It is crucial for companies to have an online presence.Being up to date on the latest technology for
one’s website is also equally important.Many companies consider how to market properly to get the customers that
will drive the revenues for the organization.Part of that marketing plan may include having a website that allows
customers to visibly see what products and services that one’s organization has
to offer.There are a lot of ways that one
can optimize the website to the fullest capability which companies don’t often see
because it is behind the scenes.Driving
traffic online is important because it helps the brand become more visibly noticed
in the market.
Key words are a critical component of Search Engine Optimization.To search for keywords
that can optimize ones website, one can you Google AdWords.Signing up for an account is quick and the
program is user friendly.Once signed
up, a company can use search engine phrases that relate to the company’s
products or services offered to the market.The program gives related keywords that are searched for every month.The goal is to use these phrases throughout
one’s website to optimize it and drive traffic to that site.
SEO is a great tool
to help organizations bring more customers to the website.It can then in turn generate more revenue for
the company.Understanding what
customers are looking for and providing them with those items, products, and
services, can help ones organization grow and flourish.
The key here after
driving traffic to ones site is to analyze who is visiting most often.One can grab specific demographics by using
Google Analytics.This program helps
calculate where the online traffic is coming from, the education level of the
people visiting, and more detailed information.This can be helpful especially when trying to understand one’s primary
and secondary market.
Some great websites
and video’s go into more detail about search engine optimization and how
organizations can use this data to reach its goals and provide for the needs of
the market.Many large organizations such
as universities and entertainment companies can easily utilize over 10,000
keywords to their advantage to drive people to the site.
For those involved in the entertainment industry, one may have heard of this inspirational lady. But for most of the general public, they have not. Why? It's because she is behind the scenes creating the inspiration in which we currently hear through our radio, iPod's, and televisions. You won't find her out on the stage performing, but what you will hear, is her lyrics.
Diane Warren is the ultimate songwriter of all time and an ultimate woman of dynamics in the entertainment industry in which I truly admire. After careful research I found a list of her most powerful top hit songs over the past several years. Her website shows the full dynamics of her songs in which many pop, rock, country, and R&B artists actually perform. According toan interview with People Magazine(Laudadio, 2010) she discussed the meanings behind some of the songs that she wrote. Warren mentions that she wrote "Because you loved Me" performed by Celion Dion in memory of her father who supported her since she was 11 years old and never gave up. She had many people turn their back to her and told her she wasn't good enough, but her perseverance pulled her though, and her father never doubted her talent. Below is an interview of her with Eurovision, a top entertainment company, which influenced my desire to sing and write more.
A great performance that she literally had to beg Beyonce' to perform was "I was Here". When she wrote it, she knew that Beyonce' was the one to sing it. Watch this stunning performance at the United Nations World Humanitarian Day.
What can we grasp from such talent? For one thing, I truly believe that one should find their natural talents and take time to master the skill. Surrounding oneself with those that truly believe in this talent, and never give up. I also view this as inspirational because of the impact this one woman has on the entire world with her music. Many of her songs are about love, yet she mentions she has never been in love herself. This goes to show that the object of creativity can be found in being faithful to themselves and allowing the rest flow through others.
References: DeMain, B. (2007). Diane Warren. Performing Songwriter, 15(106), 84-86. Laudadio, M. (2010). DIANE WARREN. People, 73(22), 61
One of the greatest gifts in life is the ability to take your experiences and share them with the rest of the world through creative ventures. Many people get overwhelmed at the thought of writing a book, producing a movie, or writing a song. Some of the best ways that I have been able to find clarity in projecting my ideas in all of these are to take things step by step. The internet is one of the greatest tools used to make these ideas come to life. However useful the tools that we have available to us, we still need the right people in the right place to make your thoughts a reality.
Breaking down the big picture into small attainable and realistic goals seems to be one of the most helpful ways that I have been able to achieve them. When I mention having the right people in the right place, I mean allowing the experts that have the expertise in the industry to do their jobs. We live in an age that has abundant opportunity so that we can do many things ourselves. Part of being a leader is in knowing and understanding where the best use of your time is. When it comes to publishing a book there are so many helpful companies out there that will do this at a financial cost to your project, however one must also consider other risks involved such as giving up your copyright.
Authors completing any creative work should always keep in mind their ultimate goals. If the goal is to reach the mass market and quickly by a set period of time, one would consider weighing their options to find the choice thats most suitable to that need. Another challenge that creative people find is during certain periods of their life, is how to take their company to the next level. A great book that I found to be extremely helpful is Good to Great by Jim Collins.
We all want and desire for our creative works to become huge successes but we must also consider the risks associated with that. We must have the drive, passion, and a huge WHY we do what we do. It is this reason that will bring one through the tides of change for our companies.
There are aproximately over 7 billion people in the world, according to the World Population Clock. In our journey in this life, we meet thousands if not millions of people that we have interacted with, had a short conversation with, or that we have worked with. There are some that become friends for moments, years, and for our whole life. Have you wondered how many opportunities that may have been passed up to get to know one so special and dear to us that it was an absolute gift just having them be there? Scientists are now saying that our life expectancy here on earth is about 69 years.
So in this 69 years on average that we have to live, how can we make the most of it? The answer to this question resides so deep down that only we can unravel it. Making the most of it to ME may be completely different to someone else. If we be sure that where we are today could have been altered by ONE SINGLE life event that changed our course, what if we knew those alternative choices RIGHT AT THE TIME OF the choice? Lastly, what if we knew that EVERY drop of energy altered waves of energy that changed others lives in a lasting, positive way? Take a moment to watch this quick video that I found to be so powerful that in just a few short moments, you will look at life differently.
I am here to present to you a new book series called "Ripple". Award Winning author, Dawn Closson, interviews thousands of people while she travels the nation that all have a story to tell. We can and have learned a lot from those that become huge successes, such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. There are billions of others in the world that have a voice and want to share it with you! If you were chosen to write your story, what would you have to say? What if the choices that we took were linked into others path so that you too, could become all that God set out for your life? Dawn Closson, helps engage others in a therapeutic style to place pieces together and grant access to the largest kind of love in life. Stories of lost loved ones found again, tragedy, forgiveness, healing, and power all come from the internal depths of our heart. She uncovers the truth to love, and brings hope as well as light to the beautiful eyes she meets with every story that is told. What is your story?
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Industry Expert Blog
Legal liabilities are concerns for
new startup companies. In the
entertainment industry there are many that need to be addressed and companies
must have a strategy on combating them. The Entertainment Law Update Podcast by Gordon Fire mark
is a great podcast to keep updated on the newest legal concerns in the entertainment
industry. Podcast# 43 “No copyright
Sherlock?” mentions a case of copyright infringement. William Faulkner estate sues Sony for using a
nine- word quote from a Faulkner novel.
The quote says, “The past is not dead. Actually it’s not even past” is
paraphrased in the movie Midnight in
Paris.The court dismissed this
motion in favor of Sony, which could not find similarity enough to enforce the
lawsuit actions. Gordon Firemark gives other examples of
similar examples of copyright infringement cases. Other publishing companies have been
challenged with this issue. New startup
companies need to ensure that any copyright is filed with the Copyright Office
in a timely manner to prevent others from using the work. The United StatesCopyright Office gives clear instructions on how to register, and even
provide user-friendly videos to help authors to protect their work.
The next podcast # 44 by GordonFiremark discusses crimes, FOIA, and blurred lines.In this podcast it discussed a lady wanting
to use the song “Happy Birthday” in her movie to discuss the history of
it.Nelson contacted the one who had the
rights to it, and was “quoted a licensing fee of over $1,500”(Firemark,
2013).Warner Chapel had control over
the exclusive rights of the song and melody however after much research, she
found that the melody and lyrics itself were not copyrighted formally and
should be use for the public.Warner
Chapel Music did not challenge her evidence but was just trying to decrease the
lawsuit amounts.Here again we tend to
see copyright issues even with the very basic songs we have known for
years.The legal requirement to file a
lawsuit is that a copyright must be properly registered in a timely
manner.This decision was dismissed. According to copyright.gov (2013) “A work of
authorship is in the “public domain” if it is no longer under copyright
protection or if it failed to meet the requirements for copyright protection.
Works in the public domain may be used freely without the permission of the
former copyright owner”.A new
start up company must be able to differentiate what is truly illegal to use and
what is public domain.Hiring an
entertainment lawyer can help with understanding the differences and ensure
that the company is following standard operating procedures and preventing it
from getting into litigations.
The last podcast #33 from Gordon Firemark is about many cases of
copyright infringement, trademark infringement and a cease and desist letter
sent from Jack Daniels lawyer, Christy Susman to author Patrick Wensink who
wrote Broken Piano for President.Jack Daniels claims that the front cover of
the author’s book resembled the label for Daniel’s whiskey.The letter, which went viral about how nice
it was but also firm, allowed the author to know that the company needed to
protect its trademark from being weakened.Laws and regulations are put in place to be followed.Companies must be on the lookout for anyone
that may try to use their brand to their advantage either for monetary reasons
or for the association with the brand.How can companies do this?Watching your competitors and doing careful market research can lead to
results.Companies should hire
specialists that will constantly be on the lookout for any infringement cases
that may cause the brand to be weakened.
A recent theory (Allen, 2007) states that “An artist manager must know
absolutely everything about the artist’ life”.
When looking at Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs we can see that certain
needs must be met in an order before fulfillment of the next. In order for an artist to reach their fullest
potential and self-actualize, the manager must move with them. A manager must understand every aspect of an
artist life because it all affects their performances in one way or
another. An example of this would be in
that the artist’ personal life with their spouse can be reflected in their
performances.
How much information is too much? Would not one consider it a liability to
release this to someone who could possibly use it in future for their own
advantage by sharing it with the world either through print, media, or other
source? This all boils down to the level
of trust between the two. A contract
between the manager and artist must clarify every detail possible to prevent
any litigation issues in the future.
Too much information would create an injustice for
negation and leverage. The manager could
have so much information it would make it hard for the artist to
Negotiate because they also do not have the leverage that
is needed. So the solution is a Maslow’s
Hierarchy of needs management questionnaire.
There is not one part of an artist life that a manager does
not encounter on a daily basis. The
directing and guiding from the manager comes into play to help ensure the
success of the artist.
The closest analogy of an artist and the manager is that of a
good marriage. According to Xavier(2004) “To succeed, it takes a lot of hard work along
with a willingness to communicate, compromise, and change as the relationship
grows and new challenges are presented.
Above all, a good marriage requires a strong sense of mutual trust and
the ability to see things are they are”.
An artist must have a passion driven deep from an intrinsic
motivation. An artist must master their
work but also know the “Why” they work so hard doing what they do. A great manager will help guide the artist
even during the deepest and darkest part of the career. During the hard times the artist may need
reminders that they are serving a greater purpose larger than themselves. A great artist will play many roles as a
friend, business coach, and risk taker.
In essence, the success of the manager is completely dependent
upon the success of the artist. Both
roles are crucial and they both must mutually understand, and trust one
another. An example of how a manager is
a direct reflection upon the career of an artist can be seen with PDiddy’s managers all whom have gone to jail. PDiddy’s bad choices of managers have
reflected upon his career negatively and prevented him to reach his fullest
potential. Artists must be good judges
of character and managers must understand their servant type position for the
artist. This can cause one to humble himself
or herself before the artist but also have a strong desire to see to it that
above everything, the artist will succeed.
The first video that I watched was related to
entrepreneurship and negotiation as a supplement to our material at Full Sail
University. What I learned from this
first video was that if we don’t write stuff down, negotiations go smoother if
everything is written down, every time you have a meeting. Some advice given was to write a quick email
about what came from the meeting and having one spot with a folder with all of
the correspondence regarding each project.
They discuss that if a negotiation can not be made, that utilizing
BATNA(Best Alternative To A Negotiated Agreement will be a course of action
taken to fall back on. The first thing
the video talks about is to develop a list of actions to take, converting the best
alternatives into action, and lastly, selecting which option is the best. When you go into negotiation you and the
client wants to get the best out of it but if nothing can be reached, then you
have a dilemma. This strategy is a great
way to come to a common ground. Being
aware of the best alternative is crucial to the success of the negotiation
process.
When it comes to operating my own organizations, I will need
top- notch negotiation skills to compile my product lines, and deals with real
estate. I may not always be able to come
to a definite negotiation agreement with my suppliers, or with banks regarding
a piece of property. I will utilize BATNA
negotiation to use for the more difficult negotiations where both of us cannot
come to an agreement about an offer or cost for my organization. By finding the BATNA, both sides can be
mutually satisfied.
The next video I watched was a TED talks with William Ury,
“The walk from no to yes”. William
describes how we deal with our deepest differences. He also mentions that it is extremely easy
for us as humans to react, but urges us to sit down and talk about things. We should come to a perspective that we are
able to keep our eyes on the prize. In
positional bargaining we look at a series of positions and alternative
solutions while ordering them sequentially according to the desired
outcome. This is then sent to the other
party to reach an agreement
I may have to utilize positional bargaining if my resource
that is being negotiation is limited to time, money, or some sort of
psychological benefit. I may also have
to utilize positional bargaining in my real estate company because the other
party(banker, investor, etc.) may want to maximize the share of a fixed sum of
money. If I were to put in for an offer
for a piece of property that is below what the bank is asking for it, I may
need to utilize this negotiating strategy.
The bank wants a lump fixed sum and I am trying to negotiate them
down. Lastly, positional bargaining can
be used when current of future relationships have a lower priority than the
immediate gains from the negotiation. If
my current bargaining tool is considered to not have enough leverage with the
other party, I may not get the intended results of the negotiation.
The last video that I watched was a Debra Stevens negotiation
skills video. She is the owner and coach at Dramatic Training Solutions. Her company is a leader of sales and
management training in the UK. She
reveal’s some great thoughts about handling dirty tricks in negotiation.
There are a number of dirty tricks that the other party may
impose in a negotiation. Some of these are threats, exaggerated assertions,
chicken, bogey, intimidation, and take it or leave it, to name just a few. How one handles these dirty tricks can
determine the success of a negotiated agreement. Some of these dirty tricks may require us to
separate one self and emotions from the problem and even call the opponent out
on their tactics. The first step is to
recognize it, the second is to ensure the party understands that dirty tricks
are not to be tolerated.
Personally, I have dealt with many of these dirty
tricks. Recognizing them seemed to be
half of the battle to reaching a conclusion and having the opponent know that
its unacceptable. I realize the deeper
my businesses penetrate the market, which I will have to uncover many of these
tricks for what they are. In negotiating
contracts for an artist, or for my parts from my suppliers. Calling the opponents bluff will toughen my
skin to ensure that as a professional business woman, that I will not tolerate
being walked over. I need to stand firm
on my values, morals, and ethics, in my organizations, and need to oppose
anything contrary to them. In doing so, my employees, and the stakeholders of
the company will develop a deeper respect for the organization.
