By Caroline Fox
Here at TBC we like to keep abreast of industry news, so we read from a lot of different sources: blogs, websites, white papers, scholarly articles, research, etc. We know that not everyone likes to read scholarly research, so decided to make it easy for you by summarizing some important industry articles and putting them into less intimidating language.
One researcher we really enjoy following is Dr. Frank Shipper Ph.D., Professor of Management in the Franklin P. Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD. He has conducted many studies on using 360 Feedback to develop leadership and workplace skills, and has been awarded many accolades for his research.
One particularly interesting article is titled, “A cross-cultural exploratory study of the link between emotional intelligence and managerial effectiveness” (2003). In this article, Shipper explores the association between emotional intelligence, which is the ability to manage emotions and create motivation, and the effectiveness of employees in a managerial setting across three different cultures: The US, the UK, and Malaysia.
A quick background:
Emotional intelligence has garnered a large following over the past century, starting with Darwin’s work on emotional survival in the 1900s. As early as the year 1920, researcher E.L. Thorndike described “social intelligence” to describe the skill of managing and understanding other people. The first person attributed with using the term, “emotional intelligence” was Wayne Payne in his doctoral thesis, although there is proof that the term occurred in papers as early as 1966. EI became mainstream after the publication of Daniel Goleman’s best selling book, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Since its publication, many theories on EI have developed and, inevitably, controversy has ensued. Wikipedia does a great job of summarizing information on EI and providing further links to different theories, ideas, and opinions on the worth validity EI.
According to Shipper, emotional intelligence (EI) is a “self-other argument” that can be gathered and tentatively measured by using 360 surveys. It is very complicated to measure EI, and there are many differing opinions on the best instrument for its collection and measurement. Shipper, however, decided that the most effective way to measure self-awareness, which is directly correlated with EI, was to use 360 surveys.
Through completing 360 Feedback surveys of 3,785 managers from the U.S., the U.K., and Malaysia, Shipper proved his hypothesis that there is a relationship between self-awareness and managerial effectiveness, but determined that the link is more complicated than previously thought. He noted that the culture in which the survey was written and the content of the survey can affect the visible strength of this relationship. Shipper also noted that interpretation of 360 instruments should be done carefully in countries where the instrument was not developed, and that cross testing of 360 instruments must take place for accurate results.
Shipper’s article supports the idea that good managers are able to understand their emotions and interact with others in a way that encourages and inspires them. Developing EI skills are an essential step on the path to leadership development, and can make or break leadership in the workplace.
My movie script ending..
Yann Tiersen - comptine d'un autre été
( I used CanonEOS 400D and 50mm lens for the pictures)
Lyrics: Death cab for cutie - A movie script ending
This actually wasn't a planned photoshoot. Me and T'ri were just going to the store, when we stumbled upon this gorgeous swan. Lucky coincidence, huh? Anyways.. I'm wearing a leather jacket from NewYorker, sheer dress from Lindex, ruffled scarf from seppelä, studded bag from House, boots from SHU and a selfmade bow. You can also find this on lookbook HERE. Be sure to tell me what you think and do enjoy!
A Unique Leader: Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest Airlines
Gary Kelly wants to impress you. Sure, he wants you to pick Southwest Airlines over the competition. But there is another aspect in his life that he desperately seeks approval - his Halloween costume.
Kelly is not only the Southwest Airlines CEO, President, and Chairman but he is also a once-a-year Halloween superstar.
Can you image walking into the office and running into this lovely face? Spooky!
Kelly is not only the Southwest Airlines CEO, President, and Chairman but he is also a once-a-year Halloween superstar.
Can you image walking into the office and running into this lovely face? Spooky! Over the years, Kelly has dressed up as Gene Simmons from KISS, Captain Jack Sparrow, Edna Turnblad, and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, according to Southwest.com. Halloween is a big deal at Southwest Airlines - a majority of employees participate in costume contests and will decorate their stations at airports.
We can only imagine what Kelly will be for Halloween this year. Iron Man? A vampire? Lady GaGa? We’ll just have to wait and see. He has stated he will sacrifice for art – within reason.
Kelly’s attitude toward Halloween is a perfect example of his desire to create a different kind of corporate culture. While some CEOs stay in their massive office and hardly ever crack a smile, Kelly appears to be anywhere and everywhere at any given time interacting with all ranks of employees.
As Chief Executive of Southwest Airlines, Gary Kelly maintains his focus on three important areas for the company: low cost, customer service, and its people.
Bags fly free. Those three little words helped Southwest Airlines fly above the competition. Though analysts dubbed the Southwest campaign as irresponsible and naïve, it proved to be a success.
According to reports, Southwest Airlines has grabbed nearly $1 billion in annual market share, which is in part due to its no-fee baggage policy.
Bags fly free is now a big part of the Southwest marketing campaign. Instead of using paid actors, Southwest utilizes its own employees for nationwide television and print commercials. Now that is one way to raise employee morale!
At Southwest Airlines, employees have the freedom to be creative, dress casually (and with style on Halloween), and have fun on the job, according to Southwest.com.
It should come to no surprise that about 80 percent of the Southwest staff said they work at Southwest because of the culture.
Southwest also does good business. The company has been profitable ever since its first full year – a rarity in the airline industry.
What leaders can take from Kelly is to showcase a bit of your own personality. Just because you are the CEO or upper management, doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. Obviously, a leader can’t go too overboard. However, if you feel the urge to dress up as a member of KISS for Halloween, what’s holding you back?
We can only imagine what Kelly will be for Halloween this year. Iron Man? A vampire? Lady GaGa? We’ll just have to wait and see. He has stated he will sacrifice for art – within reason.
Kelly’s attitude toward Halloween is a perfect example of his desire to create a different kind of corporate culture. While some CEOs stay in their massive office and hardly ever crack a smile, Kelly appears to be anywhere and everywhere at any given time interacting with all ranks of employees.
As Chief Executive of Southwest Airlines, Gary Kelly maintains his focus on three important areas for the company: low cost, customer service, and its people.
Bags fly free. Those three little words helped Southwest Airlines fly above the competition. Though analysts dubbed the Southwest campaign as irresponsible and naïve, it proved to be a success.
According to reports, Southwest Airlines has grabbed nearly $1 billion in annual market share, which is in part due to its no-fee baggage policy.
Bags fly free is now a big part of the Southwest marketing campaign. Instead of using paid actors, Southwest utilizes its own employees for nationwide television and print commercials. Now that is one way to raise employee morale!
At Southwest Airlines, employees have the freedom to be creative, dress casually (and with style on Halloween), and have fun on the job, according to Southwest.com.
It should come to no surprise that about 80 percent of the Southwest staff said they work at Southwest because of the culture.
Southwest also does good business. The company has been profitable ever since its first full year – a rarity in the airline industry.
What leaders can take from Kelly is to showcase a bit of your own personality. Just because you are the CEO or upper management, doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun. Obviously, a leader can’t go too overboard. However, if you feel the urge to dress up as a member of KISS for Halloween, what’s holding you back?
Online shopping point of Eve ISK
In these days with the help of the latest technology of Internet you can play thousand of online games in gaming world easily and quickly. In these online multi players’ games like EVE Online are the most popular games in today online gaming world. It's an extremely popular multiplayer game unlike any other on the online gaming world. EVE Online is an online database driven multiplayer game. This game has an incredible community of over 2 million players, running about 450,000 characters. In this game Interstellar Kredits well known as ISK is the official currency being used by all EVE Online players. In this game lots of Eve ISK are needed to build your own economies and learning new skills.
With the help of Internet you can easily search various Eve Isk Online suppliers in cheap and best price. In these suppliers MMOXE.com is one of the best portals for game currency. They are a professional and reliable international Eve ISK exchange corporation dealing with Eve ISK Online. In here you can easily Buy ISK in lowest cost compare to other portals. They are well known for quick service, safety, trust and got a great 24/7 customer support. In here you can easily buy Eve ISK Online with the variety of payment methods like Paypal, credit card, Google checkout, Money brokers etc.
Mobile Game - Game Power On Your Hand
With the help of Internet you can easily search various Eve Isk Online suppliers in cheap and best price. In these suppliers MMOXE.com is one of the best portals for game currency. They are a professional and reliable international Eve ISK exchange corporation dealing with Eve ISK Online. In here you can easily Buy ISK in lowest cost compare to other portals. They are well known for quick service, safety, trust and got a great 24/7 customer support. In here you can easily buy Eve ISK Online with the variety of payment methods like Paypal, credit card, Google checkout, Money brokers etc.
Mobile Game - Game Power On Your Hand
Hanging with the unloved kids!
Just a quick outfit post. Mmh what a suprise - I'm wearing black and white - again. Anyways I found this tee from Lindex and it was on sale - so it practically cost nothing. Whenever I buy something like this, I always make sure that I pick up L or XL, because I love to wear these oversized tee's as dresses. That's pretty much it.. and here are some photos for you guys, just some random things to sum up my day. Enjoy, and be sure to tell me what you think :)
(Used CanonEOS 400D and 50mm len for the pictures and 2B pencil for the drawing, uhu )
But I'm still fond of you, oh-ho-oh.
It's funny how I always switch to a very boring black&white-grey color palette whenever it's cold outside. I try not to, but I always end up wearing almost no color. And the colder it is - the darker my outfits are. In fact during winter my parents used to make fun of me that I look like I'm always going to a funeral. The only fun thing about wearing simple color palettes is the fact that you can totally go cuckoo-bananas with you accessories - fun patterns, crazy colors, different textiles etc. I've acutally managed to collect some pretty weird little bags in my closet over the years. I don't wear them too often, but now is the perfect time to take them out and add some color to my looks. And you can also find this outfit on lookbook HERE. Hope you enjoy, and be sure to tell me what you think :)
(used CanonEOS 400D and 50mm lens for the pictures)
Marina and The Diamonds - I am not a robot.
cuckoo-banana who ??
Marina and The Diamonds - I am not a robot.
cuckoo-banana who ??
White round bag is from seppelä, I added the studs myself / Red floral bag is thrifted and I added the long chain / the blue bag is from Mango / zebra clutch is from Tartu Kaubamaja / silver bag is from A&G / last little Louis Vuitton replica is from a little fleemarket in Italy.
Video Games - The Past and Future
Video Games - The path and world of Video Games
Games are the entertainment activity played for enjoyment and entertainment. Games provide the needful rest to the body and the brain. In simple term Video Games are games played with the support of some type of electronic devices. By using this definition a Video Games consist a user interface to generate visual feedback on a display device. In Video Games world the meaning of Video word is a display device and the platforms are known the supported electronic systems like Xbox, PSP etc. In the modern world you can find various types of games platforms like PC, Mobile and PSP etc.
Evolution of the Video Games
The history of the video games is not to old. The evolution of video games was happened in the 1945. The debut Video Game was built in the year of 1947 called Cathode ray tube Amusement Device. The game was made by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann. The other early days games are Spacewar, NIMROD computer, a tic-tac-toe Computer game and Tennis.
The Commercial Era of the Video Game
The year of the 1971 was known as the commercial era of the video games. In this year the first commercial Video games was launched by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney called Computer Space. This games was used TV sets for its display.
A tip for workplace Execs: Listen to your secretaries
By Caroline Fox
My mom always taught me to make friends with secretaries. When I went to college, her advice was to make friends with all of the secretaries in any important administrative office: the Bursar’s office, the Office of the President, the campus police department, etc. She also believes in making friends with food service workers, janitors, maintenance workers, customer service reps—but secretaries are her favorite.
Why? Because secretaries hold the key to the organization. They have the inside scoop; they make valuable observations, and can provide information aggregated from all other aspects of an organization. They are usually located in a central location where they can connect the outside world to the world inside of the organization. They know everything about everyone, and can usually make extremely accurate judgments about anyone who walks through the organization’s door. If you offend the secretary, watch out—you might be sitting and waiting in the lobby for a long, long time.
So what does this have to do with leadership?
Leaders need to act more like secretaries. They need to be able to stay in-touch with the overall attitude and culture of the organization. They need to be in the middle of things, fully aware of any successes or issues that may occur involving the organization. They should be able to sense internal unrest or agitation, or should be the first to know if there is a problem with shipments, technology, clients, etc. Instead of a collective huddle of fear when something goes wrong, employees should be able to notify their superiors without anxiety. This means leaders should not be locked away in a private office with a closed door; this disconnects them from the culture they lead. Instead, they should be present in the day-to-day activities of their workplace so they can monitor the internal culture of their organization. Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh believes in this theory so much that he does not have an office or suite; instead, he works from a cubicle with his employees.
Leaders should be able to make accurate observations about people and situations involving their organization. My friend worked in an office where the secretary (a saucy individual) could analyze a person from their walk, introduction, and reaction to being told to “Wait a moment” for their appointment. She would also “overhear” their cell phone conversations and interactions with others. The secretary would then give mini-synopses to her superiors to give them a better idea of what they were dealing with. Leaders should be able to make the same observations. When a client enters the office or when a potential new hire arrives, the leader should be able to judge the best way to address and assess the person. They should take a moment to just observe—body language can portray a lot about a person and their intentions. Then, they should listen to the visitor’s tone, concerns, questions, statements, and any other remarks. Consciously listening will provide valuable information that might have been overlooked otherwise.
If you are a leader in an organization and haven’t talked to your secretary lately, maybe its time you should start to cultivate a trusting relationship. Observe what they do and how they handle different people and situations. Ask about the way a potential new hire treated them. Inquire about what he or she has heard about your employees’ feelings on the new lunch policy or the loss of an important client. Believe me, they will know. These multitaskers are clearly an invaluable resource to determining the current state of your organization’s culture, and can be powerful allies and sources of information. So remember: Secretary’s Day is the Wednesday of the last full week of April every year. Don’t mess that one up.
My mom always taught me to make friends with secretaries. When I went to college, her advice was to make friends with all of the secretaries in any important administrative office: the Bursar’s office, the Office of the President, the campus police department, etc. She also believes in making friends with food service workers, janitors, maintenance workers, customer service reps—but secretaries are her favorite.
Why? Because secretaries hold the key to the organization. They have the inside scoop; they make valuable observations, and can provide information aggregated from all other aspects of an organization. They are usually located in a central location where they can connect the outside world to the world inside of the organization. They know everything about everyone, and can usually make extremely accurate judgments about anyone who walks through the organization’s door. If you offend the secretary, watch out—you might be sitting and waiting in the lobby for a long, long time.
So what does this have to do with leadership?
Leaders need to act more like secretaries. They need to be able to stay in-touch with the overall attitude and culture of the organization. They need to be in the middle of things, fully aware of any successes or issues that may occur involving the organization. They should be able to sense internal unrest or agitation, or should be the first to know if there is a problem with shipments, technology, clients, etc. Instead of a collective huddle of fear when something goes wrong, employees should be able to notify their superiors without anxiety. This means leaders should not be locked away in a private office with a closed door; this disconnects them from the culture they lead. Instead, they should be present in the day-to-day activities of their workplace so they can monitor the internal culture of their organization. Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh believes in this theory so much that he does not have an office or suite; instead, he works from a cubicle with his employees.
Leaders should be able to make accurate observations about people and situations involving their organization. My friend worked in an office where the secretary (a saucy individual) could analyze a person from their walk, introduction, and reaction to being told to “Wait a moment” for their appointment. She would also “overhear” their cell phone conversations and interactions with others. The secretary would then give mini-synopses to her superiors to give them a better idea of what they were dealing with. Leaders should be able to make the same observations. When a client enters the office or when a potential new hire arrives, the leader should be able to judge the best way to address and assess the person. They should take a moment to just observe—body language can portray a lot about a person and their intentions. Then, they should listen to the visitor’s tone, concerns, questions, statements, and any other remarks. Consciously listening will provide valuable information that might have been overlooked otherwise.
If you are a leader in an organization and haven’t talked to your secretary lately, maybe its time you should start to cultivate a trusting relationship. Observe what they do and how they handle different people and situations. Ask about the way a potential new hire treated them. Inquire about what he or she has heard about your employees’ feelings on the new lunch policy or the loss of an important client. Believe me, they will know. These multitaskers are clearly an invaluable resource to determining the current state of your organization’s culture, and can be powerful allies and sources of information. So remember: Secretary’s Day is the Wednesday of the last full week of April every year. Don’t mess that one up.
Flashmob 101: A great example of leadership
By Caroline Fox
Today we’re going to take a look at leadership in pop culture and social media. One of my favorite examples is of the relatively new “flash mob” phenomenon.
A Flash mob? You may be wondering what this is. Wikipedia defines a flash mob as:
A flash mob (or flashmob) is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails. The term is generally not applied to events organized by public relations firms, protests, and publicity stunts.
Said to have been first staged in 2003 at a Macy’s store in Manhattan, flash mobs are simple concepts. At its most basic level, a flash mob is when a large group of people flock to a certain area, perform some sort of quirky action, and then disperse at the action’s end. These actions are not (usually) in protest or to make political statements, and are more about having a fun shared experience. It must be noted that I am against the term “pointless” in Wikipedia’s definition; having fun is never pointless. But that is beside the point.
Perhaps some of the most famous flash mobs are if dancing flash-mobbers. In these cases, a choreographer teaches the members of the group to perform some sort of dance routine. Group members are voluntary; they hear about the flash-mob through word of mouth or via social media. The routine, usually fairly simple, is usually taught utilizing social media or other digital forms of communication and passed virally from person to person.
Two of my favorite flash mob dance scenes are featured below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aSbKvm_mKA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k
So now that we have explored the definition of a flash mob, how does it relate to leadership?
A Common goal
While it may not be earth-shattering, members of the above flash mobs shared some sort of common goal. For some, it stemmed from the desire to belong to something. For others, it was an excuse to learn choreography and be part of a dance. For others, they just wanted to be able to say that they were part of a flash mob. The common thread through all of these reasons is this: These people joined a flash mob to be part of something bigger than themselves.
Think about your office. Are your employees working together, or are they working for themselves? Is there a culture of camaraderie, or does your work seem divided or disjointed?
Clear communication
Clear communication is key when organizing something like this. Any large-scale event requiring people management can create chaos; even small-scale organization can feel more like herding cattle than planning an event. In successful flash mobs, one communicator creates the time, date, type of event, etc. and begins to pass it on through easily accessible and sharable venues like blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and email. Huge ads and fliers aren’t the way flash mobs are created; organizers use smaller, more intimate forms of communication.
Think about the way you communicate with your employees. Do you just send out mass emails, or do you take the time to respond and check in personally? Do you respond to Tweets and blog replies? A little effort goes a long way, and can create a significant ripple effect.
Training
There was clearly some sort of training when it comes to these successful flash mobs. Members weren’t just born knowing exactly how and when to execute certain dance moves. They had to be taught—most of the time by example—how to perform the piece. While some dancers picked up the moves more naturally, others had to watch the training videos over and over or have fellow mobbers help them perfect their boogie style.
We see the same pattern in leadership development. Some people are naturally born leaders, and need little to no coaching. Others are less natural at leading, and need help identifying their issues and working to correct them. This is where 360 assessments, coaching, and encouragement from superiors comes along. With a little bit of help and a lot of hard work, struggling leaders can become just as strong and as skilled as leaders with natural born talent. Make sure that when it is time to perform, you have trained your employees effectively!
Positive Attitude
Finally, I hoped you noticed how much fun these people were having. Everyone was smiling; everyone wanted to be there. Why? Because the organizers/leaders of the flash mob made it fun. They created something that people enjoyed, even if it was silly and pointless. The leaders created a fun way to connect with other members, and to share the common goal. This created a sense of camaraderie where individuals worked together to create relationships as well as a form of visual art. Now that is something to be proud of.
Do people in your office like to be at work? Do your employees look at their jobs in a positive way, or do they just want to get out of there? If employees feel like they are in a jail cell rather than at work, productivity and innovation will be at an all time low. Creating a way for employees to have fun or enjoy their jobs will inspire them to create connections with other employees, establish a positive emotional response to their job, work harder, and increase their productivity.
I’m not saying that a flash mob is the best way to do this, but there are many small ways to inspire a culture change. Try entering your company in a softball league. Organize a team for a nearby bar’s trivia competition. Invest in a wall-sized crossword puzzle (one can be found here http://www.hammacher.com/Product/76004?source=FROOGLE ) and challenge your employees to finish it within a year. Create Foursquare competitions. Organize a company-wide bar crawl that makes a stop at a karaoke bar. The possibilities are endless! Just organize some fun outlets, and positive culture change will follow. One thing to note: These will only work if you have an organization’s leaders on board. Make sure you have the support of your other managers and executives—its much harder to start a one-man (or woman) revolution than it is to have partners-in-crime!
Or, in this post’s case, “partners-in-mobbing.”
Today we’re going to take a look at leadership in pop culture and social media. One of my favorite examples is of the relatively new “flash mob” phenomenon.
A Flash mob? You may be wondering what this is. Wikipedia defines a flash mob as:
A flash mob (or flashmob) is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails. The term is generally not applied to events organized by public relations firms, protests, and publicity stunts.
Said to have been first staged in 2003 at a Macy’s store in Manhattan, flash mobs are simple concepts. At its most basic level, a flash mob is when a large group of people flock to a certain area, perform some sort of quirky action, and then disperse at the action’s end. These actions are not (usually) in protest or to make political statements, and are more about having a fun shared experience. It must be noted that I am against the term “pointless” in Wikipedia’s definition; having fun is never pointless. But that is beside the point.
Perhaps some of the most famous flash mobs are if dancing flash-mobbers. In these cases, a choreographer teaches the members of the group to perform some sort of dance routine. Group members are voluntary; they hear about the flash-mob through word of mouth or via social media. The routine, usually fairly simple, is usually taught utilizing social media or other digital forms of communication and passed virally from person to person.
Two of my favorite flash mob dance scenes are featured below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aSbKvm_mKA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k
So now that we have explored the definition of a flash mob, how does it relate to leadership?
A Common goal
While it may not be earth-shattering, members of the above flash mobs shared some sort of common goal. For some, it stemmed from the desire to belong to something. For others, it was an excuse to learn choreography and be part of a dance. For others, they just wanted to be able to say that they were part of a flash mob. The common thread through all of these reasons is this: These people joined a flash mob to be part of something bigger than themselves.
Think about your office. Are your employees working together, or are they working for themselves? Is there a culture of camaraderie, or does your work seem divided or disjointed?
Clear communication
Clear communication is key when organizing something like this. Any large-scale event requiring people management can create chaos; even small-scale organization can feel more like herding cattle than planning an event. In successful flash mobs, one communicator creates the time, date, type of event, etc. and begins to pass it on through easily accessible and sharable venues like blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and email. Huge ads and fliers aren’t the way flash mobs are created; organizers use smaller, more intimate forms of communication.
Think about the way you communicate with your employees. Do you just send out mass emails, or do you take the time to respond and check in personally? Do you respond to Tweets and blog replies? A little effort goes a long way, and can create a significant ripple effect.
Training
There was clearly some sort of training when it comes to these successful flash mobs. Members weren’t just born knowing exactly how and when to execute certain dance moves. They had to be taught—most of the time by example—how to perform the piece. While some dancers picked up the moves more naturally, others had to watch the training videos over and over or have fellow mobbers help them perfect their boogie style.
We see the same pattern in leadership development. Some people are naturally born leaders, and need little to no coaching. Others are less natural at leading, and need help identifying their issues and working to correct them. This is where 360 assessments, coaching, and encouragement from superiors comes along. With a little bit of help and a lot of hard work, struggling leaders can become just as strong and as skilled as leaders with natural born talent. Make sure that when it is time to perform, you have trained your employees effectively!
Positive Attitude
Finally, I hoped you noticed how much fun these people were having. Everyone was smiling; everyone wanted to be there. Why? Because the organizers/leaders of the flash mob made it fun. They created something that people enjoyed, even if it was silly and pointless. The leaders created a fun way to connect with other members, and to share the common goal. This created a sense of camaraderie where individuals worked together to create relationships as well as a form of visual art. Now that is something to be proud of.
Do people in your office like to be at work? Do your employees look at their jobs in a positive way, or do they just want to get out of there? If employees feel like they are in a jail cell rather than at work, productivity and innovation will be at an all time low. Creating a way for employees to have fun or enjoy their jobs will inspire them to create connections with other employees, establish a positive emotional response to their job, work harder, and increase their productivity.
I’m not saying that a flash mob is the best way to do this, but there are many small ways to inspire a culture change. Try entering your company in a softball league. Organize a team for a nearby bar’s trivia competition. Invest in a wall-sized crossword puzzle (one can be found here http://www.hammacher.com/Product/76004?source=FROOGLE ) and challenge your employees to finish it within a year. Create Foursquare competitions. Organize a company-wide bar crawl that makes a stop at a karaoke bar. The possibilities are endless! Just organize some fun outlets, and positive culture change will follow. One thing to note: These will only work if you have an organization’s leaders on board. Make sure you have the support of your other managers and executives—its much harder to start a one-man (or woman) revolution than it is to have partners-in-crime!
Or, in this post’s case, “partners-in-mobbing.”
Top Biotech Companies
Since the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) was set up in 1986 by the Government of India, the Indian biotech industry got a huge thrust. Utilizing the initiatives taken by DBT, the biotech industry in India came up a long way to become one of the leading biotech hubs in the world in a very short frame of time. A number of top biotech companies have come into the market as there is no dearth of sound knowledge base and skilled manpower in the country. Currently there are around 325 biotech companies in India. Among them, the top biotech companies in India can be listed as below:
* Biocon
* Panacea Botec
* Serum Institute of India
* Nicholas Piramal
* GlaxoSmithKline
* Wockhardt Limited
* Krebs Biochemicals and Industries Limited
* Indian Immunologicals
* Bharat Serum
* Zydus Cadila
Source: http://business.mapsofindia.com/india-company/top-companies.html
* Biocon
* Panacea Botec
* Serum Institute of India
* Nicholas Piramal
* GlaxoSmithKline
* Wockhardt Limited
* Krebs Biochemicals and Industries Limited
* Indian Immunologicals
* Bharat Serum
* Zydus Cadila
Source: http://business.mapsofindia.com/india-company/top-companies.html
10 Ways Bloggers Can Use Twitter
Twitter is a fun and useful way to promote your blog and drive traffic to it. While it might seem that micro-blogging through Twitter might just be a fun thing to do, you can actually use Twitter to grow your blog. Remember, building relationships is a key part of growing your blog, and Twitter is an excellent tool for building relationships.
Take a look at the suggestions below for how you can use Twitter to drive traffic to your blog.
1. Drive Traffic
Twitter has a viral marketing effect to it wherein your tweets could spread quickly across the Twitter community if they are interesting. For example, if you're hosting a blog contest or launching a new feature on your blog, send a tweet to let your followers know. Chances are they'll spread the word as well. As word gets out, more and more people will visit your blog to check out what all the hype is about.
2. Network with Like-Minded People
Twitter is set up inherently to act as a networking tool. People "follow" users whose tweets they enjoy or interest them. As such, you'll be able to connect with like-minded people by using Twitter which could lead to more traffic to your blog and much more.
3. Make Business Contacts
Just as Twitter is a great networking tool for finding like-minded people, it's also very effective with connecting users with business contacts. Whether you're looking to hire someone to help you with your blog or business (or both), looking for a new job, or just looking to bounce ideas off your business peers, Twitter can help.
4. Establish Yourself as an Expert
Twitter can help support your efforts to establish yourself as an expert in your field or blogging niche to the online community. By communicating through tweets about subject-matter you're knowledgeable in, answering questions via tweets, and searching out new contacts, your efforts to be viewed as an expert (which gives your blog greater credibility and appeal) will grow.
5. Get Ideas for Blog Posts
If you're having a dry spell in terms of coming up with post ideas, Twitter can help get your creative juices flowing. Read and send some tweets and see what people are talking about. Something you read is apt to spark a post idea or two to get you through a temporary state of blogger's block.
6. Ask Questions
Just as you might use Twitter to establish yourself as an expert in your field, other people use it for the same reason. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You just might learn something new and find new bloggers and users to connect with!
7. Provide Live Coverage
If you're attending a conference or meeting that you'd like to share, you can send multiple tweets real-time to share the information you learn then expound on your tweets with blog posts.
8. Ask for Diggs, Stumbles and Other Promotional Help
Twitter is a great place to ask your followers to Digg or Stumble your blog posts. You could also ask other users to blog about your post with a link back to it or spread the word to their own Twitter followers to drive more traffic to your blog.
9. Accuracy and Fact Checker
Imagine you're writing a blog post about a recent event but don't know how to spell the names of the people involved in the event. Send a tweet to get the information you need, and while you're at it, give your followers a heads up about your upcoming blog post.
10. Find and Share Resources
Need a quote, interview or guest post. Send a tweet!
Source: http://weblogs.about.com/od/marketingablog/tp/10WaystoUseTwitter.htm
Take a look at the suggestions below for how you can use Twitter to drive traffic to your blog.
1. Drive Traffic
Twitter has a viral marketing effect to it wherein your tweets could spread quickly across the Twitter community if they are interesting. For example, if you're hosting a blog contest or launching a new feature on your blog, send a tweet to let your followers know. Chances are they'll spread the word as well. As word gets out, more and more people will visit your blog to check out what all the hype is about.
2. Network with Like-Minded People
Twitter is set up inherently to act as a networking tool. People "follow" users whose tweets they enjoy or interest them. As such, you'll be able to connect with like-minded people by using Twitter which could lead to more traffic to your blog and much more.
3. Make Business Contacts
Just as Twitter is a great networking tool for finding like-minded people, it's also very effective with connecting users with business contacts. Whether you're looking to hire someone to help you with your blog or business (or both), looking for a new job, or just looking to bounce ideas off your business peers, Twitter can help.
4. Establish Yourself as an Expert
Twitter can help support your efforts to establish yourself as an expert in your field or blogging niche to the online community. By communicating through tweets about subject-matter you're knowledgeable in, answering questions via tweets, and searching out new contacts, your efforts to be viewed as an expert (which gives your blog greater credibility and appeal) will grow.
5. Get Ideas for Blog Posts
If you're having a dry spell in terms of coming up with post ideas, Twitter can help get your creative juices flowing. Read and send some tweets and see what people are talking about. Something you read is apt to spark a post idea or two to get you through a temporary state of blogger's block.
6. Ask Questions
Just as you might use Twitter to establish yourself as an expert in your field, other people use it for the same reason. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You just might learn something new and find new bloggers and users to connect with!
7. Provide Live Coverage
If you're attending a conference or meeting that you'd like to share, you can send multiple tweets real-time to share the information you learn then expound on your tweets with blog posts.
8. Ask for Diggs, Stumbles and Other Promotional Help
Twitter is a great place to ask your followers to Digg or Stumble your blog posts. You could also ask other users to blog about your post with a link back to it or spread the word to their own Twitter followers to drive more traffic to your blog.
9. Accuracy and Fact Checker
Imagine you're writing a blog post about a recent event but don't know how to spell the names of the people involved in the event. Send a tweet to get the information you need, and while you're at it, give your followers a heads up about your upcoming blog post.
10. Find and Share Resources
Need a quote, interview or guest post. Send a tweet!
Source: http://weblogs.about.com/od/marketingablog/tp/10WaystoUseTwitter.htm
Twitter Website
Twitter Features
* Create micro-blogs to tell the world what you are up to
* Choose what friends you want to follow
* Share updates on your cell phone or mobile device
Probably something like Twitter. A mini-blogging service that lets you update your friends on what you are doing at that moment, Twitter was launched in late 2006 and had explosive growth in 2007.
Twitter allows blog posts of only 140 characters, which is just large enough for a sentence, or two if they are short. These messages are then sent out -- via web or mobile phone -- where your friends can find them.
Why Should I Use Twitter?
There's no spectacular or compelling reason to use Twitter other than it is great fun and highly addictive. It's an excellent way to keep tabs on your friends and share little bits of your daily life. It's also a good way to fight off boredom.
One of the many ways people put Twitter to good use is updating a group of friends while out on the town. It can be a great way to let a group of people know what's happening and where it is happening at.
Source: http://webtrends.about.com/od/profiles/fr/Twitter-Profile.htm
Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is the process of marketing through social media sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. By utilizing the social aspect of the web, social media marketing is able to connect and interact on a much more personalized and dynamic level than through traditional marketing.
A social media marketing strategy can be as simple as having a company blog, a Twitter account, or attaching "Digg This" and "Tweet This" tags to the end of articles. It can also be as complicated as having a full campaign that encompasses blogs, Twitter, social networking and viral videos through YouTube.
Social Media Marketing and Social News
The simplest form of social media marketing is to tag articles and blog entries for easy submission and voting on social news sites like Digg. If you've ever come across a Digg vote counter or a Share This widget at the end of an article, you've seen this form of social media marketing in action.
This type of marketing can often be automated, so it is simple to implement. It can also be very effective for media companies, and can be a great way to promote a company blog.
Social Media Marketing and Blogs
In many respects, blogs can serve as an extension of traditional media. Much as review copies might be sent to traditional media outlets like newspapers and magazines, they can also be sent to popular blogs on the subject.
Blogs also offer the opportunity to put together 'virtual tours'. For example, many authors have gravitated towards having virtual book tours, which allows them to reach their fans without the travel expenses. These virtual book tours can include author interviews and Q&A sessions as well as book reviews and book giveaways.
Social Media Marketing and Social Networking
It has become increasingly important to have a presence on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. In addition to these popular social networks, there are also many specialized social networks that might be the perfect place to set up camp for specific products.
For example, a musician might set up a profile on Last.FM as well as MySpace, while a movie might be best promoted through Flixster in addition to Facebook.
Social networks not only give the marketer a place to get the word out, they also provide a place to interact with customers and allow customers to interact with each other. This can be a great starting point for the marketing to go viral and pick up a grassroots effort.
Social Media Marketing and Twitter
Twitter has picked up a lot of steam in the last year for being a great place for social media marketing. While Twitter has grown far beyond its microblogging roots, it is important to think of Twitter similar to a company blog. While the primary purpose is to get the word out, it is just as important to add a personal touch rather than relying on RSS feeds to deliver stale press releases or simply repeat the company blog.
In addition growing the amount of followers, Twitter can be particularly effective when interacting with customers and fans.
Social Media Marketing and YouTube
Some of the most effective social media marketing strategies center around YouTube and the viral video. While often more time-consuming and expensive, YouTube can easily become the centerpiece of a larger social media campaign.
Because of its social nature, YouTube can be a great way to interact with customers and get them involved with the marketing as well as the product. An excellent example of social media marketing on YouTube done well was Microsoft's response to the "I'm a Mac" commercials.
Rather than face Apple head on through commercials, Microsoft engaged in a viral "I'm a PC" marketing campaign that centered around customers uploading their own "I'm a PC" video responses. This type of customer interaction is at the core of what social media marketng is all about and is the cornerstone for building an effective strategy.
The more you interact with the customer, the more brand loyalty you build.
Source: http://webtrends.about.com/od/web20/a/what-is-social-media-marketing.htm
A social media marketing strategy can be as simple as having a company blog, a Twitter account, or attaching "Digg This" and "Tweet This" tags to the end of articles. It can also be as complicated as having a full campaign that encompasses blogs, Twitter, social networking and viral videos through YouTube.
Social Media Marketing and Social News
The simplest form of social media marketing is to tag articles and blog entries for easy submission and voting on social news sites like Digg. If you've ever come across a Digg vote counter or a Share This widget at the end of an article, you've seen this form of social media marketing in action.
This type of marketing can often be automated, so it is simple to implement. It can also be very effective for media companies, and can be a great way to promote a company blog.
Social Media Marketing and Blogs
In many respects, blogs can serve as an extension of traditional media. Much as review copies might be sent to traditional media outlets like newspapers and magazines, they can also be sent to popular blogs on the subject.
Blogs also offer the opportunity to put together 'virtual tours'. For example, many authors have gravitated towards having virtual book tours, which allows them to reach their fans without the travel expenses. These virtual book tours can include author interviews and Q&A sessions as well as book reviews and book giveaways.
Social Media Marketing and Social Networking
It has become increasingly important to have a presence on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. In addition to these popular social networks, there are also many specialized social networks that might be the perfect place to set up camp for specific products.
For example, a musician might set up a profile on Last.FM as well as MySpace, while a movie might be best promoted through Flixster in addition to Facebook.
Social networks not only give the marketer a place to get the word out, they also provide a place to interact with customers and allow customers to interact with each other. This can be a great starting point for the marketing to go viral and pick up a grassroots effort.
Social Media Marketing and Twitter
Twitter has picked up a lot of steam in the last year for being a great place for social media marketing. While Twitter has grown far beyond its microblogging roots, it is important to think of Twitter similar to a company blog. While the primary purpose is to get the word out, it is just as important to add a personal touch rather than relying on RSS feeds to deliver stale press releases or simply repeat the company blog.
In addition growing the amount of followers, Twitter can be particularly effective when interacting with customers and fans.
Social Media Marketing and YouTube
Some of the most effective social media marketing strategies center around YouTube and the viral video. While often more time-consuming and expensive, YouTube can easily become the centerpiece of a larger social media campaign.
Because of its social nature, YouTube can be a great way to interact with customers and get them involved with the marketing as well as the product. An excellent example of social media marketing on YouTube done well was Microsoft's response to the "I'm a Mac" commercials.
Rather than face Apple head on through commercials, Microsoft engaged in a viral "I'm a PC" marketing campaign that centered around customers uploading their own "I'm a PC" video responses. This type of customer interaction is at the core of what social media marketng is all about and is the cornerstone for building an effective strategy.
The more you interact with the customer, the more brand loyalty you build.
Source: http://webtrends.about.com/od/web20/a/what-is-social-media-marketing.htm
10 Great Uses For Twitter
There are many great business uses for Twitter, like sending out news briefs or advertising the latest job opening, but believe it or not, there are even more personal uses for Twitter.
Here are a few popular ways to use Twitter:
1. Microblogging
This one is obvious, but in the rush to put Twitter to other uses, many people forget its first use as a micro-blogging platform. And it is still one of the best uses. It's easy to make a quick tweet telling the world what you are doing, how good your morning coffee tastes or how bad your lunch went.
And it is a great way for friends and family -- even those halfway across the world -- to keep connected to your daily life.
2. Quick answers
The idea of crowdsourcing has never been so quick! You can ask all sorts of questions to the Twitter universe, from what is the capital of Alaska to what people think of a particular brand of baby food. And the more friends you have, the more detailed answers you will receive.
There are even web services set up to take advantage of this feature, so if you don't have many followers, don't worry. Mahalo will help get your question answered quickly. Simply send your question to @answers.
3. Finding a job
Whether you just got laid off or you are sick of your current job, Twitter can help you get a new job. Not only can you announce to the world that you are looking for employment, but many companies post their job openings on Twitter.
Here is a guide to help you get started finding a job on Twitter.
4. Keeping up with the news
From newspapers to magazines to TV stations and cable news, it seems everyone is adopting Twitter as the coolest thing since sliced bread. The coolest part is that it makes Twitter a great way to keep track of news.
Want to keep up with the news, but don't wan to clutter up Twitter? You can use a Twitter client like TweetDeck. And the neat thing about TweetDeck is that it is available for the iPhone too.
5. Arrange a lunch with friends
Twitter can be very useful for arranging a time and place to get together. It's like a conference call with text messaging. So, if you have a regular lunch date with a group of people, or just want to arrange a get together, Twitter can be a great way to nail down a time and place that works for everyone.
Like following the news, it can be handy to have your friends in their own group if you have a lot of followers.
6. Helpful outbursts, or in other words, screaming your rage
We've all had one of those days, whether it was someone pulling in front of us in traffic, or getting served the wrong type of coffee, it is sometimes these little things that can put us in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
The sagely advice is to let it out, but to who? It's not like most places of employment have a handy punching bag, and it's probably not smart to vent to your boss. That's where Twitter can be really helpful because it lets you rage to millions of people. And you might just get some sympathy tweets out of it too.
Just remember to watch the language.
7. Keep up with your favorite team
Twitter's search feature can be a great way to track trends or keep up with a particular subject. And if you are a fan of sports, it can be a great way to really connect with the team. Not only are many sports players on Twitter, but you have the media and millions of fans to keep you updated on the latest and greatest.
Can't get to a TV when your favorite team is on? Just follow the tweets on Twitter. Not only will you get regular score updates, but you'll get some fun color commentary to go along with it.
8. Find out what people really think about the latest movie
Similar to keeping up with your favorite team, you can also use the search feature to check out what the buzz is on the latest release at the theaters. Sure, you could check what the critics have to say, but their opinion isn't always in line with what people actually think of the film.
Twitter can be a great way to find out if the movie is a bomb or a bust, so you don't have to waste your money on a real dud.
9. Becoming involved with politics
Barack Obama laid down the blueprint, and politicians are increasingly turning to social media sites like Twitter. Not only is this providing a great way for politicians to get the word out, but it is allowing them to stay connected to their constituents. What better way to tell your senator what you think about a key vote than to send him or her a tweet?
But politics on Twitter goes far beyond just following politicians. The Iran election crisisshowed what a political force Twitter could be as it not only allowed Iranian citizens to break through the walls Iran hoped to keep up around the events, but also let people from around the world show their support by turning their profile pictures green.
10. Fun and Games
One of the most recent activities that is becoming popular on Twitter is the use of third-party games to interact with Twitter accounts. For example, Spymaster allows you to create your own spy ring using your followers as spies. You generate money for your spy ring by completing tasks either solo or in real-time with other spymasters.
Source: http://webtrends.about.com/od/twitter/a/why_twitter_uses_for_twitter.htm
Here are a few popular ways to use Twitter:
1. Microblogging
This one is obvious, but in the rush to put Twitter to other uses, many people forget its first use as a micro-blogging platform. And it is still one of the best uses. It's easy to make a quick tweet telling the world what you are doing, how good your morning coffee tastes or how bad your lunch went.
And it is a great way for friends and family -- even those halfway across the world -- to keep connected to your daily life.
2. Quick answers
The idea of crowdsourcing has never been so quick! You can ask all sorts of questions to the Twitter universe, from what is the capital of Alaska to what people think of a particular brand of baby food. And the more friends you have, the more detailed answers you will receive.
There are even web services set up to take advantage of this feature, so if you don't have many followers, don't worry. Mahalo will help get your question answered quickly. Simply send your question to @answers.
3. Finding a job
Whether you just got laid off or you are sick of your current job, Twitter can help you get a new job. Not only can you announce to the world that you are looking for employment, but many companies post their job openings on Twitter.
Here is a guide to help you get started finding a job on Twitter.
4. Keeping up with the news
From newspapers to magazines to TV stations and cable news, it seems everyone is adopting Twitter as the coolest thing since sliced bread. The coolest part is that it makes Twitter a great way to keep track of news.
Want to keep up with the news, but don't wan to clutter up Twitter? You can use a Twitter client like TweetDeck. And the neat thing about TweetDeck is that it is available for the iPhone too.
5. Arrange a lunch with friends
Twitter can be very useful for arranging a time and place to get together. It's like a conference call with text messaging. So, if you have a regular lunch date with a group of people, or just want to arrange a get together, Twitter can be a great way to nail down a time and place that works for everyone.
Like following the news, it can be handy to have your friends in their own group if you have a lot of followers.
6. Helpful outbursts, or in other words, screaming your rage
We've all had one of those days, whether it was someone pulling in front of us in traffic, or getting served the wrong type of coffee, it is sometimes these little things that can put us in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
The sagely advice is to let it out, but to who? It's not like most places of employment have a handy punching bag, and it's probably not smart to vent to your boss. That's where Twitter can be really helpful because it lets you rage to millions of people. And you might just get some sympathy tweets out of it too.
Just remember to watch the language.
7. Keep up with your favorite team
Twitter's search feature can be a great way to track trends or keep up with a particular subject. And if you are a fan of sports, it can be a great way to really connect with the team. Not only are many sports players on Twitter, but you have the media and millions of fans to keep you updated on the latest and greatest.
Can't get to a TV when your favorite team is on? Just follow the tweets on Twitter. Not only will you get regular score updates, but you'll get some fun color commentary to go along with it.
8. Find out what people really think about the latest movie
Similar to keeping up with your favorite team, you can also use the search feature to check out what the buzz is on the latest release at the theaters. Sure, you could check what the critics have to say, but their opinion isn't always in line with what people actually think of the film.
Twitter can be a great way to find out if the movie is a bomb or a bust, so you don't have to waste your money on a real dud.
9. Becoming involved with politics
Barack Obama laid down the blueprint, and politicians are increasingly turning to social media sites like Twitter. Not only is this providing a great way for politicians to get the word out, but it is allowing them to stay connected to their constituents. What better way to tell your senator what you think about a key vote than to send him or her a tweet?
But politics on Twitter goes far beyond just following politicians. The Iran election crisisshowed what a political force Twitter could be as it not only allowed Iranian citizens to break through the walls Iran hoped to keep up around the events, but also let people from around the world show their support by turning their profile pictures green.
10. Fun and Games
One of the most recent activities that is becoming popular on Twitter is the use of third-party games to interact with Twitter accounts. For example, Spymaster allows you to create your own spy ring using your followers as spies. You generate money for your spy ring by completing tasks either solo or in real-time with other spymasters.
Source: http://webtrends.about.com/od/twitter/a/why_twitter_uses_for_twitter.htm
Top Social Networking Sites
Last year, Facebook surged past MySpace to become the most popular social network. Flixster also gained ground, overtaking Classmates, and LinkedIn rose in popularity as more people focused on their jobs. And while Twitter is as much of a social messaging platform as a social network, it has definitely led an invasion into the top social networks over the past two years.
The top social networking websites is divided into three categories: General purpose, special interest social networks with a specific theme, and international sites.
A Guide to Social Networks
Top Social Networking Sites - General Interest
* Facebook: Founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook was designed as a social networking site for Harvard students. After spreading from Harvard through the university ranks and down into high school, Facebook was opened to the public in 2006.
* MySpace: Started in 2003, MySpace was a driving force in popularizing social networking and still maintains a large userbase. A highly customizable social network, MySpace continues to reposition itself in the industry. Create a Flashy MySpace Profile
* Twitter: What started out as a microblogging website has quickly grown into a social messaging platform and one of the top social networks in the world. Twitter is phenomenon that transcends social networking to provide an outlet for news, trends, buzz, and chat among many other uses. 10 Great Uses for Twitter
* Ning: A social network for creating social networks, Ning takes the idea of groups to a whole new level. The ability to create your own community makes Ning a great home away from home for organizations and groups looking to fill the social void.
Top Social Networking Sites - Special Interest
* Flixster: With a tagline of "stop watching bad movies," Flixster combines social networking with movie reviews.
* Last.fm: Billing itself as a social music site, Last.fm allows members to create their own radio station that learns what the person likes and suggests new music based on those interests. In addition to this, you can listen to the radio stations of friends and other Last.fm members.
* LinkedIn: A business-oriented social network, members invite people to be "connections" instead of "friends." Linkedin is a contact management system as well as a social network, and has a question-and-answer section similar to Yahoo! Answers.
* Xanga: A social blogging site that combines social networking elements with blogging. Members earn credits for participating in the site and can spend credits on various things such as buying mini-pictures to post in the comments of a friend's blog.
Top Social Networking Sites - International Sites
* Badoo: Based in London, Badoo is one of the top social networking sites in Europe.
* Migente: A social networking site targeted at Latin America.
* Orkut: Originally created by Google to compete with MySpace and Facebook, it has mainly caught hold in Brazil.
* Studivz: A German version of Facebook with a strong audience in students.
Source: http://webtrends.about.com/od/socialnetworking/a/social_network.htm
How To Follow People on Twitter
1. Go to the Twitter website and sign in. If you don't already have an account, read up on how to join Twitter.
2. If you already have the web address of the person you want to follow, navigate to it and click on the Follow button under their name.
3. If you don't already have the address, click on the Find People link at the top of the page.
4. You can find people by typing in their username or their real name and searching for them. Once you have located them in the list, simply click on the follow button.
5. If you have Yahoo mail, Gmail, Hotmail, AOL mail or MSN mail, you can have Twitter search through your email address book to find people you know. Just click on the "Find on other networks" tab, choose the service you use for email, and type in your credentials.
6. If you are on someone's page and you want to follow them, simply click on the Follow button below their name.
7. Following people that are following you is also very easy. On the right side of the page, Twitter gives your follow stats. Just click on the "followers" link in the middle column. This will list everyone that is following you. To follow them back, just click on the 'Follow' button.
Source: http://webtrends.about.com/od/howtoguides/ht/how-to-follow-people-on-Twitter.htm
Social Networking
Social Networking has become very popular during the past few years, but it can still be very difficult to understand for someone new to social networking. The open-ended nature of social networks add to this. Once signed onto a social network, having answered a few basic profile questions, it is easy to sit back and wonder what you are supposed to do next.The easiest way to understand social networking is to think of it like high school. You had friends in school, and you knew quite a few people even if you weren't friends with all of them, but it's likely that you didn't know everyone.
If you ever moved to a new school -- or if you can imagine moving to a new school -- you start out with no friends. After attending classes, you start meeting people, and as you meet them, you begin associating with those that have similar interests.
Getting started with social networking is much the same as starting at a new school. At first, you don't have any friends. But as you join groups, you begin to meet people, and you build a friends list of those with similar interests.
Social Networking Architecture
Social networking is based on a certain structure that allow people to both express their individuality and meet people with similar interests. This structure includes having profiles, friends, blog posts, widgets, and usually something unique to that particular social networking website -- such as the ability to 'poke' people on Facebook or high-five someone on Hi5.
Profile. This is where you tell the world about yourself. Profiles contain basic information, like where you live and how old you are, and personality questions, like who's your favorite actor and what's your favorite book. Social networks dedicated to a special theme like music or movies might ask questions related to that theme.
Friends. Friends are trusted members of the site that are allowed to post comments on your profile or send you private messages. You can also keep tabs on how your friends are using social networking, such as when they post a new picture or update their profile. Friends are the heart and soul of social networking. It should be noted that not all social networks refer to them as 'friends' -- LinkedIn refers to them as 'connections -- but all social networks have a way to designate members as trusted.
Groups. Most social networks use groups to help you find people with similar interests or engage in discussions on certain topics. A group can be anything from "Johnson High Class of '98" to "People Who Like Books" to "Doors Fans". They are both a way to connect with like-minded people and a way to identify your interests. Sometimes, groups are called by other names, such as the 'networks' on Facebook.
Discussions. A primary focus of groups is to create interaction between users in the form of discussions. Most social networking websites support discussion boards for the groups, and many also allow members of the group to post pictures, music, video clips, and other tidbits related to the group.
Blogs. Another feature of some social networks is the ability to create your own blog entries. While not as feature-rich as blog hosts like Wordpress or Blogger, blogging through a social network is perfect for keeping people informed on what you are up to.
Widgets. A popular way of letting your personality shine through is by gracing your social networking profile with web widgets. Many social networks allow a variety of widgets, and you can usually find interesting widgets located on widget galleries.
Why Start Social Networking?
Social Networking is a nice form of entertainment, great for meeting people with similar interests, and can be a very effective business technique for entrepreneurs, writers, actors, musicians or artists.
Most of us have hobbies, or things that we are keenly interested in such as books, television, video games or movies. Social networks allow us to reach out to others that have the same interests.
For example, if you like movies, Flixster can help you decide if you might like a new movie just out at the theaters. If you like music, Last.FM can help you find new artists that are similar to your favorite bands.
Source: http://webtrends.about.com/od/socialnetworking/a/social-network.htm
Top Software Companies
IT, in terms of production and exports, is still the fastest growing segment in India. Due to easy availability of highly skilled professionals, India has been one of the major hubs of software developments across the world. The total software exports from the country reached US$ 47 billion in FY2009. There are a number of top IT companies running their operations in India. Many of those are from the country, while the others are multinational companies having their operations in various countries across the world. Following are some of the top IT companies in India:
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Wipro Limited
Infosys Technologies Ltd.
HCL Technologies
Tech Mahindra
Patni Computer Systems
i-flex Solutions
MphasiS
L&T Infotech
IBM India
Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS)
Source: http://business.mapsofindia.com/india-company/top-companies.html
Lucy, remember.. the smell of that fall.
I've been home for a week now and I'm bored out of my mind. And to make things worse - the weather outside is just perfect for photoshoots. Oh yay.. and I bet it's gonna start raining the minute I get better and can go outside. But here are some photos I took today. As you can see I've discovered the art of layering. So I'm just layering everything I can get my tiny hands on - nailpolishes, tights, jewellery etc. I think it's so much fun, and it can help you save you a lot of money - because now one plus one equals three! booyah :) Enjoy!
(I used CanonEOS 400D, 50mm lens and Canon controller RC1 for the pictures)
Patrick Wolf - Bluebells
And your prejudice won't keep you warm tonight.
Just a quick outfit post for you guys. These photos were taken a few days back, before I got sick, unfortunately I haven't had the energy to post them until now. But better late than never, right? So I'm wearing my new favorite cardigan - it's big, warm and super comfortable, leather jacket and my selfmade lace skirt (I'm sewing a new one so hopefully it will be available at my store later this week). Anyways I hope you guys are well and you've gotten used to the cold, i'm just gonna make myself another cup peppermint tea, go to bed and watch top design. Enjoy the photos and be sure to tell me what you think. Stay warm! :)
(For the pictures I used CanonEOS 400D and 50mm lens)
This is pretty much all I've been eating these past few days. Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.
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