IQue - Our Twist on the Web

Shortly after writing Comparing Web Browsers, Internet giant Google threw their hat in the ring of Web browsers with Chrome. The release (complete with its own promotional comic) followed years of speculation about if and when Google would develop a browser: some argued it would just be another player in already crowded field, while others felt it was the next logistical step for the Internet giant who was already heavily integrated with existing browsers through toolbars and other features.

Now that I’ve had a few weeks to work with the browser, its strengths and weaknesses are becoming more apparent. In the flurry of hype following its release, Chrome saw its market share spike to just over 3% (no small feat, considering mainstay Opera currently holds a mere 2%). Since then, however, use has dropped off. With the release of new cell phones using Google’s Android platform – and the Chrome browser – the adoption rate may increase. Here are some thoughts from a developer and user perspective:

Developer: Chrome uses WebKit, the same browser rendering engine as Safari, so site testing doesn’t mean having to account for an entirely new rendering. Google’s custom Javascript engine V8 was designed from the ground up to run more quickly and efficiently than existing engines – a benchmark which it reaches handily.

Equally important though, is that the browser carries Google’s signature minimalist look. Most browsers frame their window with borders, toolbars, widgets and other elements. In Chrome, these framing elements (which, in Web jargon, are ironically called “chrome”) only exist along the top, allowing maximum real estate for the beautiful websites we design. And isn’t that what’s really important?

User: Any browser worth its salt now offers tabbed browsing (if you’re on Internet Explorer 6 and don’t know what I’m talking about, please stop reading for a moment and upgrade). While it’s a fantastic feature, it can support some bad habits like leaving several (sometimes dozens) of tabs open, which I tend to overlook until something I’m loading causes my browser to freeze or hang. The result: many, many Web pages I can’t view until my browsers works through whatever it’s dealing with or, worse, it freezes and I have to restart.

One great feature of Chrome is that each tab runs as its own process, instead of them all running under the umbrella of a single process. That means if one tab is loading slowly, freezes or crashes, you can still access the other tabs without issue, and don’t have to reload them all if one has to be shut down. While this means a little more system resources up front, it can be a valuable asset for those who, like me, tend to abuse tabs.

Other Chrome features include integrated security features that warn against sites with malware or phishing threats, a streamlined download system, and a combined search and address bar. And for those worried about a record of their browsing habits, Chrome features an Incognito mode that will prevent the sites you view from being logged in your browser history.

On the downside, Chrome is still a beta release, and a few minor bugs are being ironed out. More importantly, though, is that the community of developers whose add-ons and plug-ins made Firefox so popular has not had time to develop around Chrome yet. So for those Firefox users who can’t imagine living without NoScript, AdBlock and FlashGot, you may have to wait awhile before Chrome becomes attractive.

As a sales person we all want to get that big deal, make the killer commission and score points with the boss. Have you ever thought there must be an easier way than the traditional grind of selling, cold calling, lead lists, and the like? Well I think I may have found a solution with five laws to stratospheric success. As a business owner, they have all worked for me and have contributed to the success of Twistique.

About two years ago I began a very extensive program to do business by referral. I learned all of the techniques, took all of the classes, studied hard and applied what I learned to my business. I am now proud to say that 80% of our new business for 2008 was by referral! All of the things that I learned and applied are broken down into five laws in the book The Go-Giver and they are techniques that I use everyday. I bet a lot of you use them as well but just aren’t aware you were doing it! They are:

The Law of Value

Your true worth is determined by how much more you give in value than you take in payment. For instance treat all current and future clients the same and provide the same value and experience regardless of the cost of the sale.

The Law of Compensation

Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them. Your compensation is proportional to how many lives you touch.

The Law of Influence

Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interests first. Place others’ interests ahead of your own and you will get what you need.

The Law of Authenticity

The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself. YOU are the most important commodity. No matter what you are selling, what you are really offering is yourself.

The Law of Receptivity

The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving. YOU must make yourself willing to receive in equal measure as you give. If you are unwilling to receive you interrupt the process. You must have an appetite to receive.

I urge you to apply these five laws to your sales process for the next month and see if you notice a difference not only in your sales but in yourself. One of the best ways to increase your success and wealth is by investing in yourself. Hey, if it’s not right  for you, you can always go back to cold calling!