The Web Pitch
A blog exploring The Social Web – Learn. Explore. Profit
Indeed, Microsoft UK are selling Office 2007 for the bargain price of £38.95 in their Ultimate Steal Promotion. What’s the catch? You have to be in academia and have a registered .ac.uk email address. I made use of this offer last year and I am very glad I did!
This post is dedicated to all those in UK Universities. I think I’m missing my days stressing over essays!
Technorati Tags: Microsoft Office,The Ultimate Steal
“The moment that organisations lose their personality is when their employees become “people” rather than individuals…”.
As many of my readers and friends know. I’m very much in touch with the “human side of business”, especially forming a connection with people. Revealing, the honest, sincere and human side of your business to your customers has repeatedly proved to be a good thing. It’s the key to delighting them and making sure they stay with us for a very long time.
Rohit Bhargava as an author is right up there with the likes of Seth Godin and Guy Kawasaki. Why? Because he tells it like it is. Jargon is left at the door and the book uses great worldwide examples of excellent personality branding. It’s nice to see an American author who shows a refreshing awareness that we all don’t live in America!
Wow. I must admit, Rohit actually had me at “hello” with this book. The book brings together, my own personal experiences of business differentiation. Learning, from companies such as Moo and Innocent Drinks (Also mentioned in the book). Rohit did an excellent job of drawing me in with his great writing style and a clear passion for the subject.
Throughout the book he provides many examples of businesses which are successfully using the techniques within the book. The case studies were almost enough to sell me the book alone. However, learning about each technique and then being given an interesting and detailed example of how each idea can be implemented in real life was fantastic. It was was great to see Steve, Hugh and the Blue Monster also getting a mention – Rock On!
Personality Not Included successfully leads the reader through the process of building a company personality. Rohit’s approach impressed me in a number of ways. Firstly he outlined all the key elements. I especially liked his “UAT Filter“- the three core qualities of a company personality:
- Unique
- Authentic
- Talkable
Spot on. Secondly, he presented great examples from several companies for each element.
As I finished reading Part 1, Rohit did something that many marketing writers do not usually do. He wrote a “Part 2?. The second part of the book focuses on how to put the discussion in Part 1 into action. To further guide the reader through the process, Rohit provides a number of tools and frameworks to help. The book is broken down into the following chapters:
Part One
Chapter 1 – Faceless used to work because big meant credible. This is no longer true
Chapter 2 – Accidental spokespeople are speaking for your brand – Embrace them
Chapter 3 – Uniqueness plus Authenticity plus Talkability equals personality. Use the UAT Filter
Chapter 4 – Backstories establish a foundation of credibility. You need onq.
Chapter 5 – Fear of change leads to barriers. Finding your authority overcomes them
Chapter 6 – Personality moments are everywhere and unexpected, but you must spot them
Part Two – (Putting Personality into Action)
• New Styles of Marketing (Ten Techniques are Described in Detail)
• Taking Theory Further (Tools and Guides to Accompany Chapters 1 – 6)
The key theme from the first half of the book is that personality matters, because it is the element of your brand that inspires loyalty more than any product feature or element of your service ever can.
Rohit reminds the reader, that consumers aren’t just buying a product or service from you. They are buying “into” a whole experience. If they find the experience positive, they are very likely to purchase again, and/or recommend your business to others. As a text book, Personality not Included could also be used to boost your own “Personal Branding”.
If you love Seth Godin, or Guy Kawasaki then you’ll love Rohit Bhargava. If you are looking for a refreshing and up-to-the-minute business read, then you could do no better.
To conclude, Bhargava’s marketing experiences with the world’s leading companies has produced the definitive book that explains “Personality Branding”, in a practical, understandable and actionable way. I can’t recommend this book highly enough for any entrepreneur, business person, or anyone who wants to better understand how ‘personality’ can impact a business.
If you are interested in learning more about this book, download the book’s intro. Or, purchase online from Amazon.
Technorati Tags: Rohit Bhargava, Personality Not Included
“Keep Dell Weird”, a recent post from Hugh grabbed my attention.
[NOTE TO PEOPLE WHO WORK AT DELL:] Remember where you’re from. Austin, Texas. Love it. Cherish it. Never forget it. Rock on.
I’ve long admired Dell. I believe their products offer good value for money and their consumer and corporate products appeal to a wide section of people.
IMHO, “Keep Dell Weird” suggests a company that is different to others in its industry. It recognises that its audience is different and the company is passionate about delivering great products. But also, passionate people who work at Dell want to connect and engage with everyday people.
If this sounds reminiscent of the Blue Monster, there is definitely some cross over. However, back to Dell.
Dell has been a great poster child in its adoption and embracement of Web 2.0 technologies. The Texas based company has also been one of the few companies to embrace the wisdom of the crowd with its IdeaStorm site. The company runs an SME blog and more recently has embraced the use of Twitter. You can even find Dell’s CEO on Facebook if you look hard enough.
However, Dell’s new social media related site, digital nomads recently caught my eye.
Digital Nomads is a site for those of us who work regularly on the move. Perhaps out of coffee shops or airports. Or, maybe those who drag their office around with them in a rucksack. The Digital Nomads site is specifically catered for the mobile warrior. The site also rocks for a number of very cool reasons.
Firstly, the site is led by Lionel Menchaca, Dell’s Chief Blogger, and Dell’s Bruce Eric Anderson. Thus, the dialogue is authentic and from within Dell.
Secondly, it’s a great for sharing content. We, as digital nomads can go there, participate in and read posts that might interest us. However, we can also read posts from within Dell and learn all about exciting projects and tools that we can use, to make our lives easier
You can also grab digital nomad wallpapers and your own digital nomad badge from the site. Tres cool.
This is going to be a fascinating project to observe and participate in. Dell’s on going conversation with the audience is great and my opinion keep’s Dell Weird!
Nice work Dell.
Technorati Tags: Dell, Digital Nomads
Great insight, via Armano’s blog. The above video is a presentation given by the staff of an experience design consultancy called Adaptive Path to employees at Google. The presentation highlights the key points that are made in the book entitled, "Subject To Change".
Google obviously invests heavily in its brand. Its home page may have nothing but a search box and links to Google’s services — which means the company is forgoing tens of millions of dollars in advertising — but it’s doing something more important: putting its customers first. Untargeted ads, even simple text links, goes the rationale, would put too steep a cost on its users.
This decision is "revolutionary," wrote Havas Media Lab director and London economist Umair Haque on Harvard Business Online in February. "By choosing to invest in consumers over advertising, Google is a living example of a deeper truth: The future of communications as advantage lies in talking less and listening more."
The biggest challenge that today’s marketers face is understanding HOW to overcome the obstacles that get in the way from creating user/customer/consumer experiences that people want to make part of their everyday lives. Everything has changed. Years ago, Starbucks was celebrated as a brand that understood this—today, it’s customers are less loyal and it’s stock price is reflecting this. Blockbuster promised to transform our living rooms into home theatres—today, media consumption including movies is fragmented. Marketers today are faced with a choice. As Seth Godin points out, we can choose to become liars—spinning fabrications around inferior products and services who depend on traditional marketing to make themselves appear more appealing. Or we can be honest, and figure out how to actually make the product, service, and brand better—so marketing initiatives will become a natural extension of the experience a customer has with that brand.
Is this the job of the company, the consultant, the agency, the brand? If you want to thrive in an age where basically we’re all spoiled and demanding—then the reality is, it’s all of our jobs. So watch the video and think about which side you choose to be on.
As has been widely reported in the press last week. Bill Gates has formerly stepped down from his official duties at Microsoft to concentrate on humanitarian efforts. I salute his efforts and raise my glass in admiration.
Bill Gates, though lacking the charisma of other pioneers such as Steve Jobs has always inspired me. Bill’s passion and dedication to software, (as can be felt in the video above) is amazing. From small and humble beginnings, he created an amazing company. But what now for the company, as its former Chief Software Architect looks to save the world?
Steve asks, “Whether bloggers can fill the void after Gates?”. This is a great question. Over the last few years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many Microsofties both in the UK and at various European conferences. Predominantly, most of them blog and you can feel their passion about their chosen field. However, can all these individual bloggers replace the voice of Gates?
Steve, is a great blogger and engaging presenter. But I ask myself, where are the other ‘hidden gems’ at Microsoft and particularly in the UK? I have so far attended two Web technology focused events recently. Both of which Microsoft had sponsored. I saw some great demos, but where are the passionate people at Reading hiding? I want to see, hear and engage with you. Believe me, I’m not the only one.
Microsoft may have lost a key asset as in Gates. But, as the world becomes ever smaller and our connections and relationships become more important. I hope that the company increases its efforts with the on going dialogue with its customers and especially, its consumer communities.
The big voice may have gone. But I think now might be the time, to “Pump up the Volume” on many of the other quality voices within the company.
There is a lot of talk in the media today about “Cloud Computing”. But what exactly is it? Nick Carr’s recent book suggests that, cloud computing will become ubiquitous as electricity is today.
The following experts give their own definitions at the recent Web 2.0 Expo. Tres Cool.
- Tim O’Reilly
- Dan Farber
- Matt Mullenweg
- Jay Cross
- Brian Solis
- Kevin Marks
- Rafe Needleman
- Steve Gillmor
- Jeremy Tanner
- Maggie Fox
- Tom McGovern
- Sam Lawrence
- Stowe Boyd
- David Tebbutt
- Dave McClure
- Chris Carfi
- Rod Boothby
But what do YOU think Cloud Computing is?
Technorati Tags: Web 2.0 Expo, Cloud Computing
Like many people today, I use multiple computers and use multiple mobile devices (Mobile Phone, iPod etc). I have a designated ‘work’ PC, a Dell laptop and an Apple Macbook laptop (which I think of as a ‘lifestyle computer’). My lifestyle computer carries all of my digital media – music, pictures and video. My Windows Mobile phone carries all of my Outlook contacts and syncs my content from my Dell Laptop. My iPod connects to my Macbook. As you can see, I spend time in the content management space. But I’m not alone.
One of the biggest issues I have, is keeping my digital life synced. The above scenario, is just one consumer’s perspective. What about a small business? Today, more people are working from a greater number of computer devices. There soon comes a need to backup. Sharing and syncing content is a headache. Of course, there are options. Copy data to memory sticks or email data to yourself. Functional solutions but hardly elegant Microsoft’s Live Mesh platform can help consumers and businesses in data management – Best of all it is free.
I dream of a day when my data is stored in the cloud. No matter, which device I pick up, it recognises who I am and securely logs me on to the Internet. My files are copied over to my device and are available wherever I go. Live Mesh, is a first step to that dream.
Live Mesh is currently invite only 
( But signup over at www.mesh.com or www.sharemesh.com for chances to signup to the technical beta
Technorati Tags: Live Mesh
I have been lucky enough to own many different types of laptop over the years. However, no computer has excited me more than the Eee PC (it should really be called the Eee Laptop!)
There are already thousands of reviews of this little machine all over the Interwebs, so I won’t bore you with that.
The laptop is very small, but perfectly functional. A laptop you can take anywhere, especially on short trips or on holidays. The laptop features Flash based storage, which ensure fast boot times and comes with a reasonable web cam, excellent for Skype. The screen and keyboard are a tad small, but you can easily use it for typing emails or for web surfing. (Indeed, the machine comes with Wifi too)
At around the £200.00 mark, the laptop is excellent value. If you are in the UK, pop into your nearest Dixons for a preview.
Guide to install Windows XP on the EEE PC
Technorati Tags: Eee PC
Computer Weekly writes that the IT department ‘will disappear within five years’.
The traditional IT department will disappear within five years as core computing services are increasingly delivered via the internet, according to software as a service (SaaS) firm Nasstar.
Nasstar CEO Charles Black says that by 2013 web-based applications in the workplace make IT departments redundant.
He said money and time are wasted because IT systems are being managed on-site, but soon the vast majority of office workers will log on to the internet to access everything they need.
“IT has become a utility. And in the same way that companies do not have a chief electricity officer to help people plug in and power their devices, so the costly overhead of IT management will be replaced by a simple plug-and-play approach over the internet.”
He said this approach will remove the need to spend money on computing services simplify installation and software asset management.
“The IT industry is in the middle of an industrial transformation, which is ending the need for IT staff who install and support traditional on-premise desktop computers.”
But he said that IT support workers will always have a place.
“As with any industry where technology transforms the way things work, there is going to have to be re-deployment of skills. IT staff should have their skills focused on delivering competitive advantage for their businesses rather than being retained to deliver standard computing services that are a utility and can be delivered over the internet. Companies should be quick to change the focus of their IT department to be business development departments that ensure business success.”
Even though the industry is moving in this direction, I think five years is still early. But what do you think?
Technorati Tags: Computer Weekly
Hat tip to blog maverick
A few wise words for Web 2.0 entrepreneurs. I’ve added some additional points from Calacanis.
1. Don’t start a company unless its an obsession and something you love.
2. If you have an exit strategy, it’s not an obsession.
3. Hire people who you think will love working there.
4. Sales Cures All. Know how your company will make money and how you will actually make sales.
5. Know your core competencies and focus on being great at them. Pay up for people in your core competencies. Get the best. Outside the core competencies, hire people that fit your culture but are cheap
6. An expresso machine ? Are you kidding me ? Shoot yourself before you spend money on an expresso machine. Coffee is for losers. Sodas are free. Lunch is a chance to get out of the office and talk. There are 24 hours in a day, and if people like their jobs, they will find ways to use as much of it as possible to do their jobs.
7. No offices. Open offices keeps everyone in tune with what is going on and keeps the energy up. If an employee is about privacy, show them how to use the lock on the toilet. There is nothing private in a start up. This is also a good way to keep from hiring execs who can not operate successfully in a startup. My biggest fear was always hiring someone who wanted to build an empire. If the person demands to fly first class or to bring over their secretary, run away. If an exec wont go on salescalls, run away. They are empire builders and will pollute your company.
8. As far as technology, go with what you know. That is always the cheapest way. If you know Apple, use it. If you know Vista… ask yourself why, then use it. Its a startup, there are just a few employees. Let people use what they know.
9. Keep the organisation flat. If you have managers reporting to managers in a startup, you will fail. Once you get beyond startup, if you have managers reporting to managers, you will create politics.
10. NEVER EVER EVER buy swag. A sure sign of failure for a startup is when someone sends me logo polo shirts. If your people are at shows and in public, its ok to buy for your own folks, but if you really think someone is going to wear your Yobaby.com polo you sent them in public, you are mistaken and have no idea how to spend your money
11. NEVER EVER EVER hire a PR firm. A PR firm will call or email people in the publications, shows and websites you already watch, listen to and read. Those people publish their emails. Whenever you consume any information related to your field, get the email of the person publishing it and send them an email introducing yourself and the company. Their job is to find new stuff. They will welcome hearing from the founder instead of some PR flack. Once you establish communications with that person, make yourself available to answer their questions about the industry and be a source for them. If you are smart, they will use you.
12. Make the job fun for employees. Keep a pulse on the stress levels and accomplishments of your people and reward them. My first company, MicroSolutions, when we had a record sales month, or someone did something special, I would walk around handing out 100 dollar bills to salespeople. At Broadcast.com and MicroSolutions, we had a company shot. Kamikaze. We would take people to a bar every now and then and buy one or 10 for everyone. At MicroSolutions, more often than not we had vendors cover the tab. Vendors always love a good party :0
In addition, some good and some controversial tips from Jason Calacanis
- Buy Macintosh computers, save money on an IT department
- Buy second monitors for everyone, they will save at least 30 minutes a day, which is 100 hours a year… which is at least $2,000 a year…. which is $6,000 over three years. A second monitor cost $300-500 depending on which one you get. That means you’re getting 10-20x return on your investment… and you’ve got a happy team member.
- Buy everyone lunch four days a week and establish a no-meetings policy. Going out for food or ordering in takes at least 20-60 minutes more than walking up to the buffet and eating. If you do meetings over lunch you also save that time. So, 30 minutes a day across say four days a week is two hours a week… which is 100 hours a year. You get the idea.
- Buy cheap tables and expensive chairs. Tables are a complete rip off. We buy stainless steel restaurant tables that are $100 and $600 Aeron chairs. Total cost per workstation? $700. Compare that to buying a $500-$1,500 cube/designer workstation. The chair is the only thing that matters… invest in it.
- Don’t buy a phone system. No one will use it. No one at Mahalo has a desk phone except the admin folks. Everyone else is on IRC, chat, and their cell phone. Everyone has a cell phone, folks would rather get calls on it, and 99% of communication is NOT on the phone. Savings? At least $500 a year per person… 50 people over three years? $75-100k
- Rent out your extra space. Many folks have extra space in their office. If you rent 5-10 desks for $500 each you can cut your burn $2,500 to $5,000 a month, or $30-60,000 a year. That’s big money.
- Outsource accounting and HR—such a no brainer.
- Don’t buy everyone Microsoft Office–it’s too much money. Put Office on three or four common computers and use Google Docs.
- Use Google hosted email. $50 or free per user…. how can you beat that?!?! Why screw with an exchange server!?!?
- Buy your hardest working folks computers for home. If you have folks who are willing to work an extra hour a day a week you should get them a computer for home. Once you get to three hours of work a week from home you’re at 150 hours a year and that’s a no brainer. Invest in equipment *if* the person is a workaholic.
- Fire people who
are not workaholics.don’t love their work… come on folks, this is startup life,it’s not a game. don’t work at a startup if you’re not into it–go work at the post office or stabucks if you’re not into ityou want balance in your life. For realz. - Get an expensive, automatic espresso machine at the office. Going to starbucks twice a day cost $4 each time, but more importantly it costs 20 minutes. Buy a $3-5,000 Jura industrial, get the good beans, and supply the coffee room with soy, low fat, etc. 50 people making one trip a day is 20 hours of wasted time for the company, and $150 in coffee costs for the employees. Makes no sense.
- Stock the fridge with sodas—same drill as above.
- Allow folks to work off hours. Commuting sucks and is a waste of time for everyone. Let folks start at 6am or 11am and you’ll cut their commute in half (at least in LA).
- Go to each of your vendors every 6-9 months and ask for 10-30% off. If half of them say yes you’ll save 5-15% on fixed costs. People will give you a discount if they think they are going to lose the business.
- Don’t waste money on recruiters. Get inside of linkedin and Facebook and start looking for people–it works better anyway.
- Really think about if you need that $15,000 a month PR firm. Perhaps you can get a PR consultant to work on 2-3 projects a year for $10-15k each and save 75%. More PR firms are wasted half the year while you build up your product anyway.
{I’m going to add a couple more of mine as I remember them } - Outsource to middle America: There are tons of brilliant people living between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York who don’t live in a $4,000 one bedroom apartment and pay $8 to dry clean a shirt–hire them!
Technorati Tags: Startup money tips
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