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  • Nucu Pad: Review of the Multisensory Sleep Pad for Babies

    Nucu Pad: Review of the Multisensory Sleep Pad for Babies

    In partnership with Nucu Oy

    The Finnish Nucu Pad is a multisensorysleep pad for babies, designed to support the sleep of the whole family. The second-generation Nucu Pad is coming to Finland this summer.

    In this article, we’ll go through what Nucu is, what it’s for and what first-time users’ experiences of Nucu have been. I’ve been involved in Nucu myself for a couple of years now, so this article includes views and experiences from the inside as well.

    The Nucu Pad can be installed in a bassinet or crib. Photo: courtesy of Nucu Oy

    The Nucu Pad in a nutshell

    • Multisensory sleep pad developed, designed and manufactured in Finland
    • Size: 417x337x17 mm (slightly larger than A3 paper)
    • Put under the baby’s mattress (bassinet or crib)
    • Soothes the baby with feelscapes (sounds and vibration)
    • Monitors the baby’s sleep (timings, in the first versions of the app)
    • Package includes: Nucu Pad, controller and app (plus frame and mattress for installation)
    • Initially only available for iOS (Android support coming later)
    • Monthly paid app (subscription includes 1 year free)
    The gentle feelscapes (sounds and vibrations) of the Nucu Pad can also be felt through the mattress.

    What is the Nucu Pad used for? Who is it for?

    The first generation Nucu Pad was developed to support and comfort premature babies in NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) incubators. Its purpose was to create a sense of togetherness in the clinical environment, which is important for the baby.

    The second-generation Nucu Pad is designed for ordinary families: to support sleep, well-being and good sleep routines. This is how early users have been using the Nucu Pad:

    • Soothing the baby when moving from the parent’s arms to the bed (either sleeping or calm)
    • Improving the solidity of the night’s first sleep session
    • To help the baby fall asleep independently
    • Giving parents peace of mind as the baby falls asleep to a familiar heartbeat

    The Nucu Pad is intended for use up to 24 months – and that age will rise as the app continues to develop. The Nucu Pad supports babies of different ages in different ways:

    • In newborn babies, womb-like feelscapes are important
    • Slightly older babies usually calm down to the natural white noise of the Nucu Pad (rain and storm)
    • For older children, songs and stories are important and can be recorded on the Nucu Pad using the Nucu app.
    • The Nucu app can also be used to monitor your child’s sleep development (at first at a more general level and then more and more as the app develops).
    The Nucu Basic set is intended for use in bassinets and sidesleepers. It comes with a foam frame (white in the picture) to place the Nucu Pad on the bottom of the bassinet. The bassinet is not included in the product set. Photo courtesy of Nucu.

    Will the Nucu Pad solve all your baby’s sleep problems?

    The Nucu Pad is designed to support your family’s own sleep routines and habits. It is not a medical device and is not intended to treat or diagnose diseases or conditions.

    Throughout product development, we have seen that babies’ reactions to the Nucu Pad are very varied:

    • Some families report that they have been able to get their baby to sleep more peacefully the first time they use Nucu, which is of course a huge relief.
    • Other families say that Nucu has had no effect at all
    • There are also experiences in between: sometimes Nucu helps, sometimes not. Sometimes there is sickness, sometimes there are difficult developmental phases.

    We’ve found that the Nucu Pad is most supportive of everyday life when it’s introduced early and at a calm stage. Familiarize the baby with the Nucu Pad gently and as a part of your other sleep routines.

    Nucu is not meant to be a magical baby soother that calms the baby down instantly – at any time and in any situation. Nucu is also no substitute for togetherness and touch.

    Nucu provides comfort and safety for both the baby and the parent who knows that their baby is all right.

    The Nucu Pad is made with safety first. The device’s battery and connections such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are in the controller, which you can put outside your child’s crib. The controller can also be disconnected from the wire for charging.

    What is the Nucu Pad based on? Is it safe?

    The Nucu Pad is based on the same phenomenon as kangaroo care, that is, skin-on-skin contact. In English, it is called multisensory stimulation. Your baby’s senses are developing at a tremendous rate and they experience the world very differently. Multi-sensory experiences support your baby’s development.

    The Nucu Pad creates the same sense of security and familiarity as holding the baby close: with the sounds and vibrations of the chest and womb. The sound levels of the feelscapes are safe and gentle.

    The first-generation Nucu Pad has also been successfully used at Oulu University Hospital NICU to support the most fragile premature babies.

    Despite the safety of the Nucu Pad, the family plays a major role:

    • In your baby’s sleep environment, follow the same good practices as usual: no extra objects in the bed, no loose fabrics, clothes or toys. For example, you can read more about safe sleep for babies on the American Academy of Pediatrics website.
    • The Nucu Pad slips under the mattress and comes with a foam frame to hold the Nucu Pad level. When installing the Nucu Pad, make sure that the mattress is level and that there are no gaps between the mattress and the edge.
    • The cable of the Nucu controller must be pulled from under the mattress and the crib or bassinet, and must not remain inside the bed. The controller must be attached to the outside of the crib so that it cannot fall into the bed.
    • Nucu is in no way a substitute for normal family closeness and parental control

    Your own heartbeat feelscape on the Nucu Pad

    A selection of feelscapes is immediately available on the Nucu Pad: a sound that reproduces the uterine heartbeat and soundscape of the womb, and natural white noise sounds like rain and storm.

    You can record your own heart rate with the Nucu app. Photo courtesy of Nucu Oy

    With the Nucu app, you can record your own heartbeat and transfer it to the Nucu Pad, so your baby can fall asleep to a familiar and safe feelscape. Recording is done with the Nucu app:

    • Nice quiet place
    • Semi-sitting relaxed position
    • A few minutes of relaxed breathing with the Nucu app open on your phone, which is on your chest.
    • Transferring your own heart rate to the Nucu Pad

    Experiences with the Nucu Pad: what families are saying

    The Nucu Pad has been tested with babies of different ages and in different situations. Here are direct quotes from families’ experiences:

    • “It was wonderful that my baby slept better and didn’t wake up right after being laid in the crib.” – Marjo, mom with a 4-month-old baby
    • “When put to bed, the baby listened to the familiar sound of mom’s heartbeat and fell asleep.” – Iida, mom with a 3-week-old baby
    • “Our baby falls asleep best and sleeps more peacefully next to mom or dad, rather than in their own bed. With Nucu, it hasn’t felt so bad putting the baby down in the crib, since they can still fall asleep to the comforting sound of mom’s heartbeat there too.” – mom with a 2-month-old baby
    • “It was a huge relief not to always have to move the baby from my arms to the bed and worry about waking them up. With Nucu, the baby would fall asleep in their bed, cutting down on the time it took to get them to sleep, especially in the evenings.” – dad with a 3-month-old baby
    • “Sometimes getting the baby to calm down for sleep takes a while, but with Nucu, the baby can settle down gently even when a parent isn’t constantly by their side.” – Mariella, mom with a 4-month-old baby
    • “With Nucu, we can have a moment of respite in the evenings, when we don’t have to worry about whether the baby will settle down to sleep and feel safe, without mum or dad being there to watch over them.” – mother, baby 2 months

    Positive user feedback is mainly divided into three categories:

    • facilitating the transition to bed
    • help with sleep routines
    • peace of mind for parents

    In terms of negative feedback, the main points are:

    • Some families would like to have a SIDS monitor (i.e. a warning if the baby stops breathing). There is no breating alerts coming to Nucu, at least not initially. Rather the product will focus on supporting children and families in a positive way.
    • The Nucu Pad does not always provide the desired help: When families are under pressure and sleep-deprived, their expectations for the instant effect of the Nucu Pad may not be in line with the actual effect. Babies’ reactions to the Nucu Pad are individual and also vary from one developmental stage to another. We respond to this in two ways: 1) we try to be open about what parents can expect and 2) we make it as easy as possible to return and resell your product.

    Where can I buy a Nucu Pad? How much does it cost?

    The Nucu Pad will be available on Nucu’s own online shop. It is also the only place where you can buy it.

    There is currently a Nucu Family early access program. The first product drops in Finland will be available in the summer only for members. So it’s worth becoming a member so you can find out when, what and at what price Nucu is coming to your country.

    This is how the drops work:

    • Pre-registered members get the chance to buy the Nucu Pad
    • 20% discount on normal prices for members
    • Product drops are limited (due to low initial production volumes) so products can sell out very quickly
    • Information on the progress of the campaign will be sent to members
    • Membership costs nothing and is not binding (you only get to know about new patterns and can decide what you do).

    The prices of Nucu are not yet public. There are three product ranges: the Basic set for bassinets, the Plus set for cribs and the Plus Pro with an extra breathable mattress and frame. The Nucu Pad and controller are the same for all product sets. That is, the Nucu Pad is always the same size in all sets. All the product sets are on display in the Nucu shop.

    Other questions and answers

    The product is new, so there are many questions. Here’s a collection:

    Why is there a cord in Nucu?

    The Nucu Pad and the Nucu controller always work together. Between them is a cable, one end of which is detachable from the controller. One option would have been to make a pad that goes under the mattress with (battery and all), but we decided to do this for these reasons:

    • Security. Only the Nucu Pad is under the baby. The battery and wireless communications are in the controller and the controller can be placed outside the bed.
    • Use without a phone: the Nucu Pad can also be operated in the dark, without a phone.

    Why is Nucu only coming to iOS initially?

    The Nucu app is indeed coming initially only for the iPhone, i.e. iOS. An Android app is coming later (not necessarily in 2024). In particular, recording your own heart rate is easier in an iOS environment, so limited development resources are being spent on iOS first.

    Is the battery in a Nucu Pad safe?

    Nucu is designed with safety first. The controller’s battery is a stable and reliable LFP battery.

    Do I need a subscription for the app?

    A Nucu subscription is required to use all the features of Nucu. Buyers get a 1-year free subscription with their purchase from the Nucu Shop.

    Is Nucu right for you?

    We have found that the Nucu Pad is particularly relevant in two situations:

    • During the third trimester, you can order a Nucu Pad at the same time you’re getting the other baby gear you need. You can transfer your own heart rate to the Nucu Pad and mount it, so it’s there to support you when you come home with your baby.
    • When you need support with your baby’s sleep. Situations vary and many parents have found the Nucu Pad to be a daily helper that provides security, comfort and a sense of control for both baby and parent.

    Feel free to ask for more in the comments or visit the Nucu website. It’s also worth joining Nucu Family early access program as it’s not binding and allows you to decide for yourself whether a Nucu Pad would suit your family.

  • Remarkable 2 in Focus: Review of the E-Ink Tablet

    Remarkable 2 in Focus: Review of the E-Ink Tablet

    The power of a thousand tiktoks flickers in your eyes. The hand jerks towards the phone as if it has its own social media account. This is why I bought myself a Remarkable 2 tablet – to read and take notes. And feel more focused.

    And not much else really.

    In this article I will go through my experiences and tips for using Remarkable. The accompanying illustrations are made with Remarkable 2.

    Remarkable 2 in a nutshell: expensive and irreplaceable

    Remarkable 2 is a tablet from Norwegian company reMarkable that mimics writing on paper. It was released in 2020 and is for tech-loving and tech-hating knowledge workers.

    • Black and white display
    • Size 187 x 246 x 4.7 mm (the size of an iPad except for thickness)
    • Supported formats (epub, pdf, jpg, png)
    • Battery life of several days
    • No backlight

    This is what we liked

    • Good writing experience
    • The user experience is boring
    • Nothing pointless
    • No applications
    • No web browser
    • No colours

    This is what we are on the fence about

    • The price is too much if you buy the case and a better pen: 650 €
    • Not worth the price as a device

    In the end, in my own use, I found that this is exactly what I needed.

    Remarkable 2 – real-life experiences

    The Remarkable tablet allows you to read e-books in pdf or epub format. Kindle books are not supported on the tablet. It can also be used to make notes in books and files or on blank pages.

    The writing experience is very close to writing on paper. The line forms quickly on the screen and the replaceable paper pen tip scrapes against the screen like a normal pen.

    The battery lasts well and you don’t have to worry about it running out. There is no backlight or side light on the tablet, so you need another light source to read.

    Tip: If the magnet between the tablet and the pen feels weak, make sure the pen is attached to the top of the tablet, not the middle.

    A jerky interface

    Using the tablet itself is like being back in the golden age. The screen is an e-ink screen and it removes the ghosts on the screen every so often by going black.

    The software is slow to load and the page zooming is painfully jerky. For those used to smartphones, for example, using the device is like a Zen exercise. You always have to wait and fight. Sometimes it feels like the tablet doesn’t obey at all, for example when scrolling.

    The grim monthly subscription and file transfer

    Remarkable 2 comes with a monthly subscription, which includes. Google Drive sync. The first year is free with purchase. I haven’t put the sync on yet and I would be quite happy without the subscription.

    To transfer files to your tablet, you first sync the file to the Remarkable app, either on your phone or on your computer. From there it will be updated to the tablet before long.

    The beauty of concentration and the big price tag

    With Remarkable 2, I have rediscovered the joy of reading and taking notes. You can’t get online with your tablet, and you can’t do anything with it except what you want to do with it: read and write.

    The tablet is ridiculously expensive but has a good quality feel. I think in some perverse way the big price tag helps. Once you buy it, you try to use it. 

    Summary: Remarkable 2 paper tablet

    Remarkable 2 is the modern tech squirrel’s best friend. It costs far too much, but gives you back a little bit of control over your life.

  • How to Replace the Battery Case of Your Yamaha APX500II Electro-Acoustic Guitar

    How to Replace the Battery Case of Your Yamaha APX500II Electro-Acoustic Guitar

    Did the batteries in the battery holder of your Yamaha electro-acoustic guitar discharge? You can try cleaning the gunk, but sometimes it may be easier to order a new batttery holder.

    I recently replaced the case myself, so I can tell you the steps so you can get back to singing Hallelujah faster.

    These are the accessories and tools you need

    The Yamaha APX500II guitar battery holder is called Yamaha WS668000. I ordered a new part myself from Ebay. It cost about thirty euros and came in a few weeks.

    You will also need:

    • Screwdriver
    • Crochet hook
    • A pair of small chisel heads

    I’m not an expert on guitar maintenance, so use your own judgement when following these instructions.

    Steps: replacing the Yamaha APX500II electro-acoustic battery holder

    I used this YouTube video to help me:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRky2-V1p7E

    1. Remove the battery holder
    • The clips on the sides of the housing must be turned inwards at the same time (in red in the picture)
    • Use a crochet hook (or similar) to pull up from the short side of the case (shown in blue)

    2. Unscrew the control panel

    • The battery case and the control panel are connected by a wire
    • Disconnect the cable from the control panel to unplug the battery case

    3. Slide the new battery case and cable through the hole

    • Attach the cable to the control panel
    • Screw the control panel back on
    • Slide the battery case back on again

    Be sure to put the seals back in place so that the parts don’t rattle around.

  • What Is GPT-4? Usage, Release Date and Possibilities

    What Is GPT-4? Usage, Release Date and Possibilities

    GPT-4 is an advanced large language model (LLM) released by OpenAI in 2023. It was published on Tuesday 14 March.

    Read the OpenAI article on the release here.

    • The use of GPT-4 is similar to ChatGPT
    • GPT-4 will be able to follow instructions more closely
    • GPT-4 can process images (not produce them)

    Where can GPT-4 be used?

    According to OpenAI, GPT-4 will first be made available through ChatGPT Plus. The monthly fee is around 25 dollars.

    What is the difference between ChatGPT and GPT-4?

    OpenAI has previously introduced two main models to the public: GPT-3 and ChatGPT.

    • GPT-3 is a text generator
    • ChatGPT is a chatbot

    GPT-4 is, at least according to the first experiments, a new evolution of ChatGPT, but not a complete revolution. Of course, the fact that AI can produce text for different purposes better than most humans is revolutionary enough.

    What did I expect from GPT-4?

    The jumps in past models have been so shocking that expectations for the GPT-4 were a little too high.

    My guess was that GPT-4 would be something between GPT-3 and ChatGPT: a dialogue-based AI tool capable of producing content in text, image and voice. Multimodal output was not yet introduced in GPT-4.

    These are the ones I was waiting for:

    • Faster response generation
    • Taking a broader context into account
    • Multimodality: sound, image and moving image

    Multimodality is included in the new model, but in such a way that it can also be fed in as an image. From a generative AI perspective, this may not be as shocking as being able to get a response with, say, animation, but it still opens up a whole new range of applications.

    What can GPT-4 do?

    GPT-4 continues ChatGPT’s world conquest. It writes code, articles, translates and writes poetry. 

    At least in my experience, generative AI is at its best in tasks where you have some background, but not full mastery.

    Here are some examples where I have used it myself:

    • Writing code snippets
    • Writing functions in Google Sheets
    • Ideating on the just little bit outside your expertise

    When was GPT-4 released?

    As originally reported by the German Heise magazine, German Microsoft CTO Andreas Braun said at the event that GPT-4 will be released on on the week starting 13th of March. And that’s the way it went down.

    It was also speculated that the announcement would take place at Microsoft’s “Reinventing Productivity with AI” event on 16th March. This did not happen, but the announcement was made on Tuesday 14 March.

    Where can you find out more about the potential of artificial intelligence?

    If you want to experience the possibilities of AI, I recommend my Aum Golly series of AI poetry books: the first part written by GPT-3 and the second by ChatGPT. 

  • How Can I Use WhatsApp in My Browser (WhatsApp Web)?

    How Can I Use WhatsApp in My Browser (WhatsApp Web)?

    Would you like to type messages on a proper keyboard instead of a phone? WhatsApp can be used not only on your phone, but also in your computer’s browser. It’s called WhatsApp Web and this is how it works.

    How can I use WhatsApp Web?

    To use WhatsApp Web, you need to have a WhatsApp account. You can get started at whatsapp.com.

    Once you have these, you can start using WhatsApp Web:

    • Account
    • Phone with WhatsApp
    • Computer and browser

    How to use WhatsApp in your browser 

    You can chat in your browser in the same way as on your phone. Conversations are automatically updated in your browser and on your phone, so messages don’t get lost.

    • Go to web.whatsapp.com in your computer’s web browser
    • Follow the on-screen instructions

    • Open WhatsApp on your phone
    • Open Settings > Linked devices
    • Select Link device
    • Point your phone’s camera at the QR code displayed in your browser
    • Now you can use WhatsApp Web in your browser

    For the latest instructions, visit the WhatsApp Web site: web.whatsapp.com

    What is WhatsApp?

    WhatsApp is an instant messaging service owned by the US-based company Meta and is particularly popular in Europe, India and South America. In North America and some European countries (such as Sweden and France), its market share is much smaller.

    Here are the statistics for 2023 on WhatsApp usage in different countries:

    Statistic: WhatsApp: penetration rate among global messaging app users as of April 2022, by country | Statista
    Find more statistics at Statista

  • Removing and Washing the Cover of Your IKEA Långfjell Chair

    Removing and Washing the Cover of Your IKEA Långfjell Chair

    I recently changed my work chair from IKEA’s Långfjell to Martela’s Luna Active. The fabric on the chair was a bit scruffy, so I needed to clean it up a bit for sale. The problem was how to get the cover off the chair. 

    Here’s how it worked.

    Washing the Långfjell work chair cover

    At first, I tried a little rubbing with the foamed dishwasher water on the areas where the grime was most visible. But it didn’t seem to be enough, so I thought I’d put the fabric in the washing machine.

    I got sucked into the depths of YouTube videos, because removing the fabric was not as easy as I imagined.

    How to remove the fabric cover from a Långfjell chair

    Remember that the end result may not be what you want when you take the following steps. You may not even be able to get the chair back to the same condition as before dismantling. But if you want to continue, here’s how. Remember, you do the following steps at your own risk.

    The main trick is to remove the whole mechanism from the base of the chair and cut small flaps in the fabric so that you can remove the fabric without dismantling the mechanism.

    • Raise the chair mechanism to the top position
    • Turn it horizontally on the floor
    • Cut the bottom of the fabric to allow room to slip the mechanism whole through (image below)
    • Remove the mechanism from the chair by unscrewing the four screws
    • Remove the black clips holding the fabric to the chair base
    • Pull out the fabric
    • Wash in a delicate wash to prevent the fabric from shrinking

    Here’s an illustration of cutting the fabric. So we had to cut the fabric, but in the end it was easier than dismantling the chair mechanism.

    Remember these

    The fabric is attached to the chair by strings that go through the chair. You must remove the black clips before the fabric comes off. They are both at the bottom of the chair and in the curved part.

    Good luck!

  • Where Can I Play Wordle?

    Where Can I Play Wordle?

    Wordle is an addictive word puzzle game that can be played online in English and many other languages.

    What is Wordle?

    Wordle is a word game developed by programmer Josh Wardle, where you try to guess a five-letter word using five guesses. It’s a lot like the familiar game hangman.

    After each guess, the game shows in green the letters that are in the right place, in yellow the letters that are in the wrong place but within the word somewhere and in grey the letters that are not in the word.

    Where can I play Wordle?

    Wordle can be played in English in many places, but the New York Times Wordle is the official, daily word puzzle that is solved all over the world:

    Versions you can play multiple times per day can also be found online, but they are not official versions. 

    Like good games in general, Wordle’s logic is very simple, so the code has already been copied from the original code or coded from scratch. In copyright terms, we are in a grey area. 

    You can’t get anything off the Internet, so there’s always some version out there, even if the New York Times legal department starts sending out notices to the sites hosting the game.

    Wordle in Finnish: Where to play?

    In Finnish, there is a Wordle equivalent called Sanuli.

    By searching Google for “wordle suomeksi” you can also find other Finnish versions, from a variety of sites.

    Is Wordle free?

    In connection with the purchase of Wordle, the New York Times said that Wordle will still be free, at least initially. It remains to be seen whether it will move behind the paywall at some point.

    What’s the attraction of Wordle?

    Wordle has been very popular in recent years. At least these factors explain the popularity:

    • The game is simple enough
    • The official version can only be solved once a day
    • The game is collaborative (even if you play it alone)

    Who developed Wordle?

    Wordle was developed by Scottish programmer Josh Wardle, who came up with the idea for Wordle in 2013, but it wasn’t until October 2021 that it became available to anyone outside of Wardle’s inner circle. In 2022, New York Times bought Wordle.

  • What’s an NPC? Meaning and Usage

    What’s an NPC? Meaning and Usage

    What’s an NPC?

    An NPC gets stuck behind a thumb-high fence. The NPC’s head is jerked ten pixels to the left and the left ear is swollen beyond recognition. What is it all about?

    It’s about a character class related to games.

    An NPC can also have a family.

    What is the meaning of NPC?

    NPC stands for Non-Player Character. An NPC is a character in a game whose behaviour is controlled by the game itself. NPCs can be, for example, passers-by or shop keepers.

    Characteristics of NPC behaviour include.

    • Waiting endlessly for the protagonist
    • Limited vocabulary
    • Tendency to glitch out sometimes

    NPCs can also exist in games other than computer games. For example, Dungeons & Dragons has had NPCs since at least the 1970s.

    What does it mean if another person is an NPC?

    The term NPC has spread from games to popular culture. It is used as a derogatory or teasing term for someone who is not the protagonist of their life in the grand scheme of things.

    For example, the NPC slur might be used in a situation where one party is behaving in a one-sided or repetitive manner.

    Remember, it’s not nice to call people names.

    Poke.

    It’s not nice to call people names.

    Poke.

    It’s not nice to call people names.

  • Marketing a New Business in Finland: Here’s What You Need

    Marketing a New Business in Finland: Here’s What You Need

    Are you starting a new business in Finland? You have the money, the idea and a burning desire to leave your mark on the world? Great! You are on the right track.

    In this article, we will go through a general overview of what a new business needs for its marketing. We’ll also list partners you can ask for help in different situations. 

    The article is particularly suitable for local businesses or smaller companies expanding to Finland. As scale increases, complexity often increases. At the end of the article is a checklist for a small start-up with prices and possible partners.

    What is marketing?

    On the Aalho Media website we have written about the differences between advertising and marketing.

    A broad definition of marketing: marketing is about creating value for customers and partners.

    Narrow definition of marketing: marketing is the enabling and promoting the sale of products and services.

    Advertising is paid, targeted communication, often on third-party channels.

    To sum up: marketing is everything you do to make a customer want to and buy something from you.

    What does a new business need at least from a marketing perspective?

    Everything a company does is marketing. So you need everything and nothing to get started.

    The customer experience goes something like this:

    temptation > payment > experience > sharing experience

    The necessary marketing elements include, for example:

    corporate identity > ability to sell > ability to deliver a service > ability to influence the message to be shared

    And in practice, these are the things that fall into these categories:

    • company name
    • the product or service being sold
    • price
    • logo
    • brand colours
    • brand font
    • brand message
    • product images
    • lifestyle images
    • domain
    • website
    • emails
    • online shop
    • premises
    • document templates
    • ads
    • social media channels
    • customer service channels

    What should a new business invest in?

    Sometimes you hear wild whispers of companies that grew into the unucorn category without any marketing at all. It’s like saying you grew six feet tall without eating any food at all – when you’ve never eaten a potato.

    However, not all companies can buy a branding starter set for a couple of million from the outset. Even a few grand can seem like a lot at first. A start-up company can get an indication of the appropriate marketing budget by mirroring it against the desired turnover.

    Start with these and adapt them to your own situation:

    • Invest 5–10% of your first year’s desired turnover in marketing

    For example, if you were to reach a turnover of €100 000, the marketing cost for a start-up would be between €5 000 and €10 000. This amount is usually enough to go stand outside the most coveted brand agency in your town.

    But there is nothing wrong with advertising agencies’ pricing. They’re in business just like you are, and you may well not be a good match.

    Let’s sketch out some scenarios based on how much money you have.

    What can you get for €10 000?

    Creativity is born in tight spots. So let’s imagine a situation where a new company wants to take off and has set aside €10 000 for marketing. So this includes creative services and an advertising budget.

    Let’s split it 50/50: €5 000 for materials and €5 000 for advertising.

    You’ll need at least these:

    • Company name
    • Logo
    • Brand identity (mainly colours and fonts)
    • Domain (a dozen euros)
    • Website
    • Branding of the premises
    • Social media channels

    We’ve written before about affordable logo design. The cheapest way to get one is for a handful of euros is on Fiverr, for example. In most cases, the best value for money is to commission a logo from small local private entrepreneurs.

    A brand identity is more than just a logo, but they should be defined in the same package. A small local private entrepreneur can help with this too.

    Set aside €2 000 for the branding.

    After that, there are still major investments in physical and digital office space. Invest in what matters most to your business. We also have an article on how to create a website for new businesses, which you should read.

    If you’re not really doing business with your website, a simple Squarespace page is often enough, with a price range between time and money. You can make them yourself or pay someone a few hundred (or a few thousand) to make them for you. 

    But if your website is at the heart of your business, save on everything else and invest in your website.

    • Clear messaging
    • Unique, branded images
    • Fast and foolproof technical implementation
    • A clear purchasing path
    • Search engine optimized content

    So we put €2 500 into physical and digital space. You have to cut corners, but your customers may not notice. 

    The remaining €500 will be spent on all the little things. The €5 000 advertising budget will be used for Google Ads, some small ads in the local newspaper and Meta post boosting.

    What can you get for €100 000?

    Let’s increase the budget a little and see what the marketing budget could be used for, if we don’t have to spend our own money but can use inverstor’s money instead.

    With this budget, you can already hire an advertising agency or creative agency. They are professionals and you pay them to see the job through to the finish line.

    • Branding: €20 000
    • Web pages: €30 000
    • Shoots (stills and video): 20 000 €
    • Influencers: €15 000
    • Launch campaign (materials and advertising): €15 000

    Whoops.

    The budget’s already gone.

    Marketing – like any other area of business – is something that you can spend as much as you want on. There’s an old saying that half of it is wasted, but nobody knows which half.

    New business marketing checklist

    Let’s get back to reality. You have to skimp on everything and not much money is flowing in. The assumption is that you do a lot yourself, or that you already have someone in your company who does a lot of grassroots marketing work.

    Here’s a common sense marketing checklist:

    • Branding from a local advertising agency or freelancer
      • Budget approx. 1 000 – 2 000 €
      • Includes logo type and logo mark
      • Brand colors
      • Brand font
      • Partner proposal: Muotkava
    • Squarespace website
      • Budget approx. 1 000 – 2 000 €
      • Includes basic website without online shop
      • Monthly fee approx. 20 €
      • Partner suggestion: search online for “squarespace website for business finland” and get a quote from a few local partners.
      • For photos and video: ask for a quote from Feeniks Visual, for example
    • Setting up and maintaining channels
      • The budget varies
      • Reserve your social media channels (you just reserve the handle but don’t actually do anything)
      • Maintaining important social media channels
      • Partner suggestion: recruit someone from within the company or close to the company
    • Setting up and maintaining advertising channels
      • Meta ads (Instagram and Facebook)
      • Google Ads (display and search ads)
      • Start with daily budgets that are in line with the cost per customer (if you sell a service that costs €100, you can spend, say, €10 on cost-per-acquisition).
      • In competitive sectors and online shopping, it pays to hire a PPC (pay per click) marketing professional to set up and optimise campaigns.
      • Partner proposal: ask a few operators (for example Kuulu or Daniliants Ventures) for a quote
    • Fast-track SEO visibility
      • Budget: couple of hundred
      • Collaborate on a partner article here on allgoodgreat (you’re here too, after all).
      • For example: (your company name) + experiences or (industry + best)
      • If you are near Oulu, Finland, we can throw in a photoshoot (you can buy photos for your own use for 100 €/each (+ VAT 24%)).
      • Read more about partnerships
      • Partner proposal: Aalho Media

    Branding and messaging clarity are worth investing in up front, because you get to work on them in the early days. Other things you can build and develop as your business grows. 

    When business is doing great, it’s worth trying the services of more traditional advertising agencies.

  • Best Gift Ideas from Finland

    Best Gift Ideas from Finland

    Finland is a country located in Northern Europe, known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and innovative design. While you can’t put forest in a bottle, you can still give a gift that contains a little bit of Finland.

    If you’re looking for a unique and creative gift for someone who loves Finland, or for someone who simply appreciates the finer things in life, here are a few ideas to get you started:

    Beautiful gift ideas from Finland: Finnish design

    Finland is home to a thriving design scene, with many talented artists and designers creating beautiful and functional products. Consider gifting a piece of Finnish design, such as a piece of furniture, home decor, or fashion accessories. 

    Some popular Finnish design brands to check out include Marimekko, Iittala, and Artek.

    You can shop for Finnish products at the Made in Finland Shop.

    Exotic tastes from Finland

    Finland is known for its delicious and unique cuisine, which includes dishes like salmon soup, reindeer meat, and berries. Consider gifting Finnish food and drink products, such as Finnish chocolate, lingonberry jam, or Finnish beer.

    ‘Fazerin sininen’, or Fazer Blue is perhaps the best known Finnish chocolate.

    Give the gift of Finnish nature experiences

    With its vast forests and thousands of lakes, Finland is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. If you’re not ready to visit Finland yet, consider gifting outdoor gear or an outdoor adventure experience, such as a guided fishing or hiking trip.

    Finnish gifts: culture in a box

    Finland has a rich cultural heritage, with a long history of folk music, dance, and storytelling. Consider gifting tickets to a cultural event, such as a traditional Finnish music or dance performance.

    You can also get to know the Finnish frame of mind by buying some of the most beloved books by Finnish artists.

    Relax like a Finn

    With its long, dark winters and beautiful summers, Finland is a country that values wellness and relaxation. Consider gifting a spa treatment or wellness experience, such as a sauna or a massage.

    The best Finnish gift is the one that comes from the heart

    No matter what type of gift you choose, a thoughtful and creative gift related to Finland is sure to be appreciated and treasured. Whether it’s a beautiful piece of design, a tasty food or drink product, an outdoor adventure, a cultural experience, or a relaxing wellness retreat, there are plenty of options to choose from to show your love and appreciation for all things Finnish.

  • What Makes a Great Gift?

    What Makes a Great Gift?

    What is the goal of a gift? To surprise, delight, add some utility… or all of the above? We spend a lot of money and time on things like Christmas gifts, but we rarely stop to think about what makes a great gift.

    In this episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, marketing professor Jeff Galak explains what research tells us about great gifts. We have summarized the lessons and gift-giving tips in this article.

    • What is a great gift?
    • Does the gift have to be expensive?
    • When should you give a gift?
    • What is the best way to give a gift?

    What is a great gift: focus on the giver or the receiver?

    What kind of gifts do you like to give? Is there a common factor? Are they, for example:

    • Self-made
    • Nature-friendly
    • Creative
    • Unique
    • Intangible

    If you notice common elements in all your gifts, you may be a gift-giver that focuses on yourself. The best gifts, however, often focus on the recipient. What does the recipient need? What does he value?

    It’s only human to want to tell something about yourself with your gift. If you feel creative, it makes sense that gifts should be creative too. But it may also be that if the recipient has a scratched frying pan, the best gift for that situation would be a new pan.

    The characteristics of a good gift:

    • It is intended for the recipient
    • It delivers benefits in the longer term
    • It is surprising but necessary

    Does the gift have to be expensive?

    A gift doesn’t have to be expensive to be great. A unique gift can also be valuable without being expensive. The podcast gives an example of gifts related to emotions and memories. A gift that tells the story of the history between the recipient and the giver can be more satisfying than a frying pan.

    A gift can also be related to helping out in real life: watching the kids or the dog, so the recipient can go to the cinema, on a trip or out for a meal. It cannot be paid by credit card, which makes it even more valuable.

    A really expensive gift can also cause negative emotions: jealousy, inadequacy and the stress of giving something in return. There are situations where expensive gifts are more acceptable: for example, parents can help with setting up the house without the young couple feeling they have to buy their parents an expensive snowblower as a present next Christmas.

    On the other hand, suddenly buying a Rolex for a colleague raises at least a few eyebrows.

    When should you give a gift?

    Gifts come with expectations. Christmas presents or birthday presents are, at least in Finland, the gifts to which most expectations are attached. And when expectations rise, it’s harder to succeed.

    So the real gift-giver’s tip is this: give gifts when least expected.

    Delight your spouse with flowers on a Wednesday in March. Make a photo album for a childhood friend and give it to them out of the blue. It doesn’t have to be a big gift, but it will bring great pleasure.

    If you are a spontaneous gift giver, remember to be kind to yourself on major gift-giving days. Invest less in Christmas and more in May.

    What is the best way to give a gift?

    It seems that to give a great gift, you would need to be a mind reader. Fortunately, we humans have this skill right on the tip of our tongues.

    The best way to give a great gift is to ask the recipient what kind of gift they want. It may feel like cheating or forgetting your identity altogether, but research shows that it leads to better gifts.

  • Best Podcast Apps: How to Listen to Podcasts?

    Best Podcast Apps: How to Listen to Podcasts?

    A podcast is a series of audio files that can be listened to on the app of your choice. The best podcasts are great as the background noise for many everyday chores or a break from the daily grind, but what can you listen to them on?

    Here are some tried and tested options for listening to podcasts.

    Best podcast apps

    Which app can I use to listen to podcasts? Most of the apps are free, but you can buy premium subscriptions if you want, which give you a range of benefits.

    Editor’s Choice: Pocket Casts

    I use the Pocket Casts app, which is available for both iOS and Android. One good thing about the app is the clear queue management, i.e. which episodes come next and in which order.

    Overall, Pocket Casts does a good job with its free version. The basic functions work well and use is pretty intuitive. The app doesn’t crash or lose the point where you stopped listening.

    Try Pocket Casts

    Other podcast apps

    Podcasts can also be listened to using the podcast platforms’ own apps. The biggest are:

    The Apple Podcasts app has been around for a while, but a small hiccups eventually made me look elsewhere. I haven’t tried the latest version, so it may have improved.

    With Google Podcasts, podcast episodes can be played directly in the browser, so it’s also great for quickly listening to individual episodes.

    Other podcast apps include:

    Listening to podcasts on Spotify: familiar, oh so familiar

    Spotify, the silent but deathly monthly payment, has recently invested in podcasts and the app is split into two main categories: music and podcasts. 

    The good thing about Spotify is the familiar interface and the ability to discover new podcasts. The bad thing is the interface, which is familiar from listening to music. Although I use Spotify for music myself, I have not yet, to this day, switched to listening to podcasts there.

    Spotify’s special features include the ability to listen to podcasts at 3.5x the speed of light, which is the equivalent of a chipmunk flying at the speed of light.

    Try Spotify for podcasts

    Podcasts on YouTube: popular, but not by design

    YouTube’s focus is not on podcasting, but it’s still one of the most popular platforms for podcasting, especially when video is involved. 

    Traditional podcast app management tools are not all available on YouTube, and you can get dragged down into the depths of YouTube even if you only intended to listen to one episode. But there is something inherently compelling about listening to podcasts on YouTube.

    In addition, YouTube is rumoured to be moving deeper into podcasts. At the time of writing, youtube.com/podcasts is not accessible even though it is referenced in search results and on news outlets. So let’s keep an eye on it!

  • The Best New Year’s Resolutions: What Makes a Good Resolution

    The Best New Year’s Resolutions: What Makes a Good Resolution

    Starting something new is always an opportunity for change. A new day, a new week, a new month… and above all a new year. New Year’s resolutions are a sign that we want to change something in our lives – and the turn of a new year provides the right framework.

    But what is a good New Year’s resolution? What to promise – and what not to promise?

    New Year’s resolutions: fun and games, or something more serious

    New Year’s resolutions look the part of the giver. 

    New Year’s resolutions are made in a merry group, in secret whispers or as a last straw. In this article, we focus more on those lighthearted New Year’s resolutions that are not a matter of life and death.

    What is a good goal?

    The nature of a good New Year’s resolution can be explored by thinking about what makes a good goal. People often talk about SMART goals, which is a very good lens through which to analyze your targets.

    The SMART goal is:

    – Specific

    – Measurable

    – Achievable

    – Relevant

    – Time-bound

    The idea is that when a goal has all these characteristics, it is not only easier to achieve, but achieving it also has some meaning.

    Examples of the best New Year’s resolutions

    The best New Year’s resolution is one that fits your life now. New Year’s resolutions are not a competition in which the noblest goal wins. You can promise something small, something big, or promise nothing at all.

    New Year’s resolutions are often linked to some positive change:

    • I promise to move more
    • I promise to eat healthier
    • I promise to sleep more
    • I promise to learn a new language 
    • I promise to be more present
    • I promise to help my parents more
    • I promise to think more about nature
    • I promise to be a better friend

    These big New Year’s resolutions can certainly guide you as the calendar year changes and you start to act on them. Maybe your phone rings and you remember “oh yeah, this year I was going to be a better friend”. Or rather, a message pops up in your Whatsapp group conversation that you would normally ignore.

    However, such a big New Year’s resolution can be easier to forget. What does it mean to be more present? What is healthier eating?

    What if you made a SMART resolution?

    New Year’s resolutions do not need to be turned into efficiency super-pledges. You can promise to touch the bark of a pine tree, or touch the end of your nose every time you see the best of cars, a white beetle.

    If you have a goal you’d like to achieve anyway, you can try making a SMART resolution. Take, for example, eating healthier. This is what the SMART resolution could look like:

    SMART New Year’s resolution

    I promise

    – Specific

    reduce soft drinks

    – Measurable

    to one quarter

    – Achievable

    from the current amount

    – Relevant

    to make me feel better

    – Time-bound

    from January 2023 until December 2023

    If you know that you always drink a can of Coke on Saturday mornings, such a goal would mean that you would drink one can once a month on Saturday mornings. 

    It may be that, in addition to a promise, you should think about what kind of habits to associate with your New Year’s resolutions. You can also turn the resolution to focus on the positive.

    SMART New Year’s resolution

    I promise

    – Specific

    enjoy sparkling water instead of a soft drink

    – Measurable

    a quarter of the times compared to

    – Achievable

    the current amount

    – Relevant

    to make me feel better

    – Time-bound

    from January 2023 until December 2023

    In this case, the focus is on what you get, not what you lose.

    New Year’s resolutions deserve compassion

    New Year’s resolutions should be tailored to your needs and you should be prepared to forget them by Epiphany. If you really need help, you should seek it with the help of a professional – especially if you feel that your own resources are not enough.

    If you’re looking for small, harmless New Year’s resolutions, here are a few more ideas:

    • I promise to sing more in the shower
    • I promise to reduce screen time by 20%
    • I promise to focus on what I eat when I eat
    • I promise to start a diary
    • I promise to take better care of my body
    • I promise to praise my colleagues more
    • I promise to be kinder to myself
    • I promise to plant at least one new plant
    • I promise to start a podcast

    Promise what you promise, but promise not to take it too seriously!

  • Acoustics at Home: Less Echo, More Comfort

    Acoustics at Home: Less Echo, More Comfort

    Partner links marked with *.

    Improving the acoustics at home can have a big effect on the quality of life. And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The main objective of improving the acoustics is to reduce echo and attenuate disturbing sounds. An additional goal could be, for example, to acousticize a home theater or TV room.

    You can get a feel for the normal, acoustically bare conditions of your home when you’re just moving in. The empty apartment echoes with normal conversation and it feels like all the sounds from outside are coming right in. Once the furniture has been brought inside and put in place, a lot has already been done for the acoustics:

    • The carpets have been put in place
    • Large furniture, such as sofas, absorbs sound
    • Large surfaces on the walls have been (acoustically) broken up by boards or shelves
    • Curtains are put up to cover the windows

    In this article, we’ll go over some tips for home acoustics beyond those basics. We’ve been improving the acoustics of our home a little more than usual, because we’ve been using two different rooms in our apartment as a podcast studio.

    Reducing echoes in the home with acoustics

    Clap your hands together in the middle of the room and listen to the echo of the sound. Do it in different rooms and listen to the differences. In the bathroom, for example, the echo is often more noticeable because there are no soft surfaces to absorb the sound.

    Unpleasant echoes make for a less comfortable living environment. Instead of poor acoustics, it’s easy to blame the source of the sound: children, the television, family hobbies or a neighbour. So if you notice that the echo in a room is particularly disturbing, you can start with these tips:

    Absorb the sound with soft textiles

    Imagine that sound is light emanating from your hands in all directions. Where does it bounce and where does it collect? For example, two hard surfaces facing each other will reflect the sound, making it feel louder. Soft carpets, rugs, tapestries or softer building materials will reduce sound echo.

    Soft materials and curtains absorb echoes.

    Suck out the sound with furniture

    Your interior design choices can have a big impact on the acoustics of your home. Soft furniture such as sofas, chairs or armchairs absorb sound and improve acoustics. Glass tables, glass boards and other hard materials reflect sound and make the situation worse.

    Create uneven surfaces in your home

    Uneven surfaces disperse sound and dampen echoes. Create a variety of uneven surfaces in your home. For example, a bookshelf is an excellent acoustic element because books are naturally of different sizes and form a random and uneven surface. Minimalist interior design, on the other hand, requires different solutions, as there are no everyday objects available to create acoustic surfaces.

    Interior products to improve acoustics

    Here are a few different products that can give you ideas for improving acoustics with small interior design choices:

    • Rugs
    • Pillows and blankets
    • Curtains
    • Acoustic elements (lighting fixtures, for example)
    • Acoustic panels

    Home acoustics with acoustic panels: panels for ceilings and walls

    Acoustic panels have had the biggest impact in our home: a dozen acoustic panels have been installed on the ceiling of our study and bedroom, effectively dampening echoes. Opposite them, there is a wide bed in one room and a carpet that covers almost the entire floor in the other, so the sound doesn’t echo.

    Curtained acoustic panels add a touch of flair and acoustics.
    Curtained acoustic panels add a touch of flair and acoustics.

    Acoustic tiles on the ceiling of a room are a long-term and permanent solution. We’re used to texture and geometry in the ceiling, but it’s worth trying to design the right panelling for your home.

    The acoustic panels shown in the picture are Parafon Royal 60x120x3 cm. They are installed with a thin layer of mounting adhesive. Here are some tips for those considering acoustic panels:

    • Use mounting adhesive. At first we tried taping but the panels came down before long.
    • Accept that the ones with mounting adhesive will stick in place. We installed fabric-covered panels on the wall, which we later wanted to move. The paint came off with the adhesive and there were holes behind the panels.
    • Call a professional to install. Installing panels on the ceiling is both a painstaking and precise job. The easiest way is to get a professional to install the panels. He has the skills and the tools.
    • Do not accept broken acoustic panels. The downside of panels is that they take a hit reasonably easily. Do not install a panel on the ceiling if the corner is bumped or if the inside is peeking out from the edge. The panel is difficult to get off after installation and a bad-looking panel will haunt your thoughts as well as your eyes.
    • With fabric upholstery, you can decorate and accentuate at the same time. We upholstered a few Royal Parafon panels ourselves with Marimekko fabric and we have liked the result. Pre-patterned acoustic panels are also available.

    These tips to make your home more cosy

    Use the tips in this article to improve the acoustics of your home. I recommend walking around your home giving yourself a round of applause, so you can see where the acoustics need to be improved. The echoes reduce the comfort of living, especially in large and high spaces.

    Also share your own tips for improving acoustics in the comments!

  • What Does Sheesh Mean?

    What Does Sheesh Mean?

    TikTokkers reportedly no longer says ‘sick’ or ‘legen-dary’ or ‘the cat’s pajamas’. They say sheesh, but what does this sheesh mean?

    Slang words come and go – and may suddenly change meaning, but at least for now you can feel good about contributing to the conversation like this:

    – Good evening, Terry!
    – Good evening, good sire.
    – By the way, I ordered a custom logo online.

    – Sheeeesh!

    What does sheesh mean in English?

    Sheesh, or sheeeeeesh (pronounced /ʃiiiiiiiiiiʃ’) is an expression of positive surprise. It encourages the speaker and comments on what was said before.

    You can use it, for example, when the speaker is:

    • showing off something they are proud of, such as a photo they took
    • succeeded in something, perhaps better than expected
    • experienced something unique

    The key is a relaxed and enthusiastic sheesh. So don’t hesitate to raise your pitch and lengthen your vowel. Life is too short for short sheeshes.

    What is the etymology of sheesh?

    Sheesh as a word has been around since the 1950s. Its meaning has changed in a more positive direction. The word was originally derived from the words geez and Jesus. Instead of naming Jesus, the voiced euphemism geez has been used, which has evolved into the voiceless sheesh.

    – Today I learned how to use sheesh.

    – Sheeeeesh!

  • What Are the Alternatives to Twitter?

    What Are the Alternatives to Twitter?

    At lot is happening at Twitter. Of course, there’s always something happening at (and on) Twitter. Especially now that Elon Musk has set is eye on it (and stubbed his toe, perhaps).

    If you’re looking for an alternative channel for your 280 character thoughts, here are some ideas. Maybe one of these could be your new social media service.

    Twitter’s replacement: Mastodon

    One new service that is clearly attracting Twitter users is Mastodon, which defines itself as a decentralised social media.

    Instead of a single central provider, Mastodon is a collection of different servers, each with its own rules and subject areas. The Finnish mastodontti.fi is one of the Finnish servers, or instances. You can find servers for your country quite easily, too.

    • The user experience is very close to Twitter
    • The user has a better chance of curating their own kind of feed
    • Mastodon’s appeal is not yet fully clear

    Read more about Mastodon

    An alternative to Twitter according to what you want to do with it

    What do you usually do on Twitter? There are many other places online and even in the real world where you can do the same things.

    Free-for-all:if you treat low blood pressure by keyboard fighting on Twitter, you could try, for example, discussion forums or newspaper comment sections. There are also Facebook groups to start something at.

    Branding: you can also create a personal brand on LinkedIn or Instagram.

    Information: The Finnish national broadcast service YLE has a concise teletext service in English.

    Your interests: Maybe you’ve already curated a Twitter feed according to your taste. The Discord chat app brings together a wide range of channels on different topics, so you might find the ones you’re interested in right there.

    Pastime: You can also spend time reading books, learning a language or knitting, for example. All Good Great also has some great articles to spend some quality time on.

    Comedy: Does your brain produce an endless flow of snappy oneliners? I think your family, friends or relatives will appreciate it if you send messages directly to their Whatsapp. 

    What else can replace Twitter?

    If it happens that Twitter goes bust, don’t worry. On the horizon, there is always the next wave of social media candidates.

    You can also feel free to go without social media for a while and then choose to tag along if others find a platform worth using.

  • Binaural Beats: Best Places to Find Them

    Binaural Beats: Best Places to Find Them

    Affiliate links marked with *.

    Binaural beats are sometimes touted as a substitute or addition to meditation. Benefits of these brain hum sounds include better concentration, relaxation or reduced anxiety.

    In this article, we list where you can listen to these binaural rhythms and what the scientific basis is.

    Binaural sounds have many names in this context, including:

    • Binaural rhythms
    • Binaural beats
    • Binaural beat tones

    We use them synonymously in this article.

    What are binaural beats?

    Binaural means something that is sensed with two ears.

    Binaural beats are rhythmic sounds created by the difference in frequency of two sounds applied to the ears. For example, the brain interprets a 440 hertz sound in the left ear and a 444 hertz sound in the right ear as a new sound that beats at 4 hertz (or four times per second).

    The listener’s brain can attune to the same rhythm as this binaural rhythm, so by listening to different binaural beats, different parts of the brain can be stimulated.

    Research evidence on binaural beats is mixed. They may not have the desired effect – and if they do, it may well be a placebo effect. Binaural beats can also have unwanted side effects, such as increased anxiety.

    Where can you listen to binaural beats?

    If you want to try out what these binaural rhythms sound like at this stage, put on some headphones and try them out.

    Binaural beats on YouTube

    A quick, easy and cheap way to test how these sounds affect you is the good old familiar YouTube. Search for “binaural beats” and the frequency you want.

    Beta waves for concentration

    This video has no other music or effects and is long enough for long sessions.

    Delta waves for sleep and relaxation

    Similar video to the one above, but with delta waves.

    Binaural rhythms on Spotify

    You can also find binaural recordings on Spotify. The problem with these is usually their short duration, because artists want to get more plays for their songs.

    A better place to start is the podcast side, where recordings are usually much longer.

    Here are some to try:

    Apps and services

    If you’re really into binaural rhythms, and you want them to support what you’re doing, here are some apps and services.

    Brain.fm

    A US-based service with a wide range of brain hums for different situations, such as concentration and falling asleep.

    With the code ALLGOODGREAT you get -20% off the price of your order.

    Try it*

    The Binaural Beats app in the Apple Store

    A well-reviewed app for Apple devices.

    Try it

    The Binaural Beats app on the Google Play Store

    Similarly for Android, this app has received good reviews.

    Try it

    What do you need for listening to these sounds?

    For binaural sounds, you need headphones so that the sound can reach both ears. You can’t listen to them through speakers – or at least the mechanism of action is not the same. You can also listen to monaural recordings without headphones.

    You will need:

    • Headphones
    • A comfortable position
    • A place of peace and quiet
    • Time
    • Bodily peace

    Is there scientific evidence for the effects of binaural beats?

    According to this literature review, studies on binaural rhythms are partly contradictory and partly incomplete. Various studies have reported, for example, that binaural rhythms alleviate anxiety and can improve concentration.

    The inconsistency of the results may be due to the fact that binaural beats can be used in different ways, so the desired effect may come from something other than the sound itself.

    There is no clear indication as to:

    • Which sounds are the most efficient
    • How long to listen to the sounds
    • Does white noise in the background help
    • How much does the situation otherwise (quieting down, calming down, standing still) affect the results?

    What effects can binaural rhythms have?

    Positive effects of binaural rhythms, according to the industry, include.

    • Improved concentration
    • Relaxation
    • Reduction of anxiety

    The effect can come partly from the placebo effect and partly from the fact that you are doing something purposefully. For example, putting on headphones for a task that requires concentration can in itself help you to concentrate.

    To try out binaural sounds, below is a list of different frequencies that are said to have different effects.

    Alpha waves (8–13 Hz): relaxation

    Beta waves (12–33 Hz): concentration

    Delta waves (1–3 Hz): deep sleep

    Theta waves (3.5–8 Hz): imagination

    Gamma waves (30–100 Hz): alertness

    So go ahead and wum-wum-wum-wum away!

  • Affordable Logo Design in Finland: Start Here

    Affordable Logo Design in Finland: Start Here

    Partner links marked with ↗.

    The logo is the most fundamental piece of visual identity for a company. It’s printed on products, brochures, websites, business cards… everywhere your company puts its best face forward. But where to get the logos?

    In this article, we present the companies, tools and pricing guidelines for logo design and brand identity building in Finland. First, let’s look at the definitions of the words related to logos. Companies, projects, social media channels and even grandma’s knitting patterns can have logos.

    Logo type: company name in written text

    Logomark: graphic element, icon or symbol of a company, such as the Pepsi ball, Nike woosh or Audi circles.

    Logo: the previous two combined, i.e. icon and text together. It can also be just text with no pictorial mark.

    Affordable logo for a new company

    When a new company is commissioning a logo and starting from scratch, they’ll often need more than just the logo.

    Usually they’ll need:

    • Logotype
    • Logomark
    • Brand colors
    • Brand font

    In this case, we are already talking about designing the visual identity of the brand. If you’re looking for an inexpensive logo – just a logo – then this is where your wallet starts to feel some shortness of breath.

    On the other hand, there is not much of a budget at the beginning. So if the choice is between not having a business at all and having one, then you should go with your budget and order the logo from where you can get it.

    Cheap logo design services online

    The internet is full of cheap or free logo design apps and services. You can find them by searching Google for ‘logo maker’ or ‘logo generator ai’. Examples include BrandCrowd or Brandmark.

    Cheap online design services such as Fiverr can also be very useful ways to get your own unique logo. You can also use crowd-sourcing, for example, with 99designs, where several designers make logo suggestions for you to choose from.

    The good things about these services are:

    • Cheap
    • Fast
    • Easy to try
    • At best, you can hit gold and get a really useful logo

    The bad thing about these are:

    • Logos can be generic
    • Logos are not unique
    • Experimentation and testing takes a lot of time (money)
    • At worst, you could end up with some copied logo on which to build your business.

    Logos with artificial intelligence?

    AI is already doing a lot of creative marketing content. At its best, AI can create really good and unique starting points for logomarks, for example. The cover image of the article is an example of a logomark produced by Midjourney.

    The biggest challenge in AI and logo design today is that logos are usually very deliberate, precise and geometric. The images produced by AI are sketches and fairly asymmetrical – at least as of now.

    One approach would be to use AI to create the ideas, which you then convert to vectors in Adobe Illustrator. This, on the other hand, requires design skills, time and a visual eye, so it does not necessarily solve the original problem.

    In most cases, the easiest way is to hire a real professional.

    How much does it cost to design a logo?

    The prices of logos bought in Finland range from hundreds to a few hundred thousand euros. The bigger the project, the bigger the bill. A logo designed by a logo design professional for a normal company or organisation costs approx. 2 000 – 5 000 €.

    Freelancers, gog workers, smaller agencies and designers sympathetic to your cause can make a logo for under a grand. Most of the time, you pay for what you get. If you are a small business and your budget is tight, you can let the designer know when you ask for a quote.

    If you’re running a business with over a million in turnover but you don’t feel like investing in a brand, then you’re not on a tight budget.

    With logo design, you pay for these things:

    • A professional’s point-of-view
    • Uniqueness
    • Longevity
    • Suitability for you and your business

    For larger projects, you pay for these:

    • Image
    • Story
    • Saving your own ass
    • Research and data-driven design

    There is no right or wrong way. There are mainly ways that are appropriate or inappropriate for your situation.

    Logo design in Oulu, Finland

    Here are some of the companies offering logo design in Oulu, Finland. As a rule of thumb, operators selling logo design are cheaper than those selling brand identity building, brand design or other similarly branded services.

    Pay attention to these things:

    • What kind of logos has the designer made before?
    • What is involved in the process?

    Graphic design Muotkava

    Logo design for small (and bigger, too) projects from Muotkava.

    See the Muotkava site

    Marketing Agency Avalon

    Avalon is a agency with a long history (and pages in English).

    See Avalon’s pages

    Mint Company

    Minty fresh visuals.

    See the Mint Company site

    Creative Agency Työmaa

    Työmaa is behind many of the biggest brand campaigns in Oulu. With plenty of good references.

    See the Työmaa site

    Ad Agency Höyry

    A straightforward ad agency for a straightforward logo project.

    See the Höyry site

    Avidly

    For bigger companies, Avidly has a lot to offer in Oulu and throughout Finland.

    See the Avidly website

    You have a logo. Now what?

    Once your logo is fresh out of the oven, you know your brand colours in your sleep and your company mission statement is tattooed on the inside of your lower lip, it’s time to start living.

    This site – allgoodgreat.com – is a lifestyle site run by Aalho Media. Our goal is to help companies tell the world how they’re making life better. The purpose of this article, as an example, was to help you find a logo designer for your business or project.

    After you have your brand identity all set up, reach out to us for a brand collaboration. Tell us, and the world, what you do and why. Our search engine optimized pages are easily found on Google, so you can get an immediate influx of visitors to your website.

    Check out the All Good Great partnerships and get in touch!

  • How to Learn English: Apps and Tips

    How to Learn English: Apps and Tips

    Affiliate links marked with *.

    What’s the best way to learn English? How to increase your vocabulary and confidence? In this article we say no worries and explore the best ways to learn English.

    English is the most widely spoken language in the world. It is spoken as a first language mainly in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. However, as a foreign language it is the most popular language in the world and in many ways the most useful also in non-English speaking countries.

    Want to learn English better? Let’s get going!

    Different countries. Different starting points for English.

    In Finland, we are in a good position to learn English. We are so few that, for example, television programmes are not dubbed but subtitled. This way, every series or film you watch is a little exercise in listening and understanding English.

    We also have to (or have the opportunity to) search for information in languages other than Finnish – mostly English. So we already have the most important prerequisite for learning a language: motivation.

    Add to this passive stimuli from the environment and we can say that we are in an excellent position to learn English. The situation may be different in your country, but seeing that you here, it seems you have the motivation too.

    The best way to learn English

    The best ways to learn English are strongly linked to what you want to do in English. In that sense, it is like any other tool. If you have a saw, learning how to use it depends on your goals. The best ways to learn are different depending on whether you want to play folk songs on a musical saw or saw boards.

    As a rule of thumb:

    • You learn to talk by talking
    • You learn to read by reading
    • You learn to write by writing

    And to sum up: you learn English by using it. I myself studied English Philology at university and graduated with a Master’s degree. I have come to realize that more important than grammar and pronunciation is communication – especially when English is used as a common language of communication between non-natives.

    If you can get your point across and meet your objectives, your English language skills have been just about perfect.

    The science-backed best way to learn a language

    Language learning has been studied for several decades. However, there’s no clear answer as to what is the best way to learn a new language. Many of the studies referred to are also very old, although the phenomenon itself has certainly not changed.

    A few comments:

    • In this study, immigrants before puberty (age 15) had a much better chance of achieving native speaker-like proficiency
    • Even after puberty, it was possible to learn to speak very fluently
    • Motivation plays a very important role

    According to this study, effective language learning strategies included:

    • Paying attention to the use of language (metacognition)
    • Use of time: less and more often rather than a lot at once and infrequently
    • Reading texts aloud

    Learning English with an app: the Duolingo app

    Apps and gamification of learning are familiar from the computer classes of the nineties. New language learning apps such as Duolingo are popular ways to learn a new language. What’s new compared to the old is handling large amounts of data, optimizing retention and making it easier to combine reading, talking and listening (because the phone is such a handy multimedia device).

    Duolingo itself has studied and marketed learning outcomes that show clear progress in language learning. Of course, they have their own cow in the ditch, so it’s good to be critical. On the other hand, Duolingo’s success depends on the success of language learning, so market forces are pushing both in the same direction.

    Based on my own experience, Duolingo is good because:

    • Collecting streaks is an addictive way to study at least a little bit every day
    • Has exercises in reading, speaking and writing
    • The exercises are short and can be squeezed in between anything you’re doing

    The bad things are the annoyingly repetitive ads (in the free version) and sometimes repetitive tasks. 

    Try Duolingo* →

    Learning English for children

    There are also a number of online services aimed directly at children. For example, the Sweden-based Hi Albert is aimed at children aged 3–9 and older childer between 10 and 16. You can currently study on the service:

    • English
    • Coding
    • Maths

    Try Hi Albert for free →

    Practical tips for learning English

    We all have our own lives, in the flow of which we learn, experience and change. Here are a collection of tips for learning English. I’m sure you’ll find some practical ways that are just right for you.

    Emotions

    • Keep a diary of your thoughts and feelings about your language learning
    • Examine your own attitude to making mistakes
    • Write down one success a day

    Speaking

    • Speak English to your pet or houseplant
    • Repeat phrases you hear in TV shows, on social media or in films, for example
    • Practise using gestures to support your speech

    Comprehension

    • Listen to podcasts in English
    • Change the subtitles of your favourite series to English
    • Read a familiar book in English

    Vocabulary

    • Collect interesting words in a notebook or on your phone
    • Form mental images of new words

    Learning English by doing

    If you’ve made it this far, you’re clearly motivated to either learn English yourself or help someone else to do so. 

    Learning English can be compared to rehearsing with a small band. One day you practice singing (speaking), the next day bass (syntax), the third day drums (pronunciation)… Learning a language takes time and practice, but if you’re motivated enough and learning is fun, you’ll soon realize that wow this band sounds great together.

  • What Is the Best Ad Agency in Oulu, Finland?

    What Is the Best Ad Agency in Oulu, Finland?

    Oulu, the capital of northern Scandinavia, the white pearl of the North, the shitty city… Some of Oulu’s names were born on the streers, others at the long tables of advertising agencies. In this article, we will find out which are the best advertising agencies in Oulu for your specific needs.

    I’ve been in the business since the early noughties, when the wildest days of the advertising agency scene were behind us and the digital revolution was very much on the horizon. These reviews are based on my own experience and the advertising agencies’ own branding.

    What is the best advertising agency/creative agency/agency/marketing agency in Oulu, Finland?

    Looking for the best advertising agency is like looking for the best kitchen utensil. If you’re going to eat soup, a spoon is better than a knife. That’s why we’ve broken down the best agencies by category, as each agency has its own areas of strength.

    We are looking for the best agencies in these areas:

    • Best brand agency
    • Best jack of all trades
    • Best video production
    • Best coaching
    • Best effective content production
    • Best digital services
    • Best technical solutions

    The best brand agency in Oulu, Finland

    Many of Oulu’s most visible brand campaigns and rebrandings are the work of Luova Työmaa. From Työmaa, we’re used to seeing good creative ideas and even visionary graphic designs in line with the latest trends.

    So the golden spoon for the best brand agency goes to Työmaa thanks to its reputation (some would even say brand).

    Visit the Luova Työmaa site

    The best Swiss Army Knife in Oulu

    The one-stop tactic is to find a partner who can do it all. Or at least someone who knows someone who can do it all.

    Oulu’s Avidly is mainly composed of the former Pakkahuone team, long-standing Oulu advertising professionals. Avidly’s organisation manages a network of collaborators from many different fields, and Avidly has succeeded in the hardest part: simple collaboration in a glocal way.

    Visit Avidly’s site

    Best videos from Oulu

    Once a year, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg decides to go big in video. Advertisers and marketers around the world rush to make more videos, because that’s what you do.

    Fortunately, Oulu has a lot of good video production partners:

    Best marketing coaching in Oulu

    Kuulu is in many ways the most modern advertising agency in Oulu. Kuulu receives a gold spoon for its coaching and overall aspirations to promote the role marketing in business.

    Visit Kuulu site

    Best creative and effective content production in Oulu

    This is where I look in the mirror and hand myself the prize. Aalho Media (the company behind this site) is the creative partner for content that generates results.

    Aalho Media provides content in Finnish and English for your own channels as well as for example for this allgoodgreat.com website (or hyviaasioita.fi).

    Read more about partnerships

    Best advertising agency for startups in Oulu

    Now that we have started to give out prizes towards the mirror, let’s continue along the same lines. Aalho Media, mainly myself Jukka Aalho, has years of experience with successful startups, including Oura Health’s growth years.

    Aalho Media’s specific competences include:

    • Content in English
    • Search engine optimization
    • Third-party articles (for example on allgoodgreat.com)

    A startup will need more partners, so Aalho Media alone will not yet help you conquer Silicon Valley. However, we can provide you with content in English and show the way to international growth. And what’s more, some good contacts for international expansion.

    Best digital advertising services in Oulu

    Running PPC campaigns is a bit of a dichotomy in marketing. In a nutshell, good partners get campaigns up and running quickly and leave them to their own devices. More mediocre partners will quickly get campaigns up and running and leave them to their own devices.

    This is why this golden spoon is a free-for-all spoon. I can’t pick a single winner, so you can suggest a winning agency or even a freelancer in the comments.

    The best technical solutions for marketing

    If you only have a spoon in your hand, everything starts to look like a soup. Today’s marketer’s Cannes-blue dreams involve an agency partner with great front-end skills but also an unerring eye for great brand executions.

    Once a company gets to the point where the basics are in place, results, growth and success are found through new content and technical solutions.

    I believe that in such cases the best solutions would be found through larger agencies such as Avidly, Työmaa or Kuulu, or through individual freelancers.

    Kudos also to the other best agencies in Oulu

    Oulu has an advertising agency for all purposes – in a positive sense.

    My own experiences with all the agencies have been good, even if they are not mentioned by name in this article. Time and time again, I have been impressed by the know-how, the visuals and the inventive ideas.

    So take whichever catches your fancy. As long as you take someone.