Online lions and offline lambs
I’ve been thinking about personality, and how it differs between our online and offline selves. There is a hope, expressed by all sorts of people, that the internet represents an easy way to understand exactly what people think. According to this argument, if we listen to internet conversations (scrape them, analyse them, Google-alert them) then we know what’s going on. It’s just a case of data reduction. I think that’s incredibly problematic, and here are three difficulties that I see with this way of thinking. 1. Online lions may be offline lambs It feels...
Read MoreValentine selection: five from the archives
I’m cheating today. On the assumption that you’ll be swamped by Valentine-themed content of all types, I am going to dig through my archives and blow the dust off some older posts that deserve more love. Hopefully something for everyone. Fair warning: some of these are from 2007, which is like 1850 in internet terms. 1. Practical usability How to Evaluate Your Website What it says on the tin. 2. Going beyond the polite and acceptable when talking about internet use Are We allowed To Talk About Downloading Why research may barely scratch the surface: things that people will...
Read MoreOnline science and Beyond Blogging
This past Wednesday was Beyond Blogging, a workshop/brainstorming session held at the Wellcome Trust and hosted by Shane McCracken and Sophia Collins of ‘I’m a Scientist – Get Me Out of Here’. Some thoughts It was an interesting day. I don’t know all that many folk in the science communication world, so it was great to put names to faces. The event also brought together people with very different backgrounds in engagement, including a number of people with hardcore geek credentials. Overall, I found the discussion more useful than the eventual brainstorming,...
Read MoreWhen cultures collide: LiveJournal, Facebook and the privacy chasm
So. A few days ago, the blogging site LiveJournal announced a shiny new feature: the ability to cross-post journal entries and comments directly to Twitter and Facebook. From the tone of the post, LJ staff were clearly expecting to be showered with gratitude. For those of you who squander spend time on those other social networks, we’ve just made it easier to stay in touch with your grandparents, forgotten acquaintances, and former bosses on Facebook and Twitter without having to leave the comfort of your LiveJournal home. At the time of writing, there were 142 pages of comments...
Read MoreFighting on the Internet
I have a confession: I’m terribly fond of reading (mostly) American self-help blogs. These are aimed at small businesses and entrepreneurs who want to develop their business. There are some excellent people doing interesting work out there, even if they are a bit too devoted to the cause of Seth Godin. This week, I swear that Mercury must be in retrograde. These are people who usually spend their entire professional lives being relentlessly upbeat (and charging you at least $47 for an ebook on how to improve your life). However, this week I have already read two major tirades...
Read MoreTeleclasses and online workshops: the next revolution
In the midst of all the loud talk about the latest trends in social media - like the ongoing obsession with location-based services – it’s interesting to notice a quiet business revolution taking place in other corners of the net. You may already be aware of services in say, marketing coaching or personal growth, often offered as teleclasses linked to highly successful business blogs. So, for example, you can sign up for a marketing teleclass with Naomi Dunford of Ittybiz, or go for the rather wonderfully-named Virtual Retreat offered by Jennifer Louden. I do believe...
Read MoreManifesto
Some of us find it quite simple to put our real organisations and authentic selves online.
Others - well, let's just say that some of us can't bear to look at our own websites.
My mission is to help you transform your online presence so that other people understand and appreciate what you really have to offer. So that you can achieve what you want - whether that's better engagement, more readers, or more sales.