Twitter not just another time sink
May 19, 2009→ 1 Comment
Some people are calling Twitter the next big tech-fad……. other people are just calling it a fad and a waste of time. Whatever your view of Twitter (and you might not have a view at all) it is an application that is garnering considerable mainstream attention and support.
Software companies are integrating Twitter updates into the contact databases of their applications. Australian online accounting company Saasu have added a Twitter field to the contacts database (along with buttons for other social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook). Earlier today 37Signals (the people that are behind Basecamp, Highrise and Backpack) announced basic integration between Highrise and Twitter. Once you have added your contact’s Twitter account details it will present you with their last 3 tweets on your screen.
So what you say; how can this really make a difference to your business?
37Signals captured it well in their article -
Tweets are great conversation starters that show you’re paying attention to what’s going on in their world.
So it is really about paying attention to people that matter a lot to your business – your customers.
And as for paying attention……. if you were paying attention to your good old fashion Fairfax media newspaper last week you may have seen an article on Twitter that I was interviewed for. Here is the online version (same words but no nice picture) http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/biztech/forget-golf-twitter-can-help-lift-your-game/2009/05/04/1241289099699.html
I’d be interested to hear about your views and ideas about Twitter, whether it is useful for you and what you think about software, like that mentioned above, integrating with Twitter.
Some Changes in the Wind at Google
May 12, 2009→ Add Comments
We will know in the next few hours if the Searchology press event being held by Google will reveal whether some of the features that have been in test mode over the past months are now part of the main offering.
A live webcast is being offered of the Searchology press event, to be held at its Mountain View headquarters, for those interested in the announcement.
When: Tuesday, May 12th, 10:00am – 11:30am PDT
Speakers will include VP of Search Engineering, Udi Manber, and VP of Search Products and User Experience, Marissa Mayer.
If you aren’t inclined to watch the live event, make sure to pay attention to you favourite IT blog or website over the coming days for all the details.
Common Sense Success
May 4, 2009→ 1 Comment
One of the biggest things missing from vast parts community at these times of hardship is commonsense. I don’t know if it is the media that is feeding the freenzy or if it is just expressing the concerns already out there, but the headlines seem to be all about doom, gloom and pestilence. Where has the commonsense gone?
Yes, the economy is proving to be a challenge and many people and businesses will feel the full, negative effect of it. Yes, there is a new, particularly contagious strain of the flu making it way around the world but it is no worse than seasonal flu (about 36,000 people in the U.S. die annually from seasonal influenza).
Maybe it is time for a little practical commonsense. The following thoughts from Seth Godin are written on the whiteboard above my desk. Maybe you will find them useful to regain your practical, action focused self.
- See what is possible
- Know specifically what you want to achieve
- Make good decisions
- Understand the tactics to get things done and change minds
- Earn the trust and respect of the people around you
