More iPhone confessions

I thought I was going to buy an iPhone, I really was...but then I started thinking (bad idea). I'm already shelling out over $200 a month for a 'family plan,' not to mention a line I'm not even using because my oldest son bailed on us to get an iPhone on AT&T. So now I'm looking at the price of an iPhone4 (starting at $199) and a data plan for another $40 a month...

Enough already. I was lucky because our office just bought a new iPad2, which actually does everything I need it to do (send and receive emails, download cool apps, conduct web searches, watch movies, take videos) without dealing with the phone stuff. The fact that my daughter also needed money for her rent this month also had a lot to do with my decision.

I guess I 'm going to have to deal with my still-usable 'feature phone' for a few more months until the much rumored iPhone5 or a cheaper iPhone4 sibling appears.

No one said being a TechnoDad is easy. The good news is that when I do switch over to a smartphone, I can start to wean the family off of super-expensive text messaging!

Facebook Friday: My Thoughts on Google Plus 2 Months Later

By @AndreaBredow

I'll admit it...I was all caught up in the Google+ buzz when it first came out. I fell victim to the all-the-cool-kids-are-doing-it hype, and I wanted in! Once I got that golden ticket, I was in love. It seemed to be the perfect mix of Facebook and Twitter plus a little more all in one. I logged on each morning, invited friends, started hangouts and even huddled on my phone (with the 5 people at work that were also on Google+).

However, all of my conversations/engagement was still happening on Facebook and Twitter while Google+ was quiet (I'm talking ghost town quiet).

I was saving my Facebook profile for more personal info, things I wanted to share with family and friends that I actually knew. After a quick look through old posts, I realized there wasn't any thing really personal on my page, so I started adding "friends" that I have never met. Basically, I was taking the Google+ approach of an expanded network to Facebook. I would just be more aware of my posts.

Lo and behold, Facebook adds a nifty new privacy setting for each post. Yes, it takes a few extra steps, but if I ever have anything uber-personal to share, I can now just let my family know...or I could just pick up the phone and call them.

I'd love to take my Facebook activity to Google+ full time, I'm a sucker for hangouts (I'm even attempting to hold a 'Hangout Baby Shower' for my sister-in-law next month), but until the rest of the world heads my way, I'll continue hanging out alone....and posting on Facebook.

What do you think? Will Google+ ever compete with Facebook...or is it just one more thing to check?

Video Post: Say 'Hello' to Heello

Watch out Twitter, there's a new bird in town. In today's Daily Axiom, Dave Sniadak takes a look at the new social media site, Heello. A social networking tool that is uncannily similar to Twitter. Dave answers 'what is Heello?" and breaks down what you need to know about this addition to the social media scene.

Wordless Wednesday: Women in Social Media

Research with Rob: When is a Panel Better Than a Focus Group?

The following is a post by Rob Beachy, Axiom's Market Research Expert. This is the first "Research with Rob" post, which will be a weekly series of posts about different issues involved with market research.

What is your goal with market research? If you have a product or service that has or could have a diverse demographic, and you want more than a two hour snapshot, then panels are the best alternative to long term market success.

Panels come in all sizes and types from in-person to online but it is imperative to understand the benefits of a panel.

1. Panels provide insight over a longer span of time providing the end-user more time to understand the product or service, its features and benefits, as well as providing the ability of the participant for more detailed likes, dislikes and new ways to use and improve your product or service.
2. They are a living conduit of information and feedback from quality to maintenance, warranty and service information.
3. They allow the marketing and technical teams more “time” to ask questions, potentially observe their product or service in use, and make changes or adjustments in the product or service to measure the end-user reactions.
4. They can provide all the qualitative benefits of a focus group and more.
5. Provides a larger, more diverse and often statistically significant sample to make better marketing and business decisions.

Costs per respondent are often the same a focus groups, but the value is much greater. If you are serious about gaining more insight into the use of your product or service, email or call us at (952) 224-2939.