Displaying All Posts from July, 2010

Desktop or Cloud? What Do You Prefer?

I think one of the primary reasons behind web based tools and services not gaining prominence in the early years of internet was due to the fact that there was only one major browser – Internet Explorer. IE had more than 90-95% of market share at that time. But many developers never liked the browser.

The introduction of Firefox around 6 years back, the rise of Google and the subsequent web 2.0 era  has assured people that “the cloud”  is the future. As a result, today we can find solid web-based alternatives for almost any desktop program out there.

There’s even a cloud-based operating system by Google, called Chromium, in the works.

But are we comfortable with staying in the cloud most of the time? Do you love using online tools more often, or do you think their desktop counterparts are more efficient? Click Here to Read Article …

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Listen, Social Media Expert! Tweeting is Easy, Marketing is Hard

Facebook, Twitter and similar services can make connecting with your customers a breeze. It can quickly foster relationships with new clients and create a community around your products or services. But, having a true mastery of these platforms goes well beyond the simple ability to use them. It’s not that difficult to get a basic social media campaign running, but it is hard to build one that is actually generating revenue or visibility for your business. So, think carefully before putting a phrase like “social media guru” on your resume, or taking on a new social media initiative at work. If you don’t have true marketing skills, a commitment of real resources from your company and a solid chunk of daily time to dedicate, it could land you in a serious bind. Click Here to Read Article …

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Coffee Shop Etiquette for Mobile Workers

When I wrote about productivity tools for road warriors using wifi hotspots, I touched upon manners. Any boorish or inconsiderate behavior could hurt your reputation.

In case you were wondering what would qualify, I asked my social networks what were some of their pet peeves:

  • Buy something: This actually is a commonly held rule for people who don’t own coffee shops. We realize that wifi is offered for free to encourage us to spend money there. So help subsidize your bandwidth.
  • Don’t hog space: Even if you’re a paying customer, you’re only one paying customer. Unless your laptop and papers are buying expensichinos too, don’t spread all over a four top. Leave room for more customers to gather and subsidize your bandwidth. If you end up at a table larger than needed, offer to share it when someone else is looking for a seat.
  • Don’t overstay your welcome: Like the first item on the list…only longer.
  • Don’t hog bandwidth: You really don’t need to be watching Office reruns on Hulu.com. You really don’t need video chat either. Be realistic about what you need to do so the rest of the patrons don’t start taking the router’s name in vain.
  • Keep it down: Use headphones so the rest of us aren’t forced to listen to your entertainment. A few “You Got Mail” notices every once in a while aren’t awful.
  • Take it outside: There seems to be a gray line here concerning if you should use your cell phone. Some suggest you take the call outside. I’m in the camp that believes a cell phone conversation is the same as talking to someone at the table.
  • Clean up after yourself: Don’t make the staff clean up after you.

Think of the coffee shop as a community or networking opportunity. It’s likely that you will get to know other regulars – including the staff. It’s important to make a good impression.

Click Here to Read Article …

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Boredom Busters

Now that it’s summer, you can hear kids around the world complaining, “I’m bored!” Do you ever feel that way at work? It’s way worse than the kind of boredom you experienced as a kid. A boring job can make you feel trapped, jaded, and constantly frustrated. It’s pure torture. There’s nothing worse than looking at your to-do list and feeling totally unmotivated to do a single thing.
Have you ever worked in a job that was so boring you felt your mind go numb? How did you deal with it? Do you have any boredom busters to give to someone struggling with this issue?

Click Here to Read Article …

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7 Tools to Automate Your Social Media Management

There seems to be two types of people who use social media: Those who use automation tools to multiply their presences across the Internet and those who think auto-anything is a sin against nature.

That may be simplifying things a little, but it’s not too far fetched.

As for me, I fall somewhere in between the extremes – and I’m betting I’m not alone. Sometimes we need some tools to help us manage all our social networks. I understand that using some tools is considered obnoxious behavior by some people. But it’s a free Internet. You make your choices and live with them.

Click Here to Read Article …

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Awesome Links #4: Personal Empowerment, Smartphones, Location-Based Services

5 Strategies for Personal Empowerment in Difficult Situations

How do you empower yourself when there’s negativity all around? Lifehack has an interesting article that explores how to survive, even flourish, in such situations.

3 Productivity Tips for the Corporate Web Worker

Are you one of those fortunate ones whose boss has agreed to let you work from home? If that’s a yes, keep in mind that it won’t be as easy as you think. You could end up being less productive while working from home. Web Worker Daily aims to address this issue in their article.

Smartphone Comparison Chart

This brilliant smartphone comparison charts shows how the top smartphones stack against each other.

Why We Check In: The Reasons People Use Location-Based Social Networks

ReadWriteWeb has an intriguing post on why people broadcast their current location using location based services.

40 Sites for Finding Web Design Jobs

If you are a web designer hunting for a job, Vandelay Website Design blog has a comprehensive resource of 40 sites you could take a look at. Click Here to Read Article …

Is Your Career Going Backwards? Reexamine Your Career Options

You work hard to advance your career, either sticking with one company and climbing the corporate ladder or moving from one company to another.  With each move you aim for more challenge, responsibility and more money in your pocket.

What happens however when you find your career advancement has stalled – or gone backwards?

Sometimes your career can go backwards through no fault of your own.  Your company has a major restructure (or two or three) and suddenly you find your role is not what it used to be.  Somewhere along the line, though your position title reads the same, your responsibilities have been significantly downgraded.  Though your workload may have actually increased, you find yourself filling your day with a variety of mundane tasks.

Suddenly it dawns on you that you cannot remember the last time you learned something new in your current position.  It’s official – you’re stuck in a rut.

So what are your career options? Click Here to Read Article …

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Do You Have an Email Routine?

You open your inbox for the first time in the day and there are 98 new messages; they’re from mom and dad, clients, that friend from high school who just found you on Facebook, a few stray spam messages and so on. Even if you spend an average of just 1 minute per message that’ll add up to more than an hour and a half. You just don’t have that much time to spare right now. So what do you do?

  • Look for important messages now and leave the rest for later?
  • Employ The Two Minute Rule; taking care of the ones that matter right now and defer the ones that don’t?
  • Read them all now and reply to them all later?

What’s your routine for checking email? Click Here to Read Article …