Category: Rant

I was delighted by Seth Godins short blog piece on backing up and the question "what would Proust think"?

So much so that I ended up emailing him …

Most of us do not consider the shoes that we wear to be part of a collection (Imelda Marcos the obvious exception). But the music and movies that we watch, that we take pride in "owning", are more personal. They say much about how we see our place in the world and the tribe that we belong (or subscribe) to.

My guess is that Proust would see the beauty of the item in a collection. And that each item would embody the whole world — representing the small step of making the world one’s own.

Perhaps this is what Kevin Roberts means when he talks about Lovemarks.

Got something to say …? Add your comment!

I have been watching on and off, the new venture under way at Squidoo. I don’t fully understand it as yet, but it looks like a critical wiki. Interesting!

Squidoo appears to be a blogging-oriented platform that allows people with certain interests or expertise to provide opinion, commentary or (dare I say it) knowledge to anyone willing to read it.

They are currently in the beta phase of rollout … It could well be something to keep your eye on!

Have you had an experience with Squidoo? Comment and let me know what it was.

Just when you thought is was safe to ignore technology … Google have hit us again with a free and easy way to measure the effectiveness of your website.

Now Google Analytics brings the world of analytics to a browser very near to you. Does it matter? Well if you are interested in your audience (and let’s face it — why AREN’T you?), then this new tool will help you understand what your readers/clients are interested in, where they come from and perhaps even why.

Now there is NO excuse to live in a world-wide-web of ignorance!

S.

Brand Channel is hosting a debate on the damage that phishing is doing to big brands such as eBay, banks and so on.

In my view, the single strongest defence against phishing is to consistently match your company’s tone of voice with your brand promise. This matching should take place across all communications.

This way, when one of your customers receives an e-mail that solicits a response, your customers will be able to clearly differentiate between something that you send, and something that comes from the forces of darkeness!

Of course, this is easier said than done … but investing is the relationship between your brand and your customers is essential to longevity. A loss of trust could be devastating.

Start telling your story today.

When it comes to online identity, there is a great deal of time spent on developing the "look and feel" of a website, but very little effort is spent on developing the tone of a site.

It seems strange that people jump straight to the visual, straight to the "big bang", without stopping to think about HOW to get there. A website is a place to tell a story. It is a space to hold a moment of history. And the visitors that come to your site truly are interested in your story – and if it is not compelling (visually or narratively) – then they will leave. On the web there is always somewhere else to go!

Of course, having a story is one thing. Developing a WAY of telling your story is the next challenge. I struggle with this here as much as anyone. But I think it is important to see it as an ongoing struggle.

Each day is different. Each perspective alternative. And if you are open to grow and learn, then your site, your tone of voice, and even your visual style will mature and change with time.

Got an opinion? Share it with the rest of us by commenting!

When we see something we love, something that appeals or gets to us we are connecting. We may hate it too. But we may be compelled.
I saw this site some time ago and have been an avid follower. I have read many of the manifestos available on the <a href="http://www.changethis.com">Change This</a> website, and I have forwarded them, printed them and used them to generate new thinking in friends and colleagues.
There was the Clue Train … and the Hugh Train. Hook up your little red wagon and see where Change This will take you.
All aboard – a thousand good ideas are leaving town.

Macromedia has finally released Flash 8, with roadshows and presentations happening across the globe. There are even online web seminars that will help us all come to grips with the funky new features. These Macromedia guys really know how to launch a product!

But are we ready for it? So far, most efforts have concentrated on implementing video for the web. Some sites have cleverly integrated cool music to beef up the presentation, but this is only beginning to scrape the surface of what is possible.

It is important to focus on <b>interactivity</b> – providing non-linear possibilities that are designed to promote action, reaction and engagement from the end-user. Video streaming is only going to provide that single story, but we all want more. So much more.

This is a challenge for all designers and developers. It is also a  challenge for writers. From this point on, it is essential that all begin to work collaboratively – more in the way in which game developers work. A flash in the pan? Not likely.

It drives me nuts when someone says to me "a picture paints a thousand words". It is even worse when that person follows through with a reason, or a process, or a formula like <a href="http://www.imediaconnection.com/content/6709.asp">this</a>.

Sure, good copywriting can be strengthened by bold design. But where does the design start? It starts by someone needing to communicate a message to someone else – they have a story to tell.

From there, everything falls into place.