Remember "swinging"? Two people in a committed relationship go to a party with a bunch of other people in committed relationships. They all separate, find new partners for the evening and get jiggy. It may sound lurid and gross, but it’s the cool new thing for startup founders. Swapping Ideas, Not Spouses First, let’s be clear. We’re not talking about sex. We’re talking about Founder Swap, a June 1 event in New York where teams from six different startups will get together, trade partners for a day and go home with an injection of fresh ideas. The tagline? “Like Wife Swap but for…
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Most Topular Stories
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Startup Swingers: Swapping Founders to Generate Fresh Ideas
ReadWriteWeb16 May 2012 | 12:00 pm -
Google Updates/Re-Launches "Our Mobile Planet" Consumer Data Source
MarketingVox News & Trends16 May 2012 | 8:46 amGoogle yesterday, along with the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), announced an update/relaunch of "Our Mobile Planet," the mobile consumer data resource that provides free access to powerful data across 40 countries in 22 languages. "Understanding the mobile consumer is absolutely critical for marketers, and 'Our Mobile Planet puts an invaluable resource in their hands," said [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/marketingvox/rss/~4/txstWXm5fuI" height="1" width="1"/> -
Create a Setting and Connect With Emotions
chrisbrogan.com13 May 2012 | 10:26 pmI recently moved the delivery time of my beloved newsletter to be Sunday morning (well, that’s when it launches here, though my New Zealander and Australian friends all get it on Monday). In the process, I talked to people about sharing this information over breakfast, and with a “second cup of coffee” sometimes. I basically set a scene in the reader’s head that we were having a personal chat over breakfast. Ask yourself this: in trying to reach others for whatever your goal may be, is it facts or emotions that will win them over? Which do you think plays the bigger… -
What Does it Take to Write a Billion-Dollar Marketing Story?
Copyblogger16 May 2012 | 4:00 amIn 1984, two artists used a simple process to create a story that captivated an audience for years and generated billions of dollars in revenue. That same process is being used today by a master copywriter to attract hundreds of thousands of paying subscribers. With companies creating millions of web pages of content marketing, finding an untold story or a new angle can feel like an impossible task. Especially when you want to avoid creating a story so unique nobody understands it … or wants to pay for it. So how do you create a story that cuts through the noise and strikes at the heart… -
The Big Problem With 'The Pitch': It Portrays an Outdated Business Model
Advertising Age - GoodWorks16 May 2012 | 11:30 am"The Pitch" can be fun to watch, but it portrays an outdated business model.
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ReadWriteWeb
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Startup Swingers: Swapping Founders to Generate Fresh Ideas
16 May 2012 | 12:00 pmRemember "swinging"? Two people in a committed relationship go to a party with a bunch of other people in committed relationships. They all separate, find new partners for the evening and get jiggy. It may sound lurid and gross, but it’s the cool new thing for startup founders. Swapping Ideas, Not Spouses First, let’s be clear. We’re not talking about sex. We’re talking about Founder Swap, a June 1 event in New York where teams from six different startups will get together, trade partners for a day and go home with an injection of fresh ideas. The tagline? “Like Wife Swap but for… -
Google Goes Back to What It Does Well: Finding Things
16 May 2012 | 10:00 amSurprise! Google has completely transformed the way search works again. But this time, it's a kind of search that would have made the old Google proud. Today, starting with U.S., English-language users, Google unveils the Knowledge Graph. Search now looks at the words of your query and identifies the things in it. You're not just searching the Web anymore. You're searching the world. From Words to Things Most of Google users' queries are ambiguous. In the old Google, when you searched for "kings," Google didn't know whether you meant actual monarchs, the hockey team,… -
Read/Write Daily: Bionic Eyes That Can See Clearly
16 May 2012 | 9:45 amToday's theme is improving on life. Nature did a pretty good job of engineering some hardy life forms. But now we're able to tinker with life ourselves. We're further along than you might think. Researchers have lifted the lid on turtle evolution, a perfect demonstration that technology is natural. But now we have our own genetic ideas. We're able to triple the physical endurance of mice in the lab. This paper shows that high-resolution prosthetic human eyes are possible! Here are slightly and greatly more accessible articles about these bionic eyes. We've also developed low-cost artificial… -
Why the iPad Works for Writing
16 May 2012 | 8:02 amWhen the first iPad launched in 2010, critics were quick to lampoon the device for being geared too heavily toward content consumption. The criticisms weren't entirely without merit, especially considering that the first-generation iPad didn't even have a camera, and external media slots are still nowhere to be found. Over time, the iPad has evolved into something that's much more creation-friendly. It still doesn't compare to a desktop or laptop computer for many things, but it's great for quite a few others. Writing is one of them. I happen to write things for a living, but the… -
The Truth About Why Yahoo's CEO Got Fired
16 May 2012 | 7:02 amWhat's the takeaway from Yahoo's recent CEO fiasco? Don't lie on your corporate bio, for one, and make sure no one else has lied on your behalf. But the real lesson has nothing to do with falsified credentials. Sure, the world will remember Scott Thompson as the Yahoo CEO who got fired over a fake computer science degree, but the context is crucial: A battle with Yahoo shareholder Dan Loeb for control of the company. If not for Loeb, we may never have found out about Thompson's juiced resume, and he might still be CEO. The real lesson is: Beware the activist investor. Four months…
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MarketingVox News & Trends
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Google Updates/Re-Launches "Our Mobile Planet" Consumer Data Source
16 May 2012 | 8:46 amGoogle yesterday, along with the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA), announced an update/relaunch of "Our Mobile Planet," the mobile consumer data resource that provides free access to powerful data across 40 countries in 22 languages. "Understanding the mobile consumer is absolutely critical for marketers, and 'Our Mobile Planet puts an invaluable resource in their hands," said [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/marketingvox/rss/~4/txstWXm5fuI" height="1" width="1"/> -
Freemium Creates "Happy To Pay" Customers for Video, Radio, Services
16 May 2012 | 8:29 amPandora lets you try it out. So does Audible.com for audiobooks, Norton for security, the New York Times with its 10 articles per month paywall. This is "freemium," aimed at tempting paid subscribers with free content, and it works. A new study conducted by iYogi Insights, the research division of the on-demand remote tech support [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/marketingvox/rss/~4/U614NguT9tc" height="1" width="1"/> -
Squatters Seize, Control Brand Names On Pinterest
16 May 2012 | 7:48 amPinterest squatters are snatching up brand identities, the way that cybersquatters grabbed names like Madonna.com and Lufthansa.com. Whether or not a major brand has any interest in Pinterest, it behooves them to protect their identities with a Pinterest usernames. Pinterest is the social image bookmarking site that lets users "pin" their favorite images from around [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/marketingvox/rss/~4/E7UjszEDxOw" height="1" width="1"/> -
Top News: GM Quits Facebook | Agencies After Accenture, Deloitte | Ebook Suit Forward | Mobile Shoppers Like Text
16 May 2012 | 7:10 amAd Technology: What the Evolution of Marketing Automation Looks Like [Infographic] Agency News: Agencies Going After Accenture, Deloitte IT Business Strategies: Demand for digital marketing freelancers soars: trends Campaigns of Note: AAMCO Launches 50th Anniversary Campaign Demographics: Study: Not All Digital Moms Are Created Equal Ebooks: Judge Allows Class-Action Lawsuit on E-Book Pricing to Go Ahead Mobile Computing: Mobile Phone Shoppers Show Growing Preference for Text [...]<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/marketingvox/rss/~4/hpJwzBY4Ycs" height="1"…
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chrisbrogan.com
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Create a Setting and Connect With Emotions
13 May 2012 | 10:26 pmI recently moved the delivery time of my beloved newsletter to be Sunday morning (well, that’s when it launches here, though my New Zealander and Australian friends all get it on Monday). In the process, I talked to people about sharing this information over breakfast, and with a “second cup of coffee” sometimes. I basically set a scene in the reader’s head that we were having a personal chat over breakfast. Ask yourself this: in trying to reach others for whatever your goal may be, is it facts or emotions that will win them over? Which do you think plays the bigger… -
Nobody Reads Agency Blogs- Or Why You Need Skin in the Game
7 May 2012 | 6:57 amThanks to Jason Falls, I just read this post about how many marketing agencies are closing down their blogs and tweeting and Facebooking instead. “Nobody reads agency blogs, and there are so many out there it’s impossible for people to keep up anyway,” said Sam Weston, director of communications at digital agency Huge. Nobody Reads ANY Blogs- If They’re Boring I’ll tell you without even having to look why nobody reads a blog: because it’s boring. Because it’s poorly written. Because it’s utterly self-referential. Nobody has time to read junk. Why would you? -
Constraints
5 May 2012 | 9:43 amI was at a live performance the other night where Jacq sang and played with Girish, and I had a great conversation with Reggie, the drummer for the night. (I am SO sorry that I don’t know your last name, Reggie.) We talked about the fact that his typical drum kit for events is usually like 30 or so pieces, but that he decided to go minimal for the event. He had a kick drum, a snare, a tom, two cymbals, and a cowbell. What Reggie said was something like this, “I really enjoy this, because it means I really have to use what I have to get the expression I’m aiming for. I… -
Pattern Break
2 May 2012 | 9:17 pmWhen you wake up in the morning, you check your emails, probably from your phone. First thing. Yes? Why? There’s no good answer to why. Even brain surgeons can wait until they’ve done other things before checking in on the world outside of your immediate proximity. So why do you do it? Because it’s a habit, a pattern. Do you read the top tech and marketing blogs? Why? Why do you read this blog? Because you’re subscribed? Are you getting something from it? If no, then why are you still doing it? Twitter and Facebook are hugely pattern-driven. They thrive off the same… -
Where Should You Put Your Content?
30 Apr 2012 | 7:44 amI’ve been asked by subscribers of my personal newsletter how I decide what goes on my blog and what goes into my newsletter. I think the answer differs depending on your strategy, but I’m more than happy to tell you how I view it. I put information that sells on my blog, and information that nurtures in my newsletter. Information that Sells My job, because people seem confused these days as to what exactly it is I do or am selling, is to help mid-sized to larger companies build business (revenue and growth) by improving their use of the human digital channel (social media, email…
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Copyblogger
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What Does it Take to Write a Billion-Dollar Marketing Story?
16 May 2012 | 4:00 amIn 1984, two artists used a simple process to create a story that captivated an audience for years and generated billions of dollars in revenue. That same process is being used today by a master copywriter to attract hundreds of thousands of paying subscribers. With companies creating millions of web pages of content marketing, finding an untold story or a new angle can feel like an impossible task. Especially when you want to avoid creating a story so unique nobody understands it … or wants to pay for it. So how do you create a story that cuts through the noise and strikes at the heart… -
How to be a World-Changing Writer
15 May 2012 | 4:00 amAs a copywriter, you know that words have power. You know words can influence, inform, and inspire. They can persuade your fellow humans to do some amazing things (or to do the wrong things, but we won’t go there today). What you may not realize is that your words can change the world. Here’s something else that’s really cool that you might not have realized … The keys to world-changing writing are also the keys to damn good copywriting. But as you know, good writing doesn’t happen all by itself. So let’s talk about what it takes to be damned good …… -
WordPress Hosting That Means Business
14 May 2012 | 8:00 amDid you know Copyblogger Media has a WordPress hosting division? Many people don’t, because it’s been a bit under-the-radar. The whole thing started with our frustration with web hosting in general. Specifically, the fact that a lot of “WordPress hosting” amounts to generic one-click installation of the CMS on a standardly-configured box — which simply doesn’t cut it for optimal performance and security. So, last year we decided to manage our high-traffic network of content and product sites ourselves. We did this by bringing into the family a team of people who themselves… -
The Truth About Making Money While You Sleep
14 May 2012 | 4:00 amWant to hear about the day in the life of a so-called “successful entrepreneur?” Yesterday, I stayed in bed until about 2 PM. I watched the last few episodes of Mad Men. Around sunset, I took a leisurely stroll down the beach. When I got back, I hung out with a friend for a couple of hours, ate dinner, and went to bed. In other words … I goofed off. And while I was goofing off, my business generated a pretty decent chunk of revenue. You want to know the coolest part? I did absolutely nothing to “earn” it. I didn’t check my email. I didn’t talk to… -
7 Instructive Content Marketing Links
12 May 2012 | 6:00 amThis week on The Lede … Are Content Publishers Waking Up from Their App Dreams Nightmares? An Email Marketing Autoresponder Schedule that Sells 3 Quick Tips To Conquering Your Fear of Public Speaking Does Your Domain Say “Trust Me?” Why “Freemium” Fails for Startups: 3 Business Lessons from the Band New Order 5 Basic SEO Truths We Can Learn from Star Wars Peter Shankman on the Value of an Audience If you want to grab more useful links (than the seven we highlight here) every week, follow @copyblogger on Twitter. Are Content Publishers Waking Up from Their App Dreams…
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Advertising Age - GoodWorks
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The Big Problem With 'The Pitch': It Portrays an Outdated Business Model
16 May 2012 | 11:30 am"The Pitch" can be fun to watch, but it portrays an outdated business model. -
People on the Move: Gill Duff Named President-CEO of BBDO, Atlanta
16 May 2012 | 10:46 amAlso on the move this week are David White, Kimberly Lau, Deborah J. Mignucci, Michael Alex and the management team at Chick-fil-A. -
Turner Takes Stake in Funny or Die, Will Manage Site's Ad Sales
16 May 2012 | 9:50 amFunny or Die CEO Dick Glover said the site has done well but still doesn't have big enough reach. -
How (and When) to Measure ROI in Real Time
16 May 2012 | 9:21 amWhatever you're looking for when you track return on investment, the results can come faster than ever, Zenith Optimedia North America CEO Tim Jones says in this week's Q&A with a media leader. -
'Working Not Working,' a New Way to Discover (and Hire) Freelance Creatives
16 May 2012 | 8:54 amA new site is trying to take the guesswork out of freelancing -- for both independent professionals and the agencies that hire them.
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Wired Top Stories
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Fund Your Dream With the Perfect Kickstarter Pitch
16 May 2012 | 1:35 pmProducing a quality Kickstarter project requires little more than computer access, a functioning camera, and some old-fashioned wit. Here are our tips on how to pull it all together to get funded. -
Momofuku Puts Mold, Bacteria on the Menu
16 May 2012 | 1:16 pmThe Momofuku restaurants are famous for hip Asian cuisine. Their secret ingredients: mold and bacteria. -
Oracle and Google Agree to Copyright Truce (For Now)
16 May 2012 | 1:04 pmOracle and Google have struck a deal in their ongoing Java dispute which could speed the case along, but with one catch: Oracle has now essentially bet the farm on its claim that Google violated its copyright by cloning its Java application programming interfaces (APIs). The two companies have been battling it out in a San Francisco courtroom for weeks now, in a complex case that involves patent and copyright claims along with a novel claim by Oracle that its java APIs -- essentially the technical guidelines that allow two pieces of software to talk to each other -- are copyrightable. -
Danger Awesome: How two MIT Grads Launched a Badass Maker Shop
16 May 2012 | 12:47 pmYou've heard of startups fueled by Ramen Noodles. But what about tech companies whose daily bread is toast? Meet Danger Awesome, a laser-cutting design shop in Cambridge, MA, founded by MIT grad students Ali Mohammad and Nadeem Mazen. The duo got their start after?convincing indie rock YouTube darlings OK-GO (don't miss their amazing Rube Goldberg-inspired video for the song"This Too Shall Pass") that an animated music video composed of thousands of pieces of laser-etched toast was a good idea. Danger Awesome would create the video gratis if they could keep the three $30,000 lasers they… -
Poisoning the Dalai Lama. Or Not
16 May 2012 | 12:43 pmWas the plot to poison the Dalai Lama real? How successful are contact-poison assassinations likely to be? Find out on Elemental, the newest addition to the Wired Science Blogs network, where Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist Deborah Blum will be investigating chemistry, poisons and the myths and mysteries that surround them.
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The Denver Egotist RSS Feed
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Blow Job
16 May 2012 | 1:02 pmNational Love this series of windblown yokels from Tadao Cern. Tons more here, full set of 100+ shots here. Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon Twitter -
Vladimir Jones' New Denver Digs
16 May 2012 | 12:31 pmLocal Vladimir Jones, which has offices in Colorado Springs and Denver, moved into a new space in the 303 this morning at 677 S. Colorado Boulevard. You'll get a look at it in person if you hit the next Kegs With Legs event hosted there on May 31st. Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon Twitter -
You're vs Your
16 May 2012 | 12:19 pmNational Yep, same dude from the Subway episode of The Pitch. Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon Twitter -
Site Launch: Slice of Lime
16 May 2012 | 10:17 amLocal Boulder website, UX and user interface design agency, Slice of Lime, has launched a new web presence for their now 10-year-old (!) company. The accompanying video, shot by Megan Sweeney, gives you a pretty good taste of the place. Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon Twitter -
Anson Fogel Director of Photography Reel: Summer 2012
16 May 2012 | 10:04 amLocal Anson Fogel, Director of Photography at FORGE Motion Pictures out of Carbondale, Colorado, has just posted his beautiful new reel. Recently, Anson DP'd the Colorado Tourism 2012 campaign — one of our favorites of the year. You'll see highlights from that work, along with other choice selections, below. ANSON FOGEL DP REEL 2012 from Forge Motion Pictures on Vimeo. Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon Twitter
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TechCrunch
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Why The Internet Doesn’t Make Us Care More About Politics
16 May 2012 | 1:30 pmAmerican politics used to be fun: frequent political carnivals in the 19th century would mix parties, parades, and political speeches in an endless stream of local civic life. As a result, America had an astonishingly high turnout, between 70-90%, in presidential and local elections. Yet, the Internet has never quite captured the emotional gravity of real-life engagement, and keeps tripping up multi-million dollar campaigns designed to inject life into an otherwise passive electorate. For example, take two technology initiatives that were widely predicted to dramatically increase democratic… -
It’s Time For A Larger iPhone
16 May 2012 | 1:27 pmThe Wall Street Journal reported this morning that Apple is currently ordering larger screens for the next iPhone. With the usual nonsense, the WSJ cited people familiar with the matter and stated these screens measure at least 4-inches diagonally. Production is set to begin next month, they say. The Journal better be right, though. A 3.5-inch screen is just too small now. At this point to say anything to the contrary is pure fanboi nonsense. The standard argument that consumers don’t want a large phone is tired and overused. Besides, it’s effectively proven wrong by the 20… -
More Google+ In Gmail: Improved Circle Integration, Circle Search and Quick Access To Contact Details
16 May 2012 | 12:44 pmThe folks over at Google just love their Google+ social network and more and more Google+ features have been creeping into Gmail lately as well. Today, Google is bringing even more of Google+ to its email client. With this update, Google is especially focusing on adding a deeper integration with Google+ circles. You will now, for example, see profile photos from people in your circles when you select a circle in the left sidebar. You can click on those images to search for email from a specific contact. In addition, if you really take your Google+ circles seriously, you’ll be happy to… -
Bitly Kinda Says It’s Not Raising $20M, But Sorta Hints That It Is
16 May 2012 | 12:42 pmIs link shortener Bitly raising $20 million in new funding? The Verge says it is. In response to my email, a company spokesperson denied The Verge’s story, but in vague enough terms that it could probably turn around and announce a new round in the next few weeks or months. Here’s what the spokesperson told me: Want to quickly let you know that they’re always discussing potential funding and stay in touch with potential investors on an ongoing basis. Though, this article is not based on any facts. I’ll work with the folks at bitly to connect with you for the next… -
Viacom Gives Up Fight Against Time Warner Cable, Adds Channels to TWC iPad App
16 May 2012 | 12:35 pmCustomers of Time Warner Cable have some reason to rejoice today, as the cable company has gotten the go-ahead to add channels like MTV, VH1, and Comedy Central to its live streaming iPad app. The addition comes after the channels’ owner Viacom has settled its differences and resolved litigation with Time Warner Cable. The legal fight erupted last year, after Time Warner Cable released its iPad app, which lets subscribers stream live shows to tablets inside their homes. While many networks grumbled about the app, Viacom was most vocal in rejecting the app, taking its distribution…
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Mashable!
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NBA Star Uses Twitter — And a Platypus — to Prank Sports Media
16 May 2012 | 1:28 pmAround the sports media scene, Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee has a certain reputation: Quirky, unique, a bit out there, something of a laughingstock at times. Reporters and fans love to chuckle at his on-court goofiness. Examples abound, but here’s the best one: a legendary GIF of McGee throwing up a wild shot and then earnestly running back on defense — except his team still has the ball. This week, however, McGee decided to turn the tables on those who love to poke fun at a young millionaire basketball player just trying to do his best. On Monday afternoon, he posted this… -
Register Now to Join Mashable and Partners in Brazil for Rio+Social
16 May 2012 | 1:04 pmRegistration is now open for Rio+Social, the historic meeting of social media, technology, global development and sustainability leaders during the UN’s Rio+20 conference. Policy makers, journalists, technologists and environmentalists are now invited to register and apply for accreditation to the free conference. Ten exciting new speakers were added to the Rio+Social lineup Wednesday, including entrepreneurs, UN leaders and philanthropists. Former president of Ireland Mary Robinson and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation chief communications officer Kate James are among the… -
Thirst App Will Change The Way You View Twitter
16 May 2012 | 12:53 pmA new iPad application called Thirst might reinvent how you look at your Twitter stream. Using its own natural language processor, Thirst filters, organizes, and presents your Twitter stream in an engaging way, helping you find the tweets you want to read quickly and in context. “I wanted to make an app that no matter how often you check Twitter, these are the things you need to see, ” Thirst Co-Founder and CEO Anuj Verma told Mashable. The app is designed so it can be useful for people who check Twitter constantly throughout the day, as well as those who might only check Twitter a few… -
The Facebook IPO Timeline
16 May 2012 | 12:32 pmIf the Facebook IPO were a real person, we certainly wouldn’t blame it for posting braggy status updates. This infographic, created by our friends at mbaonline.com, imagines the road leading up to the decade’s most-anticipated initial public offering, as if it were documented on its own Facebook Timeline. As a Facebook user, give yourself a pat on the back for helping the company make it this far. You are one of 900 million, and you spend an average of 20 minutes per day surfing the network. That means Facebook’s usership logs 16,000 years of combined time on the platform… -
Facebook Fans Get to Pick Bonus Levels in ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD’
16 May 2012 | 12:06 pmActivision is polling fans via Facebook on which levels will be included as additional downloadable content on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD is a rebuilt version of the classic games. It features seven levels from the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, released in 1999, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, which came out in 2000. Players will be able to skate all over classic levels such as “Warehouse” and “Mall” that have been rebuilt using the old maps. Starting Wednesday afternoon, fans will be asked to pick which of their favorite Tony…
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NYT > Media & Advertising
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Dish Network’s Hopper Cuts Ads and Causes Tremors at TV Upfronts
16 May 2012 | 12:39 pmDish Network is promoting a digital video recorder that can automatically skip ads, a device that undermines broadcast TV’s business model. -
Media Decoder Blog: Clear Channel Buys WFNX, Venerable Boston Rock Station
16 May 2012 | 12:37 pmThe station, which was founded in 1983, had a role in popularizing grunge bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam in the early 1990s. If the deal is approved, Clear Channel would add a fifth station in the Boston market. -
G.M. to Quit Facebook Ad Campaign Worth $10 Million a Year
16 May 2012 | 12:36 pmThe loss of $10 million in ad dollars does not represent a financial disaster for Facebook, but it is a public relations headache so close to the company’s initial stock offering this week. -
Advertising: Broadcasters Pitch Programming for Hispanics - Advertising
16 May 2012 | 12:17 pmNine cable channels and broadcast networks are offering advertisers a way to reach the Hispanic population, up from five at the upfronts presentations last year. -
Rebekah Brooks Testifies About Relationships With British Elite
16 May 2012 | 10:52 amRebekah Brooks’s appearance on Friday before an inquiry into press ethics offered a glimpse into the relationship between political power and the press in Britain.
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Conversation Agent
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Most Marketers Still Not Making Data-Driven Decisions Surveys Find
16 May 2012 | 2:00 amHow do large corporate marketers collect and use data? Are practices in marketing measurement and ROI changing? How about the integration of digital and traditional marketing? Has the excitement around big data brought about a shift in how marketers conduct their business? These are some of the topics for investigation in a recent study conducted by Columbia Business School’s Center on Global Brand Leadership and the New York American Marketing Association (NYAMA). The short answer: there is still a big gap between where organizations would like to be and where they actually are in… -
Answering Common Inquiries About Content
15 May 2012 | 2:00 amThree kinds of inquiries I receive regularly: write about us give us your content allow us to post Many of you find the contact form for consulting work. In that case, I'm happy to provide a quote and scope of work. If that's not what you're after, the quickest way to find out what is accepted for review and publication is by following the link to -- submit your question on the top menu. In all cases, the best outcomes come when the ask is appropriate. Note the term "pro" is part of the word. Making the ask Don't know how to ask? Here's how to write an email that stands out for your review. -
Why Experience is Key to Customer Loyalty
14 May 2012 | 2:00 amWhenever I travel, I'm reminded of the many amazing opportunities that come from being able to reach many parts of the world relatively easily. Let's face it, things can go wrong with the weather and with technology. It is how an airline -- or any company, for that matter -- handles customer fairness that will make a big difference to its bottom line. Will they have to discount fares more deeply so people will do business with them again next time? There is plenty of room left for improving customer experience in the travel industry -- airlines, hotels, car services, even airports, with a few… -
Business Lessons I Learned from my Mother
13 May 2012 | 3:00 amMy mother was Miss Romagna. Her name is Anna Laura. I wanted to have her purple blue eyes and ready smile. She has the welcoming spirit of a woman always ahead of the times and comfortable in her own skin. In addition to being a mother of three (all girls), she has had multiple careers -- accounting, sales, public office, geriatric care, and beautician; some overlapping for years. Mother really gets communications -- the listening part especially -- the organization of work, along with the care of the individual. Whether she negotiated credit rates or the recovery of the elderly, she made… -
Fair Pay, Participation Value, and The Intention Economy
12 May 2012 | 3:00 amDo you know the pay scale for your industry? I'm not talking about the job wanted ads -- those may mislead you and take you down the generic path. You're not generic, you have specific skills, and you should be able to calculate market value. Just like with salary, where you don't have a cut and dry answer, interaction and involvement are not exactly the same thing. Community participation has highs and lows, and they may not follow the touted 1% route. How active are people online? Has it changed in the last couple of years? Marketers can optimize campaigns and programs only so far. Without…
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Digital Trends
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Scientists ‘euphoric’ over promise of mind-controlled robotic arm
16 May 2012 | 12:46 pmA team of researchers at Brown University have developed a robotic arm to assist the disabled, and after much work have unveiled incredible results. -
Amazon.com says Wii U games retail at just $49.99, Nintendo says: “No comment.”
16 May 2012 | 12:45 pmEarly listings for Wii U games suggest that Nintendo plans to keep new titles affordable. We look at the evidence that suggests you will only have to plunk down $50 clams for New Super Mario Bros. Wii U. -
Practical Performance: Edo Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG wagon
16 May 2012 | 12:45 pmWith 591 hp and a claimed 211 mph top speed, this is one cool station wagon. -
Recording police with your smartphone is a Constitutional right, says DoJ
16 May 2012 | 12:05 pmShooting photos or video of police officers is a Constitutionally protected right, says the U.S. Department of Justice. -
Edgar Wright hopes to film both The World’s End and Ant-Man this year
16 May 2012 | 11:35 amDirector Edgar Wright has tentatively expressed interest in directing both his long-anticipated Ant-Man adaptation and his latest Simon Pegg/Nick Frost collaboration as soon as possible.
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PSFK
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Five Reasons Investors May Not Want To Buy Facebook Shares
16 May 2012 | 1:06 pmThe sale will likely generate billions, but hidden just beneath the buzz are signs that not all is well for Silicon Valley's star. -
Triple Pundit: Bar Code Scanning Apps Lets Socially Conscious Consumers Buy Green
16 May 2012 | 12:59 pmIn a recent study, nearly 50% of consumers report they are willing to pay more for products or services made from a company who has implemented sustainability programs. -
Customer-Centric Pharma Company Wants To Know What’s Wrong With The U.S?
16 May 2012 | 12:53 pmHelp Remedies provides over-the-counter remedies for minor maladies; releases their sales data in an effort to see if they can learn how to help people feel better without medicine. -
Experimental Art Project Generates Energy From World Currency Exchange
16 May 2012 | 12:01 pmA "poet of ideas" creates a company that captures the current between two metal currencies that mirror those being traded digitally. -
Man Implants iPad Nano Into His Arm
16 May 2012 | 11:36 amProfessional body piercer Dave Hurban causes controversy by inserting magnetic studs into his forearms that allow him to attach and detach gadgets.
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Holy Kaw!
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The scent of man, now available at Yankee Candle
16 May 2012 | 1:31 pmIf vanilla and fresh linen was still feeling too feminine to scent the man cave, fear not, manly men, Yankee Candle has heard your barbaric yawp and is now offering Man Candles. Offered in macho scents such as 2x4, Riding Mower, First Down and Man Town, you need never hang your head again after being dragged into the candle store. They even offer a sports-themed candle holder so you don’t ruin the tabletop. Just in time for Father’s Day. Full story at Yankee Candle via Buzzfeed. You know you want a Man Candle. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
Dirty Disney cartoons? [video]
16 May 2012 | 1:16 pmIt’s hard to imagine Disney cartoons have ever been the subject of censorship, but like many beloved cartoons, there’s a seamier side that’s bound to offend if you get the references. Such was the case with “The Shindig” where Clarabelle Cow’s exposed udders were deemed too risqué for Ohio audiences as was her reading material; Three Weeks was an early example of “women’s mass market erotic fiction.” As the old saying goes, "What happens in the barn, stays in the barn." Full story at Neatorama. The evil underbelly of Disney. -
Mammals may not get to cool climates in time
16 May 2012 | 12:09 pmNine percent of the Western Hemisphere’s mammals—and up to 40 percent in some regions—may not be able to outpace climate change. “I think it’s important to point out that in the past when climates have changed—between glacial and interglacial periods when species ranges contracted and expanded—the landscape wasn’t covered with agricultural fields, four-lane highways and parking lots, so species could move much more freely across the landscape,” says Joshua Lawler, associate professor of environmental and forest sciences at University of… -
Time of year matters for vitamin D risk
16 May 2012 | 12:08 pmWhen considering a patient’s blood vitamin D levels, it may be best to consider a lower threshold for concern, as well as the time of year. "In evaluating health risk," the University of Washington researchers conclude, "season-specific targets for Vitamin D blood concentration may be more appropriate than a static target when evaluating patients health risk." Full story at Futurity. More research news from top universities. Permalink | Leave a comment » -
The (not so correct) anatomy of sea life
16 May 2012 | 11:52 amMarine biology, scharine schiology. Pleated Jeans skips scientific facts for its series of sea life diagrams. Via Pleated Jeans. (H/T @laughingsquid) Laughing is good for you. Permalink | Leave a comment »
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Digital Photography School
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Short On Time? Learn To Post To Google+, Your Blog, Facebook, and Twitter Simultaneously
16 May 2012 | 12:07 pmNot all of us have hours on end to spend on social media (myself included). Most photographers make their money by bringing in clients whether it’s families, brides, small businesses, whatever it may be. So any excess time spent on social media is time that could be spent sourcing clients. Now, social media can actually be a way to source clients if done properly, but that’s a whole other article! In this article I want to show you how you can take one single post and make it appear on all the social media outlets mentioned in the title. So I’ll simply go through my workflow… -
Shooting London – Big City Photography
16 May 2012 | 7:34 amA Guest Post by Yana Locke from Headshot London Photography. London is an incredible city: vibrant, modern and fizzing with life. But at every turn, London’s past is also very much in evidence, from the glorious historic architecture of its heritage sites to tiny details like a stretch of cobbled road, place names like Pudding Lane or Eel Pie Island and, of course, the ubiquitous blue plaques that commemorate notable people and events all over the city. So, faced with the challenge of taking a series of pictures that sum up London, where do you start? Covering 600 square miles and with a… -
Unlock the Secrets of Using Natural Light: Interview with Mitchell Kanashkevich
15 May 2012 | 7:06 amOver the last couple of weeks we’ve been launching a new dPS eBook – Natural Light: Mastering a Photographer’s Most Powerful Tool. The response has been fabulous and we’ve seen it selling faster than any other eBook we’ve produced so far. With one week to go to save 25% on the price of Natural Light (and to go into the draw to win $1000 of lenses) I thought it’d be good to chat with author Mitchell Kanashkevich and explore a little more on the topic of Natural Light to give those of you still thinking about buying it a little more insight into the topics… -
How to Photograph Babies: 9 Tutorials
14 May 2012 | 1:27 pmThere must be a baby boom going on at the moment because today my inbox was hit by 5 separate emails from parents of new born babies wanting advice on how to photograph them. I turned to our archives for some links to send them and found these 9 ‘how to photograph babies’ tutorials and thought I’d share them here just in case there are others looking for answers. *Image Credit Nicole Hill. Photographing Babies without Losing Your Mind How to Photograph Newborns 3 Quick Newborn Photography Tips Baby Photography 101 10 Tips for Photographing Babies Photographing Babies –… -
Do you Ever Shoot with Film?
14 May 2012 | 7:08 amI had one of those ‘I feel old’ moments last week when I was going through one of my old camera bags and out dropped an old film canister with an unused film in it. My son (who is almost 6) was with me and asked me what it was. He was not satisfied with a ‘it’s film’ answer and I spent the next 15 minutes (and have spent quite a bit of time since) trying to explain what this ‘film’ thing is and why it would have anything to do with taking photos. A new generation of photographers is emerging who have never shot with film. Yet at the same time…
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Campaign Planning
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The Best Ads Of The Year So Far
12 May 2012 | 9:39 amCampaign Planning doesn't proclaim to be any sort of creative authority. But it is fun to rank and weigh the industry you're passionate about. ACME Ad Studio (the creative showcase version of this site) has been posting great work on... -
Do Negative Political Attack Ads Work? And If So, Should Brands Use Them?
29 Apr 2012 | 9:14 amWhen Mitt Romney won Florida this year in the GOP primary, Kantar Media reported that just 0.1% of his $15 million in ad spending went to pro-Romney ads. Which basically means that voters saw one measly positive ad while all... -
The One Commonality Between Successful Creative People
14 Apr 2012 | 9:40 amNot everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere. -Anton Ego, in Pixar's Ratatouille What unique traits reside in highly successful creative people? There must be something special that Picasso, Madonna, Yo-Yo Ma, Arthur... -
Good and Effective Advertising
29 Mar 2012 | 7:41 amThree qualities of good and effective advertising courtesy of the insurance industry. -
Foiled
16 Mar 2012 | 8:43 pmSo the secret's out on why agencies are built the way they are. For many years when people in other industries walked through good ad agencies and design firms an interesting discussion would typically follow about the space itself... Why...
