Top 3 Stories in Social Media, Tech and Business

Top 3 Stories in Social Media, Tech and Business

Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on three particular stories of interest today.

Facebook is Testing a Places-Powered Deals Service?

According to Nick O’Neill at All Facebook, Facebook is testing a new “Facebook Deals” service that is integrated into Facebook Places.

This would give businesses the ability to provide discounts and specials when a customer checks in to a physical store. Facebook () has declined to comment on the purported e-mail from one of the companies testing the service, and there are some inconsistencies in the e-mail’s wording that make us less than 100% sure that this is entirely accurate. However, the idea makes an enormous amount of sense.

For more than a year, we’ve been talking about how the real potential of location-based services is at the hyper-local level. The success of companies like Groupon and the growing number of deals and sponsorships adopted by companies like Foursquare (), Gowalla () and Loopt makes it even more clear that this is a trend that is becoming more enticing by the day.

It only seems natural that Facebook would assert its social graph to offer businesses and users a synergistic experience to incentivize checkins.

NOOKcolor Processor Revealed

When the NOOKcolor was unveiled earlier this week, Barnes & Noble did a pretty solid job of laying out the technical specifications of the device, with one exception — the processor.

Engadget has confirmed that the NOOKcolor features a Texas Instruments ARM Cortex A8-based chip running at 800MHz. We still don’t know how much RAM the unit has, but coupled with an IPS-backlit capacitive touchscren and the underpinnings of Android 2.1, this $250 device just might turn out to be the Android () tablet hackers and modders have dreamed of.

YouTube CEO to Step Down

WebProNews reports that YouTube () co-founder and CEO Chad Hurley will be stepping down from his post and assuming an advisory role at the company. Hurley made the announcement at the F.ounders conference in Ireland.

As WebProNews notes, Hurley was the last of the YouTube co-founders to retain close ties with the company after selling it to Google () for $1.65 billion. At F.ounders, Hurley said, “Right now I am in the process of transitioning into the role of adviser, stepping down, still being involved in the company but it’s given me an opportunity to work on new projects.”

Google’s Salar Kamngar has been handling much of the day-to-day business for YouTube for the past several years and he is the most likely person to assume Hurley’s position (assuming Google decides to keep the CEO spot).

Further News

• Apple Sells Out of iPhone 4 units in China — Just 10 hours after launching its Chinese online store, Apple has sold out of all iPhone 4 units in China.
• Nexus Two Reports — Count us as “dubious” on this one — but purportedly the Nexus Two will be appearing on November 8, 2010 and it will be a Samsung handset. Gizmodo claims that a source has sent them a “hands-on” report, but it appears that this might just be a Samsung Galaxy S.
• Microsoft Posts Record Earnings, Still Behind Apple – Microsoft’s latest earnings report was buoyed by strong sales of Windows () 7 and Microsoft Office 2010, however, the tech juggernaut is still losing $2 billion a year from its online ventures.
• Study Looks at When Facebook Users Are Most Active — Social media management firm Vitrue analyzed three years worth of Facebook data to gleam when users are most active on brand pages and streams.

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This Morning’s 4 Biggest Stories in Social Media and Tech

This Morning’s 4 Biggest Stories in Social Media and Tech
Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on four particular stories of interest today.

MySpace Releases Major Redesign

MySpace has begun rolling out its biggest overhaul to date, set to finish in November. Everything from the redesigned homepage and newly streamlined profiles to the new Topic Pages suggest a transformation from a social network into a “social entertainment destination.”

Barnes & Noble Unveils Full-Color, Android-Based Nook

Barnes & Noble has unveiled its successor to the original Nook, the NOOKcolor, a full-color, Android-based e-reader and touchscreen tablet. It’s going to retail for $249 and is expected to start shipping on November 19.

The NOOKcolor features a 7-inch backlit IPS display and capacitive touchscreen. It weighs in at just under a pound and comes with 8GB of built-in memory, which can be expanded up to 32GB with a microSD card. It also features a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack, a micro-USB port, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and up to eight hours of battery (with the Wi-Fi turned off).

Apple Launches Online Store in China

Apple has launched an online store for customers in China. The store is currently stocked with iPhone 4s, iPads, iPods and Mac computers, complete with custom configuration options for the Mac, free personalized engraving on any iPod or iPad model, and free shipping.

White iPhone Delayed Until Spring 2011

Although white iPhone 4s became available for in-store reservation in the Apple Store App this week, Apple spokeswoman Trudy Miller has announced that the white counterpart of the popular smartphone will not, in fact, be made available for purchase until spring 2011. She declined to furnish reasons for the delay.

Further News

• Gmail has added a new “Labs” feature dubbed “Auto-advance” that allows users to automatically move to the previous or next conversation after archiving, deleting or muting an individual e-mail message.
• A number of photos of the fabled, Android-based PlayStation phone have been posted by Engadget.
• PayPal has announced the launch of PayPal for Digital Goods, a checkout solution that lets users manage payments online with just two clicks. The company also announced a major partner: Facebook.
• The size of Twitter’s staff has more than doubled since February; the company announced Tuesday afternoon that it has hired its 300th full-time employee.

Sales Articles - The Development of the Social Self Environment Keeping Friends - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Sales Articles - The Development of the Social Self Environment Keeping Friends - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
Friends play a crucial role in self-development. Some say your friends are a reflection of yourself, and in a way that is true. People tend to make friends with people whom they have something in common, such as an interest in certain sports, in music, even a television program. Many friendships start on as little as the preference for a certain kind of shoes. Keeping the friendship, however, is more of a challenge because sometimes familiarity does breed contempt. The longer you know a person, the more you learn about them, and about yourself. In the development of the social self-environment, evolution of a social identity evolves over time and through circumstances. Life changing experiences such as moving to a new city or getting married can land you in a situation when you find yourself bereft of easy contact with your old network. Of course, you could always make new friends, but keeping your old ones in which you have invested perhaps a considerable amount of time and emotion further develop the social self-environment past the initial stages. Here are some suggestions on keeping the old friendships going.

Make the effort to keep in touch. If they are far away, e-mail is always a good way to keep in touch. With the new technologies, chatting online is also one way to keep updated, and you can even see each other while doing it. Conferencing is also something that can be done easily, connecting online with several friends who are in different places at one time. Show them you are interested in their lives and listen attentively when they have problems. Always be sympathetic even if you think they made a mistake. If they ask your opinion, give it in a diplomatic way and try to keep from sounding judgmental. You are a friend, not their mother.

Show them they are still important to you. Old friends are usually the people you have known since childhood, in school or at work. Most times they are taken for granted because they have been around forever, perhaps. It is only when they are gone that you realize how much you depend on them for advice or for moral support. Remember important things like birthdays and their kids’ names. If you are in the area, try to arrange for a meet even if it is just for a cup of coffee. If an important event occurs, such as a marriage or a baptism, make every effort to make it. If it is really not possible, let them know ahead of time and explain why.

Keep their secrets. Maintain the trust in your relationship. Avoid disclosing embarrassing or shameful facts about your friends to other people, even to your spouse. It may be tempting hare some juicy gossip about your friend to other people but you are only showing them that you cannot be trusted, and you would have broken the confidence of an old friend. Be loyal to your friends and be ready to stand by them when they need you, at all times keeping mum.

Share your friends. Sometimes as you get older it seems you have fewer friends than you used to and you tend to cling to the ones who stayed friends with you. You may feel bad when they develop friendships outside your circle, feeling you are losing their friendship. This will only make them feel stifled and might choose to end your relationship if you become too demanding of their time. The wisest course is to make friends with your friend’s friends when the opportunity presents itself, such as a party or family gathering. That way you widen your circle of friends while maintaining the old ties. You never know where or how you will make the best friendships.

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Consultant who specializes in teaching Business Owners and Internet Marketers how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to help build a larger list, improve their relationship with their list, increase exposure to their list, and do this all automatically. Check out his blog at "Dennis Hampton's blog - A Business Made Easy"

Sales Articles - 4 steps to warm up cold calling conversations - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Sales Articles - 4 steps to warm up cold calling conversations - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
How to End the Cold Calling Game of Chasing a Sale by Ari Galper, Founder of Unlock The Game ®

Our thoughts are always at the basis of our behaviors. If our thoughts are fixed on the goal of making a sale, then we’re not really being forthright. We’re not focused on the conversation or the truth of a situation. We’re chasing people -- or at least chasing the sale.

Here are 5 important steps to help end the “chasing game” in our cold calling efforts. 1. Avoid reading from a script

Life is not a script, nor are normal conversations. When we read from a script, we’re not being natural. We’re playing a role. And that means we’re chasing a sale rather than enjoying an opportunity to meet someone new and find out if we can help them.

Allowing a conversation to naturally flow helps you enter into a dialogue based on trust, which lets your potential client’s real issues emerge.

Formal scripts, on the other hand, don’t give you the freedom to take conversations in the direction they may naturally want to go. And this feels stilted and awkward.

If you begin to view your cold calls as conversations or dialogues, you’ll find it easy to let go of the idea of scripts. And you’ll sense the shift of the energy in your conversation when the emphasis of the call is about the person you’re talking with and not about your making a sale.

So generate a spontaneous conversation, based on the problems you can help the other person solve. This will diffuse your feelings of being awkward and artificial, and allow you to enjoy the journey.

2. Address a Core Problem

People connect with you when they feel you understand their issues before you focus on yourself and your solutions. Come up with two or three specific problems that your product or service solves. And talk about it with the potential client first, before offering your sales pitch.

When you offer your presentation or solution without first involving the other person by talking about a core problem they might be having, you are focused on the sale rather than the conversation. And your whole energy tends to drive the interaction into a sales mode. Remember, whenever someone feels “chased,” they usually run.

So stop for a moment. Convey that you’re a problem solver. Invite a mutual exchange of information that explores whether there’s a possibility that the two of you might work together. Help them understand that your thoughts and goals are not focused on selling them anything at all.

Most people will welcome your interest in their problem as long as you’re not operating out of the hidden agenda of making a sale. So overcome the temptation to discuss what you have to offer and move into focusing on your caller’s world. Invite discussion, express interest, and stop chasing the sale.

3. Uncover the Truth of the Situation

Make your objective to uncover the truth of the potential client’s situation and to be okay with the outcome, whether it’s a yes or a no.

We can do this by checking in at various times in the conversation to make sure it makes sense to continue the dialogue. If we just move ahead without doing this, we’re in “chase mode.” And in this case, we may be chasing something very unrealistic for this particular potential client.

So we ask important questions such as, “Is this a top priority for you to solve right now?” We may find that the potential client is very interested in working with us, but the budget or staffing may simply be too thin at this time.

We stop at various checkpoints in our conversation to make sure we’re moving ahead together. If our thoughts are fixed only on our own goal of eventually securing the sale, we can miss very important signals that the other person may actually have no intention of following through.

4. Where do We Go From Here?

Here’s something very surprising. Allow the conversation to end without chasing other person into an sales appointment or commitment, and the other person will often be the one who initiates further contact.

So when you feel as if the conversation is coming to a natural conclusion, you can simply say, “Well, where do you think we should go from here?”

This question reassures potential clients that you’re not using the conversation to fulfill your own hidden agenda. It invites the other person to take charge of where things are going, and all you need do is follow along.

When you stop chasing the sale, you’ll be truly surprised at how often the sale gently awaits you within a friendly conversation focusing on the needs of others.

Ari Galper, founder of Unlock The Game, makes cold calling painless and simple. Learn his free cold calling secrets even the sales gurus don't know. To receive your 10 free audio mini-lessons visit http://utg.infusionsoft.com/go/UTG/dhampton

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Consultant who specializes in teaching Business Owners and Internet Marketers how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to help build a larger list, improve their relationship with their list, increase exposure to their list, and do this all automatically. Check out his blog at http://blog.dennishampton.org

Marketing Articles - Are You Already Marketing On The Internet? - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Marketing Articles - Are You Already Marketing On The Internet? - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
Take a moment to think about how you would really answer this question. If given enough thought just about any business owner who utilizes the Internet for any purpose will likely find that whether or not they intentionally organized an Internet marketing campaign, they may already be marketing their products and services on the Internet. This article will examine some subtle ways business owners may already be marketing their business on the Internet.

Do you have a website for your business? Business owners who answer yes to this question are already marketing their products or services online just by virtue of the fact that they have a website online. Having a live website means there is the potential for curious Internet users to access your website. You may not be actively promoting your website but you may still find that your website generates interest in your products despite the lack of promotional endeavors; this is a form of passive marketing.

Do you participate in message boards and include a link to your website in your signature? Again business owners who answer yes to this question are already marketing their website online. Savvy business owners realize the importance of participation in industry related message boards to create an interest in their products and services, establish themselves as knowledgeable about the industry and offer a link to their own website even if it is in the signature line of their posts. However, even business owners who do not realize this may already be inadvertently enjoying the benefits of Internet marketing which result from message board participation just by doing something they enjoy and may be doing as a form of leisure activity.

Do you include keywords which are relevant to your business in the content of your website? Business owners who answer yes to this question are also already marketing on the Internet by optimizing their website for these keywords. These search engine optimization (SEO) affects the websites whether or not they were even aware of the concept of keyword density and how it can help to SEO a website. Business owners will likely use certain words often depending on the type of products and services they offer just because it is natural and logical to do so. This tendency, however, can result in search engines boosting your website rankings for these particular keywords. The concept of SEO is much more involved and complex than simply using keywords frequently but business owners can gain some benefit just by naturally applying relevant keywords to their website.

Do you solicit feedback from your customers online? This is yet another example of how business owners may be accidentally marketing their business on the Internet. Most business owners realize the importance of soliciting feedback from customers for business purposes and business owners who offer products online might solicit feedback in the form of online surveys. Although the business owners may be doing this simply for a business purpose the fact that it is done online makes it fall into the category of Internet marketing.

We have already discussed several ways in which business owners may already be marketing online but what about business owners who want to have an increased online presence? Business owners who may already be marketing online accidentally may wish to launch a full scale Internet marketing campaign. The best way to do this is to hire a consultant with experience in Internet marketing to assist you in creating a campaign which is effective for your target audience.

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Internet Consultant and specializes in showing Business Owners how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to increase their sales, control and reduce their advertising expenses, and how it all can be done easily for FREE. http://tinyurl.com/2667y7y

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This Morning’s Top 3 Stories in Tech and Business

This Morning’s Top 3 Stories in Tech and Business

Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on three particular stories of interest today.

Major Networks Block Programming on Google TV

ABC, CBS and NBC are preventing Google () from displaying their programming on its new Google TV device, the Wall Street Journal reports. A source tells Reuters that Google is actively negotiating with the three networks to enable access.

China Launches Own Map Service

China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM) has unveiled its official, somewhat primitive, Google Maps ()-like service, Map World. Google has not yet applied for an online mapping license in the country.

HP Slate Officially Launches for $799

HP has finally unveiled the Slate 500, a Windows 7 ()-based tablet PC with a 8.9-inch, 1024×600 resolution screen, a 1.86GHz Intel Atom Z540 processor, a Crystal HD accelerator, 2 gigabytes of RAM and a 64GB SSD. It has a USB port and two cameras: a 3-megapixel one on the back, and a VGA camera on the front for making video calls. It supports Wi-Fi but, disappointingly enough, does not offer 3G connectivity.

These specifications make the Slate one of the most powerful tablets on the market, but its $799 price tag will make it tough to compete with the less expensive (and 3G-enabled) iPad.

Further News

• Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers partner John Doerr just took the stage at Facebook ()’s Palo Alto headquarters Thursday to announce sFund, a $250 million fund to back social innovation.
• On November 15 Microsoft will launch Games for Windows Marketplace, an online store that will let users buy digital copies of games directly from their browsers.
• Amazon.com announced a free usage tier for its Amazon Web Services (AWS) program.
• Mozilla has officially unveiled “Chromeless,” an experimental project by the Firefox () creator that lets developers create their own browser interfaces using HTML, CSS, JavaScript and other web technologies.
• Both the Nook and Kobo e-readers will hit Walmart stores before the end of October, the retailer has announced.

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This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech and Social Media

This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech and Social Media

Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on three particular stories of interest today.

Apple Hosting “Back to Mac” Event Today

Apple will be hosting (and live streaming) a press event at its Cupertino, California, headquarters later today. Apple is likely to announce a new version of its Mac operating system, but rumors indicate that we’ll also see a refreshed version of Apple’s lightest portable computer, the Macbook Air.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Pricing and Launch Date Revealed

Samsung and Verizon’s forthcoming tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab, will be made available November 11 for $599.99, both companies announced this morning.

The tablet, which runs on Android 2.2, sports a 7-inch TFT-LCD display with 1024×600-pixel resolution, a 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird Application processor, 512 of RAM and 16/32 GB of internal memory with upgrade options. It also comes with a 3-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED Flash, plus a second 1.3-megapixel camera for video chats, as well as Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity, and Flash support. The battery, Samsung claims, can last up to seven hours of movie playback.

Verizon will offer monthly data plans for the tablet beginning at 1GB for $20 per month.

Privacy Commissioner: Google Contravened Canadian Privacy Law

Google contravened Canadian privacy law while photographing neighborhoods for its Street View mapping service, an investigation by Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart has found.

Stoddart has advised Google to develop a set of guidelines for educating employees about privacy laws and enforcing compliance with those laws. She also recommended Google delete the Canadian payload data it gathered. If Stoddart finds that Google complies favorable with her recommendations by February 1, 2011, the matter will be considered resolved.

Further News

• Yahoo released third-quarter earnings yesterday, reporting a 2% rise in revenue from the same period last year to $1.6 billion and a substantial increase in income.
• Barnes & Noble has sent invites for a press event on October 26, almost exactly one year since the company announced its first-generation e-reader, the Nook. We expect a second iteration of the device to appear on that date.
• Beginning today, Starbucks customers who use the free Wi-Fi at more than 6,800 U.S. company-operated stores will be greeted with the Starbucks Digital Network (SDN) — an exclusive content network curated by the company and designed to enhance the customer’s in-store experience.
• In order to combat anti-LGBT bullying, Facebook has announced that it is teaming up with MTV, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLADD) and others to form a “Network of Support” for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender teens.
• Google has added the ability to drag-and-drop images from the desktop into a Google Docs document.

This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech and Social Media http://ping.fm/QuCiW

Motivation Articles - The Development of the Social Self Environment Going Online - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Motivation Articles - The Development of the Social Self Environment Going Online - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
Ever since exploding into the mainstream population in the 80s, the Internet is fast becoming one of the major technological breakthroughs in the world today. People can get in touch with friends and family from all over the world at the click of a mouse, and the accessibility of the internet and surfing online, coupled with the ease it takes to meet new people and retain old friendships, has long since ensured that the world is becoming a smaller place to live in.

Going online easily has its share of obvious advantages. Being able to talk real time with other people from different time zones has sped up communication among countries. You no longer need to go outside to make new friends; now, you can even strike up friendships with people in places you have never even been to before.

It is also easier to find people online who share the same interest that you do; in fact, many forums and online clubs advertise in the hopes of attracting like minds to their group. Through these interactions, a person is able to, from the safety of his own house, come into contact with a wide range of ideas and opinions, and actually learns from these to form his own thoughts about a certain matter or subject. He may realize facts of life that he might not have known had he not joined a particular group. Further, being involved in some group discussions that has different perspectives always helps to improve one’s personal well-being, and helps sharpen one’s mind to other points of view.

The advent of webcams in the Internet has also increased closeness and intimacy among friends and loved ones. Webcams are cheap and are available in every gadget shop, and communicating through a messenger device online is free and does not carry long distance charges the way a phone would, making it the ideal means of communication for friends who have become close online, or for friends who are living in different countries. And through the encouragement of friends in the internet, one feels more capable to express their own ideas and opinions, and can reach a wider audience when asking for advice on personal problems, or can keep loved ones close even if they are thousands of miles away.

The Internet does not only let you meet new people; it also helps you strengthen ties with people that you already know. Groups of friends who meet in person may choose to spend their time online playing games, chatting, or joining clubs together. People with a busy schedule will always find more time to go online and chat than physically meet, allowing friends to become closer despite keeping different hours.

Sending email has become more popular as opposed to sending letters at the post office. There is literally no time delay when sending email, and takes only a few minutes for it to be sent to recipients.

There is no lengthy waiting time involved in waiting for a reply, which means more emails can be exchanged than actual letters, thereby further improving the relationship between the two parties.

Like any new technology, there are certain risks involved with going online. Many people often fabricate identities due to the difficulty in getting caught doing so, and have often resorted to scamming other people to gain financially, or even just because they are able to hide behind anonymity and get away with things that they may not be able to had the situation been conducted face to face. Nevertheless, with the proper prudence exercised, it is very easy to avoid these attempts and instead be able to focus more on fostering relationships and connections with people all around the world.

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Internet Consultant and specializes in showing Business Owners how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to increase their sales, control and reduce their advertising expenses, and how it all can be done easily for FREE. http://tinyurl.com/2667y7y

Receive FREE Social Media Training for Facebook, Twitter and more by visiting http://freetraining.socialmedialistbuilding.org

This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech and Social Media

This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech and Social Media
Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on four particular stories of interest today.

Internet Users to Exceed 2 Billion This Year

The number of Internet () users will surpass 2 billion before the end of 2010, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) announced.

The current world population is estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau to be 6.876 billion, which would mean that nearly 30% of the population will be online at the end of this year.

Steve Jobs Speaks Candidly on Earnings Call

Days after shares of Apple eclipsed $300 per share to hit an all-time high and a few hours after the company was named AdAge ()’s Marketer of the Decade, Apple released its latest earnings report, and with it, another milestone: $20 billion in quarterly revenue.

Specifically, the company brought in sales of $20.34 billion for its fiscal fourth quarter and a net profit of $4.31 billion, both best-ever quarterly performances.

Following the announcement, CEO Steve Jobs made a surprise appearance on the company’s earnings call to field questions from analysts, and to share his thoughts on Apple’s competitors –particularly Google () and RIM — in the smartphone and tablet market. Full details and analysis of the call are available here.

Google’s Search Page Redesign Emphasizes Location

Google has moved the user location setting to the left-hand panel of the search engine results page, the company announced Monday. This feature automatically detects a user’s current location and tailors search results accordingly.

Google will still deliver the same locally relevant results as it did previously, but now easier for users to see their location setting and adjust it to deliver results in different areas.

Foursquare () to Hit 4 Million Users This Week

Foursquare () is set to hit 4 million members this week, a source close to the company has revealed to Mashable (). The milestone member metric comes roughly 50 days after the location-based mobile game signed on its 3 millionth user.

Further News

• Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced Monday via an internal memo that the company’s chief software architect, Ray Ozzie, will be resigning from the company shortly.
• Buddy Media, a company that provides a platform for brand marketing and management on Facebook (), has raised $23 million in a Series C round led by Institutional Venture Partners (IVP).
• Evernote (), which now boasts 4.7 million users worldwide, has raised $20 million in a Series C round to fuel further international expansion, the startup announced this morning.
• Groupon competitor LivingSocial has acquired group adventure site Urban Escapes for an undisclosed sum.
• Both Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 consoles now support disc-free streaming of Netflix movies and TV shows.
• Microsoft has revealed the final list of 17 games that will be available on launch day (November 4) with Kinect for Xbox 360, the company’s highly anticipated controller-free gaming system.
• Subscription-based streaming music service Rhapsody () has released a mobile app for BlackBerry smartphones.
• Skittles UK is rolling out an Old Spice Guy-esque campaign with the launch of “Dazzle the Rainbow,” a challenge in which fans are asked to bury a man named David Phoenix in a vat of the sugary candy.

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Marketing Articles - Creating Email Lists for Marketing Campaigns - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Marketing Articles - Creating Email Lists for Marketing Campaigns - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Creating Email Lists for Marketing Campaigns If you plan to do some Internet marketing to promote your business endeavor, you should seriously consider email marketing as at least one tier of your Internet marketing campaign. Many business owners shy away from email marketing because they believe all email marketing campaigns are purely spam. However, this is not true and not partaking in this type of marketing can cause your business to lose out on a great deal of business. By not appealing to potential customers via email, your business may lose a great deal of business to competitors who are using email marketing campaigns to reach customers around the world. However, the first step of an email marketing campaign should be creating an email distribution list. This article will discuss some popular options for doing this and should help to the reader to learn more about what is acceptable and what is not when it comes to email marketing. Once you have made the decision to start using email marketing to promote your business you are likely facing the dilemma of compiling an email distribution list. This is essentially a list of email addresses to which you will email your advertising and promotional materials. One common way to gain a list of email addresses is to purchase a list from distributors. However, this method is not very effective at all and we do not recommend it. The problem with purchasing an email list if you have no way of knowing whether or not the members of the list would have any interest at all in your products or services. This is very important because while you want to reach a large audience with your email marketing you also want this audience to be members of your overall target audience. When you purchase an email list you may be sending your email messages to some users who might be interested but this is largely coincidental and is not likely to be well received because the message was not solicited. Internet users are very quick to delete materials they believe to be spam without even opening or reading the emails. In fact some Internet service providers include spam filters which may automatically delete your emails if your messages are deemed to be spam. These filters run complex algorithms on the subject heading and content of the message to determine whether or not it is spam and are quite adept at weeding out spam. Therefore you run the risk of having your email marketing effort turn out to be a complete waste if the majority of recipients never even read or receive the message. A far better way to create an email distribution list for your email marketing campaign is to ask current customers as well as interested potential customers to register with your website to receive additional information and periodic updates about your products and services as well as other information which might be of interest to them. This provides you with a database of email addresses from current customers as well as potential customers who have a genuine interest in your products and services and who are interested in learning more about these products and services. Once you have a list of interested customers or potential customers you can send emails or create e-newsletter for distribution to the members of your email list. These documents should contain a wealth of valuable information as well as a soft sell pitch for your products and services. This information will be valued by the readers and may help to persuade them to try your products and services. You might also want to include useful links to either your website as well as other websites which may be of interest to your readers. Your content should also contain a portion which urges the reader to take a specific action such as making a purchase or at least investigating a product further. Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Internet Consultant and specializes in showing Business Owners how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to increase their sales, control and reduce their advertising expenses, and how it all can be done easily for FREE. http://tinyurl.com/2667y7y Make UNLIMITED FREE mobile phone calls to local, long distance and international calls for FREE. You can make free calls to anyone, anywhere at any time. http://greenwinonline.com

Mashable Weekend Recap: 19 Stories You Might Have Missed http://ping.fm/9PEwY

Mashable Weekend Recap: 19 Stories You Might Have Missed

Mashable Weekend Recap: 19 Stories You Might Have Missed

A lot is going to happen this week, so you don’t want to miss a beat. That’s why we’ve collected these 19 stories from the past couple of days to help you stay informed (and entertained, for your sanity) as the work week begins.

This weekend we covered several fascinating talks from Startup School, a couple of great iPhone-related viral videos, one power meeting between two industry giants and the launch of Yahoo’s new Y Connect. That’s in addition to all the helpful resources and fun games-related stuff.

Thanks for reading!

News Essentials

• Father and Son Launch iPhone into Space [VIDEO]
• Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg Talked Ping Over Dinner
• Groupon’s Founder on How to Get Super Rich
• Ratpr’s iPhone App Tracks Your Xbox and PlayStation Friends
• Are Music Startups Destined to Fail?
• Yahoo Mimics Facebook Connect With “Y Connect”
• Facebook Blocks LOLapps, Cutting Off 150 Million Users
• Bing Brings You Jay-Z’s Life ‘Decoded’
• Venture Capitalists, Super Angels and the State of Startup Funding
• Watch Facebook, Groupon and Quora’s Founders Speak at Startup School [VIDEO]

Helpful Resources

• 7 Fantastic Free Social Media Tools for Teachers
• HOW TO: Use Twitter Hashtags to Boost Your Job Search
• 5 Gadgets that Broke New Ground in 2010
• 8 Photoshop Tutorials for Retouching Your Profile Pic
• 10 Fresh Blogger Templates for Any Application
• Top 10 Twitter Trends This Week [CHART]

Weekend Leisure

• iPhone Rock Band Performances Live on New York Subway [VIDEO]
• 3 Innovative iPad Games That Use the iPhone as a Controller
• Weekend Gaming: “Medal of Honor,” “Enslaved” and the Return of a Legend [OPEN THREAD]

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This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech and Mobile http://ping.fm/KCaVN

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This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech and Mobile

This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech and Mobile
Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on three particular stories of interest today.

Google Shares Soar on Impressive Earnings

Google () released its latest earnings report after the markets closed on Thursday. Investors appeared impressed, with shares of the company trading up more than $40 after-hours (about 7.5%).

The company posted revenue of $7.29 billion for its third quarter, representing 23% growth from the same period last year and about a 7% jump sequentially.

During a follow-up conference call, Google did something it has never done before: It broke down the numbers from some of its key businesses, including YouTube () and mobile.

Mozilla Names SAP Mobile Exec New CEO

Mozilla Foundation, the creators of Firefox (), announced that it has chosen Gary Kovacs, senior vice president of mobile products at SAP and former general manager of mobile at Adobe, as the new CEO of the non-profit.

“I’m very happy to introduce Gary Kovacs as our new CEO for the Mozilla Corporation,” current CEO John Lilly said. Earlier this year, Lilly announced that he was stepping down from his post and joining Greylock Partners.

New York Times Releases Complete Version for the iPad

The New York Times has replaced its Editors’ Choice iPad app with a more complete version that grants access to all of its sections and their various multimedia components.

The app [iTunes link] is currently available for free, but users will be required to pay a subscription for full access once the paper’s online paywall goes up in early 2011 [via PaidContent].

Further News

• Wikileaks () says its funding is being blocked because of government blacklisting.
• TED, a small nonprofit dedicated to spreading the ideas and reflections of leading minds, released its first official app Thursday, which is available exclusively for the iPad.
• Samsung has begun releasing an Android () 2.2 update to owners of Galaxy S devices, the company announced this morning. The update is being released first to users in Nordic countries, and will be “gradually rolled out to other European markets, Southeast Asia, the Middle East Asia, North America, Africa and rest of the world.”
• Apple has made the new MobileMe Calendar interface and featureset available to all MobileMe () members.

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This Morning’s Top Stories in Social Media and Tech

This Morning’s Top Stories in Social Media and Tech
Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on three particular stories of interest today.

Sony’s Google TV-Powered Devices Have Arrived

Sony has unveiled its newest line of Internet ()-enabled TVs, complete with the highly anticipated Google TV software.

Sony’s new Internet HDTVs are available in four sizes: 24-inch, 32-inch, 40-inch and 46-inch. The 24-inch model rings in at $599, while the 46-inch will cost you a hefty $1,399. Each sports 1080p edge-lit LED screens, with the exception of the 24-inch model. They come with four USB ports, four HDMI inputs and Wi-Fi capabilities.

Marissa Mayer to Lead Google’s Location and Local Services Division

Marissa Mayer, Google’s current VP of search product and user experience, is changing roles to better develop location and local services within the company.

Since joining Google () in 1999, Mayer has become a crucial asset to the search giant. Under her tenure at search products, she oversaw the search interface and helped introduce more than 100 features and products to the site, most recently Google Instant. Mayer’s move to location and local services exemplifies the higher priority the company is placing on the space.

Online Advertising Revenue Achieves Record Growth

Online advertising is thriving in the U.S., according to figures released in the latest IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report.

Businesses and individuals spent approximately $12.1 billion on online advertising in the first six months of 2010, up 11.3% from the from the first half of 2009 and 13.9% from the second quarter of 2009. In fact, this was both the highest first-half and second-quarter revenue ever recorded.

Further News

• Apple has published an artists’ guide to Ping (), its iTunes-linked, music-based social network.
• Facebook () released a new, one-time passwords service that allows users to request temporary passwords via SMS to help protect their accounts when they log into public computers.
• Redbox will begin renting out video games at DVD rental kiosks around the U.S. this month, expanding on earlier tests in limited markets, the company confirmed with Mashable () Tuesday.
• Corona Light has launched a new promotion in Times Square that gives Facebook users the opportunity to have their profile photo broadcast in Times Square if they opt to “Like” Corona Light’s Facebook Page.
• Mac users will be able to sync their Windows Phone 7 devices with their Mac computers “later in 2010,” Microsoft announced.

Disclosure: Microsoft is a Mashable sponsor.

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Self Improvement Articles - The Development of the Social Self Environment First Impression is not always the last one - Amazines.com Article Search Engine http://ping.fm/q2ett

Self Improvement Articles - The Development of the Social Self Environment First Impression is not always the last one - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Self Improvement Articles - The Development of the Social Self Environment First Impression is not always the last one - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
The tendency to socialize is a common practice to all people. We prefer to be with other people most of the time and we need other people to act as our sounding board for problems. We cannot be alone for a long time and we need to at least talk to some one else even if only on the telephone to alleviate loneliness. Making friends is easy for some people while others have a hard time at it.

Children for instance would like to make friends and play with other children even without finding out their names. Children less concerned of their social status and prejudice that may influence them from making friends with another child. For them, all are equal. On the other hand, adults have ideas and opinions, prejudices and preferences that affect the way they relate with other people. The need to build barriers to protect one’s privacy when meeting new people is very common. This is very true during first encounters with strangers thus the saying “first impression lasts” appears to be real for them. Newcomers may feel such apprehension, the cold treatment and the hesitations. What would it take for you to avoid such impression to other people and maintain a good relationship with them?

First thing to remember is to keep an open mindset regarding meeting new people. When we meet new people, maintain that positive mind frame and consciously set aside whatever prejudices you have. This will help you be more accepting and open to new friends. The second thing to bear in mind when making new friends in a working environment is that sometimes first impressions are not precise. First impression may be lasting but they are not necessarily correct. The newcomer may not leave a good impression but we should bear in mind that they might be nervous or shy during the initial meeting.

Next is consideration on how to make new friends in giving them a chance to get to know you better and vice versa. Even if the first impression is not so favorable, it could help both of you if you would ask the common questions about life and work. In other words, initiate some small talk until you find a common topic. Besides, making friends is relatively easy to do. It is the keeping of friends that needs some effort. Even if they are just friends from work, you would still need to make an effort to be friendly. Having your co-workers as friends is not a bad thing. In fact, they are the people whom you would be in constant contact with during your working hours. Having a friendly and peaceful atmosphere at work helps productivity.

Employees in the same office can benefit from a healthy and friendly work environment because they work well better and usually get along with each other. The development of the social self-environment in an office is good practice. It also gives your superiors and managers the idea that you work well as a team.

Effective working relationships need to be worked on especially when the workers are more on the competitive side. Some managers and superiors actively cultivate a competitive work atmosphere to garner more productivity and efficient workers. The superiors believe that when there is competition, the workers try to outdo each other and they do their best work under this kind of pressure.

Despite the cultivated competitive atmosphere in a work place, you can still maintain friendly relationships with you co-workers. This is a tricky work atmosphere but when your co-workers know of your sincerity in your quest to be friendly they would be friendly also. Competition does not need to be hostile especially among friends. Workers can still be competitive while being friends. The important thing to remember in this kind of situation is that work remains in the work place and to let bygones be bygones.

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Internet Consultant and specializes in showing Business Owners how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to increase their sales, control and reduce their advertising expenses, and how it all can be done easily for FREE. http://tinyurl.com/2667y7y

Receive FREE Social Media Training for Facebook, Twitter and more by visiting http://freetraining.socialmedialistbuilding.org

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Sales Articles - How to Cold Call with Integrity - Amazines.com Article Search Engine http://ping.fm/NOxNa

Sales Articles - How to Cold Call with Integrity - Amazines.com Article Search Engine

Sales Articles - How to Cold Call with Integrity - Amazines.com Article Search Engine
How to Cold Call with Integrity The way we've always wanted to do cold calling! by Ari Galper, Founder of Unlock The Game ®

You probably never tell potential clients your real goal in calling them, but you don’t need to. They’re already aware, because we’re all sensitive when the phone rings and it turns out to be someone we don’t know.

In the old traditional training, we learned the latest techniques for making a sale. We talk to “prospects” rather than with people. And we “guide” conversations along rather than letting them unfold naturally.

The way we do this sometimes might even be called a bit manipulative. After all, we’re relating to another person while holding an ulterior motive of making a sale.

Where does honesty and integrity fit into this scenario? Well, most of us honestly believe in our product or service. But beyond that, we carry a somewhat artificial persona when we’re cold calling. We talk with people for the primary purpose of making a sale, and we’re not really interested in them or their world.

Doesn’t this make you feel uneasy at times? It does to me.

So let’s discuss some ways we’ve been trained in the traditional sales mindset that feel artificial and dehumanizing, and ways we can overcome them.

1. We intrude upon another person uninvited, with the goal of making a sale

It’s against our nature as human beings to create uncomfortable situations. We have a natural instinct for courtesy and connection It’s usually hard for us as regular people to call uninvited, because on some level it feels discourteous.

We can change that by changing our goal. What if our goal is not to make the sale, but to find out if we can help someone? This shift makes us more relaxed. And it keeps us in harmony with personal integrity.

2. We project ourselves as personable and friendly, while also holding an ulterior motive for securing a sale

There’s an inner conflict with integrity when we find ourselves using our connections with others for self-gain. So we can bring ourselves back into honesty and truthfulness by shedding ulterior motives entirely.

We do this by focusing on whether we can provide something that will benefit another person. We find out if they have a problem we may be able to solve. And if it turns out we can’t help with our product or service, we graciously accept the outcome.

By being honest and not playing a role, we find ourselves really liking what we do. And when our “ulterior motives” are simply non-existent, people are more open to trusting us.

3. When we meet someone new, we immediately talk about ourselves and what we have to offer

It’s actually not normal for us to start an interaction by launching into a self-focused monologue. As regular people, this just goes against our grain. Common courtesy dictates that initial conversations be dialogues, not monologues.

In normal conversations we would feel self-absorbed if we primarily talked about ourselves and what we have to offer. Yet in the traditional cold calling situation, it’s an accepted “norm.” We’ve been trained to read a script, follow a strategy, or give a sales pitch.

This really isn’t the way we’d like to relate to people, but it’s the way we’ve been taught.

We can break out of this artificial game of sorts by just being ourselves. Integrity and truthfulness means being authentic. We begin cold calling conversations with a natural focus on the other person. We find out their needs, and respond with genuine interest.

4. We “rev up” in an artificial way, hoping to carry the potential client along with us into a sales process

When we “pump ourselves up” with enthusiasm, it feels somewhat fake. It’s not our normal way of being, and it throws us out of integrity.

And we also appear artificial to potential clients. They become wary of possibly being maneuvered into a sales situation.

If we can navigate a cold calling conversation without such games, people will sense we’re trustworthy. They react warmly and unhesitatingly to a conversation that feels natural to them, and especially if it revolves around their issues rather than our agenda.

So how do we approach cold calling in the most truthful way? We stop being “salespeople” and become human. We engage in an honest dialogue rather than a monologue. We look for ways to help others, and we’re comfortable knowing that our product or service may not be an honest “fit” for them right now. And we stop playing roles, especially the “high enthusiasm” game.

This is what I mean by bringing integrity back into selling. It’s unbelievable just how rewarding both personally and professionally this can be.

Ari Galper, founder of Unlock The Game, makes cold calling painless and simple. Learn his free cold calling secrets even the sales gurus don't know. To receive your 10 free audio mini-lessons visit http://utg.infusionsoft.com/go/UTG/dhampton

Dennis Hampton is a Social Media Internet Consultant and specializes in showing Business Owners how to leverage the Internet and Social Media sites to increase their sales, control and reduce their advertising expenses, and how it all can be done easily for FREE. http://tinyurl.com/2667y7y

Receive FREE Social Media Training for Facebook, Twitter and more by visiting http://freetraining.socialmedialistbuilding.org

This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech, Mobile and Social Media http://ping.fm/ttHrh

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This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech, Mobile and Social Media

This Morning’s Top Stories in Tech, Mobile and Social Media
Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on three particular stories of interest today.

Meeting Between Microsoft and Adobe CEOs Leads to Speculation

The rumor mill began churning Thursday after a “secret” meeting between Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Adobe () CEO Shantanu Narayen was leaked to The New York Times, leading many to suspect that a possible acquisition of Adobe may be in the works at Microsoft.

According to the NYT, Ballmer arrived with a small entourage at Adobe’s offices to discuss Apple and its dominance of the mobile market. One source told the NYT that the two companies discussed a potential mobile partnership. Apple has denied support for Adobe’s Flash software on its mobile devices, including the iPhone () and iPad, thus providing an opportunity for Microsoft and Adobe to collaborate against Apple.

While we think an acquisition seems unlikely, investors seemed to think otherwise; by the time the markets closed on Thursday, Adobe’s stock price had risen 11.5%.

Publishers Prepare Apps for Samsung Tablet

Several major news organizations are developing apps for Samsung’s forthcoming tablet device, the Galaxy Tab, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The New York Times Company, News Corp’s The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today are among the publishers developing apps for the Android ()-based tablet, which is scheduled to become available to consumers internationally later this year. They are hoping to adapt the apps they build for the Galaxy Tab for additional Android devices in the future, the WSJ claims.

Apple Pushing Ahead with Subscription-Based Music Service

Apple is pushing ahead with its plans to launch a subscription-based music service, anonymous insiders have told The New York Post. The service could have a tiered pricing structure ranging from $10 to $15 per month, one source claimed, although details about how much music would be available and for how long have not yet been finalized.

Although rumors that Apple would start a streaming music service have existed for years, the company is reportedly driving to finalize the product ahead of the anticipated release of Microsoft’s Phone 7, which will include support for free music streaming service Spotify (), on October 11.

Further News

• Esquire’s first issue for the iPad hit the App Store () late Thursday night, raising the bar for future magazine apps just a little bit higher.
• Mozilla has released a beta version of its mobile Firefox () browser for owners of Nokia N900 phones and any device running Android 2.0 or higher.
• Adobe AIR is now available for Android devices.
• After the unpopular reception of its new logo, Gap turned to its Facebook fans to design an alternative.
• Google News is currently testing a new feature that allows users to integrate their Twitter () accounts with the news aggregator.
• PayPal’s recently updated check-depositing iPhone application is proving to be an incredibly convenient way for users to avoid the hassle of going to the bank. In the first 36 hours after release, the company has already received more than $100,000 in check deposits.
• Still concerned that Ben Folds and Merton are, in fact, the same person? Here’s proof they’re not.

Disclosure: Samsung and Microsoft are Mashable () sponsors; USA Today is a Mashable content partner.

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This Morning's Top Stories in Tech, Mobile and Social Media

This Morning's Top Stories in Tech, Mobile and Social Media
Welcome to this morning’s edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on four particular stories of interest today.

Facebook Scheduled to Make Major Announcement This Morning

Facebook () is holding a press event at its headquarters at 10 a.m. PT today. The company hasn’t disclosed the agenda for the meeting, but given that it runs through lunch, the announcements could be significant.

Last week, the company released major updates to its Photos product and has continued to expand its new Places network. Though the event could very well be about new features or integrations for Places (note the use of the word “check-in” in the invite), we think it’s more likely a new product, such as video chat.

Stay tuned; we’ll be reporting live from the event.

Verizon and Motorola Announce Two New Smartphones

Verizon and Motorola have jointly announced two new smartphones: Droid Pro, for business users, and Citrus, a basic, entry-level device.

The Droid Pro is aiming straight for the BlackBerry market with a 3.1-inch touchscreen, full QWERTY keyboard, 1 GHz processor, 512 MB of memory and 2GB of on-board storage, which can be further expanded with SD memory cards. It also features a 5-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and auto-focus, and supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth () 2.1 and tri-band UMTS. The device should be available in the first week of November.

The Citrus is a small touchscreen phone that runs Android () 2.1. Few details have been released; Engadget reports that the device will have a 3-inch screen and a 524 MHz MSM7525 processor. It should hit the market by the end of the year.

Google Goggles Arrives on the iPhone

Google Goggles, a feature that allows users to perform visual searches on the objects around them, has been added to the search giant’s newly updated iPhone app [iTunes link].

The feature, which has been available on Android devices since December 2009, recognizes objects like landmarks, logos, book covers and text, and allows users to quickly pull up additional information about those items.

Nokia N8 UK Launch Date Delayed Until October 22

Nokia has pushed back the UK launch of its N8 smartphone from October 1 to October 22.

The N8 features a 3.5-inch, 640×360 capacitive touchscreen, 680 MHz CPU, 256 MB of SDRAM, 16 GB of on-board storage memory, as well as a 12-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, Xenon flash and full HD capability.

The price for the device is £429 ($683) SIM-free or on contract from £30 ($48) per month. It will be available at Carphone Warehouse, O2, Orange, Phones4u, T-Mobile, Tesco Phone Shops, Three Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone stores throughout the UK.

Further News

• Tumblr () released an overhaul of its queue interface late Tuesday.
• New webOS devices are coming “early next year,” HP Senior Vice President Eric Cador said at an industry conference in Barcelona.
• Netflix released an updated version of its app for iPhone and iPod touch Tuesday. Users can now those devices to play movies on their TV sets.
• FaceMash.com, the Facebook prototype Mark Zuckerberg built in his Harvard dorm room one October night in 2003, is now up for auction on Flippa — or at least the URL is.
• Popular zombie-killing video game Left 4 Dead 2 is now available to Mac users.
• Digg Founder Kevin Rose asked his Twitter () followers Tuesday if Digg () should bring back the Bury button. Given that 69% of respondents answered in the affirmative, we may very well see the feature’s return soon.