Facebook Ads May Encourage Fake Likes, Report Says |  |
- Facebook Ads May Encourage Fake Likes, Report Says
- Supporters Urge Renewal of State Trade and Export Promotion Program
- Language of Leadership: Constructive Versus Destructive
- Microsoft Finally Launches New OneDrive With More Features
- It Was Good That Shaun White Lost in Sochi; Here’s Why
- U.S. Senator Jim Risch Wants More Money For SCORE
| Facebook Ads May Encourage Fake Likes, Report Says Posted: 25 Feb 2014 02:30 PM PST Science website Veritasium has put together a compelling report suggesting that Facebook turns a blind eye to fake Likes. But more importantly, in an indirect way, it suggests Facebook advertising products may encourage them. In other words, if you buy official Facebook advertising, you could well end up with a large number of disengaged “fans.” Many of these may come from countries not within your target market. Others may actually be fake Facebook accounts altogether. These “fans” come from websites such as We Sell Likes, and from countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Egypt. What is a Disengaged Fan?Basically, it’s someone who does not interact with the status update you are trying to promote. They lurk in the background, reading and watching, but not saying anything themselves. That’s assuming, of course, that the fan is a real person at all. And why is having disengaged fans a huge problem to your bottom line? Derek Muller from Veritasium explains it this way.
There’s a robust market for fake Likes. Italian researchers estimate that fake Facebook activities add up to about $200 million a year in revenue. These accounts will click on any visible company Pages and Profiles they can easily find. The attempt is to make it harder to track the Likes they are actually being paid to deliver. And they quickly focus on Pages from legitimate Facebook ads that show up on the right side of many Facebook pages. Some of these Likes come from users who have also been deceived. A classic example is the “Pink Floyd scam” where people are asked to Like the cover image of a Pink Floyd album with the promise that something magical will happen. Obviously, nothing does. But now you have done the scammer’s bidding by putting the image on the Walls of all your Facebook friends. The report does not suggest that Facebook itself is delivering fake Likes when businesses advertise. It only suggests that people in offshore click farms use the ads as an easy source of Pages to find and click on. Muller said:
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| Supporters Urge Renewal of State Trade and Export Promotion Program Posted: 25 Feb 2014 12:30 PM PST The STEP (State Trade and Export Promotion Program) offered by the Small Business Administration aims to offer small businesses in the U.S. a way to reach a global market. And right now, supporters of the program are in position in Washington, D.C., to get the program renewed. STEP grabbed some attention last week during the confirmation hearing (pictured above) for new SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet. At the hearing, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), who has since taken over as chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, asked Contreras-Sweet if she would support reinstating the STEP Program at the SBA. STEP was created as a 3-year pilot program through the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. The program was designed to award federal grant money that was matched by a small business’s home state. According to the SBA website, the goal of STEP was to give small businesses tools to reach a global market so they can begin exporting their products. It was also intended to raise the value of exports for companies that already sold globally. Some of the services offered through STEP include website translation, support for small business participation in foreign trade missions and foreign market sales trips, and design for international marketing media. There program made $30 million available to small businesses each year through STEP Program grants during its pilot program. Cantwell pushed the issue of renewing the program during Contreras-Sweet’s nomination hearing. She said in her home state of Washington, STEP has helped secure at least $136 million in foreign sales for small businesses. Those businesses have largely used STEP assistance in reaching Asian markets. During the nomination hearing, Cantwell said:
The SBA Administrator nominee said she liked the STEP Program and would support its renewal. During her confirmation hearing, Contreras-Sweet said:
Image: Cantwell.Senate.gov The post Supporters Urge Renewal of State Trade and Export Promotion Program appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| Language of Leadership: Constructive Versus Destructive Posted: 25 Feb 2014 10:00 AM PST On February 3rd Jeremy Kinsley was a guest on Entrepreneur’s Insight radio show. He talked about how inspired leaders produce results. I had the pleasure of being the follow up guest. The host, Kip Marlow and I spent some time exploring how leaders communicate. While many people are given the title of leader, a lot of them don’t elicit results because they don’t communicate in a way that inspires action and results. Having studied leaders for several years there are three distinct behaviors that I see real, impactful leaders engage in. Language of Leadership1. Constructive Versus Destructive CommunicationConstructive Communication: Good leaders communicate in a way that elevates people instead of tearing others down. These leaders seek to solve problems and create long term solutions. When their focus is on improvement they speak openly, honestly, and consistently. They always have their eye on progress and success. Constructive communication drives performance. It's foundation is that the employee is capable and driven but has run into a snag. Working with them on that snag with a goal of removing it leads to greater results. When someone is guided to identifying why something has happened and how they can change, they are likely to embrace the lessons and grow as an impactful member of the team. Destructive Communication: People who communicate destructively have changed the goal. Whether they realize it or not, their focus is on making someone else feel small. When people feel small – they don't perform to the height of their ability. They are not motivated to succeed. 2. Seek InputTrue leaders seek the input of others. They understand that they don't have all of the answers; that leadership isn't about having all of the answers, it's about finding the answers. Leaders also understand that one of the ways they grow their staff is to ask for their input. When you include others in the conversation you are telling them you trust them and believe in them. Leaders understand that not all input will be actionable. That's not the point. The point is to get everyone thinking about growth, solutions, and success. Better to solicit their input – than to always be telling them. People respond to being communicated with more than being talked to. They are also more likely to follow through with a plan they have had a role in creating. 3. Engage in Difficult ConversationsThere are times when a staff member is unable to meet the requirements and goals of the organization no matter how hard they try. And, truly, there are times when an employee isn't a fit or is behaving in a way that is contrary to the goals of the company. A true leader addresses this situation directly with the employee. A true leader doesn’t emotionally react to the issue by sending a blast email to all of the team members. A true leader also doesn’t avoid dealing with it. A true leader engages in difficult conversations right away and directly with the person involved. Leaders realize that difficult conversations aren't mean or unpleasant conversations. There are unemotional, fact-based ways to communicate seemingly difficult topics. Leaders also understand that their responsibility is to deal with issues as soon as they present themselves. This is how they tell the rest of the staff that the goals of the company are paramount. Example of a Non-Leader: Destructive | No Input | Emotion FilledA sales manager calls a member of the sales team into their office and begins to berate him for a lack of sales. Everyone in the department can hear the sales manager even though the door is closed. Besides the fact that the sales manager is emotional and yelling at the salesman, he/she is also criticizing him and using negative pejorative labels like “lazy,” “inept” and “stupid.” He/she ends the diatribe with a threat to the salesman's employment status. The result: The salesman is not only unmotivated to proceed but doesn't know what to do to improve. The salesman hasn't learned anything and he wasn't brought into the conversation. Actually, there was no conversation – it was a one sided push. The salesman is no further along the problem solving road than he was when he entered the office. Moreover, the rest of the sales staff has been negatively impacted by the event. So, the sales manager has created more problems while not solving the lack of sales issue. Example of a Leader: Constructive | Seeks Input | UnemotionalA sales manager calls a member of the sales team into their office to discuss the salesman's lack of sales. The first thing the sales manager does is ask the sales person to share his experience. How is he approaching the process? Where is he running into a disconnect? How is he communicating with prospects and clients? The sales manager then starts a collaborative conversation around alternative processes. The goal is to help the salesman create a different process that should bring greater results. The result: Together they create a process the salesman can implement. The entire conversation is focused on problem solving. The salesman leaves the conversation with a plan and a belief that he can succeed at the plan. The rest of the sales staff understands that the goal is for everyone to be successful; that when the salespeople are successful the company will be. The difference matters because of the outcomes. When someone behaves like example 2, they are leading the organization and realize positive results. When they behave like example 1, the organization struggles to grow. Anyone in a leadership role is better off communicating in a constructive, unemotional way that elicits involvement and buy-in. Then they will be a leader who others want to follow. Anger Photo via Shutterstock The post Language of Leadership: Constructive Versus Destructive appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| Microsoft Finally Launches New OneDrive With More Features Posted: 25 Feb 2014 07:30 AM PST After some delay, Microsoft finally introduced the newly renamed OneDrive this week. But the renaming of the company’s cloud storage service once called SkyDrive has proven to be more than that. Microsoft is also taking the opportunity to turn an embarrassing legal defeat into a big marketing campaign with new features. Topping the features list is the huge amount of free space that Microsoft is literally throwing at you. First off, there’s 3GB of storage that comes with the automatic camera upload feature. Then there’s another 20GB for users who follow a special bonus link, valid within the first year. Then there’s 500MB for every person you successfully refer to OneDrive. Those of you who had SkyDrive installed on your phones don’t need to uninstall or reinstall anything. Your phones will silently update and the app will change without any input from you. Other features include video sharing and viewing, automatic camera roll backup for Android phone owners, and real-time collaboration with Office Web apps Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. OneDrive is baked directly into Windows 8.1 and Office. You can even set OneDrive as the default save location for your files. In doing so, Microsoft is sending a clear signal that the days of the PC are numbered, and that cloud computing is the future. Watch this video overview from Microsoft outlining some of the features of the new OneDrive cloud storage platform: OneDrive is currently beating rival cloud storage services with its prices. 100GB with Skydrive comes to $50 a year, while its nearest rival, Google Drive, comes in at $60 a year for the same amount of storage. Box and Dropbox trail far behind at $120 a year for 100GB. Image: OneDrive The post Microsoft Finally Launches New OneDrive With More Features appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| It Was Good That Shaun White Lost in Sochi; Here’s Why Posted: 25 Feb 2014 05:00 AM PST Sponsored Post Like small business, the Olympics don't always work out the way they are planned. One of the poster athlete's for the Sochi Games is Shaun White who basically put half-pipe snowboarding on the map. He won the gold medal at the last two Olympics. He was supposed to be a repeat winner this year. After he arrived in Sochi, he pulled out of the slope style event because he thought the course was too dangerous. With all the pressure now on winning the half-pipe event, he lost and came in fourth. While I cheer Shaun White's decade of success, it's good that he lost in front of millions of people. Here is why and what you can learn from it: Things Don't Always Go As PlannedEven with endless hard work and preparation, sometimes you just lose. Similar to White, the course may be rough (the market) or the other athletes (competitors) may be better that day. No athlete or company can control all the conditions. Every small business owner needs to get used to not knowing what will happen. There are no sure things in sports or business and this pushes everyone to work harder. Event the Favorites LoseNo matter how dominant your business may be in the market place, you won't always win. You have to earn a victory each time you compete and not mail it in. While White's competitors were well qualified, no one would have predicted 15 year old, Ayumu Hirano from Japan would win the silver. The favorite has to work just as hard and the rivals always have an opportunity to win. How You Lose CountsWhite did not let this one loss define him. He said:
He never blamed the course or the other competitors. After his failed run, he agreed to celebrate with Swiss Gold Medalist Iouri Podladtchikov (IPOD). The Best Push the RestThe top dog gets everyone to improve until they get beat. This is good for any competitive market because in the end, the customer (or viewer) gets a better product or service. The best business always gets pushed by other companies that want to be them. What will White do next? Looks like he is going to dust himself off and compete in 2018. This article, provided by Nextiva, is republished through a content distribution agreement. The original can be found here. Shaun White Photo via Shutterstock The post It Was Good That Shaun White Lost in Sochi; Here’s Why appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
| U.S. Senator Jim Risch Wants More Money For SCORE Posted: 25 Feb 2014 02:30 AM PST U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) has proposed boosting the coffers of the SCORE Program run by the Small Business Administration. To offset the proposed increase in revenue that would go to SCORE, Risch proposes dropping the Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs (PRIME), also run by the SBA. In a statement announcing his proposal, Risch said:
SCORE is a non-profit organization that’s designed to offer free mentoring and other advice to small business owners. SCORE has been operating for 50 years. The organization has at least 11,000 people working for it covering more than 60 industries, according to SCORE’s website. The bill to increase SCORE’s funding was just introduced to the Senate earlier this month. Senators have yet to take action on the measure. If it’s passed, SCORE funding would be increased to $10.5 million by 2015. In 2012, SCORE says its volunteers donated more than 1.1 million hours and advised on the start up more than 37,000 businesses. SCORE offers small business owners the ability to chat one-on-one with industry leaders working through the organization. There are also SCORE-sponsored webinars and seminars for small business owners and entrepreneurs. SCORE CEO W. Kenneth Yancey applauded Risch’s new proposal, adding:
The program being phased out to supply SCORE with additional funding is PRIME. PRIME is like SCORE in that it’s a program designed to provide help to small business owners, particularly in rural areas. The program awards grants to organizations that work locally with small businesses, according to the PRIME website. Even supporters of the program admit it was too underfunded and underutilized. Image: Risch.Senate.gov The post U.S. Senator Jim Risch Wants More Money For SCORE appeared first on Small Business Trends.     |
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