tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45841183776473154642024-03-05T06:30:57.426-06:00Awareness is EverythingAwareness Is EverythingAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233041150842224824noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-53377368408011471112013-08-13T16:44:00.003-05:002013-08-13T16:44:52.063-05:00HIRING: Market Research Manager<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 0.75in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">An Awesome Job: Market
Research Manager – Austin, TX<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why we exist: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">To
make things (products, companies, the whole dang world) better through the
power of feedback and the wisdom of knowing what to do with it. We believe in
the power of ideas, the wisdom of communities to innovate, and the intelligence
of market research. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">icanmakeitbetter
is the only platform that seamlessly combines these practices to help businesses
reduce costs, get new products to market faster, increase quality, reduce waste
and deliver more of what customers need and will actually buy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The opportunity: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Join
a rapidly growing business that is revolutionizing the market research industry.
If you thrive on moving fast, limitless opportunity, no-cubes, no time clock
and a team that will fully support you, this is for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Think
of us as a software start-up combined with a well-established full-service
market research agency. We started out in 2003 as Sentient Services – a global
full-service market research agency. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We
saw a massive need in the marketplace and among our clients so we built </span><a href="http://www.icanmakeitbetter.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">www.icanmakeitbetter.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
and everyone loves it! We have more demand than we can keep up with and we need
the best and brightest (and funnest, hardest workinest, irreventest and superest)
to join our team. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">You
will:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Work on all aspects of market research
engagements including: project management, survey/guide writing, client management,
report writing, proposal writing, and online panel/community management.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Engage directly with clients, vendors,
internal software development teams, and the entire company. We are small and
integrated – no boxes, silos or cubes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Help innovate and change an industry by
managing market research projects and online communities for leading companies
around the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Work on a variety of projects from creative
testing to product innovation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Innovate – we want you to bring your ideas and
best-practices to help us continually improve the insights, value and solutions
we are able to provide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Be amazing. Really, we don’t have the time or
budget for anything less than someone that is not fanatical about quality and
putting 100% into everything they do. We need someone that thrives on finding
solutions for customers, loves pleasing people with unexpected kindness and has
unwavering determination to make it happen…every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why you will not like it
here (you’ll love it!): </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We don’t want to brag, but working here is
awesome! And it’s because of people just like you. If you don’t feel that you
make our place awesome with your creativity, humor, and hard work, no worries,
but don’t apply. If YOU can make us even more awesome by being here, join us and
we will treat you like the rock star you are – every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Position overview: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">icanmakeitbetter.com
continues to grow and is looking to add driven, passionate and amazing new
friends to our team as we meld business knowledge, research, usability and
interactive software to serve leading global clients. We are actively seeking
to fill the position of <b>Market Research Manager </b>(preferably onsite in
Austin, TX but will consider remote for the ideal candidate). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This
is not an easy position, nor is it for everyone. We are small (that means you
get to do lots of different things, which can be fun and exciting, or
terrifying and tiring). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Requirements: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What
is more important than concrete requirements (though there are a few below) is
being proactive, willing to learn, quick on your feet, flexibility within a
growing organization, having a desire for excellence and the
ability/passion/competency to work with joy and integrity. Core competencies we
would like to see are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Must haves experience/education:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3+ years market research experience – project
management, client management, guide and report writing (client facing with an
emphasis on qualitative research around product, tech and branding subject
areas) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bachelor’s degree or above in advertising,
research methodologies, social sciences, economics, marketing or related field<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Experience moderating in-person or online
focus groups a plus, but not mandatory<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Experience in branding, research, marketing
and advertising (Research Manager, Account Planning, etc.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Technology knowledge – interested in social
media, hardware and tech trends<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Computer skills – MS Office with an emphasis
on PowerPoint<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Desire to sell and grow a business<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Attention to detail and desire for perfection<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Analytical and inquisitive by nature<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Team player; willingness to wear many hats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Strong in-person presence <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Don’t have all of the above? No worries. Convince
us you can do this job – we are always open to new ways, new people and ways to
make it better!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Further
information: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Please
send resume and cover letter to </span><a href="mailto:jobs@icanmakeitbetter.com"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">jobs@icanmakeitbetter.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">. Additionally, to help us get to know you and
your sales acumen please send us one of the following 1.) Three of your
favorite websites and why; 2.) Three amazing research facts or numbers you
think the world should know and why; OR 3.) Three of your favorite brands and
why. OR really blow us away and send us all
of the above.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">About icanmakeitbetter.com:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Very simply, we
provide the software and services for clients to get feedback from customers to
improve their business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We
work with clients in product development, innovation, interactive, usability, research,
marketing and branding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We
have extensive global experience covering qualitative and quantitative market
research and usability. We work with Fortune 500 clients and startups alike.
The common denominator is great people, great products, integrity and a quest
to make things better through customer insights. We don't help put lipstick on
pigs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We're
a team that works together and believes in having fun in both business and
life. We have to work for a living, but it’s the living that defines us, not
the work. There are companies that are changing this world for the better, and
every day, we strive to be one of them - from the way we interact with those we
have the pleasure of calling our clients, to our own work environment and most
importantly, in the way we operate. (This is no BS, we work with great clients
and great co-workers, everything else comes second – we would rather close shop
than not enjoy what we do and who we work with.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Legal:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sentient Services, LP (DBA
icanmakeitbetter.com) is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all
qualified candidates to apply. We do not accept resumes from recruiters that we
do not have a formal agreement with. Any resume received from unapproved
recruiters will be considered unsolicited, and Sentient Services, LP will not
be obligated to pay referral or replacement fees to the submitting recruiter or
agency.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-28746703805386741452013-07-17T14:19:00.000-05:002013-07-17T14:19:16.728-05:00icanmakeitbetter.com continues to grow - Patty and Sheri join the team!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We are super excited (really - super + excited) to have Patty and Sheri join us!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Patty Riley has joined icanmakeitbetter.com
as Director of Business Development. Prior to joining icanmakeitbetter.com,
Patty worked as Sales Director for CSIdentity (CSID). At CSID Patty helped to
grow the company from a small start-up with a staff of 12 to the leading global
provider of identity protection solutions with a team of over 150. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Sheri Stark recently joined the team as Research
Manager. Shari will manage icanmakeitbetter.com’s growing roster of insight
communities and integrated feedback platform launches. Sheri brings a unique
background with 6+ years’ experience at Cambia Information Group merging
primary market research and specialized technology solutions. Sheri worked on
projects ranging from brand engagement to strategy, and customer marketing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">We are always looking to bring on amazing renaissance
professionals – those that love to
learn, have eclectic disciplines and singular focus on excellence. We found
exactly that in both Sheri and Patty. They will add tremendous value to our
company as a whole, but also to our clients by bringing skills ranging from building
the world’s leading identity protection platform (not an easy task) to in-depth
market research and innovation skills married to technical project management.
These are not your standard resumes! And, that is exactly what we and our
clients look for – creativity, innovation, actionable insights, impeccable
service and above all integrity. We are honored these two wonderful women have
chosen to share their time and talents with us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Please join me in welcoming them to the team.</span></div>
Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-57536207957489355922013-05-29T11:50:00.000-05:002013-05-29T11:50:05.625-05:00An Awesome Job! Director of Sales icanmakeitbetter.com<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-right: 0.75in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An Awesome Job: Director of
Sales – Austin, TX<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why we exist: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">To
make things (products, companies, the whole dang world) better through the
power of feedback and the wisdom of knowing what to do with it. We believe in
the power of ideas, the wisdom of communities, the tools of social media and
the intelligence of market research. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">icanmakeitbetter
is the only platform that seamlessly combines these practices to help businesses
reduce costs, get new products to market faster, increase quality, reduce waste
and deliver more of what customers need and will actually buy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The opportunity: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Join
a rapidly growing business that is revolutionizing a stagnant $31B a year
industry. If you thrive on moving fast, limitless opportunity, no-cubes, no
time clock and a team that will fully support you, this is for you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Think
of us as a software start-up combined with a well-established full-service
market research agency. We started out in 2003 as Sentient Services – a global
full-service market research agency. We saw a massive need in the marketplace
and among our clients so we built </span><a href="http://www.icanmakeitbetter.com/"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">www.icanmakeitbetter.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
and everyone loves it! We have more demand in the sales pipeline than we can
keep up with and proactively sell to. Now we need your help to roll it out, create
our sales strategy and execute on it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You
will:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Be our first dedicated sales person – you get
to be a trail blazer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Create your own dream sales department – we
are here to support you in doing that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Create a sales culture of value, fun and
integrity. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sell SaaS and associated full-service
community management and market research.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Build out the sales strategy, and execute on
it. You will be responsible for direct sales and revenue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Build out a sales team as you knock it out of
the park.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Be amazing. Really, we don’t have the time or
budget for anything less than someone that is absolutely the best at selling
software and services. We need someone that thrives on finding solutions for
customers, loves pleasing people with unexpected kindness and has unwavering determination
to make it happen…every day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, no this is not commission only or a tiny
base. You bet on us, we will bet on you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Why you will not like it
here (you’ll love it!): </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We don’t want to brag, but working here is
awesome! And it’s because of people just like you. If you don’t feel that you
make a place awesome with your creativity, humor, and hard work, no worries,
but don’t apply. If YOU can make us even more awesome by being here, we know
that and we will treat you like that every day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Position overview: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">icanmakeitbetter.com
continues to grow and is looking to add driven, passionate and amazing new
friends to our team as we meld business knowledge, research, usability and
interactive software to serve leading global clients. We are actively seeking
to fill the position of <b>Director of Sales</b> (preferably onsite in Austin,
TX but will consider remote for the ideal candidate). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
is not an easy position, nor is it for everyone. We are small (that means you
get to do lots of different things, which can be fun and exciting, or
terrifying and tiring). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Requirements: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What
is more important than concrete requirements (though there are a few below) is
being proactive, willing to learn, quick on your feet, flexibility within a
growing organization, having a desire for excellence and the
ability/passion/competency to sell with joy and integrity. Core competencies we
would like to see are:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Must haves experience/education:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5+ years selling software (SaaS) along with associated
services (preferably market research, innovation, advertising, consulting).
Core market is B-B, mid-sized and up. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">o<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Worked building a small company into a large
one through direct sales or launched a new division within a larger
organization and participated in developing the division, strategy and directly
taking it to market and selling it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 11pt 0.75in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Excellent writing skills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Excellent computer and tech skills<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Desire to sell and grow a business<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ability to be a proactive self-starter<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Project/time/task management <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Attention to detail and desire for perfection<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Analytical and inquisitive by nature<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Team player; willingness to wear many hats<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Strong in-person presence <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ability to work independently and build out
your dream team<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t have all of the above? No worries. Convince
us you can do this job – we are always open to new ways, new people and ways to
make it better!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Further
information: </span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Please
send resume and cover letter to </span><a href="mailto:jobs@icanmakeitbetter.com"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">jobs@icanmakeitbetter.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. Additionally, to help us get to know you and
your sales acumen please send us one of the following 1.) How you would
approach your first 30 days on the team, or 2.) A sales email you would send
out selling icanmakeitbetter.com to a F500 market research manager. OR really
blow us away and send us all of the above.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">About icanmakeitbetter.com:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Very simply, we
provide the software and services for clients to get feedback from customers to
improve their business. This is $31billion/year business we are going to take
by storm and revolutionize. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
work with clients in product development, innovation, interactive, usability, research,
marketing and branding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
have extensive global experience covering qualitative and quantitative market
research and usability. We work with Fortune 500 clients and startups alike.
The common denominator is great people, great products, integrity and a quest
to make things better through customer insights. We don't help put lipstick on
pigs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're
a team that works together and believes in having fun in both business and
life. We have to work for a living, but it’s the living that defines us, not
the work. There are companies that are changing this world for the better, and
every day, we strive to be one of them - from the way we interact with those we
have the pleasure of calling our clients, to our own work environment and most
importantly, in the way we operate. (This is no BS, we work with great clients
and great co-workers, everything else comes second – we would rather close shop
than not enjoy what we do and who we work with.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Legal:</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sentient Services, LP (DBA
icanmakeitbetter.com) is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all
qualified candidates to apply. We do not accept resumes from recruiters that we
do not have a formal agreement with. Any resume received from unapproved
recruiters will be considered unsolicited, and Sentient Services, LP will not
be obligated to pay referral or replacement fees to the submitting recruiter or
agency.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-11170240499834677282012-09-20T14:41:00.001-05:002012-09-20T14:41:39.123-05:00What is icanmakeitbetter?Well, here is an answer in a short video. All new platform with a ton of new features: surveys, customer panel and idea platform and customer feedback all in one simple, powerful tool. And, it's FREE!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/49044089" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="400"></iframe>Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-58559266436992548862012-06-21T11:30:00.001-05:002012-06-21T11:30:11.445-05:00SXSW: A short Sentient Services historyWe had the pleasure of being part of <a href="http://www.s.co/" target="_blank">Startup America</a> and the <a href="http://eir.dell.com/" target="_blank">Dell Entrepreneur In Residence</a> program during <a href="http://sxsw.com/" target="_blank">SXSW 2012</a>. You can read the article written by Dell's EIR Ingrid Vandervelt <a href="http://eir.dell.com/2012/06/paul-janowitz-icanmakeitbetter-com-brain-heavy-and-asset-light/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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And watch the interview below.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gVBhm7hkCGs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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I hope you enjoy this short "history" of Sentient Services. We could not have done it without great support from family, friends and clients - thank you!Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-68834684307338334222012-05-18T16:50:00.003-05:002012-05-18T16:52:05.970-05:00The Subtle Art of NO<br />
A few years back I found myself in a transitional place professionally. I was in a new state looking for work in a related (albeit only marginally related) field. I found myself in an interview wearing a suit (yes, a suit), sitting in front of someone whose role, and entire department to be honest, I did not fully understand. It’s times like these, when one takes a resume from one field and submits it to another that you realize you have been talking in hyperbole, or in other words BS laden task lists made to look like a resume. All of a sudden a resume riddled with sexy items like managing the production of vertical specific variations for non-transactional web content becomes worked closely with writers to update various website articles. The latter line item is boring, lame, flat…and as humbling as it may be, more informative to most people on the planet. It was during the vernacular-free discussion that I realized the fulcrum of my career was the fact that I had refined a way to tell my clients and managers “no” on a regular basis and have them love me for it.<br />
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Allow me to explain…back to the interview. As it turns out, I got the job. A while later, my boss told me I pulled off the upset and edged out someone with much more relevant experience because of my answer to one single question – “Do you have any experience with difficult clients?” My response – “Respectfully, there’s no such thing as an easy client. But, if you keep them informed and deliver what you say you will, they get a lot easier.” Before you fire me, let me explain. During the interview, I went on to elaborate about how clients come to agencies and research firms to extend their own skill sets and resources. As such, both sides – agency and client – are almost constantly teaching each other new things. This may be learning about new technical product features only a senior engineer could understand (and love) or mastering the phrasing nuances of an insightful discussion guide. For this reason, each project includes an ebb and flow of novel information that makes both sides vulnerable to mistakes which can quickly derail the productivity of any given project. <br />
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Now, combine constant learning/exploration with a smartphone in your pocket that makes you available 24x7 and you’ll find that it’s the urge to please, and over-commit that can get you into trouble very quickly. For instance, I may tell my boss I can crank out three reports in as many days. But the end result is going to be a 60+ hour week, and three reports where a substantial piece of each was written past midnight. To quote my high school golf coach – “Nothing good happens after midnight.” I and my client would have a much better product to show for it had I just inserted a little incubation time for each of those reports. Faster is not always better. Once you fail to meet a deadline or underperform, whether irrationally overextended or not, you’ve just set off a chain reaction that will take a whole heck of a lot longer to sort out than the original extra half day you cut out of the schedule, just to be agreeable.<br />
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Now, there are two qualifiers here – 1) you must not overuse this gift and 2) this must never be for solely your benefit. Frequently use “no” and you will find yourself fired for being an obstructionist, as you should be. Too much self-serving “no, because that would require me to work past 6” and you’ll be fired for being lazy, as you should be. My point is that we must strive to exceed expectations. Sometimes, that means that you have to lean hard on a history of achievement and ask your colleagues to “Trust me; you’ll be much better off if we do this…” Sometimes you swallow your dissent, roll up your sleeves and make impossible deadlines looks like a walk in the park.<br />
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Clients, and our bosses, pay us (not to be tacky, but) a good chunk of money to exceed their expectations – which is not a matter of killing yourself to crank out deliverables. Exceeding expectations is a delicate balance between building up credibility through over-achieving when your client/boss needs you and then calling upon that reservoir of goodwill when things appear headed off course. Master the art of “no” and they’ll love you for it.<br />
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<br /></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021751836205578833noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-49091486519024215572012-03-29T12:19:00.000-05:002012-03-29T12:19:39.151-05:00Two More New Hires!<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Details below on the new hires, but these are some great folks, and fun to work with as well!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia01c0utXuA4WsVtk51Ipvkg8RTfmVNQyq7tAQjxqg27rXn-0yeEAuJ6UlShW7XlfxdhcUmbwMkPWmuQT_nUVbbk7hlh21lb14MumHAV-DB_mNQag9Fl4nulw4zeOTznFl0zfy6CKEwpcW/s1600/meghan+and+eric.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia01c0utXuA4WsVtk51Ipvkg8RTfmVNQyq7tAQjxqg27rXn-0yeEAuJ6UlShW7XlfxdhcUmbwMkPWmuQT_nUVbbk7hlh21lb14MumHAV-DB_mNQag9Fl4nulw4zeOTznFl0zfy6CKEwpcW/s320/meghan+and+eric.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sentient Services is pleased to announce the hire of Meghan Bazaman as Research Analyst at Sentient Services. Ms. Bazaman has a Master of Arts in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining Sentient Services, Meghan worked on the agency side at ThinkStreet, and was an Experience Design/Usability intern at Dell. Meghan brings a unique creative and research driven perspective to global research clients. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Eric Vo is joining Sentient Services to manage clients and projects on the </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://icanmakeitbetter.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">icanmakeitbetter.com</span></a></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> social innovation and market research platform. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry/Business Studies from Loyola University, New Orleans, where he studied business strategies and technologies for entertainment companies. Prior to Sentient Services, Eric pursued his entrepreneurial interests by helping build online startups from the ground up, contributing to market research, coding, and online marketing (SEO/SEM). Eric brings a strong technology background as a coder and site builder combined with online marketing, and social community experience. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">We are super excited about these new hires. The addition of Meghan and Eric to the Sentient Services and icanmakeitbetter team allows us to continue our rapid global growth, while maintaining impeccable client service and quality. We interviewed for 6 months before finding just the right fit of market research skills, project management and interactive expertise. It just so happened that we found two perfect fits at the same time – we got lucky!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Feel free to stop by and say howdy to them anytime. Thanks for your continued support and helping make Sentient Services and icanmakeitbetter.com a success!</span></div>Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-61304405179433090642012-03-26T17:03:00.002-05:002012-03-26T17:13:46.434-05:00Lessons from SXSW 2012<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">A great part of being located in Austin, is that it is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World”. Every spring, we have an amazing music festival called SXSW. For those of you not familiar with SXSW it is a weeklong festival of music, movies and cutting edge technology. As I find myself in the trenches of SXSW this week, I continue to wonder, how did it all get started? I found an article that breaks down the origins of this well-known Austin festival (complete with nifty timeline and demographics):<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://siliconangle.com/blog/2012/03/06/sxsw-over-the-years-from-music-to-tech/">http://siliconangle.com/blog/2012/03/06/sxsw-over-the-years-from-music-to-tech/</a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The post begins by describing the amazing growth in popularity of SXSW:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #4d4d4d;">What started out as a small avenue for 700 participants to share their common interest in music has since grown to more than twenty times its original size. The growth spreads across more platforms beyond music, including film and web tech. Today, South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW) is a much anticipated international gathering of fun-loving and business-minded people.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I believe that what makes the festival continue to grow in popularity is the central idea that people like to gather around and share their common interests. SXSW fosters a community of people that care about music, film, business, technology and emerging interactive trends. With the springboard in place, people will begin to congregate and share. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 115%;">Looking at the highlights of this year’s SXSW interactive portion, we see buzz around applications designed specifically for improved sharing. For example, companies like </span><a href="http://instagr.am/"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 115%;">Instagram</span></b></a><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 115%;">, a very successful app for sharing photos with friends and family, joined in on the SXSW interactive panels, announcing 27 million users and plans to </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/11/instagram-users-android-app_n_1337844.html"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 115%;">launch a new Android app</span></b></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 115%;"> very soon<b>. </b></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">There was also talk of a new app called </span><a href="http://highlig.ht/about.html"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Highlight</span></b></a><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">. </span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">Highlight allows its users to learn more about the people in their nearby location. The app lets you look up names, photos, mutual friends and anything they have chosen to share. Meaning when you meet someone, you can see what you have in common with them. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The bottom line is that people will always find ways to connect around what interests them and what they care about. It is merely the changing technology, allowing us to do so, that makes festivals like SXSW so interesting and exciting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">At Sentient Services, we also believe in connecting people around their interests and ideas, just like SXSW and its event goers. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Our idea platform </span><a href="https://icanmakeitbetter.com/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">icanmakeitbetter</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"> can be used for market research, but more importantly, it’s a community where users can connect around what they care about and have in common. With</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Kristen%20Gray/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Word/icanmakeitbetter.com"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> icanmakeitbetter</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;">, members can post, share, follow ideas, participate in online discussions and take surveys with others. The end result of these conversations – help to improve what you care about. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">See our platform at work with </span><a href="https://dell.icanmakeitbetter.com/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Dell</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"> and </span><a href="https://austintexas.icanmakeitbetter.com/"><span style="line-height: 115%;">City of Austin</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>meg2237http://www.blogger.com/profile/02346800700479252220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-76828128617945760732012-03-19T14:52:00.000-05:002012-03-19T14:52:58.545-05:00We have a CTO!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmupqnAZcJ2UYBhJVAqmc1sSZ4VbC0uAljMuJG80IjJIfHkdYxGc1VuunNYh7iROb8anjHdBYXPySUAHToh1BMbsVHdHQPMuMQM8MfZYFqYJMcVjJvzU3EV3EkR6x5kdXlSyvV06icTPZZ/s1600/BruceTate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmupqnAZcJ2UYBhJVAqmc1sSZ4VbC0uAljMuJG80IjJIfHkdYxGc1VuunNYh7iROb8anjHdBYXPySUAHToh1BMbsVHdHQPMuMQM8MfZYFqYJMcVjJvzU3EV3EkR6x5kdXlSyvV06icTPZZ/s1600/BruceTate.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Yes, we, the market research company, now have a CTO! Read below for all the details, but needless to say this is very exciting and huge for Sentient Services and our social innovation and market research platform - <a href="http://icanmakeitbetter.com/">icanmakeitbetter.com</a>.<br />
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<u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sentient Services hires best-selling author and renowned developer – Bruce Tate (March 2012)</span></u><br />
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</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">[<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Austin</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>. March 2012. For immediate release.]<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bruce Tate has joined Sentient Services as CTO and will head up all technology practices, including Sentient Services’ groundbreaking social innovation and research platform (<a href="http://www.icanmakeitbetter.com/">www.icanmakeitbetter.com</a>). Bruce is an internationally in-demand speaker (Ruby World in Japan, The Server Side Symposium and other), and best-selling author, including the Jolt award winning <i>Seven Languages in Seven Weeks </i>and <i>From Java to Ruby</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Prior to joining Sentient Services, Bruce founded and ran RapidRed which worked with high growth start-ups to rapidly build genre-leading web applications such as DigtheDirt. Bruce spent 13 years at IBM, including co-authoring several IBM patents and serving on IBM’s certification board for application development.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Bruce will be managing the icanmakeitbetter.com platform – a patent-pending SaaS solution providing crowdsourced innovation, customer engagement and market research in a seamless, scalable and dead-simple platform. Since its quiet launch by Sentient Services in 2011, it has changed the way organizations engage with customers, innovate and conduct market research. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Sentient Services CEO and icanmakeitbetter founder Paul Janowitz states: “Bruce’s is nothing short of a huge win for us. Bruce’s proven experience with rapid application development for scalable social platforms with leading technologies such as Ruby on Rails will let us move quickly to build the next generation of market research and innovation software. Having Bruce full-time as our CTO changes the game. Expect big things to come out of Sentient Services and the icanmakeitbetter.com platform.”</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">About Sentient Services, LP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sentient Services</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> is a Knowledge Studio® - the amalgamation of market research, user experience and information design practices. We leverage these core competencies for our clients in product development, interactive, usability, sales, marketing and branding.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">icanmakeitbetter </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">is a patent-pending, revolutionary social innovation and market research platform developed from the ground up by Sentient Services. icanmakeitbetter<b> </b>enables organizations to create, share, and act upon ideas to drive innovation, engage customers and conduct market research.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For more information on Sentient Services or icanmakeitbetter, please go to:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.sentientservices.com/"><span lang="FR">www.sentientservices.com</span></a> or <a href="http://www.icanmakeitbetter.com/">www.icanmakeitbetter.com</a> </span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Contact: <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Paul Janowitz<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="mailto:paul@sentientservices.com"><span lang="FR">paul@sentientservices.com</span></a></span><span lang="FR" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: FR;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">512.288.1706<o:p></o:p></span></div>Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-83343795036985725052012-03-02T16:27:00.004-06:002012-03-02T16:40:33.250-06:00Building a Community around Interests<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While surfing the web the other day, I came across a blog post by one of my former professors, George Howard, on his personal blog </span><a href="http://www.9giantsteps.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9GiantSteps</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The post “<a href="http://www.9giantsteps.com/2012/02/19/shifting-social-sands/">Shifting Social Sands</a>” tries to explain the recent phenomenon regarding the rapid boom of <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> and other interest-oriented websites/applications and how this boom sheds light on the way emerging companies should position themselves in the “Facebook era”.<br /><br />Everyone (or at least 800 million people) has a Facebook profile. While Facebook is the market leader by a long shot, social network upstarts like Pinterest, Instagram, Chowhound, etc. are having a major impact (Pinterest share button now on CrateandBarrel.com!) beyond Facebook – how?<br /><br />According to Howard, it is because social networks like Pinterest focus on object or interest-oriented networking instead of acquaintance-oriented networking (Facebook). The simple way to explain this is that Pinterest connects people through the <b>things/interests</b> they share in common, while Facebook connects people through other <b>people.</b><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This finding gives great insight to how emerging companies should think about building their network and customer base. As Howard says, “<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #666666;"><i>There is tremendous opportunity to rethink how we should be conceiving of networks moving forward. As I’ve argued forever, look to objects of interest (in some respects, the more specific the better) that people are passionate about, and give them the tools to better organize</i></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><i><span style="color: #666666;">.</span></i><strong><i><span style="color: #666666;"> </span>Doing so will lead to far more durable, rewarding, and expansive connections than organizing around existing social connections.</i>”</strong><br /><br /></span><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #404040;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></span></div>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what we at Sentient Services and those at other companies should strive to do on a daily basis. We work to connect people around their personal interests and things they care about.<br /><br />While our platform icanmakeitbetter is a tool used for market research, in its simplest form it is a network that we hope allows our users to collaborate around ideas/objects that they genuinely “want to make better,” and then see the results of their collaboration. We connect people based on the products they use and the ideas they have. Through this they become engaged with each other and the brand through social collaboration. We allow them to become part of the brand/product through their ideas. Our users are able to post their ideas, receive feedback on their ideas from other users, and then see their ideas implemented by the company. This creates a depth of brand engagement that is hard to find elsewhere, and gives our users a sense of accomplishment once they see their ideas at work. We think the future of innovation, research and social networks lies in these shared “objects of interest” and making them better!</span></span><br />
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</span>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14252887527547882627noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-77572183540633679422012-02-17T09:47:00.017-06:002012-02-17T10:02:39.809-06:00Back to the BasicsI came across an interesting article today called “<a href="http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-05-23/strategy/30014867_1_customer-service-social-media-expert-united-breaks-guitars/2#ixzz1mYyFEqJV">Why I Will Never, Ever Hire A “Social Media Expert</a>” featured on Business Insider by Peter Shankman. In addition to being quite hilarious; it also covers the serious subject of current social media and how it can get in the way of what organizations NEED to do – deliver customer services and products people really want to buy.<br /><br />Peter brings up a great point about the use of social media stating that at the end of the day a company’s success is not based alone on Facebook page likes or Twitter posts but is really about a simple basic driver - <em>“It’s about generating revenue through solid marketing and stellar customer service, just like it’s been since the beginning of time.”<br /></em><br />While social media outlets can create buzz, they should not be the only thing in your marketing toolkit as they do not make up for the basic marketing principals. As Peter states,<em> “Do you know your audience? Have you reached out to them? I’m not talking about “tweeting at them.” I’m talking about actually reaching out. Asking them what you can do better, or asking those who haven’t been around in a while what you can do to get them back. It’s not about 10 percent off coupons or “contests for the next follower.”<br /></em><br />The question is: How do you marry the latest buzz creating social media with direct customer interaction, innovation, and market research?<br /><br />The answer is: <a href="https://icanmakeitbetter.com/">icanmakeitbetter</a><br /><br />I know this may seem like a cheesy plug for my own company (which it sort of is), but this article and this type of discussion is one of the main reasons we created <a href="https://icanmakeitbetter.com/">icanmakeitbetter</a>. While social media is a great tool, customers want to be heard and feel their feedback is shaping the products and services offered to them. We created <a href="file:///C:/Users/Paul%20Janowitz/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/R081R40T/icanmakeitbetter.com">icanmakeitbetter</a> as a solution to do just this.<br /><br />Please check out the platform and see how <a href="file:///C:/Users/Paul%20Janowitz/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/R081R40T/dell.icanmakeitbetter.com">Dell</a> and <a href="https://speakupaustin.org/">City of Austin</a> are using social media to innovate, engage and actually do more of what works and less of what doesn’t. And if you have any questions, comments or ideas, I would love to hear from you!!Kristen Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05460152949298375796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-48249272393130482892012-02-03T08:52:00.001-06:002012-02-03T08:54:31.244-06:00Sentient Services UX client City of Austin launches new acclaimed siteWe had the pleasure of doing the end-user citizen UX (usability and IA) research for the City of Austin's completely redone website. <a href="http://www.steelbranding.com/" target="_blank">Steel Advertising and Interactive</a> did the design and knocked it out of the park.<br />
Check out the <a href="http://austintexas.gov/" target="_blank">City of Austin website here</a>.<br />
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And the MuniNetGuide article <a href="http://www.muninetguide.com/articles/austins-municipal-website-redesign-surpasses-impressive-483" target="_blank">here</a>. Where they state "To say Austin's revamped municipal website is "impressive" is like calling a giraffe a tall animal." Read it and see why usability research pays big dividends!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLrZtmtEEyBRZihqLQ2kynjc7Wftn0ddi3Fo7Hit8ZBRlWTRBwkJtqCq0TqlcIATw45YDQLzr40rTmHYb5YmakNvr8UX0yfC0GXxTVNzxvdeQrTHJYnnojTBcCXy6MvbsqcbGnNwvAkPR/s1600/city+of+austin.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLrZtmtEEyBRZihqLQ2kynjc7Wftn0ddi3Fo7Hit8ZBRlWTRBwkJtqCq0TqlcIATw45YDQLzr40rTmHYb5YmakNvr8UX0yfC0GXxTVNzxvdeQrTHJYnnojTBcCXy6MvbsqcbGnNwvAkPR/s320/city+of+austin.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-51683230370097745932011-12-12T11:48:00.001-06:002011-12-12T12:00:47.246-06:00icanmakeitbetter.com 2.0 released!My apologies for the lack of recent posts. We have been extremely busy launching new clients on <a href="http://icanmakeitbetter.com/">icanmakeitbetter.com</a> and building our 2.0 release - announced today!<br />
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This release includes many tweaks for speed and stability, but also takes the platform to an entirely new level with these key features:<br />
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<ol><li>Facebook app: In 30 seconds add our app to your Facebook page and start innovating and conducting market research.</li>
<li>Customization: Customize "How can you make it better?" text, customize Forum text and more.</li>
<li>Public Discussions: Create open "town-hall" meetings.</li>
<li>Customize all system emails.</li>
<li>Improved discussions: Super cool new expanding features and user flow, makes the user experience way better!</li>
<li>Private Communities: That's right, create completely private online communities for innovation and research with employees, partners, you name it. Limit by invite, IP or email address.</li>
<li>Enhanced security: SSL, email validation.</li>
<li>Updated website: <a href="http://icanmakeitbetter.com/">icanmakeitbetter.com</a> - scroll down and check out the new "how this works" and "key features"</li>
<li>Improved Forums: make Forums private, choose where Forum ideas show and more.</li>
<li>Feature Box: Promote a Forum, Idea, Survey, or Discussion in one click to your home page.</li>
<li>Surveys!: Now create quick and easy question-of-the-day or full surveys and promote right on your home page. Integrated reporting and unique ability to allow respondents to see how the community answered if you choose.</li>
</ol><div>A few screen shots are below, but please contact us with any questions or needs at all. Thank you!</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD7utI9ULhDtwGRz5ezITe1bFN-f5eKpt17XBQY6c8TZVTpWqG-kBQoPxzFjdS7ZrWnGH-AGoRYZsDhWK_EmmykdeIxWfPcvKnFRLItpfGKx4MAsm_V2kxwJy0QGjdRAi3Jqz54TkYx2a/s1600/New+Surveys%2521.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD7utI9ULhDtwGRz5ezITe1bFN-f5eKpt17XBQY6c8TZVTpWqG-kBQoPxzFjdS7ZrWnGH-AGoRYZsDhWK_EmmykdeIxWfPcvKnFRLItpfGKx4MAsm_V2kxwJy0QGjdRAi3Jqz54TkYx2a/s320/New+Surveys%2521.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlo1BIKduXLefIvfaw_QKh1SkplrR-3Gf2inrwyynnJqGTnpcCi7a-L0vR4Yl_K9yK1eMp6shKGi5uqe9KZ3zzOOjWplg3D8V0ZrjARF7LTCd1KrFtMKcl6TA74oxbStuN-Qraoxhil3-W/s1600/Facebook+app.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlo1BIKduXLefIvfaw_QKh1SkplrR-3Gf2inrwyynnJqGTnpcCi7a-L0vR4Yl_K9yK1eMp6shKGi5uqe9KZ3zzOOjWplg3D8V0ZrjARF7LTCd1KrFtMKcl6TA74oxbStuN-Qraoxhil3-W/s320/Facebook+app.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-28337198283284858542011-05-06T08:52:00.000-05:002011-05-06T08:52:08.889-05:00Change By SubtractionI read a great quote in the most recent issues of FastCompany: "It's so much easier to change things through addition than subtraction." This was in regards to an organization needing to change by subtracting due to budget constraints. While it may be "easier" to affect change through adding or doing, it may not always be the best, most enlightened or most sustainable form of change.<br />
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On a personal level I began thinking of these differences in how I attempt change. Most of us always have some "change" we want in our lives to produce a desired outcome - I assume that is typically some form or "happiness" and "peace". But, we try to do that through adding, not subtracting. "I will take more vacation time", vs. "I will work fewer hours each week". One ramps up the need for money, luggage (a personal love of mine) and other items, while if one were to do subtraction those actions may return the same desired results for less money, effort and stress.<br />
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As market researchers much of our research is on "what's next", "what new features do we need to add", and what else do we "do". Perhaps more of our research should focus on "what do we remove", "delete", "not do" in order to increase usability, reduce costs, increase customer loyalty and drive meaningful change instead of just additive actions that may look like progress but do not create meaningful change.<br />
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While Apple may be too easy an example to use, I think they are the best. Take the iPod "one button for all my music, no way will that work!" and now the iPad - both created a massive shift in the market as much for what they did as for what they did not do or have. Summed in an Apple ad here:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tyEpaPEbjzI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_513717106"></span><span id="goog_513717107"></span>Let us know your thoughts. How can you innovate and grow personally and in your business by subtracting instead of adding?Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-6925372577310920272011-05-02T14:47:00.000-05:002011-05-02T14:47:50.799-05:00Research Less, Know More<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">We have just launched <a href="http://www.icanmakeitbetter.com/">icanmakeitbetter</a>, a new innovation and market research platform. Our platform enables companies and communities to create, share, and act upon ideas to drive innovation and make everything, and every day better. In a nutshell we built a platform that allows businesses, government and organizations to:</span><br />
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<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Innovate: Community driven idea portal.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Research: Conduct primary market research that is faster, cheaper and more actionable than ever before.</span></span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Check out this quick video overview:</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/U05h83ypQLk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">What can you do on the platform?</span><br />
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<ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Get great new ideas from customers and the community.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Gather feedback on bugs and improvements for your website, products, software, services, you name it.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Provide a single place for your community to provide innovation and feedback - don't lose feedback across Twitter, Facebook, etc. where ideas get lost, are not vetted or researched.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Build a CAB (Customer Advisory Board).</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Conduct online focus groups.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Build a panel/market research online community cheaper, quicker and of higher quality.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Conduct market research - usability, creative testing, product development...</span></span></li>
</ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">We hope you like the platform. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">We already have <a href="http://www.dell.icanmakteitbetter.com/">Dell</a> and the <a href="http://www.austintexas.icanmakeitbetter.com/">City of Austin</a> on the platform. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">Let us know how you think you could use it!</span></div>Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-90037163014090508922011-01-07T10:55:00.002-06:002011-01-07T17:00:20.231-06:00Garbage In - Bad Research OutMarket Research is more necessary than ever - product development cycles are shortened, margins are thin(er), consumer driven innovation is building the next generation of companies...you get the idea. Grab a recent copy of Inc. or Fast Company and you will see articles on <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/151/icitizen-bonus.html">iCitize</a>n (citizen generated government innovation), <a href="http://www.inc.com/magazine/20080601/the-customer-is-the-company.html">The Customer Is The Company - Threadless</a> (fully crowd-sourced product innovation - we will call this market research, since we are research types), and many, many more. The connection between company and customer is getting tighter and research + technology must keep up with it to provide the data, communications and intelligence. For my take on this that was printed in Inc. read <a href="http://www.inc.com/magazine/20080801/mail.html">HERE</a>.<br />
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What does all this mean for Market Research. It is positive and negative. The positive side is that research is getting a seat at the executive table, is part of product development, drives the customer experience and is an integral part of the innovation process. It also means panels are being over used, and some corners are cut by clients or research partners to "just get it done and get some numbers". If you don't pay attention to quality at the front - who is answering that fancy conjoint survey, all the segmentation and animated PowerPoint slides mean nothing, in fact they are worse than nothing, they are wrong.<br />
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How wrong?<br />
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In a recent <a href="http://hbr.org/2010/10/reading-the-public-mind/sb2">Havard Business Review</a> summary the following alarming facts were pointed out:<br />
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<ol><li>In 13 out of 18 panels 32% or more of panelists said they took 10+ surveys in the last 30 days (Research by: Burke)</li>
<li>14% of panel respondents in one panel claimed to own all 10 items on a list - one of those items was the Segway scooter (only 80,000 were ever sold, so this is about 1,000+% off, that is well beyond the acceptable margin of error!). (Research by: Theo Downes-Le Guin at Market Strategies)</li>
</ol><div>We can we as researchers do about this? Quite a bit actually. We will be writing more on this subject and launching a revolutionary new research platform to address some of these basic issues in the coming months. Questions before then? Give us a call or send an email to: infoATsentientservices.com.</div>Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-35624534095626513942010-12-10T11:32:00.008-06:002010-12-12T11:34:06.031-06:00A Year in Review – Google StyleWhat a whirlwind of a year 2010 has been… in world events, in life and in work. And what better way to reflect on the year than to utilize the largest search engine <a href="http://www.google.com ">Google</a> to see a snapshot of the biggest events and searched terms of the year both globally and by country.<br /><br />Google recently released <a href="http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2010/ ">Zeitgeist 2010: How the world searched</a>. Here, you can find animated graphing using HTML5 (the latest and greatest in coding), which shows an aggregation of the terms that people all around the globe searched throughout 2010. Take a second to look at the search stars that have fallen and risen over the past year. <br /><br />One of my favorite parts of this press release is the 2010 in Review video below. It shows a great recap some of the year’s biggest struggles, achievements, tragedies and milestones. <br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/F0QXB5pw2qE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/F0QXB5pw2qE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="397" height="199"></embed></object><br /><br />From myself and Sentient Services, we hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. We cannot wait to see what 2011 will bring. Enjoy!Kristen Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05460152949298375796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-61529724540243345992010-11-12T13:23:00.002-06:002010-11-12T13:29:37.274-06:00Does marketing really work?One big question on every business owner’s mind: “Is the money I am spending on marketing and or advertising really working?” As part of my job, I spend lots of time trying to help optimize the marketing and advertising for companies. The problem is that it is not always easy to track and quantify with numbers if all their work and money is truly paying off in the end. Today I came across this quick survey that I found very interesting by <a href="http://cramersweeney.com">CramerSweeney</a> - <a href="http://www.cramersweeney.com/smiq.html">http://www.cramersweeney.com/smiq.html</a>. It tests the recognition of brands using 4 main areas:<br /><br />1. Icon Identification<br />2. Tagline Memorization<br />3. Mascot Identification<br />4. Audible Recognition<br /><br />While most of the brands used here are fairly mainstream brands, I think many people would be surprised at the amount of marketing and advertising they actually absorb unconsciously. I identified 17 out of the 20 brands, some of which I actually use and some of which I have never used but unconsciously knew the tagline or mascot. <br /><br />So my point is this, while it is not always easy to quantify how well marketing works and allot a number of customers to the dollars you are spending, marketing and the messages you send to customers get absorbed in many ways (and that list is ever expanding with social media). This has implications for how ROI is calculated and how “standard” market research to develop and measure marketing effectiveness is done. Sentient is currently exploring new ways to do this. Let us know if you have any great ideas to share. <br /><br />Last, but not least, we think the actual survey format and tool <a href="http://cramersweeney.com">CramerSweeney</a> uses is pretty cool, interactive and engaging. Let us know your thoughts on any other survey tools you find interesting.Kristen Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05460152949298375796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-5823310260476519902010-10-29T14:39:00.000-05:002010-10-29T14:39:43.112-05:00Marketing 101Believe in what you are doing, build great stuff and sell the hell out of it.<br />
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That is what Apple does. For a quick and funny snap shot of their recent release of the new MacBook Air check out the video below. And then read the quick summary on <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2010/10/26/apple-keynote-video/">TechCrunch</a>.<br />
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In today's market - product is marketing, marketing is product. When you realize that and break down silos between product development, design, research and marketing you get a team working seamlessly together with a shared vision and focused goal. The result is the video below.<br />
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<object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h5iZyN7Ir3Q&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h5iZyN7Ir3Q&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-20368512536493103572010-10-22T10:31:00.004-05:002010-10-22T10:47:54.993-05:00Velvet Rope ClientsAdmittedly this is a weak blog post - I am posting about another blog, that was posting about a book. However; it has been a very busy few weeks and the other post is really good and gets to a core tenet here at Sentient Services - we do great work, for great people and great companies. Life is too short to work on junk and with not-so-nice people.<br />
<br />
We are very fond of saying "We don't have clients, we have friends that happen to pay us money.". And, that is very true. Our "clients" are great friends - we travel the world together (drink tea in Turkey, hike to through the alleys in Hong Kong, beer in Germany), work long hours, create game changing products, and have a lot of fun along the way...good friends + good clients = great times!<br />
<br />
Read about what makes great clients and some guidelines on the <a href="http://blog.getsatisfaction.com/2010/10/21/red-velvet-rope-policy/#more-2780">GetSatisfaction blog</a>. It covers <a href="http://www.michaelport.com/">Michael Port's books and philosophy</a>.<br />
<br />
The key takeaway:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #51432e; font-family: BentonSansLight, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Do you have your own red velvet rope policy that allows in only the most ideal clients, the ones who energize and inspire you? If you don’t, you will shortly. Why?</i></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i><span id="more-2780" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></i></div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>First, because when you work with clients you love, you’ll truly enjoy the work you’re doing; you’ll love every minute of it. And when you love every minute of the work you do, you’ll do your </i><em style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">best </em><i>work, which is essential to book yourself solid.</i></div><br />
Enjoy and have a great weekend!Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-71608175274135587552010-10-09T15:26:00.000-05:002010-10-09T15:26:20.012-05:00Research 101A friend just shared this Penn & Teller video with me. WARNING - NOT SAFE TO PLAY ON THE LOUD SPEAKERS AT WORK. While not completely academically correct, or a thorough two-sided investigation (not that there are ever many of those), it does quickly and easily explain some basics of survey writing, analysis and how it can all go wrong. And, it is entertaining. Some very basic things to watch when writing a survey:<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Non-response bias. Who does not answer can sometimes be more compelling than who does. Quick example: Do a phone survey Monday night on TV matching habits. The results? Hardly anyone watches football anymore! No, not really - the people watching football did not answer the phone. You have a big non-response problem. That is why, for all surveys you want to manage replicates (how much sample you release), contact design (how many times and over how many days you try to reach a record before you call it dead) and always take into account non-response bias.</li>
<li>Scales: Likert scales (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likert_scale">good Wikipedia overview here</a>) are the standard. But, even how you use these varies widely. A few quick comments:</li>
<ol><li>Using 4-point, 5-point, 7-point, 10-point scales. Always a hot debate here, quite enthralling and very sexy. But, in a nutshell I favor 5-point for several reasons. When you use 10-point, you typically roll up "top-box" as 9+10, so why not just go with 5 and make it easier? 10-point causes more respondent fatigue - larger survey questions (actually twice as long), more options, etc. Additionally, what is the difference between and 8 and 9? Moving from 4 to 5 seems a lot clearer form an analysis standpoint and form a respondent standpoint.</li>
<li>End-labeled or label all points? If you can, always label all points. The human mind is much better and more consistent at deciding between "somewhat satisfied" and "very satisfied" more so than "3" vs. "4". This is another argument to keep scales short - you can't anchor every point on a 10-point scale, but you can on a 5-point scale.</li>
<li>Neutral point? Typically I say no. The idea of using a scale is to differentiate respondents; to differentiate the most satisfied or dissatisfied - to find those levers you can pull as a business to make a difference. Allowing a neutral typically wastes a scale point. Instead I prefer to do a positively weighted 5-point scale (e.g., not at all satisfied, not very satisfied, satisfied, very satisfied, extremely satisfied). We want to make that "top box" the cream of the crop; hard for people to check, but if someone checks it you know you want to figure out how to get more of them. The goal is to move your 3s and 4s to this 5 spot. And, to figure out how to limit the bleeding with your 1s and 2s.</li>
</ol><li>Don't Know: The inclusion of "Don't Know" as an answer choice can drastically skew survey results. The classic example is in voter polls. If you only give the option of the two candidates with now "undecided" option your survey results can be drastically different than if you allow for an "undecided" option. Last minute voter turn-out drives, the results of primary races, the overall propensity for "undecided" voters to lean towards a given party - all throw off results by the inclusion or exclusion of this one "little" answer choice.</li>
</ol>There are plenty of other ways that survey design can dramatically change how data looks upon completion. You have to take into account cultural differences in scale usage (including colors - there are some great survey platforms that allow visual selections and provide visual cues, but remember while red means stop or bad in the US, it is a positive color in China), respondent propensity to check "Don't Know" (much higher in Japan than the US) and a myriad of other little factors.<br />
<br />
Okay, here is the darn video - enjoy!<br />
<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/If9EWDB_zK4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/If9EWDB_zK4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-69457585063428255662010-09-17T08:52:00.001-05:002010-10-01T14:20:35.461-05:00Design Thinking Applied To New iPad AppI came across this good, quick read on design thinking and applying it to launching a new business - in this case the iPad app <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=371088673&mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D6">Pulse</a> from <a href="http://www.alphonsolabs.com/">Alphonso Labs</a>. You can read it <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1687400/5-design-tips-from-ipads-pulse-app-creators-and-stanford-design-school?partner=homepage_newsletter">here</a>. In a nutshell here are the 5 steps:<br />
1)Empathize: Research and understand the end-user - their needs, pains and usage scenarios.<br />
2)Define: Focus on a core niche and then research that niche to define the why and how.<br />
3)Ideate: Brainstorm sessions and innovation.<br />
4)Create Prototype: These can be rough and even Post-It notes. But create something to narrow and code from.<br />
5)Test: Usability test in the real world.<br />
<br />
I would add a 6th one here which is to get Steve Jobs to present your app at the launch of iPad...which happened for Pulse. The result of good design or luck? Probably both, but you won't get lucky with bad design!Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-37043296416278436042010-08-30T16:05:00.000-05:002010-08-30T16:05:04.485-05:00Lessons from HawaiiAt the end of June through the beginning of July, I took advantage of Sentient’s <a href="http://sentientblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/power-of-doing-nothing.html">sabbatical benefit</a> and took off to Hawaii for two weeks in the great outdoors. Unplugging for a full two weeks was a little bit of a challenge – I went through email withdrawal for the first couple of days. Once I did unplug, I was able to regain some perspective outside of my computer and smartphone.<br />
<b><br />
Lesson #1: You have to get dirty to find the best views.</b><br />
<br />
On Maui, we drove the road to Hana and saw LOTS of waterfalls. By far the most fun we had at one was in Pua’a Ka’a State Park. However NOT at the lower falls that you just stroll to on the park’s walkway; instead, the upper falls aboe that one.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-7BbK1fuvhS3hCxVJeM4p94VaGymjEAixbCw6VkefPUDpeqWQqZqPtFVz2Ujj8akeBY-kQJV2NOtFkSYOr4rgBpxeFRaYNxXZyfsYUoLb-m5zjmVhHitmUiG45ia3Oeuqea6QcaSgtDk/s1600/LowerFalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-7BbK1fuvhS3hCxVJeM4p94VaGymjEAixbCw6VkefPUDpeqWQqZqPtFVz2Ujj8akeBY-kQJV2NOtFkSYOr4rgBpxeFRaYNxXZyfsYUoLb-m5zjmVhHitmUiG45ia3Oeuqea6QcaSgtDk/s320/LowerFalls.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower Falls</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyc6tBCLkoVPZRTtN0BXBcUSWHu7LDYqCtSszQFKDeR7IxlcVOS12Bx0m1XweA6FrNRMYqgVg3oB8MCT9EbzPZAxBVkDBivpwY4VmN4KBML9SS7lS1P2akXDs16f5OJ7oEzLNRZLSCFV1/s1600/UpperFalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyc6tBCLkoVPZRTtN0BXBcUSWHu7LDYqCtSszQFKDeR7IxlcVOS12Bx0m1XweA6FrNRMYqgVg3oB8MCT9EbzPZAxBVkDBivpwY4VmN4KBML9SS7lS1P2akXDs16f5OJ7oEzLNRZLSCFV1/s320/UpperFalls.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper Falls</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Our guidebook, <a href="http://wizardpub.com/maui/maui.html"><i>Maui Revealed</i></a> by Andrew Doughty (which we highly recommend), clued us in: <br />
<blockquote>“There’s an awkward trail on the right of the upper falls. It first leads to a short path to the top of the falls, but if you go past it for 5-10 squishy minutes (it’s usually muddy), there’s a much heavier untapped falls and pool just above the diversion ditch that’s taking much of the lower falls’ water. When the trail gets to the elevated waterway (viaduct), you have to walk along it (which those afraid of heights will hate), then across. Only 100 more feet upstream is your prize.”</blockquote>Awkward, squishy and muddy are all understatements – the whole trail was practically a slip-n-slide. At one point my hiking shoes were completely submerged in mud. These were new shoes when I left for Hawaii, and after this hike, they looked like this.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2SOon1CHAgMePC8qODYgZO-3SYNXTk-zGBbRvy1io4l_sDK1uXyxH98me-gnmSQtbywmz0iMjmdFTi3i7aURINNatzrUakMyPTEP0IxbGznEsr1a0fRpmbNSjQck4o5KMri6h33Iuy0a/s1600/MuddyShoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2SOon1CHAgMePC8qODYgZO-3SYNXTk-zGBbRvy1io4l_sDK1uXyxH98me-gnmSQtbywmz0iMjmdFTi3i7aURINNatzrUakMyPTEP0IxbGznEsr1a0fRpmbNSjQck4o5KMri6h33Iuy0a/s320/MuddyShoes.jpg" /></a></div><br />
There were at least 3 different times where I wanted to turn back – crossing the viaduct was one of them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kmoiPUOrGvY7hO7APzbVB-Cbz0mF92364TYY8meoQRuDa1Cquth4i8nuffASxGPyoFwXE5TgT4U9gdGO3ZCon1PT14fHJJSOM2uI1eD4Bn4KH_HhPKve2F76j-8iz1_JmPmjAoHrGvkM/s1600/Viaduct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kmoiPUOrGvY7hO7APzbVB-Cbz0mF92364TYY8meoQRuDa1Cquth4i8nuffASxGPyoFwXE5TgT4U9gdGO3ZCon1PT14fHJJSOM2uI1eD4Bn4KH_HhPKve2F76j-8iz1_JmPmjAoHrGvkM/s320/Viaduct.jpg" /></a></div><br />
But being the only person swimming in the waterfall’s pool was definitely worth all the work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv-UtbfU5oQkhH8E9Dw22v4NosOkbuTYb_hz_Regzrn2RP3hrq0gt27I09_WqDd_WQ8mxjX87QlOM58gO9Z1lrZuAm1_spPaMeHOru6ldoGenuFemo481Ex1owCWn-fwRgoRcrL90l9SA/s1600/SwimmingAtFalls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOv-UtbfU5oQkhH8E9Dw22v4NosOkbuTYb_hz_Regzrn2RP3hrq0gt27I09_WqDd_WQ8mxjX87QlOM58gO9Z1lrZuAm1_spPaMeHOru6ldoGenuFemo481Ex1owCWn-fwRgoRcrL90l9SA/s320/SwimmingAtFalls.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Takeaway: </b>Don’t be content with the status quo – find new trails in your work. From a research perspective, this could mean:<br />
<ul><li>Using a new technique to understand the desirability of a design described in the paper <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/usability/uepostings/desirabilitytoolkit.doc">Measuring Desirability: New Methods for Evaluating Desirability in a Usability Lab Setting (WORD DOC)</a> by Joey Benedeck and Trish Miner of Microsoft</li>
<li>Trying a new platform from 20|20 Research with a mobile population that lets you <a href="http://2020research.com/qualanywhere.html">reach respondents via text message</a></li>
<li>Reading this month’s edition of Quirks to <a href="http://www.quirks.com/pdf/201008_quirks.pdf">learn more about social media research (PDF)</a></li>
</ul><b>Lesson #2: The human mind tries to relate new things to things it knows</b>.<br />
<br />
We also visited Mount Haleakala, the dormant volcano on Maui. Going up the 10,023 feet, I saw terrain and vegetation that reminded me of the alpine climate I have seen in the Colorado Rocky Mountain National Park. However, there were some plants, like the silversword, that I had never seen before. We were also lucky enough to see one that was blooming – something that they only do once in their lifespan of 50 years before dying.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6WG8dpl6ri2MAL1LlD0ja429a13IJW4U5YGbd3D9nZV0zR-rYCsUuBQgr2if_mXHnFeVZEQpT2Arv4glOwI9RwX1RJY1pjcb4f2RQ8zHducO_hXzgW5SJLS27zUZ6BbFjDiqIg7Ku8wZ/s1600/Silversword.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6WG8dpl6ri2MAL1LlD0ja429a13IJW4U5YGbd3D9nZV0zR-rYCsUuBQgr2if_mXHnFeVZEQpT2Arv4glOwI9RwX1RJY1pjcb4f2RQ8zHducO_hXzgW5SJLS27zUZ6BbFjDiqIg7Ku8wZ/s320/Silversword.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And then there was the crater. This was terrain that I had never seen before, yet my brain still tried to relate it to something – namely what I imagine the terrain of Mars to look like.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTpUlnv88M8O3PAMdC3YqV3UflM-0fEKD7Ofk6BGMK3j8J5t85jaZqoWKqw5exi3ppfP2aW6GhMl7aRHdk82AmVl4raLwzLYirMR42p7EORg6nUVpzLcGg2iaXNrmdlmXDCrRbmwmcwiy/s1600/HaleakalaCrater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTpUlnv88M8O3PAMdC3YqV3UflM-0fEKD7Ofk6BGMK3j8J5t85jaZqoWKqw5exi3ppfP2aW6GhMl7aRHdk82AmVl4raLwzLYirMR42p7EORg6nUVpzLcGg2iaXNrmdlmXDCrRbmwmcwiy/s320/HaleakalaCrater.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Takeaway:</b> When presenting something new, make it relevant. For example, relate new research findings to things that your audience might be familiar with – previous research, industry news, etc.<br />
<br />
<b>Lesson #3: You’re more interesting when you’re moving.</b><br />
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Starting to wonder if I spent any time in the ocean? Well yes, we went on a snorkel trip to Molokini. We saw all sorts of coral and fish.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_qkCirC2Ri4QOT1IV34oy9Xcy4VN0KFZ0NjCvKXBhavuoLl_R_30XKVLaUusvOGQZUzh0pi5_cjNqKYB8MCNDiWmbOle1Dgz3R8_2w63Lfc6KJbrmQnsqLwjYhyphenhyphenn8Umfc7207mrOPhdC/s1600/Snorkel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_qkCirC2Ri4QOT1IV34oy9Xcy4VN0KFZ0NjCvKXBhavuoLl_R_30XKVLaUusvOGQZUzh0pi5_cjNqKYB8MCNDiWmbOle1Dgz3R8_2w63Lfc6KJbrmQnsqLwjYhyphenhyphenn8Umfc7207mrOPhdC/s200/Snorkel1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtAqYD8DNyFcYOjuEh09sA7k6XRKkLkNUUjF6ikgBFS830wwmZplR9dzRTWyxAt6HtWJPZ4bcjEtbyt0IwgveoIieW75q6sS6Rgj1nKcn_N_5Qc26mNmgNt2j40gYqHw6H91hPQNMTTd5/s1600/Snorkel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtAqYD8DNyFcYOjuEh09sA7k6XRKkLkNUUjF6ikgBFS830wwmZplR9dzRTWyxAt6HtWJPZ4bcjEtbyt0IwgveoIieW75q6sS6Rgj1nKcn_N_5Qc26mNmgNt2j40gYqHw6H91hPQNMTTd5/s200/Snorkel2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKtAOzlPQ-l3CVWeSN08T0a1K46CX4i7KXmjVkKeW0eYBeTMzZlTnwyNbJRsF1Yzi-en17jO_Ur83aTIE9yy8KcYzmJ3QV74v-HvyA0NQp8Sd92_ci3L-erhyphenhyphenLxAyNQEThHjrE6xm5XlS/s1600/Snorkel3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKtAOzlPQ-l3CVWeSN08T0a1K46CX4i7KXmjVkKeW0eYBeTMzZlTnwyNbJRsF1Yzi-en17jO_Ur83aTIE9yy8KcYzmJ3QV74v-HvyA0NQp8Sd92_ci3L-erhyphenhyphenLxAyNQEThHjrE6xm5XlS/s200/Snorkel3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
On the way back to Maui, some dolphins started swimming around our boat. The captain stopped and the dolphins came to check us out. They played a bit, and then started swimming away. When the boat started moving again, the dolphins were immediately back, in front of the bow, and racing the boat – we were much more interesting when we were moving.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERQH8vY9IwINBk4btX_fUn7k0xnXPcwUyULnv1Pu5ALhw-qHD0mgt5SnEvtqJVK7_Uz8BZgLPkFm_JgCLJsjSCpgkRl4XTGdLZCOlsjATFmIMpWa_eAWzvB1eZnWIaRJRO55g5qIFDq9s/s1600/Dolphins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgERQH8vY9IwINBk4btX_fUn7k0xnXPcwUyULnv1Pu5ALhw-qHD0mgt5SnEvtqJVK7_Uz8BZgLPkFm_JgCLJsjSCpgkRl4XTGdLZCOlsjATFmIMpWa_eAWzvB1eZnWIaRJRO55g5qIFDq9s/s320/Dolphins.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Takeaway:</b> MOVE on your findings. At Sentient, we are always customizing and finding creative and actionable ways to interpret and present research that allows our clients to:<br />
<ul><li>Know the why behind the what</li>
<li>Easily distribute market intelligence throughout the organization</li>
<li>Take action and build consensus based upon market research</li>
<li>Have complete confidence in the analytics and validity of implications</li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-7590046704362907082010-08-13T11:26:00.001-05:002010-08-13T11:29:02.054-05:00Ideas On Usability PresentationsSo, this could be considered a lazy blog post - a blog post about another blog post. And, this other blog post is about other posts and presentations on usability, so this could be considered extremely lazy on my part.<br />
<br />
However, click here for the Useful Usability blog and get links to <a href="http://www.usefulusability.com/5-radical-ideas-from-usability-presentations/"><i>5 Radical Ideas From Usability Presentations</i></a>. There is stuff in here for UX professionals, iPhone developers and tips on presenting research findings. All good stuff.Share it this post around and let us know what radical ideas you have for presenting usability research.<br />
<br />
Here is a quick link to the first presentation covered: <br />
<div id="__ss_137071" style="width: 425px;"><b style="display: block; margin: 12px 0pt 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/gregbell/usability-20" title="Usability 2.0">Usability 2.0</a></b><object height="355" id="__sse137071" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=usability-20-1192632122504580-3&stripped_title=usability-20" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed name="__sse137071" src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=usability-20-1192632122504580-3&stripped_title=usability-20" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br />
<div style="padding: 5px 0pt 12px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/gregbell">Greg Bell</a>.</div></div>Paul Janowitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05916334984826288168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4584118377647315464.post-90040499319312189762010-07-14T14:33:00.008-05:002010-07-14T21:02:05.006-05:00The Power of Mobile Market ResearchAs advertising to the public via mobile phones becomes more widespread, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for other marketing activities – including market research. Market research will need to keep pace with location-based marketing services like <a href="http://www.foursquare.com">FourSquare</a>, <a href="http://www.wantandfound.com">wantANDfound</a>, <a href="http://www.gowalla.com">Gowalla</a>, <a href="http://www.loopt.com">Loopt</a>, <a href="http://www.whrrl.com">Whrrl</a>, <a href="http://www.placecast.net">Placecast</a> and many others. Emerging as the latest medium for reaching consumers, how can mobile research technologies be utilized to gain deeper and richer insights into behavior and drive innovation? Think about it, what if customers could give feedback anytime, anywhere to improve products and services – right when the issue happens or the idea arises!<br /><br />A relatively new tool we have come across is <a href="http://www.2020research.com/qualanywhere.html">QualAnywhere</a> from <a href="http://www.2020research.com.">20/20 Research, Inc</a>. <a href="http://www.2020research.com/qualanywhere.html">QualAnywhere</a> allows you to build panels or do one-off recruiting and then interact with respondent via their mobile phone for surveys or qualitative chat. A few examples <a href="http://www.2020research.com">20/20 Research</a> gives as ways to utilize this methodology includes:<br /><br /> • Conducting studies about eating habits DURING the lunch hour<br /> • Conducting studies on shopping WHILE participants are likely to be at the grocery store<br /><br />Interacting with respondents at the POD (Point-Of-Decision) is a rarity, but when available adds to the research validity and actionability. How do you conduct research at the POD? I would love to hear about it and how it helped your research.Kristen Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05460152949298375796noreply@blogger.com0