The Next Apple TV
Do You Need Cable? As I have told people before, I lived without cable or network television for 3 years. Part of my saving grace was my Apple TV. I hooked it up to a projector in my home and watched TV when I wanted to (and I read a lot more). As we enter 2014,...
4 Misperceptions of Social Media
But I Thought... "...I would make a lot of quick money." "...I wouldn't have to do much work." "...Social media is free!" Misperceptions about social media marketing can leave some business owners feeling upset if they feel it didn't deliver. However, if they abandon...
iPad vs. Kindle Fire vs. Nexus
My Favorite Tablet? I have almost gotten to the point that new tablets and phones are passé. Every week is a new device, and they all have similar features: 7" screen, apps, voice activation, and high definition / retina. Choosing which one is right for you or your...
How Twitter Makes Money
With a record of losing money every year, Twitter went IPO with a value of nearly $25 billion! But you have to make money eventually, right? They have a business model that makes money from promoted and sponsored tweets. Will that be enough in the long term? If...
5 Business Blogging Tips
Blogging for Business? The first question people ask me about blogging is: "If I blog, who will listen?" The data continue to prove that blogging is a powerful way to build your brand, build your audience and convert leads to paying customers. For most businesses,...
New = Innovation?
What is innovation? One of my best friends is Director of Innovation for Pepsi. His team's job is to develop and design "innovative" products and equipment for the beverage and equipment industry. The challenge is the products he designs are not just "new"; they...
Social Media: The Magic Pill – NOT!
Magic Pill? Some "experts" will tell you the reason to use social media marketing is it's: 1) free, 2) cheap and 3) easy. They will say newspaper and magazine and television ads are expensive and completely ineffective. Social media is the new elixir that cure your...
First Failure: What I Learned
OK, it wasn't my first failure...nor my last. However, I did learn a lot. Most of my workshops are pretty successful. After no one showed up, like most entrepreneurs, I decided to ask myself, "What Happened?" Richard Branson and Mark Cuban always say you can learn...
The Problem with Pricing
My Old Pricing Strategy When I first started my company someone asked me how much I charged for my services. I had NO IDEA how to answer. I told them, "I normally charge $100, but I would be willing to negotiate if that seemed too high." We negotiated. I spent 2 days...
5 Tips to an Amazing Social Strategy
Social media marketing requires a strategy. Before opening a Facebook account or sending a single tweet, plan who to talk to, resources and content. If your company does not currently have one, don't panic. Here are your steps: Audience - Who are you talking to?...
Top 10 iPad Apps for Churches
My father and I used to debate: the bible or the iPad. Which is better for bible studying, taking notes and collaborating with members? Every Sunday he carried a giant bible and two notebooks to service. I carried an iPad (the kids have their iPhones and iPods). These...
Are You a Nervous Speaker?
Nervous Yet? My daughter recently had a presentation coming up where she was going to speak before her class. "Daddy", she asked, "You do this all the time. Do you get nervous speaking in front of people?" All the time! Everyone gets nervous when speaking in public;...