The Difference Between Marketing and Advertising | Small Biz Trends

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

If you ask the person next to you about the difference between marketing and advertising, there’s a strong possibility you won’t get a clear answer. That’s because for many people, there’s only a subtle difference between marketing and advertising that’s often difficult to explain.

To be honest, advertising and marketing are closely related disciplines that have much in common. Yet they differ in many ways too. To see the differences and how each can benefit you as a small business owner, you must first understand the basics of both.

Read More

Should You Start a Business with your Friend? | Getentrepreneurial

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Starting a business is an exciting, yet stressful, experience. Businesses are formed in many ways, some of which are joint ventures. These business partnerships can occur for a number of reasons, including a lack of skill sets, poor connections within the industry or not enough financial resources. Many times, the people who form a business partnerships already have a personal relationship, such as a friendship. Although this can be rewarding, it can also be challenging at times. Businesses built between friends are most successful when emotions do not get in the way, which is done by keeping business practices as impersonal as possible.

This article will explain some of those challenges and how to avoid many of them by planning ahead through successful business practices and reasoning. First and foremost, it is essential to make all decisions with the company’s best interests in mind. This can be done by establishing ground rules so that when a problem arises, common issues and negative outcomes can be avoided.

Read More

VW: Prosecutors in Germany and France widen probes | BBC News

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Prosecutors in Germany and France have broadened their investigations into the emissions scandal at Volkswagen.

Authorities in Paris have opened a formal probe into “aggravated fraud” over the use of diesel engine devices that gave misleading emissions results.

And German prosecutors said the number of VW employees now under investigation has increased from six to 17.

VW, which said it is cooperating with all inquiries, had about 11 million cars fitted with the emissions devices.

Read More

Warning: Why Businesses Need to Be Careful on Twitter | All Business

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Too many businesses make the mistake of ignoring Twitter. There are some people who look at it, but don’t understand it, and there are massive numbers of dormant accounts.

The point isn’t that everyone is on Twitter; the key is understanding what you can do with it and why you need to be there.

Twitter is still the most efficient network for reaching out to busy people who have gatekeepers on their phones and email, but you need to be careful on Twitter to make sure you are getting the most out of it and don’t end up “ghost banned,” also known as “shadow banned.” (More on that near the end of this post.)

Read More

Tesla Takes on the Dealerships—and GM | Bloomberg Business

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

“We need your help,” Tesla wrote in a Feb. 19 e-mail to its customers in Indiana. The state legislature was about to move forward with a bill that would have forced the electric-car maker to find a franchisee to operate its one showroom in the state, setting a precedent that would make it harder for Tesla to open others elsewhere. The company claimed the legislation reflected the interests and influence of one rival: General Motors. “Don’t let GM tell you that your only option is to buy a car from a traditional franchised dealer by shutting out Tesla,” the e-mail continued. Tesla asked recipients to contact their lawmakers.

Read More

Millennials: 10 Things Old Farts Won’t Tell You About Entrepreneurship (Fifth in the series)

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Reagan and Gorb

5. You Can’t Win, If  You Can’t Walk

Bert was one of the most successful people I’ve ever known.  He was the co-owner of a construction company I worked for in my twenties.  His whole life would change when he had a chance meeting with the creator of TV Guide, Walter Annenberg, on a bike ride in Rancho Mirage. From that fateful meeting, he went on to become fast friends with Ronald Reagan and a behind the scenes power broker in the California Republican party.

But before that time he was a roughneck that made good.  He was always helping people regardless of their color, religion or political beliefs.  He used to take me along to deal negotiations.  On these long trips we would discuss and sometimes debate politics, unions or the general state of the nation.  He was older, rich and on his way to becoming wealthy and conservative.  I was young, broke and very liberal. There were things we didn’t see eye to eye about, but I never felt judged by him.  He always treated me with respect even if he thought my opinion was less than smart.

Continue reading “Millennials: 10 Things Old Farts Won’t Tell You About Entrepreneurship (Fifth in the series)” →

Forget Your Keys? Your Next Car May Be Unlocked With Your Smartphone | NBC News

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

You might notice something missing if you buy the new 2017 Volvo S90. The car key.

Starting with the launch of the new sedan later this year, the Swedish automaker plans to abandon the car key, except as a special option.

And Volvo isn’t alone. Traditional metal car keys have almost vanished entirely. Ford, for example, offers standard keys on only two new truck models. And they could vanish entirely in the next few years. But Volvo and others may also abandon the smart, wireless keyfobs that have come to take the place of standard keys, as well.

“Mobility needs are evolving, and so are our customers’ expectation to access cars in an uncomplicated way,” said Henrik Green, vice president at Volvo.

Read More

URBAN PLANT Tower Would Allow Tenants To Grow Food Year-Round In A Flourishing Winter Garden | UPRISER

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Hydroponic technology has come a long way in a short time, so it’s no surprise to see architects integrating growing systems into new projects. D+DS architecture is taking this idea to the green extreme with their new residential concept called URBAN PLANT. Designed to be a fully sustainable housing complex, the project envisions a living solution where tenants would be able to grow their own food year-round in a flourishing winter garden.

Read More

Instagram starts blocking ‘add me’ deeplinking for Snapchat, Telegram | TechCrunch

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Facebook-owned photo-sharing platform Instagram is flexing its platform muscle by shutting down ‘add me’ deeplinking for some other social media services within its apps.

Previously Instagram users were able to include ‘add me’/’follow me’ links in a website section on their profile page, directly linking out to any other profiles they had on third party social services’ apps. Now attempting to type one of these links to a Snapchat or Telegram profile, within the Instagram app’s website field on a user’s profile, results in the following message…

Read More