Rise and Shine

The Next Chapter for Social Media Sun

The Next Chapter for Social Media Sun

Jun 4, 2013

When I started designing websites in 1998, there were very few tools to promote them and there were no resources available to learn how to use them effectively. You either had to figure out the unique ways to best promote your website through trial and error, or move on after finding out that nothing worked.   I reverse engineered methods that other people...

Holiday Spending and Digital Marketing 2012 [Infographic]

Holiday Spending and Digital Marketing 2012 [Infographic]

Nov 16, 2012

Even though it was 70 degrees outside this weekend, did you realize that you only have six more weekends to shop until Christmas? November 1st is the official start of the holiday shopping season, but things really start to pick up on November 23rd, which is Black Friday.   This year consumers will be making more online purchases and using technology in...

Admitting Your Weaknesses is the First Step to Self-Improvement

Admitting Your Weaknesses is the First Step to Self-Improvement

Oct 29, 2012

In 2012 we’re a culture of specialization. Today’s lean development teams and reactive hierarchies are setup to include one person (in theory the best person) to handle each job. You can probably trace this back to the beginning of industrialization and the assembly line. Through specialization each person could get progressively better at their small part,...

Burning Houses, Building Bridges and The Biggest Secret to Success

Burning Houses, Building Bridges and The Biggest Secret to Success

Sep 14, 2012

Earlier this week I came home to find smoke seeping through the cracks around my back door. I went around to the front door and my fears were realized when I found that the house was full of rancid smoke. I called 911, and the paced around in the yard like a lost idiot for about 20 minutes waiting on the fire department to arrive.   Soon several fire trucks...

Value vs. Expectations: The Fight for Startup Survival

Value vs. Expectations: The Fight for Startup Survival

Aug 31, 2012

Something you cannot get around in marketing is the marketing cycle itself. When people first hear about a product, project or service they immediately form an expectation. Up until the time that they make the purchase, all new information they receive about the product in question will affect their expectations. This becomes especially crucial for products that...

Top 10 Klout Scores for Tech Executives

Top 10 Klout Scores for Tech Executives

Aug 24, 2012

With Klout’s new design and updated score, it’s been all the buzz this week. The new algorithm looks at over 400 signals, and is supposed to be more accurate than previous incarnations. Users that spend their time building influence saw an increase in their scores for the most part, but users that derive most of their social engagement from a limited circle...

Benefits of Google+ Local for Business

Benefits of Google+ Local for Business

Aug 9, 2012

Google is the most popular search engine on the planet, and it should be at the top of your list when it comes to digital marketing. Google Places for Business, the directory listing of businesses that displays photos, reviews and important facts about your business such as contact information and hours, has now transformed into Google+ Local. So what is this...

Is Your Digital Marketing Tactical or Strategic?

Is Your Digital Marketing Tactical or Strategic?

Jul 27, 2012

How did you learn to drive traffic to your blog? How about using Twitter as a tool to connect with your customers? What made you decide to set up a Facebook page for your business in the first place?   If you’re like most people who actively use the Internet as part of their marketing plan, you probably adopted these things, as well as most of your online...