The small laser Pico projectore at the front half of this video is awesome. Think of the possibilities these Pico projectors will offer us. The last half of the video is lame, in my opinion. Perhaps you'll disagree.
CES 2010: Laser Pico Projector, Netbook E-Reader Combo - Video - Wired
Posted using ShareThis
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Fine Art of Negotiation
I just found this video on negotiation and thought you all might enjoy it. Let me know what you think.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Do You Make These 10 Mistakes When You Blog?
I found this article. I learned this and thought you might be able to glean some knowledge from it as well. Let me know what you think.
Chris
Do You Make These 10 Mistakes When You Blog?
Assuming you want to increase your blog traffic, there are certain mistakes you must avoid to be successful. If you commit these mistakes, your traffic will never gain momentum. Worse, it may plateau or begin to decrease.
Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/VisualField
How do I know? After writing more than 1,000 posts and receiving more than 20,000 comments, I have made most of the mistakes you can make—numerous times. As a result, I have begun to see certain patterns emerge. These are my top ten traffic-killers.
Mistake #1: You don’t post enough. Hobby bloggers may go weeks between posts. But frequency is what separates the men from the boys. You cannot build solid traffic without frequent posts. I have seen time and time again (via Google Analytics) that there is a direct correlation between frequency and traffic. The more I post—within reason—the greater my traffic.
Mistake #2: You post too much. Yes, this is possible, too. I don’t need to hear from anyone more than once a day—unless it is a group blog or a news site. You would do better to focus on writing one really great post a day rather than several mediocre ones. The trick is to find your frequency sweet spot. For me, it is four to five posts a week.
If a post starts getting too long, consider breaking it up into several posts.Mistake #3: Your post is too long. Seth Godin is the master of the short, pithy post. His are usually in the 200–400 word range. I shoot for less than 500 words. But I often post 750 words and sometimes more. You can get away with this if your posts are “scannable”—that is, you make use of subheads, lists, and other devices that keep people moving through your content. If a post starts getting too long, consider breaking it up into several posts.
Mistake #4: You don’t invite engagement. When I talk about “engagement,” I am referring to a combination of page views, reader comments, and social media mentions. Postrank.com is a great tool for measuring this kind of engagement. The posts that generate the most engagement for me are those that are controversial, transparent (especially about failure), and open-ended. This is why I try to end every post with a question.
Mistake #5: You don’t participate in the conversation. When bloggers don’t participate in conversation by commenting on their own posts and responding to their readers, it is like hosting a party at your home, making a brief appearance, and then disappearing. In any other context, this behavior would be perceived as rude or odd. The same is true in blogging. People want to have a conversation—with YOU.
When you use subheads, lists of bullets or numbers, it draws readers in by making your content accessible. Shorter paragraphs also help.Mistake #6: You don’t make your content accessible. Since I am in the publishing business, I often get asked if I think people are reading less. The simple answer is “No.” In fact, I think they are reading more than ever. But they are reading differently. Readers have shorter attention spans. They are scanning content, looking for items that interest them. When you use subheads, lists of bullets or numbers, it draws readers in by making your content accessible. Shorter paragraphs also help.
Mistake #7: You don’t create catchy headlines. According to Brian Clark, who runs the must-read site, CopyBlogger, “on average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest.” This means your headlines are the most important thing you write. Fortunately, Brian has an entire series of posts called “How to Write Magnetic Headlines.” I suggest you read every post.
Mistake #8: Your first paragraph is weak. This is critical. Assuming that you have written a great headline, people will next read your first paragraph. You must use this paragraph to pull them into the rest of your blog post. Start with a story, a promise, or a startling fact. The idea is to grab their attention and hang onto it. Many bloggers spend too much time trying to setup the post or provide context. Just get to the point.
Mistake #9: Your post is off-brand. I have often been guilty of this one. If you are a hobby blogger, you can get away with the occasional post that strays from your primary message or brand. But if you are trying to build traffic, you need to find an editorial focus and stick to it. A tighter focus leads to higher traffic. This is why I have tried to narrow my own focus to three areas: leadership, social media, and publishing. If I want to write on something else (e.g., fitness), I do so through one of these three lenses.
Mistake #10: Your post is about YOU. Unless you are a mega-celebrity, readers don’t care about you. Not really. They care about themselves. They want to know what’s in it for THEM. Your personal stories can be a doorway to that, but in the end, the best posts are about your readers’ needs, fears, problems, or concerns. Always ask, “What’s the take-away for my reader?”
There are other mistakes, too; I doubt this list is exhaustive. But I think I have covered the major ones. If you can avoid these, you will be well on your way to increasing your traffic and growing your audience.
Question: What other traffic-killers have you witnessed as a blogger?
Chris
Do You Make These 10 Mistakes When You Blog?
Assuming you want to increase your blog traffic, there are certain mistakes you must avoid to be successful. If you commit these mistakes, your traffic will never gain momentum. Worse, it may plateau or begin to decrease.
Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/VisualField
How do I know? After writing more than 1,000 posts and receiving more than 20,000 comments, I have made most of the mistakes you can make—numerous times. As a result, I have begun to see certain patterns emerge. These are my top ten traffic-killers.
Mistake #1: You don’t post enough. Hobby bloggers may go weeks between posts. But frequency is what separates the men from the boys. You cannot build solid traffic without frequent posts. I have seen time and time again (via Google Analytics) that there is a direct correlation between frequency and traffic. The more I post—within reason—the greater my traffic.
Mistake #2: You post too much. Yes, this is possible, too. I don’t need to hear from anyone more than once a day—unless it is a group blog or a news site. You would do better to focus on writing one really great post a day rather than several mediocre ones. The trick is to find your frequency sweet spot. For me, it is four to five posts a week.
If a post starts getting too long, consider breaking it up into several posts.Mistake #3: Your post is too long. Seth Godin is the master of the short, pithy post. His are usually in the 200–400 word range. I shoot for less than 500 words. But I often post 750 words and sometimes more. You can get away with this if your posts are “scannable”—that is, you make use of subheads, lists, and other devices that keep people moving through your content. If a post starts getting too long, consider breaking it up into several posts.
Mistake #4: You don’t invite engagement. When I talk about “engagement,” I am referring to a combination of page views, reader comments, and social media mentions. Postrank.com is a great tool for measuring this kind of engagement. The posts that generate the most engagement for me are those that are controversial, transparent (especially about failure), and open-ended. This is why I try to end every post with a question.
Mistake #5: You don’t participate in the conversation. When bloggers don’t participate in conversation by commenting on their own posts and responding to their readers, it is like hosting a party at your home, making a brief appearance, and then disappearing. In any other context, this behavior would be perceived as rude or odd. The same is true in blogging. People want to have a conversation—with YOU.
When you use subheads, lists of bullets or numbers, it draws readers in by making your content accessible. Shorter paragraphs also help.Mistake #6: You don’t make your content accessible. Since I am in the publishing business, I often get asked if I think people are reading less. The simple answer is “No.” In fact, I think they are reading more than ever. But they are reading differently. Readers have shorter attention spans. They are scanning content, looking for items that interest them. When you use subheads, lists of bullets or numbers, it draws readers in by making your content accessible. Shorter paragraphs also help.
Mistake #7: You don’t create catchy headlines. According to Brian Clark, who runs the must-read site, CopyBlogger, “on average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest.” This means your headlines are the most important thing you write. Fortunately, Brian has an entire series of posts called “How to Write Magnetic Headlines.” I suggest you read every post.
Mistake #8: Your first paragraph is weak. This is critical. Assuming that you have written a great headline, people will next read your first paragraph. You must use this paragraph to pull them into the rest of your blog post. Start with a story, a promise, or a startling fact. The idea is to grab their attention and hang onto it. Many bloggers spend too much time trying to setup the post or provide context. Just get to the point.
Mistake #9: Your post is off-brand. I have often been guilty of this one. If you are a hobby blogger, you can get away with the occasional post that strays from your primary message or brand. But if you are trying to build traffic, you need to find an editorial focus and stick to it. A tighter focus leads to higher traffic. This is why I have tried to narrow my own focus to three areas: leadership, social media, and publishing. If I want to write on something else (e.g., fitness), I do so through one of these three lenses.
Mistake #10: Your post is about YOU. Unless you are a mega-celebrity, readers don’t care about you. Not really. They care about themselves. They want to know what’s in it for THEM. Your personal stories can be a doorway to that, but in the end, the best posts are about your readers’ needs, fears, problems, or concerns. Always ask, “What’s the take-away for my reader?”
There are other mistakes, too; I doubt this list is exhaustive. But I think I have covered the major ones. If you can avoid these, you will be well on your way to increasing your traffic and growing your audience.
Question: What other traffic-killers have you witnessed as a blogger?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Don't be a Twitter Idiot; 5 Tips for Better Tweeting
Here is a short, 2-minute, video from Keith Ferrazi entitled, Don't Be a Twitter Idiot. All 5 points are valid and well said.Sunday, December 6, 2009
Get Real Business Results From Social Media - PC World Business Center
This is a really good article on using social media properly to promote your business. A must read if you're using (or worse yet, not using) Facebook, Twtter, blogging, etc.
Get Real Business Results From Social Media - PC World Business Center
Get Real Business Results From Social Media - PC World Business Center
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The HUGE Mistake People Make with Email, and 7 Tips to Avoid It
Another Great Keith Ferrazi blog post
Posted on November 19th, 2009 by Keith Ferrazzi
Every email you write is an opportunity to strengthen a relationship.
If, in the grind of daily business, you’re wasting that opportunity, you’re making a huge mistake.
Email has become a primary means of communication inside companies and across divisions - sometimes even just across a cube division! Are you going to wait for a face-to-face, or until you're sauced at the Christmas party to be kind and conversational, and talk to someone besides the guy at the desk next to you? No!
Here are 7 tips to maximize relationship development – and ultimately, team performance – in your intra-office emails.
Hey, Boss: Don’t be afraid to email your boss. In a recent IBM study, researchers found that employees with strong email links to a manager produced an extra $588 of revenue per month over the norm. (If your manager gripes, share the study: http://smallblue.research.ibm.com/publications/Utah-ValueOfSocialNetworks.pdf.)
Cross Divisions: In that same study, they found that employees who wrote to a more diverse circle of recipients created more revenue. So think broadly when reaching out to colleagues for help in problem-solving or for information.
P’s and Q’s: We email the same people over and over again. Sometimes that means we drop the niceties. When email becomes an ongoing conversation, that’s OK. But in your general practice, take the extra second to include a salutation or a “thank you.” Also: Reread and edit emails before sending.
The Spastic Blackberry: Ever hastily read an email and sent a reply while you’re in the middle of something else – walking, having lunch, boarding a plane – and realized later you’d created confusion in your less-than-well-thought-out response? (My staff has taken me to task for this, since I’m so often on the road, and I’ve worked hard to improve it!) Resist the urge to multitask so much you don’t give each communication the respect and focus it deserves.
Brevity and Levity: Make emails as short as possible (shoot for 50 words or less) and don’t be afraid to show personality and throw in some humor. Stay focused on the message, of course, but enjoy writing it.
Universal Currency: Emails are a wonderful ground for universal currency – i.e. genuine compliments. Why not add a “PS” to at least one message a day, complimenting a colleague on something he or she’s done well?
Provide a Service: The event planner at my company sends the entire office brief, bi-weekly updates on fun stuff upcoming in LA. The emails put everyone in a good mood, and they’re a great emblem of her personality (outgoing hostess-with-the-most-ess). What service could you offer? It might be related to your job, or it might be a hobby or a passion that has universal appeal. You don't need to spend much time on it; the key is to do it regularly.
Posted on November 19th, 2009 by Keith Ferrazzi
Every email you write is an opportunity to strengthen a relationship.
If, in the grind of daily business, you’re wasting that opportunity, you’re making a huge mistake.
Email has become a primary means of communication inside companies and across divisions - sometimes even just across a cube division! Are you going to wait for a face-to-face, or until you're sauced at the Christmas party to be kind and conversational, and talk to someone besides the guy at the desk next to you? No!
Here are 7 tips to maximize relationship development – and ultimately, team performance – in your intra-office emails.
Hey, Boss: Don’t be afraid to email your boss. In a recent IBM study, researchers found that employees with strong email links to a manager produced an extra $588 of revenue per month over the norm. (If your manager gripes, share the study: http://smallblue.research.ibm.com/publications/Utah-ValueOfSocialNetworks.pdf.)
Cross Divisions: In that same study, they found that employees who wrote to a more diverse circle of recipients created more revenue. So think broadly when reaching out to colleagues for help in problem-solving or for information.
P’s and Q’s: We email the same people over and over again. Sometimes that means we drop the niceties. When email becomes an ongoing conversation, that’s OK. But in your general practice, take the extra second to include a salutation or a “thank you.” Also: Reread and edit emails before sending.
The Spastic Blackberry: Ever hastily read an email and sent a reply while you’re in the middle of something else – walking, having lunch, boarding a plane – and realized later you’d created confusion in your less-than-well-thought-out response? (My staff has taken me to task for this, since I’m so often on the road, and I’ve worked hard to improve it!) Resist the urge to multitask so much you don’t give each communication the respect and focus it deserves.
Brevity and Levity: Make emails as short as possible (shoot for 50 words or less) and don’t be afraid to show personality and throw in some humor. Stay focused on the message, of course, but enjoy writing it.
Universal Currency: Emails are a wonderful ground for universal currency – i.e. genuine compliments. Why not add a “PS” to at least one message a day, complimenting a colleague on something he or she’s done well?
Provide a Service: The event planner at my company sends the entire office brief, bi-weekly updates on fun stuff upcoming in LA. The emails put everyone in a good mood, and they’re a great emblem of her personality (outgoing hostess-with-the-most-ess). What service could you offer? It might be related to your job, or it might be a hobby or a passion that has universal appeal. You don't need to spend much time on it; the key is to do it regularly.
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