18 March 2009
Did You Know?
Below is a fantastic video on the progression of information technology. Researched by Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod, and Jeff Bronman.
12 March 2009
Tapping into social networking
Julianne Dowling quotes me and several other Thought Leaders in her article entitled, 'Tapping into social networking.'
--
Corporate Australia needs to try harder when it comes to tapping into tools such as Twitter, Facebook, forums and LinkedIn, say online experts.
And they say deep pockets don't always guarantee an edge.
Regard some of the mistakes made by the big end of town in terms of blasting corporate messages and clumsy YouTube uploads seeking to 'engage and bond'.
However, internet business coaches such as Gihan Perera say the very attributes of small business (agile, creative and personal) really suit the social networking community.
"The secret is to choose (the tool) appropriately and who you will connect with,'' he says.
Perera says business owners should stop being cynical and get on board with social media because of the benefits.
"Small business have innate advantages; they have trust,'' Perera explained.
Jennifer McNamara, who runs the Art Est. Art School in Sydney's inner-west, recently joined professionally networking site LinkedIn and intends to set up a portal on Facebook for her students, to save money on mailouts.
"People can more easily find out more information on art classes, art competitions and special offers through the internet,'' she says.
"If I can entice would-be students to sign up, then I can contact them all at a push of a button. It's a bit more instantaneous, and since we're very grassroots, we need to be innovative in the way we communicate.''
However business consultant Jennifer Dalitz, founder of online women's network www.sphinxx.org, with almost 1,000 women members, is considering taking off the social network functionality after she found many senior women didn't really use it.
"Sphinxx is about circulating information and support for working women with common challenges. A couple of years ago everyone believed online communities were the way to go but I don't think it's a meaningful way to connect for most women,'' she says.
"Women like face-to-face contact with access to female role models; they almost prefer the off-line contact.
"A lot of men embrace online social networks because it appeals to their inner ego.
"But really, a lot of women just don't have time once they come home to families.''
Dalitz say she often gets Facebook friend requests "from people I don't even know'' but her preferred network is LinkedIn, which is about her existing database.
"People just don't want to be bombarded with requests. It's not what busy women do,'' she says.
"So that's the limitation.''
With Facebook featuring over 175 million users and six million user groups, and Twitter revolutionising the idea of mass speak, Gihan Perera says the trick is to think about the commercial applications and make an effort to join the conversations.
His firm - www.gihanperara.com - advises entrepreneurs and internetpreneurs on better utilising the tools.
"There's so much information around and your audience will rely on you, if you can interpret that. Your job is to lead a community that you are involved with; that applies to any business.
"So, it's not just about giving new information but relevant information. No one can read everything, but business owners are experts in their field, and can share information out.''
One of Perera's clients is rossclennett.com, which is set up for an online member community.
A HR recruitment trainer who runs an online subscriber-based service, Clennett's site also makes use of LinkedIn.
Clennett has been writing a fortnightly newsletter for two years with a well-established following, so when he wanted members, they were ready to sign up.
"It worked because he had a two-year track record rather than just doing it cold. That's the difference,'' says Perera.
Perera's advice is to start slowly, sign up to some networks, and get to know how they work.
"When a large organisation in say, the financial services sector, starts from scratch, they may be going against their current customer style, and so customers will be sceptical,'' he says.
Indeed, many professionals are the trailblazers and larger companies, such as H&R Block in the US, already offer free tax advice on Second Life and tweet regularly on Twitter on the subject.
Futurecaster, author and professional speaker Craig Rispin, of www.futuretrendsgroup.com, says that while some entrepreneurs may be mentally blocked about social media tools, young staff or even work experience students can help get them started.
He often asks his audience to review his talks on Twitter or other social media as a way of getting the word out.
"Everything is being rated now,'' he observed and it's likely that all professions will be reviewed by the end users in future - see the US academic ratings by students in www.ratemyprofessors.com.
So how can medium-sized companies use this knowledge to increase their competitive position?
"The interesting thing is that many businesses, who find themselves squeezed by larger and smaller players, are downsizing and shedding their costs,'' said Rispin.
"I think that's a great opportunity.''
Of course, there's still plenty of focus on the global financial crisis, but "you have to take the time out from the gloom and doom and look over the horizon.''
There are also countless examples of businesses which started in a recession and became raging successes.
Evan Williams is the guy behind Blogger, which started in the last tech crash in 2001, and now runs online messaging service Twitter.
Speaking at the TED (technology, entertainment, design) conference held in California last month, Williams told the audience he had learned to follow his hunches.
Twitter was one such hunch. The idea was to allow brief text-like messages of 140 characters or less, allowing people to connect instantly.
'Tweet' updates were used during events such as the San Diego fires and Barack Obama also harnessed this method (or at least, one of his staff members did) to post daily election campaign messages until he became president.
Of course, being pushy or selling something too hard isn't the way to go, say these experts. Social media congregations are much more subtle.
Rispin says everyone should be future thinkers about their business and now, 'rebooting' your model is the name of the game.
"Technology is a great enabler; small business should stop and ask themselves what is it that they want?'' he says.
"Those who are innovating and creating the future will boom.''
Source: Small Business SMH
--
Corporate Australia needs to try harder when it comes to tapping into tools such as Twitter, Facebook, forums and LinkedIn, say online experts.
And they say deep pockets don't always guarantee an edge.
Regard some of the mistakes made by the big end of town in terms of blasting corporate messages and clumsy YouTube uploads seeking to 'engage and bond'.
However, internet business coaches such as Gihan Perera say the very attributes of small business (agile, creative and personal) really suit the social networking community.
"The secret is to choose (the tool) appropriately and who you will connect with,'' he says.
Perera says business owners should stop being cynical and get on board with social media because of the benefits.
"Small business have innate advantages; they have trust,'' Perera explained.
Jennifer McNamara, who runs the Art Est. Art School in Sydney's inner-west, recently joined professionally networking site LinkedIn and intends to set up a portal on Facebook for her students, to save money on mailouts.
"People can more easily find out more information on art classes, art competitions and special offers through the internet,'' she says.
"If I can entice would-be students to sign up, then I can contact them all at a push of a button. It's a bit more instantaneous, and since we're very grassroots, we need to be innovative in the way we communicate.''
However business consultant Jennifer Dalitz, founder of online women's network www.sphinxx.org, with almost 1,000 women members, is considering taking off the social network functionality after she found many senior women didn't really use it.
"Sphinxx is about circulating information and support for working women with common challenges. A couple of years ago everyone believed online communities were the way to go but I don't think it's a meaningful way to connect for most women,'' she says.
"Women like face-to-face contact with access to female role models; they almost prefer the off-line contact.
"A lot of men embrace online social networks because it appeals to their inner ego.
"But really, a lot of women just don't have time once they come home to families.''
Dalitz say she often gets Facebook friend requests "from people I don't even know'' but her preferred network is LinkedIn, which is about her existing database.
"People just don't want to be bombarded with requests. It's not what busy women do,'' she says.
"So that's the limitation.''
With Facebook featuring over 175 million users and six million user groups, and Twitter revolutionising the idea of mass speak, Gihan Perera says the trick is to think about the commercial applications and make an effort to join the conversations.
His firm - www.gihanperara.com - advises entrepreneurs and internetpreneurs on better utilising the tools.
"There's so much information around and your audience will rely on you, if you can interpret that. Your job is to lead a community that you are involved with; that applies to any business.
"So, it's not just about giving new information but relevant information. No one can read everything, but business owners are experts in their field, and can share information out.''
One of Perera's clients is rossclennett.com, which is set up for an online member community.
A HR recruitment trainer who runs an online subscriber-based service, Clennett's site also makes use of LinkedIn.
Clennett has been writing a fortnightly newsletter for two years with a well-established following, so when he wanted members, they were ready to sign up.
"It worked because he had a two-year track record rather than just doing it cold. That's the difference,'' says Perera.
Perera's advice is to start slowly, sign up to some networks, and get to know how they work.
"When a large organisation in say, the financial services sector, starts from scratch, they may be going against their current customer style, and so customers will be sceptical,'' he says.
Indeed, many professionals are the trailblazers and larger companies, such as H&R Block in the US, already offer free tax advice on Second Life and tweet regularly on Twitter on the subject.
Futurecaster, author and professional speaker Craig Rispin, of www.futuretrendsgroup.com, says that while some entrepreneurs may be mentally blocked about social media tools, young staff or even work experience students can help get them started.
He often asks his audience to review his talks on Twitter or other social media as a way of getting the word out.
"Everything is being rated now,'' he observed and it's likely that all professions will be reviewed by the end users in future - see the US academic ratings by students in www.ratemyprofessors.com.
So how can medium-sized companies use this knowledge to increase their competitive position?
"The interesting thing is that many businesses, who find themselves squeezed by larger and smaller players, are downsizing and shedding their costs,'' said Rispin.
"I think that's a great opportunity.''
Of course, there's still plenty of focus on the global financial crisis, but "you have to take the time out from the gloom and doom and look over the horizon.''
There are also countless examples of businesses which started in a recession and became raging successes.
Evan Williams is the guy behind Blogger, which started in the last tech crash in 2001, and now runs online messaging service Twitter.
Speaking at the TED (technology, entertainment, design) conference held in California last month, Williams told the audience he had learned to follow his hunches.
Twitter was one such hunch. The idea was to allow brief text-like messages of 140 characters or less, allowing people to connect instantly.
'Tweet' updates were used during events such as the San Diego fires and Barack Obama also harnessed this method (or at least, one of his staff members did) to post daily election campaign messages until he became president.
Of course, being pushy or selling something too hard isn't the way to go, say these experts. Social media congregations are much more subtle.
Rispin says everyone should be future thinkers about their business and now, 'rebooting' your model is the name of the game.
"Technology is a great enabler; small business should stop and ask themselves what is it that they want?'' he says.
"Those who are innovating and creating the future will boom.''
Source: Small Business SMH
11 March 2009
Technology revolutionises the learning experience
I was reading an article recently that highlighted that not only do the respected major universities overseas offer their content online but Australian institutions are following suit. The article started, "Missed a lecture? It's probably online. Forgotten the building technique you just learned? Refer to the instruction video on your iPod. The book isn't on the shelf? Search for it in the E-library."
Having such content online has certainly improved over time. But the point the article was highlighting was how do you find it the content? Does a simple Google search provide you with everything you need to know? The article quoted University of Western Sydney (UWS) pro-vice chancellor for learning and teaching, Professor Stuart Campbell, "Most young people have a pocket full of electronic devices and are huge users of social networking sites and messaging, but a lot of that is superficial. No matter how smart they are with technology, when students start using technology at uni, they have to prepare for a much deeper use. When they're searching for resources, they can't get away with a quick Google search - they need to put a lot more skill into finding things."
UWS now offer a range of workshops to bridge the gap in using gadgets versus technology. Most subjects have their own websites for students to access notes, lectures and communicate via forums with other students or with academic staff. Many universities offer wireless networks to make it more flexible to study while on campus.
Professor Campbell expects to see a greater move towards tertiary institutions delivering information via smaller devices. Will it replace face-to-face learning? "Learning is...a social experience. What we will be seeing more of is blended learning - human interaction with support from technology."
Source: Sydney Daily Telegraph (20 February 2009 - "Savvy Gen Y must dig deeper")
04 March 2009
Long-term benefits of Recession-proofing Strategies
With more businesses and individual workers seeking ways to "recession-proof" themselves, could the economy emerge from hard times stronger and more innovative than ever?
Recession-proofing workers might focus on becoming more fearless and innovative. Take your ideas to the boss rather than allow uncertainties to back you into your cubicle, urges Robin Fisher Roffer, author of THE FEARLESS FISH OUT OF WATER (Wiley, 2009). "It may seem scary to make such a bold move in tenuous times," she says, "but leaders will appreciate any innovation that will get business moving right now."
Businesses, too, are encouraged to be fearlessly proactive rather than cautious and reactive. Hard times are the time for action, suggests consultant Suzanne Caplan, because inaction "spawns a pattern of victimization, and pins us down into a habit of only reacting to the bad, instead of planning for the better."
SOURCES: www.wfs.org
Robin Fisher Roffer, author of FEARLESS FISH OUT OF WATER
Suzanne Caplan, founder and chief blogger, www.womenetcetera.com
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