I try to stay above the fray of local politics, but I do take my vote seriously. My travel schedule makes it difficult to meet the candidates or attend debates, so I read all I can about the candidates positions. The web has made my research much easier, but has also raised some real questions about candidates.
I’m not alone in turning to the Internet to learn more about candidates. In 2005 the USC Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future reported that over 60% felt that a website is important to a political campaign. But as I’ve said over and over again, a bad website tells your audience as much about you as a good one.
While I don’t want to expose a particular candidate, I do want to highlight how important it is that campaigns take the web seriously.
Today is less than 10 days before we enter the voting booth and some candidates have websites that are an embarrassment. Here is what I found when I went to the Issues page for this major statewide candidate:
While I realize that all candidates are pro-education and anti-crime, I try to read into the candidate’s stance on issues that are important to me as a businessman and resident. When I see embarrassments like the one above, it makes my decisions much easier.
The web is the candidates’ best chance at explaining his or her positions in detail, not a sound bite or 30 second commercial. Candidates, just like businesses, need to respect the web as a marketing tool and not simply a ‘checkbox’
I’m not alone in turning to the Internet to learn more about candidates. In 2005 the USC Annenberg School Center for the Digital Future reported that over 60% felt that a website is important to a political campaign. But as I’ve said over and over again, a bad website tells your audience as much about you as a good one.
While I don’t want to expose a particular candidate, I do want to highlight how important it is that campaigns take the web seriously.
Today is less than 10 days before we enter the voting booth and some candidates have websites that are an embarrassment. Here is what I found when I went to the Issues page for this major statewide candidate:
While I realize that all candidates are pro-education and anti-crime, I try to read into the candidate’s stance on issues that are important to me as a businessman and resident. When I see embarrassments like the one above, it makes my decisions much easier.
The web is the candidates’ best chance at explaining his or her positions in detail, not a sound bite or 30 second commercial. Candidates, just like businesses, need to respect the web as a marketing tool and not simply a ‘checkbox’
10/24/06: New Blog Dedicated to Delaware IP Law
Delaware has a long history of being the desirable place for incorporating a business. Companies from Disney to The Archer Group choose to incorporate in Delaware with its long history of consistent and fair rulings in business matters.
As more assets move from physical to intellectual, companies have had to pay closer attention to Delaware’s Court rulings related to Intellectual Property, or IP. While business leaders should understand Delaware IP Law, leaders should expect their attorneys to master it. This is where a new Blog comes in.
DelawareIPLaw.com is a new legal blog run by lawyers at Young Conaway, Stargatt and Taylor, LLP. Created by The Archer Group, the Young Conaway attorneys have been doing a great job capturing the breaking news as it relates to Delaware IP Law.
Even a non-legal eagle like myself found the site interesting. While waiting here at the airport in Toronto, I read on DelawareIPLaw.com that posting files to your public FTP site is considered publishing the content to the public. Thanks YCST for the heads up. Keep up the good work!
As more assets move from physical to intellectual, companies have had to pay closer attention to Delaware’s Court rulings related to Intellectual Property, or IP. While business leaders should understand Delaware IP Law, leaders should expect their attorneys to master it. This is where a new Blog comes in.
DelawareIPLaw.com is a new legal blog run by lawyers at Young Conaway, Stargatt and Taylor, LLP. Created by The Archer Group, the Young Conaway attorneys have been doing a great job capturing the breaking news as it relates to Delaware IP Law.
Even a non-legal eagle like myself found the site interesting. While waiting here at the airport in Toronto, I read on DelawareIPLaw.com that posting files to your public FTP site is considered publishing the content to the public. Thanks YCST for the heads up. Keep up the good work!
10/23/06: Anyone want to buy me a beer?
I was in Toronto for the International Festival of Authors, which I always greatly enjoy. Tremendous author and dear friend Margaret Atwood always invites me to attend.
After dinner a group of us were walking back to the hotel and saw this enormous structure. Right there on the corner of Bloor & Avenue was this big Rube-Goldberg type machine, protecting a Stella Artois.
We were very intrigued by the device, as were many others judging by the crowd that formed. We were all getting our picture taken in front of it and trying ot figure out a way to get in.
Literature at the base of the trap pointed us to a great online game called Le Defi. In this game you can challenge others to solve parts of the device which protects the Stella, with the loser agreeing to buy the winner a Stella at a local pub.
What a great connection between the offline and online worlds of advertising. The physical statue was impressive, but alone wouldn’t have allowed me to really spend time with the brand. The online component is fabulous, but I likely wouldn’t have visited the site until I witnessed this in person.
I sent pictures of this statue to many friends, with the web address of Le Defi. In return I received many challenges from them to solve the puzzles. Based upon my limited success with the puzzle, I have a lot of beer to buy when I visit my friends!
We were very intrigued by the device, as were many others judging by the crowd that formed. We were all getting our picture taken in front of it and trying ot figure out a way to get in.
Literature at the base of the trap pointed us to a great online game called Le Defi. In this game you can challenge others to solve parts of the device which protects the Stella, with the loser agreeing to buy the winner a Stella at a local pub.
What a great connection between the offline and online worlds of advertising. The physical statue was impressive, but alone wouldn’t have allowed me to really spend time with the brand. The online component is fabulous, but I likely wouldn’t have visited the site until I witnessed this in person.
I sent pictures of this statue to many friends, with the web address of Le Defi. In return I received many challenges from them to solve the puzzles. Based upon my limited success with the puzzle, I have a lot of beer to buy when I visit my friends!
One of the interesting aspects of my travels are when people hear that I am from Delaware. Nationals and Internationals alike say ‘Delawhere?’ That’s fine with me. I have a well worn speech on the finer points of Delaware as a fabulous place to work and live that takes almost exactly one bottle of wine.
Despite the fact that I am away from the office traveling so much that the team has a cardboard cutout of me in the office (I have yet to see it) I am still a very proud Delawarean. Our latest site launch, VisitDelaware.com gives me a double dose of pride, for the company and the State.
www.VisitDelaware.com is the official website of the Delaware Tourism Office and offers a total upgrade of the site. The Archer Group and the State Tourism office started with a clean sheet, conducting extensive focus group tests and benchmarking against other tourism websites. The new site combines the latest technologies with stunning creatve to create a powerful marketing vehicle for the State.
While I am in love with all of it, two aspects of the site impress me the most. The first is the interactive trip planner, which allows you to add attractions to your personal trip (or start with some that the State thinks you will love) and print or share it with a friend. The second item is one that most wont see, the administration interface. The entire site, from the event database, to the images on the pages, is manageable by the Tourism office without any special software or programming knowledge. It fits perfectly with our company’s approach to creating sustainable solutions that deliver for the client long after the initial launch.
Kudos to a great job by everyone at the State and The Archer Group.
Explore Delaware while you explore the site. I hope you enjoy them both!
www.VisitDelaware.com is the official website of the Delaware Tourism Office and offers a total upgrade of the site. The Archer Group and the State Tourism office started with a clean sheet, conducting extensive focus group tests and benchmarking against other tourism websites. The new site combines the latest technologies with stunning creatve to create a powerful marketing vehicle for the State.
While I am in love with all of it, two aspects of the site impress me the most. The first is the interactive trip planner, which allows you to add attractions to your personal trip (or start with some that the State thinks you will love) and print or share it with a friend. The second item is one that most wont see, the administration interface. The entire site, from the event database, to the images on the pages, is manageable by the Tourism office without any special software or programming knowledge. It fits perfectly with our company’s approach to creating sustainable solutions that deliver for the client long after the initial launch.
Kudos to a great job by everyone at the State and The Archer Group.
Explore Delaware while you explore the site. I hope you enjoy them both!
10/18/06: Taxi rides – family style
I had the pleasure of being asked to visit Moscow again. This time it was to attend President Vladimir Putin’s speech about his country’s efforts to set up national research centers to drive technology development. My friend, who works closely with the Russian Council on Science, Technology and Education, asked me to join her for the speech and some good Russian Vodka.
I took a taxi from the airport out to Zelenograd, just outside of Moscow, where the meeting was. All along the way, I couldn’t figure out why everyone was taking my picture when we stopped at lights. After I got out, I quickly discovered why and proceeded to retrieve my cell phone as well.
It turns out that HBO was promoting the latest season of The Sopranos in Russia. HBO had put Sopranos Bumper stickers on taxis all over town. Next to the bumper sticker was the arm of someone who looked like they were going to ‘Sleep with the fishes!’
Bravo to Tony and the gang! I can't wait to fire up my Slingbox for this year's season in the States.
I took a taxi from the airport out to Zelenograd, just outside of Moscow, where the meeting was. All along the way, I couldn’t figure out why everyone was taking my picture when we stopped at lights. After I got out, I quickly discovered why and proceeded to retrieve my cell phone as well.
It turns out that HBO was promoting the latest season of The Sopranos in Russia. HBO had put Sopranos Bumper stickers on taxis all over town. Next to the bumper sticker was the arm of someone who looked like they were going to ‘Sleep with the fishes!’
Bravo to Tony and the gang! I can't wait to fire up my Slingbox for this year's season in the States.
10/07/06: New meaning to travel wear
It was such a nice day in NYC last week that I told the driver to meet me in SoHo and decided to walk there from Times Square. I was enjoying the sites when shirt caught my eye. It wasn’t so much the shirt, but instead the bus that the shirt was on. The bus looked like it ran through a Laundromat, covered from stem to stern with clothing. Definitely an eye catcher.
Closer inspection revealed the reason for this traveling wardrobe. It was an outdoor ad for All Laundry Detergent. How clever!
Closer inspection revealed the reason for this traveling wardrobe. It was an outdoor ad for All Laundry Detergent. How clever!
Sometimes while I fly, I like to put on the noise canceling headphones and catch up on my listening. My ipod is loaded with podcasts that keep me up to date on the latest happenings in my areas of interest. Every time I synch up my iPod, any new podcasts are automatically added to my pod, much like my tivo records my favorite cooking shows.
A few of my favorite podcasts are:
- HBR’s IdeaCast
- NPR: Most EmAiled stories of the Day
- The Accidental Creative
- Mad Money with Jim Cramer (Jim and I used to sell Ice Cream at the Vet in Philly)
One new one is an internal podcast on corporate vision from IBM that the folks at IBM graciously let me listen to despite not being an IBM’er. I had the distinct pleasure of spending the day in IBM’s Hursley Lab near Winchester, England. I strongly recommend anyone who can take a tour to do so, followed by diner at the nearby Whitestar Tavern!
At IBM, they have encouraged their business leaders to create internal podcasts (or privatecasts) for their employees. These podcasts provide narratives from the executives on a wide range of topics, from new technologies, to leadership vision and more, all in the voice and tone of leaders. Employees can subscribe to relevant podcasts and listen to these messages while at work or on the treadmill.
While I can’t reveal much from my trip to Hursley, my gracious hosts allowed me to share the following guidelines for podcasting that was given to its employees. I think this will be helpful for any organization considering creating its own podcasts.
IBM Corporate Podcasting Guidelines:
Do not podcast IBM Confidential material.
Be mindful not only of what you say, but how you say it. Sometimes the way you say something -- the tone of your voice, such as a hint of sarcasm -- can be as revealing as what you say.
Protect your privacy and the privacy of others. Make sure you don't record any person without his or her consent and awareness.
Set the bar as high as you can for audio production and content quality. External podcasts that present topics or points of view relevant to IBM's business or broader corporate interests inevitably reflect on the company's brand.
There may be some invitations to participate in non-IBM podcasts that warrant IBM Communications' involvement. You should treat these the same way you would treat an interview request from a reporter. If you're in doubt, be sure to talk to your local Communications people to discuss the opportunity before agreeing to participate.
Identify your podcast as the voice of an individual or small group within the company, not the "official" voice of the company.
Before creating a podcast, listen to some. Experience what podcasting is like from the audience's perspective. Go out and listen to some podcasts. What do you think works well? What do you dislike? What is it that you have to say -- and is this the right medium in which to say it?
A few of my favorite podcasts are:
- HBR’s IdeaCast
- NPR: Most EmAiled stories of the Day
- The Accidental Creative
- Mad Money with Jim Cramer (Jim and I used to sell Ice Cream at the Vet in Philly)
At IBM, they have encouraged their business leaders to create internal podcasts (or privatecasts) for their employees. These podcasts provide narratives from the executives on a wide range of topics, from new technologies, to leadership vision and more, all in the voice and tone of leaders. Employees can subscribe to relevant podcasts and listen to these messages while at work or on the treadmill.
While I can’t reveal much from my trip to Hursley, my gracious hosts allowed me to share the following guidelines for podcasting that was given to its employees. I think this will be helpful for any organization considering creating its own podcasts.
IBM Corporate Podcasting Guidelines:
Do not podcast IBM Confidential material.
Be mindful not only of what you say, but how you say it. Sometimes the way you say something -- the tone of your voice, such as a hint of sarcasm -- can be as revealing as what you say.
Protect your privacy and the privacy of others. Make sure you don't record any person without his or her consent and awareness.
Set the bar as high as you can for audio production and content quality. External podcasts that present topics or points of view relevant to IBM's business or broader corporate interests inevitably reflect on the company's brand.
There may be some invitations to participate in non-IBM podcasts that warrant IBM Communications' involvement. You should treat these the same way you would treat an interview request from a reporter. If you're in doubt, be sure to talk to your local Communications people to discuss the opportunity before agreeing to participate.
Identify your podcast as the voice of an individual or small group within the company, not the "official" voice of the company.
Before creating a podcast, listen to some. Experience what podcasting is like from the audience's perspective. Go out and listen to some podcasts. What do you think works well? What do you dislike? What is it that you have to say -- and is this the right medium in which to say it?
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