creative musings

Content Inspiration for Blog Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:10:00 +0000

I came across this very amusing infographic that is actually on the money 9 times out of 10...

Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.
It's good to share! Find it on CopyBlogger

Judy R Clark: A Brand is Born! Spencer Collection - A/W 2012/13...

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:46:00 +0000

Judy R Clark: A Brand is Born! Spencer Collection - A/W 2012/13...: The past few months have been non stop! Spencer clothing has taken a lot of work but I am enjoying the process immensely. From being...

Would you like an international client?

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 04:51:00 +0000

I am now working internationally, could you be? All businesses are going to need to find ways of improving their performance over the next 12 months to ensure that they remain profitable, and to do that they are going to need to look at a range of options they have perhaps not considered in the past, and one of those will be working internationally.

As I know CCB (Cormack Consultancy Baltic) have been helping UK companies work in central and eastern Europe for the past 11 years, and have offices in Riga (Latvia) Kaunas (Lithuania) and will be opening an office in St Petersburg (Russia) in February. In that time they have helped well over 300 companies expand their businesses and have developed a way of looking at international expansion in a holistic way.

International expansion is not just about increased sales, but about looking at all the advantages of operating in a new market, this could be the outsourcing of certain elements of the business, the development of manufacturing partners, improving the supply chain through purchasing at more competitive rates, or establishing R&D and Manufacturing capability and accessing generous local financial incentives to support this, or finding safe and effective distribution into the Russian and CIS markets.

At CCB they understand all the angles for business, and know how to assist UK companies taking these first steps into working internationally. To help companies prepare for 2012 CCB are offering a free “international activity audit”. One of the CCB Directors, (http://www.ccbaltic.eu/en/nosaukums/our-people/uk-staff) will meet with your company and look at all possible opportunities for you to benefit from working internationally.

CCB will then produce a brief report highlighting thoughts on how your business may benefit, and if relevant highlight some specific opportunities in the markets we work in. CCB will also be able to provide details of partner companies if they believe that the company should not be looking at Easter Europe, but would be better in other markets like India.

Feel free to arrange an initial meeting/call and email charles(at)ccbaltic.eu

Introducing a new fashion collection

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:44:00 +0000

The challenge of introducing a new brand is difficult enough, the idea of building a following for something that is an assumption based on the people involved is harder still. So I introduce the idea that those Journalists and bloggers involved in the first photo shoot for the collection will have pieces named after them.

Do you know established bloggers with a big following that can get to Edinburgh on 10th January? From 2pm there will be cake and wine for assembled guests...

You can find more information about our collection here:
Http://WWW.Spencerclothing.Wordpress.com until the website goes live.
It can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Contact me on: cg@ socialtailor .com

(Can you tel this was written from a mobile...)

Merry Christmas for an old fart

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:30:00 +0000

A girls night out out allows peace to reign throughout the house; delighting in the space and silence he finds a bottle of Gin and a bottle of Bitter Lemon bought for a party and never opened.

Christmas lights twinkle on the tree in the bay window, reflecting in the glass and on the back of the shiny leather sofa; the TV is on but largely ignored, the battery of his laptop however is burning hot on the coffee table in the sitting room as the faint smell of pine circulates the room. Christmas eve is only 6 days away and he contemplates buying his first present having spent the best part of 3 hours mulling over Facebook updates and Google searches.

The ice in his glass is almost completely evaporated as he makes the commitment to buy vouchers yet again. His Family Christmas Cards remain unwritten and he decides that this year is the last of his humbug lack-a-dasical attitude. Next year he will plan early, buy real gifts and write meaningful cards that consider a worthwhile charity with an appropriate image.

He finds his Google calendar and drops helpful hints into various October and November dates for next year... Now he's vaguely tipsy and mumbles as he writes in another hint for next year "Merry Christmas, you old fart!"

Talent versus Skill, Will Smith shares.

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:03:00 +0000

An inspirational montage of Will Smith sharing his thoughts on life and the best way to achieve!

A social gag to make your business stand out?!

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 06:19:00 +0000

Have you thought of anything recently to make your business stand out from the crowd? British Gas did this:

British Gas Orchestra from Outside Line on Vimeo.

Facebook Healthcheck

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:34:00 +0000

I see so many businesses creating Facebook profiles that break the terms and conditions set down by Facebook that I worry the businesses don't realise all their hard work could and is likely to be deleted...

So I figured why not carry out a FREE audit and let them know what they can do to build really successful profiles... so here goes!

Too Pis**d to care?

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 06:27:00 +0000

I like this campaign - this Danish night bus company have made a great attempt at "know your limits!"

Tesco do Genius in South Korea

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:21:00 +0000

Where do your customers / clients congregate? How can you make their life easier? Are you solving their problems or are you pushing products?

When you stop and contemplate this proposition it is so damn simple and yet... get your thinking caps on people, how can this translate to your waiting area?

Wee Edinburgh Film

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:38:00 +0000

If you know Edinburgh, you'll know most of these views - I just sat through it and loved every second - it deserves to be played in widescreen.

Finding content to write about!

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:15:00 +0000

One of the challenges for the social age is finding content to write about that:
Show's your passion
Reveals your interests
Delivers a piece of your life
Is directed at your audience
Recognises a trend or jumps on a PR Wave
Is part of a story
Falls into synch with a bigger structure / plan

This video was posted (tweeted) by The Leith and I thought it might help / inspire...?

Rethink Scholarship at Langara 2010 Call for Entries from Rory O'Sullivan on Vimeo.

Hotel connects Facebook with tech wristbands

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:11:00 +0000

And there was me thinking Ibiza was only good for updating Facebook...

The Tweeting Fridge by Bonafont

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 08:29:00 +0000

A gimic with great intentions - The Tweeting Fridge by Bonafont

The Tweeting Fridge from Colin Gilchrist on Vimeo.

Social Media Strategy Training

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:45:00 +0000

I am commissioned by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce to provide sessions on Social Media - so instead of looking at some tools and case studies that most people aspire to but bear no relevance to an Edinburgh SME we look at Strategy Planning.

What I mean - every business has a fairly unique way of communicating to its customers, suppliers, potential customers, internally to staff... so we look at relevant tools (not all of them - just the ones that you need and I know will work for you) and we look at businesses I have worked with over the past 5 years, or friends of mine have worked with and assess what has worked and what hasn't.

We then look at your own business and assess the best route for you to take.

In more detail:

The next one is being held Wednesday 27 July 2011 9.30am-4.30pm
We're missing out August (I need a break) - the one after:

Wednesday 21 September 2011 9.30am-4.30pm

Description
This course is for you if…

You are in senior management, marketing, PR and or customer care. It would be ideal if you had made a start with the most popular tools: Blogs, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter – but not essential.

Benefits of attending

This day looks at real, local or personally experienced case studies, how we can apply elements to your business and the steps required getting you there. An understanding of the essentials - a social media policy for your business, a crisis plan and what to avoid, how to measure so you can track real ROI. You will leave with a better understanding of what is required and how to achieve it from someone that does it daily for multiple businesses with real world experience.

Introduction/Overview

The day is split into 2 areas – part one looks at the tools and case studies relevant to the businesses attending each specific session.

Part 2 we look at laying out a strategy – what are the requirements, who needs to be involved, how it is delivered, the tone of voice, and the best tools to monitor your activity.

Programme/Contents

The session uses presentation slides, handouts and live online examples.

A social media policy – why every business needs one and what yours should include

Before we look at tools – which ones do your customers use? Do you know who and where your customers are?
Do you know your employees – are they socially active, can they help?
The tools – with guides, examples, tips, insights and approaches for marketing and brand development and promotion

The tools for Business Development – that cold call is now almost no longer required – we also show you how to find anyone’s email address
We look at timing and the most effective time to communicate and some tools that allow you to post in numerous places simultaneously

Case studies of both Business to Business and Business to Consumer – an example of a business that in 9 years has a turnover in excess of $1 billion a year (from a standing start) who due to a specific company culture and almost entirely social approach to marketing and customer engagement continue to thrive.

The importance of having a plan, integrating existing PR, marketing and sales activities to a social media strategy – the importance of campaigns and the different approach required – sharing the real difference a customer care policy has when anyone and everyone within your business meets someone new for the first time and the impression they leave with.

Crisis Planning – the boardroom nightmare, how to avoid social media scares, how to plan for them, prepare and promote the solution when the problem starts to unfurl. The approach to take, the leverage required and who to speak to – internally and externally.

Then we look at the tools required to monitor the activity so we can quickly identify what works and doesn’t work for our organisation – how to use an analysis report to ensure we increase our ROI with every campaign and strategy approach.

Typically you will leave buzzing and exhausted – bring a large notepad and an inquisitive mind.

Funding Available
This course is approved for ILA & Skills Development Scotland funding, please contact us on 0131 221 3191 or email: jamie.lovie@edinburghchamber.co.uk find out more about funding options available.

Location
Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Capital House, 2 Festival Square, Edinburgh EH3 9SU

Please note: Members may invite guests to Chamber courses and there are no restrictions (except number of available places) as to how many guests they invite to any one course.

If you'd like to look at prices and book click this link

PS. the image is Jamie Lovie who looks after your booking and keeps me in check.

Digital Professionals Wanted!

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 22:30:00 +0000

Some of you will know that a certain Jill Gilchrist (wife) has set up her own recruitment business after 16 years of doing it for someone else and guess what? It's called: Gilchrist Recruitment Partnership.

It can be the making of an agency, finding that person that not only fits but can sense and grasp just exactly what the clients are attempting to achieve and take you from a four man team up to a multi £1m + agency with those clients that everyone else wanted.

So how do you do it?

Those of you that are now predominantly digital - a business in Spain has come up with an interesting approach; at the moment you check their CV, look at the languages they are using, be given links to sites they've worked on, or limited access to "example" database work, you will also look at their current location (some developers gets into a zone to crack a problem and will work and work until the back is broken) so they need to be across the road or very close (ideally). And then of course invite the top 3 or 4 for a face-to-face, provide an online test to confirm their language knowledge and ability - or take your lead guy out of a job and make him join you... This is painful at best and talk about time consuming... setting up the test is essential because there are some that blag and hope that online forums will get them through - just too time consuming.

But Spanish Masterbranch helps employers find good developers by putting open-source code contributions at the centre of their job seeker’s CV - damn obvious when you think about it - but of course how many recruiters of digital actually know what it is they're talking about?

Or the e-commerce business I spent a short time with that has an interesting way of identifying the right people - they have everyone fill out an application form - yup doesn't matter if you're the delivery guy or the new Financial Director - everyone - the form has IQ questions, psychometric questions, games and role play (they've sussed the cut and paste from the internet), from the responses they carryout 2 interviews - one from HR and another with the division, then there's a two week induction process which again everyone goes through (they have a fairly unique culture and this process is essential to get into the right mind-set). At the end they are offered a cash incentive to leave on the spot or really get behind the company - so you might think hell this would be a nightmare to facilitate, a huge investment - you'd be right, but then look at what that business has achieved - in 9 years they turn over $1.3 billion from a zero start.

So how is Linkedin working for you? Or the cheap solution that matches your brief to an advert - sending you loads of CV's mostly of no hope-rs...

Don't get me wrong as a business development tool Linkedin is the dogs - if you know how to look up the right people it's a cinch but of course that's just the start of the journey - the only way is for your Recruiter / HR / MD / Owner to actually know the business and know the role - click with the existing staff, see what it is that makes them tick, speak to them both when they're under pressure and with a glass of wine in their hand and find those warm bodies that will gel but also make everyone else want to raise their game!

Why take a pad and pen to a meeting?

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:27:00 +0000

I am often sniggered at when I go to various tech "meet-ups" by the geeks who often whip out their gadgets and furiously tap away as conversations develop, or speakers make it clear there will no hand-outs.

Little do they realise that those of us with just a smidge of creativity have an amazing opportunity to produce something never before seen and close to impossible to being copied - and yet everything they do has been done and will be copied...

Do I mind? Not in the slightest - I just smirk at their assumptions and lack of creativity.

When I talk about my creative streak, I mean the time I spent as an artist producing work that commanded £1000's, producing for exhibitions both group and solo. Can you tell I miss it?

I have a hankering, I need to make the time... and this time I fancy pen and ink:

Image Credits

Social Media Strategic Crisis Planning - Just do it!

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:49:00 +0000

Over the past few years I have talked to a number of groups and individuals about how to prepare for a social media crisis (clearly avoiding it in the first place is the best preparation - and that mostly comes down to training and application...).

A guy I know has put together a great presentation of Stevie Koerner (the victim) and the Urban Outfitter disaster that recently shedded $millions off their share price and all over 4 or 5 days. Scott Douglas is a PR man (ex Journo) who not only gets social media but is teaching others how to embrace it and provide a brilliant return from its adoption; his business is Holyrood PR.

His presentation:

It's Just One Little Tweet... on Prezi

Maybe Urban Outfitters didn't have a crisis plan - I'm betting sure as hell they do now - does your company?

Engage Invest Exploit 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Thu, 19 May 2011 06:33:00 +0000

Wishing all exhibitors and attendees every success - I thoroughly enjoyed last year, it promises to be another cracker: #EIE11 University of Edinburgh Informatics

Inspiration from Artist Jeremy Geddes

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Sun, 15 May 2011 09:09:00 +0000

As someone that has been an exhibited artist I do sometimes long to return to a life that affords me the time to spend 5 focussed hours a day pouring over one canvas - seeing this work by Jeremy Geddes brings it more to the fore than ever.

Jeremy Geddes website - blog

Gabriel Gettman does a promo for CIRCUS - Jodie Harsh's club night

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Wed, 04 May 2011 14:30:00 +0000

A Piece of Creative Genius - highly entertaining a little bit shocking and a teency bit naughty.

Circus Promo by Gabriel Gettman from F.TAPE on Vimeo.

STV editors to outline future and opportunities of new STV Local service

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:38:00 +0000

A panel of top executives behind the hyper local news and information website STV Local will be delivering a Business Breakfast in Edinburgh in May at which they will outline what the new service will offer communications and marketing professionals in Scotland and the future of local news delivery... I'm intrigued.

For a while now I've been banging on now about the very future of (paid for) news has to be local - there is no money in global news because we get it fed through a plethora of social media and TV Channels - local however is more difficult to obtain. It looks to me that STV are attempting that leap - if you're in marketing, in Edinburgh why not join me and find out?

Marketing Industry Network - Meet the STV Editors

The success of Facebook "Likes" at a Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:05:00 +0000

Company Video - what does yours say?

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:08:00 +0000

Have you got a company video?
Does it include the CEO dancing and putting in false teeth?
But then maybe it's only had 100 visits and those from family and friends... this one has 35,000 and climbing

ZAPPOS, an online store that likes its customers (and staff)

Stovies, SKY, Dustin Hoffman

noreply@blogger.com (Colin Gilchrist) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:17:00 +0000

If the brilliant actor Dustin Hoffman had been born Scottish things may have been a bit different.