Only Ferrari could pull off styling like this. It is truly a masterpiece. The basic shape and proportion is well-balanced and elegant. The gently curving body panels are laid over details, such as the headlight assemblies, that are just odd enough to be intriguing. This is easily the best-looking sports car at this show. So if you can fork over around $200,000 early next year, go out and buy the Ferrari 458 Italia. It carries a 4.5-liter V8 that produces around 570 horsepower and is bolted to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

]]> http://akashjshah.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/car-of-the-week/feed/ 0 Akash Shah Ferrari 458 Italia - Front Ferrari 458 Italia - Rear http://akashjshah.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/a-guide-to-using-twitter-for-businesses/ http://akashjshah.wordpress.com/2009/09/24/a-guide-to-using-twitter-for-businesses/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:42:06 +0000 Akash Shah http://akashjshah.wordpress.com/?p=19 ]]> Social networking has become the new media of marketing for business owners around the world. A recent survey by Abrams Research has explained that Twitter is the best social media tool for businesses. 40% of social media leaders and experts have said that they would recommend using Twitter for businesses, while only 15% recommended Facebook.

This guide will show you exactly how to best use Twitter for your business. It will explain the benefits of using Twitter and how it can not only strengthen business development but also expand your customer network.

What is Twitter?

Twitter is a microblogging, multi-platform service that allows users to post short messages (up to 140 characters like the limit of SMS messaging that most mobile phones comply with) in order to update your friends and “followers” with your answer to the question, “What are you doing right now?”

How can Twitter be used for business?

Twitter has become a key tool to any business. Not only does it have almost real time updates and is based on short messages that won’t bore readers, it is also more conversational than blogs and forums and has more of a personal feel. Twitter can be used to build brands, do research, send information and updates to customers, and create communities for its users.

Let’s break down the uses of Twitter for entrepreneurs.

1. Local Marketing: Twitter is a free alternative to advertising for small businesses. The website gives any size company whether it’s a small boutique or a large corporation like Wal-Mart the opportunity to tell customers and followers about attractive sales and new products at no cost. Users can follow a local deli on Twitter. Since the local deli’s Twitter account has access to the customer/follower’s Twitter address, the small shop can send them deals, store hours and events with a click of a button.
2. Market Research: Twitter is an ideal way to get opinions about products directly from your customers. Twitter encourages users to post biographical information and tastes on their profiles. This means that companies have the opportunity to use this built-in features on Twitter to tap a certain demographic and get opinions of products and services that a company is going to offer.
3. Employees and Tweets: As an entrepreneur, you can have your employees tweet about your company. Twitter can, thus, be used to enhance personal reputations about a business. An employee who twitters excitedly about how amazing his or her work is or how great the industry is or how intelligent the boss is will undoubtedly make others more interested in your company. Reputation is a key component of success.
4. Signaling: Many companies aren’t directly participating in Twitter but rather are using it as a way to get early warnings about problems with the workers or collect feedback on potential issues in the management. By using search tools like search.twitter.com, any company can easily tune into micro-conversations and prevent disasters in the company structure.
5. Relationships: A key tool to being a successful entrepreneur is to have the right relationships and connections. Twitter allows users to discover common interests and share personal details that, thus, build stronger relationships and help people connect on levels that were previously unthinkable. 

What you should Tweet about?

Twitter is a useful business tool if done correctly. Without a clear-cut strategy, you will be mindlessly typing information to people who may not even care! Use these ideas to avoid that problem.

1. Don’t talk only about business: In order to build strong relationships with customers, talk about ideas and topics outside your business. Sharing a common interest can spark all kinds of future business partnerships.
2. Ask questions: Twitter is one of the best places to gain opinions about your customer service, your product and your overall management. It is the 21^st century’s medium to market research.
3. Talk to people about their interests: This is another aspect of market research. Not only does it help you improve your own product, it also lets followers see the human side of your company.
4. When promoting your product, make your description stand out: After all, Twitter only gives you 140 characters to type. Make your description as eye-popping as possible. You only have a couple words to convince someone to potentially buy your product, use it wisely.
5. Talk about your employees: A kind statement about your employees can work wonders. This can lead to nice tweets from your employees about your company, thus augmenting your reputation. Happy employees mean a better reputation.

Twitter: The Ultimate Business Tool

Twitter is not just a micro-blogging platform that allows friends to keep in touch about their day; it is also a business tool for entrepreneurs that can change the entire dynamic of a company. By following the guidelines described above, you will not only bolster your consumer base but also enhance product development, thus leading to a greater audience and more success for your company. 

My name is Akash Shah. I am currently an undergraduate at Brown University pursuing a degree in Economics and Political Science. I am from Northern California and love cars, technology and keeping myself busy.

Here’s some fun facts about me:

1. I started my first business at the age of 13. It’s a non-profit organization called Seek the Horizon. After 6 years in business, the organization has helped over 20 families in the United States through projects affiliated with Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army, 40 orphaned children in India, over 50 orphaned children in Costa Rica, and over 100 people afflicted with leprosy; consists of 40 volunteers around the world

2. I am an entrepreneur. This past January I developed and co-founded a company with one of my friends called Fujii App(ar)le. It is an online apparel store specializing in hand-painted bags and shirts. No, I do not paint. The friend that I started it with is an extremely talented artist. She made these brilliant, customized bags and shirts for our friend circle for 2 years in a row. I saw that as a good business idea…and the rest is history.

3. I love cars. I’m not joking about this one. I can name every single car on the street my make and model and sometimes the year. It’s my passion.

4. Technology is awesome.

5. I listen to every type of music (excluding classical). I probably have every song that’s played on the radio in my iTunes and always have the newest songs.

Sure, the name might sound a little…obnoxious, but I’m hoping that after a few posts, you all will believe me. My name is Akash Shah. I am an undergraduate at Brown University, currently pursuing a degree in Economics and Political Science. I am the CEO/Founder of two companies and have interned and worked with some of the best professionals in the Silicon Valley. After loads of hard work, I believe that I have had enough experience to share my thoughts and guides with all of you for free!

What will this guide consist of? Well, not only will it have miscellaneous guides, it will also have guides for entrepreneurs. In summer 2009, I interned for a Haas Business School professor and season entrepreneur in the Silicon Valley. After a whole summer of research and writing, I have loads of papers written about how successfully nurture up a start up. Many of these guides will be posted on this blog!

I look forward to hearing your comments and hope that you enjoy this “Guide to Everything!”

Thanks!

Akash Shah