Last month I participated in a podcast with Tom Myer of Triple Dog Dare Media and Myles Bristowe of VividContext on leveraging Web 2.0 concepts in marketing programs. We had a lively discussion that covered a full range of topics including the benefits and potential pitfalls of using RSS, blogs, social networks, and other buzzwords […]
Pricing web applications and services
One of the toughest marketing issues for any business, let alone a company providing web services, is pricing. I recently found a link on Brian Oberkirch‘s blog to On Pricing, a site describing itself as “an ongoing discussion of web app pricing strategies.” Using Tumblr, a popular tumblelog service (I use Tumblr as well here), […]
NetBank closes after failed deal
Wow, talk about good timing. I just closed my accounts at NetBank two weeks ago and moved them to EverBank. Now I see that NetBank has officially shutdown. NetBank has steadily declined over the years, but I had been with them so long (7 years) it just wasn’t worth the trouble to move my accounts. […]
The Perils of Consumer Inertia
I want to watch my favorite NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, every week. It’s really that simple. Not living in Western Pennsylvania anymore, the only way to guarantee this is to have DirecTV as my service provider. Currently, I have Comcast digital cable. The service isn’t very good, just like all the other cable companies. […]
Web usability key for online marketing success even in eLearning
I started doing some preparations today for the strategic marketing class I teach at Virginia Tech. The fall semester is almost here, so I figured it’s about time to make sure the online access and listserv were ready. Sadly, I dread this small task because I have to interface with Blackboard. Despite (or maybe because […]
Ruby Hoedown conference
I attended the Ruby Hoedown this past Friday through Saturday in Raleigh, NC. Chad Fowler has a nice summary of the event on his blog so I won’t go into details. I do want to mention how much I love smaller, focused conferences. With a very small team of organizers (Nathanial Talbott and Jeremy McAnally), […]
Web analytics services and Performancing's mistake
Center Networks has a great overview of the available options for web analytics. I’ve tried many of these services, but each of them have been lacking in some way. The following services are briefly covered: Clicky, eXTReMe Tracking, Google Analytics, Mint, and Quantcast. One service I tried recently that wasn’t mentioned was Performancing Metrics which […]
Forbes ranks Virginia the Best State for Business
Virginia has been named the top state in Forbes’ Best States for Business for the second straight year. Virginia finished in the top ten in four of the six main categories (business and living costs, job and income growth, business climate, educational attainment, venture capital investment, and quality of life) examined by Forbes. Virginia’s top […]
iPhone launch hype, the day after
I wasn’t planning on purchasing an iPhone (primarily because I’m on T-Mobile), but I’ve been watching the hype and subsequent launch with great interest. I love smartphones and tend to buy a new one every six months or so. Partly because of new features I *need* and the rest is I just love playing with […]
Quick feed reading and productivity tip
Here’s a quick tip for managing the constant influx of information. I’m currently on a push to move as much non person-to-person email (like newsletters, product announcements, marketing, etc.) to my feed reader. One of the most useful and time saving techniques I’ve found is to create a folder in my feed reader labeled “products […]