Kudos to UserVoice

Ever seen that little feedback tab on the right or left of a page and wanted one? It would take you less than 5 minutes to get it, customize and install it!

Following a post on ArtistData, I turned to UserVoice and found their amazing 5-minute installation, free user feedback forum widget and tool. They really nailed this one: does it's job, easy to install, what a breeze.

Warm recommendation to you, and kudos to UserVoice.

Kudos to Mark of MarksGuide

It's been a long while since I last blogged and I might even get some time to explain the changes that happened since, but as usual, when you get busy it's the reality around you that pushes you to get things done.

So I came across this interview coverage with Mark on XConomy. The title is already inviting: "Boost Your Karma: Check Out MarksGuide".

It's a good piece on the Boston professional networking scene and how it affects startups, entrepreneurship and innovation. Any ecosystem has interesting supporting channels and MarksGuide is part of it: "Doerschlag is the man to know if you want to get the word out about a local networking event in business, technology, finance, media, or the sciences. On any given weekday, his website lists six to a dozen events of interest to Boston-area professionals."

I've already recommended MarksGuide before but let me reiterate how resourceful is MarksGuide in being aware of relevant interesting professional events in the area and if you missed one, there would likely be good coverage somewhere.

Interesting quote on Mark: "Cross Craigslist founder Craig Newmark with Web-networker-par-excellence Joi Ito, add blond hair and blue eyes, and plunk the result down in Boston—and you’d have Mark Doerschlag." Made me smile :-). Mark's a good guy and I'm glad to say a good friend too.

Check out MarksGuide, you'll be sure to bookmark it.

Guy Kawasaki must read: Ten Questions with Jeffrey Pfeffer

I've mentioned this before, Guy Kawasaki's blog "How to Change the World" is an enjoyable, educational must read for entrepreneurs and whoever is even remotely interested in the bigger picture of where is the organization he/she is with is headed.

This particular piece that Guy just posted is one of the best ones I've ever read, it gives a unique advice and analysis of organizational behavior and strategy lessons. And, perhaps it is very relevant to my thinking these days. Many of the Q&A are very relevant, "What is the proper role for a CEO?" ,
"What does it say about a company if it asks a candidate with twenty years of experience to submit school transcripts?",
"What role should budgets play in the management of an organization?" etc.


Here's the last question (just to show that you got to read till the end :-)):

Question: What role should strategic planning play in the management of an organization?

Answer: Doing the right thing is important, which is where strategy comes in. But doing that thing well—execution—is what sets companies apart. After all, every football play is designed to go for a huge gain. The reason it doesn’t is because of execution—people drop balls, miss blocks, go to the wrong place, and so forth. So, success depends on execution—on the ability to get things done.

ConnexTo loves Wiffiti!

During the previous Mobile Monday Boston, Stephen Randall from Locamoda presented their "writing on the wall" product suite: A series of fun interactive games, or interaction sessions where you stand in front of an electronic display and send SMSs to play games or interact.
"Our platform enables any phone to interact with screens connected to out-of-home networks, combining the power and reach of the web with the immediacy of the mobile phone"

One of their coolest applications is Wiffiti (Wireless Graffiti): these are virtual text boards that you can place on a real LCD in, say, a bar, on your site, blog, whatever. people can SMS to your Wiffiti to interact with you and/or others. This is really cool!!! I got an invitation to have one for myself today (Thanks Jayne!) and started using it. setup is easy and the first message was there in 5 minutes. See at the bottom right corner of my blog on this page, this is mine. You can send me a msg by sending @020406 (Space) your-message to 25622. OR, you can scan this code with ConnexTo and fill in your message:

Here's my Wiffiti itself: send me a msg and you'll see it here




Looking a bit closer, I think Stephen and his team made some good decisions with this product. For a start, Stephen was a founder of Symbian: he knows exactly the pain of creating a client application, getting that reach on enough phones/audience (Does phone xy support JSR-123 blah blah?), and then getting it on people's phones. So the waffiti thing doesn't require any client, no installation, no reach issues, none of that. Everyone has SMS, everyone know to use it. If I recall correctly Stephen still has non-gray hair on, and that's probably (in part) why.
Second, its a cool interesting, simple application. its engaging: the minute Stephen pulled it on the screen at the event, people started playing. He needed not say a word. This could go big.

The Economist is writing: "Between double espressos, patrons send text messages to the 50-inch screens...In March one woman received a marriage proposal via the Wiffiti screen at Toscanini's café (ooh...too geeky for me-AR)"


And if games, interaction, promotions aren't enough, why not reduce restaurant wait time?

VERY COOL!

Hear It 'N Get It: New service that brings consumers closer to mobile content

Just came across a very cool service for mobile users: "Hear it 'N Get It". Supposedly, once you hear a song you like on TV or on the radio, the service will allow you to send an SMS to a shortcode (4144) with the name of the TV/Radio channel. You will get an SMS back with links to the last 3 songs played and then you can download various versions of the content.
Here's their version: "Hear It 'N Get It allows users to buy mobile content in just 2 clicks, irrespective of the type of the handset they use, or the broadcast source of the music they hear.The service requires no agent software, no portal and no search-engine."

So that's the service, here's a couple thoughts:

• What caught my eye is the healthy approach the company (Hingi.com) is taking: "Users buy content in just 2 clicks". Service sign up? NO, Support for pre-paid subscribers? YES, Limitations on who can use it? NO, What am I being charged for? you'll get charged only if the song was found, any fixed charges? NO. Reach, Simplicity and Value are the name of the game.
• I LOVE the design on their consumer-oriented site (Hebrew, English). It's cool and immediate to understand: what is the service about, how does it work for me.
• The challenge, as always is the consumer education: How do I know about the service, the shortcode and the exact code for the station. But: with the right business model, they can get the station to promote their service.

Unfortunately it seems like the service for now is available only in Israel, but with a recent $3.4M investment, I'm sure they are thinking global :-)
Good luck guys!

Mark's Guide: If you want to be in, but there's only 24 hours in the day

Boston is blessed with a sea of entrepreneurs, startups and interesting folks who are willing to share an advice and give their opinions. That drives a lot of opportunities in events that are about learning, and networking.
My view is that it is a part of your credibility and strength to "be in the know" on market trends and players in the space you're in, and surrounding it. Not to mention learning from others and creating opportunities through networking.
However, there's also work to be done, kids to look after...only 24 hours in the day. You can't attend all the interesting events, as interesting as they may be. (BTW, another aspect is that not all the events are free or even cheap, unfortunately).

One particular feed that I find especially useful is Mark's Guide. It's a site that gets professional interesting events happening in the Boston area into one spot, categorized by interests, groups and events. You can get a great scan of what's happening and is worth attending. For example, I just found another great, useful event to go to, with a very interesting set of panelists.
But perhaps even a more important feature, is the follow-up summary that Mark posts for the events he attends. Attending events that are close to my heart, this is an ideal solution for me to 'Be there' without being there. Its as close as it gets to having been there.

From the lion's mouth:
"MarksGuide™ focuses on topics related to the professional networking scene in Boston, Massachusetts. We offer news and reviews of events, organizations and networking groups as well as other interesting topics related to professional networking. Our goal is to provide people with the information they need to discover and build beneficial professional relationships."

For those of you in Boston, interested in going to events, opening your minds and having fun networking, I highly recommend Mark's Guide. Really good stuff!