Google’s flashy new instant previews don’t like your flashy sites!

Made Essential Reading on 19 November 2010 by Felix Hemsley | 1 response

Last week, Google rolled out their new “Instant Preview” feature. A great concept in truth, giving the user the opportunity to view a thumbnail version of the site which they are potentially about to visit, acting almost like a visual search function; you may like what you read, but not what you see and thus make a more informed decision about what sites you visit.

We’ve all been there, you’ve been faced with a site which bears no resemblance to the text which sold it to you so well, in fact there’s no mention what so ever of the content which you initially saw in search results. Well, “Instant Preview” is Google’s effort to make this is a thing of the past. Continue reading “Google’s flashy new instant previews don’t like your flashy sites!” »

Mobile is Pushing our Pockets

Made Essential Reading on 15 November 2010 by Felix Hemsley | 5 responses

I have for some time been pondering the various ways in which smartphones and the integration of social apps has changed the ways in which we communicate on the move, the way we can carry multiple audiences in our pockets which are accessible at any moment in time. This mind wandering was catalysed by a recent post by @GemmaWent on @PaulSutton’s blog The Social Web.

Whilst the post as a whole was most interesting, the part which really grabbed me was the reference to friends in a pub delving for their mobiles all the time, typing away, “checking in” and becoming disconnected from the real world environment and the very friend’s they went to the pub to meet sitting just inches away…ignored and becoming increasingly frustrated. Continue reading “Mobile is Pushing our Pockets” »

Social Media Platforms…..Which one’s right for you?

Made Essential Reading on 12 November 2010 by Simon Mould | 2 responses

Facebook, Myspace, Bebo, Twitter and Linked in (to name a few). It’s fair to say that no matter what age, job title, interests or pretty much any classification there is a social network out there that you can fit into.

But as we develop as people, as we grow, our interests and hobbies change, and therefore who and what we associate ourselves with also change.

My own personal experience of social media for example (to put it as simple as possible) goes a little something like this:

Bebo to MSN Spaces to Myspace, to Facebook and LinkedIn to Twitter (and this one is still taking some adjusting to). Continue reading “Social Media Platforms…..Which one’s right for you?” »

Twitter Basics 101

Made Essential Reading on 9 November 2010 by Sarah Thurston | 2 responses

While sitting at my desk on a Friday afternoon, a twitter mention popped up on my screen reading:

“#FF @juicerefinery @HuskyBubbles @wiieb @cdwharton @candelwish @walkeragency_uk @Reynier1986 @adlandcreative @akacreatives”

My mind was instantly boggled by the strangeness of this comment: #? FF? @? What was this new language that I had been completely oblivious to? I clearly missed the public announcement!

It dawned on me however (after thoroughly researching my dilemmas) that I might not be the only one who found this new form of communication somewhat confusing and mysterious.

So, if there are any likeminded people out there still baffled by this conundrum, let me explain this to you, in case you find yourself in any situation where the need to understand this language is pivotal.

1. # – The Hash tag; this is an interesting little tool, that means if you are discussing any topic, be it the latest film release or just sitting in a Costa (other coffee houses are available!). Place“#” in front of the main focus of the tweet and with one simple click on that word you can find anything else, anyone has been saying about that topic.An example of this is typing in “#SocialMedia” now if anyone clicks on that “Hash Tag” they can find out what people have been saying about Social Media. Really handy for companies who want to find out what people have been saying about a new product or a media event.So next time you see a word with a # before it which interests you, give it a click and see what you discover…
2. #FF – This is a continuation of the point above, but is one of the most commonly adopted hashtags on twitter. Also referenced as  #FollowFriday, the #FF tag is a long standing tradition which helps build a community by recommending your top followees to your followers once a week. It is becoming the norm that each #FF tweet contains one other twitter user and an overview of why someone should follow them. i.e. “#FF to @EssentialComs for their reliable and informative feed of news in marketing and mobile technology”
3. @ – This is really rather simple when you think about it. When you talk to someone, you’re talking ‘at’ someone. So when you’re looking to include an individual on twitter and notify them that you’ve mentioned them in a tweet, use their username preceded by the @ symbol. i.e. “Nice post by @HuskyBubbles on the Essential blog. Read it here – http://is.gd/gK5Xp“
4. DM – Essentially this is the world smallest email system. A DM is a private discussion between two people which cannot be seen by anyone else. However to avoid people be able to spam other users, DMs can only be sent if the two users are following one another!
5. RT – The retweet. One of the most used functions on twitter; the retweet is a way of sharing someone else’s content with your followers. This could be a tweet with a link to an article you have found of use, a funny video, or it could simply be a great 140 character quote. Beware however that two types of retweet exist currently to those who do not use the web based twitter platform. For those using twitter applications such as Seesmic, TweetDeck or Hootsuite, you’ll be asked if you want to retweet now (which is what the web platform does) or edit then retweet. If you Edit then retweet, be sure not to change the original content or change it’s meaning. This option allows you to add your own content and give your impressions. i.e. “Great Post RT @EssentialComs: Looking for an introduction to twitter? Check out the post on the Essential blog – http://is.gd/gK5Xp”

I hope this has been a useful overview of some of the most basic aspects of twitter, there is so much more I could cover but for now, adieu.

A New Look for Essential Online & Your Chance to Win!

Made Essential Reading on 4 November 2010 by Felix Hemsley | 1 response

As part of our continual development, we’ve refreshed our online presence. To celebrate the launch of the new Essential website, we’re running a competition.

We’re giving you the chance to win a prop from one of our recent video campaigns. It’s a remote controlled Subaru Impreza which has done a bit of “off-roading”, but still has many miles left on the clock.

For your chance to win, simply answer the three questions below. All the answers can be found by browsing our new website:

1. Who at Essential is a fan of sparkly shoes, but isn’t too keen on marzipan?
2. Which service will help you to “Use it now don’t lose it”?
3. If you want “emerging news” straight to your inbox, where should you sign up?

When you’ve completed these three simple questions, drop us an email here at Essential with your answers.

Closing date is 30th November 2010.

The winner will be drawn from all correct entries and announced on December 1st 2010. UK entrants only.

Good luck.

Bringing Old Values into the Digital Era – Tetley Tea Folk

Made Essential Reading on 25 October 2010 by Richard Turrell | 1 response

In a digital world that demands progression is retro-cosiness ready to join the discussion? Instead of retreating to the drawing board and creating new and contemporary campaigns, why not look at what you have in your archive and apply a digital treatment!

A few months ago someone ‘leaked’ the 21st century Tetley Folk amid lots of public outcry, the Daily Mail and many other publications reported this devastating news with disgust. At the time I thought that this was a Marketing stunt but since the new (old) campaign launch people are still discussing whether the 21st century makeover was purely to challenge publications such as the Daily Mail or the publications response created a u-turn in strategy? If you know the answer please get in touch.

Instead the Tetley Folk were made to look and act the same as they did in the last millennium. How looks can deceive, as despite a 21st century visual makeover being a major turn off they now ‘live’ on a website, you can download wallpapers and voice tones to your mobile, interact with them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @tetley_teafolk but according to the same people that rejected the makeover, this is all acceptable as long as gaffer keeps hold of his flat cap.

For many people the latest Digital Marketing and Social Media trends can be a scary and unfamiliar world so adding familiarity and, in the case of Tetley friendly faces, might just help you introduce contemporary campaigns that you thought would be unachievable.

Right, now I’m in the mood for a cuppa so whilst I do that, check out the The Tetley Tea Folk “come back” advert below. Enjoy, it’s so wonderfully nostalgic!

Adding Exclusion Filters to Google Analytics for WordPress Post Previews

Made Essential Reading on 21 October 2010 by Felix Hemsley | 1 response

We’ve all come across Google Analytics, at least in name, but sometimes there are simple tasks which don’t initially “pop-out”. For me, that was how to construct a filter, specifically for WordPress and the tracking of the preview URL used prior to publishing an article.

So here was the issue. Whenever I’m writing a blog post, one screen has the WordPress back end and the other has the preview of the post. This way I can be 99% sure of what a post will look like when I press publish, a method used by almost every WordPress user, however if one were to do this say 10 times per post, that will give a skewed result in top line stats within Google analytics as it processes these requests as page views… quite rightly.

However, having them in your analytics stats is not ideal, so I wanted to solve the problem using a filter. How I did this is detailed below:

1. Navigate to your overview page in analytics and select the “edit” link on the right hand side of the relevant profile
2. Towards the bottom of the page is a filters box. Select “+ Add Filter” on the right hand side
3. At this stage, you need to name your filter; select custom filter; and exclude the requested URI “preview=true”, as shown below:

   

Once you’ve done this, select save and you’re done. Remember that this will only apply to future tracking and not historic figures, thus you may experience something of a vanity drop in your apparent traffic, but in fact all you’re doing is refining the figure to solely traffic from blog readers. It may also take a period of time to roll out so keep an eye on your stats in coming days to ensure it has been correctly implemented.

the social network – A Review

Made Essential Reading on 21 October 2010 by Felix Hemsley | 1 response

After much hype and anticipation I have finally been to the cinema, handed over £11 of my hard earned cash and seen The Social Network. For those who aren’t aware, The Social Network is a film based around the creation and subsequent legal cases of Facebook.

My first piece of advice is that you make your own mind up about the film rather than trying to decipher the split opinion online, so get out and see it… unless your twitter bio states that you’re a “guru” or an “expert”, in which case you obviously know it all anyway.

 

Starting off in the early days at Harvard and the series of events which led Mark Zuckerberg to create an internal website, which crashed the Harvard university network, The Social Network does a great job of setting the scene of a story which most peope only know the result of, the Facebook site itself. Jesse Eisenberg who plays Mark Zuckerberg does a great job at portraying the hugely intelligent individual, from incredibly complex sentence construction to his demeanour, Jesse clearly embraced the opportunity to represent such a formidably public figure. Amazingly, he only visited Facebook, and set up a page in research for the film admitting he could see how addictive it was.

 

During the judicial process, Zuckerberg spent a huge amount of time in rooms with lawyers. Whilst these could have been dull and jargon filled scenes, they were quite the opposite. Again, Jesse Eisenberg conveys subtle intricacies which make for very entertaining watching. His nonchalant manner and quick wit work in harmony to create some very memorable “wish I was there” moments.

Very worthy of note, and not to be overlooked is Andrew Garfield who played Zuckerberg’s co-founding partner and closest friend, Eduardo Saverin. Acting as CFO for what was originally “TheFacebook”, Eduardo’s story is possibly my favourite of the film. Detailing his passion to be a sound business man, and battling with Zuckerberg and his stubborn ways, to being cast aside and pushed out of the Facebook organisation, you can’t help but really feel for Eduardo’s character. Eduardo has spoken recently about the film with CNN.

From an information perspective, I was surprised to see such a close story, covering the evolution of relationships between Zuckerberg, his colleagues and his friends. The inclusion of Sean Parker, co-founder of Napster, was very interesting as I had never realised how significant a figure he was in the development of Facebook from a business perspective. However, I’m not sure the casting of Justin Timberlake in this role was ideal. I liked that I didn’t know or recognise the cast, as I felt it added to the “out of nowhere” scenario which took place when Facebook was created.

At the very core of the film are the series of law suits which were set against Zuckerberg. I hadn’t expected this in anyway whatsoever, but I felt sorry for Zuckerberg by the end. As portrayed in the film, Zuckerberg may have taken a seed of inspiration from the Winklevoss twins, but what he created was something so much bigger, yet for this potential intellectual property theft he had to pay out $65 million to the twins! Not bad for a simple conversation which took place in a foyer one afternoon… The technology in creating the Winklevoss twins is quite incredible and well worth a look on its own if you’re into videography. As for the characters, they were typically American crew rowers, just as they are in life. I would say however that as an ex Great Britain rower, the talent is rather suspect but at least the views of Henley Royal Regatta are impressive!

All in all, the film was a triumph in my eyes, it may not have been entirely true to the facts, but it was so close that it made no difference to the overarching story. The film concludes in a rather contrite manner, but it does tie everything together rather well, and brings out a human aspect in Zuckerberg not previously seen in the film. You may either love or hate Facebook, but you can’t help but admire Zuckerberg and what he has achieved, ostensibly with the support of just a few people, and without taking a single penny from any of the 500 Million Facebook users he has created something truly incredible!

What is great is that all those involved who have seen the film, believe that the story was honest, true and representative which really adds to the whole experience, apart from that is, Mark Zuckerberg himself. In reflection, the film has made me feel somewhat…inadequate.

So, if you fancy a night out this weekend, why not go check out The Social Network? If you do, let me know what you think of it…

The world’s in your hand, so you’re not in the office!

Made Essential Reading on 20 October 2010 by Felix Hemsley | 1 response

The evolution of mobile devices has changed the way we work in almost every aspect. The traditional office space dynamic is a thing of the past, with the ability to operate remotely becoming increasingly easy. Initially this was driven by internet infrastructures with increased access speeds from domestic locations, meaning that working from home was even easier.

However in recent years, that infrastructure has facilitated the use of mobile devices; Laptops, PDAs, Smartphone’s and now tablets. Whilst the infrastructure is still becoming more comprehensive, and Wifi hotspots on the rise, the device aspect of working on the move is steaming ahead. With Apple releasing the iPad, working on the move took a huge shift. A fantastically mobile device with all the critical needs on a compact device, and with optional 3G connection, the iPad and other tablet computers have pushed mobile computing to a new level.

Having been used for some time in the Field Worker environments, these rugged, bulky pieces of mobile technology have become sleek and sexy to appeal to a consumer audience. There are an increasing number of office tools which can be carried in a pocket or small case!

But where are we heading? I have a feeling that the limiting factor is no longer the technology and its capability, it is a more human issue; a sense of trust. We’re lucky here at Essential to have the trust and support of the company behind us so when we need to work remotely, we can. That’s just one of the benefits of a close knit organisation but in a huge organisation the situation is likely to be very different, where day to day running is carried out and measured solely in numbers. Yet this is where the biggest saving could potentially be, a huge office in a bustling city centre is no cheap overhead, allowing any portion of the workforce to work from home is a saving. Maybe one day, the tracking capabilities for remote office workers in the business world will facilitate this move away from a centralised location!

There is still one other factor which should not be taken lightly; face-to-face communication. It is convenient, simple and transparent. With over 70% of human communication being more than words, is there a risk that a dispersed workforce would encounter more misunderstandings as text becomes a more frequently used medium? If that is the case, is the area for growth going to be in the IT communications arena, making more versatile conference systems available for just talking to remote colleges?

I would be very interested to hear how your organisation approaches the concept of working remotely, and what infrastructure is in place to manage expectations and track efforts.

Not Sure What Film to Buy? Scan the QR Code.

Made Essential Reading on 3 September 2010 by Felix Hemsley | 1 response

I’m sure you’ve wandered the aisles of HMV or the late Virgin Megastores or any other DVD retailer in search of something to watch, but have all too often by passed the lesser known titles. Surely the reason for this is (for want of a better term) lack of knowledge. It’s all well and good reading the brief overview on the back or simply judging the quality of the film based on the image on the cover, but surely there’s a better way?

Well I believe so, and it’s not all that complex. One of the best ways to research films is on the web, invariably turning to YouTube or another video site for trailers, giving a much more in-depth impression of what to expect. That’s great if you’re in front of a PC or have time to tediously browse the web on your mobile device, but hardly the epitome of convenience for the everyday shopper.

So the aim; to put easily accessible rich content in the hands of the buyer.

If all film makers were to simply create packaging with a dedicated area for a QR code, then the solution is so unbelievably simple. Every DVD in-store is accompanied by a printed QR code which when scanned, takes you directly to a trailer…simple!

I’ve created an example below so give it a go and let me know what you think…of the concept, not the film! Click the image to enlarge it and it should then be much easier to scan…

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