2 The Next Level

Posts Tagged ‘Google’

First of all, I want to congratulate the Who DAT Nation for winning their first Super Bowl. With that said I have to give my review of some of the Super Bowl Ads.  Ok if you didn’t know it I am a man and I have to say some of the ads were quite sexist to say the least. I won’t harp on how tired the Godaddy ads have been getting but from what the business model say they have been effective.  The the two ads I am going to focus on are both sexy and sweet. These two ads made the most impression on me because they were done with both the audience in mind as well as the audience at large.

The Audience in the Mind of a Male

The first ad was the Motorola MOTO Blur Ad featuring Megan Fox.  Ok now for the disclaimer.. I own a Motorola MOTO Blur phone but I am not being paid for this review…  This ad used the popularity of Megan Fox’s sexuality to bring a point home on what would happen if she were to send out a picture of herself taking a simple bubble bath.  If you have not seen the ad please take a look below and then read on.

This ad uses humor and the power of a man’s imagination run wild. I watched this ad with my wife and we both laughed and agreed that it was very effective. Now here comes the tech part. At the same time of this ad’s airing, I got a text from, who esle Motorola on why I should go to their website to watch the rest of the commercial. I then went to http://www.motorola.com/super-bowl and saw the rest of the ad and I laughed even harder.  This ad was built for the audience in mind which for the most part was primarily male. If Motorola was smart they would be quick to hire Megan Fox to be the MOTO Blur spokes person and do a series of ads that play off this same idea.

The Audience at Large brings Love

Google did an excellent job of not only promoting their search engine but it told a story of how to use Google search to find love. Please view the video below if you have not seen the commercial and then read on.

This ad helped us learn how to use Google search while in Paris. In this case the user wanted to impress a girl who thought the user was cute.  This ad clearly connected to both male and especially female viewers or the audience at large.  I thought this ad was very effective in not only telling but showing  us why we should use Google as our main search tool.  Google has a series of videos called Google Search Stories. Parisian Love was shown on Youtube over 2 months ago and  just repacked by Google just in time for the Super Bowl.  It is now the most viewed of the series at just over 2 million views.

And the Winner Is….

Even though I am a big Motorola fan, I am going to have to go with Google on this one.  Goolge’s ad was more appealing to a much larger audience.  It not only told the story,  it showed you how to use their service and even better why you should use their service.  It was one of the most low budget yet highly effective ways to produce a Super Bowl ad.  All Google needed was a screen capture software, some music and a few sound effects. Motorola on the other hand had to pay for the services of all the actors plus pay Megan Fox. Google can clearly reuse this ad over and over again like it did for the Super Bowl and it will still have just about the same effectiveness.

Although I picked Google over Motorola, I am a MAN and have to say that I look forward to the next series of MOTO Blur ads featuring Megan Fox.. There I said it.. I will now sit my sexist self down…;-)

No offense to the Colts and the Saints but I clearly had more fun watching the Super Bowl Ads this year.

What was your favorite ad?

All the best

JB

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It has been 4 long years since I had the ability to call my cell phone anything but smart. Today I was fortunate enough to be given a brand new smart phone. Why does it seem such a surprise it has taken me this long to finally get with the program and get one of these remarkable devices.  Well, without going into detail I guess I was waiting for just the right one to come along and give me everything I ever wanted in a smart phone.  Believe me it was a long and drawn out quest to find this phone.

I like most of you toyed with the idea of going First Fruit Phone but I have been a PC man for so long I just new there was something out there for folks like myself.  Then came HTC and the Android operating system by Google and I was hooked. HTC came out with so many great looking phones to rival the First Fruit of Phones and the Android operating made me take notice even more. The HTC G1 was a  huge draw to me and I was 2 minutes from jumping into the deep end of the smart water pool when that first G-phone just looked so darn bulky and down right ugly compared to Mom’s Pie Phone.

It finally took an oldie but goodie cell phone manufacture to get me back. Motorola, king of the cell  phones back in the 80’s. Did you know that In 1969, Neil Armstrong spoke the famous words “one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind” from the Moon on a Motorola Radio? And who could forget the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, AKA the “Brick Phone”.

Well Motorola is back with a vengeance and it has taken their new Android powered phone the CLIQ with MotoBlur to bring me back into the smart phone fold for good. Please see my blog post “Social Media Meets Motorola MOTOBLUR” for additional information on this spectacular smart phone.

This Christmas Santa brought me a smart phone that can connect me to my social media network without missing a beat. I watched my first Youtube video, downloaded my first smart phone application, updated my status on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin all while I chatted via Google Talk with two of my best friends.

Motorola I solute you for bringing me back to life when it comes to mobile technology.

All the best and Happy Holidays

JB

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Who has the ultimate Operating System? Windows 7 is making a lot of noise right now. Mac OS X (Snow Leopard) is on the rise.  But what about Google’s Chrome OS where does it sit in this hierarchy of operating systems.  Well if you are looking for a fast booting completely web based application, that needs no explanation to operate because if you know how to use a browser you will know how to use Chrome OS.  If you biggest question is “How fast can I get on the Internet?” then this OS is for you. Especially if you are thinking of purchasing a new Netbook like I am one day.  See the Gadget Lab blog post to find out more  Five Things Google’s Chrome OS Will Do for Your Netbook.

Cost, Speed, Compatibility, Portability and New Applications are the main reasons you would choose Chrome OS over Windows 7 or Mac OS X for  your Netbook. The only drawback to this operating system is that if you are not connected to the Internet you will have problems. This OS is almost entirely dependent on the the Internet so if you have to store anything locally or you have to work offline 95 percent of the time, I would not suggest getting or installing Chrome OS.

So if you want go from 0 to Internet in less than 10 seconds, I totally recommend Google’s Chrome OS. I look forward to purchasing my first Netbook with Chrome OS already installed.

Here is a link to one of the first demos of Chrome OS

Here is a link to Tech Crunch where you read how to download and install Chrome OS

All the best

JB

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Google is not just about search and email. Google has many online tools that can help your Small Business or Solopreneurship get 2 The Next LEVEL of Success. I have listed the 10 Google tools I use the most.

1. GrandCentral
2. Google Analytics
3. Google Adsense
4. Google Docs
5. Google Reader
6. Google Bookmarks
7. Google Notebook
8. Google Alerts
9. Google Checkout
10. Google Apps

1. GrandCentral: I have written about GrandCentral before in my blog post Solopreneurs Stay In Touch With One Number From GrandCentral With GrandCentral, you can be reached with a single number, answer a call at any phone you want, seamlessly switch phones in the middle of a call, and even know whether a call is important before you take it.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

2. Google Analytics: Use Google Analytics to learn which online marketing initiatives are cost effective and see how visitors actually interact with your site. Make informed site design improvements, drive targeted traffic, and increase your conversions and profits.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

3. Google Adsense: Earn money from relevant ads on your website Google AdSense matches ads to your site’s content, and you earn money whenever your visitors click on them. AdSense for content automatically crawls the content of your pages and delivers ads (you can choose both text or image ads) that are relevant to your audience and your site content—ads so well-matched, in fact, that your readers will actually find them useful.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: YES
Can it save you time: Yes

4. Google Docs: Create and share your work online. Upload from and save to your desktop. Edit anytime, from anywhere. Pick who can access your documents. Share changes in real time. Files are stored securely online. It’s FREE!

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

5. Google Reader: With Google Reader, keeping up with your favorite websites is as easy as checking your email. Stay up to date Google Reader constantly checks your favorite news sites and blogs for new content. Share with your friends Use Google Reader’s built-in public page to easily share interesting items with your friends and family. Use it anywhere, for free Google Reader is totally free and works in most modern browsers, without any software to install.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

6. Google Bookmarks: With Bookmarks, you’ll be able to save time with quick links to your favorite websites. Use Web History to find the sites you visit frequently and bookmark your favorites. Use the Google Toolbar for quick access to your bookmarks and to easily create more. Get your bookmarks on any computer. No matter where you may be surfing the web, your bookmarks can stay with you just by signing in. Keep your bookmarks organized. Add searchable labels and notes to your bookmarks to find them easily and keep them organized.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: No
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: No
Can it save you time: Yes

7. Google Notebook: Google Notebook help you clip and collect information as you browse the web. Clip useful information. Add text, images and links from web pages without leaving your browser window.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

8. Google Alerts: Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. Some handy uses of Google Alerts include:

* monitoring a developing news story
* keeping current on a competitor or industry
* getting the latest on a celebrity or event
* keeping tabs on your favorite sports teams

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

9. Google Checkout: Find it with Google. Buy it with Google Checkout.

Want a faster, safer and more convenient way to shop online? You got it. Stop creating multiple accounts and passwords.

With Google Checkout^TM you can quickly and easily buy from stores across the web and track all your orders and shipping in one place. Shop with confidence.

Fraud protection policy covers you against unauthorized purchases made through Google Checkout, and we don’t share your purchase history or full credit card number with sellers. Control commercial spam.

You can keep your email address confidential, and easily turn off unwanted emails from stores where you use Google Checkout.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: YES
Can it save you time: Yes

10: Google Apps: Software-as-a-service for business email, information sharing and security

Whether your business is moving everything to the cloud, just wants an affordable email solution or struggles to give employees access to critical information, Google Apps will help you stretch resources and work smarter.

Messaging
Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Talk are powerful tools that can save your company money and time.

Collaboration
Google Docs, Google Video and Google Sites complement traditional office software to make teamwork easier. Companies or departments can use these apps on their own to be more productive.

Security for on-premise email
Email security, archiving and encryption, powered by Postini, complement Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes and other solutions. Web security is also available.

Why should Solopreneurs or Small Businesses use it:
Can it save you money: Yes
Can it make you money: Directly: No, Indirectly: Yes
Can it save you time: Yes

In future post I will go more in dept of how and why I use each of these Google Tools. For now I just want to list the ones that impress me the most.

All the best

JB

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As a solopreneur your name means everything so I thought I would test the highly regarded “Google Killer” search engine Cuil.com out on something simple like my full name. Usually when I type in my full name “Jeffrey Alexander Brathwaite” into the king of all search engines Google, I get all the articles I have written over the years along with the website address to this blog. I get the same results with Yahoo and MSN. If you do a search of my full name using Cuil you also get an assortment of my articles but with one major mistake. One of the articles that I wrote for ezinearticles.com has a picture of someone next to it and that someone is definitely not me. What’s even more strange is if you click on the article link you get my article and my picture.

So where does this so called search engine pull its data of pictures from? Clearly not the page that my article is listed under. None of the pictures on this search result were relevant to my name or articles.

To be fair I used another solopreneurs full name, my good friend and Personal Productivity Expert “Peggy Duncan” and was just as surprised to see a listing from imdb.com of a not so famous actress and then the obiturary of someone born in 1773 before it brings up a listing of one her books.

There are no pictures on Peggy Duncan’s search results. But there is a check mark on one of the listings. What does that check mark mean?

I admit if you do a search on someone more popular like Bill Gates you do get many photos of Bill but the very first listed name is of his wife Melinda Gates. I am not making this up. Please see for yourself.

So I ask you again where is this new search engine pulling its database of content from?

Please do a search on your own name and let me know what your results turn out to be with Cuil.com

All the best

JB

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