CHAPTER 2: MINDING YOUR OWN BUSINESS IN THE WEST
Paradis Aarhus, M.P. Bruunsgade (Ruth Flensted)
Chapter 2
Read & Listen
A: Focus on READING, COOPERATIVE LEARNING and PRESENTATION
Reading tasks for sharing and presentation
1.
Homepage analysis: www.edenbodyworks.com *
a) Make an analysis of the edenbodyworks.com website, using elements from the box below.
b) Choose one of the Hair Stories or Buzz: Blogger Reviews found on the website. Read it, and make a presentation of it in which you include videos A. on how to make a presentation and B. found below.
2.
Homepage analysis: www.marketingzen.com/ **
a) Make an analysis of the marketingzen.com website, using elements from the box below.
b) Choose one of the Case Studies found on the website. Read it, and make a presentation of it in which you include videos A. on how to make a presentation and C. found below.
Internet homepages combine visual and verbal elements such as image maps, navigational buttons, animated advertisements and links to other sites in order to create an interactive type of communication. When looking at a homepage, it is easy to recognise that its main aim is to communicate. Depending on the purpose of the page, it may try to appeal to potential buyers, for instance, or to people interested in finding out the latest information and news.
Ask yourself these questions when analysing a homepage:
What is the frame/structure of the homepage?
What different layers/pop-up menus/text-input fields are found?
What kinds of pictures and animated graphic are used?
What hypertext links and underlined text are seen?
Who is the target audience?
What is the aim of the homepage?
What type of information and content are included to build up the homepage?
Does the homepage appeal to certain emotions or to logic?
What language is used (informative/persuasive/figurative/emotional/(in)formal)?
What is your impression of the homepage?
3.
Choose your own franchise among the directories on
https://www.franchiseinfo.co.uk/franchise-directory (U.K.) or
http://www.franchisedirect.com/ or http://www.franchisedirect.com/usfranchises/ (U.S.),
and prepare a presentation of it. Include the related videos A. and D. found below.
4.
The world's most innovative countries *
Rich countries dominate a ranking of the world's most innovative countries released in the U.S. on July 8, 2013. But the report also reveals what could be surprises in its examination of innovation, measured by a variety of criteria.
Switzerland, Sweden and the U.K. top the Global Innovation Index for 2013, the central ranking of an annual report. The U.S. is the fifth most innovative economy, according to the report.
See the top 10 most innovative economies here:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227318 and the article
The world's most meaningful brands (Infographic) on http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226979.
Read and study the material. Make a presentation of it in which you include video A. on how to make a presentation.
5.
What entrepreneurs want in 2014 (Infographic) *
It's New Year's resolution time! Entrepreneurs have grand plans in 2014: They want to get rid of old equipment cluttering up the office and hit the gym more.
Business owners want to save money by ditching outdated, inefficient technology and move evermore services to the cloud, according to an infographic generated by Los Angeles-based Internet service company j2 Global. By shifting away from a hardware or software-based model to a cloud-based application that runs on the Internet, businesses expect to save money.
Read and study the infographic on http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230347 as well as the article 10 Trends for 2014: We seek imperfect, human moments. With our smartphones at the ready on http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230202. Make a presentation based on the facts and results you find most interesting and rewarding. Include video A. on how to make a presentation.
6.
Who needs old money? Britain's super-rich are some of the YOUNGEST in the world - and they're getting younger *
Read and study the material here.
Make a presentation based on the facts and results you find most interesting and rewarding.
Include video A. on how to make a presentation.
7.
Crowdfunding's growth spurt going strong **
Crowdfunding is global and growing. Quickly.
There are approximately 600 crowdfunding platforms, which help users raise small sums of money from a group, throughout the world. By the end of 2013, crowdfunding is expected to reach $5.1 billion in funds raised. Of the $2.7 billion raised in 2012 from crowdfunding sites, more than half, $1.6 billion, came from sites based in North America. Another $950 million came from Europe.
Read and study the material on http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/227212, and the article: Crowdfunding platform offers entrepreneurs access to money and mentorship on http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226917 or
Crowdfunding industry on fire: Trends to watch on http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/226302.
Make a presentation based on the facts and results you find most interesting and rewarding. Include the related videos A. on how to make a presentation, E. and F. found below.
B: Focus on LISTENING, COLLECTING AND APPLYING INFORMATION
Listening tasks for comprehension and applying information to the tasks above
A.
Small business: How to make a five minute presentation
videojug.com - 04:08
Go to the video. Public speaking expert Vera Hughes explains how best to approach a five minute business presentation to sell yourself and your business. Listen, and use the information in all of the above tasks.
B.
Jasmine's take on the new EDEN skincare
Jasmine Lawrence - 05:13
Go to the video. Listen, and use the information in Task 1.
C.
CEO, Shami Kabani, founder of Marketing Zen
Se video her
Marketing Zen - 01:58
D.
How to start a small business from home
videojug.com - 02:27
Go to this link, for example. Mel McGee, the founder of supermummy.com, provides useful tips to those who want to start a business from their home. She explains in detail the five important steps that will help you to get started on home business. Listen, and use the information in Task 3.
E.
Crowdsourcing and crowdfunding explained
Crowdsourcing.org - 03:49
A short animated film by Crowdsourcing.org, narrated by Crowdsourcing.org's founder, Carl Esposti, describes the four different ways crowdsourcing works and the five different categories of things you can do with crowdsourcing.
Go to this link, for example. Listen, and use the information in Task 7.
F.
What is crowdfunding? Crowdfunding planning? What, how, why and when
David Khorram - 03:42
Go to this link, for example, and find advice on how to create new businesses and help to make a better community through crowdfunding. Listen, and use the information in Task 7.
