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I’ve quoted Seth Godin before. The man is one of the most amazing marketers of all time, which may bother you at some level, but should absolutely earn your awe and respect.
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Beware of What You Read
Ashton Kutcher is Bigger Than CNN 
Try wrapping your head around that. I dare you.On Twitter, everyone’s new favorite no-real-use web site, there was a race recently: who could get to a million followers first. The contenders were a big news network that didn’t even own its account until the last days of the ‘event’, and a third-tier actor who’s married to a second-tier actress twenty years his senior. I’ve seen his acting. Marrying Demi was the best thing he’s done.
The million-follower mark has long since been surpassed; Twitterholic reports that as of May 1 there were five accounts with at least a million followers, and Mr. Kutcher has surpassed 1.5 million followers.
The amazing thing is that regular people cared about this at all. Listen, we all need a distraction from time to time, and this one ranked right up there with the death of Anna Nicole Smith. It didn’t matter to anyone, but all the news networks devoted hours every day to that coverage, too.
So, what to do about Twitter? Probably, the answer is to wait for it to go away. I know your friends all need to know in near-real-time every time you eat a peanut butter sandwich, or better yet, each time your office chair senses you’ve passed gas (I’m not kidding about that one, by the way). But you need to pay attention to what Twitter represents.
In a world were the whole game seems to have become about getting attention, you need to make sure you get yours. Let us help . . .
| Your House, Your Business, and Facebook What are they worth?
Not too long ago, Microsoft made an investment in Facebook that “valued it” at about $15 billion. Really? No, not really. Microsoft invested $240 million dollars in everybody’s favorite/least favorite web site a while back, and reportedly got 1.6% of the privately-held company in exchange. Voila! Like a printing press for money. Wish you were Mark Zuckerberg, don’t you? Recently, there have been many rumors about Facebook going public, being sold outright, accepting more private investments but remaining independent, and the like. The “valuations”? Anywhere between $2.5 and $5 billion dollars. Predictably, the current owners think their baby is worth a number toward the high end of the scale, and everyone else aims lower. Real estate works the same way. I’ll bet you know someone whose home was “worth” $500,000 a few months ago and now would bring $325,000, if they could sell it at all. And I’ll bet they’ve told you that they won’t sell that house now because “it’s worth more than that”. Umm . . . no, it isn’t. Things are worth what the market says they’re worth. Last year, the Facebook kids and most homeowners were working in markets that valued them one way, and this year the markets value them differently. Depressed? Don’t be. This is a time to renegotiate your contracts with vendors living in 2008 or 2007’s economy. Or at least think “lower” when negotiating new contracts. Virtual VIP can help you negotiate this changing world, in this case, literally. Let us beat the hidden dollars out of your budgets |
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Strange, but true. The Saturday Night Live alum, star of several decidedly un-funny films, and now the host of NBC’s Late Night is truly a different kind of talk show host. I didn’t say “better”, I said “different. But I also didn’t say “worse”. My qualifications as a television reviewer notwithstanding, the point I’m making stems from a quote Mr. Fallon gave to Canada.com in an interview just before he took over the show. Ready? Video Games Matter. Yes, to you, even if you don’t play them. How? Figure it out. We’ll Help. |
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| About Virtual VIP PC-VIP Inc. Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do Virtual Assistants, Business Coaching and Consulting, and Rent-a-C.O.O. Services New York City, and On Your Desktop
PC-VIP Inc. +1 646 827-3800
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| Does WHO Sends a Message Matter?
OK, I’m still a computer geek. But I used to be paid to talk about geeky stuff. I wrote for big-name magazines, TV for CBS News and a radio program, both as The Computer Answer Guy, I wrote software . . . like I said, I was a geek. So I still read a few geeky things, and I’m still in touch with some old geeky friends. And I’ve just read an article that make me really pay attention. It’s by John Dvorak, one of the oldest, crankiest, and geekiest of the bunch, and you can find it here. John makes a great point: if you develop a reputation for bad stuff, even your good stuff will be viewed as bad. And if you are a “good guy”, well . . . let’s just say that as much as I like iTunes, I don’t like Apple, but I’m in the minority on that. Are you a good guy, or a bad guy? Make sure it’s the one you want it to be, and then guard it like it’s the most important asset you own. |
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Social Media is Like Teen Sex
Everyone Wants to Do It . . .
. . . No one actually knows how. When finally done, there is surprise it’s not better
WOW, I wish I had written that. For that matter, I wish I could tell you who did.
Welcome to the new reality.
I came across that line here. The author I was reading found it on this blog. And that person acknowledges that he read it on Twitter, but has (intentionally!) chosen not to reveal who wrote it originally.
I expect I could find the author if I cared enough to check. I don’t, even though I think that quote is brilliant, and that’s (part of) the point.
We’re now operating our businesses in a world where everyone is talking at everyone else, quoting and requoting, sometimes revealing sources and sometimes not.
The curmudgeon in me wants to rant about “these kids today”, or complain about the strange new way we’re creating an even stranger new world. That’s not my point, though. This is:
PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THOSE SILLY ARTICLES ABOUT TWITTER. And Facebook. And LinkedIn. The Virtual World is not virtual any more. It’s here. It’s Real. And you live in it.
Oh: and you need to wear a condom. Even though it’s Virtual.
Virtual VIP can help you manage your changing world, but nothing happens until you decide it’s time . . .
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Spotlight
The Final Word on Marketing OK, not really. But after I polled you on the subject of ethical marketing I got this response (on LinkiedIn) from Pete “NetDoc” Murray. It’s beyond a question of ethics and into a question of futility. Why on EARTH would you send out an e-mail to an unqualified group? That’s like fishing for trophy bass in a brand spanking new retention pond. The only effect you can have is to make people think less of you for trying. It really doesn’t matter HOW you got the e-mail addresses. What matters is if you are simply wasting more time and generating ill will at the same time. And I agree. By the way: Pete received my note by mistake, and I suspect he thought I was spamming him when I sent it. So . . . |
Well, just keep talking, please . . .
About Virtual VIP
PC-VIP Inc.
Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do
Virtual Assistants, Business Coaching and Consulting, and Rent-a-C.O.O. Services
New York City, and On Your Desktop
PC-VIP Inc.
+1 646 827-3800
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How
is: - If you have never had any contact with the individual in
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Sell a Thing-a-ma-jig, Pay Your Taxes
Ever wonder what the government thinks of you buying and selling stuff in Virtual Worlds?Of Course not. You’re not a kid; you don’t even know what that means. Well listen up, because you may be digging into your pocket.
On Page 213 of the US Taxpayer Advocate’s Annual Report to Congress, there’s a recommendation that the IRS get aggressive about collecting taxes on income earned when one user sells things to another while playing on-line computer games. Yes, seriously. Sell something that doesn’t exist, pay taxes with real money. And this is from your advocate.
I’m not sure I even understand it. Except for the part about the government reaching into my pocket. Again.
Sure do hope your accountant is up to date on THAT part of the tax code!
What’s the lesson? One we preach all the time: Things are changing. And you have to pay attention, and change, too. And maybe pay taxes, as well.
Here’s a simple, fairly inexpensive idea: try selling at a trade show off in the far reaches of the dimly-lit booths. Talk about a Virtual World! Not a trade show in your industry, by the way . . . trade shows from other industries where your services might be needed. DO SOMETHING. Now.
The world is in a constant state of flux. Virtual VIP can help you manage that change, but nothing happens until you decide it’s time . . .
| In This Issue |
| Reality and Business Choices |
| Sell a Thing-a-ma-jig, Pay Your Taxes |
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| About Virtual VIP PC-VIP Inc. Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To DoVirtual Assistants, Business Coaching and Consulting, and Rent-a-C.O.O. Services New York City, and On Your Desktop PC-VIP Inc.+1 646 827-3800 |
Ethics, Morals, the ‘Net and . . . what is SPAM, really?
How Do We Communicate in 2009?
An interesting conundrum:
You receive a piece of e-mail. It’s from someone you’ve never heard of. It’s blatant marketing/sales stuff. No pretence about anything else, no content that you (with any luck) find at least a little bit useful in the hopes that you are encouraged to stay in touch. Just a sales pitch. No opt-out link on the e-mail, even.
And then you notice that your e-mail address is in the “TO:” line, along with that of several dozen, or hundred, or thousand others. You can see them all. They can all see you.
You “respond to all”. You express your opinion about getting the email in this way. The fact that it was spam? No big deal. The fact that your e-mail address has been revealed to all those other people? Sloppy, unprofessional, and opening you up to inclusion on that many more lists.
A couple of people respond back, negatively. You’re accused of being as bad as the person who sent out the original letter. It’s only a couple, so you presume those were his real-world friends trying to make an example of you for having the moxy to call him out publicly.
You then do exactly what you were thinking was going to happen to you: you include your new peers on your own mailing list, and you send notes like this one.
And you hear from the same couple of people. They are angry and indignant. They demand you remove them from your mailing list. They could have removed themselves by using the “unsubscribe link” clearly visible in the email. You don’t lecture them, and you don’t ignore their wishes; you remove them.
The Big Question:
HAVE YOU DONE ANYTHING WRONG?
I’m interested in your answer, and if you have an opinion I hope you’ll share it with me.
The business world has changed. Heck, the entire world has changed. Find me a parent of a child between the ages of 11 and 19 and I guarantee they’ll tell you how they really, really, really just don’t understand this new world with texting instead of talking, multiple simultaneous IM sessions, and “C U L8R”s .
So is being opportunistic by making new contacts the way I described above cool? Or is it crossing a line. Or lines?
You may hit “delete” now.
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| You Call that Marketing? What’s the REAL Story?  Maybe by now you’re heard of Seth Godin. Seth’s one of this decade’s most noted marketers, and while I personally prefer the add-some-wit style of Malcolm Gladwell to the almost-too-much-wisdom approach that Seth puts forth, this man is the real deal.
A few weeks ago, Seth put a post in his blog that you must read. Seriously . . . right now, click this link. Coffee. Who Cares? Well, Starbucks cares, and they serve an awful lot of the stuff. And YOU CARE, TOO. Everyone knows what coffee does. Everyone knows when and why and by whom it’s consumed. And somehow, a message that says “let me tell you what I think of me” is still how this is getting sold. Wrong. Your clients care about you at some point. If you’re selling certain types of service they care about you somewhere during the sales process. Your prospects, though? They don’t care about you, and if you want to convert them to clients you need to let them know that they’re the important ones. For the record, you’re important to Virtual VIP, and to PC-VIP. But we’re not that important to you. Until you decide otherwise. |
| Financial Corner Amazon to Collect Sales Tax in New York  Don’t live there? Think you don’t care? Think Again
Unless you’re one of the lucky few businesses thriving on the things you do in your home territory (read: one country in Europe, one state in the USA, etc.), this one could be a problem for you. The New York State Supreme Court has upheld a decision that makes Amazon.com responsible for collecting sales tax on sales to people in New York, even though Amazon has no physical presence there. Sounds wrong? Well, the decision essentially says that people who sell through Amazon are part of Amazon, so that means Amazon “has a presence”. Never mind that there are multiple agreements between Amazon and their marketplaces partners stating that there is no relationship of this sort. Never mind that in establishing this precedent the day when Amazon has to pay benefits to their new “employees” might not be far off. Never mind that as soon as the first lawsuit alleging that relationship drops the whole infrastructure will implode. Just . . . pay up. The world is in a constant state of flux. Let Virtual VIP help you manage that change. |
| About Virtual VIP PC-VIP Inc. Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do Virtual Assistants, Business Coaching and Consulting, and Rent-a-C.O.O. Services New York City, and On Your Desktop PC-VIP Inc.+1 646 827-3800 |
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Hi there. I’m baaaack!
I never make New Year’s Resolutions. I could explain, but my guess is that those of you who agree with me will find nothing worth reading, and those who don’t will think you haven’t, so . . . onward:
The PC-VIP Inc. Blog has laid fallow for over a year, as I’ve been busy doing other things, like building Virtual VIP into what we believe and have been told is the most amazing Business Consultancy anywhere.
Starting now, we’ll be replicating our monthly newsletter here. You can subscribe to the newsletter for immediate delivery using this link:
| Sign up for the PC-VIP Email Newsletter |
Here’s January 2009:
Subject: Tips and Help from Virtual VIP
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You’re receiving this email because of your relationship with PC-VIP Inc.. Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us.
You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.
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Once upon a time, and for quite a few years, I worked in the press. I did, radio, TV, print, Internet . . . everything. People quoted me on stuff.
Every now and again I was asked to accept an embargo on information; I wasn’t allowed to talk about it until a particular date, but because I needed lead time to do my job and serve the needs of those I wrote about I needed information early. I signed those embargoes because I had to, and because it made my professional life better and served the needs of the people who relied on me for information.
Do you know Dilbert?A very funny daily comic strip by a very smart man, Dilbert looks at the world through the eyes of a cubicle-dwelling engineer at a big company. And Scott Adams, that smart man, writes a blog that examines . . . pretty much whatever is on his mind.
| Free Consultation | We’re so sure we can help you make more of your business that we’re offering an absolutely-no-strings-attached consultation.We can talk about anything you want, and we will find a way to make using Virtual VIP for all the things you don’t have time for work out. Financially, Creatively, and technically, we’re your only stop for help with accounting, presentations, financial modeling, bookkeeping, and much more.
Call Us, and we’ll show you what Virtual VIP can do for you. Free! |
| Call +1 646 827-3800, or visit us at http://answerguy.com. | |
PC-VIP Inc. | Business and Computer Care for Those with Better Things To Do | Carson City | NV | 89706 |
Uh-Oh. that’s not gonna make me many friends . . .
Hello again. I’ve been quiet for a while. Well, my old pal Fed Langa over at WindowsSecrets.com posted an article this week that has me juiced.
Some background:
One of the many things that adds up to “me”, professionally, is a decade or so in the press. I wrote, edited and published IYM Software Review, did some freelance for PCWorld magazine, spent five years on radio, TV and the ‘net as The Computer Answer Guy, and mixed in the middle somewhere did two years as Awards Chair, then two more as President of The Computer Press Association.
Fred’s one of the oldest (sorry, Fred) and smartest technology writers around, and he and I first met a cold February morning in 1993, at my home. We were judging the CPA awards there that year, and he was one of the hearty souls who braved an ice storm to do his thing with us.
Since it’s part of the paid-subscription version of WindowsSecrets I can’t show you Fred’s article, although this link will bring you to the the free version of this fine magazine. It covered two topics that are always at the top of my thoughts, though, and that’s what this post is about.
Fred recently visited the home of one of his readers to play techno-weanie. It’s a great story involving motorcycles, yellow leather, and a love of North America. And it boils down like this:
- Symantec’s Security Suite is a very powerful, very useful piece of software, and you shouldn’t use it
- People shouldn’t take care of their own computers
Now to be clear, Fred didn’t say any of that except the part about power and usefulness. But in reading his post that’s what I hear. Does it align perfectly with a couple of things I’ve always said, and that PC-VIP’s clients are covered against? You bet. Now, hear me out:
The Symantec tools are among the most effective at what they do. They’ve been around for twenty years, get tweaked and updated all the time, and while they miss the occasional piece of malware (like every choice in their sector or the software business) they are overall quite solid at protecting users from the bad guys who are always trying to slide under our security doors on the Internet.
And they are too B L O A T E D to be a good idea. I never recommend this product suite, and over the years have spend many hours wrestling with computers that came with it preinstalled. There are other options out there that perform as well as or better than Norton, and don’t have the debilitating effect on your system of this over-designed nightmare.
Let’s move on, though: Fred was at the home of a reader he describes as fairly technical. And this man was running Norton, not aware that it was the culprit in the problems he was having with his computer, which had slowed to a crawl. Later in the article Fred reveals that the man didn’t know the use of PrtScr key on his keyboard.
I believe that the reader Fred was visiting was way more tech-savvy than most, and frankly, way more so than people want or should need to be. And yet he was being hobbled by the behavior of a piece of software that came pre-installed on his computer, and was unaware of one of the oldest and most useful tricks in the book that people like Fred have been writing for decades.
Computers are too hard to use.
I’ve been saying that for longer than I’ve know Fred Langa. It’s why PC-VIP exists. And every now and then I’m reminded of how true it is.
Anyone else have a problem with this?
