Evo Terra's Blog, page 22
November 29, 2013
Like countless other space enthusiasts and astronomers alike, yesterday found me speculating comet ISONs...
Like countless other space enthusiasts and astronomers alike, yesterday found me speculating comet ISONs fate at perihelion. We waited, they talked, and by all accounts it seemed that fire won the battle over ice.
But then this morning, I found this animated gif from +The Planetary Society. ISON appears to have survived.
▶ READ: http://goo.gl/Pj2p5P
Perhaps I'll get a chance to see the comet in the sky after all!
But then this morning, I found this animated gif from +The Planetary Society. ISON appears to have survived.
▶ READ: http://goo.gl/Pj2p5P
Perhaps I'll get a chance to see the comet in the sky after all!
November 27, 2013
This infographic can save Thanksgiving!
While we don't recommend a protracted conversation on improved...
This infographic can save Thanksgiving!
While we don't recommend a protracted conversation on improved conversion values or TRPs during your Thanksgiving meal, you can show your marketing smarts and provide value to your family and friends with this handy infographic.
In other news: There's a fish fork?
While we don't recommend a protracted conversation on improved conversion values or TRPs during your Thanksgiving meal, you can show your marketing smarts and provide value to your family and friends with this handy infographic.
In other news: There's a fish fork?
Google Death Panel 2013!
Don't worry -- you've probably never heard of most of them. And with the exception...
Google Death Panel 2013!
Don't worry -- you've probably never heard of most of them. And with the exception of two (Google Reader and Google Sync,) you probably don't care that you missed.
Here's a list of 13 products (well ... calling some a product is a stretch) that were killed off by Google this year. If nothing else, it will give you a conversation starter over piles of meat tomorrow!
Don't worry -- you've probably never heard of most of them. And with the exception of two (Google Reader and Google Sync,) you probably don't care that you missed.
Here's a list of 13 products (well ... calling some a product is a stretch) that were killed off by Google this year. If nothing else, it will give you a conversation starter over piles of meat tomorrow!
How complex is your personal website?
I played around with a few options, and have leaned toward overtly...
How complex is your personal website?
I played around with a few options, and have leaned toward overtly simplistic.
▶ http://evoterra.com
I thought about putting in other social plugins and stuff, but then decided against it. Simple is better, right? Sure, it's very author heavy, but that's the most tangible thing I have.
I played around with a few options, and have leaned toward overtly simplistic.
▶ http://evoterra.com
I thought about putting in other social plugins and stuff, but then decided against it. Simple is better, right? Sure, it's very author heavy, but that's the most tangible thing I have.
Betting on the Battle of the Sexes this holiday shopping season.
Though you'd be hard pressed to call...
Betting on the Battle of the Sexes this holiday shopping season.
Though you'd be hard pressed to call ESPN objective on this issue, they do claim a significant shift has happened that marketers need to be aware of. While we're not recommending a complete revamp of your messaging, you should at least understand the difference between shopping and buying.
Though you'd be hard pressed to call ESPN objective on this issue, they do claim a significant shift has happened that marketers need to be aware of. While we're not recommending a complete revamp of your messaging, you should at least understand the difference between shopping and buying.
November 25, 2013
Instagram ad in the wild!
Back in October, +Jamie Abbruscato let us know about the coming Insta-ads...
Instagram ad in the wild!
Back in October, +Jamie Abbruscato let us know about the coming Insta-ads, but there wasn't a lot of detail. Over the weekend, +Courtney Rainville found one in the wild and took a screen capture.
Now... if only this were scotch flavored instead of butterscotch flavored.
Have you seen any?
Back in October, +Jamie Abbruscato let us know about the coming Insta-ads, but there wasn't a lot of detail. Over the weekend, +Courtney Rainville found one in the wild and took a screen capture.
Now... if only this were scotch flavored instead of butterscotch flavored.
Have you seen any?
November 24, 2013
Five Publishing Personas - Conclusion
Last week, I devoted a few thousand words to the motivations,...
Five Publishing Personas - Conclusion
Last week, I devoted a few thousand words to the motivations, time-horizons, and focus of five personas found in modern indie publishing. In case you missed my serial postings:
▶ Preamble (http://goo.gl/dZoZcQ)
▶ RFAS (Reader first, author second) (http://goo.gl/uVkvRs)
▶ Author-first authors (http://goo.gl/QqXNcK)
▶ Publishers (http://goo.gl/wEZzSm)
▶ Makers (http://goo.gl/4LvHih)
▶ Disruptors (http://goo.gl/YXL5v2)
Don’t try and read any sort of natural path or progression in these personas. I’m a little bit of all of these, or at least have been. But I’m a weirdo. The last thing I’d recommend is for you to behave like me. That way lies madness!
But as you read my examinations of those personas, you were probably struck by how many resonated with you. You either said “I’m X, and I wan’t to be Y” or you said “I’m pieces of X and Y, but not completely any of those.” Or some variation on that theme. And that’s to be expected. Like the Myers-Brigs or Colors personality assessments, no one silo fits one person completely. But one does tend to dominate.
And just like those tests, understanding your dominant publishing personas can help you relate with other publishing personas you encounter. It’s natural for us to assume the person we’re working with shares our same motivations, time-horizons, and focus. And we’re wrong. Recognizing those differences will lead to a better relationship, and it’s the key thing I want you to take from this series.
I’d love to hear what you thought about this series. Writing in this style obviously takes more work and planning than my off-the-cuff posts, but I quite enjoyed it. So let me know if it worked for you. You may see more!
Creative commons licensed photo from Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/7Emzp7
Last week, I devoted a few thousand words to the motivations, time-horizons, and focus of five personas found in modern indie publishing. In case you missed my serial postings:
▶ Preamble (http://goo.gl/dZoZcQ)
▶ RFAS (Reader first, author second) (http://goo.gl/uVkvRs)
▶ Author-first authors (http://goo.gl/QqXNcK)
▶ Publishers (http://goo.gl/wEZzSm)
▶ Makers (http://goo.gl/4LvHih)
▶ Disruptors (http://goo.gl/YXL5v2)
Don’t try and read any sort of natural path or progression in these personas. I’m a little bit of all of these, or at least have been. But I’m a weirdo. The last thing I’d recommend is for you to behave like me. That way lies madness!
But as you read my examinations of those personas, you were probably struck by how many resonated with you. You either said “I’m X, and I wan’t to be Y” or you said “I’m pieces of X and Y, but not completely any of those.” Or some variation on that theme. And that’s to be expected. Like the Myers-Brigs or Colors personality assessments, no one silo fits one person completely. But one does tend to dominate.
And just like those tests, understanding your dominant publishing personas can help you relate with other publishing personas you encounter. It’s natural for us to assume the person we’re working with shares our same motivations, time-horizons, and focus. And we’re wrong. Recognizing those differences will lead to a better relationship, and it’s the key thing I want you to take from this series.
I’d love to hear what you thought about this series. Writing in this style obviously takes more work and planning than my off-the-cuff posts, but I quite enjoyed it. So let me know if it worked for you. You may see more!
Creative commons licensed photo from Flickr: http://flic.kr/p/7Emzp7
Help bring some rationality in the 2nd Writer's Digest Author Survey!
Apparently, +Writer's Digest ...
Help bring some rationality in the 2nd Writer's Digest Author Survey!
Apparently, +Writer's Digest hopes the promise of winning a Kindle is enough to get you to enter. Personally, I'm hoping you enter so we can bring sensible and level headed people entering. Because damn!
Some of the more egregious misconceptions include:
* Almost half have the wrong opinion that they'll earn about the same or higher royalty rates with a traditional press. Uh... what?
* A mind-numbing 94% are under the illusion that traditional publishers will take care of marketing for them.
* Over two-thirds are convinced they are unable to make a quality book without a traditional publisher
▶ Chuckle along with me here: http://goo.gl/ZXSEim
Funny as it is, it does represent quite a gap in where we are to where they are. The good news is that the attitudes expressed on this survey are likely much better than they were last year. And five years ago? Forget it. Indie publishing was still anathema to most.
With over 6,000 authors already taking part in the survey, I doubt all of us will balance it out all that much. Still, there's always hope.
▶ Take the survey for yourself: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D77B3D6
Apparently, +Writer's Digest hopes the promise of winning a Kindle is enough to get you to enter. Personally, I'm hoping you enter so we can bring sensible and level headed people entering. Because damn!
Some of the more egregious misconceptions include:
* Almost half have the wrong opinion that they'll earn about the same or higher royalty rates with a traditional press. Uh... what?
* A mind-numbing 94% are under the illusion that traditional publishers will take care of marketing for them.
* Over two-thirds are convinced they are unable to make a quality book without a traditional publisher
▶ Chuckle along with me here: http://goo.gl/ZXSEim
Funny as it is, it does represent quite a gap in where we are to where they are. The good news is that the attitudes expressed on this survey are likely much better than they were last year. And five years ago? Forget it. Indie publishing was still anathema to most.
With over 6,000 authors already taking part in the survey, I doubt all of us will balance it out all that much. Still, there's always hope.
▶ Take the survey for yourself: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D77B3D6
Apparently, I'm intimidating.
I have at least two first-hand accounts of new people at the office ...
Apparently, I'm intimidating.
I have at least two first-hand accounts of new people at the office feeling intimidated by me. To which I can only ask the following question:
#dontmakemegoallstephenonyourass
I have at least two first-hand accounts of new people at the office feeling intimidated by me. To which I can only ask the following question:
#dontmakemegoallstephenonyourass
