Product Launch 101. This is the story of what happens in a typical product launch. Fellow entrepreneurs and people interested in the business side of what I do will be interested; others probably won’t. I’m going to outline a few of the things I’ve learned in doing product launches over the years. With AONC I’ve done six of them so far (including the two non-commercial manifestos), but before that, I worked on dozens of others in my first decade of self-employment.
The Basic Principle My friend Havi gave me the analogy that launching a product is like having a child. In other words, it’s kind of a big deal and something that is fairly time-intensive. When they say, “Oh, if the morning’s not good, how about the afternoon?” The point is that a good product launch is a) a big deal, not just something that happens every day, and b) something that requires a great deal of work behind the scenes. Messaging The single most important principle of product launches is to make them special. The Launch Day Timing Wrap-Up. The Case for the $100 Business. I’m working on this concept for a longer project, but for now, here’s the basic principle: Just as you don’t need someone else’s permission to be happy, you also don’t need a lot of money to start a business. In fact, to start a very small business, you don’t need any number of things that are frequently thought of as prerequisites or first steps: Venture capitalOther outside investors (no need to beg family members for money)Employees or outsourced contractorsA 50-page business plan (or any business plan at all)An MBA (or any formal business education)Credit card debtBusiness cards or office suppliesA complicated legal structure Costly memberships in trade associations or networking groupsA physical office To be more precise, I think most small businesses can be started for less than $1,000, and many of them for $100 or less.
I know this in part because I’ve done it several times, but I also know countless other people who’ve had the same results. Do you just need an address? That’s it. Frequently Asked Questions | Institute For Humane Studies. What kind of applicants is IHS looking for? IHS seeks young journalists with a demonstrated commitment to free markets and individual liberty who want to gain valuable experience toward a professional journalism career. Most program interns are juniors or seniors in their undergraduate studies, graduate students, and recent graduates.
Many have done reporting for a school newspaper and demonstrated a clear interest in a journalism career. Back to top May non-US-citizens apply? The program is open to students and recent graduates of all nationalities. Where would I intern? IHS places interns based on the needs of host firms and an intern’s preferences and experience, to arrange the best possible summer experience. Do I need a car? Most newspaper reporting internships require interns to use their own car. Does the program include housing? Interns are responsible for arranging and paying for their own housing at the internship site. Does IHS pay for travel to and from the internship? A 12-Step Guide to Fostering Your Creativity. The Web Designer Series is supported by Wix.com, a free Flash online builder that makes website creation a breeze. Click here to create your own website now. One skill that every designer must learn — and quickly — is how to be creative on-demand.
While there will always be specifications that guide a project as well as tried and true methods of solving common visual problems, one must still be able to get focused, get creative and produce work that doesn't end up looking formulaic or forced. Unfortunately, though, not every project will be tantalizing and fun, and there will be days when you simply don't want to go to work, no matter how much you love your job. While most of these tips are for the freelance designer who works independently, anyone in a creative industry should be able to relate and gain insight from them. 1. Having a fixed schedule may sound counter-productive to creativity, but in fact, it has several benefits. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.
Page 3 - Eight worst search optimization techniques. Some webmasters and SEO companies will use any means they can think of to get a high rank in search engine listings. That’s not always a good idea. Krissi Danielsson gives a detailed list of eight search engine optimization techniques you shouldn’t use, and why you shouldn’t use them. Every site owner wants to be at the top of the search rankings. Better search engine rankings mean more site visitors, which means more business.
Naturally, with the stakes as high as they are, site owners look for any means possible to get into the coveted top ten placements on the main search engines – especially Google. There are a million and one optimization techniques out there that claim they can guarantee placement in the top ten results. However, it’s in your best interest to look at any potential optimization technique with a critical eye and to be sure you know what you are doing.
Invisible keywords embedded on the page What it is: Why you shouldn’t do it: Completely irrelevant keywords Hidden links. The Fundamentals & Best Practices of Logo Design. The Web Development Series is supported by Rackspace, the better way to do hosting. Learn more about Rackspace's hosting solutions here. Logo design is one of the first considerations for a founding team of a new company. It's also a carefully navigated quagmire for an aging brand that needs a refresh. We've consulted a panel of web design and logo experts about the basics and not-so-basics of creating a great logo for new and not-so-new web-based companies. In this three-part series, we'll share their insights on trends, hiring designers, typography and more. Our panel includes UK logo designer Graham Smith, designer and logo design blogger Jacob Cass, and Raj Abhyanker, CEO of Trademarkia, a firm specializing in trademarks and logos.
Read on for their advice, and designers, please share your own experiences and opinions in the comments section. Biggest Challenges for Startups "They of course may have limited funds, but unfortunately this will reflect badly on them regardless. How Companies Can Create a Brand Identity With Text Alone. The Web Development Series is supported by Rackspace, the better way to do hosting. Learn more about Rackspace's hosting solutions here.
For the third and final installment in our three-part series on logo design, we're taking a look at the simplicity of the logotype — a brand identity that contains only text. Logotypes, like those of Facebook or Etsy, play on two important facets of design — typography and color — to the exclusion of other elements. They can be elegant and even clever, or they can fall flat. We'll take a look at how a few examples walk that line. Our panel of experts includes UK logo designer Graham Smith, designer and logo design blogger Jacob Cass and Raj Abhyanker, CEO of Trademarkia, a firm specializing in trademarks and logos. Read on for their advice, and designers, please share your own experiences and opinions in the comments section. How to Handle Logotypes Smith is a fan of "strong and well executed" logotypes. Chime In Series Supported by Rackspace.
Social Minefield: How To Self-Promote Without Being A Jerk. Social media take wing with travellers. For business travellers, Facebook and Twitter are much more than places to share family photos and sneezing-puppy videos. These social media can also help road warriors wring extra value from a two-day conference in New York. "You can have an extensive network that is intimate without having to do the 'circuit,' and then when you do hit the road it allows you to meet a wider range of people," says Alexandra Samuel, the director of the social and interactive media centre at Emily Carr University in Vancouver. As co-founder of Social Signal, a social media strategy group for business, and a blogger on social media for the Harvard Business Review, Ms.
Samuel has spent considerable time advocating for social media at meetings and conferences around North America. Ms. LinkedIn - The business-oriented networking website allows Ms. "I am super-obsessed with using LinkedIn right now. Social media sites have also helped her get more bang for her buck. Mr. Ms. Guide to my Kenzo Invite. While we were outside at the Guapo Magazine party tonight, a pair of Irish men mentioned how not only will they be at Kenzo, but so will Diddy. And so will Lina and I. After we got home we sifted through the mailbox to find that my hand delivered Kenzo invite had arrived! So psyched!
Pretty much redefines the Christmas spirit of Men’s Fashion Week in Paris. I thought it was thrilling enough when regular invites and photopasses arrived for other shows. Kenzo out-did it all. Outer envelope that we had to cut to get out of the mailbox Invite Box Newspaper / Guide / Information Homicide Memorandum Packet for collecting evidence Shoot Yourself Two words: Blow Up Shoot to Kill I spy! Truth Serum The time for the show is 11am on Saturday I think I sense a theme for the show developing… Killer Flagship Content – Free Ebook To Download — Chris Garrett on New Media. Why People Hate Marketers. Hey everyone, I’m reporting live from Rarotonga in the South Pacific. It’s a nice place! Details on Monday. But first, I have an important message from our sponsor. (Yes, that would be me. There are no sponsors.) The Important Message The title of this post is deliberately provocative.
But when I talk about hating marketers, you probably know what kind of marketers I’m talking about. Anyway, here’s the deal. However, during the big launch week, I received an email that I found profoundly disturbing. It’s not what you’re thinking – the message wasn’t from a vampire. Here it is: Chris,I don’t mean to sound silly, coy, or to pry, but why do you not have people opt-in to receive your manifesto? It took me a while to figure out why I was so disturbed by John’s message. The way that John sees the world is all about manipulating people. See, the approach outlined in John’s email is defined by scarcity. Well — that is precisely the OPPOSITE of what I believe. The Money-Making Side of Things.