Simon Salt's Blog

Unfortunately, a hypnotized Wolverine put him out of his misery a little too early. He had some feelings for Dusk but Dush was attracted to Ricochet. Speaking of Richochet, he has the ability to bounce off walls like a ricochet. He also has something similar to Spider Man’s spidey sense. He has some nasty looking discs he can use to his advantage since his jacket can hold up to eight of them. If this were to be made into a movie, then you can bet the creator Stan Lee will make a cameo in it. It does not matter whether he is a bartender like in Ant Man or a delivery guy like in Captain America – Civil War. He will make his presence felt since everyone knows who he is and that is the creator of Marvel Comics.

The Slingers consists of an interesting foursome but now that Hornet is gone, it is doubtful they would be able to get someone to replace him. The best idea for them is to continue it even if it is just the three of them. They would stand a chance especially if they are just battling one villain and there are three of them. Prodigy can use his brute strength he got while training hard when he was a wrestler. Even though wrestling is fake, you have to train hard for it in order to make it real in front of the audience.

The sales of the comics were not good enough so the characters were not seen again after they were involved in Captain America’s Civil War with the other members of the Avengers. Dusk has a lot of powers for a young girl. She can teleport herself anywhere she pleases and she can find out if her other teammates are in deep danger. She can also manipulate objects to protect her and the other members of the group.

If you have a bunch of actors in front of you then it won’t be as believable as it may seem. After that, Dusk can use heavy objects towards the villain while Ricochet can catapult his metal discs into him and that will really be painful. There is no doubt any villain won’t stand a chance against this trio. You have to wonder where the other three were when Wolverine unknowingly killed Hornet. Because of that, the actor who will play Hornet does not have to be a known actor. He just has to be someone who everyone hates like Dane Cook or Jeremy Renner who also played Hawkeye.

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This guest post is by Lawrence Feldman. Lawrence manages a small tech company and works as a freelancer when he’s not taking MBA classes.

Top-tier managers and accountants love metrics. Quantitative measures are the be-all and end-all for number crunches in the business world. Goal-setting and company objectives hinge on increasing or decreasing numbers. Airlines want to sell 100 percent of their seats on every flight, hotel owners look for full occupancy with the highest rack rate booking averages, and retail outlets invest millions of dollars every year to achieve a 1 percent increase in market share.

While numbers have a significant role in responsible fiscal management practices, tracking trends relies on more value-oriented elements. For example, it is difficult to translate satisfaction into a real, tangible number that can be measured and overcome. Managers should avoid falling into the single-loop learning trap, which prevents them from responding to market changes swiftly. Focusing on long-range goals and failing to notice current trends in the marketplace can be a setback.

How does a company use metrics and tracking methods effectively? Technology — in conjunction with short-term periodic review processes — identifies market shifts that influence goal-setting and avoids that single-loop mindset. Here’s how:

Data Intelligence & Daily Reporting

 

Gathering information through a variety of channels is instrumental to compile relevant data. Customer service software tracks behavior and demographic information via on-site, off-site and third-party collection points. Understanding customers drives traffic to a business website and personalizes customer experiences. For example, services by live chat by LivePerson, a business-to-customer engagement company, can improve customer conversions by 20 percent with live chat software solutions and analytics. Companies can also acquire real-time information to guide daily decisions by targeting strategies that incorporate industry-specific data and online intelligence from services such as Google Analytics and Google AdWords.

Customer Relationship Managers (CRM)

Proponents of incorporating CRM software into mid-sized businesses spotlight ease of flexibility. Sales teams gain valuable purchasing data about individual customers and can link to accounts from social networking platforms, such as LinkedIn and Twitter, for personalized details and interactions. Merging social networking and email campaigns doesn’t require add-ons or third-party apps for full integration. Information gathered leads to higher sales volumes and shorter sales cycles. Centralized data storage makes daily, weekly or monthly report generation flexible for sales managers and team players.

Inventory Management Software

Clothing retailers rely on software management systems to monitor trends in fashion, for example. Maintaining appropriate inventory levels can be a problem for retail businesses though. Store planning software provides retail merchants options that ensure an agile response to new styles and customer buying trends. Metrics can help evaluate customer behavior and provide data about trends. While establishing objectives and achieving goals, business can’t afford to not effectively respond to sudden market changes. Intrinsic values are qualitative, not quantitative, and essential to every analytics program.

What are your favorite technology applications to track trends in your business? Share them in the comments.

Today’s guest post is by Jessica Reich. Jessica is a freelance writer from Minneapolis

To say that the cloud computing industry is experiencing rapid growth is the understatement of the century. What started with a three-model approach—Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)—now features several different cloud computing models over a wide range of IT disciplines. Back in 2010 the cloud computing industry was worth roughly $40 billion. By 2020, according to a recent study by Forrester Research, the cloud computing industry is expected to grow to over $240 billion.

Within the cloud computing space, cloud storage and backup services are among the most popular. This is largely due to the fact that the majority of cloud storage and backup services are built on the SaaS model, which the Forrester study cites as the cloud computing model with the most growth potential.

Top Three Cloud Storage & Backup Trends in 2013

 

More cloud-based subscription models: On the enterprise level, most companies are still in the early adoption phase. These companies, especially within its IT departments, are skeptical of cloud services and the benefits they offer. 2013 will see an increase of cloud-based subscription models — specifically from storage and backup providers — for enterprise-level organization all over the globe.


Disaster recovery in the cloud: According to Henrik Rosendahl, Senior Vice President of Cloud Solutions at Quantum, disaster recovery in the cloud is increasingly becoming a viable best practice for the enterprise. Cloud-based disaster recovery is among the easiest and most affordable ways to offload disaster recovery plans without purchasing physical offsite servers.


Cloud-based de-dupe and data protection: A big piece of the new era of cloud backup will mean de-duplicating mission/business-critical data before it is sent to a cloud service. This offers a new cost-effective level of data protection for enterprise-class organizations and small businesses alike. In fact, cloud-based backup providers that aren’t optimized for de-duplication will find it harder to compete in the cloud storage space.

 

Cloud Storage & Backup Benefits

 

Reduced Costs: In the old days when a company managed data in-house, there were hosts of major expenses related to purchasing networking equipment and servers. Beyond that, the IT department was traditionally tasked with managing, updating and servicing this equipment. All of that responsibility and cost is off loaded to the cloud provider. According to CloudStorageFinder.com, some companies charge more for its cloud backup service, but some rank high in value for money, making costs more important.


Flexibility: The bulk of these cloud storage and backup services are offered on a pay-as-you-go, subscription basis. This frees you up from being locked into a relationship with a cloud vendor, and you only pay for what you use.


Boosted Productivity: Cloud storage and backup gives you access to a wide range of productivity tools that increase your ability to be productive. Off loading the backup and storage process to a third-party provider frees you up to focus on business-specific processes.

 

 

Pivot. Webster’s dictionary defines it as “a pin, point, or short shaft on the end of which something rests and turns, or upon and about which something rotates or oscillates.” It has several other definitions that are similar in nature. None of them include the meaning that has been grasped by the digiterati in particular where they use it to mean a change of business direction. In fact it is so overused it grates on my nerves every time I hear it.

So this is not a Pivot, it is rather more of a Pirouette. Yes a dance term for turning around.

Over the past decade I have been involved in one way or another in the world of digital marketing. For the last five years I have run my own business and provided digital marketing consultancy to some of the biggest names in business, and some of the smallest. I love what I do. I have always considered myself on the edge of what I do and, looking forward I see that while broad digital consultancy is still a very valid opportunity (and many are entering the space all the time) it is no longer necessary for me to be a part of that group.

For over a year I have been having conversations with some select individuals about what the next conversation should be, after social technologies. Some agree with me, some don’t but for me the conversation about social technologies is over. Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram etc. most marketers know what they are, they know how to use them from a technical perspective. So what should the next conversation, for that is what I as a consultant really do, I have conversations with clients, be about?

The next conversation is about Creativity. Over the past five to ten years marketers have been forced to become technologists. Some embraced this willingly others less so. I think it is time that we shook off the technology focus and refocused our attention on being creative in marketing again. Let the technology be what it will, it has never mattered. Whether it was Radio, Print, TV or Out of Home the medium is not the message at least not in the sense it has become perceived to be. Social technologies have become a route for lazy marketing. Guru’s and Marketing experts were “amazed” at Target’s “innovative” use of Twitters video service Vine this past week. Take a look at the litebright animation they put together. Now call me cynical but that isn’t innovative or particularly creative in fact I’d guarantee I know at least a dozen 7 year olds who could have done it better.

The medium is forcing the creativity but it shouldn’t be that way. While geeks are being celebrated for changing the world, they aren’t it is the creatives who have always changed the world. DaVinci wasn’t a geek, he was a creative genius. I want to work with and help people who are seeking to expand their creativity.

So what does all this mean? IncSlingers will remain. The focus will change and already has. Instead of providing broad digital strategy moving forward the focus will be on creativity in marketing. I’ll continue to write here about digital but the focus will be on creativity. If you’d like to share your thoughts on creativity I love having guest writers send me articles.

Never being one to tell others to do what I am not, I am also proud to announce that I am launching a new venture today. Some of you who are connected with me on other platforms will have already guessed at the direction I was headed. The new venture is Blue Cat Photography. I will be focusing on People centered photography, from personal portraits, special occasions through professional headshots, events and promotional photography. I’ve actually been doing this for nearly six months but it was time to make it official. If you like what you see on the site hit me up and let’s talk about doing a photo shoot.

Why wait until now to perform this pirouette? Today is my fiftieth birthday, I want you to see that no matter your age you are never too old to follow your passion and combine it with business should you wish.

I’ll see you at conferences, online and maybe even the other side of my lens soon.

image used under CC by Monja

Today’s guest post is from Allison Rice, who is the Marketing Director for Amsterdam Printing (www.amsterdamprinting.com), a leading provider of custom and promotional pens and other promotional products to grow your business and thank customers. Allison regularly contributes to the Promo & Marketing Wall blog, where she provides actionable business tips.

Computers have engrained themselves into every aspect of our lives, and in most cases, having the world’s collective knowledge at our fingertips is a very good thing. Even going hiking or exploring foreign lands on vacation, it seems like there’s now an app for that. Although smartphones allow us to take our work anywhere, many of us still have to spend a large portion of our working hours seated in front of a computer.

How do we make the best of those hours? The more efficient that we are when using our computer, the sooner we can put it back into ‘sleep’ mode and get outside for a run or head home to see our family.

If three hours into your workday, you often find yourself staring at the screen and wondering what you’ve accomplished, follow these guidelines to rev up your online efficiency.

1. Think in Folders

Is your computer’s desktop a cluttered jumble of dozens of overlapping icons? Are there documents on your desktop that you haven’t opened in months? Right now, create a new folder called “Everything.” Now, drag everything on your desktop into it.

Suddenly, you can actually see that vacation photo you chose for your backdrop that’s been hidden since soon after you purchased your machine. Next, go into your new “Everything” folder and think about how you can divvy up the files with a handful of overarching folders. I use:

Current Projects
Past Work
Pictures
Music and Videos

Each of those folders is then sorted internally by client, project or by month and year.

The key is to create a system where every file immediately has a place to go, and nothing is ever left on your desktop to distract you for eternity.

2. Clean Up Your Bookmarks

Most of us have a routine when it comes to browsing the web. We may check a few news sites in the morning, as well as Facebook and other social media. How much time do you typically spend in the morning before getting to your actual work? If it’s more than 15 or so minutes, prioritize the two or three sites that are most important to you and give them top placement in your bookmarks tab. You could even set these to open automatically at start-up. Take the rest and stash them away out of sight, so that you’ll have to click somewhere else to bring them up, rather than being constantly tempted to check them.

3. Use Social Media as a Reward

Although Facebook, Twitter and Google+ have managed to bring us together in ways never before possible, they’ve also sapped millions of hours of productivity away from us. If you have alerts of new messages or comments from your social media pages set to flash on your phone, consider turning off this constant distraction. Likewise, don’t stop mid-task to check for comments on your latest Facebook post. Get in the habit of finishing one thing, then using social media as a quick reward before moving onto the next task.

4. Keep Information on File

Filling in forms online takes time. I’ve come to love Google Chrome’s browser for its intuitive ability to save and plug in form information whenever I’m making an online transaction. For log-ins and passwords, I keep a Dropbox file handy with encrypted versions of my passwords for any site, so that I can immediately pull them up (from any device, as well) without wasting time or guessing.

5. Amp Up Your Keyboard Shortcuts

If you already use keyboard shortcuts (i.e., Command+N to open a new browser window), then why not create more for the actions you regularly use on your computer? For Mac users, it’s a simple process, outlined here, and it’s possible to create computer-wide shortcuts or commands that are specific to an application.

6. Learn to Type Faster

Nothing slows you down like hunting and pecking. If that’s still you, make it a goal to get up to at least 30 words per minute (the most productive folks can type at 50+). There are tons of typing tutorials and programs available online, many of which are free, so without recommending anything, just search for ‘typing trainer’ or ‘typing tutor’ and you’ll find plenty of great options. Now commit 15 minutes a day to practicing until you meet your goal.

What other ways have you found to speed up your work online and avoid wasting time?

image used under CC license by Michael Moss

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Today’s Guest Post is by Sharon Florentine. Sharon is a blogger for Rackspace.  Rackspace Hosting is the service leader in cloud computing, and a founder of OpenStack, an open source cloud operating system. The San Antonio-based company provides Fanatical Support to its customers and partners, across a portfolio of IT services, including Managed Hosting and Cloud Computing.

It can be uncomfortable in the cloud. With nebulous definitions and still-emerging best practices, its no wonder many organizations are confused and uncertain about moving their data and applications.

One of the major confusion areas involves the open cloud. It can be difficult to sift through the buzzwords and determine what is and isn’t an open cloud.

Alex Williams, writing at TechCrunch.com, lays out a pretty exhaustive list of the qualifications a cloud solution must have to be considered an open cloud. While Williams’ list is not completely comprehensive, the major points are that an open cloud must have freely accessible, open application programming interfaces (APIs), the freedom to move data between providers at will and the fact that there’s no on-site hardware requirement.

In addition, he adds that an open cloud is federated, meaning your organization can run its apps and move data across multiple cloud environments.

Williams’ full list is here; but the major elements of an open cloud he lists include:

—An open cloud has open APIs.

—An open cloud has a developer community that collaborates on developing the cloud infrastructure or platform environment.

—An open cloud gives users the rights to move data as wished.

—An open cloud is federated — you can run your apps and data across multiple cloud environments.

—An open cloud does not require an IT administrator to provision and manage.

—An open cloud does not require new hardware.

One of the original proponents of the open cloud is OpenStack, produces a ubiquitous cloud computing platform for both private and public clouds, and aims for a simple, scalable and feature-rich solution.

The code for OpenStack is licensed under the Apache 2.0, and is available to any developer who can run it, build upon it and/or submit updates and changes back to the project, ensuring evolution of the platform without the fear of proprietary lock-in.

Whether you’re a corporation, a service provider, a research lab, a university, a major enterprise, a midsized business or an SMB VARS, SMBs, launching a public or private cloud environment and leveraging the support and resulting technology of a global open source community can foster great advances in the cloud.

This post is written by Rackspace blogger Sharon Florentine. Rackspace Hosting is the service leader in cloud computing, and a founder of OpenStack, an open source cloud operating system. The San Antonio-based company provides Fanatical Support to its customers and partners, across a portfolio of IT services, including Managed Hosting and Cloud Computing.

Thanks for installing the Bottom of every post plugin by Corey Salzano. Contact me if you need custom WordPress plugins or website design.

Today’s guest post is from Zoe Maldonado. Zoe is a freelance writer and blogger for TechBreach who enjoys writing about all things mobile and electronic and spending time with her very active twin boys.

5 Must Try Web Applications for Your Small Business

Many businesses are finding the value in switching to cloud technology for many of their business tasks. If you’re considering moving some of your business functions into the cloud, there are a number of different applications that you could utilize successfully.

While there are many available options when it comes to online tools for business, I prefer the tools discussed below because of my familiarity and experience with them. However, you will need to decide which tools resonate with your organization and business structure.

What Does “The Cloud” Mean

Cloud computing is Internet based computing platform, where resources, software and information are shared with computers and other devices on-demand over a private or public network like the internet. This shift from traditional software models has steadily been gaining momentum over the last 10 years. With Cloud computing, many headaches are eliminated because the management of hardware and software becomes the responsibility of an experienced third-party vendor. Since the infrastructure is shared, it works much like a utility in that upgrades are automatic and scaling is easy as pie so you only pay for the resources you use.

QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks business accounting software is one of the best cloud applications for accounting and billing purposes. Every business has to keep track of their accounting, and QuickBooks is pretty much the undisputed leader in that category. This particular application is held entirely in the cloud, which allows you to access your information from any internet enabled computer, smartphone, or tablet from anywhere.

Google Apps

Google Apps is another nice set of cloud tools for business. They make it easier for your employees to be productive. With Google Apps you can collaborate on projects and communicate easily with one another. For example, if someone is working on a document and they need to share it with someone else, that other person can access it instantly online and make any necessary changes to it. This is a lot easier than having to attach files to emails and send them back and forth.

Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is one of the premier customer relationship management platforms out there. It has a lot of features that make it easy to keep track of interactions with customers. It has a Web form that allows you to capture leads from your website and integrate them into your CRM database. Then when you make contact with a customer, you can keep track of your notes, emails, and calls so that it’s easy to determine what part of the sales cycle they are in.

Google Analytics

If you have a business website, it’s always important to keep track of it as well as you can. This requires you to view the web traffic that your site generates on a regular basis. With Google Analytics, you can do exactly that. Google Analytics gives you an easy-to-use format to work with. You can run all kinds of reports and even create your own reports to look at the information that you want to keep track of. You can see who is coming to your site, how long they’re staying there, and what pages they’re visiting along the way. It really helps you see how well you’re doing with your website and capturing sales or contact information.

Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud-based service that lets you securely share documents across your network from anywhere you have an internet connection. Business documents such as financials, client files, notes, documents, spreadsheets, ideas, meeting notes, and more can be accessed, edited, and shared with your clients, team members, contractors and anyone involved on a project. Just drag and drop any file into Dropbox with a few clicks! You’ll never be left without an important document or spreadsheet again.

Got an idea or blog post you would like to share with my readers? Drop me an email and let’s talk.

image used under CC by Joanna Lee Osborn

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