…while the tech world is fascinated with social media and major platforms like Facebook and Twitter, we shouldn’t overlook the role of SEO (and consequently Google). Like Facebook and Twitter, SEO is another opportunity to expand your funnel and increase your audience — without an advertising budget! Also like social, SEO is far more effective when built directly into the product (“from the ground up”). Here are 14 guidelines for thinking about SEO

 

• Exposure
• Exposure dictates who’s seeing your deal, how many people are receiving an e-mail, what percentage of e-mail is being read, the key here is volume.  You could have the best deal in the world but if it’s only being e-mailed out to a couple hundred people then what’s the point?  This also relates to website traffic, the established names in this space (Groupon) will have the most website traffic and ‘eyeballs’ on your deal which means better return on investment.
• Margins
• Margins will vary across platforms but on average will be very similar.  It depends on the nature of your industry and what you’re offering but if you’re able to break even with the deal, that should be the worst case scenario.  The key here is brand exposure and volume, if you are making a smaller margin but with increased volume and exposure this could be good or bad for you.  You also have to be able to accommodate the volume through the door.  I’ve seen some businesses push a deal only to find themselves fully booked for 6-months there after which in turn leads to angry customers.  Think wisely about what you’re offering and how much it’s going to cost the business from a brand awareness standpoint and also from a financial perspective.
• Reputation
• Reputation aligns with the other items for a couple reasons.  The bigger the brand, the more exposure it has in the press and in terms of subscribers or users of the service.  It can also tie into margin in a positive or negative way.  If you’re the best can you take a bigger cut or because you’re the best and have so much volume, can you offer better margins?  Either way – when people see a deal from a reputable daily deal platform, there is more comfort in making a transaction.  Because there are so many Groupon spinoffs on the market, you may think it’s a good idea to partner with an up and comer with lower margins, however, from a return on investment perspective of your time and effort, it is better to partner with an established platform with a large customer base.

So where do you price your deal? how much discount should you offer? That’s a great question, and there is no perfect answer.  Start with researching other businesses within your industry and see what they are doing.  Signup for a daily deal aggregator service like yipit which will send you all of the local daily deals from all of the platforms for you.  You can then monitor and track what others are doing and then differentiate yourself or get some ideas when launching your promotion.  In an article a couple months back on LifeHacker, Melanie Pinola posts some interesting findings:

A closing thought to absorb is that in various studies, approximately 82% of daily deal buyers have returned to a business where the deal originated.  Those are good statistics and a sign that the return on investment is high upon successfully executing a daily deal promotion for your business.

• Twitter
• Facebook
• LinkedIN
• Flickr
• YouTube

Take a look at their new website (www.griffinsboxing.com) and let us know what you think!

Tweetdeck is a great standalone application and can be used on the iPhone, standalone desktop application, and even through Google’s Chrome browser as a browser-based application.  The latter is how I leverage our social media management. Being able to post to Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin simultaneously is something most apps can tackle, however, I feel that Tweetdeck trumps others in ease of use and from an interface standpoint.

I used to exclusively use the Tweetdeck Windows-based desktop application but have since moved on to the Chrome browser application and have been pleasantly surprised by its lightweight feel and superb performance.  There are a few features that are lacking in the browser-based version but they are things I can live without.  The cleanliness of the interface and the overall performance of Tweetdeck makes it a winner in my eyes.  That being said, Hootsuite has always been web-based and used to have an advantage in overall performance but that is no longer the case.

To each their own as I’m sure there are pros and cons with both platforms depending upon how you’re looking to use them, therefore, I would highly recommend testing out both Tweetdeck and Hootsuite before deciding upon which is the best for you.

Over the past couple of months we’ve posted a number of IT positions. After sifting through 100+ job applications, it’s obvious that the majority of people in the tech industry don’t quite understand how to write a proper cover letter or resume. It is essential for everyone to possess this core communication skill-set in the written form.

One of the most valuable courses I took in the late ’90s was a course on business writing and communication. It covered topics from writing an efficient cover letter and resume, to publishing a press release for a fictional company. The course taught basic writing skills which helped identify the target audience and the purpose of the communication—both of which are critical components to successfully applying for a new job.  For those looking for some basic tips, here are a few off the top of my head:

• Avoid including a picture of yourself in your resume. At this point in the application process I am not concerned what you look like, and I will deem whether you are “presentable” at the in-person interview. This is not a job application for Canada’s Next Top Model so an embedded picture of your best “Thinking Man” pose is not necessary.
• Keep things concise, two to three pages maximum for your resume, and one page for your cover letter. I’ve come across cover letters and resumes that are longer than some of the technical manuals for Microsoft Exchange Server—I instantly tune them out! A one-page resume may be too little, and four pages is overkill.
• Include key projects you’ve managed, implemented, or been a part of. Instead of listing your responsibilities at your current or past employers, list the things you’ve accomplished and the successful results you’ve achieved. I’m impressed by results, not by what your duties were.
• Avoid fancy colours and fonts, stick to something that is easy on the eyes. If I open your resume and see a rainbow of colours and images, it will most likely land in the shredder.
• Include a little section about yourself, who you are, what you like outside of all things technical. I know you’re not a robot, so a small piece on what makes you tick is appreciated and will let me know how you will fit in with our team of great people.
• Spell check is your friend! It’s there for a reason! Nothing will get a resume deleted faster than a resume littered with poor spelling. Perform a spell check before you save and send your documents.
• Use an appropriate document naming convention. For example, instead of Resume(2).doc, rezoomeh.pdf, or resume_new_december_final.rtf, try and use something that attaches itself to you, such as LastName_Resume.pdf and LastName_Cover.pdf.
• Instead of listing every technical acronym found in Wikipedia, list the things you actually know! Focus on what you’re good at. A blanket list of every networking protocol in acronym format with descriptions will make anyone cross-eyed, including most IT managers and CIOs.
• It is not necessary to include industry certified logos. Definitely mention your certifications, but don’t clutter your resume with various one-inch JPEGs of CCNA and MCSE logos.

Align your cover letter with the job you’re applying for. If a job posting asks for specific skills and/or experience, mention it in your cover letter, specifically what you’ve done in the past to meet the criteria.  A cover letter is not one sentence. Break it down into three paragraphs:

1. The first paragraph should describe why you are interested in the position.
2. The second paragraph should describe how you meet the desired criteria with examples.
3. The third paragraph should tie it all together and emphasize your enthusiasm about the opportunity.

I’ve witnessed a large percentage of poorly composed e-mails, cover letters, and resumes, and I’ve probably missed out on a solid candidate only because of their poor writing and communication skills. At the end of the day, it’s important that you focus on what the employer is looking for and how your skills and experience meet the criteria of the job posting.

Focus on aligning your cover letter with what the job posting requirements as this will almost guarantee it gets read. Once the prospective employer reaches your resume, ensure you paint a clear picture of what you’ve accomplished in a clear and concise fashion. This will get your foot in the door. The rest is up to you!

I walked into Future Shop not knowing what I was going to buy, I had an idea in terms of specifications and size but I wanted to try before I buy and get a feel for my future counterpart.  In typical Future Shop fashion, I stroll into the the computer department only to find four sales associates chatting amongst themselves debating monitor resolutions.  I received zero acknowledgement, no eye-contact, nothing.  Again, this doesn’t surprise me, this is typical for Future Shop and is one of the reasons why I never shop there but still surprising none the less as I was about to spend $1,500 (so I thought) and these guys live for their commission.

Anyways, the nice thing about Future Shop is that they have about 40 laptops on display which you can demo, this is the primary reason for me walking into the store to begin with.  I analyzed all specifications, put the keyboards through the gauntlet, and also weighed each to see how they felt.  It came down to three different laptops based on specs, size, and price-point.  The Samsung QX410  ($799), a 13.3″ HP ($799), and a 15″ HP ($599).

After performing some analysis, I decided the 15″ wasn’t the right form factor, although it has the best price-point and was good value, I needed something more portable.  It was down to the 13″ HP and the Samsumg QX410 both sitting at the same price-point but each unique from a specification and look standpoint.  After carefully comparing technical specifications, value, and looks, the Samsung QX410 was a step ahead of the competition which I’ll explain below.

From a cosmetic point of view, the Samsung was the sleekest looking; its design mimics the look of a Macbook pro under the cover but its exterior is a gorgeous brushed titanium/aluminum that gives it a sophisticated look which exudes quality.  I walked into the store anticipating a $1,500 expense yet the laptop was only $799, let’s just say it looks like a $1,500 expense if that means anything to you.

Technically, it was far superior in comparison to laptops in its category as it’s stocked with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, an Intel Core i5 pocessor, 4GB of RAM, 640GB hard drive, DVD burner, 3 USB ports, HDMI out, an amazing screen (typical Samsung), and a new type of battery offering extensive battery life.

I was hesitant at first because after all, this is a Samsung laptop, not a TV.  Samsung isn’t the first brand to come to mind when thinking about a laptop.  That being said, after working in the IT industry for over a decade, I’ve come to learn that most laptops are built using similar parts, and in the end it’s the little touches and ultimately brand-preference that leads to the buying decision.  I’ve owned multiple Samsung products over the years and currently have two Samsung TVs that I love, therefore, I was willing to give this thing a try and I’m glad I did.  There is only one minor thing I don’t love about it, and that’s the placement of the shift-key below Caps Lock, that is it, I am usually good in my reviews as I tell it like it is but that’s all I can say from a negative standpoint.  Below is the summary of the things I love and I would highly the Samsung QX410 laptop to anyone looking in the sub $1,000 category.

• Amazing LED screen (one of the best I’ve seen/used)
• Great performance (technically endowed for this price-point)
• Awesome battery life (5+ hours on a charge so far)
• Great keyboard (minus the shift-key)
• Lack of bloatware (most laptops are bloated with pre-installed applications, this one is lean and mean)
• Look and feel (looks like a $2,000 laptop, good size/weight ratio)