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Archive for the ‘Professional Development’ Category

Things We Love 10/14

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

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Debbie loves the Pink Chick Parade at The Forum Shops. – Swain & Associates and The Forum Shops launched the First Annual Pink Chick Parade on Tuesday Oct. 6 to raise money for the Pink Ribbon Project. For $125, you can purchase a 5′ tall Pink Chick (a weather resistant cutout) that will march in the “parade” out in front of The Forum Shops through October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. $125 is the cost of a mammogram administered by the Pink Ribbon Project for uninsured or underinsured women. So “Buy a Chick and Save a Life” out at The Forum Shops! See the Pink Chicks strut their stuff at www.shoptheforum.com.

Nathan loves sushi - That’s not to be confused with sashimi, which I happen to enjoy, but wouldn’t say that I love. Sushi is just so delicious. In particular, I love the “triangle” sushi roll. It has pineapple and mango in it. It sounds totally disgusting, but tastes absolutely delicious. I swear instead of putting roe on the triangle roll they put crack, or at least crack inside the roe. It really is that good.

Shawn loves Humor with Dead Flies – Yes, this is a strange one, but how could I be expected to not click on a link with that name. And I’m glad I did. Further proof that creativity has no bounds. I would love to meet the person responsible for these little comics on Humor With Dead Flies. Although, I may not want to shake their hand. “Moth”er & child is priceless.

Susan loves Vitamin Water’s Flavor Creator - My favorite daily drink has launched a Facebook campaign to have fans write and design a label and name the newest flavor of Vitamin Water, black cherry and lime. Whether you are an experienced designer or just a drink junkie like me, they make it easy to submit your ideas and offer a Mad-Lib style copy wizard. In addition to seeing the winning design on the shelves, the winner will receive a cool five grand. You better hurry, the contest ends on Tuesday, October 20th. Go vote for my entry, Verve!

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Things We Love 9/30

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

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Debbie loves Kindle – I don’t think the Kindle will ever replace my love of having a good book in my hands, but it is mighty convenient. I can download a book instantly for $9.99 and start reading right away. It allows me to bookmark, highlight and dog ear pages, just like a real book. And it will even read the books aloud! The text to speech feature is a bit robotic, but not too bad. It’s great for my morning commute and particularly for longer road trips. So now I can carry around up to 1,500 books on my Kindle, which weighs less than the average paperback. Now if I only had more time to read!

Nathan loves Airborne – Well, I should say, I love Airborne apart from it tasting like poorly fermented orange juice mixed with vitamins. It kind of makes me think of how we treat dogs. The bait and switch of “Look at this delicious food that couldn’t possibly have a pill you need to take in it!” Never the less, the dog always seems to figure out there’s a pill in his food, and Airborne tastes like medicine juice. What’s worse is when you go to their website, which actually looks OK, they’ve got the sound effect of what their disintegrating airborne tablet on loop. Yes, if you listen to it for more than 30 seconds it does begin to make you nauseous. All that said, having been feeling under the weather today, Airborne has helped boost my immune system and put me on track. Or it’s the placebo effect.

Shawn loves Life Magazine’s 30 Stupidest Inventions Ever post. I can come up with some crazy ideas that I simply laugh at later, but a few of the ideas on this list are truly stupid. Imagine placing your baby in a “Baby Cage” designed to give your little loved one some fresh air while suspended above a busy street. Sometimes it’s just better to keep your ideas to yourself.

Susan loves the Add This application – Most news and entertainment sites have the Add This application built into each post, but for blogs or other sites that don’t offer a share function, this application in Firefox makes sharing online content and bookmarking sites as easy a simple mouse click. If I like a story and think others will too, I just click on the plus sign in my browser and it brings up a multitude of options for how I want to share. Now letting the world know about the latest TV and Twilight news is easier than ever!

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Register for our free 1-hour Crisis Management Webinar

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

All companies are susceptible to crisis, regardless of size or industry. istock_000007480462medium2A natural disaster, labor dispute or community opposition can cripple a company that is unprepared. To make sure an issue doesn’t escalate into a crisis, you need a crisis plan and a communication specialist on call. Register for our free, one-hour webinar entitled “Crisis Management: Avoid A Crisis by Planning for One” which will discuss how to mitigate damage, organize supporters and manage the media in the midst of a crisis. Thursday, October 22, noon to 1:00 p.m.

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Local SEO Video - Use the internet to generate leads for your local business

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Thanks again to everyone who attended our Local SEO webinar! You can view the  slides for this webinar on using Local SEO for your business, and we also have a list of our other videos that are available to watch for free. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail us or leave a comment!

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Things We Love 9/23

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

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Debbie loves the smart and pragmatic points of view presented by panelists of the Greater Wilmington Business Power Breakfast on “Brand Wilmington” held on Tuesday, September 22. I was particularly impressed with the comments made by Melanie Cox, Executive Director of Coastal Carolina Tomorrow and Chad Paul, Managing Partner of Harbor Island Partners. Both advocated that Wilmington take a broad view regarding the types of businesses and industry we welcome into our community. High tech, “knowledge-based” businesses are wonderful and we want more of them. But we need a healthy mix of all types of business to sustain a vibrant community. We cannot exclude manufacturing. Bravo to GWB for hosting a great event and to the speakers who reminded us that Wilmington should support diversity in all aspects of our community — including industry.

Nathan loves Market Samurai – When it comes to doing niche or long-tail keyword research, Market Samurai is a great tool in finding keywords in bulk while also crunching the numbers on a lot of common SEO factors that help determine the viability of a particular keywords. While Market Samurai isn’t free, they do have a great free trial that you can download to see how it suits your needs.

Shawn loves that sometimes less really is more.

Susan loves Banned books week– I’m an avid reader. And little gets me more riled up than when great works of literature get banned for idiotic reasons. I understand not wanting children to read books that have graphic violence or explicit sex. But c’mon, a tale of a boy wizard who ensures good triumphs over evil and demonstrates the importance of family, selfless acts of kindness and being loyal to your friends, how is that bad for anyone to read? So if you love books and believe in what they can stand for, celebrate Banned Books Week from September 26 through October 3!

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Register for our Webinar tomorrow on Local SEO

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

There’s still time to register for our Local SEO webinar! 90% of customers go online magnifying-glassbefore making buying decisions. Are they finding your business? This one-hour webinar will discuss how local Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps local businesses increase website traffic and build sales. Dollar for dollar, local SEO is a much better buy than the Yellow Pages. Too many companies spend a disproportionate amount of their marketing dollars on Yellow Pages advertising — both online and off. To learn how to increase website traffic, save money and grow your business with Local SEO, sign up for our free webinar on Thursday, September 24 at noon.

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Things We Love 9/16

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

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Debbie loves the new GE commercials –  In these spots employees break out into teary-eyed singing because they love manufacturing planes and trains as much as consumers love riding in them. Each is definitely worth a look-see. According to GE, the TV ads salute the people at GE who roll up their sleeves everyday. Bravo!

Jennifer loves AppleCare Service – We recently had to ship a laptop to Apple for repairs.  Upon reporting the issue to Apple, we received a box for shipping with all the fixins’ the next day.  Apple provided a return FedEx label, plenty of pull apart styrofoam to fit the laptop snugly in the box, and even individual pieces of packing tape to reseal the box.  Then, to prove their superior service, Apple returned the repaired laptop to us within two days.  Not that I ever doubted them, but this experience has proven that Apple really does Care!

Nathan loves TextWrangler – Being on a Mac, there isn’t quite the assortment of great free code editors like that of Windows or other Linux operating systems. After looking through a number of free and paid solutions for Mac, I’ve found TextWrangler, or its paid version, BBEdit to be the best ones available for Mac (Yes, even considering TextMate). So if you’re looking for a great editor, go with BBEdit, but if you’re trying to save some money, definitely go with TextWrangler. It does a great job of remote file editing, color coding, and many other features!

Shawn loves loves the ingenious illustrations of Israeli graphic designer Noma Bar – He is the master of simple, thoughtful visual play with a new book Negative Space in stores now. His subjects range from animals, world affairs to sex and crime. Topics that are any but black and white.

Susan loves Jimmy Fallon as Robert Pattinson – Late night comedian Jimmy Fallon is getting laughs from Twilight fanatics and haters alike. His “Robert Is Bothered” segments based on Twilight star Robert Pattinson’s broody nature are hilarious. Kudos to Jimmy for making fun of the literary and movie phenomenon without offending the legions of rabid fans.

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All I really needed to know I learned on Twitter

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

Going to college has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. However, the real interndiariesvalue of college hasn’t been limited to what I learn in class. I’m not talking about developing social skills or experiencing life lessons. I’m talking about real, career-specific learning that is taking place online.

Today, I learn more practical, real-life information about my fields of study on Twitter than I do at school. As with any good social technology, the real value isn’t about Twitter – it’s about the people who use it. And many of the people who are using it are leaders in their respective fields.

Let’s say you’re interested in technology companies. Following tech blogger Robert Scoble on Twitter (@Scobleizer) gives you a great view of what topics he thinks are important to read about and what his thoughts are on those topics. Interested in how the CEO of a web company thinks about his work? Try following Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh (@Zappos).

Twitter doesn’t magically give you the ability to ask these people anything you want, but it really does provide valuable insight into how they spend their time and the way they think. The wealth of information on the Internet is unquestionable, but finding what you need in an efficient manner is a daunting task. Rather than visiting 50 blogs a day and 20 newspapers, I rely on the people I follow on Twitter to bring those articles to me. If you follow the right people, they essentially become your ultimate RSS feed. I don’t waste time searching for what to read, I let established industry leaders point me to what’s important.

This approach is certainly more valid for some industries (technology, marketing, pr) than others (engineering). Think about leaders in your industry and see if they are active in social media. If they are, try following everything they post for a week, or even a day. I’d love to hear if you found the experience valuable or enlightening in any ways. Who knows, maybe you’ll find that the differences between that industry leader and you are smaller than you thought. And who can’t use a little confidence boost once in a while?

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Things We Love 9/9

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

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Debbie loves bees – I’m thinking of becoming a beekeeper when I retire. Then I can make honey for my honey. If you Google health benefits of honey, you’d be amazed at what you’ll find. Honey is a natural energy booster, strengthens your immunity system and is a natural remedy for a whole host of ailments. I am also intrigued with the symbolism that surrounds the bee. Known as one of nature’s most industrious creatures, the bee and the hive have long been symbols of industry and regeneration, wisdom and obedience. Thank goodness I’m not allergic.

Jennifer loves Mad Libs –  I was recently reading an article that suggested several ideas for travel games.  For those who go on family road trips, especially with children, entertainment is a must.  One of the ideas listed was books of Mad Libs.  I used to receive these fun, word game books as gifts when I was a child.  A dear friend of mine could always be counted on to bring a book of Mad Libs on camping trips when we were young adults.  These books are sure to provide lots of fun and lots of laughs.  Haven’t filled in any blanks lately?  Order a couple of books today!

Shawn loves Learn Something New Everyday.com – Did you know that snails could sleep for three years or Charlie Chaplin once placed third in a Chaplin look-alike contest? Me either, until I stumbled upon Learn Something New Everyday.com.  Each day there is a brightly colored graphic to accompany the daily “fact”. It may sound useless but you just never know where your next creative idea will come from.

Susan loves celebrities on Facebook – I’m not one to follow major celebrities on any social network. Most are on there simply to get followed and friended and boost their egos. But there are a few who actually want to interact with fans. And it makes me love them even more. Check out writer Sarah Addison Allen and musician Mark Kano to see who’s doing the social media thing right!

Terry loves the Large Hadron Collider – I don’t know what I love most about this behemoth. Maybe the fact that that it is the largest science project on the planet. Maybe just the concept of smashing atoms at 99.9999991% of the speed of light is enough all by itself. Maybe it is the possibility of discovering the Higgs Boson (the only Standard Model particle not yet observed), or perhaps even more intriguing: disproving its existence. No matter what the reasons, this 17 mile monster is exciting enough to bring back nostalgic memories of field trips to science museums. If you haven’t witnessed the “geek glory” that is the LHC rap, please enjoy as “AlpineKat” drops some knowledge.

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Things We Love 9/2

Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009

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Debbie loves Traction, a business book that I actually wanted to read first thing in the morning and last thing at night – Traction is well written by Gino Wickman, who outlines what he calls the EOS, or Entrepreneurial Operating System. EOS is a simple process that details the six key components necessary for any business to succeed. The six components are Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process and Traction. The premise is that if you can get these six components under control, you can achieve the success you’ve been striving for. It doesn’t offer any silver bullet. Hard work and planning is involved. But the payoff promises to be well worth the effort. Get it. Read it. Then call me and we’ll share some EOS Kool-Aid.

Jennifer loves Halley White, dds –  Dr. White is my four year-old son’s new pediatric dentist.  And she is the bomb!  Never have I seen such a child-friendly office.  We were first greeted by two very friendly ladies at the reception area, which has a high counter for adults as well as a low counter for kids.  Next, we went to the waiting area and enjoyed watching Madagascar on the flat screen TV and doing a wooden puzzle in the circular built-in seating.  When it was out turn, we then proceeded to the hygienist area.  More flat screens appear over the child-size exam chairs, so as not to interrupt the movie.  Children are provided with sunglasses for the bright lighting, and a Nintendo DS to play with while their teeth are cleaned.  Prize boxes appear for good behavior during cleaning and x-rays.  Dr. White and the hygienists actually sing to the children during scary moments.  I cannot say enough nice things about Dr. White, her wonderful staff, and their beautiful office.  If you are in need of a pediatric dentist, check them out at growinggrins.com.

Nathan loves Google Reader’s new feed bundle functionality – It lets you create a bundle of whatever RSS feeds you want to include in it, and then share it with friends creating an easy way for them to subscribe to many of the same blogs you read! On top of that, they have a neat “Power Read” list where you can see what blogs prominent reporters and individuals in various industries read.

Shawn loves Freddies Restaurante in Kure Beach – Freddies is a little gem plopped right in the middle of tourist central. Once you enter the doors you would never guess you’re just a few feet from the Kure Beach pier and the colorful crowd the pier attracts. Inside, the atmosphere and service are exactly the same every time I visit which is part of Freddies appeal. Is it beautifully decorated? No. Are you treated like kings and queens? Not always. But the food is delicious and that is what they focus on. Starting with the house salad served family style, you know you’re in for a treat. In fact, I have never been there with anyone who wasn’t 100% happy with their meal. So if you have never been to Freddies, go see what you’ve been missing.

Susan loves Project Runway – After a year’s worth of fighting over the reality phenom that is Project Runway, it’s finally back on the air. This time on Lifetime instead of Bravo. And for all of the fears that a move from one station to another (not to mention relocating the show from NY to LA), this season looks it to be just as fantastic as the previous ones. Good press, bad press – nothing seems to ruffle this little show. Tim, Heidi and crew certainly know how to make it work!

Terry loves HowStuffWorks.com – This is one of the most interesting sites on the web. Browsing today’s front-page articles reveals stories on topics ranging from “how can someone be born with organs outside the body?” to “why do kangaroos hop?” The web site is an information junkie/ Curious George utopia. So often I am stopped by curiosity or confusion with questions like “why do people blush?,” and equally often I am pleased to later find answers on HowStuffWorks.com. The topics are not purely scientific however. There is also a fair share of irreverence with topics like “How cannibalism works” and “how sarcasm works.” My top suggestion to anyone in business management: “How the peter principle works” My top suggestion to anyone looking for some humbling insight (and is brave enough to hear it): “How much money do I really need to live?

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