Tag: mash-up

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Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.10.02

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 1, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Listening
HBR IdeaCast is Not Just For the C-Suite

Harvard Business Review publishes IdeaCast, a weekly podcast that offers great advice and insight for business people. You don’t have to run a business to benefit from the podcast — which covers communication, marketing, management, mindset and countless other topics that will help you in your work and life. 

Happy Birthday Yosemite
Amazing Video About a Climber Who Conquered El Capitan

On this day in 1890, Congress established Yosemite National Park. The park is a climber’s paradise. And just last week, National Geographic released an incredible 360-degree video of an amazing climbing feat. On June 3, 2017, Alex Honnold became the first person to attempt and complete a free solo (no ropes, no harnesses) ascent of El Capitan, a 3,000-foot high slab of solid granite. This is a story of unsurpassed courage, dedication, preparation and focus. I’m not a rock climber, but I still draw countless lessons from this story. 
Recommended Resource
Save Big Time on Small, Tedious Tasks with Text-Fixer

I’ve added this site to the top of my bookmark list. The site contains a collection of free, helpful tools for managing text. My favorite — the tool that removes extra line breaks from text. I also like the tool that alphabetizes lists. This is a huge time-saver.  
I’m Listening to…
Otis Rush, Jr. 

He was one of the great blues artists to emerge from Chicago in the 1950s. Otis Rush, Jr. passed away on Saturday. Here is a video of him performing “I Can’t Quit You Baby.” Grateful for This…

“Maybe you weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth, but like every American, you carry a deed to 635 million acres of public lands. That’s right. Even if you don’t own a house or the latest computer on the market, you own Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and many other natural treasures.”~ John Garamendi ***
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 2018.09.24

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, September 24, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Resource
How to Be a Better Speaker

I’ve learned so much from Fred Miller about public speaking and marketing. If you ever speak in front of a crowd, check out No Sweat Public Speaking, Fred’s website. He’s a public speaking expert who will help you develop, practice and deliver great presentations while overcoming fear. 

How Much Should You Spend? How Much Should You Charge? 

If you run a business, manage a budget or make purchasing decisions for marketing and communications, you’ve probably asked: What should I charge for my services? What should I pay for the services I need? 

We dove into those questions and offered some answers in a recent post on our blog. This will help you set the right price for your products or services and evaluate that purchase you’re considering. 

Must-See TV
St. Louis Teen Wows Judges on “The Voice”

When someone told me about a 13-year-old kid killing it in her audition on The Voice, I was skeptical. Then I watched this. It was so good, and so emotional, that I cried. Kennedy Holmes lives and goes to school not far from MarketVolt’s headquarters in St. Louis. I’m proud for our city. But I’m not sharing this with you because I’m a “homer.” I’m sharing this with you because it’s awesome!

I’m Reading About…
Chief Justice John Marshall

John Marshall was born on this day in 1755. He died in 1835 after serving 34 years as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. That is the longest tenure for any Chief Justice. In his years on the court, he redefined the role of the judiciary, shifting power from state and local courts to federal courts. He established the principle of “judicial review,” empowering federal courts to review laws and overturn them if deemed unconstitutional. Love him or hate him (there are people in both camps), Marshall was among the more important figures in shaping our nation after the Revolution. We the People…

“The people made the Constitution, and the people can unmake it. It is the creature of their will, and lives only by their will.”~ John Marshall***
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.
Categories
Monday Mash-Up

Monday Mashup 2018.09.17

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, September 17, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Reading and Listening
Malcolm Gladwell

I think I’ve read every one of Malcolm Gladwell’s books. The Tipping Point remains my favorite. It’s a quick read, and it may change the way you look at business and your life. I highly recommend it. I also recommend Gladwell’s podcast, Revisionist History. Every week, Gladwell “will go back and reinterpret something from the past: an event, a person, an idea. Something overlooked. Something misunderstood.” I never miss an episode. They’re all great. 

From the MarketVolt Blog
Email Practices to Avoid — Unless You Want to LOSE Subscribers

There’s a funny episode of the old Seinfeld TV show in which a rental car company doesn’t have the car Jerry reserved. Jerry notes that the company knows how to make a reservation; it just doesn’t know how to keep a reservation. 

Same goes for many businesses that know how to add someone to their email list, but they don’t know how to keep them on the list. 

I recently sent this post from the MarketVolt blog archives to someone who was losing email subscribers in droves. Good dos and don’ts for building and keeping an email list.  
I’m Listening to…
Hank Williams, Sr. 

Hank Williams lived hard and died young. He was born on this day in 1923 so today is his 95th birthday. He was only 29 when he died. But in his short time on earth, Williams recorded 35 Top-10 singles (five released posthumously) and 11 ranked number one on the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart (three posthumously). Wow!

So I’m listening to old Hank today. Here are 10 of the best…  that are on today’s playlist.More Recommended Reading
Proofreading Tips

I have to admit: I’m not a great proofreader. That’s why I was happy to find this post on the always-great Copyblogger website: 10 Modern Proofreading Tips to Catch More Avoidable Goofs I Love This Quote

I was putting the finishing touches on this email when my friend Dixie Gillaspie posted this quote on her twitter feed (so I changed gears and decided to share it with all of you this week):”Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” ~ Harvey FiersteinAmen. Thanks @DixieDynamite for sharing this one!
***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 2018.09.10

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, September 10, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Reading
The Power of Full Engagement

This is another one of those books I’ve read multiple times over the years: The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. The book’s subtitle describes it well: “Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal.” 

From the MarketVolt Blog
How Not to Handle a Crisis

Last week, organizers cancelled the LouFest music festival three days before the event here in St. Louis. The backlash was fierce. All of us make mistakes. So I wasn’t interested in joining the backlash gang. But I chose to chime in after LouFest responded to critics. Their response is a great lesson in how NOT to respond to a crisis. 
Resources
Receiving and Sending Mobile Text Messages on Your Desktop

Ever wish that you could receive and send mobile text messages from your desktop computer? I began doing this recently with my Android/Samsung phone using a free service called MightyText (Android only). 

There’s another good option for Android phones: messages.android.com. This service works only with Android’s built-in messaging app. It won’t work with third-party apps, such as Samsung’s messaging app. 

Apple desktops have a built-in messaging sync. Here’s how to sync your iPhone messages on your Apple desktop.  

Unfortunately, it’s not so easy if you want to sync your iPhone messages with a Windows PC. There are various options for you to download/read iPhone messages. But I couldn’t find a good tool for Windows to receive and send iPhone text messages in real time. If you know of one, please let me know so I can share it in a future Mash-Up. Inspirational, Important Story
Kevin Hines and Suicide Prevention

I recently listened to a remarkable, inspiring podcast interview with Kevin Hines. In 2000, he jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge…

…and survived.

How he survived is an incredible story. Fewer than 40 people (estimates vary) have survived that fall.

More than 1,600 have not. 

After he survived, Kevin devoted his life to preventing suicide. He led the fight to encourage the Golden Gate Bridge authority to raise barriers and install nets to prevent people from jumping. The authority refused until earlier this year (more on that story in the podcast).  

I share this now because today is World Suicide Prevention Day. 

You can learn more about Kevin and his work here: 

kmhinesfoundation.org/ and KevinHinesStory.com

I learned a ton about suicide prevention by listening to and reading about Kevin’s story. I encourage you to check it out. Kevin Hines Describing the Hours Before He Jumped If someone had intervened that day, things would have absolutely been different. Due to my psychosis on that day, I could not say aloud “I need help now.” Yet, I desperately wanted someone to say to me, “Are you OK? Is something wrong?” or “Can I help you?”

Had any one of the hundreds of passersby engaged with me, it would have given me permission to share my darkness, and potentially have showed me that I had the ability on that day to choose life.
***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 2018.08.27 copy

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, August 27, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpInformative Infographic
Why Email Marketing Should Get Personal

We say it all the time: Personalized emails (tailored messages, personalized salutations, etc.) generate far better response. Here’s proof. 

How-To…
Move On When Things Don’t Go According to PlanThanks to Mash-Up reader Sara Moffett in San Antonio for sharing this great blog post with us. When things go wrong, we often complain and wallow in misery. There’s a better approach. Myth-Buster
“Above the Fold” is a Bogus Design Concept

Many people worry too much about putting their key content “above the fold” (on the first screen) on their website and emails. It’s not necessary, according to this great article that recommends you ditch above-the-fold design. Recommended Reading
Undaunted Courage

Earlier this month, I visited the renovated museum at the Gateway Arch in my hometown, St. Louis. The visit rekindled my interest in the Lewis and Clark expedition. Steven Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage is the definitive history of the expedition. I’m re-reading it, 22 years after it was first published. I highly recommend it. Lots of inspiration and business lessons in these pages. More on that in future emails. Words from John McCain

“Glory belongs to the act of being constant to something greater than yourself, to a cause, to your principles, to the people on whom you rely and who rely on you.”
***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 2018.08.27

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, August 6, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpInformative Infographic
Why Email Marketing Should Get Personal

We say it all the time: Personalized emails (tailored messages, personalized salutations, etc.) generate far better response. Here’s proof. 

How-To…
Move On When Things Don’t Go According to PlanThanks to Mash-Up reader Sara Moffett in San Antonio for sharing this great blog post with us. When things go wrong, we often complain and wallow in misery. There’s a better approach. Myth-Buster
“Above the Fold” is a Bogus Design Concept

Many people worry too much about putting their key content “above the fold” (on the first screen) on their website and emails. It’s not necessary, according to this great article that recommends you ditch above-the-fold design. Recommended Reading
Undaunted Courage

Earlier this month, I visited the renovated museum at the Gateway Arch in my hometown, St. Louis. The visit rekindled my interest in the Lewis and Clark expedition. Steven Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage is the definitive history of the expedition. I’m re-reading it, 22 years after it was first published. I highly recommend it. Lots of inspiration and business lessons in these pages. More on that in future emails. Words from John McCain

“Glory belongs to the act of being constant to something greater than yourself, to a cause, to your principles, to the people on whom you rely and who rely on you.”
***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 2018.08.06

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, August 6, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpValuable Resource
Discover Whether Your Info Has Been Compromised 

Seems like we hear about another major data breach every week. But how do you know if your personal information was among the compromised data? A website called “Have I Been Pwned” can tell you.

Go to the site (haveibeenpwned.com), enter your email address, and you’ll see a list of data breaches that contained that address. The site will tell you the nature of the breach (i.e. whether passwords, credit card numbers or other sensitive data was captured). If you have been “pwned” (slang term, popular among online gamers for “owned”), you can react accordingly. Change your password. Cancel the captured credit card. And so forth…

The site doesn’t have records for all data breaches. But it has enough info to be very helpful.

How-To…
Prevent Videos from Auto-PlayingI can’t stand it when I’m visiting a website and a video begins to play automatically. I found this useful article in the New York Times that describes ways to prevent videos from auto-playing. Enjoy the silence! 

Shout-Out For
An Excellent Graphic Designer and Digital Marketer

Looking for someone who can create a great logo, design a kick-ass graphic or flyer, help get your site to the top of the search rankings, write a compelling blog post or manage your social media? Check out AdrienneLuther.com. We hired Adrienne for the summer. She left us this month to complete her final semester at the University of Missouri. Meanwhile, she continues to work as a freelancer. We highly recommend her. You’ll find her contact information on her website. I’m Reading
The Story of Hiroshima, As Told By Six Who Survived the Bomb 

Seventy-three years ago today the U.S. dropped a nuclear bomb on Hiroshima. John Hersey was among the first American reporters to visit the ruined city where he interviewed countless survivors. The New Yorker magazine devoted its entire August 31, 1946 issue to Hersey’s work — a 30,000-word piece that tells the story of six survivors.

This is a brilliant, moving, frightening article that was ground-breaking then and remains pertinent today. It’s must-reading — regardless of your politics. Quote that Still Resonate Today

Why have I shared this article and the quotes that follow in a weekly email intended to educate and entertain? Well… Brilliant journalism is educational and entertaining — even when it covers the darkest subjects. To explain my thinking further, I share this quote from the New Yorker Editor’s Note that preceded Hersey’s work…

“Few of us have yet comprehended the all but incredible destructive power of this weapon. Everyone might well take time to consider the terrible implications of its use.”
***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 2018.07.30

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, July 30, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Resource
A Quick, Affordable Way to Transcribe Recordings

A friend of mine used a voice recognition application recently to transcribe an audio recording… Then she spent an hour correcting all the transcription errors. I told her about Rev, a service that uses humans, not machines, to transcribe for $1/minute of audio. Just upload your audio or video file and within minutes, you receive an email telling you your transcription is ready. A huge time-saver!

Must-See Movie
The Most Thought-Provoking Film I’ve Seen in YearsI saw “Three Identical Strangers” on Friday. My recommendation: Watch the trailer and then go see it. After you see it, let me know what you think. I can’t stop thinking about this remarkable documentary. 

What I’m Reading
Everything You Need to Know About Wildfires

We’re waking every morning to more news — worse than the day before — about wildfires. If you want to understand why this is happening, check out two fascinating articles from this month’s Harper’s Magazine that dig deep into the topic:  Combustion EnginesThere Will Always Be Fires More Business Lessons from Southwest Airlines

Southwest has had a tough year. They lost $100 million following a fatal mid-air accident in April. But Southwest is staying true to its brand promise, rather than making changes that could generate more short-term revenue. Here’s a quick read from Inc. Magazine that explains Southwest’s approach. Read the quote in the last paragraph from CEO Gary Kelly. It’s a great example of a business that understands what its customers want and consistently delivers on its brand promises. A great lesson for all of us.Happy Birthday Arnold

Arnold Schwarzenegger turns 71 today. Here’s a great interview Tim Ferriss conducted with Arnold three years ago. His story is fascinating. I knew that before I heard the interview. What surprised me most: The great business lessons I learned listening to this interview. 
***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 2018.07.23

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, July 23, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Resource
Zoho One Packs It All in One Affordable Package

Here at MarketVolt, we’ve used Zoho’s CRM and Help Desk manager for years. Last month, we signed on for more — Zoho’s entire suite of products (more than 40) for just $30/user/month. In addition to CRM and Help Desk, Zoho One gives us online invoicing, a chat/support engine for our website, project management, online document signing, an office suite, online document storage, password management, social media campaign management, webinar/presentation software and more. Zoho One apps have replaced other apps which, combined, cost us way more than $30/user/month. It’s an excellent deal. 

Great Article About Email Marketing Dos and Don’tsEmail “remains the most effective channel marketers have for initiating a conversation and reaching out to their prospects and customers,” according to this great article in Entrepreneur magazine. But too many marketers are running their email campaigns incorrectly. 

We say it often: Sending everything to everybody every time, regardless of their interests, will undermine your email campaigns. Targeting subscribers with personalized relevant content is the key. 

This article gets to the heart of this idea. 
Cutting the Cord with the Help of Tablo

Cable and satellite services are too expensive. I’m cutting the cord. To get my local stations, without satellite, I’ve purchased a Tablo digital TV tuner and an inexpensive indoor antenna. You hook the antenna to the Tablo which you connect to your home’s wi-fi router. You can then add Tablo as a channel to your smart TV devices (i.e. Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, etc.). Tablo generates a viewing guide with all the channels your antenna can pull (40, in my case). You can view on any TV connected to your wi-fi network, and you can pause and record live TV. It’s a great way to significantly cut television costs, without losing your local stations. Nelson Mandela’s 100th

Nelson Mandela was born July 18, 1918 — 100 years ago this week. To honor his memory, I found two great biographical videos that I share with you now. 

From the Biography Channel (approximately 3 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnJD09cPWD8

From the Nelson Mandela Foundation (approximately 13 minutes): 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgQBoXsxr8w
Inspiring QuoteI serve on the board of a foundation that awards grants and loans to students to help them pay for college. I attended an awards ceremony last week for some of these students. The keynote speaker launched her presentation with the following quote from Nelson Mandela. 

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
***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 2018.07.16

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, July 16, 2018
MarketVolt’s Monday Mash-UpRecommended Resource
Google News: My Go-To Feed

A few weeks ago, Google revamped it’s News application for iPhone and Android devices. It’s great. Simple, clean interface. Fast downloads. Personalized content selection. Easy content sharing. If I like or dislike articles about a certain topic, I can tell Google to “show more” or “show less.” 

Learn more here: Android verson ~ iOS VersionTechnology EvolvesOn this day in 1926, National Geographic photographers captured the first underwater color photo near the Florida Keys. You won’t believe how the photographers illuminated the shot. National Geographic shares the photo and the wild story of its production here. Let’s just say underwater photography has come a long way.
Gratitude
Customer Service Shout-Out for ZeroUV
I bought some inexpensive sunglasses ($10) recently from online vendor ZeroUV. They have a great selection, decent quality for the price and a friendly return policy. The glasses I ordered didn’t fit quite right so I filled out the form on their site to return them. Minutes after requesting the return, I received the following email:”Thank you for requesting a return! To make this process as easy as possible, you will not be required to send back the item at this time. You may gift the item to someone you know that would enjoy the glasses on behalf of zeroUV. With that said, I’ll be happy to help you with a free exchange or refund for the item. I look forward to your response!”I chose a different pair and notified them by email. Four days later, my new pair arrived. Wow! What great service. Their cost for gifting that first pair of glasses? Well under $10. Their reward: A VERY happy customer who’s telling people what a great company this is. 

A great customer service lesson!Inspired By…
The Story of Ida B. Wells

Born on this day in 1862, Ida B. Wells was a former slave who stood less than five feet tall. But she was a giant in her day — a crusading journalist who exposed lynchings and battled racism. 

In the May 21 Mash-Up, I shared “Overlooked,” a collection of after-the-fact obits published this year in the New York Times. Wells was one of the women overlooked at the time of her death. Here’s her better-late-than-never obituary in the Times.  

Quote I’m Pondering

“The appetite grows for what it feeds on.”

– Ida Wells
***

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