Tag: mash-up

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Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.12.10

Hello: Here’s the latest edition of MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-up. We’ll kick off every week with this quick collection of tips, recommendations, observations and other interesting, valuable stuff.

– Tom 
Monday, December 10, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Reading
This is Marketing by Seth Godin

If Seth Godin writes it, I read it (and usually recommend it). His latest book is no exception. I haven’t finished it yet. But so far, so good. Here’s a .pdf excerpt if you want to sample before you buy. 
A Disclaimer About OCR and Rocketbooks
Last week, I recommended Rocketbook reusable notebooks. I said you can photograph the pages with the Rocketbook app which converts words to editable text and sends the scanned page(s) to wherever you designate — an email address, Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, etc. 

The more I use the app, the more I realize that the convert-to-editable-text (Optical Character Recognition or “OCR”) feature in this and similar apps is hit-and-miss — especially when you try to scan handwriting. Sometimes it does a good job. Sometimes it does a lousy job. I’m still loving Rocketbook, but it’s not ideal if I must convert my notes to editable text.

If you want to test the Rocketbook app and its OCR capabilities, you can download free disposable Rocketbook pages here. Find the app in your app store and test its capabilities with the free pages. 

Other Options…
For Scanning from Your Phone, without Rocketbook
A few readers told me they like the idea of scanning from their phone, but they don’t want to buy the reusable notebooks. Here’s a good article that compares some of the more popular scan-from-phone apps (both for iPhone and Android). Like Rocketbook, these apps are inconsistent when scanning hand-writing to editable text. But I’ve tested several — including Abbyy, Adobe and ScanBot — and they do well with printed text and business cards. Very handy!

I’m Listening to…
American Songwriter’s Top-25 AlbumsI love this time of year when the various Best Of… lists arrive for music, books, movies, etc. I’m plowing through American Songwriter magazine’s Top 25 Albums of 2018 list. I like this list because it offers a variety of genres. I don’t love everything on the list, but I always discover some gems!

Please let me know if you discover anything that you love. 


Mr. Potato Head, I Hate You

With the holiday season in full swing, I was doing some research this month on ads that target children. I discovered that Mr. Potato Head, by Hasbro, was the first toy to have its own advertisement that targeted children.

Here’s that ad. It’s an amusing, quaint blast from the past.But it also represents the start of “pester power.” Advertisers discovered how advertisements could fire up children to pester their parents for the latest and greatest toys. 

I still remember that “Mr. Potato Head, I love you…” ditty from my childhood. And, yes, I pestered my parents to buy me one. 

Here’s an interesting article about Mr. Potato Head and pester power. 

(Fun fact: The original toy was a box of plastic facial parts and accessories that you put into a real potato; Hasbro switched to a plastic potato after receiving complaints about moldy, rotten vegetables that heartbroken kids didn’t want to throw out). 
Any reading, listening, quoting, resourcing that you think we should share? Send us a tip.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this week and the weekend.

Tom
Categories
Monday Mash-Up

py: Monday Mashup 2018.12.03

Hello: Here’s the latest edition of MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-up. We’ll kick off every week with this quick collection of tips, recommendations, observations and other interesting, valuable stuff.

– Tom 
Monday, December 3, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Reading
People Don’t Mind Marketing. They Mind Irrelevant Marketing

Here’s a great article from Copyblogger that explains why you shouldn’t be bummed out by opt-outs. This is one of the best concise pieces about content marketing that I’ve read in a long time.   
Recommended Resource
Reusable Notebook Improves Productivity and Saves Trees
Thanks to my friend (and Mash-Up reader) Neal Albritton for recommending Rocketbook reusable notebooks. A damp cloth is all it takes to erase ink from the notebook pages (you need a special eraseable ballpoint pen). Before you erase the content, photograph the pages with the Rocketbook app which converts words to editable text and sends the scanned page(s) to wherever you designate — an email address, Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive, etc. 

The multi-page notebooks are a bit of an investment: List prices are $34 for letter size (8.5 in x 11 in / 32 pages), $32 for executive (6 in x 8.8 in / 36 pages) and $16 for mini (3.5 in x 5.5 in / 48 pages). But I think it’s worth it since you don’t have to fuss with disposable paper and trash. 

Each comes with a pen and a microfiber cloth.
Recommended Viewing
Ricky Jay — Master of His Craft
Ricky Jay was an extraordinary magician, actor, scholar and card sharp. He passed away last month (obit here). 

I spent time last week watching incredible Ricky Jay videos.

Here’s one of my favorites — well worth the 30 minutes. 

Historic Day
Dec. 3: No More Cold WarOn this day in 1989, President George H.W. Bush and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev declared the end of the Cold War during a summit meeting in Malta. Here’s an audio clip from their press conference at the summit. 

I was born in 1965, during the Vietnam War and less than three years after the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was just 24 when the leaders met at Malta. So I grew up during the Cold War and worried about the threat of nuclear war. 

Historians can debate how and why the Soviet Union collapsed and who deserves credit. But in these days after President Bush’s passing, I wanted to acknowledge this moment in history. It was an important moment for the country and me — a moment for which he deserves plenty of credit.


Quotable 

“I do not mistrust the future; I do not fear what is ahead. For our problems are large, but our heart is larger.”– George H.W. Bush

Any reading, listening, quoting, resourcing that you think we should share? Send us a tip.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this week and the weekend.

Tom
Categories
Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.11.26

Hello: Here’s the latest edition of MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-up. We’ll kick off every week with this quick collection of tips, recommendations, observations and other interesting, valuable stuff.

– Tom 
Monday, November 26, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Listening
Kwik Lessons to Power Your Brain

I first discovered Jim Kwik when Cal Fussman featured him on the Big Questions podcast. 

That turned me on to his Kwik Brain podcast which I love and recommend. 

Here’s the podcast description from iTunes: Kwik Brain is a fun, fast-paced show designed to help busy people learn and achieve anything in a fraction of the time! Your coach, Jim Kwik (his real name), is the brain & memory trainer to elite mental performers, including many of the world’s leading CEOs and celebrities. In this easy to digest bite-sized podcast, you will discover Kwik’s favorite shortcuts to read faster, remember more, and ‘supercharge’ your greatest wealth-building asset: your brain.” 
Marketing Advice
List-Building Tips from Forbes
I came across this article last month. Great advice on how to build an online following and email list. The article offers advice for “authors.” But its lessons apply to any business conducting email marketing. 

Here’s my favorite point from the article: “(Many) have the misguided view that regular communication could be construed as SPAM, that horrible four-letter word. Nothing could be farther from the truth. They WANT to hear from you—often. These people have freely given you their email address—a very closely guarded destination point—and they expect to get something in return. Namely, your ideas, opinions, thoughts, impressions—and most importantly, your writing.”

If You Have to Shop Online…Here Are Some Tools to Help You Save

Last week, I encouraged you to go local for Small Business Saturday. Supporting local businesses should be a year-round thing, but most of us shop online occasionally. 

So for those times when you shop on the Web, here are 11 Browser Extensions That Can Save You Money Every Time You Shop Online. 
Recommended Reading
From Suburban Kid to Army Medic to Bank RobberI learned about Nico Walker when his novel, “Cherry” was listed among 100 notable books of 2018 in this article. I sampled “Cherry” on my Kindle, and I was instantly hooked. 

The novel is a semi-autobiographical story of a young man who…

…Well, the headline tells you plenty. 

If you want to learn more, read this profile of Nico from BuzzFeed. 

Better yet, read the novel. It’s brilliant. Warning: It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s full of bad language, crude behavior, violence, mayhem. It may offend some. If any of that concerns you, dig deeper before you dive in. I found the novel honest and raw and riveting. 

Nico’s publisher claims the book is not ghost-written. The words are Nico’s — written in prison, where he still resides today. 


Quotable 

Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use.– Charles M. Schulz
(Creator of the Peanuts comic strip, born on this day in 1922)



Any reading, listening, quoting, resourcing that you think we should share? Send us a tip.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this week and the weekend.

Tom
Categories
Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.11.19

Hello: Here’s the latest edition of MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-up. We’ll kick off every week with this quick collection of tips, recommendations, observations and other interesting, valuable stuff.

– Tom 
Monday, November 19, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Reading
Early to Bed, Early to Rise…

Mash-up reader (and high school buddy) Tim Toole shared this article with me last week. Great advice: How Becoming An Early Riser Can Change Your Life. 
Marketing Inspiration
Brilliant and Funny Holiday Marketing Campaigns

Here’s a collection of 15 great marketing campaigns related to the holidays.

Which one is your favorite? Email me with your vote and comments. 

Recommended ListeningHow the Beatles Made the White Album

Fifty years ago this month, the Beatles released the “White Album.” This month the album was re-released with re-mastered versions of the original tracks, plus bonus tracks (demos and outtakes). Giles Martin produced the re-release. His father, George Martin, was the man who produced the Beatles albums in the sixties. 

Last week, NPR released a myth-busting interview with GIles Martin in which he describes how the Beatles made the “White Album.” On this page, you’ll find an interview summary; at the top, you’ll see a play button to hear the entire 44-minute interview. 

Very entertaining and informative. A Request…
Shop Small® on SaturdayMany of our MarketVolt clients are small businesses. On Friday, online vendors and the giant retailers will woo shoppers with “Black Friday” deals. I know those deals are hard to resist. But please save some of your holiday shopping cash for the next day — Small Business Saturday.

Our communities depend on small businesses. So please spend some time Saturday supporting local retailers and grabbing lunch at a local restaurant.


Happy Thanksgiving

I’m looking forward to gathering with family and friends on Thursday to give thanks for all good things. 

Here’s a quote from Willie Nelson that reminds us that giving thanks should not be a once-a-year ritual: “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” 


Any reading, listening, quoting, resourcing that you think we should share? Send us a tip.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this week and the weekend.

Tom
Categories
Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.11.12

Hello: Here’s the latest edition of MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-up. We’ll kick off every week with this quick collection of tips, recommendations, observations and other interesting, valuable stuff.

– Tom 
Monday, November 12, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-Up
Veterans Day EditionMarketing Tips from a Vet
Military Experience Instructs Marketers Civilian Work

Addison Blu served with the US Army in Afghanistan and now works as an entertainment writer and marketing strategist.

In this article on Medium.com, he shares “3 things I learned about marketing from serving in the military.” Good lessons. 
Recommended Reading
Book Sheds Light on How Combat Haunts Veterans

The Price They Paid: Enduring Wounds by Michael Putzel is an extraordinary book. Putzel spent two years in Viet Nam, covering the war for the Associated Press. In this book, published in 2015, he tells the combat stories of soldiers he knew, and he traces their stories since the war. It’s a story of courage and fortitude, but it’s also a story about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and how it haunts so many of those who served.    
Apology Accepted
Moment of Forgiveness on SNL Reminds Us to “Never Forget” Earlier this month on Saturday Night Live, comic Pete Davidson made a tasteless joke about Lt. Com. Dan Crenshaw, a Navy Seal who lost his right eye during combat in Iraq. Elected last week to Congress, Crenshaw appeared on SNL to accept Davidson’s apology, poke some fun at the contrite comic and share an important message about how to honor and establish camaraderie with veterans. 

Here’s the video from SNL.  

Lessons in Leadership
In 1917, Maj C. A. Bach delivered a farewell speech to student-officers at the Second Training Camp at Fort Sheridan. Many of these young officers were on their way to fight in World War I. Many didn’t return. 

I share Maj. Bach’s speech because it is a great playbook for leaders — not just military officers, but for anyone who acts as a leader in business or any walk of life. 
Renovated Memorial Reminds Us Why We Never Forget

Congratulations to MarketVolt client the Missouri History Museum which oversaw the renovation of the St. Louis Soldiers Memorial and Military Museum.

Last weekend, the Memorial re-opened with new exhibits. The Missouri History museum spent years updating the Memorial into a state-of-the-art facility that will educate visitors for years to come..

MarketVolt’s Lori Naeger was on hand for the re-opening ceremony and was inspired to share her feelings in writing. We shared Lori’s observations in this post from our blog.


Any reading, listening, quoting, resourcing that you think we should share? Send us a tip.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this week and the weekend.

Tom
Categories
Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.11.05

Hello: Here’s the latest edition of MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-up. We’ll kick off every week with this quick collection of tips, recommendations, observations and other interesting, valuable stuff.

– Tom 
Monday, November 5, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpMarketing Tips
How to Wield Influence to Grow Your Business

My son, Jacob, is a great fisherman, and he has attracted on social media followers who like the pictures he’s posting. I’ve learned some valuable marketing lessons by seeing how businesses treat Jacob as an influencer and wish to work with him to promote their products. I share some of the lessons in this post from the MarketVolt blog. 

Recommended Reading
Create a “Customer Service Culture”

Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert. His blog is great. I learn something valuable every time I read it.   
Conspiracy Theories
Has Elvis Really Left the Building On this date in 1971, Elvis Presley performed in Minneapolis. After the final number, the crowd went wild and was chanting for another encore. Promoter/announcer Al Dvorin encouraged the crowd to go home by saying, “Elvis has left the building.”

He wasn’t the first to use the phrase at an Elvis concert, but he is often credited with making the phrase stick.

But the question remains… Has Elvis really “left the building.” 

Here’s an article that outlines 10 of the most popular “Elvis is Alive” conspiracy theories. 

And here’s a video of Mojo Nixon singing “(619) 239-KING” — in which he encourages Elvis to come out of hiding and call him. Funny song. 
Innovative Hotel Branding

Thanks to Mash-Up reader David O. England for sharing this with us…

A new hotel is generating a lot of buzz for its unique design. The hotel is just down the street from MarketVolt’s headquarters. Fox Business ran a story, calling it the “first hotel in the world to allow guests to pick a room based on color.” That’s not the only design innovation. Watch the Fox story for more. 

I like it. I’m always interested to learn how businesses bend the rules. 

What do you think of this? Good innovation or meaningless gimmick?

Please reply if you’d like to share your thoughts. 


The Things We Take For Granted

On this day in 1872, Susan B. Anthony was arrested when she tried to vote. 

It would take another 38 years (1920) before The Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution would finally be ratified:

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” 

Fast forward another 44 years to 1964 when the Twenty-fourth Amendment was ratified, abolishing poll taxes and literacy tests that were being used to suppress African-American and other poor voters in southern states. 

Please vote on Tuesday. 

Any reading, listening, quoting, resourcing that you think we should share? Send us a tip.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this week and the weekend.

Tom
Categories
Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.10.29

Hello: Here’s the latest edition of MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-up. We’ll kick off every week with this quick collection of tips, recommendations, observations and other interesting, valuable stuff.

– Tom 
Monday, October 29, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Viewing
Five TED Talks on Leadership

“We Are All Leaders…whether we have the title or not.” So says the iMPACT blog which shares five great TED talks on leadership. I’ve viewed them all and agree with iMPACT’s recommendation.

From the MarketVolt Blog
Appreciate Your Clients Year-Round, Not Just Over the Holidays 

November and December are the “holiday season.” Here come the holiday thank you notes and gifts from grateful vendors. Maybe you’ll send them to your customers. A few years ago, I wrote this post in which I wonder why so many businesses show gratitude one time per year. Gratitude should be a year-round exercise.  
Marketing Mishap
Subway Struck the Wrong Chord with Halloween AdI was looking for examples of good Halloween-related advertising when I came across this 2014 advertisement from Subway. The gist: An attractive woman reminds her office mates that they should eat Subway’s healthy sandwiches so they can “stay in shape for all the (Halloween) costumes.” She then appears on screen in a variety of tight-fitting, “attractive, spicy, foxy” outfits. 

The ad didn’t go over so well with the twitter-sphere. Here’s an article from The Hollywood Reporter that catalogs some of the social media reactions. Subway issued a statement saying some people “may not have picked up on the intended humor.”

What do you think? Harmless humor or misogynistic body-shaming?

Either way, it’s an interesting marketing study. 
Recommended Reading
Parable About Penguins to Help You Manage Change 

I read last week an article about the rapid melting of polar ice. Unsettling news for a changing planet. 

It reminded me of one of my favorite business books which I re-read that day in one sitting (yes, it’s a short, quick read): Our Iceberg is Melting. The book is a simple fable about a group of penguins who have to adopt as the ice on which they live begins to melt. 

Of course, it’s really a book about how we humans can adopt to unsettling change. A great, easy read. Hopeful Words to Ponder

These are the final words from the book I mentioned above:

“…We never cease to be amazed at how many iceberg problems exist in our rapidly changing world. We never cease to be amazed at how difficult those problems can be to see and solve. But most of all, we never cease to be amazed at the creative ways people invent to jump ahead and develop better futures for very small groups, for very large organizations, and for themselves personally” 


Any reading, listening, quoting, resourcing that you think we should share? Send us a tip.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this week and the weekend.

Tom
Categories
Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.10.15

Hello: Here’s the latest edition of MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-up. We’ll kick off every week with this quick collection of tips, recommendations, observations and other interesting, valuable stuff.

– Tom 
Monday, October 22, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Resource
Great Article to Help You Search More Efficiently

I search for stuff on Google roughly 8 million times a day. I didn’t realize how inefficient I was until I read this: 27 Hacks to Quickly Find Almost Anything on Google. Great article!
Great Branding Lessons
Which Brands are Most Relevant and Why? 

I’ve been reading about the “brands U.S. consumers simply can’t live without.” The Prophet Brand Relevance Index® identifies the 25 most relevant brands and the four principles of brand relevance that drive these companies. This is a fascinating, informative report. Lots of lessons here for businesses big or small. 

You can download the report here. 
Recommended Listening
NPR Show Consistently Reveals Music GemsI draw from many sources to discover great music. NPR’s All Songs Considered is my favorite. The weekly show always delivers something worth adding to a playlist. You don’t need to tune in live on your local NPR station. Add the show to your podcast queue or surf to the website to listen when you want.  
Before You Cut the Cord…
Here’s a Great Resource If You Want to Dump Cable or Satellite

Earlier this year, I got rid of my satellite service. I signed up for one of the TV-via-internet services. Same channels. $50/month cheaper! This so-called cord-cutting is great for some households, but not for all. If you’re thinking about cord-cutting — or if you’ve already done so — CordCuttersNews.com is a great resource. Here’s their Beginners Guide to Cord Cutting. Stooge Wisdom

Curly Howard, the original third guy in the Three Stooges, said was born on this day in 1903. He said this: “If at first you don’t succeed, keep sucking until you do succeed.”


Any reading, listening, quoting, resourcing that you think we should share? Send us a tip.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this week and the weekend.

Tom
Categories
Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.10.15

Hello: Here’s the latest edition of MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-up. We’ll kick off every week with this quick collection of tips, recommendations, observations and other interesting, valuable stuff.

– Tom 
Monday, October 15, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Resource
Scan from Your Phone

I recently downloaded Scanbot — an app for iPhone or Android that allows you to use your phone’s camera to “scan” documents. Just photograph the pages you want to scan and the free app converts them to a .pdf document. Pay for the premium version ($5.99) and the app will convert the scanned document to editable text. 
Security Concerns
Should You Keep Your Car Keys in the Freezer?

I saw a post on a neighborhood message board from someone whose car was stolen. The door was locked, but there was no forced entry. She thinks the thieves used electronic trickery to break in. She shared this article that describes the threat and how to combat it.
Recommended Viewing
A Star is Born, Round 4

Last week, I saw the latest version of A Star is Born, featuring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. I highly recommend the movie and the soundtrack. This is the third remake of the movie. The film debuted in 1937, starring Janet Gaynor and Frederic Marsh. Judy Garland and James Mason starred in the first remake (1954).  Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson starred in the 1976 version. 

Cooper directed this latest version. He tapped Lukas Nelson (son of Willie) to be the lead music consultant for the film. Lukas appears in the film as one of the guitar players in Jackson Maine’s (played by Cooper) band. 
From the MarketVolt Blog
Be Careful Using Statistics. They Can Mislead 

From municipal crime data to email open rates, statistics can reveal important insights or be a pile of B.S. — sometimes both. Here are some stories and lessons about how statistics can mislead.  Quote I’m Pondering

Friedrich Nietzsche was born on this day in 1900. He said this: “The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.”


Any reading, listening, quoting, resourcing that you think we should share? Send us a tip.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this week and the weekend.

Tom
Categories
Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.10.09

Hello: Here’s the latest edition of MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-up. We’ll kick off every week with this quick collection of tips, recommendations, observations and other interesting, valuable stuff.

– Tom 
Monday, October 8, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpVideo Quick-Tip
How to Get More of Your Emails Opened, More OftenYou want to increase your open rates? Here’s a video quick-tip we published yesterday to tell you how it’s done. Viewing time 60 seconds. 

Recommended Reading, Listening and Viewing
Program Offers Unique, Artistic Approach to Healing

I’m a big fan of SongwritingWith:Soldiers. The website describes it best: “SongwritingWith:Soldiers operates from a simple principle — pair veterans and active-duty service members with professional songwriters to craft songs about their military experiences. With a focus on collaboration and building trust, this innovative program, founded by Austin, Texas singer-songwriter Darden Smith, offers a unique path to helping soldiers, their families, communities and our nation cope with the aftermath of combat duty and the challenges in returning home.”

One of those songwriters is Mary Gauthier, who released an album of songs she co-wrote with soldiers or their family members. The album, Rifles and Rosary Beads, is heart-wrenching and brilliant. Here’s a video about it. 
Time-Saving Tip
Mastering One Keyboard Shortcuts Per Week Makes a Difference

Most of us know basic keyboard shortcuts (i.e. ctrl-C for copy). But it’s hard to keep track of the less common ones. A friend recommended that I review this list (for Windows) of shortcuts and add just one to my repertoire. I added “Win+L” — lock screen — which is something I do multiple times each day. Then one week later, I added another, then another a week after that. A little time-saving nugget each time I press the keys. Here’s a list of Apple OS shortcuts. 
Recommended Reading
The Power of Emotional Marketing

I read a great article over the weekend that discusses a study which “discovered the most successful marketing campaigns were utilizing emotional marketing that brings out the best in people as opposed to those that simply focus on the surface-level, material desires we may have.”

Excellent read. Great food for thought.

If you read it, please email me to let me know what you think. 
I’m Paying Attention to…
“The Great One” 

Hockey great Wayne Gretzky, a.k.a “The Great One,” said this: 

“You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take.”

Any reading, listening, quoting, resourcing that you think we should share? Send us a tip.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of this week and the weekend.

Tom