How to Get Results: Be Strategic, Get Focused, Show Grit |  |
- How to Get Results: Be Strategic, Get Focused, Show Grit
- Nokia Invests In Camera Technology to Compete with Apple and Android
- 10 Tips for Getting Your New Product Onto Store Shelves Faster
- You Can Use Wikidata Facts in Apps – But Perhaps Not Yet
- The Future of Mobile Marketing: Smartphones and Augmented Reality
| How to Get Results: Be Strategic, Get Focused, Show Grit Posted: 02 May 2013 04:00 PM PDT
People regularly tell me they want business results fast, like in 30 days, to grow new customers, get more referrals, have more LinkedIn or Twitter followers and get more likes or comments. Those things are all possible, as long as your “operating system” and certain strategies are in place, driving momentum. Please stop trying to speed up success and results by taking short cuts, doing the minimum or not being willing to put the right things in place. It simply just doesn’t work that way and is actually a waste of precious time. Success and business results leave clues, follow a process and unfold over time. We all have to put in the grunt work, pay the dues and follow the path that naturally unfolds as we gain experience and wisdom and find the right formula for ourselves. Overnight success, quick success and results is a myth, very difficult to sustain, unrealistic and short lived most of the time. Our greatest assets for sustaining success and getting results is clarity, focus, patience, consistency and grit. Look at the legacy and longevity of the impressive careers of Jonathon Winters, Margaret Thatcher, Dick Clark, Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple, Zig Ziglar, Steve Jobs. They all had a clear sense of their:
What did they do? What was the formula they developed to sustain their brand and likability, yet still change? How can you build the “operating system” for your success, brand and platform around the same principles? How to Get Business ResultsBe Very Strategic, Very Focused and Very SpecificSmaller is better, laser niching is smart. Have a clear, thought-out, purposeful strategy for everything you do and everyone that you invest time and energy with and on. Know what roles you both play in each others story and why you are doing what you do. Don’t get distracted for too long, stay focused. LinkedIn has done an amazing job climbing to the top of the professional online platform space, and is on pace to continue to lead with 200 million+ members in 200 countries. Pace Yourself and Be ConsistentEasy does it. Run for the marathon, not the sprint. Always train for the second half of the race so you don’t start out too fast, then fizzle and burn out toward the end. A steady pace and then a kick at the end always wins. Sense When The Timing is Right or WrongIf it feels right, then trust your instincts and go with it. If it feels wrong or there is any hint of reservation, wait and let more unfold and be revealed. BlogTalkRadio is one of the most popular online audio podcasting sites and networks. They recently re-branded their site and technology to keep pace with their growing hosts, listeners and the exploding podcast space. It was very timely, smart and needed. Assess Opportunities That Fit and Make SenseA lot of opportunities come across our path, but not all are right for where we are and where we are going. Pounce on the ones that make the best sense and fit your goals and direction to the present. Did Mark Zuckerberg make a smart move by building a Facebook phone? Have a Self Management Plan and Network to Help and Support YouDo you have a mentor, accountability partner or group and confidants? Trusted professional colleagues, friends and family create a network to support and keep us honest and on track. Who do you trust to call you out? Two years ago, Heidi Grant Halvorson wrote about the “Nine Things Successful People Do Differently,” which became HBR’s most-read piece of content over that time span. It was a list of strategies, based on decades of scientific research, proven effective for setting and reaching challenging goals. To help answer that question, last spring she created “Nine Things Diagnostic.” It’s a free, online set of questionnaires that anyone can take, designed to measure your own use of each of the nine things you do in pursuit of your personal and professional goals. In order of effect magnitude, here are the top 9 most impactful strategies she collected from her 30K surveys. Fascinating, but not surprising. In the words of the comical genius and benchmark, (RIP) Jonathon Winters:
What strategic things do you do daily to get business results? Get Results Photo via Shutterstock The post How to Get Results: Be Strategic, Get Focused, Show Grit appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| Nokia Invests In Camera Technology to Compete with Apple and Android Posted: 02 May 2013 02:39 PM PDT
Nokia, the Finnish smartphone company, wants better cameras in its smartphones. Nokia Growth Partners, the manufacturer’s venture arm, is investing $20 million with other partners in California-based startup Pelican Images, which commercializes technology that improves on conventional camera technology including pixel size. Bloomberg reported recently that Nokia hopes better cameras will help the competitively priced Lumia compete with rivals from Apple Inc. and those using the Android operating system. Nokia shares have fallen more than 80 percent since the iPhone was introduced in 2007. Nokia was once at or near the top of lists of most popular phones but now has just 3 percent market share. Pelican Images offers thinner hardware, better image quality and more editing capabilities, according to the company. Here’s how the company describes its camera technology in a prepared release:
Pelican’s technology is “at the cutting edge of mobile camera technologies,” asserts a spokesman for Nokia Growth Partners. Nokia has bought or invested in other image-related technology companies in the past year. Those include Sweden-based Scalado, as well as California-based InVisage Technologies Inc. and Singapore-based Heptagon. Why small businesses should care about camerasSmall business owners and their teams are using cameras in phones for all sorts of things these days: customer service calls, impromptu shots to share on Facebook, and even marketing images of products for your online store or blog posts. With the Web becoming more visual today, most of us need more images than ever. Quality, cost and speed all have to be balanced when it comes to photography. Images taken by a professional photographer are still going to be used for some purposes. For other purposes, an impromptu and informal shot taken by one of the team — perhaps at a customer site or in the field — may be in order. For those kinds of shots, you want high quality images and practically-speaking, that requires a high-quality camera in a smartphone. The Nokia Lumia line runs on Windows software, which also tends to be used in laptops and desktop computer systems used by small businesses. Nokia often touts its cameras in its Lumia marketing materials today. Lumia image credit: Nokia The post Nokia Invests In Camera Technology to Compete with Apple and Android appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| 10 Tips for Getting Your New Product Onto Store Shelves Faster Posted: 02 May 2013 12:00 PM PDT
Congratulations: You’ve spent a lot of blood, sweat and tears developing what you think is an incredible new product. Perhaps you’ve even built an entire company around that product. Now you’re finally ready to bring it to consumers or other businesses. But as arduous as product development can be, getting that product onto shelves can be just as challenging, especially to first-time business owners. To glean some tips for getting a new product the store placement it deserves, we asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs, the following question:
Here's what YEC community members had to say: 1. Have a Reputable Track Record “One thing entrepreneurs should bring to the table when trying to get a new product into a large store is solid proof of a reputable track record. If you’re a startup, big box retailers won’t give you a second look. The entrepreneur must also be willing to adjust to any requests made by the supplier, such as improving the product or adjusting the price point.” ~ Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers Personal Finance 2. Offer a Consignment Deal “If the store is privately owned or managed by one or two individuals, you may have a great chance of getting your product on the shelves by offering a consignment deal. This means the vendor doesn’t have to take any upfront financial risk to stock your goods, but can still make money. It’s a great way to test and prove what their customers will buy, and everyone can make money at the same time.” ~ Benjamin Leis, Sweat EquiTees 3. Build Brands, Not Products “Many entrepreneurs have developed great utilitarian products, but often forget that consumers don’t connect with products; they connect emotionally with brands. You must build a brand around your product in order for it to compete (or have credibility) in a large store setting. Stores need to see that you’re building more than a functional product — you’re committed to building a brand.” ~ Jake Stutzman, Elevate 4. Have Traction, Traction, Traction “Ideally, you should have existing revenue or pre-orders. If you can show that your product is selling well, you greatly increase your chances of getting in. It is also important for entrepreneurs to bring production-quality prototypes and packaging, and be prepared to supply a large retailer. Crowdfunding is a great way to raise funding from customers to help achieve these milestones.” ~ Eric Corl, Fundable LLC 5. Have a Turnkey Wholesale Offering “Large stores carry thousands of products. When you sell your product, you certainly need to demonstrate the product’s credibility (great press and a strong social following are helpful). Entrepreneurs cannot forget that large stores have very specific ways of working with vendors. Make it easy to integrate your brand by having a simple solution. Limit choice and mold your offer to their needs.” ~ Aaron Schwartz, Modify Watches 6. Build Your Online Marketing Assets “Build up your online marketing assets. Stores look at a company’s ability to support the marketing efforts for the products they’re carrying. If a small business owner or entrepreneur has the ability to drive customers to the store, the store has that much more incentive to carry the entrepreneur’s product. So, start building up that Facebook following.” ~ Brett Farmiloe, Markitors 7. Focus on Customer Service “Look at competing products sold in your product’s distribution channel, and then read the reviews. It’s amazing the positive feedback you can garner from users when you listen to their complaints and make a move to respond by changing your product. Even when you’re trying to compete on price, having customer support is crucial to establishing your product as a value buy and not a no-name lemon.” ~ Nanxi Liu, Enplug 8. Make Sure You Can Deliver “Big-box stores are going to be looking for a partner who can fulfill and deliver upon orders. If you aren't set up to scale, then don't waste a large store's time. You don't have to have the inventory or the money to fulfill the order; all you need to do is have the processes worked out so you can call your manufacturers and have them flip a switch as soon as you need to.” ~ Matt Wilson, Under30Media 9. Know the Store “You need to know the store you are pitching to, inside and out. Know which aisles/floors carry which brands and products; show them that you can fit in with these products. Nothing turns wholesale buyers off faster than when they feel you do not know their customer and/or product choices.” ~ Benish Shah, Vicaire Ny 10. Build a Network Before You Need It “Just like in everything else, who you know matters. If you already have connections at a large store, you’re going to have a much easier time getting a meeting. That alone won’t seal the deal, but having the right connections will certainly smooth out the process.” ~ Thursday Bram, Hyper Modern Consulting Store Shelves Photo via Shutterstock The post 10 Tips for Getting Your New Product Onto Store Shelves Faster appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| You Can Use Wikidata Facts in Apps – But Perhaps Not Yet Posted: 02 May 2013 09:32 AM PDT
Wikidata is a free, open source knowledge base. The intention is for Wikipedia to draw its data from Wikidata, and someday you also may be able to use data from Wikidata in your apps and websites — just not quite yet for most of us. Wikiconfused yet? Let us explain. Wikimedia, the parent foundation behind both Wikipedia and Wikidata, has announced that Wikipedia will begin drawing more of its data from Wikidata. Wikidata.org was launched Oct 30, 2012, and is a relative newcomer compared to Wikipedia which has been around since January 2001. Here's how Wikimedia Executive Director Sue Gardner explained it last week on the official Wikimedia Blog:
In other words, Wikipedia is the online encyclopedia publication. But Wikidata is the underlying source of certain data it will pull from. What this means is that Wikipedia data can be more accurate and easier to update, because information only need be updated in one place — in Wikidata. Then all pages within the Wikipedia resource will be automatically updated because they pull from a central source of data. What This Means for EntrepreneursBut here's where entrepreneurs, app developers and businesses may be interested: Because the data is created under a Creative Commons license, it is available for use for free by anyone. For example, if you are an app developer, you will be able to retrieve data from the project for apps you create. That data will be updated in one central place by the community, through Wikidata. Automatically-created charts and lists using information gathered through Wikidata will next be available, Wikimedia announced last week. The only catch is finding and retrieving Wikidata facts you can use. In our test of a dozen searches, we were unable to find usable Wikidata data, that we would use — probably because it is still new. But “your mileage may vary,” as the saying goes. Another issue, as Gigaom reports, the API to tap into the data is still being developed and is not publicly available yet. That means for the time being, you'd need some other method of retrieving any usable data from Wikidata if you could find it, such as manual entry. Wikidata Facts Not Quite Ready for Prime TimeOur verdict: Sounds like an intriguing and promising idea for the future. However, it’s not quite ready for prime time for most in the small business community. But you can see the benefits of having a ready source of structured data that could be used. It may be something to figure into your future plans. The post You Can Use Wikidata Facts in Apps – But Perhaps Not Yet appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
| The Future of Mobile Marketing: Smartphones and Augmented Reality Posted: 02 May 2013 05:00 AM PDT
With each new year, marketers continue to say that mobile marketing is going to be huge. Has the time already come, or are there more developments in mobile marketing and technology yet to be seen? Mobile is one of the most innovative technology platforms out today, and with about 50% of mobile users (and 70% of affluent customers) owning a smartphone, the market for apps and further technological advancement is greater now than ever before. The Future of Mobile MarketingSmartphone users are expecting a deeper personalized engagement and assistance from their phones. Many people are dependent on their phone as their sole source of telecommunication, as well as a way to connect via social media and email. They also use it for entertainment and consuming content. This means that app and operating system developers need to fulfill a hefty order: To continue to make smartphones an integral part of user’s lives. Facilitating Experiences FourSquare and Yelp have released app updates in the last year that allow users to be notified when their friends have checked into the same location or are nearby. This type of GPS-location for a user’s social network is even further reducing the need to communicate directly with friends to find out where they are. This can be useful when attending large events, going out with new friends while running into some new ones or even avoiding an ex-girlfriend/boyfriend/husband/wife or boss. Besides utilizing mobile to market locations as a place where a user’s friends are hanging out, mobile apps can also be used to market events or unique experiences. This includes secret concerts or performances for only certain app users or a special on hot air balloon rides that a user just happens to be a few blocks away from. Users like the gratification of having apps do the work for them. That way, they can focus more on their friends and the experience itself, rather than spending effort having to find it. Augmented Reality Augmented reality (AR) continues to be the golden child in the minds of those thinking about the future of mobile marketing. Think of all the potential for local businesses – instant restaurant reviews (which Yelp has already been utilizing since 2009), hotel locations, online prices for products on shelves and more. Not to mention all the games and entertainment experiences that augmented reality can bring into users’ homes. The potential of augmented reality is seemingly endless, especially because it is still in development and its potential remains vastly untapped. HowStuffWorks (who has a great video on AR) estimates that by 2020, there will be 50 billion devices connected to the internet. This means that online sensors can influence how users see reality in relation to their individual preferences and past history. Price Comparison Mobile makes it easy to instantly check for product and service prices, as well as for coupons and discounts, from anywhere there is wifi access or cell phone service. While many mobile marketing apps, like CouponSherpa (available at Google Play and iTunes) and Apple’s passbook, have utilized this to create services based on a user’s location, search and available connected profiles, the future still remains wide for further possibilities. For instance, what if a restaurant’s app noticed a user’s negative tweet about a competitor and instantly text them a lucrative coupon? Or if a user’s smart phone GPS says they are in the area, a business could pay to be part of an app that offers instant, unique deals personalized to that user, depending on where they are (Groupon is going down this road with their instant deals). The future of mobile marketing will depend largely on apps reacting to the customer, instead of the customer initiating the request for information themselves. GPS location, as well as inter-connected social media APIs will make this second nature. Interaction With the Outside World In relation to augmented reality and mobile marketing based on a user’s behavior and location, mobile technology may also continue to make a user’s life easier by increasing their ability to interact with the outside world. Instances may include:
There are many instances where the Internet already makes smartphone users’ lives easier than ever, but the key to future development is fine-tuning what has already been done while also innovating further ways to streamline and make things more efficient. While mobile marketing has already come quite far in just the past few years, the fact remains that there is much more that can still be done. With almost every electronic device available being built to connect to the Internet, smartphones and other gadgets alike will bring marketers and users together to create experiences, influence purchases and make life a little easier. Mobile Future Photo via Shutterstock The post The Future of Mobile Marketing: Smartphones and Augmented Reality appeared first on Small Business Trends. |
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