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How to use social psychology to boost your business
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 03:07 AM PDT
| How to use social psychology to boost your business Posted: 25 Oct 2013 06:50 AM PDT  Henry James once said that the most beautiful words in the English language are “summer afternoon.”
Other words long-loved by writers and creatives for their interesting, evocative or emotive loveliness: gossamer, wisteria, oleander. With the powerful imagery elicited by these solitary words, it's easy to see why content marketers devote a huge amount of energy and resources into presenting customers with content in the right form. The missing piece in the inbound marketing puzzle, then, could be behavioral psychology — revealing the real motivation behind human behavior and how this knowledge can attract and retain customers. The more you understand people, the easier it becomes to give them what they want. Here are eight concepts related to the field of social psychology that can help boost your content efforts. Reciprocation Harking back to our basest human emotion, the concept of reciprocity is founded on the principle that if someone does something nice for you, your natural instinct is to reciprocate in kind. People love helping people! This simply means offering customers a real and genuine incentive in return for their business. This small exchange forges a relationship of mutual trust and is more likely to convert casual visitors into loyal customers. Reliability People rely on information that comes from a trusted source. Establish your brand as a dependable point of reference for useful information that solves a problem and they will come back time and again. Most brands nowadays include impressive 'About The Author' sections under blog posts, eBooks, videos and other reference guides – a strategy that attaches weight and authority to the information conveyed by reference to the expert delivering it. Social evidence People are naturally predisposed to accepting information that has been screened and enjoyed by a group of people they trust. Most brands now capitalize on this powerful social flow-on effect by including sharing and follow buttons on their sites. Visitors who discover content that has already been widely shared are more likely to share that information themselves. Affability People who feel positive emotions toward an individual or business are more likely to enter a business arrangement with them. If they like you they will want to be around you. If you can generate a sense of “cool” or a feeling of “missing out” people will want to spend more time with your brand, thereby converting leads into conversions. Visibility "Your degree of visibility and your degree of likeability directly will correlate with your degree of profitability," says Rachna Jain, specialist in the psychology of social media. Being seen frequently online (and across multiple social media platforms) corresponds with a higher degree of likeability for your brand. In this sense, familiarity doesn't breed contempt: it breeds affability. The more you can captivate customers, provide useful information and remain at the forefront of their minds, the more likely it is that they will choose your product or service. Supply & demand People value and actively respond to rare opportunities or events. Cultivate a sense of urgency to reap the full benefits of this psychological principle. To do this, it is critical to phrase offers with a positive slant. For example, avoid telling customers that few products have been produced, leading to a shortage of product availability. Instead generate an intense feeling of desirability by drawing attention to the scarcity of your product following an increased period of popular demand. Importance of priming Prime your audience with images, words, phrases or videos that arouse feelings of security, empowerment and confidence in your service. Make sure that the image you present online consistently presents your brand in a positive light. The emotions generated by your brand image significantly impact the way customers think and feel about you and can lead to a large increase (or decrease) in sales depending on the way this information is conveyed. People are motivated by a few common desires: the need to feel happy, the need to feel part of a bigger community and the need to do good. Tapping into these subconscious impulses in an authentic and genuine way is the best mechanism to give customers what they want and to boost your business. Everybody wins! Sarah Lynch is content manager and all round creative spark at TWiZ, a digital marketing agency based in Sydney, Australia. To hear more social media and marketing musings from Sarah you can catch her for weekly installments on the TWiZ blog or follow her on Twitter.
Related Posts: How to use social psychology to boost your business originally published by SmartBlogs | You are subscribed to email updates from SmartBlogs » Social Media
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Feature Friday: Embedding Media
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 02:19 AM PDT
| Feature Friday: Embedding Media Posted: 25 Oct 2013 03:48 AM PDT I was reading the latest Twitter S1 on edgar.sec.gov this morning and saw this tweet embedded in their filing. It made me smile to see that. 
That is a great twitter conversation. It is one of my all time favorites. And, as many of you know, I also love KD. His game is pure pleasure to watch. I can't get enough of him. And if you want to see the flag football game in question, you can watch it here. I will end this feature friday with some embedded music. My colleague Brian made this mix on a plane last week. I've been listening to it since. The A$AP beat that kicks it off is excellent.  | You are subscribed to email updates from A VC
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What Are the Best Tools for Note Taking at Meetings and Conferences?
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 02:11 AM PDT
| What Are the Best Tools for Note Taking at Meetings and Conferences? Posted: 25 Oct 2013 04:09 AM PDT What Are the Best Tools for Note Taking at Meetings and Conferences? written by John Jantsch read more at Small Business Marketing Blog from Duct Tape Marketing Friday is "Question of the Week" day here at Duct Tape Marketing. Each Friday I'll tackle a specific question I received via readers or in places where I'm speaking. Submit your question here and if we use it we'll highlight you and send you a signed copy of Duct Tape Marketing. I attend a decent amount of meetings and conferences and both present opportunities for recording ideas, action items and random to dos. These days, as I look out into the audiences I speak to, I see a wide array of tools, techniques and devices being employed by those who take notes, hopefully for later application. For most of my business life I used a tool that followed me from school to the meeting room – the scientific notebook. I’ve got shelves of filled ones in my office. More recently I switched to going digital for this task. I started this transition when Evernote first burst on the scene and I was an early evangelist of sorts for the tool. Today I’ve settled in to the much more streamlined outliner called Workflowy as it seems to better fit the linear way I think. I do still keep a pocket sized Moleskin with me for those times when I can’t fire up an electronic device. I started asking others what tools they employ when taking notes on iPads, mobile devices and laptops and the following list makes up the current thinking on some of the best tools. Note Taking Tools Note Taking Tools List of tools, resources and apps that help people take notes during meetings and conferences - crowd rank
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WorkFlowy is an organizational tool that makes life easier. It's a surprisingly powerful way to take notes, make lists, collaborate, brainstorm, plan and generally organize your brain. -
The Evernote family of products help you remember and act upon ideas, projects and experiences across all the computers, phones and tablets you use. -
Moleskine is much more than just notebooks. Visit our online shop to see our products and tap into your creative side. -
Quickly create, access and organize notes, lists and photos with Google Keep. All your notes are automatically stored in Drive. -
Added by Nick Kellet on Oct 24, 2013 Share audio content online and completely free of charge with Audioboo. Post it here and to other social networks. Sign up now or download the free app. -
Laboratory notebook. Center sewn binding with green marble cover. White recycled paper. 5 x 5 Inches quad ruled. 60 sheets. Recycled paper with a minimum of 30% post-consumer content. -
Explore how OneNote simplifies note taking, organizing your notes, and sharing them. Capture text, images, video, and audio notes and search your notes fast. -
A note-taking and organisation application for use by students in lectures -
The simplest way to keep notes. Light, clean, and free. Simplenote is now available for iOS, Android, Mac, and the web. Download for iOS Download for Android Download for Mac Download for Kindle What makes Simplenote great? Use it everywhereYour notes stay updated across all your devices. No buttons to press. -
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Feed problems with davidseah.com?
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 01:55 AM PDT
| Feed problems with davidseah.com? Posted: 25 Oct 2013 01:39 PM PDT I got a report from a reader that the “All Network Feed” email subscription she has is repeating old articles. Is anyone else having problems with any feeds, RSS or email? Please let me know! | You are subscribed to email updates from David Seah
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"Effortless user experiences are particularly important in developing today’s big ideas because, in..."
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 01:49 AM PDT
| "Effortless user experiences are particularly important in developing today’s big ideas because, in..." Posted: 25 Oct 2013 06:42 AM PDT "Effortless user experiences are particularly important in developing today's big ideas because, in an ever-more connected world, big ideas are made of people. As we move from metaphors to actions, we move towards ideas that demand interaction and that live, as Mark Earls puts it, in "the spaces between individuals"." - Patricia McDonald "Why big is still beautiful" (via peterspear) Actually, I think she has things backward. When we operate at social scale — embracing ideas that live in the spaces between us — we are thinking small, but that can have enormous consequences. Think small, change big. Small is the new big. | | "After realizing drone pilots get PTSD, researchers are considering creating a Siri-like co-pilot to..." Posted: 25 Oct 2013 06:01 AM PDT " After realizing drone pilots get PTSD, researchers are considering creating a Siri-like co-pilot to deflect blame: pic.twitter.com/HI9U2E6AO8 — a_spooky_ghost (@onekade)
" - Drone pilots get post-traumatic stress disorder. So give them an Siri-like copilot to blame the killings on. | | "It’s curious how readily people who normally revere the wisdom of markets declare the markets all..." Posted: 25 Oct 2013 05:52 AM PDT "It's curious how readily people who normally revere the wisdom of markets declare the markets all wrong when they fail to panic the way they're supposed to." - Paul Krugman, Addicted to the Apocalypse How the Chicken Littles never get around to actually saying how an increasing debt will actually lead to a crisis, despite saying that over and over for the past years. And they never admit that they're wrong: they just keep postponing the crisis to some years in the future. | You are subscribed to email updates from Stowe Boyd
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Great Moments in Angry White People
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 01:35 AM PDT
| Great Moments in Angry White People Posted: 25 Oct 2013 12:42 PM PDT | | Real Lives Posted: 25 Oct 2013 11:47 AM PDT What 'Health Insurance Reform' and 'Obamacare' is really about from TPM Reader JL ... I had wanted to email on this subject right after the launch but I've been crazy busy and just now getting a chance. I'm only one data point and probably not even a very instructive one but did want to share my story ... About ten years ago when I launched my own business I arranged to do enough part-time work for my old employer to stay on their healthplan (on my nickel). A few years later I developed kidney cancer. Read More → | | The Popcorn that (Sur)passeth Understanding Posted: 25 Oct 2013 10:14 AM PDT | | Figure Me This Posted: 25 Oct 2013 08:52 AM PDT How did a female African-American scientist who writes for Scientific American end up getting called an "urban whore" when she declined an offer to write for free?  | | Great Moments in Racist Morons Posted: 25 Oct 2013 06:53 AM PDT Top Ten Signs your 'KKK' hit man might be with the FBI: Agrees to work on layaway after you fess up that you're broke.  | You are subscribed to email updates from Editor's Blog
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How to Earn Straight A’s
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 01:16 AM PDT
| How to Earn Straight A’s Posted: 25 Oct 2013 12:40 PM PDT When I started high school, I decided I was going to become a straight-A student, even though I’d never done that before. It seemed like an interesting goal to pursue as a 14-year old. Since school was the center of my life back then, I figured I might as well succeed at it. On my first freshman English essay, I got a C+. I was a bit miffed. I thought I had done my best. Instead of interpreting that C+ to mean that I was going to fail at my goal, I asked, “Why didn’t I get an A? What would an A essay need to look like?” Whenever I got less than an A in a class assignment, I kept asking, “What do I need to do differently to get an A?” If I wasn’t sure, I asked the teacher and listened carefully. I told my teachers that I wanted all As on my report card and asked what I need to do to make it so. They gladly told me. I took their advice and followed their suggestions. Soon I locked onto the mindset and habits that were required to earn and maintain straight As, and I kept that up for 4 years. I graduated high school with top honors, glowing letters of recommendation, and acceptance letters to top computer science universities like UC Berkeley, UCLA, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, and more. The surprise is that it probably took less work to earn all As than it did to earn lower grades. When you’re earning straight As, you’re learning the material as it’s presented. You’re not falling behind. You remain caught up and current on assignments. You’re not succumbing to confusion or cluelessness. If you don’t understand something, you figure it out ASAP. If you need help, you ask for help right away. You do NOT fall behind. Students who earn lower grades often work harder because they use a sloppy approach. They succumb to bad habits like doing assignments at the last minute under pressure. They show up for tests tired and stressed instead of relaxed and prepared. They don’t learn information as it’s presented; they try to cram it in later, when they have less time, more pressure, and less familiarity with the ideas. They get a B or C and think it’s okay instead of going back to learn what would have been necessary to get an A. To an A student, a B is an error. So is a B+. So is an A-. When I got an A- on anything, I regarded it as a mistake. I didn’t beat myself up about it. I just kept asking, “Why not an A? What do I need to do differently?” If I made a minor screw-up that I couldn’t have reasonably prevented, I just forgave the mistake and let it go. But if I could identify a preventable cause for the mistake, I made a note of that and figured out how to change my habits. For instance, if I made a simple arithmetic mistake on a math test, I could largely prevent that type of error by redoing any arithmetic steps again after I’d done each problem once, without looking at my original work the second time through. If the answers came out differently, then of course I must have made an error, and I could go back and fix it before handing in the test, assuming I still had time. I also learned to slowly proofread essays for spelling and grammar mistakes and to look up any word I wasn’t sure about. Ultimately, getting straight As turned out to involve a series of simple habits. I did all my homework each night at my desk in my bedroom before playing any video games. I always did extra credit when it was offered. I gladly helped other students who wanted help with their assignments, partly since it helped me learn the material better and partly because it earned me more social support among my classmates. I understand that there’s a lot of variability in grading. Grading can often seem unfair. An interesting study showed that the further after a meal a teacher grades your assignment or test, the lower your grade. Teachers are more generous with grading when they have higher blood sugar. So the best time for your paper to be graded is right after your teacher eats. And you probably can’t control that most of the time. But you can use teacher biases in your favor too. If you tell a teacher you want to be a straight-A student, it will stick in their mind. They’ll often help you get there, especially if you ask for help and advice. They may even give you the benefit of the doubt when grading something subjective if they know that it’s a serious goal for you to earn an A. They usually won’t give you straight-up charity, but it doesn’t hurt to bend the subjective aspects in your favor by getting your teachers on your side. Getting straight As has to do with your attitude and performance of course, but it also has much to do with your relationships with your teachers. If you think a teacher can’t or won’t downgrade you because of problems in your relationship, think again. Teachers are human. Even if they don’t consciously realize their biases, these biases show up subconsciously. This has been found again and again in statistical analyses of teachers’ grading patterns. Because of the subjective nature of grading, especially with some of the softer subjects, I quickly learned that I could do all the required coursework in excellent fashion and still not feel totally secure about getting a solid A. But if I developed and maintained positive relationships with my teachers, the A was fairly secure, and a strong relationship also gave me a little more wiggle room. I could screw up now and then and still get the A if the teacher believed I had done enough (or more than enough) to earn it. Teachers are often willing to forgive a few mistakes if they perceive that a student is making a serious effort. By committing to earning straight As, I converted my identity into that of a straight-A student. It wasn’t long before I adopted other behaviors that I thought were appropriate for a straight-A student. In high school I developed positive relationships with my teachers by expressing more interest in the subjects they taught, which was after all their work. Even if I was already getting As, I’d ask for more information about the topics that interested me most. I’d express curiosity to learn more than what was being taught in class. I’d ask my teachers what else they were working on and if they could share some of that with me. I’d hang around after class and joke around. I sometimes joined clubs that my teachers were involved in. I didn’t do this manipulatively, and I didn’t do this with every teacher. I just did it when I was genuinely curious. Consequently, I was invited to partake in several other educational opportunities that other students weren’t informed about. I got to go on special field trips, such as to Jet Propulsion Laboratories in Pasadena, California. I was given access to extra resources like books and software. I was invited to take a college-level course at USC while I was still in high school, which gave me college course credit. I was invited to serve as captain of my school’s first Academic Decathlon team. We set our own standards. If a B is good enough for you, that’s your choice. But so many of the choicest opportunities in life are reserved for the truly dedicated top performers who continue to strive for excellence. Those people receive an endless stream of positive invitations. Earning straight As doesn’t require more work. It requires a different mindset and a different set of habits, but in the long run, it’s actually less work, especially when you peer through the lens of a long time perspective. If you earn straight As early in life, you’ll gain knowledge and skills that you can rely upon later in life. You won’t always know how those skills will come into play. I could have decided that I didn’t need to be good at writing or grammar because even in high school, I knew I was headed for a technical career. I couldn’t predict that I’d end up making a great living from writing and speaking. There was no such thing as blogging when I was in school. But I’m immensely grateful to my past self for committing to these basic skills so strongly. He set me up with some quality habits that serve me well to this day. If he had settled for that C+, he’d have put the onus on me to later relearn how to write, or to settle for weak writing skills. Even if you’re not in school right now, life itself is a school. You’re still being graded. Your grades are your results. Life is grading you. Are you happy with your current grades, or do you feel you’re underperforming your potential? What kind of commitment would be equivalent to getting straight As today? What will it take to rise to the top of your class, to become one of the best performers among your peers, and to develop positive relationships with mentors and learn from them? What is your vision of personal excellence today? Once you figure out your current straight-A standard, commit to it. Whenever you fall short, keep asking, “What do I need to do to get an A here?” Then do what’s necessary to earn that A. Moreover, keep thinking of yourself as a straight-A student. That’s not someone else. That’s you. You’re the achiever, the performer, the one who’s dedicated to personal excellence.
Uncopyrighted by Steve Pavlina |
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The Executives Guide to SEO — The Free 111-Minute Course
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 01:16 AM PDT
| The Executives Guide to SEO — The Free 111-Minute Course Posted: 25 Oct 2013 02:53 PM PDT The Executives Guide to SEO — The Free 111-Minute Course was originally published on BruceClay.com, home of expert search engine optimization tips. If you’re a chief marketing officer or senior marketing executive, we know you’ve heard of SEO and the major boost it can give your online traffic and revenue. If you’re eager to learn more about SEO — from an executive standpoint — in order to better lead your staff, the “Free Executives Guide to SEO in 111 Minutes” is the solution you’ve been waiting for. Watch, listen and learn how SEO works, practically, so that you can make the best decisions when it comes to hiring an SEO firm or directing your in-house team.  That’s where the “Free Executives Guide to SEO in 111 Minutes” comes in. Brought to you by Bruce Clay, Inc. (a leading SEO firm est. in 1996 with offices on five continents), this course teaches executives the brass tacks of SEO. The dividends for your 111-minute investment? A firm understanding of:
- Why SEO is crucial to a company’s overall marketing
- How an optimized site boosts Internet traffic (and therefore revenue)
- What factors cause a site to rank within organic search results
- What constitutes spam tactics and why they must be avoided
“CMOs and other top executives need to be SEO advocates within their organizations,” said Clay, who was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Vision, Execution and Market Influence in the Practice of Search Marketing. “Executives need to know what’s the best practice methodology for SEO so they can recognize a song and dance when they hear one. Unfortunately, there are many people calling themselves ‘SEOs’ who practice unethical or outdated tactics. With a basic understanding of correct, white hat SEO methodology, an executive can keep the online marketing ship on course.” The “Free Executives Guide to SEO in 111 Minutes” is available on demand. Unlike other SEO courses, the Free Executives Guide to SEO is less about programming technicalities and more about concepts and overarching strategy, designed with CMOs in mind. “The course fills a need,” Clay said. “Looking at what’s available online today, we realized there’s not a good SEO training course geared for executives who don’t have time or desire to learn the programming side of it.” If you are interested in the “programming side” of SEO, Bruce Clay, Inc. offers SEOToolSet Training, held in the Los Angeles area seven times a year. The next SEOToolSet Training is Dec. 8-12. At the SEOToolSet Training, attendees dive into: - Best practices for leveraging targeted keywords for higher conversion rates
- Content strategy that appeals to people and search engines
- How to analyze your own site and your competitors’
- What search engines view as spam and the consequent penalties associated with it
- And so much more!
Use this discount code: NEWS13 to receive $450 off December’s advanced SEOToolSet Training. | You are subscribed to email updates from Bruce Clay Blog
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Klout as a Personal Brand Builder
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 01:13 AM PDT
| Klout as a Personal Brand Builder Posted: 25 Oct 2013 12:30 PM PDT When it comes to personal branding with social media what might come to mind are things like keeping your Facebook and Twitter accounts professional should your prospective employer Google you; or, deciding on your visual branding. But did you know that Klout can also help you build a brand?  Wikipedia defines Klout as: "…a website and mobile app that uses social media analytics to rank its users according to online social influence via the “Klout Score”, which is a numerical value between 1 and 100. In determining the user score, Klout measures the size of a user’s social media network and correlates the content created to measure how other users interact with that content."
It's not how many Twitter followers or Facebook fans you have – Klout measures how effective you are in interacting and how often others spread the word about you or your brand. How far does your message reach? Klout provides that metric. Does social measurement matter? Since Klout upgraded its algorithm in 2011, the controversial company has become the standard for social influence measurement. Like it or not, your activity is being recorded from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram, Foursquare, and YouTube. If your name or business has a Wikipedia page, count that in as well. As your business or individual persona becomes more widely known, then a new term 'social influence' – the ability to drive action – goes into effect. When you share something on social media or in real life and people respond, that’s influence. While interacting on social media and connecting with fans and followers, Klout is measuring your daily activity, producing a score based on a 90 day average – your social influence score. You can't improve what you don't measure We've all heard the adage. The original quote by Dr. H. James Harrington is, "Measurement is the first step that leads to control and eventually to improvement. If you can't measure something, you can't understand it. If you can't understand it, you can't control it. If you can't control it, you can't improve it." It's not a stretch to say that any person or business who wishes to perform better or accomplish more has meaningful points of measurement. Think of Klout as the Google Analytics for social media. There are several ways to use Klout to build your brand and influence: - Connect your social media with Klout. Signup is quick and easy through Twitter or Facebook. It is well worth becoming a part of the social measurement service, and establishes you as a credible brand. After creating an account, you will want to connect as many of your 'active' social networks that you can, as these will factor into your score. Currently Facebook and Twitter are at the top of the list for measurement.
- Find other Klout influencers in your niche. Through Klout's powerful search tool you can find others who are already in your social networks, or those you would like to connect with. By creating the topics that match your brand you can give what is called a +K for their topic, which can be sent out as a tweet or a post to that individual. Most people will return the favor, which all helps your Klout score.
- Maintain a healthy, active, and engaged community. It is vital to provide fresh content and interact with your fans and followers. Contests, questions, videos, images, and other interesting posts that create a relationship with your community and get shared carries a lot of weight.
- Create a list. Klout now allows a user to create a list, just like in Twitter or Facebook, and add influencers to that list.
- Become a Klout Expert. One of the benefits of Klout is to answer questions in its newer service called 'Klout Experts.' This is a great way to show off your skills, create potential leads, and have your answers appear in Bing's search results.
- Login to Klout daily. This is an important step to keep track of your progress, view any action alerts, thank influencers who have given you "K" on Klout, and find new people to connect with.
Author: Susan Gilbert uses her laser focus knowledge to coach and provide online marketing and social sharing programs for authors, speaker, experts and small businesses. An entrepreneur since 1987, Susan has evolved years of traditional business experience into several cutting edge projects which includes her digital marketing company, Online Promotion Success. Author and publisher of several books including "The Land of I Can," and "KLOUT SCORE: Social Media Influence, How to Gain Exposure and Increase Your Klout," Susan combines online marketing with strategic thinking to create successful programs. Working most often with authors and entrepreneurs, she understands promotion at a personal level as a regularly quoted resource in USA Today, Entrepreneur, Inc. Magazine and many more. Follow her Digital Marketing Tips at her blog: www.SusanGilbert.com | | Communicate in the Way That Works For You Posted: 25 Oct 2013 10:30 AM PDT What are the best stories you have ever heard? How long did you remember them? Do you still remember them? What made them memorable?  My guess is … they were personal stories and/or they were personalized and enhanced by the story teller.
The storyteller likely included passion, drama, humor and perhaps a bit of self-deprecation. The stories we remember strike a chord and often can be remembered instantly when a trigger event occurs. It could be a smell, a word, a picture, a sound or even a person. When your senses are aroused the memories come flooding back. Pro Tip: When you are creating stories seek to include an anchor / a trigger event. The goal is to tell your story the best way YOU can. Seek to include trigger events that work for the way you communicate best. Some people paint incredibly vivid pictures with words. Some can do the same on the back of a napkin or whiteboard. Others will use hand gestures and may even jump up and down. Choose the way that works for you. Consume stories YOUR way too Some people say … Never take notes or never write anything down. Because they feel that prevents them from being fully present in a conversation. That they miss non-verbal cues. While this may be true for some it may not be your style. For me I like to take notes. I will often say “I hope you don’t mind, but I’d like to make a few notes to make sure I capture the essence of our conversation.
Phone calls vs. in-person meetings Yes, it is much easier to be distracted by other factors when you are on a phone call versus an in-person meeting. But I think that the person speaking … no matter where they are in the world deserves our respect and attention. Otherwise … why even be on the call? Realities of Phone Calls: - I think we can all tell when the person on the other side of the phone is distracted.
- They stammer, seem disconnected, and generally aren’t part of the conversation
- This is worse on conference calls.
- Note: This is why meetings should be abolished (not really, but the idea does have merit)
Whether you are sitting across the table from someone or on a phone call you need to consume stories your way too. For me, I'm a note taker. I like to write things down and sometimes draw pictures. If this mode of consuming stories works for you great. If not, find a way that does.
Creating stories that resonate Communicating in the way that works best for you allows you to create stories that resonate. In order to tell stories that stick with your audience you should find your Strategic Narrative. Another options is to consider joining Toastmasters. Most people join to improve their speaking skills, but there is a little secret to Toastmasters that you'll learn … you will also improve your thinking and organization skills too. Communicating is a personal thing Choose the way that works for you. Not only will you be glad you did, but so will the other parties that are part of the conversation. When done right your communication style comes through and helps people remember the message. Communicating effectively is critical at all stages of your career. Whether you are just starting out and have a lot to learn or whether you have been doing something for a long time and have a lot to share. Taking the time now to think about your best way to communicate in the way that works for you will pay dividends today and in the future. Author: Jeff is a veteran in the Enterprise Content Management industry. Over the past 20 years he has worked with customers and partners to design, develop and deploy solutions around the world. Jeff is currently the Director of Strategic Alliances at Winshuttle. He has worked for Microsoft, FileNet (IBM), K2, Captaris, Open Text, Kofax and Kodak. He speaks and blogs about ECM and the Intersection between Social, Mobile and Cloud Computing. | | Resume Tips – Brand and Land Posted: 25 Oct 2013 02:30 AM PDT It's common knowledge that we all spend what would seem to be 'light-years' painstakingly preparing our resumes only to find out that the initial review is about 10 seconds before the reviewer either dumps it in the 'no thanks' pile or the 'maybe' pile…ouch!  So, what is it that can make or break that first quick review?
Think strategically – what is the resumes #1 job? It's to land you an interview (either in person or via phone). That being the case you only have a few seconds of the reviewer's attention, so it is imperative that you use your personal branding right from the start. Excite the reader with your energy, passion and expertise. Let the reader know immediately how your expertise fits "their needs" (do not focus on what you want – after all, if you're applying for the job that's a no-brainer…right?) So, how do you excite the reader with your energy, passion and expertise? Skip…and I am serious here…skip the old boring resume 'objective statement', i.e., "Looking to secure a position with growth opportunities where I can contribute my skills and expertise to meet the needs of the organization." That statement is a real snoozer… are you asleep? Don't use 'prime real estate' on your resume to bore someone to death! You need a strong introduction – a summary/branding statement with punch! So get rid of that boring objective statement and use the top area of your resume to launch your personal brand, letting the employer know who you are in action, what they can expect to get from you and how you bring your value-add into an organization. This is the area where you tell them what you can do for them and let your expertise and brand work for you. Here are (3) introductory summary/personal branding examples Are you an IT Account Executive? Strong forward-thinking leader with demonstrated ability partnering with key-stakeholders across the enterprise to define, align and translate corporate IT strategies into tactical plans. Impressive track record of strategic engagement and tactical planning in both sales and marketing to maximize efficient solutions. Expert at building strong customer relationships and becoming a trusted source through service and top-performance. Are you an Administrative Professional? Resourceful self-starter with ability to operate independently and manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously. Strong collaborator with excellent organizational and problem-solving skills. Exceptional ability to manage projects from initiation through completion, within strict deadlines. Valued for collaborative communication style and teamwork. Known for exceptional customer service and "can do" attitude. Are you an Event Planner? Dynamic, team-spirited contributor with a terrific eye for detail. Meticulous project manager with the ability to simplify details. Strengths in planning, negotiating, staging and promoting major events. Reputation for managing and delivering events 'on time and in budget'. Thrive in energetic, fast-paced diverse work environment. Well versed in all facets of creative event planning including executive corporate meetings, recreational events, VIP relations, fundraisers, theme parties and more. Whatever your profession you have the ability to build a strong personal brand statement to use on your resume based on your unique value-add. So, instead of using the same ol', same ol' boring objective statement as an opener on your resume, get a head start on your competition and let your brand shine through! Author: Robin has taken her entrepreneurial spirit and teamed with executives in rapidly growing startup companies in the Silicon Valley, creating HR teams who helped to build incredibly talented organizations and mold strong collaborative, goal aligned cultures. As an expert resume writer and recruiter, Robin has been on both sides of the hiring process and has a keen understanding of the employer's needs and their approach to reviewing resumes. As Co Founder of FiredUP Careers, Robin brings her entrepreneurial talents, along with her broad range of expertise and insight to those who seek career advice. With her complimentary blend of career expertise in HR Management, Recruiting, Staffing and Coaching – Robin is an ideal coach for anyone who is open to creative possibility and possesses a forward-thinking mindset. |
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YouTube May Launch a Commercial-Free Music Subscription Service by End of Year
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 01:12 AM PDT
| YouTube May Launch a Commercial-Free Music Subscription Service by End of Year Posted: 25 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT Reports are out that YouTube may be planning a music video subscription service that would allow users to access videos on demand without advertising interruption for $10. Some speculate there could be a free component to the service, as well.  | | Facebook on Graph Search Posts Index: 700 TB of Data & 100+ Ranking Factors Posted: 25 Oct 2013 08:20 AM PDT Facebook search quality and ranking engineer Ashoat Tevosyan shared a look under the Graph Search hood in a post this week on the Facebook Engineering page. The posts index alone houses over 700 TB of data, he said, and includes over 100 ranking factors f  | | Link Building 101: Local Link Building Posted: 25 Oct 2013 06:30 AM PDT Local link building is a commonly untapped resource, which can lead to quick yet quality links and net local customers. Here are some great strategies to build local links that can work for any business, as well as why they're worth pursuing.  | | Stop Obsessing Over AdWords Quality Score Posted: 25 Oct 2013 05:30 AM PDT Quality score is complicated, but that doesn't mean it's all that useful. Alistair Dent pulls back the curtain to show advertisers what's behind the Google Adwords Quality Score and how you should use it in AdWords campaigns.  | You are subscribed to email updates from Search Engine Watch
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google | | Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 |
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Where do you turn for reputable news in 2013?
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 01:11 AM PDT
| Where do you turn for reputable news in 2013? Posted: 25 Oct 2013 05:48 AM PDT Friend and colleague, LuAnn Gluwacz brought up an interesting question on Facebook a couple weeks ago: If you were to cite REAL news these days, what would you consider the best source? The answers varied—greatly. Take a peek. 
And I had to cut off the list for the sake of this screen grab. There were more outlets listed. Would all of those media outlets have been listed 10 years ago? Probably not, right? But I think it’s interesting to see outlets like Al Jazeera and the Guardian slip into this discussion. But that was LuuAnn’s post. I wanted to do my own research (and I use that term loosely for purposes of this post  , with a bit of a twist. So, I asked a number of fellow PR pros where they went for reputable news sources throughout the day. Here’s what they had to say: Blair Klein, AT&T Mashable, CNN and NBC News (via desktop and iPhone) Jeff Shelman, Best Buy New York Times (iPad), Wall Street Journal (iPad), Star Tribune (hard copy) Jenny Schmitt, Cloudspark CNN, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal (hard copy, tablet and phone) Dino Baskovic USA Today, The Guardian, NPR, Al Jazeera America Katie Miller, Storyteller Communications CNN, Twitter, AP (desktop and iPad) Lauren Fernandez, Landry’s NPR, New York Times, Wall Street Journal (via iPad and Feedly) Laura Fitzpatrick, OLSON CNN, New York Times, Time (via Twitter, phone and desktop) Jenna Paulus, Inprela NBCNews.com, StarTribune.com, FoxNews.com Maggie Lamaack, Bellmont Partners PR The Atlantic, New York Times, Fast Co. Lauren Gray, Finn Partners BBC, CNN, Huffington Post (desktop, iPhone, social) So, I surveyed 10 people and asked them for their top three news outlets they visit on a daily basis. They came up with FOURTEEN different sources. FOURTEEN. You start to add in emerging sites like Now This News and Buzzfeed and that number is only going to grow in the months and years ahead. The implications for PR? When citing hard news, there is no “one source” that stands out above the rest (like AP or the New York Times probably did at one point). In today’s fragmented media landscape, trust is media is all over the board. One person may trust the Washington Post. Another may abhor them. Now, some of that may have to do with political affiliations. And, some may have to do with actual reporting. But, the larger point is, not only has media itself fragmented, but TRUST in those media outlets have fragmented, too. And, as we move toward an increasing reliance on mobile devices for our news, I think that may shift even more (see note above about Now This News and Buzzfeed, who seem to understand the mobile experience a bit better than some more traditional outlets). What about you? What media outlets do you visit on a daily basis? Which media do YOU trust? Thanks for installing the Bottom of every post plugin by Corey Salzano. Contact me if you need custom WordPress plugins or website design. Where do you turn for reputable news in 2013? is a post from: Communications Conversations |
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46 Amazing Social Media Facts in 2013
Posted: 25 Oct 2013 11:14 AM PDT
| 46 Amazing Social Media Facts in 2013 Posted: 24 Oct 2013 01:18 PM PDT 
Social media in the beginning was viewed as something teenagers did. After school they rushed to their rooms started up the computer and logged into Myspace. Remember that social network? Facebook changed the game and the college students became the social media demographic sweet spot. Twitter then showed up and most people didn’t know what to do with it. Questions bubbled up in many minds. What do I do with 140 characters? Do I tell people what I am doing and where I am going? What is this bit.ly URL link shortening thing? Do I follow everyone back? What is this hashtag doing on my screen? The list goes on. Social media is a work in progress We were all trying to work out the social media rules of engagement, the etiquette and the manners. That is still a work in progress. Some marketers, bloggers and business dived in early while others dipped their toes at the edges. Everyone knew something was happening but weren’t quite sure if it was a passing fad or a generation changing trend. That was 2008. It seems a social media lifetime ago. In 2013 Facebook connects 1 in 2 people on the social web, has paid $1 billion for Instagram and become a public company. Twitter is going public and Pinterest has moved the pinboard from the kitchen wall to the web. Social media marketing is moving from a free and wild west frontier to a “pay to play” model if you want to reach your audience in significant numbers. Facebook pushes us to pay to promote to obtain any meaningful attention and Twitter evolves it’s self service advertising interface and features. We sort of knew that the freebies would start to end. Quick glance social media facts Here is a top 10 snack size bite of some social media facts and statistics if you haven’t the time for consuming the full infographic below. - There are over 10 million Facebook “apps”
- Twitter’s fastest growing demographic is 55-64 year olds
- 60% of Twitter users access it from their mobile
- There are over 343 million active users on Google+
- The +1 button is served 5 billion times per day
- 67% of Google+ users are male
- There are over 3 million Linkedin company pages
- More than 16 billion photos have been uploaded to Instagram
- Food is the top category discussed on Pinterest at 57%
- There are over 1 billion unique monthly visitors on YouTube
For more social media facts view the infographic below. What surprises you? What numbers were eye opening for you? Is it the numbers on Google+ or is it Instagram? Look forward to your questions, feedback and insights in the comments below. Want to learn how to make your blog a success with social media marketing? My book – "Blogging the Smart Way – How to Create and Market a Killer Blog with Social Media" – will show you how. It is now available to download. I show you how to create and build a blog that rocks and grow tribes, fans and followers on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. It also includes dozens of tips to create contagious content that begs to be shared and tempts people to link to your website and blog. I also reveal the tactics I used to grow my Twitter followers to over 197,000. Download and read it now. The post 46 Amazing Social Media Facts in 2013 appeared first on Jeffbullas's Blog. | You are subscribed to email updates from Jeffbullas's Blog
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Heroic marketing!
Posted: 25 Oct 2013 11:13 AM PDT
| Heroic marketing! Posted: 25 Oct 2013 07:00 AM PDT How can you become a true hero? For less than you spend on a normal, boring ad? Answer that question and you’ll become a master of word of mouth marketing. Amazing example: USAA paid to fly the entire Air Force team to the Navy game during the government shutdown. Whoa! The full story from USA Today: USAA picks up Air Force’s tab for football game at Navy United Services Automobile Association, an insurance company that caters to members of the military and their families, is paying for the Air Force football team’s entire trip to Navy this weekend — a tab of $230,000, Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation CEO Derm Coll said Friday. “They did a great job for us,” Coll said by phone. “They’re picking up the bills for everything we need.” With the game in jeopardy of being postponed due to the federal government shutdown, Air Force essentially tasked with raising the money for the trip through entirely private funding. So Coll began to reach out to various supporters of Air Force athletics, including USAA, a major corporate sponsor. At lunchtime Wednesday, Coll said he had no money raised. A few hours after conversations started with USAA officials, they had pledged to pay for the whole trip. “I was expecting we’d get $50,000 or $100,000,” Coll said. “They came back and said they’re picking up the whole thing; let’s get this game going, it’s important for us to support the military.”
The PR, word of mouth, and goodwill earned by USAA is priceless. How are you going to blow people’s minds with a heroic gesture? |
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El bug de Ciudad Luminalia de 'Pokémon X/Y' ya está solucionado
Posted: 25 Oct 2013 11:11 AM PDT
| El bug de Ciudad Luminalia de 'Pokémon X/Y' ya está solucionado Posted: 25 Oct 2013 08:31 AM PDT 
Aunque el problema no se ha manifestado a todos, ‘Pokémon X/Y’ tiene un error que puede dejar inservible vuestra partida al guardar el progreso en alguna de las calles o plazas de Ciudad Luminalia. Yo estoy entre los que no ha tenido ningún problema, pero por si las moscas, ya podéis descargar el parche que soluciona dicho bug. Con las imágenes que tenéis arriba podréis acceder directamente a la descarga de los parches para ‘Pokémon X/Y’, sólo tenéis que pulsar el botón cámara desde el menú Home de Nintendo 3DS (o 2DS) y acceder a la lectura de códigos QR mediante el botón que aparece en la parte inferior izquierda. Una vez leído podréis saltar hasta la Nintendo eShop y, desde ahí, descargar el parche de 229 bloques. Si queréis, también podéis acceder a su descarga directamente desde la tienda online de Nintendo. Lástima que haya tardado tanto en llegar, pero al menos ya está solucionado. A cazar bichos. En VidaExtra | 'Pokémon X' y 'Pokémon Y' supera los cuatro millones de copias en 48 horas -
La noticia El bug de Ciudad Luminalia de 'Pokémon X/Y' ya está solucionado fue publicada originalmente en Vidaextra por R. Marquez.        | | Microsoft nos presenta el anuncio promocional de Xbox One Posted: 25 Oct 2013 07:58 AM PDT | | 'Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag' ya se está vendiendo en España Posted: 25 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT 
Seguro que muchos seguidores de la saga ‘Assassin’s Creed’ teníais marcado en el calendario el 31 de octubre, día en el que Ubisoft iba a poner a la venta su esperado ‘Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’ en PC, PS3, Wii U y Xbox 360. Pero, ¿y si os decimos que no hace falta esperar una semana? Esta mañana me chocó bastante un correo recibido de GameStop bajo el titular “Bienvenidos a El Caribe: Assassins Creed IV Black Flag ¡Ya a la venta!”. ¿Cómo era posible si aún estábamos a día 25? Sería un error, pensé. Pero no, nuestro querido compañero Villalobos nos acaba de confirmar que también lo están vendiendo en FNAC, y en varias tiendas más. Con lo cuál la fiesta de embargos se ha ido a tomar viento fresco, presenciando nuevamente cómo las fechas se pasan por el forro. Así que ya sabéis, si queréis ración pirata (de la legítima, cuidado) de ‘Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag’, que sepáis que ya lo podéis encontrar en muchas tiendas especializadas. ¡Que rule el grog! En Vidaextra | ‘Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag’ para PS4: primer contacto -
La noticia 'Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag' ya se está vendiendo en España fue publicada originalmente en Vidaextra por Jarkendia.        | | Rebelión de ofertas en GOG este finde Posted: 25 Oct 2013 05:11 AM PDT 
Si esta mañana le tocó a Steam con sus potentes y variadas ofertas ahora es el turno de GOG, con unas cuantas ofertas para este fin de semana sobre títulos publicados por el estudio Rebellion. Tenemos hasta el 29 de octubre a las 3:59 am GMT para hacernos con alguno de sus videojuegos con un 60% de descuento, con nombres conocidos como la trilogía de ‘Empire Earth’, el malvado ‘Evil Genius’, los ‘Ground Control’ e incluso el shooter ‘Sniper Elite: Berlin 1945’. Casualmente en este caso es la promoción de la que menos juegos dispongo en GOG (algunos los conservo todavía en físico, eso sí), siendo el único el ‘Empire Earth – Gold Edition’. Fijáos, a todo esto, que cada título cuesta entre 2,39 y 3,99 dólares, lo que se traduce por 1,73 y 2,89 euros. En GOG | Rebellion Reduction
Más información | GOG -
La noticia Rebelión de ofertas en GOG este finde fue publicada originalmente en Vidaextra por Jarkendia.        | | Echando unas partidas a 'FORCED' Posted: 25 Oct 2013 05:11 AM PDT 
La odisea de BetaDwarf Entertainment para publicar ‘FORCED’ en Steam ha sido bestial. Tres años con “cambios de domicilio” y penurias varias, con la ayuda final de KickStarter y un préstamo de un banco, para poder ver cumplido su sueño. Pero el servicio de Valve es tan solo la primera piedra. Principalmente porque luego vendrá su versión para Wii U mediante Nintendo eShop, y ese deseo por llegar a más plataformas, como PS4 y Xbox One. Pero desde luego que lo más difícil ya ha pasado. ¿Qué tal si os contamos nuestra primera experiencia con ‘FORCED’ “echando unas partidas”?
R. Márquez No soy un gran aficionado a los RPG point’n‘click. Sí tuve mi época de ‘Diablo’ como casi cualquier otro jugador del planeta, pero más allá de eso prefiero el ordenador para otro tipo de géneros. No es que me gusten más o menos, es que no los encuentro cómodos. Inicié el modo cooperativo de ‘FORCED’ con Jarken y esa idea en la cabeza: “a reventar el ratón a base de clicks“, y además, como mi inteligencia sobrepasa límites de paleto de pueblo (poco, eso sí), escogí que mi arma favorita también debía hacer acto de presencia en la partida: el arco. Con todo en su contra, lo único que consiguió apartarme del juego fue el rugir de mi estómago pidiendo algo de comer. ‘FORCED’ es un juego fácil de entender y jugar, limitándose a acciones básicas como atacar, realizar magias y controlar la pequeña bola espiritual que nos acompañará durante la aventura, ya sea para resolver puzles o ayudarnos a destruir enemigos, mientras superamos distintos escenarios con tres objetivos. 
Pensad en él como un modo horda con diferentes puzles y retos en cada habitación, vas saltando de una a otra mientras superas la marca del crono, acabas con 10 enemigos usando la bola o evitas recibir daño de uno de los elementos o trampas que pueblan los escenarios, y todo para hacerte con los tres cristales que incluye cada fase, tu puerta a subir niveles y conseguir nuevas magias y mejoras. Podría decir que ‘FORCED’ es igual de recomendable en solitario o en coopeartivo, pero como ya adivinaréis no hay color entre una opción y otra. El juego de BetaDwarf Entertainment, una mezcla indie entre ‘Portal’, ‘Left 4 Dead’ y ‘Diablo’, es un título muy recomendable si te juntas con amigos y mantienes cierta coordinación para alzarte con el éxito. No lo tenía en el radar y, francamente, creo que va a ser una experiencia muy divertida, y dura… Jarkendia Al contrario que mi compañero Rubén, yo sí que soy un gran aficionado a los RPG de acción de PC. Aunque sí que es cierto que no juego tanto a ellos como antaño, con alguna joya olvidada como ‘NOX’ o ‘Harbinger’ (vale, éste no es una joya, pero “olvidado” lo es un rato) cogiendo polvo en mi estantería, o directamente ese Path of Exile que he descargado tan pronto se puso “a la venta” en Steam hace unos días, pero que aún no he podido degustar con calma. Suerte que con ‘FORCED’ Rubén y yo nos pusimos de acuerdo para dedicarle cerca de una hora jugando en modo cooperativo online. Lo primero que hicimos tan pronto nos pusimos a los mandos (o más bien “ratón y teclado”, pese a que es compatible con mando, ojo) de este atípico RPG de BetaDwarf Entertainment, tras escuchar el grito de Wilhelm, fue escoger una clase. Y aquí mi compañero se me adelantó, ya que yo siempre, como buen Sagitario que soy, opto por las que tienen arco. Por lo que me decanté finalmente por las garras, que a pesar de ser a corta distancia eran bastante rápidas. Tuvimos que pasar por un breve tutorial para comprender la mecánica de ‘FORCED’, con un control bastante simple y directo que cualquiera puede entender a la perfección, que se complementa a su vez con el Espíritu Mentor, un espíritu en forma de bola con el que interactuaremos inevitablemente con los distintos puzles. Como ya vimos en sus noticias, éste no es un RPG al uso, ya que mezcla varios conceptos, siendo uno de ellos la resolución de acertijos. Aquí podremos jugar hasta cuatro personas a la vez, con lo que se podría decir que el Espíritu Mentor es el quinto en discordia. Aparte que no se quejará al ir de un lado al otro tras llamarlo, porque será así el modo en el que resolveremos cada puzle. Uno lo llamará e irá hasta su posición, y si por el camino pasa por algún punto clave de la mazmorra, hará algo especial, como convertirse momentáneamente en una bomba, o anular una trampa con gas mortífero. 
Sobre esto último Rubén y yo nos encontramos con una mazmorra que tuvimos que repetir. El gas se extendía y nos iba matando lentamente. Al principio fuimos un poco a lo loco. Después decidimos que iba a ser una de nuestras prioridades. Y a lo tonto conseguimos tres cristales. ¿Y qué es eso de los cristales, os preguntaréis? Pues la valoración de cada fase, y el sistema de experiencia. Si pasamos una mazmorra (la extensión de cada una es muy pequeña, en un entorno cerrado; para potenciar ese juego directo) se nos concederá un cristal, si lo pasamos antes de cierta cantidad de tiempo se nos dará otro (podremos ver la clasificación online con los miembros de cada equipo), y si cumplimos un objetivo especial, uno más. En total habrá 75 cristales a conseguir, y sobra decir que será importante conseguir el mayor número posible, ya que cuantos más tengamos, más habilidades activas y pasivas tendremos a nuestra disposición. Aunque finalmente podamos llevar consigo tres de cada. Lo bueno es que estos cristales se mantienen para las cuatro clases, y podremos cambiar antes de entrar en una mazmorra. ‘FORCED’ nos invita a explorar las distintas posibilidades que nos ofrecen, aunque Rubén y yo nos mantuvimos en nuestros trece con el arco y las garras, respectivamente. Cuando publiquemos nuestro análisis ya habrá ocasión de explorar a fondo. Nuestro viaje terminó poco después de hacer frente al primer jefe de este trabajo de BetaDwarf. Porque sí, tras superar varias mazmorras llega el enfrentamiento final con el jefe que la custodia. Nos tocó uno con poca variedad de movimientos (un golpe en el suelo que provoca una onda expansiva que nos tira, una carga que le aturde cuando golpea una pared, un golpe estándar, y el cebarse con nuestro cuerpo cuando nos atrapa) que a pesar de todo provocó que tuviésemos que repetir el duelo por ir de sobrados hasta darle finalmente matarile. Luego vimos un par de fases del desierto y paramos, que el hambre estaba haciendo mella en los dos. Pero bien podríamos haber estado más, porque el modo cooperativo funciona muy bien en ‘FORCED’ y cada mazmorra nos plantea retos distintos. Si lo hemos disfrutado a dos bandas, imagináos lo que puede conseguir con cuatro. En Steam | FORCED
Sitio oficial | FORCED -
La noticia Echando unas partidas a 'FORCED' fue publicada originalmente en Vidaextra por Jarkendia.        | | Podremos usar nuestro nombre y apellidos en PS4 desde el primer día Posted: 25 Oct 2013 04:38 AM PDT 
Podremos usar nuestro nombre real en PS4 desde el primer día, según ha confirmado Sony. La compañía quiere dejar claro que esto será algo totalmente opcional y que nadie estará obligado a usar su nombre y no su PSN ID en los servicios online. Nos hemos acostumbrado a usar nicks en las actuales consolas, y aunque nadie impide que usemos nuestro nombre y apellido en ellos (o al menos lo que quepa dentro del límite de carácteres), el concepto es distinto. Anonimato, ¿sí o no? Un ejemplo lo tenemos en Facebook, por ejemplo, donde a partir de cierto momento obligaron a todos sus usuarios a indicar nombre y apellidos (falsos o no ya es cosa de cada uno, aunque el sistema es algo puñetero incluso con eso). El paso que está dando Sony, por tanto, tiene que ver más con la capa social de su PS4 que con otra cosa. Cómo encontraremos de forma más sencilla a un usuario, ¿por un nick que puede ser cualquier rareza o usando su nombre real en la búsqueda? Los nicks son únicos, las combinaciones de nombre y apellidos no, pero lo más probable es que aquellos usuarios que decidan usar sus datos reales usen una foto propia en su perfil o una imagen que los identifique de alguna forma más o menos clara para los amigos y conocidos. En Microsoft ya dijeron que también tienen pensado darle a los usuarios la posibilidad de usar sus datos reales además del Gamertag, pero es algo que no se podrá hacer en Xbox One desde el primer día, sino que se implementará más tarde. Teniendo en cuenta que esto será algo totalmente opcional, ¿os veis dando el salto o preferís seguir usando únicamente vuestro nick? Vía | Kotaku -
La noticia Podremos usar nuestro nombre y apellidos en PS4 desde el primer día fue publicada originalmente en Vidaextra por Alex C.        | | Seis análisis de 'Batman: Arkham Origins' que nos han gustado Posted: 25 Oct 2013 03:49 AM PDT 
Hoy el Caballero Oscuro nos cuenta sus orígenes, hoy se pone a la venta en nuestro país ‘Batman Arkham Origins’. Warner Bros Games Montreal ha tenido ante sí la difícil papeleta de tomar el relevo de Rocksteady Studios y dejar el pabellón bien alto tras los sobresalientes y atemporales ‘Batman Arkham Asylum’ y ‘Batman Arkham City’. ¿Lo habrá conseguido? Es algo que veremos a continuación seleccionando seis análisis que nos han gustado sobre este ‘Batman Arkham Origins’, a la espera de publicar el nuestro dentro de muy poco. - Empezamos con un clásico de nuestro país como es Hobby Consolas, en donde han gustado especialmente los duelos contra los villanos y el doblaje. Si bien peca de continuista, con leves aportaciones en materia jugable, como el Sistema Caballero Oscuro o los viajes rápidos, resulta un producto que no defraudará a los fans de Batman… obviando su modo online. Su nota: 92.
- Continuamos con Meristation, en donde se deja patente desde el inicio que encargar un producto así a un estudio nuevo siempre conlleva sus riesgos, y aquí se ha traducido en no aportar frescura al universo de Batman. Al menos sí que cuenta con una historia más interesante. Un 8.
- Y cerramos los medios en español con GameReactor, cuya crítica deja claro que “lo han pasado bien”, pero que está a la sombra de “Asylum” y “City”. De ahí que suponga una decepción y que no ayude a emitir un juicio más positivo que el producto, a nivel global, no esté tan refinado como los dos anteriores. Aunque sigue siendo un buen juego comparado con otros del género. Nota: 7.
- Saltamos el charco y nos vamos hasta GameInformer, lugar donde ha gustado más que en otros sitios ya que se alaba que ofrezca más de la grandeza iniciada por Rocksteady a pesar de no aportar realmente novedades. Lo que parece claro es que sigue siendo un buen Batman. 8,5.
- Pasamos a GamesRadar, donde ha gustado también y se destaca nuevamente la historia, aunque por contra se critica el pobre diseño de algunos niveles y lo vacía que parece Gotham. 4 sobre 5.
- Y finalizamos con Polygon, en donde queda patente que le ha faltado esa “sorpresa y ambición” de los anteriores, resultando un producto con parte de su fuerza heredada, pero con un empaque más débil. Por lo tanto, el podio lo siguen manteniendo “Asylum” y “City” con firmeza. Nota: 7.
A la vista está de que ‘Batman Arkham Origins’ no es un mal juego, pero Warner Bros Games Montreal ha pecado de continuista, y eso al final, por muy buena que siga siendo la mecánica de este Batman, le ha pasado cierta factura. Pero vamos a pasar un buen rato con él, eso seguro. En Vidaextra | 'Batman Arkham Origins': primer contacto -
La noticia Seis análisis de 'Batman: Arkham Origins' que nos han gustado fue publicada originalmente en Vidaextra por Jarkendia.        | | 'Batman: Arkham Origins': vuelve el hombre murciélago Posted: 25 Oct 2013 03:18 AM PDT 
Desde hoy podemos hacernos con ‘Batman: Arkham Origins’, el retorno del hombre murciélago tras un par de excelentes entregas y algún cameo que otro. ¿Queréis saber lo que os espera?
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La noticia 'Batman: Arkham Origins': vuelve el hombre murciélago fue publicada originalmente en Vidaextra por Alex C. 
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| Lucha al estilo Kinect en el prometedor 'Fighter Within' Posted: 25 Oct 2013 03:18 AM PDT 
¿Tenéis en vuestra agenda de compras futuras para XBox One el título exclusivo que Ubisoft lanzará junto a la consola? ¿No sabéis de qué hablo? Quizá no le hemos prestado toda la atención que merece o es que quizá ya estamos un poco escarmentados con Kinect. Hablo de ‘Fighter Within’, un juego de lucha que se controlará mediante la cámara de Microsoft. Jarkendia nos explicó hace unas semanas cómo funcionaba y la cosa promete. El juego detectará todos nuestros movimientos de brazos para golpear al enemigo de forma realista. Con las piernas, mientras tanto, podremos ir haciendo movimientos pregrabados que lanzará desplazamientos y movimientos especiales. Hoy tenemos un vídeo centrado en su aspecto gráfico y en los movimientos de los luchadores. ¿Lo vemos? El juego, por cierto, saldrá a la venta el día 21 de noviembre. Un movimiento extraño ya que eso viene a ser un día antes que la salida al mercado de la única consola en el que se puede ejecutar. Un montón de personajes, detección de movimientos…¿es este el tipo de juegos más serios que le pedimos a Kinect? Puede que sí o puede que nos llevemos una gran decepción. El fantasma de ‘Red Steel’ sigue vivito y coleando… ¿verdad? -
La noticia Lucha al estilo Kinect en el prometedor 'Fighter Within' fue publicada originalmente en Vidaextra por Dani Candil.   |
| 'Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut' para Wii U: análisis Posted: 25 Oct 2013 02:13 AM PDT 
Adam Jensen cura sus heridas recostado sobre un sofá de ricos ornamentos. Sus manos artificiales sostienen con delicadeza un cigarro y un vaso de whisky. Tiene la mirada perdida en un horizonte imaginario. Tras él, a través de los tenues rayos de luz que ponen en evidencia el ambiente cargado, distinguimos una réplica de ‘La lección de anatomía del Dr. Nicolaes Tulpl’, cuadro que Rembrandt pintó en 1632. Todo en ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’ tiene sentido. Cada pieza encaja sin saber de casualidades. Con la versión del director que ahora se estrena, aquel juego de 2011 se convierte en 2013 en el puzle completo que siempre quiso ser. ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’ y el ciberpunk 
El cielo sobre el puerto tenía el color de una pantalla de televisor sintonizado en un canal muerto. William Gigson definía en nuestra mente desde la primera frase de ‘Neuromante’ (Neuromancer, 1984) la sociedad distópica de lo que se daría en llamar corriente ciberpunk. ‘Blade Runner’ se había estrenado en cines dos años antes sin hacer demasiado ruido para convertirse poco a poco y sin quererlo en la película de culto que es hoy. El primer ‘Deus Ex’ llegaba a ordenadores en los albores del siglo XXI haciendo interactivo ese rico universo. El mundo gobernado por las grandes corporaciones, piratas informáticos, implantes que nos convierten en más que humanos, la realidad aumentada y la realidad de la red, la publicidad enmarcada en gigantescos anuncios de neón, gabardinas y maneras de tipo duro, detectives sacados de la novela negra, ambientes extraídos del cine negro, conspiraciones, oscuridad, degeneración, arquitectura barroca y renacentista, la gran metrópoli multicultural de alto componente asiático… ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’ cataliza la influencia pasada en pesadilla futura. Todo está aquí. 
El FPS que es un RPG En cuestión de mecánica ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’ es un First Person Shooter sin disparos… o puede serlo. El juego nos da la libertad para afrontar las situaciones de la forma que creamos más conveniente, lo que ocurre es que esta suele pasar casi inevitablemente por el sigilo. Apretar el gatillo se convierte así en la última opción, haciéndonos sentir como unos fracasados cuando esto se produce. Siempre intentaremos ser elegantes y presumir de destreza, que no lo consigamos restará pulcritud a nuestra partida perfecta. Conversaciones en las que intentamos conseguir algo de nuestro interlocutor, misiones secundarias y el aumento de nuestras habilidades acercan a ‘Deus Ex’ a lo que realmente es: un RPG de acción. La combinación de ambas formas de gameplay, sigilo en primera persona y Rol, da como resultado un juego profundo y difícil, un título más propio de los ordenadores que vieron nacer la franquicia en el 2000 que de las consolas de sobremesa. ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’: escenarios de cal y personajes de arena Ya en 2011 ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’ no era un juego puntero tecnológicamente. Que esta versión del director haya aparecido en el año de ‘The Last of Us’ y ‘Beyond: dos almas’, dos burradas a nivel gráfico, no le hace precisamente un favor. Los modelados de personajes son más propios de la pasada generación que de la presente que ahora termina. Mirad esta imagen y llorad. Aunque el plantel principal está algo más trabajado, solo el protagonista se salva de ese acabado tan pobre y desfasado. 
Afortunadamente ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’ pone la balanza a su favor con una dirección artística a la altura de las circunstancias. El diseño de niveles y lo cuidado de su ambientación son de lo más inmersivo. Ya lo decía sabiamente Jonathan Jacques-Belletete, director de arte del juego, en el libro de ilustraciones que acompañaba en su momento la edición especial: Nuestro universo visual debía ser coherente y creíble para que los jugadores pudieran meterse de lleno en la ambientación. No buscábamos un realismo fotográfico, sino la homogeneidad… En definitiva, lo importante era transmitir al jugador una historia visual llena de matices, inducirle el deseo de saber e implicarse más. La dirección artística de un videojuego no solo consiste en hacer que todo quede bonito; su propósito también es transmitir ideas. 
Los tonos marrones y anaranjados de ambiente plomizo son la tónica general. Altos techos y grandes ventanales, pantallas y libros amontonándose en la batalla perdida entre clasicismo y modernidad. De nuevo el juego moldeándose a través de un referente del género: ‘Blade Runner’. 
La diferencia Wii U La versión que nos ocupa en esta review de ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution’es la llamada ‘Versión del director’. Fue creada teniendo en mente Wii U y su característico gamepad con pantalla. La adaptación ha sido acertada. Siendo como es un juego de sigilo agiliza mucho la acción tener el mapa en nuestras manos. Pasaremos tiempo incontable estudiando los movimientos de nuestros enemigos esperando el momento idóneo para realizar nuestro próximo paso. El pirateo de sistemas es también más intuitivo tocando la pantalla táctil, método que igualmente utilizaremos para aumentar nuestras capacidades. Una implementación curiosa es la grabación de imagen y sonido en forma de pistas que podemos subir a Miiverse, algo que es de agradecer en un juego que promueve distintos caminos para la acción. Los usuarios de PS3 y Xbox 360 recibirán estas aportaciones a través de PS Vita y tablets respectivamente, aunque siempre será más cómodo si lo tenemos todo integrado en el mando, como es el caso de Wii U. Otros ajustes vienen en forma de ligero pulido gráfico y el enfrentamiento con los enemigos finales. Esto último, muy criticado en su momento porque nos obligaba a abatir al contrincante rompiendo la coherencia de haber llegado hasta ese punto sin pegar un solo tiro, se ha solventado poniendo a nuestra disposición herramientas estratégicas que podemos usar para lograr nuestro objetivo. Conclusiones ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution director´s cut’ es uno de los mejores juegos de esta generación. Si tienes una Wii U y te gustan los retos no deberías tener dudas sobre él. Si ya jugaste hace un par de años la cosa cambia. Hay mejoras gráficas, incluye el DLC publicado, ajusta el combate con los jefes e interesantes implementaciones para una segunda pantalla. Todo a un precio ajustado. Tú decides. Personalmente tengo especial debilidad por ‘Deus Ex’. Siento predilección por los referentes en cine (‘Blade Runner’, ‘Ghost in the Shell’, clásicos de los 40) y literatura (novela negra, ciberpunk) que el juego maneja con soltura. Tiene sus carencias, sí, pero es de ese tipo de títulos en los que la calidad general está muy por encima de carencias particulares. Su epatante e hipnótica banda sonora golpea mi cabeza aún habiendo apagado hace horas la consola. Y de eso se trata ¿no? Buscar experiencias únicas que dejen poso en nuestra memoria. Definitivamente ‘Deus Ex’ ha encontrado su sitio en mis recuerdos como si de un implante tecnológico se tratara. Plataformas: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U (versión analizada)
Desarrollador: Eidos Montreal
Compañía: Square Enix
Lanzamiento: ya disponible (25 de octubre de 2013)
Precio: 39,99 euros (en Amazon está por 33,75 euros) -
La noticia 'Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut' para Wii U: análisis fue publicada originalmente en Vidaextra por Jose Maria Villalobos. 
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