Ruling Trends of Event Management in 2012

By Jonathon Reynolds

The growing craze of taking events online for reaching out to a large number of people has brought major changes in the event management trends over the past few years. Technological advancements have taken event management a step further, leading to increased interactivity in the program. Experts believe that growing importance on technology these days has made it the core of several trends coming up in 2012. Let's take a look at the leading trends, which are expected to rule the event industry this year.

Use of Mobile "Apps" for Event Promotion

With the advancements in technology, there is expected to be an increased use of mobile applications for the promotion and marketing of the events. Now-a-days, the mobile devices, with their in-built applications, help promote audience engagement, interactivity, and networking. Using these mobile "apps", organizers can communicate with their attendees and give live updates of the meeting. Some of the leading mobile audience response and networking apps includes VisionTree, Spotme, and so on. Barcode scanning and RFID are also becoming increasingly important for customized lead generation and tracking and reporting of registration status.

Use of Hybrid Elements in Events

The cost-conscious business environment in the post-recession period has encouraged the growth of hybrid meetings in recent years. Incorporating hybrid components, such as live broadcasts, video streaming, and others not only helps organizers plan event at a reduced cost, but also allows them to conduct it from a remote location.

Events Going Green

"Going green" is no more a slogan; rather, it is highly in practice these days. According to the veterans of the event industry, this is likely to be the buzzword in 2012. Organizers now focus on incorporating green elements in their events. It includes biodiesel vehicles and biodegradable materials, locally sourced food, and reusable plants for decoration. Many event organizers are also using recyclable name badges in order to reduce on-site waste consumption. Water refill stations are also launched in order to replace bottled water.

Increased Social Media Interaction

With the increased popularity of social networking as a marketing ploy, event organizers are using the social media tools for the same. Experts believe that the use of social networking websites, such as Twitter and LinkedIn for interactive meetings will have exponential increase in 2012. The popularity of computer kiosks and Twitter boards that provide live updates of events is gradually increasing. At present, organizers are also making extensive use of Skype for providing instant assistance and "face to face" client interaction to achieve maximum attendee satisfaction.

The Last 30 Years of Graphic Design History

By Mike S Wilkins

For this article I'm going to speak from my own personal experience. I started working at a small Midwest newspaper as a graphic artist in 1980. The newspaper was still doing some printing using lead type but was transitioning to newer technology.

This newer technology involved cutting and pasting long strips of text on paper that had just gone through a waxer onto a newspaper page template. We used X-acto blades for cutting and glass rollers for pressing the text onto the paper templates.

For photographs we created halftones. These were created with a small vertical camera in a large darkroom. The photographs were imaged onto paper made up of small halftone dots. These halftone images were developed, fixed and dried. Then they too were pasted on a newspaper page template.

Sometimes we also cut and pasted line-art either from stock books or created by an artist to make the pages fancier. In 1989 I went to work for another newspaper, but this one had high tech Israeli equipment called Scitex in another department. I started out as a paste-up artist, then worked my way into the Scitex department on two different workstations that were valued at between $500,000 and $1 million apiece.

One workstation scanned high resolution photos and then we color-corrected the photos. The other workstation was a page layout station where we assembled photos, graphics and created newspaper pages that were output to film.

In that year, the Art Department had an Apple computer with Photoshop 1.0 and Illustrator 1.0 loaded on it. These were considered "non-production" tools used by the Art Department just for creating art. These desktop computers did not have the horsepower of the Scitex system for creating an entire daily newspaper and outputting film.

In 1998, I worked for one of the major companies that printed the Yellow Pages. Adobe finally came around to creating Photoshop and Illustrator that would work on a PC and not just on Apple Macintoshes. It was then that the graphic arts field really opened up.

Scanners for the PC became incredibly cheap, dropping from $500,000 to $5,000 in just a few years. Scitex workstations were replaced by Macintosh and PC workstations running Photoshop, Illustrator, Freehand and QuarkXPress.

And after Y2K came and went, the prices dropped even more. It was now affordable for anyone to become a graphic artist or web designer. Software, computers and scanners were cheap compared to the early 1990's.

But, what I've learned is that just because anyone can now be a graphic artist, not everyone should do it. It's like saying that because you learn to write a paragraph in school you qualify as a professional writer or because you can take pictures with your iPhone you are now a professional photographer.

There is still a place in the world for professional graphic artists and designers who have talent. Like any other profession, however, competition is fierce. Mastery of the tools is essential. I just can't wait to see what kinds of graphic arts tools the next 10 years will bring.

How to Display Fair Trade Products During the Holidays

By Joan S Rasch

Displaying beautiful items offers retailers an immediate and effective upgrade. And for maximum impact, no time is more important than the holidays. Many retailers are finding that wholesale fair trade products are now available in a wide array of options, and the choices continue to grow. This growth has been almost exponential; therefore the limits in availability have disappeared. This translates into the fact that displaying fairly traded, certified products such as wholesale bags during the holidays is an unsurpassed creative solution for retailers.

Using any kind of certified, fairly traded product can immediately help retailers in overall sales and customer appreciation for the store's brand, specific location, sales staff, etc. Out of so many wholesale fair trade options, wholesale bags are just one option. Using this example, an important display idea is to make sure some kind of information tells the story behind the construction of the bags, with both information about how the workers are compensated and a good-sized certified logo found prominent in some way.

Highlighting the natural dyes also makes sense. Perhaps having the display involve both hands and natural imagery (tree branches, live or dried plants, etc.) makes a world of sense. Interesting photos printed from the internet with small Indian villages, images of the artisans on pit looms, and hands weaving bags are good choices in displays. The sky is the limit, and featuring the sky might be nice. Images that reflect sustainability are also good. And a sky is a great place to add some words in big script, such as "sustainability", "handmade", or "environmentally friendly."

Another display option is to situate information in various places about the fair trade bags or whatever items you feature. Near or at the checkout is an excellent choice, and sales staff with info nearby is always a good idea. Staff appreciate having good information handy and in clear view of the display. Such choices make it easier for sales staff to do their best job selling. Moreover, sales staff can listen to each other improve their sales presentations, with management taking the lead.

Of the many options in fair traded products, wholesale fair trade merchandise in general and wholesale bags in particular offer superb display options that will immediately lift the overall appeal of your retail store. Clothing, food items, home adornment, cards, etc. are other wholesale fair trade options.

Creating wonderful display options with these sustainable and ecologically friendly products could open doors previously overlooked for your retail store.

Joan Rasch enjoys writing articles for businesses who are interested in wholesale fair tradeproducts, scarves, jewelry, wholesale bags and clothing. Fair trade products are a result of an organized social movement and market based approach that strives to assist people in developing countries improve trading conditions and promote sustainability.

Attention Women: If You Are Talking, You Are Selling!

By Susan L Kasson

As someone who has spent many years in sales and sales management roles, I know sales like the back of my hand.

And I also know that selling - particularly for women - is incredibly stressful. Meeting quotas and avoiding the "I'm only as good as my last sales numbers" trap can be a constant struggle. It's common to find many top women sales performers are quietly and secretly struggling with overwhelming stress, and desperately searching for help when it comes to achieving a work-life balance.

However, lost in all of this talk about women, sales, and stress is the fact that women outside of traditional sales roles are also engaged in sales roles - whether they realize it or not.

Take, for instance, CPA's. On the surface, women who enter accounting may believe that "it's all about the numbers." But in reality, numbers are just one part of the overall picture. The reality is that CPA's have to sell their ideas all of the time. They have to sell ideas to colleagues, to clients, and sometimes even to governments and regulatory bodies. For CPA's, selling is a daily reality.

Another good example is lawyers. On the surface, women may think that practicing the law is really about knowing the ins and outs of statues and case law and other things that comprise jurisprudence. But in reality, women lawyers are selling ALL the time. They're selling the arguments to clients, judges, juries, other lawyers, and even to their colleagues and partners.

And what about doctors? And chefs? And editors? And a host of other jobs that, on the surface, seem to be about anything but sales? Yes, you guessed it: ALL of these jobs involve sales in one manner or another.

Basically, if your job involves talking, it involves selling. Actually, even if your job doesn't involve talking because you're on a computer much of the time sending emails and other messages back and forth, you're selling, too - whether you realize it or not.

And that brings us back to where we started which was admitting that selling can and often is very stressful. Even if you don't have quotas to reach, as a women who sells you still need to use your selling skills to do your job and get desired results. And that, as mentioned, is very stressful.

So what can you do? Well, if you're like me, you can let the stress eat away at you from the inside, develop a stress-related disease, and then fight and claw your way back to better health.

Or, you can take the easier route - and the one I recommend! - which is to find a professional coach who can help you reduce your job-related stress, so that you can enjoy the professional success and personal satisfaction that you're entitled to.

In fact, knowing what I know now, there probably isn't a wiser investment you can make with your time or your money than to get the stress relief help you need now - because, as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Metallica Luncurkan Album Akhir Januari

Kamis, 05 Januari 2012 18:21 | 

Metallica

Metalicca

Metallica berencana akan merilis empat lagu mereka dalam sebuah mini album berjudul Beyond Magnetic. Jika tidak ada kendala berarti, CD tersebut sudah akan beredar akhir bulan ini.

Peluncuran Beyond Magnetic sempat molor untuk beberapa lama setelah sebelumnya terhalang beberapa kendala. Keempat lagu ini sebenarnya sudah tercipta sejak 2008 dan merupakan proyek yang tidak terselesaikan kala itu.

Beberapa bagian dari rekaman tersebut juga merupakan bagian dari 'Mission Metallica'.

Beyond Magnetic rencananya akan diliris di seluruh dunia pada 30 Januari 2012, khusus untuk Amerika Utara pada 31 Januari 2012. Dalam album EP tersebut, Metallicamenawarkan 4 tracknya yaitu Hate Train, Just A Bullet Away, Hell and Back dan Rebel of Babylon.  (kpl/nme/adb)

Dilihat sebanyak 15 kali

Being "Green" and Socially Conscious Is Not Always a Formula For Success

By Norm Bour

Every few years a new idea or concept comes along and many business people and entrepreneurs jump on it. Twenty five years ago it was VCR rental stores and many got on that bandwagon and some stayed on too late. That business model of course is no longer even possible. Whether it be a trendy business like that or everyday concepts like yogurt stores, it takes more than a "cool idea" to be a success.

What brought this all to mind was the recent meltdown of Solyndra, the Fremont, California-based manufacturer of cutting-edge solar panels technology. After getting $500M+ in federal loan guarantees that business an embarrassment of federal support and a glaring example of a company that was funded based on misrepresentation.

Granted they are a severe example of how the trendy Green Movement is not always profitable, but it raises the question of whether being Green is a sure fire money maker. The reality is that the price of many green components, including photovoltaic cells is dropping and within the not too distant future that industry may be self sufficient without government insolvent. There certainly ARE many great opportunities to excel and profit in this arena, but be sure you go in with eyes open and a solid idea of what it takes to create a profitable business.

So-- reality check. We all want to be green and support our planet. We all want to "give back" and be responsible Earth citizens. The term "Social Enterprise" is another band wagon that many want to ride, but what does it mean? And does it help your bottom line?

Is a business that encourages their employers to get involved with charitable causes a Social Enterprise? If a business gives generously to certain causes, does that make them a Social Enterprise? Generally the answer to both is no. To be defined as one the company must be focused on social causes intentionally, and not as a by-product. I see many companies calling themselves Social Enterprises as a marketing ploy and that is a misuse of that name.

So for budding entrepreneurs that want to be ahead of the curb, be sure your Green venture makes business sense by itself and for members of the public looking to support Social Causes be sure to verify that the company is not misrepresenting itself for their own gain. You must be 100% transparent in your true efforst to make a difference and make the world a better place.

How to Neutralize Negative Comments About You

By Razmik Sarkisian

One of the simplest formulas for infection control taught to every first year resident is: "the solution to pollution, is dilution!" This is very similar to managing your online reputation -- the reputation that you have worked years to build. Online reputation management is a process of monitoring, addressing, and mitigating what is said about you online. Where, you might wonder, would your patients post their comments about you? The answer is everywhere -- blogs, Facebook pages, rating websites, Twitter, and other platforms. Remember that anything said about you would be perceived true unless mitigated to the point of dilution. Meanwhile, physicians and healthcare professionals are worried about privacy issues of engaging online. Social media is the only way to protect your online reputation and counter any negative influence of a few comments.

It should be clear that reputation management is one of the most meaningful reasons why physicians and healthcare professionals should be online. The first step of managing your online reputation is to have a deep digital presence. Your presence includes a complete and up-to-date profile including a professional picture of you. You need to have all your social media sites set up and activated. These include your Facebook page, Google+ page, LinkedIn profile, Twitter site, Youtube channel, etc. Whether you ask your patients or not, they now have the field wide open for them to make their comments and share their experience -- positive or negative -- about you. The idea is to flood the web with overwhelming positive comments which would then dilute the negative comments and, literally, push them out of the visitors view.

How, you may ask, would the dilution work? Online reputation management is primarily done through the results of the search engines. Search engines e.g. Google, uses algorithms which look for dynamic and relevant content. This ranks well with Google and any search about you would bring your content on top. This is the essence of countering the negative comments and pushing them down the results ladder. Why would it matter for you to be on the first page? Because more than 40% of people do not go beyond the first page of a Google search. Almost 85% or more do not even go to the second page. The negative comments about you would simply be invisible to people. Remember also that you need to have a dynamic and interactive website which enables sharing. This would then significantly boost your search rankings, putting you on the top of the search results. Although negative comments will not just go away, people will simply not find them.

Considering the importance of your reputation, next time when you ponder the question "What are the benefits in doing social media marketing?", consider, the alternative of not being online -- priceless! Keep in mind that regardless of how great of a doctor you are, you can never make each and every patient happy. Nevertheless, you can be proactive and take charge of your digital presence.

So, how can you start to manage your online reputation? The first step of reputation management is to have the knowledge of what is being said about you online. This can be managed by a simple method -- Google Alerts. Set up alerts for your name, practice name, associate's name, and any name related to you. Once done, Google will send you a message alerting you if something is said about you online. This would be a good first step and easy to do and free. Then, flood the web with your content. You should also ask your patients to write comments on your digital platforms. Realize that this is a process and it will take time for Google and the other search engines to pick up and place you higher in their rankings.

Jembatan Angker yang Mengerikan

Jembatan yang terdapat di bawah tanah ini mungkin merupakan gambaran dari Khazad-dûm in the Mines of Moria,di mana Gandalf berhadapan dengan Balrog dalam film “The Lord of the Rings”.Jembatan ini adalah peninggalan bekas aktifitas penambangan bawah tanah di Inggris,dan terdiri dari jembatan kayu yang didukung oleh rantai besi berkarat yang dibawahnya tebing-tebing terjal yang siap memangsa kita.

Berani gan, lewatin jembatan ini???

















sumber :http://www.kaskus.us

Stephen Hawking Sedang Cari Asisten

Liputan6.com, London: Sebuah pekerjaan dengan gaji yang bombastis ditawarkan Fisikawan Inggris yang ngetop, Stephen Hawking. Anda cukup menjadi asistennya dan bakal mendapat gaji sekitar 25 ribu Poundsterling alias Rp 352 juta per tahunnya. Fantastis!

Sebuah iklan pekerjaan informal yang diposting di website fisikawan terkenal itu menyebutkan ia membutuhkan seorang asisten yang bisa membantunya mengembangkan dan mengurus pidato sistem elektroniknya sehingga memungkinkan dia mengomunikasikan visinya tentang alam semesta, Selasa (3/1).

Asisten yang dibutuhkan Hawking syaratnya harus melek komputer, siap bepergian, dan mampu memperbaiki perangkat elektronik tanpa petunjuk ataupun dukungan teknis. Maklum saja, hidup Hawking kini tergantung dari alat-alat.

Dia kehilangan suaranya dalam sebuah operasi tracheostomy pada 1985, tapi kursi roda komputer membantunya mensintesis pidato dengan menafsirkan gerak wajahnya. Robot monoton synthesizer menjadi hampir sama terkenal dengan diri Hawking, selain itu komputer dengan tenaga baterai diikat ke belakang kursi roda Hawking yang tidak hanya untuk berbicara. Dengan demikian ia harus bergantung pada komputer portabel kecil dan speech synthesizer yang dipasang pada kursi rodanya.

Ini memang rumit, tapi iklan ini membuatnya jelas. Sebuah foto dari belakang kursi roda Hawking memperlihatkan banyak kabel gulung dan peralatan elektronik, dan di bawah foto itu ada kata-kata: "Bisakah Anda mengurusnya"

Seperti diketahui, Hawking kerap menelurkan teori alam semesta yang kontroversial. Ia menyebutkan alam semesta diciptakan secara spontan dari yang tidak ada menjadi ada. Sehingga keterlibatan Tuhan tidak diperhitungkan di sini.(thestar/AP/MEL)

8 Teknik Bermain Catur Mematikan

10:00 diterbitkan oleh Ipenk 

Teknik catur diperlukan dalam menyudahi perlawanan lawan. Dalam bermain catur setiap langkahnya pasti mengandugn maksud untuk mematikan. Perang strategi di papan catur menjadi bagian yang tak terelakkan dan menjadi ciri khas dari permainan catur.



Catur ini banyak memberikan manfaat dan juga hiburan terutama ketika suasana hati sedang tak menentu, kurang mood, atau bahkan tak bergairah karena diputuskan pacar. Dengan bermain catur maka segala beban tersebut akan sirna dengan sendirinya.

Tulisan ini akan bertumpu pada bagaimana teknik catur yang elegan, ciamik, dengan melakukan langkah-langkah yang sulit diterka lawan. Keuletan dan ketelatenan dalam membaca arah gerak lawan sangat diperlukan dalam mendikte setiap langkah yang diperagakan lawan bertanding. Dalam permainan ini benar-benar dibutuhkan sense of intelligent yang tinggi, dan sebaliknya memerlukan kecermatan dalam menghitung timing yang tepat dalam melancarkan serangan yang gencar.


Teknik dan Tips Permainan

Dalam olahraga maupun hal papun jelas membutuhkan teknik jitu supaya menghasilkan sesuatu yang sesuai dengan keinginan. Demikian juga dalam catur. Teknik catur sangat diperlukan dalam menyudahi perlawanan sengit lawan. Diantara beberapa teknik tersebut, yaitu:

1.Buka permainan dengan langkah yang elegan, bisa dengan menjalankan satu pion dengan dua langkah, atau dua pion di sisi kiri dan kanan masing-masing satu langkah.

2. Lebih baik melangkahkan kuda sebelum Anda menjalankan gajah. Langkah kuda yang zigzag (huruf L) akan memudahkan untuk mengobrak-abrik pertahanan lawan.

3.Lebih baik juga untuk melangkahkan gajah sebelum benteng.

4. Jika memungkinan, sebaiknya didahulukan untuk melangkahkan benteng sebelum menteri sebagai penjaga terakhir dari raja.

5. Pejabat seperti kuda, benteng, maupun gajah sebisa mungkin harus bisa menjaga pion supaya tak banyak dimakan pihak lawan karena akan sangat berguna terutama ketika permainan memasuki babak-babak akhir.

6.. Gunakan tipuan atau sergapan yang bisa memerdayai lawan.

7. Pakai strategi dan maksud yang sulit ditebak oleh pihak lawan.

8. Jika terpaksa, tak masalah untuk mengorbankan salah satu punggawa Anda untuk mendapatkan buah yang lebih tinggi jabatannya.


Hindari

Demikian juga ada hal-hal yang harus dihinari supaya Anda tidak mengalami kekalahan dalam pertandingan. Yakni:

1. Tunda sekak terhadap raja lawan sampai momen itu benar-benar datang. Akan sia-sia jika Anda melakukan sekak terlalu cepat.

2. Usahakan untuk memenjarkan prajurit Anda secara terpola dengan masing-masing peran.

3. Hindari permain bidak bertumpuk, dimana semua prajurt berada dalam bidak yang saling berdekatan. Hal tersebut akan menyulitkan langkah Anda sendiri.

4. Sebaliknya, jangan mengisolasi prajurit Anda. Camkan bahwa setiap nyawa sangat berharga dalam membela kerajaan catur Anda.

5. Rileks saja dalam melakukan permainan.

Itulah teknik-teknik catur yang apabila Anda serius untuk menjalankannya maka bisa menghindarkan dari kekalahan.

Konsep 10 Jenis Laptop Masa Depan

07:00 diterbitkan oleh Ipenk 

Laptop Bukan barang asing lagi bagi kita di masa sekarang bnayak aktifitas yang dilakukan melalui pernagkat ini mulai dairi sekdar memutar lagu nonton video internetan dan lain lain. Taukah kamu bagai mana bentuk dan model laptop di masa yang akan datang, penasaran simak 10 jenis laptop masadepan berikut ini.

1.Samsung Amoled

AMOLED merupakan konsep notebook dari Samsung yg memiliki desain unik, tipis, dan licin. Juga memiliki keyboard sentuh yang sensitif.

2.Vaio Zoom

Zoom vaio notebook ini memiliki layar kaca yang holographic transparan.

3.Traveller

Konsep utama laptop dari Traveler adalah sistem navigasi GPS, dengan penyimpanan internal untuk foto / data dan juga built-in fungsi geotag sehingga Anda selalu tahu di mana Anda mengambil foto.

4.Canova Dual Screen

Canova Dual Screen Laptop memiliki dua layar, multi layar sentuh dan sangat mudah digunakan. Tidak hanya bisa digunakan untuk menangani tugas-tugas komputasi anda sehari-hari tetapi juga dapat digunakan untuk membaca artikel di laptop.

5.Canvas Laptop

Canvas adalah konsep laptop futuristik yang digunakan untuk memberikan kualitas yang lebih baik bagi para desainer dengan fitur touchscreen yang sangat tipis.

6.Compenion

Konsep laptop Compenion yg dibuat oleh Felix Schmidberger terdiri dari dua layar OLED geser, yang salah satunya dapat digunakan sebagai keyboard.

7.LG Ecological

Konsep tekologi laptop LG menggunakan bahan bakar sel baterai dan fitur teknologi layar organik (OLED), konsep laptop ini menerima Penghargaan terbaik Red Dot untuk konsep desain.

8.Mac Tab

Keunggulan dari laptop MacTab adalah keyboard nirkabel yang tipis.

9.MacBook 0801

Konsep laptop Macbook 0801 oleh Isamu Sanada seperti versi hitamnya Macbook Air. Laptop ini memiliki sebuah keyboard ultra tipis dan desain yang sangat licin.

10.Descom

DesCom pada dasarnya two in one konsep laptop yang seamlessly terintegrasi di dalam meja.

3 Bentuk Latihan Kejeniusan Otak

Hadapilah, saat usia semakin tua ingatan kita cenderung semakin kehilangan ketajamannya. Kita mulai melupakan sesuatu, seperti nama orang, lupa meletakan sesuatu atau pekerjaan yang harus kita lakukan. Tetapi tua bukan berarti otak Anda juga menjadi semakin tumpul. Agar otak selalu bisa terasah dan ingatan pun tetap tajam, berikutbeberapa tipnya:


1 : MELATIH OTAK KIRI

Otak kiri Anda bekerja untuk mengatur kemampuan dalam penalaran, bahasa, tulisan, logika dan berhitung. Daya ingat otak kiri bersifat jangka pendek (short term memory). Bila terjadi kerusakan pada otak kiri maka akan terjadi gangguan dalam hal fungsi berbicara, berbahasa dan matematika. Untuk mempertahankan kapasitas otak kiri Anda, cobalah untuk mempelajari bahasa baru atau melakukan permainan puzzles.

2 : MELATIH OTAK KANAN

Fungsi otak kanan adalah untuk menangani proses berpikir kreatif manusia Otak kanan biasa diidentikkan tentang kreatifitas, khayalan, bentuk atau ruang, emosi, musik dan warna. Daya ingat otak kanan bersifat panjang (long term memory). Cara kerjanya tidak terstruktur dan cenderung tidak memikirkan hal-hal yang terlalu mendetail. Bila terjadi kerusakan pada otak kanan misalnya pada penyakit stroke atau tumor otak, maka fungsi otak yang terganggu adalah kemampuan visual dan emosi. Untuk menjaga ketajaman otak kanan Anda berlatihlah bermain alat musik, bernyanyi atau membuat kerajinan tangan.


3 : MELATIH OTAK KESELURUHAN

Belajar meditasi.
Dengan melakukan meditasi Anda dapat mengurangi stres, mengatasi rasa cemas yang berlebihan, dan mengaktifkan pusat kontrol otak untuk kebahagiaan dan kepuasan.

Latih kemampuan Memori
Anda tentu masih ingat saat masih kecil, banyak hal yang harus Anda hapal. Ketajaman ingatan Anda akan meningkat jika Anda selalu melatih kemampuan memori.

Bergabunglah dalam kegiatan sosial.
Memiliki jadwal aktivitas sosial yang padat diyakini dapat membuat otak bekerja lebih aktif dan mengurangi kemunduran kerja otak.

Mengenal Mobil-mobil Esemka Buatan anak SMK Indonesia

How to Integrate Advertising Research Into Your Ad Campaign

By Mark Etinger

When you shell out the money for billboard printing or full color vinyl banners, you want to make sure that you're getting a return on your investment. Really, that's what advertising is. It is an investment in your business.

Effective advertising will help you to recoup on that investment by bringing new and return consumers back to your business. If someone sees your large format banner on the outside of a building and stop in to your establishment to purchase some of your goods or services then your campaign is ostensibly making its money back. When that same customer returns to your business you are making money for your business that you may otherwise have missed out on.

But other than being able to recognize faces and know that repeat customers were brought in by a specific advertising campaign, what are other ways to judge the effectiveness of your marketing?

In 1879, a man by the name of N.W. Ayer did a custom survey and research questionnaire on the how the people of a certain town reacted to an advertisement by a farm machinery supplier. It was during this survey that advertising research became a new and undeniably useful tool for businesses across the world.

There are two different types of research in advertising one is called customized and one is called syndicated. As you can imagine, customized is for specific businesses to assess specific needs. This type of research is usually conducted by private advertising research companies and the results are only disclosed to the client that hired them. In contrast, syndicated research is done on a larger scale and the results are then sold to companies who think they could benefit from the information.

Pre-testing in advertising is done before an ad campaign even begins and tests the projected effectiveness of a certain run of ads (like television commercials or outdoor vinyl banners.) Post-testing is tracking for a brand's performance after an ad campaign. It is a great way to be able to tell if your advertising is effective and drawing in new and return clients and creating brand awareness and preference. This type of testing can go on for a long period of time or a period of "flash time" that occurs directly after the campaign comes out.

To gather the best evidence of the effectiveness of your ad campaign, you really should hire someone who knows about advertising research. This can tell you if your investment is worthwhile or if you need to go in another direction.

HARI-HARI LIBUR NASIONAL 2012

Januari
Minggu, 1 Januari: Tahun Baru
Senin 23 Januari: Tahun Baru Imlek 2563

Februari
Minggu, 5 Februari: Maulid Nabi SAW

Maret
Jumat, 23 Maret: Nyepi Tahun Baru Saka 1934)

April
Jumat, 6 April: Wafat Yesus Kristus

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Minggu, 6 Mei: Waisak 2556
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Juni
Minggu, 17 Juni: Isra' Mi'raj Nabi Muhammad SAW

Agustus
Jumat, 17 Agustus: Hari Kemerdekaan RI
Minggu dan Senin, 19 dan 20 Agustus: Idul Fitri 1433H
Selasa dan Rabu, 21 dan 22 Agustus: Cuti bersama Idul Fitri 1433H

Oktober
Jumat, 26 Oktober: Idul Adha 1433H

November
Kamis, 15 November: Tahun Baru 1434H
Jumat, 16 November: Cuti bersama Tahun Baru 1434H

DesemberSenin, 24 Desember: Cuti bersama Natal
Selasa, 25 Desember: Natal

Rebranding and Repositioning - The Right Brand Strategy Makes All the Difference

By Phillip Davis

As companies grow, product lines expand and market conditions change, business owners often find themselves with a company brand image that no longer reflects who they are or what they do. Perhaps they started in a niche market, or with a very specific product, and built their entire company identity around it -- and the business now serves a different, bigger or more diverse customer base.

What to do?

A sure symptom of this brand misalignment is the constant need to explain or clarify what the company really does. Or when an owner pines "We're more than just (fill in the service or product category.) At this point, a new brand strategy is obviously in order, but it begs the question "Do I need to reposition my company or completely rebrand it?"

Reposition if the name is right but the message is wrong

Repositioning a company makes sense when the company brand name is well established and not in any way misleading. In other words, it's not so much an issue with the identity as it is with the message and focus. Apple expanded beyond its original core product line of computers, but that didn't require a change in their name. They simply dropped the word "Computers" from their name and shifted their branding to reflect their "Think Different" philosophy. They no longer position their brand as a "computer company" but more as a cool, digital lifestyle provider.

Dale Jarrett Racing Adventure felt restricted by their brand image as a racing school. It affected their approach to advertising, marketing and product development. After carefully determining their core value proposition, they re-emerged with the tag line "Full Throttle Living!" The emphasis shifted from the cars to the experience. And that experience has since been expanded to include World War II re-enactments and firefighting drills. They now position themselves as a lifetime adventure company that simulates a day in the life of an adrenaline-charged professional. That's a big departure from a racing school, and that's the power of repositioning.

Old Spice has made a concerted effort to reposition its brand from a stodgy aftershave product to a cool, contemporary array of "fragrant man goods." Their viral video campaignhas served to introduce a whole new audience to this once old-school cologne.

Rebrand if your company name causes confusion

Rebranding comes into play when the original company identity has grown outdated, confusing or outright misleading. The owners and staff can all agree on the brand's current position and message, but the customer can't get past the name itself. CompUSA struggles to brand itself as more than just computers. Radio Shack remains mentally tethered to an old technology and a dilapidated building. Burlington Coat Factory sells more than just coats. At some point, the cost of clarifying a brand becomes such a drag co-efficient that it makes more sense to start with a clean slate.

Would 3M be recognized as a global leader in innovation if it had remained The Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company? Popular consumer electronics company LG rebranded twice, from the original legacy name of Lak-Hui Chemical Industrial Corporation to Lucky Goldstar, and in 1995 to their current moniker of LG with the tag line "Life's Good."

Repositioning and rebranding keep a company current, relevant and profitable

Both repositioning and rebranding serve the goal of greater brand clarity. Repositioning highlights a company's emerging role and redefines its new territory in the marketplace, (often while keeping the legacy name in place, e.g. Apple) Rebranding addresses the outward facing identity of the company, typically the name and visual components, and helps to alleviate and/or correct misconceptions about the direction of the business (e.g. 3M and KFC).

Rebranding and/or repositioning offer unique and specific benefits when applied correctly. Clarifying the brand identity and market position allows potential customers to place the company in the right mental "box" for easy and accurate recall. This type of intuitive branding reduces customer confusion, improves bottom line performance and positions your company for continued success. With careful consideration, rebranding and repositioning will have your customers remembering and revisiting you more often.

How about your company? Have you considered or attempted a rebrand? If so, share the ups and downs of your experience so others can benefit.

Phillip Davis is president and owner of Tungsten Branding, strategic company branding consultants specializing in name development, rebranding and brand positioning.

NEW FIXTURES AT 2012, EZ-BAR - The Ultimate Portable Bar

     

EZ-Bar adalah The Ultimate portable bar sangat fungsional dan effisien. Terbuat dari kerangka besi yand di powder coated, EZ BAR adalah full-equiped bar yang diciptakan special untuk bartender. Panel acrylic yg terdapat pada posisi depan dan samping dapat dibuat customized dan di branding untuk kebutuhan sendiri atau kebutuhan sponsor dan dilengkapi dengan lampu LED RGB yang dapat dikontrol melalui remote control dapat menciptakan jutaan warna yang sesuai dengan tema & suasana, menjadikanEZ-Bar SANGAT COCOK DIGUNAKAN DI SEGALA ACARA!

EZ-Bar sangat cocok untuk promosi, convention, events, banquets, ballrooms, pool & garden, golf courses, hotels, night clubs, home party, restaurants cafés dan dimana saja bar dibutuhkan untuk entertainment. EZ-Bar dibuat dalam warna standard putih tetapi dapat dibuat dalam bermacam-macam warna powder coating sesuai keinginan. Dan dengan menggantikan tempat es dan cutting board dengan papan biasa, EZ-Bar langsung berubah menjadi meja counter yang dapat digunakan untuk bermacam-macam fungsi seperti meja valet, product sampling, penerima tamu, kasir dan masih banyak lagi. EZ-Bar ADALAH PRODUK MULTI-FUNGSI!

EZ-Bar sangat fungsional, kuat, tahan lama dan dengan mudah dilipat untuk transportasi dan penyimpanan yang mudah dan tidak makan banyak tempat. EZ-Bar adalah tambahan yg tepat untuk hotel Anda.

Waktu Dunia Akan Mengalami Perubahan di Tahun 2012

Selasa, 03 Januari 2012

ilustrasi

DitoNews - Waktu Dunia Akan Mengalami Perubahan di Tahun 2012 – Cara manusia menjaga waktu saat ini tidaklah sempurna. Hal ini menyebabkan banyak masalah di komunitas modern. Namun, ilmuwan akan menyempurnakannya pada 2012. Bagaimana?

Ilmuwan di International Bureu of Weights and Measures di Paris, Prancis, mempertimbangkan menghapus bulan depan. Hal ini dilakukan untuk mengubah cara manusia menyebut waktu yang kebanyakan orang tak mengetahui keberadaannya.

Ilmuwan ini berencana menghapus ‘lompatan detik’ dari Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Kebanyakan orang menyadari adanya lompatan tahun yang akan ada hari ekstra seperti pada akhir Februari yang terjadi tiap empat tahun sekali untuk menyesuaikan dengan rotasi tahunan Bumi.

Namun,lompatan detik memiliki dampak jauh tak terduga, yakni menambahkan detik pada jam dalam pola yang tak prediksi. Hal ini disebabkan pelambatan perlahan rotasi Bumi akibat pasang surut samudera atau daya tarik Bulan.

Sederhananya, sejak dulu, kita harus menghentikan jam selama beberapa detik agar rotasi Bumi bisa sesuai pengukuran waktu. Menghapuskan gangguan kecil ini dapat memastikan tak adanya berhentinya waktu secara mendadak.

Misteri Gedung Hantu Bintaro

Jumat, 10 Juni 2011

DitoNews - Masih ingat dengan rumah hantu di Pondok Indah, Jakarta Selatan? Beberapa tahun lalu, rumah itu menghebohkan warga. Kini, sebuah gedung berlantai 24 di Bintaro, Tangerang juga disebut juga sebagai gedung hantu. Gedung ini penuh misteri.

Gedung ini terletak di Sektor 9 Bintaro, berada di depan RS Internasional Bintaro. Gedung ini sudah terlantar selama 12 tahun. Pemandangan angker memang terlihat di gedung tinggi menjulang itu. Meski begitu, gedung yang terbengkalai ini masih dijaga enam orang satpam.

Entah siapa yang memulai mengisukan ada hantu di gedung ini. Yang jelas, sejumlah satpam yang menjaga gedung ini mempercayainya. “Kalau malam sering ada suara perempuan tertawa dari dalam gedung,” kata satpam gedung, Windra, kepada wartawan di lokasi.

Menurut dia, suara tertawa perempuan tersebut mulai terdengar setelah pukul 23.00 WIB. Tapi tiap kali mengecek suara itu, para satpam selalu tak menemukan sumber suara. ” Selain itu ada perasaan aneh. Seakan-akan ada orang. Itu berlangsung hingga dini hari,” tambah dia.

Kasus mistis ini juga dibenarkan beberapa tukang ojek yang mangkal di sekitar gedung itu. Meski tak berhasil melihat hantu secara kasat mata, namun mereka mengaku sering dibayang-bayangi.
“Ada sesuatu yang aneh kalau dilihat terus menerus. Tapi entah apa. Tapi saya yakin ada malunya. Kan sudah lebih dari 10 tahun terbengkalai,” kata seorang tukang ojek yang tak mau disebut namanya yang biasa mangkal di sekitar gedung.

Pantauan detikcom, gedung tersebut terbengkelai. Puluhan konstruksi gedung seperti kaca dibiarkan begitu saja. Puluhan jendela terbuka dengan sarang laba-laba tampak di dalam gedung. Kaca pun pecah di beberapa bagian. Rumput belukar dibiarkan tumbuh begitu saja.

Namun, benarkah gedung yang dijaga 6 satpam itu memang berhantu? Terserah Anda, percaya atau tidak. Jangan-jangan memang ada trik-trik mengisukan gedung itu berhantu dengan maksud tertentu. Namun, sejumlah orang kabarnya memang datang ke gedung itu karena penasaran.

Penelusuran detikcom, gedung ini punya misteri lain. Kabarnya gedung yang disebut-sebut milik Panin ini salah konstruksi. “Bagian bawah sudah ambles,” tutur seorang sumber. Seharusnya, gedung itu dibuat berlantai 17, tapi kenyataannya dibuat berlantai 24. Gedung ini terbengkalai setelah krisi melanda Indonesia pada 1997 lalu.