PsyBlog's author Related articles: The Diet Which Postpones Brain Aging Dementia Treated Successfully With Anti-Aging Diet The Familiar Food Which May Help Fight Alzheimer's Disease 9 Nutrients Which Should Be In Your Diet for Good Mental Health Chronic Stress Early in Life Causes Anxiety and Aggression in Adulthood
3 Inner Virtues That Come With Age Which May Surprise You26 Mar 2015 | 6:39 amOn top of wisdom, there are three inner virtues which unexpectedly come with age. » Continue reading: 3 Inner Virtues That Come With Age Which May Surprise You » Read HealthiestBlog.com, the new site from PsyBlog's author Related articles: Intelligent People Are More Inclined to Trust Others A Sense of Purpose Helps You Live Longer The Number of Children That Makes Parents Happiest Husband or Wife? The Partner Whose Happiness Matters More For The Marriage Hearing Voices: Rachel's Experience Might Surprise You
How To Improve Memory Five-Fold in 45 Minutes25 Mar 2015 | 6:41 amHow to improve memory with very little effort. » Continue reading: How To Improve Memory Five-Fold in 45 Minutes » Read HealthiestBlog.com, the new site from PsyBlog's author Related articles: Exercise Can Improve Long-Term Memory How to Easily Improve Your Memory Study Finds Memory Has a Fascinating Effect On Sleep Offline Learning: How The Mind Learns During Sleep Memory & Learning Boosted and Depression Prevented By Compound In These Fruits and Nuts
New MIND Diet Lowers Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Over 50%24 Mar 2015 | 7:26 amEven following the MIND diet 'moderately' reduced Alzheimer's disease risk by 35%. » Continue reading: New MIND Diet Lowers Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Over 50% » Read HealthiestBlog.com, the new site from PsyBlog's author Related articles: Dementia Treated Successfully With Anti-Aging Diet Diet Tip: The Unexpected Effect of Comfort Food on Bad Moods The Personality Trait That Doubles Alzheimer's Risk The Vitamin Which May Reduce Risk of Alzheimer's and Dementia The Diet Which Postpones Brain Aging
Depression Distorts People's Perception of Time, Study Finds23 Mar 2015 | 6:32 amThe curious effect of depression on time perception. » Continue reading: Depression Distorts People's Perception of Time, Study Finds » Read HealthiestBlog.com, the new site from PsyBlog's author Related articles: A Strange Depression Symptom That Most People Don't Know Long-Held Belief About Depression Challenged by New Study 5 Classic Signs of Depression Most People Don't Recognise Signs of Depression: 10 Common Symptoms You Should Know Easily Distracted? Study Finds A Fabulous Real-World Advantage
Media Culpa
Using social media influencers as brand ambassadors17 Mar 2015 | 1:43 pmAt today's Rethink conference in Stockholm, Christine Donaldson talked about her experience as an Oakley Women Brand Ambassador. Christine who is a musician and a skier uses social media to create a unique online persona in order to garner the attention of an online audience. She started using Youtube for her music and Instagram to show her passion for skiing. When she began to establish herself as a social influencer, brands began to approach her with suggestions of partnerships. Today she is an ambassador not only for Oakley Women but also for other brands. For someone who is…
Salvation Army ad nails it with THAT dress6 Mar 2015 | 6:33 amAbout a week ago, the entire Internet was discussing whether a certain dress was white and gold or black and blue. Everyone was talking about it so this was a perfect situation to use for real-time marketing purposes. That's exactly what the Salvation Army in South Africa did today with this tweet below, and boy did they nail it with this one! Is it so hard 2 see black & blue? 1 in 6 women are victims. #StopAbuseAgainstWomen #blackandblue #whiteandgold pic.twitter.com/HoYNXBQRIE — TheSalvationArmySA (@SalvationArmySA) 6 mars 2015 The advert is part of the Salvation…
Selfie sticks banned in venues19 Jan 2015 | 2:09 amSelfie sticks, those extendable poles that enables a user to take selfies beyond the normal reach of the arm, have become incredibly popular. Even the Beckhams use it. But as practical as they are to the user, they can also be annoying to others, for examples at concerts or sports events. Now several venues have started to introduce restrictions or outright banning the selfie stick. Several major British music venues like O2 Arena and Wembley Arena in London have banned them citing safety and health reasons. More likely the reason is that they may disturb the experience of fellow visitors.
The most commented post on Instagram ever has 400,000 comments and tagged 3 million users29 Dec 2014 | 5:03 amEarlier this year, Kim Kardashian posted a photo from her wedding with Kanye West. It became the most liked photo on Instagram ever with more than 2.4 million likes to date. However, it is not the Instagram post with most comments. Kardashian's image has about 57,000 comments but last week a video was posted that currently has many times more than that. Apparently spammers are finding new ways to spam Instagram after the social network recently deleted millions of spam accounts. More than 3 million user names tagged The video below is used to post thousands of comments that each tag…
How to install the drop down menu for suggested accounts on Instagram29 Dec 2014 | 1:37 amA while back, Instagram introduced a new feature where you would see an arrow and a drop down menu next to the follow button on some Instagram accounts. The menu shows other accounts that are similar to the one you are looking at. But not every account had this menu and it was unclear who got it. I speculated that only accounts with a certain number of followers got it, but now I think I have found the solution. If you log in to your Instagram account on a desktop and edit your profile you will find a box at the bottom of that page. If you tick the box that says "suggested…
Regular Geek
Geek Reading March 27, 201527 Mar 2015 | 5:30 amBackchannel starts our day with a discussion of the three phases of consumer products. If you are a startup in the consumer space, you should definitely read it. For the second day in a row Valeria Maltoni, writing at Conversation Agent, gives us some excellent content. Today she talks about how access has more value than information. Johanna Rothman sheds some light on why managers ask for estimates. It is really good information for those people that do not pay attention to the business side of a company. As always, enjoy today's items, and please participate in the discussions on these…
Geek Reading March 25, 201525 Mar 2015 | 5:30 amToday we have a few top stories for you. First, Apple announced their acquisition of FoundationDB. I am curious what this purchase is really about, but we will have to wait and see. Both Sides of the Table brings us an interview with Fred Wilson that is very informative. Lastly, Seth Godin talks about how some of the harder things are more worthwhile. It is definitely a good, short read. As always, enjoy today's items, and please participate in the discussions on these sites. Top Stories What I've Learned from Fred Wilson | Both Sides of the Table Of course it's difficult……
Geek Reading March 24, 201524 Mar 2015 | 5:30 amTo start for today, we have Job Tips For Geeks talking about stupid recruiter tricks, specifically about "where are you interviewing?". If you have interviewed as a software developer, you have likely been asked this question. FastML follows on their original post on the fear of AI, continuing to tell us there is nothing to fear except maybe some job losses. There are several good articles in the data-related section below. I would highlight them all, so please take a look at all of them. As always, enjoy today's items, and please participate in the discussions on these sites.
Geek Reading March 23, 201523 Mar 2015 | 5:30 amAs always, the weekend brings us a lot of information. First, Brad Feld talks about CEOs having anxiety attacks. Anxiety, stress and depression are rampant in startups and fairly common in our industry. Brad Feld is one of the few that talks through all of this. Threatpost lets us know that all major browsers fell during Pwn2Own. This is expected and probably a good thing as security holes get found, and hopefully fixed, in a public forum. Also, on JavaLobby, Mike Cottmeyer talks about your job and trying to think outside the box. He uses an idea from The Matrix and says "bend the…
Solar News DannyBrown
Solar Energy Risks to Health27 Mar 2015 | 8:17 amSolar energy is a potential free electricity and water heating source. It has the power to take advantage of electricity in remote areas of the world. It seems to offer health and safety with power, but is it? Rarely health risks of solar energy are mentioned. This may be partly due to the limited use of this energy source. It may also be due to the lack of research in this area. Some have begun to study the health risks of solar energy, however, and if you study long enough, some estimates are available. Solar Thermal Risks Health Solar energy Health risks inherent in the design and…
Should We Give Solar Power Another Try?25 Mar 2015 | 3:24 amCities in many countries suffer degradation of air quality. Oxygen levels are decreasing every year making it harder to breathe. Our water is actually much more polluted and trees are dying. The human race has made decisions that are harmful currently causing our planet to fade. Perhaps returning to the things we use at the beginning of the life of the human race is the best solution. Solar energy can be the answer to many current problems as the sun has always been a source of heat and light. Throughout the history of the earth, the sun's energy has never been used as a source of…
Irresistible Reasons To Create Your Own Solar Power At Home24 Mar 2015 | 2:22 am1. promotion of government: the federal government offers discounts for the use of clean energy. For example, wind turbines and solar energy systems installed at the end of 2016 are eligible for a tax credit of 30 percent. A tax credit is better than a tax deduction to take money directly from their taxes instead of leaving your taxable income. In other words, you can benefit from lower electricity bills and lower taxes. 2. Increase the value of the house: There have been several studies showing that selling prices are higher for households with solar certifications and durability that homes…
Solar Energy Alternative Methods23 Mar 2015 | 3:11 pmThey tired of your electric bill go even higher? Is it possible to do something about it without breaking the bank? Well, if you've thought about going solar, but do not want to spend thousands, you're in luck. There is no reason you have to feed all its solar house. Everything helps. Say you use a lot of energy every month. Whether it's an old A / C and even water heater or combine this with a huge pool, energy costs add up quickly. Even outdoor lights low power increase your electricity bill. To begin to fall, as the use of solar outside lights? They are charged during the…
How You Can Avoid Solar Energy Pitfalls23 Mar 2015 | 11:38 amWhile solar energy is a good alternative energy source, there might be some errors. Hopefully this article will help you avoid scammers, inflated prices and other problems associated with solar energy systems. The first thing to do is do your research. Prices can vary greatly between systems. Although it seems that many manufacturers offer systems that contain most of the same parts, the price and quality will be different. You may be tempted to go the cheap route, but end up paying for repeated repairs or even a replacement system. Here's the difference between a system of…
Nine moments that put Twitter on the map23 Mar 2015 | 8:08 amIt may seem hard to believe but Twitter turned nine years old this weekend (21st March). The micro blogging network changed how the world communicates, how brands interact with customers and how news is broken around the world. And to mark the occasion, here are Twitter's nine biggest moments: Twitter's IPO – In November 2013 Twitter went public with their long awaited IPO. The stock opened at $26 a share and currently trade at around $45 although there is still much debate between investment analysts about how successful the IPO actually was. Obama's Twitter Town Hall – Twitter…
Global digital trends: The growth of mobile13 Mar 2015 | 6:57 amThe Global View This year we have introduced The Global View – a series of Connect posts that will give you a quick snapshot of the big issues influencing digital marketing around the world, as seen by the different offices in the iCrossing network. This issue Bill Connolly our Content Marketing Manager State side is taking a closer look at what's going on with mobile advertising right now. (c) Johan Larsson One of the biggest benefits to being a global organization is that we can share insights with colleagues from around the world. In the ever-changing realm of digital, brands must…
Boost your content's SEO value using amplification12 Mar 2015 | 8:52 amAmplification – or the practise of increasing a piece of content's reach – has always, and continues to be, an intrinsic part of the online marketing mix, but it is often an overlooked part of content strategy. Why should I consider amplification? Amplification can drive those all-important user & social signals that are becoming increasingly important to natural search visibility, leading to an increase in traffic, conversions and, importantly, revenue. When should I consider amplification? While typically, the actual implementation of amplifying tactics should come after the…
International Women's Day: Making it happen at iCrossing6 Mar 2015 | 4:25 amThis Sunday is International Women's Day, and the theme for 2015 is 'Make it Happen'; a powerful motif that asks us not only to celebrate the achievements of women but also to effect change by taking action. Working in the digital sector, I was pleased to read in the Guardian this week that the UK has more Inspiring Women in technology leadership positions than any other of our European counterparts. However, we still have a long way to go if we are to improve upon the poor representation of women within STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) employers; the campaign…
Will "mobile friendly" affect tablet search results?5 Mar 2015 | 8:16 amRecently the Webmaster Central blog stated that on April 21st, Google will be expanding its use of 'mobile friendliness' as a ranking signal. Google have directed webmasters to their Mobile Friendly Test tool and many have also been using PageSpeed Insights to drill down further into how their site might perform on a slower mobile-network connection (when compared with fibreoptic cable, etc). Some people have been asking whether mobile friendly signals and site speed will also be important for Google's tablet results. Information on Google's tablet-specific results…
Twitter is partnering with Foursquare for location data24 Mar 2015 | 6:55 am
Had to share . . .22 Mar 2015 | 7:18 pm
SXSW Day 2: Forget Loyalty, Build Habits20 Mar 2015 | 3:02 pmMy second day was a good one. I went to see the session entitled Forget Loyalty, Build habits with the VP/Digital for Julep Beauty, @lesliefeinzaig. Leslie is a gamer and has a gaming background so she has had some experience with building habits. Her goal with Julep is to create habits for influencers and as ...
Magic Leap's AR game looks unbelievable!19 Mar 2015 | 9:13 pmI definitely understand why Google invested $542 million in Magic Leap! Their AR game looks AMAZING! Enjoy!
Behold! The Yo Platform17 Mar 2015 | 8:27 pmYep. That Yo. The app that you could install and send a "Yo" to friends with. The app/company that received a $1.5 million investment last July. It turns out that this little joke of an app is actually creating a wafer thin platform for smartwatches with which you can plug your services into. @orarbel the ...
Twilight Fairy
Hair today, what tomorrow! (Review)9 Mar 2015 | 10:58 amSo I took up the #happyhairchallenge from Garnier almost a month back & at that time my hair had the tendency to be like what I highlighted here! Here's the journey from a tendency like this –> to using this –> to hair like this –> KIDDING! No my hair didn't change colour! to this –> (well somewhat) After using the shampoo frequently over a period of a month, following was my experience: In the initial days of usage, my hair would feel soft immediately after the wash and conditioning process. However once my hair would dry properly, it would look rather electrified and I had to…
Hair today, what tomorrow!20 Feb 2015 | 10:22 amSince the beginning of time immemorial, I've had rather long hair (almost knee length or at least butt length for most of my life). Last year on women's day I chopped my tresses in a bid to do something different, and went in for "shoulder length hair". I know that counts as "long" for many but for me it was *rather* short going by what I had almost all the time. My biggest problem has always been how to keep my hair free from entangling and avoiding heartbreak (also known as hairfall that results from the aforementioned entangling). My hair is naturally wavy, and it tends to go…
Queen's Luncheon3 Feb 2015 | 1:11 amAlthough I was making the meal & enjoying the luncheon in the aforementioned subject, I wasn't the queen in question here. It was mostly the British monarch. During my London & Scotland trip, I enjoyed Fish & Chips at various places. One of these places had served the chips or as we call them – potato wedges – with a very tasty minty mushy peas dip that I always wanted to try back home. I had also saved some Lemon Curd from Fortnum & Mason and decided to make the day a tad British my including these flavours in my meal for the day. So here come the scrumptious details. Appetiser: Quick…
Had a Kneecap dislocation & now need MPFL surgery23 Jan 2015 | 11:51 pmIt's been a while since I've seriously blogged any personal stuff here or even blogged at all, for that matter. I'd been planning to get back to blogging since quite a while now (does anyone even read these blog updates anymore?) … but twitter always stood in the way of expressing myself in long form. Or even reading long form for that matter. I digress. To cut a long story short, I've had a kneecap dislocation (patellar dislocation) & it turns out that one of my ligaments (MPFL) is now torn to such an extent that it needs reconstruction through an invasive surgery The post op…
Making merry15 Jun 2014 | 11:43 amEver since I arrived in London on 2nd June, we got busy with the tour around various departments at Kingston university campus. But it wasn't just all work and no play. In fact right on the day we reached, after freshening up, we went to see the Graduate fashion week at Central London. On this particular day, the show was put up by the students of the Fashion department at Kingston university. We reached the venue in Central London and the place was swarming with fashionistas of all shapes, sizes and genders. For me the latest fashions were already there to observe in the crowd itself. Once…
Ben Werdmüller
Marc Benioff is doing the right thing. Every founder should take note.26 Mar 2015 | 11:35 amMarc Benioff, the CEO at Salesforce, is cancelling all programs in Indiana:Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says he doesn't want his employees subjected to discrimination as part of their work for the San Francisco-based company, and he is cancelling all required travel to the state of Indiana following the signing of a religious freedom law that some say allows business to exclude gay customers.As CNN reports, the bill is extremely regressive:On his website, Miller highlighted examples of the law's effect: Christian bakers, florists and photographers won't have to participate in "homosexual…
Facebook wants to own our news and communications. Here's why it has to fail.25 Mar 2015 | 12:39 pmEarlier this week, it emerged that Facebook was in talks to host the content from publications like the New York Times, Buzzfeed and National Geographic. Today, it "opened up" their Messenger app into a platform that can be incorporated into a host of other apps and services, as well as a raft of other new features around identity and communications.As a society, we tend to raise a skeptical eyebrow at nations with state-controlled media. But a world where one major entity controls the distribution of news, not just nationally but internationally, is arguably more harmful. I don't believe…
Some thoughts on building a high-growth startup with an open source product20 Mar 2015 | 1:02 pmKnown is my second open source startup. I've spent over a decade working with free and open source software, and have been producing it in a startup context for most of that time. I've had a lot of time to think about the realities of doing this.I believe that free and open source software is important for both social and technical reasons. In this post, I'd like to explore the implications for running an end-user open source software project from a startup business perspective.What is free and open source software?First, let's back up a second and talk about "free software". This was…
Venture capital isn't evil.15 Mar 2015 | 5:02 pmI enjoyed this episode of This Week in Startups with USV's Fred Wilson. It's a fairly candid conversation from this year's Launch Festival, and Fred comes across as having both integrity and a very practical approach to investing in startups.The story that jumps out at me is that of Tumblr's acquisition by Yahoo!. There are two important details: the first is that Tumblr's initial investment round was less than a million dollars. The second is Fred's disclosure that the acquisition happened at a time when Tumblr had spent a lot of money on growth, and would have to either raise a huge round…
Why the secure web isn't ready for primetime (but we need to use it anyway)14 Mar 2015 | 1:05 pmIn today's climate, it's important that we secure communications with our servers. For example, if you're on open wifi (at a coffee shop, for example, or at a conference), it's trivial to steal the unsecured logins of the people around you. Using secured connections also helps protect against people monitoring your communications further up the chain, at an infrastructure level. In the era of the Snowden revelations, protecting your privacy is an obviously good idea - but there is also an immediate practical value in preventing people from stealing your passwords and credit card details, too.
Social Networking for Newbies
Removing or hiding a LinkedIn recommendation16 Mar 2015 | 2:22 amPlease watch the short video below if there is a recommendation on your LinkedIn profile that you would rather it not be seen by your LinkedIn connections and/or visitors.
How to Export your existing LinkedIn connections and how to import new ones8 Mar 2015 | 1:34 pmIn this video I show you how to export your LinkedIn connections. Why do you want to do this? In one word: Insurance. By exporting your connections outside of LinkedIn, you are insuring yourself against something happening with LinkedIn. After all, they could go out of business tomorrow. Or they could suspend your account. Another reason why you may want to export your connections is because you have a duplicate LinkedIn account and you want to close it but not lose your connections. In this case, you can export the connections before closing the account, close the account and then re-import…
How to find shared connections among your LinkedIn's 2nd degree contacts27 Feb 2015 | 5:36 pmToday I received the following question: "If John and I are 2nd level, is there a way to see who we both know in common (either to ask for an introduction or, if I have her email, to simply reference that 'I see you know Bill Smith')?" Watch the video below to see how to do this.
Asking for LinkedIn recommendations23 Feb 2015 | 9:34 amLinkedIn is always changing it's layout – it reminds me of shopping at Costco – and as a result, you'll probably struggle to find the location of some of the features you're looking for. In my opinion, LinkedIn has made it very difficult to find the link that allows you to ask people to recommend you. I guess all their efforts are on highlighting the Endorsements feature and hiding the Recommendations. Below is a short video that shows you how to find the Recommendations link to ask your connections to recommend you.
How to edit your LinkedIn Profile's Headline4 Dec 2014 | 5:06 pmYour LinkedIn profile's headline is a key element in your LinkedIn profile. Most people have a "functional headline" – one that states their title i.e. Realtor, General Manager of XYZ company, etc. I recommend that your headline either create some curiosity/interest in what you do and/or offer a compelling benefit to your target audience. Please watch the video below on how to change the headline.
Social Gaming and Eating: A Winning Combination [Infographic]27 Mar 2015 | 12:11 pmThe use of games to convince diners to hang out longer in restaurants is a tactic that has been used for some time. It isn't surprising that the mix of games and eating that is so popular in home kitchens is also a big hit in restaurants. People just naturally like to eat while playing. Not only is this combination good for the diners, but it is also a good mix for restaurant owners. After all, the longer that people stay in the dining room, the more they are likely to order more food and drinks. The Progression of Restaurant Gaming Over the Years One hundred years ago, skee-ball games…
5 Must-Know 2015 SEO Trends26 Mar 2015 | 2:01 pm…and you thought SEO is Dead? Think Again! If you thought "Search Engine Optimization" is dead, then think again! It is far from the truth. On the contrary, SEO has evolved a lot. Yes, it is true that it has become more complex, but it is still a valuable tool that your company needs. Following are the 5 SEO trends that you need to plan for the year 2015. Semantic Search: This is vital because Google has completely changed the way SEO works. The latest Hummingbird update is a complete algorithm overhaul highlighting semantic search. Wondering what this semantic is all about? Well, it…
How to Successfully Link Build in Highly Technical Niches25 Mar 2015 | 4:22 pmHave you ever had a client that you weren't even sure what they did after combing through their website? It can be frustrating to try to find media placements and link opportunities for a brand when you can't even articulate who their customers are. Sure, you could always slide them into high quality directories, but wouldn't it be more beneficial to give them a robust link profile? There are ways to do it even for the trickiest technical companies, such as manufacturing or medical equipment. To drive home my point, I'll be using my client SIMTEC Silicone, a custom manufacturer of…
How to Build a Blogging Community; CommentLuv Premium Discount22 Mar 2015 | 7:26 pmWhen I think of blogs with thriving communities, I immediately think of AdrienneSmith.net. Any of us would be blessed to have the strong readership and commenters Adrienne has. Drop in and visit her any time and you'll be amazed at the quantity and quality of comments her posts attract. Here are the numbers for her most recent six posts: 136, 148, 132, 102, 208, and 142. What these comments indicate is that Adrienne has hundreds of regular readers (or maybe thousands since most people don't comment)! These are real people who read and comment. Click Image; Use Discount Code…
The Art of Letter Writing: How to Create the Right Impression21 Mar 2015 | 7:50 amWhether you are writing to a business client or a close friend, there are several aspects of letter writing that need to be included in all your correspondence. Unfortunately, the art of letter writing has been largely lost in recent years, as more and more people make the permanent switch to digital forms of communication. However, you can set the right tone for your written discourse by revisiting the various principles of writing a letter. Select high quality writing materials The quality and texture of the paper you choose for your letter is crucial to the tone you want to deliver. For…
Youtube introduces Interactive Cards17 Mar 2015 | 4:12 pmYoutube has introduced interactive cards as a replacement for annotations on videos. There's a new Cards tab available in the Youtube Video Editor to allow you to choose from 6 types; Merchandise, Fundraising, Video, Playlist, Associated Website and Fan Funding. Youtube Interactive Cards They'll work across mobile and desktop and eventually annotations will be phased out to make way for the new interactive cards. Each type of card has specific settings – for instance Merchandise cards allow you to add an image, merchandise url and a call to action, while fan funding cards…
Friendfeed and GigaOm announce closures as Apple launches new products10 Mar 2015 | 3:03 amWhile Apple launched new products including MacBooks and Watches, two pioneering services announced they would be closing. Friendfeed was a useful social network which combined short updates similar to Twitter with the ability to easily collect and aggregate your content from a huge variety of sources, into one feed. It launched back in 2007, and the service and team had been acquired by Facebook in 2009. There's no official news beyond the April 2015 closure date, but there is some unofficial code on Github to export your data if you wish. And at the same time, one of the first big…
Google Authorship and rel=author is no more29 Aug 2014 | 6:30 amOne of the main benefits of signing up for a Google+ profile as a writer, blogger and author has been the Google Authorship program, which began back in 2011 with the launch of Google's own social network. And in a Google+ post, Google's John Mueller has confirmed that not only will the search results no longer show any Authorship results, but data will no longer be tracked from the rel=author markup. Since the start of 2014, Authorship has carried slightly less benefits for those who implemented it correctly with first a reduction in the amount of author photos shown per query,…
Blogging for Business and Profit Notes: DPiP August 20147 Aug 2014 | 1:25 amThere's nothing here yet until after I give my presentation this evening – Thursday, August 7th. The full notes will magically appear on Saturday, August 9th. In the meantime, you can always follow me on Twitter (@badgergravling), or follow TheWayofTheWeb (@twotwmarketing) to be alerted when I've compiled and sorted everything… The post Blogging for Business and Profit Notes: DPiP August 2014 appeared first on TheWayoftheWeb.
How to merge an existing Google+ page and Youtube Channel4 Aug 2014 | 10:39 amThe continued integration of various Google services with Google+ has generally been a positive move for both Google and businesses who can now access pages, page insights, analytics etc all in one place. But it does create an issue if you have existing Google+ pages and Youtube channels assigned to different registration emails, or if you accidentally create duplicates. Fortunately, the process to merge an existing Google+ page and Youtube channel isn't as difficult as it once was. We've merged G+ and Youtube profiles for our own sites and clients Disconnecting a Google+…
Social Media Bird Brain
It's Not Just How You Say It, But Where And When24 Mar 2015 | 12:00 amBy Yevy Photography, on Flickr Communication is a word we use a lot in social media because that is what social media is about: creating a relationship with others by communicating with them. But how is communication defined as a strategy? ONE is an international NGO whose mission is to end extreme poverty by 2030. In a recent article for Stanford's Social Innovation Review, Jamie Drummond
To Crowdfund or Not to Crowdfund11 Mar 2015 | 12:36 pmFractured Atlas had a great article on putting together a crowdfunding video (read it here), which made me think about crowdfunding in general. In a recent Twitter chat I was on, one of the participants opined that crowdfunding was the same as begging, and a couple of other participants agreed. I don't. Obviously, the couple that asks people to crowdfund their wedding celebration and
Time For Social Media25 Feb 2015 | 12:00 amNonProfit Tech for Good has excerpted part of their Mobile for Good book on their site to talk about what kind of time social media requires for successful fundraising (read the piece here). Naturally, the first thing that jumped out at me is that there was no discussion of what a small nonprofit should do, just medium and large nonprofits. The second thing I noticed is that they recommend a
TL:DR or What Is The Perfect Length?11 Feb 2015 | 12:00 amRan across this infographic at MakeUseOf.com and thought it was worthy of a short discussion. As you may know, TL:DR stands for "Too Long: Didn't Read". There is a sweetness to brevity, particularly when it comes to social media. As a technical writer, I learned early on that wordiness can be a killer when you're trying to get people to read - and use - a user manual. I won't get into all
Two Great Thoughts from NonProfit Tech for Good28 Jan 2015 | 12:00 amBeing a former IT worker, I can't help but geek out when I see technology being used for social good. One of the best groups throwing a spotlight on this is Nonprofit Tech for Good. Technology is crucial to every business and nonprofit and if your small NGO is not keeping up with the latest news in this sector, it could be at a very large disadvantage. This is not to say that you have to have
Corporate Eye
Eat, drink and recruit?17 Mar 2015 | 4:57 amHiring the right people can be expensive. Most of the online HR specialists we talk to don't like spending valuable time reviewing job applications from candidates who aren't right for a role. And they certainly don't like investing key resources in training a new recruit who leaves the company six months later, because the job isn't what they thought it would be. We think the key to successfully recruiting online is providing great content on a career outpost. But what do we mean by "great content"? Well, we think its content that operates on a number of levels. For the purpose…
Benefits of Reverse Mentoring13 Mar 2015 | 4:23 amMy last post outlined how the Reverse Mentoring technique can improve Board and C-level technology knowledge. Now it is time to look at "proof of concept". Do companies use this technique and are there benefits? Since GE introduced it in 1999, more companies have introduced Reverse Mentoring as a enterprise practice. Here is a sample of those companies: COMPANY INDUSTRY REVERSE MENTORING DISCUSSION Mastercard Financial DOCUMENT HP Technology DOCUMENT Coty Cosmetics DOCUMENT Citicorp Financial YouTube Deutsche Telekom Telecommunications Document Cisco Technology BLOG…
Informative Eye Candy5 Mar 2015 | 11:52 pmFor this post, I wanted to write about the absolutely critical importance of clear and engaging web copy. After all, we've all come across badly written web pages that prompt a rapid visit to the good old "go-back" icon. Then I found myself reading a Linkedin post about why human beings like visual content. And this reminded me of something we often discuss with clients at Corporate Eye. So, despite having a vested interest in writing about good web copy (I am a blog writer after all!), for this post I'm going to talk about… Okay, I'll admit it – we have touched on the value…
Coca-Cola Contour Bottle Turns 100 This Year2 Mar 2015 | 5:54 pmThis year, Coca-Cola's iconic contour bottle celebrates its 100th anniversary. Back in 1915, the Root Glass Company developed the bottle design after the Coca-Cola Company asked a number of manufacturers to develop a design that would make it more distinctive. Specifically, the company asked manufacturers to create a design that wasn't just distinctive—it had to be so distinctive that it could be recognized only by touch and still recognized visually even after it shattered. The bottle design that the Root Glass Company in Terre Haute, Indiana created was based on a picture of a…
Following Scent Trails: Transform Europe 20152 Mar 2015 | 12:51 amHave you ever taken an English Springer Spaniel for a walk? They hunt about, quartering the ground, following their noses down trails and truffling in the undergrowth to track down whatever it is that has seized their attention. And they come back wet, covered in mud and burrs, but triumphant with the excitement of the find. I spend at least part of every day taking an extended walk through corporate websites. I'm looking to see how well they communicate with their intended audiences, so I hunt about, covering all the ground and following interesting trails. And, just like my springer,…
הטיפים של טל
עיצוב לשיער8 Mar 2015 | 10:34 pmיש ללכת לספר מנוסה ולמעצב שיער עם ידע כיוון שעיצוב לשיער יכול להיות מאוד יפה ומיוחד אך במידה ולא עושים זאת באופן מקצועי יש סיכוי רב יותר שהתסרוקת תיפול או תיהרס בקלות ולא תחזיק מעמד לאורך זמן. לעיצוב מוצלח יותר אפשר לנסות שימוש ב
קמפינג על חוף הכינרת22 Feb 2015 | 8:55 pmקמפינג על חוף הכינרת זוהי אטרקציה בפני עצמה אף על פי שיש אטרקציות נוספות כמו שייט בקייקים או שייט באונייה, יש מסיבות רבות ולעיתים גם הופעות וכו'.לאורך חופי הכינרת יש גם בתי מלון וצימרים אך החווייה הכי אוטנתית והכי קרובה לטבע היא קמפינג. מידע נוסף אודות חופים ללינה בכנרת
איך להפסיק לעשן?18 Feb 2015 | 12:21 amיש כאלה אחר מפסיקים בבת אחת. במידה ועושעים כך על מנת להצליח לאורך זמן צריכה להיות סיבה שהיא מספיק טובה להפסקת העישון. יש כמה סיבות שגורמות לאדם להפסיק לעשן במיידי אך זה לא הכרחי. אתה
בית אבות לבחירה7 Feb 2015 | 10:29 pmכאשר אתם מסתכלים על בנייני המגורים בחנו האם המקום מטופח וניתן לשהות בו בנעימים או האם הוא מוזנח ולא שמים כל כך לב לגינון במקום, לתיקונים שיש לעשות בבית הדירות וכו'.
הפקה של אירוע7 Feb 2015 | 10:19 pmבחרת דיג'יי היא בחיר מאוד חשובה כיוון שהיא זו שקובעת את האווירה שתהיה באירוע עצמו, למוזיקה יש חשיבות מאוד גדולה והיא יכולה לשנות את האירוע לשונה לגמרי. היא יכולה להפיח ימחה ולהרקיד את האורחים לגרום להם לאכול בנחת ולהפוך את האירוע לשמח. הפקת אירוע תכלול כמובן גם את הדיג'יי ומפיק ידע להציע לכם את איש המקצוע הטוב ביותר בתחום…
Seldom Seen Kid
#fornicforpromotion Watford Players Tweet Support for Nick Cruwys13 Mar 2015 | 1:32 pmWatford players tweeted their support for Nick Cruwys, the Watford supporter who was attacked following the game with Wolverhampton Wanderers, in unison this evening (Friday night) prior to the home match against Reading tomorrow (Saturday). The team, who have been in the news for sad reasons this week, showed their humility and respect in what […]
The Ken Furphy art of Man Management23 Feb 2015 | 6:26 amKen Furphy, a former Watford manager between 1964-1971, passed away on January 17 this year. He made over 500 appearances for Darlington, Workington and Watford in a career that began at Everton in 1950. He was seen as a progressive manager, particularly during his time with Watford; so much so that he allowed cameras to […]
If you think #PR and #socialmedia should stay away from Paid Media, pack up and go home3 Feb 2015 | 3:11 pmRunning Paid Media campaigns now must be considered part of the 'must have' armoury of PRs. Much in the way that using a tool like Radian6, Sysomos or Netbase to understand how a community behaves has become an essential skill, Account Executives right through to Directors, need to know what Paid Media can bring to […]
Cluetrain Manifesto: New Clues9 Jan 2015 | 4:40 amDavid Weinberger and Doc Searls have updated The Cluetrain Manifesto, producing "New Clues". The original manifesto, published in April 1999, set the standard for how people could and should engage on the Internet. David and Doc have seen the way that our behaviours (as people, marketers and companies) have evolved and presented a new standard . […]
2015 Social Media Trends Round Up2 Jan 2015 | 3:47 amI've already shared my four 2015 social media trends to watch out for, (Frictionless Social Networks, Microvideo, Paid Media and Digital Convergence) but what does everyone else think will be the main developments in the digital space over the next twelve months? I've gathered together five of my favourite prediction, top tip and trendhunting lists below. […]
Technology & Marketing Law Blog
In IMDb Privacy Case, 9th Circuit Rejects Hoang's Appeal27 Mar 2015 | 6:21 pmShutterstock / SoulCurry – I love My Privacy Hoang alleged that IMDb improperly used her personal information to find out her real age and published her real age on its website. She argued that this harmed her employment prospects in the industry. The jury ruled for IMDb. Hoang appealed. On appeal, Hoang raised two issues (1) the trial court abused its discretion in not granting Hoang additional discovery because her initial lawyer was sick and ultimately passed away, and (2) the jury instructions wrongly placed the burden on her to prove that she was not in breach of the IMDb…
Morel Denied Attorneys' Fees In Long-Running Suit Over Photos Lifted From Twitpic26 Mar 2015 | 2:08 pmDaniel Morel uploaded iconic Haiti earthquake photos to Twitpic and shared them via Twitter. Getty Images and AFP republished the photos without permission, and Morel scored a big $1.2M verdict when the jury ruled in his favor. However, the court denied his request for attorneys' fees. Morel said that Getty's position as a whole was unreasonable. Getty on the other hand, pointed out that although it lost the war, it won some battles along the away. It also raised the novel and ultimately unsuccessful issue of whether defendants could obtain the benefit of Twitter's broad license…
Online Dating App Grindr Isn't Liable For Underage 'Threesome' (Forbes Cross-Post)25 Mar 2015 | 7:20 amPhoto credit: Vdovichenko Denis / Shutterstock.comMany online dating services undertake some efforts to screen out dangerous or problematic members, but what should the law do if those screening efforts aren't perfect? As a recent case involving Grindr shows, the answer is nothing. Grindr is an online dating app catering to "gay, bi and curious guys." Through Grindr, Mark LeMunyon, a Grindr subscriber, connected with an underage Grindr member seeking sex. Like something out of a bad Katy Perry song, LeMunyon then contacted the plaintiff, William F. Saponaro, Jr., to organize…
Court Says Uber and Lyft Drivers May be Employees24 Mar 2015 | 11:32 amDrivers for Uber and Lyft claimed they are employees, not independent contractors. Two different judges hearing these cases both held that factual questions preclude summary judgment in favor of Uber and Lyft. As Judge Chhabria, who is hearing the Lyft dispute, notes, "[w]hether a worker is classified as an employee or an independent contractor has great consequences." The courts both run through the independent contractor/employee test, which first look to whether the plaintiff is providing services to the putative employer (answer in both cases: yes). This raises a presumption of…
Theater Employee's Post-Termination Blogging Isn't a Matter of "Public Concern"23 Mar 2015 | 7:31 amThis is a long-running and vitriolic dispute between James Ryan and Yvonne Johnson. Johnson was the director of the Spokane Civic Theater. She hired Ryan to be the music director. A few months after the hiring, Johnson fired Ryan allegedly because he posted a craigslist listing for sex and he allegedly included his theater affiliation in his posting. Ryan disputed that he ever mentioned the theater. He said that someone he met on craigslist found his theater affiliation and provided it to an anonymous emailer (blackmailer), who in turn provided it to Johnson. Ryan asserted legal claims…
How to Find the Right Mentor For You18 Mar 2015 | 7:35 pm"A mentor empowers a person to see a possible future, and believe it can be obtained."—Shawn Hitchcock This quote is right on when it comes to my experience with mentors. When I doubted or didn't have a clear vision of what I wanted or how I was going to do it, my mentors helped me to refocus on where I wanted to be and how to get there. They could do this because they had already been through the process themselves and had come out on the other side. I was just fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of their years of experience and wisdom. In fact, I had placed myself there…
Why Your Email List Isn't Growing4 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amAt my annual 3-day workshop where I teach marketing, I include a session called "Building Your Email Subscriber List With Hustle and Heart." I always emphasize in the session that the longer you wait to build your list, the more you let future dollars slip through your fingers. The fact is, email marketing is still incredibly relevant even in the social media age. (eMarketer recently reported that 58% of people spend more time in their inbox than any other digital activity, including Facebook and texting.) The problem for small business owners is twofold: 1) They often believe their list…
How the "Misalignments" in Your Life Affect Your Success (and How to Change it)26 Feb 2015 | 5:55 amYears ago, through a series of mismatched educational and professional pursuits, I realized that the traditional route of fulfillment through working for someone else just might not be for me. At every job that I couldn't stand and every educational path that didn't quite fit, I couldn't help but think, what is wrong with me? What was wrong with me was that I was misaligned. It would be years before I recognized and addressed that misalignment for what it was. Recognizing misalignment is the first step in finding your greater purpose and living life on your own terms. For me, the…
How to Own What's True About You (Without Backing Down)19 Feb 2015 | 10:06 amDiscomfort has been one of my greatest teachers. Let me explain. I've shared before that I pick a theme word for the year instead of making New Year's resolutions. It helps remind me of what I want to be, do, feel, and stand for in the coming year. One of my previous words was "own" because I wanted to focus on owning my value and expertise, owning my principles and boundaries, and owning my true authenticity and everything that organically makes me, ME. So many of us struggle in life because we constantly put others before ourselves. We put pleasing others before our own personal…
What My Divorce Taught Me12 Feb 2015 | 12:44 pmThe window seat in my place… after moving in last winter I spent A LOT of time here pondering the new chapter unfolding for me. My divorce was finalized the other day, and you might wonder why in the world I'm writing about this. Well, it occurred to me to share something with you. I knew I needed to make a change in my life but I was terrified for years. When I finally ripped the band-aid off and spent that first weekend in my new place, I could barely get off the floor. The tears would not stop. I was mourning the end of a relationship, yes, but I was also absolutely petrified:…
Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®
Facebook Marketing: Hidden Tactics and Tricks from Leading Brands at #SMMW1527 Mar 2015 | 11:00 amL-R Michael Frenech, Cameron Partridge, Joel Price and Matt Gentile How are successful brands like Century 21, Western Union, Roadtrip Nation and the San Diego Chargers building and sustaining their Facebook communities? This Social Media Marketing World (#SMMW15) panel touted engagement as a key to a great community. Planning One key to great content goes back to planning. Joel Price, manager of new media, San Diego Chargers, says they review the week's Facebook performance each Monday and plan posts for the weekend (and the week ahead) each Friday. In addition to engagement, the team…
How To Encourage Employee Advocacy on Social Media: #SMMW15 Panel27 Mar 2015 | 8:07 amSocial media employee advocacy panel at Social Media Marketing World, 2015. Panel members, from left to right: Justin Levy, Maria Poveromo, and Martin Jones. It's a seemingly small ask to get your employees moving and grooving on social media. Yet many marketers have experienced the pain of creating social activity from within. While it might seem like a no-brainer for employees to get socially involved, many obstacles can prevent them – whether a lack of time, lack of know-how, or even fear of doing something wrong. If you want to raise a workforce of social media champions, you can…
Online Marketing News: Facebook Flashbacks, Twitter Rides The Carousel, Google Finds Half The Web Is Broken27 Mar 2015 | 5:42 amThe Do's and Don'ts of Social Media for SMEs [INFOGRAPHIC] - For those that want to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the opportunities that social media presents for connecting with consumers, it's important to realize the importance of social media etiquette; that is, the dos and don'ts of running and managing social media channels for your business. Social Media Today Google Adds Mobile Ranking Banner To Webmaster Blogs - If you go to any of the Google Webmaster Blogs in most languages, including the English version, the German version and many more, you will find…
Twitter Marketing: How Brands Can Rise to the Top of the Stream #SMMW1526 Mar 2015 | 4:07 pmL-R: Rob Wolf, Nicole Taylor, Pam Moore, Tyler Anderson, and Eric Tung What are brands doing to rise to the top of the Twitter stream? Marketers from Microsoft, BMC Software and Renaissance Hotels at Social Media Marketing World (#SMMW15) explained what has been working in their social media world. Every Brand has Different Goal Twitter is to inform, says Rob Wolf, social media manager, Microsoft. He manages the corporate Twitter account, which is used to break company news, along with some engagement with customers and influencers. They look to Facebook more as an engagement tool.
How to Get Results You Can Measure with Influencer Marketing #SMMW1526 Mar 2015 | 1:20 pmMarketers salivate dreaming of attracting attention from "influencers" – be it celebrities, established experts in a particular field, or talking heads. Convincing an influential industry leader to promote your brand would feel like a major win any day, as that kind of exposure can dramatically increase your brand's reach and influence. So let's say you nail a pitch to a Coveted Influencer. You create a partnership. How do you measure the results of that outreach? Not only has the team at TopRank measured the impact of influencer marketing and seen incredible results, but so has…
Content Matters
The One Thing Missing From the Apple Watch Launch12 Mar 2015 | 4:36 amThe Apple Watch launch event was a spectacle. Thousands of journalists and industry luminaries lined up for entry into the auditorium, giving it almost a red carpet feel (though without the silly "who are you wearing?" questions). Once inside, the crowd hung on every word, with even journalists applauding each new announcement (something I don't believe they teach at J-school). The crowd oohed and aahed at each new device - ooh a gold MacBook, a pretty aluminum Apple Watch and, ultimately, the gold Edition Watch. But for me, one thing was missing. Compelling User Stories. How were…
How Radio Shack Missed Its Last Opportunity to Reinvent Itself5 Feb 2015 | 4:49 pmAbe Vigoda is still alive. We'll need a new analogy. For years, people were stunned that both Abe Vigoda and Radio Shack were still alive. Thankfully, Tessio is still going strong, but we've seen the end of Radio Shack. Radio Sh ack lost its relevance in the early 80s when IBM PCs became mainstream and the early adopters moved on from TRS-80s. And while it never found its footing again, the sad thing is that there's an emerging opportunity that would be a great fit for Radio Shack, had it been able to reinvent itself. The one thing that made Radio Shack special in the 70s and 80s was that…
Product Management Roles at Interactive Data6 Jan 2015 | 7:12 am2015 has arrived and we've got an aggressive growth plan. Interactive Data is growing and we have openings on the product team for rapidly growing, emerging products. I'm currently recruiting for two roles. If you're interested, reach out to me at barry-dot-graubart at interactivedata-dot-com. Product Manager, Vantage Vantage is the industry leading platform for fixed income transparency, price validation, corporate actions and reference data. Vantage today is a critical part of the workflow of hundreds of hedge funds, investment managers and mutual funds. The ideal candidate will have…
Does LinkedIn Have a Growing Spam Problem?24 Jun 2014 | 7:31 amIn the past 24 hours, I've received a half-dozen or more spam requests to connect on LinkedIn. No, I'm not talking about the typical LinkedIn news stream spam, nor the random requests to connect from people whom I don't know. These are more like Twitter spam - photos of attractive young women with sparse profiles. In this case, all of them seem to be tied to the media/content/technology industry. So, at the surface level, they seem legit. But, a quick click on any of the profiles shows them to be fake. Beyond their model-like appearances, each seems to have 4 years of professional experience…
What makes a great product manager?2 Jun 2014 | 12:40 pmMost roles at technology companies are pretty easy to define. Software engineers write code. QA analysts test to ensure releases meet requirements. DBA's set up and manage data schemas. Marketers market and sales reps sell. But ask the typical person to define the product manager role and they'll struggle. Perhaps they'll say something like "they own the roadmap" or "they define the requirements", which are certainly true, but that's only a part of the product management role. Or, they'll confuse it with project management, which can be a part of the role, but isn't the…
Workshop: A New Approach for New Business – San Diego12 Mar 2015 | 3:28 amThe Primary Battle for New Business Has Moved Online. This is a one-day regional workshop, co-sponsored by Fuel Lines Business Development, The List and The Brand Establishment, will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015, in San Diego, California.This workshopis designed to help agencies "jump-start" an inbound new business program within 30 days. A step-by-step process that's been developed having worked with over 200+ advertising, digital, media and PR agencies.New business has been a problem historically for agencies. It's made worse with the paradigm shift in business…
Personal Brand Development Benefits Ad Agency New Business11 Mar 2015 | 9:18 amPark Howell is the owner and chief storyteller of the agency Park & CoGrowing your personal brand can greatly boost your agency's new business opportunities.It makes sense for the principal to be the face of the agency. Not only are they the least likely to leave, but usually small to midsize agencies are built upon the vision, values and the type of culture that best suites their owners. And, agency owners are critical to new business.There are many situations where your personal brand is as essential, or even more so, than your agency's brand.Take a look at personal branding…
Registration Now Open for Fuel Lines New Business Conference 201526 Feb 2015 | 9:43 amMusic City Center, Nashville, TNA new model for ad agency new business.New business has been a problem historically for agencies. It's made worse with the paradigm shift in business development. The primary battle for new business has moved online.You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. Presidential of Freedom Medal Winner, Richard Buckminster Fuller, author, architect and designer.Fuel Lines New Business Conference 2015 , October 8-9, is the agency's guide to find, attract and engage…
Writer's Block Can Derail Ad Agency New Business17 Feb 2015 | 11:03 amConsistently creating content is the fuel for an inbound new business program.With the rise of content marketing, writing has become an important component to new business as the battle for business has moved online. Content has become the magnet that draws in prospective clients and provides a positioning of expertise.I've been writing about business development for eight years. On occasion I suffer from writer's block. It becomes extremely difficult to produce new articles. I feel hopelessly stuck.My writer's block usually comes from any number of causes:I'm often…
4A's New Business Webinar11 Feb 2015 | 9:32 amHow to Use Social Media to Attract New BusinessGaining new business has always been a challenge for agencies – and now, with the paradigm shift in business development, it's become tougher than ever.In a previous new-business CMO study, 80% of decision makers said that they had found their vendors, not the other way around.Interruptive type tactics, such as cold calling and email blasts, have become ineffective; it's now more important to be found, rather than to chase new business.On April 23, Michael Gass will provide participants with an inbound marketing plan for creating new…
Kneale Mann | Leadership
More Streams of Subconsciousness27 Mar 2015 | 7:43 amTake from the past what you want and leave the rest. Rest assured you can do what you set your mind on accomplishing. Accomplishments are not just monetary. Money and relationships are not related. Relating to those around you can help you better understand yourself. Selfishness does not have to come at the expense of others. Other points of view can often help clear your path. Pathways to success are rarely straight. Straightening your focus is a daily exercise. Exercise your right to your own success. Succeeding is measured by your standards and those who matter won't mind. Mindfulness can…
Passion and People24 Mar 2015 | 4:33 pmIf you are in business, managing a department, or leading an organization, you are judged and measured by your financial performance. The bottom line is one of the essential pieces of the matrix. Some say if you focus on revenue, the rest will take care of itself. If it was true, every company would enjoy infinite growth year after year.The key to any organizational growth begins with the relationships within your company. Great culture brings profit. Ensuring your people are well trained and enjoy coming to work every day must be your top priority. With that in mind, some words of…
Leading Innovation and Creativity20 Mar 2015 | 2:00 amWe see it everywhere. Many of us say it often. But how do we ensure innovation and creativity are given the time, space, and freedom to flourish? Innovation is a necessary element of our existence. It's not a new concept but we seem to be taking a closer look at it. Linda Hill from the Harvard Business School unearthed some fascinating elements of collective genius, teamwork, and the iterative nature of leadership and innovation. __________________________________________________________________ Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit
Helping Others18 Mar 2015 | 2:00 amAs a leadership consultant and business coach, I work with clients on one-on-one business issues to help them become better leaders, managers, and professionals. I create and deliver workshops for teams on culture, teamwork, and communication. I also support various leadership development programs for clients and teams. And I collaborate with community leaders, associations, and companies on various human development initiatives. If you've been to this site before, you may know I believe it's about the whole person. If we measure ourselves only by our work, we are missing essential pieces of…
Perspective15 Mar 2015 | 8:21 amIt's right there every day. You may recognize it but do you heed it often enough? A former mentor, a friend's cousin, and a colleague's daughter are all in my heart today. It may not be a tragic event, but do we pay close enough attention to the lessons that touch our lives?One definition of perspective is a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. You and I could look at the same situation with a different interpretation. Your experience may be a factor. My attitude may alter my standpoint. But the important question is, do we do anything about…
The Fresh Peel
Never Before Seen: Using Video to Drive Brand Engagement25 Mar 2015 | 6:07 amSony launched an impressive campaign this week where they teamed up with a diverse range of filmmakers, artists and influencers to create a series of new films celebrating the "never before seen". With the debut, Sony released three different short films: "Picture Machine", "Paperports" and "Creature". Each film is highly unique and entertaining in its own way. This is a powerful exhibit of how a big brand can successfully work together with the entrepreneurs and creators of the world to make content worth sharing. Take a look at the first videos to debut in the…
How the Lines Between User Experience and Marketing Have Blurred30 Jan 2015 | 6:33 amWith mobile devices and the Internet of Things, consumers are closer to the brands and services they use now than ever before. For a business to thrive, it needs to be regularly engaged with its customers. The online experience a brand provides its users with has becoming a key method of generating conversions. However, the role of user experience (UX) is too often misrepresented and oversimplified. Creating a user experience is about more than just creating an interface. It is about your user's relationship with you and your brand through technology. The ultimate goal is to remove the…
Graphic Design Marketplaces to find Freelance Work26 Dec 2014 | 9:12 amThere are certainly plenty of designer platforms online that you can choose from. Scores of sites are available. But you haven't got forever to check scores of sites to find the best ones to help you launch your budding career as a graphic designer. So here are a few that you should definitely give a try: Design Marketplaces Sites that offer you a chance to show your work are ideal, especially for first-timers in the field of professional graphic design. If you don't have any clients yet, joining design contests run by sites like DesignHill is one sure way to build up your…
The Art of Rebranding: How Southwest is Moving on From A String of Negative Press21 Nov 2014 | 3:13 amSouthwest Airlines just launched a major rebranding effort, its first in more than a decade. It's dropped the boring old logo—literally just a picture of a plane with the words SOUTHWEST under it—in favor of a striped, rounded heart (it's no coincidence that their home airfield in Dallas is called Love Field). And crucially, in a loud-and-clear commitment to its online sales, it's changed its name to Southwest.com. A friendly new font completes the look, instead of shouting in Helvetica, the new logo has a mix of upper- and lower-case letters on a blue field, almost evoking…
Disability Friendly Web Design20 Nov 2014 | 7:25 amOne of the beautiful things about the Internet is that it allows people who are housebound to lead fuller and more connected lives. Accessibility with the Internet has become very important to many United States citizens, according to the Internet Society.org. Housebound people are not the only disabled online users. Disabled users run a huge range including epilepsy, anxiety, and chronic fatigue. When designing an eCommerce site, you need to keep in mind that disabled users will try to access your site and design an experience that they can all enjoy. Stop the auto-play. Back…
Sydney: Unfiltered.
"It's so fun!"25 Mar 2015 | 3:41 pmThis is how I've been answering the "how is your business going?" question for the last couple of weeks. "It's so fun!" I've answered that question like this before, and I totally mean it. It's usually followed by gushing about all the rad shit in the works, and just oozing excitement. But in the last […] The post "It's so fun!" appeared first on Sydney: Unfiltered..
When the wool comes off of your eyes.23 Mar 2015 | 7:39 pmYou're a smart person. Educated. Assumingly well-versed at this thing called life. You make opportunities happen – the world is your oyster. What you want, you get, and you stop at nothing to make the world that surrounds you exactly what you want at that precise point in your life. It's not being stubborn, it's […] The post When the wool comes off of your eyes. appeared first on Sydney: Unfiltered..
Sun Sessions, #heartbeatpants, and intense gratitude.23 Feb 2015 | 2:24 pmHoly smokes, you guys. Talk about radio silence. Note, I started that last sentence with "sorry for" but I'm working on not apologizing for everything all the time, so now I'm just declaring radio silence. Sweet. Remember when we talked about emotional hangovers? Right. Totally in the thick of one of those right now. We […] The post Sun Sessions, #heartbeatpants, and intense gratitude. appeared first on Sydney: Unfiltered..
Day 36: New chapters, running shoes, parades, and finding strength.5 Feb 2015 | 6:11 pmI didn't go to yoga today, so I didn't cry at yoga today. But, once again, Kate's wisdom popped into my inbox this morning and I've been sitting on this all day. In short, we need to stop skipping over the hard stuff. I touched on this earlier this year, and this idea keeps presenting itself […] The post Day 36: New chapters, running shoes, parades, and finding strength. appeared first on Sydney: Unfiltered..
Being the Boss – Day 29: Top 5 vs. Give Zero Fucks29 Jan 2015 | 4:23 pmIt has been one month since my last day as a person who regularly received a paycheck. Holy shit. I've written before about how it feels like I've been doing this Planet Green Socks thing for forever. 29 days of being the boss, you guys. First things first, let's talk about all the awesome shit […] The post Being the Boss – Day 29: Top 5 vs. Give Zero Fucks appeared first on Sydney: Unfiltered..
Jeff Korhan - New Media and Small Business Marketing
Social Selling Tips: Converting Trust into Profits27 Mar 2015 | 1:30 amListen to the Episode Below (0:21:35) Download iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Get Weekly Marketing Updates Discover What is New for Business Powered by the Simple Podcast Press Player This is Episode 34 of This Old New Business weekly business podcast with Jeff Korhan. Today I'd like to share my top 5 proven social selling tips, which happen to be deceptively simple, and that is why they work so well. From time to time I will refer back to the foundation of social selling discussed in Episode 33. You may wish to give it a listen if you have not already, but you will still be able to follow…
Social Selling: Getting Buyers to Know, Like and Trust Your Business23 Mar 2015 | 1:00 amListen to the Episode Below (0:28:42) Download iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Get Weekly Marketing Updates Discover What is New for Business Powered by the Simple Podcast Press Player This is Episode 33 of This Old New Business weekly business podcast with Jeff Korhan. Today we are going to talk about social selling, more specifically, using social media to sell. Some people will tell you that you cannot use social media to sell. In my opinion that is because they do not understand successful selling is not about sales transactions, but relationships with buyers. My sales career goes back to…
Human Content Curation: How It Builds Your Business Brand4 Dec 0001 | 4:00 pmIn addition to redesigning your original content to meet the varied needs of your audience, you should strongly consider curating content from other sources that are also recognized authorities in your space. We've all learned to ignore automated "set it and forget it" methods of content curation. However, a trend you should be aware of is using human curation to give your audience more of what it has come to expect from your business. Every business has its limits. Therefore, even major media outlets are practicing this. For example, USA Today online tends to report the mainstream…
How to Go The Distance with Your Content Marketing4 Dec 0001 | 4:00 pmArtists know you have to persevere to create your best art. It's much more than a great idea; you also have to do the work. The same holds true in athletics. You may be gifted with talent and train hard, but it always comes down to your performance in a competitive event. Artists and athletes go the distance because stopping just a little short is enough to compromise the result – winning versus losing. In the world of marketing, the winners are the ones that not only create outstanding content, but then find new outlets for going the distance with it. Take Your Content Up, Down and…
Business Blogging: How to Build Trust and Gain Customers4 Dec 0001 | 4:00 pmListen to the Episode Below (0:42:02) Download iTunes Stitcher SoundCloud Get Weekly Marketing Updates Discover What is New for Business Powered by the Simple Podcast Press Player This is Episode 32 of This Old New Business weekly business podcast with Jeff Korhan. Whether you yourself are business blogging or you oversee the blogging of others, you will enjoy this show. In addition to personally managing her own blog for more than a decade, Linda Dessau is also a guest blogger and a ghostblogger, meaning she blogs for other businesses and organizations, both as an guest expert and a…
As Far As I Can Tell
Going Forward…15 Mar 2015 | 2:46 pmRock has literally been consuming my life for the last 3 years. We're very close to having it rolled out at our church. Once that's done I'm hoping I can focus more energy on sharing tips and best-practices. I'll do that through a couple of different channels: Official Rock Website: If it relates to the official documentation or is an organization announcement the best place is obviously the Rock website. Rock Community Blog: If it's a lesson learned or a best practice from our personal experience I'll share it on the Rock Community blog that Arran France…
RockRMS 1.0 Released5 Nov 2014 | 9:56 pmWow, it's been a while since my last post! We've been incredibly busy working on Rock. Literally… not sure when was the last time my eye's weren't stinging… but… as of two weeks ago we released Rock 1.0!!! Below are a couple of links to help you understand what Rock is… Intro Video (2 mins) Full Website Video Based Training Documentation (it's not boring… promise) Installation Steps (with video) You might be asking what's next… Trust us we're only getting started. There's still a ton to do. Check our road map…
Rock RMS29 Jan 2014 | 11:22 pmIf you've been wondering where I've been lately, here's an update. For the past 3-4 years a small group of church developers have been working on a new next-generation ChMS. Our dream was to be able to provide a free open-source solution for churches of all sizes. That dream is about to become a reality. The Rock RMS (Relationship Management System) is literally just a few weeks from an open beta. If you you'd like more information on this new system I'd encourage you to: Visit our new website rockrms.com (it actually runs on Rock RMS, our dog food is…
Brand Identity Guidelines14 Mar 2013 | 10:40 pmLogo Design Love has an interesting post on brand identity guides for many leading brands. There are some great gems in there. Surprisingly, I was especially impressed with the Walmart guide. It's definitely worth a slow skim (suppose that's an oxymoron). One topic to pay close attention to is section 9 on Tone and Voice. Finding a good and consistent voice is so important. We're working hard on voice at CCV and believe it or not for the Rock project. We want the Rock ChMS to be more than a piece of software. We want it to be a community. One with a…
Social Media Audit9 Jan 2013 | 11:34 pmIn late 2012 we engaged a local marketing firm, Off-Madison + Spin Six, to conduct a social media audit of our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram outposts. To be honest, I wasn't sure of the quality of what we were going to get back. Being a bit of a pessimist, I always worry that a consultant will come it read my watch and tell me what time it is. The results however were incredible. They provided us back with a 63 page document that had an in-depth review of each of our outposts (I learned this new term 'outpost' from the process, cool right?) The report also gave numerous…
Social Media University, Global
Global Call for #StrongArmSelfies8 Mar 2015 | 3:13 pmAs we announced in late January, Mayo Clinic is working with the patient advocacy group Fight Colorectal Cancer on its #StrongArmSelfie campaign to promote awareness and appropriate screening. The campaign officially kicked off last week at NASDAQ, and Mayo Clinic is among those featured in rotation on its JumboTron in Times Square Join us in @FightCRC #StrongArmSelfie colorectal cancer awareness campaign! http://t.co/abBF4Dwme0 pic.twitter.com/IsaqljEE0h — Mayo Clinic (@MayoClinic) March 8, 2015 The next release in the campaign is our music video of "Stronger Than That,"…
Mayo Clinic and Google Knowledge Panels24 Feb 2015 | 9:13 amLast week Paul Levy, one of the early hospital CEO bloggers who is now blogging at Not Running a Hospital, came across what he thought was a significant issue with Google's new medical search knowledge panels that incorporate information from Mayo Clinic and other sources. The main issue he raised related to the Prostate Cancer panel, and particularly that robotic surgery was listed first among surgical procedures (instead of alphabetically), with watchful waiting listed among "Other treatments" under the "Also common" heading. Or as he put it: Observers want to know: Does this…
"Creating a Facebook page is like adopting a puppy. Starting a blog is like getting a pony."12 Feb 2015 | 7:07 amThat's the off-the-cuff formulation that emerged from the blogging session at our Mayo Clinic Social Media Residency on Monday. And today it becomes my 39th Thesis, joining the first 35, along with 36, 37 and 38. I've previously remarked that creating a brand page on Facebook is like puppy adoption. It's fun at first. It can be messy, and requires lots of care and feeding. But especially with the declining organic reach of brand Facebook posts and the increasing need to supplement good content with paid advertising, a Facebook page can grow up to be a dog. Photo Credit: Steve…
Maximizing COPD and Asthma Inhalers with Educational Video4 Feb 2015 | 3:29 pmFrom the "Better Late Than Never" Department… In July I had the opportunity to speak at the Minnesota Medical Group Management Association annual meeting in Duluth, on the shore of Lake Superior. We had a great group in my session, and among the participants was Brenda Jaye of Fairview Physician Associates. After my presentation, Brenda told me about a neat program she and her colleagues had developed, called "Maximize Your Inhaler." I thought it was a cool application of Flip cameras and nimble production, so I decided to practice what I had been preaching about…
"Allison, Can you explain what Internet is?"1 Feb 2015 | 3:10 pmThat's the punch line of a video that I've used frequently in my presentations over the last couple of years. It's also the set-up for what I think will be the best Super Bowl ad today. Until now, most people had not seen it before I showed it to them in my presentation. I typically introduce it by saying we're going to take the WABAC Machine to 1994, to the set of the TODAY show, and hear Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric discussing the Internet. After Katie queries Allison, and the crowd laughs knowingly, I generally say something like… That was just 20 years…
How To: Writing your first blog post26 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amCan you imagine asking your web developer to change the text on your 'about page' and having to wait a week or so for it to happen? Do you remember those days? Continue reading → The post How To: Writing your first blog post appeared first on AreWeConnected.com. AreWeConnected is AreWeConnected.com - Custom WordPress Websites that Rock!
Blogging Better: Always Resize your Images19 Feb 2015 | 7:00 amImages keep readers attached to your posts. Adding too large of images increases your page load time and drives them (and Google) away. Here's how to fix that. Continue reading → The post Blogging Better: Always Resize your Images appeared first on AreWeConnected.com. AreWeConnected is AreWeConnected.com - Custom WordPress Websites that Rock!
The Tyler Hayes
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randyotter: Join my fanpage: ...16 Mar 2015 | 5:16 pmrandyotter: Join my fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/randyotter3000Shop here: http://www.redbubble.com/people/randyotter/shop
instagram: Why I Dance, by @scolerina9247 For more ballet...12 Mar 2015 | 11:55 pminstagram.com/p/si08ioIxuP/#maysunrae instagram.com/p/zfwVU2oxh2/#lindsaythomasphoto instagram.com/p/r5kw_wIxpr/#scolerina9247 instagram.com/p/qVQTANIxut/#scolerina9427 instagram.com/p/vR5iY4Ixl2/#scolerina9427 instagram.com/p/tTwi1UoxhG/#scolerina9427 instagram.com/p/tocx74IxsB/#scolerina9427 instagram: Why I Dance, by @scolerina9247 For more ballet portraits from Gigi, follow @scolerina9247 on Instagram. "#Hellomynameis Gigi Crouch (@scolerina9247). I just turned 17 and I am currently living in Seattle. I attend Pacific Northwest Ballet's Professional Division. I have scoliosis, a…
Who *wouldn't* want those?15 Feb 2015 | 2:24 pmWho *wouldn't* want those?
15 Ultimate Ways To Customize Email Unsubscribe Process26 Mar 2015 | 8:01 amHealthy email marketing probably depends on the email marketers' readiness to appreciate audiences' preferences. If you do not wish to stay in the opt-in world, then opt-out approach should work well. Hanging on to the people who are not interested or do not want to stay engaged is about being irresponsible, not being determined. It is better to make unsubscribing from an email as easy as subscribing for an email is made. Every email marketer hates to see his customer leaving the subscriber's list, but the fact is that it often happens. Whether it is just an attempt to clear the…
The Beginner's Guide to Digital Couponing25 Mar 2015 | 8:07 amCouponing: the age old task of using a small piece of paper to save astronomical amounts of money at the grocery store. Welcome to the age of the digital coupon. You no longer need a piece of paper, some scissors or the Sunday paper. All you need is a computer or a smartphone. From store offers, to in-app codes, and combining offers in get up to 90% off and free shipping, this guide has got you covered. Learn how to find digital coupons, utilize your app to best work for your needs, and gain insightful tips and tricks to the digital coupon world. Look no further for clever ways to save money.
Sony Launches "Never Seen Before" Campaign With 3 Films Shot Using Sony Action Cam25 Mar 2015 | 6:54 amThe all-new Action Cam from Sony proves to be a director's delight. In the "Never Seen Before" campaign, launched by Sony on March 23, 2015, Sony teams up with a number of visionary directors, artists and filmmakers to create some unique shorts using Sony Action Cam. The camera supports Smooth and high-quality image (4K/2K), image stabilization, high quality audio (did we mention that it is designed to decrease wind noise?), Live-View remote, 170˚ ultra-wide angle and a built-in GPS. It is handy and lightweight, which allows it to be used in some situations where, prior to this, the…
Guide to Form Conversion for The Online Marketers (Infographic)19 Mar 2015 | 9:00 amNo matter what kind of business you're in, making money is always a primary goal. To obtain that revenue, your company might prioritize lead generation and eventually converting those leads into dollars. Monetizing leads is an essential function of the sales funnel. And marketers are an important part of the process. That's why the industry is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to develop prospects into customers. A recent study of over 650,000 form users across a variety of industries provided insights into conversion form rates. While the report is chock full of tips and…
3 Great Ways for Quality Brand Promotion18 Mar 2015 | 9:41 amBrand promotion is the most efficient way to expand your dominion and transform from a small business owner to a big business owner. Bear in mind that brand promotion takes years, and with such a wide competition out there, climbing to the top is not easy at all. There is a well-known app known as "logo quiz", and once you witness all the brands that are out there, the gravity of this task will be quite clear. Even the brands that are considered well-known will be in the field of obscurity, since it is impossible to keep track of everything. Moreover, with forceful spamming of your brand…
Disruption in International Money Remittance is Imminent7 Mar 2015 | 1:33 amProblem As I tweeeted earlier, International Money Remitance has many pain points, main of them being the cost of sending money of course.. Fees for remittance, $100 from Malaysia to Kyrgyzstan: EFT $25, MoneyGram $19, WU $27. Undoubtedly the 1st industry to be disrupted by BTC — Abdylas Tynyshov (@ades) February 25, 2015 Solution Below is one of the many solutions that will be coming up soon that will be built on top of free, transparent, public ledger technology called Blockchain. And money will be sent on the Blockchain platform via one of its main apps/features called…
Review: Maybank2u Mobile App14 Feb 2015 | 8:07 amInitially I just wanted to provide some feedbacks to @MyMaybank via twitter, but there were simply too many things to tell, so I thought it would be easier to write a blog post about it. Native mobile apps that are extensions of existing web services are a great way to make your service more accessible and enjoyable for your customers. If done correctly, it can boost your customer satisfaction and increase your customer loyalty. Today I will be reviewing Maybank's mobile app for iOS and giving some constructive critique. I hope they will take feedbacks of mine with an open heart and…
MailChimp's Take on UX2 Feb 2015 | 7:08 amEveryone knows how great MailChimp is at what it does. As a tech startup, they have achieved a lot and they are definitely one of the startups who are doing things the right way. So, it's only natural that when UX team of Mailchimp releases a new eBook that everyone should read it. It's an easy read. It's divided into major sections like: Collaboration, Research, Design, Development and Refinement. It's written from their own perspective, so there are a lot insights into how MailChimp approaches things like building a functional team, creating conducive office…
Animated Loading Indicator Icons (SVG)7 Jan 2015 | 4:36 pmHere is a collection of cool loading indicator icons in SVG format. It's free and open source. Download them directly in zipped format here. URL: http://samherbert.net/svg-loaders/
Zapier – Automate the Obvious6 Jan 2015 | 4:00 pmIf you are a fan of IFTTT, then you will love Zapier too. Zapier is like an advanced version of IFTTT that is primarily targeted on power users and web developers. Below is a recipe of mine that I created, it does the following; when I forward particular email to Zapier email, it creates a new card in my Trello account, in the predefined Dashboard, under the "To-Do" column. Attachments of the email is also passed on to Trello card as attachments. You can also tag particular default users to the newly created card. It just saves tons of time.. Zapier supports tons of platforms…
Takeaways from Big Brands' Real-Time Marketing Successes26 Mar 2015 | 12:57 pmIn the race to stay relevant, brands have tried (and tried … and tried) to create real-time marketing magic. But very few succeed. At best, their efforts come across as feeling forced or "gimmicky." At worst, they're downright disastrous. As a result, the value of real-time marketing has come into question and PR pros are wondering whether it's a viable tactic for spurring meaningful online chatter and social sharing. If you limit your real-time marketing efforts to haphazardly jumping on trending hashtags or trying to insert your brand into popular topics of conversation, you're…
Double Shot: Gmail Hacks to Boost Media Relations23 Mar 2015 | 5:56 amOur newsletter recently included links and resources to ensure your media relations efforts – pitches, press releases and everything in between – always stand out from the crowd. Today's Double Shot is a follow up, sharing two of our favorite Gmail tools to optimize results while you're pitching: Sidekick – Sidekick tracks when (and where) someone opens or clicks one of your emails. It also generates contact profiles, detailing where they live, their professional history, recent tweets, mutual contacts, etc. From a media relations perspective, you can see which pitches or email…
What is Your Company's Secret Sauce?16 Mar 2015 | 9:24 amWhen Rent the Runway built out their leadership team, Jennifer Hyman, the first C-level executive hired, was a chief of data analytics. Interesting for a fashion company, right? You'd think maybe they'd hire a chief creative officer, or a CMO. Maybe even a CTO. Nope. Data was that important. During her South by Style talk, Jennifer explained that understanding all the data and relying on it to inform business decisions has been critical to Rent the Runway's success. For example, data shapes their pricing-on-demand model. Data is also a competitive asset that they can…
Save Time with These 4 Productivity Tricks12 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amUnless you are one of those people who views 80-hour work weeks as a badge of honor, then we're all trying to get more done in less time. Efficiency adders, time savers and work arounds are like gold in our world. With that in mind, here are some tips, tools and ideas to help you be more productive: Block time for repeatable tasks. What are the things you have to do every week or every month? Identify them and add recurring appointments to your calendar to make sure they don't slip through the cracks. For example, each week, I review how we can better live up to our…
Time to Celebrate YOU at the First-Ever #MeDay9 Mar 2015 | 1:00 amAt Geben, one of our House Rules is "Celebrate Successes:" Whether it's a big win or a small moral victory, celebrate it. Pause to reflect, and enjoy how far you've come. And, then get back to it and work toward the next victory. Sounds good in theory, right? But, how often do you find yourself running from one project to the next? From one task to the next? When you're incredibly busy, it may seem silly to spend time celebrating victories. That energy, effort and time should be spent driving toward the next big win, right? WRONG. Of course you always need to be…
Tech in Asia
Gumi to lay off 100 in wake of Korea embezzlement scandal, post-IPO woes27 Mar 2015 | 8:58 amJust a week after Gumi confirmed that its South Korean operation was being investigated for alleged embezzlement, the embattled Japanese gaming company is bracing for layoffs. According to TechCrunch Japan, Gumi announced today that it will solicit "voluntary retirement" from 100 staff at both Gumi (Tokyo) and development center Gumi West (Fukuoka). The firm's justification for the move is that the skill set of some employees no longer matches the company's needs. When it made the decision to switch from browser games to native games, Gumi hired new staff with the appropriate…
A peek at Xiaomi's smart home strategy, under the lights27 Mar 2015 | 8:34 amHow China's fast-growing smartphone maker works with Yeelink, a company that makes smart lightbulbs.
Smartbars for smartphone repair: B2X is rolling out a new one every two days in India27 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amA dead battery, a cloudy screen, or a displaced earphone jack, and suddenly that shiny new smartphone stares blankly at you. That's when you feel grateful for choosing a manufacturer who has a good customer support network in place – or despair at not having done so. Fixing a smartphone is not like changing a lightbulb. Most warranties require us not to open up the gadget even if we feel courageous enough to replace a part ourselves. That's why most buyers want to know what kind of servicing will be available if something goes wrong. India has seen a smartphone boom in recent years,…
Philippines' Xurpas enters Indonesia, acquires stake in mobile content provider27 Mar 2015 | 4:40 amPhilippine tech company Xurpas has announced yet another acquisition, this time of a mobile content provider in Indonesia, marking its first foray into the country. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), Xurpas said it bought 49 percent of PT Sembilan Digital Investama, parent of Ninelives Interactive, for US$245,000. The Indonesian companies are engaged in mobile content development and distribution, the same business as Xurpas'. They have existing contracts with top carriers such as Telkomsel, as well as XL Axiata and Indosat. The investment in Indonesia forms part of…
Maybank partners 1337 Ventures to find Southeast Asia's best fintech startups27 Mar 2015 | 3:23 amFintech seems to be a hot topic in 2015. Maybank, one of Malaysia's leading banks, wants a piece of it. Maybank has joined the bandwagon through a partnership with 1337 Ventures, a recognized Malaysian technology accelerator, in search of the best fintech ideas in region. Early stage startups can apply to join roadshows in Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur this April 2015. 20 startups will be picked to join a three-day-long idea validation bootcamp in June 2015. Startups won't receive money, but they can get access to Maybank's 22 million customers. Startups can register for…
Room 214
Models & Instagram: An Indulging Combination18 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amI'll admit that whenever writing for Room 214's Capture the Conversation, I look to the internet for articles, news and quotes about my topic. This time, however, I went to the good ol' bible of fashion, Vogue, for info on how fashion's top models are using social media to revolutionize the fashion industry as we know it. In this digitally-charged world, the fashion industry has flocked to visually focused social media outlets, and Instagram has consistently outperformed every other social channel in this aspect. Fashion requires a very visual medium, and Instagram is perfectly…
Crimson Hexagon: Turning Nerds into Cool Kids Since 200717 Mar 2015 | 1:38 pmHere at Room 214, just about every project starts with a consumer insights engagement. The research department loves this because we get to take a deep look at each client, digging into the nitty gritty behind the business problem we're solving. It's the reason I love working at Room 214 (along with office dogs, open-book management, and a take-what-you-need vacation policy). But I digress. One of our go-to research tools is Crimson Hexagon, a social listening platform that allows us to gather all publicly available mentions of any set of keywords, dating back to 2008. Did you…
Announcing: Top 50 Fashion Brands Report25 Feb 2015 | 1:00 amRoom 214 has released its new and improved Top 50 Fashion Brands Report. How has it improved from our original report? Research, baby. Our last report, Fashion Report 1.0, highlighted brands with notable fandom, but this year we said, "let's do more." Get Your Room 214 Top 50 Fashion Brands Report NOW. How It Works This report ranks the fashion industry's top brands based on our Room 214 Brand Salience Score, which considers number of brand mentions, aggregate brand followers and digital engagement on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. In addition to creating a multivariable digital…
Campaign of the Week: #SpeakBeautiful21 Feb 2015 | 1:00 amTrue to their strategy of uplifting women, Dove wants to put an end to negative tweets about women's bodies. This is a perfect fit for the brand because after all, "Dove" and "self-confidence" have become synonymous. Dove claims it "only takes one positive tweet to start a trend", and with this initiative are trying to start a more beneficial movement. According to findings by Dove last year, only 9% of women admit to posting negative statements about their bodies. However, negative social media posts regarding body image are much more prevalent than that statistic would…
Dissecting Google's Attribution Model(s)2 Feb 2015 | 9:25 amIf you have consistently used Google Analytics for eCommerce tracking you may have noticed disparities between data throughout your account. Whenever I come across this issue, notoriously common when tracking a campaign's success, I find myself conflicted as to what results I should report on. After digging around, a little research and talking to Analytics experts (including Google) we felt it was time to defuse this situation. First and foremost, its important to note that Google Analytics uses the Last Non-Direct Click model as its default attribution model. This attributes all…
An Insider's Guide to SXSW9 Mar 2015 | 12:08 pmBesides being our good friend, Eric Swayne is VP of Product & Marketing at MutualMind, Co-Founder of DrawAttention, and Founder of DataNarrate, a marketing data consultancy. This year I will attend my fifth SXSW Interactive. I've experienced SXSW as both a general conference attendee and as a presenter; I've attended dozens of parties (as a VIP or otherwise), and one year I even threw my own little party. It is easily the most mind-blowing week of the digital world, and still one of the most relevant events I have ever attended. My favorite way to describe SXSW is with the phrase…
How to Succeed on Instagram by Arri the Dog12 Feb 2015 | 7:45 amHi! I'm Arri, self-appointed head of security at BuzzShift and the true top dog in the office, regardless of what that bitch Luna says. In my spare time, I'm kind of a big deal on Instagram. I have a pack of over 2,500 followers, even though I've only been online for three months and I don't have opposable thumbs. I was named one of the 14 most adorable, derpalicious, swag Instagram pups to follow in 2015. And I love you. The main key to my success is being really, really, ridiculously good looking. But my human personal assistant, Emily, also does some stuff with the things that she…
Using Content Segmentation to Optimize Social Media3 Feb 2015 | 8:41 amYou can measure so many things on social media. Likes, shares, clicks, comments, link clicks… but what do those measurements really mean? Will knowing that our engagement rate increased over last month help us decide which photo to post tomorrow? Content segmentation can help you put those metrics to practical use, optimizing your social media posts and informing your day-to-day content decisions. When marketers talk about "segmentation," it's usually in reference to audience segments. And while audience segmentation is important, there's still the question of how…
5 Reasons Taylor Swift Is The Future Of Marketing28 Jan 2015 | 9:30 am(This article originally appeared on Huffington Post.) By now, nearly everyone has heard about "Swiftmas", Taylor Swift's gift-giving extravaganza in which she and her team spent hours getting to know 32 of her fans, and then even more time buying gifts and surprising them with personal Christmas presents on their doorsteps. On the other hand, the brands we work and interact with every day, the ones that spend millions and millions of dollars on TV spots, sweepstakes, radio spots, full-page magazine ads, email marketing — they're absolutely lost. If these brands…
5 Ways to Invest In Your Brand23 Jan 2015 | 8:47 amSuccessful companies have to juggle lots of moving parts: product, sales, logistics, operations, financial metrics. However, the most important driver of success is something that many organizations fail to focus on: their own brand. Originally, a brand was a symbol that differentiated one rancher's livestock from another. Today, a brand is the sum of the characteristics that make its service or products recognizable. It's so much more than a logo, and includes everything from the layout of your store to what you talk about (and how you talk about it) on social media. Peter Thiel, in his…
#SocialWorldCup Generated Over 4000 Tweets27 Mar 2015 | 6:31 amIndia is a cricket frenzy nation, where cricket unites every citizen, irrespective of their religions, caste, creed or color. It's no wonder that on March 26, 2015, when India took on Australia in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 semifinal, the tweeples in India set the micro blogging site on fire. Among the hashtags that were trending, #IndvsAus received the most number of mentions. One particular hash tag, #SocialWorldCup requires a special mention. This hashtag received 4562 mentions during the game. It received 2019 mention between 12pm and 2pm, when the Australians innings came to an end and…
Researchers take on Govt to Twitter with #RIPResearch2 Mar 2015 | 6:43 amIndian Research community took the Twitter by storm today with their criticism of government about the compensation to the Researchers. The protest was strong and was widely supported by Twitter community, and the hashtag #RIPResearch went trending in India for throughout the day. Here is the summary of the Twitter storm. Data and Research by Simplify360.
India is now multi author market, Chetan Bhagat gets good competition from Durjoy Datta and Vishwas Mudagal22 Dec 2014 | 10:36 pmSimplify360 Research on most loved English Novels by Indian authors shows an amazing trend of authors fighting for poll position intensely. Chetan Bhagat is still the king and leads the race in terms of overall ranking that combines social and readers feedback in Goodreads, Flipkart and Amazon. Chetan Bhagat secures a Simplify360 Social Index (SSI) of 8.86 for "Half Girlfriend", while Durjoy Datta secures second position with SSI of 8.61 for his novel "When Only Love Remains" Losing my Religion by Vishwas Mudagal secures the third position with SSI of 7.88. In…
Zhigrana becomes first Nepali Movie to take Social Media Seriously22 Dec 2014 | 9:47 pmZhigrana, upcoming movie from Golden Yak Entertainment (GYE) becomes first Nepali movie to use Social Media seriously. GYE team believes Social Media has gone main stream in Nepal, which should be taken seriously now given the user numbers in the country. Nepal now has over 44 lacs Facebook users and is expected to have around 20 lacs Twitter users. The country is believed to have over 50 lacs of Youtube viewers. GYE has started using Faebook, Twitter and Youtube as major channels. The promo is released through Youtube, and is promoted heavily in other social channels. GYE has started using…
HP Launches New Enterprise Infrastructure Technology to Drive Positive Business Outcomes18 Dec 2014 | 11:09 amIndia, 18 December 2014 — HP today unveiled new enterprise products and services that will enable customers to transform operations across the data center to enable growth, improve profitability and increase business agility. Infrastructure is the foundation for the rich, impactful next-generation applications, web services and user experiences that are enabled by trends in big data, cloud, mobility and security. As the business requirements for infrastructure multiply at an exponential rate in coming years, a strong foundation will be more important than ever to help customers compete…
Best of the Week | Google Algorithm Update: Say Goodbye to Doorway Pages, and much more…27 Mar 2015 | 5:13 amThis week's hot news, events and videos from the online marketing and social media world. From the Position² Blog This Week: Google Algorithm Update: Say Goodbye to Doorway Pages! Google abhors black hat SEO techniques is an understatement. The latest instance is the tweaking of Google doorway page penalty algorithm to make it more stringent. Go through this blog to ensure you are not caught on the wrong foot. Explosive Growth in Marketing Tech: 7 Categories to Implement Now 5 Engagement-Driven Elements You Should Add to Every Blog Post B2B Marketers Takeaways on Ad Viewability 5 PPC…
Google Algorithm Update: Say Goodbye to Doorway Pages!25 Mar 2015 | 4:48 amOne of the most annoying search results will now be blocked by Google. We can all cheer a collective "hooray"! What are Doorway pages? In short, they are web spam. Designed to game the system, these pages rank high in search results, click baiting the searcher to an irrelevant page or site. Google described examples of doorway pages on their blog for clarity: Having multiple domain names or pages targeted at specific regions or cities that funnel users to one page Pages generated to funnel visitors into the actual usable or relevant portion of your site(s) Substantially similar pages that…
Pinterest Launches A Shiney New Algorithm Called Pinnability23 Mar 2015 | 10:42 pmPinterest is beginning to poise itself as a search engine, or what they call a "discovery engine". Taking cues from Facebook, Pinterest is now serving up what they call a "home feed". This feed is powered by Pinterest's Smart Feed algorithm that was launched in 2014. So what is Pinnability? It's a collection of machine learning models that allows Pinterest to serve a smart feed on a Pinterest user's homepage. Pins used to be in chronological order, but now it's the job of Pinnability to order pins based on a relevance score, or more specifically, a personalized relevance…
Best of the Week | Position2 jQuery Plugin for Form Validation, and much more…20 Mar 2015 | 5:35 amThis week's hot news, events and videos from the online marketing and social media world. From the Position² Blog This Week: Position² jQuery Plugin for Form Validation Lead generation is the process of eliciting consumer interest or inquiry into your products and services. It is a vital part of your digital marketing strategy. Learn how you can generate authentic leads using jQuery plugin for form validation that is a breeze to work with. What is Marketing Automation and Why Do I Need It Now? 5 Steps to Radically Improve Conversions on Your Content What is Thought Leadership? And When…
Vinod Nambiar, Co-founder of Position2 wins Confederation of Indian Industry (Southern Region) – Emerging Entrepreneur Award – 201419 Mar 2015 | 10:29 pmThe Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has conferred its prestigious Emerging Entrepreneur Award on Vinod Nambiar, Co-founder & MD Global Delivery of Position². Six emerging industrialists from across the southern states of India were awarded in recognition of their overall achievements. The award was instituted by CII five years ago with the objective of encouraging entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. Over 270 companies were part of the screening process and the criteria included parameters like number of years in business, revenue, growth and also looked at softer factors like…
The Next Web
New uploader app lets you send photos to Instagram directly from your Mac27 Mar 2015 | 3:00 pmThere are quite a number of apps out there that let you interact with Instagram on your Mac. While elegant apps like Grids for Mac, Instagram's own desktop interface and others let you organize, like, sync and download images from the service, uploading photos directly from the computer has proven elusive. That's because Instagram was designed as a mobile app, to capture the world via your phone, and was not intended to be used from a computer. A few flawed online and emulation workarounds have made the rounds over time, but a new app for the Mac platform, Uploader for Instagram by…
Ellen Pao loses gender discrimination case against Silicon Valley investment firm [Updated]27 Mar 2015 | 2:21 pmThe case of Ellen Pao vs. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers has reached a conclusion: The jury found KPCB not guilty of sexual discrimination on all four counts. The jury of six men and six women rejected Pao's claims that her former employer failed to promote her to senior partner based on her gender, retaliated when she complained about workplace bias and sued, fired her after the lawsuit and did not prevent the retaliation from happening. The verdict did not come without a bit of drama: After announcing that Kleiner Perkins was not liable, the jury was sent back to deliberate…
The secret science of shopping: Why we buy what we do27 Mar 2015 | 1:41 pmThis article originally appeared on the Crew blog. I remember sitting in a McDonald's as a kid and complaining that it was so cold. My dad told me it was cold on purpose; the restaurant doesn't want you to sit there all night after finishing your meal, he said. The cold temperature supposedly encouraged you to eat and leave, making room for new customers and higher profits. I've always wondered whether that's true, and how else stores affect our behavior with temperature, layouts, advertising, and music. I took a dive into consumer buying behavior and what research has to say……
Remember Super Mario 64? You can now play an HD recreation in your browser27 Mar 2015 | 12:20 pmRemember Super Mario 64? Well you should – it's arguably the greatest platformer since video games began letting you move through more than two dimensions. We don't all have a Nintendo 64 (or one of the several remakes) lying around though, so wouldn't it be nice to be able to play it on your computer? Developer Roystan Ross has gone and done just that, recreating the game's first level, Bob-Omb Battlefield, with impressive accuracy and improved visuals to boot. You can play the game in your Bowser browser using a Unity plug-in, and it runs fairly smoothly on my Surface… This…
Slack reveals security breach and institutes two-factor authentication27 Mar 2015 | 10:24 amSlack, the business chat utility, has revealed that there was "unauthorized access" to the database where it stores user profile information. The company sped up the introduction of two factor authentication and is urging users to enable the security feature immediately. It also highlights its Password Kill Switch, which lets team owners immediately reset passwords and terminate all user sessions. The option is accessible under the authentication tab of your team settings. In a statement on its blog, Slack said: We are very aware that our service is essential to many teams. Earning your…
Jennings Social Media Marketing
Van Osdol & Magruder Endorses Jennings Social Media Marketing23 Mar 2015 | 3:29 amJennings Social Media Marketing (JSMM) can handle the truth about Van Osdol & Magruder's testimonial for JSMM's services over the past several years. The Kansas City law firm has been around since the 1920s and specializes in representing entrepreneurs, businesses, nonprofits, healthcare, hospitals, restaurants, tech, oil and gas companies and more. The testimonial is provided by Robert M. Beachy, partner at Van Osdol & Magruder. He joined the firm in 1972 and has continued to grow it as an award winning firm along with several other partners and associates. Beachy said, "When…
Revving Up Sales: How the Motorsports Industry Can Use Social Media to Sell Bikes16 Mar 2015 | 4:08 amMotorsports have a rough time revving up sales. It seems everyone ogles the bikes on the floor and wishes they could own one, but few buyers are confident enough to make the leap. The good news – BusinessWire has predicted strong sales growth for the motorsport industry and much of this is thanks to social media tactics. Photo credit: zeitfaenger.at / Foter / CC BY A well-rounded social media strategy for your motosport brand can do wonders in increasing sales for your business. Just ask Motoped, a client of Jennings Social Media Marketing that saw great increases in sales thanks to…
Banks and Credit Unions – Why Your Social Media Marketing is Not Working7 Mar 2015 | 9:24 amIt's understandable and frustrating that due to compliance issues banks and financial institutions have been late to the social media party. However, here are some opportunities to look back and into the future about how these challenges can be corrected before you start throwing everything against the wall. Photo credit: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported / Foter / CC BY Your Social Media Policy Needs Reworking Since you are in such a pivotal security industry, you need a rock solid social media policy that dictates what content you can publish, what to do in case of a…
How to Use Social Media Marketing to Promote An Event2 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amEvent marketing is a tried and true way to reach new customers and expand your brand reach. Now that we have social media, events can have an even greater impact thanks to the ability to extend an event invitation to a wider audience. Yet businesses still under-utilize social media when it comes to promoting an event. Photo credit: Yahoo Inc / Foter / CC BY Before the Event Once you have the details nailed down, start promoting the event on social media about three weeks out. There is a fine line between promotion and spamming, so be careful how often you post. In addition to social media…
How Brands Can Leverage Social Media Marketing & Digital Advertising in 201523 Feb 2015 | 6:41 amBy Valerie Jennings, CEO of JSMM & VBM Once in awhile we hear a client say that their social media marketing is ineffective, unsuccessful or does not return results and that they don't think it can be amended. Perhaps they were doing something incorrectly or not measuring data. However, under the surface there are typically two or three other problems that indicate the brand is sick; the metrics were never installed or put into place or no one has been watching the analytics. While that may seem like an easy enough answer, here lingers the truth: Don't amp up your social media…
Tippingpoint Labs | A content marketing agency | Boston, MA
When in-house agencies should outsource video6 Mar 2015 | 8:29 amSmall and mid-sized in-house agencies often find themselves asking their staffs to work on projects outside of their areas of expertise. They might ask the internal public relations associate to "try" creating content for social media engagement, or to have the Photoshop designer "try" to create highly complex video graphics, or to have the copywriter "try" to write a script for an important video meant to be shared with loyal customers. The challenge with this approach is that many of these disciplines are specialized. And although current team members are…
Traffic does not matter. Stop counting it.7 Jan 2015 | 12:18 pmIt is so easy to get caught up in traffic numbers. We all want to know how many people are visiting our sites and platforms. But what really matters is sales. Traffic is only as relevant as the people you're attracting. That means visitors who are interested in your product and therefore more likely to engage and purchase. 100 highly engaged visitors are more valuable than 1000 browsing ones.Below is a very true case study that proves how little traffic matters. Quality of Traffic Trumps Quantity of Traffic A few years ago we tried something bold. We recommended to our client that they…
In-House Agencies: Techniques for Effective Content Marketing20 Mar 2013 | 9:20 amNine out of 10 marketing professionals use content marketing. According to Content Marketing Institute, most marketers also plan to increase their content marketing investment within the next 12 months. However, only a third of marketers feel their content marketing efforts are effective, and only 5% of those surveyed by CMI have a content marketing strategy. Therein lies the problem. Is your organization lacking organization when it comes to content marketing? Tippingpoint Labs teaches techniques to help your team become more effective at creating the right strategy and execution plans for…
Hearsay: CNN Money with Predictions for Social Networks14 Jan 2013 | 6:31 amLast week, CNNMoney posted an article entitled: 7 social networks to watch in 2013. What struck me about these new networks is they all seemed to answer one of three needs: I need to communicate with a lot of people. I need to make money for my efforts. I need to say/share more. Do we all have a desire now to communicate more freely with strangers in a more verbose manner with the hope of making money from the interactions? Is there an app that could combine all these needs? Come together Many of us, ahem, have played the game "hot or not," in which we quickly view a photo of a…
Hearsay: Great Content Principles for Brands to Follow8 Jan 2013 | 7:13 amI was sent an article, written by Jesse Stanchak, that paraphrases (there's that word again) Scott Monty's "social storytelling lessons" speech at NMX Las Vegas. Monty has spent the last four years as Global Digital & Multimedia Communications Manager at Ford (a Gold Sponsor of NMX). The article, and presumably Monty's presentation, shares 4 principles about developing a good branded content strategy. I found its simplicity refreshing and its take-aways very similar to the content philosophies we employ at Tippingpoint Labs. 1. "Let fans tell your…
The Blog of Matthew Loop
Chiropractic Clinic Marketing (a lesson in ROI)7 Mar 2015 | 5:39 amThis is one of the MOST overlooked concepts for many doctors when they start to market their chiropractic clinic. Not knowing how to track and measure this will cause you to spend 5-10x more money than you need to. Unfortunately, chiropractic school didn't adequately teach this. In case you're curious, this video was filmed at the beautiful Paradisus Punta Cana Resort in the Dominican Republic. That's where we held our Caribbean Adventure Mastermind last year. Now, for the good news! 2015 dates are set! Submit your application to join us at the luxurious Ritz…
This Facebook Advertising Hack Makes You More Profitable9 Feb 2015 | 3:16 amAfter personally investing over $300,000 in Facebook advertising and managing over a million dollars in ads for clients, there are many powerful lessons I've learned along the way. Just like in other forms of life, experience proves to be the best teacher again. I'd like to reveal one of those "golden nuggets" in today's blog. Here it is, short and sweet. If you use Facebook advertising, do yourself a favor and start with a smaller daily budget of around $7. Once you get your cost per click between .10 and .33 cents, then you can slowly scale the budget up to…
Chiropractic Practice Marketing Training in the Caribbean21 Dec 2014 | 9:07 amIn this video below, you'll discover a quick and powerful way to build your chiropractic practice with social media. You'll also learn why the movers and shakers in the profession are gathering at the luxurious Ritz Carlton Cancun in April of 2015. This is a "must attend" experience for entrepreneurial chiropractors who want to reach and IMPACT more! Click this link for more details and to see if you qualify. Limited to the first 25 successful applicants. Did you like this post? If so, click the Facebook "like" button below to share it with your friends!
Are You Selling Yourself Short WITHOUT Even Knowing it?22 Nov 2014 | 6:26 amThis is one of the BIGGEST reasons why most people never get what they truly want in life or business. Don't fall into this trap or it will keep you running on a hamster-wheel going nowhere. Take a couple minutes right now, get rid of all distractions, and listen to this important message. We filmed this video in Paris, overlooking the beautiful Arc de Triomphe. Did you like this post? If so, click the Facebook "like" button below to share it with your friends! Related Blog Posts: You are GREATER Than Your Life Circumstances Selling Products Online? Watch This FIRST…
You are GREATER Than Your Life Circumstances21 Nov 2014 | 2:55 pmIn this inspiring video, I share a powerful message that's applicable to your business and personal life. Without this critical mindset shift, you'll never realize the success and prosperity you seek. Filmed at the magnificent Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. Did you like this post? If so, click the Facebook "like" button below to share it with your friends! Related Blog Posts: The 5 Pillars of a Successful Internet Business Is Philanthropy Part of Your Social Media Strategy? The Social Media Revenue Summit (highlight reel) Before You Work Another 12 Hour…
Diva Marketing (Blog)
The Four Ts of Content Consistency18 Mar 2015 | 12:54 pmWhat is your best advice for a local small business that wants to leverage the web for marketing purposes? was the question my friend Paul Chaney, Editor of Web Marketing Today asked me and a few other "in the know" marketers. Thought you might enjoy my response! Great question Paul and one that many people will take from the strategy point of view: know your goals, how to measure them and your audience. Let's look at this from a slightly different point of view: content consistency. I look at content consistency from two perspectives. The first direction includes tonality,…
Interview With N.E.D. - The Rock N Roll Docs4 Feb 2015 | 2:20 pmDoctors heal patients in many ways ... some even through rock n roll! N.E.D., an innovative rock band of 6 U.S. cancer surgeons, tours the country using their music to create awareness about women's cancer issues. As Doc/Musician Nimesh Nagarsheth told us in this Diva Marketing interview, "Through our music we are able to reach thousands at a time getting our our awareness and education messages and quite honestly have a great time doing it." N.E.D's heartwarming story inspired award winning producers from Spark Media to become N.E.D. groupies (of sorts) following the band for over…
An Interview with Advocate Health Care: Case Study #StoriesOfTheGirls6 Nov 2014 | 2:09 pmBreast cancer still impacts too many lives. Advocate Health Care launched a unique program to bring attention to breast cancer prevention, treatment and support. Understanding that women gain strength and the comfort from the stories they share and are shared they used digital and social networks to tell the #StoriesoftheGirls . Through the following interview Christine Piester, VP Marketing and Christine Bon, Manager Digital Marketing and Communication graciously provided us with a case study of the program. This post is dedicated to my sister Susan who I know is dancing in the stars. About…
Is Your Personal Brand Attracting the Right Audience?7 Oct 2014 | 6:12 pmThis week it was my honor to present at South Wired 14, formerly known as Digital Atlanta. South Wired is the longest on-going social media/digital marketing conference in Atlanta. It was my pleasure to share the stage, as co-presenters, with Dorothea Bozicolona-Volpe. South Wired is 5 days packed with smart people talking about issues of how to succeed in the ever changing and challenging world of digital marketing. Dorothea and I spent hours discussing what we could bring to the party that might be a little different and add value for the attendees. Our conversations led us to explore the…
Interview With American Marketing Association CEO Russ Klein13 Aug 2014 | 9:32 amThere's a new dude in town. Well in the world of the American Marketing Association. Russ Klein recently accepted the role of CEO for AMA and with that he now leads North America's largest professional marketing association. Of course, AMA dropped a media release which details Russ' credentials (impressive!). I was curious about the man-behind-the-logo. I felt I had a bit of a vested interest since my AMA affliation has a deep and long history from chapter president, to serving as facilitator of interactive and social media workshops and managing AMA's first virtual communities. One might…
3net Search Engine Marketing Blog by Social Media Systems
2015 | The Time to Plan Your EXIT!15 Mar 2015 | 1:40 pmA life without purpose, without passion, without conviction, is an empty life. Belief has the power to change all of that immediately. Imagine being one of the Maccabees – going into battle outnumbered 1000 to one+ with only one advantage: you are ready. You are running into battle right now chanting in unison with 1,000 of your peers, your family, your tribe: "Shema…" There is something about this chant to you (see Maccabees -Alexander the Great) When YOU chant it, and now chanting it with 1000 of the best of the best, you have super-human strength, you are empowered…
2015 TOP 7 Sources of Money for Financing Small Business | Hard Money – and where to find it8 Mar 2015 | 9:33 am1. "Hard Money" Money is available to small companies with receivables and/or a track record of income (not necessarily profits or earnings). There are companies that will lend at credit card rates to finance production, inventory, sales, receivables or just about any business expense. "Hard Money" based on financing your existing and future customers, credit card transactions and receivables is available immediately. Approval is very fast (often overnight) and IS NOT BASED ON CREDIT SCORE. Credit scores as low as 500 can be approved . I represent the…
101 | How to promote a Real Estate broker with Social Media – Feed Leads4 Feb 2015 | 6:27 amThis is how to promote a Real Estate broker with Social Media – Feed Leads Bandon and the Central Oregon Coast are growing… Like many communities on the Oregon coast, Bandon had significant fishing and timber industries, which were greatly diminished by the 1980s, though some remnants still exist. Bandon's current economy revolves around wood products, fishing, tourism, and agriculture. The five largest employers in the area include Bandon Dunes Golf Course, Southern Coos Health District, School District #54C, Oregon Overseas Timber, and Hardin Optical. Historical…
Bandon and the Central Oregon Coast – Pristine and Green – Vacation and Retirement Paradise4 Feb 2015 | 4:38 amBandon and the Central Oregon Coast are growing… Like many communities on the Oregon coast, Bandon had significant fishing and timber industries, which were greatly diminished by the 1980s, though some remnants still exist. Bandon's current economy revolves around wood products, fishing, tourism, and agriculture. The five largest employers in the area include Bandon Dunes Golf Course, Southern Coos Health District, School District #54C, Oregon Overseas Timber, and Hardin Optical. Historical population Census Pop. 1880 175 1890 219 25.1% 1900 645 194.5% 1910 1,803 179.5% 1920 1,140…
Phoenix Valentines Day Flowers19 Jan 2015 | 1:52 pmPhoenix Valentines Day Flowers Order flowers online with Same Day Delivery from Your Local Phoenix Florist. Fresh flowers hand delivered right to your door 800-411-3588 Cupids Creation $124.95 $84.95 Click Here To View All Flowers Available For Delivery Just type in the delivery zip code – No Need To Call Your Local Florist – The Phoenix Florist You Can Trust As a leading florist in Phoenix, Our Local Florist offers top quality flower arrangements and gifts for any occasion. The expert florists at Your Local Florist in Phoenix, AZ, we are committed to designing…
SocialTimes Feed
Social Media Jobs: Freelancers Union, Wirecutter27 Mar 2015 | 4:30 pmThis week, Freelancers Union is hiring a blog and community manager, while The Wirecutter needs a growth editor. Major League Soccer is seeking a senior director of media, and CurtCo Robb Media is looking for a social media manager. Get the scoop on these openings below, and find additional social media jobs on Mediabistro. Blog and Community Manager Freelancers Union (Brooklyn, NY) Growth Editor The Wirecutter (New York, NY) Senior Director, Media Major League Soccer (New York, NY) Social Media Manager CurtCo Robb Media (Malibu, CA) Social Media Editor The Hired Guns (New York, NY) Find more…
WWE Immortals Updated with New Characters, WrestleMania 31 Content27 Mar 2015 | 1:30 pmWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and WWE announced the release of a major content update for WWE Immortals on mobile devices. The update brings new characters to the game's roster and introduces the new Events System, giving players a chance to receive rewards in limited time challenges. The roster update includes two versions of iconic Superstars, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Macho Man Randy Savage. Austin is available as the Texas Rattlesnake and as an Icebound Watcher, while Savage is available as a Renegade and as the Macho King. These characters are part of the game's planned…
Mark Zuckerberg No. 25 on 'Fortune' World's Greatest Leaders27 Mar 2015 | 1:00 pmFacebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg placed No. 25 on the new World's 50 Greatest Leaders for 2015 list from Fortune. Fortune wrote in its mini-profile of Zuckerberg: \"Everyone knows Mark Zuckerberg started Facebook when he was 19, but because of that extraordinary beginning, everyone tends to underrate the role he has gone on to play,\" says Silicon Valley eminence Peter Thiel, who himself has had an outsize role in the tech revolution. \"Keeping the company relentlessly focused on the long-term future, he is the opposite of a quarter-to-quarter Wall Street CEO, and that's…
Why Google+ Is Dying (and Nearly Dead)27 Mar 2015 | 12:30 pmJust a few years ago, Google+ seemed to be the social media platform to watch. Facebook and Twitter enjoyed a much brighter spotlight with far greater user numbers, but Google+ had something powerful neither of them could boast—the support of Google. The Google name has been a symbol of technological prowess ever since the search engine rose to near ubiquity, gracing highly practical, widely used products like Google Maps and Google News. It made sense that a social network developed and supported by the web juggernaut would ultimately prove to be successful. For a time, Google…
Facebook Users Get Ringside Seats to WrestleMania 3127 Mar 2015 | 12:00 pmFacebook is getting into the ring for WWE's WrestleMania 31 with a Trending experience for Sunday night's event. The social network's Trending experience for WrestleMania 31 will feature ring entrances, match clips, interviews, locker-room commentary and training videos, and Facebook users will be able to see posts and comments from celebrities, WWE personalities, media outlets, influencers and friends. During the event, WWE's on-air announcers will encourage fans to take part on Facebook, and fans in attendance at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., can check in to join…
Main Feed
DMF Dubai: Igor Beuker Explores Trends In Retail & eCommerce20 Mar 2015 | 8:02 amIn my upcoming keynote at Digital Media Forum Dubai, March 24-25, I will explore the trends in retail and ecommerce. This story was originally published on igorbeuker.com From an innovation point of view, for retailers, digital means much more than just ecommerce. They need to master from mobile phone and tablet shopping to social commerce, mobile-optimized e-mails and beacons. The omnichannel experience in retail has many faces, and consumers expect them all to be friendly and useful. It's safe to say that technology keeps CIOs and CMOs in the retail industry awake at night. Meanwhile,…
Top 5 Videos In Viral Friday: Real Bionic Arm13 Mar 2015 | 1:08 pmViral video marketing used to be an art, now it's a science. We curate the millions of videos that are uploaded every week. In our flagship format Viral Friday we show you the top 5 viral videos. Click here to view the embedded video. This week, we selected the following top 5 videos for you… Enjoy and share. 1. Microsoft: "Robert Downey Jr. Delivers a Real Bionic Arm" Click here to view the embedded video. Alex Pring, a 7-year-old who was born with a partially developed right arm, received a very special gift from Robert Downey Jr., who dressed up as Tony Stark to…
Live Sports Broadcasting Is Coming To Snapchat12 Mar 2015 | 11:25 amSnapchat is negotiating with sports leagues to bring live sports broadcasting to its sharing platform. The information comes from Digiday, which says it received word on the matter from "multiple media executives" that are familiar with the effort. The mobile social network is currently trying to make deals with both broadcast networks and sports leagues to put live sports on its "Our Story" feature,. Despite working with some broadcast networks, Snapchat is not planning to splice in game footage recorded by those networks. Stories will remain entirely user-generated…
Wearable In Travel: KLM Launch Android Smartwatch App11 Mar 2015 | 9:35 amReady for take-off? KLM is showcasing brands how wearable tech and the smartwatch can be helping and hyping at the same time. This story was originally published on igorbeuker.com KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has just launched a trial with Android smartwatch technology that will provide passengers with specific trip information. Besides supplying passengers with their boarding pass, the app assists with all relevant airport-related activities. Over the years I have been writing several stories on how KLM surprised consumers with virals, content marketing, WhatsApp as customer service tool, and…
Publishers Get Profitable With Programmatic & Waterfalling7 Mar 2015 | 7:08 amPublishers of magazines and newspapers have been under pressure for quite some years now. There's an old journalism saying that goes, "If it bleeds, it leads." But terror attacks and plane crashes no longer seem to align exactly with most brands' interests. This story was originally published on igorbeuker.com For those news organizations known as bastions of journalistic integrity, it's getting harder to solve the inherent conflict between editorial and advertisers. Even publishers who deal with more light-hearted content – celebrity gossip, for example – find…
Pamorama | Social Media Marketing Blog
9 Awesome Tools for Content Authors and Bloggers21 Mar 2015 | 5:07 pmContent marketing isn't easy. It requires discipline, focus, and a lot of hard work. If you do any kind of writing — blog posts, articles, ebooks, etc. — you know how hard it can be to generate ideas and perfect your text so that morphs into something that's useful to your audience. Wouldn't it be great if there were some tools and Web applications that could help with the process? Congratulations — you're in luck! From idea generation to improving the quality of your prose, these 9 tools will help you up your game and become a writing ninja.
How to Learn Social Media Marketing: 15 Blogs for Beginners14 Mar 2015 | 5:29 pmAre you blogging, Facebooking, tweeting, or pinning? If not, you're missing out. The Internet has become the primary means for prospective buyers to evaluate products or services. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest can take your marketing to the next level. However, many businesses aren't using social media at all — they aren't aware of what's being said about them online and they don't know how to start conversations with their target audience. Of the brands that *are* using social media marketing, many of them don't do…
How to Create Perfect Headlines for Social Media Posts7 Mar 2015 | 1:35 pmYour headline is the first — and maybe last — impression you make on your audience. Although headlines sometimes take a back seat when it comes to writing social media posts, they really should be top-of-mind in your content creation process. A badly-written headline — or H1 tag — can drive readers away in droves and render all of your hard work useless. That's why it's important spend some time crafting one that will engage your users enough so that they'll be more apt to read your article. David Ogilvy, the original "Mad Man" and founder…
9 of the Best Free Social Media Analytics Tools21 Feb 2015 | 3:54 pmWant to know what's working on social media? Word-of-mouth advertising is very powerful. You need to earn the trust of your audience so they will recommend your products or services to their friends. Chances are that you're already using Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms to create engagement and thought leadership in your space. Social media analytics tools can help you make sense of how well your social media marketing efforts are paying off and identify areas that need improvement. These 9 free social media analytics tools are some of the best out there. This isn't…
How to Promote Your Event With Social Media Marketing16 Feb 2015 | 4:18 pmEvents are, by nature, social affairs. People attend them so they can connect, interact, and share with their peers. Likewise, people join social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to connect, interact, and share with their peers. If you play your cards right, these similar characteristics can work to your advantage when it comes to planning, promoting, and building excitement for any public event you're hosting. Events are a great way to attract customers, so make the most of them with social media The art and science of managing and marketing events has evolved a…
Exploring Conversational Media
Taco Bell nails it with dystopian breakfast commercial25 Mar 2015 | 8:38 amNow I am not sure if it is the case of having McDonalds for breakfast today or watching the ESPN 30 for 30 Of Miracles and Men (based on Russian side of 1980 Olympic hockey) or that I loved the Hunger Games trilogy, but this commercial from Taco Bell really hit home for me. For years, we've all ate the same breakfast sandwiches fro fast food joints, despite knowing how bad it is for you. Since Taco Bell is entering the space and doesn't have buns, they needed to change it up a bit. While I love breakfast tacos, I prefer them in Texas. I will also probably never eat from Taco…
NewsSpark Content Hub – Beta Invite25 Mar 2015 | 7:14 amThis is a guest post from Chris Ehrlich. I met the man behind this blog, Jeff Esposito, on Twitter. There, Jeff is known as @jeffespo. We're known as @News_Spark. We began tweeting when NewsSpark was only an idea. When Jeff wasn't officially the award-winning social media pro he is today. Jeff has since become a tweep. We've built a digital relationship based on everyday conversations: career successes, vacations, holidays, the NFL, SXSW, gaming, the lottery, clowns and more. NewsSpark is now on the brink of launching. And Jeff has given me the keys to his blog to invite you — his…
Executive Social Media – Kat Cole an Executive to Emulate6 Mar 2015 | 1:52 amGrowing up, I spent many a high school afternoon riding my bike or walking to the Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey. The goal wasn't to shop for a fly outfit or fresh pair of kicks; I was there for one reason – to fill my belly with an awesome cinnamon bun from Cinnabon. So excuse me if I was caught in somewhat of a nostalgic time warp yesterday when I saw an article detailing how Kat Cole, former president of Cinnabon, discussed how she leveraged Twitter. What truly stood out was that she not only shared company news, but also engaged with her followers as it is another outlet to…
900 Seconds – the future of ecommerce and social5 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amThis video is a powerful video that predicts the future valuations of Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon. It is fast and furious with some really interesting thoughts and insights into what the future could hold based on these behemoths of commerce.
Putting the 2015 #Boston snow into perspective4 Mar 2015 | 4:56 amThe Boston Red Sox are currently in Spring Training and Opening Day is April 13 – we still have ~3′ of snow on the ground. What are the chances that the ground is clear of snow when the local 9 take the field? I would bet that it is as likely as seeing a Sasquatch, but the field over on Lansdowne Street will be clear and ball will be played. With that said, the folks over at Matter Communications put this infographic together to put the sheer volume of snow we've received in Boston into perspective using the Sox.
Social Media B2B
How B2B CMOs Can Turn Social Media into Social Storytelling5 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amFor the CMOs of B2B companies, the to-do list is never-ending. Provide more original social content. Engage your target audience. Attract new followers. Create ambassadors. And these tasks can appear monumental given the lack of time and the fluctuating gap in social skills, which require an understanding and communicating on multiple social networks, each with unique style, form, and community. To be successful requires more than a social presence. It requires continuous social storytelling. Original stories are now one of the most strategic marketing deliverables B2B companies can create…
5 B2B Social Media Lessons Cisco Learned in 201420 Jan 2015 | 4:00 amWith 2014 officially behind us, it's a perfect opportunity to reflect on the past and speculate on the future. At Cisco, we continue to explore how social media is used not only to generate awareness and buzz, but also to drive thought leadership, influence the customer journey and make a greater impact to the overall marketing strategy. During the last year, I've seen first hand how the growth and pervasiveness of social media trends are shaping new digital experiences. Here's a closer look at our top 5 social media lessons from 2014 and what we can learn from them as we head into…
Interview: How IBM Leads B2Bs in Instagram Engagement13 Jan 2015 | 4:00 amAs a follow-up to our list of top B2B Instagram accounts, I reached out to Katie Keating, Social Content & Engagement Strategist at IBM, to learn more about how this globally integrated technology and consulting company approaches a visual platform like Instagram. IBM ranked at the top of the list of B2B Instagram accounts because we prioritized engagement over number of followers. This put the IBM account way ahead of larger B2B companies who are well-known for their social media prowess, like GE, Cisco and Adobe. What is your approach to Instagram, and does it focus on engagement…
The 10 Best B2B Instagram Profiles15 Dec 2014 | 4:00 amLast week was a big week for Instagram as they announced that they have 300 million monthly active users. This makes the visual platform owned by Facebook, larger than Twitter. It is also growing at a faster rate than Twitter. B2B companies need to learn how to tell their stories in a visual manner. There are many blog posts that merely list the largest B2B companies on Instagram, or a seemingly random selection of B2B companies on Instagram. But this post is different. These are the ten B2B companies with the highest engagement rate on Instagram. This means their followers (who could be a…
Your 2015 B2B Social Media Predictions Are Totally Wrong. Or Maybe They Are Totally Right!4 Dec 2014 | 4:00 amIt is the time of year when bloggers dust off their crystal balls and try to predict what will happen in B2B social media in the coming year. I have done this for many years myself. Whether these predictions are based on recent data, anecdotal experience or pure conjecture, they are frequently wrong. Or maybe they are right. But the best part of writing these blog posts is that nobody ever goes back and looks at last year's post to see what bloggers got right and what they got wrong. It is a content creators dream come true: attractive headline, shareable content, no repercussions.
Is Europe America's Online Colony? American Influence on the Web26 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amby Mars Dorian, {grow} Contributing Columnist I live in a popular European town I like to call "Hipster-hell" — formerly known as Berlin, the capital of Germany. It's a startup breeding ground that attracts poor and idealistic young entrepreneurs from around Europe, creating over-hyped apps that many of you probably never use, or have never even heard of. People here like to say how cool, European, and art-and-tech-oriented the German city is, but over the years, I have realized how America's online supremacy is turning Berlin into its cultural colony.
Four reasons why traditional book publishing is dying (and what's next)25 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amIn the latest Marketing Companion, we take a "behind the scenes" examination of The Content Code, a new book that charts a course for winning in a world of overwhelming information density. But along the way, Tom Webster and I also discuss … A few takeaways from SXSW 2015 The virtures of a sub-premium dating service Why the four benefits of traditional publishing are obsolete, and what I did about it. The reason why this is the hardest time to be in marketing — ever. The Alpha Audience — Why this is the bedrock of your business. Why you should be writing for the…
Three marketing truths for an information dense world24 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amI recently gave a speech at SXSW about my new book The Content Code and have been asked by a few people if I could re-cap it in a post. I'd like to cover three big ideas I discussed from my research that I think are essential truths for this new marketing world. 1. Content is the starting line, not the finish line. Most of the marketing conversation today is about content, more content, better content, optimized content … but today we need something more than that to cut through the noise and become the signal with our customers. We face a menacing wall of information competition…
Three YouTube stars share their intimate personal branding lessons23 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amI recently had the opportunity to meet three of YouTube's biggest stars — Tyler Oakley, Bethany Mota, and Andrea Russett. Although barely out of their teens, this trio has millions of followers, contracts with mega brands, and huge amounts of money pouring in. And I also found them to be incredibly down to earth and especially wise when it came to focusing on the core of their brand-building success — intimate connection with fans on a massive scale. Here are five lessons from some of the biggest online influencers on the planet: 1. Above all, be congruent. Mota: "I…
No social media guru is holding you back from anything21 Mar 2015 | 6:02 pmI was haunted by the sentiment expressed by a young blogger who said he is sick of people in the social media business holding him down. This video is my response. It's not fancy, but then … neither am I. If you can't see the video above, click here to see Nobody is Holding You Down. The post No social media guru is holding you back from anything appeared first on Schaefer Marketing Solutions: We Help Businesses {grow}. CommentsMark, I really needed to hear this. I "know" that I'm the ... by Beckie GentryAs usual, Mark you…
AdamVincenzini[dot]com - an Australian content marketing and social media blog
The dismantling of Google+ another reminder of the perils of social media gluttony2 Mar 2015 | 4:21 pmThe dismantling of Google+ another reminder of the perils of social media gluttony It's been coming for a while now. In fact, many would... The post The dismantling of Google+ another reminder of the perils of social media gluttony appeared first on AdamVincenzini[dot]com - an Australian content marketing and social media blog.
2015: The Year of Digital Recalibration (and Déjà Vu)24 Dec 2014 | 5:22 amThe Year of Digital Recalibration SlideShare is available here. Every year I've cobbled together a trends special outlining the big things to expect in... The post 2015: The Year of Digital Recalibration (and Déjà Vu) appeared first on AdamVincenzini[dot]com - an Australian content marketing and social media blog.
A guide to realistic social media measurement and performance analysis16 Sep 2014 | 10:04 pmSocial media measurement and performance analysis is one of the most debated topics in the current marketing environment. Recently I hosted a workshop for... The post A guide to realistic social media measurement and performance analysis appeared first on AdamVincenzini[dot]com - an Australian content marketing and social media blog.
Yellow Social Media Report 2014: Tiny Takeaways28 May 2014 | 7:54 pmYellow Social Media Report 2014: Tiny Takeaways The Yellow Social Media Report 2014 has just been released. In the last couple of years it... The post Yellow Social Media Report 2014: Tiny Takeaways appeared first on AdamVincenzini[dot]com - an Australian content marketing and social media blog.
8 Lessons From The First 8 Months Of My Start Up18 Mar 2014 | 6:28 pmMy start-up, Kamber, is nearly eight months old and it would be an understatement to say I've learnt a few things during that period.... The post 8 Lessons From The First 8 Months Of My Start Up appeared first on AdamVincenzini[dot]com - an Australian content marketing and social media blog.
360i Digital Agency Blog
Livestreaming Goes 'Up Periscope' With Twitter's Latest App27 Mar 2015 | 3:39 pmThis week Twitter relaunched its recently acquired Periscope app for iOS. With the announcement, users can expect to see more livestream coverage beginning to pop up in their feeds as Twitter looks to become the destination in social for real-time storytelling. And the timing is perfect. What began as the year of video – kicked off by Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter making key moves in the space early on – has quickly morphed into the year of live video, with a focus on unedited and direct livestreams, courtesy of apps such as Meerkat and Periscope. While livestreaming isn't a…
Facebook Updates Messenger to Support 1:1 Conversations & Commerce26 Mar 2015 | 3:37 pmThis week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his team took to the stage at F8 – the Facebook Developer Conference – to unveil a slew of new product updates. Among them was one of interest for brands with e-commerce platforms: Facebook's Messenger app. The update will now allow Facebook Messenger to support personal, real-time conversations with customers, including limited in-app purchases. This update to Facebook Messenger could mark a revolutionary change in the way consumers engage with brands while shopping – making the whole experience much more frictionless. Today, even brands…
SXSW Recap: A Report on the Best of SXSW Interactive 201526 Mar 2015 | 7:17 amHot off the press is our SXSW Recap – a comprehensive report of the best of SXSW Interactive 2015. This year, brands continued to stand out with relevant, entertaining activations that in many cases provided utility to conference goers. Nontraditional panels inspired our on-the-ground SXSW ambassadors and trending tech continued to make its presence known in Austin. This recap gives an overview of the major themes, personalities, trending tech, notable brands and sessions that stood out to our team in Austin this year. Read the full recap here. Big thanks to our SXSW brand…
#WineWednesday Panel Recap: Influencers Talk Reaching Gen Z25 Mar 2015 | 3:27 pmMillennials are to marketers what Beyoncé is to the world – practically royalty. As a demographic, Millennials are known for having indisposable income, spending it and being cool (for now). Reaching and connecting with Millennials has become a priority for many brands over the past years. Soon though, this Millennial crew will have to officially move over and make room for Solange, the mysterious and misunderstood, but much cooler younger sister – known to marketers as Generation Z (unofficially categorized as individuals born between 1997 and 2002). Similar to Solange's "elevator…
Lessons Learned on Optimizing for Growth with A/B Testing [SXSW]20 Mar 2015 | 3:07 pmAmong the copious panels, sessions and talks at SXSW this year focused on wearables, data and privacy, and other hot trends, there emerged subtler but just as important topics, including lessons from A/B testing. Todd Yellin from Netflix and Evany Thomas from Pinterest both touched on using A/B testing to improve the user experience of digital products and drive business results. Through the cases they shared highlighting their respective companies, there is much that other brands, digital marketers and agencies can learn from their experiences. Both presenters started where all campaign…
Mindjumpers: London Calling…20 Mar 2015 | 8:42 amAt Mindjumpers we have had the pleasure to work with global brands ever since our beginning in 2008. We have evolved from being a 'two man project' to become a leading social media management company with more than 30 passionate social geeks working out of Copenhagen. Thanks to clients such as Skype, Elton John Aids Foundation and agency collaborations with Brooklyn Brothers, Mother and not least Sunshine, we have been doing more and more business in and out of London and collected more flyer bonuses than many the last couple of years. Mindjumpers is looking for key…
Cinemagraphs: The "New" Facebook Ad Format is Mesmerizing GIF/Video Hybrids2 Mar 2015 | 3:46 amAs auto-play videos is now being fully established on Facebook, the social network is looking into ways to increase the quality of the ads displayed in the News Feed. A new ad format called a cinemagraph could be the answer and it is expected to start appearing soon. The cinemagraph is nothing new – it's moving GIFs, but with the motion being restrained to just a few parts of the image. The effect is quite hypnotic and certainly attention-grabbing especially when played in a loop, a feature Facebook just added to Instagram this month. Facebook doesn't support animated…
Why Customised Content is (still) growing26 Feb 2015 | 5:40 amOur computers are getting faster and stronger and according to Moore's law their processing power will double every year from now on. This means that we are experiencing a consistent and ever increasing amount of information, data and images when we are online. We acknowledge some of it – but ignore most. Consequently customised content has become key in today's marketing. Customised Content is Targeted Your Audience Every single day, an endless amount of content is being published and consumed by the masses – but a whole lot of it is being ignored and here's…
Dark Social – We Only See The Tip of The Social Media Iceberg18 Feb 2015 | 6:35 amA recent report from Radium One shed some light on the concept of "Dark Social". A dominant but seldom discussed force in online sharing. Among other things the research showed that 32 % of people who share content online would only share via Dark Social. It represents up to three times the social sharing activity of Facebook alone. What is Dark Social? The term Dark Social was first coined back in 2012 by Alexis C. Madrigal, tech editor at Atlantic.com, to refer to web traffic that comes from outside sources that web analytics can't track. Dark Social happens when someone shares…
Branded Content: 6 Things To Remember before Publishing10 Feb 2015 | 7:02 amWe all know that tight deadlines and a busy everyday life at the office can make you compromise or perhaps skip double-checking. Therefore, as a little help to content marketeers, we have made a small checklist. By following this you will hopefully avoid too many major mistakes. Make sure all content is relevant to your business Just as all your other marketing efforts should support your overall business objectives, each piece of content should aim to meet specific subgoals that flow into higher-level achievements. Whenever you publish content it should be relevant for both your audience and…
The Next Web » Social Media
4 tools to skyrocket your demand generation strategy in 201527 Mar 2015 | 2:23 amYoav Vilner is CEO at Ranky, the startup-marketing team. He's helping startups grow and then shares his insights regularly at Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc, TheNextWeb, ReadWrite and VentureBeat. Your marketing department wears many hats. Among them there's the PPC hat, there's the content hat (which is fit for a king), and there's the demand generation hat – just to name a few. The demand generation hat is worn by anyone who is creating any sort of demand for your product or service. So what exactly are these guys with the demand gen hats doing to increase demand for their products?
The mega guide to ideal image sizes for your social media posts24 Mar 2015 | 10:09 amThis post originally appeared on Buffer's blog. You've got all the great tools to create engaging images for social media. You know what the brain loves about visuals and how to build something beautiful to drive engagement. You're all set to make something great! One last thing: How exactly should your image look so it fits in the News Feed, timeline, or stream? There's so much to consider in creating great images for social media—for me, the size and shape tend to get locked in before I even realize what's happened. Yet the size and shape—the height, width, and…
India U-turns on 'Facebook' anti-free speech law24 Mar 2015 | 5:23 amIndia's Supreme Court has overturned a law that has led to the arrest of several people for comments they left on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. It seems that many of the arrests to date related to posts or emails that were critical of the Indian government, and had, in some cases, resulted in people who simply 'Liked' a comment being arrested too. According to the BBC, the court ruled today that the law was "unconstitutional" as it violated people's right to freedom of expression. The specific part of the law pertaining to social posting was Section 66A,…
Why online publications can live without Twitter23 Mar 2015 | 6:07 amThis article first appeared on Simon Owens' blog. Though Facebook drives far more traffic to content than any other social media network, Twitter plays a vital role not only as a direct source of traffic, but also to reach industry influencers who can propagate content across all platforms, from Facebook to Reddit to even the mainstream media (a disproportionate number of journalists hang out on Twitter). It used to be that websites simply set up an RSS feed that automatically tweeted out any new content, but it quickly became apparent that if you wanted to maximize the traffic-driving…
61 key social media metrics, defined22 Mar 2015 | 7:03 amThis post originally appeared on the Buffer Blog. Of all the hundreds of social media acronyms and abbreviations out there, I think "KPI" has confounded me the most. I think it's because the phrase "key performance indicator" always sounds like something you need to be wearing a suit in front of a Powerpoint presentation in order to say. But when you get down to it, it's really quite simple. KPI is just a way of saying "This is the stuff that's important enough to me to focus on and measure." Basically, social media KPIs, or social media metrics, are whatever… This…
Courtney Engle Robertson
Why WordPress vs Squarespace, Wix, or Weebly6 Mar 2015 | 9:18 amSo, you need a website for your business. You have plenty of options. You may have heard about a few of these options even during SuperBowl commercials. With so many choices, how will you know what will work best for your business? Preliminary Questions Before Building Your Website: Before you can begin work on building your website, it's important to know a few vital questions. This will help you narrow down what platform you use to build upon. Who will do the work of updating the content on your website? Who will do the design work of your website? How much traffic do you…
WordPress 4.19 Feb 2015 | 12:30 pmI'm a bit delayed on sharing about the changes in self-hosted WordPress 4.1 (not WordPress.com), but here we go: Twenty Fifteen This new theme is a return to simple personal blogging. While Twenty Ten/Eleven/Twelve/Thirteen were great themes to build an entire website on, Twenty Fourteen was ideal for magazine layouts, and Twenty Fifteen is great a keeping blogging simple. Take a look at the demo running on https://twentyfifteendemo.wordpress.com/. Demo WordPress TwentyFifteen Theme Distraction-Free Writing Normally when you write a post, you'll see a screen similar to this:…
No Longer an Accidental Lurker6 Jan 2015 | 8:54 am2015 is off to a burst of activity already. The primary lesson I've experienced personally is to remember to connect online. I don't know if you fall into the same trap that I do at times. I listen, perhaps too much. It has led me to being a lurker. I observe well, but often don't engage in the ways that I should. I have become an accidental lurker. Daily Routines I want to be in-the-know on what's happening online. I wake up and scan the blogs that I subscribe to over my morning coffee. I share what's important of that content for those that should know.
How to Get Found in Mobile Google Search Results5 Jan 2015 | 7:00 amIf someone searches for what your website offers, does it even display in mobile Google search results? It might startle you to know that since November, Google favors and primarily displays websites that are mobile-friendly if the user is searching on their mobile device. If your site isn't ready, you won't turn up in search results near the top, even if you stand out well when searching Google on a computer. Notice when you search Google from a mobile device that it now lists if the site is "mobile friendly" and favors sites that are mobile ready first. Getting Found…
WordPress WordCamp Baltimore Liveblog18 Oct 2014 | 7:10 amFollow my blog with Bloglovin WordCamp Baltimore is a great opportunity for WordPress web development consultants to stay on the bleeding edge of their skills. I'm live-blogging my notes today here. As an odd issue, the firewall on the wifi during WordCamp blocked access to my site. I took notes using twitter, as shown below. WordCamp Baltimore The post WordPress WordCamp Baltimore Liveblog appeared first on Courtney Engle Robertson.
CompuKol Connection » Blog
How to Organize Your LinkedIn Connections, Prospects and Clients26 Mar 2015 | 2:00 amIf you own a business or if you work for someone else, the fact is that you must interact with people online as well as interacting with them in person. Your online connections are people from many different placed and possibly even many different countries and may different industries. Your many different connections Your online connections may be prospective clients, actual clients, and people with whom you share some interest. Of course, it is advisable to go for quality versus quantity and as your list of online connections grows, it is important to organize the names, contact…
Increasing Your Exposure with LinkedIn Publisher23 Mar 2015 | 2:00 amBy now, you probably figured out how powerful and effective LinkedIn is for business and how much it can help you to bring your business to the next level. However, you may not be aware that you can increase your business's exposure much more by using LinkedIn Publisher. Using LinkedIn Publisher LinkedIn Publisher is a relatively new tool and many business people are either not aware of its existence or are underutilizing it. There is a lot that you can do with that tool to increase your exposure and reputation. The fact is that you are generating content and publishing (and hopefully…
Small Business and the Marketing "Kits"19 Mar 2015 | 2:00 amThere are several different "kits" that are referenced in the marketing world. Understanding what each of them is and when and if they apply to your business is helpful in understanding how they may be of benefit to your business. Some of the kits and promotional pieces that often get mentioned include: Media kit Press kit Electronic press kit Brand or identity kit "One Sheet" The following slideshare goes through each of these: Media Kit The media kit is one that is often presented to potential advertisers for a web site. Many sites (especially a few years ago) would…
Engagement Rate Versus Likes – Which Is More Effective?16 Mar 2015 | 2:00 amFor your business, if you are not experienced with Facebook, if you don't know the ins and outs of the social media tool, you may feel that getting people to "like" your business's Facebook page is enough. On the other hand, if you have more experience with Facebook, you probably understand that engagement rate is a whole other thing entirely. Proceed carefully Interestingly, and often not well-known, Facebook has a great deal of tools that can help the business owner to analyze the results of their business's social media efforts. One of the things that you…
Why Small Businesses Need Project Management12 Mar 2015 | 2:00 amProject Management can be as complicated or as simple as someone wants to make it. It is a science (often classified under the category of information technology) that is often practiced by novices, as well as professionals who specialize in the science. What is Project Management? PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) defines project management as "temporary endeavor designed to produce a unique product, service or result" (PMI.org). PMI (Project Management Institute), the producer of the PMBOK, is considered the authority on project management. If we break down the definition of…
» Blog
Should Your Business Download Meerkat? [FLOWCHART]12 Mar 2015 | 2:33 pmInformation on the newest app, Meerkat, and how and when your business should adapt it in the Twitter world. Take our quiz to see if your business should download Meerkat. The post Should Your Business Download Meerkat? [FLOWCHART] appeared first on .
What Carousel Ads mean for your Business on Instagram5 Mar 2015 | 9:29 amFind out what the new Instagram Carousel Ads are all about, what it means for ROI analytics, and how your business can prepare for the big change!The post What Carousel Ads mean for your Business on Instagram appeared first on .
5 Reasons Why Facebook Tabs Are Still Useful2 Mar 2015 | 1:47 pmCheck out these 5 ways for your company to effectively continue use of Facebook Tabs in 2015. The post 5 Reasons Why Facebook Tabs Are Still Useful appeared first on .
Weather-Based Marketing19 Feb 2015 | 12:52 pmHow to successfully use "Weather-Based Marketing" in the #Blizzard(s)2015 through AdWords, promotion of relevant products, and real-time engagement. The post Weather-Based Marketing appeared first on .
Digital Success for your Small Business11 Feb 2015 | 1:47 pmIn case you missed our Google Partner Connect Live Stream event, check out our recap with our major takeaways from speakers Todd Rowe and Fred Vallaeys about digital marketing and advertising for your small business! The post Digital Success for your Small Business appeared first on .
Pushing Social
A Brand New Podcast for Serious Marketing Professionals25 Mar 2015 | 9:00 amEarlier this year, Laura and I noticed something about the PS Podcast. When we chatted before recording the podcast, we dug into nitty-gritty issues affecting our business. We traded specific immediately actionable advice. We held each other accountable and didn't hesitate to share closely guarded strategies and tactics. But….
The Bad (and Good) News About Content Marketing17 Mar 2015 | 7:30 amThe problem is content marketing isn't new. There are 358 million pages listed on Google for "Content Marketing". I along with the other speakers at Social Media Marketing World 2015 have spoken and written extensively about it. Sure there are new tools popping up every day. It's rare, however, to see new game-changing insights percolate up from the content marketing intelligentsia...
How This Subtle Mindset Shift Can Add Zing to Boring Content4 Mar 2015 | 6:50 amWho wants to read, view, or listen to your business' content? This simple question often turns marketing mavens into sputtering marketing interns. Here's what our team usually hears:
Will Content Marketing Work For Your Business?26 Feb 2015 | 7:15 amYou are probably under tremendous pressure to invest in content marketing. But, smart CMOs understad that marketing strategy isn't set by popularity polls. Sure Seth Godin says "Content Marketing is the Only Market Left." but Seth Godin isn't briefing the CEO. You are. Provocative soundbites work for SlideShare presentations but they aren't the building blocks of a sound marketing strategy.
How To Tell A Story That Sells25 Feb 2015 | 5:20 amA little while ago we defined Content Marketing as "Stories that Sell." This definition still holds. Stories are too compelling to ignore and businesses are learning that a well-designed story is an essential gear in their marketing machine.
Latest solar news
Solar Energy Risks to Health27 Mar 2015 | 8:17 amSolar energy is a potential free electricity and water heating source. It has the power to take advantage of electricity in remote areas of the world. It seems to offer health and safety with power, but is it? Rarely health risks of solar energy are mentioned. This may be partly due to the limited use of this energy source. It may also be due to the lack of research in this area. Some have begun to study the health risks of solar energy, however, and if you study long enough, some estimates are available. Solar Thermal Risks Health Solar energy Health risks inherent in the design and…
Should We Give Solar Power Another Try?25 Mar 2015 | 3:24 amCities in many countries suffer degradation of air quality. Oxygen levels are decreasing every year making it harder to breathe. Our water is actually much more polluted and trees are dying. The human race has made decisions that are harmful currently causing our planet to fade. Perhaps returning to the things we use at the beginning of the life of the human race is the best solution. Solar energy can be the answer to many current problems as the sun has always been a source of heat and light. Throughout the history of the earth, the sun's energy has never been used as a source of…
Irresistible Reasons To Create Your Own Solar Power At Home24 Mar 2015 | 2:22 am1. promotion of government: the federal government offers discounts for the use of clean energy. For example, wind turbines and solar energy systems installed at the end of 2016 are eligible for a tax credit of 30 percent. A tax credit is better than a tax deduction to take money directly from their taxes instead of leaving your taxable income. In other words, you can benefit from lower electricity bills and lower taxes. 2. Increase the value of the house: There have been several studies showing that selling prices are higher for households with solar certifications and durability that homes…
Solar Energy Alternative Methods23 Mar 2015 | 3:11 pmThey tired of your electric bill go even higher? Is it possible to do something about it without breaking the bank? Well, if you've thought about going solar, but do not want to spend thousands, you're in luck. There is no reason you have to feed all its solar house. Everything helps. Say you use a lot of energy every month. Whether it's an old A / C and even water heater or combine this with a huge pool, energy costs add up quickly. Even outdoor lights low power increase your electricity bill. To begin to fall, as the use of solar outside lights? They are charged during the…
How You Can Avoid Solar Energy Pitfalls23 Mar 2015 | 11:38 amWhile solar energy is a good alternative energy source, there might be some errors. Hopefully this article will help you avoid scammers, inflated prices and other problems associated with solar energy systems. The first thing to do is do your research. Prices can vary greatly between systems. Although it seems that many manufacturers offer systems that contain most of the same parts, the price and quality will be different. You may be tempted to go the cheap route, but end up paying for repeated repairs or even a replacement system. Here's the difference between a system of…
TDA Group Content Happy Hour: Sprucing up the skills27 Mar 2015 | 10:47 amSpring is (finally) here, which means this is the perfect time to do some sprucing up. In this week's tidy little content digest, learn how to freshen up your social media skills with two new training tools from Facebook. You'll also discover the most effective way to get messy conversations out of your Twitter feed, which keywords in subject lines make dull business emails shine, and how to use image SEO on web pages to make your site shimmer for search crawlers. New Facebook Features Provide Training for Marketers By Mike O'Brien at ClickZ As Facebook grows ever bigger and more…
TDA Group Content Happy Hour: Winning big with current customers20 Mar 2015 | 11:12 amWant to improve customer retention and boost repeat sales? In this week's March Madness–themed content digest, find out how to turn current clients into super fans of your business with outgoing content. You'll also learn how millennials are changing the game of B2B buying, which interactive content inspires lead-gen victories, and why traffic drops don't always signal defeat. Plus, see what CMOs retweet most and find out why writers need to ditch the word "should." Top 5 Keys to Customer Retention By Mike Saldi at MarketingProfs Even the most casual observer of the B2B marketing…
TDA Group Content Happy Hour: Making the content-data connection13 Mar 2015 | 11:10 amHow about some data about the data that makes your content a more effective selling tool? This week's digest is full of recent news about the insights that can help you better guide prospects toward the sale. You'll find out how to start using Facebook's new topic data tool and see surprising breakdowns and forecasts of Instagram demographics. Plus, get the latest on new ways Google determines search rankings, and read a primer on audience content requirements. Facebook Finally Lets Its Firehose Be Tapped For Marketing Insights Thanks To DataSift By Josh Constine at TechCrunch Marketers…
TDA Group Content Happy Hour: Scaling new opportunities6 Mar 2015 | 4:56 pmCatch up on how content marketers are reaching new heights in this week's news digest. You'll find out why content and digital marketing efforts are getting more funding—and learn what you can do to get your share of those dollars. Discover how to harness new visual tools that make mobile marketing more effective, and view ways to make the most of Snapchat. Plus, get tips on creating a content playbook that can help contribute to greater marketing success. Marketing Budgets 2015: digital investment continues to grow [infographic] By Christopher Ratcliff at Econsultancy Make the case for…
She Takes on the World4 Mar 2015 | 8:38 am"She Takes on the World: A Guide to Being Your Own Boss, Working Happy, and Living on Purpose is like having your own personal coach!" Through powerful exercises, awakening meditations, and thought-provoking questions, CONQUER helps you focus on what matters, shift your mindset, and achieve soul-stirring success.
David Meerman Scott - Web Ink Now
Hire a Journalist to Show your Products and Services in Action27 Mar 2015 | 8:53 amI've written a bunch times in the past decade about the power of hiring a journalist as part of your marketing team. For example, here's how Raytheon implemented a brand journalism approach to content marketing. Many organizations are desperately seeking people to create interesting information online that serves to educate and inform consumers. People now realize web marketing success comes from creating content-rich web sites, videos, podcasts, photos, charts, ebooks, white papers and other valuable content. Which is where journalists come in.
How to deal with resistance from your bosses17 Mar 2015 | 8:52 amI frequently get emails from people who tell me that the new ways of marketing and selling are not appreciated at their company.
Unleash the Power Within11 Mar 2015 | 9:40 amThis past weekend, I participated in a four-day Tony Robbins seminar called Unleash the Power Within. It's an intense, high-energy event focused on the breakthroughs that transform your business, health, and personal life. I participated with my wife Yukari Watanabe Scott. I was not a speaker at UPW, so I was all in with the program! I'm struck by how well Tony's ideas apply to those who are still doing the same old things. It's about momentum. We need a catalyst to change, to do something different and UPW helps you to make lasting change.
Transform Your Business With Buyer Personas (the new book)9 Mar 2015 | 7:29 amThis week marks the official publication of the new book Buyer Personas: How to Gain Insight into your Customer's Expectations, Align your Marketing Strategies, and Win More Business by Adele Revella. It's a book I've been waiting for because I've been talking about buyer personas for nearly ten years but have always wanted much more detail on this important strategy so I can share with people who want to transform their business.
How's that working for you?6 Mar 2015 | 12:53 pmBecause my books cover the new rules of reaching buyers directly in today's real-time world, many people assume that I am against any and all traditional sales and marketing tools and techniques. That's not the case at all. I don't think it is an either / or proposition. If something is working for you, by all means keep going!
We Are Social
Innovative Social Thinking #226 Mar 2015 | 9:21 am'Innovative Social Thinking' combines social behavior with technology to form new connections, changing the world ever so slightly for the better. Last month, we highlighted the Be My Eyes app, WeChat campaign 'The Voice Donor' and Megafaces, the world's first large scale LED kinetic façade. In the second blog post in our series our heads of creative, marketing and technology once again champion their best examples of Innovative Social Thinking. Friend Compass – Graham Jenks Creative Director This idea for flight comparison site Momondo puts a fun interactive spin on…
The rise of anonymous social media25 Mar 2015 | 9:02 amWe Are Social has recently produced a report about Anonymous Social Media; the landscape, the issues and the opportunities for brands. If you're interested in receiving the report, read our post below for more information. If you think anonymous social is hiding behind an alias in a nineties-esque chat room, then you need to get with the times, because 2015 is all about going incognito. Anonymous social apps are on the rise, so if you don't know your Yaks from your Whispers, then read on to find out more and for details of how to get our free briefing on this up and coming area of…
Mobiles Surge Ahead in APAC24 Mar 2015 | 9:18 amThe team at GlobalWebIndex joined forces with We Are Social again for our new APAC Digital report, which we published last week. In this guest post, GWI's Jason Mander shares his take on one of the hottest digital trends in APAC, and what it means for marketers. As We Are Social's new Digital, Social and Mobile in APAC 2015 report makes clear, Asia still lags (considerably) behind regions like North America and Western Europe when it comes to internet penetration rates. In places like India, for example, fewer than 1 in 5 adults are going online – which means internet populations in…
We Are Social's Monday Mashup #25423 Mar 2015 | 9:08 amPay your friends through Facebook Facebook has added free, friend-to-friend payments via its Messenger app. Certain Facebook users (currently in the US only) can add a Visa/Mastercard debit card to gain access to a $ button, by which they can transfer money. The launch was announced in the below video, featuring one Steve Davis (though sadly not the snooker legend). Facebook to beef up Messenger Inspired by the likes of WeChat and Line, Facebook is planning to expand its Messenger app into a platform that does more than facilitate conversation. The first step is finding ways for third parties…
From New York to Paris20 Mar 2015 | 4:06 amFinally, my French side is useful for something other than a great pickup line! After two and a half years at We Are Social's New York office, I was honored with the opportunity to take part in the company's "Secondment" program, which allowed me (as a Franco-American) to temporarily join the Paris team. How can one compare the two greatest cities in the world? Right before leaving NYC for Paris, I was given the iconic book "Paris Versus New York" which compares both cities better than I ever could. So instead of differentiating the two, I'd rather show you how these two offices…
CSR: What you didn't know about Section 135 and didn't bother to find out!27 Mar 2015 | 10:21 amManika works at READ Oceanic Center's Solar Shop – a social enterprise designed to provide an income to sustain the center while delivering solar lamps as a clean, affordable energy alternative to kerosene lamps for the community. This post is in response to a column by a media person and friend featured in First Post. The reason, of course, is to dispel the myths and mythology that seems to be surrounding common knowledge and understanding of Section 135, of the Companies Act, 2013, which makes CSR ( or much criticized as the 2 percent tax) which companies have to make as part…
Road to a Digital Nation starts with building toilets22 Aug 2014 | 10:34 amPrime Minister Narendra Modi's first Independence Day Address Its India's 68th Independence Day, and the first address by a Prime Minister who was born in independent India. And while, Narendra Modi made his way through a speech that would appeal to a new India. An India of the 21st century, and almost a decade and half post millennium, his speech brought out issues that dog the daily lives of common India. The three themes in Narendra Modi's address ( full text here in 18 Indian languages) were Clean India, Skilled India and Digital India as a vision for Made in…
The Leadership Legacy Mindset: lessons from observing leaders9 Jun 2014 | 12:15 amleading from the front Political leaders, social leaders, business leaders, have a decision to make. What after they have achieved all their professional and personal goals? Most try to do more of the same, perhaps in the hope that what worked well before will lead to better results with greater efficiency and execution. A few, however, reflect on what their success meant in the context in which it was achieved, and deliberate on what can create a sustainable road for their organisation, company, or even belief system. In other words, what is the Leadership Legacy that remains embedded within…
The Retail Remix18 Nov 2013 | 2:18 amLast weekend was about entrepreneurs! Its become some kind of a habit for me to spend a day each week with startups. Saturdays turn out to be the best days. VC's, and PE's are winding down their mad travel schedules…a bad economy is a great time to place medium to long term bets! Entrepreneurs, usually a self-obsessed, jittery lot, try to consciously stop to breathe in intoxicants other than inhaling their own exhaust fumes. So a friend said, there's a new chai bar we must stop by. He was impressed with the name and signage, and the fact that a man was wearing the sign-…
Whose content is it anyway?21 Oct 2013 | 1:21 amfor representation only. courtesy: http://www.tppwholesale.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/copyright.-300×225.jpg Last week, I participated in a twitter poll on A-listers. The question put forth by @anaggh, a social media influencer in India, was 'who according to you is an A lister on twitter?" and I answered A lister= people with visibility in topic sharing messages which create above average engagement. http://j.mp/1fWbWx8 Earlier, in the week, a fellow journalist-turned-entrepreneur called to ask, how does content syndication work on mobile apps. Specifically, can the…
Scoring Big with March Madness Campaigns27 Mar 2015 | 8:05 am
In Case You Missed It: March Social Media Headlines27 Mar 2015 | 7:28 amThe only thing that is constant with social media is change. In an effort to keep you informed about the latest happenings, check out some of the major headlines from this month. Facebook Page's Like Totals May Have Dropped: On March 12, Facebook changed the way they measure how many people like a page by removing inactive accounts. By doing so, it allows businesses to receive up-to-date insights on the people who actively follow their page. Facebook already filters out likes and comments generated by deactivated accounts, so this new update keeps data consistent. Twitter is experimenting…
Pinterest is about more than food, fashion and crafts20 Mar 2015 | 11:40 amPinterest has been around for three years. It's still shocks me to learn how many brands are missing out on a huge opportunity to leverage this platform in their marketing. I will admit there are a lot of misconceptions out there about Pinterest. When you add in the confusion on how to use the network to gain traffic and revenue, it is easy to understand why there isn't a higher adoption rate. But don't worry; I'm here to help you understand why you shouldn't count Pinterest out when it comes to your social media marketing strategy. Misconception #1: Pinterest is a network for…
Effectively Incorporate Instagram into a Social Strategy4 Mar 2015 | 2:00 amInstagram helps organizations and companies represent themselves visually. However, it's not as simple as finding a cool picture that represents the brand and uploading it to the app. To really reap the benefits of this relatively new social media platform, incorporate these best practices: Hashtags are Essential. Searching hashtags is popular among users because they are clickable. When a hashtag is clicked, users are able to see the universe of images that added the same hashtag. To expand the brand's reach, include hashtags that are likely to be searched by users. Use these types of…
Search Engine Optimization Tips for 201527 Feb 2015 | 5:58 amSearch engine optimization techniques have always been quick to evolve and this year is no different. The topics are the same, but the techniques are changing fast. Here are a few of the key shifts that everyone in the marketing department needs to consider this year: Social Media Ranks Highly – Especially as Google hides more keyword ranking data, SEO is becoming more about brand visibility across platforms. Users may find you first on any number of social platforms and click back to your site – so the game becomes less about ranking and more about being found where your users hang out.
Social Media Network - Marketing
QR Codes Are Good Acquisition Tools - Social Media22 Mar 2015 | 8:34 amQR Codes Are Good Acquisition ToolsI Work As Freelance Social Media Network Professional And Review OnLine Earning Opportunities. HERE ARE COUPLE OF LINKS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE EARNING QUICK REFERENCE:1. TSU the Social Media Network has crossed the 3 million Users mark! Use This As Invite Click Here Join Me: http://www.tsu.co/PervaraKapadia2. Free Search Engine Submission Of Your Business, Brand, Referral, Product, Personal URL Submit Your Site For Free Get Listed On Google, Bing, Yahoo And…
Different Roles In The Community - Social Media22 Mar 2015 | 4:44 amWhen we handle a set of Audience on Facebook, Twitter, TSU, LinkedIn and other Platforms it is important to understand them. This would be their Mindset, their User Attitude, Behavior OnLine and OffLine and so on. What you need to do is make sets and understand them in a single situation given all other things same. Apart from this you also need to understand their Response to a particular Post. This means that at times you will have a 'Leader' kind of person in your Conversation, Other times there will be someone 'Who Knows It All' and so on. Here is one of the many…
One More Reason Why Content Is All Important Factor!19 Mar 2015 | 10:24 pmOne More Reason Why Content Is All Important Factor! HERE ARE COUPLE OF LINKS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE EARNING QUICK REFERENCE:1. The Social Media Network Called TSU has crossed the 3 million Users mark! Use This As Invite Click Here Join Me: http://www.tsu.co/PervaraKapadia2. Free Search Engine Submission Of Your Business, Brand, Referral, Product, Personal URL Submit Your Site For Free Get Listed On Google, Bing, Yahoo And More! Add Your Site For FREE! Over 3.5 million people worldwide have used the Free Search Engine…
Simple Philosophy In Social Media19 Mar 2015 | 5:29 amSimple Philosophy In Social MediaWatch your thoughts; they become words.Watch your words; they become actions.Watch your actions; they become habits.Watch your habits; they become character.Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.I Work As Freelance Social Media Network Professional And Review OnLine Earning Opportunities. HERE ARE COUPLE OF LINKS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE EARNING QUICK REFERENCE:1. The Social Media Network Called TSU has crossed the 3 million Users mark! Use This As Invite…
10 Tips To Gain More Friends/Fans/Followers On Social Media18 Mar 2015 | 3:07 am10 Tips To Gain More Friends/Fans/Followers On Social MediaI work as Freelance Social Media Network Online Professional. My Business Page is on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pervarakapadia Do join me.
Paul Sutton
The Tale of Fast, Cheap and Good27 Mar 2015 | 3:26 amOnce upon a time, there were three friends named Fast, Cheap and Good. One day they decided to seek their fortune in the big City. They loaded their packs with bread and mead and set off from their small village home in the country. After nearly a day's travel, Fast, Cheap and Good came across a river. The river was wide and deep, and there was no bridge in sight. "What shall we do?", asked Fast. "We cannot cross by bridge, and we cannot swim across as our packs will get wet." The three friends sat on the bank and pondered their predicament, but could not come up with a solution.
Agencies or Freelancers: Which Are Better?19 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amI've written a couple of times recently about why I believe the traditional model is failing communications agencies and why freelance digital media consultants are the future. As a result, Gini Dietrich from Arment Dietrich in the USA and I recently had a debate about the issue for The Social Media Show, the video for which you can watch at the bottom of this post if you want to. We don't, as you might expect, see eye-to-eye on the matter, so we've agreed to let you in on the action, have your say and, ultimately, decide which one of us is correct. (Hint: it's me.) Below is…
The Chromebook Experiment: As Yet Undecided17 Mar 2015 | 5:15 amA couple of months ago I posed the question: if Apple and Microsoft fell into a black hole, could your business survive? Chromebooks, running on Google's Chrome OS, do away with Windows and iOS completely. They're cheap, they're fast, they're portable and they're highly functional. I bought one instead of a Windows machine or a MacBook when I set up independently with the intention of finding out if they're now a viable alternative for personal and, ultimately, business use. I'm two months into the experiment now. The good news is that I'm still writing this from my…
100 Days to Impress12 Mar 2015 | 1:35 amA few years back, I quit a senior role at a communications agency without having another job lined up before I did so. We needn't go into the exact circumstances that led to me quitting, but suffice to say I'd had enough. The straw that broke the camel's back was an email, sent to me in error one evening. Funny how small and insignificant occurrences can have such a big impact, isn't it? The next day, I walked into my boss' office, email in hand, and resigned. Some called it brave, some called it risky, some called it stupid. I think my wife called it all three,…
Embrace the Crazy!2 Mar 2015 | 12:51 amPick the content strategy of a brand or a person you know. Could be a brand you work on or the company you work at. Could be your own blog. Could be Coke. Anything or anyone. Now imagine I've put a ten point linear scale in front of you, with 1 marked as 'predictable' and 10 marked as 'bizarre'. Where on that scale are you going to mark the content of the brand or person you chose? Chances are, if you're really, truly honest, it'll be on the lower end of that scale. And there are many reasons why that might be the case, from regulatory and legal limitations to lack of creative…
Pam Marketing Nut
How to Add Call To Action Button on Facebook Business Page23 Mar 2015 | 11:36 amKeeping up with the latest Facebook features is not always easy. The only guarantee we have with the social networks, business and life is change. Facebook has a nifty new feature that empowers the business marketer to easily add a call to action button right on to the top header image of the Facebook business page. In just a few simple clicks you can easily add a call to action button that could link to your contact form, video, email newsletter subscription or sign up form for an event or other program. Check out the video below for a quick 5 minute walk through of exactly how to use…
Brand Strategy in a Nutshell – 5 Reasons to Invest in Branding Your Business19 Mar 2015 | 8:51 amYour brand is the foundation and one of the most important aspects of your business. Doesn't matter if you are a solo entrepreneur, small business, large, super size, business to business, business to consumer or anything in between. You only have one chance to make a first, second and third brand impression. In a nutshell your brand is your promise to all those who come in contact with your brand. It's your promise to your customers, partners, employees, audience and community. Your brand will help you tell your story and helps you build trust as it informs people what to…
Be Careful Who You Follow and Trust with Your Business18 Mar 2015 | 4:40 pmIt takes a lot to get me riled to the point of writing a blog post. I believe this is my second in history for The Marketing Nutz blog. The driver of this post is an Ask Gary Vee episode that I recently watched that told a story of a young kid in their early 20's that told Gary they wanted to be a "Life Coach". You can imagine his response. Essentially – how the BLEEP (you know Gary) can you be a life coach if you haven't lived life! You idiot! Or something along those lines. You can insert the Gary Vee yelling voice in your head while you read this if you want to. I've…
25 Ways Social Media is Killing Your Brand and You Don't Know it!17 Mar 2015 | 10:53 amEvery smart marketer wants their brand to be relevant, memorable, inspiring and positive in the mind of their audience, ideal customer and online community. What many marketers don't know is that the little things they are doing online every day could be hurting their brand more than helping. When you think of leaving memorable brand impressions what comes to mind? Do you first think of a logo, colors, messaging, tone, sentiment or all of the above? None of the above? Even the best business leaders and marketers get overwhelmed with staying up to speed with new media, social media and…
Customer Experience is Your Brand – #AdobeSummit Inspirations Day 111 Mar 2015 | 7:36 amAttention is the most scarce resource in business. Earning the attention of your customers, audience and community is one of the greatest challenges for marketers in businesses big and small. How do you differentiate? How do you stand above the crowd? How do you embrace real change? How and when do you disrupt the current status quo? How do you bust ahead of your competition once and for all? This week I am at the Adobe Digital Marketing Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was invited as an Adobe Insider to get a behind the scenes look at how Adobe is driving innovation and empowering their…
Jessica Malnik
Four Reasons Why All Bloggers Should Check Out The New Community Building Course24 Mar 2015 | 11:11 pmI'm super excited to announce that my first digital product is now live and open to the public for purchase. This comes in conjunction with a blog makeover. (I'd love to hear your thoughts- good and not-so-good – around the new, responsive design). The Create Your Tribe product is a month-long email course to help […]
A Community Manager's Guide To Meerkat (With 6 Possible Use Cases)8 Mar 2015 | 10:54 pmAt first glance, I didn't want to like this app. I have written more than a couple of times about social media shiny object syndrome. Most of the sites that make an initial splash wear off and fade into relative obscurity within a couple of months. Think Highlight, Ello, Yo and so many more. After […]
The Case Against Gamifying Your Online Community5 Mar 2015 | 9:32 pmWhen it comes to launching a new online community or driving more engagement in an existing one, the first suggestions community managers usually bring up are gamification, giveaways and contests. It has become the default, go-to answer for many. I've seen this approach result in all kinds of headaches and problems time and time again. […]
The Secret To Creating A Booming Online Community23 Feb 2015 | 2:34 amWhat if I told you there was a magic formula you could follow and replicate exactly to create a booming online community with crazy high levels of engagement? A formula that could help your brand new community turn into an "overnight success" with thousands upon thousands of active contributors each week. I bet you anxiously […]
Finding Your Sweet Spot As A Community Manager9 Feb 2015 | 11:47 pmGrowing up, I was a huge basketball fan. Despite being slightly vertically challenged, I had a sweet spot on the court where I knew I could sync a jump shot regardless of pressure. I was in the zone, and knew no matter what obstacles were thrown around me I could focus and make the shot. […]
5 Reasons why missing out on Pinterest can hurt your social media strategy (Backed by Numbers!)25 Mar 2015 | 7:01 amWho doesn't love numbers? They provide clarity in a muddled world, and make things simpler. We could chat all day long about Pinterest strategy (after all, we do that regularly with our clients!), but if you're not convinced on the value of Pinterest, you won't be listening. You will also be missing out on the hottest social platform of the day. So here are the five biggest reasons on why you need to be on Pinterest. Backed by gobs of data. Pinterest is growing fast Blazing fast. It was the fastest growing social media platform in 2014. Can you really afford to stay away from something…
Smart Websites & Social Media Integration19 Mar 2015 | 12:33 am1. How to use interesting Content to make websites smarter
How I Survived SXSW16 Mar 2015 | 7:13 amWe have been having an amazing time at SXSW 2015 (check out our photos on our Facebook page here), but we have to admit, it's not easy. Here are our top ten tips to survive SXSW. Oh, and if you are around, do visit us at stall 1242 and participate in our #DigitalNomad contest! There's $500 worth of prizes to be won! Click here for more details.
Busting a Few Social Selling Myths16 Mar 2015 | 5:49 am1. 72.6% of salespeople using social selling exceeded the quota 23% more often than those who didn't. (Report published by Social Centered Selling and A Sales Guy Consulting) 2. 54% of survey respondents credited social selling for their closed deals. (Report published by Social Centered Selling and A Sales Guy Consulting) A look at the numbers and you know the hearsay is right – social selling is no longer an option; it's a must-have. After all, you can't be running a business and not have a business card. Social selling is handing over your virtual business card to your…
A Quick Guide to Social Selling16 Mar 2015 | 5:13 amWhen you get right down to it, social selling isn't really about selling. That comes later. Social selling is, first and foremost, about engaging, interacting, discussing, and becoming trusted by the people you hope to sell to. In a report jointly published by Social Centered Selling and A Sales Guy Consulting, 92% of buyers said they do not respond to emails or voicemails sent by someone they are not aware of. Bottom line is, people just won't buy from those they don't trust, and social selling is all about creating that trust in the minds of your prospects. So how do you do that?
Smedio - Business Ideas Worth Sharing
Why Mobile Gaming is the New Landscape for Advertising23 Mar 2015 | 10:12 amWhat does mobile gaming mean for advertisers? Advertising relies on a fairly fundamental principle: put your product where the eyes are. No matter how good a product or service may be, if people don't know about it, then it might as well not exist at all. Many good products have failed to live up to their potential due to poor advertising (and it's probably true that many more inferior products have found great success through the power of advertising alone). This principle explains why, increasingly, advertisers are starting to look at mobile gaming. There were 144 million mobile…
A Day in the Life of a Digital Marketer18 Mar 2015 | 11:31 pmA Digital Marketer engage in a lot of digital marketing activities to attain her objectives. What is digital marketing? It is the engine that drives today's business, big or small. Effective digital marketing is the marketing that bridges electronic technology with psychology in the marketplace. How a Digital Marketer operate this engine to drive a business forward is what this infographic is all about. Here's a day in the life of a Digital Marketer: Source: Best Marketing Degrees The post A Day in the Life of a Digital Marketer appeared first on Smedio - Business Ideas Worth…
How to Get Customers Without Spending Any Money13 Mar 2015 | 12:03 pmEvery business wants to know how to get customers without spending any money. The early stages of micro star-ups may actually demand ingenious ways to make that happen if they must survive. If any business, big or small, is to survive in the long haul, it must understand and operate in the customer-lifeblood principle that says, "without sales, there's no business." In this infographic produced by Quicksprout, titled How to Get Customers without Spending Any Money, you're going to learn 9 simplified ways your business can get customers without spending any money.
The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Killer Explainer Video27 Feb 2015 | 10:54 amIt used to cost multiple thousands of dollars, and was tedious, to create explainer videos. Now that explainer video creation tools like VideoMakerFX have made it easy and affordable to create, this infographic created by Quicksprout serves as an "Ultimate Guide to Creating a Killer Explainer Video". With this infographic, in combination with explainer video creation tools like VideoMakerFX, you now have what you need to create killer explainer videos that convert. Source: Quicksprout The post The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Killer Explainer Video appeared first on Smedio -…
How to Use Social Media for Effective Customer Engagement3 Feb 2015 | 10:19 amHow to use social media for effective customer engagement? Everyone's aware of the might of social media. From creating a phenomenon out of the lesser-known, sharing content far and wide, to making videos go viral, we've witnessed the ease with which people gain and spread information through the various social media platforms. While a majority of us use these platforms for fun and entertainment, some of the top global companies have made using them an integral part of their marketing communication activity. And why not? After all, that's where everyone is, right? What better way to…
ReelSEO Video Marketing
Autoplay is Now the Default on YouTube - and That's OK26 Mar 2015 | 7:39 amYouTube has made autoplay the default option for desktop users of the site, and of course it's a way of boosting views in the face of such overwhelming competition from Facebook, and now Twitter. You can disable the feature, but we think it's a good thing for YouTube, creators and viewers.
How-to Get the Most Out of YouTube Interactive Cards [#TubeTalk #65]25 Mar 2015 | 2:23 pmYouTube Interactive Cards enable creators and brands to add an extra layer of interactivity to their videos. We discuss how to get the most out of this new feature in this week's ReelSEO TubeTalk video marketing podcast.
NCAA #MarchMadness 2015 is a Slam Dunk for Instagram Video25 Mar 2015 | 12:13 pmMarch Madness is one of the biggest sports events in the U.S, with millions of fans turning to online video to catch up with the latest news, highlights, and commentary. For 2015, it's Instagram Video that is generating the most engagement for #MarchMadness related video content.
The Vimeo Playbook: How to Optimize Content for Vimeo on Demand24 Mar 2015 | 8:34 amVimeo on Demand offers filmmakers and creators to the opportunity to sell or rent their video content to viewers across the world. But how do you optimize to make the most of this platform? We take a look at the new Vimeo Playbook which offers some solid advice.
Snapchat: How Ephemeral Video Marketing is Engaging Viewers23 Mar 2015 | 7:37 amWhile brands once tied down to YouTube are slowly exploring Vine and Instagram video, there are other social platforms that have caught the attention of a certain demographic. One of those is Snapchat, a platform that is winning with ephemeral video marketing in terms of brand engagement.
La NUEVA y FALSA estrategia publicitaria del Gobierno/Regimen de Venezuela22 Mar 2015 | 7:58 am¡Cómo se han revolucionado comunicacionalmente los departamentos del régimen venezolanos estos días con el tema del decreto de Obama! Tanto así, que han tenido que sacar un presupuesto nuevo a ser utilizado por las embajadas, para ser gastado en publicidad en diversos países (primeras planas, páginas centrales, etc.) para publicar contenido relacionado con lo que […]
En socialphilia buscamos: "La ultima coca cola del desierto"* en photoshop e illustrator (diseñador) para Venezuela11 Mar 2015 | 3:35 pmEsta semana seguimos reclutando gente, como cuando estaban de moda los "lipdub" . Así o peor. Como ya sabéis socialphilia goes global, estamos en España, Argentina, Venezuela y seguimos abriendo en Latinoamérica, por eso te buscamos a ti, para unirte a nuestro equipo. En este caso en Venezuela, en Caracas. La bien llamada "Ciudad de la Furia". Creemos en el […]
En socialphilia buscamos: "El Papa de los Helados"* en PHP (programador php) para Venezuela18 Feb 2015 | 2:07 pmEsta semana estamos más emocionados que cuando se juntó "Menudo" y tuvieron que hacer la gira sin Ricky Martin, así que ¡aprovechad! Como ya sabéis socialphilia goes global, estamos en España, Argentina, Venezuela y seguimos abriendo en Latinoamérica, por eso te buscamos a ti, para unirte a nuestro equipo. En este caso en Venezuela, en Caracas. La bien […]
Guia para no cometer errores en Social Media o como evitar que Google le cuente a tu cliente que lo haces mal5 Feb 2015 | 2:13 pmOs voy a decir una verdad como un templo. ¿Preparados? La unica manera de evitar cometer errores es no cometiendolos. Punto. No hay otra solucion. Y el peligro que tiene Digital y el mundillo de Social Media es que todos salen a la luz, por mucho que los escondais. Se ven. Y mas para quien […]
348 palabras para deciros que todo es posible: Madison Tevlin – All of me4 Feb 2015 | 10:43 amMirad el video, y luego hablamos. Espectacular verdad? A veces nos dicen que no podemos, que las estadisticas estan en contra de nosotros, que es casi imposible que lo logremos, y fijaros, hay que pasarse todas esas cosas por culo y hacer lo que realmente sentimos y queremos. Madison nos da un coaching maravilloso de […]
Prepare 1
Why Customers Unfollow Brands on Social Media [Infographic]27 Mar 2015 | 8:09 amHave you unfollowed someone on Facebook? Twitter? If so, why? In today's noisy internet world, drinking from the firehouse of information focuses us. We are now becoming more selective in what we now, read and view. Indeed, consumers show interest in connecting with brands online. Nearly 60 percent of them are willing to like or follow a brand on social media. However, people like to keep their social profiles well-siloed and use different networks for different interests. So when someone unfollows you or your brand, you lose the opportunity to market to them, to connect with them in a…
Man's Search For Meaning in Social Media19 Mar 2015 | 3:55 amDoes your life have meaning and purpose? Does social media bring more purpose to you and your brand? If so, what is it that drives you? If not, why not? Why do some men and women awake each morning roaring to go…yet others can't seem to pull off their covers and just lay there unmotivated. No motivation or passion. If you are in that state, then it's time for a change. Time for a new direction. Time for a new commitment. Time for a new journey of discovery. Meaning and Purpose does not age discriminate, it's your time and choice. A human being is not one thing among…
LinkedIn Most Effective Social Media Platform In B2B13 Mar 2015 | 3:50 amHow effective is your B2B strategy? What social media platforms are you seeing as the most beneficial? LinkedIn is best known for it's job hunting, resume posting, content and news social networking site. Right? Well, not anymore if your a B2B marketer. Although social media platforms like Facebook have a much more wider appeal, the reality is, it doesn't deliver on leads and results like LinkedIn. LinkedIn does work for B2B leads. Do Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest? Maybe, but the recent research doesn't bode well for those sites. In the B2B space, having people…
You Are What You Do11 Mar 2015 | 4:05 amWhat are your daily to do plans? So what are your activities accomplishing? Are you rushing through life, or do you have a clear vision of where you are going? YOU ARE YOUR DAILY CALENDAR Call it walk the Talk or Talk the Walk. Obsess about your activities, your to do list. Examine it each morning and night. Does it reflect exactly your one, two or three brand priorities? Your social media priorities? We are so busy, with so much to do, and so little time, that we feel that we cannot take the few minutes necessary to sit quietly and be alone with ourselves. ATTENTION IS ALL THERE IS WEED…
5 Photo Tools for Creating Awesome Images for Social Media6 Mar 2015 | 10:01 amWhat tools are you using for your social media photos? Are you creating awesome photos for your fans and potential customers? Do the different photo sizes on social media confuse you? Photos are still the #1 engagement media on Social Media. Photo uploads total 500 million+ per day. (Source: Gizmodo) The Implication: Again, this is an indication of engaged users; also, it is an indication that there are a lot of photos, as well as other information, competing for users' attention, so target your efforts strategically. As a small business owner or a one-person marketing team, is this…
Wakeman Agency
Overused Buzzwords and Phrases in the Workplace27 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amHave the same buzzwords been in your playbook a bit too long? Are the metaphorical pages in your daily dictionary becoming weathered, filled with overused catchphrases and once-trendy expressions that still monopolize your business meetings, presentations and watercooler conversations? The post Overused Buzzwords and Phrases in the Workplace appeared first on Wakeman Agency.
Take Out: Event Planning & Public Relations Strategies To Go (March 2015)24 Mar 2015 | 9:50 pmDear Friends, I love being a woman! And during Women's History Month, I can't help but feel even more grounded keep reading The post Take Out: Event Planning & Public Relations Strategies To Go (March 2015) appeared first on Wakeman Agency.
Introducing Tameka Mullins, Social Media Manager24 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amTameka Mullins is a relative newcomer to The Wakeman Agency, having joined the team in late 2014. But she's a veteran of the PR, marketing and communications world, as a bona fide and vetted pro, with no shortage of industry contacts and impressive capstone projects, to boot. The post Introducing Tameka Mullins, Social Media Manager appeared first on Wakeman Agency.
Infographic: The Power of One in Nonprofit Fundraising20 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amEven in the social-change space, we sometimes underestimate the power of the individual. But we know that, when mobilized, the game-changing impact of the individual can be vast. This also pays dividends when it comes to raising funds for worthwhile causes. The post Infographic: The Power of One in Nonprofit Fundraising appeared first on Wakeman Agency.
Reasons Why Your 'Successful' Event is Really an Epic Fail17 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amEach year, your nonprofit organization's roster of stand-out events breaks out in full swing, amid accolades, anticipation and applause. Your event planners and public relations squad have honed in on a formula that works. The post Reasons Why Your 'Successful' Event is Really an Epic Fail appeared first on Wakeman Agency.
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LinkedIn Profiles Can Be Very Boring25 Mar 2015 | 9:40 amLet's face it. LinkedIn profiles are extremely important because they are what people see when they check out your qualifications, your experience, the updates you've posted, where you went to school, and so much more. The problem is they can be very dry and boring. Remember that you only have a few seconds to catch a visitor's attention before they decide they've had enough and leave, or they discover they like what they see and stay for more. LET'S DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT In May of 2013, LinkedIn gave us a feature I really like, which is the ability to add Rich…
Lawyers, Are You Winning The Battle?12 Mar 2015 | 3:03 amYou're fighting a battle. I'm fighting a battle. The firm next door is fighting this same battle. In fact, everyone is fighting the same battle, but with a different goal in mind. How Can That Be? Everything you say and do in your business has a purpose, or at least a result. Your marketing and communication, whether spoken, written, digital or otherwise, serves to create an impression of you in others' minds, whether that is negative, positive or neutral. What is important is that you have first decided what you want that impression to be in the minds of your clients and…
What Is Inbound Marketing For Lawyers?6 Jan 2015 | 7:50 amI was reading an article on Inbound Marketing Myths by Michael Reynolds on Hubspot this morning that made me realize that some terms marketers use these days might be a little confusing. One of these terms is Inbound Marketing. We're going to spend a few minutes on it today because I think it is important. Michael simply defines Inbound Marketing like this: "Inbound marketing is the holistic practice of earning traffic, turning that traffic into leads, and turning leads into sales." Don't let all this talk of traffic, leads and sales turn you off. I know we…
I Might Have To Smack You If You Do This On LinkedIn3 Sep 2014 | 12:36 pmI'm not naive. I've seen my share of rotten business practices, along with many good ones, some even great. I've witnessed people who try to do good, and plenty who seem to specialize in doing the opposite. Teaching marketing, and social and digital media for the past umpteen years, I've seen plenty of people try to find the easiest and quickest shortcuts around doing actual work to grow their business. In rare cases, this type of efficiency can be good. Others, not so good. I was reminded of one of the not so good practices the other day while catching up on my Google…
Lawyers: One Of The Most Important Questions You Can Ask Your Clients28 Aug 2014 | 7:57 amI was just reading an email from WordPress expert Chris Lema about his recent search for a new job. He was discussing what made him choose one employer over another. Something he said stuck with me because it could help you as you begin working with your clients, and as you continue working with current clients. Chris shared: "Karim's [Chris's new employer] focus, however, wasn't on title or salary. His question was very similar to the question my current CEO regularly asks – and the reason I stayed at Emphasys for over 8 years." "How do we keep you here for the long…
Digital Pivot RSS News Feed
UNICEF Uses Wearable Technology To Empower Kids And Save Lives27 Mar 8057 | 6:25 amSummary: Practically everyone these days utilizes a piece of wearable technology or knows someone who does. We track our steps. We count our miles. We calculate calories. You name it, we use wearable tech to do it. But does your wearable tech literally convert energy and activity into food? Well, it soon will. UNICEF is launching a special project that will put wearable tech to work in generating food donations for malnourished children. UNICEF is launching a special program called Kid Power.
Male Tinder Users Tricked27 Mar 6466 | 6:27 amSummary: A Tinder prank tricked men into flirting with other men, and according to experts has brought security lapses to light. A Tinder developer is accused of creating fake dating profiles for women, which tricked men using the app into flirting with them. The developer created a program that would match up men interested in the same dating profile, then allow them to flirt with one another. As if online dating needed to be any shadier, right? The developer said he only created the profiles to prove how easily it could be done...
Facebook Updates Community Rules27 Mar 4702 | 6:26 amSummary: If you wanted to show your private bits on Facebook, you're now going to have a harder time. The social media giant has made some major updates to its Community Standards, including what is — and isn't — tasteful nudity. The Community Standards page covers things like nudity, bullying, harassment, and hate speech. According to Facebook, "We want people to feel safe when using Facebook. For that reason, we've developed a set of Community Standards, outlined below. ..."
30 and Over Paying More for Tinder27 Mar 3236 | 6:25 amSummary: Some things get better with age. Tinder, however, may not be one of them. The new premium version of Tinder is out, and if you're over 30, you'll have to pay more. You can now pay to use Tinder's premium features, including the ability to go back...
Morris The Cat Reports From SXSW24 Mar 2015 | 6:07 amSummary: Every once in a while, you meet someone with an awesome job — one that you wish you could have. The job envy grows exponentially when you learn of the amazing opportunities it comes with. You might even find yourself asking why it cannot be you in that position. Well, prepare yourself to experience that plight once more. Only this time, you won't be jealous of a powerful person — rather a precocious cat. Yes, a cat has a job that is better and much cooler than yours. Morris The Cat came from humble beginnings. He lived the life of a shelter cat that was…
#SocialWorldCup Generated Over 4000 Tweets27 Mar 2015 | 6:31 amIndia is a cricket frenzy nation, where cricket unites every citizen, irrespective of their religions, caste, creed or color. It's no wonder that on March 26, 2015, when India took on Australia in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 semifinal, the tweeples in India set the micro blogging site on fire. Among the hashtags that were trending, #IndvsAus received the most number of mentions. One particular hash tag, #SocialWorldCup requires a special mention. This hashtag received 4562 mentions during the game. It received 2019 mention between 12pm and 2pm, when the Australians innings came to an end and…
Researchers take on Govt to Twitter with #RIPResearch2 Mar 2015 | 6:43 amIndian Research community took the Twitter by storm today with their criticism of government about the compensation to the Researchers. The protest was strong and was widely supported by Twitter community, and the hashtag #RIPResearch went trending in India for throughout the day. Here is the summary of the Twitter storm. Data and Research by Simplify360.
India is now multi author market, Chetan Bhagat gets good competition from Durjoy Datta and Vishwas Mudagal22 Dec 2014 | 10:36 pmSimplify360 Research on most loved English Novels by Indian authors shows an amazing trend of authors fighting for poll position intensely. Chetan Bhagat is still the king and leads the race in terms of overall ranking that combines social and readers feedback in Goodreads, Flipkart and Amazon. Chetan Bhagat secures a Simplify360 Social Index (SSI) of 8.86 for "Half Girlfriend", while Durjoy Datta secures second position with SSI of 8.61 for his novel "When Only Love Remains" Losing my Religion by Vishwas Mudagal secures the third position with SSI of 7.88. In…
Zhigrana becomes first Nepali Movie to take Social Media Seriously22 Dec 2014 | 9:47 pmZhigrana, upcoming movie from Golden Yak Entertainment (GYE) becomes first Nepali movie to use Social Media seriously. GYE team believes Social Media has gone main stream in Nepal, which should be taken seriously now given the user numbers in the country. Nepal now has over 44 lacs Facebook users and is expected to have around 20 lacs Twitter users. The country is believed to have over 50 lacs of Youtube viewers. GYE has started using Faebook, Twitter and Youtube as major channels. The promo is released through Youtube, and is promoted heavily in other social channels. GYE has started using…
HP Launches New Enterprise Infrastructure Technology to Drive Positive Business Outcomes18 Dec 2014 | 11:09 amIndia, 18 December 2014 — HP today unveiled new enterprise products and services that will enable customers to transform operations across the data center to enable growth, improve profitability and increase business agility. Infrastructure is the foundation for the rich, impactful next-generation applications, web services and user experiences that are enabled by trends in big data, cloud, mobility and security. As the business requirements for infrastructure multiply at an exponential rate in coming years, a strong foundation will be more important than ever to help customers compete…
Sean Clark
9 Inspirational Podcasts To Educate & Expand Your Knowledge21 Mar 2015 | 2:02 amEpisode 57 of The Small Business Marketing Report Podcast On the show this week we discuss some of the podcast shows we listen to and why they are our favourite picks. They are also listed below should you wish to subscribe to them. The term Podcast was first used in 2004 and is associated with the iPod and broadcasting, and describes a particular type of audio delivered by a feed, a variation of RSS. Although podcasts are commonly associated with iTunes there are many other distribution sources. Many podcasts take their lead from talk radio, and the subject matter available covers a wide…
Solving the Strategy Delusion an Interview with Marc Stigter [PODCAST]7 Mar 2015 | 2:50 amEpisode 56 of The Small Business Marketing Report Podcast Sean interviews Marc Stigter co-author of the book Solving the Strategy Delusion. Marc Stigter is an international strategist who works with organisations on unlocking deep insights and realising distinctive strategies. His own insights have been gained as a global practitioner at executive level, as a research academic at doctoral level, and as a strategy advisor at organisational level. Marc is an Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Business and Economics, and an Associate Director at…
Is Instagram Part Of Your Business Marketing Strategy?24 Feb 2015 | 1:00 amWith over 300 million active monthly users Instagram is becoming harder to ignore. The difficulty most businesses have is just how do you use it? It's a visual medium so you have to have an eye for an image to get it to work for you. That said, Instagram users are 58 times more likely to like, share or comment on a brand's update than a Facebook user, and 120 times more likely than a Twitter user! Quality and consistency count more than volume, but that is the same for all the social channels. You need to add some fun to your photos, and not be too self-promotional. Get employees…
The Business Benefit Of Joint Venture Marketing [PODCAST]21 Feb 2015 | 2:43 amEpisode 55 of The Small Business Marketing Report Podcast Marketing your business can be tough, but by leveraging other people's audiences can sometimes magnify the impact and therefore results. Joint Venture Marketing can be a great way to get exposure to a whole new audience. But it is not always as simple as asking to advertise in someone elses email newsletter. You have to make sure there is a fit. If you get this right you can also get a transfer of their credibility too. This podcast is a simplistic example of a Joint Venture. We both have our own businesses but use the podcast,…
WordPress is the Web!20 Feb 2015 | 6:34 amAre you still undecided over whether to go for that custom CMS build? It wouldn't be the first time that I have asked "Why not WordPress?", and the figures below just go to demonstrate how much of a popular platform it is. Yes it does have its short comings, security having been one of them in the past. With the proper management and maintenance most of these can be overcome. I agree there will always be exceptions, there may even be a preference for another type of platform. But when it comes down to WordPress or a custom build I find the custom solution very hard to…
L2: Business Intelligence for Digital
How Walmart and Target Treat Brands in Visibility27 Mar 2015 | 2:49 pmL2's 2015 Digital IQ Index®: Home Care report finds that brands can find more visibility on Target than on Walmart relative to the value brands produced by these retailers. On average, brands in the L2 Index own 11% of first-page search results on Walmart while the retailer's Great Value brand owns just 9%. Meanwhile, Target's up & up brand owns 13% of first page search results for non-brand keywords vs. 11% for the Index average. Up & up's visibility advantage is especially apparent in the food storage category. The recession led the majority of U.S. shoppers to believe that…
CMO of Genius Brand Sephora Departs for Stitch Fix27 Mar 2015 | 1:50 pmJulie Bornstein, CMO of twice Genius in L2's 2013 and 2014 Specialty Retail studies Sephora, left for startup Stitch Fix this week. Stitch Fix is a four-year-old online retailer that combines fashion and tech: it gives personal style guidance and suggests retail items based on data. (Stylists edit automated suggestions before presenting to clients.) As mentioned in other reports, this hire reflects highly on Stitch Fix as Bornstein was one of the forces that placed Sephora as an omnichannel and digital leader. A few reasons why Sephora is ahead of the pack: Sephora's product pages…
How to Have a Worldly Instagram Presence: Tips from Benefit's Toto HaBa27 Mar 2015 | 11:27 amCurrently 70% of Instagram users live outside of the U.S., which means smart, global brands will adapt their Instagram strategy. Among all categories studied in L2's Intelligence Report: Instagram, Beauty has done the best work in international. Benefit Cosmetics, Maybelline, and L'Oréal Paris have excelled at regionalization, but Benefit Cosmetic stands out as the dominant international force in Beauty. Not only does it have more regional accounts than any other Beauty brand in the study, the size of its regional accounts is multiple that of others. The average Benefit regional account…
Facebook Positions Messenger for CRM, Commerce26 Mar 2015 | 2:54 pmMessaging apps have significant potential as platforms for marketing communication, customer service and e-commerce. This week Facebook announced Messenger for Businesses and positioned it as a tool to provide all three functions for brands. Based on Facebook's vision, online shoppers could opt to open a Messenger thread with retailers after completing an order and consolidate all purchase-related communication in that thread. These shoppers could also reorder items via Messenger, which now enables digital payments within the platform. Everlane and Zulily are partnering with…
Why it Makes Sense For Amazon to Buy Net-a-Porter26 Mar 2015 | 2:05 pmOf the 32 Luxury Fashion brands tracked in L2's Intelligence Report: Amazon, only five officially distribute their products on Amazon. In fact, the majority (59%) of luxury fashion SKUs on Amazon are third party merchant listing. Furthermore, a large portion of the Amazon-distributed luxury SKUs brands are licensed merchandise. Calvin Klein, for example, has 11,494 products available on the e-tailer and an extensive network of licensing agreements worldwide. Outlet merchandise comprise a large portion of Amazon's Fashion items as well; Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein both have strong…
Digital Diva
Chic & Nile Rodgers, Laptops & Headaches23 Mar 2015 | 1:58 pmI'm a bit late in writing this week's "life" post, mainly because we had a pretty awesome Sunday eating a roast dinner at Gaucho (review to come soon – it was amazing) and then going to see Chic and Nile Rodgers at the O2 Academy with mates. Really great gig, he played all his old stuff, it's crazy when you realise how much he's written…all the INXS stuff, then onto his more recent tunes like Get Lucky with Pharrell and his new tune with Chic 'I'll be there'. Paloma Faith was on the balcony having a good boogie… So, an…
Us, by David Nicholls21 Mar 2015 | 11:01 amAnother holiday read and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2014, I'll be honest though…I found Us by David Nicholls a bit depressing for the first half of the book. The story focuses on Douglas and Connie's relationship, they are seemingly unmatched. He's very straight cut…a scientist. She's the opposite, arty and care free. Despite the odds, they end up married and the story starts for us when their only child, Albie, is seventeen. Douglas is the narrator and takes us back to when he and Connie first met, the highs and the lows. Then, we get to know…
Jamie's Italian Restaurant in Leeds16 Mar 2015 | 12:46 pmRecently we visited Jamie's Italian Restaurant in Leeds for a mid-week treat. I've been once before when it first opened, but couldn't really remember what the food was like so thought this would be a good opportunity to review a-fresh. For cocktails, I chose the Grey Goose Le Fizz (Grey Goose vodka, St Germain elderflower liqueur, fresh lime & soda) and the husband went for a mojito. He's a mojito aficionado and very picky! He proclaimed the mojito to be very good, I tried it and it was! It was quite a bit better than my Grey Goose Le Fizz, which really tasted…
Birthdays, catching up with friends & scoffing at 'bants'15 Mar 2015 | 10:36 amHello, hello. Another week flies by. This week I spent a good proportion in London with work and seeing a friend I've been meaning to catch up with for ages. Love you Anna! I was also down for my brother's 30th birthday, which involved lots of good food at Roka on Charlotte Street. Then back up for another friend's birthday…what a fab few days. Smiled so much my cheeks ached. After a busy week, I was glad to have no plans this weekend. No plans?! Yes, for the first weekend this year, no plans. Very intentional and much needed. That's not to say I didn't…
Hello Spring!11 Mar 2015 | 12:00 amI love Spring. Shoots peeking through the soil, lighter mornings and evenings. I work from home some days and I'm especially noticing the beautiful spring days from our glass extension. The new light is definitely revealing all the little jobs that need doing around the house though…floors to be painted, dusting to be done. I think we need to sort a weekend of spring cleaning. Top Tip: Ocado are selling daffodils, 3 bunches for £5! I currently have them all around the house. The post Hello Spring! appeared first on Digital Diva.
ansarada » M&A News
Warren Buffett's Brazilian love affair. Is 3G the future of M&A?25 Mar 2015 | 8:46 pmThe Oracle of Omaha's view of private equity, along with investment bankers, was famously summed up in his latest letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. He deemed both groups "money shufflers." "In truth, 'equity' is a dirty word for many private-equity buyers; what they love is debt. And, because debt is currently so inexpensive, these buyers […] The post Warren Buffett's Brazilian love affair. Is 3G the future of M&A? appeared first on ansarada.
Ruth Porat to shake up tech M&A at Google24 Mar 2015 | 9:00 pmThe announcement that Ruth Porat will join Google as chief financial officer on May 26 signals a potential shake up in Silicon Valley M&A. Ms Porat is Morgan Stanley's CFO and a former co-head of technology investment banking at the firm. Morgan Stanley has enjoyed a reputation as the most powerful investment banking franchise on […] The post Ruth Porat to shake up tech M&A at Google appeared first on ansarada.
Marc Andreessen: boards should shut up & listen23 Mar 2015 | 10:46 pmMarc Andreessen and Diane Greene say boards of directors should listen and question. Boards are not there to suggest strategy or promote their own ideas, say the two Silicon Valley heavy weights. A director suggesting a M&A transaction would be a no no. "I don't ever suggest something," says Ms Greene, a Google and Intuit […] The post Marc Andreessen: boards should shut up & listen appeared first on ansarada.
What's up in the world of tech? March 16 – 20 201520 Mar 2015 | 7:03 amDEALS Rakuten, the Japanese Internet company, will buy lending platform Overdrive for $410 million, reports the Financial Times. The FT's Lex column says in 2014 Rakuten and Alibaba made about 20 acquisitions each in 2014 but their M&A strategy seems based on coveting "thy neighbors' return." Auto Trader Group, the British website for buying and […] The post What's up in the world of tech? March 16 – 20 2015 appeared first on ansarada.
Healthcare M&A revenue for bankers hits $1.1 billion19 Mar 2015 | 8:24 pmIt's a very, very good time to be a health care investment banker. Global healthcare investment banking revenue is at a quarterly record high already at $2.6 billion, or 18 percent of all global investment banking revenue so far in 2015, according to Dealogic. Healthcare M&A investment banking revenue worldwide in the year to date […] The post Healthcare M&A revenue for bankers hits $1.1 billion appeared first on ansarada.
Being Cheryl: Cheryl Harrison
Buy my Box10 Mar 2015 | 10:25 amA rough approximation of the email thread when Andrea from Modest Box asked me if I would be willing to curate a box with some of my favorite Ohio-made products: Andrea: Would you like to curate a Modest Box? Me: Sounds like fun! Andrea: Let's schedule a photoshoot with you and your box Me: …LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Andrea: CHERYL THAT IS NOT WHAT I MEANT Vagina jokes aside, I had so much fun picking the products for my Modest Box. The retail value of the box is $115, but they negotiated some good deals so they can sell it for $75, which includes shipping! The…
Shit I Did in February27 Feb 2015 | 11:04 amThe other day I get an application in my email from a young man interested in my current job opening. I immediately open it, and as I'm skimming through his cover letter, there's a knock on my office door. He walks in and hands me a beer bottle that's been cut and polished into a glass. "Hi, I just emailed you," he says. "I would have emailed this, too, but, you know, that's not possible." After a quick chat and a promise to schedule an interview, he leaves and I go back to reading his cover letter. "I'd really love the chance to be your…
Things I'm loving lately21 Feb 2015 | 5:38 pmMini Photo Lens Kit I picked up this phone lens kit – which includes a fish eye lens and a wide angle lens – and I'm obsessed! The lenses simply slide over top of your phone's camera lens. The wide angle lens makes it easy to capture the full picture — even in Instagram's usually limiting square aspect ratio — whether it's showing off a room in my house or a client's sweet space. And the fish eye lens… well, I think it takes some sweet selfies. I picked mine up at Restoration Hardware but there are plenty of similar products…
Shit I did in January30 Jan 2015 | 9:18 amLast night my friend Bryant from Yelp Columbus hosted a Lumbersexual (yes you read that correctly) party with my client Smokehouse Brewing and it was super fun to be a part of but the point of me telling you about it is that 10 minutes ago I was sitting in my conference room meeting about a cool new project to promote local breweries when this woman walks in and hands me three pounds of bacon which Bryant had apparently sent me through Whence as a thank you for helping with the event so basically I'm having the best day ever and I hope your life is filled with Lumbersexual fantasies and…
Things I'm loving lately29 Jan 2015 | 5:16 amClassPass If you like to workout in group classes, OR if you're not sure IF you like to workout in group classes and need some guidance on WHICH group classes, if any, are right for you, then you'll love ClassPass. I fall into the latter category – I work out twice a week one-on-one with a trainer, but the idea of sweating on strangers doesn't appeal to me. For a monthly fee, ClassPass let's you take unlimited classes at any number of gyms across your city — it launched here in Columbus this month. During the trial ClassPass gave me, I tried seven classes…
Social Media Blog
Media Partner for Social Media World Forum 201426 Mar 2015 | 5:22 amWe are happy to announce that we are going to be a media partner for the Social and Digital Marketing Conference 2015 once again this year. #SMWF Europe is the premier event for digital & social marketing professionals taking place in London's Vinopolis, 8-9 June providing top-level strategic advice and digital marketing insight around how to engage customers, manage brand perceptions, empower employees and open untapped audiences through diverse media channels. More information TBA closer to the time.
Macmillan Primary Care Conference - Workshops23 Nov 2014 | 4:00 pmCan we Palliate Social Media? Workshops & Leaflets James Norris (Social Media Strategist & DeadSocial) will be co-hosting three workshops with Dr Mark Taubert & Dr Johnny Browne over the two days at Macmillan's annual Primary Care Conference. 'Can We Palliate Social Media' will explore how social media is changing the behaviour of both the patients and those providing primary care. If you are attending the conference please feel free to come along to a workshop if it is of interest. Can we palliate social media? (Conference Support material) Both…
Helping Canon Europe With Their Marketing Across The EMEA Region10 Sep 2014 | 5:00 pm"Canon was founded in Tokyo in 1937. For decades it has been a household name and a brand associated with high quality cameras, lenses and printers. Today it is renowned globally as being on of the Globes leading camera, lens and printer manufacturers". How Social Media Strategist Assisted Canon With Their Marketing Efforts Social Media Strategist supported Canon from their European office intensively over the course of four months. In doing so helping to leverage existing marketing campaigns whilst proposing a range of new marketing initiatives. List Of Tasks Carried Out…
Social Media Strategist - Now accepting Bitcoin27 Aug 2014 | 4:57 pmI am delighted to announce that Social Media Strategist now accepts Bitcoin as a method of payment. This may be of special interest to international clients. If your business uses a different cryptocurrency please let me know and I will try to accommodate. If you would like to learn more about Bitcoin watch the video below.
How can I use 'Content Marketing' to improve my SEO in Google?3 Aug 2014 | 4:16 pmIt is important for your website to 'rank' highly within Google (and other search engines) for search terms relevant to your business. In doing so, when someone searches for a service or product that your business offers your website is found. Once found within search and your listing attains a 'click through' the merit of your website will decide whether the visitor converts into an action or not (for example download your software, purchase a product, read your whitepaper etc). There are a number of ways in which marketers can help search engines rank your content with the…
For Free Blog
Internet Shaming in the Social Media Age: Is it Right?25 Mar 2015 | 10:30 amPublicly shaming bad behavior is as old as mankind, but in the Social Media Age it seems to happen more frequently and it certainly happens a lot faster.Various cases in the past year or so have highlighted the rapidity and breadth of consequences for people perceived to have wronged others. Just a few examples:Justine Sacco, communications director for the New York-based internet empire InterActive Corp, tweeted before she boarded a flight in December 2013: "Going to Africa. Hope I don't get AIDS. Just kidding. I'm white!" By the time she landed in South Africa the Internet outrage was about…
Twitter threat? Clones seem to be multiplying22 Mar 2015 | 5:24 pmSocial media is based on basic social niceties - greetings, thank yous and even compliments.So it's disturbing to see a proliferation of what appear to be fake Twitter accounts that seem to have no purpose but to make conversation or flatter other legitimate Twitter users and then to send commercial tweets. The accounts look so similar and act in such a similar way they can only be "Twitter clones." Four of the Twitter clone accountsIn the past week, for example, I have been followed by nearly 30 of these accounts - all seemingly run by women and all seemingly wanting to engage in…
SXSW-Interactive: The Big Takeaways19 Mar 2015 | 2:11 pmLive video streaming, alternate human-ness, a robot zoo and people dressed as giant squirrels pitching a new social app … yup, must be that annual nerd fest known as SXSW-Interactive in Austin, Texas. My highlights:Video streaming: So Meerkat was the talk on the streets both because it was new and seemingly everywhere you went someone with an iPhone (it is iOS only at this stage) was live-streaming a speaker or a party. It was also a popular topic after it was announced Twitter had purchased Periscope – a rival still in beta - and would be limiting how much access Meerkat users would have…
Facebook sees dead people… begins to help ... is it enough?13 Feb 2015 | 12:08 pmThree cheers for Facebook for beginning to address the issue of death and our online presences. This week Facebook announced it will begin allowing you to designate someone — whom it calls a "legacy contact" — to manage parts of your Facebook accounts posthumously.Facebook is the second major online business to allow for designating digital executors (Google allowed this starting in 2013).According to a Wall Street Journal story (Facebook Heir? Time to Choose Who Manages Your Account When You Die) Facebook legacy contacts will be able to manage accounts in a way that can turn the…
UPDATED: 12 Reasons To Not Follow Someone On Twitter1 Feb 2015 | 11:28 amSocial media, in some quarters, has this unwritten expectation: If I follow you, you should follow me back. But this ignores any number of common sense reasons to not connect on a social platform. For example, on Twitter I have roughly 12 reasons I won't follow or follow back another Twitter account. (This is an updated list from one I blogged about in 2013.) I won't follow you if … 1. You don't have a Twitter bio: There may be a good reason, but I can't imagine what it is. It takes 30 seconds to say something about who you are. The same thing goes if you don't have a…
Sprout Social
6 Social Media Pros Discuss Effective Client Relationship Management27 Mar 2015 | 1:09 pmOne thing that can unite any agency professional is a story about a client who may have been a bit, well, misguided. Maybe the client had limited social media experience or wasn't clear on what results to expect. Or maybe the client's overarching charge was just "make it go viral!" Handling these requests in a way that strengthens rather than damages the agency-client relationship is paramount to success, and saying "no" requires a tactful approach—one that makes the client feel both heard and happy. To get a better sense of the skills and strategies…
Achieving Customer Service Success Through Social Media: A Q&A with Zendesk26 Mar 2015 | 7:00 amCustomers have the world at their fingertips—and they expect an immediate and accurate response from your brand. When it comes to meeting those needs, what is the best way to empower your team for social success? On April 2, Zendesk, the world's top customer support software company, will join Sprout Social for a one-hour discussion on the topic of "Trusting Your Support Team with Social Media." Reserve your spot now to walk away with the latest best practices for integrating your customer service channels in order to have greater impact as a brand. Avi Warner,…
Social Media Recruiting: Tips for Finding Talent (and Getting Hired)24 Mar 2015 | 7:29 amAs the business landscape evolves, social media is becoming increasingly more important to the talent acquisition process. So how exactly should HR leaders go about developing a plan of action for their whole team to adopt when it comes to recruiting online—and how can job candidates make the right impression? At Sprout Social, we believe in taking a holistic approach that guides candidates every step of the way, from the point of first contact to the final decision. Here are a few of our key insights for making that process as effective and as enjoyable as possible for all involved.
8 Creative Social Campaigns & Ideas from Agencies21 Mar 2015 | 8:00 amFrom cereal to celebrities, agencies represent many things for many brands. But it all begins with having a clearly articulated market position of their own. With that in mind, we took a look at eight agencies with meaningful mantras that have guided the way for some killer campaigns and innovative ideas for clients of all shapes and sizes. We hope this list will inspire you to think of social as more than a tactic but as a holistic approach with a strong vision and voice. 1. Vayner Media Markets: Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco Mantra: "Micro-content" Major brands: GE,…
Sprout Named Highest in Customer Satisfaction by G2 Crowd19 Mar 2015 | 12:33 pmAt Sprout Social, we believe open communication creates progress. Therefore, we welcome feedback from our customers (in any format or medium), because it helps us build the best product and company possible. When that feedback is positive, it reinforces that we're headed in the right direction. That is why we are excited to have received the highest satisfaction score in the latest Social Media Management Report from G2 Crowd, a business software review platform. The report, which is based on data from more than 600 reviews written by business professionals, also named Sprout a…
Why I Dumped 2,500 of My Email Subscribers and You Should Do the Same25 Mar 2015 | 7:52 amDump your Email Subscribers?! I know what you're thinking… No, I'm not insane. In fact, I do this every year. In this post, I'll tell you why I dumped 2,500 of my own email subscribers, how, and most importantly, why you need to do the same. Your email subscriber is your most important lead I always say the same thing, email subscribers are the most important prospect your business can have today. But, if that's true, why are we even talking about dumping them? Let's start by looking at the reasons why… Why you need to dump your email subscribers…
10 Reasons Transactional Emails can Drive more Revenue than Bulk Emails13 Mar 2015 | 12:12 pmMost people look at transactional emails as… well, let's say it… a transaction. We need to welcome you after signing up, or we need to confirm that we got your order, right? But right there, my dear friend, is where you are wasting one of the biggest opportunities to increase revenue for your business. Why? Well, in email marketing you want to achieve 3 things: Get your subscriber to open your emails Get them to click through Convert those clicks into sales And while you might look at this type of emails as mandatory and boring pieces of communication, they can be much…
How to Optimize Your Email Campaign through A/B Testing3 Mar 2015 | 8:40 amPractice makes a man perfect. Testing makes decisions perfect. If you make testing a practice in everything you do, you are always perfect. We know this principle well, but don't necessarily follow it religiously. This leaves us with a lot of ifs and buts. If you are the manager of a marketing automation team and your job is to ensure only the best result for email marketing campaigns, you cannot help but learn experimenting with emails. We are talking about A/B testing your email automation campaign that tells you what works and what does not and then why. Why A/B Testing You may have…
How To Get Traffic From Twitter: Tools And Tactics Pro Bloggers Use10 Feb 2015 | 8:16 amHere's an amusing thing I've noticed recently. There's a gap between what the "experts" teach us about marketing on Twitter and what the Pro bloggers actually do. Everyone knows that Twitter can be a huge source of traffic, so we're always eager to learn any new strategies that the "experts" teach us. But lately I've stopped listening to the "experts" and decided to take a look at how professional bloggers behave on Twitter and what brings them traffic. Here are the two popular myths that got busted right away: 1. "Experts" say: Follow relevant people Really? Let's…
How to Segment Your Email List for ROI [Infographic]27 Jan 2015 | 9:17 amDo you segment your email list? If you don't, you are probably leaving money on the table. Segmentation is the art of grouping your email subscribers with the purpose of sending the right message to each segment to increase open and click rates, and of course, revenue. As we always say around here, the name of the game is "Relevancy." Not segmenting your email list is like shooting in the dark. While email segmentation sounds a bit technical, and perhaps something that big brands do, your ESP (Email Services Provider) most likely offers a very simple way to do this. In this…
A David Creation » Marketing, Websites, Apps, Mobile & Business Solutions
Quick Tip on Using Do Not Disturb Feature on Your iPhone23 Mar 2015 | 9:44 amI made a quick 2 1/2 minute video on how to use the do not disturb feature on your iPhone or iPad. Minimizing Distractions One of the hardest things to do with the digital age we live in is to know when to take a break from technology. We might all have different reasons of why we need to shut off the reminders and notifications. For example, I know I have heard from a few of my clients telling me that they have missed important calls from a spouse when doing an estimate, because they made it a policy to keep their phone either off or in the vehicle. With the do not disturb feature, you can…
Use LinkedIn For More Than Just Building Connections11 Mar 2015 | 5:59 amLinkedIn made some major improvements in 2014. There were times a few years ago when I wondered if LinkedIn was going to stay in the game. Many businesses moved their resources over to Facebook for a time, but I am beginning to see them slowly migrate back to LinkedIn, which I think is a great move. LinkedIn pulled through. It has once again become a very strong place for companies to network and grow their businesses. LinkedIn Isn't Just for Quick Research I recently heard a group of experts at a painting conference discuss social media tools and best practices for painting…
When You're Busy and You Know It, What Do You Do?26 Feb 2015 | 5:33 amRemember the song you or your kids sang in preschool, "When You're Happy and You Know It"? There were specific actions involved and, if you were like the rest of the kids in the group singing, you would follow suit: clap your hands, stomp your feet, and say "Amen!" As odd as it might initially seem, learning these kinds of reactive responses can tie in today with your overall marketing strategy, and how you handle the natural cycles of workload and growth. Two Problems – One Solution I have two scenarios going on at the moment that inspired this…
A Few Tips When Advertising on Angie's List3 Feb 2015 | 9:06 amA Little Background When Angie's List started back in 1995, it was a time when the internet was just beginning to become a fixture in homes. Consumers paid an annual membership fee to access a list of contractors that had been evaluated by its membership. It was an excellent concept. I was not really introduced to Angie's List as a contractor until I was working for my dad's painting business fifteen years ago. Even early on, I did not get many, if any calls about how to get on the list. I just figured the only way on the list was if a consumer used our services and…
What Is a Responsive Website, and Do I Need One?26 Jan 2015 | 10:07 amWhat is a Responsive Site Have you received emails or been asked by designers and marketers if your website is "responsive" or has a responsive layout? Do you wonder what on earth they are talking about and why it matters? In the years ahead, you will continue to hear the word "responsive" used in to describe websites, so we all should learn what it means! A short answer is this: a responsive website basically responds and adapts to a visitor's device and screen. So if he or she is viewing your website on an Android 5″ screen, the website will resize itself to fit a…
Social Media NZ
A new way to look back on photos and memories on Facebook24 Mar 2015 | 2:44 pmIf you enjoy using apps like Timehop, you'll be happy to hear this recent announcement from Facebook. Yesterday in the US they announced 'On This...
Tourism New Zealand – Social Media Specialist5 Mar 2015 | 6:22 pmTourism New Zealand markets New Zealand internationally as a tourism destination using the 100% Pure New Zealand campaign. We are one of New Zealand's biggest...
Why your Facebook Pages' like totals may drop5 Mar 2015 | 3:50 pmYou may have recently seen the below message pop up under the insights tab on your Facebook page. Facebook has today released info to confirm...
Facebook introduces 'Legacy Contact'17 Feb 2015 | 7:51 pmFacebook is a place to share and connect with friends and family. For many of us, it's also a place to remember and honour those...
Why Facebook Paid Ads are Beneficial and Essential12 Feb 2015 | 4:31 pmSo you've set up a Facebook business page and now all you need to do is sit back, make some posts and watch the fans...
Eli Rose Social Media
Your Curated Awesome for 3.27.1527 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amBefore next week's Curated Awesome hits the interwebs, April Fool's Day will have come and gone. In the mean time, I'll be waiting on pins and needles to see what this year's bacon-flavored mouthwash will be. 10 Reasons Why Small Business Should Invest More in Content Marketing We agree with every last one of these reasons. How to Exceed 100,000 Blog Visits per Month A useful overview of a process you can aim to employ for stellar results! 9 Tools for Small Business Reputation Management and Brand Monitoring The inclusion of a review site tool (think: Yelp,…
Want to Get Meaningful Follow-Backs on Twitter? Avoid Doing These 8 Things.25 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amI've been on Twitter for a long while now. I've tweeted for myself. I've tweeted for clients. I've lost track of how many Twitter profiles I've started, or taken over and managed over the years. Needless to say, I'm pretty well-versed in the user habits and practices of Twitter. Twitter is a platform that's incredibly easy to grow the number of Followers you have very quickly. Now, that doesn't mean you are doing the right things to get followed. You might have unhelpful Twitter practices, have purchased fake followers, or have a bunch of…
Zoolander 2: How to Make an Entrance (or Launch a New Product)23 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amGood news, lovers of humor: Zoolander 2 is going to premiere next year. The new film was announced by Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson taking to the runway, in character, during Paris Fashion Week. Since then, I've heard it talked about on the radio, TV and excessively online. There's no denying this publicity stunt got people talking. Often, our clients have fantastic new offerings. This is always an exciting time. However, sometimes they're so busy launching the new offering that the launch plan gets a little fuzzy. Simply throwing up a new webpage on your site is not enough to…
Your Curated Awesome for 3.20.1520 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amWelcome to Friday! It took us awhile to get here but it was well worth the wait. It's an amazing week to read about things on the Internet. Google CFO Retires with Letter about Work-Life Balance I'm a big believer that you work better when you've had some down time. This unique retirement letter gives some insight into even the most successful of executives' take on why we work. Being "Perfect" on Social Media may Be Ruining Your Life No one believes you're perfect anyway, so please stop doing dangerous things in order to look perfect on social media. BuzzFeed CEO Says it's…
Actionable Tips for Finding the Right Social Media Platform18 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amRecently, I struggled not to get into a fight with some other social media managers on Twitter. The topic? Google+, of course. For those unfamiliar with the platform, it tends to be terribly divisive. People love it or hate it. Many claim not to "get" it (though I still believe many of them just heard this statement from their friends and repeated it). The truth of things is: social media is not magic. There is no comprehensive online marketing program that will alleviate the need for you to do some work. You may have to learn the ins and outs of a new platform. You'll…
Ari Herzog's Blog
Why You Should Ask Why23 Mar 2015 | 1:05 pmRun a Google search for the exact phrase, "how to write a blog," and peruse through 416,000 results. Type "why to write a blog" and see 47,300 results. If you agree successful online content (the type that one bookmarks and shares with others) involves human interaction, there are reasons for creating blogs, websites, and social networking profiles, argues Jason Morrison: One of my motivations was sharing some of the research done for classwork – it seemed a shame to write up a report, turn it in to a professor, and then let it gather dust in some corner of my hard…
Why (and How) I Forced 912 People to Unfollow Me on Twitter18 Mar 2015 | 12:00 pmThis screenshot, courtesy of TwitterCounter, shows a 3-month tally of my Twitter followers from early 2014. Notable milestones include 4,721 on January 14, 2014; and 4,887 on February 2, 2014. Do you see the downward slope on the far right? Notable numbers there include 4,832 on February 18; 4,503 on February 20; and 3,975 on February 22. Fast forward a year and I had 2,117 followers on March 18, 2015. While some people may have unfollowed me, the primary reason for the slope is because I forced inactive accounts to unfollow me. I will tell you why and I will tell you how. First, meet my…
How to Be Productive on Facebook17 Mar 2015 | 9:20 amFacebook productivity increases when you read a status update from a profile or page and opt to like, comment, or share. When you don't click those options, you are stuck in lurker mode and eventually get bored. It is a misnomer that you need friends to be productive. You only need to see content. It can come from your friends but it can also come from pages you like and other profiles you follow. Here is the skinny on friends and followers My updates are seen today by 113 friends and 356 followers. A friend is someone who either sent me a request to be friends or someone I sent a…
If You Could Turn Back Time24 Feb 2015 | 3:19 pm"There are no regrets in life," said Jennifer Aniston. "Just lessons." I believe we are put on Earth for a reason and our lives are dictated to discover that reason. Everything we do is destined. I believe there is free will and we choose how and when to act; but I also believe we are meant to make those choices. We learn through our experiences. Looking back at my life there are many things I wish I did differently. But these are not regrets. These are just missed opportunities. Lessons. They make me a better man today. Cher and R. Kelly sang about turning back time.
Those Books That Bind Us20 Feb 2015 | 12:36 pmI stumbled across this quote from English actress Emilia Fox: "I never feel lonely if I've got a book – they're like old friends. Even if you're not reading them over and over again, you know they are there. And they're part of your history. They sort of tell a story about your journey through life." I know what she means because some of my oldest friends are also books. Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" and Lloyd Alexander's "The Book of Three" and C.S. Lewis' Narnia chronicles and the autobiography of…
Oman Collective Intelligence - MPiRe
Always lock up your guns4 Mar 2015 | 8:33 pmEvolveis an American association that promotes gun safety and the reduction of gun violence, and it is primarily concerned with violence that comes from any casual behaviors related to firearms, as we too often hear on media.Evolve came up with a very smart campaign with a very clear message; "if they find it, they'll play with it." This message targets adults but the campaign uses kids. Kids find everything, their toys...and yours. A very well executed campaign (by creative agency McCann), and quite funny too.Watch the video, will bring you a smile and...make you think.
ROP Vs Dubai Police24 Feb 2015 | 1:17 amAs you might have seen already, very recently, both the Royal Oman Police and the Dubai Police released a video to showcase their capabilities.Two different approaches; the Dubai Police in an ongoing effort to get closer to the people, especially tourists, keeps showing off their amazing fleet of amazing super-cars (I already blogged about it some time ago; read it here. Check the Dubai Police latest James Bond style video below:The Royal Oman Police went a different way; probably less glamorous and definitely less expensive but also quite cool, especially if…
Oman best country in the world17 Feb 2015 | 12:21 amYou must have come across the news that 'Oman has been voted the best country in the world'. The prize was awarded during the 2015 World Countries Awards, the most prestigious international award ceremony in the world.Oman also bagged the several other prizes:Best Country in the World: OmanMost Beautiful Capital City In The World: MuscatBest Food in the World: Omani foodNicest People on Earth: Omani peopleSmartest people on the Planet: Omani peopleMost Handsome Men in the World: Omani menMost Beautiful Women In The World: Omani womenMost Humble Human Being on the Planet: The…
The perifect friend...by Nando's2 Feb 2015 | 9:55 pmFriendship and love have always been part of the Nando's brand and its latest 'Nando's for Friends' Instagram initiative celebrates nothing but great food with good companions.Both stores in Qurum and Muscat City Center have prepared an Instagram frame and a few other props for diners to use. All you need to do is get there with as many friends as possible, take a photo and tag nandosomanon Instagram including the hashtags #NandosForFriendsOman and #FriendSelfie. The three photos that gets most likes will win and all friends in the photos will get to dine for free. Not bad. That's…
How to sell your products directly on Instagram25 Jan 2015 | 8:33 pmIf you don't live under a rock you must have realised that Instagram in Oman is very popular. It is not as popular as Facebook (and will never be) but it is way bigger than Twitter.By now any company should already have a strong presence on Facebook so the time has come to focus on Instagram and maximize on the fans. So when you post a photo of a product why not give your fans the ability to purchase right then and there...on Instagram itself?That's what my favourite shop in Muscat just did. TOTEM, being one of the few shops in Oman where you can buy stuff online, and being the first shop…
Our work with KPMG on its new Client Tax App11 Mar 2015 | 8:57 amWe have been providing a full suite of digital services to KPMG since 2011. Our most recent work was the development of the KPMG Ireland Client Tax App. Putting KPMG at the forefront of digital communications in the financial services sector, the Client Tax App went live in 2014. The purpose of the Client Tax App is to provide an authoritative repository for KPMG's online publications in the tax space. Available to registered users only, the portal enables access to a vast range of KPMG tax publications, including articles and insights. The portal is also home to the TaxWatch quarterly…
Our latest news: account wins, new team members, plus we're hiring11 Mar 2015 | 8:55 amAs well as revealing two new account wins, we welcome two new employees to the Arekibo team. We also share details of our latest hiring plans. New account wins with the Aon Centre for Innovation and Analytics and Invesco Limited Arekibo continues to set the pace as Ireland's leading digital consultancy and we're pleased to announce our two latest client wins. We will be providing digital expertise to the Aon Centre for Innovation and Analytics and we will also be working with the pensions and investment consulting company Invesco Limited. Welcome to the team We are delighted to welcome…
Google's new search algorithms to favour mobile-friendly websites11 Mar 2015 | 8:51 amIs your website mobile-ready? Businesses that have not yet optimised their websites for mobile should take note that Google will soon be increasing the search ranking of sites that are mobile-friendly. The shift in Google's search algorithms is set to come into play on 21 April next. The search giant has revealed that, with more and more people using mobile devices to access the internet, its algorithms have to adapt to these usage patterns. Google says the change will impact mobile searches in all language worldwide and will have a "significant impact" in its search results. As a…
Knowledge gaps and managing digital data in 201511 Mar 2015 | 8:49 amNew research from Arekibo reports on the current usage and application of analytics in Ireland today and identifies knowledge gaps as a concern for many digital executives. After interviewing a targeted sample of 30 senior digital executives from Ireland's most successful public and private enterprises, our research has uncovered a number of interesting issues on the usage, role and future of analytics. These findings enable us to gain a solid insight into what is being done right now and what can be done to ensure marketers get the most from their analytics platform. How important is…
Arekibo acquires Irish digital agency KCO11 Mar 2015 | 8:01 amLatest acquisition will see Arekibo consolidate its strategic position as the largest independent digital consultancy in the Irish marketplace, growing its market share, and sustaining jobs in the process. Dublin, Ireland, 11 March 2015 – Arekibo, Ireland's largest independent digital consultancy, has acquired the Irish digital agency KCO – its third acquisition in the past four years. KCO was founded in 1999 and designed and developed web and mobile solutions for clients including Invesco, Irish Life and Merck Sharp & Dohme. Arekibo provides strategic, creative and technology…
Activision on Social Media: Relevance is Key25 Mar 2015 | 9:37 amPrécis: In an interview with Jonathan Anastas, VP of Digital and Social Marketing at Activision, he explains their approach to making relevant posts, and how they decide what is, in fact, relevant. Social media is a loud, busy medium. Users choose what they see, and choose not to engage with blatant advertisement. With so much noise and user control, how can a brand get recognized? Consistent and relevant posts can grow a community of loyal fans. The subject matter will differ by brand, but creating a discussion and maintaining a positive relationship with followers is the…
Inside YouTube19 Mar 2015 | 8:04 amPrécis: As video continues as the most shared type of content across social media channels, YouTube should be at the heart of all corporate marketing. YouTube stands as one of the trinity of leading social media networks. Along with Facebook and Twitter, YouTube has continued its meteoric growth since its inception in 2005. Today, the network boasts more than one billion users. Every day people watch hundreds of millions of hours on YouTube and generate billions of views. The number of hours people are watching on YouTube each month is up 50% year over year. 300 hours…
The USM News Roundup: Latest Social Media News18 Mar 2015 | 6:00 amPrécis: Trends in social shopping for 2015, programmatic social media, YouTube Cards and how content engages with millennials. YouTube Cards The use of ads on YouTube has always been somewhat of a love/hate relationship. They are necessary, but viewers are often frustrated by how ads are managed. Waiting those five seconds before skipping an ad can feel like an eternity. YouTube hope they have resolved that issue with 'cards' that add rich annotations to videos. Related Content: The Future of Social Retail How Different Age Groups Behave Across Social…
Inside Facebook10 Mar 2015 | 5:00 pmPrécis: As the leader of the pack, Facebook continues to define the social media space. For many corporate marketers, social media means Facebook. As the leviathan of the sector, Facebook has continued to develop its dominance especially as an ad partner for many businesses. With a massive captive audience, and high user engagement levels, Facebook continues to dominate the whole social media landscape. Related Content: Who is using Facebook? Facebook Contagion Image: Primary Event: The Corporate Social Media Summit New York Premium`: No read more
The USM News Roundup: Latest Social Media News10 Mar 2015 | 5:00 pmPrécis: Social gaming spending increases, Twitter TV engagement, why people unfollow brands, and the impact that age has on Facebook Ad tags. Twitter TV New research from Nielsen has shown a strong correlation between TV watching and activity across Twitter. "Now, new research shows that Twitter TV activity can also tell us just how engaged the general viewing population is with the programming it watches," said Nielsen. "In fact, it now stands as a bellwether for general audience engagement." Related Content: Who is using Facebook? How the…
Rick Mahn
First Ride – 201515 Mar 2015 | 10:22 amGot the bike out for the first ride of the 2015 season. Looking forward to the next seven or so months of riding!
Happiness CDXXXVIII9 Mar 2015 | 7:15 amOn my way to a client this morning, I was lucky to view this:
Happiness CDXXXVII13 Dec 2014 | 4:30 amImpatient with life? Take Monday off and get up early. Sit back, relax, watch the day pass by and wait for the sunset… It'll help with all the days that follow.
Playlist – U2 Live!12 Dec 2014 | 9:43 pmA few months ago I shared a playlist called Darker Shade of Lunacy, and I said I'd share a few more playlists as I finished putting them together. The truth is that I get them done when I damn well feel like it. So this one for live U2 tracks has been done for several weeks, but I finally made time to share it with you. Frankly, with U2 you can't go wrong with arranging them in whatever order you like. In this case, I've attempted to arrange them chronologically. You can judge how well I've done. Also, since U2 doesn't have a lot of live albums out there, they…
Happiness CDXXXVI21 Sep 2014 | 5:00 amA ride on the river in the evening watching the setting sun cast its glow.
HarveyLeach Media Training
How to avoid a select committee grilling10 Mar 2015 | 5:39 amDo politicians and industry bosses fear anything more than being interviewed by a journalist? Chris Meares, the ex-head of HSBC's private banking division, would probably say "Yes" this morning. Ex-HSBC director and current Chair of the BBC Trust, Rona Fairhead, might well agree with Meares. Both weren't just grilled by a parliamentary select committee yesterday, they were kebab-ed and roasted. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was in charge of the heat settings in this particular select committee "kitchen", with Margaret Hodge overseeing proceedings as "head chef". None…
The Guessing Game7 Mar 2015 | 5:42 amA few days ago my colleague Ann Bird wrote a blog post on how Metropolitan Police officers were being given training in how to write emails in such a way that they could be understood. I heard an interview on the BBC "Today" programme this morning that suggests to me the police need help in how to speak, not just in how to write. The interview, conducted by Sarah Montague, was about how reductions in police numbers were affecting policing and what changes were required in response. The interviewee was Chris Sims, Chief Constable of West Midlands Police. Rarely have I heard an interview…
A copper-bottomed way to communicate effectively3 Mar 2015 | 1:14 amMetropolitan police officers have been given a guide on how to "speak plainly" in emails and not to "prattle on with lots of buzzwords", according to recent newspaper reports. But not everyone is pleased. The Mirror quotes one source as saying, "Who knows what's next? Perhaps a guide to tying shoelaces." However, as we pointed out in a previous blog post, this is a profession fond of verbosity, such as, "I was proceeding in an orderly fashion…" instead of "I drove…", so some tips are probably still needed. The guidance tells officers to "Start your email…
Comprise compromised9 Feb 2015 | 1:13 amA heated war has broken out between the guardians of English and those who believe "anything goes" when it comes to how the language is used. The dispute was sparked by a news report featuring a 'pedant', as the 'anything goes' camp would label him, called Bryan Henderson. According to the report, Mr Henderson, a Wikipedia editor, has spent six years removing 47,000 references to "comprised of" from the online encyclopaedia. He thinks the phrase is ungrammatical. At this point, I need to declare an interest. I fall into the 'pedantry' camp. Family meals in my household…
How to win the election in three words – Think: "Real People"30 Jan 2015 | 6:12 amWe're forever hearing about how much the Westminster parties spend on "spin doctors" and other so-called communications experts. I'd say they still have a way to go to help win our votes, if an interview with a seasoned Labour politician this morning is anything to go by. Peter Hain – MP for Neath and a former minister in Blair and Brown's governments – was on the BBC's Today programme to defend Ed Miliband's focus on the NHS, after the leader took a bashing from former Labour ministers Alan Milburn and Lord Hutton. James Naughtie asked him how radical Mr Miliband…
Facebook Is What I Show You26 Mar 2015 | 5:42 amIf you were to judge me solely by my Facebook posts, you would see someone who is witty ( I hope), provocative (I'll let you decide), self deprecating, well-read (if Radar Online and TMZ make one well read), up on current affairs, rocking the parenting, and ever so connected and successful. At least that's the me I'm putting out there. Also, if you were to judge me solely by my Facebook posts, you might consider me someone who spends entirely too much time on Facebook and you would be absolutely right. You have the right to make that judgement because I make the…
5 Reasons Your Blog's Slideshows Are Killing Me24 Mar 2015 | 5:12 amEnough with the slide shows on your blog already. I know why you do it. I know you get more page views and more opportunities to show your advertisers you're getting more pageviews, but for me – your average reader – slide shows suck. Very few bloggers do them right and as a result I won't spend much time on posts with slide show. Here's why: 1. Blog slideshows are an assault on my senses As I said, very few blogs do slideshows right. In most cases the photos are too slow to load and the page the slide show is hosted on is surrounded by ads. While waiting for…
Public Typo Shaming: The Passive Aggressive Approach to Good Grammar6 Mar 2015 | 6:18 amYeah, I typo but it's rarely ever intentional. I read through my work, I make corrections, and sometimes I go through several rounds of editing before I publish. Still, I miss things. We all do. So while I do agree we should all proofread our stuff before hitting "Publish" or "Send," there are times when I'm willing to see past a typo to the bottom line. Casting the First Stone Everyone from CEOs to newspaper executives leave a typo behind. Yes, it can be cringe-worthy. Yes, it can be distracting. But is it so distracting that I will call that person out…
Freelancing Doesn't Look Like This:26 Jan 2015 | 11:08 amWhile checking my Facebook feed a little while ago, I came upon this ad for Freelance Writing Riches: Obviously the ad is from someone who wants to sell a lifestyle. However, it just adds to the misconception that freelancing is this easy, carefree, barefoot, lifestyle. It couldn't be farther from the truth. Let's put aside the fact that the woman in the photo is sitting on an extremely rocky beach. I mean, comfort isn't essential for anyone working full time at anything, right? I know that when I need to dig in and get work done the first thing I do is look…
Using Facebook Filters – For Sharing and For Viewing23 Jan 2015 | 11:26 amI'm a prolific Facebook user. I'm on Facebook pretty much all day because of my my clients and so I tend to share with my personal friends as well. As my Facebook friends fall into several different categories, I don't necessarily feel comfortable sharing certain things with certain groups of people. For example, I don't want to share personal family stories with business associates. Also, there are people who I would like to remain Facebook friends with, but I don't necessarily want to see all of their Facebook updates. With all that in mind, I make heavy use of…
Jeffbullas's Blog
7 Questions You Need To Ask When Adding Social Media Buttons To Your Blog25 Mar 2015 | 8:01 amSocial media sharing and subscribing buttons are often done badly and it leads to little or no sharing. On a social web that is a traffic disaster waiting to happen. Why does this happen? The designer wants it to look good. So they will place the social buttons in strange places with often obscure designs. It looks good but it doesn't work. Fail! People think that design is just about how it looks, but as stated by Steve (that Apple guy). "Design is not just about how it looks. It goes much deeper than that. It's how it works". If your site visitors love the content…
10 Skills a Digital Marketing Manager Needs to Succeed24 Mar 2015 | 8:01 amA digital marketer is like a conductor. Many players, a lot of shiny noisy instruments and a big audience. It means understanding the nuances of the new web paradigms and how they interact. It's about knowing about how each of the social and digital channels operate and interact with each other and the synergies that creates. It raises questions. How different should my Facebook post be to my Twitter or Instagram tactics. What priority should I put on email marketing? How does my content marketing help build my search engine optimization? The questions are many and complex. "To get…
The 10 New Rules Of Visual Content Marketing23 Mar 2015 | 8:01 amWhen it comes to visual content, your customers expect something very different compared to just a few years ago. It is now supercharged by mobiles and visual social media networks. It used to be OK to have a static website gallery, post text to your social channels, and use corporate photos and videos online. Now, readers depend on visuals to figure out whether your content is worth their time. Expectations of consumers have changed too. They no longer have time to click through to an image or link to see what your content is about. They make split-second decisions based on the visual…
6 Ways to Make Money with Advertising on Your Blog and the Websites to Help You19 Mar 2015 | 8:01 amWithout a doubt, Google Adsense is the go-to source of income for most bloggers. Most new blogs with some decent traffic set up Google ads on their website. But there are times when Google Adsense becomes a less-than-ideal option for your blog. Here are some scenarios: Your Adsense account doesn't get approved You're not happy with what you're making with Adsense and want to explore new ways Your account is disabled or banned for reasons unbeknown to you Whatever the reason, there are some Google Adsense alternatives that you can keep handy for future or start using them once…
How To Increase Your Email Signups By Over 600% Using This Cool Tactic17 Mar 2015 | 8:01 amHow many of your website visitors end up on your email list? I've tried all sorts of things: popups, slide-in forms, feature boxes, hellobars, etc. But my conversion rate never went beyond 3% (actually 2.67% was my peak value). So when I saw a blogger stating that the average conversion rate of his articles was 20-30% (with a few ones peaking as high as 62%) I had no reason to believe him. He said he was using a brand new tactic and once I learned more about it, his insane conversion rates didn't look so unbelievable anymore. So what was the marketing tactic that was increasing his email…
The Social Web Analyst
It Was Foolish To Discontinue Yahoo! Profiles7 Mar 2015 | 7:50 pmThe reason why people did not view other user's profiles is because they could not find them. There is no search feature. No more Yahoo! User Directory. No possible way to search... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
SMP Updates
Germin8 Launches Social Metrix, a Powerful Solution for Social Media Measurement27 Mar 2015 | 1:00 amMUMBAI/PRNewswire/ --Germin8, one of the leaders in Social Media Intelligence, today announced the launch of Social Metrix, a social media measurement tool that helps marketing professionals measure key metrics related to their brand's social chan...
Cutting edge technology previews disruptive change through enterprise cloud adoption at major European conference26 Mar 2015 | 7:35 amCloud represents one of the largest disruptions in Enterprise IT in the last decade according to Abhijit Dubey, Principal at McKinsey & Co, San Francisco, who will be keynoting at Europes largest regional leadership event for the IT infrastru...
Elemental Takes Aim at Traditional Video Infrastructure at NAB 201525 Mar 2015 | 1:20 amNew product offerings enable industry transition to unified linear video deliveryPORTLAND, Ore/PRNewswire/ -- Elemental Technologies, the leading supplier of software-defined video solutions for multiscreen content delivery, today announced the ex...
Record £1 Million Branson Business Prize24 Mar 2015 | 6:50 pmLONDON/PRNewswire/ --'#VOOM: Pitch to Rich 2015' from Virgin Media Business offers business-changing opportunity for UK entrepreneurs to pitch to Sir Richard Branson Virgin Media Business has launched a nationwide competition, with an unprecedente...
Brands Can Now Analyze and Benchmark Many Social Accounts Simultaneously with Digimind Social Analytics24 Mar 2015 | 12:36 amSINGAPORE/PRNewswire/ -- Digimind , an award-winning, global social media monitoring company, today announced the launch ofDigimind Social Analytics. This comprehensive social measurement tool is the first social analytics software to analyze many...
2015 Roundup Of Cloud Computing Forecasts And Market Estimates18 Mar 2015 | 6:38 amGlobal SaaS software revenues are forecasted to reach $106B in 2016, increasing 21% over projected 2015 spending levels. A Goldman Sachs study published earlier this year projects that spending on cloud computing infrastructure and platforms will grow at a 30% CAGR from 2013 through 2018 compared with 5% growth for the overallenterprise IT. Centaur Partners and other firms mentioned in this roundup are seeing more enterprise-size deals for cloud computing infrastructure and applications. While each of these consultancies and research firms have varying forecasts for the next few years, all…
Big Ideas - 20159 Feb 2015 | 6:23 amThese are the trends and ideas Influencers are focusing on in 2015. This clean info graphic does reflects an interesting shift that we can expect in 2015, and of course, the companies to look after. Personally, I am keeping an eye on LinkedIn, Tesla and SpaceX. Further, I certainly believe that this will be the year of Bio-sensing Wearable where it will first time could experience the domain of "must haves" from merely being a cool device. Considering the amount of companies (large & small) entering into the space, the 2015 will experience a new dimension…especially after the launch…
Where Big Data Jobs Will Be In 201530 Jan 2015 | 6:04 amDemand for Computer Systems Analysts with big data expertise increased 89.9% in the last twelve months and 85.40% for Computer and Information Research Scientists. Demand for Python programming expertise increased 96.9% in big-data related positions in the last twelve months. These and other key insights are from a recent analysis completed of big data hiring trends using WANTED Analytics, the leading provider of data analytics on the workplace. For purposes of this analysis, the term "big data" is comprised of the four skill sets of data analysis, data acquisition, data mining and…
Data Science – What's Hot and What's NOT21 Jan 2015 | 6:37 amWith data collection happening at every possible step of the consumer funnel and now beyond it, we have access to unprecedented data of consumer that we never had. The challenge emerges when the data is there but we don't have intention or resource(s) or science to decipher what secret(s) it unveiling . CrowdFlower believe 2015 will be a big year in data science. In simple words - Its not about what company's have, its now about what they can do with it. The further argue that the role of the data scientist is also going to go through an evolution where we a Chief Data Scientists will…
This is how your Marketing Technology Lanscape looks like in 2015…And YES, its confusing….15 Jan 2015 | 6:18 amTechnology has and will keep on playing a critical role in your marketing strategy....and its criticality will go two notches up in near future with the emergence of connected homes and "Connected Beings". The below Marketing Technology Landscape, a long-running graphical view of the Martech space by Scott Brinker of ChiefMartec. This does highlight the complexity that Martech space has in offering but provides a view for a marketer to chart an optimize path/elements to consider for an effective marketing success. If you finding it confusing, don't worry...its is…
Windmill Networking Blog on Social Media Strategy [Full]
How to Create an Instagram Strategy for Your Business27 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amFrom the outside looking in, Instagram appears to be selfies and photos of food but this visual platform has turned into a powerhouse as brands as businesses switch from the Facebook platform due to the fall of organic reach. If you're unsure how you can get value from Instagram, read on for some useful Instagram […] Author information Peg Fitzpatrick Peg Fitzpatrick contributes a monthly column on Google+. Peg is a social media strategist, writer, and speaker. She's co-author of The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users with Guy Kawasaki. Social media is her passion.
What Causes People To Click On Social Media?24 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amThe brain is a wondrous piece of work. Have you ever done something without thinking about it? Have you ever said something out loud that you were thinking in your head? HA! Sure you have. We all have done that at one time or another. Although you'd be surprised at how many times I do […] Author information Wade Harman This monthly Social Media Psychology column is contributed by Wade Harman. Wade is a full time blogger and social media psychology expert. He earned a Cognitive Psychotherapy graduate degree in 2000, and he now uses that knowledge to research and develop social…
Customer Centricity Slogan or Experience?23 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amWhen CMO's were surveyed, 73% said that customer centricity was critical to their business strategy. Of this group only 14% indicated that customer centricity was a hallmark of their brand. Most telling, only 11% believe their customers would agree that their brand is customer centric. Being customer centric feels like a no-brainer goal. Who wouldn't […] Author information Joe Ruiz This monthly Social Customer Experience Marketing column is contributed by Joseph Ruiz. Joseph is President of Strategic Marketing Solutions, a full-service marketing and consulting firm specializing…
A Detailed Guide to Using Slideshare Analytics20 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amSlideshare has become a staple of content creation in recent years. The ability to impart information quickly, in a visual way that appeals to how humans think and recall that information, is fantastic. Where slideshow presentations used to be a tool with a limited user base, it can now be used by anyone, for anything. […] Author information Ann Smarty Ann Smarty contributes a monthly column on Slideshare. Ann is the brand manager at Internet Marketing Ninjas, founder of MyBlogU and co-founder of Viral Content Buzz. She has 7 years of experience in search and social media marketing. Ann…
5 Things Pro Facebook Marketers Do That Most Page Admins Don't19 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amWhat sets pro Facebook marketers apart from the rest? Many things. But mostly it's their holistic vision and appetite for information. Here are five examples of things pro Facebook marketers do that other page admins don't: #1 Pros Upload Their Videos Natively When you see a natively uploaded video from a brand page on Facebook, […] Author information Jim Belosic This monthly Facebook column is contributed by Jim Belosic. Jim is co-founder of ShortStack, a software company that powers apps for Facebook, mobile and websites. He also contributes a monthly column to Social Media…
Dave Delaney | Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategy
NBN53 Tell Yourself You're Already The Thing You Want To Be with Marcus Whitney18 Mar 2015 | 7:03 amMarcus Whitney is president of Jumpstart Foundry, a healthcare business accelerator. He is a serial entrepreneur and recognized Nashville area technology thought leader. Don't forget to check out his TEDx…
How to Run a Facebook Group16 Mar 2015 | 4:24 amThere is a vibrant place online where like-minded people are meeting over shared interests. If you aren't doing so you should be, in fact you could be leading such a…
NBN52 Everybody Has a Deep Yearning To Be Connected with Jayson Gaignard11 Mar 2015 | 1:01 amJayson Gaignard is the host of The Mastermind Talks Podcast, he is the author of the best selling book, Mastermind Dinners: Build Lifelong Relationships by Connecting Experts, Influencers, and Linchpins…
Must Have Tools5 Mar 2015 | 2:42 pmI often get questions from my friends, fans and followers about the different tools I use. These tools provide an array of solutions like… make emails return to my inbox…
NBN51 Constantly Try to Help People with Clay Hebert4 Mar 2015 | 3:58 amPlease support the show with a quick tweet. Click this link http://ctt.ec/H0oL4. Thank you. Clay Hebert is an entrepreneur, marketer and speaker. He is a crowdfunding expert with a speciality in Kickstarter…
Social Media DDS
Did You Know? Scheduling Your Social Media Posts23 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amSo, the last three Social Media DDS "Did You Know?" posts were so popular, I decided to continue on this theme and help you with scheduling your social media posts. Scheduling is such a great time saver and it actually makes the "chore" of posting consistently seem less daunting! Did you know? You can […]
Did You Know? Instagram is a Social Media Game Changer16 Mar 2015 | 5:18 amIn keeping with the Did You Know series that shared Twitter Tips and Facebook Tips, I am going to share some tips as to how businesses can use Instagram. Instagram is actually one of my favorite social media channels and I feel that all businesses should have an Instagram account. Here's why. Did you […]
Did You Know? Facebook Tips for Your Social Media Adventure9 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amLast week's Social Media DDS post on Twitter tips for your social media adventure was a huge hit so, I thought I would continue sharing some helpful tips as you find your way through the social media jungle. This time, I am going to focus on Facebook. Did you know… You need to have […]
Did You Know? Twitter Tips for Your Social Media Adventure2 Mar 2015 | 4:00 amI get asked so many questions about social media and Facebook and Twitter that I thought I would answer a few of the more popular ones here. In today's post, I will focus on Twitter. Did you know… Your Twitter username (the name that you use on Twitter with an @ in front of it) […]
Social Media and National Dog Biscuit Day23 Feb 2015 | 4:00 amDid you know that today is National Dog Biscuit Day? It is! At least according to the website National Day Calendar. What does National Dog Biscuit Day have to do with social media you ask? Everything actually. The fact that this website is entirely reliant upon social media awareness, shares and posts is […]
Building consumer-generated content into the brick-and-mortar experience23 Mar 2015 | 6:35 pmWe've all seen it in the news - but in spite of the unwavering headlines, announcing the timely death of brick-and-mortar retail, we seem to have hit a wall. New stories are emerging in the industry, which suggest that brick-and-mortar still holds importance in the marketplace. The truth is, that physical stores still have sizeable, significant and strategic business benefits for retailers and brands alike. From the American retailer LL Bean to Google, organisations are re-building their bridges to the abundant offline world. But, why? "The Experience Economy" – that's why. In a…
10 SXSW sessions you absolutely can't miss!12 Mar 2015 | 9:11 amAre you new to SXSW and have no idea which sessions to attend? Maybe you are just overwhelmed by the hundreds of options available to you. As Social Media Strategist at Bazaarvoice, I'm uniquely qualified to survey the SXSW landscape for the best sessions related to consumer-generated content and the world of e-commerce. I've complied a list of ten sessions that you don't want to miss. Friday, March 13th sessions Beacons, mPay, and the Great Shopper Reboot From showrooming to webrooming, consumers started using personal technology to transform the shopping experience long before…
5 Bazaarvoice experts answer your consumer-generated content questions – Video10 Mar 2015 | 8:28 amWe hope you enjoyed our virtual bootcamp "Maximizing Your Social Currency: How Consumer Feedback Drives Sales" and that we met our goal of showing you new ways the consumer voice can help build your business. The entire event is now available on-demand for you and your colleagues. This link is your All-Access Pass to all the recorded presentations, download dozens of documents from the Resource Library, and see how Bazaarvoice products can help you in the Solutions Showcase. 9 Myths of Consumer Content You're Still Falling For – BUSTED! Making the Most of Conversations with…
Endurance accessories brand uses reviews to win customers5 Mar 2015 | 6:42 amIt's challenging for small companies to make a big impact. But endurance accessories brand Sealskinz has found a way—using the power of consumer generated content. Established in 1999, Sealskinz empowers outdoor enthusiasts with its waterproof, windproof and breathable products. As an emerging brand in an industry most shoppers aren't familiar with, and with few competitors making similar products, reviews from users provide potential customers with product insights that traditional marketing can't match. "We're a relatively new brand in a space that very few companies…
Yelp Suing Companies for Undermining Authenticity26 Feb 2015 | 8:33 amFor the last few years, Yelp has been the center of much conversation regarding the authenticity of review sites – often with people questioning the company's unclear guidelines for accepting, filtering, and posting consumer reviews. But this week, Yelp is making headlines for its stand against inauthentic review practices. The company is suing RevLeap, a reputation management company that claims it can help companies hide negative reviews by filling their Yelp pages with positive reviews. Though RevLeap insists they are employing fully legal practices, Yelp has filed a suit for violation…
Justin Kownacki
6 Life Lessons from SXSW23 Mar 2015 | 6:32 pmI spent six days in Austin enjoying the 2015 SXSW Film program. Like any conference that's also a nonstop party, this year's lineup was inspiring, informative, and over too soon. Here are six takeaways that stuck with me. "The cavalry is not coming." – Mark Duplass Sound depressing? Well, wait a second. In his heartfelt … Continue reading 6 Life Lessons from SXSW
10 Things Every Freelancer Needs3 Mar 2015 | 4:36 pmSome people dream of quitting their day jobs in order to freelance, but the fear of "what could go wrong" keeps them from making the jump. I've done it twice now, once in 2005 and again in 2014. Both times, I did some things well and other things badly. And both times I loved the … Continue reading 10 Things Every Freelancer Needs
How Creators Can Win in the Post-Facebook Economy17 Feb 2015 | 8:25 pm"What happens when there's no independent media left?" A decade ago, this question was unthinkable. In 2005, "new media" was still new and its rules were largely unwritten. To put this in perspective, in 2005 Steve Jobs announced the iPhone's new video capability by showcasing Tiki Bar TV, a no-budget podcast that was literally filmed … Continue reading How Creators Can Win in the Post-Facebook Economy
Why I Quit My Day Job2 Nov 2014 | 6:15 pmI decided to change my life again. Once, back in 2005, I quit my job in order to freelance full-time. I learned a lot during the next seven years — including a lot about what not to do as a freelancer — and then in 2012 I decided that the security of a steady paycheck … Continue reading Why I Quit My Day Job
How Social Media Destroyed Itself15 Apr 2014 | 5:22 pmTo everyone who's ever created something and shared it online, I'd like to say one thing: I'm sorry. See, those of us who've been doing this for awhile now — we're the ones who invented blogging, and tweeting, and YouTubing, and social networking, and we've been preaching about "the digital revolution" for the past 10 … Continue reading How Social Media Destroyed Itself
Building Social Bridges
The Experience Economy: The 5 Pillars Of Successful CXM17 Mar 2015 | 6:08 amConsumers, as a whole, are undergoing a transformational shift in what they value most. Instead of accumulating owned possessions, more often than not customers are opting in to create memories through "renting" experiences. Rather than building their iTunes library, people are happy to subscribe to Spotify for access to tens of thousands of songs for a variety of occasions. As a substitute for buying a new dress for every occasion, women can now rent one from the dream closet of Rent the Runway. The American dream may in fact no longer be a house and a car, but a great AirBnB and Uber on…
4 Brands That Stole Our Hearts On Valentine's Day23 Feb 2015 | 2:04 pmValentine's day is notorious for polarizing feelings of both love and hate. Some plan for weeks for the perfect night while others try their hardest to pretend it doesn't exist. For advertisers though, the feelings of love are unanimous. And it's no wonder, with the average celebrant spending $142.31 on the holiday, up from $133.91 in 2014 according to the National Retail Federation. Of that spending, which is expected to have reached $18.9 Billion, it's projected that 53.2% people bought candy, 37.8% bought flowers, 21.1% bought jewelry, and 35.1% spent money on a special night out.
Unique Experiences – The New Corporate Gift26 Dec 2014 | 1:26 pmHolidays is the time of the year when we get an opportunity to show our love for our families, express our gratitude to our employees, and show our appreciation to our business partners. Most of the time we do so through gift-giving. And who doesn't love gifts, right? Well, it turns out that when it comes to corporate gift-giving, not a lot of people are looking forward to getting surprises in the mail. This year especially I've seen a lot of frustrated tweets and Facebook posts flying around… from "Oh no! More holiday gifts that I don't need" to "It's that time of the…
15 Ultimate Ways To Customize Email Unsubscribe Process26 Mar 2015 | 8:01 amHealthy email marketing probably depends on the email marketers' readiness to appreciate audiences' preferences. If you do not wish to stay in the opt-in world, then opt-out approach should work well. Hanging on to the people who are not interested or do not want to stay engaged is about being irresponsible, not being determined. It is better to make unsubscribing from an email as easy as subscribing for an email is made. Every email marketer hates to see his customer leaving the subscriber's list, but the fact is that it often happens. Whether it is just an attempt to clear the…
The Beginner's Guide to Digital Couponing25 Mar 2015 | 8:07 amCouponing: the age old task of using a small piece of paper to save astronomical amounts of money at the grocery store. Welcome to the age of the digital coupon. You no longer need a piece of paper, some scissors or the Sunday paper. All you need is a computer or a smartphone. From store offers, to in-app codes, and combining offers in get up to 90% off and free shipping, this guide has got you covered. Learn how to find digital coupons, utilize your app to best work for your needs, and gain insightful tips and tricks to the digital coupon world. Look no further for clever ways to save money.
Sony Launches "Never Seen Before" Campaign With 3 Films Shot Using Sony Action Cam25 Mar 2015 | 6:54 amThe all-new Action Cam from Sony proves to be a director's delight. In the "Never Seen Before" campaign, launched by Sony on March 23, 2015, Sony teams up with a number of visionary directors, artists and filmmakers to create some unique shorts using Sony Action Cam. The camera supports Smooth and high-quality image (4K/2K), image stabilization, high quality audio (did we mention that it is designed to decrease wind noise?), Live-View remote, 170˚ ultra-wide angle and a built-in GPS. It is handy and lightweight, which allows it to be used in some situations where, prior to this, the…
Guide to Form Conversion for The Online Marketers (Infographic)19 Mar 2015 | 9:00 amNo matter what kind of business you're in, making money is always a primary goal. To obtain that revenue, your company might prioritize lead generation and eventually converting those leads into dollars. Monetizing leads is an essential function of the sales funnel. And marketers are an important part of the process. That's why the industry is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to develop prospects into customers. A recent study of over 650,000 form users across a variety of industries provided insights into conversion form rates. While the report is chock full of tips and…
3 Great Ways for Quality Brand Promotion18 Mar 2015 | 9:41 amBrand promotion is the most efficient way to expand your dominion and transform from a small business owner to a big business owner. Bear in mind that brand promotion takes years, and with such a wide competition out there, climbing to the top is not easy at all. There is a well-known app known as "logo quiz", and once you witness all the brands that are out there, the gravity of this task will be quite clear. Even the brands that are considered well-known will be in the field of obscurity, since it is impossible to keep track of everything. Moreover, with forceful spamming of your brand…
Fetching Friday – 24 Posts on Marketing and Productivity27 Mar 2015 | 8:00 amFetching Friday is back for week thirteen of 2015! Each week, I'll share with you the top posts on online marketing and productivity. Without further ado, here are the top posts this week! Content Marketing 26 Blogging Tools to Simplify Your Life: An A-Z List by Melanie Nelson Content for Leads: How to Create Content That Spreads and Fills the Funnel by Michael Stelzner The 10 New Rules Of Visual Content Marketing by Paul Bingham Advanced Content Analysis in Google Analytics by Jeff Sauer 10 Trends Shaping the Future of Branded Content by James Cooper 10 Skills a Digital Marketing…
Fetching Friday – 33 Top Posts on Marketing and Productivity20 Mar 2015 | 10:00 amFetching Friday is back for week twelve of 2015! Each week, I'll share with you the top posts on online marketing and productivity. Without further ado, here are the top posts this week! Content Marketing How to Craft Headlines That Draw People to Your Content by Heidi Cohen Video Blogging: How to Become a Video Personality by Michael Stelzner Top 15 Websites to Find Free Images For Your Content Marketing by Amy Cowen The Art of Concision: How to Effectively Make Your Point in Fewer Words by Isla Mcketta 10 User Generated Content Campaigns That Actually Worked by Eric Siu Content…
Introducing Bloom: A New Way to Grow Your Email List18 Mar 2015 | 11:00 amThere are lots of plugins for WordPress users to help grow your email list. If you are looking for a plugin that offers all of the features you need to increase the size of your list, then you should add Bloom to your website. Developed by the team behind ElegantThemes, Bloom offers multiple opt-form placements and designs. Best of all, it's simple to use. Once you have installed the plugin, you will set up your opt-in forms using the following steps. 1. Set up your email service. To connect your email service to Bloom, you will go to the Bloom menu, choose Email Accounts, and click the…
How to Get Insanely Productive with Social Media Updates to Scale Your Referral Traffic17 Mar 2015 | 6:00 amLife can get crazy… Holidays, trips, family and personal life: There are lots of things that may stand in your way to being consistent with your (and your business) social media presence. Therefore making some sort of social media editorial calendar to keep yourself accountable is a great idea. Like with any productivity hacks, the most important thing to keep in mind here: Keep it very simple. I've seen editorial calendars that actually take more time to create than to implement – I think this is counter-productive. Weekly Social Media Editorial Calendar I keep it simple…
How to Use Viraltag to Schedule to Pinterest, Tumblr, and More16 Mar 2015 | 6:00 amIf you've been looking for a Buffer-equivalent for visual content, then Viraltag is the platform you have been searching for. In a nutshell, Viraltag allows you to create a schedule and schedule posts to Twitter, Facebook (profiles and pages), LinkedIn (profiles and pages), Tumblr, and Pinterest. How to Setup Viraltag Setting up Viraltag is easy. Once you have created a free trial account, you will go to your accounts tab and connect your profiles and pages. Next, you will go to your library. Here, you can connect to your image sources. These include Canva, Instagram, Flickr, Dropbox,…
Cendrine Marrouat Photography
Tongass National Forest, Alaska26 Mar 2015 | 8:52 pmOriginal size: 3648 x 2736 pixels Buy the print and merchandise at Redbubble.
Winnipeg in March23 Mar 2015 | 9:27 pmOriginal size: 5184 × 3456 pixels Buy the print and merchandise at Redbubble.
Venice in sepia16 Mar 2015 | 8:08 pmOriginal size: 5184 × 3456 pixels Buy the print and merchandise at Redbubble.
St. Sernin Basilica, Toulouse19 Jan 2015 | 8:02 pmOriginal size: 3456 × 5184 pixels Buy the print and merchandise at Redbubble.
Palmyra, Syria11 Jan 2015 | 8:24 pmOriginal size: 2736 × 3648 pixels Buy the print and merchandise at Redbubble.
Financial Social Media
How Millennials Use Tech & Social Media To Invest3 Mar 2015 | 2:47 pmBy Brett Relander. Throughout every sector, Millennials are driving changes. Now, Millennials are taking advantage of a variety of high-tech and social media tools that allow them to plow their wealth into investment vehicles of their choice. Given their love for anything tech-related, it should come as little surprise that Millennials are now leveraging social networking platforms, websites, and mobile apps to do everything from following stock-picking tips to finding financial planners. One thing is certain: When it comes to investing, Millennials are taking a completely different…
Social Media Is Dead: Financial Social Media Evolves11 Feb 2015 | 1:07 pmSocial media is dead. "Wait, what?! My company just got a Facebook page." Don't panic. Social media 1.0 is dead because it's evolving into a new form. There's a transformation underway that's moving social toward a more integrated digital strategy as traditional paid, owned and earned media channels converge. While the 1.0 version may be dead, social is not going away. Far from it. Social media is moving from the sidelines of communications to the very center of this new digital world, touching and influencing every aspect of communication. In…
Predict Your Marketing Success for the Year3 Feb 2015 | 11:22 amTake this quick assessment to predict your marketing success in 2015 and find areas to improve. 1. Do you have an up-to-date website with at least one call-to-action to get people to interact, sign up for an email newsletter, request valuable information, download a whitepaper, register for a seminar, or another way to interact? Value: 5 points for one or more calls to action: _______ Value: 5 additional points for each call to action that is already generating qualified leads: ______ 2. Do you have video on your website? Value: Give yourself 5 points: ______ 3. Do you have a marketing…
Managing Compliant Messages on LinkedIn29 Jan 2015 | 11:11 amIf you're like me, on just about any given workday, you'll receive a LinkedIn message from a colleague in your social network. Maybe they're congratulating you on a promotion or for reaching a significant work anniversary. And maybe you're returning their message with some positive messaging of your own. That's great! It means you're staying connected via social media even when you're at your busiest. But what if those LinkedIn messages take a more sales-driven turn, and you and your colleague start talking about a business opportunity? Can you be sure that your LinkedIn…
How to Freshen Up Your Website in 20151 Jan 2015 | 9:10 amWhile I often talk about the importance of LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook in my Financial Social Media blog posts, the fact is that an advisory firm's social presence on the Internet is best established with a well-designed website. In 2014, and even more so in 2015, the trend in web design is leaning toward a new technology called responsive web design, and you can expect to see many more websites using this design function in the future. Responsive web design makes sites easier to navigate and it works across all digital devices, including iOS and Android smartphones, iPads and…
Digital Royalty
Social Snacks – Episode 1127 Mar 2015 | 10:20 amWhat do Meerkat's, St. Bernard's, and Catfish have in common? Social media at this year's SXSW Interactive Festival (seriously!). Saddle up and check out our special roundup of the best social integrations that came out of this year's festival in Austin, Texas. The post Social Snacks – Episode 11 appeared first on Digital Royalty.
Tech in the 21st Century25 Mar 2015 | 12:54 pmJust 209 days until Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown travel to our present day. Are you counting down the days like I am? Well, mark your calendars because on October 21, 2015 at 4:29pm, we'll be able to officially compare how technology has advanced in last the 30 years. What will we have to show? I just got back from SXSW and saw some pretty cool stuff that might change the way we use social media, how we see the world, and how we get from point A to point B. Exhibit A: Wearable Technology Technology is getting avant-garde especially with the Moto 360 and the soon-to-be released Apple…
Hakuna Matata, Meerkat!20 Mar 2015 | 9:42 amYou may have heard of a little app called Meerkat over the last few days. And sorry, but no – it's not an actual mongoose or your favorite Disney character, Timon. Meerkat is an app that has been in development for more than 2 years, but recently exploded in popularity after its appearance at SXSW (and after a little bit of retaliation from Twitter). Many are saying that this is the first app to really takeoff at SXSW since Foursquare, or even since Twitter's launch in 2007. So what exactly is it? Meerkat is a video streaming app, which up until recently utilized Twitter's social…
What You Can Learn From #FerrellTakesTheField13 Mar 2015 | 10:10 amOn Thursday March 12, 2015, comedy icon Will Ferrell took the field – several, actually – in a stunt that flooded Major League Baseball fans' social timelines. Here's what you can learn from #FerrellTakesTheField to make your next social media activation an overwhelming success: 1. Be uniquely goofy. While we've seen celebrity guest ballplayers in the past, we've never seen one keep a straight face while playing for ten teams in one day, or telling a batter he's handsome as a third-base coach. And though Will Ferrell is a rare bird, who we can…
Social Snacks – Episode 1011 Mar 2015 | 11:43 amIt's our 10th episode of Social Snacks, and we've got a special segment for you this week! Sit back and enjoy our top 10 list of updates, stats, and things you need to know in the world of social media. Snapchat? Check. Instagram? You bet. Tinder?? Say whaaaaaat! Don't blink, because there's even a celebrity guest appearance. In other words, this is one snack you're not gonna want to skip. The post Social Snacks – Episode 10 appeared first on Digital Royalty.
agency 2: Social Media Agency
Social Media: Connecting the dots27 Mar 2015 | 5:34 amOn Tuesday 31 March, 2015 our director Joel Davis, will chair a presentation at the DMA in central London. What is the DMA? The biggest marketing body in Europe, the DMA aims "to connect, enable and inspire our members to drive business growth" primarily through digital communications. Their objective includes facilitating a marketing evolution of growth at both a business and industry level. The presentation is called Social Media: Connecting the dots and will touch on various aspects of social including successful strategy, integrating social media with other channels, current…
Is Meerkat the next big social app?24 Mar 2015 | 6:14 amIt's the talk of the town. A real-time video app set to take over the world. Is it really promising as a new social platform? The live-streaming app allows users to play videos on their Twitter feeds, as they happen. According to The Independent, since its launch on 27 February, Meerkat has attracted more than 120,000 users. Not bad going for under a month. Is 'Meerkatting' set to become the new way of communicating? Can it outlive its strong start and emerge as a big social network in its own right? "The difference between Meerkat and, say, YouTube or…
Facebook Relevance Score – Top Tips4 Mar 2015 | 9:58 amThe relevance score is valuable towards further identifying the strength of your ad campaigns. It is important to note, it will not only affect the cost of your ads, but will also affect the visibility of your ads. (See here for Facebook's announcement on the relevance score.) Facebook places high importance on relevance, in order to track what will be shown in an individual's newsfeed. In essence, obtaining a high relevance score will decrease your costs; the more successful your ad in terms of targeting and engagement, the lower the delivery costs. On the flipside, if your ads are…
Social for selling6 Feb 2015 | 8:27 amA new report by Shareaholic this week highlighted the following: Social media has become the number one driver of ALL website referral traffic. In 2014, the figures rose from 22.71% to 31.24%, a massive increase over this time period. This is a significant opportunity to consider; although this growth may not be sustainable, it is definitely something for businesses to focus their marketing campaigns on now. Which channel is the biggest referrer? Unsurprisingly, Facebook is still tops by a wide margin (24.63% in December 2014 vs. next best channel Pinterest at 5.06%). Despite the challenges…
Social Media Networking By Age Groups23 Jan 2015 | 2:37 am"It wasn't like that in my day…." "When I was your age…" These idioms are now applying to social media too. Channels are changing quicker than we can take a selfie. The younger generation is continuously finding new ways of communicating and moving on from previous popular sites whilst the older generation is started to get socially active more than ever before. An American report entitled "Social Media Update 2014" (see link here) concluded that whilst Facebook remains the most popular social networking site, others are growing at a higher rate. What does all of this data…
Thoughts on Social CRM and Analytics by Harish Kotadia, Ph.D.
Top 5 Reasons Why Big Data and Analytics Projects Fail – Part 122 Mar 2015 | 8:33 pmA lot has been written about success and failure of Big Data and Analytics projects in recent times. Unfortunately, most of the articles and blog posts on this subject fail to highlight real reasons why Big Data projects fail. Given below are top 5 reasons, in my opinion, why most Big Data and Analytics project fail. They are: 1. Failure to define use case in objective terms 2. Failure to use right technology 3. Failure to focus on business requirements first, technology next 4. Failure to leverage all available data sets and assets 5. Failure to effectively use power of advanced analytics In…
How to Profit from Big Divide of Big Data7 Sep 2014 | 4:16 pmWhen it comes to Big Data and Analytics solution implementations for enterprise clients/large business organizations, I see a big divide between what functionality business users want and are demanding from their CTO or IT organization and the functionality that CTO or IT organization can deliver. I would like to call this gap as "Big Divide of Big Data". Given the exponential increase in number of sources and volume of Big Data being generated, thanks to digital and sensor based productivity revolution, this gap is growing wider every passing day. And one wonders if twain shall…
Google Flu Trends: Importance of Veracity, the 4th "V" in Big Data29 Mar 2014 | 7:55 pmA lot has been written recently criticizing Goolge's Flu Trends – a flu tracker service that predicts flu activity based on specific search terms using aggregated Google search data and estimates current flu activity around the world in near real-time. For more, read How does this work? Science magazine has recently published an article titled "The Parable of Google Flu: Traps in Big Data Analysis" and Steve Lohr has published a great piece in BITS blog of New York Times titled "Google Flu Trends: The Limits of Big Data." It is important to note that…
Big Data and Analytics: What to expect in 201418 Jan 2014 | 5:56 pmLast year was a great one for technology professionals, consultants and practitioners working in the area of Big Data and Analytics. And 2014 promises to be even better. Given below are three main reasons why 2014 will be a spectacular year for those of us in Big Data and Analytics: 1) Investments in very large Big Data projects: Many of the large and medium-sized enterprises 'experimented' with Big Data last year by undertaking 'Pilot' projects to demonstrate business value. Well, they are now ready to take next major step in their Big Data journey by undertaking…
From Data to Information to Insights: Changing Role of #CIO27 May 2013 | 8:45 pmThere was a time not too long ago (late 1970s to be precise) when companies use to have Electronic Data Processing department and EDP Managers to manage data processing function. EDP department evolved to become Management Information Systems department in early 1980s and MIS Manager ran the show when it came to 'computerization' initiatives as it used to be called back then. As technology evolved from mainframes to client-server computing and with the rise of personal computers (PCs) or desk-tops, adoption of information technology across organization picked up pace and IT was no…
12 ways Organic Search and Paid Search work better together21 Mar 2015 | 6:37 pmIn Chinese philosophy, yin (the shady side) and yang (the sunny side) describes how apparently opposite or contrary forces are actually complementary, interconnected and interdependent in the natural world. In digital marketing, yin and yang apply to the way organic search and paid search work. Organic Search (Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the the process of obtaining a natural placement on search engine rank pages using keywords, keyword analysis and link popularity. The goal of SEO is to attract users organically without paying for it. Paid Search (Search Engine…
6 insights into the social media paradox15 Mar 2015 | 6:31 amSocio media-logy – how digital and social media marketing work from Rob Petersen 50% of business owners have increased their time on social media 55% state they use Facebook, Twitter and the other major platforms for customer acquisition and sales leads 60% say they see no results (source: Forbes) Why do so many companies put so much time into activities that don't produce results? A paradox is an absurd or seemingly self-contradictory statement that, when investigated, is well-founded and true. These facts say there is a paradox (or paradoxes) about the way…
Strategy or tactic? 21 ways to tell the difference7 Mar 2015 | 3:11 pmIn 500 B.C., Sun Tzu, the Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher who wrote The Art of War said you can't win a war without a strategy and tactics. Why? Great tactics win battles but great strategies win wars. That wisdom is just as applicable today. Whether it's war, marketing, sales, research, business intelligence or personal, both are inextricably linked and co-dependent. Sometimes, when people are creating a plan, there is confusion about whether something is a strategy or tactic. It's important to know. As Sun Tzu states, the wrong…
24 top ranking factors for high search rank on search engines1 Mar 2015 | 12:40 pm81% of internet users find desired online destinations through a search engine (source: Forrester) 76% of people use search engines to find local business information (source: MOZ) 53% of organic searches click on the website in the first position (source: Search Engine Watch) The facts show, if your business expects results from the internet, you have to think about search rank like Ricky Bobby – "If you're not first, you're last." Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a methodology of strategies, techniques and tactics used to increase the amount of…
10 data experts explain why little data is the new big data22 Feb 2015 | 6:23 am91% of marketing leaders believe successful brands use customer data to drive business decisions (source: BRITE/NYAMA) 90% of the world's total data has been created just within the past two years (source: IBM) 87% agree capturing and sharing the right data is important to effectively measuring ROI in their own company (BRITE/NYAMA) These facts say loud and clear companies believe data helps them make better business decisions. Big Data is a broad term for data that comes from places like web browsers, social networks, census, surveillance and sensors. It's stored in…
Windmill Networking is Now Maximize Social Business
How to Create an Instagram Strategy for Your Business27 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amFrom the outside looking in, Instagram appears to be selfies and photos of food but this visual platform has turned into a powerhouse as brands as businesses switch from the Facebook platform due to the fall of organic reach. If you're unsure how you can get value from Instagram, read on for some useful Instagram […] Author information Peg Fitzpatrick Peg Fitzpatrick contributes a monthly column on Google+. Peg is a social media strategist, writer, and speaker. She's co-author of The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users with Guy Kawasaki. Social media is her passion.
What Causes People To Click On Social Media?24 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amThe brain is a wondrous piece of work. Have you ever done something without thinking about it? Have you ever said something out loud that you were thinking in your head? HA! Sure you have. We all have done that at one time or another. Although you'd be surprised at how many times I do […] Author information Wade Harman This monthly Social Media Psychology column is contributed by Wade Harman. Wade is a full time blogger and social media psychology expert. He earned a Cognitive Psychotherapy graduate degree in 2000, and he now uses that knowledge to research and develop social…
Customer Centricity Slogan or Experience?23 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amWhen CMO's were surveyed, 73% said that customer centricity was critical to their business strategy. Of this group only 14% indicated that customer centricity was a hallmark of their brand. Most telling, only 11% believe their customers would agree that their brand is customer centric. Being customer centric feels like a no-brainer goal. Who wouldn't […] Author information Joe Ruiz This monthly Social Customer Experience Marketing column is contributed by Joseph Ruiz. Joseph is President of Strategic Marketing Solutions, a full-service marketing and consulting firm specializing…
A Detailed Guide to Using Slideshare Analytics20 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amSlideshare has become a staple of content creation in recent years. The ability to impart information quickly, in a visual way that appeals to how humans think and recall that information, is fantastic. Where slideshow presentations used to be a tool with a limited user base, it can now be used by anyone, for anything. […] Author information Ann Smarty Ann Smarty contributes a monthly column on Slideshare. Ann is the brand manager at Internet Marketing Ninjas, founder of MyBlogU and co-founder of Viral Content Buzz. She has 7 years of experience in search and social media marketing. Ann…
5 Things Pro Facebook Marketers Do That Most Page Admins Don't19 Mar 2015 | 5:45 amWhat sets pro Facebook marketers apart from the rest? Many things. But mostly it's their holistic vision and appetite for information. Here are five examples of things pro Facebook marketers do that other page admins don't: #1 Pros Upload Their Videos Natively When you see a natively uploaded video from a brand page on Facebook, […] Author information Jim Belosic This monthly Facebook column is contributed by Jim Belosic. Jim is co-founder of ShortStack, a software company that powers apps for Facebook, mobile and websites. He also contributes a monthly column to Social Media…
Heidi Cohen
3 Secrets To Get Employees Blogging For Your Business27 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amDoes your company blog suffer from the lack of company love? Here are 10 easy-to-implement ways to get employees blogging for your business. The post 3 Secrets To Get Employees Blogging For Your Business appeared first on Heidi Cohen.
Why Use Media When We Have Content Marketing?25 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amDid you realized that how you define media has an impact on your marketing and PR results? Here's 15 media definition checklist complete with charts. The post Why Use Media When We Have Content Marketing? appeared first on Heidi Cohen.
The Social Media Opportunity Most Businesses Miss (Do You?)23 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amWant to know the secret to massively improve corporate social media engagement? Here are 10 tips to help you expand your social media interaction. The post The Social Media Opportunity Most Businesses Miss (Do You?) appeared first on Heidi Cohen.
Spin Sucks – Book Interview21 Mar 2015 | 7:44 amMost PR books tell you how to "spin" your message. People are sick of that! Spin Sucks will teach you how to communicate honestly, responsibly, openly, and authentically…and truly earn the trust of your customers, stakeholders, investors, and communities. Top PR thought leader and blogger Gini Dietrich runs the number one PR blog in the world, spinsucks.com, where she shares cutting-edge tips and tools for effective, ethical communications. Now, she's integrated all she's learned into a complete, actionable guide for every business leader who understands there are new rules to…
How To Launch A Successful Business Blog20 Mar 2015 | 3:00 amWant a successful business blog? Here are the 5 winning elements you need with detailed blogging tips to help you achieve your blogging goal. The post How To Launch A Successful Business Blog appeared first on Heidi Cohen.
The Future Buzz
Digital Analytics Best Practices For Agencies [Video/Presentation]20 Mar 2015 | 1:39 pmToday I was making slides for a new presentation and happened to stumble upon one of my talks at Google I had no idea was posted. It's on analytics best practices for agencies and I've embedded it below as it's relevant for readers here, but first a quick intro.Reporting digital marketing success as part of a formalized process can be a huge win for both agencies and clients to build productive long-term relationships together. I've seen this in both my current role on the Google Analytics team and the agency side while leading global digital teams.Why is it a huge…
Must-Watch: Vice Special On Future Of Cancer Treatment15 Mar 2015 | 9:40 amVisualization of Kite Pharma's Chimeric Antigen receptorCancer will impact everyone on the planet, whether directly or indirectly, multiple times throughout our lives. Several of my friends are currently fighting it and despite having dealt with death and illness frequently in my personal life it doesn't get any easier to hear this sort of news.But the good news is the biotech industry is making great strides in treatment options and every day we learn more about fighting this complex disease.As someone who has followed cancer treatment technology (and has invested in several…
4 Steps to Measuring What Matters Most10 Feb 2015 | 9:43 amThe following is my latest Analytics column, originally published on ClickZ. You can read all my previous postings on ClickZ here.While most brands have a digital measurement plan in place, it's never a bad idea to take a fresh look at how you measure to determine if your approach is as strong as it can be. Even the best plans need realignment and there's never a bad time to accomplish this. So I was excited that our team at Google recently published a brand-new guide for marketers to understand, and measure, what matters most.This is especially important because as the digital…
Ditching Your Commute Qualified: Worth ~$40K / Year In Happiness21 Jan 2015 | 10:23 am5 years ago when I left Minneapolis to move to San Francisco, I went car-free and documented how even after a short time period I found the experience completely transformative for my life in a positive way. As positive if not more so than ditching cable TV or getting better and more consistent exercise.Since then, I've shared several pieces of research indicating how your commute is causing unhappiness in a way you will never normalize against. This post shares more details + actual data, but it's easily summarized in this graph:So as someone who has been advocating a…
3 Tools To Ensure Your Analytics Implementation Is Setup Right5 Jan 2015 | 9:35 amThe following is my January 2015 Analytics column, originally published on ClickZ. You can read all my previous postings on ClickZ here. In a previous column, I shared technical reports related to performance that modern marketers can't live without. It's true, technical issues are a shared responsibility of marketers and developers, with each group having a strong understanding of the other. In my years of experience as a consultant, not some, but all marketing teams with a fluency in and operational structure to implement technical fixes came out ahead because they were getting…
My Community Manager » My Community Manager -
#CMGRHangout presents: Moving from Faves to Hugs (Preview)26 Mar 2015 | 6:50 pmIf you know me at all, you know I'm a huge fan of meet ups and events. I'm a bit notorious for hosting them everywhere I go. While it's true that video makes us closer to each other, hugs are even better. As part of the Magento community, I was able to form in-person friendships at their first annual conference, four years ago, that only continue to grow stronger as time passes. Because this skill is so powerful and essential in our industry, one of our CMAD awards was focused to recognize community managers who excel at bringing their online communities offline.Join…
Impressing with Speed: Don't Hate the Rabbit.23 Mar 2015 | 12:44 pmWe're all familiar with the childhood story of the tortoise and the hare. In case you're not, it's a story about a turtle (tortoise) and a rabbit (hare) who are in a race. The story goes when the race started the rabbit immediately took an incredible lead and the turtle slowly began a methodical pace. Eventually the rabbit was so far in front he grew ridiculously confident in his sure-fire win and decided to take a break, go off-course, smell the flowers, and even take a nap. The rabbit lost track of time and the turtle, who never stopped his slow and steady pace, crossed the finish…
#CMGRHangout presents: How to Impress with Speed (Storify)20 Mar 2015 | 2:51 pmWe like speed, but not speed sacrificing quality. How do you do both online? This week we have nominees and finalists for this years #CMAD's "Fastest Fingers" award.[View the story "#CMGRHangout presents: How to Impress with Speed" on Storify]The post #CMGRHangout presents: How to Impress with Speed (Storify) appeared first on My Community Manager.
#CMGRHangout presents: How to Impress with Speed (Preview)19 Mar 2015 | 8:26 pmNo one likes to wait. If you are like me, when you are in the grocery store you will walk back and forth to find a checkout lane that is the shortest. When you get on the phone with a company and you hear that you are the 13th person in the queue you get a little sick to your stomach. The mere thought of having to go to the DMV gives you nightmares. We like speed, but not speed sacrificing quality. How do you do both online?This week we have nominees and finalists for this years #CMAD's "Fastest Fingers" award. Join us on the #CMGRHangout panel Friday, March 20th at 2pm EST to talk with…
#CMGRHangout presents: Advocating for Your Community (Storify)13 Mar 2015 | 12:48 pmThis week we chatted with the nominees for our #CMAD "peoples champion" award. These are the folks heavily invested in conversations with their community, as well as their organization. They are the ones advocating for a win/win relationship.[View the story "#CMGRHangout presents: Advocating for Your Community" on Storify]The post #CMGRHangout presents: Advocating for Your Community (Storify) appeared first on My Community Manager.
Webinar Recap: Advanced Social Campaigns Deliver Real Business Impact24 Mar 2015 | 7:47 amEven with the vast evolution of social media marketing over the last half decade, marketers and CMOs alike are still challenged with proving the value of social media for their businesses. In a recent CMO Survey, only 13% of firms reported that they were able to prove the impact of social media quantitatively. While many (more...) The post Webinar Recap: Advanced Social Campaigns Deliver Real Business Impact appeared first on Shoutlet. Click the headline to read more.
Social Media's Role in New Customer Acquisition23 Mar 2015 | 9:32 amOf all the marketing disciplines – email, paid search, SEO, and others – social media is well-suited to support every part of the customer journey, from awareness to advocacy. It's easy to see how social media is a perfect fit for customer service, awareness, and relationship nurturing. But relying on it as a primary way (more...) The post Social Media's Role in New Customer Acquisition appeared first on Shoutlet. Click the headline to read more.
8 Ways to Get Your Social Media Ready for Spring18 Mar 2015 | 1:25 pmThe official first day of spring is this Friday, March 20, but many of us don't need the calendar to tell us that it's time for winter to be over. It's time for spring flowers, open windows, and usually a bit of spring cleaning to get the season started right. Your social media will benefit (more...) The post 8 Ways to Get Your Social Media Ready for Spring appeared first on Shoutlet. Click the headline to read more.
What Facebook's Adjustment in Like Counts Means for Your Brand11 Mar 2015 | 10:00 amStarting March 12, Facebook Pages will see a "small dip" in their fan counts. The network will start to remove inactive or memorialized Facebook accounts from Pages' Like count totals. While it means social teams will likely see a smaller overall fan base total, it's a move that can bring what more brands are now (more...) The post What Facebook's Adjustment in Like Counts Means for Your Brand appeared first on Shoutlet. Click the headline to read more.
How 4 Brands Illustrate the Power of Customer Stories in Social Media10 Mar 2015 | 7:38 amWeaving more stories into your social content captures people's attention and helps cut through the noise. But when customers who adore your company share how your brand has impacted their lives for the better, it personalizes those brand stories and helps them connect with similar, future customers. Four Shoutlet customers – Harry & David, Allure Bridals, (more...) The post How 4 Brands Illustrate the Power of Customer Stories in Social Media appeared first on Shoutlet. Click the headline to read more.
The Technology Cafe
VIDEO: The Pogue Review: Robo Vacuums27 Mar 2015 | 3:59 pmDavid Pogue reviews the four most popular robotic vacuums on the market. Thanks for checking us out. Please take a look at the rest of our videos and articles. To stay in the loop, bookmark our homepage. The post VIDEO: The Pogue Review: Robo Vacuums appeared first on The Technology Cafe.
VIDEO: What Sets Lyft Apart From Uber26 Mar 2015 | 11:59 amLyft co-founder Logan Green sits down with Yahoo Tech's David Pogue to discuss the philosophical differences of how Lyft is different from Uber. Thanks for checking us out. Please take a look at the rest of our videos and articles. To stay in the loop, bookmark our homepage. The post VIDEO: What Sets Lyft Apart From Uber appeared first on The Technology Cafe.
VIDEO: How Lyft Is Changing The Face Of Transportation26 Mar 2015 | 11:59 amLaunched only six months ago, Lyft Line is quickly opening up a successful new market for Lyft. Thanks for checking us out. Please take a look at the rest of our videos and articles. To stay in the loop, bookmark our homepage. The post VIDEO: How Lyft Is Changing The Face Of Transportation appeared first on The Technology Cafe.
VIDEO: Fanboy Smartphone Challenge19 Mar 2015 | 8:59 pmTwo contestants battle to see which mobile OS rains superior, Apple VS. Android. Thanks for checking us out. Please take a look at the rest of our videos and articles. To stay in the loop, bookmark our homepage. The post VIDEO: Fanboy Smartphone Challenge appeared first on The Technology Cafe.
VIDEO: Tech Mix: Meerkat's Co-Founder Ben Rubin19 Mar 2015 | 8:59 pmDavid Pogue sits down with Meerkat's co-founder Ben Rubin to discuss the future of the popular new app. Thanks for checking us out. Please take a look at the rest of our videos and articles. To stay in the loop, bookmark our homepage. The post VIDEO: Tech Mix: Meerkat's Co-Founder Ben Rubin appeared first on The Technology Cafe.
Social Cubix » Blog
Flying High on the Cloud – The Latest Rage in the Wireless World27 Mar 2015 | 6:05 amEvery workplace today is crawling with ultra-fast computers and other goodies to speed up tasks and get to the end goal in one piece. Ever find yourself trying to milk out strategies to share all hardware and software resources in one place? This can certainly prove to be a tedious task, but it doesn't necessarily have to be: the cloud understands that. The term "cloud" has been popping up everywhere in tech circles. To put it simply, a remote computer is used to share, store and access information on the internet via the cloud, from any location on the globe. The convenience and…
8 Ways to Make Your Mobile Game More Addictive and Gamer-friendly25 Mar 2015 | 10:33 pmI bet you didn't know the creator of the ridiculously famous Flappy Bird was making more than $50,000 in ad revenue each day. The famed mobile game Angry Birds has seen many product tie-ins and cartoons spawning since its release. However, for every Farmville or Angry Birds-inspired game, there are several hundred games lying around in the app store, bagging only a limited number of downloads. Though every hit game sports different features, unique challenges and characters, there are some common traits which make these games highly addictive, exciting, and profitable. Let's discuss some…
What All Mobile Devs Can Learn from Flappy Bird's Success24 Mar 2015 | 10:31 pmThe rave success that was Flappy Bird made a preposterous $50,000 a day in ad revenue, before being pulled off from online stores. It took the developer just 3 days to write the game. Due to Flappy Bird's undeniable success, a myriad of similar games have sprung up all over mobile stores. Can you cash in and enjoy the same level of success? As long as you have a great gaming idea, you certainly can. All you need is the right template. Got Room for One More? In a multi-billion dollar industry, is there any room at all for indie game makers or one-man show devs? Absolutely! Making your game a…
Boosting Mobile Customer Retention: 5 How-tos23 Mar 2015 | 9:40 pmMobile app teams daily run into monetization and retention problems. Innovators are busy at work coming up with key methods to drive tangible business results and increase mobile retention. Let's discuss these methods. 1. The Relationship between Analytics and Iteration You've observed how several thousand app publishers are making use of analytics packages like Flurry or Google, to amass how customers are behaving inside their apps. Various events are created to observe specific user actions and look at the trail left behind by user interaction; app publishers can get a fix on what goes…
Mobile Transforming Banking amid Fraud Concerns19 Mar 2015 | 12:22 amMobile has revolutionized how business is done in many sectors, including banking. Given its very nature, banking and financial services should be concerned about the kind of attacks and frauds they're susceptible to, which also seem to be evolving steadily as we speak. Let's discuss further. Fraud Trends at Present Fraud trends in mobile today include highly sophisticated malware. Attackers are exploiting banks providing new mobile service offerings to consumers. PCs continue to get steam-rolled as about 50% logins at major US banks take place through native banking apps – as a result,…
Geeks Zine
Whoa! New Vector Smartwatch Has 30 Day Battery Life27 Mar 2015 | 11:21 amRecent smartwatch launches have been slated for not having enough battery life to keep up with users' demands. However, at the Baselworld watch show in Switzerland, Vector announced its new smartwatch models Luna and Meridian will have a battery life to outdo them all. The Vector smartwatch is cross platform and will work with Android, […] Read more: Whoa! New Vector Smartwatch Has 30 Day Battery Life
Does The Split Into Streams and Photos Mean The End For Google+?27 Mar 2015 | 10:14 amGoogle+, Google's attempt at a social network site, was launched four years ago with the hopes of rivalling Facebook and allowing Google users the chance to create a unifying profile across all services. One of the original motivations behind the social network was reportedly to gather information about users that could be used to target […] Read more: Does The Split Into Streams and Photos Mean The End For Google+?
The New Features That Made Microsoft Scrap IE In Favour Of Project Spartan26 Mar 2015 | 11:11 amInternet Explorer, the native web browser on Windows computers, was first made available to users in 1995, but after 20 years of service Microsoft has turned its attention to new browser code named Project Spartan. Project Spartan will have more user friendly features and offer competition for Firefox and Safari. Although Internet Explorer has fallen out of favour […] Read more: The New Features That Made Microsoft Scrap IE In Favour Of Project Spartan
15 Best Free eBooks for Web Designers25 Mar 2015 | 11:10 amIf you're looking into learning, studying, broadening your knowledge of web design then reading an eBook is great place to start. Within this article we have composed the 15 best eBooks for web designers that we think are great and even better, they're all free! Designing for the Web A Practical Guide to Designing for the […] Read more: 15 Best Free eBooks for Web Designers
15 Must-Have Chrome Extensions for Web Designers23 Mar 2015 | 11:21 amArguably one of the reasons that Google Chrome has become the most popular web browsers is obviously for it's speed but also for it's ability to have some really useful and powerful extensions. These extensions range from being able to make Facebook look different to changing your YouTube settings to finding fonts in websites to […] Read more: 15 Must-Have Chrome Extensions for Web Designers
Managing for Creativity: How to scale without hindering creativity?4 Mar 2015 | 12:49 pmThe beauty of a successful digital program is that it combines the creative inspiration of the artist with the analytic rigour of the scientist.I am often asked by my peers in various groups and councils on designing methodologies that allows scale but also doesn't kill creativity in the process. Some assume that just building the process is enough and we can just force it upon everyone in our teams.The reality is that doing this with scale can be a very complex and complicated task but often necessary in order to build a profitable business.From my experience as someone who's been…
The True Joy in Life19 Feb 2015 | 2:19 amThis quote really resonated with me today. And I hope it does it with you as well.This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. Being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life…
Digital Business, Powered by Data in 201518 Feb 2015 | 3:19 pmThe modern digital enterprise is a collaborative, living and an engaged organism. It understands its market conditions and organizes itself in advance for it. It embraces change as its only constant.Enabling Natural Human InteractionsThe modern business is flatter than ever before. It makes its decisions in minutes, not months. It is bottoms-up vs top-down. The strategy is no longer a static document. It is ever evolving based on real-time interactions across the various internal and external channels.Sounds impossible?Global enterprise social software market (ESS) is expected to grow from…
IBM Watson's latest legal play: End of Overpaid Lawyer?17 Feb 2015 | 11:02 amIs this the end of the overpaid lawyer?Now that Ross exists, it may very well be. The computer system, which is based off of IBM's Watson platform and developed by an amazing team at UofToronto can take any and all of your legal inquiries and spit out answers based on inputted data gleaned from legal documents, cases and statutes.Ross is just one of the many ways that Watson is being used to better the world using big data. IBM, for one, is using the smart system to make better poutine, of all things.Oh, and it also taught chefs new recipes at SXSW.The post IBM Watson's latest legal…
5 Critical Elements of Teams That Win12 Feb 2015 | 11:30 amIn a meeting yesterday, I was asked to define what a winning team looks like? What allows a team to win, over and over again?"There's got to be a secret for a strong track record. A team that consistently over delivers. What should a leader look for?", she asked. "It can't be a fluke."I replied,"A winning team plans better, trusts each other more and works even harder."Crisis in a modern business — whether it be a startup or a large enterprise is inevitable. Budgets get cut, systems break, projects get delayed, legal issues arise, products…
Social Web Thing
Play Crossy Road for Real Fun27 Mar 2015 | 7:48 amAre you looking for a free game that can provide you with adrenaline rushes? Play Crossy Road! Crossy Road is a game that will help you forget about your worries and have a great time. You do not have to spend any money at all to taste the flavor of Crossy Road as it is entirely free. Just get online and start playing this exhilarating game that never ends. Get across roads, save yourself from cars and other obstacles. Of course you can start all over again but the challenge is to cross roads without being hit by a variety of obstacles such as trains, cars and more. How to play? Playing…
Data Safety for Dublin Start-Ups25 Mar 2015 | 12:06 pmIreland has faced a difficult economic situation over the past years, but things are undoubtedly improving as it cements its place as a leading location for big businesses, as well as start-ups to set-up camp. This is because the digital world is changing the way business gets done. Now that the internet allows us to communicate via emails, video conferencing and social media, there is less of a need for businesses to set-up offices in big expensive capital cities. Places like London are a hub for many businesses, but they also are very expensive places to live. The price of renting an office…
SEO Tips to Boost Website Traffic24 Mar 2015 | 11:44 amSearch engine optimization (SEO) has changed considerably due to updates to Google's guidelines. As you begin to move through 2015 and look to increase your site's organic traffic, what is going to be most significant tactic to boost on-page search engine optimization? Below are some on-page SEO tips that you should be using in 2015: Optimize each webpage around a single keyword or topic The days of stuffing keywords are over, however, you still have to keep your webpages optimized around one main concept and keyword. Key phrases should appear in essential on-page components, such as…
Four Lessons from Four Years in Dublin7 Mar 2015 | 5:47 amToday, I celebrate four years living and working in Dublin. A lot has changed in 1,461 days. I'm now working in-house, I've transitioned from public relations to marketing, and I'm also a married man. Much has changed in Ireland too. The Emerald Isle exited the recession, confidence has returned and many industries are recording growth. Ahead of this fabulous four year milestone I've been thinking about and reflecting on the knowledge I've gained during this period. I've come up with a mix of personal lessons, and things I've observed about doing business in Ireland, so…
How to Monetize Your Website28 Feb 2015 | 2:38 amI've been blogging since 2009 and over that time a shift has occurred in terms of how blogs and websites are monetized. Back then, banner ads were perhaps the best way to earn money, but more recently people have gone blind to them – we are now adept at screening banner ads out and turning our attention to what matters. On this site I've dabbled with selling advertising space and sponsored content, but in this post I'd like to go through some of the other monetization tactics you could follow to make your blog or website work for you: Services Though services count as active…
Pro Blog Service
How to Get Discovered by Brands (GUEST POST)17 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amHow to Get Discovered by Brands (GUEST POST) This is a guest post written by Tamar Weinberg, VP of Customer Success of influencer marketing platform The Shelf, a tool that ensures that brands connect with the most relevant influencers. The Shelf's technology includes patent pending brand and ecommerce indicators. Are you a blogger looking to be discovered by a brand for collaboration opportunities? We totally understand the challenges you're facing. I've worked with a sizable number of bloggers in the past, having written a book on social media marketing with an entire chapter…
Four Personal Branding Secrets from Joy of Painting's Bob Ross2 Mar 2015 | 8:27 amFour Personal Branding Secrets from Joy of Painting's Bob Ross One of my pleasures — I wouldn't even call it a "guilty" one — is recording The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross on my DVR, and then taking a nap while I watch. Bob's voice is so smooth, so relaxing, I'm often asleep before he finishes showing all the colors across the screen. If I could make three or four of them autoplay in a row, I'd slip into a coma. I've been watching the show for over 25 years (it started in 1983 and ran until 1994), because not only is he fun to watch, but…
Tax Deductions You May Miss as a Freelancer or Entrepreneur10 Feb 2015 | 12:37 pmTax Deductions You May Miss as a Freelancer or Entrepreneur If you're a freelancer or small business owner, and you're only using the 1040 form to do your taxes, you're doing it all wrong. You're missing out on some very valuable deductions and expenses you could take, and if you're not using a professional, you're leaving money on the table. If you find you owe taxes each year, you're definitely not doing it right. My advice: find a tax professional you can trust and talk to them about using a Schedule C with your 1040. The general rule of thumb is,…
12 Marketing Strategies Defined27 Jan 2015 | 7:22 am12 Marketing Strategies Defined If you've ever wondered what all the different types of marketing — content marketing, inbound marketing, push marketing — actually mean, wonder no more. Here is the basic definition of what each of these are, and what they do. Marketing Style Definition Content Marketing Marketing Digital Marketing Marketing Direct Marketing Marketing Inbound Marketing Marketing Internet Marketing Marketing Mobile Marketing Marketing Online Marketing Marketing Outbound Marketing Marketing Push Marketing Marketing Relationship Marketing Marketing Social Media…
12 Techniques to Improve Your Writing in 20156 Jan 2015 | 5:00 am12 Techniques to Improve Your Writing in 2015 It must be frustrating for beginning writers who want to hone their craft, but aren't given much direction beyond "write every day," and "read a lot." It's been my experience that if you want to improve your writing, you have to start with one tactic and do it every day. But which ones? What order should you do them in? Are they all important? Here are the 12 big ones I see a lot of beginning writers need to work on. We'll start simply and move from there. Start with the first one, work on it all through…
Social Business Today
Split Testing: How to Improve Your Site Conversions27 Mar 2015 | 11:21 amBy Michael StelznerPublished March 27, 2015 Do you split test the opt-ins on your website? Want to get better results? To learn how to create effective split tests, I interview conversion expert Joanna Wiebe. More About This Show The Social Media Marketing podcast is an on-demand talk radio show from Social Media Examiner. It's designed to help busy marketers and business owners discover what works with social media marketing. In this episode I interview Joanna Wiebe, a copywriter, conversion expert and founder of CopyHackers.com–a website designed to help you improve your conversions.
Facebook Fights Info Overload With AIs That Identify What's In Videos And Sentences26 Mar 2015 | 11:16 pmFacebook has made some breakthroughs in artificial intelligence. Today at its F8 conference, CTO Mike Schroepfer described new systems for identifying the content and context of videos and sentences. The second day of F8 included the open-sourcing of native mobile app development tool React Native, a preview of a giant new unmanned aerial vehicle for delivering Internet to remote areas called Aquila, and Oculus' Michael Abrash described how advancements in haptics will be necessary for the future of VR while showing off optical illusions. Yesterday, we saw the unveiling of the new Messenger…
How to Use Visual Content to Drive More Traffic26 Mar 2015 | 11:33 amBy Donna MoritzPublished March 26, 2015 Do you create images? Do they inspire your readers to take action? When used strategically images, slide decks and infographics can drive traffic to your business. They also offer the opportunity to provide further value through your content. In this article I'll share three creative examples from businesses that used visual content to drive traffic and get results. Discover how to use visual content to drive more traffic. Why Images Matter Images are not just separate pieces of content. They are doorways to more valuable information. Use visuals to…
Facebook Finds Strength As A Family, Not An App25 Mar 2015 | 10:43 pmF8 started with a family photo. But not of the Zuckerbergs. Of Facebook's products. "Facebook used to be this one blue app on your phone, and now Facebook is a family of apps" said its CEO as he showed off the user counts of the different family members. Facebook Groups with 700 million. WhatsApp with 700 million. Messenger with 600 million. Instagram with 300 million. And the patriarch, Facebook, with 1.4 billion. Rather than just being a social network, Facebook sees strength as an interconnected clan of experiences — developed in-house, acquired, and tapped in from outside. The…
26 Blogging Tools to Simplify Your Life: An A-Z List25 Mar 2015 | 11:46 amBy Melanie NelsonPublished March 25, 2015 Do you have a company blog? Are you looking for ways to improve it? Everything counts in blogging. In this article I'll share some must-have tools for your business blog to help you do all of that and more. #1: Accentuate Social Follower Counts Discover 26 blogging tools to simplify your life. Arqam is a different kind of social toolbar. It doesn't share your post; it shows the number of followers you have on each platform and provides a link to the relevant platform. What's neat about Arqam is that it's dynamic. It shows the real-time number…
Priyanka Writing
Working Tips: When it is time to Speak Up at your Job20 Mar 2015 | 12:13 pmLately I have been spending a lot of time in office, which happens to be a co-working space. So I have gotten some insight and experience into the woes of an employee. One insight that has lately been growing on me is that – people end up spoiling relations or quitting because they fail to speak up and have a simple conversation. Here are some situations where I feel, the situation would be much better handled if the employee speaks up…. 1) Non-core activities are sucking the life out of the Job Most employees are hired for one core purpose. Apart from that core work they are also…
The Non-Compete Clause – Social Media Agency6 Feb 2015 | 9:47 amI have been thinking about the Non-Compete clause of the social media agency. This is the clause which mentions that the agency may not take up work of another competing business, until the term the contract is valid and a year hence. I spoke to many PR, design, web and other companies about taking up the project of a brand and its competitor at the same time. Most of them claimed that they did not really worry too much about that. They had some way of justifying taking up a competitors work too. However, in social media, it is more that just marketing. One has to get into the sphere, the…
Brief Overview 2014 & #GoRegional :)22 Jan 2015 | 7:05 amI find writing year end overview posts really relaxing. It allows me to take my time and think about various stuffs that happened over the year. So even though its already end of Jan, 2015 I am still into writing the year overview. So two big things in my entrepreneurial life in 2014, 1) Office, Office Oh yea, DigiWhirl is not a virtual setup anymore. I don't take my laptop and travel for months across South India. I now have an office and that too at some distance from my house – so commuting is a daily part of life. It has been an enriching experience to go to office, setup a…
Plex version 4.0 update brings a revamped UI, increased access to Android TV and more27 Mar 2015 | 7:48 pmPlex, the popular media server application, has just received a major update on Android. Version 4.0 brings a revamped user interface with Material Design enhancements, support for Plex Home, and increased access to Android TV. The first big change you'll notice upon launching the app is a redesigned interface and a completely redone home screen. The redesign brings the app closer to Plex's new modern interface which makes server selection and content discovery much easier. The Plex team has also added in full support for Plex Home, which makes it easier to switch between users…
Dragon Age: Inquisition – Jaws of Hakkon Review27 Mar 2015 | 4:12 pmGameSpot Dragon Age: Inquisition Reviews PC by Austin Walker on March 27, 2015 It's been about four months since I've spent quality time in the world of Thedas–nearly 70 hours' worth of it. This week's content release for Dragon Age: Inquisition, Jaws of Hakkon, may have jump started my engine, reminding me what I love most about the core game: the sense of wonder, the thematic richness, a fantastic sense of place and personality. The new adventure becomes available in the second act of the game, taking your Inquisitor to the Frostback Basin, the foothills and…
Game Design vs. Realistic Worlds27 Mar 2015 | 2:54 pmGamers like to know how the systems in games work. But if we can see all the rules of a game world, how can it ever feel real? Danny flies to Poland and reads a Witcher book to investigate. GameSpot
Here's how to get a free Vive virtual reality headset27 Mar 2015 | 2:11 pmYou like free gear? Interested in cutting edge stuff? Know how to program? If you're shaking your head yes, have we got a deal for you. Valve and HTC have begun to offer free development kits for their new Vive VR headset to qualified developers, Ars Technica reports. Kits have already gone out to a handful of specially selected developers, like Bossa Studios (Surgeon Simulator, I am Bread) and Fireproof Games (The Room). And Valve plans on launching a new site in the next week or so where "all interested developers, big or small," can apply for a free kit. Related: Hands on: HTC…
You Can Now Buy The Unlocked HTC One M9 Directly From HTC For $64927 Mar 2015 | 10:50 amRyan Whitwam 2015/03/27 9:02am PDTMar 27, 2015 Carrier phones are all well and good if you need a subsidy or trade-in payment plan to make it financially feasible, but HTC has an unlocked phone with your name on it. If you can justify $ 649 to buy the phone outright, you can place your order right now. The unlocked and developer edition One M9 should work on just about any GSM/LTE carrier, but HTC hasn't listed the specific bands for this device anywhere I can see. The only difference between the developer and unlocked devices should be the unlocked bootloader on the former.
Theres a blog in my soup
Global & European B2C E-commerce data18 Mar 2015 | 2:32 pmBelow is the 2013 Key B2C E-c0mmerce data of Goods and services for both European & global markets. Globally of the top 10 e-commerce countries the USA is still in the lead (only just though) with China in close second place. Regarding the European market, the UK is in poll position with 29.4% of the total share. The last image shows the usage (in millions of USD) of smartphones and tablets worldwide.
Big changes in 2015 with the Facebook post algorithm1 Mar 2015 | 3:18 amPhoto Credit: mkhmarketingHave you noticed that the posts on your business pages are now seen by very few users? their visibility has dramatically collapsed for sure. It is all down to the new algorithm of Facebook that has taken over from the Edge Rank, primarily with the aim to persuade companies to invest more in Facebook advertising. Photo Credit: mikecoghThe intention, announced with the first algorithm changes in recent months, is to seek greater interaction between users and companies that actually have interacted with their business pages, especially to promote their products without…
Tumblr & Pinterest overtake Instagram in the social media stakes29 Nov 2014 | 3:00 amRecently released data from Global Web Index on the social networks growth trends as shown an interesting change. At the beginning of 2014 the social network with the fastest growing was Instagram, today the situation is somewhat different. New figures released by Global Web Index see a large increase in traffic to the social media networks Tumblr and Pinterest. Growth in Members & active users Credit:globalwebindex.net In the last six months new user sign ups to Tumblr users grew by 120% while the photo sharing site Pinterest has shown visitor growth of 111%, important figures,…
Now you can filter bad bots in Google Analytics30 Aug 2014 | 3:32 amGoogle has recently announced a new feature with Google Analytics that gives site owners the ability to filter bot and spider visitors from showing up in your site visitor data. It has created a bit of confusion, so we thought would we try to make think clearer. Google Analytics is a web based analytics service that is based on a javascript library and on using cookies (rather than the users ip address like older log file analyzers used to do) to identify a particular user to see for example how many times the same user has returned to your web site. Javascript is a technology that runs on…
Google drive gets an update2 Jul 2014 | 2:41 pmGoogle Drive is the web storage service offer to users for free by Google and was introduced in 2012. The web service allows users to edit, share and store many types of documents, including those created using Google Docs (direct competitor of Microsoft Office). Google Drive can be used in both web directly via your browser at http://drive.google.com, or by downloading the application and installing it on your pc or mac, with the ability to synchronize the contents of folders with those remote folders. It has a total storage capacity of 15 Gb, in addition to the same space allocated…
Google Plus News
Google Launches Compare Auto Insurance Quote Tool5 Mar 2015 | 9:34 pmIf you are in the market shopping for a new insurance or renew your existing Auto Insurance you might already know how hard it is to find a best quote. You've to visit each Insurance providers website, fill in all the personal and driving information before it can provide you a single auto insurance quote based on your needs. You have to repeat the same again and again in each website before you can figure out the best auto insurance price. Wouldn't it be great if there is a single website or tool where you'll input all the required details and get insurance quotes…
Google Teases Major Changes to Google Contacts with Preview3 Mar 2015 | 9:44 pmContacts is the fundamental to everything while using the Google Network. Google+ contacts, Gmail contacts, Hangout contacts, Phone contacts, etc to name a few. How about managing all of them from a single place? Google has revamped the contacts portal with a major UI change based on Materialistic design and some important new features. Please note that this is just preview of the upcoming Contacts portal but the good news is you'll be able to take rest ride right away without waiting for it to be released. For the first time Google has done something really amazing by opening up a…
Google Play Music Increases Free Library to 50000 Songs25 Feb 2015 | 9:31 pmGoogle has taken cloud music streaming war to an all new level by increasing free library limit to a whopping 50,000 songs. That is correct, now you can upload up to 50,000 songs for FREE into your Google Play Music library and listen on your desktop, mobile or tablet across various platforms including iOS and Android devices. Today if you logged into Google Play Music you'll be greeted with the following banner message (refer image above) Encore! Encore! Now you can upload up to 50,000 of your favorite songs and listen to them on your phone or on the web To make it even interesting,…
Google I/O 2015 Dates Announced10 Feb 2015 | 10:06 pmGoogle has just announced the dates for its most popular Google I/O 2015 Developer Conference. Similar to last year, it is going to be just 2 days and scheduled for May 28th & May 29th 2015 at Moscone Center West in San Francisco, USA. (This year it will be a month earlier compared to previous year i.e June 24th). Registration for Google I/O 2015 will begin on March 17th 2015 at 9:00 AM PDT and will be open until March 19th 5.00 PM PDT. Same like last year, selection and issue of I/O tickets will be based on a lottery system so you'll have plenty of time to register. So far…
How to gain business success from Google+ in 2015?15 Jan 2015 | 8:10 amIt may not be as popular as Facebook and Twitter, but Google+ has gained traction, especially with businesses who want to expand their networks and create a strong reputation online. Based on an infographic shared by Digital Information World, the platform is third on the list of top social mediums used by top brands with 70 percent last year. It is expected to grow this year, despite many arguing that the platform is having less footing on the social market, as Facebook expands its reach worldwide. However, its application alone shows a strong grip as the latest study presented by Android…
Social Samosa
Harnessing the power of social data – a talk with Anees Merchant, BlueOcean Market Intelligence27 Mar 2015 | 5:00 amAnees Merchant, Senior Vice President – Digital, BlueOcean Market Intelligence talks to Social Samosa about the discomforting term big data, its application for start-ups and SMEs and effective use of data insights in India. Anees, the phrase 'big data' often causes faces to scrunch up in discomfort. Big Data = Simple Solutions. What has your experience been in this regard? Have you had to 'convert' people to this school of though? Data has been in existence for quite some time now, it is the technology which has made it big. Organizations are still trying to grapple with the…
LINE enables user approach for Freecharge27 Mar 2015 | 1:45 amWith 181 million monthly active users in 230 countries as of January 2015, LINE has moved beyond a simple messenger and has evolved into a genuine life platform. While LINE pioneered changing users way of mobile communication into more expressive ones by offering variety of stickers, today it also serves as a social hub, gaming ecosystem and utility enabler for services such as taxi, ecommerce and payments (and this is still expanding every month). LINE also solves some of the difficulties brands face in figuring out how to leverage the mobile ecosystem by progressing into a life platform for…
6 tips on how to become social fan of the match26 Mar 2015 | 3:27 amWhile a man of the match is one who played the best on field, social fan of the match is the one who played best online. If you have not been on it already, here are some tips that will push you towards social stardom. The #SocialCWC15, cricket tracker by Social Samosa and Prophesee awards cricket enthusiasts by recognizing their expertise and influence in the domain of cricket. Use a lot of branded hashtags Using these will shoot your chances since its one of the most popular ways to create buzz online. Plenty of users are already using these and they are probably trending too. What's…
Twitter samvad – What are the limitations?26 Mar 2015 | 1:06 amAfter a string of impotent bans that have clouded our days in the past month, this week has revealed the silver lining in our system with two interesting occurrences. The ever-so mysterious Supreme Court slashed Section 66A prohibiting any arrest or political action based on social media expression. This is only a slight reminder to the watchdogs about our right to freedom of expression and brings a bout of relief to that avid social media user who's been curbed by bizarre threats from procrastinating political parties. The other unique intervention, and the reason for this editorial, is…
Cyber crime gets slicker and creepier26 Mar 2015 | 12:54 amSocial media has become a prankster's heaven, and worse, a predator's laboratory. Unless you have been a victim of cyber stalking you might not realize the potency of psychological harm and real life danger it possesses. Social media has allowed millions in our country to have a voice, set trends in fashion, argue government choices, and state their opinions without fear. Many stories about cyberstalking and cyber crime have been sensationalized, somehow creating a flimsy plastic between us and the possible crimes and threats that can attack us with a few clicks on our computers.
Justice Mitchell
How Brand Builders Can Prep For Content Creators5 Mar 2015 | 6:16 amOne of the many things I do for my clientele is to construct a totality of vision. This is especially important with people who develop brands. When one begins to look at the process, pieces and taxonomy that go into constructing a brand, they often forget about smaller and more ancillary pieces. This is not necessarily the fault of the brand builder, as they may have existing knowledge about what previously worked in certain circumstances. In the new world marketing agenda, however, one must think far past the periphery of the basic needs in a brand.For the remainder of this article click…
BlogTalkTV — Because Killer Content Should Be FUN!12 Feb 2015 | 1:40 pmI recently had the incredible opportunity to work with the folks at BlogTalkTV. A joint project of many, but it's spearheaded by Bess Auer of the Florida Blog Con, GottaGetBlogging.com and Ben Reed of Orlando Water Hole. Any chance I get to hire either one of these folks I take it – there amazingly talented. So when I was asked to come on and talk about content ma