Find startup retreats, coworking vacations and coliving spaces to work remotely together with other digital nomads.
Sourced through Scoop.it from: startupretreats.com
In my personal quest to bust the work-life balance myth, and build a business where purpose, passion, and profession are completely integrated -- I'm thinking, Why not do it from somewhere amazing?
If there are quality problems with your data, there are ways to clean it up — but it’s often more efficient to refactor your processes to prevent “smelly” data.
Sourced from: sloanreview.mit.edu
As someone who often applies Agile programming practices to business and marketing efforts, I really like the approach of using refactoring techniques to clean up data.
Even for our small business and organizational clients there is a lot of data that can quickly start to "smell" with no commitment to standardization and keeping the data clean. Common examples include Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions, e-commerce customer lists, email subscriber lists, and accounting data.
Of these, it is often the CRM solutions that create the biggest problem, with out-of-the-box fields that seem self-explanatory but in reality are subject to a wide range of interpretation. To extract the most value out of a CRM solution, the most vital action is not the construction of the system and fields themselves, it is the construction and defining of how the fields and contained data will be used.
I recently had a client with only 5 employees where their e-commerce reporting could not even be done consistently because it turned out that each person had a different interpretation of how to use various intermediate order statuses. On the surface each status seemed "obvious" and therefore had not been discussed. It wasn't until the data was needed for reporting that problems started to arise.
A big part of what we do at Idea Spring is help clients with the pre-planning, and developing appropriate definitions and guides to various data systems. We use an internal process and method that helps us dive into how the data will be used to create actionable intelligence and achieve mission-level objectives.
Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion. Now it's ready to really make that investment worth the money.
Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.businessinsider.com
This opens up a new channel and more opportunities. How does Instragram fit into your current marketing strategy?
"Amazon has amassed a huge artillery of technology in its marketplace, which it uses both for its own sales and those of companies selling through its marketplace, and now it’s formally offering those tools to startups."
Sourced through Scoop.it from: techcrunch.com
Technology and innovation are things I'm really into, and the times we live in are truly amazing. From 3D printing and rapid prototyping, to crowd funding platforms. Now add in Amazon's new Launchpad with global storefront and distribution -- it's really motivating me to go and invent something! (Or at least find something new to buy.)
Google+ is being torn apart.
Sourced through Scoop.it from: venturebeat.com
Just another example why it is so important to have a marketing strategy that doesn't collapse when there's a change in social media.
These changes may not have a major impact -- and might even be a good thing. But is your business prepared if Facebook or LinkedIn goes away? Even if they don't disappear altogether, they can clearly lose favor quickly. Several colleagues have all but quit Facebook socially (let alone professionally).
The point: all social media channels are just that -- channels. You need to focus on your branding, messaging, the customer experience, and how you will differentiate yourself and your business. The channels and tactics will necessarily change over time - but providing value, excellent customer experience, and continuous innovation will never go out of style.