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21 outstanding uses of colour in branding

Successfully ‘owning’ a colour is a big deal. Here’s how a succession of top brands have staked their claim…

Colour theory is a central and often overlooked area of design. On a simple level, the colours on the warm side of the spectrum – such as red and yellow – are bold, uplifting and energetic, while their cooler counterparts, blue and green, exude calmness and feel more reserved. This is…

Google Is Killing A Beloved Site And Nobody Can Figure Out Why

Is Google broken? Or is your site broken? That’s the question any webmaster asks when she sees her Google click-throughs drop dramatically. It’s a question that Matt Haughey, founder of legendary Internet forum MetaFilter, has been asking himself for the last year and a half, as declining ad revenues have forced the long-running site to lay off several of its staff.

MetaFilter, Haughey told me,…

The Dead Zones: When Not to Post on Social Media

The Dead Zones: When Not to Post on Social Media infographic from SumAll takes a look at the the worst times to post content on social media.

Now that everyone knows the best times to post on social media – and if you don’t, take a look at our infographic for a refresher–we started thinking about the flip side to the golden hours: the dead zones.

We researched what hours of the day your post…

7 Things To Do When You Have To Give A Short Speech

I once went to a small fundraising event for a nonprofit that I thought the world of. They did so much good in my neighborhood that I truly thought they could do no wrong.

 Then one of the organizers asked someone to stand up “to say a few words,” and her presentation turned into one of the longest, least organized, most lifeless talks I’ve ever heard. Those who were lucky enough to be standing…

5 mistakes to avoid when approaching an investor

“All these investors claim that there are not enough opportunities out there to invest in, yet when I send them my business plan, I don’t even get a response.”

Considering that venture capital investors get tens of thousands of business plans, investor decks and other pitches annually, it is hardly surprising that not all of them get an investment. Based on reactions to one of my previous posts on

5 Social Media Listening Tools That Every Business Should Be Using

Are you listening?

Are you really listening?

I’ve mentioned it a few times before: treat social media more like a telephone and less like a megaphone. However, some might not know how or where to listen. This is important because you want to know what’s being said about you and where are they saying it. You’ll also want to know how to respond. It’s an essential part of online reputation…

Zack Snyder reveals first look picture of new suit in Batman vs Superman

Batman vs Superman (which is still an unofficial title) director Zack Snyder has given fans their first look at Ben Affleck as Batman and the new look Batmobile.

Both wheels and driver look slick as a bulky Affleck stands next his car – chicks LOVE the car.

The Caped Crusader looks as moody and mysterious as ever, clenching his fists and staring at the ground in the atmospheric black and white…

The best flight search and booking apps

FAQ: which are the best smart phone apps for booking flights and checking airfares?

Donald Strachan, our travel technology expert, replies Several leading meta-search services and online travel agents (OTAs) have smartphone apps. But which is the best for booking your next flight?

I chose 20 routes from the UK to long- and short-haul destinations, a mix of the straightforward (London to…

Nikon Launches Compact J4 and S2 Mirrorless Cameras

Nikon has added two new petite models to its mirrorless Nikon 1 line, with the 18.4-megapixel J4 and the 14.2-megapixel S2 . Both interchangeable-lens cameras offer a number of upgrades from their predecessors including an increased ISO light sensitivity range to 12,800 (for shooting in very low light). Both cameras are also more compact and lightweight than their predecessors.

Available this…

Why most product managers suck (and how to be a better one)

The first product manager (PM) is a crucial unicorn hire that no startup should compromise on. The reason is simple – your PM is responsible for managing your team’s most precious resource: time.

Unfortunately, nearly everyone seems to think they’d make a great PM (engineers, consultants, you name it), but the reality is that most folks just can’t hack it. I’ve worked with countless PMs at huge…

Should your hobby be your job?

Conventional wisdom says you should make your passion into your career so you’ll never work a day in your life. But what happens to your hobbies when they suddenly become your 9-5? Can you keep the fire burning for your passion when it becomes your bread and butter?

Embracing your passion and turning your hobby into a career might sound great, especially if you’re burnt out in your current…

A Salary Guide For Your 20s, 30s, And 40s

When we’re younger, we probably think that we’ll make more money when we’re older. Job seniority comes with promotions — and raises — right?

 As it turns out, your money arc is shorter than you think. According to an analysis from PayScale.com, women’s pay peaks at age 39, and, according to their median data, at about $60,000. After that, there may be small bumps in salary, but they rarely…

19 Things Unhappy People Do

Everyone has their off days, but why cause more negativity you can avoid it?

 If you work on thinking positively about yourself and others, you will be that much closer to being your happiest self.

Below are 19 things unhappy people do that we should all try to avoid.

1. They worry about things they can’t change

We are all guilty sometimes of wondering what might have been if we had chosen or…

REVEALED: This Is How McDonald’s Cheeseburgers Are Made

McDonald’s Australia has made a video showing exactly how its cheeseburgers are cooked and prepared. 

The video is part of a new effort by McDonald’s Australia to be more transparent about where its food comes from and how it’s made.

The “Your Questions” campaign has also been adopted in Canada, where McDonald’s recently published a video showing how McNuggets are made.

 First, the beef patties…

Did Dr. Dre just confirm that Apple is buying Beats for $3.2 billion?

Apple is rumored to be acquiring Beats Electronics in a landmark deal worth $3.2 billion. While the purchase is yet to be confirmed formally by either company, a Facebook video uploaded by actor Tyrese Gibson suggests an announcement is imminent.

In a clip spanning just 83 seconds, the Hollywood actor – most well-known for his roles in The Fast and the Furious and Transformers movie franchises –…