Introducing AdSense for conversations

We're happy to announce the launch of AdSense for conversations, a new type of monetization solution that "puts the 'context' in contextual advertising". Now, in just a few simple steps, you can begin displaying ads that are relevant to the topics you're discussing -- in an unobtrusive screen above your head.

Anyone taking part in the conversation can hit the ad with their hand to immediately take advantage of the product or service being offered. With our new Teleportation Technology(TM), you'll be transported directly to the site where the service is available, or have the product appear instantaneously in your hands.

Based on our omega testing, we've noticed a few common questions among publishers that we'd like to answer.

How do I add Google ads to my conversations?
Once you sign up using the link at the bottom of this post, we'll send you an adjustable screen and special AdSense headgear to attach it to. Just follow our Screen Implementation Guide to assemble it and select your desired size, such as the very effective 300 x 250 mm. Don't forget to also visit the 'Manage Ads' section of your account to customize the look and feel of your ads -- try a color palette with 336699 to bring out the blue in your eyes!

Can I prevent ads from appearing in certain conversations?
Yes; we understand that there's a time and place for ads in conversations, as a chat with a friend isn't quite the same as an interview with a prospective employer or parole officer. That's why we let you choose which conversations to target using the 'Allowed Conversations' feature, located under your AdSense Setup tab.

Why are my ads not targeted to my conversation?
If you're not seeing targeted ads, it may be that you haven't discussed a particular topic long enough for our system to determine the meaning of your conversation. We recommend rambling and repeating yourself to help our system pick relevant ads to display. Also, you may wish to try our voice targeting feature -- you can speak more loudly to emphasize certain phrases. However, these activities may result in socially awkward situations, so please proceed with caution.

What reports can I view?
You can view reports about how funny your conversations were, how much your companion was actually listening, and, if you implement the 'review my spoken English' setting, how many times you said the word 'like' or 'uh' in a particular conversation.


What if I'm stretching and I hit an ad accidentally?
We understand accidents may happen, and appreciate your concern. However, we recommend that publishers refrain from having conversations during yoga classes to prevent these types of accidental hits.

Where can I learn more about conversation ads?
For more information or to sign up, click here.

Posted by The Inside AdSense team

The Innovation Index slides 9% in Q1, 2008, manages to stay in front of S & P 500

The Innovation Index Performance Since Dec 2006

The Innovation Index slides 9% in the first quarter of 2008 along with the broader market. The Innovation Index beats S & P 500 by 1%, beats NASDAQ by 5%, and lags Dow Jones by 1%. S & P 500 is down 10%, NASDAQ is down 14% and Dow Jones is down 8% in the first quarter of 2008.

Only 4 Innovators out of the Top 20 Innovators are in the green in 2008 and are showing modestly positive returns ranging from 1% to 7% gain. 16 out of the Top 20 Innovators are in the red in 2008, with wide-ranging negative returns with a maximum of 36% loss.

The Innovation Index had a banner 2007, and gained 66% in 2007.* The Innovation Index closed at 108.27 on December 31, 2007, up 66% from the closing price of 65.05 on December 29, 2006.*

Invest in The Innovation Index - Invest in the Innovation Index Fund

The Innovation Index closed at 98.51 on March 31, 2008, down 9% from the closing price of 108.27 on December 31, 2007, and up 51% from the closing price of 65.05 on December 29, 2006. S & P 500 is down 7%, NASDAQ is down 6% and Dow Jones is down 2% since December 29, 2006.

The Innovation Index - 2008

The Innovation Index - 2007

Q1 2008 Leaders

Only 4 Innovators show a positive gain in first quarter of 2008. The early leader of 2008 is IBM (NYSE: IBM) with a gain of 7%. Why is IBM ahead? Great quarterly earnings performance, and an upbeat future earnings guidance aka outlook. IBM is poised to have a solid 2008, and if the broader market improves, watch out! IBM could easily gain 20% to 30% in 2008. Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) also leads with 6% gain for the year. Nike also had an amazing quarter, beat the revenue and earnings on the high estimates, and gave an upbeat outlook as well. If Nike continues to deliver on the announced innovations, Nike will have another breakout year on the heels of 2007. Who else is in the positive in 2008? How about America Movil (NYSE: AMX) and General Electric (NYSE: GE)? America Movil is on a three-peat: After a solid 2007 with 36% gain, and an impressive 2006 with 56% gain, America Movil is up 4% in 2008. It's core business is wireless which shows no signs of letdown in 2008. 2008 could be the year of GE. GE was even in 2007 (paid good dividend though). Investors are betting that GE can grow globally and show consistent growth in 2008. GE is a safer bet. GE is up 1% in 2008.

Q1 2008 Laggards

There is a sea of red. Everywhere you see, you see Innovators with negative performance in 2008. As a matter of fact, there are 16 of the 20 Innovators who are down in the first quarter of 2008. Who leads the pack in losses? Surprisingly, it is Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG). Google is down 36% in 2008, after gaining 50% in 2007. So it is kind of bittersweet. Can Google rebound in 2008 with the earnings gains from recently completed Double Click acquisition? Google also announced new innovations with Team Apps. Google has plenty of distractions though - the biggest one being Microsoft's pending acquisition of Yahoo. Google must stay focused on increasing Search marketshare and increasing the higher performing clicks. A percent improvement in the effectiveness of clicks generates a factor of ten improvement in topline revenue. One of the newest Innovator for 2008 is down 34% after gaining 35% in 2007. Merck Inc. (NYSE: MRK) is down 34% in Q1, 2008. There are plenty of news around Merck's Vytorin and Zetia. "The drugmakers sold $5.2 billion of Vytorin and Zetia last year. The study showing the drugs work no better than a generic medicine at one-fifth the price may cost the two companies $1.3 billion in sales this year and $1 billion next year, said Jim Kelly, an analyst with Goldman Sachs & Co., in a research report today." - Bloomberg Merck has some rebounding to do from such a deep drop in 2008.
Why are shares of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) down 28% after gaining 133% in 2007? Apple was one of the star performers in 2007 Innovation Index. Apple kicked off 2008 with bold new innovations, introduced the new iPhone and new iPod touch, and created new technology with Nike for the gym. It has do with future earnings guidance, or rather a weak one by Apple. If Apple delivers on the earnings and shows growth in Mac, iPod and iPhone business, Apple will do just fine. Can Apple hit $250 in 2008? We will need to fast forward to December 2008.

There are 4 Innovators who have lost 20% or more in 2008. These include Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) down 23% after gaining a whopping 135% in 2007; Best Buy Inc. (NYSE: BBY) down 21% after gaining 6% in 2007; Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) down 20% after gaining 32% in 2007; and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) down 20% after gaining 20% in 2007. Can these Innovators rebound in 2008?

Which Innovators are safe bets for investors in 2008? 3M and PG are smart long-term buys in turbulent markets. We have three more quarters in 2008. And as we witnessed in 2007, one quarter can make a huge difference.

2007 Leaders

Research In Motion Limited - (NASDAQ: RIMM) was the 2007 leader in stock performance, with 166% gain for the year. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) was equally impressive with 135% gain for the year. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) had a great year with 133% appreciation for the year. There were eight other innovators with double-digit gains for the year. Among these innovators, Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) led with 50% gain. America Movil (NYSE: AMX) was next up with 36% gain in 2007, and Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) closed out 2007 with 32% gain. Overall, 13 innovators finished 2007 with positive gains.

2007 Laggards

Six innovators finished the year in the negative, led by Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) declining 42% for the year. Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) was next, declining 20% for the year. Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) rounded out the top three, declining 12% for the year. Yahoo Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) was down 9% in 2007.

2008 Top 20 Innovators

The Top 20 Innovators for 2008 were announced on December 31, 2007. Here is the alphabetical list of the Top 20 Innovators for 2008:

3M Company - (NYSE: MMM)
Amazon.com, Inc. - (NASDAQ: AMZN)
America Movil - (NYSE: AMX)
Apple Inc. - (NASDAQ: AAPL)
AT&T Inc. - (NYSE: T)
Best Buy Co., Inc. - (NYSE: BBY)
Cisco Systems, Inc. - (NASDAQ: CSCO)
Costco Wholesale Corporation - (NASDAQ: COST)
eBay Inc. - (NASDAQ: EBAY)
General Electric Co. - (NYSE: GE)
Google Inc. - (NASDAQ: GOOG)
Hewlett-Packard Co. - (NYSE: HPQ)
Intel Corporation - (NASDAQ: INTC)
International Business Machines Corp. - (NYSE: IBM)
Merck & Co., Inc. - (NYSE: MRK)
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)
Microsoft Corporation - (NASDAQ: MSFT)
NIKE, Inc. - (NYSE: NKE)
Research In Motion Limited - (NASDAQ: RIMM)
The Proctor & Gamble Company - (NYSE: PG)

2008 Predictions (originally published January 17, 2008)

How will The Innovation Index perform in 2008? So far, the Innovators have been off to a rough start in 2008. The sub-prime mortgage crisis, rising oil prices, and early indications of slowing economy have contributed to negativity on the Wall Street. We believe this sentiment is short-lived, and will only last through the second quarter of 2008. The potential availability of an economic stimulus package will certainly help. The resilient Innovators of The Innovation Index will reward the patient, long-term investor. The key is to stay with these Innovators through the downturn, and wait until later in the year to realize the positive gains.* Innovation Index Group, Inc. announced the following BUY recommendations for the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index.

Invest in the Innovation Index Fund

We launched the new Innovation Index Fund in December, 2007 that invests in the Innovation Index. Innovation Index would have returned 66% in 2007 based on our performance model, and 174% in the previous five years based on historical model. If you want to learn more about the Innovation Index Fund, fill out your contact information at the bottom of this form: http://www.innovationindexgroup.com/invest.html

The Innovation Index Reports:

Invest in The Innovation Index - Invest in the brand new Innovation Index Fund
Introducing The Innovation Index Fund - Invest into The Innovation Index
Top 50 Innovative Companies in the world - 2007 Report on Top 50 Companies
Annual Report - Chapter One - Total Innovation Activity - 2006 Annual Report One
Annual Report - Chapter Two - The Top Innovator - 2006 Annual Report Two
Annual Report - Chapter Three - The Innovation Insights - 2006 Annual Report Insights
Innovation and Stock Performance Correlation - The Innovation Index and Stock Performance
The Innovation Index gallops to 56% - Quarterly Report - Q3, 2007

About The Innovation Index

The Innovation Index introduced in December 2006 is a weighted stock price index of the top 20 Innovators in North America.

The Innovation Index returned 66% in 2007 according to performance model, and would have returned 174% over the previous five years (2002-2006) according to historical model. This assumes equal investment in each stock of The Innovation Index as of December 31, 2001. An average of $100 invested in The Innovation Index on December 31, 2001 returned $454 as of December 31, 2007. By comparison, $100 invested in S & P 500 returned 28% or $129, $100 invested in NASDAQ returned 34% or $136, and $100 invested in the Dow Jones Index returned 30% or $131 through December 31, 2007. The Innovation Index beats the S & P 500, NASDAQ and Dow Jones Index by more than seven times over the past six years.

Alphabetical list of the Top 20 Innovators of The Innovation Index for 2008 and their stock ticker symbols:

3M Company - (NYSE: MMM)
Amazon.com, Inc. - (NASDAQ: AMZN)
America Movil - (NYSE: AMX)
Apple Inc. - (NASDAQ: AAPL)
AT&T Inc. - (NYSE: T)
Best Buy Co., Inc. - (NYSE: BBY)
Cisco Systems, Inc. - (NASDAQ: CSCO)
Costco Wholesale Corporation - (NASDAQ: COST)
eBay Inc. - (NASDAQ: EBAY)
General Electric Co. - (NYSE: GE)
Google Inc. - (NASDAQ: GOOG)
Hewlett-Packard Co. - (NYSE: HPQ)
Intel Corporation - (NASDAQ: INTC)
International Business Machines Corp. - (NYSE: IBM)
Merck & Co., Inc. - (NYSE: MRK)
McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)
Microsoft Corporation - (NASDAQ: MSFT)
NIKE, Inc. - (NYSE: NKE)
Research In Motion Limited - (NASDAQ: RIMM)
The Proctor & Gamble Company - (NYSE: PG)

The Innovation Index will analyze the positions and standings of the Top 20 Innovators at the end of each year. For 2008, there will be no further changes in The Innovation Index.

Disclaimer: The Innovation Index Group, Inc. invests in the stocks comprising The Innovation Index.

* Past Performance Does Not Guarantee Future Results

Ditching Blog Sponsors

By Luis Galarza - Marketing Training.

No More Blog Sponsors On The Free Internet Marketing Training For Beginners Blog!

I know a lot of top bloggers tell you that you have to sell advertising on your blog or you will missing a big blogging revenue stream. But, I think I can make the blog more user friendly if I down side the sponsors space, and add direct links to some useful blog post.

I never really advertise the sponsorship opportunity for this blog, I have 4 advertisers because they contact me by email and offer to sponsor my blog... Since them I've been making an extra $350 per month, plus I got a few of their products free for my review.

No, I not going to ditch my blog sponsors completely, but I going to downside to only 2 main sponsors that offer a real benefit for my visitors, and I plan to charge $100 per month to each sponsor. And I going to also give an one way back link to them on my blogroll and I going to write a blog post about their product or company.

I think that will make their money worth while, don't you think?

Well, let see what happens, I will give you updates about this new development.

If you interest in advertising on this blog please send an email to luisgalarzabiz @ yahoo dot com.


To learn how can you be part of a small business association full with marketing experts for only $2.95 visit the Internet Entrepreneurs Club.

To your success,

Luis Galarza, Internet Marketing Consultant Massachusetts.

About Author: Luis Galarza is a respectable Internet Marketing and Small Business Consultant in the area of Leominster and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Also, he had teach 100's of entrepreneurs how to make money online and offline without their own product.

A proud member of

The International Association of Home Business Entrepreneurs

.

Technorati tags: Luis Galarza, Online Marketing, Blogger Ads, Blog Ads, Sell Ads, Blog Advertisers, Blog Advertising,

The Nokia Test (3): Agile Specifications

The third line in the Nokia Test is: "The Iteration must start before the specification is complete."

What does this mean?

The first practical goal was to eliminate the analysis paralysis and delay associated with waiting until the specification was "complete". I don't know all the details at Nokia, but I have lived them at many other firms.

What is wrong with this old waterfall process? (at least in my opinion):

• too much delay
• a pretense that further change (or learning) won't happen
• a magical belief that the customer can really fully understand a spec (I have seen it happen maybe once)
• a magical belief that "all the questions are answered by the spec", when we know that people learn much better in a face-to-face Q&A format
  

As an aside, anyone who has made Waterfall succeed of course does not rely on the spec alone; we use agile-like conversations and other agile-like tricks to make the meaning clearer.

So, what are we advocating in Aglie (Scrum) to replace this broken process?

Well, it turns out to be a Goldilocks idea. We have some wish to make the team efficient and at the same time we know we are learning all the time. So, we advocate an Agile Spec. Not too much, not too little; just right.

What does this mean?

Well, at a minimum it means that the business person involved (in simple terms, the Product Owner) at least thinks he understands the story (let me assume the team is using User Stories). And at least thinks he can answer all the questions. It is also a good practice for the Business Analyst (or someone) to write down a page or two or more of notes. In the course of doing that, she (the Business Analyst in this example) will ask the PO several questions, and find out that he doesn't have the answers yet, and so new learning will happen.

But the Agile spec is very short. Maybe a bunch of diagrams. The good stuff is not buried in wads of paper.

Who decides what the Agile spec looks like for a given team? The consumers. Primarily the coders, the testers and other team members who must use it. Different projects and different teams (and even different situations) may require somewhat different Agile specs.

Let me be clear. The Nokia Test does not say "use an Agile Spec". I (and others) are recommending an Agile Spec as a best practice.

And Scrum does not say "use an Agile Spec". Scrum does say "improve your engineering practices" and I (and many others) would suggest that one improvement area would be around "requirements", and more specifically, one would be using Agile Specs.

Be aware that some in Agile would advocate no written spec at the beginning of the Sprint. Nothing written; just have conversation in the Sprint. This has worked, although I think it typically is not optimal (ie, the team usually could have done more if they had used an Agile Spec). While I agree with the importance of the conversation, face-to-face with Q&A, I also think the 1-5+ page Agile Spec per Story is also helpful. As long as there is discussion between the writer and the readers about what in it was useful or in the way, or just missing (and needed to be written down). (Answer to a question: Yes, all the Agile Specs developed so far could be in one document, if the team found that useful.)

I would suggest that about 5% of the team's total time in this iteration should be used to prepare for the next Sprint. This includes building and discussing (at a high level) the Agile specs for the next Sprint.

Remember that we are always learning. Just because something got put in an Agile spec does not mean it can't change (if we now know better). At the same time, an unprofessional attitude about learning ("oh, I'll just let myself learn about that later") is not allowed either. We are trying to learn as fast as we can. By putting all our minds together.

{Note: To find our previous posts on The Nokia Test, you might search on that term in the Blogger search box at the top of this page. We have 3 earlier posts.}

What do Realtors, Lawyers and mystery web types have in common - if Rich Barton is right they are a lot cooler than online travel agents.

Expedia founder and ex-CEO Rich Barton has been very busy since leaving Expedia in March 2003. I talked in June last year of his support of the launch of the lawyer search and ranking site Avvo.com. Appears we can add another web investment to Barton's list. In addition to the the real estate re-invention service Zillow and Avvo we have an announcement through Techcrunch that Glassdoor.com has raised $3 million from Benchmark (another Rich Barton gig). No hints from the site or Techcrunch profile what glassdoor will be doing but there a lot of ex-Expedia types involved. Rob Hohman (ex-President of Hotwire and then Prez of Classic Custom Vacations) is the CEO and Tom Besse (Expedia Asia Pacific) is the VP Product & Marketing. Add in a hint of EzRez through VP of Engineering Ryan Aylward and it begs the question whether or not travel may be back on Barton's agenda. I doubt it.

I presume when not coming up with whatever this site will do that the staff of glassdoor spend their spare time watching movies from Netflix (another Barton activity).

Update - 20 May 08. Still no word on what Glassdoor will be doing but HotelMarketing.com is reporting that the Board of Glassdoor.com is filling out with a number of heavy-weights including Erik Blachford, CEO of TerraPass and former president and CEO of Expedia, Inc. and CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp’s travel division; Stephen Kaufer, president and CEO of TripAdvisor and former president of CDS, Inc.; and Rusty Rueff, former CEO of SNOCAP, the digital music commerce provider for MySpace, and previous EVP at Electronic Arts and executive at PepsiCo.

Update 2 - Now we know what is cooler - recruitment and job information. News from Techncrunch that Glassdoor is a salary comparisons and employee review site. A little bit like Payscale but with more internal comparison, companies reviews and even some internal bitchiness and border line office gossiping. Detailed review inside the Techcrunch post.