Social Media

headhigher — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:17:12 +0000

It is sometimes hard to work out how much “social media” is of real value, in either a social or business sense….and how much of it is “media and marketing” self hype.

But you cannot ignore it and maybe use to good effect: and so for good reasons for Last Fan has a Facebook page:

And you can follow Last Fan on Twitter too!

We will make sure they are used to give Players useful information – and at the same time hopefully get some additional exposure!

Last Fan

headhigher — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:31:35 +0000

It took longer than expected – much, much longer and there have been some valuable lessons learned along the way but “Last Fan” is live! It is great to turn an idea into a (good) product which has a solid business model and is enjoyable for the players/users.

Right now everybody, and I mean just about everybody is saying “really like it”, “site is great”, “good concept”. So justifiably there are feelings of both satisfaction, anticipation and hopes of greater success. But no one tells you your baby is ugly! The test comes in who plays, how often and who they invite.

The real challenge starts now – getting it “out there”! We genuinely believe there is an opportunity for an easy to play game that the 3 million player online UK football fantasy market will love.

So, all it needs now is some good “digital” marketing….and I know that is a lot easier to say then successfully accomplish. First class digital marketeers with a love of football welcomed!

And of course….here it is? www.lastfan.com

How far will you go?

A new way of working, its called the cloud!

headhigher — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:38:43 +0000

And it is not that new really! The “cloud” has been around a while and we have (all) been accessing data, sending messages and working on the cloud! But the “cloud” (for those who do not know) is more than the internet. And with the cloud comes a new way of working.

Now we have all heard that before, but in particular for freelancers, SME businesses and a growing number of larger projects using the cloud will become a way of reducing IT costs, saving time and money and increasing access and availability. I have already started to take advantage of this and although not perfect yet I can already see the benefits.

Contact me if you want to know more – there is too much to blog just now!

It is all about the finance

headhigher — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:26:33 +0000

There is a widely used term relating to property – location. location, location! With a start up and even medium sized business then I suggest that funding, funding, funding is the equivalent mantra! I know this from experience both with my personal ventures and customer businesses.

Just like a property there are a wide range of aspects to consider when getting things right in a venture but so many of them are dependent upon having the right finance in place. If something is not right – with the right finance you can make it so. The skill is in identifying the issues and knowing how to fix them. Not everybody can do that by the way, but if you can then it is the funding that empowers you to do so.

Makes you think!

headhigher — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:34:24 +0000

I am not prone to being overly sentimental (certainly not publicly ) but this clip made me think and moved me!

Google rankings – succcess!

headhigher — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:28:54 +0000

There is not a marketeer out there today (well I have not met one) who will not include “google rankings” in the digital marketing activity mix. Strictly it falls under the more generic SEO but the power of the google brand is such that it has now become both a noun and a verb.

We set out to improve the SEO rankings of fantasticphotos and certain terms quickly reached No. 1 spot in Yahoo and MSN search engine results. Google was a tougher nut to crack.

However, digital marketeer Donal has steered us to the first page on google – top spot now targetted!

Yes it will help grow the fantasticphotos website -but it brought a smile to my face and real satisfaction to see the result of our efforts!

Get annoyed – it helps

headhigher — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:21:56 +0000

Most of us have received “phishing” emails from – and let’s be clear about this – criminals. My recent, although unscientific survey, revealed most people just delete them. Granted, some of them are so laughably bad that they appear as no threat – but they are stealing money from people, perhaps more vulnerable than you and casue confusion and upset for many, particularly those who are older or less net savvy.

They are one of the evils of the web – jamming up the inbox with spam is the least offensive aspect of this – and deserve to be caught. So – when you get a phishing email send it on to the organisation whose name, brand and accounts that are being targetted and help them catch the thieves. They nearly all have departments working on this and email addresses to send on the fraudulent mail.
Do not – as I used to – include additional text such as “I hope you catch the b***s” as it adds unnecessary information.

It takes seconds to find the email to send on the offending scam and you are helping the fight against crime. here are a few I have used recently: spoof@millersmiles.co.uk; phishing@natwest.com; phishing@natwest.co.uk; reportphishing@antiphishing.org; security@hbosplc.com

So, take amoment, get annoyed for a second these people are trying to steal from you, you would fight back and report it if they tried to mug you in the street, and take action!!

Sainsburys – on the ball marketing!

headhigher — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:46:17 +0000

Sainsbury’s have just sent me a promotion on their pet insurance offering: how do they know I have a pet? Having only recently fostered a dog they have quickly spotted the change in my shopping bag/bill and taken action! Good analysis, good marketing! I am impressed! Their clever marketing deserves recognition and it serves as an indicator that they are getting the business right on track.

Heathrow Expansion – the power of the lobbyist cannot be ignored.

headhigher — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:00:40 +0000

As a student I had far better (in my opinion) things to do with my time than go on “demos” (for a variety of then topical causes) and the political activists seemed an odd bunch who just were not good at sport and seemed to have little else to do! So how ironic I end up outside Parliament – banner waving and chanting – when University is becoming a fond, but fading memory.

I was there for a number of good reasons not least that I had become very annoyed by the attitude of the civil servants during the initial, so called “consultation”, who patronised concerned local residents, plus I detected a “fait accompli” approach from the Government. Add that to the potential increase in noise, cars, fumes and safety and I am on the case, fuelled by the previous deception of BAA et al over Terminals Four and Five.

So I “campaigned” – designed my own leaflet and poster, distributed hundreds locally and went to the meetings and anti expansion rallies. Increasingly I campaigned with a sense of despair – the apathy of fellow residents, the incompetence of the local council (yes Richmond Borough Council, leader Serge Lourie I name and shame you) and the refusal of the Government to even talk to the opposition.

I increasingly admired the actions of Plane Stupid, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth as direct action did seem the only course of action to get attention and their genuine honesty and beliefs. But of course the decision to expand went ahead – despite what had become increasingly apparent throughout – Heathrow is in the wrong place and if New York, Paris and Hong Kong can build a convenient modern “out of town” airports why can’t the politicians here make a similar strategic decision?
The lobbyists got the decision they wanted – good for BAA (a Spanish company), bad for Britain.
I am not saying do not fly, I am saying let’s have a thought out, integrated, strategic transport infrastructure.

blogging – worth it?

headhigher — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:34:31 +0000

The Blog was always intended to be something of an experiment, a learning experience both technically and just trying something new…not everyone blogs do they?

Interestingly though…most people have an opinion! I have had some interesting feedback so far, ranging from the photo requires more “gravitas”, a spelling error I cannot find (one letter a “c”, really annoying that one) and of course the “well I knew that” which was specifically around my forecast of bigger deals and discounts to come. They did not print it though..or think of it either! Other feedback is not really suitable for publication but if there is one thing a blog should be then it is “talked about”. So far so good then!

Intending to only blog on relevant topics (ie no pictures of pet goldfish etc) I will continue to add content of a topical nature.