Month: October 2011

As you read the posts below, I’d like you to think about subscribing to these blogs. I know that many people think that “feed readers” are old school now, but they really can be powerful (especially if you use them well).

Try Feedly or something like Flipboard if you have an iPad. Categorise the blogs in a way that works for you.

While there are thousands of blog posts published each day, the great bloggers produce consistently good content. It’s worth coming back to them regularly!

1. If you work in a non-profit organisation – in fact – if you are interested in understanding how social media can help you build relationships with ANY audience, you should really subscribe to John Haydon’s excellent blog. Here John shares a video of Gary Vaynerchuck reminding us all to say “thank you”.
2. The changes to Klout last week had many people up in arms. But as Kate Carruthers explains, we’ve always judged people’s status and influence – how they dress, speak and what they drive – and with systems like Klout, we’re still just at the beginning.
3. For years we have focused on bringing creativity into the business environment. And yet, we also create processes and environments which stifle the impact of this creativity. I think we could do with looking at business in a new way – and Tac Anderson thinks we may just need to bring more anthropology students into the business world.
4. We all know that work and life can be overwhelming – especially when everything around you keeps changing. This great post from Amber Naslund explains how to work with rolling goals so that you feel comfortable changing your goals as you, your conditions, your life and work necessitates.
5. We have all lived through a death by powerpoint, right? Kevin Dugan suggests that you reorder your slide decks to bring the payoff forward. After all, you don’t want to deliver that last “gotcha” slide to an empty room!

There’s a bit of something for everyone this week – something for the activists, some for the bloggers, some for the business to business marketers and even a snack for the hard working strategists and creatives in the agencies.

1. In the face of the #occupywallstreet momentum, Shay O’Reilly takes a shot at Malcolm Gladwell and wonders whether Gladwell isn’t, after all, a “crusty luddite”.
2. Over the weekend, NSW Police cleared Sydney’s Martin Place of #occupysydney protesters. This echoed the more violent closure of #occupymelbourne days earlier. What is it about peaceful protest that so incenses the government? Tim Longhurst shares some thoughts.
3. Laurel Papworth’s post (actually more like an essay) on the new Paywall for News Limited’s The Australian website is well worth a read. It provides a good background to the challenges, the approach that was taken pre-launch and some analysis of what will and what probably won’t.
4. Jake Hird has compiled 25 B2B social media case studies – including American Express’ Open Forum and Dell’s YouTube and Facebook channels. Good to share with your colleagues!
5. What can we learn from creatives, strategists and music? Jye Smith shares a few links and some insight.

With the global zeitgeist in full swing, I often find threads of connections between the posts that catch my attention. Maybe that is my own desire to pattern match. Or maybe it is the emerging global consciousness. Which ever way, each of these five posts have a thread of connection – even though the authors may not know or read each others’ blogs. Maybe now that will change!

Which of the following five must-read posts inspires you most?

1. One of the challenges for any business – especially a startup – is to raise awareness. The tried and true approach here is the traditional “press release”. Alan Jones has written a great article on How to Write and Deliver a Startup Press Release. And there are lessons there for all of us. Not jus the startups.
2. Let’s face it, our markets (and our customers) change all the time. And in business, one of the largest challenges is balancing the long term with the short – keeping an eye on trends, an eye on your customers and a vital, third eye on your business. What should executives focus on? Neil Perkin shares some insight in Playing the Long Game.
3. We often talk about business having an impact beyond the business. Indeed, research indicates that most people prefer (and Gen Y demand) that their employers contribute to the “greater good”. Kate Carruthers takes time out from her busy Rugby World Cup watching schedule and shares some insight into the challenges that Corporate Social Responsibility and the Triple Bottom Line represent.
4. But then businesses do face serious challenges – attracting talent, growing business, remaining relevant to their customers and markets. Danny Brown suggests that one way to do so is to Think Bigger Than You.
5. This type of thinking is a double edged sword. Employees want their companies to think outside of the box, but companies – in return – expect a similar commitment. Stan Johnson was surprised at how many young creatives were unaware of TED and suggested they consume some ideas worth spreading. Amen.