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!

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.

More on funding soon!

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

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!

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!!

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.

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.

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.

There are deals and offers on products everywhere – the big retailers such as M+S having just done a 20% off day and Play.com with offers up into the 65% range and Curry’s Digital has one camera with 50% + off!

But if you can wait – there is more to come. Sales in January will become near giveaways as the effects of the cuts that businesses have been budgetting for in the past few months come into effect. If you an wait there will be bargains galore as businesses try and liquidate excess stock (unsold for xmas) and make every effort to get some credibility in thier numbers – for some it will be survival! For the consumer – an opportunity!

For the moment there are deals around too – here is a useful link for upcoming SALES:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/one-day-high-st-sales

There seems to be an (uneccessary) stigma attached to being made redundant – probably not least the word itself which imediately implies the person being made redundant is superflous! Ok so we need a better word, how about “redeploy” which brings a sense of immediate purpose? This is not about redefining the word though, more about taking a different perspective and granted perhaps this will not apply to everyone – but it can too many!

The tenet here is that redundancy is in itself an opportunity; an opportunity to re-assess. Find or try something new, something too which you are perhaps better suited. We do not – by any stretch of the imagination – necessarily follow the career path to which we are best suited. The “triangle of opportunity” is reducing almost immediately we take our first job – and how well do we know ourselves then?

I recently took an Emergenetics personality profiling test which illustrated my brains’ preferred thinking preferences – I was surprised at how strong my preference was for conceptual/creative thinking. Having previously described myself as the opposite I realised looking back at my  career, that this creativity characterised my dealmaking (in sales) and my business ideas. If I had known this earlier I am sure I could have done more to develop this skill and creativity at a younger age. Was I another potential James Dyson I wonder?

I took the Emergenetics test as part of learning about the company and products but it would have been equally valid if I had been made redundant and wanted to explore my best options for going forward.

Personal profiling is a valuable self investment and often offered as part of an outplacement package; so if offered one you should take it. I also took the Myers Briggs test but found the process and results less than satisfactory and difficult to relate too but it has not put me off doing some more self awareness exercises to ensure I focus on the things I am good at and enjoy – and so can best deliver on.

Redundancy will mean difficult times for many and I am not insensitive to that but it can be a great chance to re-assess, refocus and re-energise!