Looking In-Depth: The Apple Design and What You Can Learn
We are constantly bombarded with logos and graphics filled with detail and vibrant colors, yet one of the most popular companies logos seems so simple. Many business owners look at the Apple logo and think; “I could do that without hiring a designer.” The truth is, even this seemingly simple logo has a formula. While those without that design-eye might see Apple’s logo as a shortcut that got lucky, designers can see that this logo is truly a masterpiece. This logo didn’t just get lucky.
Should Face-to-Face Meetings Even Matter in Business?
There is no doubt that social media and email have made the life of a PR professional easier and quicker. This is in part because it allows PR agencies to do business with those from other parts of the country (or world), but also because clicking a “tweet” button or writing an email is so quick and convenient.
Email allows us to prioritize our business and get to things at the most opportune time, while social media allows us to interact with customers and clients without having to drive to a meeting place and have an hour long lunch. With the time saved by digital communication, more business can get done.
In-House SEO vs. SEO Agency: Does It Really Matter?
It is no secret that SEO is crucial to the success of a small business, but what many do not realize is that there are different ways to fulfill this crucial need. Many new business owners work with SEO on their own while other, more established companies choose to use an SEO agency. Consider what makes these two approaches unique and then consider some of the positives and negatives to each:
Social Media Expert, Or Kid Who Has a Facebook?
Now that social media has entered the marketing scene, so has the position of social media expert. Since many aspects of social media are fairly new, it makes sense that not every veteran business owner is up to date on the latest social media lingo. Fortunately for the business owner, they can hire a social media expert to take care of the new-age marketing practices. Unfortunately for the business owner, they have to somehow interview and hire this “expert.”
If you are unfamiliar with social media, don’t sweat it. Before hiring a social media expert there are a few things you can look for that will point you in the right direction. In many cases this will be easier if you have social media accounts, but there are ways to get around this. If someone you trust is active on social media platforms, ask them to let you look at a few things. If you are not sure how to navigate your way around the site, ask for help. Social media networks are made public to everyone for a reason. It is not illegal to check-up on a potential employee (especially one who should be fluent in social media), and there is no need to mention to your “helper” what you’re looking for on each site. Here are a few of the things to consider when deciding whether you have a social media expert or just a kid who likes to talk on the computer:
How to Use Quora to Help Build Your Company Brand
Being a part of a marketing department in today’s world is somewhat exhausting. All day I am stumbling, digging, tweeting, liking, and connecting. For some, this may sound like a foreign language, but for an employee in the marketing field this sounds like work, work, and more work. Social media is a great and cost effective way to start growing your company brand, so I love the idea; however, there comes a point when enough is enough. I have always felt that pretty soon consumers are going to fall behind, and it will then become harder and harder to introduce any new social networking site. In other words, if another networking platform is going to try and weasel its way into the hearts of bloggers and marketers, it would have to be pretty amazing.
How to Use Your Age to Your Advantage in the Job Hunt
Our generation gets to do all the fun stuff—we get to play the “good luck getting a job” game, walk the fine line between personal and professional use of social media, and dodge the “you’re ruining America with your laziness how could I ever hire you” looks.
Well, fun may not be the correct word.
Nonetheless, as someone who just graduated this past May, I know how difficult it can be to find work with the economy remaining, shall we say, less than great. To make matters worse, CEOs and other company managers now have their pick of potential employees, and they are often skeptical toward young professionals. After all, it is difficult to compete with someone who has 20 years of experience and two Masters degrees, and now suddenly willing to work for a little bit less than they’re worth.
5 Old-School Rules Entrepreneurs Should Think Twice About Following
When it comes to starting a business, we often rely heavily on common sayings we’ve heard all our lives — “all you need is an idea” and “you need to spend money to make money.” It can be tough to know whether you’re on the right path, so you put that old wisdom into practice with the hope that your idea will soon blossom into the next big thing. But are traditional, well-known rules truly smart to follow?
Got Spam? How to Report Spam and Keep Your Inbox Clear
You’ve seen it—those annoying jumbled messages, the pop-ups flashing on your screen, the messages covered in blue underlined words. It’s obvious that no one likes spam. Site managers are now using Captcha, those common sense questions or blurred letters you have to type before submitting an article or comment, to make sure that their website stays spam free. Once again, we are annoyed. Fortunately, there is something you can do about spam. You can report it.
However, as great as reporting spam might sound, people never take the time to report these annoyances, but instead simply “x” out of the spam or delete it form their inbox. For this reason, spam never seems to disappear. Imagine that!
Is Creativity Worth the Gamble in PR?
I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes we need to get creative in the world of PR—how can I get this person to email me back; how can I get this person to see that my idea is the best; how can I make this company look a little bit less boring. It can be tough, and in some situations creativity is absolutely the key to success. However, PR professionals are often in charge of creating press releases, helping with interviews, and creating campaigns for the eyes and the ears of the public. In other words, PR departments have the entire public analyzing their work. This led me to wonder: Can being too creative be too risky?