ImaginativePRO Blog

THE INSANE OPULENCE OF THE UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE UNDER ITS FORMER DICTATOR

WHEN YOU'RE ROBBING STATE COFFERS TO GILD YOUR TOILETS, TASTE BECOMES SECONDARY

During the summer of 2011,  Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych opened up his modest home to six television reporters, revealing what a journalist with the AP described as "a cozy place with a small office just big enough for his grandchildren to play in." Except even at the time, it was pretty obvious that he didn't live there. The same AP story went on to detail "strong evidence he actually lives in very different digs: a luxurious, marble-columned mansion with a golf course, a helipad, and even an ostrich enclosure."

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Yanukovych's critics were right. When the public finally got a glimpse of the leader's true housing situation after he fled Kiev a week and a half ago and found refuge in Russia (just before Ukraine's parliament voted him out of power) they found all of the above, plus a replica galleon floating on an artificial waterway, elaborate statuary on neatly manicured lawns, garages filled to the brim with vintage cars and motorcycles, bathrooms the size of studio apartments with gilded toilets, and more.

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The Ukrainian presidential palace has a dining room that is nothing short of overwhelming. The mansion wouldn't look out of place as the country abode of an oil baron or a Hollywood starlet, perhaps, but this is the private resident of a public official, who for most of his career made a salary in the realm of $2,000 a month.  Yanukovych is currently missing (hiding out in Russia, thanks to that other crook Putin) and wanted on charges of mass murder related to the killing of Euromaidan protesters, who for the past three months have been protesting Yanukovych's policies, including rejecting an accord with the European Union in favor of strengthening ties with Putin's Russia. How Yanukovych's grand residence came to be is a baffling tale of corruption, secrecy, and questionable design choices. Now vacated and overrun by journalists and citizens hoping for a glimpse of the president's secrets, the palace remains an architectural tribute to the fantastic wealth and power wielded by its owner. And yeah, it's pretty ugly.

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Mezhyhirya, as the residence is called, was, up until 1923, the home of a monastery. In 1935, the 350-acre estate was taken over by the government and turned into a park with summer houses for Soviet officials. In 2007, Yanukovych privatized the property in his final days as Prime Minister, demolishing the Soviet-era buildings and erecting a five-story palace built by Honka, a Finnish company that specializes in log houses.

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In Yanukovych’s final weeks as Prime Minister, his government illegally privatised  Mezhyhiriya. No money was paid to the state for its sale; instead, a couple of semi- derelict buildings in Kyiv were handed over in return (they have continued  to fall down ever since).

Mezhyhiriya, meanwhile, was acquired, without any competitive tendering process, by a Donetsk company called ‘MedInvestTraid’, which immediately resold it and a few years later filed for bankruptcy.

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COMMENTARY:   What is it with these Russian and Ukrainian presidents presidential palaces. Vladimir Putin's presidential palace is also very over the top and opulent.  But former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych went way over the top with his presidential palace. No wonder he was overthrown. 

Courtesy of an article dated March 5, 2014 appearing in Fast Company Design

HOUZZ TOUR: NATURALLY MODERN IN THE MONTANA MOUNTAINS

Contemporary Exterior by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

Near Montana’s Glacier National Park, the town of Whitefish boasts a largely rustic architectural vernacular: log cabins, stone walls, steeply pitched roofs. And when the owner of a sloping forested lot with views of Whitefish Lake and a ski mountain wanted to build a home that was modern and clean, he intended the design to feel like it still fit with the local style.

He tapped architect David Koel of CTA Architects Engineers and interior designer Hunter Dominick of Hunter and Company Interior Design to help create a two-story home that was simple, airy and locked into the landscape with natural, humble materials. In other words, a home that belonged right where it was. 

Houzz at a Glance
Location: Whitefish, Montana
Builders: Denman Construction
Size: 2,500 square feet (232 square meters); 2 bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms

The simple, rectangular house has a steeply pitched roofline that echoes the angles of the surrounding mountains and sheds snow and rain away from the entries. The pale stone fireplace chimney serves as an exclamation point to the exterior, which is clad in red cedar. The second-floor main-suite balcony is partially a green roof. “We love to do contemporary work in a rustic Montana world,” says architect Koel.

Contemporary Exterior by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

At dusk the translucent garage door is a welcoming lantern toward the street. The second-floor slot window provides light to the master suite while retaining privacy. 

Contemporary Living Room by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The first floor includes an open living, dining and kitchen space, as well as a guest suite and laundry. Window walls provide views of the lake. Interior designer Dominick incorporated some of the owner’s traditional pieces from a previous residence, as well as specifying new, contemporary furnishings. 

Dining table: fir, custom, Hunter and Company Interior Design; dining chairs: Eames; armchairs: Hickory Chair; coffee table: Ligne Roset Contemporary Dining Room by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The open-tread staircase leads to the second-floor main suite. The polished concrete flooring contains in-floor radiant heating, lowering the home’s energy costs. 

Contemporary Entry by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The home’s entry was deliberately tucked away from the main living area; the entry sequence is through a gallery-like space where the homeowner displays his contemporary art collection. The door is a custom design by the interior designer, made of cold-rolled steel. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

A lack of upper cabinetry keeps the kitchen connected to the dining area and to the views. A wall of pale green glass tile makes a statement and anchors the interior to its woodsy surroundings.

Contemporary Kitchen by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The counters are recycled content and create plenty of space for serious cooking and entertaining. The doorway to the right leads to a wine storage space. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

Stainless steel appliances add an industrial touch to the open kitchen. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The kitchen sink has views of the landscape. The cabinetry is Zebrano laminate. 

Contemporary Staircase by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The second-floor main suite includes a sitting area, bedroom, bath and closet. Cork flooring was chosen for its natural, insulative quality. 

Contemporary Bedroom by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The slot window in the main bedroom frames views of the nearby ski slopes, yet maintains privacy from the street. 

Contemporary Bathroom by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The main bathroom includes a concrete vanity counter with an integral sink. The wall is clad in quartzite mosaic tile. 

Contemporary Deck by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The slate-tiled balcony off the main suite leads to a green roof, landscaped with mosses and other native plantings. The balcony doubles as a canopy for patio spaces below.

Contemporary Staircase by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

A steel and cable railing system and open-tread vertical-grain fir steps create a sculptural staircase to the second-story main bedroom. The flooring is cork.

Contemporary Laundry Room by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

High-gloss cabinetry, art and accessories make the laundry room a destination, not an afterthought. 

Contemporary Bedroom by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The cozy guest suite has more of a rustic ambience, with striped bedding and wood-based table lamps. 

Contemporary Deck by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The exterior’s razor-like lines are enhanced by metal detail at the corners, allowing the red cedar cladding to weather and shift slightly, while keeping the corners crisp.

Contemporary Entry by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

Stone, wood, steel and glass make up the exterior’s simple palette and help to anchor the house to its natural setting. The front terrace provides a glimpse of the home’s interior.

Contemporary Exterior by Kalispell Architects & Designers CTA Architects Engineers

The rear of the home opens to lakeside views. The tapered end of the second floor contains storage, mechanical and utilities, accessible from the back of the main suite. 

COMMENTARY:    Just love this house.  Love the clean, modern and minimalist design of this home.  Lots of windows and natural light give the house a lot of warmth.  Follow my blog by joining my newsfeed and get my posts on a regular basis.   You will also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ by doing a Google search or clicking the icons below.

Courtesy of an article dated March 24, 2014 appearing in Houzz

STUDY: MILLENNIALS ARE AS LOYAL TO THEIR FAVORITE BRANDS AS THEIR PARENTS TO THEIRS

 

Some 64% of Millennials say they feel at least as much brand loyalty to their favorite brands as their parents do to their own favorite brands, according to a recent report from Adroit Digital.

The survey of 2,000 US Millennials (defined as consumers age 18-33) found that 40% of them say they feel the same level of loyalty as their parents, and 24% say they feel more.

Just under one-third (31%) say they feel less brand loyalty than their parents, and 5% say they feel none at all.

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Below, additional key findings from the report.

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Earning Loyalty

• Despite most Millennials' having affinity identical to or surpassing that of their parents, 77% of them say they use a different set of criteria in selecting brands to which they'll be loyal.
• 78% say brands have to work harder to earn their brand loyalty than they did to earn their parents' loyalty.
• 52% say to remain relevant brands need to listen to consumers and be willing to change based on their feedback.
• 38% say brands need to become more about the consumer and less about the brand. Millennial women feel more strongly about this than men (45% vs. 33%).
• Women are also more concerned about eco-friendly products (40% vs. 28%), and fair business practices (37% vs. 28%).

How to Reach Millennials

• Asked which advertising mediums have the most influence over how they view brand value, 70% of respondents cite TV and 60% cite social media.
• Social media is especially powerful with Millennial women (66% say it is influential, compared with 55% of men who say so).

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Choosing New Brands

• Regarding what influences their decision to try a new brand, 62% of respondents say value or price is a key factor.
• Recommendations from friends (55%) and brand reputation (47%) are also important criteria.

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About the research: The report was based on data from a survey of 2,000 US consumers who self-identified as being between 18-33 years of age and who own both a smartphone and a personal computer. The survey was fielded January 21-27, 2014. 

Courtesy of an article dated March 26, 2014 appearing in MarketingProfs

FACEBOOK TO ACQUIRE OCULUS VR, THE LEADER IN IMMERSIVE VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY FOR $2 BILLION

In a press release, Oculus VR announced its acquisition by Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) in a cash and shares deal worth around $2 billion. The acquisition positions Facebook to accelerate Oculus’ growth in gaming, communications and new social experiences.  

MENLO PARK, CALIF. – March 25, 2014 – Facebook today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Oculus VR, Inc., the leader in immersive virtual reality technology, for a total of approximately $2 billion.  This includes $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares of Facebook common stock (valued at $1.6 billion based on the average closing price of the 20 trading days preceding March 21, 2014 of $69.35 per share).  The agreement also provides for an additional $300 million earn-out in cash and stock based on the achievement of certain milestones.

 

Oculus VP Product Nate Mitchell introduces the Oculus VR Development Kit 2 during an interview with Tested at the Game Developer's Conference 2014 in San Francisco on March 19, 2014.  

Oculus is the leader in immersive virtual reality technology and has already built strong interest among developers, having received more than 75,000 orders for development kits for the company’s virtual reality headset, the Oculus Rift.

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While the applications for virtual reality technology beyond gaming are in their nascent stages, several industries are already experimenting with the technology, and Facebook plans to extend Oculus’ existing advantage in gaming to new verticals, including communications, media and entertainment, education and other areas. Given these broad potential applications, virtual reality technology is a strong candidate to emerge as the next social and communications platform.

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Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg said. 

“Mobile is the platform of today, and now we’re also getting ready for the platforms of tomorrow.  Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate.”

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Brendan Iribe, co-founder and CEO of Oculus VR said. 

“We are excited to work with Mark and the Facebook team to deliver the very best virtual reality platform in the world.  We believe virtual reality will be heavily defined by social experiences that connect people in magical, new ways.  It is a transformative and disruptive technology, that enables the world to experience the impossible, and it’s only just the beginning.”

Oculus will maintain its headquarters in Irvine, CA, and will continue development of the Oculus Rift, its ground-breaking virtual reality platform.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014.

In the following YouTube video, Dan from The Diamond Minecart uses Oculus VR's Rift virtuality headset with Minecraft, a VR game, to demonstrate Rift's VR capabilities.   Judging from Dan's overall enthusiasm and joy using Rift, and fun riding Harold the Pig (an animal character in Minecraft), it appears that Rift is going to be a runaway best seller.  75,000 Oculus VR development kits 2 have been presold as a testatment. 

 

In acquiring Oculus VR, Facebook is banking that games, communications and social media apps will go VR in a big way, and we will all be wearing these VR goggles in the same way we watch videos and our friends via two-way videoconferences.   

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Facebook will host a 30-minute conference call to discuss the acquisition at 3:15 P.M. PDT / 6:15 P.M. EDT today. The dial-in number for the call is (866) 751-3284 (toll free) and (973) 935-8772 (international); participants will be connected by an operator.  The live webcast of the call can be accessed at the Facebook Investor Relations website at investor.fb.com. Facebook uses the website http://investor.fb.com as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.

Following the call, a replay will be available at the same website.  A telephonic replay will be available for one week following the conference call at (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406, conference ID 18971947.

COMMENTARY:   The virtual reality headset, the gizmo that was supposed to seamlessly transport wearers to three-dimensional virtual worlds, has made a remarkable return at this year's Game Developers Conference, an annual gathering of video game makers in San Francisco.

After drumming up hype over the past year and banking $2.4 million from crowdfunding, the Irvine, Calif.-based company Oculus VR captured the conference's attention this week with the Oculus Rift, its VR headset that's more like a pair of ski goggles than those bulky gaming helmets of the 1990s that usually left users with headaches.

Oculus VR founder Palmer Luckey said. 

"Developers who start working on VR games now are going to be able to do cool things. This is the first time when the technology, software, community and rendering power is all really there."

While VR technology has successfully been employed in recent years for military and medical training purposes, it's been too expensive, clunky or just plain bad for most at-home gamers. Oculus VR's headset is armed with stereoscopic 3-D, low-latency head tracking and a 110-degree field of view, and the company expects it to cost just a few hundred bucks.

A line at the conference snaked around the expo floor with attendees waiting for a chance to plop the glasses on their head and play a few minutes of "Hawken," an upcoming first-person shooter that puts players inside levitating war machines.

Attendance was also at capacity for a Thursday talk called "Virtual Reality: The Holy Grail of Gaming" led by Luckey. When he asked the crowd who'd ordered development prototypes of the technology, dozens of hands shot into the air.

Simon Carless, executive vice president at UBM Tech Game Network, which organizes the Game Developers Conference said. 

"There's been a lot of promise over several decades with the VR helmet idea, but I think a lot of us feel like Oculus and other devices like it are starting to get it right.  We may have a competitive and interesting-to-use device, which you could strap to your head and have really immersive gaming as a result."

Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. are reportedly working on similar peripherals, as are other companies. Luckey contends that the innovations Nintendo Co. made with its Wii U, Sony is planning with its upcoming PlayStation 4, and Microsoft is likely tinkering with for its successor to the Xbox 360 don't seem like enough.

Luckey said.  

"We're seeing better graphics and social networks, but those aren't things that are going to fundamentally change the kind of experiences that gamers can have."

A growing list of high-profile game makers have sung the device's praises, including Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, "Minecraft" mastermind Markus Persson, id Software's John Carmack, "Gears of War" chief Cliff Bleszinski and Valve boss Gabe Newell.

Valve is planning to release a VR version of its first-person shooter "Team Fortress 2" for the Rift, but Luckey is hoping that designers in attendance at this week's conference begin creating games especially for the doodad.

Luckey noted.

"The doors are already open.  People are already telling us things they want to do with the Rift that they can't do with traditional games."

Luckey said prototype versions of the technology are being distributed to developers now, and he anticipates releasing a version for consumers by next year.

Forecast:  200,000 Virtual Reality Headset Units Sold by End of 2014, $60 Million Market Size

Announcements made at GDC last week by Sony and Oculus have helped to firm-up the state of the consumer virtual reality market in 2014. For those of you who didn’t catch the GDC news…..

• Oculus confirmed that the second iteration of the developer kit (DK2) will be shipping in July 2014.
• Sony showcased Project Morpheus, their VR headset. However, this will not be shipping in 2014 and instead is rumoured to be available early 2015.

Back in January KZero Worldwide released its State of the Market report and accompanying market sizing analysis.  In its market sizing assessment Kzero forecasted a total of 200,000 VR headset units sold in 2014, yielding a  market value of $60 million (at an average sales price of $300). It looks like KZero's forecast was pretty accurate for the following reasons:

• Oculus has sold 60,000 DK1 units to date (with sales now suspended for this version). Of this 60,000, circa 20,000 were sold in 2014 (Kzero estimated).
• Kzero expects the vast majority of DK1 buyers to purchase at least one DK2, meaning circa 60,000 – 80,000 repeat unit sales from these existing customers.
• With interest in VR and Oculus continuing to grow through 2014, Kzero forecasts at least 100,000 new sales (from new buyers) in 2014 once DK2 is released.

Kzero's five year unit sales forecast is shown below. Post 2014, its forecast is based on the following assumptions:

• In 2014 Oculus is the only company selling a virtual reality headset. So, its 2014 forecast numbers for the market is essentially a forecast for Oculus.
• Sony enters the market Q1 2015 with a consumer version of Project Morpheus.
• Oculus also launches their consumer version (CV1) in Q1 2015.
• Microsoft and potentially three other major companies enter the market towards the end 2015.  Kzero anticipates Samsung, Apple, Google and LG to be in the mix.
• Other hardware start-ups launch consumer VR headsets throughout 2015  and 2016.
• Hardcore gamers and Innovators drive initial sales (these are the people purchasing DK1 and 2).
• Early adopters and light gamers boost sales supported by the Early Majority and the Teen market from 2015, ramping up from 2016 onwards.

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Total unit sales in 2015 is forecasted at 5.7 million, rising to 10.9 million in 2016 with the VR market establishing itself as a serious contender in the global gaming and entertainment marketplaces. Over the full five year period of 2014 to 2018, Kzero forecasts total cumulative unit sales of 56.8 million.

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Kzero's Slideshare presentation containing more detailed market forecasts for consumer virtual reality is shown below. For more insight into the Virtual Reality market you can order our State of the Market report for free here.

Courtesy of an article dated March 25, 2014 appearing in ValueWalk and an article dated March 19, 2014 appearing in Kzero Blog

VIDEO OF THE THREE BASE JUMPERS WHO JUMPED OFF OF 1 WORLD TRADE CENTER, SURRENDER TO N.Y. POLICE

Last September three daredevils (or crazy people, depending who you ask) jumped off 1 World Trade Center, 1,368 feet up in the air. All three turned themselves into authorities Monday, and this incredible footage of the long leap, shot from a helmet cam, was released for the first time. For those of you with a fear of heights, you might want to skip this one.

 

COMMENTARY:    Wow, that's one hell of a jump, and at night too.  That makes it even more dangerous than jumping during the day.  Makes you wonder how they were able to get into the construction area of the new building, then get up to the room of the building. 

• The trio have been identified as Marco Markovich, Andrew Rossig and James Brady - and their look-out was allegedly Kyle Hartwell
  
• Police believe the thrill-seekers climbed through the same hole in a fence to get to the top of the skyscrapper that a New Jersey teen, Justin Casquej, did last week

Courtesy of an article dated March 24, 2014 appearing in Digg

MOST BRANDS ARE NOT PREPARED TO MANAGE NEGATIVE SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTS, AND HOW BRANDS TYPICALLY RESPOND

Over half of brands (55.5%) do not not have an effective strategy in place to deal with negative comments on social networks, according to a recent report from Social Media Marketing University (SMMU).

Some 24.5% of brands are in the process of developing a strategy for dealing with negative comments, 7.6% have strategies in place that are proving to be ineffective, and 23.4% do not have a strategy in place and do not have plans to develop one, the study found.

The report was based on data from a survey of 1,036 marketers, social media strategists, C-Level executives, and entrepreneurs.

Other key findings:

• 26.1% of respondents say their brand's reputation has been tarnished as a result of negative social media posts, 15.2% have lost customers, and 11.4% have lost revenue.
• 58.2% of brands receive customer complaints via social media occasionally, 10.9% receive them somewhat often, and 4.9% receive them very often.
• Only 17.6% of brands strive to respond to customer complaints on social media within an hour. Most (52.2%) respond within 24 hours, and 21.4% percent rarely or never respond.

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About the research: The report was based on data from a survey of 1,036 marketers, social media strategists, C-Level executives, and entrepreneurs conducted February 10-13, 2014.

COMMENTARY:  Social media is a powerful tool for brands of all types. It helps them connect, engage, and establish trust with current and prospective clients, increase brand awareness, website traffic and ultimately increase sales.

Connecting and engaging with clients and fans is a great way to show the human side of your brand and establish trust and loyalty.  But what happens when something goes awry and negative comments start popping up on your brand’s Facebook page or Twitter feed?  How would you address this?

Social media managers respond to negative comments in various ways:

1. Ignore them:  The ‘Head in the Sand’ approach.  If you don’t reply to the comments, maybe they’ll just go away.  If a customer was at your place of business with a complaint, called or emailed your customer service department would you ignore him?  No way!  So why do some social media managers believe it’s okay to ignore complaints lodged on social networks?  That I can’t answer.  The unfortunate fact is that it happens.

 2. Delete them:  The ‘If No One Sees It, It Didn’t Happen’ approach.  The only thing worse than ignoring a negative comment is deleting it.  It only serves to anger the customer more and give them cause to react by telling ALL of their friends how awful your company and its employees are.  It’s important to note that the average Facebook and Twitter user has 100+ friends and followers, so a complaint from one or even a few customers grows exponentially, costing you customers you didn’t even have yet.

 3. Respond in kind:  The ‘I’ll show you!’ approach.  Let’s say a customer leaves an angry complaint on your company’s Facebook page or Twitter feed. You feel the complaint is unjustified or, for whatever reason, it makes you angry and you can’t help but respond with an angry or defensive comment.  Just as with the first two approaches, your response will only serve to exacerbate an already negative situation. Remember the old adage: The customer is always right – no matter how wrong he is!  Also, remember that the complaining customer is not the only person who will be privy to this exchange.

 4. Placate with a hollow apology: The ‘Gosh, Sorry You Feel That Way. We’ll Try To Do Better.’ approach.  The problem with this response is that it doesn’t appear to be sincere, nor does it offer a real solution to the complaint, which, again, only serves to exacerbate the situation. People are aware when they are being appeased. Most importantly, this approach offers no solution to the problem and the customer may not  give you a second chance.

Social media managers make these mistakes all the time, especially when there are multiple complaints (such as the one I covered a while back in my blog post regarding Ann Taylor brands and Cyber Monday). They ignored, deleted, and placated – all while continuing to offer new online sales and discounts without first fixing their substandard site.  They responded to a few complaints by asking the customers to call or email customer service.  For days afterward, there were complaints posted about not being able to get through by phone and getting no email response.  How can they possibly believe this would have a positive outcome? What should they have done instead?

I suggest that there is truly only one proper response when managing complaints on your brand’s social networks:

 5. Offer an apology AND a solution:  The ‘We Hear You and Value Our Customers. We Will Make This Right Immediately!’ approach This is your opportunity to turn a disgruntled customer into your brand’s evangelist!  This person (or people) obviously had some sense of loyalty to your brand if they’ve spent their money with you, “liked” your Facebook fan page, and/or followed you on Twitter.  Now, however, they’ve had an unpleasant experience and usually they just want to know that they’ve been listened to and that you (the people behind the brand) will make things right. In Ann Taylor’s case, there were problems with their website. They approached it in the ways outlined above, continued to send emails and post to social networks with apologies for inconvenience, and extended the time for the sales. What they didn’t do was fix the website, making it appear that they weren’t ‘getting it’ and, worse, that they didn’t care.

Considering the volume of complaints, it would’ve been impossible for Ann Taylor’s social media manager to respond to each one individually.  I would’ve suggested that they make one post and send one email explaining that they were aware of the issues, were working to fix them, and offering to extend the sale or give an even larger discount – once the site was fixed (and not a minute before).  I certainly wouldn’t have deleted posts or continued to offer online sales until I knew the site could handle the traffic.

I think sometimes brands forget that handling complaints via social networks are the same as dealing with them face-to-face (only with higher stakes).  If a customer were standing in front of you with a complaint, you’d never ignore them, walk away from them, or simply apologize without offering a resolution. So why would that approach be acceptable via social media? Answer: It’s not!

When you deal with complaints effectively, disgruntled customers will tell their friends how awesome your company is and what great customer service you offer. And they’ll encourage their friends to buy from you.  They have now become an evangelist for your brand.  Talk about powerful (and free) marketing! You’ve established brand loyalty and trust to a greater degree than you would’ve had if there had never been a complaint.

Just remember that no matter how fantastic your brand is, mistakes happen, customers get upset and complain.  With the growth of social media they now expect to be able to lodge these complaints – and get resolutions – via social networks. Think of it as an opportunity to prove how awesome your company is – or not.  It’s your choice.

How should a brand deal with negative comments? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Courtesy of an article dated March 21, 2014 appearing in MarketingProfs and an article dated June 28, 2012 appearing in SeekingSocialMedia

GOOGLE GLASS' SHORTCOMINGS, AND WHY MOTOROLA'S MOTO 360 SMARTWATCH WILL KILL GOOGLE GLASS

In November of 2013, I became a Google Glass Explorer. Part of this endeavor involved forking over $1,500 and tax for a technology device that was still in beta. The hardware was beyond prototype, but not in the mass production scale that would be necessary for worldwide distribution.

 

Just a few years ago, smart watches such as those made by Sony and Pebble were very limited in their functionality, battery life and technical specifications. When Project Glass was announced in 2012, it was seen as a revolutionary technology. It was wearable computing to the next level. Google Glass enabled people to have the information they “needed” in the corner of their eye and gave them instant access to the world wide web with just a simple voice command.

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In theory, the technology is great. However, in practice, it’s a different story.

I have been a Glass Explorer for just shy of six months and I have to admit that I (like many other Glass Explorers) use the technology much less than I ever thought I would and here’s why:

Battery Life:

Most of the applications for Google Glass can be a battery hog. However, with “regular” use throughout the day, I can usually squeeze a good 6-8 hours of casual use before the battery is depleted. Many of the augmented reality applications such as World Lens, require a lot of battery use because they involve the use of the camera, display, wireless data and heavy processor use. Doing something as simple as taking a video can deplete the device’s battery in just 20-30 minutes. Granted, Glass isn’t designed or intended to record long form content, but more or less “moments” which is why the device records 10 second video clips by default.

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Security “Issues”:

Many workplaces will not allow the use of Google Glass because of exposure to sensitive information and PII (Personally Identifiable Information). I would not be surprised to see if the PCI standards change to ban the use of wearable cameras in areas where employees are able to see credit card numbers. Sadly, most of the concerns about Glass are around it’s camera, which brings me to my next point.

Social Acceptance:

Wearing a computer on your face is about as acceptable as riding a Segway around your office. The simple truth is that we aren’t there yet. The fact that we recently learned about the largest government surveillance scandal in recorded history doesn’t help either. People feel that their privacy has been invaded enough by companies reading their e-mail, governments listening to their phone calls and more surveillance cameras than we realize. Until these fears are settled, wearing around a camera on your face will remain a faux pas in many settings.

Google Glass' facial recognition capabilities presents controversial privacy invasion issues (Click Image To Enlarge)

Reliability:

Google Glass is not reliable. Plain and simple. Switching between Bluetooth and Wifi data is never seamless. The device is incapable of connecting to Wifi networks that require TOS agreements or have any sort of splash page login method. If you leave the device turned off and unplugged for a period of time, the battery mysteriously depletes itself. The most frustrating reliability issue is related to connectivity. You can have Google Glass successfully paired to an LTE device with great signal strength and still see the dreaded “can’t reach Google right now” message.

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Moto 360 Won’t Have These Problems

The most exciting thing about the Moto 360 is that it won’t have most of the problems that I encounter on a daily basis with Google Glass. First of all, it’s on my wrist, so it’s much less conspicuous than a face-mounted computer. This definitely helps us in the social acceptance arena, and makes it a wearable that I’m comfortable wearing everywhere (except maybe not the shower). Battery life may be a problem, but not in a way that it is for Glass. I expect overnight charging for my smart watch and would love to see wireless Qi charging integration to make that process just a little bit easier.

 

Better App Development

I don’t think I’m alone in assuming that there will be more and better apps designed for wrist-mounted wearables. Although the Android Wear platform may look completely analogous to Glassware, it’s a much more practical form factor which means more users and more potential for success of any certain app. Also, apps can be designed to work on a number of devices, not just Motorola’s upcoming offering. Developing for a multi-device platform is a no-brainer when compared to developing for a single device on a different framework.

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Sex Appeal

Men love watches. It’s really the only jewelry that most guys wear, and a lot can be inferred by the watch someone wears. For example, during the work week, I wear a Seiko stainless steel watch with a black face and very minimalist design. It shows that I am polished, responsible and punctual. On the weekends I like to wear a leather-banded “easy read” by Timex that is reminiscent of a standard GI watch from decades before.

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With the ability to instantly change the face of your watch and select a stylish band, this wearable becomes less of a computer and more of an accessory.

Safety

With Moto 360, you don’t have to brag to the world that you’re wearing a computer. A fringe benefit of this design is safety, as we recently learned from the woman wearing Google Glass that was allegedly mugged inside of a San Francisco bar.

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Affordability & Luxury

$1,500 was a lot of money to thrown down on a prototype. Especially something that won’t get daily wear. I don’t expect that Google Glass will dip below $800 any time soon, either. Moto 360, on the other hand, is likely to come to the market with a sub-$500 price tag. The competition in the market will surely help keep prices down as other manufacturers continue to innovate.

However, as in the world of watches, history tells us that consumers will spend thousands of dollars for a rare timepiece. If any of the major watch makers join the game, we might see an emergency of luxury smart watches which will only drive more consumers in the middle class to pick up a lower priced model.

I wanted Glass when it was announced. It was new, it was fresh and it was unexplored territory in the real world. Now that I’ve seen Moto 360, I see elements some elements of Glass that I love that will fit much better into my daily life.

COMMENTARY:   I always thought that Google Glass was a cool wearable android device,  but upon reading McDermott's comments about Google Glass' shortcomings, and Moto 360's strengths, I have come to the realization that Google should rethink the design of Google Glass. I knew that battery life was a serious problem with Google Glass if you constantly use it to video things you see or run online queries constantly.  There should definitely be a "sleep" feature built into wearable devices.  Wireless power sources are now within reach, and Google should consider acquiring one of three or four startups that are innovating in the wireless power source space. This could be a possible solution to the problem. 

Peter G McDermott is a technology enthusiast and community builder dedicated to helping small businesses connect with their customers online.

Courtesy of an article dated March 20, 2014 appearing in Mashable 

LOGBAR'S BLUETOOTH RING IS LIKE A MAGIC WAND ON YOUR FINGER, RAISES $772,000 ON KICKSTARTER

We've seen interactive rings that receive alerts from your smartphone and even rings that will give you the current time in a unique way, but a new ring leapfrogs the rest by acting as a full-on control mechanism.

On its exterior, Logbar's Ring device looks like nothing more than a silver ring, but packed inside the device are electronics that allow it to recognize your finger gestures and control any number of devices.

Logbar CEO Takuro Yoshida gave a detailed demonstration of the silver interactive device last year in San Francisco, and now Ring is available for purchase through a Kickstarter campaign.

Click Image To View Kickstarter Project Page

By recognizing finger gestures, Ring allows the wearer to write text messages by simply drawing in the air. The same dynamic allows the wearer to access apps by drawing designated shapes in the air. For example, drawing a music note could access your music player, while drawing an envelope shape would allow you to access your email.

More advanced functions depicted in the company's Kickstarter video (see above) include using the Bluetooth device for mobile payments via GPS or iBeacon, and as a controller for televisions and lights in smart homes. The company also says that it has tested Ring with devices spanning a wide spectrum of currently available, bleeding-edge hardware, including the Pebble watch, quadcopter drones and even Google Glass.

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Ring's associated app also allows you to program original shape gesture commands. This option could be particularly useful for disabled or visually impaired users with somewhat unconventional finger gesture patterns.

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To activate the device, you simply press the side button on the Ring, and to receive alerts you can either receive a vibration or view the discreet little LED pinpoints near the button port. According to the device's developers, Ring can perform up to 1,000 gestures before its battery needs to be recharged.

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The only obvious shortcoming of the device at this point is that fact that it's not waterproof. That could turn into a problem for those attempting to use Ring in mobile environments during bad weather, or even inside the home, say, if you forget you have Ring on when you go to wash your hands.

Also, Ring's rechargeable battery is not replaceable. Once it stops charging, the fun is over, and you'll have to pony up for a brand new Ring. That might not be as bad as it sounds. The cheapest early bird version of the device sold for $145, and during Yoshida's presentation last year he mentioned hopes of getting the device down to the $100 range.

At launch, the Ring app will only be available for iOS and Android devices, but the company has plans to release a Windows Phone version.

The device blew past its original Kickstarter goal of $250,000 in just its first five days of availability and, as of this writing, Ring had reached over $772,000 in funding, with 15 days left for new signups.

COMMENTARY:   I can definitely see a lot of potential for Logbar's Ring as a device to control any number of consumer electronics like TV's, cable TV controller boxes, gameplayers, and household appliances from toasters to washer and dryers.  It's a no-brainer, but requires rapid adoption by consumer electronics and appliance makers if it is to become an industry standard for controlling their products.  Smartphones and tablets are alreay being used to control consumer electronics devices and household appliances, and those devices would provide Ring with competition and are based on a graphics user interface that is already familiar with consumers. Whether consumers will switch to a totally unique device like Ring and have to learn a whole new GUI remains to be seen.  It means shelling out another $145 for a controlling device that many would consider an expensive novelty.  

Courtesy of an article dated March 3, 2014 appearing in Mashable

10 SIMPLE TIPS TO DOUBLE YOUR LINKEDIN CONNECTIONS IN JUST 5 MINUTES PER DAY [INFOGRAPHIC]

LinkedIn is the boring brother of Facebook and Twitter.

Sometimes you feel like shaking him and asking if if he knows what it’s like to have a little bit of fun. Comparisons continue to be made including the ones between Facebook and Linkedin. One I have heard that sums it up well is….”Facebook is like hanging out at a barbeque with friends while LinkedIn is the cocktail party“.

Compared to Twitter, the social media rock star that attracts the media spotlight and streams across the bottom of the television, LinkedIn is a bit buttoned up. It’s suit and tie versus jeans and t-shirt. Sometimes you feel like you should be prodding it with a stick.

But despite the comparisons, the jokes and the snide remarks, LinkedIn is not to be underestimated. It can connect you to powerful influencers, provide a focused ecosystem to share your content and be a B2B marketers best friend.

These numbers put some context on the importance and scale of the LinkedIn community.

• 187 million monthly unique users
• 3 million LinkedIn business pages
• 2.1 million Linkedin groups

So what are some simple tips to be more effective on LinkedIn and make use of its global network of movers and shakers?

10 tips to double your LinkedIn connections

Sometimes the simplest tactics are forgotten that can make a big difference over time. With the majority of users having less than 500 connections these tips will provide the guidelines to take it beyond the 1,000 barrier.

1. Update your status daily. This could include  posting your latest blog post, sharing an interesting Slideshare presentation or an article that is of value to your industry and niche
2. Participate in (or start) a LinkedIn group discussion weekly
3. Follow influencers and ask or answer questions on their posts
4. Join relevant LinkedIn groups and focus on 3-5 of these and stay active on each one
5. Send one new invite daily and personalize it. Don’t use the standard default invite request
6. Prominently display your contact information so you make it easy for people to contact you
7. Endorse people you know for their skills with no expectation of  reciprocation
8. Promote your LinkedIn profile. Include it on your card, place it in your email signature and on your website/blog
9. Tweet your LinkedIn updates to Twitter.
10. Include  links to your blog and website in your LinkedIn profile. This will help you build credibility by displaying your full online presence.

For more tips check out the Infographic below.

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Courtesy of an article dated March 17, 2014 appearing in Jeff Bullas Blog

THE POWER OF VIDEO FOR BUSINESS [INFOGRAPHIC] AND EIGHT STEPS FOR MAKING 2014 YOUR VIDEO MARKETING YEAR

Nearly three-quarters of consumers (73%) say they are more likely to purchase after watching videos explaining a product or service, according to a recent report from Animoto.

The survey of 1,014 US consumers also found that nearly all respondents (96%) say they find videos "helpful" when making purchase decisions online.

In particular, 93% find online videos useful when comparison-shopping, 87% find them helpful for researching additional items from the same brand, and 93% find them valuable for instructions post-purchase.

Below, additional key findings from the report.

Brand Engagement 

• 71% of respondents say watching video content produced by businesses leaves them with a positive impression of those brands.
• 64% find it helpful to watch videos to learn more about a company they may purchase from.
• 58% consider companies that produce video content to be more trustworthy.

Video Preferences

• 83% respondents say the ideal length of a video to inform a purchase decision is five minutes or less.
• 42% would like to see more product description or service demonstration videos, such as 360 degree views of products.

For more results from the survey, check out the following infographic:

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COMMENTARY:   According to the third annual Reel SEO Video Marketing Survey, 93% of marketing professionals used video as part of their strategy in 2013, and 71% increased their video spend from 2012 levels.

But, as budgets increase, marketers are going to need to set some realistic content goals to realize ROI.

To get you started with a practical approach, I've compiled a to-do list for jumpstarting your video marketing. If you implement even a few of the following initiatives, you'll impress prospects, demonstrate a commitment to a medium your customers crave, and remain relevant and competitive within your industry.

Let's take a look at how you can make 2014 the year you excel with video.

1. Schedule a biweekly video release

I know what you're thinking: "Mike, at the rate I'm going, it's a challenge to make one video a month!" But it's all about how you dedicate your resources. Frequent, and thereby timely and relevant, video releases are made far easier if you invest in someone dedicated to video production.

Whether hiring a director of video strategy (as we've seen major B2B companies doing) or a videographer who can shoot and edit your footage all in one, investing in amazing talent can make all the difference between proactive and merely reactive video campaigns.

If you can only invest in one dedicated hire, I'd recommend a videographer. A good videographer should be able to produce at least one short video a week or 52 videos a year for around $1,000 per video, on average.

2. Modify your video strategy based on engagement data

After committing to a regular video schedule, you'll want to keep the overall content direction loose. There's no use shooting a month's worth of video in two weeks when your video engagement data might reveal that your videos are ineffective at holding viewer attention.

If your video analytics show that viewers drop off after 30 seconds, it could mean that your 15-second intro is too long. If you shoot videos from week to week, analyzing the data after each week, you'll have the opportunity to modify your message based on how your potential customers are actually interacting with your content.

3. Keep your content focused and fluff-free to hit a minimum of 60% audience retention

As noted, analytics can reveal whether your videos are working to hold your audience's attention, and prolonged engagement is something you can aim to improve over time.

For most videos, audiences will drop off long before the end; this year, you should aim to have less than 60% of your audience drop off before the final call to action. How? By keeping your content focused.

If you design your scripts to qualify your target audience immediately (e.g., "this video is for marketers"), you'll notice a steep drop in attention initially (people will qualify themselves: "I'm not a marketer, I'm out"), but you'll end up holding your actual target's attention for the entire video—and, hey, that's the goal!

If your target audience typically drops off really early, keep altering your video scripts with the aim of maintaining their attention for longer. That is something we do at Vidyard, and we've become pretty good at retention based on what we learn from past videos. In a recent campaign for Dreamforce, we released a video via targeted email to let our customers know that we'd be at the event to meet with them. The video, a spoof, featured a sales rep acting as Chris Farley's Tommy Boy character. And it held attention span like we've never seen before:

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As you can see in the chart, 70% of people watched the 1:05 minute video until the very end.

4. Create a video for every part of the marketing funnel

If your video strategy ended after you released an explainer video, you're doing it wrong.
Leads need various pieces of information at different parts of the sales funnel, so create videos to engage and nurture at every step of the customer life-cycle.

Prospects are doing more than half of product research independently these days, and having video on your site to educate them during this process is perfect; it's the next best thing to getting to pitch in person.

5. Get your customers on camera!

Forget the text-based customer testimonial; get your customers to say great things about you on camera. A video case study is a great way for potential clients to become situated with your products or services. A video hub of customer success stories is hugely persuasive, because a customer's emotion really comes through via video. Prospects can view several clips when visiting your site in a short time, so make sure video testimonials by representatives of multiple industries are available 24/7.

6. Get your sales team on camera!

A well-placed, genuine piece of video content is like the salesperson who never sleeps, and it's even better when your actual sales reps are involved! Capture your message with approachable, enthusiastic members of your sales team so your prospects can put a face to the person they should reach out to if they have questions. Your video call to action can include your sales reps' contact info.

7. Make funny and timely holiday videos

When scheduling your regular releases, plan for funny holiday features. These are just as much fun for you and your team to make as they are for prospects and customers to watch. Many of your teammates new and old will surprise you with their talents, and you'll have a blast in the process. Check out our Frankenbot Halloween video to see what I mean.

8. Commit to tracking your performance

It's crucial you understand how your library of amazing video marketing performs with your audience. Your YouTube channel is a great way to gain a presence in relation to search, but it's not enough on its own to connect your videos to ROI. You must track and measure audience engagement for video so you'll know what to modify or amplify within your strategy.

Courtesy of an article dated March 14, 2014 appearing in MarketingProfs and an article dated January 17, 2014 appearing in MarketingProfs