Out of the Blog, Into the Light

Windows XP Performance Enhancement Tips

I had always thought regularly defragging my hard drive beneficial to improving the speed on my computer, I was very surprised to discover it wasn’t. 

This was the highlighting conversation over dinner with a group of my geek friends this past week. 

During dinner they put their heads together and came up with a list of ways that they know really work on how to improve a computer’s performance.  I gathered them and place them into the attached PDF file just for my blog readers.

Some of these were too geeky for me . . . meaning too technical.  I did feel comfortable with three fast . . . numbers 6, 11 and 17.  So I implemented them.  My computer speed improved 27% immediately on my desktop and 41% on my laptop.  My laptop is 5 years old and is frustratingly slow.  I was so pleased with this improvement.

Well, anyway, here are 23 performance enhancing tips for Windows XP.

To open PDF file 23 Performance Enhancing Tips

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Quote of the Week

"There is always something higher, if you will only remember to keep your head held up."

How to Create Word Clouds or Tag Clouds

It’s Sunday and my play time with new stuff -- my research today is word clouds -- how to use them and how to create them.  Here is the result of my play:

You may even be wondering why you should?  Let me answer this as we continue.

Word clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.

Some blogs services create them for you and even change with each post. 

But did you know there’s a FREE place you can create them to use in other ways?

In fact, you can print them out or share with your friends or even use them in your print marketing materials.  In print materials they aren’t active, but they make a great graphic.  I like to use them in my eBooks.  I also just recently used one for a presentation.

I found a place that allows you the freedom to create and use the word cloud how you’d like:  Wordle

At the Wordle web site I created word cloud images to use on my web site, blog, posters, flyers, and even a class cover page?

Here you create them based on the text you enter.  Enter the text the site creates the image in a beautiful graphic, with different sizes and emphases on each word according to how often you used each word. It also provides you with choices on it’s direction.

I did a fun one for this post (see image above).  They gave me the XHTML code to post.  It took seconds to complete.

You can even enter the URL and it creates the word cloud for you based on what’s on the URL.  Once the word cloud is designed, you can play with the layout, font, colors, and more to make it look the way you want. Try it out and see what you think!

This is the word cloud made for the Out of the Blog, Into the Light blog. The “XXX" sure has me curious on where that came from.

Additional Resources:

Another place to create tag clouds:  TagCrowd.com

Wikipedia’s explanation

Technorati Tags: how to create word clouds,tag clouds,other uses,other ways to use tag clouds

411 Information is Now Handled by Google

I had a fun time learning about Google’s new free 411 service this past week and just yesterday got to experience it for myself.

I was doing my weekly volunteer “roving reporter” assignment at the local farmer’s market when someone told me about this store that had exactly what I was looking for.  I dialed the number (below), gave them the business name and they immediately connected me to the store and confirmed that they had what I was looking for.  Google  also sent me a map to the store directly to my cell phone.  Thirty minutes later I was leaving the store, purchase in hand, smiling, remembering how I had spent hours over the past few months looking for this. 

The service is totally free.  That’s right FREE!

Google has a short video here to learn more.

Even though its a simple process of dialing 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411), I highly recommend watching the 3-minute video.

For those living in Canada, it works for you as well (in the FAQ section).

Technorati Tags: Google 411,cell phone information

Did You Know YouTube Has An EDU Category?

Yes, YouTube has a special "edu" section where colleges and universities from across the country post videos? You can find video posts from musical and dance performances to brief lectures from noted scholars to commencement addresses and interviews with students.

Besides being entertaining, there is useful information and resources that could help with school projects and even business projects.

For example, visit YouTube EDU and learn from a video possted by Harvard Business School.

Maybe you are looking for inspiration for a project in an art or design class.

There are also videos from students sharing their ideas and projects that could help you brainstorm your projects. 

Preparing a speech?  There are some good examples (and bad examples) of public speaking.  Listen to recent commencement speakers, like Michelle Obama at the University of California, or Brad Delson (of Linkin Park) at UCLA, at practice critiquing them.

Technorati Tags: video,learning,youtube,education,class projects,writing,lecture videos,school projects,preparing a speech

Quote of the Week

"If life knocks you flat on your back, open your eyes: above you are the stars."

Writing an Executive Summary for Your Business

You may or may not have written an executive summary for your business. 

You can use this information in your print materials, on the Internet, in presentations and proposals, and more.

The three top reasons people don’t write one are: 

(1) They don’t know how;
(2) They haven’t even heard about it before; and
(3) They have no clue why they should. 

If you’ve already written yours.  Congratulations!  You ahead of the crowd.  Now, if you haven’t look at it in a year or more, then subtract seven of those points.  It’s time for a review and probably update.

I’m going to give you a six-step process on how to create your Executive Summary – or revise yours, it this is the case. 

Before you continue, I’ve attached a two forms -- Word and PDF -- to help make this easier. 

Let’s get started! 

First

For your first creation, you will be crafting your “Core Solution Statement.”  This is a simple phrase that communicates the essence of your solution. 

Here’s a fill-in example you can play with:  I/We help XX companies/individuals retain XX.

Time to play.  Using this example, write a page full of different sentences.  Do it until you have  three or four that feel just “like you.”

Second

Okay, second task – the problem.  What is the problem, pain or predicament your prospect has?  You must understand, you have to write this so the prospect understands the problem not just you – which is a common problem I run across. 

Here’s a practice sentence.  “These days the biggest challenge in XX is keeping XX.  If you know of a survey or statistics that back this up you can include this in the next sentence.  Example:  In a survey of XXX, the XXX.  The second sentence is your proof and improves your credibility fast.  So, take the time and do some research and find what’s says this problem is real.

Now, let me plug this in . . . these practice sentences are meant to play with.  There are too many variables to present one that’s right for everyone.

Third

Third – the solution.  This is NOT giving them the solution this is discussing what’s possible if you solve this problem.  Many people misunderstand this. 

In the second task, the second sentence, you were giving proof that there was a problem. 

In the third part of your Executive Summary you need proof again but you want to give them an emotional visualization of what the business or their life will look like after they have your solution.

Example:  Research also proves that the top reason for XXX is not XXX or XXX, but because of XXX.  The good news is that when XXX changes, XXX (what happens).

Fourth

Now the fourth part – how come?  This is where you discuss why companies/individuals are stuck with this problem (number 2 above) and not having the solutions (number 3 above).  There really isn’t a good example I can provide -- too many variables.  Take this slow, think about it, and maybe reread this. 

Fifth

The fifth part is easier.  It’s the one areas you’re most comfortable with.  This is the process you need to do – the steps -- needed to resolve this problem and give them the solution you described.  Again, continue playing.

Sixth

For the sixth, you answer the question, “Why you/us?”  A statement of why you are qualified to provide this solution.  Many begin with “since [year], [name of your business] has been XXX to XXX by XXX.  I hope you create something better.  But if this is where you begin, go for it.  Just begin.

When I first did this process, I found it painful.  Painful because I thought I knew my CPA practice after five years.  But once I moved past the guilt and admission to myself, I created 10 in a very short period -- all with different problems and/or solutions.  The information served me in so many ways over many years.  You’ll find the same.

This is worth the investment time you give it.  Promise.

Technorati Tags: how to write an executive summary for your business,forms,writing,planning,executive summary

Sell the Happy Hen

 

Last Saturday was the first day for my volunteering at the Arlington County weekly Farmer’s Market.  I’m one of their roving reporters.  My assignment for my first visit was to observe.

So I did.

I talked to the vendors, gathered names and ideas for stories and sat and watched buyers.

Strawberries is a big seller this time of year.  So I sat on the lawn and watched the three vendors I could see who were selling them.  Two had about 10 pints for sale.  The third about 40 displayed.  The one with more had a line of 30 or so people waiting to purchase.  The other two no line at all.  It was extremely fascinating to watch.  I was so curious as to why the one had a line and the other’s weren’t making any sales.  I was hoping to have enough guts to approach a few people in line to find out but never could get up the courage.  I’m going to be watching for this again on my next visit. 

I want to know was it because their pints looked fuller – and they did. Was it because their strawberries looked bigger – and they did.  Was it the strawberries?  Was it because they were under a tent and the other two were not?  Was it because of the other items they were selling?  I’m returning next week just to see what changed and to continue watching.

Across from the strawberry vendor with a line I saw this Happy Hen ad.  It was on 6 x 9 white cardboard. I watched.  Then I walked around to see who else was selling eggs and how they were selling them.  No contenders.  The vendor kept revolving the two cartons. Someone would purchase a dozen and the vendor would replace it with another dozen carton.  Always having only two on display.  They were selling well too! 

When I looked at the eggs they weren’t even medium size.  In the store they sell extra large, large and medium.  Well these were even smaller than medium.  And the price wasn’t a bargain for sure.

So why were they selling?  Was it convenience?  Could be.  They could be thinking, “Well, now I don’t need to go to the market just for eggs.”  I even thought this.

Actually, she was selling the story behind the product.  She was implying that if the hens were happy you would be as well when you ate them.  Cool huh!  I asked one purchaser.  She said she liked the idea she was buying from someone who took better care of her hens.  Hmm, nothing in the sign said that.  I actually heard this three times from different purchasers.

This proves many marketing principles.  First, perception is created by the story people connect to it.  Happy Hens paints a picture for the prospect immediately in just a few words.  There was a implication that her hens were happy and the ones who lay the eggs that you purchase in the story weren’t – the differentiation.

I wonder if the other strawberry vendors could have added a sign “Happy Strawberries” or “Happy Strawberry Plants” and sold more?

Of course, there were many other marketing principles being worked here.  Think about it and learn how to use the Happy Hen sign to your advantage.

I know I am . . . where can I place a Happy Hens sign?   

Technorati Tags: Happy Hens,marketing principles,Arlington Farmers Market,Arlington,Virginia,booth selling,sales,market sales,farmer market selling

Time to Dump Your Money Wasters

Don't be afraid when something isn't working to dump the pocketbook drain.

Are you wasting time networking? So many people are always talking about how they love to network. But is it really working or are you just afraid you don’t have anything else? If you belong to an organization for the specific purpose of generating leads and you don’t close any transactions, you need to get off your assets and openly solicit leads (stop being a secret) or you need to dump this activity because it's both a time and money waster.  Empty promises don’t pay the bills.

Who needs to be deleted from your referral database? If you haven't been consistently contacting people in your referral  database at least three to five times a year either by e-mail, phone or a letter, and you haven't received a referral from these people, it's time to stop spending money on them. And time is money. Spend your money on people who refer you business and stop wasting time on any money on those who don't.

Are you wasting money on a website you don't you? Has your website produced more then one transaction in the last year? Is your website up-to-date or have you been promising yourself you’ll do it soon but haven’t? Can people find you easily on the web through the search engines.  If you answered no to any one of these questions, you need to seriously rethink the money you are spending on marketing via the web and whether or not this money would be better spent on more profitable activities.  Just because you have a business doesn’t mean you need multiple web sites.  There are thousands of people making millions without one.

Are you throwing away money because you don't check your e-mail? If you don't have a valid e-mail address that you check daily, then you are better off redirecting leads to your office or home phone where you will at least receive the message.  Just last week I sent a follow-up message to several people I met at a networking event.  The messages bounced.  I called to let them know thinking something technologically was wrong.  After I called them each said  they don’t check their email messages but maybe once a week or two.  I had two referrals for one of them.  Upon hearing this I didn’t give them the referrals. 

The bottom line is…find what works for you and concentrate on those activities and dump the rest.  Don’t try playing a game you don’t want to play.  It reduces your credibility. I have plenty of people in my database today who don’t have an email address because they love to give personalized direct service. And that works for them very well.

Technorati Tags: money wasters,time wasters,money management,money saver ideas for business

How to Express Your Core Marketing Message

When someone asks what you do, how do you respond?  Here is a time-tested format that gets the attention and interest you want. You don't start out talking about what you do, but who you work with and what their problem is. This takes the focus off you and onto your clients. This always generates a better initial conversation about your services.

This is a very simple but powerful method for gaining interest and attention for your services. Note carefully that the discussion is always focused on what you do for your clients and what they get from working with you. What people tend to do is talk about what they do, their services, and processes. What's missing when you do that is the "what's in it for me?" factor.

The Question: What do you do? Here's how to respond.

1. Target Market -Say who you work with first. Let your listener know your service is for them, not someone else.

"I work with IT executives in Fortune 1000 companies…"

2.. Problem -Articulate the problem or predicament or pain your target market is experiencing in terms that are meaningful to them,"

"...who are having difficulties getting their top talent to stay around."

-Pause - Wait for response or question.

3. Problem/Stories -Tell them more about the problem and discuss examples of those you have worked with.

"Many IT managers are losing people because they are so bad at managing people, For instance, a client we worked with was losing 30% of their best technical people every year...."

- Conversation about various problems and challenges.

4. Solution/Uniqueness - Tell them your solution and what makes you different.

"We've had very good results in turning around the attrition problem for clients. Typically we can cut their attrition in half in less than six months."

- More conversation about solutions and results.

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