Five Innovative New Year's Resolutions | Fast Company

I just posted this to my Curious Voyager blog however I thought this would be good for everyone. If you are writing or thinking about it some of the thoughts in this Fast Company blog could be of interest to you.

Read more, listen more and see more. Let yourself be stirred by all things. Go places you have not been and believe me there are some right in your own city.

Step outside your comfort zone and see how others do it.

Five Innovative New Year's Resolutions | Fast Company: "To be more innovative, then, you need more diverse sources of information and inspiration. Resolve to read magazines you've never considered, watch movies you think you'd hate, and attend lectures of topics apparently unrelated to what you do."

In Torrington, Conn., a Brave Foray Into New Media Territory - NYTimes.com

Is this the new face of journalism? With the decrease in newspaper subscription and an increase in Internet activity newspapers need to find another way to reach the people and stay a viable entity.

As Jeff Jarvis (Buzz Machine) would say. they need a new business model.

This is a story in the NY Times about one way.

I love the very last line in the story; "I don't know what this means, but I guess we'll all find out." Bob Dylan was right in the 60's and he would be right again today; "These Times They Are A Changing".

Read the story however this is another example of how to find information. I read a newsletter produced daily called Reveries. It is a marketing newsletter and always has two good stories in it. This one, Newspaper Cafe, led me to the New York Times article. Check out Reveries, if you are in marketing or interested in it I am sure you will enjoy. Another good source of information.

In Torrington, Conn., a Brave Foray Into New Media Territory - NYTimes.com

Coworking: How Much Does It Cost?: Business Collaboration News «

This is an interesting business. I wonder if we could put one of these in this area and have it do really well? Not sure why not. Starbucks is to noisy to work long in as well as McDonald's and other places. I know they are free but sometimes free does not get it. Just a thought.

Coworking: How Much Does It Cost?: Business Collaboration News «

Keeping Your Ear To The Ground–So To Hear

I have been using various apps to “listen” to the social media tools that I pay a little attention to. I said that right. Days will go by and I will not have tuned into Twitter or Facebook.

In the past I have used the computer and my phone to occasionally see what is going on however it doesn’t quite do the job. I want to be able to tune in from time to time without a great deal of hassle.

I have been using TweetDeck and have found it quite useful however it is one more thing to start up and I am looking for something that is just there.

Enter TweetDeck for the Chrome browser. I have downloaded and installed it and so far it looks very good. I have added my Buzz account as well as Twitter and Facebook. From a review that I read (more links below) TweetDeck is planning on adding Gmail and other options to this browser.

Since I have just downloaded this I will give it a few days to see how well it does.

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Related articles

• ChromeDeck: TweetDeck Finally Comes to the Web as a Chrome App (daaaveeeee.wordpress.com)
• TweetDeck's New Chrome App: Awesome & Set to Get Better in Days (readwriteweb.com)
• ChromeDeck: TweetDeck Finally Comes To The Web As A Chrome App (techcrunch.com)
• Video: TweetDeck CEO Talks ChromeDeck (thechromesource.com)

Common Craft - Our Product is Explanation

Here is a web site that started for fun making video's and now has found a way to monetize their business. You should view some of the videos, most are under 3 minutes and are used to 'explain' things.

Husband and wife started this business and it is really getting the attention of a number of people. Here is a link to a Net@Night show that Leo Laporte and Amber MacArthur produce weekly. In this show they interview one of the founders.

Check out the link below and then check out Net@Night

Common Craft - Our Product is Explanation

Marketing: A Brand's Best Bet in Social Media Is Randomness - Advertising Age - Digital

I found this article to be quite interesting. Too many times business blogs are all about "me" (the company, it's product(s), "getting the message out") perhaps that doesn't work. Too stuffy, no fun.

Perhaps creating a comic or cute comment that fits the day just might add some levity to your blog and show that you are a "real" person.

Check it out at AdAge...

Marketing: A Brand's Best Bet in Social Media Is Randomness - Advertising Age - Digital

Why the 2011 'Social' Super Bowl Will Break Digital Records - Advertising Age - CMO Strategy

I know this blog is called the Ease of Blogging however there are many other aspects to Social Media. The use of Facebook, Twitter and others are worth your getting involved in.

The Internet "IS" your resume if you want to be a social connector. Your blog should have a Facebook page - it is your business. You should have a Twitter handle (oh the CB days).

If you are looking for contacts or contracts your Blog will help but so will you connection on Linked In and the other tools.

The use of many of these tools can be combined. When I post to Curious Voyager I also have a link sent to Foursquare as well as Twitter and my post is being noted on Linked In.

I use Foursquare and Places (Facebook) to login not only for the game playing but also to let people know I am out there.

Hey it can all be fun. Read below and get an idea of where the experts are on this and believe me the Super Bowl 2011 will be big and if the social media thing it is important to them why shouldn't it be important to YOU!

Why the 2011 'Social' Super Bowl Will Break Digital Records - Advertising Age - CMO Strategy: "During the Olympics, big TV advertisers like P&G got extra dividends by using Twitter and Facebook to fan the flames of their much buzzed-about 'Thanks, Mom' campaign."

Digital Overload: Too Much Technology Takes a Toll | Business News Daily

I know we have all heard this a great deal however the article I have linked to below may be worth the time reading.

I have recently stopped taking the phone out every time the notification sound goes off and I am planning on turning off all notifications except the phone ring. The incessant beeping interrupts my thinking and lord know I need all the help I can get when it comes to thinking.

Digital Overload: Too Much Technology Takes a Toll | Business News Daily: "Our constant connectedness, the beeping and buzzing and bleeping digital devices we carry around, aren’t just causing us to become mega-multitaskers, they are also taking a social and financial toll."

Another "Beginners Guide to Blogging"

This blog post is a bit straight forward however she gets it and it is her way of stating the facts. I would agree with most.

One of them is staying the course. I have fallen off it for awhile.

Beginners Guide to Blogging

What should a small business' website do? - USATODAY.com

Very interesting read from the USA TODAY. If you have, are involved in, or are planning to have a web site there is some really good information here.

One thing to keep in mind that your website is your message to the people that you want to attract. This is not the place to show off your design talents unless you are trying to sell yourself as a designer - and then perhaps it is still not a good idea.

You website should reflect YOU, your business, and should be approachable with information.

Read on because I think that Steve Strauss did a great, and right to the point, job.

What should a small business' website do? - USATODAY.com