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So, as we all know the Google Motion system was Google’s way of pulling one over on most of us, with a few exceptions. As Nick Bilton from the New York Times points out, if we already have the Microsoft Kinect, and other motion detection devices, we are not but one small step from creating a real email motion system with a teachable lexicon of movements.
To learn about how the real guys do it, click here.
Google has recently unveiled a new form of email communication entitled Gmail Motion that may just sweep you off of your feet, literally. This new method of maneuvering through your inbox, writing emails, and updating settings enables you to stand up from your desk and “speak” to your Gmail account using your whole body as a keyboard.
Gmail Motion is still in its beta phase, and I, for one, am curious about the learning curve involved in becoming proficient in this new language. Even if the new system works for some and not all applications, anything that encourages workers to move more during the day is just fine in my book.
To check out a video of how the Gmail Motion email system works, click here.
In today’s world of change and infinite product choices one would imagine shopping to be a most enjoyable and liberating experience. On the contrary, as product lines have expanded to provide, for instance, 20 flavors of toothpaste, many consumers are beginning to find shopping a laborious chore. Some analysts believe that as the amount of choices reaches around 30 for a particular product our minds begin to become so overwhelmed we no longer feel able to choose. Therefore, we may give up on that product, sometimes even foregoing purchase of basic necessities. I find this line by Mike Reining sums up the issue well, “Faced with multiple options – we face paralysis by analysis.”
Have you been victim to buyers’ remorse? Not the “Oh, I couldn’t afford that” kind, but the “This was totally not what I came in here to buy” kind. You are not alone. Apparently, due to the information overload found on and around the shelves, some shoppers become so flustered they just grab any semblance of the item on their shopping list to avoid prolonged exposure to the stressor. As data and images bombard our minds we could even make “critical errors” of which Sharon Begley speaks in her article about decision-making.
So, how many choices would Goldilocks say were just right? One would estimate somewhere between two and ten per specific branded item such as toothpaste, to provide enough freedom of choice without overwhelming the shopper.
Choose wisely.
Here is a clever infographic depicting the progression of marketing and advertising through time, from its origin to…the future. My favorite is 1864: “earliest recorded use of the telegraph for unsolicited spam.”
We must understand fully from whence we came in order to plan for the future.
Click on the photo to experience more detail.
Dear Reader,
Consider how you open and close an email today compared to how you may have ten years ago. Do you start out strong, addressing the recipient by name, or begin more respectfully, showcasing your knowledge of old-English phraseology?
In his dissection of this simple, yet valuable subject, James Morgan explains that what we may have considered business-appropriate language years ago may seem overly intimate or unprofessional today. This sentiment strikes me as ironic, seeing as the “Hey” we resort to nowadays is just about the most casual way in which we could begin a corporate relationship.
So how do we seem genuine, professional, yet approachable at the same time? It simply depends on the situation. Some say “Dear” should be used when addressing problems or beginning a new professional association through email, given its old-fashioned, sincere connotation. However, lately even the most subdued professionals have been going with a more laid-back greeting, beginning correspondence with “Hey Folks” or no subject line at all.
The closer presents a similar conundrum. Your signature statement can be sincere and uber-professional or casual and conversational, depending on the nature of your business. What is paramount to remember in this situation is what every English 101 teacher tells their pupils on the first day of class: First and foremost, consider your audience. If we become familiar with the email recipient’s expectations we can best choose words that accommodate their style while maintaining our own.
Best Regards,
-xxxx
Every company that sells products online is currently clamoring to squeeze a few extra dollars out of a sale, or just make a sale for that matter, while still maintaining that it has the best deal in town. To achieve this goal, within the online marketplace, what used to be called “price discrimination” has now been softened to read “dynamic pricing” or “price customization.” Online retailers can now legally charge you a different price for the same item than it charges the next guy. The price you receive is determined by your online shopping patterns, types of products purchased, perceived eagerness to purchase, credit card sophistication, and other factors.
This version of price discrimination is fully legal, as long as it doesn’t creep over into more demographic information such as race, age, or gender. These behavioral analytics have become a prevalent and, as some see it, an invasive means of profiling consumers before assigning them a price tag. (You can receive your free copy of Behavioral Analytics for Dummies here)
So how do we avoid being overcharged this holiday season, and beyond?
Here a few tips: First, shop the website from two different browsers and compare prices. Depending on the type of browser you use you may be handed a sweeter deal. Which brings me to my next point; using a new-fangled browser (like Google Chrome) can set you apart in the computer’s eyes and it may persuade the system to charge you tech-savvier shoppers a discount price. Also, keeping your computer cookie-free (which is easier to do for the computer than for ourselves) may fool the site into thinking you are a unique consumer, which prompts it to work harder to grab your attention.
Finally, a great way to pick up some deals, if you have a little more time to spare, is dumping your items into the online shopping basket and letting them sit. When you return you may see free shipping waiting for you, or even a discount, as the company would be remiss to let you go without a fight. And for you desperate few, always remember that if you email customer service and ask for a discount, plain and simple, they have been known to shell out savings on request.
Good Magazine developed an infographic showcasing levels of greenness among major countries who tout this ability. Embedded within the graph are a few top green companies like IKEA and Toyota. Are we on the right track (red) or the wrong (blue)?
Have you wondered what other market researchers think about market research? What better way to find out than conduct a giant survey with those very people. Conducted by Next Gen Market Research in late 2009, this survey includes opinions on offshoring research, data mining methods, and most popular research resources.
And a selection of preferred statistical techniques…
And, of course, what keeps us all up at night?
