show social or show business

Posted by Chris in My Blog & Guest Posts,My Views & Thoughts,Products & Services,general,opinion on July 13, 2010

If your heavily entrenched in social networks across the digital world then you’re probably having a great time. Friendships are strong, conversations are frequent and it’s generally a great place to be. Who wouldn’t want to connect with hundreds and thousands of people with every tweet or have your Facebook ‘friends’ discuss your latest status update?

Last week I discovered the answer to that question – business doesn’t want to know about what we’re all up to. Business doesn’t care how great it is that I can connect with thousands of people in less than 5 seconds, because right now, and i know this is a generalisation, it just doesn’t get what the hell we’re all doing.

After discussing this issue with over 50 companies across the last 12 months there are well known key issues organisations face:
Read more…

Need inspiration? Take 2 pills of social media guru pain relief & swallow…then focus and become great

Posted by Chris in My Blog & Guest Posts,My Views & Thoughts,comment,general,opinion on April 20, 2010

I’m carrying on a theme from an earlier post but I don’t think it’s just me that sees companies and individuals across social media going through plenty of self-analysis and soul searching lately.

The reasons for this to me are relatively clear.

1. Many so called experts and gurus(??) are slightly bemused as to why the promised land hasn’t led them to fields of gold, and the billionaires haven’t materialised quite as quickly as was meant to happen – written out in the prophecy’s of many before them

2. Organisations, companies, industry commentators, SME’s, traditional media and even government don’t know what to do with what’s supposed to be the new holy grail of  the marketing and communications arena

I could write about the problems and Read more…

Life is not played out in 140 characters

Posted by Chris in My Blog & Guest Posts,My Views & Thoughts,comment,general,opinion on March 13, 2010

It’s a thought that’s been whirring around my mind for a while now as I’ve been watching the social media channels fill up with 140 character messages, status updates, wall posts, blog comments and image uploads and I’ve started to realise that too many people don’t seem to mind that they’re playing their lives out on computer screens or through their smart-phones.

I appreciate that the very fact you’re reading this demonstrates that we’re both playing a part in the same side show but hopefully by the end of this you’ll take the thought away that all your energy and raison d’etre should be channeled into forming close relationships and holding direct communications with all who you feel worthy of your time.

It was a year ago when I first registered for Twitter. Like you I didn’t know anybody. I watched, listened and began to engage in conversation. After a while I realised that I was often communicating with the same people, sometimes in replies and other Read more…

Likeminds. Bringing people together? A resounding Yes!

Posted by Chris in Events,My Blog & Guest Posts,Social networks,comment,general,opinion on March 4, 2010

Like 350 others I was lucky enough to attend Likeminds 2010 in Exeter, Devon last Friday.

Much has been written about it the day; from the speakers, the attendees and the atmosphere, and most it has been very positive.

There has even been a minor backlash at all those who seemed to infiltrate the twitter stream with the ubiquitous #likeminds hashtag. But isn’t that the point. Did I miss something? Isn’t the very essence of why we all went was to meet ‘Likeminded’ people who all want to understand, learn and develop their communication skills – for themselves, for their clients, and for their organisations?

How many events have you been to where you’re still Read more…

Guest Post from @brandguardian (Jo Porritt): Attending LikeMinds – A Virtual Perspective

Posted by Chris in Guest Blog Posts,My Blog & Guest Posts,general,opinion on March 1, 2010

Here follows the first of my guest posts this week. The first is from Jo Porritt (@brandguardian) who gives her perspective on Likeminds as a virtual event. Later this week I’ll also be posting another guest article from Trey Pennington (@treypennington), looking at Trey’s views on the comparisons between social media in the UK & US [post-Likeminds].
Here’s Jo’s perspective.

So I was set. I had my ticket.

LikeMinds! A people-to-people gathering in Exeter, Devon – an event bringing together world class experts, innovators and serious social media players. The brainchild of Scott Gould and Drew Ellis, supported by a host of other inspirational speakers and panelists. Like Charlie Bucket, finding one of the coveted Golden Tickets to Mr Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, I was excited and thrilled at the prospect of meeting and mingling with some of the Read more…