Monday, 16 May 2011

Effective time for Posting on Facebook

Have you ever thought what time is the best for posting on Facebook or LinkedIn?
When I say the best, what I mean is when will the most people read or comment on your posts? Maybe you can help me out here.

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

How Many Triangles can you count?

We all have our “Jerry Maguire” moments – there is something that keeps you awake and you just want to cease the moment so you stay up and think/write. I guess I have just had one of those moments and would like to share it with you.

Simple Problem: in the picture how many Triangles can you count?

Triangles

I will past the solution in the comments.  But in the mean time… Good luck and have fun.

TIP(with MATLAB):

>> a = [73    32    102    105    103    117    114    101    100    32    105    116    32    111    117    116    32    98    121    101    32    114    101    100    114    97    119    105    110    103    32    116    104    101    32    102    105    103    117    114    101    44    32    97    110    100    32    99    111    117    110    116    105    110    103    32    104    111    119    32    109    97    110    121    32    110    101    119    32    116    114    105    97    110    103    108    101    115    32    119    101    114    101    32    99    114    101    97    116    101    100    32    119    105    116    104    32    101    97    99    104    32    110    101    119    32    108    105    110    101   46];

>> char(a)

Vegas just keeps getting better and better!

This was the 3rd time I went to Vegas for a few days…and what can I say? Vegas is simply amazing!

The truth being said, it is always fun, but what really makes the difference is who you go with. This time I took the opportunity to focus more on the shows. Every casino, has its own shows from erotic, to stand up comedy, to musicals, to whatever your heart desires! Just walking down the strip is an adventure or an experience that every mortal should go through once in their life.

Most people have this perception that Vegas is all about adult entertainment and gambling however if you choose to visit Vegas with people who are not really interested in that… well it does not mean that Vegas is boring. Actually that is what makes Vegas so great there is something for everyone!

Vegas

I will keep this blog entry short, as what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas… but I can tell you that it was a blast! If you have never been, just go there for a few days and see for yourself. There is no place on earth like Vegas!

Tips for Vegas:

Tip#1 Hotels and accommodation are cheap! It is worth spending 80 dollars for a room on the 50th of Trump Towers with a view that makes your heart stop. Go for it.

Tip#2 Don’t stay in Vegas too long, I recommend at least 2 nights but not more than 4! It can get expensive.

Tip#3 If you are there you have to go to the Grand Canyon! Rent a car and drive it is part of the the Vegas experience.

Tip#4 Vegas is not only for men! I saw plenty of women there who were with their partners and had a blast! Take your partner you might be surprised.

Tip#5 I would recommend staying at one of the ends of the strip. When you walk up/down the strip it only gets better and better and bigger!

Tip#6 Only take into a casino what you want to loose. Hang around and figure out the rules before loosing your money blindly. If you are at the tables, always get a free drink.

Tip#7 Just go once in your life! No matter your age/sex or tastes… you will enjoy Vegas! Don't hesitate, don't postpone, just go. Check it off your bucket list!

Fenway Park: Boston 2011

My visit to Boston would not be complete if I did not walk around Fenway Park. Most people outside the US have no idea what Fenway Park is or how important it is. Until you visit or see a professional game of Baseball it will always be an question mark. The game is actually lots of fun. The crowd really gets into it plus America’s history is relatively short in comparison to Europe, hence sport plays a much bigger role.

Redsox Fenway Park is the home of the Boston Red Sox. It is called Fenway because Red Sox owner John I. Taylor said, "It's in the Fenway section of Boston, isn't it? Then call it Fenway Park." It was also Taylor who changed the club's name from Americans to Red Sox prior to the 1908 season.  I went there in the Winter and it was strange to see the pitch in snow, but still interesting. You this is a historic monument, which is about to be considered National Heritage (and hence will be never allowed to be taken down) as it is the oldest Baseball park in the US with its first game on the 20th of April 1912. It goes so far back that this park as seen how Boston changed in the last 100 years.

 

Walking through the park it is clear the amount of passion that the city has for the game, the team and of course the rivalry with the New York Yankees (most famous rivalry North American professional sports).

Monday, 9 May 2011

WhatsApp ?

What makes WhatsApp so special? Just like the Angry Bird phenomena, now there is WhatsApp... thousands of people download and use something blindly. This must be one of the most efficient marketing strategies ever. First year it is for free then you pay 2 dollars per year...and still people like it (including myself)! Well it turns out that there more than 1 million people already using the program...Will people stop using it? NO, just because they want to stay connected, fear of being along or not popular scares the vast majority of the world. Next Year WhatsApp makes 2 million out of the box! (not bad for “simple” app).

WhatsApp
Couple a instant messaging service to a mobile phone number and allow people to send video, geographic position, text, pictures, recordings...for free.


If you read this you may think there are so many other services which have the same... but none of them couple the account to a mobile number, around the world (not just the US)! The secret here was you can find someone based on their phone number instead of their email! And since you already have your friends phone number on your phone… it is just easy to find people.
This makes Whatapp special they probably have the fastest growing best cross platform mobile phone directory in the planet!


How did they do it? Word of mouth? It is a phenomena takes off, and EVERYONE needs it... Human nature at its very best, if my friend has something, I also need it!


But how do these things grow? Tweeter? Angry Birds? YouTube? gmail? Google? Facebook? Blogger? Skype? iPhone? iPad?LinkedIn? DropBox? Flicker?


Technically there are always just as good or better (even cheaper) products/websites and still this is not enough, people need to feel part of something and therefore chose what their friends have. So what do these things have in common?
- Timing?
- Great network?
- Effective Marketing?
- Creative/Innovative Idea?
- Started in the US?
- Makes you feel good? Or part of something!

- Get Connected with others?
- Topic that you can talk about anywhere? to anyone?