No more stop watches: RunKeeper

Hey guys this week I wanted to share with you another great local company. I am sure that some of you are active runners and might have heard of this app if you use a smart phone. Runkeeper originally created there app for the Iphones and Android devices and they offered a free and pro version. The program tracks the runner location via GPS and allows you to even track heart rate through a blue tooth devise. Over the past year the company has been making some changes to the product and it seems that it future will bring in new customers. The company has partnered with new companies that they will be working with them to turn the app into a total health tracker.

With all of this new activity and potential for growth the company has attracted attention from investors and has just announced it will be receiving new funding. Sticking with the theme of Boston companies this one is located in South Boston. The company is looking for new offices to expand and I sure they will be hiring soon. So if you are looking to work for a young and very active company you might want to check them out. Also watch the app review above and make sure you go check out their site here.

Say goodbye to mailing documents: OfficeDrop

Hey guys my apologies for not getting a post up last week, I was having some computer problems. But any ways I think you guys are going to really like the company this week. You might not have hear of this company unless you work in a office that has to scan a lot of documents, however you should be very interested. OfficeDrop which is a company that is based out of Cambridge MA has a solution for companies that need to scan and send documents. The company offers a cloud service that allows companies to scan documents and share them on a organized cloud from just about anywhere. The software that they use allows you to scan a document and tun it into a searchable word document that can be share to just about any devise.

The reason I am share this company with you guys is because it is becoming very popular. The company was founded in 2007 and has been growing ever since. However the company recently announced that they have an expected 9x growth in revenue this year. They have done this by shifting away from the conventional way of sharing documents, they used to have companies mail in document and then they would be available to share. However since the new use of there web-portal and mobile app the company is seeing record growth. Why should this interest you as a college student? Because just like any growing company this means they will be expanding and hiring new people...see my point. Anyways go check out there site above and keep your eye on them in the next few months because I am sure they will be creating new positions.

The New Way to Share Files: Dropbox

Hey guys this week I wanted to share with you the company Dropbox. Dropbox is a company that I heard about last year, at the time it seemed like it was still young but picking up speed. The company offers a solution for sharing files between computers and smart phones via a cloud. They do this by placing a folder on all of your machines and when you drop things into the folder it is uploaded to their online severs. This is great because not only does it mean that all of you files are synced between all devices, but it is also backed up. In case you drop or break one of your devises, which I am sure many of you have before. If you have not had the very unfortunate experience of loosing all of your files it might be hard to see the value in having everything backed up. This video below does a great job of explaining what they do in simple terms.

But back to the reason I am sharing this with you guys. They recently have received over 250 million in founding and I am sure this money means that this company is about to expand in a big way. The idea and business plan is great, however the current storage options and pricing are not that great. Im sure with this money we will see new jobs opening up as well as improvements in the service?! Hopefully anyways. The company is based out of San Francisco but if you like technology and would love to work with a young company with some amazing benefits this might be a good place to check out. Make sure you guys check out their website here.

Linkable Networks: Clovr Media

          Hey guys this week I wanted to share with you another great company that is right down the road in Boston. Clovr Media has come up with a very useful new way of redeeming offers. The company has created a great solution to old types of offers such as (mail-in rebates, flashing loyalty cards, check-ins, tricky gimmicks, coupons, entering codes online...) The company has created a platform that links any ad(banner, text, video, moblile, and even print thanks to next-gen barecodes) directly to your bank account. All you have to do is click or scan any ad that has the "Linkable Network" logo on it, and after you purchase, Clovr gives you the savings. 

This technolegy has recently grabbed a lot of attention from many large venture capital firm, such as CityGroup. City and many others have began funding this company and it seems as though its future is looking good. The reason I wanted to share this with you guys because not only is this a great new idea but they are also Hiring! They are located in Boston and would be a great place to look at if you are interested in working for a young company. Go check out their site http://linkablenetworks.com/

Boston Marketing Convention: FutureM

This week I would like to introduce to you guys this great marketing convention that I recently found out about. I am from the south shore and I am sure that many of you are live somewhere in New England or will be looking for jobs near Boston. FutureM would be a great event to participate in if you are looking to get into marketing or product management. This event was held a few weeks ago and attracts a very diverse and inspirational audience. The event last about a week and includes tons of scheduled events including, guest speakers, workshops, networking meals, and much more.

            The main purpose of this event is to inspire the people who work in the Boston area to continue to do the amazing work they do. They do this by bringing in some great companies from the area and having them work with people, and speak during the events. Many of these companies are on the very cutting edge of marketing and use social media as a major part of their marketing strategy. Many of these companies are hiring and this event would be a great place for anyone who is interested in finding a job in marketing or working in Boston.

Social Product Development: Quirky

            

            Social Product Development is something that you most likely have never heard of. But a few years ago Ben Kaufman thought of this great idea of creating a community for bringing together inventors, designers, and creators. And he did this by creating Quirky.com, a place were people can share ideas and have different people contribute to making them happen. If you product is something that seems to be getting lots of attention and is voted as being a good idea, then the company works with you to make it happen. This is something that is very new and has so much potential.

            I thought that this would be a great second post to this blog because it really shows you how the idea of social media has really opened up new business markets. The thought of sharing your “great idea” with someone you do not know is not something most people would jump right into. However Quirky has created a strong business model that protects its member and there ideas. Of course the company has also found a way like most online companies to make money. They do it like most up and coming companies do, they avoid upfront charges. This is because they realize that the people that are using the site are the true assets to the company and without them the whole idea would fail. I am sure that there are some other great companies out there that are using this kind of business plan and I would love to hear from you guys. Let me know what you guys think about this great idea, and some other ways it could be used?   

Ben Kaufman, age 24, CEO/Founder of Quirky

Introduction

Hi I am Clay Nicolau and I am studying business administration at Plymouth State University. I grew up in New York and the South Shore, I love sport and technology, and when I am not at school or working I on my boat in the summer and skiing in the winter. I am a full time student and work part time from home as a product manager for a company out of Boston. I also have always loved web & graphic design and have been doing contracting work for small companies for the past few years. This has giving me some great experiences with the web sites, social media, marketing and business.

I am creating this blog for my social media marketing class, and since I am in my senior year and I am trying to explore different markets and companies that I might like to work in. I have a strong interest in technology, online, and high-tech industries. So I will be using this blog to share my findings in emerging technologies and industries as well as giving many different thoughts and views on these markets. This information will be from a wide verity sources and some of my experiences. I hope that you will enjoy reading my posts and will come back for more!

Feel free to check out my personal website claynicolau.com
or add me on Facebook or LinkedIn