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Tablets as useful tools are becoming a reality. Aside from developing useful apps – that’s a given - there are a few things that need to happen in order for the tablet to become the next “killer device”.
 Follow me for a moment on this principal: the cell phone and tablet are companion devices and must be seen as one device. Here are a few features I want:
- They must share a data plan. Not two separate data plans, but one. Oh, and the tablet must contain it’s own cellular hardware so it does not have to use the phone connection.
- I want my phone to act as a mouse for the tablet (wired and/or wireless). Not a touchpad, but an actual mouse that I move.
- The apps must crossover seamlessly and work perfectly together. When I update an app on one device, the other device should automatically follow suit.
- The phone can display the tablet screen and vice-versa. If I’m in another room and want the tablet to do something – show me it’s screen on my phone.
- They must share storage space easily. Yes, they need independent storage, but that storage should work as one.
- In the future when the screens do not have a bordered edge, they should connect in such a fashion whereby the phone is useful as a natural tablet screen extension.
- There must also be power options that allows for “single use” functionality of each device. This means they can be just a camera, or mp3 player, or phone, or e-reader, etc. This will add hours to battery life and eliminate some user headaches as well.
- Phone and tablet screens must become tactile with physical feedback. I don’t need a real button, but I need the digital button to feel real.
Is it a a big wish list? No. These are the necessary additions for these devices to evolve to the next level. If you have suggestions – send me a message on Twitter.
Cheers,
Andrew
As 2012 rolls into the middle of it’s first month, I find myself rigorously reviewing all of the strategies and processes that I employ in my professional, business, and personal life. Actually, I’ve been reviewing things for about a month now and am creating a very solid plan of action.
A plan can save countless hours, a good plan can save countless days, but a great plan makes us masters.
I see all too often people and organizations focused on the quick win and not looking for the BIG win. The BIG win is the coming together of planning, strategy, and execution.
Ok, this sounds nice, but what is the one take-away that you need to remember?
Make everything measurable and accountable to that measurement.
Examples:
- Want to meet more people – then decide how many each month.
- Want to exercise – then how long and how many days each week.
- Want to give back to the community – then how much time/$$$ every quarter.
The Big Secret
Not a lot of people plan to plan. If you set a goal of investing energy (say 2 hours a week) into your planning efforts, then you’ll be ahead of many of your colleagues.
So here they are, the two “must use” tips: plan to plan and measure your plans.
It’s easy, as long as you don’t mind working at it!
Cheers,
Andrew
 According to Kristin Zhivago, President, Zhivago Management Partners, Inc., when talking to your customers, there are eight questions you need to ask.
Note: Kristin highly recommends that you ask these questions over the phone.
Top 8 Questions
- How do you feel about our product/service?
- What was your buying process?
- Are our prices fair?
- What is your biggest problem/challenge?
- What trends do you see in your/our market?
- If you were the CEO of our company tomorrow, what would you fix?
- What did you type in Google when you first started searching?
- Anything I should have asked?
I completely agree with Kristin that these questions, asked with respect, with give you some of the best feedback you’ve ever had. Be prepared for people to be completely honest with you. You might not like/agree with all of the answers, but keep this in mind: The customers perspective is how they see you, not how you want them to see you.
Additionally, I think this list of questions could be easily modified to expand beyond customers. Look at all of the people with whom you interact, I wager you will gather some excellent feedback.
Andrew
 This blog posting is about an education tool that I call a “must have” in the communicators handbag of tricks.
What is MarketingProfs.com?
It is an education resource for marketers. While the website offers many resources, in my opinion the best tool they feature is the live webinar education sessions. These sessions provide a wealth of relevant and current information in a 1-hour format (1.5 hours if you stick around for the q’n’a).
What Resources are Available?
- Live webinar sessions. If you miss a session, they are all recorded and available to watch later
- Articles written by professionals
- Daily blog postings
- Case studies
- Guides and reports
- Conferences and seminars
- Research publications
There are other tools such as forums, networking resources, job postings, etc. For a complete list, just visit the website.
Who Should Use the Resources?
If you are in any ways involved in marketing, communications, or public relations this site is a must. It’s also for anyone who creates or edits content, makes presentations, interacts with clients/customers/people, and/or likes new media.
This resource is not for you if you don’t invest in your education, business, or communication skills. But we both know, that’s not you.
Let me just say for full disclosure that the nice people at MarketingProfs.com are NOT paying me to write about them. I’m writing because it’s really a great tool.
Why Go Pro?
While they do offer some free marketing resources, the best resources are in the pro section. I’m sure that pricing will change over time, but right now you can get a one-year membership for around $300. Even if you only attend two webinar sessions, it will more than pay for itself.
The Bottom Line
I’ve been a member since around 2006 and in that time I have accessed some fantastic content and resources. I do recommend this to my colleagues and peers and just recently mentioned that I enjoy downloading one of the many MP3 education sessions to listen to as I drive.
If you have ever been annoyed that Windows XP does not include a “New Folder” icon in the file management window (Windows 7 does), then you here is a very quick, easy and free solution. I’m using it and it works great.
Here is what the developer says:
bxNewFolder adds a “New Folder” button to the toolbar of Windows Explorer. It also provides a hotkey (F12) to create a new folder within the Explorer quickly.
Download the plugin from their website:
For more information, here is the reference site where I found this information:
Additional Notes:
It’s very easy to install. I did have to let my antivirus know that it was a trusted application, but this was a matter of a single click.
Youtube makes it easy to create video, but how easy is it really to add a podcast/audio feed to your own website?
The last time I tackled this it involved several applications and a few hours of development. Today I’m working out a fast way to make podcasting a quick reality. Stay tuned…
Podcast: Play in new window
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I am not shocked that there is a tool to measure how social-media-cool you are. It’s called #Klout and if you have a score less than 40 you may not be able to access both online and offline events.
It’s an interesting fad that is very evident of our social time. After all, we have celebrities that are famous for just being famous. It only makes sense that we have an application to tell us exactly how social we are.
For more information, here is a great story that I highly suggest you read:
When you try to talk to everyone, you are actually talking to no-one
 The content machine is alive and well. I just read a Google article from 2008 describing how Internet content has, for the most part, reached the level of infinity.
“Strictly speaking, the number of pages out there is infinite”
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/we-knew-web-was-big.html
If this is true, then how does your content, my content, or anyone’s content become accessible? After all, there are a finite number of people in the world (7 billion and counting) and any number mathematically equated (BEDMAS) with infinity becomes infinite.
So, what’s my point? Well, like the sub-headline indicates: When you try to talk to everyone, you are actually talking to no-one. If you create content for the world, content that is trying to compete against the infinite content that exists, guess what – no-one will listen.
I see this not just online, but also in the print, radio, television, – the entire content creation world. There needs to be a focus to your communications or else you will fail.
Do you think Apple talks to everyone? No. They know their audience and they are currently very adept at speaking directly to them (I say currently because the only thing certain about the future is change).
How to fix the mistake
The formula for fixing the mistake is really quite simple, that is, once you have all of the variables defined (that’s the hard part). I wish the solution was easy, but then again if it was, everyone would have a purple cow.
product/service/message/goal + communication tools + correctly scoped audience
= A chance for communication success
Bottom Line
If I can sum up this whole blog with one comment it would be: Write content that adds value for a specific audience. It sounds simple, but it’s much more difficult than people imagine.
Bonus Info
I’m going to address the formula mentioned above again in a later blog posting, but until then here are three bonus ideas to think about:
- Do your homework. Look at your product/service/message/goal and ask: Who is my audience and how can I give them something of value?
- Don’t assume you know your audience. You must take the time to find out who they really are.
- Review the communication tools you have at your disposal. Will they reach your audience? If not, why are you going to waste time going down the wrong path?
So things have been very busy this past year. It’s amazing how time flies. I’m going to start shifting my focus of this blog away from the rant-zone and into the far more interesting communications world that I love.
I have been actively tweeting for quite some time now and will soon integrate it into this woefully neglected blog world.
As with all things, a little time, love and dedication will bring new fruits of labor to life.
Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/andrewtompsett
You know what I want – I want a streaming Internet radio station that allows me to rate each song they are playing.
I love the stations that are available through the web site: www.181.fm, but I really wish I could rate each song they play. Some songs are played too much, some I can’t stand, and some are fantastic.
Give me the opportunity to interact with the content so that, through listener feedback, they can build a better radio station(s).
Who is up for the challenge?
Cheers,
Drew
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