Gawping at Google

December 13th, 2010
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Google is the search engine of choice for most internet users, here’s a quick rundown of top searches in 2010.

Unsurprisingly Social Media behemoth Facebook was crowned as ‘the most searched term’ with such a huge amount of users searching for the site and of course new users looking to sign up, the top search item was written a long time ago.

The BBC’s news gathering credentials are undisputed, but perhaps the reason that the BBC has managed second place in this list might have everything to do with its Iplayer service streaming content to almost every computer in the country.

YouTube grows and grows, now with 2 billion videos streamed every day, it would be a huge surprise to see it usurped as the world’s leading video-hosting site. Hotmail too features prominently on the site and continues to evolve, now with Active View and Office docs its popularity remains strong.

In the midst of economic gloom a bidding site is assured of a top-five placing on this list, and with Ebay a well-established leader in the field it rightly assumes its place

It’s funny that Google makes it into its own list of search results, remembering that this a list of Google search results! Maybe Chrome users don’t realise their URL bar is also a default google search bar?  It’s unlikely though that web users are navigating to a Google search engine to search for Google’s search engine, but rather it’s a lazy search made by people looking for one of Google’s products; Documents, Android OS , Nexus phones, tablets, netbooks, maps, streetview (it’s endless).

Predictions for 2011

Surprisingly twitter is not on the list, despite its leading role in many breaking stories this year. Breaking news, celebrity spats and great trending topics will ensure Twiiter emerges onto this list next year.

Facebook’s lead will not last with so many browser plug-ins, extensions and a rise in social browsers such as Rockmelt, there shouldn’t be any need for anyone to browse to Facebook, it’ll be instant, a homepage or in-built function directing the masses to their most-used website. That’s not to mention the growing take-up of all the mobile apps that lead Facebookers directly to their friends.

Surely the BBC will maintain its heady place in the list, especially now that it plans to roll out to paying US customers, perhaps it might sneak onto the US list!

What this list shows however is that either web browser developers haven’t made bookmarks simple enough or it’s the average internet user that is simple. Google might be instant but we could all save time by navigating directly to our favourite sites by organising our bookmarks, simple.

Independent of sales considerations?

December 3rd, 2010
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Guest presenters, guest editors. If a concept is tired, then get ‘em in.

It’s a quick fix that is extremely popular amongst BBC executives as  they alternate the hosts and editors on some of their biggest programmes; Radio 4′s Today Show, Have I Got News For You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks. It’s clear that with the BBC this is a direct appeal to its audience. Freshen up the show with someone/ something a bit different. No problem there.

Is it as easy to call with The Independent, guest edited this week by Elton John on the occasion of World Aids day and generating 10,000 extra sales for the paper?

Proceeds from the paper go straight to the Elton John Aids Foundation; we’re told on the front cover, but I get the feeling that many will question whether this is an altruistic act.

Initially I thought that, in the face of declining sales, it’s merely piggy-backing on a terribly sad and desperate cause. Why ask Elton to guest edit? Surely he could just write a column, Simon Kelner doesn’t get a day off and the proceeds could still go to the charity. It’s been done before too. Bono in 2006, only that time just half the revenue from the edition went to the Global Fund to Fight Aids.

Altruism or not, I don’t think it matters. By featuring a hugely important cause on the front cover and by donating proceeds to EJAF I think that they are entitled to any subsequent spike in sales, should there be any. Elton guest editing certainly doesn’t improve the quality of the paper and it won’t change tomorrow’s paper which ultimately affects circulation figures.

Elton’s day at the office will only contribute to more sales on the day and that’s a great thing. Furthermore the profile of the charity and the cause has been raised on a day when otherwise the blanket coverage goes to cables and snow.

Post written, i’m off to watch Tim Westwood host Never Mind the Buzzcocks on iPlayer

Picture credit: Flickr; Lammy831

Know what to shout about

November 10th, 2010
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Steve Kuncewitz is a lawyer who knows a thing or two about the world of social media,with 800+ connections on Linked in, an IP & Media law blog, a second book on the way and a healthy obsession with twitter, he is the voice of authority when it comes to ‘Legal issues and social media’.

Luckily for us, Steve is a friend of the agency and came in to give us an incredibly informative training session on the  issues that we could face when working within  social media.

As we know, the explosion of social networking sites has transformed the world of PR, and knowing the risks involved when engaging with the online community is essential for a smooth running campaign. You may not always enjoy the luxury of positive feedback, but with hard work, most conversations can be turned into proactive engagement: As Steve said “keeping the genie in the bottle” doesn’t work.

Social networking platforms are part of our everyday life now, we may be watching the apprentice with one eye, but the other is firmly fixed on the debates running on twitter.

Knowing how to use the different types of media effectively, to enhance your brand and create awareness is vitally important… equally as important as knowing the legalities involved.

Thanks Steve, you are ‘twitterific’!

Is Mr. Jack Daniel the best host in the world?

October 27th, 2010
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I think you’d find a group of 16 lucky people across the UK this week who would agree that he is, after a weekend in his hometown of Lynchburg, Tennessee.

On Wednesday last week two lucky members of the Democracy team and 14 competition winners boarded a plane and headed for the weekend of a lifetime.

Between touring the distillery, a private tasting with the master taster, partying on barbecue hill and VIP access to the World Championship Invitational Barbecue there was plenty of soaking up the atmosphere and southern hospitality that Lynchburg is famous for.

Winners from Delicious, Asda, Stuff, The Telegraph, Times plus, The Mail Online and the Jack Daniel’s Barbecue Sauces website were lucky to be drawn from tens of thousands of entries and, even if it’s getting a little chilly to barbecue now, with the skills they picked up I’m sure it’ll be Jack Daniel’s Glazed ham this weekend.

GMP lobbys public support with Twitter

October 14th, 2010
GMP embrace Twitter to secure support ahead of spending review

So Greater Manchester Police are in the process of making social media history as they use live Twitter updates to reveal every crime/incident that they have to deal with in the space of 24 hours.  

It is the first time that a Police force has used a social media platform in this way and has certainly made for compelling reading as the day unfolds.

By 9am they had received over 400 calls- varying from the somewhat expected reports of traffic collisions, theft and domestic incidents- to the downright ridiculous – one woman had called for assistance in suing the benefits office because she had no money?!! (Nice try love).

The purpose of the activity is to demonstrate to both the public and politicians just how busy the force is, ahead of impending public spending cuts which could see their budget cut by up to 25% next week. Chief Constable Peter Fahy has stated that two thirds of all calls are social problems and that actually only a small part of police work is now dedicated to tackling serious crime.

It’s a great tactic by the GMP PR team, who have already received national media coverage and massively increased their Twitter following. It just goes to show the massive potential impact that the correct use of social media can have on a business and how influential it can be.

Let’s see if Mr Cameron pays attention…

Sherlock, iPlayer and the BBC

July 27th, 2010
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The BBC aired the remake of the classic tales of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson this Sunday, and Democracy Towers buzzed about it on Monday morning so much, that I caught up on iPlayer on Monday night.

Written by Stephan Moffat (the chap who’s been creating a stir with Dr Who), the fast paced excitement was brought bang upto date with blogs and geo location using smart phone technology all used as the plot evolved.

The evolution of the Sherlock Holmes story from the dark and murky streets of Victorian London to the modern world of laptops, mobile phones and carefully watched streets is a revelation and proves that well written stories featuring well developed personalities can be made as relevant today as they’ve ever been.

After a speedy romp through the back streets of London, the killer was caught by ….. as if i’m going to reveal that(!). Just like the adaptation of Sherlock, the BBC continues to meet the changing viewing habits of the public with their catch up service on iPlayer (thank goodness).

Today the press is awash with rumours that our growing online catch up consumption may cause the BBC to change their license fee structure. The existing model relies on us having a TV in our living rooms …. and if internet streaming takes off, they’ll be asking the government to protect them through legislation.

Any change to the license fee tends to create uproar – but if we can all embrace the evolution of  Sherlock into a modern day super sleuth, then maybe we can accept that the BBC, after 60 years, may have to do the same.

A right royal album

July 26th, 2010
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Today, as well as those awful pictures of you from Saturday night, and your niece’s christening photos, you’ll be able to check out the Queen’s holiday snaps and official portraits.

In an historic move ‘The British Monarchy’ has launched a flickr account, the papers have reported it with a mixture of awe and amusement and it really is a good diversion for ten minutes or so.

The Queen really is ‘down with the kids’, she has a youtube channel and she tweets; except of course she doesn’t. Usually we’d recommend that social profiles for individuals are managed by that individual, with a little help of course. But I don’t think any of us really believe that the Queen would have the time to get out her iPhone  at state dinners and tweet her thoughts.

It would seem that it depends what your starting point is: if you’re Jordan people already know so much about you that your twitter feed is going to have to be pretty salacious to keep followers, if you’re The Queen then releasing some archive photos of royal engagements is enough to keep the media and the public happy.

Bury’s Got Talent

July 13th, 2010
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The X Factor may have been in Manchester this weekend , but they missed some serious talent in Bury.

As part of our social media campaign for the retail and shopping heaven that is The Rock, Bury, we have been holding karaoke roadshows to recreate Nickelback’s rock anthem, ‘Rockstar’ with the locals of Bury and the surrounding areas as the stars.

Sunday saw us spending a lovely sunny day at the ‘Forever Bury’ event held at Bury FC, and I was amazed by the enthusiasm and energy of everyone who took part. The event, held at the famous Gigg Lane stadium, saw fans of all ages eating ice cream, getting autographs from players and rocking it with yours truly…. I was so inspired I had a little go myself (never to be seen footage… I hope!)

Everyone involved got into the spirit of the day and i can’t wait to see the results of this bury rocking video.

Simon Cowell was definitely in the wrong place, if he’d been with me he would have seen that Bury’s got the X Factor.

Celeb spotting or stalking?

June 29th, 2010
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Take one top celeb magazine add smart geo technology and out comes the new ‘celebspotter’ iphone App from OK!

For a mere £1.79  the App allows you to hunt out regular celeb haunts in your area,  giving you a stronger chance to potentially spot one of your favourite celebs or  simply eat and drink in the same venues as your favourite local stars.

The information used is already available in the public domain, and OK! magazines group internet controller assured; “It doesn’t tell you where celebs are and it doesn’t tell you where they will be”,  so no privacy issues are crossed, the app simply gives you an easy route to cruising like the… well, the Cruise’s!

Although this App has got the ‘privacy police’ up in arms, it’s the ideal app for those with a  soft spot for celeb culture to feel like they are walking in the steps of the stars…. that’s walking people, NOT stalking!

Naughty twhispers

June 25th, 2010
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I very nearly fell off my chair today with an anouncement on twitter that brand Beckham was about to call it a day.

Although i’m not allowing myself to feel shocked anymore about the break up of these seemingly blessed celeb marriages, the thought that the Beckhams were on the verge of announcing their split had me practically screaming into the office ‘noooo…not the Beckhams! I can’t read  OK! without the Beckhams’.

Not to fear though, as with a number of rumours that are filtered through twitter, this has turned out to be nothing more than chinese whisper that have got out of hand, and the fabulous couple’s PR rep has strenuously denied the rumours, stating “there is no truth to them”.

Well, it would’ve been particularly poor timing during the world cup now wouldn’t it? There wouldn’t be nearly enough space in the tabloids to cover the both. So tweeps, would you please stop spreading naughty rumours about our favourite sporty hunk and his poutiful wife? You nearly gave me a heart attack.