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Perspectives on the wonderful world of tech

Being remarkable has never felt so great.

Wow.

Upon closing this book I lifted my head and sat up straight, filled with belief in my potential as a marketer and aspiration for the results I can achieve. And it only took me an afternoon to read it. Who wouldn’t read a book like this?

Firstly, like the cover of the book (which pleasantly resembles a chocolate bar), Godin’s writing activates the senses. Pumped with punchy, thought-provoking sentences this book feels less like a ‘guide to marketing’ and more like a push towards a completely revitalised career in being cutting-edge awesome. It’s a guide on how to be remarkable – building your brand and/or service as not only pioneering but influencing in its industry. ‘OK, alright, but how?’ you cry. In his book Purple Cow Godin out rightly rebukes the fear of failure and outlines the idea that marketing and design go hand in hand. Each mini chapter is also helpfully concluded with direct and practical questions to shake up your dusty thought process and set you on the path for innovation. This is a handy-sized reference which every marketer should place in their library (or handbag); if not for the dozens of uncanny examples of success and failures, at least for the motivation provided for those slumping their shoulders in the marketing team. Be inspired to create and offer the world something worth talking about, like the purple cow.

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Marketing is just Facebook and Twitter, right?

I’m a newbie to the world of PR and marketing but yesterday I was handed this book entitled ‘The New Rules of Marketing and PR’ by David Meerman Scott.

John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2009

In all honesty this is not something I’d usually read but it has given me a very useful insight into the rapidly developing and vitally important task of selling your brand, company or organisation. It’s easy to get bored, disappointed and well, stagnant in the altogether rather ambiguous nature of the marketing ‘game’. However, in this book Scott gives a step by step guide that is littered with case studies and encouragement. Scott writes informally and has structured his work in a way that is easy to pick up and jump between sections. Some topics which he covers skillfully include blogging, understanding your audience, content rich media, writing effectively and strategically for PR and marketing, and the art of being found online.

Though I felt it sometimes repeated itself and highlighted some things which I thought pretty obvious, the book would be appropriate for those who have been in marketing and PR for years or those just starting out. I feel the book is aimed at those working in smaller businesses and particularly those selling a product. But I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get insider tips into marketing whilst bypassing unbearable marketing jargon. The book has certainly given me some new ideas in how I can spread my projects by ‘word of mouse’.

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Move over Shakespeare: Companies Ditching Human Writers For Computer-Generated Content

It has been announced that Forbes has joined a group of 30 clients using Narrative Science software to write computer-generated stories in the format of long stories, headlines, tweets and industry reports each without a spark of human imagination.

Could this be a huge dent for the writing trade?

Read more on this rather scary story at Gallycat (-written by humans).

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How mobile is fairing in B2B?

Mobile may be most visible in the flashy consumer focused applications, but it’s just as big in the B2B space and is transforming the way business gets done.

This 3 minute video shows why RBS Global Banking and Markets (GBM) developed a BlackBerry PlayBook app – to address the fact that clients were consuming research data on their BlackBerries. Interesting there is also an iPad available for RBS GBM, but nothing as of yet for Android, revealing some interesting insight into the most popular operating systems in B2B markets. According to Gfk, BlackBerry was the biggest selling smartphone producer in the UK in 2o11 taking 27.7% of the market.

We think it’s important that business go mobile and make money from it. That’s why we’re running MiM 2012 (22nd March, London) a one-day conference for decision makers who are making it in mobile or want to find out more. It’s where corporates with budgets meet businesses that can solve their problems and active investors get stuck in too.

This is not about future-gazing, sales pitches or corporate nonsense. We share actionable ideas for your business today. We want you to leave with at least one idea you will implement in your company within a month. See the finalised event schedule here. Early bird tickets finish on 1st March, so mark 22nd March in your diary and get your ticket now.

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Director of Mobile, Telegraph Media Group on new business models and opportunities for print media.

Print media is dead! Or is it? Newspapers are finally waking up to the importance of new business models and the opportunities that new channels deliver. Nice interview with some interesting examples of new and creative ways of driving new revenues at newspapers with Director of Mobile at Telegraph Media Group.  Mobile isn’t just another content distribution channel for publishers. It can provide new business models and revenue streams that traditional print media needs to survive.

Mark Challinor, Director of Mobile for Telegraph Media Group explains…

Mark will be speaking at our forthcoming MiM 2012 (22nd March, London) – a one day conference for decision makers who are making their businesses mobile or want to learn more.

We really care about producing fantastic events. At MiM 2012 you won’t hear sales pitches, corporate guff or irrelevant future gazing, nor will there be time wasters in the audience. It’s where big buyers meet with disruptive companies and their investors who are making mobile happen today.

See the finalised schedule here. Early bird tickets end on 1st March, so mark 22nd March in your diary and get your ticket here.

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Forget the executive bonus scandals. RBS is doing awesome stuff in mobile.

Last week RBS released their new business banking iPhone app allowing business owners to manage multiple accounts on the go. Massive congratulations to Ed Hodges, Head of Mobile, RBS (@edward_hodges) for using  mobile to solve a real problem. See the rave app reviews here.

Ed will be speaking at MiM 2012 (22nd March, London) about where the financial sector is leading the mobile charge and where it can learn from others. Ed will be joined by Ann Cook (ITV), Mark Challinor (Telegraph Media Group) and Nick Lansley (Tesco) who will be sharing pragmatic strategies on how you can make your business mobile. You’ll get to hear and meet many other great DOers – see the event schedule and confirmed speakers here.

Early bird tickets are on sale ’til 1st March, so get yours now – it’s closer than you think!

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-02-19

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20. 11. 70. Hut! Hut! Hut!

The Hut Group’s announcement that sales have increased by 70% in 2011 to £143 million in 2011 though £16 million was from the acquisition of myProtein.com.

About a third of the sales were from international trade and 8% from the provision of services in including loyalty schemes to third parties including celebrity tattle aggregator DMGT.

Any takers on a bet for an IPO or trade sale in 2012?

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