It is possible LinkedIn may have taken my advice. In a previous blog post of mine, “Is Linkedin Turning Into MySpace?, I said LinkedIn needed to give itself a makeover, to establish order and institute more credibility. In my opinion, LinkedIn resembled MySpace’s disjointed and overpopulated site design.
Now, it looks like LinkedIn is trying to change this perception with LinkedIn Contacts and the recently released visual profile.
LinkedIn Contacts
The new LinkedIn Contacts app creates interesting new options for its users, with a more integrated and richly developed version of the original LinkedIn. As I mentioned previously, over the past few years, the average users’ account has gotten muddled with acquaintances and people they barely know. This add-on app allows the ‘power’ user to focus more on the real details of the people they know well and/or want to focus on. I liken it in many ways to the dashboard function of a CRM. The integration of the app with Outlook, Google, Yahoo and others means that people have access to a cross reference of information, can create calendar reminders and focus more on making quality contact. Also, because this is a separate application, LinkedIn Contacts offers additional functionality without further cluttering... Read more
Archive for Dan Roche 
Don't Leave a Message
When was the last time you purchased an answering machine? I bet you can’t remember. I certainly can’t. Do you even know how much they cost these days? I actually had to Google to see that I could obtain one of these basic devices for six or seven dollars.
Not only have I not purchased an answering machine, or voicemail service, but I rarely even leave voicemail messages. It seems I’m not the only one. According to Internet phone company, Vonage, the number of voicemail messages has dropped eight percent (comparing figures from July 2011 versus July 2012). So, what is happening to voicemails?
People just aren’t leaving voicemails, and even fewer people are checking them. Vonage also found that voicemail retrieval dropped 14% (July 2011 versus July 2012).
Texting, emailing and instant messaging are quickly replacing voice calls and messages. Phone calls and the subsequent voicemails are seen as interruptions and are often met with annoyance and apathy. Written messages, on the other hand, are viewed as less invasive. For me, I can respond to a text message or email with a quick, short response, but returning a voicemail always involves more time. Also, by providing written responses, I can clearly outline... Read more
Back-to-School, Halloween…Christmas: I miss Thanksgiving
It’s become the standard, yearly routine. Summer ends, children go back to school and we buy costumes and carve pumpkins for Halloween. Then it’s on to Christmas, decorating the tree and lots of holiday shopping. But wait – What happened to Thanksgiving?
It seems like any Thanksgiving celebration is now overshadowed by radio stations beginning to play Christmas carols months in advance, Starbucks introducing red holiday cups on November 1 and stores decking the halls in October. And, if Black Friday wasn’t enough of a shopper’s paradise, the biggest shopping day of the year has been extended beyond just Cyber Monday and now includes deals and steals on Thanksgiving Day! Are people really enjoying the holidays anymore or are they already moving on to the next celebration? Do consumers want to forgo their Thanksgiving holiday to shop?
Many retailers seem to think (and hope) so. Stores that extended their hours last year saw an average increase in sales of 22 percent, according to chief retail analyst at NPD Group, Marshal Cohen. Therefore, Walmart, Sears and Toys “R” Us are all opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day at 8:00 p.m. to capture extra holiday sales, and Target will be opening at 9:00 p.m.
Personally... Read more
Webcasting: The Cloud vs. Hardware
For most companies, the choice between utilizing “the cloud” or “SaaS-based tools” versus hardware installations can be confusing. As people spend more time traveling and telecommuting, it seems only logical that they would seek Web-based access. However, there is still a comfort level in owning infrastructure or onsite software.
What are the major advantages of using cloud-based software over hardware for your webcasting needs? Here are the top three reasons why the cloud may be the best choice for you:
Accessibility & Multi-Device Usage
Cloud-based webcasts can be accessed or run from any location as long as you have an Internet connection, so customers can manage when and where they connect. In many instances, cloud-based webcasting platforms now offer accessibility on tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices. On the other hand, webcasting hardware requires you to be in the same location as the “box.” In order to present, you need to be able to access the device where the license is registered/software is downloaded/date is stored, so mobile accessibility isn’t as prevalent.
The convenience of live mobile access and on-demand availability in the cloud allows additional scheduling flexibility for a wide range of business uses, broader audience reach for corporate communication... Read more
