Top 5 Web Sites in Number of Site Visits

1. Google 

2. Yahoo!

3. YouTube

4. Facebook

5. Windows Live

Facebook: Signs of Addiction

-Preoccupation with Facebook

-Increased use

-Repeated, unsuccessful efforts to control Facebook use

-Restlessness, moodiness, depression or irritability when attempting to cut down

-Online longer than originally intended

-Jeopardized or risked loss of significant relationships, job, educational, or career opportunities

-Lies to family members, therapist, or others to conceal use

-Uses Facebook to escape and relieve problems or dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of hopelessness, guilt, anxiety, depression).

Facebook User Information

-More than 200 million active Facebook users

-Majority of facebook users log on at least once a day

-More than 20 millions users update their statuses at least once a day

-The fastest growing demographic is those 35 years old and older

-Average Facebook user has 120 friends on the site

-More than 3.5 billion minutes are spent on Facebook each day

To Tweet ot Not to Tweet...

Check out this article on Wired.com:

http://www.wired.com/dualperspectives/article/news/2009/06/dp_social_wired

It talks about the challenge of trying to get your head around social media, specifically Twitter.

New mediums and approaches are nothing new. Books, TV and radio were all considered "cutting edge" when they first came upon the scene.

I think they miss a key point to using Twitter. Of the widely used social media tools (facebook, blogs and Twitter) it's the only one that really does a good job of reaching out to it's targets. Blogs and to a large extent facebook, are not as effective at "pinging" people. Twitter affords the user the ability to get "top of mind" instantly. A quick burst of "remember me"?

As with any tool, there's a right way and a wrong way to use it. Even though "followers" technically opt in, they can easily be turned off by constant tweets. Business or pleasure, tweet responsibly.

Let's let this one settle and see where the social media tide takes it.

Twitter

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Thinkrogue

100 Most Creative People In Business (# 1)

Jonathan Ive

Senior Vice President of Industrial Design

Apple

Ten years ago, before the iPod and iPhone became objects of the world's electro-lust, Jonathan Ive talked about his first Apple blockbuster, the iMac. The machine could not have been a more radical departure from the ubiquitous beige box PC: a desktop computer in bright candy colors with a see through shell showing its inner machinery. The iMac became the top selling computer in the United States.

Fast Company defines his overarching design principles as "simplicity, accessibility, honesty and enjoyment."

My love affair with Apple is legendary. An early adopter of just about everything they produce, Apple technology underpins both Rogue Industries and Slant Marketing. iMacs, MacBooks, iPods and iPhones are my weapons of choice.

Apple "gets it" because Jonathan "gets it". More than just a box or operating system, they have created an organic interpretation of a mechanical beast. Even die hard PC fans admit that Apple redefined the "box" and created lust worthy hardware. The OS? Oh yeah, all it does is work. Every day.

More info at www.fastcompany.com

Fast Company: 100 Most Creative People in Business

Everyone loves Top 100 lists!

We can disagree, argue and question the intelligence of the creator, but we all love the suspense.

Fast Company created a list of their 100 Most Creative People in Business and I'm going to feature a handful that I consider to be true "Change Agents" and "Playmakers".

Here's how they qualified their rankings:

"There are no rules about creativity. This made the construction of FastCompany’s list of the 100 most creative people in business a tricky task. They looked for dazzling new thinkers, rising stars, and boldface names who couldn’t be ignored. They avoided people they have profiled in the recent past, whether Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook or designer Philippe Starck. They emphasized those who's creativity addresses a larger issue – from the future of our energy infrastructure to the evolution of philanthropy to next-generation media and entertainment. And while they could not see how lauding Steve Jobs would show how much creativity, we also could not ignore the outsized impact Apple has had on our business culture.

That’s why Apple’s chief designer heads the list at No. 1...."

Don't be a Mo...

In today's installment of "Don't be a Mo"... Owning a Top 10 car!

So, why's the 2009 Lexus IS-F the ninth most expensive new vehicle in the U.S. to insure? Probably because it's capable of doing what you see in the photo above. If that's how you plan to drive, though, you'll spend way more replacing rear tires than the $1,881 on average it costs to insure the IS-F.

Autoblog 08/06/09

Wait a second, wrong Top 10 List.

FAIL.

Rebranding FAIL:

Branding!

The strength of a company's brand is integral to marketing success. Obviously. 

Here are some notable companies who were honored in the Top 100 Brands of 2008:

1. Coca-Cola

Olympic sponsorship boosted its profile in Asia, where sales are surging. 

4. GE

A GE that doesn’t make lightbulbs or dishwashers? GE has announced intentions to spin off the brand’s iconic units as it focuses on global infrastructure.

9. Disney

Disney’s marketing machine turned High School Musical into a tween girl blockbuster. It’s hoping the new Disney XD cable channel will bring in the boys.

15. American Express

Despite rising U.S. delinquencies, AmEx continues to woo elite customers. It ranked first in total purchase volume and cash advances to U.S. cardholders. 

24. Apple

Its products are hotter than ever, in part because of price cuts and clever advertising.

36. Canon

The copier and camera brand continues to sell well despite recession worries. It’s spending heavily to advertise its range of video and digital cameras.

39. Kellogg's

Thanks to a double-digit hike in ad spending, the cereal maker has done the remarkable: raised prices despite a consumer slowdown, widening its margins.

71. Rolex

Business is booming in Asia and the Mideast as the luxury watchmaker enjoys strong demand.

 

85. Starbucks

Still strong abroad, Starbucks hopes new coffee machines, nutritious smoothies, and the shuttering of 600 unprofitable stores will help in the U.S.

89. Smirnoff

Worldwide sales have stayed strong. In the U.S., Smirnoff is tying its brand to all things hip hop.

Fact or Fiction?

Test your trivial trivia knowledge! Answers are at the bottom. Good luck!

1. Stress will turn your hair gray

2. Running on a treadmill puts the same amount of stress on your knees than running on asphalt or pavement

3. Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different

4. According to U.S. laws, a beer commercial can never show a person actually drinking beer

5. When it comes to working out, you've got to feel some pain if you're going to gain any benefits

6. Organized crime is estimated to account for 10% of the United States’ national income

7. Cravings are your body's way of telling you it needs something

8. To sell your home faster, and for more money, paint it yellow

9. Acne is caused by not washing properly

10. Caffeine improves memory and the ability to perform complex tasks

Answers (Don't Cheat!): 1. Fiction 2. Fact 3. Fact 4. Fact 5. Fiction 6. Fact 7. Fiction  8. Fact 9. Fiction 10. Fact

facebook. Friend or foe?

Ok, I'm finally in with the rest of the herd.

Got my facebook set up and LOVE IT!

I've resisted for a long time. Didn't think it was for me. I'm too busy. I'm too old. I'm not a "follower".

Put this one next to a couple of my finest predictions:

• "Yeah dude, Ryan Leaf is going to be way better than Peyton Manning."
• "Vista is gonna be amazing!"
• "I'm not an Apple guy. Don't see me buying a Mac."

Get a "traveling buddy"

Every now and then, I get a bit too far down the rabbit hole.

I dig in and get so deep into tasks and projects that I forget to stop and catch my breath. Forget to grab one of those deep and cleansing breaths that resets your heart and head. You know, the one that reminds you that there is life beyond your current task.

If you're like me and "lose your place" sometimes, I strongly recommend that you get a traveling buddy. A traveling buddy is a person who transcends your mood and focus to get you thinking right again. The trust mark has to be high since they have the right to call you out or step in to save you from yourself. They often serve as "another set of eyes", adding a valued opinion or much needed perspective.

Mick Winters runs point for me. Enough like me to know where I'm coming from. Different enough to see another path. An hour of conversation clears my head and challenges me to step up and get out of my rut. Redskins, Raiders, marketing, books, clients, challenges... whatever. All fair game, all uncensored. Reminds me of why I do what I do. Reminds me to love the game.

Thanks Mick!

So today's task is to find a traveling buddy. No one can carry the full load. Even the most talented entrepreneurs have confidants and advisors. It's not your full team of advisors or your Board of Directors. It's a single voice of reason.

Catch your breath. Clear your head. Think clearly.

Billing is fun!

We all know the dread of hearing those words, "Can you give me a breakdown of the hours?"

This is usually a response to an invoice that has been received by someone who has no intimate knowledge of the project. It's frustrating, sometimes insulting and at it's worst is an exercise in futility.

Here's a different way to approach it. Get ahead of the clients and run your own monthly reports!

Sounds simple right?

Not really, we all know how our days go. Client to client. Project to project. Way too busy to stay on top of the process. I'm guilty too. Long days and crazy shifts of my focus conspire to keep me from entering my time.

The answer for me has been revamped technology. Portable, simple and Web based.

Check these guys out: http://www.getharvest.com/

Great system that works on PC/Mac and my iPhone.

Rendering your computer useless

How do you make thousands of dollars of technology useless?

Take away the Web!

Don't believe me? Disconnect your cable modem, DSL or whatever you use to connect to the Web. Sounds like no big deal right?

Wait a second...

No email
No facebook
No sports updates
No blogging
No stock updates
No weather updates
No online shopping
No news updates
No Web surfing

Get the point?

What did we do in the "good old days"?


-- Post From My iPhone

In my bag

Got a bunch of questions about my technology arsenal.

Here's what's in my bag:
- 20" iMac (desktop)
- MacBook Air
- Lenovo Netbook
- iPhone

All of my data is stored on MobileMe (Apple cloud) with Google Docs as collaborative calendars and Production Queue.

-- Post From My iPhone

The best bag ever!!!

Total Creeper move but I had chase this lady down at the LA airport!

-- Post From My iPhone

The Mark of Excellence

No way I could do something as easy as a gold seal for the Mark of Excellence.

Look out for more info on this month's winner... salesforce.com!

-- Post From My iPhone

New iPhone App!

This is a test of a new blogging app for my iPhone!

Would be sweet if it works!


-- Post From My iPhone

Best "closed" sign

Positioning

Ok, I’ve re-written this entry 5 times. I tried my best to make this sound like an informative and even handed lesson in the value of brand positioning.

Now it’s a rant.

How can you believe that clients “get” what you are about? How can you believe that they will sift through all of the “stuff” and figure out how your product or service fits their needs? How can you think that they will understand where you fit against your competitors?

YOU TELL THEM.

Here’s the catch...you have to figure out your “position” first! I don’t care how long your brand has been around. I don’t care what your slogan or tag-line says. I don’t care how fast you want to do “important” things, like take a jenky value proposition to market to see how much money you can lose.

*If you have ever spent any time with me, this is where I look at you with that kinda’ arrogant “really?” look on my face.*

Come on!!!!

How will they know if we are not telling them?!

Just answer a couple of questions before you start wasting other people’s time:
Whom do I serve?
What needs do they have?
How do I uniquely solve their problem?
How do I make them more successful?
So what? (Put the sniff test to your answers)

Sorry so terse but, it drives me crazy.

Quick hit...

Stop blaming a “bad” economy and prospects that don’t “get it”. 

Put down your pride and ego for a minute and ask yourself a simple question...”Is my product or service any good?”

Mediocrity works during times of prosperity. Let’s face it, marginal products and services sometimes find success. Tough times demand the extraordinary.

Rethink your value. Rethink your “position” in the market. Rethink your targets. Rethink how you present to them.

Most of all rethink whether you truly solve a problem. 

Would you buy from you?

What's in a name?

"Why did you name your company Rogue Industries?" 

"Isn't rogue a bad thing?"

"Rogue means scoundrel or dishonest right?"

Scoundrel or dishonest is one definition of the word and may be the most common but don't fall into that trap! 

Let's take a look at all the meanings/uses of the word rogue:

rogue     (rōg)  Pronunciation Key  

n.  

1. An unprincipled, deceitful, and unreliable person; a scoundrel or rascal.
2. One who is playfully mischievous; a scamp.
3. A wandering beggar; a vagrant.
4. A vicious and solitary animal, especially an elephant that has separated itself from its herd.
5. An organism, especially a plant, that shows an undesirable variation from a standard.

adj.  

1. Vicious and solitary. Used of an animal, especially an elephant.
2. Large, destructive, and anomalous or unpredictable: a rogue wave; a rogue tornado.
3. Operating outside normal or desirable controls: "How could a single rogue trader bring down an otherwise profitable and well-regarded institution?" (Saul Hansell).

Take a gander at the ones in red and it will start making sense.  

My personality fits the first definition. I love what I do for a living and love working with my clients. "Clients" often become "friends" and friends enjoy each other. Meetings are known to include laughing, thinking, listening and problem solving (sometimes a practical joke or two). We do serious work and a lot of people depend on the decisions that are made but negative emotions and mocked up intensity are not the tools of the "thinker". Pearl (my mom) has always told me to live my life in the "spirit of play" and I'm committed to living it out.

Check out the red adjective usage. This concept is what really differentiates Rogue from my Marketing brethren. My job is to understand the standard conventions of Marketing and to take it to the next level by creating brands and strategies that fall outside "normal". Know the rules and bend them. Set new levels of market expectations. Build advocacy and zealotry with your clients. You won't get to that point with conventional strategy and rote/ predictable execution.

Rogue's charter is to develop exceptional brands.

Exceptional brands and strategy require that you break convention. 

Exceptional brands dominate their market space.

Exceptional brands disrupt their competitors. 

Exceptional brands are legendary.

That's the point.  Think better... think Rogue.

Try?

"Do or do not... there is no try."

~ Yoda

Incognito