Hands up who’s sick of being approached by sales people on Linked-In. It has in-effect become an online database for recruitment consultants. How many people have you not connected with because they were probably going to try and sell you something and who has had to block or report someone for spamming you?
On Twitter I know numerous people that un-follow anyone who auto DM’s (Direct Messages) asking to look at this site or these products. I do it too. I use twitter to keep up-to-date with what’s going on within the digital industry; I follow people who inspire me, whose tweets are interesting and informative. I don’t want to read posts about products I don’t want to purchase or special offers not relevant to me.
Personally I use Facebook as a Social Networking site the key word here is Social, I don’t want to be sold to while I am just having a catch up with a friend or laughing over Saturday nights pictures. I can’t count the amount of times I have ignored requests to join the “I love Mc Donald’s” or “Cokes better than Pepsi” groups.
Because of this I just want to set up my own social network where I won’t be bothered by spam and I can discuss topics me and my followers, connections or friends are interested in. I don’t think I am alone.
Brands will be shut out if consumers keep getting targeted in an aggressive way. There are already a number of ways to block out any unwanted spam, but are people looking for a more permanent solution?
Social Media Cliques. Small exclusive groups formed to converse online without the fear of being sold to and targeted by the “amazing lose a stone in a week diet pills” scams. With the help of sites like Ning we simply start our own Social Network. We can get a group of high end fashionistas or BMW fanatics or dare I say it, Digital Geeks together in one place to discuss common interests, rate and slate latest trends, get advice on companies worth purchasing from and those not. Places to get sound advice without an ulterior motive, where you don’t have to use a spam filter or disconnect with sales folk.
I have no doubt that these secret communities are out there and some maybe so exclusive they are invitation only, how many exist already that you’re missing out on?
Best advice for those companies looking to engage with customers before it’s too late and they disappear into social networks you won’t have access to. Hire a good Social Media Strategist one who understands your target market, who is not going to offend their intelligence with spam but who will engage with them on an interesting and entertaining level. An alternative is to set up your own social network and create captivating content that showcases the brand in a really positive way so people want to be part of it.
Our brand new Wayne Magazine is out now - featuring Wayne, our Creative Director.
… Only Joking. We just think he looks like a cross between Jamie Oliver and that guy out of Fallout Boy. Plus he is into his food, so its a perfect wind up. Enjoy!! And for all those that dont know what Wayne looks like… here he is (left) with MD Lee Turner (right)
Following on from the success of the 2010 Desktop Calendar that we created for our fans to download at the beginning of the year, we decided to add another masterpiece to the collection…. we may even release a new one every month if they carry on being in high demand as they have been.
Fluid Creativity will be joining the learned scholars at Manchester Metropolitan University in February, imparting knowledge onto the next generation of online marketers at the very first Search School Manchester.
Presenting a lecture on the essentials of “how to optimise a page and site”, I’m proud to have been offered the chance to support this burgeoning and important initiative, along with a number of other SEM professionals from around the Manchester area, including Neil Yeomans (Lakestar Media), Martin Cozens (Banc Media), Claire Wescott (I-COM) and Mindy Gofton (I-COM).
My cat loves a good internet meme as much as the next person. He heard about that wimp keyboard cat and thought he would take him on at his own game. Let’s hope this doesn’t escalate…
In case you haven’t seen this yet, we really must draw your attention to an IPhone gadget which will look to revolutionise the way individuals and small businesses can complete financial transactions.
It’s turning into a very interesting week with the news of Google deciding whether to shut down it’s Chinese branch due to malicious attacks on gmail accounts of known human rights protestors. That combined with the news that Google are also insisting that us jolly Brits should talk like Americans has meant that there is plenty to discuss - however, none of that is getting any time in my head as I can’t ignore a big white elephant in the room: the annoying persistance of this snow.
Rather than going on a typically British tirade about how ridiculously cold it is I thought I’d try and lighten the mood with some nonsense about snowmen. Here goes… Read more »
Unfortunately our first post of the year might not be a happy one for some, as Google have pulled the rug out from under some of the best known SEO companies in the UK with a sneaky but significant change to the results page for the keyword “search engine optimisation”. You see, “optimisation” is one of those words the Americans spell a little differently, prefering an arguably more phonetically correct “z” over an “s”. And, apparently, Google think the UK should adopt this too, as they’re now default all searches for “search engine optimisation” to the results page for “search engine optimization. Read more »
There’s no doubt that all this lovely snow has been helping us to get into the festive spirit. What can you see outside your office window? Children having a snowball fight? A snowman? Merry shoppers eating roast chestnuts? We’ve got ROCKETS.
If Santa did his rounds on these bad boys he’d be done in half the time. They’ll be everyone’s christmas cards next year, you mark my words.
Yesterday we were greeted by the lovely people taking part in the computing course at Tameside College. It’s their second visit in as many years and we look forward to another visit in the next decade! We answered questions on web development, web trends and where we think the web is going, how to be more employable in the digital industries and the kinds of things we look for in people. It was fantastic to see local talent being grown right here on our doorstep!
Myself and Mike, one of our senior developers, showed the lucky people all round Fluid Towers, demonstrating some of the projects we’ve been working on and the kinds of technology we use to get the job done. We were lucky enough to have John Pywell give his thoughts on the visit to Fluid HQ.
“We wanted to gain insights into the latest technologies and techniques used in web design and development. This is something that academic institutions like ourselves really need to keep abreast of if we are to give our students the best possible start on their careers in this industry. It is too easy to get into a rut of teaching out-of-date practices and using software that is not current.
We feel privileged to have the multiple award-winning team at FluidCreativity take the time to explain to our students all aspects of their work. We were impressed with the efficiency of their set-up and how they make the most of the specialisms and skills of each of their staff, from designers and code developers to search engine specialists and animators. The fact that each of their staff need to continually update their skills and master cutting-edge technology to produce the best possible product for their clients is a sober lesson for our students who may fall into the trap of relying purely on their qualification to succeed in the industry.
We saw much evidence of the use of such technology during our visit, with examples of advanced Content Management Systems, bespoke online product creation and purchasing using customer-interactive animations, and multiple-platform solutions for all sizes of business.
All-in-all our visit was very inspiring and motivational to both staff and students alike!
What would a visit be without a nice photograph to remember the occasion? Thanks to everyone who attended, we look forward to a new visit in the new decade.
More information about the College’s Higher Education courses can be found here.
