VENTRINO TRAFFIC EXCHANGE SCRIPTS
TURNING WEB VISITORS INTO BUYERS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS SINCE 1994
London Bridge seeks relationship with a Telescope
Published May 30, 2009 | 
A friend doesn’t “get twitter”. He thinks it’s a place for teenagers to pass the time swapping pictures, which it might be, but there is a lot more potential.
http://twitter.com/towerbridge is a good example. An engineer has programmed the bridge to tweet it’s opening 5 minutes before and again once it has been closed again.
This information may not seem that useful. Perhaps if you use the bridge regularly it might be handy to receive a text with a 5 minute warning.
But wouldn’t it be great if TomTom linked IQ Routes to this kind of information? Without the need to think your GPS can change your route if it discovers the bridge is closed to traffic. A godsend for ambulances and emergency services for sure, and convenience for everyone else.
What about aircraft? If each one had a twitter address we could monitor landing times and diversions.
How about an RFID sown into under 10′s clothing reporting their position to a protected twitter account?
How about your fridge listing items you need?
Companies maintaining equipment could visit your PC/Server/Freezer/Oil Well/Car etc. and make maintenance decisions without charging you for on site visits.
The list is endless.
What makes a competent programmer?
Published May 22, 2009 | Ever wondered how to tell if you are hiring a competent programmer? In the following video Ron Burk discusses the Psychology of Incompetence in which he leaves you with no illusions.
If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization
Ventrino traffic exchange twitter integration
Published May 21, 2009 | Recent dissapointment over changes to the facebook API meant that a long term development for traffic exchange scripts had to be altered. To compensate Ventrino is going to release a number of twitter applications. If you haven’t tried already their is a fun application at www.buytweeters.com
Ventrino owners are now beta testing a method for their members to improve their exposure and promotion efforts with a few clicks from within their tools page. Following is a short video demonstration:
New York cabbies are not for the faint hearted
Published May 14, 2009 | There are probably as many stories about cabbies as there are cabbies with stories about “You’ll never guess who I had in the back of the cab” stories. On a recent visit I was on fifth street, about 20 minutes walk from the Guggenheim. I prefer walking, even in the rain, but time was short and I had arranged to meet someone there, so decided to take a cab.
“Guggenheim please” I asked as the force of his acceleration slid me across to the other side of the cab. He raced into a free slot in the heaving mass of traffic which appeared to move like a slug in molasses as soon as he joined. A tape began to play welcoming me to New York. I thought that was a bit odd, is everyone taking a cab in New York a visitor? Why don’t the locals use the cabs? Two minutes later the cabbie asked me what I was doing for lunch. His thick eastern European accent reminiscent of a cab taken from Tottenham Court Road to St Pauls in London last week.
Discussing lunch with a New York cabbie wasn’t something I wanted to do. Deciding how to deal with his question wasn’t hard, ignoring it seemed the best option except before I got the chance he glanced in a rear view mirror aimed directly at the passengers, presumably to keep an eye on them, make sure they’re not taking a dump on his highly polished fake leather plastic seat. “Ricki’s is great, they just had a makeover, cost him quarter million bucks, why not take your friend there, I’ll drive you half price?”.
Reminds me of the string of restaurants along the beach in most Spanish resorts where they punt for business, except for the acidic smell of overcooked cabbage…
Another great design from Digital Dave (Not a shit shoveler)
Published May 13, 2009 | 
While it might look like one of his previous designs it is what the owner wanted. It in fact uses many new images and very different template code. Inside there are brand new icons and apparently Digital Dave’s own sister makes a guest appearance.
Dave is a drop out science student who began life in Kingston University in Surrey, UK. He got halfway through and decided there was more science to be learned in a kitchen and his love of music and art were far more compelling than going to work for the local water company as a microbiologist (a fancy name for shit shoveler according to Dave).
Keen to point out it’s not just traffic exchange work he does I am including something he’s working on, very much outside the reign of sales and marketing.
Dave also creates banners and icons which can be bought direct from 123rf.com which he says is a great resource for anyone developing websites.
If you like Dave’s work and want him to help you can find out more here.
How to take a screen dump
Published May 9, 2009 | 
Ever had trouble explaining to technical support exactly what the problem is? A screen dump will often help get your message across. Here’s a few ways to do that:
1. CamStudio: Taking a screen recording is not difficult or expensive anymore. And sometimes a video recording of the screen is the only way to get your message across. The upload to Image Shack and then provide the link in your forum post.
2. Vista Users: Vista comes with a handy tool similar to Camtasia’s snagit. If you are not already familiar with this tool you can get details here.
3. Other Windows Users: To the right of your keyboard is a Print Screen button. This is sometimes shortened to Prt. Sc. or PrtScrn or similar. With the windows you want displayed on your screen you are now ready to take your screen dump.
To capture a specific window click the top of it to make it the program with focus then hold down the left alt key and press the Print Screen button. To capture the entire screen just press the Print Screen button.
Now open MS Paint (Start/Run “mspaint”) and press Ctrl-V to paste your capture image. Use File/Save in MS Paint and save as a JPG file ready for uploading.
Jake and the art of procrastination
Published May 1, 2009 | 
Brevity is Jake’s way. Ask him about anything unrelated to the situation in hand and if he’s not short he’s definitely rude. I will tell him about this blog post but he won’t bother to read it. I can safely make some innocuous criticism of him and know he’ll never find out. If he did he’s not one to get mad, he will get even in his own way.
He’s not the kind of person many companies would employ after an interview, little would they realise an interview with him serves only one purpose and it’s not theirs. Small talk and “getting to know each other” is something other people waste their time on. He’s not a people person.
So why does he head up the sales department? Today a customer complained that Jake is not helpful, a criticism any business owner would take seriously, your not going to make sales if the instrument of profit is blunt. And Jake is blunt.
He’s there because statistically he is the best. Combine everyone we have ever had on the sales desk and compare our results with his and he wins hands down each time. If we consider his methods it only adds to the confusion:
Ask him a technical question and he will probably not reply, if he does he’s likely to be sarcastic and point out that if you can read his replies then how come you can’t read the notice in bold and highlighted in YELLOW that states he don’t answer technical questions.- Ask him something you have already asked him, even if it’s 5 years ago, and he’ll tell you to check what he said last time ‘cos nothings changed since then. Get cocky with him and it just gets worse.
- He never spends more than 20 seconds replying (we’ve timed him, we start the timer when his eyes drop to the keyboard).
- He doesn’t bother reading more than 3 or 4 lines of your message. If you ask more than one question he’ll only answer the first. If you ask him why he’ll tell you that your attention span will be lost and you probably won’t notice. He knows this from experience. If the second and subsequent questions are important to you, then you will ask again, but then, they’ll be the first question won’t they?
- You cannot upset Jake, that perhaps is one of his strengths. Say something that you know will upset him, you know the kind of thing, the email that you instantly wish you had not sent. Well don’t worry, Jake knows no evil (well, except Google, he thinks they’re out to get him, we point out that Google’s out to “get” everyone and everything but he still won’t use them).
So what is it that makes Jake so succesful? Are we losing interest in the human element of a sale? I don’t think so. The Internet is a great place for people to get to know you. Perhaps it’s his naive charm? Nah. Ask Jake and he says “I don’t sell, people buy, I’m an order taker not a door to door sales jockey flogging stuff people don’t want.”
In the privileged position that I have as his boss I decided to have a chat with him about it today and this is what happened:
Martyn: Jake, a customer has complained that you are not helpful and [Jake interrupts]
Jake: Yeh, I know who that was, they didn’t like it when I said I can’t help them and they need to go ask on the forum.
Martyn: OK, I’d like to have a chat about the way we sell [Jake doesn't wait for me to finish]
Jake: It’s easy, people ask questions, I answer; they buy or they don’t, that’s it.
Martyn: I was hoping to hear more along the lines of how you do it, what is your secret? How come you sell more than anyone else, especially when some folks appear not to, ummm, get on with you so well?
Jake: Dunno, are we done?
And before I could answer Jake had turned and was answering an enquiry. So there you have it. The indomitable Jake. If he’s upset you or doesn’t answer your questions at least take some comfort knowing you aren’t the only one. If you know what his secret formula for success is please let us know, I think we’d all like to know.
