Google Voice is the Next New Phone Technology

Image via CrunchBase

Google has released an incredible new service called Google Voice. Google Voice gives you a Google Phone Number in that serves as one meta number with tons of features for contact, voicemail, and call management. You can register all of your current phone numbers and when your Google Number is dialed, all of your registered phones will ring. You can even select which phones ring based on contact groupings. Phone calls, voicemail, and even SMS messages are seemlessly manageable online.

It took less than 24 hours to receive my invitation upon initial request. I've registered my cellphone as well as my SkypeIn number. When someone calls my Google Number I have a choice to answer via Skype if I'm at my computer! This could be a potential money saver if I can lower my minutes plan and even my SMS plan since I am sending a large portion of texts now through Google Voice online. Oh and it's easier to type them out as well :)

Some other features include:

One number for all your calls and SMS

* Call screening - Announce and screen callers
* Listen in - Listen before taking a call
* Block calls - Keep unwanted callers at bay
* SMS - Send, receive, and store SMS
* Place calls - Call US numbers for free
* Taking calls - Answer on any of your phones
* Phone routing - Phones ring based on who calls
* Forwarding phones - Add phones and decide which ring

One number for all your calls and SMS
Voicemail as easy as email, with transcripts

* Voicemail transcripts - Read what your voicemail says
* Listen to voicemail - Check online or from your phone
* Notifications - Receive voicemails via email or SMS
* Personalize greeting - Vary greetings by caller
* Share voicemail - Forward or download voicemails

Voicemail as easy as email, with transcripts
More cool things you can do with Google Voice

* Conference calling - Join people into a single call
* Call record - Record calls and store them online
* Call switch - Switch phones during a call
* Mobile site - View your inbox from your mobile
* GOOG-411 - Check directory assistance
* Manage groups - Set preferences by group

Learn More Here

What Are We Working For?

Last night as I sat in my living room watching "So You Think You Can Dance" on DVR I realized I was still working on my laptop at 10PM and it took every ounce of will power I had to logoff and take a respite from web development.  As I sat there "not working" I felt strangely empty. A void existed that work was filling, or covering up. I felt compelled to work, but at the same time disconnected from any sense of inspiration or motivation...the question bubbled up: "what the heck am I working for?"

The question was seeded in my mind by blogger Trent Hamm of "The Simple Dollar" (A fantastic blog BTW if you would like some good financial advice to digest every once in a while.  He sent me a free copy of his ebook "31 Days to Fix Your Finances" for being a loyal reader of his blog. I downloaded the ebook though I was certain I had too much work to do to really read it. "Thanks Trent, but my finances aren't actually broken" I thought, but as I scanned through the first couple pages something he wrote struck me in earnest.  Hopefully he won't mind if I quote it here:

"You might have expected that we would start out fixing your finances with a
pencil and a calculator. In fact, it will be a few days before we have any need for
either of these. Why? Before we can define a plan that works for you, we need to
sit down and figure out what really matters in your life.

All of us work hard for a reason. We go into work and come out of work because
we want money, right? Money buys us things and allows us to live in this modern
world. But what do we mean by “live”? What exactly is this “living” that we are
focused on?"

As I pondered this, it became painfully clear that I easily and often forget why I am working. Why I am earning money. I wake up and start working.  If I am not working, I think about the work I need to do.  Yes working for food and shelter are great motivators. And so is future financial security. But as Abraham Maslow so accurately pointed out, these are some of our most basic needs. They don't speak to our higher needs for Love/Belonging, Esteem, and, ultimately, Self-actualization. So I opened up my moleskin notebook and started writing.

What is important to me? What is it that money can help me get out of life? It didn't take long to settle on my answers. The sense of clarity is quite refreshing.  I'll share my answers with you here, and I would love to hear yours in the comments if you're so inclined.

1. My number one driving value, the thing that is most important to me right now in life, is to continuously have new experiences. For me, that means traveling and backpacking; It doesn't have to be expensive. Day trips to local attractions, museums, art centers, aquariums, state parks, national parks, etc.
2. Fitness. It's something I've always loved. Running local 5k's, hiking, mountain biking, etc.
3. Expanding my business. My website design firm, Dotstar Media, LLC, has been a work of passion. it's provided for me and I love the work I do. But I have to remember to work on my business instead of always working in it.

It's very tempting to fall into the rut of being a loyal consumer, working to earn money to spend on delightful products, lovingly guided by the maelstrom of marketing that surrounds us.  Remember what it's all for and perhaps you will find a renewed sense of vigor in your day.

LaZ

Use Scrum Solo

Wikipedia: "Scrum is an iterative incremental framework for managing complex work (such as new product development) commonly used with agile software development." Scrum is intended for group or team software development. It's a very powerful tool for increasing effective use of time and resources on any project.

In this article from Stepcase Lifehack, Dustin Wax does a great job of demonstrating how the Scrum method can be used in a team of one!

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/scrum-for-one.html

Watch a great instructional video on Scrum

The Importance of Good Web Design

People aren't asking anymore if they need a website. Most everyone understands now that the Internet is here to stay. But people do balk at spending thousands of dollars on a high quality, professionally made website. I hear things like "My brother/sister/nephew can build it for me for free." or "I just can't justify $10,000 for a website because I am not selling my product/service online." In the current economy, people are spending money more wisely. Businesses are being tighter with their purse strings as they should. Every dollar counts which is exactly why paying for the best possible website is more important than ever. When times are tough, marketing becomes a critical tool for bringing in revenue, and your website is one of the most powerful marketing tools you have.

Your website's purpose may be complex but one of its primary goals is certainly to serve as an introduction to consumers. Potential consumers that are researching a product or service will turn to Google or Bing and start typing and clicking. If you have implemented an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy, or if you are lucky, your website will come up in the search results along with your competitors. You've got a visitor but not yet a customer. If your website is not better than that of your competitors (more informative, aesthetically superior, easier to navigate) that potential customer will remain just a website visitor. They will leave your website without purchasing your product or contacting your business. They will remain a page visit in your Google Analytics website statistics.

What is the value of that visitor's first purchase? What is the value of that visitor's business over 1 year? Over a lifetime? What is the value of the referral business from that visitor? How much potential money do you lose every time a visitor remains just a visitor? Answer these questions and you will know the importance of good web design.

5 great Twitter Tools

TweenMic
an iPhone app that makes audio recordings or "Tweetcasts" and publishes them to Twitter.

repeets
Your Twitter retweet source

Friend or Follow
see who you are following that's not following you back!

Tweepular
Use this to increase your popularity on Twitter

Muck Rack
Tomorrow's news today.  Tweets from popular journalists.

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Google Profile

You can have some control over what appears when someone searches your name on Google. It's called Google Profiles: http://www.google.com/profiles

set it up and enter what you want!

What lists are useful to keep?

This is an interesting article about useful lists...I have trouble staying organized so will definately give this a try with my new moleskin notebook :)

9 Lists To Keep Updated, and Keep Handy - Stepcase Lifehack

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