Twitter

Twitter, the social media microblogging site, celebrates its third birthday this week and it seems passion for the site knows no bounds.
Although its growth is exponentionally faster than Facebook, the latter still dwarfs it in user numbers. More interestingly, has been the attention Twitter has been getting from unlikely areas. Stephen Fry has been on the site since its launch, but now 'celebs' like John Mayer and Ashton Kutcher are leaping on the bandwagon.
The impact on brands will be immense. ComCast has for quite some time used the tool as a way of talking to customers, and now it looks like the media is using it too. The Guardian updates followers regularly and now Chicago Tribune has takent the unprecedented step of flagging its contributors in its flannel panel as Twitterers. Will other newspapers follow suit?

Twitter - embrace or not - just be careful

I've been following the story about 'PR guru' James Andrews in the States who rather naively posted a comment about a city on Twitter, incurring the wrath of one of his companies top clients. For those of you that haven't seen it, Andrews was on his way to a meeting at Fed Ex's corporate headquarters in Memphis, when he Tweeted his hatred for the city. One alert Fed Ex employee stumbled on it and retorted with a rather sniffy response, cc'ing in a number of senior Fed Ex employees.
Andrews claims to be a social media expert, but I have to admit that he can't be that savvy if he didn't realise that - out of the near 1000 followers he has on Twitter - one of them might be from Fed Ex.
Yet another example of how companies and individuals need to watch what they say online.
Follow the rule - if you wouldn't say it to their face don't say it online.

China

Much as I have my reservations about China, I have to say the whole fuss over the 'fake' singer at the ceremony is a bit over the top. China has for years been horrific in its attempts to create perfect human beings. From binding feet, to mutilation of young women, it was never going to offer up a slightly gawky child to sing in its biggest exposure to the world. That said, I wonder how affected the rejected child will be. Imagine living your life being known as the 'child that was too ugly to sing at the Olympics'?
I'm wanting someone to explain the point of Yahoo's new Fire Eagle application. I am now Twittering, Facebooking, Powncing and blogging. When does it stop? And does anyone care?

Finally

Well after a week of no laptop, I'm now able to update my blog. I've finished working for Mobile Business, too much for too little money, so they've now found a new editor, which is great.
My business plans are coming along too, should be meeting people this week. Quite exciting and scary too.
Went to the NMA Awards on the 26th June. Interesting array of winners. Good to see that Argos is finally getting recognition for its digital work. Although, I do think they need to ensure that the dedication to digital filters down to the minions. Last time I spoke to a PR person at Argos, they told me digital wasn't a priority for them. Interesting when you think how the experience of ordering on the web, picking up in store and paying at a quick terminal is so much more palatable than standing with the chavs. If only they could understand how important they're going to be in the new trying 'credit crunch' days.

Have had a bit of a debauched weekend, not with the romantic interest mentioned last month, but with a new one. Considering I spent all weekend with him, and I didn't want to kill him, we could be in trouble. He does however keep demanding I visit him in the achingly trendy Shoreditch. Not entirely sure that'll be happening regularly. Even better though, he's a geek so at least when I start talking about SEO and social integration and web2.0, he won't doze off out of ignorance. Boredom, maybe, ignorance though, not.
Need to get my head together as I've two features to write on SEO. Better dust off my 'How to get to the top on Google' manual. Have also been reading Groundswell, about the importance of social media. Given that comments on Facebook are falling, should be quite interesting. Have been watching with interest the rise of things like Dopplr and Twitter. The exhaustingly digital Paul Walsh seems to spend 24 hours a day updating his feed, frankly my life's too dull for that. Pleased to be back online. Amazing how much you get done, though, when the constant chirping of incoming mail isn't there. I've reorganised my office, fed my fish and managed to make a jelly. I'm having a breakdown clearly.
I'm still surprised at the ruling against YouTube re; Viacom's case against them. Quite how YouTube is going to offer up all the users' details without someone mounting an action against them. I would have thought someone would pull the Human Rights card. Yet to be seen.