Clipmarks | Ziggs.com Clips

Who's Googling You?

Fri, 02 May 2008 16:48:24 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley
clipper's remarks: Ziggs tracks visitors to your web page to tell you more about who's googling you. It's a cool, free tracking service.

Clip Source: www.wusa9.com

Who's Googling You

Medhi Pirzadeh works in Maryland, but, he can be found all over the world.

His profile is listed on a site called Ziggs.com. It's kind of an upscale Facebook for the professional set.

"The reality is that people will do searches on me," says Pirzadeh.

But, he's not worried about being strung out in cyberspace because he controls what people read about him. His employer, Mason Dixon, likes that idea. They encourage every employee to do the same thing.

How to know when a recruiter is viewing you online

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:47:35 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley

Clip Source: www.wspa.com

have you ever wondered who is "Googling" you? There are some websites that can help you find out.

That's why he joined Ziggs.com, a website that alerts him every time someone looks him up on the internet and the city where the IP address of that searcher is located.

Said Gregson, "I notice whenever I update my resume on Monster.com, for instance, its not long before I start seeing all these hits from New Delhi, India. It's a lot of recruiters."

Once a searcher sees your Ziggs profile, they can also send you an email. Gregson says Ziggs not only shows him that he has potential customers in Seattle, for example, it helped an old friend find him. "The next thing i know i've got an email from an old friend."

But what Ziggs founder Tim DeMello says the site will not reveal is the name or IP address of the person searching. While that information might be helpful to businesses to contact potential customers, DeMello tells us they won't reveal it to protect searchers' privacy.

What's in a Name? Ask Steve Jobs

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 21:29:49 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley
clipper's remarks: The power of a blog can be substantial. This clever shananigan points to the importance of managing all aspects of your own identity online. Shameless plug: Go to Ziggs.com to start managing your online image for free.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

‘Fake Steve’ Blogger Comes Clean

For the last 14 months, high-tech insiders have been eating up the work of an anonymous blogger who assumed the persona of Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive and one of the world’s most famous businessmen.

The acerbic postings of “Fake Steve,” as he is known, have attracted a plugged-in readership — both the real Mr. Jobs and Bill Gates have acknowledged reading the blog (fakesteve.blogspot.com). At the same time, Fake Steve has evaded the best efforts of Silicon Valley’s gossips to discover his real identity.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, Daniel Lyons, a senior editor at Forbes magazine who lives near Boston, has been quietly enjoying the attention.

“I’m stunned that it’s taken this long,” said

Mr. Lyons said writing as Fake Steve became addictive. He developed a unique lexicon and catalog of insults for the character. Bill Gates is Beastmaster, and Eric E. Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, is Squirrel Boy.

Tags: ziggs, blog, apple, steve jobs, branding

Super Brands & Building Your Own Brand

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:19:18 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley
clipper's remarks: A good way to build your own brand is by starting a free Ziggs Profile at Ziggs.com.

Clip Source: ziggs.blogspot.com

Each year BusinessWeek ranks the top 100 Global Brands and reports them in July. This year’s results yielded a repeat in the top positions and an upset just below.

According to BusinessWeek, the top three global brands for 2007 are repeat winners from 2006: Coca-cola is #1, Microsoft and IBM are #2 and #3.

Other movers and shakers: the golden arches stepped over Mickey when McDonalds jumped one position to #8 and Disney fell one to #9. Tech kings increased their global repute: Google vaulted four positions to #20. Apple leapfrogged six other brands to #33. Starbucks jumped three to #88.

In the same vein, the power of your personal brand can raise or lower your current and future value in relation to your competition. As you build your own professional brand during the course of your career, the value you bring to your daily team and your yearly initiatives can grow.

Tags: ziggs, ziggs profile, brand, branding

What it's Like to Intern at a 2.0 Startup

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:50:41 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley
clipper's remarks: A clip from a post by Amanda Mooney, Ziggs Intern-at-Large on our official company blog, The Buzz at Ziggs (http://ziggs.blogspot.com).

Clip Source: ziggs.blogspot.com

On today's Web, amateur bloggers command publishing space alongside our most seasoned writers; citizen shoppers join the ranks of Consumer Reports; and classmates create friend groups with the scope and influence of master networkers. Interning at Ziggs has allowed me to experience a striking offline parallel to the culture of the new Web in which amateurs are immediately granted an all access pass to participate on a meaningful level with top professionals. I joined Ziggs while the company was in the midst of launching the Ziggs Hub. The culture of transparency and across-the-board participation that rules the Web was immediately palpable when I was offered a seat at the table at company planning meetings and encouraged to digest and contribute to new business and marketing developments.

the Web today still feels like the wild west of the business world.

this open-source, nimble-enough-to-innovate-everyday pace at Ziggs is refreshing and keeps me on my toes.

Tags: web 2.0, internet, startup, startups, intern, interning, ziggs, ziggs.com, amanda mooney, julia bradley

Writing a Winning Professional Biography

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:33:39 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley
clipper's remarks: At Ziggs.com, we are proud to serve as a platform for our users to showcase their professional biographies. As a professional, you should be engaged in promoting your personal brand as much as you are in promoting your company's. Featuring a well-written, tailored bio that illustrates your experience, passion and expertise in your field adds important dimension to your resume.

I know, though, how hard it is to begin writting a professional bio. What format should you use? What content should you include... At Ziggs, we introduced Bio Builder to help users with this profess. This tool instantly builds a professional biography for users and makes "building the brand of you" ever-so easy.

Clip Source: www.careerjournal.com

We’ve all heard the analogy: Conducting a job search is like marketing and selling a product -- with you as the product.

This means defining the features and benefits of your product, pinpointing the attributes that distinguish you from competitive brands.

Your "sales brochure" is, of course, your resume. Or is it?

In some situations, though, a professional biography may work better than a conventional resume.

Besides the self-marketing benefits of a bio, an advantage to writing this document is the actual writing of it. The process of thinking through, prioritizing, characterizing and expressing your career profile forces you to review everything you know about yourself -- and make it explicit. As you write, you see and log this vision of yourself into active, articulate memory. That done, you can retrieve it when you want and trot it out either with your pen, word-processor or your mouth.

Tags: biography, professional networking, career, careers, career development, branding, ziggs, ziggs.com, julia bradley

"How to Network Without Saying a Word"

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:54:52 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley

Clip Source: www.forbes.com

For some schmoozers, networking is the art of working the room, glad-handling folks while oozing charm. But much of networking depends on what you don't say. Often, getting ahead in the game means knowing what messages you're sending before you open your mouth.

The key to networking without words is realizing what you're communicating at all times. "We tend to forget that silence speaks," says Patrick Miller, author of Body Language on the Job. "It's a matter of paying attention and being cognizant of what you're doing nonverbally. Everything you're doing is being watched."

So when networking, it's best to err on the side of formality

you should stand up straight and wear a suit.

When meeting someone for the first time, a good handshake is vital

a pair of techniques often used by Bill Clinton that can help you stand out: The two-handed handshake, which shows your enthusiasm, and the quick grab of the elbow, which draws people in.

Most of all

it's important to appear authentic.

Tags: professional networking, career, careers, communication, networking, ziggs, ziggs.com, julia bradley

Forbes on How to Land Your First Job

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:55:07 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley

Clip Source: www.forbes.com

Spring is in the air and college seniors are pounding the pavement, trying to land their first job.

It can be a daunting task, but don't be deterred. You'd be surprised what recruiting managers like in candidates. "I'd rather have a kid who has a 2.8 G.P.A. and worked at the mall than a 3.5 but just sat in the dorm," says Jimmy Duncan

Those "soft skills" like multitasking, leadership and initiative are just as important--if not more important--than related job experience when it comes to scoring your first job.

include social organizations

get a summer internship right after graduation. Many companies eventually hire their summer interns full time.

Whether the job market is weak or strong, the key to acing this job search is tapping as many resources as possible. Psychologically, for most soon-to-be-grads that's the hardest part. But networking is also the most fruitful.

your school's alumni

your family

professional organizations and industry trade magazines.

Tags: career, careers, professional networking, college, work, job, jobs, ziggs, ziggs.com, julia bradley

How Tim O'Reilly Built a Mega-Career by Playing Well with Others

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:43:32 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley

Clip Source: www.successmagazine.com

TIM O’REILLY WAS A NOBODY FROM OUT OF NOWHERE—OR RATHER, THE HARVARD CLASSICS DEPARTMENT

TWENTY-NINE YEARS LATER, O’REILLY MEDIA HAS A LOCK ON ABOUT 15% OF THE INDUSTRY’S $400 MILLION ANNUAL SALES.

His original business model, he says, was all about the journey, not the bottom-line destination. His motto starting out was “interesting work for interesting people.” “If you look at it, so many really transformative businesses start with people having fun. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak were just kids playing with computers, right?

“What are those ideas that have lift? The future is driven by these innovators outside the mainstream who are doing something just for fun.” It’s not enough to succeed, he insists. You have to grasp the meaning of your success.

“If it’s just about money, it’s an uninteresting business,” he observes.

Tags: tim o'reilly, web, media, web 2.0, career, fun, business, ziggs, ziggs.com, julia bradley

Putting your Best Pitch Forward: How to Captivate any Prospective Client in 30 Seconds or Less

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:02:08 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley

Clip Source: www.businessweek.com

The Perfect (Elevator) Pitch

It's a skill every businessperson needs. How to create it, rehearse it, and tailor it for a specific audience

One of the most important things a businessperson can do—especially an owner or someone who is involved in sales—is learn how to speak about their business to others. Being able to sum up unique aspects of your service or product in a way that excites others should be a fundamental skill. Yet many executives pay little attention to the continuing development of "the elevator pitch"—the quick, succinct summation of what your company makes or does.

That's too bad, because the elevator pitch—so named because it should last no longer than the average elevator ride—is far too important to take casually.

even if your meeting is a planned, sit-down event, you should still be prepared to capture your audience's attention quickly.

Keep It Fresh

Every business grows and changes, and your pitch needs to grow and change with it.

Always Be Prepared

Tags: work, business, career, careers, professional networking, ziggs, ziggs.com, julia bradley

Making a Good First Impression on the Web

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:30:10 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley

Clip Source: www.myfoxboston.com

Control Your Online Identity

Have you ever done something that has come back to haunt you? On the Internet, your past can follow you forever. If you haven't thought about your online image, it's about time you did. FOX25's Ted Daniel explains some people are taking control of their online identities.

Tags: internet, web, search, social networking, web 2.0, professional networking, ziggs, ziggs.com, julia bradley

Writing a Winning Resume

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:26:12 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley
clipper's remarks: Write a winning resume and then upload it to your Ziggs profile for all of the world (wide web) to see.

Clip Source: www.businessweek.com

The Way to a Winning Résumé

Follow these easy tips, and your CV is sure to impress even the most jaded HR executive

Focus on Specifics Before even sitting down at the computer, it's wise to invest some time researching the type or types of job you are applying for and deciding how to aim your résumé at that target.

Stick to One Page

Misspellings Are a No-No

Click here to see a slide show of winning résumé strategies uniquely tailored to the different phases of job-seeking, whether you're just starting out, eager to switch careers, or looking to stay active at a time when other people are thinking about retirement.

Tags: resume, professional networking, career, career advancement, business, work, ziggs, ziggs.com, julia bradley

How Lessons From Ricky Gervase and Steve Carell Can Save Your Career

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:12:05 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley

Clip Source: edition.cnn.com

The popular TV show "The Office" hilariously satirizes the nine-to-five work world.

The sitcom features a collection of cube-dwelling characters who are occasionally offensive, petty, obnoxious, inept, annoying, self-absorbed or unproductive -- or all of the above.

The show has clearly resonated with the public and pop-culture enthusiasts, perhaps because people sometimes catch a glimpse of "The Office" in their own workplaces.

But "The Office" offers viewers more than just laughs. The show is a cautionary tale serving up weekly reminders of how not to behave in a professional setting.

Joke with care.

Forgo fulsome flattery.

Avoid the gossip grapevine.

While funny and farcical, "The Office" does shine a spotlight on the many pitfalls of exercising poor judgment in the workplace. Use what you learn to handle yourself with tact and professionalism.

By showing respect to both your boss and your co-workers, you'll build camaraderie -- and a solid reputation.

Tags: the office, steve carell, ricky gervase, professional networking, career, careers, work, ziggs, ziggs.com, julia bradley

"Seven Tips For Finding a Great Mentor"

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:00:40 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley

Clip Source: www.inc.com

A good mentoring relationship allows both mentor and mentee to develop new talents and build self-awareness. In business settings, the mentee can become more in-tune with a corporate culture, and the mentor can hone leadership skills. But arguably the toughest part of a mentoring relationship is finding a mentor. When beginning your search, consider these tips:

Know yourself: Consciously think about where you are in your career, and where you would like to be.

Be proactive: In some cases, mentoring relationships form naturally.

Ask for referrals: As with any search process, tap into your friends? and colleagues? networks to expand your reach.

Keep an open mind regarding who this person might be

Identify where you may find a suitable mentor: Good sources of mentors include your management team, industry associations, online communities, your clergy and/or congregation, and professors.

Know what you want to achieve from the relationship

Think about people who have been your mentors in the past

Tags: professional networking, networking, career, careers, mentor, mentoring, relationships, ziggs, ziggs.com, julia bradley

It's All About Building Relationships

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:56:09 GMT

clipped by: Julia Bradley
clipper's remarks: A nice follow up to echo the views Keith Ferrazzi describes in his "How to Avoid Becoming a Networking Jerk."

Clip Source: www.asktheheadhunter.com

In lots of professional circles "networking" has come to be regarded as a necessary skill that leads to new jobs and new customers. I prefer to regard it as an enjoyable social practice that enriches my life. Therein, I believe, lies the difference between bad networking and good networking.

Have you ever had an old contact call you when he's job hunting? Suddenly an otherwise casual, friendly person turns into a preoccupied motor-mouth who makes you wish you'd let voicemail take the call. That's an example of bad networking.

Networking isn't about the quantity of contacts you make; it's about the quality of relationships you enjoy.

Don't speculate for a job.

Invest in relationships.

Belong.

People in your circle are people you would hire or go to work for. If there's a catch to this, it's that you have to invest in getting to know them first.

Tags: networking, career, careers, professional networking, work, relationships, ziggs, ziggs.com, julia bradley