From the monthly archives:

October 2009

Don’t Forget Your Revenue Engine

October 29, 2009

If you’d like to increase your chances of securing financing from angels, make sure you take the time beforehand to have good answers to the questions you can expect to hear from potential investors. No matter which angel group you pitch, they’re all likely to ask similar questions. Here are some of the burning questions that they will have for you.

Read the full article →

Moving Up to Windows 7

October 23, 2009

I’ve been using Windows 7 release candidate on a MacBook Pro for several months, and would like to upgrade a workhorse PC from Vista to Windows 7. Before upgrading the PC, I wanted to identify potential issues with my primary software applications. Good thing I took this precaution. Here’s why.

Read the full article →

A Marketer’s Nightmare

October 14, 2009

This must be a painful time to be a marketer at Dell Computer. Dell has just introduced a svelte, feature-packed premium laptop aimed at execs, status seekers and “impression makers.” Thanks to their PR team (or influencer relations), Dell secured a high visibility blog posting at the NY Times discussing the product and its aspirational positioning. Unfortunately, it backfired.

Read the full article →

FTC Clarifies Disclosure Guidelines for Bloggers

October 8, 2009

In a conversation sponsored by Fast Company, FTC assistant director Richard Cleland clarified that bloggers won’t be fined $11,000 for a first offense. It’s more likely to take multiple infractions and a refusal to comply with prior warnings before the FTC levies any financial penalties on bloggers who fail to disclose that they have received cash or payment in kind from an advertiser.

Read the full article →

Thinking about a Kindle DX

October 7, 2009

I’ve been thinking about buying a Kindle DX ebook reader, given my addiction to books, both business and personal. On a recent flight from Boston I finally saw the larger DX model being used by my seatmate.  A development manager for Microsoft, she uses hers on long flights to catch up on professional reading (long technical white papers, internal reports, etc.) and then relax with a favorite book. Her enthusiasm reawakened my interest in Kindle.

Read the full article →

Your Endorsements Must Be Transparent

October 5, 2009

Today the FTC published new guidelines requiring advertisers and marketers to be transparent when using endorsements as a marketing tactic. In a new twist the revised guidelines also apply to the people who act as the endorser.
Who Is Affected
The revised FTC guidelines apply to:

celebrities who endorse products or brands;
bloggers or word-of-mouth brand ambassadors who receive [...]

Read the full article →