April 2008
Building Site Traffic
So, I have been trying to figure out a number of ways that I can build site traffic.
I mentioned last week that I have doubled my traffic in a couple of months. Here are some of the things that I have done that have made a huge difference. continue reading...
Who Am I?
Interesting... as I wrote a couple of posts on my personal brand, I found a trailer for a documentary by Jim Killeen.
This is just fascinating. What do you find when you google yourself? continue reading...
Low Tech Data Security
Keep the data on your screen invisible to roving eyes. Not bad if it gets a little to bright to see your display either.
Thanks to Bekathwia for the pic. continue reading...
Will the Real Corey Smith Please Step Forward
Or... My quest to be number one.
That is not an easy thing when there is a country singer named Corey Smith that owns coreysmith.com and a Corey Smith that is a defensive end for the the Detroit Lions. (So I may not bee the best lookin' one...you can blame that on my Dad).
When I started my blog just over a year ago and I Googled "Corey Smith" I don't think that I was in the top 100 pages of search results. I started keeping track of my results in November of last year and I made it to position 63 (page 7). continue reading...
Carbon Credits - What a Joke
Companies who can't or are unwilling to practice business in a way that allows for a cleaner environment are allowed to purchase carbon credits. Basically, if I emit 100 tons of carbon and am willing to buy 100 tons worth of credits, then I really have a net carbon footprint of zero... now I can advertise that I am a "green" company.
It is really interesting to me that at least 20% of the UN's Carbon Credits may in fact be bogus. Does it really come as a surprise that the UN would have a program that isn't actually all that it claims to be? Now, the UN is trying to change the way Carbon Credits are handled. So, businesses can't buy credits if the UN thinks there isn't enough validation in the way wind farms or solar plants or tree planters do things. (I can't see what could possibly go wrong.) continue reading...
Going Green is a Marketing Ploy - Part 2
In one way, I really hate April. Yesterday, April 22, was Earth Day. The day that people get together and "focus" on the Earth. The real issue that I see is that so many companies get together and pretend to really care about the environment.
As you may know, I maintain a news source for the copier and printer industry. I have been amazed at how many "green" news releases have come out this month when the rest of the year, very little is heard. Everyone seems to think that.
Going green is a way to market products to a different audience. The vocal minority that care enough about this dictate the marketing needs. If it was really important to them, they would do it with no marketing dollars. They would make it a quiet cause... or a cause that wouldn't net them any gain.
ADD Sidenote: I wonder if they make a greater profit on their own coffee or if they do this because they are so concerned about the environment... continue reading...
Going Green is a Marketing Ploy
Green is nothing more than a marketing ploy. I have a hard time believing that if going green for a company didn't get them a net gain of something (goodwill, marketing messages, net increase in profit, etc) they wouldn't do it.
The best example I have seen in sometime is that of Walmart. My wife went to Walmart today and the greeter handed her a 16 page pamphlet (see at the left).
While the assertion they make is good, namely, "Earth-friendly products won't save the Earth if they don't save people money" is something that I agree with, what I don't like is that they hide advertisement under the guise of helping the planet. continue reading...
On-Going Support is a Bugger
When you have to make the choice between proprietary and open standards for a product you are offering, you have to consider the long term implications of that.
A few years ago, Microsoft launched a new type of DRM. It was called "PlaysForSure." Their thought was that it should be a new standard that all the online music stores and digital music players would be able to use. The intent was that if everyone used the same DRM format, everyone would be much happier. The fact is that DRM is designed to take features away and not to enhance the listener experience.
So, there are two concepts that I am talking about here.
The first is providing a service that is unique to you. We all want to "lock" our customers in to using our technology. We hope that if we "lock" them in to our service or product using proprietary technology that we'll have a greater chance at customer retention. More often than not, we want to "lock" them in because we know that we are terrible at customer support and the customer experience, so we have to trick them in to sticking with us. continue reading...
The Economic Realization of PETA
For so long, PETA has complained that eating meat is bad. The claim is that it is bad to eat beef for any number of guilt ridden reasons.
I have heard all sorts of arguments as why it is bad.
"People shouldn't hurt animals."
"Cows emit too much CO2 and therefore are bad for the environment." (but killing them is bad ???)
"You aren't civilized." continue reading...
Powerpoint Kills Me
I have written a little about PowerPoint. One thing that I know... I hate Powerpoint.
Don't get me wrong. I use Powerpoint. I know how to do all sorts of transitions and pretty pictures. I know how to make things move and flash and fly around and make sounds.
What I hate is when I have to go through a presentation by someone that doesn't know how to use Powerpoint. I am going to put the estimate at about 87.32% of Powerpoint users don't know how to use it. I would say that those coming out of school are the worst.
Ken points us to a presentation at Slideshare title Death by Powerpoint. continue reading...
