I don’t know about you, but as I look at the time I spend doing different activities, I have noticed a significant change in the amount of time I spend in a few areas. This change in activity started long before the current COVID-19 Virus situation, but the virus has exacerbated the situation even more.
I keep a journal that tracks current and future goals as well as the steps needed to reach the goals. Also, on a daily basis I keep track of where I spent my time and activities that got in the way of reaching the goal.
When I review my week on Sunday night, I can see a pattern of daily media use that is both shocking and continuous. It seems, no matter how much I focus on changing these patterns, the patterns are very difficult to break.
This daily media use includes social media like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. My daily use has expanded to include YouTube Videos and Mobile News Media.
If you are reading this, I’m sure you are familiar with the YouTube Video Vortex. The Vortex starts innocently enough with something like 20 Best Boxing Knockouts of all time or Best MMA fights of 2020. Suddenly, I notice its an hour later and I am watching clips of movies about boxing or best Kung Fu scenes from a movie. Whatever it is, an hour of my life has just sunk into the YouTube Vortex.
Apparently, I am not alone, research has shown that this increase in use is evident across the board in the US. According to https://www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/average-daily-time-on-social-media
The Average daily time spent on Social Media is 144 Minutes. This is up 62.5% since 2012.
According to https://merchdope.com/youtube-stats/ The average YouTube viewing session lasts more than 40 minutes. This is up more than 50% year-over-year.
Research presented by https://techjury.net/stats-about/how-much-time-does-the-average-american-spend-on-their-phone/ about how much time the average American spends on their phone.
Check out these amazing stats below:
• Most mobile phone users check their phones up to 63 times daily.
• Americans spend an average screen time of 5.4 hours on their mobile phones daily.
• Currently, there are 272.6 million smartphone users in America.
• Social media is responsible for 2 hours and 24 minutes of global internet time spent online by an average user daily.
• 13% of millennials spend over 12 hours on their phones daily.
• Baby Boomers spend 5 hours using their phones.
• Millennials spend 48 minutes texting every day.
Over the next few Blog posts, Cush Media will be looking at ways to reach these users using the mobile and video platforms mentioned above. Check https://cushmedia.blogspot.com/
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
When will the Access to Oral Health in Georgia Law Make a Difference to the Underserved???
After years of challenging advocacy and coalition-building across the state, a law (HB 154) was passed in 2017 to increase access to oral care in Georgia; it was enacted on January 1, 2018. This law allows Georgia licensed dentists to authorize dental hygienists that have been licensed for at least two years to provide these preventive dental services when the dentist is not present: oral assessments, prophylaxis (cleaning), sealants, and fluoride. This type of supervision by the dentist is referred to as General Supervision.
Although general supervision is also permitted in private practice settings, this law is intended to benefit low-income children, special patients, and older adults, as well as anyone who is unable to access services in traditional settings. The safety-net setting sites indicated for general supervision services are Title I schools, long-term-care settings, domestic violence shelters, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC's), and hospitals. These are considered to be areas where our most vulnerable populations are found.
In order to assist the dental profession in transitioning safely and effectively into providing services within the community, Dr. David Reznik and Dr. Eunice Chay created a Toolkit that is available to all practitioners. Not surprisingly, change is painfully slow.
The first adaptors have been private practice dentists who are able to have their dental hygienists provide these preventive services in addition to x-rays for their patients of record; patients who are already established and have had an initial exam by the dentist in that practice. This has been an easy transition, as not much has changed for the patient, other than receiving an exam by the dentist before or after dental hygiene services were rendered.
What has been more challenging is the care being offered and provided in safety-net settings. This often involves the purchase of special equipment, such as mobile dental units and/or teledentistry. Plus, reimbursement is lower in these settings, whether Medicaid, Medicare, or sliding fee. Many dentists are reluctant to make the investment on a slower, lower return. Hurry up and wait...
In my next blog, we will be discussing some of the pockets of change in our state...
Next blog: The Access to Oral Care Crawl vs. Sprawl
Friday, April 10, 2020
New Partnership
Cush Media LLC has partnered with SOFT Smiles LLC to create Highly targeted Oral Health related training and information. From CE classes for CNAs and Dental Hygienists to information about COVID-19 to research and updates Cush Media and SOFT Smiles will provide the most up to date information. Please go to www.softsmiles.com or Soft Smiles Facebook for Cush Media more information.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Now Comes Digital
Digital was THE game changer. We didn’t know it when it started but my goodness how life has changed. That 40 pound TEAC Reel To Reel has become Pro-Tools and Q-Base, software that allows a musician to record studio quality sound from his/her bedroom. Unlimited tracks and unlimited mixing and effects followed quickly.
I went through many stages of digital over the years. But first there was just the music. Listening and performing has changed dramatically but it was always about the music. I remember the joy of sitting in my basement, with my huge headphones on, and marveling at the way Pink Floyd’s “One of These Days” raced back and forth from headphone to headphone, ear to ear, seeming to travel right through my head. I would listen to it over and over. I remember trying to get my mom to listen to the Saxophone solo in “Us and Them” she just brushed it off as Drug music. Elvis Presley it was not.
Multi-track stereo Long Play (LP) records were a thing of beauty. Much better than the 45’s we started with there were 10 – 13 songs on these records. We actually went to the record store to purchase the records. The best record store was the locally owned store with the guy who knew every record and artist in the store. You could sit for hours and talk to this guy about music. Who had the better guitar solo in Hotel California? Which was a better concept album Tommy or Quadrofenia? Who was the better guitar player Eric Clapton or Jeff Beck? Who had the first guitar distortion on a record? Did Rock & Roll spring from the Blues or was it a melting pot of Blues, Country, Jazz and Blue Grass? What guitar did Jimmy Page play on Stairway to Heaven? This guy had all the answers or opinions. The local music store, sadly, has gone the way of the Betamax.
Great memories but back to digital. From analog we moved from digital recording onto tape to digital recording onto your hard drive. This seemed to happen very slowly, like a glacier. Then all of a sudden digital exploded. Enter the development of the MP3 file format. The sharing of files across the internet had been possible prior to this, but files were generally either too large to be realistically exchanged or of too low a quality to serve any real purpose. With this pioneering digital format, however, the wall holding back true online musical collaboration came down, and this field took of with alarming speed. Then Napster happened and everything changed again. The music industry shut down Napster but many look-alikes followed. Digital was truly on its way. Next Portable Digital. Since Napster and then ITunes, Streaming has taken over. Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music and many others. Just by saying Alexa Play some Chicago Blues I can listen to the Best Blues Music ever created. Many are cutting the Chord over the last 10 years. Sling, Tivo, Roku, YouTubeTV have allowed people to cut the cable & TV Satellite chord. Sirius & XM Radio have allowed people to listen to whatever music they want in their car or on their tablet.
Ric Cushenan, MBA, is CEO of Cush Media. Ric has over 25 years of Marketing music performance and sales experience with Newspapers, Targeted Publications and Search Engine Marketing.
Cush Media, www.cushmediaonline.com is a full service on-line marketing company. We specialize in web site development, SEO, SEM, Social Media, Behavioral Targeting, Tracking through on-line analytics and Jingles.
I went through many stages of digital over the years. But first there was just the music. Listening and performing has changed dramatically but it was always about the music. I remember the joy of sitting in my basement, with my huge headphones on, and marveling at the way Pink Floyd’s “One of These Days” raced back and forth from headphone to headphone, ear to ear, seeming to travel right through my head. I would listen to it over and over. I remember trying to get my mom to listen to the Saxophone solo in “Us and Them” she just brushed it off as Drug music. Elvis Presley it was not.
Multi-track stereo Long Play (LP) records were a thing of beauty. Much better than the 45’s we started with there were 10 – 13 songs on these records. We actually went to the record store to purchase the records. The best record store was the locally owned store with the guy who knew every record and artist in the store. You could sit for hours and talk to this guy about music. Who had the better guitar solo in Hotel California? Which was a better concept album Tommy or Quadrofenia? Who was the better guitar player Eric Clapton or Jeff Beck? Who had the first guitar distortion on a record? Did Rock & Roll spring from the Blues or was it a melting pot of Blues, Country, Jazz and Blue Grass? What guitar did Jimmy Page play on Stairway to Heaven? This guy had all the answers or opinions. The local music store, sadly, has gone the way of the Betamax.
Great memories but back to digital. From analog we moved from digital recording onto tape to digital recording onto your hard drive. This seemed to happen very slowly, like a glacier. Then all of a sudden digital exploded. Enter the development of the MP3 file format. The sharing of files across the internet had been possible prior to this, but files were generally either too large to be realistically exchanged or of too low a quality to serve any real purpose. With this pioneering digital format, however, the wall holding back true online musical collaboration came down, and this field took of with alarming speed. Then Napster happened and everything changed again. The music industry shut down Napster but many look-alikes followed. Digital was truly on its way. Next Portable Digital. Since Napster and then ITunes, Streaming has taken over. Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music and many others. Just by saying Alexa Play some Chicago Blues I can listen to the Best Blues Music ever created. Many are cutting the Chord over the last 10 years. Sling, Tivo, Roku, YouTubeTV have allowed people to cut the cable & TV Satellite chord. Sirius & XM Radio have allowed people to listen to whatever music they want in their car or on their tablet.
Ric Cushenan, MBA, is CEO of Cush Media. Ric has over 25 years of Marketing music performance and sales experience with Newspapers, Targeted Publications and Search Engine Marketing.
Cush Media, www.cushmediaonline.com is a full service on-line marketing company. We specialize in web site development, SEO, SEM, Social Media, Behavioral Targeting, Tracking through on-line analytics and Jingles.
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Digital Recording
When I first started recording my music I had a Reel to Reel, Teac 4 track, with Simul Sync. This 40 pound piece of equipment allowed me to have 4 tracks on a single piece of tape. I could lay down; guitar, lead vocal, harmony vocal and lead guitar or bass. It was the latest technology. Simul Sync allowed the tracks to sync up which was a problem because the recording heads were in slightly different locations.
The next step in technology was the 4 track cassette tape recorder. Instead of either lugging the Teac around or having everyone come to my house, we were able to bring the 5 pound cassett recorder wherever we went. This upgrade from the reel to reel took about 10 years to hit the market place. There was very little ability to modify the recorded sound and it was still only 4 tracks. More channels and tracks came out relatively quickly.
As with many other media Digital changed the game. According to Wikipedia the history of digital recording looks like this:
• In 1937, British scientist Alec Reeves files the first patent describing Pulse-code modulation[1].
• In 1943, Bell Telephone Laboratories develops the first digital scrambled speech transmission system, SIGSALY[2].
• In 1957, Max Mathews of Bell develops the process to digitally record sound via computer.
• In 1967, the first digital tape recorder is invented. A 12-bit 30 kHz stereo device using a compander (similar to DBX Noise Reduction) to extend the dynamic range.
• In the 1970s, Thomas Stockham makes the first digital audio recordings using standard computer equipment and develops a digital audio recorder of his own design, the first of its kind to be offered commercially (through Stockham's Soundstream company).
• In 1970, James Russell patents the first digital-to-optical recording and playback system, which would later lead to the Compact Disc[3].
• In 1972, Denon invents the first 8-track reel to reel digital recorder.
• In 1979, the first digital Compact Disc prototype was created as a compromise between sound quality and size of the medium.
• In 1979, the first digitally recorded album of popular music Bop 'Til You Drop by guitarist Ry Cooder is released by Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded in Los Angeles on a 32-track digital machine built by the 3M corporation.
• In 1982, the first digital compact discs are marketed[4], and New England Digital offers the Sample-to-Disk option on the Synclavier, the first commercial hard disk recording system[5].
• In 1990, digital radio begins in Canada, using the L-Band[6].
• DVD players begin selling in Japan in 1996.
What I know is that I first came into contact with Digital in the late 80’s and early 90’s. We who grew up with the reel to reel, scoffed at the new technology. We turned our nose up at the sound quality. We refused to move on. We learned quickly.
The first digital recordings were still recorded on tape. Next post we will talk about the next generation.
Ric Cushenan is President/CEO of Cush Media. Cush Media is a full Service online marketing company with Search Engine Marketing, Jingles, Behavioral Targeting and tracking of results. Go to www.cushmediaonline.com for more information
The next step in technology was the 4 track cassette tape recorder. Instead of either lugging the Teac around or having everyone come to my house, we were able to bring the 5 pound cassett recorder wherever we went. This upgrade from the reel to reel took about 10 years to hit the market place. There was very little ability to modify the recorded sound and it was still only 4 tracks. More channels and tracks came out relatively quickly.
As with many other media Digital changed the game. According to Wikipedia the history of digital recording looks like this:
• In 1937, British scientist Alec Reeves files the first patent describing Pulse-code modulation[1].
• In 1943, Bell Telephone Laboratories develops the first digital scrambled speech transmission system, SIGSALY[2].
• In 1957, Max Mathews of Bell develops the process to digitally record sound via computer.
• In 1967, the first digital tape recorder is invented. A 12-bit 30 kHz stereo device using a compander (similar to DBX Noise Reduction) to extend the dynamic range.
• In the 1970s, Thomas Stockham makes the first digital audio recordings using standard computer equipment and develops a digital audio recorder of his own design, the first of its kind to be offered commercially (through Stockham's Soundstream company).
• In 1970, James Russell patents the first digital-to-optical recording and playback system, which would later lead to the Compact Disc[3].
• In 1972, Denon invents the first 8-track reel to reel digital recorder.
• In 1979, the first digital Compact Disc prototype was created as a compromise between sound quality and size of the medium.
• In 1979, the first digitally recorded album of popular music Bop 'Til You Drop by guitarist Ry Cooder is released by Warner Bros. Records. The album was recorded in Los Angeles on a 32-track digital machine built by the 3M corporation.
• In 1982, the first digital compact discs are marketed[4], and New England Digital offers the Sample-to-Disk option on the Synclavier, the first commercial hard disk recording system[5].
• In 1990, digital radio begins in Canada, using the L-Band[6].
• DVD players begin selling in Japan in 1996.
What I know is that I first came into contact with Digital in the late 80’s and early 90’s. We who grew up with the reel to reel, scoffed at the new technology. We turned our nose up at the sound quality. We refused to move on. We learned quickly.
The first digital recordings were still recorded on tape. Next post we will talk about the next generation.
Ric Cushenan is President/CEO of Cush Media. Cush Media is a full Service online marketing company with Search Engine Marketing, Jingles, Behavioral Targeting and tracking of results. Go to www.cushmediaonline.com for more information
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Marketing your new Web Site
You have created your web site and now business will just start to flow your way right. Not so fast….. Now that you have a web site how will potential customers find you?
You can put your URL on all your marketing material and business cards. But that reaches people you have already been in contact with somehow. What about all the other people who don’t know that your business exists. Your web site developer has built your web site to be searchable, relevant and geo-targeted. Your site is registered with the Search Engines but how do you get potential customers to your web site.
There are a number of ways to accomplish this. The next few Blogs will go into detail on the following:
Traditional Media – Placing your web site address in traditional ads on TV, in the Newspaper, on Radio or Billboards.
On-Line Advertising – Using the traffic generated by the content of another site to drive traffic to your web site. Examples include; Newspaper or TV Web Sites, Yahoo or other destination sites, on-line magazines, online trade publications and newsletters and coupon sites like Valpak.com. Ad types include banner ads, Big Box Ads, interactive ads, Video ads, and site sponsorhips.
Search Engine Marketing – This includes Search Engine Optimization and Pay Per Click advertising on Google, Yahoo, Bing and other Search Engines.
Social Media – creating sites on Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, Twitter and other Social Media sites. There are also many opportunities to advertise on these sites.
Joe Marchese who writes for Media Post says “Social media is not its own discipline in marketing, as much as a new skill set required for every other marketing discipline.”
Ric Cushenan is CEO of Cush Media. Cush Media, www.cushmediaonline.com is a full service on-line marketing company. We specialize in web site development, SEO, SEM, Social Media, Behavioral Targeting and Tracking through on-line analytics.
You can put your URL on all your marketing material and business cards. But that reaches people you have already been in contact with somehow. What about all the other people who don’t know that your business exists. Your web site developer has built your web site to be searchable, relevant and geo-targeted. Your site is registered with the Search Engines but how do you get potential customers to your web site.
There are a number of ways to accomplish this. The next few Blogs will go into detail on the following:
Traditional Media – Placing your web site address in traditional ads on TV, in the Newspaper, on Radio or Billboards.
On-Line Advertising – Using the traffic generated by the content of another site to drive traffic to your web site. Examples include; Newspaper or TV Web Sites, Yahoo or other destination sites, on-line magazines, online trade publications and newsletters and coupon sites like Valpak.com. Ad types include banner ads, Big Box Ads, interactive ads, Video ads, and site sponsorhips.
Search Engine Marketing – This includes Search Engine Optimization and Pay Per Click advertising on Google, Yahoo, Bing and other Search Engines.
Social Media – creating sites on Facebook, LinkedIn, Myspace, Twitter and other Social Media sites. There are also many opportunities to advertise on these sites.
Joe Marchese who writes for Media Post says “Social media is not its own discipline in marketing, as much as a new skill set required for every other marketing discipline.”
Ric Cushenan is CEO of Cush Media. Cush Media, www.cushmediaonline.com is a full service on-line marketing company. We specialize in web site development, SEO, SEM, Social Media, Behavioral Targeting and Tracking through on-line analytics.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
All Things Digital – Coupons Online
Taking a break from our current conversation about web site development and driving traffic to your web site. I wanted to take a step back and look at another opportunity to reach consumers online. Digital coupons are reaching people through the search engines and mobile applications. There are many competitors in this area already. Longtime printed coupon companies like Valpak and new online companies like Groupon are going after this market.
Groupon negotiates discounts on popular local goods, services and cultural events. Then they offer the deals to subscribers in a free daily email. The deals are activated only when a minimum number of people agree to buy. You can also log onto Groupon daily and check out the daily deal that way.
The Valpak Digital Network, a comprehensive digital advertising solution with over 150 affiliate sites, connects advertisers to consumers online and on-the-go. The Valpak Digital Network works with an advertiser’s direct mail insert to deliver customers from the digital world right to their doorstep. The offers are available through Valpak.com or by searching for coupons on Google or any of the other affiliate sites. Thousands of Buy one Get one free offers are available every day on the Valpak Digital Network. Check out the video below to see how the Valpak Digital Network works.
http://www.coxtarget.com/promo_videos/vpdn-subway-081810.html
Both products are available via mobile devices. Valpak has Smartphone apps. for I-Phone, Droid or Blackberry.
Online coupons are a great way to reach out to potential new customers with attractive offers that can bring them through your doors. Many of the listings also have a link to your web site which helps with offsite optimization of your web site.
Ric Cushenan is CEO of Cush Media. Cush Media works with small to medium sized businesses to develop their marketing through print and online media. For more information go to www.cushmediaonline.com
Groupon negotiates discounts on popular local goods, services and cultural events. Then they offer the deals to subscribers in a free daily email. The deals are activated only when a minimum number of people agree to buy. You can also log onto Groupon daily and check out the daily deal that way.
The Valpak Digital Network, a comprehensive digital advertising solution with over 150 affiliate sites, connects advertisers to consumers online and on-the-go. The Valpak Digital Network works with an advertiser’s direct mail insert to deliver customers from the digital world right to their doorstep. The offers are available through Valpak.com or by searching for coupons on Google or any of the other affiliate sites. Thousands of Buy one Get one free offers are available every day on the Valpak Digital Network. Check out the video below to see how the Valpak Digital Network works.
http://www.coxtarget.com/promo_videos/vpdn-subway-081810.html
Both products are available via mobile devices. Valpak has Smartphone apps. for I-Phone, Droid or Blackberry.
Online coupons are a great way to reach out to potential new customers with attractive offers that can bring them through your doors. Many of the listings also have a link to your web site which helps with offsite optimization of your web site.
Ric Cushenan is CEO of Cush Media. Cush Media works with small to medium sized businesses to develop their marketing through print and online media. For more information go to www.cushmediaonline.com
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