Malibu Caribbean Rum recently sponsored a contest from its user-generated advertising site. They offered either a prize of $25,000 or a personal banana grove in a tropical location to the contestant who submitted the best original advertisement for the product.
According to The New York Times article "Outcome of an Ad Contest Starts an Uproar on YouTube", Malibu encouraged participation from You-Tube users and said they would consider their votes when making the final decision.
But when a winner was announced even before the final contestants were posted, many YouTube users became upset. Message boards were filled with complaints, and one user even created a short conspiracy theory video about the situation.
The uproar shows how user-generated promotions can backfire with some consumers.
Beware of the risks associated with customer involvement. You must not only be trustworthy, but transparent when building a stronger business.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The SAT Has Never Been Cooler
Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions have merged with iTunes to provide students with SAT study programs they can download to their iPods. Critical reading, mathematics and writing programs are all available for $4.99 in the games section of iTunes.
According to The New York Times article, "Prepare for the SAT Test, or Play with Your iPod? Have it Both Ways", SAT directors are understanding the need to accommodate to the changing learning styles of today's youth.
Since students use their iPods almost everywhere they go, it made sense to merge with iTunes to make studying more fun and accessible. Kaplan has even created a myspace page (www.myspace.com/kaplan) and a series of graphic novels.
While the downloads may be helpful, Kaplan director Kristen Campbell recommends only using them as a supplemental product, since the SAT is still a pencil-and-paper based test.
When you're building a stronger business, go to the places where your target audience is already paying attention.
According to The New York Times article, "Prepare for the SAT Test, or Play with Your iPod? Have it Both Ways", SAT directors are understanding the need to accommodate to the changing learning styles of today's youth.
Since students use their iPods almost everywhere they go, it made sense to merge with iTunes to make studying more fun and accessible. Kaplan has even created a myspace page (www.myspace.com/kaplan) and a series of graphic novels.
While the downloads may be helpful, Kaplan director Kristen Campbell recommends only using them as a supplemental product, since the SAT is still a pencil-and-paper based test.
When you're building a stronger business, go to the places where your target audience is already paying attention.
Wired and Xerox Update Their Images
| The first 5,000 Wired Magazine subscribers to upload their photos to Wired.com, received a July issue with their face on the cover. The editorial theme for the issue was the growth of online personalization. The New York Times article, "You, Too, Can Grace a National Magazine's Cover", discusses Wired magazine's partnership with Xerox to personalize their cover. While they did not make any money from the promotion, it also didn't cost much. The main goal for both Wired and Xerox was to update their images. By partnering with the edgier Wired, Xerox hopes to discard its stereotypical image as a single copy machine and showcase itself as an innovator and technology leader. With its young and forward-thinking audience, Wired believes their promotion will be successful. They have also printed personalized copies for television celebrities who could mention it on their shows. Build a stronger business and keep your image fresh in the minds of your target audience. Wired and Xerox did to a good effect for a modest investment. |
Thursday, June 21, 2007
The Truth About Hydrogen Peroxide
The effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide as a treatment for small cuts and wounds is discussed in The New York Times article by Anahad O'Connor. According to research, hydrogen peroxide does not prevent the growth of bacteria in wounds and can actually increase the amount of time it takes for a wound to heal. In a study conducted in the late 1980s, wounds treated with the antibiotic bacitracin healed much faster. The American Medical Association claims the only benefit of hydrogen peroxide is its ability to remove dirt, debris and dead tissue in some wounds. Many myths die hard, but you've got to learn to let go and move on when you're building a stronger business. |
Thursday, June 14, 2007
More Ad Placements for Widget Creating Web Sites
| Widgets, or applications that consumers can use to produce videos, photo slideshows and music playlists, are posted on sites such as MySpace and Facebook and attract millions of viewers. According to The Wall Street Journal article, “Widgets May Snag More Ads”, the companies creating the widgets, such as Slide Inc. and RockYou Inc. are not generating much revenue from their own content. Instead, the majority of their income comes from selling ads on their own sites because MySpace does not allow it and Facebook only allows the ads to run in certain places, which do not include personal profile pages. Recently, some social-networking companies like Bebo Inc., have started to include ads with widgets on its profile pages, which should increase revenue for Widget creating sites. Links to widget sites: Slide www.slide.com RockYou www.rockyou.com PictureTrail www.picturetrail.com Photobucket http://photobucket.com BunnyHero labs www.bunnyherolabs.com BlingyBlob www.blingyblob.com POQbum www.poqbum.com Brightcove www.brightcove.com Layoutstar www.layoutstar.com Musicplaylistus www.projectplaylist.com |
Decreasing PC Power Usage Saves Billions
| According to The Wall Street Journal article, “Computer Power Waste Targeted”, PCs waste half the power they consume and account for 2% of world-wide energy usage. Meeting an annual target led by Google Inc. and Intel Corp. to reduce energy consumption, could save more than $5.5 billion in annual energy costs and decrease 54 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The initial guidelines set by the EPA’s Energy Star program, raise PC efficiencies from an estimated 65% to 80%. The new initiatives seek to raise efficiency to 90% by 2010. The plan also involves getting companies to use power-management software on their PCs that would put inactive desktop computers into sleep mode to save energy. While the cost for energy-saving software would add $20 to $30 more on a PC and server, it could save the user $10 from $40 on an annual electric bill. When you take steps to protect your environment you build a stronger business. |
To Infinity and Beyond! Email services compete to provide unlimited storage.
Since email brings users into contact with all the services and products Web companies provide it has a key role in their business strategies. Yahoo, Google and Microsoft have all created their emails according to their company needs.
In The Wall Street Journal article, “Web –Based Services Give Email Users a Taste of the Infinite” Lee Gomes acknowledges Yahoo’s plans to give “free unlimited storage” as a stretch. Yahoo believes most users will never be able to reach the actual limit and want to finally shatter the public's idea that Gmail provides the most storage.
The battle for perception is a very costly one to fight, but necessary sometimes when you want to build a stronger business.
In The Wall Street Journal article, “Web –Based Services Give Email Users a Taste of the Infinite” Lee Gomes acknowledges Yahoo’s plans to give “free unlimited storage” as a stretch. Yahoo believes most users will never be able to reach the actual limit and want to finally shatter the public's idea that Gmail provides the most storage.
The battle for perception is a very costly one to fight, but necessary sometimes when you want to build a stronger business.
Microfinance Provides More for Entrepreneurs
| The opportunities microfinance has created in developing countries around the world have not gone unnoticed by Citigroup Inc., who has just launched their Citi Microfinance Donor Fund. The goal of the charitable fund, according to Kristin McNamara’s article in The Wall Street Journal, “Citi Fund Backs Entrepreneurs” is to prompt the development of microfinance organizations that are too small to cover the cost of their own operations. The fund allows wealthy philanthropists to provide substantial financial support for poor entrepreneurs in the developing world who are unable to get support from banks. Depending on the success of the Citi Microfinance Donor Fund, Citigroup plans to open a second microfinance fund and other special interest funds. Microfinancing is yet another way to improve the entrepreneur ecosystem and Build a Stronger Business community. |
Online Party Invitations Step Up
| After nearly 10 years of being the only Web site providing electronic invitations, Evite is finally getting some competition! MyPunchbowl (www.mypunchbowl.com) emerged in January 2007, with the same free service, fewer ads and some features Evite is lacking. In The Wall Street Journal’s article, “Invite Sites Help Start a Party”, Katherine Boehert compares Evite and MyPunchbowl to see which provides the better service. MyPunchbowl boasts a message board, the ability to give VIP status to certain guests, better control over guest responses and the capacity to swiftly add and share Google maps and YouTube videos. Evite has responded to its competition by planning on introducing an online and mobile part-supply store, animated versions of its invitations and collaboration with Hotels.com. Know your audience and give them features they want and need to build a stronger business. |
Using the Internet to Manage Event Invitations
After nearly 10 years of being the only Web site providing electronic invitations, Evite is finally getting some competition! MyPunchbowl emerged in January 2007, with the same free service, fewer ads and some features Evite is lacking.
In The Wall Street Journal article, “Invite Sites Help Start a Party”, Katherine Boehert compares Evite and MyPunchbowl to see which provides the better service.
MyPunchbowl boasts a message board, the ability to give VIP status to certain guests, better control over guest responses and the capacity to swiftly add and share Google maps and YouTube videos.
Evite has responded to its competition by planning on introducing an online and mobile part-supply store, animated versions of its invitations and collaboration with Hotels.com. Evite also has 800 invite templates, whereas the newer MyPunchbowl only has 100.
According to Boehret, other drawbacks to MyPunchbowl are its lack of various fonts and colors, an obscurely placed preview button and limited guest response options—all of which are available on Evite.
While Boehret concedes both Web sites need more variety and improvements to make their invitations both hip and easy to use, MyPunchbowl appears to provide the most potential.
In The Wall Street Journal article, “Invite Sites Help Start a Party”, Katherine Boehert compares Evite and MyPunchbowl to see which provides the better service.
MyPunchbowl boasts a message board, the ability to give VIP status to certain guests, better control over guest responses and the capacity to swiftly add and share Google maps and YouTube videos.
Evite has responded to its competition by planning on introducing an online and mobile part-supply store, animated versions of its invitations and collaboration with Hotels.com. Evite also has 800 invite templates, whereas the newer MyPunchbowl only has 100.
According to Boehret, other drawbacks to MyPunchbowl are its lack of various fonts and colors, an obscurely placed preview button and limited guest response options—all of which are available on Evite.
While Boehret concedes both Web sites need more variety and improvements to make their invitations both hip and easy to use, MyPunchbowl appears to provide the most potential.
Microfinancing Program Builds Entrepreneur Ecosystem
The opportunities microfinance has created in developing countries around the world have not gone unnoticed by Citigroup Inc., who has just launched their Citi Microfinance Donor Fund.
The goal of the charitable fund, according to Kristin McNamara’s The Wall Street Journal article, Citi Fund Backs Entrepreneurs is to prompt the development of microfinance organizations that are too small to cover the cost of their own operations. The fund allows wealthy philanthropists to provide substantial financial support for poor entrepreneurs in the developing world who are unable to get support from banks.
Citigroup has required a minimum donation of $100,000 to their fund, which they hope will allow them to maintain serious donors. Although microfinance donors cannot receive the same recognition available from other charitable giving, they will receive an income tax deduction and will be able to decide where to direct their donations at a later date.
Depending on the success of the Citi Microfinance Donor Fund, Citigroup plans to open a second microfinance fund and other special interest funds.
Microfinancing is yet another way to improve the entrepreneur ecosystem and build a stronger business community.
The goal of the charitable fund, according to Kristin McNamara’s The Wall Street Journal article, Citi Fund Backs Entrepreneurs is to prompt the development of microfinance organizations that are too small to cover the cost of their own operations. The fund allows wealthy philanthropists to provide substantial financial support for poor entrepreneurs in the developing world who are unable to get support from banks.
Citigroup has required a minimum donation of $100,000 to their fund, which they hope will allow them to maintain serious donors. Although microfinance donors cannot receive the same recognition available from other charitable giving, they will receive an income tax deduction and will be able to decide where to direct their donations at a later date.
Depending on the success of the Citi Microfinance Donor Fund, Citigroup plans to open a second microfinance fund and other special interest funds.
Microfinancing is yet another way to improve the entrepreneur ecosystem and build a stronger business community.
To Infinity and Beyond! Email services compete to provide unlimited storage.
To Infinity and Beyond! Email services compete to provide unlimited storage.
In The Wall Street Journal article, Web-Based Services Give Email Users a Taste of the Infinite Lee Gomes acknowledges Yahoo’s plans to give “free unlimited storage” as a stretch. Competing with Gmail’s previously unparalleled 1-2 gigabytes of free storage, Yahoo’s storage space ends at some point, but believes most users will never be able to reach the limit.
Email brings users into contact with all the services and products Web companies provide, says Gomes, making email a key part of their business strategies. Yahoo, Google and Microsoft have all created their emails according to their company needs.
Despite Yahoo’s increase in storage space, Gomes’s testing still found sending big files to be problematic. As improvements continue to be made however, Yahoo will address the issue.
The battle for perception is a very costly one to fight, but necessary sometimes when you want to build a stronger business.
In The Wall Street Journal article, Web-Based Services Give Email Users a Taste of the Infinite Lee Gomes acknowledges Yahoo’s plans to give “free unlimited storage” as a stretch. Competing with Gmail’s previously unparalleled 1-2 gigabytes of free storage, Yahoo’s storage space ends at some point, but believes most users will never be able to reach the limit.
Email brings users into contact with all the services and products Web companies provide, says Gomes, making email a key part of their business strategies. Yahoo, Google and Microsoft have all created their emails according to their company needs.
Despite Yahoo’s increase in storage space, Gomes’s testing still found sending big files to be problematic. As improvements continue to be made however, Yahoo will address the issue.
The battle for perception is a very costly one to fight, but necessary sometimes when you want to build a stronger business.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Web Design
Bruce Temkin, a Forrester Research analyst, answers some Frequently Asked Questions about Web design in the Wall Street Journal article, "Good Site, Bad Site: Evolving Web Design".
Mr. Temkin cites navigation as the biggest problem Web sites are experiencing; with bigger and more complex sites, users are finding it more difficult to get what they want. Another problem is evidence on home pages that user tasks have been completed. For instance, a retail site that obscures it's return-product option behind a general tab like "Service and Support".
Temkin says the best sites answer the following questions: Who are your target users? What are their goals? And how are you going to help them achieve those goals?
The worst sites place personal or company preferences for Web designs over customer needs.
Finally, since customers can only say what's wrong, but not how to fix it, it's imperative to have good design mechanisms and skills from the start.
Follow this path and you'll build a stronger business.
Mr. Temkin cites navigation as the biggest problem Web sites are experiencing; with bigger and more complex sites, users are finding it more difficult to get what they want. Another problem is evidence on home pages that user tasks have been completed. For instance, a retail site that obscures it's return-product option behind a general tab like "Service and Support".
Temkin says the best sites answer the following questions: Who are your target users? What are their goals? And how are you going to help them achieve those goals?
The worst sites place personal or company preferences for Web designs over customer needs.
Finally, since customers can only say what's wrong, but not how to fix it, it's imperative to have good design mechanisms and skills from the start.
Follow this path and you'll build a stronger business.
Cellphone "Accidental" Dialings
In The Wall Street Journal article, "When You're Cellphone Goes Behind Your Back to Redial Your Office", Jared Sandberg reveals the phenomena many cell phone users have unfortunately fallen victim to: accidental dialing.
From receiving 15 minute voicemails of dog-walking to undetected eavesdropping on private conversations, accidental phone calls have become a big problem.
It has become such a normal activity that the FCC has had to warn the public about accidentally dialing 911.
Despite the implementation of key guards, which can lock and unlock dialing pads on cell phones, it still remains a problem for many.
You've got to maintain standards of accountability for your personal behavior when you're building a stronger business. Spend more time learning to use the phone effectively rather than coming up with excuses for "what it did to you"
From receiving 15 minute voicemails of dog-walking to undetected eavesdropping on private conversations, accidental phone calls have become a big problem.
It has become such a normal activity that the FCC has had to warn the public about accidentally dialing 911.
Despite the implementation of key guards, which can lock and unlock dialing pads on cell phones, it still remains a problem for many.
You've got to maintain standards of accountability for your personal behavior when you're building a stronger business. Spend more time learning to use the phone effectively rather than coming up with excuses for "what it did to you"
Multitasking While on the Move
Hand held devices like Blackberrys, Palm Pilots and SmartPhones are currently being used by an estimated 50 million workers in the U.S., who spend more than 25% of their time outside of the office.
According to the article, "Doing More on the Go", in The Wall Street Journal, such hand held devices allow workers to perform a variety of tasks, including checking and updating client lists, timesheets and daily tasks, accessing records and monitoring inventory.
Since small and mid-sized companies are more likely to invest in and use the technology, Wireless and technology companies like Sprint Nextel Corp. and Microsoft have found a place to focus their efforts.
Keep up with the tools that can help you stay in touch when your schedule demands that you're on the go. Building a stronger business often requires it of you and your staff.
According to the article, "Doing More on the Go", in The Wall Street Journal, such hand held devices allow workers to perform a variety of tasks, including checking and updating client lists, timesheets and daily tasks, accessing records and monitoring inventory.
Since small and mid-sized companies are more likely to invest in and use the technology, Wireless and technology companies like Sprint Nextel Corp. and Microsoft have found a place to focus their efforts.
Keep up with the tools that can help you stay in touch when your schedule demands that you're on the go. Building a stronger business often requires it of you and your staff.
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