Wadds' tech pr blog
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Selfish or Selfless?
Who do you write your blog for? I’ve been having this discussion with Tim Hoang, one of the team at Rainier PR who writes a regular blog-esq feature for the BBC. As an ex-hack I write with my audience in mind. Even though blogs should be honest and transparent if no one reads them then what is the point?
Tim has a far more artistic approach. He writes about whatever he fancies because he’s doing it purely for himself. And if people choose to read it or not it’s up to them. He has a vague idea of who would read it (friends, family and people going through the same situation) and is careful what he writes as it will be in the public domain, but in general his thoughts are totally honest.
Is there room for both approaches? Permalink | 4 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 6:04 PM
Tim has a far more artistic approach. He writes about whatever he fancies because he’s doing it purely for himself. And if people choose to read it or not it’s up to them. He has a vague idea of who would read it (friends, family and people going through the same situation) and is careful what he writes as it will be in the public domain, but in general his thoughts are totally honest.
Is there room for both approaches? Permalink | 4 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 6:04 PM
Tardy train travel
Train fairs are going up again in the New Year by up to 11% at a time when passenger numbers and revenue is at an all time high.
In many instances it is now cheaper to fly across the UK than to catch a train, and the cost of driving into a City – London aside – versus buying an annual season ticket is approaching parity.
I’m a signed up member of the carbon saving lobby, but where’s the incentive to avoid flying and ditch the car in favour of public transport? Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 5:48 PM
Train fairs are going up again in the New Year by up to 11% at a time when passenger numbers and revenue is at an all time high.In many instances it is now cheaper to fly across the UK than to catch a train, and the cost of driving into a City – London aside – versus buying an annual season ticket is approaching parity.
I’m a signed up member of the carbon saving lobby, but where’s the incentive to avoid flying and ditch the car in favour of public transport? Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 5:48 PM
Lazy analysis spotlights limp bottom line
Plimsoll is an industry watcher that plots the financial performance of 1,000 companies in the PR industry. It is very good at attention grabbing direct mail but less good at providing insightful data.
Every three months or so I receive a letter predicting the financial demise of a large chunk of the industry suggesting that I immediately buy the latest report if I want to learn the lessons of failure of my competitors and avoid financial ruin.
In the latest cut of its data, Plimsoll ranks 110 companies as “losers” with negative sales growth (average 11.9%) and low margins around 2.7 per cent. By contrast, 420 companies are marked out as “winners” with average growth of 24.1% and margins of 12.1%.
In the middle ground there are 104 so-called “pioneers” that are discounting to acquire clients with high sales growth (17.2%) but low profit (1.1%), and 366 “sleepers” with negative sales growth (-7.5%) but modest profit (9.8%).
Plimsoll has repeatedly taken an overly negative view of the PR industry predicting that a signification number of agencies are on the brink of insolvency. Such analysis may grab attention but is proven to be lazy when the industry fails to fall to its knees year-on-year.
What it does highlight though is that pockets of the industry are lousy at generating cash. All the management text books show that a consultancy based business should be able to comfortably generate a margin of 20 per cent and yet we find that the PR sectors’ best performers are averaging 11.9%. What’s going wrong? Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 5:33 PM
Plimsoll is an industry watcher that plots the financial performance of 1,000 companies in the PR industry. It is very good at attention grabbing direct mail but less good at providing insightful data.Every three months or so I receive a letter predicting the financial demise of a large chunk of the industry suggesting that I immediately buy the latest report if I want to learn the lessons of failure of my competitors and avoid financial ruin.
In the latest cut of its data, Plimsoll ranks 110 companies as “losers” with negative sales growth (average 11.9%) and low margins around 2.7 per cent. By contrast, 420 companies are marked out as “winners” with average growth of 24.1% and margins of 12.1%.
In the middle ground there are 104 so-called “pioneers” that are discounting to acquire clients with high sales growth (17.2%) but low profit (1.1%), and 366 “sleepers” with negative sales growth (-7.5%) but modest profit (9.8%).
Plimsoll has repeatedly taken an overly negative view of the PR industry predicting that a signification number of agencies are on the brink of insolvency. Such analysis may grab attention but is proven to be lazy when the industry fails to fall to its knees year-on-year.
What it does highlight though is that pockets of the industry are lousy at generating cash. All the management text books show that a consultancy based business should be able to comfortably generate a margin of 20 per cent and yet we find that the PR sectors’ best performers are averaging 11.9%. What’s going wrong? Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 5:33 PM
Sat nav blindness
Are tabloid tales of dodgy sat nav routing fact or fiction? Drivers following satellite navigation systems through a village in North Yorkshire have been directed along the edge of a 100ft cliff, a bus full of pensioners were stranded in Chepstow, and a once quiet route near Bristol Airport has become a rat run.
I had previously dismissed such stories as hype but after two recent experiences I’m now convinced of the issue.
Visiting my brother in Grange over Sands on the southern edge of the Lakes this weekend I was routed off the M6 onto the A251. Fair enough.
But then when I was less than three miles from my destination I was directed onto an ancient minor road which, whilst marginally more direct, landed me behind a milk tanker and then a horse and cart.
It happens all the time according to locals – what was once a remote hamlet on the edge of Morecambe Bay now has traffic steaming past almost constantly.
And then there was an incident in Northumbria. Racing to a beach north of Alnwick in the summer I got routed onto a single track route through a corn field in order to short-cut the town. Suffice to say the farmer I met coming the other way wasn’t impressed and I ended up reversing for more than half a mile to get out of his way.
Sat nav is reckoned to be the must-buy gadget for Christmas. Manufacturers need to re-examine their algorithms or decades of town planning are going to be wasted.
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1 comments
| Stephen Waddington @ 5:11 PM
I had previously dismissed such stories as hype but after two recent experiences I’m now convinced of the issue.
Visiting my brother in Grange over Sands on the southern edge of the Lakes this weekend I was routed off the M6 onto the A251. Fair enough.
But then when I was less than three miles from my destination I was directed onto an ancient minor road which, whilst marginally more direct, landed me behind a milk tanker and then a horse and cart.
It happens all the time according to locals – what was once a remote hamlet on the edge of Morecambe Bay now has traffic steaming past almost constantly.
And then there was an incident in Northumbria. Racing to a beach north of Alnwick in the summer I got routed onto a single track route through a corn field in order to short-cut the town. Suffice to say the farmer I met coming the other way wasn’t impressed and I ended up reversing for more than half a mile to get out of his way.
Sat nav is reckoned to be the must-buy gadget for Christmas. Manufacturers need to re-examine their algorithms or decades of town planning are going to be wasted.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Scare or stare tactics?
The government campaigns warning about the dangers of speeding have been consistently excellent recently. You know the sort of thing: hit a pedestrian at 30mph and they’ll walk away with bruises; hit them at 40mph and they’ll need to be scrapped up from the street.
Using shock tactics and hard facts to scare drivers into obeying the law works for me. That said, I’d like to bring your attention to how the Danish government are combatting this problem. It takes a radically different approach but I think I know which one I prefer.
Make sure you watch the MPEG. Permalink | 1 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 2:10 PM
The government campaigns warning about the dangers of speeding have been consistently excellent recently. You know the sort of thing: hit a pedestrian at 30mph and they’ll walk away with bruises; hit them at 40mph and they’ll need to be scrapped up from the street.Using shock tactics and hard facts to scare drivers into obeying the law works for me. That said, I’d like to bring your attention to how the Danish government are combatting this problem. It takes a radically different approach but I think I know which one I prefer.
Make sure you watch the MPEG. Permalink | 1 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 2:10 PM
Friday, November 24, 2006
MAD for it
Marketing portal mad.co.uk has just published an article on the PR implications of search engine optimisation (free subscription required) by my oppo Steve Earl. There's an article and white paper on our web site (no subscription required) with more detail.
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0 comments
| Stephen Waddington @ 4:49 PM
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Softly softies
The police are often held up as a bastion of good communication practice. Police press officers have to deal with life and death communication dilemmas every day - road accidents, manhunts and the like.
So how come Christmas seems to have come early for the criminal element, if some police spokespeople's recent comments are to be taken seriously?
Nottingham's deputy chief constable seems to be encouraging the prescription of heroin to heroin addicts. Surely a bit of a pisser for those in the business of supply?
And the chief constable of Dyfed-Powys reckons under-age sex shouldn't necessarily constitute paeodophilia. He later backpeddled on the remark, but it hardly exemplifies the way the police normally hold their own in front of the microphones.
Who knows what's at the root of these remarks. But if they are the outcome of deliberate PR ploys, then surely someone needs to go back to PR basics. Permalink | 1 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 5:31 PM
The police are often held up as a bastion of good communication practice. Police press officers have to deal with life and death communication dilemmas every day - road accidents, manhunts and the like.
So how come Christmas seems to have come early for the criminal element, if some police spokespeople's recent comments are to be taken seriously?
Nottingham's deputy chief constable seems to be encouraging the prescription of heroin to heroin addicts. Surely a bit of a pisser for those in the business of supply?
And the chief constable of Dyfed-Powys reckons under-age sex shouldn't necessarily constitute paeodophilia. He later backpeddled on the remark, but it hardly exemplifies the way the police normally hold their own in front of the microphones.
Who knows what's at the root of these remarks. But if they are the outcome of deliberate PR ploys, then surely someone needs to go back to PR basics. Permalink | 1 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 5:31 PM
B2B Marketing debate on blogs
The business benefits of blogging may be a no brainer for some, but there's always room for some good old fashioned spear bashing on the subject.
I’ll be arguing that corporate blogging can reinforce brand profile, address new audiences and influencers, and act as a channel to customers at the B2B Marketing debate at the English Speaking Union on 4 December.
Prof. Richard Adams, Digital Strategy Director, Chemistry Group will be arguing the case that blogs are pure corporate vanity.
What do you think? Do blogs have a genuine place in 21st century business culture, or am I just massaging my ego with the rest of the blogging unwashed? Permalink | 1 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 5:29 PM
I’ll be arguing that corporate blogging can reinforce brand profile, address new audiences and influencers, and act as a channel to customers at the B2B Marketing debate at the English Speaking Union on 4 December.
Prof. Richard Adams, Digital Strategy Director, Chemistry Group will be arguing the case that blogs are pure corporate vanity.
What do you think? Do blogs have a genuine place in 21st century business culture, or am I just massaging my ego with the rest of the blogging unwashed? Permalink | 1 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 5:29 PM
Friday, November 17, 2006
People with too much time on their hands…
…do amazing things. Have a look here for a special production of Star Wars. Almost beats the Lego Spider-man. Almost.
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3 comments
| Stephen Waddington @ 12:23 PM
Bible blogging
It had to happen sooner or later. After reports of Jesus appearing on MySpace, religion has infiltrated the blogosphere with David Plotz writing about all things bible related.
David, a Jew that describes himself as ‘lax but well-educated ignoramus’, wants to find out what happens when ‘an ignorant person actually reads the book on which his religion is based’. Permalink | 3 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 12:09 PM
David, a Jew that describes himself as ‘lax but well-educated ignoramus’, wants to find out what happens when ‘an ignorant person actually reads the book on which his religion is based’. Permalink | 3 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 12:09 PM
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Tim's new post
I’ve hijacked Wadds’ blog to let you know that the latest instalment of my BBC blog is up. Again some of the editing is dodgy (with liberal use of exclamation marks) and I have stopped trying to get them to change that horrible picture of me. It’s also about nothing in particular and there is no real point to it, so only have a look here if you’re having a slow afternoon, and you’ve already exhausted PopBitch, Football365 and Fark.com.
All the best,
Tim Hoang Permalink | 3 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 3:49 PM
I’ve hijacked Wadds’ blog to let you know that the latest instalment of my BBC blog is up. Again some of the editing is dodgy (with liberal use of exclamation marks) and I have stopped trying to get them to change that horrible picture of me. It’s also about nothing in particular and there is no real point to it, so only have a look here if you’re having a slow afternoon, and you’ve already exhausted PopBitch, Football365 and Fark.com.All the best,
Tim Hoang Permalink | 3 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 3:49 PM
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Wi shouldn't you steal?
Singapore teen, Garyl Tan Jia Luo could face up to three years in prison for piggybacking his neighbour's Wi-Fi, and his family could be lumbered with a fine of 10,000 Singapore dollars (£3,375).
Now, I’m as opposed to nefarious computer based activity as the next man, but I can’t help but feel that the Singapore authorities are acting with a heavy hand. The hapless teen was only arrested after complaints from his neighbour.
Either his neighbour is the chief of police or Garyl has been playing Slipknot at full blast till five in the morning and wi-fi theft is just a ruse. Either way the court adjudication is tomorrow - fingers crossed Garyl. Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 11:15 AM
Singapore teen, Garyl Tan Jia Luo could face up to three years in prison for piggybacking his neighbour's Wi-Fi, and his family could be lumbered with a fine of 10,000 Singapore dollars (£3,375).
Now, I’m as opposed to nefarious computer based activity as the next man, but I can’t help but feel that the Singapore authorities are acting with a heavy hand. The hapless teen was only arrested after complaints from his neighbour.
Either his neighbour is the chief of police or Garyl has been playing Slipknot at full blast till five in the morning and wi-fi theft is just a ruse. Either way the court adjudication is tomorrow - fingers crossed Garyl. Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 11:15 AM
Friday, November 10, 2006
Professional or social networks
Researchers at Pudue University (via Ian Delaney - thanks) have revealed that a third of employers screen potential job candidates using search engines and that more than 10 per cent use social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook to check out candidates.
We know that corporates have tried to manipulate social media to push their own marketing agenda. Fake blogs or so-called flogging sites are typically quickly uncovered. But what if an individual tried to manipulate internet content in order to progress in their own careers? Anyone come across this yet? Permalink | 1 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 3:07 PM
Researchers at Pudue University (via Ian Delaney - thanks) have revealed that a third of employers screen potential job candidates using search engines and that more than 10 per cent use social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook to check out candidates.
We know that corporates have tried to manipulate social media to push their own marketing agenda. Fake blogs or so-called flogging sites are typically quickly uncovered. But what if an individual tried to manipulate internet content in order to progress in their own careers? Anyone come across this yet? Permalink | 1 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 3:07 PM
Train puns
The puns were a plenty this morning on The Today programme with the news that Hornby is to acquire Airfix as part of a £2.6m deal. Hornby has kitted itself for future growth by assembling a deal to put Airfix back on track.
Hornby defies the conventional rules of toy marketing. It doesn’t spend a huge amount on Saturday morning TV advertising in order to generate a nag factor because its target market isn’t kids.
Instead Hornby focuses on 35 to 45 year old Dads who played with train sets when they were kids and now think their own kids should. Lego has enjoyed a revival by focusing on the same segment with Mindstorms. I’m a big fan.
Meanwhile, I’ve spent the morning explaining to clients why a £2.6 million deal is headline news when usually the nationals won’t touch anything sub £50 million. Anyone else? Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 2:37 PM
The puns were a plenty this morning on The Today programme with the news that Hornby is to acquire Airfix as part of a £2.6m deal. Hornby has kitted itself for future growth by assembling a deal to put Airfix back on track.Hornby defies the conventional rules of toy marketing. It doesn’t spend a huge amount on Saturday morning TV advertising in order to generate a nag factor because its target market isn’t kids.
Instead Hornby focuses on 35 to 45 year old Dads who played with train sets when they were kids and now think their own kids should. Lego has enjoyed a revival by focusing on the same segment with Mindstorms. I’m a big fan.
Meanwhile, I’ve spent the morning explaining to clients why a £2.6 million deal is headline news when usually the nationals won’t touch anything sub £50 million. Anyone else? Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 2:37 PM
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
FT on corporate blogging
There’s a good article in the Financial Times today (subscription required) by Sarah Murray about corporate blogging. Have a read if you get chance, otherwise, here’s a quick summary.
There’s a good article in the Financial Times today (subscription required) by Sarah Murray about corporate blogging. Have a read if you get chance, otherwise, here’s a quick summary.- Brand reputation is now in the hands of third parties and if an organisation wants to maintain an influence in its brand it needs to embrace blogging as a marketing communication medium
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Electioneering
How can the verdict and death sentence on Saddam Hussein be announced two days before the US mid-term elections?
Either this is an amazing coincidence or one of the most cynical pieces of electioneering ever seen. President Bush retreats to his ranch in Texas to act the statesman and demonstrate that pumping billions of dollars into Iraq has delivered some results, while the casualties both civilian and military keep piling up.
And this is just the mid-terms – I hate to think what the Republicans will do come the presidential election? Permalink | 3 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 2:18 PM
How can the verdict and death sentence on Saddam Hussein be announced two days before the US mid-term elections?Either this is an amazing coincidence or one of the most cynical pieces of electioneering ever seen. President Bush retreats to his ranch in Texas to act the statesman and demonstrate that pumping billions of dollars into Iraq has delivered some results, while the casualties both civilian and military keep piling up.
And this is just the mid-terms – I hate to think what the Republicans will do come the presidential election? Permalink | 3 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 2:18 PM
But is it funny?
The talk over the papers in the office this morning is all about Sacha Baron Cohen’s new film Borat. Some of us saw it over the weekend and others last night.
US
The talk over the papers in the office this morning is all about Sacha Baron Cohen’s new film Borat. Some of us saw it over the weekend and others last night. Monday, November 06, 2006
User generated viruses
There's been much debate recently about the value of user generated content such as Wikipedia - in particular the accuracy of the information.
It has just been reported that a posting on Wikipedia (now removed) actually contained a link to malicious code that infected users with a virus.
No doubt Web 2.0 and Wiki will once again come in for some stick, but if anyone truly believes that Borat really is the president of Kazakstan then really they ought to know better. Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 5:01 PM
There's been much debate recently about the value of user generated content such as Wikipedia - in particular the accuracy of the information.It has just been reported that a posting on Wikipedia (now removed) actually contained a link to malicious code that infected users with a virus.
No doubt Web 2.0 and Wiki will once again come in for some stick, but if anyone truly believes that Borat really is the president of Kazakstan then really they ought to know better. Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 5:01 PM
Friday, November 03, 2006
World wide implications
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the British developer of the world wide web, has voiced his concern about how it could be used to support “undemocratic forces”. Sir Tim wants to set up a web science research project in order to study the effect of the web on society as a whole.
While the web is a tool for democraticing media it is can do as much harm as good. Niche interest groups can create a platform to communicate to potentially billions.
The tools of the web are taught around the world but the implications of utilising these tools are not – which is kind of like teaching people how to use a gun without telling them that it can kill someone. Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 12:17 PM
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the British developer of the world wide web, has voiced his concern about how it could be used to support “undemocratic forces”. Sir Tim wants to set up a web science research project in order to study the effect of the web on society as a whole.
While the web is a tool for democraticing media it is can do as much harm as good. Niche interest groups can create a platform to communicate to potentially billions.
The tools of the web are taught around the world but the implications of utilising these tools are not – which is kind of like teaching people how to use a gun without telling them that it can kill someone. Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 12:17 PM
Face ache
Ever wondered if you've got a face for radio? Now you can compare your phizzog to the great and the good with MyHeritage.com's face recogntion software. Find out if you're a Brad or a Pee Wee, Angelina or a Margaret.
Who knows it might even persuade you to remove that piece of face furniture you've been cultivating for years because you now realise you resemble good old Joe Stalin. Try it out for yourself if only to find out if you might be distantly related to other tyrannical despots.
Honestly it's a blast, guess who I resemble, I'll give you a clue, I was with Joe at Yalta in February of '45. Charming eh? Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 11:50 AM
Ever wondered if you've got a face for radio? Now you can compare your phizzog to the great and the good with MyHeritage.com's face recogntion software. Find out if you're a Brad or a Pee Wee, Angelina or a Margaret.Who knows it might even persuade you to remove that piece of face furniture you've been cultivating for years because you now realise you resemble good old Joe Stalin. Try it out for yourself if only to find out if you might be distantly related to other tyrannical despots.
Honestly it's a blast, guess who I resemble, I'll give you a clue, I was with Joe at Yalta in February of '45. Charming eh? Permalink | 0 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 11:50 AM
Thursday, November 02, 2006
China Crisis
Microsoft is threatening to pull out of China because if its censorship of bloggers and other myriad human rights abuses. The company’s senior policy councel, Fred Tipson (sounds kinda northern) said that the company may have to look again at its activities in the emerging giant. "Things are getting bad... and perhaps we have to look again at our presence there," he told a conference in Athens, according to the BBC.
Microsoft is certainly making the right noises, especially when Cisco’s come in for so much abuse for supplying the Chinese police force, but is it really going to forego the world’s largest potential market leaving it open to competitors? I think not. Permalink | 1 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 2:37 PM
Microsoft is threatening to pull out of China because if its censorship of bloggers and other myriad human rights abuses. The company’s senior policy councel, Fred Tipson (sounds kinda northern) said that the company may have to look again at its activities in the emerging giant. "Things are getting bad... and perhaps we have to look again at our presence there," he told a conference in Athens, according to the BBC.Microsoft is certainly making the right noises, especially when Cisco’s come in for so much abuse for supplying the Chinese police force, but is it really going to forego the world’s largest potential market leaving it open to competitors? I think not. Permalink | 1 comments | Stephen Waddington @ 2:37 PM
