Friday, May 30, 2014

Upfront Progress - Good UI

Giving people credit and a sense of accomplishment can go a long way. One way to motivate people along these lines is by showing a bit of upfront progress. We can reward people sooner as they start a task rather than wait till later. This way the perception of reaching the end becomes more attainable. The Goal Gradient Effect (Kivetz, Urminsky & Zheng, 2006) suggests that humans will complete a goal faster the closer they are to the end. Practical applications include: pre-stamped cards, rewarding for signing up, and savings accounts with non zero sum balances at the day of opening.

Try Upfront Progress
 

Good Optimizations: Gradient Variations
We can measure the effect of something in a scientific way by varying the strength of the possible cause across the variations. Scientists do this all the time with their white lab coats on. Let's say someone is testing the effects of gifting on sales. In this case, they might setup their test with the control having no gift, with B variation receiving a gift of low strength, and then further adding a few more additional variations with better and better gifts. If gifting does end up showing an effect, then the test result should suggest some degree of correlation. So that's just another idea for you to setup an experiment.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Veerotech Web Hosting Solutions

Who we are. Veerotech Systems, LLC is a full service web hosting provider. We specialize in providing premium web hosting services at competitive rates. Our tech support is top notch & run by seasoned professionals. Make the switch today & experience the VeeroTech difference! We include many premium features that other providers do not.

What we do. We’re a team of seasoned professionals who have a combined 20+ years of expertise in the industry. We have a passion for websites, servers, networks, storage & everything in between. Our goal is to provide our customers with quality & reliable solutions.

I recently ran a couple of SEO checks for him - I came up with a few different results, but overall very successful. It's interesting that Google can cater results to each individual search based upon computer history, IP address history, cookies, and human psychology.

yes "managed vps" is page 3

yes "raleigh web hosting" is page 1

no "litespeed web hosting" is page 4

no "managed kvm vps" not in first 5 pages


KVM Virtual Servers are great solutions to those who are outgrowing shared or reseller web hosting. If you need isolation & dedicated resources, our managed VPS solutions are a perfect fit. The VeeroTech VPS service line features the same management found on shared & reseller hosting except only your websites/applications are on the server.

yes "website hosting raleigh" is page 1

yes "nc web hosting" is page 1

yes "nc vps hosting" is page 1

yes "reseller web hosting dallas" is page 1



Sunday, May 25, 2014

Drive more visits and conversions for your website.

Drive more visits and conversions for your website.


Twitter's great for driving conversations with your followers. But how do you turn those conversations into actions that impact your business?

Introducing the Website Card. This new product allows you to feature your website content within a Tweet. Find new customers using our targeting options such as keywords and interests to drive the most qualified traffic to your site.

Try this product for free when you log into Twitter Ads.

Friday, May 23, 2014

animals expend more effort as they approach a reward

RAN KIVETZ, OLEG URMINSKY, and YUHUANG ZHENG*
 
The goal-gradient hypothesis denotes the classic finding from behav-
iorism that animals expend more effort as they approach a reward. Build-
ing on this hypothesis, the authors generate new propositions for the
human psychology of rewards. They test these propositions using field
experiments, secondary customer data, paper-and-pencil problems, and
to bit and logit models. 
 
The key findings indicate that 
(1) participants in a real café reward program purchase coffee more frequently the closer
they are to earning a free coffee; 
(2) Internet users who rate songs in
return for reward certificates visit the rating Web site more often, rate more songs per visit, and persist longer in the rating effort as they approach the reward goal; 
(3) the illusion of progress toward the goal induces purchase acceleration (e.g., customers who receive a 12-stamp coffee card with 2 preexisting “bonus” stamps complete the 10 required purchases faster than customers who receive a “regular” 10-stamp card); and 
(4) a stronger tendency to accelerate toward the goal predicts
greater retention and faster reengagement in the program. The concep-
tualization and empirical findings are captured by a parsimonious goal-
distance model, in which effort investment is a function of the proportion
of original distance remaining to the goal. In addition, using statistical and
experimental controls, the authors rule out alternative explanations for
the observed goal gradients. They discuss the theoretical significance of
their findings and the managerial implications for incentive systems, pro-
motions, and customer retention.
 
The Goal-Gradient Hypothesis Resurrected:
Purchase Acceleration, Illusionary Goal
Progress, and Customer Retention

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Google Analytics May 2014 Product Update

May 2014 Product Update
This month in Google Analytics: Remarketing introduces Smart Lists, Asset Sharing gets more productive, app and web data team up to provide better analysis, and tips from our education team help improve your digital marketing efforts.
New Features
Remarketing In Analytics Gets Better With Smart Lists
Many marketers love the hundreds of dimensions they can use to create remarketing lists in Google Analytics, but others have told us that the sheer number of possibilities can be overwhelming. So to simplify the product while still ensuring great results, we’re proud to announce a new type of remarketing list: one that’s managed automatically. Learn more.
Unleash Your Productivity With Asset Sharing
When teammates are working on different sides of the same problem, it's crucial that they be able to share innovations and solutions quickly. Google Analytics now has a series of asset-sharing tools that make sharing all your solutions even easier. Learn more.
Understanding Multi-Device User Behavior In A Single View
In this constantly connected world, users interact with your business across many digital touchpoints: websites, mobile apps, web apps and on other digital devices. To help you understand what users do in all these places, we’re putting web and app data in the same reporting view. Learn more.
Tips and Best Practices
Understanding Cross Device Measurement And The User ID
User-centric measurement is one of the key new features of Universal Analytics. It includes measurement across multiple devices – computers, smart phones, tablets, kiosks, etc. Google Analytics Evangelist Justin Cutroni explores the opportunities this creates for analysts and marketers in a new video. Learn more.
The Power Of Segmentation And Mobile App Analytics
Google Analytics Advocate Daniel Waisberg recently presented at the Google Developer Summit in London. Watch as he discusses the power of segmentation and proposes some key ways to go about it. Learn more.
Thanks for reading our monthly update. Don’t forget to share your thoughts with us through the feedback link below. Tell us what you’d like to see in future updates!

Friday, May 16, 2014

Tintri + VM Ware

VM Ware has come a long way since it was first developed. My past experiences have been bad for a user experience. They didn’t have the Tintri in place and boy was it slow for a user.

Tintri Zero Management Storage™ helps IT organizations eliminate storage complexity and minimize costs for their virtualized environments. Designed from the ground up for virtualization and cloud, Tintri addresses the mismatch between storage and virtualization with the industry’s first and leading VM-Aware Storage architecture. With intelligence that understands virtual machines and keeps storage always optimized, Tintri VMstore improves performance by as much as 10x, makes virtualization predictable and enables higher IT productivity—all while slashing costs. Production-proven in hundreds of global enterprises, Tintri helps businesses and organizations worldwide maximize their virtualization investments. - See more at: http://www.tintri.com/company#sthash.IwRNfO93.dpuf

Monday, May 12, 2014

online scanning and skimming

Claire Handscombe has a commitment problem online. Like a lot of Web surfers, she clicks on links posted on social networks, reads a few sentences, looks for exciting words, and then grows restless, scampering off to the next page she probably won’t commit to.

“I give it a few seconds — not even minutes — and then I’m moving again,” says Handscombe, a 35-year-old graduate student in creative writing at American University.

But it’s not just online anymore. She finds herself behaving the same way with a novel.

“It’s like your eyes are passing over the words but you’re not taking in what they say,” she confessed. “When I realize what’s happening, I have to go back and read again and again.”

To cognitive neuroscientists, Handscombe’s experience is the subject of great fascination and growing alarm. Humans, they warn, seem to be developing digital brains with new circuits for skimming through the torrent of information online. This alternative way of reading is competing with traditional deep reading circuitry developed over several millennia.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/serious-reading-takes-a-hit-from-online-scanning-and-skimming-researchers-say/2014/04/06/088028d2-b5d2-11e3-b899-20667de76985_story.html




Friday, May 9, 2014

Rookie Management Techniques

Saying how troubled the business is that you’ve just taken over. That way, if your results are poor, it’s not your fault, because you inherited a dog. And if the results are good, you’ve been successful in the face of almost-impossible circumstances. People see through this.

Talking badly about people who quit. Like talking badly about the business you’ve just taken over, this is another transparent means to manage your ego. But this only serves to make your team wonder what you might say about them one day. And while being gracious to departing colleagues might seem obvious, you’d be amazed how often “Well, I was just about to fire him anyway” is said, even at the most senior levels.

Immediately replacing the old team with “your” team, and particularly a team that looks and sounds a lot like you. There’s comfort in choosing everyone on your team, all of whom then “owe” you for their jobs. But the best business strategies can emerge out of discomfort, and that can mean having people on your team whom you may not particularly want to have to your home for dinner.

Getting detached from the clients. Customers and clients are messy. It can be very easy to spend more time away from them. PowerPoint slides and spreadsheets deliver much crisper answers than what you can hear from an actual person.

“Taking the hill” on your strategy without first getting buy-in from the team. The days of decreeing a strategy and then telling folks to execute on it are fading in the rear-view mirror. And that’s a good thing, because a strategy that doesn’t incorporate what your team and customers can tell you will almost certainly be sub-optimal. I’ve seen more than one manager decree a not-well-thought-out strategy and have his team essentially wait him out; after all, the next boss will be announced soon.

Not recognizing that your words carry more weight than they used to. Once you’re in management, your words (and your mood and your tone) are subject to interpretation by those who can be impacted by them. A poorly thought-out comment or joke can cause significant unintended anxiety.

 https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140414113552-174077701-top-rookie-manager-mistakes-that-make-you-look-like-a-jerk?trk=tod-home-art-list-large_0

4 Keys to Developing Engaging Facebook Content

Facebook has consistently been one of the go-to social media platforms for businesses. Although Twitter’s popularity and that of other platforms has put a dent into Facebook’s audience, it still remains one of the top social sites for baby boomers and older generations.

If you are a brand whose audience is still using Facebook, you’ve probably realized that competition has stiffened from a content marketing perspective. With so many other businesses on Facebook and the introduction of paid content, it’s becoming more difficult to create content that stands out and sparks a conversation. In order to revitalize your Facebook marketing and grab people’s attention, consider the following social media marketing tips that apply even to other social networks.

Share Timely Content
Content that is relevant and up-to date is far more likely to get people’s attention as it relates to their lives and current situations. For example, holiday-related content and content pertaining to current events tend to perform well in terms of engagement.

Developing news stories represent an opportunity to “hijack” stories and bridge the gap between the news and your brand. Sporting events are a common example of this tactic, as companies are currently taking advantage of the NBA playoffs in their content and created similar content for the Super Bowl.

Use Surprising Facts and Figures
Surprising people is another way to spark their interest and to get them thinking about your brand. Creating posts that share interesting facts or industry-relevant information that people don’t know about is a solid strategy for raising a few eyebrows and standing out in people’s cluttered newsfeeds.



One brand that is taking advantage of this strategy is Cleveland Brothers, as its content marketing strategy features posts offering users unique and interesting information. For example, on May 5th it shared a post discussing the fact that on that day in history the first American entered space. While this information might not be uncommon, the post went on to discuss Caterpillar’s role in developing future space exploration technology, which is probably news to most peopleThis post exemplifies the way in which Cleveland Brothers draw people in with surprising information while simultaneously raising awareness forits products.

Contests and Trivia
Holding contests on your brand’s Facebook page is another example of fun, engaging content that fans tend to enjoy. For instance, Trivia Tuesday is one form of contest-style content that encourages people to interact with your page. Ask fans a fact-based question that prompts them to visit your company page to find the answer. Offering a prize for the winner is another element that helps bring people in, as discounts and exclusive offers are always enjoyed.

Interesting Images
Facebook’s platform facilitates the sharing of beautiful photographs and visual content, something your brand should definitely be taking advantage of. When it comes to standing out on someone’s newsfeed, a vibrant photograph is much more likely to grab someone’s attention in comparison to a post simply composed of text.

These images don’t necessarily have to be photographs, either, as infographics and charts are also intriguing options. Regardless of the style or topic of the post, incorporating images is a great way to get noticed.

Competing with other brands on Facebook has gotten more difficult as more brands continue flocking to the platform. In order to create content that doesn’t get overlooked, consider the aforementioned content ideas and strategies.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Power distance and social business

It is becoming more widely accepted that culture is fundamental to the creation of a social business. It’s the behavioural glue that binds everything together. Suffice to say, culture is something that has received an awful lot of attention over the years, as the study of humanity has delved into what makes us who we are.

It’s probably not that far of a stretch however to recognize many of the characteristics from the small power distance column in the kind of social businesses we’re aspiring towards. Indeed, Hofstede describes various workplace characteristics in small and large power distance societies.

Geert Hofstede proposed various dimensions along which culture can be analyzed, one of which is the power dimension. He created a Power Dimension Index, along which countries would be placed, from small to large. The index contains various characteristics that typically pertain to cultures at either end of the scale, and I’ll outline some below.

- See more at: http://adigaskell.org/2014/04/11/power-distance-and-social-business/#sthash.zk58wSFM.dpuf

Hofstede’s Power distance Index measures the extent to which the less powerful members of organizations and institutions (like the family) accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. This represents inequality (more versus less), but defined from below, not from above. It suggests that a society’s level of inequality is endorsed by the followers as much as by the leaders.

For example, Germany has a 35 on the cultural scale of Hofstede’s analysis. Compared to Arab countries where the power distance is very high (80) and Austria where it very low (11), Germany is somewhat in the middle. Germany does not have a large gap between the wealthy and the poor, but have a strong belief in equality for each citizen. Germans have the opportunity to rise in society.

On the other hand, the power distance in the United States scores a 40 on the cultural scale. The United States exhibits a more unequal distribution of wealth compared to German society. As the years go by it seems that the distance between the ‘have’ and ‘have-nots’ grows larger and larger.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

How to Capture Facebook Leads

Now that we have an established definition of a lead, let us dive into how
to start generating these sales leads from Facebook.
You can generate leads from Facebook in one of two ways:
Direct Leads
Indirect Leads
Direct leads are generated by sharing content that links directly back to
a form on your website where visitors can share information in exchange
for an offer — whether that be an ebook, coupon, or so on. This form is
housed on a landing page dedicated to that specific offer.
Indirect leads are generated by using Facebook as an influencer on
the path to conversion. For example, if you shared a blog post that had
a call-to-action to a landing page at the bottom of the post, your initial
Facebook share is helping ultimately direct visitors to that landing page.
While directly promoting landing pages is an instant gratifier of leads
generated, providing content without a form makes your Facebook
presence a friendlier home for content that your fans will want to come
back for. Let’s dive into five ways you can capture leads, whether direct
or indirect.

http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/53/file-66196909-pdf/offers/how-to-generate-leads-using-facebook-intermediate.pdf?t=1371069609000

Friday, May 2, 2014

Interviewing Interns


A great intern can be a huge win for your work life. You have another set of hands on board to help with unfinished projects or tackle the much-needed research that just seems to sit there waiting for you to have time for it. You’ll have a few extra hours in the day to get to those bigger things you’ve been wanting to. You’ll have the opportunity to serve as a mentor and coach and develop your own leadership and managerial skills.
And a not-so-great intern? Well, ask anyone who’s had one — that situation can be more trouble than it’s worth.
But, sniffing out the latter category from the former can be tough when most interns don’t come to the table with much work experience or professional skills. What do you ask in an interview if you don’t have past positions to use as a gauge?
Just remember: The goals of interviewing a prospective intern are the same asinterviewing a job candidate — you want to learn about the person’s skills and abilities, assess their interest in your company, and determine whether or not they’ll be a good fit with your team. Here are a few questions in each of those categories to get you started.

You Want to Know: Do They Have the Skills and Abilities?

Tell me about your coursework. In what ways is it relevant to this position?
Even the most mundane college class has some professional benefit to it. There are the obvious ways — if you’re looking for a PR intern, then having someone who is majoring in marketing or public relations and has worked on projects that relate to your industry is a clear connection. But other classes have indirect benefits as well — for example, writing papers takes research, organization, time management, and editing skills, and foreign language classes require communicating effectively in a diverse environment. By having candidates identify and articulate those connections, you’ll get a good sense of where their strengths lie.
Tell me about your volunteer or community service experience?
Experiences like volunteering in the community, planning on-campus events, or participating in clubs or Greek life can be incredibly valuable in developing professional skills. I once hired an intern who had no paid work experience but a resume chock-full of impressive volunteer work. She planned an annual 5K for cancer research on her campus for three years (hello, leadership and event planning skills), worked at the local elementary school reading to children (clearly, she was responsible), and was the treasurer of her sorority (i.e., had top-notch budget management and organization skills). Asking candidates to describe what they’ve learned and gained from these experiences can be a great way to determine what they’ll bring to a professional setting.
What skills do you want to gain from this experience, and what skills can you offer us?
Sometimes just asking the question directly is best. Candidates may have great skills that aren’t reflected in their coursework or on-campus activity — or, they may know that they need experience in a certain area, and that your internship will provide them with just that. Either way, look for people who have really thought through what they’ll bring to and take from the opportunity.

You Want to Know: Are They Interested in Your Company?

Why do you want to intern here?
Sometimes students just need an internship, and they’ll take it where they can get it. But the best candidates — the ones who will likely work hard and be excited to learn more about your industry and function — will be applying because they respect your company’s mission or have some connection to the work that is done. Look for people who are really compelled to join your team.
What do you know about our company? What Questions do you still have?
As with any good job interview, you want an intern candidate who has done his or her research. Ask a few questions that will reveal knowledge of your company (or not). For example, is there a program that she’s most interested in, or does he have a thought on your most recent press release? In addition, letting candidates ask questions about the company and role can reveal their ability to think critically about what they’ve learned.

You Want to Know: Will They Fit In?

What are your expectations?
Asking candidates what their expectations of the internship are is a great way to ascertain whether or not they understand your company and the work they’ll be doing. Making sure both you and the candidate are clear about the work involved, the required hours, and the pay (if any) is the first step to ensuring a successful setup for both of you.
What do you know about the industry?
An intern will become a member of your team and will likely interact with other colleagues, vendors, and clients at some point. So, you want to be sure that anyone you bring on is familiar with basic industry jargon, programs, and procedures — or at the very least, will be excited to learn about them. A candidate who has done informational interviews, regularly reads industry blogs, or has a vested interest in the field will always be better than one who’s just trying to get experience anywhere.
What are your goals after graduation?
Learning about candidates’ long-term goals can give you insight into the kind of people they are (and want to become). They don’t necessarily have to perfectly align with the role and industry, but the internship will be a better experience for both of you if it’s at least somewhat related. Especially if you’re hoping your intern will eventually turn into a full-time hire, a candidate who, say, aspires to work for a large investment banking firm after graduation might not be a great fit in your mission-driven nonprofit.
As you ask these broad-based questions, try to elaborate on the answers and ask candidates to use specific examples whenever possible. Don’t let the fact that the candidates have little or no job experience throw you — just focus on the needs of your organization, the practical skills each candidate brings, and how he or she will fit into the team, and you’re bound to be successful.
This article originally published at The Daily Muse here