creative musings

Foursquare, Burgled or Brilliant?

2010-09-08T09:19:00.000-07:00

My Latest post for the Drum Marketing Magazine:

There can be no doubt that “foursquare” is dividing the online social community – if you’ve never come across it, check it out and form your own opinion. In brief it is a smart phone application that allows its user to confirm their location whilst also encouraging you to leave a tip or message in relation to that location. You have 140 characters in which to leave the message and then the opportunity to share it on Twitter and Facebook (Foursquare automatically shares it with your friends – on foursquare).
Ok so there are those that say – “Hold on, if I publicise where I am, people are going to know I’m not at home…”; hence the opportunist Burglar that is tech savvy; – you get the drift.
Then there is the other camp – generally the businesses, like GAP, Costa Coffee, David Lloyd Clubs… are delighted that someone – obviously a fan – checks in because their shop or business premises is then put on the map and circulated around (potentially) thousands of people. (See the GAP story here)
Then there is the game element ... see the full article here

Going the Distance with Drew Barrymore

2010-08-22T16:30:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt Drew Barrymore is a gorgeous girl; I’ve been a long time admirer and hell was in the artists village with her when she was at T in the Park in 2007 with Fabrizio (Strokes Drummer). Drew’s in the UK doing the rounds promoting her latest flick “Going the Distance” which is about a long distance relationship.

The rest of the article can be read here

Admorspace Modular Buildings get a Digital Face

2010-08-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

Admorspace Modular Buildings have never before had a web presence and yet have been trading for a number of years - an unusual phenomenon in this day and age. Admorspace design and deliver both bespoke and readymade “Off-Site” modular buildings. They construct the buildings in the comfort of their own factory in Hull.

Admorspace Modular Buildings Website

Blog activity moved

2010-08-09T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hello all - just a heads up - my blogging activity has more or less moved to The Drum Marketing Magazine - although admittedly it's subsided of late :(

If you're interested in knowing what is really good at Edinburgh Fringe Festival - the following Twitter aggregator tells you!

Edinburgh Fringe Twitter reviews
Sorry you need javascript enabled to see the widget or visit www.edtwinge.com

I'm liking Digital Face!

2010-08-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

If you're wondering, I'm just testing!!

Iron Baby - the shizzle.

2010-07-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

But seriously, who's got the time... Clearly you do if you see an opportunity to promote what you do for a living 4.5 million views and counting:

The Durex Baby App

2010-06-25T04:47:00.000-07:00

Although a mock-up still inspired, not that I'm thinking about my 17yr old or anything...

Durex Baby from Peter Ammentorp on Vimeo.

Part of a lost generation?

2010-06-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

This video is doing the rounds, clever and moving.

Scottish Top Track Private Companies

2010-06-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

The Sunday Times list came out today for the UK; I always make a point of checking out the Scottish contingent - so here goes:

Arnold Clark, Glasgow, £2,139,000 - Automobiles (went from 12th place to 15th)

KCA Deutag Group, Aberdeen, £1,016,000 - Drilling Contractor (went from 54th place to 44th)
Kwik-Fit, Edinburgh, £968,000 - Car Repair Centre (went from 48th place to 47th)
Miller Group, Edinburgh, £783,000 - Housebuilding (went from 38th place to 61st)
PSN, Aberdeen, £716,000 - Oil Services Provider (went from 76th place to 68th)
William Grant and Sons, Banffshire, £598,000 - Distiller (went from unlisted place to 96th)

Last year there were 10 Scottish listed companies in the top 100, 6 this year and one of which was unlisted last year.

Make of it what you will, if I were a teacher... "Scotland, could do better."

As someone that stays in touch with entrepreneurial start-ups and investment partnerships there are some exciting businesses emerging, however our strength, financial markets have taken quite a beating...

Have you any opinions on the state our country's business?

As prepared by Digital Face using Fast Track in association with The Sunday Times

Social Media Monitoring - Future?

2010-06-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

Is this the future for businesses that want to monitor their own brand?

St Margaret's School, Edinburgh in Liquidation!

2010-06-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

St Margaret's School for girls in Edinburgh has been put into provisional liquidation by the RBS appointed KPMG - a sad day indeed.

My association with it is limited, my sister went there, some previous girl friends (ahem) and so I have some fond memories (some very fond...) but it occurred to me they were missing a trick in generating some positive PR or generating a higher intake of pupils. Over the years they've done all sorts of things, joined up with other schools, created some PR and marketing exercises but nothing that has really made them stand out.

I didn't go to Edinburgh Academy but my brother did and say what you like about them, they've produced some great rugby players, some great academics but they're latest export is this guy Alex Gardner - I've only heard of him because he knows my daughter. But I'm guessing there is a trick to be made by abusing the talent that lives in private schools to generate interest (and pupil numbers) by not the explotation but along those lines. Abuse people's fixation with Celebrity - approaching a well known local celebrity and offer them rates to send their offspring to the same school for example... Now tell me you wouldn't want to know more about the school if you knew Madonna's kids were going to it?

Update on Digital Face

2010-05-20T04:16:00.000-07:00

I thought I would bring you up to date on activities at Digital Face - it's been a while for some of you.

Website Activity:

We have just recently been commissioned to replace RB Farquhar's Manufacturing website - it will also sport translation services care of Christian Arno and his team at Lingo24 - into Czechoslovakian, Dutch and German. Their website for the operation in United Arab Emirates (UAE) will remain as is. We look forward to working with the RB Farquhar team in Huntly, Aberdeenshire. The old site can be seen here - with the new site going live at the end of June.

We have also been commissioned to build a number of small sites for an as yet to be named Leisure group in addition to applying a social media marketing strategy, through both staff training and retained support. The sites are to support a number of very well known Edinburgh Bars and Restaurants.

Marketing Activity:

I (Colin Gilchrist) recently returned from Leeds as a speaker for the Marketing Industry Network for an event organised by Caroline Lotinga for Marketing and PR professionals. There were two other speakers, Kate Wooding from Tictoc and Adam Gordon from Winning Work - the event was centred around social media, sharing our knowledge and case studies.

Also working with two Advertising Agencies and one Digital Agency as their social media support on a consultancy basis one is The Lane the others (I haven't asked their permission so wont name them).

Client side we are working with a number of FMCG businesses both training and out sourced supply of social media marketing one of whom is Go FAST! Sports, it's early days for them but some Facebook activity can be seen here: http://www.facebook.com/gofastsportsuk - go on Like it, you know you want to ;)

Social Media Policy

2010-05-18T04:13:00.000-07:00

Social Media Policy Document on The Drum!

Believe me, you'll be glad you read this my latest piece for The Drum Marketing magazine.

Michael Birch sold Bebo for £420m, would you like to know more?

2010-05-17T09:48:00.001-07:00

Michael Birch, Bebo | Smarta

Edinburgh 10's a tremendous day out

2010-05-11T05:09:00.000-07:00

Do you know an event that needs some publicity - I came across 'Chris Bain Video Productions' page on facebook - it's not the slickest production in the world, but hell they know how to make you smile!

Edinburgh Rugby 10's 2010 from CHRIS BAIN VIDEO PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

Great effort.

Linkedin is rude!

2010-05-08T23:17:00.000-07:00

People are now beginning to realise that Linkedin is an amazing business development tool - that cold calling is almost no longer required and compared to using an introductory email you are 25% more likely to achieve a response.

I learned fairly recently that when you approach new contacts on Linkedin the stats are largely thus:
25% will accept you whether you are a serial killer or a trapeze artist
25% will ignore you because they just don't know or like the look of you.
50% will go either way.

The automated form for connecting makes people rude (see image) and I find that people who don't change the wording are generally lazy, don't know how or are in the business of collecting names for their profile rather than considering a polite approach. So if you wish to invite a connection from an individual that you have never met can I offer some free advice: take a couple of seconds to change the text, you are likely to be considerably more successful.

Have you yet to add a profile picture? An individual who shall remain nameless did not have a profile picture for 8 months and struggled to connect with people that she knew - the minute a picture went up she was getting almost daily approaches (not just because she's hot...) people often remember faces before names - there are also photographers that specialise in creating the right profile picture for Linkedin - it's just a case of being professional and approachable. Oh yes, and using a company logo, if you are... good luck with that one (yawn), it's very impersonal.

The real success through Linkedin however is the follow-up call. If you are using it to grow a database of potential new clients can I suggest you make a note of who you have approached, follow up with another message and then a phone call (all being well).

So is Linkedin rude? No not really but it does make people rude.

Adam Street

2010-05-01T00:08:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in London, need somewhere to hold a meeting, have a bite to eat I can not recommend Adam Street enough, it's been a while since I was last there but I came across an intro vid for the club and just reminded me of the good times spent there.

It's convivial and private during the day, but they also know how to let their hair down in the evening.

Now surely that'll get me a years free membership ;)

How to appeal to Cat owners - Thanks PaddyPower !

2010-04-28T01:47:00.000-07:00

How to build a Massive online Community!

2010-04-23T09:29:00.000-07:00

How to Build a Massive online Community

The holly grail - it's the answer to all your problems - surely if you gets loads of people to religiously come back time and again, with loads of their fans, friends too - you've got it made.

Needless to say I've read screeds and screeds of how to's and none of them quite gave me the confidence that they know what they're talking about - so here we go "Social Media Rockstar" has got a great case study for you. They interviewed a guy called Joshua Dorkin who runs a blog for people interested in investing in property - he took it from 2 people to 50,000 in 3 years, but more than that, they are readers, not website hits.

The story

Hello Boys... do you like your food?

2010-04-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

As someone who's always had a soft spot for Miss Dahl I was intrigued to learn of her new direction in making a living,should we be surprised or delighted that she takes the opportunity to share her sense of taste in food?

As a long standing fan of Jamie Oliver and the TV appearances of Nigela Lawson I can honestly say - oh God, another celeb chef / cook - admitedly we are intrigued because of her previous profession but you know what she's not only a honey but has some great recipes. My favourite so far - bubble and squeak: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/bubbleandsqueakcakes_93586.shtml

Try it - believe me it's gorgeous!

Blogity blog blog

2010-04-17T03:26:00.000-07:00

Right - you've woken up, it's a wee bit earlier than usual and you think "you know what I've not written on my blog for a wee while - now's the time..." because you have the time, then you stop and think, well this wasn't very well planned, what am I going to share with my adoring public... or rather the 2 people that if bothered might take a squiz (one of whom happens to be your mother).

A couple of do's and don'ts about blogging - oh god here we go, there's loads of posts on this stuff - yes but hold on, not from my point of view!

To build trust and traction stage one:
Comment on other people's blogs that are in your industry or of interest to you - get known out-with your own network - when commenting stick to what you know and in a positive tone.

Never sell your own products, by all means endorse someone elses - the minute you push your own stuff 98% of us have lost interest.

Feature your customers - for me this week it would be the gorgeous and glamerous people at: http://www.the-lane.com/

Give useful advice away for free and demonstrate your knowlegde - that would be this post...

Keep it business like but not boring - I mean let's face it, if you write screeds and screeds of pertinent information, you wont get fans you'll get serial killers - there's a lot less of them.

Give credit where it's due - this is where I mention my old school buddy Hugh Macleod (Gapingvoid.com) and his introduction to Seth Godin and Robert Scoble...

And stop - most people have a fairly short attention span, and you have to keep them wanting more, the rules to writting a great blog I learnt from Chris Brogan - there's 28 rules in total so this is just the start...

Figured it out yet?

2010-04-14T13:15:00.000-07:00

Have you figured it out yet?

There's TV, Radio, Press, Billboards, Direct Mail, Websites... and there's Social Media - it's simply another way of communicating your message. The difference being of course - you are no longer pushing information but creating conversations with your prospects to encourage brand loyalty and a sale.

Previously (and still) it's about making people aware of your product so that when they go shopping it's yours they'll buy - whereas now the process starts earlier in the thought process - you get the consumer excited at the prospect of being associated with your product, asking opinions and building a case where there is no other choice - so when it comes to shopping it's the very reason they go.

It will soon be a fundamental part of promoting your product or services - if you haven't been yet, get some training and get to grips with it.

Nike Air - the secret

2010-04-04T00:12:00.000-07:00

It's a simple idea, beautifully executed - I want there to be a punch, the film is missing that wallop, don't you think?

LinkedIn and the restrictive covenant

2010-04-02T01:20:00.000-07:00

My latest post for The Drum questions the right for a business to protect itself when its business development team are using LinkedIn - who owns the client?

http://thedrum.co.uk/blogs/colingilchrist/2010/04/02/restrictive-covenant-for-linkedin/

RB Farquhar Bathroom Pods

2010-03-30T04:18:00.001-07:00

At Digital Face we have been really fortunate to be working with RB Farquhar. As an online design and marketing business the majority of our business has been concentrated around commercial and residential property markets.

RB Farquhar are the worlds best at providing bathroom pods for Hotels, MOD, Residential and Student accommodation developments - they significantly reduce the requirement for skilled labour on-site by manufacturing prefabricated bathroom pods. A brilliant and successful manufacturing business that is now supplying to the London Olympic village amongst many others.

in reference to: bathroom pods prefabricated for Europe - RB Farquhar (view on Google Sidewiki)