Facebook in reality

Filed under: Facebook, Fun, Online Video, Social Media, Social Networking, Viral, Web2.0, marketing, web 2.0 , Facebook, reality, YouTube

I think you should watch ‘we think’

Filed under: 2.0, Business, Online Video, Web2.0, ideas, marketing, technology, web 2.0 , Books, Charles Leadbeater, innovation, We Think, web 2.0

Please help

Sport Relief

(I should apologise for bringing you here by illicit categorisation and tagging, but I won’t. You might have wasted just 10 seconds. Hopefully you will make the choice to change someone’s world in less than a minute).

Filed under: 2.0, ACL, Adobe, Advertising, Affiliate Marketing, Analyst, Analytics, Apple, Awards, BBC, Blog, Blogging, Blogroll, Books, Branding, Business, Buzz, CBS, CIM, CRM, Charity, Colour, Computer, Computing, Conversational marketing, Conversion, Cool, Corbis, Customer service, Data, Deloitte, Design, Direct Email, Direct Mail, EMI, Email, Entertainment, Entrepreneur, Events, Experiential, Facebook, Fairchild Semiconductor, Forrester, Fun, Gartner, Google, IBM, IODA, IT, IT Planning, Ideas and Riffs, Illusion, Imagery, Influence, Infrared, Job, Keywords, Knee, MIT, Mac, Measurement, Media, Microsoft, Mobile, Music, News, Online, Online Video, Open Social, PC, PR, Planning, Power 150, Printing, Public Relations, Punchstock, Quotes, RSS, Religion, Remarkable, Research, SEO, SEO / SEM, SPARQL, SQL, Salmon, Scene7, Search, Search Engine Optimisation, Second Chance Tuesday, Second Life, Semantic Web, Sinclair, Social Graphs, Social Media, Social Networking, Software, Sony BMG, Spam, Spectrum, Strategy, Surgery, Survival, TV, Tattoo, The Orchard, Tim Berners-Lee, Twitter, Usability, User Generated Content, Viral, Viral Coefficient, Virtual Worlds, WIFI, WIKI, WOM, Warner Music Group, Web, Web2.0, White Paper, Wired.com, Wordpress, Xerox, Xuuk, Yahoo!, YouTube, ZX, blogs, bob, copywriting, digital, dotcoms, garfield, iStock, ideas, illustration, last.fm, marketing, ogilvy, permission, photography, podcast, sport, startups, stock photography, technology, trust, venture capital, verge, web 2.0, webmasters, wi-fi, word of mouth , 2008, Advertising, Age 5-14, Animals, Anime, Announcements, Answered, Art, Articles, Barack, Basketball, Bible, Big, Big Questions, Blog, Blogging, blogs, Books, Business, Charity, Children, China, Christianity, Church, clinton, Club, Comedy, Commentary, Community, Crime, Culture, Current Events, Daily, Democrats, Design, Economics, Economy, Education, Election 2008, Elections, Eliot Spitzer, English, Entertainment, Environment, Events, Faith, Family, Fashion, Fiction, Film, Food, Friends, Fun, Funny, Games, God, Government, Health, Hillary, Hip-hop, History, Home, Humor, ideas, India, inspiration, internet, Iraq, Islam, Jesus, John McCain, Journal, Kids, Leadership, Life, Links, Love, marketing, Marriage, Me, Media, Misc, Miscellaneous, Money, Movies, Music, Musings, My Life, Nature, News, Obama, Opinion, Parenting, penguin, People, Personal, Philosophy, photography, photos, Physics, Pictures, Poems, Poetry, Political, Politics, Pop culture, Prayer, Projects, Psychology, Questions, Quotes, Race, Ramblings, Random, Rants, Recipes, Reflections, Relationships, Religion, Research, Review, Reviews, School, Science, Sewing, Sex, Shopping, Society, Software, Spiritual, Spirituality, Sports, Stories, Stuff, technology, television, The Page, Theology, Thoughts, Travel, trends, TV, Unanswered, United states, Update, USA, video, Videos, web 2.0, Welcome, Women, work, World, Writing, YouTube

Twitter on paper

I have mentioned Lee and Sachi LeFever’s WIKI and RSS video’s before.

Their series of short explanatory videos (The Common Craft Show) fight complexity – with simple videos in plain language. They call their format “paperworks”. I think they are simply great.

Their latest video is all about Twitter – and again is worth watching.

Use Twitter?  Follow me here.  Be warned I am new to this!

Filed under: 2.0, Computing, Media, Online Video, Social Media, Social Networking, Twitter, User Generated Content, Web2.0, YouTube, illustration, marketing, technology, web 2.0 , Common Craft, Lee LeFever, paperworks, Sachi LeFever, Twitter, YouTube

The 26 Week Internet Marketing Plan

If I said to you, you can learn about Internet Marketing in a weekend, and implement a thorough Strategic Internet Marketing plan in just 26 weeks, you might react in two negative ways; depending on your perspective. I know I did.

How can you provide me a strategic plan? That’s nonsence.
or
26 weeks? That’s too slow, too lethagic.

I’ve changed my mind. And I’d urge you to think again. I VERY rarely recommend items on this blog, but this deserves a mention…….

When the authors of the 26 Week Internet Marketing Plan asked me if they could send me a full preview of their package I was flattered, slightly nervous about what I would receive and hestitant to be seen like so many other bloggers who jump on a bandwagon to secure affiliate revenue, or traffic to their site (the latter is just not my style)

But I am so glad I accepted the gift, and challenge! What a wealth of content. It took nearly a full weekend to get through the content – and I am sure I missed bits.

Many UK marketing bloggers have been sent the pack as part of the stealth launch, and I’ll link to some of their content in this post. In a nutshell though, to be one of the best online marketers it is really key to know the basic rules of Internet Marketing – and this package has the basics outlined in as clear a manner as I have EVER seen.

The 26 week Internet marketing plan contains 4 DVD’s, 8 Multimedia CD’s and 4 ring-bound workbooks; plus a wall planner and 10 step quick start guide. It is written in a no-nonsense, pragmatic and conversational way – clearly a reflection of author David Bain’s clear understanding and experience in the Internet Marketing space. Great stuff.

Now don’t get me wrong. If you are a well read, experienced Internet Marketer, with a record of practising Internet Marketing for a number of years this quite possibly is not the guide for you. BUT (and I think this is a big ‘but’) if you are a marketing manager, business leader, entrepreneur or anybody who needs to make an impact online, is serious about it (you should be), and don’t know where the hell to start, the 26 week Internet Marketing Plan is an unbelievable package for you.

To give you an idea on its depth and breadth, this is what is provided out of the box.

Phase 1: Website Structure
Business Strategy
Keyword Research
Site Architecture
Conversion Rates
Viral Coefficient
Visitor Tracking

Phase 2: Automation and Launch
Blogging
RSS
Email Updates
Blog Communities
Blog & RSS Directories
Press Releases
Pay Per Click

Phase 3: Broaden Your Base
Major Directories
Industry Directories
Local Directories
Article Marketing
Competitor Backlinks
Forum Interaction
Blog Comments

Phase 4: Broaden Your Horizon
New Website
Social Networking
MyPage Marketing
Podcasting
Video Marketing
Visitor Analysis

Phew! See why it took 2 days to get through it!

This is what my marketing counterparts are discussing about the materials, and here is a brief introduction, plus here’s another.

As I mentioned the workbook writing is hype free, clear, easy to read; but most importantly littered with examples that makes the content easy to read and understand. So what? Well I have read many internet marketing books and too many are still poorly written.

But whilst the 4 workbooks form the core of the 26 week Internet Marketing Plan, they really are just the tip of the iceberg. And that leads me to the next great thing about the package. Its loaded with MP3’s of interviews, documented transcripts and .pdfs which really help to contextualise what you can learn in the core workbooks. Contributors include Jonathan Farrington and Yaro Starak by the way.

And finally what I really like is the overriding candid, honest, hype free approach that David has taken in producing this package.

IMHO there are numerous starter courses that prospective Internet Marketers could take – seminars, courses, training sessions etc. The trouble is they’re slick, polished but ultimately forgettable (most of the time).

For £399 I would be amazed if you could spend your hard earned money more wisely. And for the forgetful – the CD’s, MP3’s, .pdf’s and workbooks are a timely reminder of what to do, when and how. Highly recommended!

Filed under: Advertising, Affiliate Marketing, Analytics, B2B, Blog, Blogging, Branding, Business, Buzz, Conversion, Data, Direct Email, Entrepreneur, IT, IT Planning, Influence, Keywords, Measurement, Media, Online, Online Video, Open Social, Planning, RSS, Research, SEO, SEO / SEM, Search, Search Engine Optimisation, Social Media, Social Networking, Strategy, Usability, User Generated Content, Viral, Viral Coefficient, Virtual Worlds, Web, Web2.0, YouTube, blogs, copywriting, marketing, permission, podcast, technology, web 2.0, word of mouth , david Bain, Internet Marketing, Internet Marketing Plan, Jonathan Farrington, Marketing Automation and Launch, Marketing Strategy, Marketing Training, Purple Internet Marketing, Strategic Plan, The 26 Week Internet Marketing Plan, Website Structure, Yaro Starak

Making any money on your Island?

Filed under: 2.0, Business, Fun, IBM, Online Video, Second Life, Social Media, Social Networking, Strategy, User Generated Content, marketing, technology , Avatar, Business, digital, IBM, innovation, Money, Virtual World

Taking the shine off Viral

There was an interesting post earlier this week on Tech Crunch concerning The Secret Strategies Behind Many “Viral” Videos – as defined by a real expert in the industry.

I have to say I am a tad disappointed with the approach that the author outlines in relation to getting onto the “Most Viewed” page.

Here is an excerpt of his comments:

• Blogs: We reach out to individuals who run relevant blogs and actually pay them to post our embedded videos. Sounds a little bit like cheating/PayPerPost, but it’s effective and it’s not against any rules.
• Forums: We start new threads and embed our videos. Sometimes, this means kickstarting the conversations by setting up multiple accounts on each forum and posting back and forth between a few different users. Yes, it’s tedious and time-consuming, but if we get enough people working on it, it can have a tremendous effect.
• MySpace: Plenty of users allow you to embed YouTube videos right in the comments section of their MySpace pages. We take advantage of this.
• Facebook: Share, share, share. We’ve taken Dave McClure’s advice and built a sizeable presence on Facebook, so sharing a video with our entire friends list can have a real impact. Other ideas include creating an event that announces the video launch and inviting friends, writing a note and tagging friends, or posting the video on Facebook Video with a link back to the original YouTube video.
• Email lists: Send the video to an email list. Depending on the size of the list (and the recipients’ willingness to receive links to YouTube videos), this can be a very effective strategy.
• Friends: Make sure everyone we know watches the video and try to get them to email it out to their friends, or at least share it on Facebook.

I am not keen on this approach at all.

Starting new threads and embedding videos, only to kickstart a ‘conversation’ by setting up multiple accounts on each forum and posting back and forth between a few different users is underhand, unauthentic, and feels like cheating to me.

That coupled with the stance of embedding YouTube videos right in the comments section of MySpace pages, ‘just because you can’ is an odd approach.

And finally growing a Facebook presence and ’sharing’ a video with your entire friends might have a ‘real impact’ but it sounds a whole lot like spamming to me.

I wouldn’t pretend to be a viral expert, in any way shape or form. But I can’t help but feel really dissapointed. Whilst I can hear the TV advertising industry collapsing all around me – I always felt that Viral was one of a number of upstart replacements with a good honest vibe.

How naive of me.

Filed under: 2.0, Facebook, Ideas and Riffs, Online Video, Viral, YouTube, ideas, marketing, trust , blogs, Facebook, forums, Myspace, Spam, tech crunch, video, Viral, YouTube

Watching the British dotcoms: Update

 

Back in August I said that there were 13 British dotcoms to watch.Well TIOTI (Tape it off the Internet) just launched.

TIOTI is a social media aggregator for television. Huh? ‘What does that mean?’, I hear you say. Well TIOTI is designed to use the web to put together all sorts of information about TV shows, and let the audience edit and add to that. TIOTI lets you see what’s hot, what other people like and where you can get it from. Simple.

And at a time when under-30s now watch 40 per cent of their ‘television’ by downloading it over the internet or viewing it ‘on demand’ rather than watching it as it is broadcast, I’d say the timing is right.

Filed under: 2.0, Online, Online Video, Social Media, TV, User Generated Content, Web2.0, dotcoms, startups, web 2.0 , aggregator, dotcoms, download, startups, television, TIOTI

Social Media for Business

It is about time the UK had a decent Social Media conference and now we do. The Social Media for Business conference programme is now online. See which experts will join Yahoo! to guide you through the pitfalls and opportunities of social media.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how you can leverage the key ideas from social networking to create buzz around your brand and successfully promote your products and services.

Click here to read the conference programme. This is the conference for you if your business is struggling with questions like these:

• How do I integrate social media into my business?
• How do I turn social media into a revenue generator for my business?
• How do I create purposeful social networks?
• How do I monitor our reputation on-line?

Have these questions answered and many more by spending just one day out of the office.

More details here

Filed under: 2.0, Branding, Business, Buzz, Conversational marketing, Events, Experiential, Online, Online Video, Social Media, Strategy, User Generated Content, Virtual Worlds, Web2.0, blogs, marketing, podcast, web 2.0, word of mouth

Mac or PC?

Here’s something for your weekend viewing pleasure.

Hat tip to Miguel Umanzor from thewayiseetheworld.  What a great spoof.

With viewing figures down around their ankles, MTV might be better off playing the odd curveball video like this….

Filed under: Apple, Fun, Mac, Microsoft, Music, Online Video, PC, Viral

New Interactive Campaign for Toshiba.

Toshiba choose Mason Zimbler for their latest notebook campaign across Europe.

Targeting business and consumers across EMEA, this highly integrated campaign includes a flash and CGI-generated microsite with six animated films all shot on green screen and mapped into an animated online world. This enabled the site to work across 18 different languages, throughout Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle-East and Africa. The campaign also includes on and offline ads, brochures, DM and in-store POS.

I think its great! What’s your view?

Filed under: 2.0, Branding, Computer, Computing, Design, Fun, Online, Online Video, Strategy, Web, Web2.0, illustration, marketing, web 2.0, webmasters

BBC’s new media boss talks ‘web 3.0′

Future media and technology director at the BBC, Ashley Highfield, has further fleshed out the organisation’s plans to work with and distribute content digitally, admitting which areas are hardest and easiest to tackle and pointing towards a future web 3.0.

Highfield said that after web 1.0 and web 2.0, he is looking at web 3.0 – “the world of the semantic web, the internet that is intelligent”.

Filed under: 2.0, Online, Online Video, Planning, Social Media, Strategy, Web2.0, ideas, marketing, web 2.0, webmasters

FREE Event: Online Marketing 2007

Online Marketing 2007, (26-27 June) brought to you by NMA and Marketing Week, is one of the only UK events to bring together experts and suppliers covering every element of online marketing all under one roof, over two days. It’s now in its third year and the show promises it’s bigger and better than ever, moving to a new venue in the process – the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.

From SEO to PPC, blogging to podcasting, accessibility to analytics, email, affiliate and mobile marketing, online ads and integration, the show tackles all the challenges surrounding online marketing and offers advice on the latest developments. Find out how to make interactive marketing and advertising campaigns work harder for your money.

It’s a good event to meet exhibitors from the entire online market – an invaluable opportunity to discuss your needs with leading suppliers and industry experts, face to face.  And offcourse there is a (paid for) educational conference programme.  This is often where there is real value.

Here’s some quick links:

• Register Now!
• Conference
• FREE Workshops
• Google University (Want to know more about the Google missions and how it can help your business? Book to attend the free Google University and hear from Google staff in the know!)

You can also attend free workshop sessions at the Search Arena, NMA Arena and Online Advertising Arena……perhaps even getting dedicated advice to suit your specific needs in the process?

Its always good to take a day out of the office once in a while.  Perhaps the 26th or 27th June is the ideal time?

Filed under: 2.0, Advertising, Affiliate Marketing, Analytics, Blog, Blogging, Branding, Buzz, Customer service, Design, Direct Email, Direct Mail, Email, Experiential, Fun, Measurement, Online, Online Video, PR, Planning, Public Relations, SEO, SEO / SEM, Search, Search Engine Optimisation, Social Media, Software, Strategy, Usability, Viral, Web, Web2.0, ideas, marketing, web 2.0, webmasters, word of mouth

Gadget madness

Ok, here’s three gadgets making news. Big news. Front page of the bbc homepage sized news (trust me that’s big). I dig in, watch more, read more, and I feel disappointed. Very disappointed. WOW what a let down.

1st gadget up is a motion-sensitive laptop which is controlled through movement.

Next is a PDA with a magnetic screen.

And finally a phone that has taken LCD screen technology to a ‘new level’.

The application of these innovations is useless. Utterly useless. The truth is the technology behind these gadgets is super – but the application is so poor its embarrassing. In fact it makes me wonder if a marketer has been involved at all in each of the products’ creation.

I just hate it when the technology sector lets itself down by marketing poorly.

What were the product managers thinking of when they created these prototypes? Judging by the way I feel today – not the bottom line.

Filed under: Buzz, Design, Fun, Ideas and Riffs, Online Video, Social Media, Usability, ideas, marketing, word of mouth

Parody: Rails v Java

Filed under: 2.0, Fun, Ideas and Riffs, Online Video, Viral, Web2.0, ideas, marketing, web 2.0