Sunday, May 31, 2015

NOwnership, No Problem: Why Millennials Value Experiences Over Owning Things

I was in Los Angeles this weekend for my birthday. Chatting over sushi with my father-in-law, he mentioned he was listening to Rush Limbaugh on the radio. Limbaugh was talking about how millennials value experience over ownership of goods. I thought it was compelling to hear that these new realities had spread so far and wide they made it to AM radio. There are many ways this new reality has played out in modern life. The sharing economy is booming. People are renting or borrowing products. They are hiring their neighbors to drive them to work, paint their house or rearrange their closet.

5 Things Entrepreneurs Can Learn From Environmentalists  

What entrepreneurs could learn from environmentalists about recruiting the best talent and taking the long view.

The Truth About Grandparent-Owned 529 College Savings Plans And College Aid

529 college savings plans are a great way for grandparents to save for a grandchild's college education costs. Grandparent-owned 529 plans don't get counted as an asset on the grandchild's college aid form, but distributions do get counted as income to the child. This post explores the real impact on aid eligibility and when it really matters.

College Student Loan Rates Drop For 2015-2016 Academic Year

Student loan rates have dropped for the 2015-2016 academic year, making borrowing for college less expensive, but students and parents should still try to avoid college debt if possible.

UN Deploys New Tech to Make Relief Faster in Nepal

Humanitarian aid is criticized for being disorganized, late, and inefficient. A new UN project, in partnership with San Francisco-based Frog, the global design firm, is changing that perception. The recent Nepal earthquakes on April 25th and May 12th are benefitting from this new technology -- HDX, or the Humanitarian Data Exchange. Last June, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) piloted HDX, a data-heavy Wikipedia for the humanitarian community. Its aim was straightforward: simplify and streamline access to important data in disaster relief situations. That is, rather than ploughing through Excel spreadsheets, PDFs, and Word Docs, create one source and one format for all the data. Frog’s Creative Director Michael DelGaudo realized that aid workers don’t have a “typical day” but they do need data at every point of their journey -- from understanding the history and context to the latest updates. That’s why HDX catalogues basic info on countries: its population, its poverty index, etc. But in cases of emergency, like the Nepal earthquake, it builds more time-sensitive data.

Food Start Up Does Well In The West While Giving To The East.

What To Do As Soon As You Get Laid Off

How Does A Solar Panel Work?

In researching the topic of “How does a solar panel”, we find contradictory information on how energy is produced by the panels and the cells themselves. A number of solar cells should be connected in series to achieve a usable voltage for use with a storage device or electric.

The electricity generated by the panel is a direct current (DC) that is usually identified by their negative and positive terminals. As also has a battery positive and negative terminals, the cells operate in a similar manner.

In a serial connection, two cells, which have 4 terminals (2 positive and negative 2) may become a larger cell when you simply connect negative to 1 on the positive (positive to negative and vice versa). What remains is just one negative and one positive, but the tension of the two panels (0.5V + 0.5V = 1V) were added. Two cells have become larger cell. Similarly, when you have 12 cells in series can be simply connected by connecting all the positive and negative aspects that will end no matter what you do with just one negative and one positive at both ends.

In a parallel connection, the same two cells, which have 4 terminals (2 positive and negative 2) are wired differently. One positive terminal is connected to a negative terminal 1-1 positive and negative (positive to positive and negative to negative). Both cells have not become a big solar cell instead began to work together to amplify the current, measured in amperes (A). Here we can probably say that two son became a great thread, in this case, two positive have become a large positive advantage and the same goes for the negative child. Parallel connections are used only when it has reached the target voltage over a series connected solar cells. A series of 36 cells can generate about 18V (36 x 0.5 = 18V) and 18V this is the ideal for charging a 12V battery voltage. If you want to charge quickly, you have to add more solar cells but must keep the same voltage (18V), and it is therefore necessary to connect the next set of solar cells in a (positive to positive and negative to negative) parallel.

If you connect three groups of solar cells connected “in series”, it is called a connection to 3 strings of solar cells and the 3 channels is called a solar module or modules. It becomes a solar panel integrated when all other components such as the chassis, the backsheet, the glass cover and the junction box.

A solar panel in turn can be connected to another solar panel also in series or parallel depending on the design of the photovoltaic system. Several series-connected solar panels, said panels 12, also considered a chain when connected in parallel to another channel or more other channels. Several strings of solar panels are then called a matrix or sun.

Importantly, in a series arrangement, the voltage (V) and then added in a parallel arrangement, AMPS (A) increases. Voltage multiplied by the amplifier results in determining Watts (VXA = W)

At this point, you should be able to understand the relationship of small solar cells on its larger counterpart, the solar panel. If you can build a solar panel, then in principle, you can also build a large solar panel equivalent to a solar power plant.

Everything depends on you to buy solar cells, but make sure you ask the right amount based on the solar panel to do what is something in this article will cover the latest how-to articles cells. Also be aware of the electrical output of the solar cell is important for the amount of electricity you need to get. Typically, a solar cell has a voltage of 0.5 V and its rated capacity is about 4Wp. I hope this information helps you in your search for “how a solar panel works.”

Ring, ring ..."Hello. Hi, boss. What? I'm fired? Thank you very much."

Jim Blasingame, small business expert, explains why sometimes getting fired is the best thing that can happen to your career.

A Career-Ending Sports Injury Spurred This Entrepreneur To Create Two Seven-Figure Businesses

Looking to start a million-dollar, one-person internet business? Then Lewis Howes has a lot to teach you.

How Do You Want Your Customers To Feel?

I have been conducting some research lately by interviewing a group of 25 CEOs. One of the questions I asked them is, how do they want their customers and clients to feel about their company? They thought the question strange at first, so I gave them a comprehensive list of emotional responses to choose from.

Hawkeye Pierce's 1975 Commencent Speech To Columbia University's Medical Students

In 1975, a reel doctor gave a speech to real doctors when M*A*S*H surgeon Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda) gave the commencement address to the medical students graduating from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. 40 years later, Alda's advice is good medicine for us all.

Sujit Nair On South India -UK Relationship

How To Sell Your Startup -- The Right Way

M&A has exploded in the tech sector this year. In fact, the dealmaking – which is already at over $110 billion – is on pace to hit levels not seen since the late 1990s.

What Every Entrepreneur Needs: Eight Traits Of A Champion Negotiatior

How to seal the deal and build long term relationships

Saturday, May 30, 2015

The Marketing Of A Political Candidate: Insight From A Marco Rubio Campaign Insider

The essence of a political campaign all boils down to marketing – the ability to convert insight about the voters and competitors into a superior strategic position and plan that provides real value for voters and gives your candidate a superior position in the marketplace. When conceived and executed flawlessly, the result is more votes. To better understand what it is like to market a politician, we talked to Tim O’Toole, Co-Founder of POOLHOUSE, a non-traditional ad-agency with extensive experience helping craft Republican political campaigns. They will work on a number of campaigns during the 2016 cycle, with a notable one being Marco Rubio’s bid for president.

Not To Be A Buzzkill, But An Apple Car Will Kill Privacy

For all the advances marketing has made in targeting consumers with campaigns, and even predicting their behavior, they still don?t have the full picture of consumers and how they make decisions about what to buy.

Small Businesses Can Compete With Big Brands On Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising

Big brands have big pay-per-click ad budgets and routinely manage campaigns targeting literally millions of keywords. Brad Shorr explains how small businesses can compete.

Oil Markets and The Kerfuffle About Additional Iraqi Barrels

As OPEC prepares to meet, with little expectation of any movement on the cartel’s customarily flouted oil production quota level of 30 million barrels per day (bpd), Iraq has provided the biggest pre-summit kerfuffle.

Claims Court Holds Director Is A Responsible Person for Trust Fund Penalty

When you get your paycheck, you often notice the list of deductions and withholdings—federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income taxes, and, depending on where you live, perhaps some local taxes.

Structuring - First Kent Hovind - Now Dennis Hastert

The indictment of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert has brought new attention to the crime of structuring. The attention is energizing the supporters of Kent Hovind, who is nearing the end of a long sentence, primarily, when considering the number of counts in the indictment, for structuring.

An Angel Network That Invests Only In Ethiopian Ventures

The Impact Angel Network focuses on small to medium-sized companies in Ethopia and just made its latest investment.

3 Ways Small Businesses Can Avoid Marking Down Their Inventory

The word markdown is one of the most dreaded words in a small business owner's language. After all, if you're marking down something it means it has not sold as you expected and even worse, at the original value in which you intended it to. As a result? Markdowns are a must, and while they may seem scary, frustrating or out-right annoying, they can actually be good for business.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Deadly Conversion Busters: How to Fix a Horrible Headline

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Headlines can make or break your conversions.

How do you craft a headline that works every time?

In this episode of The Mainframe, Chris Garrett and Tony Clark reveal:

  • Why being clever might be the easiest way to tank your offer
  • How your audience targeting is the key to developing your headline strategy
  • Testing and getting out of your own way
  • What your headlines really need in order to connect with your prospect
  • The 4U technique for getting your headlines right

Click Here to Listen to
The Mainframe on iTunes

Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM

About the author

Rainmaker.FM


Rainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post Deadly Conversion Busters: How to Fix a Horrible Headline appeared first on Copyblogger.

Solve Your Online Proofreading Problems With This Simple Trick

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This episode of Rough Draft is for anyone with limited time and limited proofreading skills. Like host Demian Farnworth.

There’s a common myth web writers fall for: the idea that proofreading online isn’t nearly as important as writing for print. If you believe that, you would be wrong.

Proofreading is essential.

So today Demian is happy as a kitten to introduce you to Stefanie Flaxman, Copyblogger’s Editor-in-Chief, who will help you choose the right words and teach you time-saving ways to improve your copy.

You are going to love Stefanie because she doesn’t consider herself a defender of language … she considers herself a defender of the writer.

That means she’s full of neat tricks and deep wisdom about writing clear, concise, and compelling copy for the web. From the proofreader’s perspective.

In this 16-minute episode of Rough Draft with Demian Farnworth and Stefanie Flaxman, you’ll discover:

  • That some things you write online are actually permanent (in other words, can’t be changed)
  • Whether or not people are more forgiving online
  • What kind of proofreader never to hire
  • The dead-wrong way to use language
  • A time-saving exercise that will solve most of your proofreading problems
  • When it’s okay to make language errors or break grammar rules
  • How profanity can make your writing look worse

Click Here to Listen to
Rough Draft on iTunes

Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM

About the author

Rainmaker.FM


Rainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post Solve Your Online Proofreading Problems With This Simple Trick appeared first on Copyblogger.

A New Way to Think About Your Show’s U.S.P.

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One of the common threads from the speakers at Authority Rainmaker was the importance of differentiation.

In this new episode of The Showrunner, Jerod Morris and Jon Nastor provide a new way to view the unique selling proposition of your show.

After opening with a brief discussion about incredible benefits you can gain from taking online relationships offline, Jerod and Jon dig into differentiation.

During their discussion, you’ll learn:

  • What Sally Hogshead meant by “different is better than better” (and how it will help your show)
  • Why you need to know what your “unique show positioning” is
  • How to differentiate your show through the format you choose
  • Why being “unique” does not mean doing something that’s never been done before
  • Other ways to differentiate, including: style, schedule, timing, take
  • Why you should actually be glad when some people don’t like your show

Click Here to Listen to
The Showrunner on iTunes

Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM

About the author

Rainmaker.FM


Rainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post A New Way to Think About Your Show’s U.S.P. appeared first on Copyblogger.

Chris Brogan on the Business of Being Yourself

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As cliché as it sounds, some of the best business advice you can get is simply … be who you are.

It sounds impractical that in a ruthless world filled with corporations, venture capitalists, and never-ending competition, we’re encouraged to drop our personas and keep things real.

From being different, to taking risks, you’ll gain a tremendous amount of knowledge in this episode of No Sidebar. Chris Brogan says, “We often mistake busy for progress,” and he’s no rookie when it comes to giving entrepreneurial advice.

Listen up and take notes, as one of the most successful marketing and social media guys on the planet takes the floor.

In this 25-minute episode of No Sidebar, host Brian Gardner and Chris Brogan discuss:

  • What Sally Hogshead said at Authority Rainmaker that rocked Brian’s world
  • Being busy vs. being blessed
  • The best piece of advice that Brian Clark gave Chris
  • Why Chris says “yes” to most of the podcast interview requests he gets
  • How a joke landed Chris a $40,000 client experience
  • Why trying to mimic someone else’s success is a bad idea
  • What a nine-year-old teaches us about business models

Click Here to Listen to
No Sidebar on iTunes

Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM

About the author

Rainmaker.FM


Rainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post Chris Brogan on the Business of Being Yourself appeared first on Copyblogger.

Friday's Must-Reads For Entrepreneurs: Startups Are Back

Today’s news and insights for business owners, including how Canada's tech scene benefited from BlackBerry's decline.

Rick Santorum Announces A Second Run For President: A Look At His Tax Plan

On Wednesday, former U.S. Senator and current crazy person Rick Santorum threw his hat into the ring for the Republican nomination for President. As you may recall, during the 2012 Republican primaries the ultra-conservative Santorum shocked political pundits by toppling Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich during a run of victories in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri. Romney would eventually prevail and win the Republican nod, but Santorum's prior defeat has not dissuaded him from giving it another go at the White House in 2016.

EMBRACE YOUR POWER – LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE NOW

Each week I host the Unit of Prosperity Coaching Call and I want to share with you the replay. Today I talked about Living Your Best Life Now!

Enjoy!

How to Come Up with Winning A/B Tests Using Data

One way to increase your sales is to improve your conversion rate, right? Although it’s true, conversion rate optimization isn’t easy.

If you just base your tests on your gut feelings, you may find a few winning variations, but chances are, most of them will lose.

So, how you do improve your conversions? You have to analyze data before you run A/B tests. Here’s how you can use data to improve your conversion rates.

Click on the image below to see a larger view:

How to Come Up With Winning A/B Tests Using Data

Click here to view an enlarged version of this infographic.

Conclusion

I run hundreds of A/B tests, and the variations that typically have the most impact are those with drastic changes. To come up with those drastic changes, you need to analyze your data first to see what you need to change.

You can get the data by looking at your Google Analytics reports as well as a heatmap of your site through Crazy Egg. In addition, consider running surveys by using tools such as Qualaroo.

Have you run any A/B tests yet?

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How Taylor Swift Rose To The Top, And How You Can Too

I have a teenage daughter, so my world this week has revolved around Taylor Swift, even more than usual. Why? The superstar artist is coming to Detroit (where we live) tomorrow night, where she’ll perform for another sold-out stadium crowd. In the audience will be my daughter, along with two of her friends, as well as my wife and a friend of hers, too. After shelling out $1,500 for a fun ladies' night for the group, our household is certainly on the Taylor Swift bandwagon... to say the least.

Good Exits: MP Meuller And Door Number 3 (Part 1)

All exiting business owners must address four big questions: why, who, when and how much. MP Mueller, founder of Door Number 3, had to navigate all of these -- as well as the great recession.

The Free Content Trap Writers Always Fall Into

how to use the power of the free offer

The other day I was walking to our neighbor’s house to let his dog out. It was noon, bright, and hot. No wind, my hands in my pockets, my thoughts somewhere else.

As I rounded the corner, I ran into another neighbor — a thick, weathered man with short black hair. He was rolling a lawnmower to the end of his driveway.

He said, “You know anyone who wants a free lawnmower?”

I stopped and contemplated his offer. A free lawnmower? “Does it work?” I said.

“Yep,” he said.

I don’t need a lawnmower — mine is less than a year old — but the resourceful spirit of my grandfather said take it. You can figure out what to do with it afterwards.

That’s what free can do to you.

But then another voice, the Spartan spirit of my father, got the better of me, and I decided not to deal with it. To remain light. Lean.

My neighbor was still staring at me.

“No, I don’t know anyone, but I’ll ask around,” I said, and moved on.

Free has a funny effect on people

Our eternal attraction to free is equivalent to a child’s obsession with toys. We will never tire of it or evolve away from our love of free.

This is good news for marketers. But just because you give something away for free doesn’t mean you will get the conversion. Free’s job is simply to flag down the reader.

Let me explain.

When free content fails

Part of my job at Copyblogger Media involves reviewing the Content Marketer Certification application bundles. Inside each bundle is an article, promotional email, and landing page.

An applicant’s landing page often gives something away. An ebook, autoresponder series, or white paper. On average, there is a headline, a smidgen of introduction copy, three bullets, and then a call to action.

Each time I see landing pages like this I recommend more copy. Way more copy. And my reply amounts to this:

You can’t expect me to exchange my email address for that little bit of information — especially since there are thousands of other people, companies, and institutions enticing me with free content in exchange for my email address.

Your copy — even for free products — must build a formidable argument on why I’d be stupid to walk away from this particular content. I still may walk away, but I should regret it.

That’s harnessing the FoMO.

What happened when I fell into this trap

During my stint on Unbounce’s Page Fights, where we critiqued 10 landing pages in less than an hour, I also noticed some writers were happy to keep their copy at a bare minimum when it came to offering free content.

Now, I understand the temptation. I fell for it as a young cub. But it was John Carlton who woke me up from my dream with a stiff shove.

I sent him copy for a postcard promoting a free resource. He was kind enough to reply within minutes with a lengthy critique, but the essence of his message was, “You are being lazy.”

Ouch.

Why we fall into this trap

So why do we copywriters give in to the temptation of writing too little when it comes to promoting free content? Heidi Grant Halvorson has the answer:

There’s a bias we call the transparency illusion, which is again almost entirely universal. And it’s that we all tend to think that our intentions and thoughts are much more clear to other people than they actually are.

As copywriters, our thinking goes something like this: because we understand the value behind the headline, introduction copy, three bullet points, and call to action, we assume our visitors have that same knowledge.

In other words, we fall under the curse of knowledge.

But in reality, when your prospect comes across a landing page that’s light on copy, something entirely different happens.

In an automatic, very rapid, and completely below awareness way (what Halverson calls “phase one of perception”), our prospect examines the copy and assumes if the copy is thin, then the free content is probably thin, too.

Fortunately, the fix is simple.

How to fix free content fails

Halverson says:

So a simple fix is just to say it. Like say more, be more explicit. If you think to yourself, well, I bet he knows what I meant, no, he didn’t. Go back and say it. Say it explicitly.

The advice is reminiscent of the sales proverb: “The more you tell, the more you sell.”

Halverson’s advice lines up with Carlton’s advice, which ultimately follows a long tradition of direct response copywriting.

What I hope you get out of this post

You want your ideal prospect to encounter at least one thing she must know when she reads through your copy.

More than likely, though, she’ll discover other things she must know. This, in turn, increases the value of the offer while decreasing her resistance to handing over her email address.

You, dear writer, have to sit yourself in your writing chair, assume nothing, and pile on as many benefits as possible so your ideal prospect feels silly walking away from your offer.

Even if it’s for something free. Like an old lawnmower.

About the author

Demian Farnworth


Demian Farnworth is Copyblogger Media's Chief Content Writer. Follow him on Twitter or The Copybot. In the meantime, subscribe to his podcast: Rough Draft

The post The Free Content Trap Writers Always Fall Into appeared first on Copyblogger.

Sustainable Fashion And The Stress of Buying Blue Jeans

You don’t see many leopard-skin coats around these days, or handbags festooned with peacock feathers. The voices of environmentalists and animal rights activists have been heeded by fashion industry leaders and are having an impact on the world of luxury fashion.

China's Contribution To The Global Economy: A Dangerous Cocktail

America brought the Global Economy freedom and opportunity. What will China bring? A dangerous cocktail of capitalism and socialism which undermines individual ingenuity and creativity, while it breeds corruption and environmental disaster. When America wrote the rules of the re-emerging global economy more than six decades ago, it brought the world economic

Thursday, May 28, 2015

How To Stay Relevant In The Rapidly Changing World of Work

As the world of work continues to evolve, staying relevant becomes much harder. By the time we graduate college, many of the skills we learn become out of date. New technologies are emerging all over the place and businesses of all shapes and sizes are being disrupted. So as a current or prospective employee, what can or should you be doing to make sure that you can stay relevant? This is exactly what I talk about in the latest episode of the #futurein5. I share 3 things that we can all do to make sure to make sure we stay ahead of the curve. We can no longer rely on educational institutions or our companies to teach us all of the skills we need to know. The three tips are: 1) leverage online education platforms; 2) use social channels and create filters to stay on top of current and relevant information; 3) participate in communities that are relevant to your interests and passions. As a 4th bonus tip we should all remember to leverage old-school networking and reading the news!

Social Entrepreneur: 'I Learned To Manage Stress Instead Of Stress Managing Me'

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Social Entrepreneur Doron Libshtein, a former Microsoft executive, speaks a language that sounds downright foreign in a business context, but his current crowdfunding campaign has raised over $100,000, suggesting he's tapping into something real. Libshtein recently wrote, "My mission is to bring a new consciousness to the world, transforming the world

How A Female Tea 'Sommelier' In A Male Dominated Industry Tackled Tea Loving Indians

Being practical is number one on Anamika Singh’s list of how to be successful in business; she should know, she’s one of two women who have managed to take on the Indian tea industry to great acclaim.

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert Indicted Over $3.5 Million Cash Payments

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert has been indicted on federal structuring charges over an undefined underlying cash payoff. Is the alleged cover-up worse than the alleged crime?

Can Working Faster Reduce Stress?

I've read a great deal about the increased pace of work and the stress it places on people in business today. We were curious about where the pressure is felt most and what might be done to alleviate it.

Most Stylish Apple Watch Accessories

The Tiniest U.S. Firms Are On The Rise, But They're Slow In Growing Revenue

The smallest U.S. firms – the so-called non-employer firms that have at least $1,000 in annual receipts but no employees – are on the increase, and so are their revenues, albeit minimally, according to new Census Bureau data on these types of businesses.

Sustaining Success: Why Big Companies Need To Slow Down

We’ve all heard some version of the hare and the tortoise fable that passes on this simple message: Pragmatic plodding wins the race. Unfortunately, this lesson seems to be lost in companies trying to innovate today. The “need for speed” seems to be trumping common sense.

Will San Francisco's Creative Class Leave For Portland?

High prices are pushing tech workers and other creative class types out of Silicon Valley. Their landing ground may be a handful of other trendy but cheaper U.S. cities.

Justice Scalia Is Right About Wynne

Justice Antonin Scalia issued a scathing dissent in the Wynne case last week; he was right.

Rapid-Fire Takeaways from Authority Rainmaker

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Authority Rainmaker came and went two weeks ago, but its impact is still being felt.

In this episode of The Lede, Demian Farnworth and Jerod Morris go back and forth delivering quick-hit takeaways from the conference that stuck with them once they left Denver.

Among the speakers Jerod and Demian discuss:

  • Dan Pink
  • Scott Brinker
  • Pamela Wilson
  • Sonia Simone
  • Ann Handley
  • Bernadette Jiwa
  • Chris Brogan
  • Sally Hogshead
  • Danny Sullivan
  • Michael King
  • Joe Pulizzi
  • Sean D’Souza
  • Joanna Lord
  • Scott Stratten and Ryan Deiss

And, of course, Henry Rollins — though they save the majority of the Rollins talk for next week’s follow-up episode.

Click Here to Listen to
The Lede on iTunes

Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM

About the author

Rainmaker.FM


Rainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post Rapid-Fire Takeaways from Authority Rainmaker appeared first on Copyblogger.

Could Avago Become The Valeant Pharmaceuticals Of The Semiconductor Sector

Investors on the lookout for a new trade to pile into should consider Singapore-based Avago Technologies and fast consolidating semiconductor sector.

The 3 Types of Trolls You Meet Online (and How to Deal with Them)

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Internet trolls: the cockroaches of the web. They’re gross, they’re unsettling, but sometimes, there they are, scurrying across the floor in front of you.

If you spend any time online, and especially if you establish authority in your topic, you’ll eventually have to deal with a troll.

Most of them are minor pests, and some of them can be a real problem. But any variety of troll can temporarily put you off your game and cause you to second-guess yourself.

Here’s what to do about it …

In this episode of Confessions of a Pink-Haired Marketer, host Sonia Simone talks about:

  • Why Eleanor Roosevelt was wrong (though still awesome)
  • The pseudo-troll, and how to engage with him
  • Dealing with the Don Quixote
  • What to do if the troll gets truly nasty
  • Why most trolls resemble flaming bags of poop
  • The relationship between anonymity and trolling

Click Here to Listen to
Confessions of a Pink-Haired Marketer on iTunes

Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM

About the author

Rainmaker.FM


Rainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post The 3 Types of Trolls You Meet Online (and How to Deal with Them) appeared first on Copyblogger.

Hold The Phone . . . FCC Has A New Robocall Ruling, And It Doesn't Look Pretty for Business

A Reed Smith partner sizes up the FCC's new rules on robocalling and says consumers and class-action lawyers win and businesses lose.

The Princess of Profanity on Finding Your Voice as a Writer

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Are you comfortable in your own skin? Or do you feel awkward and out of place? If the latter, then today’s episode of Rough Draft is for you.

Whenever host Demian Farnworth talks about authenticity or finding your voice, Erika Napoletano is always his go-to person for someone who’s owned her personality with an unapologetic, straightforward flair.

Don’t let her blunt approach and love of swear words drive you away, though. She is utterly human — full of compassion, humor, and business wisdom.

But she wasn’t always that way.

Her story of getting there is one of heartbreak. And trust Demian when he says you will cry. He did.

And it’s there, with that story, that we open this episode.

In this 20-minute episode of Rough Draft with Demian Farnworth and Erika Napoletano, you’ll discover:

  • The important difference between change and transformation
  • Three signs that someone will make a terrible client
  • The comedian’s secret to getting through difficult times
  • Where Erika learned how to swear
  • The single worst business sin you can commit
  • Whether or not Erika will teach beautiful children to swear
  • The historical importance of slur words

Click Here to Listen to
Rough Draft on iTunes

Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM

About the author

Rainmaker.FM


Rainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post The Princess of Profanity on Finding Your Voice as a Writer appeared first on Copyblogger.

New Belgium Brewing Helps Asheville Win Another Award

A new greenway network is taking shape along the banks of the French Broad River in Asheville. The French Broad River Greenway Westbank Extension, as it's currently known, runs along the French Broad River and provides a critical connection between New Belgium’s soon-to-open brewery and the existing French Broad River Park, Carrier Park, and Hominy Creek Greenways.

bkr Water Bottles Are The Must-Have Beauty Essential For Women With Style

Nowadays, it seems that bland, utilitarian items are getting an upgrade. Birkenstocks are now a part of every fashion girl’s wardrobe, and sneakers look good enough to walk down the red carpet. The market is certainly rife with pieces that evoke glamour, offering consumers a chicer range of options than even before. So much so that even going to the gym has become a place to show off one’s latest designer duds. Indeed, many women have eschewed the simple T-shirt and baggy sweat pants for more elevated ensembles. Luxury labels like Addidas by Stella McCartney, Cynthia Rowley and Fendi have created a sleek yoga pants, leggings and jackets tailored made for an intense spin class, but also imbue a high degree of panache. And for those that prefer the finer things, a simple plastic water bottle just doesn’t cut it.

Two Entrepreneurs Tackle Kenya's Biggest Road Problems

Two entrepreneurs are tackling Kenya’s biggest road problems: crime and deadly accidents. Carjacking is the most common crime in Kenya, with reports of up to ten carjackings a day. Meanwhile, a report released late last year, cites traffic accidents as the third leading cause of death in the country. The US Department of State advises crime and road safety represent the most serious security risks in Kenya. So, its no wonder local entrepreneurs are scrambling to come up with ways to combat, or at least reduce, crime and car crashes.

The Bobby McFerrin Plan for Creating a Remarkable Business

image of Bobby McFerrin

Editor’s note: This article was Pamela Wilson’s first guest post on Copyblogger, published on March 25, 2010 — well before she joined our team as VP of Educational Content. Pamela had just completed Copyblogger’s flagship course, Teaching Sells, and was ready to expand her successful offline design business into new online territory.

I just returned from a Bobby McFerrin concert, and now I know how to run my new business.

No, this post isn’t about “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Bobby McFerrin is much more than that.

You see, I’m a little nervous. For 23 years, I’ve made my income the same way — in a service business, as a graphic designer. Clients come to me for design work. I create something for them, and bill for my time. Rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat for 23 years, and you have a career as a successful designer.

But that’s all about to change.

I’m venturing into new territory. I’ve started a blog. I’m putting together a course. I’m interacting with my readers. I’m supposed to let them guide me, respond to their needs, offer what they’re looking for, and everything is going to work out fine.

Except, I’m just a little terrified. How exactly is content marketing supposed to work? Who are these people I am serving, and how do I know it’s all going to come together?

And that’s where Bobby comes in

The first thing you notice when you file into the theater at a Bobby McFerrin concert is that the stage is almost bare. It’s dark, and a spotlight shines on a single chair in the middle of the stage with a microphone sitting on it. A water bottle is on the floor beside the chair.

Nothing more.

You wonder if he’s going to sing by himself, or if he’ll have backup singers. You wonder if he’ll play an instrument. The answer is yes — he does all of these things, but not in the traditional way at all.

He steps into the spotlight

Bobby comes out, sits down, takes a sip of water, and brings the microphone to his mouth. He starts to sing, softly at first, then louder. He begins to hit his chest with his right hand, creating a percussive effect that beats in time to the music. He’s a full-bodied instrument, who makes music with his mouth, hands, and feet. He has a four-octave range and incredible vocal mastery. He’s an American treasure.

Then he turns that spotlight around

The first inkling that this isn’t your everyday concert comes when he asks the audience to participate in a call and response song. He assigns half the room a few notes, and the other half different notes. He does this mid-song, without stopping. We all willingly sing along.

Then he asks if we know “Ave Maria.” We all laugh, and I think this request is going to fall flat. He says, “If you know it, sing it out. The people who know it can be the section leaders.”

He begins to sing an accompanying melody, and guess what? The hall fills with the sound of the audience singing “Ave Maria.” It’s beautiful. How did he do that?

The audience volunteers

Bobby pulls his chair over to the edge of the spotlight. He says, “The last time I was in your city was 22 years ago. I want to ask if there are any dancers in the audience. If you’d like to come up and share the stage with me, we’ll improvise together. It might be another 22 years before you get this chance again, so come on up.”

Four people make their way to the stage. Each one takes a turn dancing in the middle of the spotlight, while Bobby, off to one side, improvises music that they respond to with their bodies. It is amazing to watch: each dancer responds in a unique way, but they are all good.

Then he asks if anyone wants to sing with him. No hesitation this time: people are up out of their seats, hustling to the stage. Every singer asks to sing a different song. Bobby’s accompaniment honors their song selection and makes it a work of art. You watch as each singer experiences a moment they’ll always remember.

Give, honor, create together

Tonight was like no other concert I’ve attended. It wasn’t really a concert: it was an experience.

McFerrin wasn’t up on stage to receive our accolades. He was up there to entertain us, but he wanted our voices, our bodies and our talents to shine, too. He wanted us to feel like we had created tonight’s concert together.

That’s when I knew that I needed to follow the Bobby McFerrin business model.

His concerts are all improvisation. He doesn’t plan his songs, or even his key changes. He just lets them come to him, based on the audience, his voice, and our response.

What he does plan, I believe, is interaction

He wants to create something with us, not just for us. He listens, responds, adjusts, and creates.

That’s what I want to do. It’s my ticket to stop worrying, and my technique for being happy on the vague, uncertain road ahead. Give to my audience, honor their contributions, and create something much greater than the sum of the parts.

Like Bobby.


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Photo used with permission. ©Stewart Cohen

About the author

Pamela Wilson


Pamela Wilson is Vice President of Educational Content at Copyblogger Media. Follow her on Twitter, listen to her Hit Publish podcast, and find more from her at BigBrandSystem.com.

The post The Bobby McFerrin Plan for Creating a Remarkable Business appeared first on Copyblogger.

How to Learn A New Skill

The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth I’m a big fan of the work of Dr Nick Morgan. In my circles, when people ask me advice about how to be a better professional speaker, I tell a somewhat backhanded and loving story about how I paid for a day of Dr. Morgan’s time, hellbent on having him make me a much better speaker. I loved everything he had to say. It was brilliant, full of really important details and ideas. And I couldn’t really make good use of any of it.

Dr. Morgan mentions it in this post. For instance, “The good news for you conference organizers, then, is that if you hire Chris you’ll get something largely new each time. In spite of my best efforts.”. (emphasis mine)

Continue Reading

The post How to Learn A New Skill appeared first on chrisbrogan.com.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Creating Visual Content: The Favorite Tools and Tips for Non-Artists

hp-visual-content-tools

You don’t have to be a trained artist to create stop-them-in-their-tracks images that boost your content’s effectiveness.

These days, you can find easy-to-use free tools that will allow you to create beautiful images for your blog, website, and social media.

This week on Hit Publish, host Pamela Wilson invited three Copyblogger experts to share their best advice for creating remarkable visual content.

Tune in to hear from host Pamela Wilson, Demian Farnworth, Chris Garrett, and Lauren Mancke as they discuss:

  • Why images “put the brakes” on readers, and why that’s a good thing
  • Which “off the beaten path” visual content creation tools you should start using today
  • Crucial tips non-designers should keep in mind when putting together images

Click Here to Listen to
Hit Publish on iTunes

Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM

About the author

Rainmaker.FM


Rainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post Creating Visual Content: The Favorite Tools and Tips for Non-Artists appeared first on Copyblogger.

Josh Pigford on Shipping, Hiring Smart People, and Not Being Epically Wrong

he-josh-pigford

Today’s guest on Hack the Entrepreneur is a self-proclaimed maker — but host Jon Nastor would call him an entrepreneur, writer, designer, developer, and master marketer.

He has been developing and shipping products online for more than 10 years now and has seen his share of successes and not-so-successful ventures.

He is currently the founder of Baremetrics, software analytics and reporting for Stripe. Baremetrics seemingly came out of nowhere with an awesome content marketing strategy, lead by today’s guest, on the Baremetrics blog — one of the best software business blogs on the Internet.

Now, let’s hack …

Josh Pigford.

In this 26-minute episode of Hack the Entrepreneur, host Jon Nastor and Josh Pigford discuss:

  • Why shipping is always better than waiting for perfection
  • Why Josh cannot work for someone else
  • Josh’s steps for hiring awesome people
  • The long list of things that Josh is not good at
  • The number one way Josh has built Baremetrics into a successful startup

Click Here to Listen to
Hack the Entrepreneur on iTunes

Click Here to Listen on Rainmaker.FM

About the author

Rainmaker.FM


Rainmaker.FM is the premier digital marketing and sales podcast network. Get on-demand business advice from experts, whenever and wherever you want it.

The post Josh Pigford on Shipping, Hiring Smart People, and Not Being Epically Wrong appeared first on Copyblogger.