Thursday 31 October 2013

Why Costa is EVIL

A suitably Halloweeny title you might say. But this post (*rant) is one of personal perspective regarding something I am truly passionate about. It's about something many blue and white collar workers are probably passionate about. Something that, for many, is the fuel for the fires of business. Coffee.

You see, good coffee - I mean truly good coffee - is something of a rarity in my opinion. Much of it tastes the same. Most of it is commercialised, mass produced sludge of indiscernible flavour. For years I would only brew my own at home which was cheaper. Better. More fulfilling. Then something changed. I got busy. My mornings started earlier. Home-brewed coffee became a weekend indulgence. So, for my sins, I turned to the coffee houses for my morning pick-me-up (and my mid-morning; elevenses; lunch; late lunch; mid-afternoon; afternoon; and home time pick-me-ups for that matter).

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Get it right. Principle 2: Data

Welcome to Part 2 of my "Get it Right" mini-series detailing the principles I try to live by when running a web project. These principles are designed to help me save time, improve efficiencies and above all, protect investment.

My first instalment in this series looked at the method I use to secure and apportion investment.

This time I want to talk to you about data. More specifically, the types of data you can gather to aid you in your decision making. Don't switch of just yet. I promise I'll try and keep it light.

As ever, this is only one man's opinion. I'm open to feedback and will do my best to come back on any comments made.

So without further ado... Principle 2...

Monday 28 October 2013

New volunteering questions on LinkedIn and why you should be excited

Nearly every time I log into LinkedIn it asks me to update my profile. Now, my profile is pretty much as complete as it ever will be. In fact, I'm an 'All Star' (pause for applause). There's so much information on my profile my career identity is at risk of being stolen. So these requests for update have, up to now, been a bit of an annoyance.

That is, until I logged in today...

Friday 11 October 2013

Celebrating 15 years of Google Search

15 years! Wow! Doesn't time fly? Google have recently celebrated 15 years of search and as part of the celebration have released their own Google Timeline.

Their timeline showcases some of the milestones and successes covered within just a decade and a half of Goggling (that's definitely right... I Googled it). Interestingly there nothing in there about privacy scandals or tax evasion, but nonetheless it's an interesting piece.

Here are my best bits...

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Small Business Saturday UK is coming

For me, one of the most exciting developments in the small business world this year has to be the introduction of Small Business Saturday UK.

Up to now, this day of focus and celebration has been held in the US on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Its aims are to get people to shop with their local businesses and to help support their local communities. And it's proved an astounding success with small businesses in the US raking in almost £3.5 billion in sales last year. And now it's our turn!

Here are my thoughts on why Small Business Saturday UK so important and details on how you can get involved...

Thursday 3 October 2013

Get it right. Principle 1: Invest

If you're working on a website - either improving what you already have or building one from scratch - you'll know that it can be an expensive project. It's one that often requires a significant investment of time and money. Spend more money and you'll save yourself some time. Devote more of your time on things and you'll save some money. But if you're going to do a web project properly you're going to have to invest one or the other.

With that in mind, you're going to want to get it right. The last thing you need at go live is a product that doesn't work. An eCommerce site that doesn't convert. A blog or research site with zero engagement.

So what can be done to protect your investment? The following mini-series will take you through the principles I try and live by. I hope they prove as useful to you as I have found them and I welcome any feedback you have on my own personal approach.