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Great Find: YUDU Freedom!

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Document Elegance

YUDU Media

I’ve been having a conversation about working with a digital publishing company in the UK. So naturally one of the first things I did was try their product. It was of particular interest because of my recent eBook experience and also because I’m always looking for new ways to share information with readers, clients, and friends. After years in publishing, I like to stay current on digital publication tools.

YUDU Freedom is elegant.

Great Find: YUDU Freedom
Permalink: http://www.yudufreedom.com/
Target Audience: Anyone who shares digital documents
Content:
YUDU Freedom allows you to publish any document online for free. I did myself and can speak from experience. I uploaded two documents — both .pdfs, 24 pages and 68 pages, both with photos. The upload took seconds. I was able to title and tag my file. The email with the link to my file arrived far faster than I expected, maybe within 90 seconds. The links inside are private unless I choose to share them.

But what impressed me most was the beauty of the result. In particular, the document below was designed to showcase light and space . . . the YUDU enhances the design far more than any other document reader. I hadn’t prepared or edited the document here — for example the Table of Contents isn’t true and I haven’t spent time considering the type font — still YUDU show this work in progress beautifully. Click the screenshot and stretch your browser to full screen to see the entire 24-page document online inside YUDU Freedom.

Walking on Water by Liz Strauss - (YUDU Freedom — Unedited Version)

Notice how you can turn pages like a book using the lower corners or like a .pdf using the arrow above. Nice touch. Options allow you to remove the sound or the page turn, if you don’t want to be distracted by them. YUDU has more features rolling out soon. Watch this product.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
If you’d like an hour of Liz’s consulting time, see the Work with Liz!! page for details.

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Old People “Get” Social Media — Woodstock Was Social 3-D

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Grandma Has a Computer

The Living Web

Experience has value.

Every generation thinks they’ve invented the latest deal. I know we did. I know my grandma did too. My dad’s saloon reminds me of what folks do on Twitter everyday.

The value of getting older is that there isn’t much you haven’t seen in some form or other in the years gone by.

Old People Don’t Get Social Media

I caught this statement in a discussion elsewhere. It went something like, “I don’t think people over 40 get social media, whereas kids love it.” Having seen this sentiment mentioned before, I thought I’d express my feelings on the matter.

I’m 50 years old. I get the whole social media gig. It’s like Woodstock on the ‘Net, where people gather together for several minutes, days, weeks, months and years to hang out, talk, share, listen to music, run around naked and slide in the mud.

What social media doesn’t offer people of my generation is face to face communication. It doesn’t let us hold hands, sing or hug. Instead of raising our lighters as a token of respect and homage to those we admire, social media offers voting and “thumbs up” buttons. There’s no thrill there. There’s no rock and roll. Today’s version of social is “read this, read that”, vote on it, follow or unfollow, friend or unfriend, get answers or be completely and utterly ignored even though you know you’re there. . . .

They may never know you showed up. Not only that, to participate, you have to give out personal information and obtain a password. You need to configure settings. Its a lot of work just to hang out with people you don’t even know and annoying as heck when you simply wish to stay in touch with a few you do know. If someone spots you, everybody wants to be your friend.

Pot used to do that too.

– Kim Krause Berg

The entire blog post is a great read.

I know that relationships are where you find them. We’ve talked plenty about that. And I’m not about to give up my social tools, but I think, Kim, has a point about what’s missing from the mix.

They say it takes 10 years to make a VC.
Maybe it takes even longer to make a social media expert.
I wonder where Guy Kawasaki would weigh in on that question.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
Check out Models and Masterminds too

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Test Drive OneBigPlanet! It’s a Cool, New World of Internet Commerce

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A More Sensible Way to Buy on the Web

onebigplanet logo

Keep an eye out. A new service is coming to the Internet. You’ll find it as part of your social network, and it will make the way you buy things online easier, faster, and more intelligent. It’s the power of OneBigPlanet, a patent pending Commerce and Loyalty platform that leverages the power of the Internet, an intelligent algorithm, Web 2.0 and your personal preferences. I’ve seen it in action.

Here’s a bit of the history and a little about Eric Aubertin, CEO and founder of One Big Planet.

In 2002, Eric Aubertin founded OneBigPlanet Corp., where he pioneered a patent pending Web and Mobile Commerce and Loyalty Platform for social networks and organizations. He had a vision of changing the way people consume and saw a market opportunity to develop an easy to deploy but comprehensive solution that would empower social networking sites, portals, membership organizations and associations to foster strong and long-term relationships, as well as assist them in monetizing their sites. The members would benefit by gaining access to exclusive deals and advantages as well as useful consumer tools and information that would enable them to save money and time.

Previously, as CEO and Founder of eFundraising.com Corp, Eric Aubertin had invented a patented e-mail and web-based fundraising system that was acquired by Reader’s Digest in 2000 for the sum of $27 million

Last Friday, I enjoyed a meeting and conversation with Mr. Aubertin and OneBigPlanet Marketing Services Director, Sonia Gasparini. They showed me around the platform and showed great patience with my curiosity. I was asking questions and having ideas. It’s quick to see how it makes life easier.

Imagine being able to build your own Internet shopping mall complete with

  • Products and services organized in over 20 drag & drop categories.
  • Instant rewards (discounts) tailored to your preferences and interests (no points/miles to collect)
  • Cool tools: Consumer Calendar· Travel Power Search· Restaurant Reservations that remind you and update when you move locations.
  • Personalized for us. Modular for the network who offers it.
  • Consumer information to make smarter purchasing decisions.

You expected those things, didn’t you? So did I. Think of the real power of bringing all of that information AND US together in one place. Consumers get a new way to lead the conversation.

SOCIAL SHOPPING Is Simply Consumer Driven!

I like the OneBigPlanet term for it — social shopping.

  • Share your preferences with friends. Never buy a lame gift again.
  • Participate in consumer forums.
  • Create your own consumer groups.
  • Meet others with similar consumer profiles.·
  • Refer merchants you like.
  • Give feedback so we can improve your future consumer experiences.

    • It was amazing to see how OneBigPlanet simplifies Internet commerce. It’s a dashboard for all things shopping. I’ve been dreaming of a personal assistant to organize my consumer life. This would take over that burden. I’d join a community just to use it.

    Apparently the U.S. Chamber of Commerce agrees with me.

    First and Only Commerce and Loyalty Platform for USCC Employees and Members

    New York, NY – April 22, 2008 – OneBigPlanet®, the leader in Commerce and Loyalty Platforms for social networks and organizations, will implement a tailored member portal for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce(USCC). Employees and member companies will have access to an abundance of unique benefits, deals and Advantages. National associations, state and local chambers will also be invited to share this “One-Stop Consumer Portal” with their respective members.

    In addition to powering the USCC’s Member Benefits Program, OneBigPlanet will offer their member businesses the possibility to position products and services on its member portal. By providing exclusive deals, the USCC’s member businesses will have access to a multitude of social networks and organizations, translating into millions of potential targeted customers.

    At the end of our conversation, Eric and I talked about the future goals for OneBigPlanet. I was interested in what might be the opportunities for small businesses and online entrepreneurs — clients and readers — to participate by offering their products and services in the future. I’ll say I wasn’t disappointed with answers or the possibilities.

    Until I saw OneBigPlanet, I hadn’t thought about how I shop online. How much time would you save if you could do all of your commerce in one place?

    Tune in and take a test drive April 29th. Sign up for the videocast now!

    No disclaimer. I’m passing on my enthusiasm for a great idea. Great ideas done well deserve attention.

    –ME “Liz” Strauss
    Work with Liz!!
    SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

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    Patricia Martin Wants You to Kiss and Tell

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    Remember Your Best Kiss?

    heart of clouds

    In honor of February 14, Patricia Martin, author and marketing expert, wants you to tell about your most memorable kiss. She’s hosting a “Kiss and Tell” booth online at her Culture Scout blog.

    The ideas is that people submit stories of their most unforgettable kiss. Each submission will be returned with an electronic valentine to share with a loved one. The top three winners with receive a free copy of John Stark’s new book, Dictionary of Love. I’m one of the “distinguished panel of judges.”

    Ms. Martin described the effort this way.

    Our team hatched this idea out of a desire to do something positive—make people recall what it feels like to be loved. I always tell our clients that small gestures of human kindness are what people crave in times like these, not the bellicose claims that just contribute to their anxiety. We decided to take a spoonful of our own medicine we give our clients.

    The rules are clear and easy. You can even enter anonymously or more than once. So head on over and have a great memory.

    –ME “Liz” Strauss
    Work with Liz!! SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

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    Do You ooVoo?

    Filed Under Great Finds, Successful Blog | 7 Comments

    My ooVoo Day: Feb 10 - 21

    ooVoo

    New on the web is ooVoo.com . . . and to let you know they’re here, ooVoo has invited some cool people to host video chats for small groups.

    ooVoo is calling this introduction

    a first-of-its-kind web event called “My ooVoo Day With…” in which 23 bloggers and podcasters from a variety of different industries and interest groups will host their communities in multi-user online video chats.

    The list of hosts includes:

    You can find more details at the page My ooVoo Day.

    –ME “Liz” Strauss
    Work with Liz!!
    SOBCon08 is May 2,3,4 in Chicago. Register now!

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