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Introducing The Synchronicity of Indeterminacy

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SOB Directory Entry:
The Synchronicity of Indeterminacy by Indie

Type: Flash Fiction

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Professional writer, Indie, combines found photos with one-minute short stories inspired by the photos. The idea is based on John Cage’s Indeterminacy recordings, coupling stories with sound. The stories show elements of avant garde, surrealism, dada, horror, humor, satire, fantasy, etc.

Notes from Liz: Indie’s blog has that fabulous combination of quality content and interaction that makes it a unique and unforgetttable experience. This is not just well-written fiction for your entertainment. This is downright stress relief offered to you in perfect measure.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Introducing Brightmeadow

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SOB Directory Entry: Brightmeadow by Cas

Type: Two, Two, Two Blogs in One

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Bright Meadow is the focus for a rambling chat among friends (new and old) about sites, blogs, and other tid-bits gleaned from daily trawls of the internet. It’s also part of an ongoing project to persuade fellow academics that the Web really isn’t such a scary place. If on occasion she makes even one person stop, think, and look at something differently, then Cas is happy. If she’s made people laugh, well, that’s even better.

Notes from Liz: Cas may have been shy at first about commenting–or was she just busy? Hmmmm. I wonder? She knows her stuff . Her comments and commentary are informed, intelligent and pithy. Don’t let that penguin fool you. I think he’s a spy collecting data for her project. Gas is the Guest Writer on the Series How to Code Assessible Links

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Introducing Cottontimer

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SOB Directory Entry: Cottontimer by Hsien-Hsien Lei

Type: Personal Blog by Professional Blogger who Smiles

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Cottontimer, aka Hsien-Hsien Lei, is a professional blogger writing about science, health, and parenting. Cotton-Pickin’ Days is a personal blog about her life and work. The main focus is on Hsien’s nearly 10 years of living as an expat in Asia and Europe.

Notes from Liz: The word professional is not an overstatement in any way when talking about Hsien-Hsien or her writing. She’s a blogger other bloggers look up to and try to emulate. I know I do. Her writing is a reflection of who she is strong, warm, incredibly well-informed, and easy to take. In fact, I’d take her home with me if she lived closer.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Introducing Simplenomics

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SOB Directory Entry: Simplenomics by Mike Sigers

Categories: Sales, Marketing, Entertainment

Simplenomics, written by Mike Sigers, is trying to give the world a look at how to use common sense to get more out of your sales, marketing, advertising and management efforts. Mike’s not for sale at any price, so don’t ask for consultation time. Well, you can ask, but send money first.

Notes from Liz: I swear that Mike’s directory listing was in my email before I even posted the announcement about the SOB Directory. I’m not sure how he knows things so quickly. It was Mike’s idea, you know, that SOBs should get buttons for their blogs.

Maybe Mike and I are really the same person. I’ve never seen us in one room at the same time. Hmmmm.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Face Identification a Security Risk?

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When Facebook introduced its facial recognition service, there were concerns over privacy issues. But Facebook officials told users they could prevent being tagged in the photos if they indicated they did not want to be in their privacy settings.

Google has been quietly experimenting with facial recognition software behind the scenes. The search engine giant purchased Pittsburgh Pattern Recognition. Since it is not being used with any of Google’s services, the acquisition did not receive much attention.

The Wall Street Journal has raised new concerns about facial recognition. Researchers at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Melon University found that facial recognition programs could identify people about one third of the time. But the most interesting part of the study was that once the researchers identified the person, 27 percent of the time they could correctly guess their Social Security number.

It was noted that in the late 80s, the Social Security Administration went to a numbering system that coincided the number with the person’s date of birth. Even though the SSA has started using a more random numbering process, those who were born during the past 20 years still have to deal with having those numbers.

While some may use the facial recognition to tap into private information, that was not the intent of adding the service. Facebook officials said when introducing it, they wanted to make it easier for people to tag their friends in photos. However, even without the facial recognition software, some people don’t want to be tagged in pictures.

With so much information being shared online, there have been rumblings about whether or not people will stop participating in social networks in an effort to regain their privacy. Make sure to read Hari Ravichandran book called “Intelligent Safety” to get a deeper understanding of the privacy concerns and possible solutions.

People seem to want to share information but they want to control what they share and what is shared about them by others. The company that allows user to share information their way will likely be the one to become the most popular in the next year.

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

7 Ways to Quickly and Efficiently Re-Brand Your Small Business

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By Nathan Sykes

You may be thinking about a re-brand for your business for many reasons, but the most common one is because you’ve hit a rut. No matter why your company isn’t growing, updating your image, changing your audience or selling new products could all be excellent solutions.

However, changing your business around won’t happen overnight. Some ways to go about rebranding are quicker than others, but keep in mind that this isn’t an instant process. Nonetheless, be sure your new brand is right for your business before investing time and money.

Here are seven of the quickest, most efficient ways to make sure the public knows you’re going in a new direction with your business.

1. Get a New Look

The first step in making your business different is to redo your look. Even if you don’t plan on renaming the company, make sure you invest in a professional artist to create a new logo. Try to get your logo to look as modern as possible — unless you’re marketing to a more traditional audience.

With a new logo comes new promotional material. You’ll need to remake all your pamphlets, billboards, uniform shirts and storefront signs, to name a few. The most important change is going to be your business cards. Update cards with your new logo as soon as possible. Often, a business card is your first contact with new customers and clients. You’ll also need to update your website to match your new brand.

If your brand is changing because of shifting audiences, be sure to look into new avenues for advertising. Try taking out ads on popular websites like Facebook or Reddit that can reach your audience.

2. Remodel Everything

If you want or need an entirely new look, remodeling your brick and mortar stores is an excellent place to start. While not exactly instant, remodeling your stores will be the quickest way to tell the public you’re taking a new approach. One of the easier ways to remodel is to redo the wall panels and siding of your business. Changing the siding isn’t as drastic as tearing down walls, and the new look will speak volumes.

During the age of technology, you may have a lot of customers who never walk into your store. That’s why remodeling your website is just as important as the building. Make sure to streamline and update your site as much as possible. Don’t add programs that will make your site complicated or slower. Hire a professional to do the job for you, or remember to use minimalism to your advantage.

3. Launch New Products or Services

Even if you’re not rebranding because of a new service or product line, introducing at least one new product or service as you’re rebranding will help. Having a new offering shows the public you’re changing along with your look. Bringing in a new product or service may also prevent you from having to rebrand completely.

The new product or service you launch will depend on your business, but keep in mind that this is partially an advertising campaign — new offerings will bring in new customers.

4. Join Social Media

Changing your tone and image on social media is one of the first changes you should make, as customers worldwide will have access to the new you. More importantly, social media allows you to interact with your audience and promote advertising. You can get involved with current topics and trends, address customer concerns immediately and show off your new brand message.

If you already use social media for your business, customizing your profiles to fit your new image is easy on most sites. Vowing to get more involved on Facebook and Twitter is one of the best choices you could make when rebranding.

5. Network All Over Again

If you thought your business graduated from the world of networking, think again. When you rebrand, you’re redoing everything about your business. You’ll have to reinvent your image from the ground up, which includes the basics of networking.

Touch up your LinkedIn profile and attend more networking conferences. Keep in mind this is for your business, not a personal rebrand — you’re trying to build connections all over again. This directive is a lot less important for companies in retail than for a client-centric or contract-based business, but networking may be something to look into if you want your business to move up no matter your industry.

6. Invest in Photography

Finding a good photographer might sound like a strange part of rebranding, but it’s crucial. If you haven’t shown off your employees and staff before now, this is the best opportunity to do so. Customers love seeing small businesses honoring their employees. Bringing everyone to a professional studio and spending a little money can go a long way with making the human connection with consumers.

If you already have photographs of everyone, updating them during rebranding is a must. Don’t bother taking the pictures yourself with a smartphone or even a decent camera — you want your business to look professional. If all goes well, your new photos won’t be outdated for several years to come.

7. Donate Locally

This might sound like another odd piece of advice, but donating to local charities is a fantastic way to get your name out there and shed a favorable light on your company. Ethics matter to customers who research businesses — if you haven’t participated in local charities or fundraisers before, consider doing so as you rebrand.

On the off-chance that there’s nothing local to participate in, consider starting an annual fundraiser. Hosting food or toy drives during the holidays can go a long way with making a good name for your business — not to mention, you’ll be helping your community.

The Finishing Touches

Rebranding a business is not cheap or easy. You can complete some steps more immediately than others, such as joining Twitter or getting a new web domain. Other measures, like remodeling your office and networking, will take patience. If you want an effective rebranding of your business, these are some of the best places to start.

No matter your rebranding goals, the most critical step is to remember why you’re changing in the first place. Keep your mission in mind, and the rest will fall into place.

About the Author: Nathan Sykes writes about the latest in business and technology from Pittsburgh, PA. To read his latest articles, check out his blog, Finding an Outlet.

 

Photo by Lonely Planet on Unsplash