Making people and ideas findable

February 2009 Blog Posts (332)

I never thought I’d see this in grade school

I've grown accustomed to seeing computers in school now. Even in elementary schools. Kids these days just "get" computers. They don't even see them as a challenge. It's just second nature to them.

But here's one I didn't see coming. My first-grade son came home from school yesterday and started telling me about Benny Goodman. When I asked him where he learned about Benny Goodman he told me he saw him on YouTube.

Did you just say YouTube?

I actually had to ask… Continue

Added by Patric Welch on February 28, 2009 at 6:33pm — No Comments

The case of the disappearing Comcast email

I just returned from helping a client install a Canon Pixma MX850 Office All-In-One Printer she purchased using the Noobie Concierge service. Part of the printer setup required a whopping 13 minute print head alignment which gave my client and I some time to chit-chat.

12 emails… Continue

Added by Patric Welch on February 28, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Huntington: A Bank That Cares in Indianapolis

I have always been a fan of rewarding companies or individuals who really take the extra step to help an individual. I experienced that today with a local bank in Indianapolis.

My company was switching banks and were investigating a couple of local institutions in the area. While investigating I remembered meeting with an individual named Scott Long who works at… Continue

Added by Kyle Lacy on February 28, 2009 at 4:29pm — No Comments

Wanna partner with a great local event?

Hey Smoosiers, Taffy here. My wife organizes the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange, "a D.I.Y. urban craft fair and bazaar with a full offering of unique handmade goods." She is currently planning the next event and she's asked me to reach out to ya'll in the hopes of finding some local businesses interested in partnering with her.

With more than a thousand visitors last year and vendors from as close as Indy and as far as Toronto,… Continue

Added by NealTaflinger on February 28, 2009 at 2:02pm — 2 Comments

Stop Blasting Out Emails Via Your Chamber Mailing List

Ok, I know I’m somewhat of an idealist here but it really bothers me when I get added to 50 different email lists simply because I joined the Indianapolis Chamber. I realize that as a member, one benefit is that I have access to other members’ contact information and they have access to mine. However, just because you have my email address does NOT mean that I have asked to be on your email list.

I get press releases, poorly-designed newsletters, product promos, and all sorts of… Continue

Added by Michael Reynolds on February 28, 2009 at 1:16pm — 1 Comment

Hotel technology works great until you want to eat

I love to see how businesses utilize technology. Some get it right. Some miss the boat. And some are stuck somewhere in the middle. Like last week when the hotel I stayed at issued my room key as one of those electronic credit card thig-a-ma-jigs. I love these things. I always feel like a secret agent when I enter my room by inserting the card and waiting for the light to turn green.

I even love the security of these cards since nowhere on the card is your room number printed. The… Continue

Added by Patric Welch on February 28, 2009 at 12:41pm — No Comments

Sales . . It's in Style!

Sales is in style this season. Sales is a classic, like a navy blazer or black dress, it never goes out of style. Yet, this season with the economy still languishing, sales is even more in vogue.

It's rare that I hear a business owners say that they have nailed their sales process or have the superstars they need to take their business to the next level. Ask a business owner about their sales team and you'll certainly get an earful. Like politics and religion, the topic tends to… Continue

Added by Ann Clifford on February 28, 2009 at 11:28am — No Comments

Can Selling be this simple - YEP!

I was going to talk about sales & distribution channels, hour glasses and funnels but why, when a pand-handler did it so eloquently.

Derived from a Seth Godin post: The panhandler’s secret

The picture is part of the Duct Tape Marketing Funnel that I use. I left the last 2-stages, (Repeat & Refer) off for clarity. Why do I use a funnel,… Continue

Added by Joe Dager on February 28, 2009 at 9:25am — No Comments

Well I am definately going to MIX 09. Microsoft's big shindig in vegas march 18-20th

So if any one happens to be going that way or has any business ideas that they would like me to take and possibly use what i learn there to help develop your ideas a little from what i learn at this event, feel free to get a hold of me we can work out a nondisclosure agreement and i will take what i learn and hopefully be able to apply some of it to your ideas. Why would i help other people develop thier ideas, well quite frankly its good excercise for one, and good relationship building for… Continue

Added by Ernest Rando on February 28, 2009 at 12:06am — No Comments

Want to waste time on marketing?

If you do, than make sure you do what most companies do. Put ads in places because they have large circulation and make brochures just so you have one. If you'd like to waste time, make sure that you cannot measure the results of your marketing efforts, and don't develop a budget, just spend based on mere feelings. For the rest of you please consider this advice:

Attach some goals to your marketing plan.

I've settled with the fact that all marketing that does not have a… Continue

Added by Daniel Herndon on February 27, 2009 at 4:06pm — No Comments

A frank discussion on race in America

Hello, my fellow Smoosiers! Ii would like to share something with you. I received the following copy of a letter in my email just the other day.

Open Letter to the New York Post from John Legend

Dear Editor:

I'm trying to understand what possible motivation you may have had for publishing that vile cartoon depicting the shooting of the chimpanzee that went crazy. I guess you thought it would be funny to suggest that whomever was responsible for writing the… Continue

Added by Cissi Sherlock on February 27, 2009 at 3:21pm — No Comments

How to survive these turbulent financial times

It is safe to say that everyone today knows about the financial crisis affecting the United States and the world beyond our borders. It is the hot topic in the papers, TV, internet, and in restaurants, churches, offices, and grocery stores. Understanding the details can be challenging but it is easy to relate to layoffs, foreclosures, and stock market drops.

None of us can deny that the troubles are real. So, what can you do today to make the best of a bad situation?

The… Continue

Added by Charles F, Miller on February 27, 2009 at 3:16pm — 1 Comment

A Tale of Warm Groats

Groats, you ask? "What the devil is a groat," I can hear you say. Listen and I will educate you about the wonderfulness of groats. But first I'm going to tell you a story...

Once upon a time, I was in Seattle, venturing out alone for the day. I started off on the wrong foot by locking myself out of my friend's house and then missing the bus. I am not accustomed to city buses or bus schedules and such, being from a small town. So I sat on the curb and cried as it rained, like it does… Continue

Added by Sarah Richcreek on February 27, 2009 at 3:05pm — 4 Comments

MySpace Autopsy

I posted this on my Small Box blog and since it references Ning as a potential threat to Facebook I wanted to post an excerpt and link to the blog here for all you Smoosiers!

Jeb

-My advice to Facebook is the remember the lessons of MySpace and Friendster. Yes, functionality is important and Yes, you need to make money at some point. But don't forget that people are there because they find and take meaning from the experience. That is your golden goose, don't poke and… Continue

Added by Jeb Banner on February 27, 2009 at 2:32pm — No Comments

When I Meet with a New Client

Originally posted at the Brandswag Blog

Don't try to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Like any good sales/marketing professional, when I meet with a new or prospective client, I ask a ton of questions. 'What are your goals? What are you doing currently? Where do you see your company in the future? What strategies are you comfortable with?' Gathering good information is a key step to any business relationship.

A problem I have is when salespeople try to manipulate… Continue

Added by Colin Clark on February 27, 2009 at 1:54pm — No Comments

Taking Wordpress Mobile

Originally posted at the Indy Awesome Blog

mobile smartphones

The growth of the smart-phone market has made mobile web surfing a part of daily life. For this reason, it's increasingly important that your web content is easily accessable for the mobile market. If budget weren't an issue, I would recommend creating dedicated mobile applications for the major mobile platforms (iphone, windows mobile, blackberry, and android). Unfortunately,… Continue

Added by Colin Clark on February 27, 2009 at 1:29pm — No Comments

Micro Economics have a Macro Impact

After a few days studying my business plan, reviewing P & L statements, worrying about what the news is telling us about the economy, and losing a little bit of sleep, I stepped back.

I took myself out of my world and my business and I reflected on other small business owners in my neighborhood. Are they losing sleep? Can they feel their stomaches drop a little with every news report? What do their weekly P & L reports look like?

Now, as an Irvingon resident I am… Continue

Added by Vanessa Stiles, APR on February 27, 2009 at 11:24am — No Comments

Want to design an Indy Cloud User Group Logo?

Hi everyone,

The Indy Cloud User Group has been formed - a forum for all things cloud computing. We're looking for someone to create a logo for the group. If you're interested in submitting your design (or know someone who might) please contact myself at aglick@bluelock.com or Ed Saiptech at esaiptech@networkstorageinc.com.

Also, if you'd like to join the group just give us a holler and we'll get you in the loop!

Added by Alicia (Glick) Gaba on February 27, 2009 at 10:07am — No Comments

Rolling TweetUps are so much fun! Wherever 2 tweeters meet - type #TWindy09 in a tweet.

I've been working on the Twestival - #Twindy09 Case Study and wanted to share some of the comments surrounding the event. It was an amazing success.

tweet from Dr. Thomas Ho: “@AmyStark over 200 people are following @indytweetup so we SHOULD TweetUp more often in The Circle City!”

tweet from Greg Cooper: “@AmyStark 'I met great new people and got to know others better. It was a wonderful opportunity to build… Continue

Added by Amy Stark on February 27, 2009 at 9:31am — 2 Comments

6 Benefits of outsourcing your Marketing and Advertising

Outsourcing specific parts of business has been around for many many moons. Outsourcing has traditionally been done with Accounting or Information Technology. With the changing consumer mindset, flattening of the world and economic conditions, outsourced marketing is becoming more common.

Outsourced marketing enables you to add leadership, experience, and… Continue

Added by Chad Myers on February 27, 2009 at 9:04am — No Comments