Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

Follow us online at:

http://twitter.com/urbangeko http://www.facebook.com/people/@/1807771571 http://urbangeko.blogspot.com/

Going Green: Home Electronics

The term “green” gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does it really mean and how far does it go? Everyone knows (or should know) the three basic R’s; Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. We may want to add “Recharge” to the list and rethink our environmentally friendly tactics.

Unplug

Sure, you may drive a hybrid car and use canvas shopping bags, but what about your 50” plasma TV? Even though it may be turned off, it still draws power, which costs both you and the environment. Here are some ways to help reduce your electronic carbon footprint and save some green at the same time.

For any power-hungry device, like some older digital cameras, consider purchasing rechargeable batteries and a smart charger instead of traditional alkaline AA or AAA batteries. Although it may be a slightly more expensive initial investment, newer technology enables the cells to be recharged in as little as 15 minutes. Over the long run, these systems will pay for themselves many times over and reduce unneeded waste.

As for that plasma TV, you might be surprised to learn that roughly 40% of the power it uses is drawn while it isn’t even turned on. Many high-technology home electronics are energy “vampires” and use much more electricity that you realize. A way to combat these wasteful devices is to use smart power strips that detect when a component is turned off and truly cuts power to it.

When the time comes to get rid of the old iMac in your garage, what then? Even if it doesn’t work, it still has value. Many companies will buy back old electronics or give you a credit towards new ones. Craigslist and other online auction sites are also good to keep in mind, considering many people buy their electronics used and you may be able to recover some of your initial cost. This is a good practice if the parts still work because it lengthens the product’s useful life-cycle and limits the amount of waste that needs to be recycled.

Even though electronics are being recycled, the process still requires energy, much of which is focused on managing the toxic ingredients like mercury, lead and cadmium that went into producing the product. As much as 70% of all hazardous waste that is generated are discarded electronics. Many manufacturers are going to great lengths to greatly minimize the extent to which they use these hazardous elements, including Apple, who is making progress in eliminating mercury from displays and brominated flame retardants from other internal components.

Armed with this knowledge, your next home technology purchase will be easy, better for you, and better for the environment. Being green can be as simple as insisting on efficient, Energy Star rated products that are manufactured without toxic substances, and using smart power strips once you get them home. Remember that being earth-friendly doesn’t stop once you un-box your new gadget. Extend its lifespan, recycle responsibly, and you’ll contribute to keeping the environment healthy for many years to come.

How To Protect Your Online Reputation

In business, reputation is everything.  A good one can land you the job of a lifetime, while a bad rap could cost you everything. As constructive as they are, social networking sites, blogs and forums can just as easily become your worst nightmare. Here are some concepts that will give you the insight to keep everything running like a dream.

Staying smart

A strong Internet presence via company Twitter and Facebook pages is seen by many businesses as must. But how can you keep them from spinning wildly out of control and damaging your reputation? Here are some things to think about. Remember, your two least favorite words are “damage control”.

Using the name of your company or your full name online can inarguably increase brand awareness, name recognition, and spur business. On the other hand, it leaves nothing to the imagination if any faux-pas or gaffes are made, so consider this one carefully. It should also go without saying that mentioning your clients by name or any jobs that are in progress without explicit permission can be a huge liability. Not only is your reputation at stake, but your client’s as well.

Extending beyond company-branded social networking sites, are discussion forums and blogs, which can be just as influential. When blogging or posting on behalf of your company, keep in mind that even though social sites are casual and conversational in nature, staying professional is critical. It’s easy to let your guard down and become too personal for your own good. Discussion forums in particular, have no obligation to remove something that you may regret posting, which makes retroactive damage control difficult, if not impossible.

Just as with your non-online life, it’s generally good practice keeping business separate from your personal agenda. Using an alias can minimize the chances that your actions online could negatively impact your company’s reputation. Couple that with carefully considering what you’ve written before you post it, and you should be in good shape. In combination with good, old-fashioned common sense, you can minimize the chances that the reputation you’ve worked for years to create isn’t torn down in a matter of minutes.

The reputation of a business is one of its most valuable assets and you have the right and responsibility to influence what is said about you online. With all of these ideas in mind, you can help keep these powerful online business tools working for you, and not against you, ultimately building a stronger brand.

The Business of Social Networks

Social networking is for kids and college students, right? Wrong. Businesses large and small are using them to cash in.

So, how are businesses embracing online social media sites? Much like the mid-90’s when companies realized that a presence on the Internet was essential to business, social networking sites are being viewed as a necessity. Virtually exploding on the scene, these sites are offering businesses an opportunity to build a strong constituent of online brand loyalists that will present the company in a favorable light.

With Google being such a pervasive component of any kind of research these days, anyone seeking information about a company’s products and services will likely see a search result pertaining to an unsatisfied customer’s complaints. Unfortunate? Sure. But this is where a strong online following of brand fans becomes the silver bullet that slays bad publicity and protects a company’s reputation.

Sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn make it easier to reach an audience with a customized brand message, which is an important part of implementing unified corporate communication. And, after doing our due diligence here at Urban Geko, we couldn’t agree more. These new, growing outlets for networking and brand communication are far to powerful to be left untapped.

Urban Geko is now on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Click the links below and follow us on these sites!

http://twitter.com/urbangeko

http://www.facebook.com/people/@/1807771571

http://www.linkedin.com/companies/urban-geko-inc%2E