One hour after beginning a new job, which involved moving a pile of bricks from the top of a two-story house to the ground, a construction worker in Peterborough, Ontario, suffered an accident which hospitalized him. He was instructed by his employer to fill out an accident report. It read: "Thinking I could save some time, I rigged a beam with a pulley at the top of the house and a rope leading to the ground.
I tied an empty barrel on one end of the rope, pulled it up to the top of the house, and then fastened the other end of the rope to a tree. Going up to the top of the house I filled the barrel with bricks. Then, I went down and unfastened the rope to let the barrel down.
Unfortunately the barrel of bricks was now heavier than I, and before I knew what was happening, the barrel jerked me up in the air. I hung on to the rope and halfway up I met the barrel coming down, receiving a severe blow on the left shoulder. I then continued on up to the top, banging my head on the beam and jamming my fingers in the pulley.
When the barrel hit the ground, the bottom burst, spilling the bricks. As I was now heavier than the barrel, I started down at high speed. Halfway down I met the barrel now coming up, receiving several cuts and contusions from the sharp edges of the barrel. At this point I must have become confused because I let go of the rope, the barrel came down, striking me on the head.
I woke up in the hospital. I respectfully request sick leave."
-- The Toronto Star
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
The Cable Industries Video Mojo
There has been quite a bit of discussion lately about Cable losing it's Video Mojo. I would like to forward a concept that has considerable potential to reverse the share loss trends along with significant cash flow increases:
Here is the premise: all major market cable operators have less than 50% utilization of their network ports delivering video. To say it another way, more than 50% of the homes that are being passed by cable do not purchase any form of video from a cable operator.
This can be rationalized away until the cows come home, however the underlying implications are very serious. For example, Advertising Revenues, Video On Demand, Interactive Television and delivery of internal branding, upgrade, retention and general marketing communications are all lost with each home that does not receive a video service from a cable operator along with incremental subscriptions of broadband. Simply put, the nature of the customer relationship and level of engagement is quite different for broadband vs video.
Here is the idea, instead of retiring old cable boxes give them away for free and provide the necessary level of video service to pass regulatory muster. Make video on demand available without a monthly cost to the consumer (or make it minimal like Netflix), additionally create an IP based offering to test and price accordingly (give the box away or sell it for a minimal one-time fee). The scenarios are endless for innovation and consumer testing.
The current situation if very similar to building a store in a small town and then not putting any products on the shelves since cable networks operate at full capacity, powering etc, regardless of whether or not the ports are connected and generating revenue. Ongoing cost of maintaining a cable drop is minimal and in-home service could be billed by the hour or trip.
After 30 years watching in-home subscription products and opportunities come and go, I wonder why Cable has lost its Video Mojo.
Here is the premise: all major market cable operators have less than 50% utilization of their network ports delivering video. To say it another way, more than 50% of the homes that are being passed by cable do not purchase any form of video from a cable operator.
This can be rationalized away until the cows come home, however the underlying implications are very serious. For example, Advertising Revenues, Video On Demand, Interactive Television and delivery of internal branding, upgrade, retention and general marketing communications are all lost with each home that does not receive a video service from a cable operator along with incremental subscriptions of broadband. Simply put, the nature of the customer relationship and level of engagement is quite different for broadband vs video.
Here is the idea, instead of retiring old cable boxes give them away for free and provide the necessary level of video service to pass regulatory muster. Make video on demand available without a monthly cost to the consumer (or make it minimal like Netflix), additionally create an IP based offering to test and price accordingly (give the box away or sell it for a minimal one-time fee). The scenarios are endless for innovation and consumer testing.
The current situation if very similar to building a store in a small town and then not putting any products on the shelves since cable networks operate at full capacity, powering etc, regardless of whether or not the ports are connected and generating revenue. Ongoing cost of maintaining a cable drop is minimal and in-home service could be billed by the hour or trip.
After 30 years watching in-home subscription products and opportunities come and go, I wonder why Cable has lost its Video Mojo.
Congressional Reform Act of 2011
We need to get a Senator to introduce this bill in the US Senate and a Representative to introduce a similar bill in the US House. These people will become American heroes.
1. Term Limits. 12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social
Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.
The American people did not make these contracts with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, don't. This is america, you have choices.
1. Term Limits. 12 years only, one of the possible options below..
A. Two Six-year Senate terms
B. Six Two-year House terms
C. One Six-year Senate term and three Two-Year House terms
2. No Tenure / No Pension.
A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
3. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social security.
All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social
Security system, and Congress participates with the American people.
4. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
5. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
6. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
7. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
8. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/11.
The American people did not make these contracts with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, serve your term(s), then go home and back to work.
If you agree with the above, pass it on. If not, don't. This is america, you have choices.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Market high a memory, investors are wary of stocks
People are irrational in their investing habits. Look at your odds to go up vs odds to go down. Now considering everything that has happened it would appear that the odds for up are greater than down. People who are investing in gold and bonds are most at risk as the world gets back on track. The population is growing and so will the economy. Buy high and sell low (right...). I predict that over the next 3 years the market will be up by more than 50%. Real Estate is probably also a great investment. People have to live somewhere and with interest rate at near zero, where is the opportunity? Companies make money, gold does not and once people stop hoarding look out.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Berkshire Hathaway co-chairman and Warren Buffett's sidekick Charlie Munger interview, a must read.
Berkshire Hathaway co-chairman and Warren Buffett's sidekick Charlie Munger gave a fantastic two-hour speech at the University of Michigan last week. Here are a few excerpts, lightly edited for clarity.
Text
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Charlie-Munger-on-Communism-fool-1939650256.html
Video
http://rossmedia.bus.umich.edu/rossmedia/SilverlightPlayer/Default.aspx?peid=4d215177cbe44b1e8e94d0dd68f5058f
Text
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Charlie-Munger-on-Communism-fool-1939650256.html
Video
http://rossmedia.bus.umich.edu/rossmedia/SilverlightPlayer/Default.aspx?peid=4d215177cbe44b1e8e94d0dd68f5058f
Monday, August 23, 2010
18 Companies That Consumers Absolutely Hate
18 Companies That Consumers Absolutely Hate http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/110419/18-companies-that-consumers-absolutely-hate
May ACSI Results
Last Update: May 18, 2010
(Next Update: May 17, 2011)
Sector: Health Care & Social Assistance
Industry: hospitals
Sector: Information
Industries: cellular telephones,* computer software, fixed-line telephone service, motion pictures, network/cable TV news, newspapers, subscription television service, wireless telephone service
Sector: Utilities
Industry: energy utilities
*The cellular telephone industry is part of the Manufacturing/Durable Goods Sector. For score of other durable good industries, go to September ACSI Results.
May ACSI Results
Last Update: May 18, 2010
(Next Update: May 17, 2011)
Sector: Health Care & Social Assistance
Industry: hospitals
Sector: Information
Industries: cellular telephones,* computer software, fixed-line telephone service, motion pictures, network/cable TV news, newspapers, subscription television service, wireless telephone service
Sector: Utilities
Industry: energy utilities
*The cellular telephone industry is part of the Manufacturing/Durable Goods Sector. For score of other durable good industries, go to September ACSI Results.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
What happened? Que Paso?
This is too true to be funny. The next time you hear a politician (D or R) use the
Word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about Whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, But one advertising agency did a good job of Putting that figure into some perspective in one of it's releases.
A.
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were
Living in the Stone Age.
D.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E.
A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, At the rate our government
Is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain...
let's take a look at New Orleans ...
It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.
Louisiana Senator,
Mary Landrieu (D)
Is presently asking Congress for 250 BILLION DOLLARS To rebuild New Orleans .. Interesting number... What does it mean?
A.
Well... If you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, and child) You each get $516,528.
B.
Or... If you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets$1,329,787.
C.
Or... If you are a family of four... Your family gets $2,066,012.
Washington , D. C
HELLO!
Are all your calculators broken??
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax (Fed)
Federal Unemployment Tax (FU TA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration T ax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
(And to think, we left British Rule to avoid so many taxes)
*And add Easter Tax.
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago... And our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt... We had the largest middle class in the world... And Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened?
Can you spell 'politicians!'
And I still have to
Press '1'
For English.
I hope this goes around the U S A At least 100 times
What the heck happened ?????
Word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about Whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, But one advertising agency did a good job of Putting that figure into some perspective in one of it's releases.
A.
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were
Living in the Stone Age.
D.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E.
A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, At the rate our government
Is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain...
let's take a look at New Orleans ...
It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.
Louisiana Senator,
Mary Landrieu (D)
Is presently asking Congress for 250 BILLION DOLLARS To rebuild New Orleans .. Interesting number... What does it mean?
A.
Well... If you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, and child) You each get $516,528.
B.
Or... If you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans , your home gets$1,329,787.
C.
Or... If you are a family of four... Your family gets $2,066,012.
Washington , D. C
HELLO!
Are all your calculators broken??
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax (Fed)
Federal Unemployment Tax (FU TA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration T ax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
(And to think, we left British Rule to avoid so many taxes)
*And add Easter Tax.
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago... And our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt... We had the largest middle class in the world... And Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened?
Can you spell 'politicians!'
And I still have to
Press '1'
For English.
I hope this goes around the U S A At least 100 times
What the heck happened ?????
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Create a more visible personal brand. A Networking Pro Learns Some New Tricks
Can you teach a dinosaur to dance? More importantly, can you teach him to network in 21st Century style? I was skeptical.
• Develop a stronger online identity by revamping your résumé.
• Make better use of LinkedIn, a professional networking Web site.
• Create a more visible personal brand.
• Get a bigger payoff from industry events.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704299804575095543831229802.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
• Develop a stronger online identity by revamping your résumé.
• Make better use of LinkedIn, a professional networking Web site.
• Create a more visible personal brand.
• Get a bigger payoff from industry events.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704299804575095543831229802.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
Wells Fargo Senior Analyst Marci Ryvicker, “Cable & Satellite TV: How Will FiOS Impact Cable/Satellite Now?” What's Missing?
The report looks at subscriber market data to determine which operators have the most incremental risk to FiOS with 2 metrics: subscriber exposure and penetration. With Verizon winding down the FiOS build-out, analysts forecast that the focus will be on increasing subscriber penetration in target markets: NYC, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. According to the report:
· Within the target markets, TWC has the most exposure in NYC with 11% subscriber exposure and 18% market penetration.
· In looking at all overall FiOS' current markets, TWC has the most sub exposure, at 40%, followed by (sub exposure/market penetration) DTV (29%, 14%) and DISH (25%, 9%).
What is missing here is the potential impact of aggressive upgrades and marketing amongst the cable MSO's. Verizon will only accelerate their loss of wireline phone and DSL customers as Docsis 3.0 is deployed and advanced television services are offered by cable.
· Within the target markets, TWC has the most exposure in NYC with 11% subscriber exposure and 18% market penetration.
· In looking at all overall FiOS' current markets, TWC has the most sub exposure, at 40%, followed by (sub exposure/market penetration) DTV (29%, 14%) and DISH (25%, 9%).
What is missing here is the potential impact of aggressive upgrades and marketing amongst the cable MSO's. Verizon will only accelerate their loss of wireline phone and DSL customers as Docsis 3.0 is deployed and advanced television services are offered by cable.
What's your “Reputation Quotient”?
Here is a summary report from Harris Interactive of its “2009 Harris Interactive RQ Study”, a survey using “Reputation Quotient”, which measures the reputations of the 60 Most Visible Companies in the U.S. According to the report, the percentage of Americans who see the state of reputation as "not good" or "terrible" decreased from 88% in 2008 to 81% in 2009. There was a 50% increase in the number of Americans who said that the state of reputation is "good", moving from 12% to 18%. Other highlights include:
· Six companies received an RQ score over 80, which is considered to be an "Excellent" reputation, with Berkshire Hathaway taking the top spot from Johnson & Johnson by less than 0.5 points. Rounding out the list of companies with excellent reputations are Google, 3M Company, SC Johnson, and Intel Corporation.
· Among companies measured in 2008 and 2009, 13 had significant declines in YoY reputation. Bank America had the largest YoY decline , down 4.92 point. Others with significant declines YoY were: Verizon down 4.39, Time Warner down 2.43 and AT&T down 2.18.
· Technology remains the highest rated industry, with a five-point increase from last year to a current 72% positive rating. The two largest reputation increases were in Retail and Automotive, both showing nine point increases. The only industry to show a decline in reputation was Pharmaceuticals, with a two point decrease.
· The top 10 companies on this year's list in order of ranking include: 1) Berkshire Hathaway; 2) Johnson & Johnson; 3) Google 4) 3M Company; 5) SC Johnson; 6) Intel Corporation; 7)Microsoft; 8) The Coca-Cola Company; 9) amazon.com; 10) General Mills.
· The bottom 10 companies on this year's list in order of ranking include: 51.) Delta Airlines; 52) Bank of America; 53) JP Morgan Chase; 54) General Motors; 55) Chrysler; 56) Goldman Sachs; 57) Citigroup; 58) Fannie Mae; 59) AIG; 60) Freddie Mac.
· There are six reputational dimensions that the RQ survey focuses on that influence reputation and consumer behavior. Below are the six dimensions along with the five corporations that ranked highest within each:
o Social Responsibility – Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, SC Johnson, Lowe's, Whole Foods Market
o Emotional Appeal – Johnson & Johnson, amazon.com, SC Johnson, Berkshire Hathaway, General Mills
o Financial Performance – Berkshire Hathaway, Google, Microsoft, Disney, Coca-Cola
o Products & Services – 3M Company, Intel Corporation, Google, Johnson & Johnson, SC Johnson
o Vision & Leadership – Berkshire Hathaway, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Coca-Cola,
o Workplace Environment – Google, Berkshire Hathaway, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, 3M Company
· Six companies received an RQ score over 80, which is considered to be an "Excellent" reputation, with Berkshire Hathaway taking the top spot from Johnson & Johnson by less than 0.5 points. Rounding out the list of companies with excellent reputations are Google, 3M Company, SC Johnson, and Intel Corporation.
· Among companies measured in 2008 and 2009, 13 had significant declines in YoY reputation. Bank America had the largest YoY decline , down 4.92 point. Others with significant declines YoY were: Verizon down 4.39, Time Warner down 2.43 and AT&T down 2.18.
· Technology remains the highest rated industry, with a five-point increase from last year to a current 72% positive rating. The two largest reputation increases were in Retail and Automotive, both showing nine point increases. The only industry to show a decline in reputation was Pharmaceuticals, with a two point decrease.
· The top 10 companies on this year's list in order of ranking include: 1) Berkshire Hathaway; 2) Johnson & Johnson; 3) Google 4) 3M Company; 5) SC Johnson; 6) Intel Corporation; 7)Microsoft; 8) The Coca-Cola Company; 9) amazon.com; 10) General Mills.
· The bottom 10 companies on this year's list in order of ranking include: 51.) Delta Airlines; 52) Bank of America; 53) JP Morgan Chase; 54) General Motors; 55) Chrysler; 56) Goldman Sachs; 57) Citigroup; 58) Fannie Mae; 59) AIG; 60) Freddie Mac.
· There are six reputational dimensions that the RQ survey focuses on that influence reputation and consumer behavior. Below are the six dimensions along with the five corporations that ranked highest within each:
o Social Responsibility – Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, SC Johnson, Lowe's, Whole Foods Market
o Emotional Appeal – Johnson & Johnson, amazon.com, SC Johnson, Berkshire Hathaway, General Mills
o Financial Performance – Berkshire Hathaway, Google, Microsoft, Disney, Coca-Cola
o Products & Services – 3M Company, Intel Corporation, Google, Johnson & Johnson, SC Johnson
o Vision & Leadership – Berkshire Hathaway, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Coca-Cola,
o Workplace Environment – Google, Berkshire Hathaway, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, 3M Company
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States ."
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.
Have each person contact a minimum of Twenty people on their Address list, in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
You are one of my 20.
If you don't have twenty, pass it on to whatever number you can.
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.
Have each person contact a minimum of Twenty people on their Address list, in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
You are one of my 20.
If you don't have twenty, pass it on to whatever number you can.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Simplest Way to Profit From Cloud Computing
RackSpace, Over The Top Video and Network DVR's its all about the Cloud. A new consumption and delivery model emerging http://tiny.cc/9qGtm Rackspace is the simplest way to get started with investing in cloud computing. Presently, cloud computing services account for just 10% of Rackspace's total revenue. The other 90% comes from managed hosting whereby customers rent and control specified servers within the company's network of more than 50,000.
Do you know who's making money for your company right now?
Do you know who's making money for your company right now? Workers who are selling, building, or inventing stuff. http://tiny.cc/DNVdh
You know who's spending the business's money right now? Other employees (most easily found in HR, IT, and Finance). Overblown policy efforts squelch creativity, bake fear into your culture, and make busywork for countless office admins, on top of wasting paper, time, and brain cells. What to do instead? Nuke one unnecessary or outdated policy every week and require the CEO's signature to add any new ones.
You know who's spending the business's money right now? Other employees (most easily found in HR, IT, and Finance). Overblown policy efforts squelch creativity, bake fear into your culture, and make busywork for countless office admins, on top of wasting paper, time, and brain cells. What to do instead? Nuke one unnecessary or outdated policy every week and require the CEO's signature to add any new ones.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Improve your site and increase marketing ROI.
Google wants you to attract more of the traffic you are looking for, and help you turn more visitors into customers.
Use Google Analytics to learn which online marketing initiatives are cost effective and see how visitors actually interact with your site. Make informed site design improvements, drive targeted traffic, and increase your conversions and profits.
Sign up now, it's easy - and free!
Use Google Analytics to learn which online marketing initiatives are cost effective and see how visitors actually interact with your site. Make informed site design improvements, drive targeted traffic, and increase your conversions and profits.
Sign up now, it's easy - and free!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Bell TV Adds Sling ... AND A la Carte
A la carte has come to Bell TV, at least for customers in Quebec. Subscribers to the service's The Basic pack will be able to choose an additional 15, 20 or 30 channels for $15, $19 or $22 per month respectively. For the full story.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Coremetrics: The Face of the New Marketer
Key findings in “The Face of the New Marketer” include:
· Three quarters of marketers report that using various online tools for personalization is a priority and 81% claim that it’s very important for them to increase visitor value through compelling product and content offerings. Yet only half report they currently use online personalization tools (51%).
· When asked how they would evaluate marketing success at the end of 2009, nearly half (47%) said “meeting our key performance indicators.” However, well over half of marketers (62%) claim they are not confident they are tracking the right metrics for online marketing performance—a significant discrepancy.
· The two top challenges facing marketers are:
o Obtaining an integrated view of customers across online marketing touch points (45%)
o Interpreting the resulting data (41%)
· The three areas that have seen the biggest spending increase this year are:
o Online marketing (69%)
o Generating online business (56%)
o Web 2.0 (55%)
· 67% indicated that marketing has always been viewed as critical in their organization—only 19% say that marketing is seen as discretionary.
· The three most commonly used forms of online marketing are:
o Email marketing (87%)
o Display advertising (86%)
o Paid search (69%)
· The three most commonly used marketing measurement tools are:
o Individual online marketing campaign performance (77%)
o Online customer behavior—per visit/session (76%)
o Display advertising performance based on impressions (69%)
· Collaboration is important and could be easier if barriers are removed. 97% of marketers say it is important for their organization to collaborate to better target customers. However, only about half indicate that this is an easy process. The biggest barriers to collaboration are:
o Organizational structure (47%)
o Control issues (38%)
o Decision making procedures (33%)
o And poor communication (33%
· Three quarters of marketers report that using various online tools for personalization is a priority and 81% claim that it’s very important for them to increase visitor value through compelling product and content offerings. Yet only half report they currently use online personalization tools (51%).
· When asked how they would evaluate marketing success at the end of 2009, nearly half (47%) said “meeting our key performance indicators.” However, well over half of marketers (62%) claim they are not confident they are tracking the right metrics for online marketing performance—a significant discrepancy.
· The two top challenges facing marketers are:
o Obtaining an integrated view of customers across online marketing touch points (45%)
o Interpreting the resulting data (41%)
· The three areas that have seen the biggest spending increase this year are:
o Online marketing (69%)
o Generating online business (56%)
o Web 2.0 (55%)
· 67% indicated that marketing has always been viewed as critical in their organization—only 19% say that marketing is seen as discretionary.
· The three most commonly used forms of online marketing are:
o Email marketing (87%)
o Display advertising (86%)
o Paid search (69%)
· The three most commonly used marketing measurement tools are:
o Individual online marketing campaign performance (77%)
o Online customer behavior—per visit/session (76%)
o Display advertising performance based on impressions (69%)
· Collaboration is important and could be easier if barriers are removed. 97% of marketers say it is important for their organization to collaborate to better target customers. However, only about half indicate that this is an easy process. The biggest barriers to collaboration are:
o Organizational structure (47%)
o Control issues (38%)
o Decision making procedures (33%)
o And poor communication (33%
Friday, January 22, 2010
Comparing Hybrid OTT/Pay TV Solutions on Opposite Sides of the Pond: TV Everywhere and Project Canvas
Comparing Hybrid OTT/Pay TV Solutions on Opposite Sides of the Pond: TV Everywhere and Project Canvas http://www.trenderresearch.com/profiles/blogs/comparing-hybrid-ottpay-tv
Visit My Personal Website
http://jeffhenry.giving.officelive.com/default.aspx
WHAT'S NEXT> Strategic Planning and Innovation - Brand Audits - Coaching - Cable Television, Digital Video, High Speed Internet, Digital Voice, Platforms, Content, Technology: Web 2.0 Development, Alt Energy, FiOS, U-verse, Capital Markets
Jeff is currently the managing partner of What's Next Strategic Planning and Innovation. Prior to his current position, he spent 20 years in senior executive roles with Time Warner Cable where he served most recently as The Regional Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Texas with responsibility for more than 2.2m customers and $2.5b in annual revenues. He led the competitive strategy for Time Warner Cable and has successful first hand experience with FiOS, U-verse, DirecTV and DishNetwork. While serving on the front lines in the battle against the BOCs, he also worked on initial deployments of RoadRunner, DVR, StartOver, Digital Video, Digital Voice, and the Pivot JV. He is a 29-year veteran of the cable television industry and lives in San Antonio Texas.
Cable Television, Digital Video, High Speed Internet, Digital Voice, Platforms, Content, Technology
Principal at What's Next Strategic Planning - Innovation
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jefflhenry
Learn more about the latest technology and device trends from TrenderResearch.com. The podcasts make it easy to take on the go.
OTT Video, HDTVs, IPTV, Internet Video, Health Tech, Robotics, Mobile, Green Tech, Next-Gen Advertising, Audio, Photo, Family Tech, Social Media, Facebook, LinkedIn, Security, GPS/PND, Gaming, Computers, Accessories
http://www.trenderresearch.com look for the podcasts on the right side of the landing page
http://www.trenderresearch.com look for the podcasts on the right side of the landing page
OTT Video,
HDTVs,
IPTV,
Internet Video,
Health Tech,
Robotics,
Mobile,
Green Tech,
Next-Gen Advertising,
Audio,
Photo,
Family Tech,
Social Media,
Facebook,
LinkedIn,
Security,
GPS/PND,
Gaming,
Computers,
Accessories
Technology Media Telecommunications (TMT) 2010 Outlook
Technology Media Telecommunications (TMT) 2010 Outlook http://www.trenderresearch.com/profiles/blogs/technology-media. Don't forget to check out the podcasts. Netflix, Tivo, Vudu, Roku, Tv Anywhere to name a few.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
THE search engine for Jobs at VC backed portfolio companies
http://www.startuphire.com/
Jobs at Venture Capital Backed Companies
* - Thousands of opportunities exclusively at venture backed companies.
* - Search agents identify new jobs matching your criteria.
* - Filter by stage, industry, investor and more...
http://www.startuphire.com/investors/portfoliojobs.php
Current jobs within over 500 VC portfolio companies.
Jobs at Venture Capital Backed Companies
* - Thousands of opportunities exclusively at venture backed companies.
* - Search agents identify new jobs matching your criteria.
* - Filter by stage, industry, investor and more...
http://www.startuphire.com/investors/portfoliojobs.php
Current jobs within over 500 VC portfolio companies.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Current opportunities within over 500 VC portfolio companies.
Current opportunities within over 500 VC portfolio companies. Join Cable Internet Telephone Industry Talent http://tiny.cc/1nB7N
Friday, January 8, 2010
HOW TO: Find a Job on Twitter
“It’s about who you know”
How do you get to know the right people? It’s not always about who you’re looking for, some people on Twitter are actually looking for YOU.
There are many job recruiters who use Twitter to look for potential candidates. Before contacting a recruiter via Twitter, check out:
• Their bio
• Follower/Following ratio (Have they been around a while? Do they follow people back?)
• Click the link to their website
• Ask others in your network whether or not the recruiter is a credible source
Here are a few recruiters representing different professions and industries on Twitter:http://mashable.com/2009/03/13/twitter-jobs/
How do you get to know the right people? It’s not always about who you’re looking for, some people on Twitter are actually looking for YOU.
There are many job recruiters who use Twitter to look for potential candidates. Before contacting a recruiter via Twitter, check out:
• Their bio
• Follower/Following ratio (Have they been around a while? Do they follow people back?)
• Click the link to their website
• Ask others in your network whether or not the recruiter is a credible source
Here are a few recruiters representing different professions and industries on Twitter:http://mashable.com/2009/03/13/twitter-jobs/
HOW TO: Build the Ultimate Social Media Resume
Dan Schawbel is the author of Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, and owner of the award winning Personal Branding Blog.
Social media resumes are important for attracting hiring managers directly to you, without you having to submit your resume, blindly, to them. The problem with submitting your resume online to job postings is that most job postings aren’t even vacant, might not exist, and 80% of jobs offers are received through networking.
With a social media resume, you’re able to paint a completely different portrait of yourself for hiring managers and customize it to reflect your personal brand. With the inclusion of various multimedia elements, sharing options, integrated social networking feeds and the same elements you’d find in a traditional resume, you are better equipped for success. HOW TO: Build the Ultimate Social Media Resume
Social media resumes are important for attracting hiring managers directly to you, without you having to submit your resume, blindly, to them. The problem with submitting your resume online to job postings is that most job postings aren’t even vacant, might not exist, and 80% of jobs offers are received through networking.
With a social media resume, you’re able to paint a completely different portrait of yourself for hiring managers and customize it to reflect your personal brand. With the inclusion of various multimedia elements, sharing options, integrated social networking feeds and the same elements you’d find in a traditional resume, you are better equipped for success. HOW TO: Build the Ultimate Social Media Resume
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Consumer Reports Survey: Fiber-Optic Providers are Leading Choices for Internet, TV, and Telephone Service
Consumer Reports Survey: Fiber-Optic Providers are Leading Choices for Internet, TV, and Telephone Service http://tiny.cc/P1ex6 Can these Fiber-Optic Providers scale or are they really only niche alternatives? Can they ever generate positive cashflow? What does Cable need to do to improve rankings and become first in the service provider consideration set? Or does any of this even matter?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
