08-26-09

Hello. Still here!

Update 4: This is getting embarrassing now. The redesign is *still* in progress. It’s May 2010.

Update 3: The redesign has started . . .

Update 2: It’s 2010 and this hasn’t happened yet. It will do – I’m just super busy on lots of other stuff (OK, mainly Twitter)

Update: It’s October and I still haven’t done this. Eeeeek. But, looks like I might be doing it this week. Yay!
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Wow. That went pretty quick. I can’t believe just how long it’s been since I last blogged. Sure . . . I’ve had a few wobbles before but this time it’s been ages. And it seems like I’m not the only one. These days like a lot of people most of my online time gets spent on Twitter where I share loads of stuff and do all the stuff I used to do on the blog, but in micro format. The other place that gets a hammering is delicious, where I’m up to a silly number of bookmarks.

Anyway, just in case anybody is still listening – I wanted to let you know that over the next couple of weeks I;m going to be revamping my online presence and as part of that this blog is going to be upgraded and re-skinned. Hopefully all that spring cleaning and me feeling all nice about the blog again will give me that little bit of added motivation to get blogging in long form again. In the meantime though . . . . see you on Twitter.

11-11-08

Yeah, yeah

Blimey. Been super busy over the past week week doing all sorts of work-related stuff like launching Facebook applications with the guys over at GetThemIn, engaging with Gadget Show fans using Twitter on behalf of simplifyDigital and talking to my builder about the blog/website I’m setting up for him in return for half a concrete floor!

Also, I’ve dealt with man-flu, ripped out my old kitchen and set up a temporary new kitchen, learnt a bit about how to use my new Roland SH101, remotely prevented my dad from getting hit with a virus on his computer and also caught up with the inbox nightmare that awaited me after just a few days off.

So, there-in lies the reason for the fact that I’ve just listed out stuff that’s prevented me from blogging about something super interesting for a bit, rather than write something about something super-interesting. You could of course just follow me on Friendfeed or subscribe to my delicious feed or follow me on Twitter. I’m pretty active over there all the time, every day. It’s the blog that suffers first when things get busy. Same for everyone else?

09-01-08

Rise of the micro-agency continues

Today Stephen Davies (aka PRblogger.com) joins the growing list of former agency digital PR peeps to launch their own specialist agencies/consultancies with new venture 3WPR. I did the same in March this year with Shed and I haven’t looked back since. Yes, it’s a bit scary and strange at first but you soon get used to working differently and dealing with all that extra stuff that comes with setting up on your own.

Personally, I absolutely love the freedom and flexibility it gives you in your work. Since setting up Shed I’ve had the time to meet loads of really smart people, start working with a few of them and even cook up my own ideas for some web based things. As well as doing all that social media and digital stuff that I genuinely love.

Good luck Stephen and thanks for calling Shed disruptive.

PS It was Ged that called Shed a micro-agency and it’s kind of stuck in my mind.

07-31-08

Groundswell (recommended)

Hi there. I think I forgot to say on here, but did on Twitter – I’ve been mostly offline over the past few days and am about to go on holiday – hence the abnormal quietness on the blog front.

So this isn’t just a brief announcement, I’d like to join in the groundswell and recommend “Groundswell” by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff – a great book looking at ‘winning in a world transformed by social technologies’. The best bit for me? It’s rammed with case studies and stats that provide some ways of looking at ROI and installing confidence in engaging with social media (all that stuff that companies like and need if they don’t necessarily see it for themselves as active participants).

There’s a blog here about the book and you can of course buy it in all good bookshops (I actually picked it up at Terminal 3 at Heathrow). Oh and here’s why you should buy it (according to the authors):

Ten Things You’ll Only Find In Groundswell

1. Rock-solid credibility. Groundswell is based on facts and experience from analysts who have advised more than 100 business clients on social technology strategy.

2. Breadth. Groundswell includes chapters for managers and executives in research, marketing, sales, support, and development.

3. Case studies and examples. Groundswell cites 65 corporate examples including 25 full case studies in a variety of industries and countries around the world.

4. Data. Groundswell features data from Forrester research consumer surveys in the US, six Asian countries, and seven European countries. Try out our profile tool.

5. Web resources. Groundswell’s Web site includes links to sites in the book and notes. Plus Josh and Charlene’s long-running and popular blog.

6. Visionary advice. The book includes actionable strategic and tactical advice for managers in every chapter. The last three chapters boldly describe how the Groundswell will transform your company and your future.

7. Focus on ROI. Every case in the book focuses on the specific business return from social strategy, including three ROI calculation templates.

8. Great writing. Groundswell is written in a personal, engaging style that makes it very easy to read. It tastes good, and it’s good for you, too.

9. Prominent authors. Charlene Li, Josh Bernoff, and Forrester Research are the acknowledged social technology experts, quoted in national media more than any other source on this growing trend.

10. A community of people like you. Groundswell’s discussion forum connects you to other social technology strategists throughout the world.

07-02-08

Vote for, er, me – I think

Random one this one. middledigit has ended up on the shortlist for the Computer Weekly IT Blog Awards in the Web 2.0 and Business blogs category – alongside Techcrunch UK (yes, Techcrunch UK!!!), Roo Reynolds, UK Web Focus and a few other blogs that I should no doubt be reading. I think I nominated myself as one of those throw away things you do to see what happens and now I’m a little surprised to find out I’m on the shortlist.

Not entirely certain what to say, other than go and vote for Mike/Techcrunch UK or another blog that I think is far more deserving than I am! You can of course vote for me if you like, but I’d urge you to think strongly about the competition. Whilst this week has seen me being particularly chuffed at the Twitter poll being referenced over at the Guardian, I think I’m a little bit off being suitable to be shortlisted alongside some of those other bloggers in the category.

Thank you for shortlisting me though Computer Weekly – just not really sure what to do, other than whack the badge up there on the right and see what happens.

04-09-08

Radio Silence

Am (sort of) offline until 19th April. Anything urgent, please call/txt me – I’m five hours behind on US time. Normal service to resume shortly upon my return.

02-22-08

middledigit.net is one

Almost forgot to say (and actually technically ‘today’ is now yesterday) but today is/was the first anniversary of middledigit.net. After a few attempts that went on to be abandoned, I’m really chuffed that it’s lasted this long and I now enjoy blogging so much and have really experienced the benefits of having a proper little home on the web. Even if it isn’t updated every single day . . .

Today has also been the first time I’ve blogged from my new office at home, which I’ve set up to start-up my new consultancy from and get even more involved with social media and the wonderful thing that is the web. Having worked at Cow, then Bite, I haven’t been able to resist sticking with the one syllable theme and have called my new company Shed. It’s new home will be here (currently forwarding onto middledigit.net) and I’m getting really rather excited about it all now.

So thanks to all of you for your support over the last 12 months and here’s to the next year of flipping it to old ways of thinking and a whole lot more more doing and less talking.

02-06-08

Coming soon: a change for me

Some of you I think will know this already – given the efficiency of the technology PR grapevine – but as of mid-March I’m leaving Bite to set up on my own. After thinking about it for a while, I’ve finally decided that now is the time for me to go solo and become a freelance creative/digital consultant focusing on social media, online marketing and PR.

(UPDATE: Just read a piece in PR Week – ‘blog specialist’ is somewhat narrowing down what I actually do at Bite and will be doing in the future, plus the list of clients wasn’t wholly complete . . . but there you go, I should be flattered right?)

I’m currenty talking to Bite about the possibility of working on a freelance basis after my full time contract ends but we haven’t worked out the final details yet. I’ve really enjoyed more than three years at Bite and in that time I’ve worked on some amazing brands like Apple, Yahoo!, Tiger Beer, Zopa and most recently Facebook (particularly exciting after it was dubbed the most sought-after retainer of 2007!). My first event at Bite was the European launch of iTunes and it’s been an amazing ride for me along the way ever since then.

Now though I’m up for a change and am really excited about the future and working with lots more exciting people, companies and agencies – working out how to embrace this massive earth-changing thing we all know and love called the Internet.

Now I just need to think of a name and there’s one recurring theme that keeps on occupying my mind . . .

12-21-07

Going mainly analogue

Not that I’ve been that acvtive on the blog over the last few weeks (I’ve been here and here mainly) but this is a quick one to sign out for Christmas. I’ll be back online properly on 4th January (woo hoo!) and if anything, will be Twittering in the meantime. (Follow me here). Spending Christmas in Leicestershire and in-between/New Year up north in a little village deep in the Northumbrian countryside with my family.

Next year, lots of exciting things ahead. Can’t wait. But just for the next couple of weeks, I fancy going analogue with just a small side portion of digital. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.

10-01-07

Live your life, now

Yesterday my Grandma died, aged 84. She had a good innings as they say and had been fighting with illness (including cancer) for the past few years. She loved gardening and everything that comes with it – flowers, ponds, birds and all that amazing stuff that lives outside.

So, with the feeling of immense reflection and the immediate desire to see loved ones and live my life to the full, I write this to remind me to do just that – live my life right now and do amazing stuff while I’ll still alive.

Kevin Kelly is also thinking the same thing, having installed a countdown widget to the end of his life on his desktop. Not sure if I can bring myself to do the same thing though.

Anyway, do it.

middledigit_

If technology doesn't seem like magic, it's probably obsolete . . .

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