Archive for the ‘NYEW - Speaker’ Category
The Rise and Fall of Vanity Numbers
As little as 10 years ago, it was a business standard to select a number that could also serve as a catchy acronym, vanity numbers like 555-got-leak, or 555-got -bugs were great ways of encouraging customers to remember your number and call you when they got to a phone which always had the alphabet on the 8 primary keys.
When you use an acronym for your phone number in your marketing mediums, you must keep in mind the behavior and resources of your prospects and understand that due to handheld device limitations, not all mobile users will have the ability to respond to your acronym and conveniently initiate a call to your company via a vanity number.
You’re an Entrepreneur: Everything Is Going to Be Okay
What do you do when big changes are happening?
As entrepreneurs, we are guaranteed to find ourselves amidst massive periods of change from time to time.
The ebb and flow in supply and demand for your products, services or system may find you at times feeling like you are in a freefall with no safe landing place in sight.
What do you do when change strikes?
How Entrepreneurs Deal With the Challenges of Getting Funded
“I always tell my kids if you lay down, people will step over you. But if you keep scrambling, if you keep going, someone will always, always give you a hand. Always. But you gotta keep dancing, you gotta keep your feet moving.”
Morgan Freeman—1937, actor
We all know raising money can be really tough. But some entrepreneurs make it look easy. Ron and David are two of those people.
UX Design – What Am I Paying SO MUCH For?!?!?!
Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting an art gallery here in New York City. The artist’s exhibit was a group of beautifully done photographs that he took of wild life on a remote island. They were extraordinary, breathtaking even. But they were also VERY expensive.
The photographs ranged from $6,000 – $75,000 or more. The price blew me away! $6,000 for a picture?? So, my friend and I proceeded to question the gallery worker as to how the artist sets his prices. The worker, an extremely well informed young lady, explained to us the process that the artist goes through to make the prints. It is painstakingly hard, and takes a great amount of effort, time and cost. After the explanation, the prices that were set seemed very fair and made a ton of sense. That’s the sign of someone who is really good at what they do after all – making your output look effortless even though it is of high quality. That is how I look at myself as a User Experience Designer.
Entrepreneurship: Do You Have What It Takes?
As the global economy undergoes more changes (and it will continue to do so) even more people will choose to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. Changes to corporate mindsets, downsizing and other upheavals in the “safe” world of formal employment are forcing many to embrace entrepreneurship, and start their own small businesses. Add to those the people with the burning desire to “be their own boss” and you have plenty of new entrants into the wonderful, frightening, exciting and exhausting world of being a business owner.
However, whatever your reasons for considering entrepreneurship instead of formal employment, there are a few traits you will need to cultivate in order to succeed.
Network Your Way to Business Success
Thanks to the web there are a myriad of options available to small business entrepreneurs to connect, network and market their business.
Professional networking sites such as Linkedin and personal networking sites such as Facebook are helping small business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals connect and network with colleagues, customers and friends. However, as a small business entrepreneur one of the most effective means of marketing has always been in person connecting and networking.
The Interesting Intersection of My Personal & Professional Brands
I thought I had it all figured out. When I launched my business a few years ago, I thought I would use my LinkedIn profile to interact with all my business contacts and use my Facebook profile “just for friends and family members.” Later, I added a Twitter account, declaring that it was also “only for business use.”
I dutifully joined lots of business-related groups on LinkedIn, shared articles and opinions, answered/conducted polls, and networked with business leaders from all over the world. My absolute favorite aspect of LinkedIn is the testimonials; and I’m so fortunate to have quite a few of them from clients and former/current colleagues on my profile. These testimonials have helped me land some new business and build trust and credibility with potential clients. On Twitter, I shared valuable information about the topic of leadership, offering tips for business leaders about how to tap into their leadership strengths.
Navigating the Twists & Turns of Entrepreneurship
When you sign up to be an entrepreneur, buckle your seatbelt and hang on tight because you are about to go on the biggest and best amusement park ride ever. Seriously, entrepreneurs face challenges every day and yet the best ones know that each day is to be celebrated as a win, no matter what.
Think about all the phases an entrepreneur must go through to succeed. You’ll trip and fall a bit – and you may even secretly shed some tears from time to time. On other days, you’ll be beaming with the biggest smile friends have seen on your face in years. They’ll wonder what you’re up to or who you met or what happened to you all of a sudden.
