There are many trending topics happening this week.  I could discuss this year’s best Super Bowl ad.  The return of Ferris Bueller – hands down, am I right?  Seriously... I think I’ll just watch FBDO for the 1,000^th time on Sunday instead of the Super Bowl.  Why aren’t my days off half as glamorous as that one?  Must be the car…

Anyways, today I’ll be talking about Infographics.  Infographics are everywhere.  Just go on Mashable and every other entry contains an Infographic.  There are Infographics about what people look up on Facebook, how we use Twitter, the economy, the election…there are even infographics about infographics...lots of them

Wouldn’t all this information be better presented in a list?  I know you’d love that Dave….

Some people just love Infographics.... here's what Blue Wheel Media says about them:

"Infographics have the ability to transform a boring collection of statistics, facts and figures, into a stunning masterpiece that you won't be able to keep to yourself.  Upon finding a great infographic, the reader is overcome with a thrill of discovery - almost like an adrenaline rush, triggering desire to share."

So if this is true, how can you apply this latest trend to your business and have the biggest impact with your documents?  If I had any design talent, I would create my own infographic with pie charts, symbols, squiggly lines and shiny colours, but I’ll just have to do a list

People respond to visuals – so don’t be too texty.

Keep it short

People are busy, we have lots of things to do and we get distracted easily.  So if you want us to read your quarterly sales report, keep it short…because after page 1, I’ll be bouncing over to YouTube or checking out Perez Hilton.

And it the same vein:

Keep it simple

Avoid jargon, fancy abbreviations or acronyms.  Don’t use 4 words when 1 would suffice.  Forget complicated – use simple, direct, easy-to-understand words that every single one of your audience will get.  No one wants to feel condescended to when reading that ubiquitous sales pitch. Indubitably!

Don’t just dress it up, back it up

See what I did there? Very tongue in cheek (if I do say so myself). 

This blog is a combination rant,commentary and airing of grievances all in one. As part of my daily research to keep up-to-date with all things social, digital and PR, I go through a bookmarked list of blogs that feature the latest posts related to said areas of interest. I then check my Twitter lists to see what the important people are Tweeting about. Since Twitter is a great sharing platform I figure any worthwhile stories, blogs and articles will eventually be tweeted. 

And I must report that I have noticed an annoying trend. Let me know if you see it:

• 5 Tips for First Time Managers
• 5 Ways Social Media is like a Networking Event 
• 5 Facts You Didn't Know About Facebook Edge Rank
• 7 Reasons Every Job Seeker Should Have a Blog
• 11 Things That Annoy Journalists and Bloggers

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Apple Co-Founder and one of the greatest innovators of our time Steve Jobs. Steve lost his battle with cancer last night, just 6 weeks after stepping down as Apple's CEO. Our hearts and prayers go out to his wife Laurene and four children. 

As I write this I cannot hope but feel weird that my last blog entry was about Steve stepping down (I apologize about slacking on the posts) and now here I am, just 6 weeks later writing about his death. That's life. It's always funny how insignificant the once important things such as school, work, position, hierarchy, wealth or success seem when the realness of death, loss or sickness strikes. 

But enough sentiment. I feel compelled to write this entry when I stop and think about how much of an impact Steve has had on our industry. Some of the most important tools we use: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and FourSquare, have all been impacted, developed and advanced through the technology that has come about as a result of Steve's vision. With Steve, Apple created a new trend of pushing developers of social media platforms to continue developing in an attempt to keep up with all of Apple's newest technologies and their capabilities. Each time Apple released a new product, say the iPad or the recent iPhone 4s, Facebook and Twitter scurried to come up with new versions of their apps that would be able to incorporate everything the newest piece of Apple technology had to offer. 

So for all you've done to impact our lives, relationships and business, thank you Mr. Jobs. You will be truly missed. 

Dave Siekanowicz

The business card needs a haul. They’re just not what they used to be. I think it’s safe to say that their importance in the business world has definitely dropped since the invention of a little thing called the world wide web. Yet much like the fax (although nearly extinct), we still find the need to use business cards because they are expected in the business world. What we’re left with then, is essentially a modern day relic that has become a staple.

Enter: QR code. A QR (Quick Response) code, is specific two dimensional code that stores information and reads like a barcode. The code consists of black boxes, modules and squiggles arranged as a square against a while background and contains text, URL or other data (see picture below). It was designed to allow its contents to be decoded at high speeds. With just one picture using your smartphone, a QR code can take the user directly to a website, a social media page, a video or share contact information. 

You can generate your own QR code just by googling around and finding the right generator. QR codes have already been appearing on bus stops, in magazines and on flyers, allowing the viewer to gather more information with a quick snap from their smartphone. One of the best uses of QR codes has appeared on business cards. Talk about upgrading an ancient technology. Now your business card can feature the standard information, as well as a QR code that will take the viewers directly to your website, facebook page, video link  or allow them to download content while they “check-in”at your location via Facebook/FourSquare. And best of all the use of QR codes is free of all and any licensing; so you can use/abuse and incorporate wherever, whenever for whatever. 

It’s the perfect bridge between the real world and the online world. Now perspective clients you meet can connect with you via the internet right away. Applying the use of a QR code to your business card allows you to maximize its potential and propels it into the ranks of leading companies that have incorporated a QR code to their business card. But don’t let that be the end! Flyers, door hangers, posters, reusable bottles, packaging, casing- any of these surfaces can now hold a QR code! 

Scan the QR code below and begin getting the most for your business!

My wife and I were at Target in Niagara Falls NY this weekend buying up the store (as usual) and we came across a good buy for a blender (50% off). We didn’t really need one, but since our son is always making protein shakes we thought at this price it was a good idea since it had a smaller footprint than our current mixer/blender, which takes up too much of our counter space.

As luck would have it (not) the store only had the floor model left and they could not sell that to us – still not sure why… But we knew of another Target store up the road in Amherst and we would check them out to see if they had the model we were looking for.

Lesson one: Maybe the associate could have offered to call the other store to see if they had that model? Never offered, but we were in a good shopping mood, so we didn’t ask.

Lesson number two: We were in a good shopping mood – spending money is good for Target, right?

On to the Amherst store…. When we arrive we head straight to the kitchen appliance section, and as luck would have it we find three in stock! Oh wait, its 10 bucks more, must be a pricing mistake? We use the customer service phone and an associate meets us in less than 60 seconds as promised (very good).

When the associate arrives we point out the issue and she tells us that unfortunately each store has their own clearance items and reduces the price based on their local inventory.  Seems like a plausible explanation except… lets see, same company, same exact product, location within 10 miles of the other store, but a different price? I don’t want to tell Target how to manage their inventory or profitability, but it doesn’t make sense!

Now its only 10 bucks, I could have paid it and moved on with a nice new blender. But I just could not believe that they would allow us to walk out of the store unhappy. Could they have not done a special price adjustment as they would if they were doing a competitor price match. Guess not!

Well, I bet the folks at Target would be a little embarrassed. We spent a ton of dough at the store and for 10 dollars they let us leave unhappy. I guess Wal-Mart will enjoy the future business.

Last lesson: In business it’s the little things that count. Not the 10 dollars, but the fact that they would not get a little creative to make a customer happy.

Now… Target….Let’s see if you are “listening….”

Social media is full of opportunity. It can help you stay in touch with family, it can help you meet new people and it can even help you become the President. Social media is sometimes underestimated or misunderstood, but if used properly it can be one of the best tools you have to promote your brand. Two examples of social media used in the right ways are:

President Obama

President Obama raised an astounding 87% of his campaign funds through social networking. Obama was personally active with his online campaign which was one of the differences between his massive success and the others minimal success. His exceptional online marketing had components that others lacked. Most important, was the intimacy Obama created with personal emails and exclusive videos. Social media gave Obama the platform to impact people he may not have other wise.

Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber shot to uber fame when his mom started posting You Tube videos of the 12 year old middle school student singing at competitions. The views went from 100 to 1,000,000 and a producer by the name of Scooter Braun stumbled upon them and knew he had something special. Justin went from a regular kid to being loved by millions of young girls, and respected by many artists. 

Social media offers you a wide range of potential. When it is managed properly it can create exposure for your brand and allow for communication between you and your future or potential clients/customers. If your not taking part in the conversation, you will get left behind.