web wise rants and raves

Pinterest: the ultimate soft-sell tool to add value to the sales process

2012-02-11T10:28:00.000-05:00

In much the same way that Google pioneered the Internetsearch phenomenon, and Facebook changed all of our worlds with social mediaconnectivity in a way we never thought possible (a high school crushwanting to reconnect with you after 45 years – good grief), now comesPinterest.

My daughter Brooke started the ball rolling for me. She wastelling my wife Laurel about it several months ago over breakfast. I washalf-listening. "Blah, blah, blah…it’s so cool…it’s so amazing…blah, blah, blah."

So eventually I joined and started “pinning” some stuff andgot back to the real world of work and the various tasks at hand.

And then Eric Kent from Archadeck Outdoor Living inCharlotte, North Carolina, phoned me this morning. I had an epiphany.

Eric is a rock star when it comes to designing and sellingoutdoor living spaces. In fact, in the cold of January, he designed and builtmore than a half million dollars in stunning screened porches, sunrooms,hardscapes, outdoor kitchens and decks. In January.

So what better person to have a discussion with about how to usePinterest to add value to your business?

What I told Eric he should do is not focus on gettingArchadeck images and banter out into the Pinter-verse, but rather to pullpeople into his Archadeck Outdoor Living franchise business by “pinning” itemsthat people who have a love of outdoor living would be interested in.

For example, how to build the perfectraised bed, my first find after entering “Garden” in the search box –courtesy of Sunset.

Then I searched for “Summer coolers” and found a beautiful image of allkinds of refreshing-looking warm weather thirst quenchers, courtesy ofSvetlana Kuperman – whoever she is.

So picture this. Eric is invited into a prospect’s home fora free design consultation to create an outdoor room for a young couple infashionable Noda in Charlotte (North of Davidson Street).

The young married couple in their early 30’s with abeautiful toddler and golden retriever have nothing – and I mean nothing – in theirbackyard.

“I want a deck outside our kitchen door,” she says. “We alsolike to eat outside, so maybe a dining area over there (rear left, under thetrees, a Belgard hardscapewould be perfect).”

There’s an unsightly tool shed at the far right of the yardthat needs to remain there for storage of summer furniture, lawn equipment andtoys. But it needs some camouflage.

So when Eric suggests a sculpted Belgard accentretaining wall that would be the perfect time to pull out his MacBook Air and go to Pinterest.com.

He could then show the collection of tasteful in-wall waterfeatures he has “pinned” to help stimulate the thinking of his outdoor livingspaces clients, maybe like this one posted by Allison Carroll – an aged but interesting castiron water fountain wall sconce.

Get it.

Then get going.

“Pin” your way to fame, fortune and thought leadership.

The Editors at Meredith: precisely my cup (okay, mug) of tea

2012-02-09T07:16:00.002-05:00

LarrySpada iPad Notes entry: February 8, 2012

I'mon United flight 3753 heading back to my home, having wrapped up a morningbreakfast conversation on outdoor living trends with the editorial team of someof the most prestigious home shelter magazines in the world at Meredith. Andeven though it is the smack of early February, Mother Nature has cooperated bygifting us with a gloriously sunny, crisp day, as I renew old acquaintances andmake some new friends at this media and marketing company, involved in magazineand book publishing, television broadcasting and brand licensing.

Mylast visit to Meredith with this esteemed group of home-centered literary mindswas four years ago when Amanda Williams from WrayWard (home-focused marketing and communications specialists headquarteredin Charlotte, North Carolina) arranged the visit. Back then we had only one outdoorliving franchise concept to tout: OutdoorLighting Perspectives, the most trusted residential and commercial outdoorand landscape lighting specialist. Now as Outdoor Living Brands,we have three outdoor living franchise opportunities.

Forthis visit to Meredith, the fine folks at FaceTime Strategy in Washington DC,Susan Stoga and LeJane Carson , carefully planned and meticulously orchestratedthis sharing of new concepts and ideas in outdoor living for 2012, with specialthanks to Jessica Brown, Meredith Corporate Communications, who hosted us.

Theobjective of this meeting was to share the latest trends in outdoor living withthis esteemed panel, as these Meredith editors are tremendous centers of influencefor consumers who take great pride in, care of and enjoy their at-home surroundings.

AsOutdoor Living Brands, all we focus on is outdoor living, or celebrating the joysof outdoor living, to be more accurate.

Itall starts with Archadeck Outdoor Living,North America’s favorite designer and builder of affordable, innovative andfunctional outdoor spaces. Screened porches, sunrooms, patios, hardscapes,outdoor kitchens, new decks, deck replacements – you name it.

Andthen, so our Archadeck Outdoor Living clients and other homeowners can enjoytheir custom outdoor living spaces well into the evening, there’s OutdoorLighting Perspectives, the low-voltage halogen and LED outdoor lightingexperts, who concentrate on beauty, safety, security and functionality –with an outdoor lighting solution for virtually any taste and budget.

Thelast part of this outdoor living trifecta is Mosquito Squad, whoeliminates annoying and dangerous mosquitoes and ticks and the bites that theybring. Using an EPA-registered Barrier Spray solution administered every 21days around the home and throughout the backyard, Mosquito Squad allowshomeowners to enjoy their “great” outdoors whenever they want – without thefear of mosquito bites and tick bites.

Itwas great to reconnect with Better Homesand Gardens Editor-In-Chief Doug Jimerson; Dr. DennySchrock, Better Homes and Gardens (GardenGroup Editor); James Baggett, Editor of CountryGardens as well as Deck, Pool &Patio and Jane McKeon, Senior Associate Editor at Better Homes and Gardens (Garden and Outdoor Living).

Asfor new business friends, I am looking forward to working with Jodi Henke,National Radio Editor with Living The Country Life and JustinHancock, Better Homes and GardensSenior Editor, who specializes on the Interactive side (BHG.com) of Meredith.

Social Media: Marketing Internship in Richmond, Virginia

2012-02-03T10:55:00.004-05:00

Ah. To be 21 years old again.

If I were you, I'd be all over this.

Truly, an opportunity of a lifetime.

And besides, you'll get to work with me, too.

Summary and Responsibilities

This Social Media Internship Project is at the headquarters of Outdoor Living Brands in Richmond, Virginia. The internship assignment focuses on online marketing strategy for social media, in particular the Pinterest forum, a fast-growing, highly visual online community.

The intern will have the opportunity to own this online project from start to finish – scoping, research, recommendations, and possibly, building and implementing. The hours of the internship are flexible. This project will enable the selected intern to build their digital capabilities in a fun and creative environment.

Basic Qualifications

-Pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or Communications major
-Proven record of demonstrating performance and initiative
-Excellent computer skills
-Excellent interpersonal skills
-Familiarity with social media, preferably from a business perspective

Preferred Qualifications

-Junior or Senior college student
-Prior internship experience

-Access to a computer

Outdoor Living Brands

We are a franchise organization with nearly 200 locations across the country. We focus on outdoor living with 3 separate companies: Archadeck Outdoor Living (sunrooms, decks, patios, etc.), Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, and Mosquito Squad (mosquito elimination and tick control).

Please send resumes to: Leslie McCarey at lmccarey@outdoorlivingbrands.com.

Apple iPad owners make retailers smile

2012-01-24T07:27:00.000-05:00

According to survey results from Zmags, reportedby Kevin Woodward, Senior Editor of InternetRetailer, consumers who own tablets tend to like to shop, and make morespontaneous purchases than consumers who do not own tablets.

Mobile and tablet apps, on their own however, are not meetingconnected consumers’ browsing and purchasing needs. Only 4% like to shop usingmobile apps, compared to 87% of PC owners, 14% of smartphone owners and 9% oftablet owners who prefer to browse and buy from Web and mobile sites.

Despitethat data, I use my Amazon iPhone app for just about everything I buy now.

The survey conducted by Equation Research in November 2011, foundthat:

• 14% ofconsumers who own tablet computers classified themselves as spontaneousshoppers compared with 9% of those who do not own a tablet.

• 9% oftablet owners said they were addicted to shopping, compared with 3% of thosenot owning a tablet

• 9% oftablet owners said they tend to buy luxury items than non-tablet owners

• 53% of tablet owners shopped for electronics, topping the listof most-preferred products to buy using a tablet, followed by:

• Books,41%

• Toys, 39%

• Clothing,27%

• Music,33%

Sean Ford, Zmags chief operating officer and chief marketingofficer, says that “... tablets stand out as better than smartphones forshopping for clothing and electronics products... 37% were more likely to buyclothing while using a tablet than on a smartphone... 53% would prefer to shopfor electronics using a tablet... while 35% preferred a smartphone... “

Zmags says that the average connected consumer is not a textingteenager or a hipster with more devices than flannel shirts. 52% of tabletowners are women and 81% of all tablet owners use Facebook. She is 40 yearsold, earns $63,000, loves to browse catalogs and is enthusiastic about shoppingvia her devices. On average, a tablet owner spent $325 during the surveyperiod.

29% of tablet owners says convenience drives their shoppingbecause they spend a lot of time using the device, while:

• 24% tendto browse sites, hoping to be inspired to make a purchase.

• 14% likethe ease of making a transaction;

• 13% havea specific product or offer in mind;

• 11%shopped because of an advertisement for a product;

• 9% choosea tablet because of the ease of sharing products or deals via social networks

Social media: much more than talk this time

2012-01-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Chinese Proverb

From the desk of Larry Spada
Brand Strategist and Creative Director
Outdoor Living Brands

During the past four years the Outdoor Living Brands Marketing Team has been singing the many praises of engaging our franchisees from Archadeck Outdoor Living, Mosquito Squad and Outdoor Lighting Perspectives in social media. This helps bolster our search engine optimization throughout our enterprise and reinforces that our franchise licensees are articulate and knowledgeable subject matter experts in their respective disciplines: designing and building affordable, innovative and functional outdoor living spaces; eliminating mosquitoes, ticks and stink bugs and illuminating dark and scary spaces with warm glows of beautiful low voltage lighting.

This year we even created a step-by-step PowerPoint to illustrate how to record a video client testimonial on an iPhone and then instantly send it to YouTube, to add even more momentum to our referral strategy to acquire new customers via our existing clients.

So you can imagine our surprise when about 15 franchisees were interested in personal instructions on how to do this, starting first with learning how to open a YouTube account.

So on day four of our 2012 Annual Meeting -- "Get Connected" -- the fearless and the brave joined me at the edge of the ocean outside the Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Florida, before sunrise for this personal tutorial.

Here's one result, courtesy of Matt Lange, Moquito Squad of Birmingham. Well done, Matt.

Happy 5th Birthday iPhone from Larry Spada and Matt Spada

2012-01-09T17:11:00.000-05:00

My son Matt reminded me this morning that it was five years ago today we saw and heard Steve Jobs say "We're gonna make some history together today," live, onstage in San Francisco.

From getting into the line queue around 2 am that morning in front of the Moscone Center -- actually it was four blocks away from the front door at that point, as the line started to form some two days before the door opened -- to both being as excited as two toddlers on Christmas morning, it was an experience we'll both never forget.

The iPhone. Five years later. Wow. What a ride.

RIP Steve. You did good...and you are missed.

Your brand. Is it really you?

2012-01-08T09:25:00.000-05:00

During the holidays I collected some blog pieces that I thought had a lot of merit and wanted to share them. This is one of the best.

Dan Schawbel, founder of Millennial Branding, is featured in this Techipedia post by Tamar Weinberg:

Most people online are building “a brand,” but sometimes people forget whose brand they are building and if they are making the right strategic moves. For instance, if your Twitter handle reads “@fastcar,” then you aren’t building your own personal brand. When people retweet you, they are viewing @fastcar and not your full name. So stop for a second and consider what brand you’re trying to build and why. Are you looking to become an industry expert, or are you focused on establishing your company’s name, or both? We’ve seen a lot of successful personal brands explode online because they’ve either thought about how they would like to be perceived or they have slowly grown into their current roles, by experimentation, luck and hard work. I could write a post explaining how to use TV advertising or radio to build your brand, but most of you won’t shell out thousands of dollars for something that most people will ignore anyways. Social media, on the other hand, allows you to connect directly with the audience you want to target, on common ground, and build relationships.

Here are ten tips that will help you on your journey:

Discover your brand

A lot of people are rushing to get on social networks, and are forgetting to fill out their profiles, or what their purpose of participation is. You need to have a clear idea of who you are, what you want to be known as, and the type of content you can consistently publish, otherwise you won’t stand out. There are thousands of people who brand themselves as realtors, lawyers, social media gurus, and marketing experts, and very few of them are successful. By basing your brand off of what you’re passionate about and want to be an expert in (if you’re not already), you will be able to become a serious player in the social media world.

Create your own marketing system

I recommend that people take a portion of their day to learn as much as they can about what people are saying about them, as well as review competitor and partner activities, and peruse industry trends and case studies. The more you read, the better and more prepared you will be to communicate through various social media channels. Use tools such as alltop.com and google.com/alerts to find the right blogs and new articles, and then subscribe to them through RSS using Google Reader. The second step is to organize the most important articles that you review in Google Reader, using Delicious.com. Finally, share these articles using your social media tools, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and possibly cite them in your presentations and within blog posts.

Get endorsements

The world is run by recommendations and you trust what your inner circle has to say, rather than complete strangers. An endorsement could be from a happy customer, an industry expert, a professor or someone else that is respected by society. The endorsement will give you more credibility and respect. Recommendations happen publicly all the time now, so the more people say positive things about you, the bigger your brand will become.

Build your brand by association

By working for brand names, you gain more credibility in the process. For example, Tamar Weinberg is the community manager for Mashable, and she has written for Lifehacker.com and other mega blogs. Not only does this enhance her visibility as a brand, but this association has helped Tamar leverage her brand into new areas, such as becoming the author of a popular book. This is why I always recommend that you align yourself to well-known brands as fast as you can because it establishes a foundation that you can work with later.

Partner with others

It’s hard to spend hours each day working on creating content, working with clients, expanding your business, and possibly your full-time job. That’s why you should look to locate other people online that are looking to achieve similar goals and link up with them. If you’re looking to start a blog, a YouTube channel, or some other content platform, it helps to have multiple content creators so that you can focus on the marketing of that property too.

Have a unique identity and take a niche

Be different and love being different. The more you can offer a fresh perspective or a brand new concept, the more people will gravitate to you. No one wants to subscribe to another tech blog or meet someone at a networking event that does the same thing as someone else. The more you’re able to take your distinct personality and ideas and carve your own niche, the better off you’ll be.

Don’t join every social network

You might hear from people that you need to be everywhere, and I’m sorry to say that it’s not a good strategy. You won’t be able to scale your brand on fifty social networks. Instead, join the top four networks: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Once you’ve done that, then you should get accounts on social networks that are relevant to your field.

Join other communities

When you’re first starting off, or even if you already have a large platform, you should participate in communities that already exist. Whether it’s a Facebook fan page, a LinkedIn group, a local association, etc. This way you can target your audience, while forming relationships with the people who will be interested in your services.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-21T10:41:00.000-05:00

Santa's no dummy.

iTunes Match was just released today

2011-11-14T16:06:00.000-05:00

Be sure to download the update.

Here's the buzz:

What's new in iTunes 10.5.1

Introducing iTunes Match. Store your entire music library in iCloud, including music you've imported from CDs, and enjoy your collection anywhere, anytime, on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, computer, or Apple TV.

iTunes 10.5 also included:

• iTunes in the Cloud. iTunes now stores your music and TV purchases in iCloud and makes them available on your devices anywhere, any time, at no additional cost.

• Automatic Downloads. Purchase music from any device or computer and automatically download a copy to your Mac and iOS devices.

• Download Previous Purchases. Download your past music, TV, app, and book purchases again, at no additional cost. Previous purchases may be unavailable if they are no longer on the iTunes Store.

• Sync with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 5.

• Wi-Fi Syncing. Automatically sync your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes any time they're both on the same Wi-Fi network.

Okay, so exactly what is iCloud?

2011-11-08T14:08:00.000-05:00

From CNET everything you always needed to know, but didn't have the foggiest notion of whom to ask.

Patagonia: absolutely brilliant

2011-10-27T15:34:00.000-04:00

This is why Patagonia will be around for generations to come.

Social media -- with a social consciousness -- for the greater good.

Everyone wins.

Check it our here, from Fast Company.

The next Apple aficionado must-have: Nest

2011-10-26T06:56:00.000-04:00

From the inventor of the iPod, comes this beautifully and intelligently designed home thermostat, focused on energy conservation -- made easy.

It also has the most beautiful website I have seen in years, with a fluid user experience.

The social media component for Nest is also very effective and memorable -- and easily motivates interested parties (yeah, that would be me) to share with their friends.

I just bought two for my home with their professional installation.

I want to take this experience to the finish line.

Thanks, Matt.

iOS 5 for iPhone and iPad: what's the big deal?

2011-10-13T18:36:00.000-04:00

iOS 5 Software Update

This update contains over 200 new features, including the following:

Notifications

Swipe from the top of any screen to view notifications in one place with Notification Center
New notifications appear briefly at the top of the screen
View notifications from lock screen
Slide the notification app icon to the right on the lock screen to go directly to the app

iMessage

Send and receive unlimited text, photo, and video messages with other iOS 5 users
Track messages with delivery and read receipts
Group messaging and secure encryption
Works over cellular network and Wi-Fi*

Newsstand

Automatically organizes magazine and newspaper subscriptions on Home Screen
Displays the cover of the latest issue
Background downloads of new issues

Reminders for managing to do lists

Syncs with iCloud, iCal and Outlook
Location-based reminders when you leave or arrive at a location for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4

Built-in support for Twitter

Sign-in once in Settings and tweet directly from Camera, Photos, Maps, Safari and YouTube
Add location to any tweet
View twitter profile pictures and usernames in Contacts

Camera improvements for devices with cameras

Double click the home button when device is asleep to bring up a camera shortcut on iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch (4th generation)
Volume Up button to take a picture
Optional grid lines to line up shots
Pinch to zoom in the preview screen
Swipe to camera roll from preview screen
Tap and hold to lock focus and exposure, iPad 2 and iPod touch (4th generation) only support exposure lock

Photo improvements for devices with cameras

Crop and rotate
Red eye removal
One tap enhance
Organize photos into albums

Mail improvements

Format text using bold, italic, or underlined fonts
Indentation control
Drag to rearrange names in address fields
Flag messages
Mass mark messages as flagged, read or unread
Customize mail alert sounds
S/MIME

Calendar improvements

Year view on iPad and new Week view for iPhone and iPod touch
Tap to create an event
View and add event attachments

Game Center improvements

Use personal photos for your Game Center account
Compare your overall achievement scores with your friends
Find new Game Center friends with friend recommendations and friends of friends
Discover new games with custom game recommendations

AirPlay Mirroring for iPad 2 and iPhone 4S
Multitasking Gestures for iPad

Use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen
Swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar
Swipe left or right to switch between apps

On-device setup, activation and configuration with Setup Assistant
Software updates available over the air without tethering
iCloud support

iTunes in the Cloud
Photo Stream
Documents in the Cloud
Apps and Books automatic download and purchase history
Backup
Contacts, Calendar, and Mail
Find My iPhone

Redesigned Music app for iPad

Hourly weather forecast
Real-time stock quotes
Wireless sync to iTunes
Keyboard improvements

Split keyboard for iPad
Improved autocorrection accuracy
Improved Chinese and Japanese input
New Emoji keyboard
Personal dictionary for autocorrection
Optionally create keyboard short cuts for frequently used words

Accessibility improvements

Option to light LED flash on incoming calls and alerts for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4
Custom vibration patterns for incoming calls on iPhone
New interface for using iOS with mobility-impairment input devices
Option to speak a selection of text
Custom element labeling for VoiceOver

Exchange ActiveSync improvements

Wirelessly sync tasks
Mark messages as flagged, read or unread
Improved offline support
Save a new contact from a GAL service

More than 1,500 new developer APIs
Bug fixes

Products compatible with this software update:

iPhone 4S
iPhone 4
iPhone 3GS
iPad 2
iPad
iPod touch (4th generation)
iPod touch (3rd generation)

Remote…virtual…location-agnostic…yeah, that’s me

2011-10-09T06:57:00.000-04:00

I cracked up when reading Brian Casel’s piece posted on Mashable about The Rise of the Distributed Agency Model.

That’s how we began Spada Advertising Marketing and Design for Business back in 1989.

To borrow a cliché, it’s kind of like “having your cake and being able to eat it, too.”

Today, I’m still practicing what I preach as I work from my home office three weeks each month in Charlotte, travelling to my headquarters in Richmond the fourth week.

This scenario works really well for me, allowing me to be closer to my family in the Carolinas, instead of schlepping five and half hours each way from Richmond to Charlotte when my wife and I want to visit with our kids.

But convenience aside, what Casel says is very true in my experience:

“Happier, More Productive Team: When workers, particularly independent freelancers, are able to work their own hours, using their own equipment, without having to conform to an office environment and schedule, it can lead to a more productive operation.”

When I’m working from home, I am constantly connected to my team via Apple iChat and Jabber – iChat for web cam conversations (about three a day) and Jabber instant messaging for constant dialogue with my team, so none of us miss a beat. And now with a web cam connected to the Conference Room monitor in Richmond, I join various meetings any time I’m needed, again via iChat.

But what really amazes me is how much more productive I am when working from home. My day typically begins at 6 am checking email. After coffee and a shower, I’m back at my stand-up working station that I’ve been using since 2005 (highly recommended, with a Gel Mat Pro pad for your feet), ready to execute my daily tasks and projects – and to put out those proverbial fires as soon as they arise.

And without a doubt, my creativity and productivity levels soar when I’m working from home. I work virtually any time day or night, when the mood strikes me – in addition to the conventional hours of 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

I can honestly say that the quality of my strategy work, creative direction and copywriting has never been better…because now it’s fun. Working on my terms.

Life’s too short. Enjoy what you do…and how you do it.

Capturing lead data on your mobile device: M Leads Lite

2011-10-07T06:27:00.000-04:00

Now that many of the franchisees in our enterprise have embraced the Apple iPhone and iPad as part of their sales process and social media mindset, it stands to reason that they would also want to use them for lead capture at consumer and trade shows.

My colleague Jane Campbell came across this one: M Leads Lite, free on the Apple App Store.

It’s easy to use, intuitive and gets the critical information you’ll need today to follow-up on interested prospects.

iSad today

2011-10-06T07:30:00.001-04:00

I guess it has finally sunk in. Last night when I heard the news about Steve Jobs’ passing from my son Matt on my MacBookPro, I was kind of numb.

As I wake this morning with my morning coffee, I’m not sure if I can leave the TV on today. His memory is everywhere, as it should be. But it all just makes me so profoundly sad.

It’s a selfish sadness, really, as I have made Steve such an integral part of my life. It all started the day Mike Beato showed me a bouncing digital three-dimensional black and white ball on the screen of the rectangular Macintosh computer, generation one.

I was speechless at first.

My only exposure to computers before that were the cathode ray yellow digits on aged green screens trapped in dirty beige plastic boxes on the desks of the accounting staff at regional ad agency Faller Klenk and Quinlan, where I shared the helm of Director of Account Services with my buddy Walt Frazier.

Heck, I was still using an Underwood typewriter.

The rest is history. Mike and I moved on to found Adwords Communications Limited at FKQ, and when my employment agreement ended a few years later, my wife Laurel and I opened Spada Advertising Marketing and Design for Business in January 1989, in our home, which grew into Interactive Direct Marketing in Williamsville, New York…all because of Steve Jobs.

But the highlight of all of my Apple experiences was seeing Steve Jobs introduce the iPhone at the Moscone Convention Center with my son Matt in 2007.

We arrived at SFO the day before, had an awesome steak dinner and a bottle of red wine at a chophouse, the name of which I can’t recall today.

We then decided to head back to our hotel to try to get some sleep, as we were heading over the Moscone Center to get in line at 2 am, as the doors were slated to open at 9 am, and we knew it would be a mob scene. It all was crazy/awesome at the same time.

When the doors of the venue opened, the rush of the crowd to find a seat was exhilarating, and Matt and I decided to sit at right of the stage as was the center area was pandemonium.

In typical Steve Jobs style, he started with this peace of news, and that new sales stat, and this techno blah-blah-blah, and then BANG.

The iPhone.

As he explained what the iPhone was and how it worked, my eyes welled up as I knew I was seeing one of the most significant days in history and one of the most important days of my life – witnessing the one device that would truly change everything.

I remember leaving the Center when it was over, and I called Mike Beato to share the experience on my Nokia cell phone – one of the last times I ever used it. I was so excited I could hear my heart beating in my voice.

The rest is my history…and with gratitude, it continues.

Rest in peace, my friend. Just don’t get on God’s nerves.

Steve Jobs, sleep in heavenly peace

2011-10-05T21:18:00.000-04:00

Just posted in the Los Angeles Times.

iPhone 4S: making the best even better

2011-10-05T17:08:00.002-04:00

When I first found out about the Siri app in February 2010, I downloaded, loved it, and was so crazy about that I blogged about it that day.

Low and behold when I found out that Apple bought the company, I saw this train coming.

But I was expecting the physical unit to be slimmed down ala the iPad.

But I’m over it.

We’re spoiled.

Apple focused on making the best mobile phone/digital device even better with Siri, plus the enhance processor and superior camera.

And as for a sleeker, slimmer, more stylish version, we’ll just have it wait for it so we can all buy another device all over again.

New, improved and smokin’.

iPhone 5 geek alert

2011-09-20T08:43:00.000-04:00

Hmmm...it just gets more interesting, doesn't it?

A free music app for you from Nibnob

2011-09-06T07:25:00.000-04:00

Good morning, all.

Here’s a freebie for you.

A web developer friend of mine has just created a social media app for iPhone and iPad, which is now available for free on the App Store -- search "Nibnob."  

He is asking for feedback in evaluating the user experience and if you’re interested, I’d like you to check it out and let me know what you think.  

He describes it as “Basically, while you're out for a walk/on vacation/in the gym you Geo Tag what you are listening to. This then creates charts for the top songs while you’re at the gym or in your city. Other users can then search those charts and preview the songs and then buy them from Apple or Amazon if they like them.”  

Thanks!

Ad agency billing app

2011-09-04T15:01:00.000-04:00

Another beautiful thing from the world of iPhone wonders.

An app for billable hours...in any language.

Check it out here, courtesy of the Ag Group from LinkedIn.

The insanity of credit card fraud instigated by technology

2011-09-04T14:02:00.000-04:00

About 10 years ago I purchased some holiday gifts from Wolferman’s and my credit card number was stolen.

I found out when my son phoned me one day and said, “Hey, Dad, an electronics store in New Jersey just called to verify that you bought $3,800 worth of stuff. What did you buy?”

Unfortunately, my answer was, “Nothing.”

So after phoning the store to cancel the order (which was being shipped to a fictitious address in...wait for it...Africa), and the credit card company, who was great, and cancelling cards, and going through a whole week of anxiety, it eventually melted away from my conscious.

Until yesterday.

My wife’s mobile phone was ringing inside her purse so I answered it. That was my first mistake. I didn’t notice that the caller ID read “Blocked.”

I had an extremely difficult time understanding the caller, who wound up calling that number four times in seven minutes, as two the calls were not answered by me.

From what I thought I understood the word fragments to be from the two calls I answered were “custodian…locker…San Francisco airport…two packages…is this your correct address…since May…cocaine…$18 million…I want to get these to you.”

Hmmm. If you know me, it’s more likely that I would win a Gold Medal for the Triathlon in the Olympics than I would be connected to cocaine. And as for $18 million, sorry, I can’t even count that high.

And the reason why I answered the phone a second time (before the cocaine and $18 million bit) was the fact that he referenced “two packages.”

Recently we ordered two large items from Overstock.com and I thought that possibly this was in reference to that order, as we still haven’t received those packages. After the second phone call, I knew those weren’t it.

Then, what occurred to me, was that the way in which that mobile number which connected to our home address. Through my wife’s Discover Card.

So after much consideration – and prodding from my family – I filed an online police report (which was actually quite efficient – as you could just imagine what it would be like relating this story to the police department over the phone…”Whaaat?!”).

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is the last of it, but if not, at least I’m on record.

Should you suspect that you may be a victim of credit card fraud, report it immediately to the card company and contact the police. The sooner you act, the lesser the aggravation and stress you’ll experience.

"You talkin' to me?"

2011-08-28T19:18:00.000-04:00

I see where this train is going. "Look ma -- no more fingers!"

Apple files a patent to understand the commands of your voice.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em

2011-08-28T08:23:00.000-04:00

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for this job interview.

A great read about the 19 year old Apple hacker who has re-directed his career path.

Too funny.

Apple forever. The next chapter.

2011-08-25T16:16:00.000-04:00

If you're still falling on the sword trying to preserve Microsoft’s bragging rights about what a great operating system it is (no Corey, not you, as you have now seen the light) -- and how you just can't live without your Crackberry -- get over it.

Today is the first day of Apple forever.

For this is the day that my hero, Steve Jobs, planned...for years.

What better time to fade into the sunset?

1. Steve Jobs has been grooming Tim Cook to become his successor for quite a while now.

2. Apple has more money in the bank than ever.

3. iPhone 5 debuts in a few weeks, and I hear it will be well worth the wait, for generation-three hold-outs like me who are ready for "what's next."

4. And there's a new ALL TOUCH SCREEN iMac in the wings that will be yet another game-changer.

And as for Apple's future, if you have any doubt about it's long-term viability, just take a look at what digital devices your children and grand children using.

Apple today. Apple tomorrow. Apple forever.

BTW, if you still haven’t had your fill of Steve Jobs love stories, here’s a few more, courtesy of my son Matt.

http://bit.ly/webwisesteve1

http://bit.ly/webwisesteve2

http://bit.ly/webwisesteve3

http://bit.ly/webwisesteve4

My first rant: not Made in the USA

2011-08-17T12:52:00.000-04:00

I believe in free trade. I believe in a global economy.

But will someone please tell me what the heck we’re making here in the United States?

I just bought outdoor furniture from Overstock.com. Made in Vietnam.

My infomercial EZ Moves casters. Made in China.

My Banana Republic shirt. Made in Thailand.

Does anyone else see a pattern here besides me?

In fact, the only time I’ve ever seen the Made in the USA brand graphic posted in this blog was this morning when I did an image search on Google.

Ohhh…we’re a service economy. Yeah, right.

Like waiting 25 minutes for the cable company to answer my phone call. Or, God forbid, when you need to speak by phone to your doctor right away.

If we don’t make anything in this country, how the heck can we create jobs?

Is our new primary career skill set destined to be talking to people on the phone…only after they’ve been on hold for what seems like forever?

I’m concerned.

Very concerned.

The new Apple campus revealed

2011-08-17T09:30:00.000-04:00

"Is that a spaceship next door to us, or is Steve Jobs planning a new Apple campus?"

Hokey shmokes. Check out Apple's new digs right here.

Apple babies

2011-08-16T13:33:00.000-04:00

Start 'em young.

Great piece from Fast Company.

The Purpose Motive. It’s what gets you up in the morning.

2011-08-09T07:54:00.000-04:00

My nephew Mike got my day off to a great start today by posting a link on Facebook with this ten minute and 48 second video on YouTube from RSA Animate.

Sometimes it’s really not at all about making money.

In fact, research proves that some of the most innovative ideas are born out of fun.

Be sure to see the last installment that kicks in at 6:01.

iPhone 5 “Air”?

2011-07-30T07:45:00.000-04:00

The rumors are starting – again – but that’s half the fun.

Check this one out.

If it’s true, I’m in.

Broadband bandwidth bonanza could help cure what ails our economy

2011-07-29T06:56:00.000-04:00

According to Jerry Brito at Time, your iPhone could be the gateway to giving Uncle Sam the kick he needs in his financial pants.

”How?,” you may ask. Good question.

The explanation is actually quite fascinating, as our multi-trillion dollar debt crisis could actually realize a $15 billion infusion from digital device carriers like AT&T and Verizon successfully bidding on broadband width auctions.

Rest in peace, and live forever online, with your very own headstone QR code

2011-07-27T07:15:00.000-04:00

The next time you visit a cemetery to pay your respects to deceased family and friends, be sure to bring your iPhone.

Really.

On Fox News Rising this morning they featured Quiring Monuments, which now etches QR codes into cemetery headstones.

But as headstones are crafted to last at least 100 years, the QR code etching may prove to be a valuable antique onto itself, as surely 100 years from someone will most likely say, “what the heck is that thing?”

Hmmm…I wonder what Apple will be trading at 100 years from now?

Mac OS X Lion: Christmas in July

2011-07-24T09:56:00.000-04:00

Being Sunday, when thoughts turn to things more calm and meditative situations, I can’t but help think how lucky I am.

After all these years of enjoying technology, that Christmas morning feeling still comes over me every time I experience a new Apple product or service.

Apple’s new Mac OS X Lion operating system, made for the Intel processor, is a perfect example.

It takes everything you’ve come to know on your Mac and brings it to another totally new level.

From the second you see the new gray linen effect background on the start-up screen, you know this is going to be some thing special…and very different.

Never resting on their laurels, Apple always takes what they learn and celebrates it on the iteration of everything.

Matt sent me this link which is very helpful, with the key piece of information being “Leave it alone for a few hours.”

The software is so smart, is re-indexes everything to create the new user experiences you’ll wonder how you ever live without.

Enjoy.

Mac Lion OS X roars tomorrow

2011-07-19T18:02:00.000-04:00

The cat is out of the bag. And it's only 30 buckaroonies.

Here's the scoop.

Inbound Marketing Tactics: free enterprise gone wild?

2011-07-10T09:17:00.000-04:00

Living with a high consciousness of search engine optimization every day, I found this morning's story in The New York Times "Picking The Lock Of Google's Search" very disturbing.

The smarter technology-savvy entrepreneurs get by setting up phone banks to give them a virtual presence in Designated Market Areas (DMA) to offer personal and household services, the more in danger we place our local small businesses, like locksmiths, when it comes to "optimizing" search results.

This tale of Bob Strom, owner of a real-life locksmith company in Seattle named Ballard Lock & Key, suggests to me that maybe Google should think about setting up a designation system for those local business search results for local companies who truly do have an established physical presence in a given marketplace.

But by doing that, they would put at great risk the monetization ability of search itself.

This is gonna be a tough one.

Debuting in 2012 or 2013: the new Apple TV

2011-06-27T10:52:00.000-04:00

It's commminnng.

Piper Jaffray's been talking about it for months, and today Morgan Stanley joins the conversation.

Here's the latest, according to Scott Moritz at The Street.

I can't wait.

"So how do I REALLY get my presentations onto an iPad?"

2011-06-25T17:25:00.000-04:00

I know. For something so incredibly miraculous and intuitive, figuring out how to transfer your PowerPoint or Keynote presentations onto your iPad isn't the easiest thing in the world to figure out.

For starters, try this primer from Dave Taylor.

Another favorite trick of mine, is to save PowerPoint files as jpegs, and then create a new "album" in iPhoto, and then bring then over into the iPad photo app.

Either way, you'll dazzle your audience with the high resolution views and that finger-flickin' Apple interface.

Thanks, Mike.

Ouch: the QR code that didn’t work…a cautionary tale

2011-06-25T10:59:00.000-04:00

It’s a nightmare I’ve already had.

“Suppose the QR code doesn’t work for some reason?”

Thank God, the few I’ve used have performed well, and their adapted mobile browser functionality is right on the mark.

Lately, I’ve been fantasizing about covering the side of a building with one huge QR code for the right promotion, tantamount to when Apple rolled out the iPods in New York and San Francisco with the contemporized Peter Max-ist vinyl posters that covered commercial building exteriors all over town.

Well, anyway, I started going through the July/August issue of “Fast Company” today, which is outstanding, by the way, and I come across this ad for ChicagoIdeas.com

A solid black full page. A short captivating headline, knocked out to white, reading “Is my idea a big idea?” And a QR code below it.

So I take my iPhone, shoot the little sucker, and what happens?

Uhhh…nothing.

Instead of automatically connecting to a mobile browser version of the web page ChicagoIdeas.com, my Safari browser opens up with the majority of the content missing.

Lesson learned: if you’re going to use a QR code in a new marketing or lead generation campaign, make sure it works.

And if your intended web page was originally created for a large laptop screen, make sure you talk to a developer about creating a succinct version of that web user experience for mobile devices, or at the very least, create a mobile app landing page.

Otherwise, it may not be such a big idea.

A graphical resume…in an instant

2011-06-24T10:50:00.000-04:00

This one just in.

Very soon, if you have an account on LinkedIn, you’ll be able to serve yourself up real nice and purdy when looking for a job.

It’s Visualize Me. And you can be among the first to get it by signing up here.

It’s Friday.

And I’m feeling very much like George Jetson…again...Matthew.

Twitter first aid: turning lemons into lemonade

2011-06-24T07:22:00.002-04:00

I wanted to share this piece by Jim Ducharme that I found this morning on the Social Marketing Forum.

Jim offers some great tips on how to react when you find yourself with a negative Tweet on Twitter.

Having had to deal with just such an occurrence this year on behalf of a friend, Jim does a great job chronicling the cycle that typically starts with anxiety and then doubt how to best proceed.

Social Media Day, next Thursday, June 30, 2011

2011-06-24T06:59:00.000-04:00

I don't know where I was last year, but next Thursday is the second annual Social Media Day, encouraging social media meeting mashups in key cities around the world.

Pete Cashmore and his Mashable team have done their usual excellent job of getting the party started.

For the full story -- short and sweet -- you'll find it here.

iPhone 5 rumor mania

2011-06-23T15:08:00.000-04:00

Alas, no need for an RSS feed or Goggle alerts ad nauseam. CNET has the scoop on the latest iPhone 5 rumors right here.

Mac OS Lion: trust me, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet

2011-06-19T10:36:00.000-04:00

Alright, I know. Watching a technology keynote address would be second only to getting a root canal at the dentist without gas or local anesthetic for most people.

But then there’s the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference recently held in San Francisco, where 5,000 lucky folks got a glimpse of how we’ll be computing and communicating later this summer.

With its full screen views and multi-touch functionality, the new Lion operating system debuting in July is totally killer.

It's everything Apple has become renowned for, but this time on steroids.

A user experience unlike anything you've ever seen.

And intuitive one-, two- and three-finger touch options that will make your mouse totally obsolete.

And best of all, where Apple operating system upgrades typically cost $129, this one will be...wait for it...$29.99.

Google +1: The skinny on a possibly very fat future

2011-06-18T10:13:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time something new was added to our human experience and thirst for knowledge. It was called the Internet, that thing invented by Al Gore.

To help make it easier to find information on this newfangled thing, way back in 1998, a couple of young, smart bucks named Larry Page and Sergey Brin created a living library of fast and easy connections to find virtually anything you wanted on this Internet.

In 2004, another new Internet thing called Facebook was born, destined to become the world’s gathering place for daily conversations with family, friends and “fans.”

Alas, as we are a capitalist society, and at the end of the day it’s usually all about money, Facebook has been working real hard to monetize their gateway now attracting more than 500 million active users, 50% of which log on to Facebook in any given day. Oh, and yes, the average Facebook user has 130 friends.

To help these Facebook users tell their friends about stuff they like and recommend, Facebook invented the LIKE button.

Hmmm. How do Larry, Sergey and their friends at Google nip this phenomenon in the bud before Facebook becomes an even bigger money machine than they are?

With Google +1, the new preference recommendation introduced on June 1, 2011 in an experimental stage, Google hopes to steal Facebook’s thunder.

It remains to be seen how all this will flush out, but my money’s on two bets. One, the search engine optimization benefits could be huge (long term), and the eventual monetization opportunities could make Google AdWords look like small potatoes.

Stay tuned. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.

Metrics, schmetrics: an easy primer to help figure out where your web traffic is coming from and what it all means

2011-06-16T18:25:00.000-04:00

My buddy Martin came across this interesting read from Entrepreneur Magazine today, and I thought it was worth sharing.

You know, it's funny.

In 2007 we started to hear the term social media and seemingly on a day-by-day basis came to know the players, why they were important and the potential impact it could all have on our businesses.

Fast forward to 2011, and now everyone realizes that you can actually get a better read on web visitation and consumer behavior, once you have the right analytics and reporting systems in place.

If this is all new to you -- or confusing -- the primer from John D. Leary tee's it all up quite nicely.

Thanks, John.