January 31, 2010
January 29, 2010
All-Time NBA Scorer
January 26, 2010
Top 10 Job Interview Tips
These top interview tips will help you cover everything you need to know to successfully ace a job interview. From checking out the company to sending an interview thank you note, these job interview tips cover all the basics needed for interviewing success.
Check Out the Company
How much do you know about the company that just contacted you to schedule an interview? It should be plenty, and all the information you need is available online.
Use Your Contacts
Who you know at the company you are interviewing with really does matter.
Practice Interviewing
Taking the time to review typical interview questions you will probably be asked during a job interview will help give you a framework for your responses and will help calm your frazzled nerves, because you won't be scrambling for an answer while you're in the interview hot seat. Practice interviewing with a friend or family member ahead of time and it will be much easier when you're actually in a job interview.
Improve Your Interview Technique
A job interview gives you a chance to shine. What you say and what you do is going to either move you to the next round of consideration for employment or knock you out of contention.
Dress for Interview Success
The first impression you make on a potential employer can make a big difference. The first judgement an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That's why it's always important to dress professionally for a job interview.
Handle a Group Interview
Interviewing with one person is tough enough, but it's even harder when you have to interview with a group (or panel) of interviewers.
Interview While Dining
Taking you to breakfast, lunch or dinner provides the interviewer with a chance to check out your communication and interpersonal skills, as well as your table manners, in a more casual environment than an office setting.
Prepare for a Phone Interview
While you're actively job searching, it's important to be prepared for a phone interview on a moment's notice. You never know when a recruiter or a networking contact might call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk.
Take the Time to Say Thank You
Taking the time to say thank you after a job interview not only is good interview etiquette, it reinforces your interest in the position. Use your thank you letter, as well, to address any issues and concerns that came up during the interview.
Check Out the Company
How much do you know about the company that just contacted you to schedule an interview? It should be plenty, and all the information you need is available online.
Use Your Contacts
Who you know at the company you are interviewing with really does matter.
Practice Interviewing
Taking the time to review typical interview questions you will probably be asked during a job interview will help give you a framework for your responses and will help calm your frazzled nerves, because you won't be scrambling for an answer while you're in the interview hot seat. Practice interviewing with a friend or family member ahead of time and it will be much easier when you're actually in a job interview.
Improve Your Interview Technique
A job interview gives you a chance to shine. What you say and what you do is going to either move you to the next round of consideration for employment or knock you out of contention.
Dress for Interview Success
The first impression you make on a potential employer can make a big difference. The first judgement an interviewer makes is going to be based on how you look and what you are wearing. That's why it's always important to dress professionally for a job interview.
Handle a Group Interview
Interviewing with one person is tough enough, but it's even harder when you have to interview with a group (or panel) of interviewers.
Interview While Dining
Taking you to breakfast, lunch or dinner provides the interviewer with a chance to check out your communication and interpersonal skills, as well as your table manners, in a more casual environment than an office setting.
Prepare for a Phone Interview
While you're actively job searching, it's important to be prepared for a phone interview on a moment's notice. You never know when a recruiter or a networking contact might call and ask if you have a few minutes to talk.
Take the Time to Say Thank You
Taking the time to say thank you after a job interview not only is good interview etiquette, it reinforces your interest in the position. Use your thank you letter, as well, to address any issues and concerns that came up during the interview.
January 23, 2010
January 20, 2010
The Marketing & Distribution Strategies...
The Marketing & Distribution Strategies for Mass Media in relation with Public Relations & Communication.
1. The contemporary situation of the Media: (To state the rewards & drawbacks)
• Traditional media races digital media. The Era of digital media.
Facts: As players contemplate the obstacles, along with the new gadgets and applications that are opening up entirely new vistas, there are also elements of familiarity that provide some sense of grounding. Not the least among them is the very real likelihood that they will face a payment model that resembles that of that ancient form of media - television. The more you pay, the less likelihood of advertisements, and the hotter the content provided.
- Digital media introduces the Podcasts
- Analysis: M.N Subjective Role: Personal practice
Digital content delivery, content protection, intellectual property rights and distribution management, and a secure, attractive operation mechanism are the main challenges in today's digital market.
2. Globalization and it’s radical affect on the local media
• The beginning of voice delivery and being used as a vital communication tool.
1- Indispensability of communicative mediums.
2- The transformation of a news delivery to news pollution: Clutter of news, information, advertising, and publications; chaotic management of effective delivery to the audience “Too much is heard & seen, little is apprehended the way it should”.
Existence of a Necessity and Extinction of Convenience:
- The need for day to day global media and news, and the demand for a fast paced updating. This created the thirst for information yet it is inconvenient from the muddled distribution.
- Solution would be creating utmost convenience by delivering to the consumer in an opportune uncomplicated format.
‘Pulling’ a necessity after creating a ‘Push’:
- Although online newsletters & publications are available, nonetheless hardcopies are fundamental.
- New media generation sets out for innovation and digital assistance for the media, aiming to facilitate information delivery and thriving for convenience.
The Strategies of The Modern Management of Media Institutions:
- Should resort to the digital media as a platform and not undermining its high efficiency. Not to race the digital media by high exposure and cluttered media however by dispensing eye-catching and shrewd means for media distribution and selection.
A key to success in the new era of digital media revolves around advertising and the opportunity to attract new revenues. Video-based services on broadband and interactive digital TV networks are also becoming a whole new area for advertising opportunities. Personalized media and one-to-one communication will be the predominant mode on the Digital Media.
- New models will need to be developed to succeed in this highly competitive and highly customer centric market.
- To tap on the impact of Digital Media upon traditional and emerging media platforms, with a focus on Internet advertising.
Additional Required Analytical Points:
In the digital media era the traditional media companies have made quantum leaps in comparison to the telcos in terms of advertising and marketing. While the Internet companies (Google) have clearly been the leaders to date, media companies are now making great progress. New advertising models, permission-based marketing and premium sales activities are being used to attract people to events and services. New video applications are also emerging as the Internet media companies seek to exploit the added speed and capacity of broadband infrastructure.
To date, traditional ad agencies have been accustomed to mass media advertising, with its one-way flow of communication. Digital adverting however will be led by the consumers; they will more or less have full control of the information that they wish to receive and the format will look nothing like traditional advertising. It will be highly personal and highly interactive. Mass advertising will not disappear. There are still good reasons for it to continue, but over time its role will be eroded. The trend will be the democratization of advertising, necessitated by changing consumer behavior in favor of the digital media.
Key Highlights
- The biggest growth in advertising for the next ten years will come from digital media and this will most certainly involve massive changes for the traditional ad agencies.
- It is expected that by 2015, 65% of all New Media revenues will be based on permission-based marketing.
- The online advertising market stalled during the dotcom era, but a significant recovery began in 2003 and today online advertising is flourishing with over $100 billion to be spent worldwide in 2010.
- A reflection of the growing digital advertising market has been the growth in Internet advertising across Europe, which is taking an increasing share of total advertising spend.
- Four of the major Internet media companies in the US capture over 60% of US online advertising revenues.
1. The contemporary situation of the Media: (To state the rewards & drawbacks)
• Traditional media races digital media. The Era of digital media.
Facts: As players contemplate the obstacles, along with the new gadgets and applications that are opening up entirely new vistas, there are also elements of familiarity that provide some sense of grounding. Not the least among them is the very real likelihood that they will face a payment model that resembles that of that ancient form of media - television. The more you pay, the less likelihood of advertisements, and the hotter the content provided.
- Digital media introduces the Podcasts
- Analysis: M.N Subjective Role: Personal practice
Digital content delivery, content protection, intellectual property rights and distribution management, and a secure, attractive operation mechanism are the main challenges in today's digital market.
2. Globalization and it’s radical affect on the local media
• The beginning of voice delivery and being used as a vital communication tool.
1- Indispensability of communicative mediums.
2- The transformation of a news delivery to news pollution: Clutter of news, information, advertising, and publications; chaotic management of effective delivery to the audience “Too much is heard & seen, little is apprehended the way it should”.
Existence of a Necessity and Extinction of Convenience:
- The need for day to day global media and news, and the demand for a fast paced updating. This created the thirst for information yet it is inconvenient from the muddled distribution.
- Solution would be creating utmost convenience by delivering to the consumer in an opportune uncomplicated format.
‘Pulling’ a necessity after creating a ‘Push’:
- Although online newsletters & publications are available, nonetheless hardcopies are fundamental.
- New media generation sets out for innovation and digital assistance for the media, aiming to facilitate information delivery and thriving for convenience.
The Strategies of The Modern Management of Media Institutions:
- Should resort to the digital media as a platform and not undermining its high efficiency. Not to race the digital media by high exposure and cluttered media however by dispensing eye-catching and shrewd means for media distribution and selection.
A key to success in the new era of digital media revolves around advertising and the opportunity to attract new revenues. Video-based services on broadband and interactive digital TV networks are also becoming a whole new area for advertising opportunities. Personalized media and one-to-one communication will be the predominant mode on the Digital Media.
- New models will need to be developed to succeed in this highly competitive and highly customer centric market.
- To tap on the impact of Digital Media upon traditional and emerging media platforms, with a focus on Internet advertising.
Additional Required Analytical Points:
In the digital media era the traditional media companies have made quantum leaps in comparison to the telcos in terms of advertising and marketing. While the Internet companies (Google) have clearly been the leaders to date, media companies are now making great progress. New advertising models, permission-based marketing and premium sales activities are being used to attract people to events and services. New video applications are also emerging as the Internet media companies seek to exploit the added speed and capacity of broadband infrastructure.
To date, traditional ad agencies have been accustomed to mass media advertising, with its one-way flow of communication. Digital adverting however will be led by the consumers; they will more or less have full control of the information that they wish to receive and the format will look nothing like traditional advertising. It will be highly personal and highly interactive. Mass advertising will not disappear. There are still good reasons for it to continue, but over time its role will be eroded. The trend will be the democratization of advertising, necessitated by changing consumer behavior in favor of the digital media.
Key Highlights
- The biggest growth in advertising for the next ten years will come from digital media and this will most certainly involve massive changes for the traditional ad agencies.
- It is expected that by 2015, 65% of all New Media revenues will be based on permission-based marketing.
- The online advertising market stalled during the dotcom era, but a significant recovery began in 2003 and today online advertising is flourishing with over $100 billion to be spent worldwide in 2010.
- A reflection of the growing digital advertising market has been the growth in Internet advertising across Europe, which is taking an increasing share of total advertising spend.
- Four of the major Internet media companies in the US capture over 60% of US online advertising revenues.
January 19, 2010
Perfume
The word perfume is derived from a Latin word "Per Fumum" meaning "through smoke." The art of perfumery was known to the ancient Chinese, Hindus, Egyptians, Arabs, Greeks, and Romans.
The burning of incense in religious rites of ancient China, Palestine, and Egypt led gradually to the personal use of perfume known as attars, widespread in ancient Greece and Rome. During the Middle Ages, crusaders brought the knowledge of perfumery to Europe from the East. After 1500, Paris was the major center of perfume-making followed by Egypt and other middle eastern countries.
What's the fuss between fragrance oil and ordinary perfumes?
When you purchase alcohol-free fragrance oil, what you are getting is pure perfume oil that is far more sophisticated then over-the-counter perfumes. The pure perfume oil emits a fine scent that is delicate yet strong but never offensive or overpowering.
Known for its well-balanced characteristics and long-lasting smell, perfume oil is pure and unadulterated by industrial fillers such as alcohol, white oil and water. These fillers, commonly found in the over-the-counter perfumes are used to make up the volume for larger packaging.
Why do they add alcohol in your perfumes?
Alcohol has a low evaporating point so it dries quicker than water. Hence mixing perfume oil with alcohol causes the oil to evaporate faster than they would by themselves. This gives the impression that the perfume is considerably stronger than it actually is. That is why, when you first put on a commercial fragrance, the aroma may sometimes seem overwhelming to those around you. This also explains why the scent fades dramatically within one or two hours as the perfume oil evaporates along with the alcohol.
The second reason for all those fillers is just clever marketing -- a bigger and fancier bottle containing fragrance plus fillers seems like a much better value than a smaller simple packaging of pure perfume oil.
What's the problem with alcohol anyway?
Alcohol tends to kill off or mask some of the subtle notes in many fragrances.
Ethyl alcohol is the most popular alcohol found in ordinary perfumes. It is extremely caustic. Many people who think they are allergic to the perfumes are actually allergic to the alcohol added in the perfume.
Alcohol is a drying agent - it makes things evaporate including the fragrance and your natural body oils.
How long do One Drop Perfumes last?
A well-established fact is that oil based perfumes do not evaporate quickly and will settle on the skin for much longer, causing the scent to linger for a longer period of time.
The oil-based One Drop Perfumes last up to 12 to 24 hours - depending on your body chemistry. If you apply the fragrance on your clothing, the scent will last throughout the day as it permeates into the fabric of your clothing.
Remarkable Facts Revealed
Perfume Fact 1
70 to 90% of the cost of commercial perfume is marketing, not materials. Perfume is one of the most dramatic examples of the price not reflecting the cost of materials. Most people think that designer perfumes have all kinds of expensive and precious ingredients, and that is what makes it so expensive.
While this was true at one point, the real reason why most modern perfumes have such a high price tag is because of advertising, including:
- Glossy magazine ads in Cosmo, GQ, and other popular magazines
- Primetime TV commercials featuring hired celebrities
-Custom-designed boxes, fancy bottles, and glitzy packaging to make the perfume "look expensive" and attract the eye of shoppers.
-And don't forget the reseller's mark-up, which is usually twice the wholesale rate.
Perfume Fact 2
Thanks to amazing advances in recent technologies, it is now possible to chemically analyze and recreate most fragrances, including designer perfumes. This is completely legal. It is impossible to copyright or patent a smell. (After all, can you imagine a monopoly on things that smell like rose? That would be ridiculous!)
The courts of law have held that - fragrance is something that belongs to the nature and not to any individual. As a result of this, a fragrance cannot be patented or copyrighted. On the other hand a brand name can be copyrighted and registered and others may not profit from its use.
Perfume Fact 3
Designer-inspired fragrance oil used to be available only to a niche and selected few. Today, its popularity is growing steadily. Discerning customers are now more aware and able to appreciate this sophistication of fine fragrance. Moreover, having learned that ingredients in fragrance oil and most generic perfumes are quite the same hence there is no reason for one to spend on astronomically-priced generic perfumes.
What's the fuss between fragrance oil and ordinary perfumes?
When you purchase alcohol-free fragrance oil, what you are getting is pure perfume oil that is far more sophisticated then over-the-counter perfumes. The pure perfume oil emits a fine scent that is delicate yet strong but never offensive or overpowering.
Known for its well-balanced characteristics and long-lasting smell, perfume oil is pure and unadulterated by industrial fillers such as alcohol, white oil and water. These fillers, commonly found in the over-the-counter perfumes are used to make up the volume for larger packaging.
Why do they add alcohol in your perfumes?
Alcohol has a low evaporating point so it dries quicker than water. Hence mixing perfume oil with alcohol causes the oil to evaporate faster than they would by themselves. This gives the impression that the perfume is considerably stronger than it actually is. That is why, when you first put on a commercial fragrance, the aroma may sometimes seem overwhelming to those around you. This also explains why the scent fades dramatically within one or two hours as the perfume oil evaporates along with the alcohol.
The second reason for all those fillers is just clever marketing -- a bigger and fancier bottle containing fragrance plus fillers seems like a much better value than a smaller simple packaging of pure perfume oil.
What's the problem with alcohol anyway?
Alcohol tends to kill off or mask some of the subtle notes in many fragrances.
Ethyl alcohol is the most popular alcohol found in ordinary perfumes. It is extremely caustic. Many people who think they are allergic to the perfumes are actually allergic to the alcohol added in the perfume.
Alcohol is a drying agent - it makes things evaporate including the fragrance and your natural body oils.
How long do One Drop Perfumes last?
A well-established fact is that oil based perfumes do not evaporate quickly and will settle on the skin for much longer, causing the scent to linger for a longer period of time.
The oil-based One Drop Perfumes last up to 12 to 24 hours - depending on your body chemistry. If you apply the fragrance on your clothing, the scent will last throughout the day as it permeates into the fabric of your clothing.
Remarkable Facts Revealed
Perfume Fact 1
70 to 90% of the cost of commercial perfume is marketing, not materials. Perfume is one of the most dramatic examples of the price not reflecting the cost of materials. Most people think that designer perfumes have all kinds of expensive and precious ingredients, and that is what makes it so expensive.
While this was true at one point, the real reason why most modern perfumes have such a high price tag is because of advertising, including:
- Glossy magazine ads in Cosmo, GQ, and other popular magazines
- Primetime TV commercials featuring hired celebrities
-Custom-designed boxes, fancy bottles, and glitzy packaging to make the perfume "look expensive" and attract the eye of shoppers.
-And don't forget the reseller's mark-up, which is usually twice the wholesale rate.
Perfume Fact 2
Thanks to amazing advances in recent technologies, it is now possible to chemically analyze and recreate most fragrances, including designer perfumes. This is completely legal. It is impossible to copyright or patent a smell. (After all, can you imagine a monopoly on things that smell like rose? That would be ridiculous!)
The courts of law have held that - fragrance is something that belongs to the nature and not to any individual. As a result of this, a fragrance cannot be patented or copyrighted. On the other hand a brand name can be copyrighted and registered and others may not profit from its use.
Perfume Fact 3
Designer-inspired fragrance oil used to be available only to a niche and selected few. Today, its popularity is growing steadily. Discerning customers are now more aware and able to appreciate this sophistication of fine fragrance. Moreover, having learned that ingredients in fragrance oil and most generic perfumes are quite the same hence there is no reason for one to spend on astronomically-priced generic perfumes.
January 12, 2010
January 11, 2010
Tips to Help You Quit Smoking
Something about looking ahead at a clean slate inspires most of us to try. We think about making lasting positive changes in our lives, and we do it with hope and enthusiasm. If you're planning to start living without a cigarette in your hand, take advantage of the following resources and support for Smoking Cessation.
Be a Sponge
We all know that smoking is bad for us, but if you're like most smokers, you avoid looking at the destruction smoking causes whenever possible. Take the blinders off and read everything you can get your hands on about smoking. It will help you start to make the mental shift necessary to quit smoking.
Use a Quit Journal
Journaling is a useful tool for anyone trying to quit smoking. Start yours with your list of reasons for quitting. Include everything from big to small, and leave room to add to it. Think about the pros and cons of smoking and make your list as detailed as possible. We have a way of believing what we tell ourselves over and over. Your journal will help you cement your goals. Prompt yourself with present-tense messages like: "I am a nonsmoker" or "I am strong and healthy", and commit them to paper. Daily affirmations will plant the seeds of change in your mind, and it won't be long before your actions are following your thoughts.
Eat Smart
Smoking cessation throws our bodies into shock initially. If you take care to give your body the fuel it needs to run properly, you'll find that you're better able to cope with the discomforts of nicotine withdrawal. Have the right foods within easy reach and you'll minimize weight gain due to quitting.
Get Your Beauty Sleep
When you're tired, cravings to smoke will seem stronger while you feel less able to manage them. Fit a full 8 hours of sleep in every night, and a nap here and there if you need it. If you have trouble sleeping when you first quit smoking, try taking a long walk a couple of hours before bed.
Drink Water
Water will help to flush residual toxins out of your system, and beat back cravings to smoke. When you're well-hydrated, you'll feel better in general, which is a plus when you're going through nicotine withdrawal.
Get Moving
If you already have a daily exercise regimen, good for you! If not, start now. Choose something you enjoy doing, and you'll be more likely to stick with it. Aim for a half hour of exercise every day. Walking is a great way to move and it's a quick fix for the urge to smoke. Get out for a 15 minute walk around the block and you'll come back refreshed and relaxed.
Renew Resolve Daily
Your determination to quit smoking is built one day at a time. Every smoke free day makes you stronger, and when you consciously take time to reflect and rejoice in the value of what you're doing, you're working to fortify your will to make this the quit that lasts you a lifetime.
Adopt an Attitude of Gratitude!
Think about the blessings in your life. We all have them. Be thankful for the freedom you're creating for yourself today. Remember that you've wanted to quit smoking for a long time and you're finally doing something about it. List out the benefits you see in your health and overall being due to quitting tobacco. It has been said that gratitude unlocks the fullness of life, and I believe that! Make gratitude a daily conscious part of your life.
Accept and Let It Go
Relax into your quit and embrace cravings to smoke as they come. Don't fight - lean into urges and ride them out. Most cravings last 3-5 minutes. Think of them as signs that your body is healing - that is just what they are.
Don't Fall for Junkie Thinking
Quitting tobacco is a gift, not a sacrifice. Don't sabatoge yourself by feeling sorry that you can't smoke. You are choosing not to smoke because you want to be free of this killer of an addiction. Keep your perspective!
Be Patient
Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, people don't quit smoking in a day either. Most of us had 20 years or more of smoking under our belts before we quit. Give yourself the gift of time and patience. Work to undo old patterns and replace them with newer, healthier choices. Each day you complete smoke free brings you closer to lasting freedom.
Make it Stick This Time!
Be a Sponge
We all know that smoking is bad for us, but if you're like most smokers, you avoid looking at the destruction smoking causes whenever possible. Take the blinders off and read everything you can get your hands on about smoking. It will help you start to make the mental shift necessary to quit smoking.
Use a Quit Journal
Journaling is a useful tool for anyone trying to quit smoking. Start yours with your list of reasons for quitting. Include everything from big to small, and leave room to add to it. Think about the pros and cons of smoking and make your list as detailed as possible. We have a way of believing what we tell ourselves over and over. Your journal will help you cement your goals. Prompt yourself with present-tense messages like: "I am a nonsmoker" or "I am strong and healthy", and commit them to paper. Daily affirmations will plant the seeds of change in your mind, and it won't be long before your actions are following your thoughts.
Eat Smart
Smoking cessation throws our bodies into shock initially. If you take care to give your body the fuel it needs to run properly, you'll find that you're better able to cope with the discomforts of nicotine withdrawal. Have the right foods within easy reach and you'll minimize weight gain due to quitting.
Get Your Beauty Sleep
When you're tired, cravings to smoke will seem stronger while you feel less able to manage them. Fit a full 8 hours of sleep in every night, and a nap here and there if you need it. If you have trouble sleeping when you first quit smoking, try taking a long walk a couple of hours before bed.
Drink Water
Water will help to flush residual toxins out of your system, and beat back cravings to smoke. When you're well-hydrated, you'll feel better in general, which is a plus when you're going through nicotine withdrawal.
Get Moving
If you already have a daily exercise regimen, good for you! If not, start now. Choose something you enjoy doing, and you'll be more likely to stick with it. Aim for a half hour of exercise every day. Walking is a great way to move and it's a quick fix for the urge to smoke. Get out for a 15 minute walk around the block and you'll come back refreshed and relaxed.
Renew Resolve Daily
Your determination to quit smoking is built one day at a time. Every smoke free day makes you stronger, and when you consciously take time to reflect and rejoice in the value of what you're doing, you're working to fortify your will to make this the quit that lasts you a lifetime.
Adopt an Attitude of Gratitude!
Think about the blessings in your life. We all have them. Be thankful for the freedom you're creating for yourself today. Remember that you've wanted to quit smoking for a long time and you're finally doing something about it. List out the benefits you see in your health and overall being due to quitting tobacco. It has been said that gratitude unlocks the fullness of life, and I believe that! Make gratitude a daily conscious part of your life.
Accept and Let It Go
Relax into your quit and embrace cravings to smoke as they come. Don't fight - lean into urges and ride them out. Most cravings last 3-5 minutes. Think of them as signs that your body is healing - that is just what they are.
Don't Fall for Junkie Thinking
Quitting tobacco is a gift, not a sacrifice. Don't sabatoge yourself by feeling sorry that you can't smoke. You are choosing not to smoke because you want to be free of this killer of an addiction. Keep your perspective!
Be Patient
Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, people don't quit smoking in a day either. Most of us had 20 years or more of smoking under our belts before we quit. Give yourself the gift of time and patience. Work to undo old patterns and replace them with newer, healthier choices. Each day you complete smoke free brings you closer to lasting freedom.
Make it Stick This Time!
January 9, 2010
January 8, 2010
Marketers Losing Ground in the Clutter War
Before we can sell, we must build the brand. Before we can build the brand, we must generate awareness. Before we can generate awareness, we must break through the increasingly impenetrable obstacle known as clutter.
Clutter is created by the number of brands multiplied by the number of messages competing for a customer's attention. The current estimate of the result of this multiplication is 1600 commercial messages a day. That's about 500,000 messages a year.
As clutter increases, the efficacy of marketing communications lessens.
The relative share of voice of any one message decreases as the number of competing messages increases. And as clutter increases consumers switch off from the message source.
Two billboards in a town square will result in half the amount of exposure per billboard than one would have gained. Put up four billboards in the square, so that the consumer is surrounded on all sides by promotion, and it's likely that none will be noticed.
Logically, therefore, one would expect the marketing industry to control clutter. Unfortunately, market forces do not always operate on a logical basis. The response from marketers to clutter has been to increase the amount of promotional materials. In recent years the number of commercial minutes per hour of television has increased. So too has the number of print ads carried by most magazines and newspapers. Worse still, advertisers have attempted to beat clutter by extending their promotional messages into ambient media. Now ads reach out to us from all directions: from the floor, from above the urinal, from someone's forehead, from wherever we least expect to encounter commercial messages (and therefore still pay attention).
The direct marketing industry tried to learn from the lessons of advertising.
Direct marketers boasted of the pinpoint accuracy of their approaches and that everyone opens a letter if it is addressed to them. Within ten years, of course, clutter had sewn an even more deadly crop within the direct industry. Mass-mailings and anodyne telemarketing resulted in an even more cluttered environment for direct marketers. The ultimate proof of this comes in the shape of the hundreds of seminars that offer 'clutter-breaking techniques' to direct marketers who want to 'rise above the noise'.
And now there is a third generation of clutter. Readers may have noticed the increase in spam e-mails they have received recently. Ten billion spam e-mails are sent every day - 25 times more spam than was sent last year. In the US, 37% of all e-mails received this year are derived from spam.
There are some small rays of hope. As the contagion of clutter increases, public relations becomes ever more important because it is, by design, immune to the disease. The value of relationships with existing customers also comes to the fore. Permission marketing, where customers accept and welcome your approaches, is not a myth. It is merely the under-used apotheosis of communication in an era of clutter.
January 7, 2010
Gibran K. Gibran 126th Anniversary - B
Yesterday, January 6, has marked the 126th anniversary of Gibran K. Gibran. A writer, poet, philosopher, artist, painter, and sculptor from Lebanon.
(Picture: Gibran Khalil Gibran museum in Bsharreh, Lebanon)
(Picture: Gibran Khalil Gibran museum in Bsharreh, Lebanon)
January 6, 2010
Gibran K. Gibran 126th Anniversary - A
(Picture: Gibran Khalil Gibran memorial in Washington, D.C.)
January 4, 2010
Behind Bars®: Don Julio
Don Julio is the result of one man’s pursuit to craft the perfect tequila. Over 60 years after the opening of La Primavera distillery, the recipe has been mastered, but the passion remains. Every bottle of tequila that bears the Don Julio label measures up to a standard established by the pillars of quality, authenticity and heritage. Handcrafted in the highlands of Mexico's Jalisco region, made from the highest quality blue agave—born from tradition, Don Julio is the "real" tequila that every person should experience. Try one of the Don Julio varieties — Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, 1942 or Real.
January 1, 2010
10 Ways to Get Motivated for Change in 2010
A new decade has started, and you are tempted to set a copious list of resolutions for yourself in order to broadly "make life better." You may be thinking that you'll jump in on January 1 to reform everything from diet to relationships to personality. That is the wrong approach. It's great to want to make changes, but in order to actually accomplish your goals, it's important to be realistic, specific, and accountable. Here are 10 things you can do to help yourself stay in a mindset to make positive changes in 2010:
1. Set smaller goals with smaller steps
Gradual small steps motivate people toward larger change. If you want to lose weight, for example, change small aspects of your eating pattern. Resolve to have a salad tomorrow for lunch, and then do that for a week. Write down the steps you want to take in a datebook to make it concrete, and reward yourself for making the individual changes, she said. Let's say you want to work on being more optimistic this year. It is recommended imagining what you would be like if you were optimistic. Imagine yourself going through a day at work if you were optimistic and confident, then write that down in great detail. Now, you have specific aspects of that ideal of optimism to work toward. Pick one thing that the optimistic you is doing that you're not, and start working in that direction. Despite the proven health risks of certain habits, such as smoking, thinking about a habit in the negative will not help you nix it. Studies have shown that it's hard to get motivated about avoiding cancer, but easier to think about smelling better and saving money as reasons to quit smoking.
2. Frame your goals positively
So, if you want to quit doing something, think about the positive aspects of not doing it. And make sure you reward yourself for sticking to the plan along the way
3. Look at the pros and cons
If you're on the fence about whether you should make a change this year, make a list of the benefits and costs. Pay attention to what's driving you. Sometimes it's pain that motivates people to change, or a new phase of life, or new information, or a possible promotion. It helps to get clear about what you want to change and why you want to change it
4. Get a resolutions buddy
Knowing that someone else is working toward similar goals, or is supporting you in your endeavors, helps to keep motivation up. Having a new year's resolution buddy who's keeping track of your progress helps keep you accountable for what you've done. At the end of every year, some review all of their goals from the prior year, examining what the obstacles were to change and then developing new goals for the next year. Planning for goals with someone can guide you in the path towards change, even if you don't don't accomplish everything in a single year.
5. Be specific
It's easy to get discouraged by a broad goal like "I'm going to improve my marriage". Figure out exactly what it is that's not working for you, and then formulate a strategy for solving individual problems. In the marriage example, it's important to get realistic about what it is about your marriage that needs improvement. Then, spend some time keeping a diary and tracking what's going right and what's not, and come up with one thing you can do per week that would help the situation. The process of assessing the small actions you can take in the immediate future, and savoring the positive effects, can take a lot of pressure off and help you achieve larger goals.
6. Know thyself
The start of the year is as good a time as any to take inventory of yourself. What are your passions? What do you want to be doing better? Take the time think about who you are and how you want life to be. Real change happens because you yourself want it, not because others want it for you. If it's something that doesn't connect to you and truly relate to you, just because someone says you should do something, if it doesn't resonate with you, it's not going to be as helpful as something that truly fits you.
7. Examine deeper issues
Sometimes there are problems that need to be addressed before people can move forward with the change they want. In some cases there are psychological impediments to making changes, Levine said. For example, some people fear failure so much that they unknowingly sabotage themselves. Self-esteem may also play a role -- some people don't feel they're worthy of being taken care of. If you think that there are deeper issues preventing you from moving forward in your life in some way, consult a mental health professional.
8. Don't be overanxious
Having a long list of lofty resolutions can create anxiety. It is recommended choosing anywhere between three and five overarching things to change. Writing down your goals and how you plan to achieve them is a good way to beat anxiety.
9. Be flexible
Although you should be specific about what you want to do, sometimes it helps to broaden your vision of what you're trying to accomplish. For instance, if you've been laid off from your job in the financial sector, it may not be immediately possible to find a similar position. But if you are on the job market, the broader goal might be to support yourself or your family. Having a wider vision of what constitutes success can free you up to explore other options that do help with the central purpose. Step back and say: "Is there any way I can achieve that bigger goal without getting fixated on the goal I had before?".
10. Keep your eye on the ball
Changing behaviors is especially difficult when other people around you encourage habits you're trying to kick, or if you are under stress. For instance, if you're a recovering alcoholic and having a bad day, it might be hard to resist if someone says, "It looks like you need a drink". Know that there's going to be some anxiety, but be patient with yourself. Take it one incident at a time, one day at a time. You have to deal with some negative consequences when you change, both internal and interpersonal, and environmental. You have to sort of get help dealing with those, and weather those storms.
1. Set smaller goals with smaller steps
Gradual small steps motivate people toward larger change. If you want to lose weight, for example, change small aspects of your eating pattern. Resolve to have a salad tomorrow for lunch, and then do that for a week. Write down the steps you want to take in a datebook to make it concrete, and reward yourself for making the individual changes, she said. Let's say you want to work on being more optimistic this year. It is recommended imagining what you would be like if you were optimistic. Imagine yourself going through a day at work if you were optimistic and confident, then write that down in great detail. Now, you have specific aspects of that ideal of optimism to work toward. Pick one thing that the optimistic you is doing that you're not, and start working in that direction. Despite the proven health risks of certain habits, such as smoking, thinking about a habit in the negative will not help you nix it. Studies have shown that it's hard to get motivated about avoiding cancer, but easier to think about smelling better and saving money as reasons to quit smoking.
2. Frame your goals positively
So, if you want to quit doing something, think about the positive aspects of not doing it. And make sure you reward yourself for sticking to the plan along the way
3. Look at the pros and cons
If you're on the fence about whether you should make a change this year, make a list of the benefits and costs. Pay attention to what's driving you. Sometimes it's pain that motivates people to change, or a new phase of life, or new information, or a possible promotion. It helps to get clear about what you want to change and why you want to change it
4. Get a resolutions buddy
Knowing that someone else is working toward similar goals, or is supporting you in your endeavors, helps to keep motivation up. Having a new year's resolution buddy who's keeping track of your progress helps keep you accountable for what you've done. At the end of every year, some review all of their goals from the prior year, examining what the obstacles were to change and then developing new goals for the next year. Planning for goals with someone can guide you in the path towards change, even if you don't don't accomplish everything in a single year.
5. Be specific
It's easy to get discouraged by a broad goal like "I'm going to improve my marriage". Figure out exactly what it is that's not working for you, and then formulate a strategy for solving individual problems. In the marriage example, it's important to get realistic about what it is about your marriage that needs improvement. Then, spend some time keeping a diary and tracking what's going right and what's not, and come up with one thing you can do per week that would help the situation. The process of assessing the small actions you can take in the immediate future, and savoring the positive effects, can take a lot of pressure off and help you achieve larger goals.
6. Know thyself
The start of the year is as good a time as any to take inventory of yourself. What are your passions? What do you want to be doing better? Take the time think about who you are and how you want life to be. Real change happens because you yourself want it, not because others want it for you. If it's something that doesn't connect to you and truly relate to you, just because someone says you should do something, if it doesn't resonate with you, it's not going to be as helpful as something that truly fits you.
7. Examine deeper issues
Sometimes there are problems that need to be addressed before people can move forward with the change they want. In some cases there are psychological impediments to making changes, Levine said. For example, some people fear failure so much that they unknowingly sabotage themselves. Self-esteem may also play a role -- some people don't feel they're worthy of being taken care of. If you think that there are deeper issues preventing you from moving forward in your life in some way, consult a mental health professional.
8. Don't be overanxious
Having a long list of lofty resolutions can create anxiety. It is recommended choosing anywhere between three and five overarching things to change. Writing down your goals and how you plan to achieve them is a good way to beat anxiety.
9. Be flexible
Although you should be specific about what you want to do, sometimes it helps to broaden your vision of what you're trying to accomplish. For instance, if you've been laid off from your job in the financial sector, it may not be immediately possible to find a similar position. But if you are on the job market, the broader goal might be to support yourself or your family. Having a wider vision of what constitutes success can free you up to explore other options that do help with the central purpose. Step back and say: "Is there any way I can achieve that bigger goal without getting fixated on the goal I had before?".
10. Keep your eye on the ball
Changing behaviors is especially difficult when other people around you encourage habits you're trying to kick, or if you are under stress. For instance, if you're a recovering alcoholic and having a bad day, it might be hard to resist if someone says, "It looks like you need a drink". Know that there's going to be some anxiety, but be patient with yourself. Take it one incident at a time, one day at a time. You have to deal with some negative consequences when you change, both internal and interpersonal, and environmental. You have to sort of get help dealing with those, and weather those storms.
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