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  1. d4deepan

    Step by Step Guide: Blogging Using Just The Dell Venue 7

    by

    Bloggers everywhere like me exulted when they no longer had to be chained to their desktops and laptops as now we’re able to blog directly from Android mobile devices, like tablets & phones, to capture our day-to-day life and update things as they happen. And I have to agree devices like Dell Venue 7 which is refreshingly bloatware-free have totally made my life easier. With the request of few of my friends in blogosphere and colleagues, I would like to write how blogging has become easier for me unlike before.

    Firstly my device Dell Venue 7, which stands out among the abundance of competitively priced midsize and small tablets, due to its stable performance coupled with a small list of super blogging tools (Thanks to the Android Developer community for keeping them free for pocket friendly bloggers)


    Blogger



    As you know, my blog is built on ‘Blogspot’ platform. I’ve installed the free ‘Blogger’ app from Google Playstore which I felt is much more user friendlier in my Dell Venue 7 than the PC version. You should try it to feel it. All the options (The necessary ones) that you’ve been looking for (In PC) are right at your fingertips when accessed through the app installed on the tab. The super lightweight (0.74 pounds) DV7 tablet makes it easier for me to carry it everywhere in my home and blog wherever and whenever I want to.


    PicMonkey



    Picmonkey app (Again available for free on Google Playstore) allows me to edit, design and upload photos using online. You can also crop, resize, add effects, filters, overlays, textures and a lot more with this super cool app. The interface is quite user friendly for beginners like me. The circular grooved texture of the Dell Venue 7 on the back feels pleasant on my fingertips making it easier to churn out quick graphics for my blog. If you’re a blogger who needs a mandatory graphic in your blog, be sure to download this app.


    Feedly



    Feedly is a free android app that aggregates RSS, Social Content and Google Reader. Most of the bloggers love to read a lot, to get inspired and most importantly to avoid writers’ block. A blogger can set up alerts from their favorite websites and get the articles delivered right at their fingertips. For my surprise, this app also pulls in content from sites like Tumblr and YouTube. I love the navigation as it’s quite straight forward and with my Dell Venue 7, this app certainly works like a dream. 

  2. d4deepan

    How To Build & Market A Mobile App Successfully?

    by

    More than 60% of the iOS apps hasn't even been downloaded once. Thousands of apps are being released everyday in iOS and Google Play store. Is that an alarming fact? Yes indeed. Mobile app developers and marketers would totally agree it's not that easy to drive mobile app downloads and keep the users engaged with an app frequently. A success of a mobile app doesn't just lie with the marketing department as it depends on lot of critical factors including design, usability, effectiveness, demand and most importantly the pain points it solve for the targeted users. 

    Here's an infographic which helps understand how to build & market a mobile app successfully.

    10 Step Checklist to build and market successful app
    Dot Com Infoway – Mobile Apps Marketing Agency
  3. d4deepan

    Lessons To Learn From A Travelogue

    by


    First of all, thank you Jungle Formula for giving me and opportunity to write my experience with your product in a way I want it. I really like the way you guys are moving with your campaign  #FightAgainstMosquitoes :-)

    For a traveler, life can offer many such instances to come face to face with the reality of life. One such incident occurred to me and my extended family, when I was travelling with them to the beautiful town of Guwahati. 

    It was in June 2014, when my extended family, which included my Uncle, Aunt and their two lovely children – Rinku and Sunny, had gone for a week’s stay in Guwahati to our old grandparent’s home. We were treated with lovely sweets and a fancy Rajasthani feast on our arrival.  

    The weather was mesmerizing. As a traveler, who is a sucker for natural views, it created the feeling to go out and discover the beauty of the place. Therefore, I requested my Uncle and Aunt, to take the kids along to Guwahati’s famous tea garden.

    Little did I know that I was inviting trouble by venturing into the place. Rinku and Sunny are notorious kids, one is 11 years old and the other one 8. Both are planning some mischief or the other. For them, this opportunity offered the place to run and hide in the tea gardens. For my Uncle and Aunt, it brought back the old memories of their frequent visit to Guwahati, which remains the place where they expressed their love for each other. It was during their college trip to Shillong that they had fallen in love with each other.

    My aunt, who is otherwise an introvert woman, shared the story of how she would sing,dance and run into the luscious green gardens of Assam, like those Bollywood actresses. There was a magic in her eyes when she narrated the incident as we were approaching towards our destination to the tea gardens.

    We saw, women working peacefully in the garden, carrying a basket around their back. The tea garden was located in the Lakhimpur district with the name – Madhupur tea estate.

    We went and explored the place. I was silently observing the garden, my uncle was busy talking to the locals and my aunt was taking pictures from her new digital camera. This was an opportunity for the kids to run and play in the gardens. Things were going well…Until..On our way back, the children started to feel unwell. They complained of mild fever. The local driver, who was an Assamese, complained that the tea garden, is prone to have dangerous mosquitos whose attack has caused people to serve from deadly diseases like dengue, malaria,chikungnya.

    We were petrified. Dengue was on high rise at that time. The deadly disease has killed several people from the country. As we reached our grandparent’s place, the kids started to feel drastically ill. The doctor was called, he prescribed certain medicines. 

    Our local driver, gave us the Jungle Formula to use and apply it gently on the body. The insect’s bite could lead to viral infections. We didn’t want to take any risk. Therefore, we utilized it without thinking of any consequences. Fortunately, the medicine as well as the insect repellent factor worked in our favour.  We used it and saw it effect. None of us were affected by the disease. This incident taught me to take extreme care of my health. We had risked the life of two little children, under the spell of deadly insects. Thank god for this DEET based mosquito repellent, the disease did not go viral and we saved ourselves from the attack of dangerous mosquitoes.

    Later on, I learnt that, the Jungle Formula is commonly used by thousands of people in India. I, too, as a traveler bought one Jungle Formula Maximum lotion for myself. The 50ml lotion, had a pleasant smell and it is still lying there in my backpack to protect myself from the transmission of any deadly disease.


    Funnily, this incident taught Rinku and Sunny to discuss it among their peers. They call this repellant as the magic lotion . After this incident, the kids have learnt to take proper care of their own health. They use the jungle formula lotion in the evening and apply on their body, whenever they go out to play in the garden.


    For me, this travelling incident has been a learning lesson. It has taught me to carry the first aid box and repellents to protect myself from harmful elements. 


  4. d4deepan

    Skore T20 League – Were You Able To Score A Century?

    by
    Following up on my previous blog post here, where I've covered how Skore India went a step ahead of all the other brands trying to make use of the graze of of T20 Cricket in India. I would like to cover few tasks in the campaign I really enjoyed playing. Few experts say a game can be won or lost in a ball, but Skore says otherwise. 

    Build with an objective of increasing their exclusive T20 pack sales, Skore had build an exclusive micro property. Here's what you get, as soon as you open the brand new micro-site designed by Skore exclusively for this campaign. You can login using your Facebook account or create a new account here. 



    Out of 20 exciting tasks, the one which impressed me the most was the task 'Read between the lines'. The objective here is to guess what a woman is thinking just by looking at her expression. Every question in this activity is followed by four different answers (Emotions) and an picture of a woman next to it. A user has to get all of the answers right to rack up a high score. He/she might also lose points for a wrong guess. 

    I would say Skore has nailed the campaign by including this activity. The foremost important task of a man in real life is to understand what her woman is thinking and act accordingly for a healthy life (If you know what I mean :) ), without she saying exactly what it is. 


    I was able to get most of the answers right, but unfortunately not everything. Guess I need more training in that. 

    My wrong answer :(


    My right answer :)

    For a first-timer, my results weren't that bad..huh? 


    You can also increase your points rapidly, by entering the unique code (Present in Skore T20 packs) at the end of each task and also 

    I also enjoyed playing other activities such as Skore a line (Where you've to guess the right word to make your woman feel awesome), Role play roulette (Where you've to choose a perfect costume), Flashy Footwork, Scroll2Skore and so on. 

    You can also try your luck with the game and stand a chance to win Skore Merchandize, iPads and much more. Please follow the instructions below. 

    Skore Pleasure League:


    a.       About the Pack:


    1.       A Special Edition Pack to be launched during IPL – Pack to be named as T20 Pack and will contain 20 coloured condoms.

    2.       It will  be a consumer offer pack – Sex Positions booklet will be given free along with this pack

    3.       MRP of this pack would be Rs. 120/-

    4.       Consumers buying this pack will be eligible to win some cool prizes – Daily, Weekly Prizes and Grand Prizes to be won


    b.      About the Contest:

    1.       Name of the contest is Skore Pleasure League

    2.       Minimum Age for participating in the contest is 18.

    3.       Anybody above 18 will be able to participate in the contest. They just need to log on toSkorecondoms.com/SPL to kick start

    4.       During Registration, they would also have to select a particular team out of the 10 teams available. ( 9 teams from previous season’s SPL) – Please note that these teams have no bearing on the contest and all prizes will be decided only on Individual performance. The teams are only for creating excitement during the contest.

    5.       Once registered, they will get to perform 20 exciting & thrilling tasks

    6.       Based on their performance and other measurement standards they will be awarded runs for each task -criteria for awarding runs and how many runs to be awarded will be decided

    7.       Score that the user gets will get added up to his/her account

    8.       There will be Daily & weekly prizes for the participants who are top scores in the leader boards on the respective day and week. ( Ideally Top 3 daily & top 5 Weekly)  

    9.       At the end of the contest, the top 3 participants will be win the Grand prize. However, to be eligible to win a Grand Prize, the participant needs to buy a Special Edition T20 pack.

    10.   Everytime a Special Edition T20 pack is got, the participant needs to open the pack and find an unique code inside the top flap of the pack.

    11.   Each code will give you extra runs and increase the chance of winning the Grand Prize – Extra Runs will be high and this will act as a motivator for them to buy more packs

    12.   Entering the unique code will give him/her 50 runs

    13.   Share SPL on Facebook timeline – 4 runs
    14.   Inviting Facebook friends to SPL 6 runs

  5. d4deepan

    Logitech India and eSports Interactive Entertainment Conclude Logitech G – Free2Play #3 LAN Tournament

    by


    Logitech India and eSports Interactive Entertainment concluded Logitech G – Free2Play #3 LAN gaming tournament on June 2nd, 2014 in Bangalore. The 3 day event started on May 31st 2014 with the aim to promote the culture of eSports in India and saw participation from gamers across India. The game titles for this season were Counter-Strike:Global Offensive and Dota 2 which are popular among Indian gamers.

    This year’s winner of Logitech G – Free2Play #3 Dota 2 LAN Tournament is Team Neckbreak eSports from Mumbai and won INR 50,000 cash prize & 5 x Logitech G400s Gaming Mouse. The 1st runner up is Oblique Gaming from Mumbai who received INR 20,000 cash prize. The 2nd runner up is Evil Minds from Pune who takes home INR 10,000 cash prize.

    This year’s winner of Logitech G – Free2Play #3 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive LAN Tournament is Team Mango eSports from Bangalore and won INR 35,0 00 cash prize & 5 x Logitech G400s Gaming Mouse. The 1st runner up is United Five from Mumbai who received INR 10,000 cash prize. The 2nd runner up is Mission in Stealth from Bangalore who takes home INR 5,000 cash prize.

    To spread the cheer of the tournament and make it available to a larger audience, Logitech G – Free2Play #3 was also broadcasted live on Twitch TV (Dota 2). The highlights will be made available on eSports Interactive Entertainment Youtube channel shortly.

    Mr. Ashok Jangra, Cluster Category Managersaid, ‘It is a matter of pride for the brand to successfully conclude yet another successful year Logitech G – Free2Play #3 LAN Tournament. The platform enabled us to reach out to many gaming enthusiasts and make them a part of the Logitech G series family. With a promise to deliver the best in class high- precision gaming solutions to the gamers, Logitech G is specifically engineered for people who prefer perfect gaming experience.

    Commenting on the occasion, Karthik S Rao, Business Head, eSports Interactive Entertainment mentioned, “We are thrilled to see new teams emerging on top every season. This indicates that through Logitech G – Free2Play we are able to give Indian gamers the right platform to showcase their gaming skills. We will continue our support to aspiring professional gamers in India.”

    About Logitech
    Logitech is a world leader in products that connect people to the digital experiences they care about. Spanning multiple computing, communication and entertainment platforms, Logitech’s combined hardware and software enable or enhance digital navigation, music and video entertainment, gaming, social networking, audio and video communication over the Internet, video security and home-entertainment control. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI).

    Logitech, the Logitech logo, and other Logitech marks are registered in Switzerland and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. For more information about Logitech and its products, visit the company’s website at www.logitech.com.


    About eSports Interactive Entertainment
    eSports Interactive Entertainment specializes in experiential marketing for the gaming and technology industry with a broad range of services including live and online event management, promotions, trials and community development programs, to name a few. We can reach gamers at many different touch points and in many different ways: individually, in groups, in-game as well as outside the game play experience.

  6. d4deepan

    9 Reasons That Will Keep Me Hooked To ASUS T100

    by
    It's here. It's finally here. What I've been craving for. The transformed ASUS T100. Read further to know the 9 reasons that will keep me hooked to this small but powerful device


    1. I will be able to have a powerful device any where and any time. I don't have to waste my time on a smartphone which hangs when I open a power-point presentation on the move. Now with Asus T100, I can carry my work with wherever I go. 




    2. I can free up space in my home because I won't need a special computer area. Why would you need one when you have a ultra powerful device which can perform almost any function at ease.


    3. I can spend more time reading important information online & transfer files faster to my USB stick on the go, which otherwise I hate to do at my productive hours at office




    4. I can video chat with my friends & family on the go. I believe that a quick video chat is any day better than a long voice call to maintain a perfect work-life balance. The ASUS T100 comes with a 1.2 MP Front camera for HD video recording which will also help me shoot quick video of tips and tricks & post it to my YouTube channel. 




    5. I can finally be ahead on the greatest & latest technology. I'm tired of buying smartphones which claim to have the latest features and the very next week overshadowed by another model which beats the former hands down. The ASUS T-100 comes with a Intel® AtomTM Processor Z3740(Up to 2.3GHz, 2M) along with the latest Windows 8.1 & Intel® Gen7 Graphics. I'm very sure the competitors will take at least a few months to come up with a small & powerful device with such configuration. 




    6. Goes without saying the ASUS T100 can easily triple my productivity. With 2 GB LPDDR3 1067 MHz RAM & a 32 GB EMMC, the device can seamlessly perform my day-to-day activities like data synchronization to cloud , staying connecting with my clients on the go, media anywhere and print things wireless. When the productivity increases, it's obvious I take some time off for things I love



    7. The major pain point in my busy schedule has always been the battery back-up with my mobile devices. What's the point of being a smart device when the battery drains out?  With ASUS T100 all day battery backup, the pain of me carrying additional bulky power banks



    And finally, that awesome moment when your device is the most stylish device of all and a head turner. 




    It's time to TRANSFORM




    Get the complete technical specifications of ASUS Transformer Book T100 here: http://asusindia.co.in/T100/
  7. d4deepan

    Strontium launches its much awaited ultra-high speed Nitro Plus series of microSD and SD Cards

    by


    Bangalore, India, May 30, 2014: Strontium, a leading digital storage brand from Singapore, today launched its finest and fastest range – the ultra-high speed Nitro Plus, in Indian market. The much awaited range of products by Strontium consists of UHS-I Speed Class 3 (U3) SD and microSD cards, which enable consumers to capture and watch 4K2K and Ultra HD pictures and videos on their high performance cameras, tablets and smartphones.


    Strontium Nitro Plus UHS-1 Class 3 cards guarantee performance of at least 60MB/s read and 40 MB/s write, enough bandwidth to allow users to capture cinema quality Full HD (1080p), Ultra HD (2160p), 4K2K and 3D videos on their DSLRs and camcorders and then play them on their UHD TVs, laptops and smartphones with stunning colors and clarity. Users can capture up to 2 hours of 4K2K HD video on a 128GB SD card. In addition to 4K2K video capture, Nitro Plus cards can also be used for burst or continuous mode photograph capture and television recording. The faster transfer speeds also reduce the time needed to download large movie and music files to smart phones and tablets. Moreover, all NITRO PLUS cards are waterproof and shockproof. The microSD also comes with the finest Android Backup Application - MyBackup Pro Full Version worth INR 314.


    Strontium Nitro Plus cards are compatible with all devices with 4K2K support, such as Smartphones like Acer Liquid S2, LG G Pro 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2, Oppo Find 7/7a and LG G3; Professional cameras like Canon EOS C500, JVC GY-HMQ10, Sony Handycam FDR-AX1 and Sony CineAlta F5; DSLRs and consumer cameras like Canon EOS-1D C DSLR, Panasonic GH4, Sony A7s, Sony Handycam FDR-AX100, GoPro HERO3 Black Edition and Panasonic HX-A500E; UHD TVs, monitors and projectors from LG, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Sharp, Viewsonic, Philips, TCL, Toshiba, NEC and Barko. 

  8. d4deepan

    Huawei Launches 3 New Smartphones with RCB’s Finest

    by

    Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, today launched 3 revolutionary smartphones Ascend G6, Ascend G750 and Honor 3C for the Indian market. The handsets were launched amidst the fanfare by the star players of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. Huawei is the principal sponsor of Royal Challengers Bangalore Team.


    The newly launched smartphones are designed to serve unique needs of varied consumer segments. With its 1.7 GHz Octa-core processor and 5.5” HD screen, the Ascend G750 is a real multi-tasker for the entertainment-seekers; with a premium design & 7.5 mm slim, the Ascend G6 is power packed with style, colors that are aptly targeted at the socially-savvy youth, while the Honor 3C is designed especially for the college-goers with features such as 5 MP front camera, 22 mm wide angle lens and 1.4 µm sensor for perfect selfies complimented with an excellent rear 8 MP BSI camera. Today the users demand feature-packed smartphones that help them multi-task on the go and at the same time offer style and better battery performance. All the 3 smartphones introduced today cater to these needs.


    Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Victor Shanxin, President, Huawei Consumer Business Group India commented, “Huawei’s relentless commitment to developing premium quality smartphones over the past three years has paid off. We are now ranked number three globally in terms of smartphone shipments, and our brand recognition is growing steadily in key regions. In India, we see a great potential and the launch of these 3 smartphones will further strengthen our presence.”


    Anand Narang, Marketing Director, Huawei Consumer Business Group India said, “Nothing connects India like cricket and we have been a brand that connects consumers through all our ICT products. Our foray into cricket is a gradual phenomenon in our company’s journey to transform into a consumer brand. Our partnership with RCB and association with cricket is helping us reach out to masses and build brand resonance. We are committed to make our products reach out more users and we are strengthening our retail presence and reach across multiple cities.”


    Huawei recently announced its association the Royal Challengers Bangalore and is the Principal Sponsor of the team. The partners had unveiled the new RCB team jersey, which features the Huawei logo on the front of the jersey as a principal sponsor of the team. As a part of this association, RCB team jersey is featuring the Huawei logo on the front of the jersey. Huawei will also have significant brand exposure around RCB’s home ground, the Chinnaswamy Stadium, along with in-stadium promotional rights. To amplify this association, Huawei and RCB has also kicked-off joint marketing initiatives to engage fans and consumers across India like contests to win RCB merchandise & tickets for matches, behind-the-scenes exclusive player content, digital activation etc.


    Huawei began its journey in India by establishing its R&D centre in Bangalore. The partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore hence, reaffirms the brand’s commitment towards India and emanates as homecoming. The core values of Huawei include dedication, continuous improvement, integrity and teamwork, which also define the essence of sportsmanship. With similar core values, this partnership offers a perfect synergy for the values of both partner brands.

    About Huawei Consumer Business Group


    As at the end of 2013, Huawei’s products and services are deployed in over 170 countries, serving more than one third of the world’s population. Huawei continues to be a market leader in datacard category world-wide, including India and was ranked third in global smartphone shipments in 2013 according to International Data Corporation (IDC). Huawei has also established more than 16 R&D centers around the world in countries such as the United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India, and China. One of Huawei’s three business groups, Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) provides a range of products including mobile phones, mobile broadband (MBB) devices, home devices and cloud services. With more than 20 years of rich business expertise in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, an extensive global network, vast global business operations and partners, experience in the telecommunications, Huawei has established a globalized network, operation ability and working partners, Huawei Consumer BG is dedicated to bringing the latest technology to consumers, offering a world of possibilities and creating extraordinary experiences for people everywhere.


    For more information please visit:

    http://twitter.com/huaweiindia
  9. d4deepan

    Play Skore Pleasure League and Win iPads

    by
    IPL season, we see many brands trying to make use of the cricket craze across the nation for their brand objectives. Out of which, the campaign which impressed me the most is the Skore Pleasure League by Skore Condoms. 


    Last year during the IPL season, Skore ran a campaign by the name 'Skore Patao League', where the fans were asked to compete against each in 5 tough challenges in a bid to 'Patao' a woman (The word 'Patao' translates to impress in Hindi). With more than 10000 participating in the Skore Patao League, Skore condoms this time decided to make it big and take T20 the next level. 


    Fans can enter the Skore Pleasure League by logging in through their Facebook account or register with their email ids. After that they must complete twenty tasks to make it to the end. They can improve their score and move up the Skoreboard by entering the unique code on Skore’s T20 pack, sharing the SPL on their timeline, and inviting their Facebook friends to join them. And, when all twenty tasks are complete, fans can participate in the SPL Super Over – a chance to add even more points with six of their favourite tasks!


    Here's how a participant can score more points


    Here are the 20 tasks, that a user has to complete to win some exciting prizes from Skore




    About the game:


    Skore has created a microsite and it is hosted at Skorecondoms.com/SPL. Users log into the site and after basic registration, they will be playing 20 tasks. For their performance of these 20 tasks, runs will be given to the users. They've got 5 games live right now and the rest of the games will be launched at regular intervals. The scores of the users will be saved and they can come back to the microsite to play the rest of the games once they are launched.


    There will be daily leaderboard for the contest and winners will be selected. Also, the contest is integrated with a unique alpha-numeric code mentioned in the pack. Skore has already created 2 lacs codes and these codes [] will be integrated in the sitefor more points.


    Skore Pleasure League:


    a.       About the Pack:


    1.       A Special Edition Pack to be launched during IPL – Pack to be named as T20 Pack and will contain 20 coloured condoms.

    2.       It will  be a consumer offer pack – Sex Positions booklet will be given free along with this pack

    3.       MRP of this pack would be Rs. 120/-

    4.       Consumers buying this pack will be eligible to win some cool prizes – Daily, Weekly Prizes and Grand Prizes to be won


    b.      About the Contest:

    1.       Name of the contest is Skore Pleasure League

    2.       Minimum Age for participating in the contest is 18.

    3.       Anybody above 18 will be able to participate in the contest. They just need to log on to Skorecondoms.com/SPLto kick start

    4.       During Registration, they would also have to select a particular team out of the 10 teams available. ( 9 teams from previous season’s SPL) – Please note that these teams have no bearing on the contest and all prizes will be decided only on Individual performance. The teams are only for creating excitementduring the contest.

    5.       Once registered, they will get to perform 20 exciting & thrilling tasks

    6.       Based on their performance and other measurement standards they will be awarded runs for each task - criteria for awarding runs and how many runs to be awarded will be decided

    7.       Score that the user gets will get added up to his/her account

    8.       There will be Daily & weekly prizes for the participants who are top scores in the leader boards on the respective day and week. ( Ideally Top 3 daily & top 5 Weekly)  

    9.       At the end of the contest, the top 3 participants will be win the Grand prize. However, to be eligible to win a Grand Prize, the participant needs to buya Special Edition T20 pack.

    10.   Everytime a Special Edition T20 pack is got, the participant needs to open the pack and find an unique code inside the top flap of the pack.

    11.   Each code will give you extra runsand increase the chance of winning the Grand PrizeExtra Runs will be high and this will act as a motivator for them to buy more packs

    12.   Entering the unique code will give him/her 50 runs

    13.   Share SPL on Facebook timeline – 4 runs
    14.   Inviting Facebook friends to SPL 6 runs

  10. d4deepan

    What Did I Speak At Social Media Week 2014?

    by


    Thanks to Team Nokia, Social Media Week & RSquare consulting for giving me an opportunity to speak at SMW 2014, Bangalore on one of my favorite topics. I certainly consider this one of my significant achievements of my Social Media Career.

    It was initially planned to be a panel discussion on 'The Future of Online Engagement, Content Marketing & Lead Generation' with Salar Bijli (Head of Sales at Trade Briefs) but it finally turned out to be two presentations of 30 Minutes each. I handled the 'Engagement & Content Marketing' part and Salar handled his favorite 'Lead Generation'. We are glad that we were able to address the audience's queries towards the end. 

    The audience had social media enthusiasts, people from large corporations (Dell, HCL, Xerox to name a few), top social media agencies & E-commerce companies

    The event also had influential tweeples and bloggers covering the event.

    Thanks to blogger 'Navimatt' who covered my session beautifully. She has almost captured all the major points that I spoke about.


    The session also had some great buzz & feedback from the tweeples:


    Looking forward to Future of Online Engagement, Content Marketing and lead generation #SMWBangalore pic.twitter.com/MLsU7huJbc
    — Vivek Banka (@bankavivek) February 18, 2014

    Looking forward to Future of Online Engagement, Content Marketing and lead generation with @smbijili #SMWBangalore
    — Peter Claridge (@PeterClaridge) February 18, 2014

    Future of #Online Engagement #contentmarketing & #LeadGeneration kicks off at #SMWBangalore #SMWNokia ... am all ears
    — Neha Shah (@Doc_NehaShah) February 18, 2014

    Audience glued at @citybar #SMWBangalore @SMWBangalore pic.twitter.com/5X82JXjgf3
    — Arun Yedery (@andyyrao) February 18, 2014

    @bankavivek Creating engaging useful content for your audiences interest is way forward for brands #SMWBangalore #investincontentmarketing
    — Lohith Ramachandra (@lohith1509) February 18, 2014

    Interesting tools to use for content distribution #SMWBangalore
    — tinadatta23 (@tinadatta23) February 18, 2014

    #SMWBangalore thanks for the list of tools, deepan
    — Rohan Chandhok (@rohanchandhok) February 18, 2014

    Future of #contentmarketing is creating content to enable decision making in every stage of the buying process #smwbangalore @SMWBangalore
    — Lohith Ramachandra (@lohith1509) February 18, 2014

    Customer #Lifecycle Awareness Consideration Decision Loyalty #SMWBangalore #ContentMarketing
    — Vivek Banka (@bankavivek) February 18, 2014

    Social media posts, e-newsletters, case studies, articles on websites = most consumed B2B online content. #SMWBangalore
    — Liana Pistell (@lianapistell) February 18, 2014

    create a successful content it's imp. to know ur customer and ur target audience. imp. to understand what they want to hear #SMWBangalore
    — Vivek Banka (@bankavivek) February 18, 2014

    Traits of successful #content... Engage emotionally, create visibility, amplify, re -produce, help you customer says d expert #SMWBangalore
    — Neha Shah (@Doc_NehaShah) February 18, 2014

    Re - produce your #content across all "relevant" channels BUT reformat it to know which type would attract audience better #SMWBangalore
    — Neha Shah (@Doc_NehaShah) February 18, 2014

    Engagement, the most important part of content #SMWBangalore
    — Engage Dino (@EngageDino) February 18, 2014

    Emotion is #1 driver of online engagement in India....and the world #SMWBangalore
    — Liana Pistell (@lianapistell) February 18, 2014

    Reproduce content - make videos and infographics out of blog posts. Good #tip from #SMWBangalore
    — Esha Tiwary (@etiwary) February 18, 2014

    Give your customers a "Personalised Experience" This is the future of #contentmarketing. Touched me. #SMWBangalore
    — Neha Shah (@Doc_NehaShah) February 18, 2014
    Few snapshots from the session:


















    In case If you've missed the event, here's what I presented.


    I'm all ears for your feedback :-)


  11. d4deepan

    HCL Tech Takes ‘Social Recruiting’ To The Next Level In India With #CoolestInterviewEver

    by
    We’ve heard of tech companies using Social Media in multiple ways for their business benefits. However very few companies have used the medium to identify and recruit the potential employees, apart from using the same for background checks.
    The maximum we’ve seen is an exclusive Facebook tab or a Facebook page for careers, where monotonous job openings are being posted with couple of feeds around the company’s work culture. Breaking all the silos being followed by tech biggies in the country, HCL Tech, India’s 4th largest software services firm has taken a revolutionary step in using ‘Twitter’ as a medium to find new talents for the company.
    The objective of the campaign #CoolestInterviewEver is to shortlist candidates for ‘The coolest project ever’ under five categories – Ideapreneurship Evangelist, Big Data Guru, Hacker-in-chief, Digital Trotter & Womenspiration. The job descriptions of these profiles are available in the link here.


  12. d4deepan

    Stan Smith – An Unsung Hero

    by


    Stan Smith, Born. Dec 14, 1946 in Pasadena (Calif) was one of the greatest Davis Cup Competitors, former No.1 Tennis Player and two time Grand Slam title winner from America. He was one of the iconic sportsmen between late 1960s and early 1980s.


    When Stan Smith was a kid, he wanted to become a ball boy but turned down because the organizers felt he was unskilled in handling things without realizing that kid would someday become a Tennis superstar.


    Stan started getting recognized when he played his collegiate tennis at the University of Southern California, where he went on to win 1966 (Singles), 1967 & 1968 (Doubles) of National Collegiate Athletic Association championship titles.


    Stan was respected in the Tennis world not just for his caliber of the game but the strength of his character on and off the field.

    Stan also entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987. Take a look at some of the major titles he’s won in his career.


    Grand Slam Record


    Career Achievements
    Davis Cup 1968-73, 1975-79, 1981. Record: 15-5 (Singles), 20-3(Doubles)


    Australian Open
    Doubles Champion 1970


    US Open

    Singles Champion 1971

    Doubles Champion 1968, 1974, 1978, 1980


    Wimbledon
    Singles Champion 1972


    After all these achievements, Stan himself told in an interview that ‘The youngsters these days doesn’t know about his career achievements before the launch of Adidas Sneaker range by his name and accepted that the name has become bigger than him as a person’. Though the shoe is not recommended for today’s tennis players, it still continues to remain an iconic brand for Retro Tennis shoe fans. Several celebrities like Sky Ferreira, Will Arnett, Phoebe Philo and Kanye West may seem spotted with Stan Smith Green and Whites.


    Once asked by Oystermag, if he was on a desert land what he would take among these and why – A pair of Stan Smiths, a tennis racket, a tennis ball or an iPhone? Stan without any thought said it would be the pair of Stan Smiths because he would feel comfortable and can protect his feet from oyster shells and sand crabs, as the ball and racket wouldn’t be of help without a court and the iPhone wouldn’t work without a network.


    Take a look at the video of Stan himself describing the new sneaker range by Adidas



    A pair of Stan Smiths worn by the legend himself



    Watch The Legend in Action:


    Image Source: Flickr


    Image source: Guardian

    To be continued…

  13. d4deepan

    A Beautiful Home With Asian Paints

    by
    While I haven’t thought about this topic before, this was an opportunity for me to think- What would my ideal space be? and How could I translate my ideas into reality? Here’s what I came up with:
    Image Courtesy: Flickr
    Let the Light In
          This seems simple enough to say, but in our tightly packed cities, light especially natural light is a commodity like any other and efforts must be made in terms of design and planning to get the best light in your home. An excellent way to ensure that your home basks in the warmth of natural sunlight is to create large openings and windows that are larger than the regular- 2 by 4-common- grilled variety.

    Make it your Own
    Some people like neat suburbs. I always am attracted to the rundown and the old and the offbeat- William S. Burroughs

    Image Courtesy: Asian Paints
     I am inclined to agree with Mr. Burroughs, I believe a Home should have character. Rather than being merely “tidy”, it needs to show the personality of its inhabitants. Apartment blocks with uniform light fixtures and gated communities with manicured lawns is not for me!

    One way to customise your home is to paint it with a colour palette that you love. I have found that Asian Paints Home Solutions has the best facilities in terms of choice, longevity and technology.  As the site says” When it comes to home painting, leave it to us”- the brand who has been a leader in the Indian Market takes care of all your painting needs finding paints that fit your budget, a site evaluation and a troop of painters that work tirelessly to give your home a superior finish.


    Have Great Storage
    We all know that space has become a constraint everywhere in India, so it’s time to get organized. A great way to do this is to create and find storage units that pack a punch in both utility and aesthetics. Check out some stand out examples I found online:

    Convert a Shoe rack into Storage for your cleaning Supplies

    Image Courtesy: It's for the Home

     

    Convert your Stairs and the Areas under your bed into storage drawers


    This one, I will be definitely getting for my DVD Collection.

    Image Courtesy: HomeEdit

  14. d4deepan

    An Afternoon With Four Seasons

    by
    Image Courtesy: Vidya Lakshmi 
    It was a lovely afternoon at Grand Hyatt (MG Road Bangalore) on 18th Jan 2014 where Four Seasons invited food & lifestyle bloggers of Bangalore for a wine tasting event coupled with live cookout session with the help of top chefs of the city.


    The event started around 2PM with a lovely warm welcome from the employees of Grand Hyatt, Four Seasons and Ginger Claps. The event was also able to pull some of the notable names in the blogosphere including some of my most favorite bloggers Vidya Lakshmi and Shalini Chopra. I was also able to meet some of my online friends/popular b'lore tweeples at the event (Vinay, Arvind, Skanda to name a few)

    The live cookout session started with bloggers forming groups of 5. My team had Vinay, Skanda, Jayashree & Sumath. Vinay & Skanda being pure vegetarians preferred to choose spinach & ricotta tortellini, and me along with Sumath & Jayashree were just couldn't wait to jump onto the 'Jamaican Rub chicken' which was not ready yet :-P

    The chefs @ The Grand Hyatt, helped us with the initial preparation (In fact, the whole :-P ) of the dishes. They also gave us very clear instructions with patience on how do we proceed with it and how can we innovate while cooking. 

    Here's how we prepared the dishes - 

    Spinach & Ricotta Tortellini


    Ingredients:


    Tortellini

    Refined Flour 500 gms

    Egg Yolks 15 No.

    Salt 5 gm

    Spinach 500 gms

    Ricotta Cheese 100 gms

    Saffron Cream Sauce

    Butter 100 gms

    Refined Flour 100 gms

    Milk 1 Ltr

    Saffron 0.5 gms

    Salt 2 gms

    Pepper 2 gms


    Procedure:


    1. Mix flour, egg yolk and salt and make smooth dough and keep it aside.

    2. Boil the washed spinach leaves and finely chop it and mix with ricotta cheese.

    3. Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

    4. Roll the sheet and cut the round shape around 2 inches in diameter, place the spinach mixture in center and fold half-moon and then twist to make the tortellini shape.

    5. Make a roux by cooking equal quantity of flour and butter.

    6. Heat the milk and incorporate the roux into it, and then strain it.

    7. Add the saffron to the sauce and keep it aside.

    8. Heat the sauce and add the blanched tortellini to it.



    Jamaican Rub Chicken


    Ingredients:


    Chicken Supreme/ Leg 100 gms


    Marination:


    Tomato Puree 200 gms

    Chopped Onions 50 gms

    Chopped Garlic 30 gms

    Salt 5 gms

    Pepper 10 gms

    Fennel Powder 20 gms

    Honey 10 gms

    Chili Flakes 10 gms

    Thyme 5 gms

    Oil 60 ml

    Vinegar 15 ml


    Procedure:


    1. Take the tomato puree in a pan. 

    2. Fine chop some onions and garlic and mix it in the puree.

    3. Add salt, pepper, fennel powder, chili flakes and thyme and mix well.

    4. Finish the marinations with honey, oil and vinegar. 

    5. Clean the chicken breast and marinate it well with the tomato and spice rub.

    6 .Grill the marinated chicken supreme on a pre-heated grill and serve hot.


    Few Snaps from the event - Image Courtesy (Vidya Lakshmi & Aravind Balakrishnan):






















    About Four Seasons:
    Enjoying a glass of wine is like holding a story by the stem. Theme, character, composition – critical elements of a story, all find expression in India’s most awarded range of wines - Four Seasons.  The award-winning range of wines have been crafted with the technical expertise of Bouvet-Ladubay, France and perfectly complement different styles of cuisines.The varietal range available in three reds, three whites and a rose, has been styled to suit the diversity of the Indian palate. Hence, one will find the wines fairly fruit forward, with a good balance.  The premium range of Four Seasons  Barrique Reserve Collection, available in two popular varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, are made in limited batches and undergo a nine-month maturation in new French oak barrels that lends these wines a subtle complexity, an enigmatic bouquet, a velvety texture and a lingering finish – truly living up to their reserve designation.Enjoy the experience of unravelling, sip by exquisite sip, the heart, body and soul of this unique Indian wine story – Four Seasons.

    About Webber
    US based, Weber® is the world’s leading manufacturer of charcoal grills, gas grills and grilling accessories. Weber is about delicious barbecue food and fun, entertaining times with friends and family. Weber® organises interactive cookout sessions and grilling demos in India for anyone who would like to learn more about grilling. Weber® grill brand products are sold throughout India. For information on Weber®, grilling tips and delicious Weber® recipes visit –Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weberbbqindia / Website: www.weberindia.com / Customer Care toll free number 1800.102.3102.

    About Hyatt Bangalore MG Road
    Hyatt Bangalore MG Road is not only the first Hyatt hotel in Bangalore, it is also the only international hotel brand in the city’s Central Business District at this time. Ensconced in a green oasis in the heart of the city, it is an intimate and lush haven for the business traveller.  Modern décor, award-winning restaurants, and enthusiastic service ensure a welcoming stay for our guests. Find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HyattBangaloreMGRoad
  15. d4deepan

    Kristal Spirits India Pvt. Ltd launches FASHION VODKA in Bengaluru

    by

    -          Ties-up with F Beverages Ltd, FTV to market and distribute the brand’s portfolio in India

    -          Targets sale of 0.5 million case units by 2018

    -          Targets 10 percent market share in premium vodka segment in the very first year


    Bengaluru: Kristal Spirits India Pvt. Ltd., one of the fastest growing sales & marketing liquor companies in India, today announced the launch of FASHION VODKA in Bengaluru. The launch of FASHION VODKA comes as part of KSIPL’s tie-up with F Beverages Ltd, an affiliated company of Fashion TV to market and distribute the brand’s portfolio in India. The company announced the launch of the FASHION VODKA Party Collection at Rs. 999 and FASHION VODKA Luxury Collection at Rs. 6000. FASHION VODKA will be available at over 60% of the relevant stores in Bengaluru by March, 2014, and over 60% of the relevant stores in Karnataka by September, 2014. With the launch today, FASHION VODKA is available in Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Delhi and Chandigarh, Punjab & Haryana. The brand will also be launched in Mumbai, Pune and Goa by March 2014.


    Of the total of 1 million cases of premium vodka sold in India per annum, South India accounts for approximately 200,000 cases, of which Karnataka accounts for roughly 1,10,000 cases.                                                                                                                                                                          

    The launch of FASHION VODKA marks the launch of the very first F BEVERAGE in India. India would be the first market after Poland, wherein the internationally celebrated FASHION VODKA will be produced indigenously at a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility meeting the brand’s stringent international standards. The brand is imported from Poland in the all the remaining 55 countries.  Although vodka is still only 3 percent of the Indian spirits market as per the recent International Wine and Spirits Report, white spirits in general and vodka in particular are growing with leaps at 22 percent CAGR against an Industry average of 12 percent CAGR. With the launch FASHION VODKA, Kristal Spirits aims to capture a significant stake in the 1 million case units strong premium vodka segment. The internationally acclaimed brand is targeting sale of 72,000 case units within the first year of launch and is ambitious of selling over 0.5 million case units by 2018. In order to appeal to the aspirational values of the Indian youth, the brand is strategically priced, bridging the gap between the brands that are available at Rs. 950 range and the premium imported brands that are available in the Rs. 2000 range.


    Mr. Arun Aditya, Managing Director, Kristal Spirits stated, “FTV has a great fan following and the beverages by FTV have got an overwhelming response across the globe. FASHION VODKA which will now be bottled in India truly captures the essence of fashion. India is a perfect market for such a product and we are confident of its success. We have aggressive distribution plans for the Indian market and we aim to cover the top major cities at the earliest.” 

    Mr. Rahul Kashyap, CEO, Kristal Spirits stated, “FASHION VODKA is excelsior for those who seek to drink vodka for enjoyment. It is a brand that embodies style and confidence in their true essence. We are enthralled to bring the internationally celebrated brand to Bangalore as it perfectly complements the urban lifestyles of Bangalore’s crowd where fashion is a key influencer.”


    FASHION VODKA was brought to the world by Michel Adam Lisowski, Founder of FTV under the concept of fashionable drinks. Termed as the “The essence of Fashion”, the vodka is designed to mirror the signature features of the FASHION VODKA family. FASHION VODKA follows the principles of purity, clarity and simplicity with a design that successfully represents style and confidence. The extended use of gold color in the overall product presentation makes the design more unified, conveys an extravagant mood and a reflection of high quality, as the spirit within. A vodka brand ranking at the top in its category, FASHION VODKA is light, fresh, subtle, smooth and delicate and has a bright and airy entry which finishes rich and harmonious. It is produced from the original polish recipe to deliver a noble, special-tasting mixture. Distilled four times and mixed with the purest, treated by reverse osmosis water, the FASHION VODKA is filtered through a series of carbon micro-filters before bottling. This ensures pure vodka of unique character and a soft, harmonious, well-rounded taste.


    FASHION VODKA Party Collection is for those who seek a fashionable lifestyle and enjoy partying at home or in bars and clubs, work and play hard. For those whose sense of style and aesthetic sets them apart from the crowd; young, sharp, metropolitan, cultured. FASHION VODKA Party Collection is enjoyed fashionably and responsibly.


    Few Snapshots from the launch:









    About Kristal Spirits India Pvt. Ltd.


    KSIPL engages in the ownership of many International liquor brands in India for manufacturing, sales, distribution and marketing. KSIPL was formed by group of liquor industry professionals, committed to deliver world class premium products to Indian consumers. Kristal Spirits is a venture with F Beverages Limited, an affiliated company of Fashion TV.


    About F BEVERAGES



    Back in 2010, F BEVERAGES LTD successfully launched a new line of FASHION BEVERAGES that has now established itself in over 55 markets worldwide. The entire range incorporates the attributes and core values of Fashion TV (FTV™), the largest fashion medium in the world and a name synonymous with fashion, glamour, sophistication, beauty and luxury.

  16. d4deepan

    I Wish She Had Smart Suraksha App

    by
    We all know about the story of India's daughter 'Nirbhaya'For those who don't know about her, she was a girl who was raped mercilessly in a moving automobile around the city for more than 4 hours, hit by a steel road and left on the road half naked. Th...

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