Get Bizucated

Passing on the Knowledge

I wanted to share and recommend my current reading list to you and your customers. Check out the new Bizucate Recommends in the left margin, the links will take you straight to Amazon.com so you can browse the reviews and get your own POV.

I have yet to get my hands on the recently released, Godin Book, which is next in the series from the Marketing Maven.

When was the last time you kicked your presentations up a notch? Have you ever spent any time "thinking" about how to present? I thought so. Be sure to check out my latest find, The Exceptional Presenter: A Proven Formula to Open Up! And Own the Room by Timothy Koegel. Get it, read it and share the lessons in it by making exceptional presentations!

Lastly, I'm working on a new executive presentation called Living at the Speed of Business and Vince Poscente's The Age of Speed: Learning to Thrive in a More-Faster-Now-World nails a great approach to it.

If you read any of these and have an opinion, leave me a comment, I want to know.

Keep the learning going...pass it on!

~Peter

On Demand and Web Ink Now

It's been a few weeks since the last post and I am back in action!

On Demand
Last week was On Demand 2007 in Boston. For those not familiar with this Trade Show - it is focused for those in the digital printing sector of the already large (to say the least) printing and communications industry. WhatTheyThink.com did a great job of covering the event on a daily basis and said that about 25,000 people came through the showroom floor from the 17th - 19th. Now they are gearing up for another year in Boston, March 3-6th, 2008.

Although this was my first time attending On Demand, everyone seemed high spirited the 2nd day (Wednesday), as those who were unable to make it in due to the nasty weather hitting the east that past weekend started to flow in. It seems like the general consensus among vendors was that the booths had some decent traffic moving through them! I invite anyone who was there to leave comments on what they saw or experienced!

Web Ink Now
I recently came across a blog: WebInkNow.com written by David Meerman Scott, an author who has written books about leadership and marketing and I thought I would share it with you. He has a book out that I am interested in reading, The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly, since using multiple mediums of communication to communicate is what is letting those "in the know" communicate effectively with their audience. I put a link to the book in our Recommended Reading section on the left.

~ Maria

What Tells the Story - You or the Glass?

Many of you that have met Peter, know that he always has a book to recommend and helps use it to tell a story. One of the books that he discusses quite frequently is Seth Godin’s book – All Marketers are Liar's. Now I am not here to plug the book (although it is a great and thought-provoking read), but those who have read it will know what I am talking about in this Blog entry.

Godin discusses Riedel wine glasses and how their shape may or may not enhance the taste of the wine – but it is all in the story that they (Riedel) tell surrounding the wine glasses and the opinion of the consumer and what the consumer believes is what truly tells the story.

Well, Boston Beer Co., who brews Samuel Adams brand beer – and I might add one of my favorite beers – has designed “the ultimate beer glass” that “is the first glass specifically designed to showcase beer as brewers intended”. 

"It's a personal passion of mine to develop a beer glass that elevates the craft-beer drinking experience," Jim Koch, company chairman and founder of the Samuel Adams beer brand, said in a statement. "We wanted to create a glass that offers beer lovers a full sensory experience by fully showcasing Samuel Adams Boston Lager's complex balance of malt and hop flavors."

Let’s see how those faithful beer drinker’s respond to Koch’s story.

~ Maria

Yes, You Too Can Publish!

As many of you may or may not know, publishing a book is becoming easier and easier nowadays with on demand printing. Bob Young, founder of Lulu.com and John Lacagnina, founder, president and CEO of ColorCentric Corporation jumped on this opportunity to help anyone get published! Not only can you publish your own book, you can create a calendar, cd, dvd, e-book, music, etc.  Lulu.com is also continually working on their business development mindset by using multiple mediums to communicate with their customers using Blogs , Lulu TV, and Lulu Radio. They are also invested in educating and enhancing their customers experience by offering workshops. Talk about taking advantage of technology and reaching their audience on different levels!

We also wrote an article about our experience buying a book from Lulu.com that happened to be co-written by Patricia Sorce, Administrative Chair of the School of Print Media at Rochester Institute of Technology and Michael Pletka, Manager of Customer Business Development at Xerox Corporation titled Data-Driven Print: Strategy and Implementation. This book discusses how to leverage the power of digital printing with the use of customized communications.

You can download this article by following the link:

Download yes_you_too_can_publish.pdf

~ Maria

"Love is the Killer App"

Before Peter or I teach a workshop or seminar, we often suggest a pre-read for the students to get them thinking of how they can help themselves as well as their customers. One of the books that we have them read is “Love is the Killer App” by Tim Sanders (www.timsanders.com). It changes the way you think about how you treat others while doing business with them – and is also a way that Peter and I like to work!

~ Maria