TECHTOWN  

Erik Sherman


Tech Start-up Steals Killer Retail Strategy

You've heard of the try-before-you-buy-model. Now one company has applied it to gadgets--and it's working.  Read story

Smarter Online Marketing: 4 Tips

Check out these quick suggestions to get more out of your tweets, Facebook posts, and email newsletter sends.  Read story

The Short Shelf Life of a Facebook Post

A new report reveals just how long your Facebook posts make an impact. Spoiler: It's probably a lot shorter than you think.  Read story

Is Your Customer a Mac or a PC?

You might want to find out: Orbitz shows higher-priced deals to Mac users because they tend to spend more. But be careful with the data you find.  Read story

IPO? No Thanks, Say Most Entrepreneurs

The JOBS Act was supposed to help companies under $1 billion in revenue go public and grow. But entrepreneurs say IPOs still don't make sense for them.  Read story

How to Make Money in Tech

Even as technology solves problems, it creates new ones. And that's good news for aspiring tech entrepreneurs.  Read story

How to Comparison Shop the Cloud: 5 Tips

The cloud is cheap and easy to tap into--sometimes too easy. Make sure you get the right service and price with these tips.  Read story

How to Beat a Giant at Its Own Game

Can a database start-up go up against Oracle? Here are two reasons why this one has a fighting chance.  Read story

Mid-sized Businesses Suffer a Social Media Gap

Why owners are less likely to stick to a social strategy as their businesses grow--and how it hurts them.  Read story

4 Lessons from Yammer's Success

Microsoft's acquisition proves tech start-ups are still hot. Want to be next? Learn from what David Sacks did right.  Read story

Is Your Business Too High-Tech?

Just because machines can do things faster and cheaper than your employees doesn't mean they should.  Read story

Facebook Ads: Deconstructing the ComScore Report

Critics claim that Facebook ads don't really work. Now Facebook is fighting back with data--but don't believe everything you read.  Read story

3 Easy Ways to Make Your Company Look Bad

Self-sabotage can come in many forms. Here are three of the most common blunders.  Read story

How to Avoid Password Hacks: 5 Rules

The lesson from LinkedIn's data breach? Most online passwords are easy nuts to crack. Here are some simple rules to stay safe.  Read story

2 Things to Know Before Your Next Web Ad Campaign

Results can be mysterious at best and terribly disappointing at worst. Two industry insiders offer tips on improving your odds.  Read story

Meeker Report: 3 Big Takeaways for Entrepreneurs

When former analyst-turned-VC Mary Meeker delivers her annual take on tech trends, the industry listens. Here's what her latest report means for start-up fou...  Read story

5 Ways to Get Big by Staying Small

Sure, downsizing your office will save you money. But it's good for collaboration and productivity, too.  Read story

Who Makes the Decisions: You or Your Software?

Automating certain tasks can save a ton of time and money. But it can make you less efficient, too, if you're not careful.  Read story

How Assumptions Infect Your Marketing

If you've never asked your customers what they want, then you really don't know. And that's a problem.  Read story

When It's Time to Raise Prices

Need to make more money from your customers? Here's why a price hike might be your best option.  Read story

Ad Campaign Smackdown: Facebook vs. Google

If you're still betting on display ads, here's where to go for more bang for your buck.  Read story

Life After Facebook: Private Investment Markets Regroup

With their big cash cow now a public company, secondary trading markets look beyond hot start-ups to fill the void.  Read story

How to Ask Better Questions

You may have what sounds like the best idea in the world. But before you do anything else, try to poke as many holes in it as you can.  Read story

Zuckerberg's Reign: What to Expect After the IPO

Graduating from founder to public CEO usually means giving up some control. But Mark Zuckerberg isn't your usual CEO.  Read story

How to Find Your Next Great Idea

Sometimes it's smarter to ditch the dream of finding something brand new. Try riding someone else's wave instead.  Read story

The Key to Start-up Success? Be Boring

You may not live for accounting or operations details. But ignoring them (ahem, Groupon) will put you in a world of hurt.  Read story

Timing Your Launch: 4 Rules

The best ideas are worth nothing if you bring them to market too early or too late. Here's how to get the timing just right.  Read story

4 Steps to Innovate the P&G Way

Don't have the $2 billion R&D budget of P&G? Not to worry. CTO Bruce Brown says any company can master this process.  Read story

Get Your Inbox to Zero: 5 Tricks

Experiencing palpitations when you open your email? It doesn't have to be that way. Here's how to get back in control.  Read story

Are You Still Using Spray and Pray Pricing?

Most retailers still advertise on price, without any data to back it up. That's a race to the bottom--and you're not likely to win.  Read story

Patents? You Don't Need No Stinking Patents!

Your No. 1 job is to get to market and start making money. Here's why protecting your IP should stay off your to-do list.  Read story

Zuckerberg Has a Sugar Daddy. Do You?

Even a 20-something billionaire could use a little help. He just got it from Microsoft--via a huge heap of AOL patents.  Read story

When Old IP Comes Back From the Dead

Deceased rapper Tupac Shakur came back to the stage via hologram. What does that have to do with your IP strategy? Plenty.  Read story

Facebook Ads: Are You Paying More & Getting Less?

Demand has driven ad prices higher even as click-through rates dropped. Have you checked your Facebook performance lately?  Read story

4 Perks Employees Love

Happy employees are productive employees. Use these perks to retain the people you want without breaking the budget.  Read story

There's No Way Instagram Is Worth $1 Billion

The start-up may have pulled down a billion-dollar payday, but that doesn't mean it was worth it.  Read story

First Step to Success: Avoid VCs

Venture capital isn't right for every entrepreneur. Here are a few things to consider before looking for VC backing.  Read story

Want Innovation? Try Bribery

Innovation is critical to the success of modern businesses. But just because you find it of the utmost importance doesn't mean your employees will.  Read story

Fail to Succeed the Google Way

Just because you had a disaster, doesn't mean you'll ultimately fail. In fact, you can learn what you need for eventual success.  Read story

Should You Pay to Launch to a Crowd?

Tech entrepreneurs flock to pricey events for the networking and the potential prize money. But there are cheaper ways to launch to the masses.  Read story