February 2008
42 posts
LinkedIn is B2B's Gateway to Social Media →
While many businesses hesitate to “adopt” social media, many business people are already heavy users of social media sites. Sometimes they don’t even notice it. The ubiquitous success of LinkedIn…
Friday Folly →
This brilliant piece courtesy of Lauren. Actually I don’t know if this is folly, lunacy or brilliance. It is even better that the link does not work.
Words and Prayers for Arun →
Personal tragedy touches us all at some stage … but nothing ever prepares us for the devastating impact that comes with the loss of a loved one. And the effects of this ripple out…
Changes and Opportunities →
I don’t normally post job/opportunities, but it just so happens that there are two rather interesting changes in my local network. First up, Katie Chatfield is relinquishing her iron grasp on…
Cluetrain @ 10: The Video →
I wrote briefly on the one day conference on the Cluetrain Manifesto @10, and was hoping that, at some stage, the presentations would be shared. So I am pleased that this presentation by Doc Searls is now available on blip.tv. Hopefully more will come.
Bank Turns Its Back on Lifetime Value? Which Bank? →
DSC0195601 Originally uploaded by freddoslife
It was exciting. Truly exciting. The tall man with short, dark hair leaned down over my desk and put something small and dark on my desk. I looked closely. It was a grey book with black writing on the front. The book itself, sat neatly in a plastic sleeve — clear on the front and a bright green on the back. A quick smile. A word of thanks....
Are You a Talker or a Doer -- Do Some Good Now →
I have been watching the gang at Decisive Flow for almost as long as I have been writing this blog — which is now well over two years. In start up world, that is about 10 years. And when you consider that Nat and Tim and the gang are based in New Zealand, far away from the spotlight and funding of Silicon Valley, then their successes are magnified several times over. Why have Decisive Flow...
How Fast Are Your Fingers? →
I remember my first typewriter. It was a huge, chunky Olivetti desk typewriter and I thought it was fantastic. It came through a friend of the family — her office were replacing their typewriters with brand new, state of the art, electric typewriters. So this old beast was all mine. I started typing my little hands off. I wrote out the words of songs that I liked. I wrote a few poems here...
For Digital, Strategy is Where You Add Value →
The last couple of years has seen a proliferation of agencies dedicated to creating “digital” work. But as you will know, not all agencies are created equal — “digital” to one agency may mean “banner ads” while to another it could mean “mobile” or “microsite” or “web application”. The degree of complexity (and...
Sometimes Advertising Does Good →
Every medium has a frame. This can be physical like the hard edges of a TV screen or a computer monitor (or even the edges of a piece of paper), or it can be a “construct” — a series of written and unwritten rules which we all follow in order to create meaning. Sometimes playing with or adjusting this frame can create surprise — jolting us out of the passive stupor which...
Understanding Australians →
Crocodile Dundee Originally uploaded by gordeans
If you ever have to do business with Australians it may take some time to understand their strange idiosyncrasies. Greg Davies is an Australian living deep in the heart of Oklahoma and has put together a great post that provides you with a cultural background on Australians and our ways of thinking. It is a must read for anyone wanting to...
Ikea Ads Put it Together →
David Koopmans sent me this very funny compilation of IKEA ads. My favourite? I am sure you will be able to tell. Just watch it through.
Five Impacts of New Media →
on the press Originally uploaded by Nick Sherman
Looking at new (or social) media, it is easy to see that there are some powerful forces driving change across our cultural, our social and even our political landscapes. These five impacts can be summarised, broadly as: Experts coming under pressure from new voices who are early adopters of new technology New organisations emerging to deal...
The Sweet Sorrow of Travel →
I am spending this week in the US to attend some planning and strategy workshops — which means being caught in the no man’s land of business travel. For me, travel (for business or pleasure) is both exciting and frightening — no matter which country that I visit. It is something to do with the crossing of borders — of leaving one’s homeland and venturing into the...
Do You Run with Fast Company? →
Years ago I was an avid reader of Fast Company. It contained a wealth of great, innovation and business focused content and featured writers who were pushing both the concept of journalism and the practice of business. Over the years I drift away and come back to Fast Company — perhaps this reflects moves in my career from a focus on corporate innovation across to B2B marketing and on to...
I ooVoo, Do You? →
AoC MyOovooDay Originally uploaded by servantofchaos
When I first heard about ooVoo, I must admit to being a little sceptical. I have been a user of Skype for many years and have grown used to it — though I mostly use it for voice, I do occasionally use the video conferencing option. And ooVoo felt, to me, like it had come late to the party. But over the last few days I have been trying...
Friday Folly -- February 15, 2008 →
The Banner Blog folks (via Katie Chatfield) bring today’s folly — but not from the brand messaging point of view. This is the response TO a piece of direct mail. How would you handle this one, dear reader?
Cluetrain @ 10: Theses Revised →
Late last year I revisited the Cluetrain Manifesto in a post called Why the Cluetrain Still Rings True. I had not realised that we were nearing the anniversary of its 10th year in publication until I noticed that one of the authors of the Cluetrain, Doc Searls, was being joined in a one day conference by Josh Bernhoff (Forrester), Peter Hirshberg (Technorati), Ted Shelton (The Conversation...
Last Chance For Blogger Social →
Tomorrow is February 15 — and that means you only have ONE DAY to organise yourself, make the commitment and pay for your tickets to Blogger Social. It will be a weekend full of socialising with some of the smartest bloggers this side of Saturn — lasting from Friday, April 4 to Sunday, April 6 in NYC. I have been holding my breath hoping that my buddies Luc Debaisieux (mindblob) and...
My ooVoo Day? It's An Age of Conversation, Baby →
After participating in one of the My ooVoo Day sessions with my gracious host, Joseph Jaffe, I hung around to have a chat with Greg Verdino. It was pretty funky seeing the sort of live effects that can be used during the video chat … and while it is a novelty, it also add a fun dimension to the technology. One of the things that I like about ooVoo is the quality. We easily had six...
Sorry →
Sorry - Happy Australia Day Originally uploaded by spud murphy
It is a momentous day for Australia. But also a starting point. The Parliament of Australia stands united in apologising to our indigenous population. And now the hard work begins. Other writers share their thoughts and sentiments on a day when a single word, sorry, changes the way we view our own nation (please let me know if you...
The Difference A Word Makes →
A year is a long time in politics! Just last year I wrote this post celebrating the 40th anniversary of a landmark in Australian history — the recognition of the the citizenship rights of our indigenous people. Today I watched as the opening of Parliament under a new government placed the spotlight on indigenous culture — with the traditional “welcome to country” performed...
Digitial Natives -- Is Your Google Tattoo Showing →
Tattoogle Originally uploaded by lowereastside
Last week I gave a lecture to Dennis Price’s MBA class on social media. It was great fun (for me), and I hope, beneficial for the students. One of the questions that kept coming up was “why do you blog” — or more precisely, what is the value model that drives/informs my blogging. My standard response is this —...
Quick, Register for Blogger Social 08 →
While I have categorised this under “conferences”, it is probably closer to a non-stop series of coffee mornings with alcohol and exotic locations thrown into the mix.
If you have NOT registered as yet and you WOULD like to come and hang out with 50+ marketing bloggers, then you only have a few days left to REGISTER. That’s right, registrations close on February 15.
The New Mobile Office →
I keep thinking about the impact of Audience 2.0 on business — on the way we work, who we are while working (ie the changes we make to our persona according to role etc) and the way that technology is transforming our lives and our workplaces. Increasingly, I am sensing that the old B2B models — where we target our messaging and our communication efforts towards faceless, yet...
The New Mobile Office →
I keep thinking about the impact of Audience 2.0 on business — on the way we work, who we are while working (ie the changes we make to our persona according to role etc) and the way that technology is transforming our lives and our workplaces. Increasingly, I am sensing that the old B2B models — where we target our messaging and our communication efforts towards faceless, yet...
When a Brand Speaks with a Customers Voice →
Erin Esurance Originally uploaded by scottmw1971
Conversations swirl around the touchpoints of a brand. We mention our favourite brands over lunch, we wear them, carry them and sometimes even drive them. And what makes their study so fascinating and the demands of their stewardship so challenging is that they can and do embed themselves very deep in the human psyche. In the claiming of a...
Friday Folly -- February 8, 2008 →
Any guesses which agency lives in this building? OK … only joking. I think it’s a restaurant. Seriously.
Time to Chat? MyOovooDay is for You →
“Getting” social media is difficult. It is a participatory format … and that means that you have to get involved. You have to try things. Install things. Sign up and register. If you are like me, that means that your computer is littered with half forgotten applications that were of use or interesting once. And my web browser is worse — the toolbar is littered with active...
Competition Reminder - Target Your Message →
In case you missed it earlier this week, there are still a few days left to get your entry in for my TARGET YOUR MESSAGE competition. This is how it works: Go here and read the background
Download TargetCompetition.jpg the sample Target Billboard ad Add your own message Write it up for your blog and link back to this post (so that I can find you)
The winner will be drawn out of a hat NEXT...
Coffee Morning - February 8, 2008 →
Single Origin Originally uploaded by cityofsound
If you happen to be in Sydney and can make it to Surry Hills, it would be great to see you tomorrow morning around 8am. We will be there drinking coffee and discussing ideas. You are more than welcome to join us — and it is a great chance to meet luminaries such as Katie, Emily, Stig and Gregg (isn’t 2008 the year of the blog,...
How to Look Great in Photos →
Now if you are like me, you are bound to have suitcases full of bad photos of yourself. If so, take a look at the following video to learn how professionals reduce the chance of a bad shot.
I was asked recently what would Web 3.0 look like? And not that I make predictions or am really close enough to the emerging technology side of things, but it seems to me that the innovations that we are...
I am the Weakest Link →
Sparkling Water Originally uploaded by Othon Leon
We all agree. Well mostly. At least in the places where I roam online. Occasionally there are some disagreements — sometimes gentle argument, but all-in-all there is little dissent. Mack Collier has been pondering the nature of this general affability in the marketing end of the blogosphere, contrasting the inclusive debates engendered by...
B2B 2.0 -- Free Seminar from MarketingProfs →
It is not often that a QUALITY, free conference comes along. But the gang at MarketingProfs have put together a fantastic line-up of marketing professionals for your interactive pleasure. That’s right, it is a B2B 2.0 marketing expo — the location? Wherever you are. Running for the day on March 5, 2008, the conference will feature a keynote address from David Meerman Scott, discussion...
Yes We Can ... And You Should →
It is voting day in the US. The opportunities provided by democracy is often taken for granted by citizens — I myself have woken many times on voting days, thinking that I “can’t be bothered” going to vote. I couldn’t be bothered fighting the pamphleteers. My apathy was overwhelming. My disillusion with the choices on offer, profound and unsettling. I just wondered...
Towards a Holistic Brand →
No matter what you think of Microsoft or the philanthopic efforts of Bill Gates, there is no doubt that Gates’ work is having a significant impact. It seems that Gates is now taking on the influences of writers such as CK Prahalad and Hans Rosling — and considering that money — that economic power, may not just be the force for change. In this WSJ article, Gates calls for a...
Lifecycle of a Blog Post →
This is a great semi-interactive explanation from the folks at Wired of what happens when you innocently click publish on that blog post. With thanks to Stan Johnson for pointing it out.
Measuring Audience 2.0 →
Eyeballing Originally uploaded by fotologic
So I am sitting there in a meeting in a far-off Asian country. Seated all around me are marketing managers and directors from my client’s company. My colleagues and I are slightly jet lagged but hyped — the countdown to our presentation is only minutes away. We just have to wait through one more presentation on “digital...
Kevin Rudd Announces Australian 2020 Summit →
Kevin Rudd Originally uploaded by nicholasjohnfield
Laurel Papworth follows up on PM Kevin Rudd’s announcement of a 2020 Summit this April — to discuss directions ahead for the next 10 years. See unembeddable video here (c’mon ABC, get with it). The summit that will bring together 1000 of Australia’s brightest minds will cover: Future directions for the economy,...
Competition - Target Your Message →
Following up on last week’s mini-storm around Target, I thought it might be fun to run a small competition that tests your copywriting skills (actually the idea was Drew’s). This one is called “Target Your Message”. This is how it works: Go here and read the background
Download TargetCompetition.jpg the sample Target Billboard ad Add your own message Write it up for...
Authors -- It's Your Last Chance →
Last Chance!!! Originally uploaded by taMz perspECtive
The votes are in and Drew is scrutinising the results — and we will be announcing the focus of the next global, collaborative publishing effort very soon. But in the meantime, if you still have not signed on as an author for the Age of Conversation (the sequel), then you only have a couple of days to do so. That’s right, the...
January 2008
31 posts
Friday Folly -- February 1, 2008 →
Yeah, I know it has been done to death, but seriously, who approved this one?
Blogger or Serial Killer →
Inspired by this post by Matt Moore — I ask you to tell me. Is this man a blogger? Or is he a serial killer? And now the fun part. Find a photo of a blogger or a serial killer and post the question. Then tag three other participants. The three serial killers bloggers that I tag are — Sean Howard, Katie Chatfield and Emily Reed.
Get Your Head Out of the Clouds! →
Day 86 - Head in the Clouds Originally uploaded by margolove
Greg Verdino’s challenging post Beyond Knowledge has generated some great discussion on the nature of knowledge and the impact of the Internet/Web 2.0 on how we all tap into this massive “crowdsourced brain”. I have been fascinated by the concept of knowledge management for years and actually ran a KM group for IBM...
