Another day and something new

This week I have been mostly testing:

Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
Fuelmyblog
Wordpress

So far? Twitter is cool but I'm not sure what I am doing with it. Linkedin - really good. Fuelmyblog - [disclaimer -I have an interest in the business] but it works for me. Wordpress - testing a site for a client and BARC.
Professionally I am getting a lot of requests from clients asking how they can best harness social media. Honest answer is that I don't know. Any views or comments?

This is England - yes it was...

Roland Rat, Margaret Thatcher; Rubik's Cubes, the Royal Wedding; aerobics, skinheads... the Eighties were hilarious.
However, I’ve just been watching the trailers for This Is England by Shane Meadows - a film about skinheads during the 1980s and Falklands War. I’m looking forward to seeing it because in 1978 I became a skinhead.
For the record I am not a racist – the National Front caught hold of the skinhead movement in the 1980s and it’s forever been associated with thick-necked, white working class, Nazis thugs.
Which was not the case in tthe 70s/80s. At least not for me as a callow 14 year old growing up in Liverpool. The family next door had five sons and they were all skinheads/mods too and they looked so cool on their mopeds getting ready for a night on the town.
I was into the music – mostly Reggae, Ska, and anything to do with Caribbean Black Culture and coming from the North, the Northern Soul of Wigan Casino.
And the look too – neatly pressed demin, stay-press trousers, Ben Sherman shirts, wing-point dexters and DMs. It was smart and clean and cheap to buy.Up until 1978 I’d followed the crowd – Prog Rock, Ersatz Hippy, Punk. But I realised I wanted to be a skin – the turning point for me was hearing White Man in Hammersmith Palais by The Clash on Radio City while doing my homework (see – I was a good working class boy).
The following day I had my flowing locks cut off by the barber at Hunt’s Cross, near Speke. My mother was appalled. I think my dad approved because I no longer looked like a girl. My sister thought I was an idiot. My brother still thinks I am an idiot.
The next day at school my black friend, Royston Cole, said I looked cool. Remember we were all wearing Oxford Bags and Mallets. I was elated.
In the late 70s and early 80s skinheads were not part of the National Front, indeed, during this period I was a member of the Labour Party and later became a member of Militant in Liverpool at the height of the Thatcher years. Militant was a mistake.
Shane Meadows, in his film, I hope, will show that the skinhead movement was not racist but was hijacked by the hated NF at a time when England (and this is an English story) was vulnerable to racist rhetoric - we had a recession, a war, and people were prepared to be counted. The Eighties looks idiotic now - but at least we had a community. Whether they were skinheads, Soulboys, New Romantics etc - we all agitated. Often against each other but mainly against the Government.
Time for some Prince Buster me thinks… Any other skinheads out there? Do you still have the tattoos?
The picture shows the Skin's top man and Father of Ska - Laurel Aitken.

Going to Internet World. Are you?

Just registered for Internet World Exhibition in London. I’m going in my capacity as a member of the Fuelmyblog team and a director of GREEN.
According to the blurb:
“There might not yet be agreement amongst the neterati about precisely what Web 2.0 means, but just about anyone who`s anyone accepts that there really is something important happening here.”
Internet World have introduced a major show feature at Internet World 2007. They will provide a single stop opportunity for internet and business leaders, finance providers and press to interrogate Web 2.0, discuss and debate the issues, work out what Web 2.0 might mean for their organisation and investigate how to make the most of the next generation of the web as a platform.
Great opportunity for Kevin and I to promote FMB and meet some top social media experts.
If you’re attending it would be great to meet up. Contact me via email or Twitter.

Our deepest sympathies

The team at Fuelmyblog would like to extend our sympathies to our friends in America following the terrible events of yesterday when 30-plus students were shot dead at Virginia Tech University.
Many of you, we know, have been blogging about the massacre and have been clearly affected by the horrible deaths of 33 young people. Hopefully, the blogging community can help discuss the issues arising from this tragedy and find some room to grieve for the dead.
It is at times like this when social networks like blogs and other tools can make a difference and allow people to share their experiences and comfort each other.
Over here in Europe we have no experience of gun crime on the scale experienced by the US and can only gasp at what has happened and extend our support.

BarCamp gig in the North

At last someone is doing a BarCamp gig in the north – in Sheffield no less.
Why? Because the internet is currently going through an exciting time. Web 2.0, OpenID, Social Networking etc. The UK is at the forefront of a lot of this innovation. The North of England is full of enterprising and innovative individuals / businesses but we normally have to travel to London to talk to kindred spirits. Not any more!
The organisers want BarCampSheffield to showcase the best that the UK has to offer. They want to share knowledge, experience and techniques. If you have a great idea, have developed a great Web App / Mashup or are simply interested in finding out what everyone else in the market is doing then come along – the come along!
To make things interesting BarCampSheffield has secured a £1000 award for the best / most innovative web application / mashup by a UK developer(s). All you have to do is come to Sheffield and demonstrate it. BarCampSheffield’s sponsors are also keen to help you get your application / mashup out into the public.
So, if you want to help share your knowledge or simply talk to people with like minded interests - then come on and join us.
So where is it?
PlusNet, Internet House, Sheffield, S1 4BY
When?
26th / 27th May 2007 about 5.00

Let me know what you think. I believe we should be doing more stuff like this in the the north.

Come to the Met and learn about Web2.0

As Nicky Wake points out in her excellent blog we too love Leeds Metropolitan University and are always keen to help in putting something back into the induesty whenever we can. So it was with interest that we received the following invite from Rajiv Harjai:
“I am the CIPR student rep for the Masters PR students at Leeds Met University. I am having an informal networking event for all the Public Relations students of Leeds Met University (MA + BA) on the theme of social media.
“The day I have chosen for this is Wednesday 25 April and the time is around 1:00 PM. The reason I have picked this day is that all the Public Relations bachelor students will be in the university as they have to submit their portfolio by noon. This will be an informal gathering on the theme of social media…
“My idea is that students are going to give a presentation and have small stalls where they would have practitioners and students have their blogs on display. The presentation will be showing how students can benefit from Social Media, and how important Social Media is becoming today.”
Leeds Met has a vibrant PR department. Indeed, at GREEN we have recruited some fantastic talent from the Met who have played a significant role in servicing our clients – they know who they are! We have also contributed to seminars, lectures and other events in the past.
So we’re pleased to stick some cash behind the bar to sponsor this event and put up some speakers for Rajiv who is doing stirling work in this area.
If you want to come along on the day – please do. You never know you might learn something. The Event will kick off at 1.00pm on the April 25, 2007, with a presentation on ‘How students can benefit from Social Media’.

Looking for a new Simon

Bugger! Over at GREEN we are losing Account Manager Simon Collister. Simon has accepted a position at Edelman in London with a specific gig on social media. We wish him well. Simon has been a real asset to the team in spite of his bad jokes - we will miss him. Our loss is Edelman's gain.
So we are hiring. As one of the north's leading PR and communications agencies, GREEN Communications is seeking highly motivated professionals to play leading roles in delivering media relations programme to a range of clients in the B2C and B2B sectors.
To replace Simon we need people with solid client handling skills, who can demonstrate the ability to deliver clear and concise copy and adopt creative approaches to the brief.

Account Manager: You will already have at least three years' experience of managing a range of accounts and can demonstrate media coverage across a portfolio of demanding clients. An organised and methodical approach is essential. Some experience of writing proposals and competitively pitching for business is preferred. An interest in emerging social media platforms is also welcome.

Graduate Trainee Account Executive: You will have ambitions to build a career in PR and will have already proven that you can write and work with a variety of clients. You will have an excellent eye for a 'news' story and the ability to prioritise activity and work to deadlines in a busy, fluid environment. You will also provide administrative support to the team and should be well organized and well-versed in key office software packages.

In return, you can expect and rewarding career at a fast-growing company. If you think you fit the bill and you're ready for a real challenge - email your CV to Ian, Emma or Andy at ian@greencomms.com, emma@greencomms.com or andy@greencomms.com.
For now we just need to sort out Simon's leaving party. I hope he has a headache after the event.

Unimagined: It makes you think

Imran Ahmad recently asked me what I thought about his book Unimagined some time ago.
Well to be brutally honest - I really enjoyed it. My wife is reading it now and she is enjoying it too. I have some affinity with Imram - I grew up in the 70s too and remember The Saint, Space 1999 etc and all the stupid clothes we wore because they we thought they were be cool. Confession: I had a cardigan knitted by my mother in honour of Starsky from Starsky & Hutch. In fact I think she knitted it for my sister but I stole it. I must have been 10.
However, coming from Liverpool we had little contact with the Indian Diaspora - I didn't even eat a curry until I went away to university in Leeds.
Our main contact with any ethnic minority was the African community of Merseyside and I don't remember any ethnic tension at all. Although I do remember one friend saying I ran "like a nigger" - thought that was a compliment when I won the inter-school 400 metres! I was 14 so what did I know.
I think that the British-Pakistanis could easily place themselves at the centre of things by re-claiming the word Paki - Imran I would welcome you views on this.
Paki and Proud is a good rallying point. Or Brown and British and Sorted. I hope this doesn't sound trite as my business partner and me were thinking of doing an exhibition on this at the Art of Propoganda.
Everyone - let me know your thoughts. Imran we did it recently for David Pearce and The Damned United.

Blogging is crap - right?

Another piece in the UK press re-assessing blogging - this time the Guardian, which is usually so supportive of social media. The piece has been prompted by Technorati's recent State of Blogosphere report.
The report shows that blogging is still growing but is morphing into something a bit more one-sided than we all thought it would be.
I think there is a lot of truth in the arguments against blogging - ie a lot of it is solipistic, badly-written, ego-driven drivel (or is that just me?) - and the Guardian's Vic Keegan does make some good points because the average Joe in the Street just dosen't give a shit about blogs. And fair play to them. Who can blame them?
Most of my non-blogging friends just don't get it and consider me as something of a weirdo for blogging - although they all read the damn thing! You know who you are!
So what has blogging done for me?

• It's helped me win new business for GREEN Communications.
• It's introduced to people across the globe.
• It brought me together with Kevin Dixie - and together with Marcus Dyson (scarey picture) we have been able to grow Fuelmyblog.
• With The Wensleydale Creamery we have built a powerful business blog, allowing them to communicate directly with their customers.
• It's got me a few speaking gigs on Web2.0
• I've been able to host two workshops helping companies set up their own blogs.
• It has introduced me to people like Simon Collister who GREEN now employs.
• It's encouraged me to write more - as a former journalist I enjoy this.
• It's opened up new areas for my clients.
• And I've learned a lot from people a lot smarter than me.

I could go on. And don't even get me started on Twitter, Linked-In and Xing. I've met more people online who now seem closer to me and more understanding of me than old college friends who I have known for more than 20 years.
Blogging isn't over - it's just evolving and I find that very exciting.

Social Media types are sheep

Chris Brogan on Twitter left an interesting bon mote with the statement: “Social Media types are sheep”.
I think there is some truth in this. What do you really get out of blogging, Twitter, Jaiku, MySpace, YouTube? No I don’t know either. So why do you keep subscribing to them?
Back in the bad old dotcom days (1999-2001) when we launched Venturedome.com we thought we were going to change the world and make a lot of money (so did boo.com, netimperative.com, etc – askalex.com too, remember them?).
What did we actually do? Answer: Had a lot of fun and lost a lot of money.
I’m not proud, even now. But it does make me wonder what we are doing today. My hope is that we are bringing people together, starting a conversation and generally democratising everything and for a communications specialist this is very interesting… but have we all just joined up to a queue because there seem to be a lot of people in the queue? I mean, if there are that many people queuing, it must be really good. Right?
Wrong. When you get to the front you find a vendor selling snake oil and other nonsense.
As my colleague Simon Collister always points out – “you gotta do the right thing, it’s not about making money!” I agree but people are making money out of Social Media perhaps because “Social Media types are sheep”.
Think for your self – let me know your thoughts.

At GREEN we are hiring - get in touch

Over at GREEN we are hiring. One of the north's leading PR and communications agencies, GREEN Communications is seeking highly motivated professionals to play leading roles in delivering media relations programme of a range of clients in the B2C and B2B sectors.

We need people with solid client handling skills, who can demonstrate the ability to deliver clear and concise copy and adopt creative approaches to the brief.

Account Manager: You will already have at least three years' experience of managing a range of accounts and can demonstrate media coverage across a portfolio of demanding clients. An organised and methodical approach is essential. Some experience of writing proposals and competitively pitching for business is preferred. An interest in emerging social media platforms is also welcome.

Graduate Trainee Account Executive: You will have ambitions to build a career in PR and will have already proven that you can write and work with a variety of clients. You will have an excellent eye for a 'news' story and the ability to prioritise activity and work to deadlines in a busy, fluid environment. You will also provide administrative support to the team and should be well organized and well-versed in key office software packages.

In return, you can expect and rewarding career at a fast-growing company. If you think you fit the bill and you're ready for a real challenge - email your CV to Ian, Emma or Andy at ian@greencomms.com, emma@greencomms.com or andy@greencomms.com.

How-Do Nick Jaspan

My old mucker has bounced back.
Nick Jaspan - Nick get in touch! I've lost you're number! - has launched Ho-Do serving the media industry in the North West. How-Do offers news, opinion and resources for those working in all aspects of media in the region and is very much in the Web2.0 area.
Nick is creating a community for journalists, PR and other communications professionals and should become a very useful resource. Just hope he can make some money out of it.
Good luck Nick.

Leaders Without Borders

Sitting here with a group of novice bloggers doing their first ever post!
Today I am attending the Yorkshire Leadership Conference - Leaders Without Borders. Key speakers included Mary Creagh, MP for Wakefield; Jeanie Bergin - a creativity expert; management guru David Firth; and the always excellent Ian McMillan, poet and entertainer.
I was doing two gigs on social media. Basically a morning and afternoon workshop on social media and blogging. They were lovely people attending but I remain amazed how ignorant many people are about blogs, podcasts, etc.
It's interesting to watch their reaction as the scales drop from their eyes and they realise the potential for blogs and other social media tools in their everyday life. Many were particularly interested in corporate blogs and using social media as a means of communicating with their staff.
My main concern is that by the time most British companies and organisations have created a blog the internet will have moved on to the next big thing - Twitter perhaps.
Any thoughts?