The Secret to Language Learning . . From Babies?

Learn the science behind the revolutionary Pimsleur Approach's language learning system.  Be able to hold steady conversations in a foreign language after 10 - 30 minute sessions??

I found myself watching this entire 15 minute advertisement while browsing Youtube for my daily funny.  Before I knew it I was in the process of buying a copy of their introductory Chinese Mandarin CDs. 

From the eye catching animation to the drawing dialogue, find out for yourself why this advertisement is so good at converting views to sales.

Making Music Grow With Indiegogo

How do you support an amazing idea, project, or (in this case) music record if you don't have the proper funding?  Indiegogo!

http://www.planbsucksbook.com/676/indiegogo

How Indiegogo Works

Watch the video below to understand how Indiegogo works.  Don't mind the poor audio, because the concepts in this video presented by SDGLabs are fantastic.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SDGLabs?feature=watch

If you're already a fan of the site and have the craving to support the musically talented One of These Days Alice simply click on the Indiegogo page below!  

Haven't heard of One of These Days Alice?  Watch their latest single "The Affronted" at the bottom of  page!

One Of These Days Alice

Earn Perks while donating! Click below!

Photographed and Edited by Lizzie Wurth
https://www.facebook.com/lizzielegend?fref=ts

One Of These Days Alice is an experimental-hardcore band taking on the challenges of both alternate musical structure and genre change.  OOTDA's lyrics are mainly based on standing up for yourself, irony, and common real life situations with a twist.  Take some time to listen to their music, you may just be in for a ride!

https://www.facebook.com/xXOneOfTheseDaysAliceXx

Check out their latest single "The Affronted" below!

http://www.youtube.com/user/0ne0fTheseDaysAlice?feature=watch

Still don't understand Indiegogo? Want to learn more about One Of These Days Alice? Please comment below!

The Genius of razorfish

Talk about a company who knows what they're doing.  Just a preview of what this company is up to, and how they will continue to be the success in our vast advertising industry.

www.razorfish.com

How "Sharing" is Changing the Business World

This post is about becoming aware of Michael Porter's idea of "shared value."  Use this information the next time you make an educated purchase, or for the business owner/employee wanting to add value to their company.  Discover how to incorporate "shared value" into your business model.

 www.fourpiggies.com

A Changing World

Our economic world is changing.  Consumers are more interested in an entire selling experience and are now more than ever more aware of what they're purchasing.  Customer reviews, blogs (just like DynamiteAds), and the extraordinary extent of the Google search allows consumers to fully understand what they're getting and how to get it easily and at an affordable price.  This disturbs businesses who are stuck in traditional marketing and sales, but those who accept and understand the new era of business are thriving.

What is "Shared Value"?

"The concept of "shared value", recognizes that societal needs, not just conventional economic needs, define markets.  It also recognizes that social harms or weaknesses frequently create internal costs for firms . . And addressing societal harms and constraints does not necessarily raise costs for firms, because they can innovate through using new technologies, operating methods, and management approaches and as a result, increase their productivity and expand their markets."

 - Referenced from Michael E. Porter and Mark R. Kramer's article, "Creating Shared Value."

http://hbr.org/2011/01/the-big-idea-creating-shared-value

http://jeroen-de-flander.com/

What I've gathered from this article is the growing idea that businesses are moving from a self profit model to a model based on the extended reach of society.  Those companies that are able to act on society's needs within the core of their mission and vision will thrive.  This means that with each decision the company makes they not only have to keep the consumer's needs in mind, but the needs of society as a whole.  The next section details two companies that have fully immersed themselves into "shared value."

Companies Already Winning with "Shared Value"

In 2006, American Traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet.  Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need.  Realizing this movement could serve basic needs, TOMS Eyewear was launched.  With every pair purchased, TOMS will help give sight to a person in need.

- Referenced directly from TOMS company website

http://www.toms.com/corporate-info/l

The beautiful landscape we know and love is fast disappearing.  At Ten Tree, we believe that we can inspire a new group of consumers to tackle the environmental issues we are now faced with.  By planting ten trees for each product purchased and ensuring that all our clothing is produced responsibly we allow each and every customer to make a difference.

- Referenced directly from Ten Tree's company website

http://www.tentree.com/about

"Shared Value" Satisfying 3 Customer Needs

How has "shared value" come into play for consumers of these two companies?  A customer of TOMS and/or Ten Tree satisfies three key needs:

1. Physical Need - Purchasing clothes that the consumer can physically wear.  Ex. Shoes from TOMS or a t-shirt from Ten Tree.
2. Psychological Need- Buying TOMS causes the company to give a pair of shoes to a child in need.  Buying a Ten Tree t-shirt will ensure that ten new trees will be planted.  The customer is psychologically satisfied by purchasing the good deed for another human being or for the environment.
3. Societal Need - The act of giving to others can be displayed in public while wearing the TOMS shoes.  Someone wearing these shoes can be classified as a giver.  Where the Ten Tree t-shirt allows for the perception of environmentally friendly.

How to Use "Shared Value"

These companies haven't attempted to tap into "shared value," their entire business is built around it.  TOMS and Ten Tree are extreme examples of using "shared value."  Another method to incorporate "shared value" into your company is through greater employee satisfaction.  The greater a company's employee satisfaction, the more profitable that company will be.  James Oakley from Purdue University has done extensive research to show facts of this correlation:
"There is a direct link between employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction and improved financial performance."

- To find out more about James Oakley's incredible research on this topic visit:

http://www.purdue.edu/uns/html4ever/2004/040913.Oakley.sat.html

Michael Porter's research into "shared value" is changing the game of business.  Incorporating "shared value" into your business will allow you to break through the barriers of traditional business, increase profit, and inevitably make way for the future.

If you would like to learn more about "What's New and What's for You?"  Follow us on Twitter @DynamiteAds by clicking the button at the top of the page.

If you have any questions, ideas, or comments, please leave them below!

Surviving on Shark Tank

Pitching to the Sharks or any investor, these 5 Entrepreneurial Essentials will help secure funding for your company.

Kevin O'Leary - Shark on abc's Shark Tank

Shark Tank

"Shark Tank" the up-and-coming TV series on abc, features six high-end investors (the sharks) seeking out new products/services from their potential entrepreneurs (the guppies).  These entrepreneurs have to show the sharks they have what it takes to earn their large investments and begin their new company's journey.  But all it takes is a great pitch and a great product to win, right?  Wrong.  There are 5 essentials that a new company must have to survive the Shark Tank and walk away with the money:

The 5 Essentials to Survive on Shark Tank

1 - Innovative Product/Service - An innovation is defined as making a change to something that is already established.  We as consumers thrive on the new and now.  The products or services that are truly worth the money can be patented.

2 - Marketing Master - To win with the Sharks there has to be a solid combination of a great presentation and established marketing efforts.  How the product's presence is being relayed to its potential consumers has the ability to make or break a company.  A product/service can have incredible demand from it's consumers but if no one knows about your company, how will it sell?

3 - Strategist - Don't be the man without a plan.  How will your products be distributed?  How much will your products sell for and what will your costs be?  These are the types of questions successful companies ask and the sharks need to know.

4 - Starter Success - What are the odds? These sharks aren't going to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars without any proof that this product/service has any chance to succeed.  No one truly knows how a company is going to grow or thrive, but the more indications towards starting success the less the shark is risking with his/her money.

5 - Confidence - The most obvious answer can also be the hardest to achieve.  Entrepreneurs without confidence, leave this show empty handed.  Even with their expertise, these sharks will not invest in someone who doesn't have the slightest clue of what they are doing.  A business partnership has to have balance and a weak partner will only cause failure in the business world.

LIVE #Dynamite or #Dud Friday's 9/8c

Having these 5 essentials will have the sharks licking their lips for the chance to throw money at these new companies.  To find out more about the companies of Shark Tank and "What's New? and What's For You?" Follow Dynamite Ads on Twitter @DynamiteAds.  LIVE "Dynamite or Dud" session Friday nights during Shark Tank on abc 9/8c.  Get hooked on the action!