The Hot College Gig: Online Brand Promoter

"Paying college students to push products is nothing new for companies. The exuberant undergraduate wearing a Nike cap and giving out samples is as common on American campuses as football fans tailgating at homecoming," writes Claire Ballentine (photo, left) in an article at NYTimes.com.

"But now, like so much in the advertising world, the big action is online. As students return to campuses, they’re constantly checking their Instagram, Snapchat and other social media accounts — so companies are turning to many of them to promote products right alongside photos of family, friends and the new puppy."

Read the full article . . .

5 Virtual Stock Market Games That Help You Learn How to Invest

"Dipping your toe in stock markets for the first time is intimidating, even for those of us who consider ourselves financially savvy. But other than paying a financial specialist for advice, what other options are available?" asks Megan Ellis (photo, left) in a piece at MakeUseOf.com.

"Luckily, there are a variety of stock market games and simulators available for users to get a feel for the industry. And best of all, most of them are free.

"Games are often used to educate children — but there are also games that can teach adults a lesson or two. From simulators that feel incredibly realistic to user-friendly games, here are five stock market games that will prepare you for the real thing."

Pricing Lessons from Working with 30+ Seed and Series A B2B Startups

"Though he’s nearly seen it all, Tyler Gaffney [photo, left] still gets surprised when early-stage B2B startups tell him how they’ve determined their pricing. The common thread? Many tend to make pricing decisions largely in a vacuum and dangerously removed from a broader go-to-market strategy. This is a natural approach, because early-stage companies often lack the resources — the brand recognition, troves of customer data, pricing experts crunching scenarios, or runway to execute — but it can turn into a big problem, especially when you consider how pricing can play an instrumental role in going to market."

5 Tips to Ensure Your Remote Employees Are Productive

According to Ari Zoldan (photo, left), "In a lot of ways, remote workers have helped companies expand their reach and bring on employees who have excellent skill sets but geographic restrictions. At the same time, working in remote teams presents its own challenges. It can be hard to organize meetings, stay on top of due dates, and navigate time zones. It takes a lot of trust, communication, and organization to run a successful remote team. In my experience, successful remote teams have a few things in common."

Lean Innovation Management — Making Corporate Innovation Work

"In the last five years “Lean Startup” methodologies have enabled entrepreneurs to efficiently build a startup by searching for product/market fit rather than blindly trying to execute. Companies pursuing innovation can Buy, Build, Partner or use Open Innovation. But trying to find a unified theory of innovation that allows established companies to innovate internally with the speed and urgency of startups has eluded our grasp."

Your Brand Is Killing Your Business. Here’s What to Do about It

"If good brands don't communicate exactly what the company does up front, they quickly make themselves synonymous with those products or services. Geico, for example, immediately triggers the thought of "insurance." The brand is so strong, they've even tied a gecko to the notion of insurance."

"Weak brands, on the other hand, are forgettable and seemingly unrelated to the company's mission. If people you know are constantly asking "what is it you do again?" you have failed to establish a strong brand. Part of the problem here is disseminating your message, but you have to work the advertising to properly build your brand. Otherwise, it's just wasted dollars."

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