It's Like Mapquest for Trade Shows!

Let's assume, just hypothetically, that you're planning to go to the International Manufacturing Technology Show at Chicago's McCormick Place in September. (I'm actually going to be there, but you can just pretend.) This week the show released its free IMTS 2012 mobile app, and what fun!

Apps for trade shows have been around for a couple years, and they're helpful for things like finding where that pesky seminar room is, or what booth the Acme Widget Company is in. But the IMTS 2012 app has a new twist that's pretty cool - you can get directions to your next stop! It's like a mini-Mapquest for the show floorplan.

Even if you're only hypothetically interested, give it a try. The download is quick and free, and it will give your mind (and your imagination) a little exercise. Go to the app store, search for IMTS, and you're on your way! I'd love to know what you think of it.

(Meanwhile, these images are from the IMTS website - haven't yet figured out how to get a screen shot from the Android phone. But you get the idea...)

Headlines Count, Most Especially Yours

A recent article by Deborah Rooney (“Ninja, Nerd, or Nut: What Your LinkedIn Headline Says About You”) offers great tips on writing a good personal headline for LinkedIn. It made me stop and reconsider mine!

I’ve been writing headlines since long before we had to think about whether it was going into print or on the web, and of course we’ve always had to consider the intended audience. But Rooney points out three key criteria that apply to the very specific short label people see when your name pops up in the context of LinkedIn.

• Watch the initial impact.
• Reflect your core competencies.
• Make a connection.

All that in a headline? Yep, and she gives great reasons for putting in the time and effort to craft a good one, as well as pointers on how to do it. It’s a short article, very well written and thought out; you should read it. And while you’re there, check out some of her others, for which links are provided.

Here's the link again, in case you missed it above: www.freshtransition.com/2012/07/11/ninja-nerd-or-nut-what-your-linkedin-headline-says-about-you/