by admin | May 29, 2014 | Concept development
For many social media users, the ultimate goal is to “go viral.” Whether it’s the owner of a YouTube channel or a small business brand manager trying to establish a social presence, people just want their post, tweet, photo or video to be noticed and shared by users with a large number of followers, thereby exponentially increasing their audience reach. Because of the public nature of social media, any user with the right marketing strategy has the potential to go viral. “It’s a free-for-all,” said Shana Starr, managing partner of public relations firm LFPR. “Brands big and small are constantly thinking of creative ways to be part of the conversation, whether or not it relates to their product or company.” Read more about these 5 social media tips that will allow you to go viral...
by admin | Apr 4, 2014 | Concept development
When people find out that I have a background as a business consultant, they will often tell me that they would love to own a business, but have no clue what type. These are the tips that I give for coming up with a profitable small business concept. Even if you have a small business concept already, these tips will help fine tune it. Do What You Know Your small business concept should circulate around what you know. A former client of mine opened up a business that supplies products to car dealerships, and he came up with this idea after working at dealerships for 15 years. He went into a field that he knew and where people knew him. It has ensured his future growth. Read more of these tips about creating a profitable small business concept...
by admin | Apr 4, 2014 | Concept development
1. Your Appearance Matters When pitching your new start-up idea you should always be dressed in business formal clothes, with an appropriately professional haircut, and no distracting accessories. A business pitch is one of the most formal and important occasions in business and needs to be treated with care. Since your first impression will be based on appearance, it’s very important to make sure that this impression is a good one. However, you also need to be aware that business conventions do differ in different areas of the world, and there are even some industries such as the IT industry that are more casual than others. Read about the four other tips for pitching your business concept...
by admin | Mar 27, 2014 | Concept development
The NSA’s global spy operation may seem unstoppable, but there’s at least one target that has proven to be a formidable obstacle: the Chinese communications technology firm Huawei, whose growth could threaten the agency’s much-publicized digital spying powers. An unfamiliar name to American consumers, Huawei produces products that are swiftly being installed in the internet backbone in many regions of the world, displacing some of the western-built equipment that the NSA knows — and presumably knows how to exploit — so well. Find out more about how this tech firm became a surveillance nightmare for the NSA...
by admin | Mar 27, 2014 | Concept development
After a fatal capsizing and two high-profile fires aboard ships, observers began wondering whether cruise lines were operating with minimal regulatory oversight. An engine-room fire that leaves a 2,750-passenger ship adrift at sea for days? In 2013? That incident aboard the Carnival Triumph—beamed round the world for days courtesy of CNN’s saturation-coverage strategy—followed the 2012 grounding of a European ship in which 32 people died. Three months after the Triumph blaze, meanwhile, a fire damaged Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas. The incidents deeply embarrassed the industry, decimated Carnival’s financial results, and prompted politicians and regulators to make noise about tougher oversight. Late last year the industry’s two largest companies, Carnival (CCL) and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCL), hired retired military admirals to oversee their sea operations. Read more about how cruise lines are developing new concepts to operate more like airlines...
by admin | Mar 18, 2014 | Concept development
Where will you be six weeks from now? Believe it or not, you could have your own small business up and running before the end of April. That’s right. If you’ve ever dreamed of being your own boss, now’s the time to take the chance, because the Six-Week Start-Up campaign is about to launch — the first-ever campaign on social media to help would-be entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground. Starting today, follow along as I team up with America’s Small Business Development Center Network to bring you some of the tools, information and advice necessary to get you going in the right direction. Anyone who hopes to start, run or grow a business will get daily guidance, downloadable free worksheets and links to free resources — all through Twitter and Facebook. Find out more about how to start your own business...
