Generated by All in One SEO Pro v4.9.6.1, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Allister Frost Future-Ready Mindset - thinker, writer, speaker ## Posts ### [FROST News](https://allisterspeaks.com/blog/) **Published:** April 21, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** --- ### [The Busyness Epidemic](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-busyness-epidemic/) **Published:** April 21, 2026 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** It feels like many professionals I talk to have perfected the art of the busy day. Their working routine appears to be a frantic rollercoaster of calendar Tetris (other time-draining distractions are available), multiple concurrent chat sessions, and endless email ping-pong. Even turning up to meetings five minutes late has become a perverse badge of honour. And yet, despite all the furious pace, their days often end exactly where they started: exhausted, with no visible progress. This feels like a common problem. ***Do you feel it?*** When we lack a clear view of the contribution we make to the collective progress, it can feel as though we are engaged in performative activity rather than substantive work. And please don’t get me started on the floods of online content from cash-hungry influencers. You know the ones – they have a bullet-proof shortcuts that helps them complete a whole day’s work in thirty minutes. Those numpties only amplify the yawning sense of futility. But I do agree: “If AI can do all that, what am I here for?” is a fair question right now. My work shows that maintaining a **Future-Ready Mindset** can help reduce this cycle. It forces us to stop obsessing over the volume of inputs by shifting our focus toward making a meaningful contribution to (1) our own and (2) the collective longer-term growth. The volume of tasks completed each day has never been a smart way to measure productivity, not even on a manufacturing line. Change is so prevalent these days, the only sane measure is how much progress we have created. Wishing you a productive day 😉 **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Don't quit in panic!](https://allisterspeaks.com/dont-quit-in-panic/) **Published:** April 14, 2026 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** AI fears are prompting some professionals to make rushed career swaps, but I think there’s a better way. In fact, my ReadyAlready Growth Cycle (aka The FROST Framework) is perfect for these times. > **Radical change should come from clarity and conviction – not panic.** Here’s a link to my recent interview with Zee at TechRound: A Future-Ready Mindset can help workers escape the AI panic and lay the right foundations for their next chapter of work. Let me know what you think. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [35% are doing WHAT?!](https://allisterspeaks.com/35-are-doing-what/) **Published:** March 4, 2026 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Last week, an Edubrain survey of 3,500 Americans aged 18-60 uncovered something many of us have long suspected. Many adults, just like schoolchildren, are surprisingly willing to outsource thinking to anyone or anything that will do it for them. Yes, I’m talking about AI, and the damage it is already doing to our collective cognitive capability. The adoption rates by age are insightful: **37% of millennials** (30-45yrs) use AI daily, compared to **25% of Gen Zers** (14-29 yrs), and **19% of Gen Xers** (46-61yrs). Nothing wrong with that, of course. When used correctly, AI is a wonderful tool for refining thoughts and testing ideas. But, as we all know, not everyone uses AI intelligently. In the survey, 36% admit that they’d be **embarrassed** by the ways they’re routinely using AI. 18% say they’ve used AI for something **illegal!** And, get this, 35% have asked an AI tool to **\*predict the future\*** *WTAF?!* Stats like these show how poorly many people understand how AI works and what it is genuinely useful for. They also remind us how quickly we can fall for AI’s promise of instant answers and its apparent omnipotence. So, for the record, repeat after me: AI is little more than a very clever language pattern-matching machine. **It generates plausible answers, not the truth,** and presents them to you in ways that make you think it’s doing something intelligent. Crucially, AI cannot and never will accurately predict the future! It’s designed for probability, not prophecy. If you are already embarrassed by how you use AI, take comfort in your self-awareness. That awareness is the first step in Future-Readying your career. It means you still have the capacity to re-engage your brain before cognitive atrophy sets in. The bottom line: **Please do not outsource your critical thinking to a machine. That is one thing a machine should never replace.** **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Forget the Futurist: Why I’m Planning My Future with a Very Talented Onion](https://allisterspeaks.com/forget-the-futurist-why-im-planning-my-future-with-a-very-talented-onion/) **Published:** March 3, 2026 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I recently considered hiring a high-priced strategy coach to help me navigate the ever-shifting Motivational Speaking industry, but I’ve decided to go in a different direction. I’m taking up **cromniomancy**. For the uninitiated—and I assume that is most of you—this is the ancient and noble art of interpreting the sprouting pattern of an onion to predict what lies ahead. It sounds absurd, doesn’t it? But honestly, in a world evolving at such remarkable speeds, staring at a rooted vegetable feels as scientifically rigorous as any McKinsey Roadmap. If the vegetable is right, I’m a genius; if it’s wrong, I’ll make soup. And yet many business leaders I work with still seem obsessed with “what” tomorrow may bring. I believe their energy may be better spent **focussing** on “who” they may need to become.Cromniomancy **The “Proven” Methods of Divination** With Big Data and “predictive analytics”, you’d think we might have moved past ancient superstitions. But in an era where the entire global economy can shift in a morning, is a complex computer model that much more reliable than **tasseography** (the curious art of reading tea leaves in the bottom of a cup)? If you’re currently paying a futurist a small fortune to guess what 2030 may look like, you might save a few pounds by considering these equally “proven” alternatives: - **Tyromancy:** Telling the future by examining the holes and patterns in cheese. (perfect for a charcuterie board meeting). - **Gyromancy:** Spinning a person around until they dizzily fall down on a circle of letters. The resulting “word” becomes your Q4 strategy. - **Dictiomancy:** Opening a dictionary at random and pointing to a word. (many corporate mission statements are written this way). - **Ptarmoscopy:** Interpreting the hidden meaning behind a sneeze. (Bless you! But also put all your money on Mane Attraction in the 2.30pm at Chepstow). - **Scatomancy:** This involves examining… er, excrement. Enough said. Enjoy your lunch. **Life Beyond the Crystal Ball** The temptation to reach for the tea leaves or a complex predictive algorithm is understandable. We crave certainty. We want to “future-proof” our lives, our careers, and our companies. But “future-proofing” is a myth. It’s an outdated concept that suggests there’s a point of “completion” where we and our lives are safe from change. If 2026 has taught us anything, it’s that trying to future-proof a business is about as effective as **Abocomancy**—predicting the future by analysing patterns in dust. This is the new reality: Futurism and long-range predictions have never held less value. So, instead of searching for certainty (or monitoring which way my onion will sprout), I’ve abandoned all hopes of “Future Certainty” in pursuit of higher levels of **Future-Readiness**. **Why Future-Readiness is the Antidote** While futurism looks outward at a world we cannot control, a **Future-Ready-Mindset** looks inward at the skills and capabilities we *can* control. It is the ultimate antidote to change fatigue because it replaces frantic “reactions” with continuous “readiness.” Here’s how it helps: - **It’s an Ongoing Process:** Unlike a one-off “strategy,” **Future-Readying** is a continuous, never-ending activity. It’s a constant state of personal evolution and growth. - **It Replaces Anxiety with Agility:** When you stop obsessing over *what* will happen, you can focus on *how* to develop into the person who will know how to respond. - **It Abandons the Illusion of Certainty:** There is immense freedom in admitting we don’t know what’s coming. When you stop trying to “solve” the future, you can start shaping it. There’s an old saying that “the best way to predict the future is to create it.” While I love that sentiment, I prefer a more practical version: **The best way to predict the future is to be ready for it—no matter which version of it actually shows up at your door.** **From Onions to Readiness** By all means, keep a bag of onions handy—but perhaps save them for a nice risotto rather than your next quarterly board meeting. The era of the “all-knowing” prediction is over, and frankly, we should be relieved. When we stop trying to “future-proof” our lives with plans that shatter at the first sign of a global shift, we find something much more resilient: the ability to adapt, evolve, and thrive regardless of the forecast. Building a **Future-Ready-Mindset** isn’t about having the answers; it’s about being the kind of person (or **organisation**) who can handle whatever question the world throws your way next. --- **If you’re tired of the “future-proofing” clichés and want to explore how a Future-Ready-Mindset can help your team move from change fatigue to genuine agility, I’d love to hear from you.** Whether you want to book a keynote that’s a little more insightful than a sneeze-reading, or you’re looking for a strategy that actually works in 2026, let’s talk: > [Contact](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) No onions required. **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Why ‘Change Management’ Almost Always Fails (and How to Make It Irresistible)](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-change-management-almost-always-fails-and-how-to-make-it-irresistible/) **Published:** January 6, 2026 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** > *“If ever there is a misnomer, it’s change management. It rarely causes change—and it’s almost always mismanaged.”* That cutting observation comes from [Phil Gilbert](https://www.linkedin.com/in/philgilbertsr/), the former head of design at IBM. If, like me, you’ve sat through a ninety-minute “vision deck” presentation, only to go back to your desk and carry on exactly as before, you’ll know precisely what he means. Many leaders try to “manage” change with colourful Gantt charts, mandatory training sessions, and top-down directives. Yet, Gartner data shows that 80% of the workforce still feels poorly prepared for the future. Clearly, change management isn’t working. In a recent [Inc.com article](https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/ibm-change-management-phil-gilbert-leadership-failure/91242714), Gilbert revealed how IBM approached this differently. They didn’t force 400,000 people to change; they designed a programme people *adopted*. In his words, they made change “irresistible.” Or, as I often say: > ***“People change only when they want to change.”*** This concept of “irresistible change” is a reassuring validation of the principles I teach every day. It proves that successful transformation rarely (if ever) comes solely from better mechanics or processes. It also demands shifts in human behaviour and gently teasing busy people out of the deadly complacency of their comfort zone. To do change well, I believe you need to equip your people with a **Future-Ready Mindset**. Here is how IBM’s success aligns closely with the principles of the **ReadyAlready® Growth Cycle (AKA The FROST Framework)**, and how you can use this to turn resistance into enthusiasm. ## 1. Connect to Values, Not just “Initiatives” Most corporate change efforts fail because they focus on the “what” not the “why”. “I’m so excited to hear about our AI-First Strategy,” said no-one, ever. IBM realised that when you label a transformation with a specific technology, it inherits all the baggage and negativity that people associate with that tech. Instead, they branded their change programmes around values, turning them into cultural movements about ***how*** teams worked together to serve clients better. And here’s my Future-Ready Mindset view on this. This mirrors the Open stage of my framework, because great change only happens when we encourage our teams to **Open** their minds, challenge the status quo, and ask “Why?” with the naive curiosity of someone unburdened by years of experience. Because when we see how a change aligns with our own values and desire for progress, we stop being employees hesitantly following orders and become proactive participants in creating and shaping our mission towards better. ## 2. Encourage Courageous Transparency Over Top-Down Vision Leaders often try to evangelise change with slick presentations. Gilbert argues this often misses the mark. People don’t need promises; they need ***proof*** from trusted peers. This is a powerful validation of the Tell stage in my FROST framework—but I think this needs to go much deeper than simply sharing carefully-polished success stories. In my experience, top-down ideas are rarely the best. Yet in many organisations, they are the only ones permitted. To make change irresistible, we need **courageous collaboration** to fuel bottom-up thinking. My “Tell” step calls for staff to have the mettle to share an unpolished idea, a hope, or a dream before it’s perfect. It’s about creating a psychological safety net where colleagues work together to transform a raw “what if…?” into a collaborative “let’s try…” When you empower everyone in the organisation to shape the change agenda through bold, transparent collaboration, you create a pull towards the future that no mandate will ever achieve. ## What this means for leaders: Gilbert’s work at IBM proves that lasting transformation only happens when people *choose* to adopt it. **Your job as a leader isn’t to manage the change process like it’s a carefully planned painting-by-numbers task. Your job is to create an environment where everyone gets a paintbrush and feels excited to create the future they deserve.** So, stop trying to “manage” change, and start building a culture of curiosity, imagination, and courageous communication. That’s what it takes to be ***ReadyAlready.*** If you are ready to help your team find their voice and embed a Future-Ready Mindset, [let’s talk.](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact") **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Why Your Team Isn’t Afraid of Change (They’re Just Terrified of Losing Their Pot Plant)](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-your-team-isnt-afraid-of-change-theyre-just-terrified-of-losing-their-pot-plant/) **Published:** December 11, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We’ve all heard the old chestnut: ***“People don’t like change.”*** It’s the go-to excuse whenever a new system rollout goes belly-up or the team looks at you with sheer horror when you suggest throwing out the half-dead office pot plant. But I don’t buy it. If we truly hated change, we wouldn’t take holidays, we’d never wear new shoes, and we’d certainly not allow a bearded man with a giant sack to break into our homes via the chimney every December. So, what is the truth? Most people aren’t afraid of change at all; in fact, most quite like it. But what they are afraid of is **loss**. They’re afraid of losing their mastery over a task, their status as the ‘go-to’ expert, or yes, even their favourite desk by the window (you know, the once with all the pot plants). The fear comes from the gnawing fear that whatever a change may usher in might actually turn out to be worse than the slightly tired, but comfortable, present we’re living in right now… **The Dead Pathway to Obsolescence** I’ve been thinking a lot about workplace obsolescence recently—that stultifying moment when the boss has to have a frank conversation with a once-valued employee about how their dated skills are about as helpful in the workplace as a waterproof tea bag. It’s grim, but it’s the truth. **Staying exactly where you are is now a dead pathway.** The greatest danger doesn’t lie in the struggle to learn new skills, but in the stubborn refusal to move as the tsunami of obsolescence rolls in. **Leading with the Lure of the Future** So, for all you leaders out there scratching your heads, here’s one of the ingredients of my secret sauce: Expecting or demanding that people “embrace change” no longer works. It’s just too damn scary for many. Instead, you need to lead differently. **Your job is to make the lure of the future far more enticing than the fear of what your team might have to leave behind.** You have to create a supportive environment where the future looks like a playground, not a battlefield. When your team sees that the new world offers *more*—more excitement, more growth, more chances to be brilliant—they won’t just accept the change; they’ll chase it. **Watch the Video** I recorded my thoughts in a video recently. It’s all about how we can stop worrying about being left behind and start building a **Future-Ready Mindset** to stay valuable, relevant, and useful for as long as we like. ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XBlhLpF229U/maxresdefault.jpg) Link: [**https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBlhLpF229U**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBlhLpF229U) **Now, over to YOU** Does this ring true for you? Have you seen the “fear of loss” holding your team back? **Drop me a message via [Get In Touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact").** I’d love to hear how you’re making good change happen in your organisation. **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Change and Hyenas](https://allisterspeaks.com/change-and-hyenas/) **Published:** December 5, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Why does change at work trigger the same brain response as being chased by a pack of hungry hyenas? It’s just biology. A natural survival instinct. When leaders announce a change programme, the employee’s amygdala (the brain’s irrepressible drama queen) can light up like an emergency beacon. It doesn’t see “improved efficiency”; it sees a clear and present threat to life! If you’re struggling through a change programme, before you label your team as obstinate, remember, they aren’t being difficult on purpose. It’s more likely they are suffering from some form of “loss aversion,” anxiously grieving a departure from the safety of the known. Here are some common signs of a primal brain in work panic mode: - Nostalgia Overload: “Remember how easy the old way was?” (It wasn’t, it just became familiar, and they knew a thousand workarounds) - Weaponised Paralysis: Asking 347 hypothetical questions about absurdly unlikely scenarios to delay the inevitable go-live. - The “Ostrich Nod”: Agreeing in the meeting room, but immediately rushing back to their desks to change absolutely nothing. Change resistance is rarely about laziness; it’s almost always about safety. If you can lower the fear, you lower the barriers to progress. So try acknowledging what your team is losing, before selling them on what they’re gaining. Think about it: what’s the weirdest “resistance signal” you’ve spotted (or maybe exhibited) during a transformation project? **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [The People Strategy Forum Podcast](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-people-strategy-forum-podcast/) **Published:** December 4, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve really been getting into podcasts recently. Not just listening whenever I can, but appearing on them too. The podcasts I enjoy the most give me a feeling like I’m eavesdropping on an interesting, intimate chat between friends. That’s when it works best. When the conversation just flows and you feel part of it, but not compelled to make any contribution – that’s what I love! This chat with Sam Reeve on his People Strategy Forum show was fun too. I cover the key steps in my ReadyAlready Growth Cycle, AKA the FROST Framework (!) and other stuff like this: **Mindset matters more than tools:** Success in an AI world isn’t about using the latest software; it’s about having a flexible, Future-Ready Mindset. **AI is “Augmented Intelligence”:** View AI as a helper to enhance human work, not a replacement for it. Humans are vital to scrutinise AI output and add greater creative value. **Assume everything is obsolete:** Adopting the belief that “if it works, it’s already obsolete” encourages you to constantly look for improvements rather than getting stuck in old ways. **Leaders should be learners:** You don’t need to know everything. Leaders should admit they are learning alongside their team rather than pretending to have all the answers. It’s OK to be a learn-it-all. **Don’t wait for certainty:** Waiting for the perfect time to adopt new technology will only make it harder later. Start experimenting now, even if it feels uncertain. You can listen and get the full transcript by hitting the image below: [![](https://compteam.net/compteam/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/graphics-eb-psf-153-allister-frost.png)](https://compteam.net/2025/11/24/allister-frost-future-ready-leadership-in-an-ai-world-how-mindset-drives-performance) **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Are You Leading Your Team the Wrong Way? (Spoiler: Probably)](https://allisterspeaks.com/are-you-leading-your-team-the-wrong-way-spoiler-probably/) **Published:** November 26, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Let’s be honest: trying to force change in an organisation sometimes feels like trying to herd squirrels. Angry, stubborn squirrels who have been diligently doing things the same way for 20 years and see no reason to start storing their nuts tidily in some fancy Tupperware box. I’ve seen it many times, and I’m sure you have too. A Leadership Team (so awesome it goes by the groovy LT abbreviation) cooks up a massive, complex “Change Management Program.” They spend months in boardrooms and fancy hotels designing it. Then, they hand it down from above like stone tablets from Mount Sinai. Only, there was no budget left for stone tablets, so they ask an overworked PA to create some bullet-riddled PowerPoint Slideguff. And what happens? The staff yawns as they raise a collective eyebrow, then tries to ignore it. Or worse, they actively resist it, dreaming up their own contrary plans. The change initiative then takes forever, costs a fortune, and achieves… well, not a lot… Why? Because nobody likes being told what to do by someone who doesn’t understand the nuts and bolts of their daily grind. No-one. And it’s obvious why: > People only change when they want to change. ### The Great Reversal In my recent work with everyone from global construction giants to major banks, I’ve found that the secret to being “Future-Ready” isn’t about being a visionary genius at the top. It’s about **flipping the script.** Change shouldn’t trickle down; **it should bubble up.** When you empower the people on the front lines—the ones who actually know where the problems are—to own the small improvements, magic happens. You stop dragging your team into the future and start watching them propel you towards it. ### The 5 Shifts to a Future-Ready Mindset If you want to stop pushing and start leading, you need a system. I call it the **ReadyAlready Growth Cycle**, and it involves five simple shifts: 1. **Follow:** Stop trying to fix everything. Empower your people to pick *one* thing they care about and focus on understanding it better. 2. **React:** Give them the breathing room (time and space) to actually think and learn about that focus area, before empowering them to decide how they wish to react to it. 3. **Open:** The 1st AI- defeating superpower. Encourage your team to take off the blinkers of experience and look afresh at their work with the naïve curiosity of a child. 4. **Surprise:** The 2nd AI- defeating superpower. Give them the courage to have wild, bold, “crazy” ideas. If you don’t start big, you’ll never end up with something game-changing. 5. **Tell:** The 3rd AI- defeating superpower. Create a safe space where colleagues can share these fragile new ideas without fear of ridicule, and inspire others to make their ideas better. ### Want to See This in Action? I’ve helped town councils improve staff retention, banks speed up their innovation cycles, and construction firms stop wasting money on failed initiatives—all by installing this mindset. > If you’re tired of change programmes that feel like pulling teeth, we should talk. **I’m Allister Frost, and I help organisations build a Future-Ready Mindset.** I travel the world speaking at company conferences and industry events, teaching teams how to become ReadyAlready! If you’re looking for a keynote speaker who can wake up your audience, make them laugh, and give them a practical toolkit they can start using right away (and I mean right away!), let’s connect. (I might even bring a few signed copies of my new book, *ReadyAlready*, to share!) Find out more and drop me a line [**right now!**](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact") ### Liked that? Watch the video! ![Are You Leading Your Team The Wrong Way](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Are-You-Leading-Your-Team-The-Wrong-Way.jpg) **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [The Professional Cost of Holding Onto Obsolete Skills](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-professional-cost-of-holding-onto-obsolete-skills/) **Published:** September 10, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Years ago, I was sent on a two-day training course to learn how to use an overhead projector. That probably dates me a bit, but back then, it felt like a genuinely valuable skill. We were taught how to layer transparencies, adjust the light without blinding people, and how to keep eye contact with the audience while flipping slides around with the swagger of a seasoned pizza chef. I left that course feeling oddly proud. *Master of the OHP*. Then, not long after…that was completely obsolete. Just like that. The tools changed, and all that carefully learnt skill was suddenly irrelevant. Looking back, I think that experience planted a seed. It made me realise that our skills — no matter how useful they feel in the moment — are always temporary. They leak. They expire. And if we’re not prepared for that, we risk holding on for too long. What’s tricky is that we often *like* the skills we’ve worked hard to gain. They’re familiar. They’re part of us. They’ve earned us promotions, praise, respect. And letting them go can feel like giving up a part of ourselves. But just because something was once useful doesn’t mean it always will be. And clinging to old skills out of loyalty or habit can quietly hold us back, *especially* when the everything in the world around us keeps evolving. I’ve worked with so many people who hit this tension point in their careers. They’re smart. Experienced. Capable. But they start noticing that the very things that once made them successful are no longer relevant or valued. A new platform appears. A different workflow takes hold. Their team starts using tools they’ve never heard of. And suddenly, that edge they once had? It begins to dull. What makes this harder is that no-one tells you when a skill stops being useful. There’s no big announcement. It just… stops getting called for. You find yourself left out of certain conversations. Your projects shift in someone else’s direction. **Your confidence takes a knock, and it’s not always clear why.** I’ve been there. The challenge isn’t just about learning new things. It’s about **unlearning** — being willing to loosen your grip on the ways of working that used to serve you. That’s hard to do. Especially when those skills took years to build. But it’s also where growth lives. Letting go doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It means making space. It means asking: ***what’s getting in the way of the next version of me?*** One of the most common mindset traps I see is this idea that “If I just keep sharpening the skills I already have, I’ll be fine.” But in a world that’s shifting faster than ever, maintenance isn’t enough. At some point, what got you here genuinely won’t get you there. And it’s not a reflection of your ability — it’s a reminder to keep adapting. I often encourage people to do something I call a “usefulness audit.” It’s not scientific; just a simple question: *which of my skills have been genuinely useful today, and which am I relying on because they feel comfortable?* It’s not about judgement, but awareness. And sometimes, that awareness is all it takes to build a fresh momentum. The good news is that the skills you need next don’t have to be technical. Often, they’re mindset-based. Curiosity. Comfort with ambiguity. The courage to learn out loud, even if it means asking “obvious” questions in front of others. When you start operating that way, something changes. **You stop measuring your worth by what you already know, and start valuing your ability to respond, to flex, to move forward.** That’s a lot of what being future-ready really means. Not clinging to everything you’ve learned, but trusting yourself enough to learn again. And if that feels like a shift you want to explore — if part of you knows you’ve been holding onto habits or skills that aren’t helping anymore — you might enjoy my new book. It’s called ***ReadyAlready***, and it’s all about how to stay relevant, useful, and confident in a world that won’t stop changing. It’s not theory, but a practical, honest toolkit for people who still have more to give, and want to give it in the right direction. And it’s all based on decades of helping people and organisations navigate a professional landscape that seems to be changing faster by the day. You can pick up your copy now from the links on the page below: >> To keeping up! Allister **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [How to Regain Your Confidence in a Rapidly Changing Workplace](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-regain-your-confidence-in-a-rapidly-changing-workplace/) **Published:** September 5, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I remember the moment it first hit me – that feeling as though things were starting to change faster than I could keep up with. I was in a meeting at Microsoft: one of those long, back-to-back days where the agenda keeps shifting and no one seems to know what problem we’re solving anymore. A colleague shared a solution using a tool I’d never even heard of. Everyone else nodded along. But me? I just sat there, quietly Googling it under the table (even I refused to use Bing), wondering if I’d ever be the one who *knew things*. I wasn’t new to the business world. In fact, I was one of the more experienced people in the room. But the pace of change in the tech world left me feeling like the ground was moving beneath me. And that creeping doubt — *“Am I up to this? Can I keep up?”* — started to take hold. Maybe you’ve felt something similar. You used to feel sharp, capable, even ahead of the curve. But now everything’s changing – systems, tools, process… – and even the daily conversations sound different. And slowly, but surely, what used to make you valuable doesn’t seem to carry the same weight. You haven’t stopped caring. You haven’t slacked off. But somehow, you’re on the back foot. You’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not broken. This feeling is becoming more common, not less, because the world of work now spins fast. And it will only get faster. The tools we use, the ways we communicate, the expectations we’re held to are *all* shifting. And unless we learn how to adapt with intention, it’s easy to get stuck. Not because you lack ability, but because the rules changed while you were still playing the old game. Here’s the thing that I took far too long to realise: trying to “catch up” isn’t the answer. The professionals who thrive aren’t the ones chasing every trend or working late into the night to stay on top of everything. Instead, they’re the ones who learn to let go of the idea that value comes from what they *already* know. Because falling behind isn’t failure. It’s feedback. It’s a sign that something needs to shift — not in your job description, but in your *mind*. You don’t need a reinvention. You don’t need to start again. What you need is a new lens. A way to make sense of change that doesn’t rely on your skills of prediction, which are guaranteed to be less than 100% reliable. Instead, I’ve found it helps to focus less on *“What should I already know?”* and more on *“What would I love to learn next?”* Because maybe you’re not overwhelmed because there’s *too much to do*. Maybe you’re overwhelmed because you’re spending all your energy staying *“today-ready,”* and leaving no time to get *future-ready.* There’s a subtle but powerful difference between the two. Staying “today ready” is about survival — reacting, managing, firefighting. But getting future-ready means stepping back, creating space, and asking better questions. It means thinking forward, every day, even when you feel like you’re drowning in today. And confidence? It doesn’t come from knowing everything. It comes from trusting that you’ll figure things out. Confidence is the reward for curiosity, not a prerequisite for it. Last year I spoke with a man who was just a few months away from retirement. After hearing me speak at his company conference, he told me, “I’ve decided I want to go out on a high. I want to make people sad when I leave, not glad to see the back of me!” That’s what happens when people stop bracing against change and start engaging with it. You don’t need to wait for a restructure or a crisis or a performance review to start improving how you show up. You can begin with small, quiet questions. What part of your routine feels outdated? What are you doing out of well-worn habit, not future-facing intent? What’s one tool or trend you’ve been avoiding because you think being today-ready is more important than being future-ready? Start there. **Just start.** Not with a massive overhaul. Just with one step, driven by curiosity, not fear. Because you’re not falling behind, anymore than I am. **You’re being invited *forward*.** And if that idea resonates with you — if you’re ready to think differently about your value, your mindset, and how you handle change — **I’ve written a book that might help.** It’s called **ReadyAlready**, and it brings together years of real-world experience, stories, and practical tools to help you build the kind of mindset that doesn’t just cope with change, but leads through it. You can pick up your copy on Amazon here: >> Ebook: >> Paperback: *(hardback and audiobook editions coming soon)* **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [What if Resilience isn't the Answer?](https://allisterspeaks.com/what-if-resilience-isnt-the-answer/) **Published:** August 27, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Plenty of experts tell us that being resilient is vital for career success. So much so that “Resilience” (now with a capital R) has become one of those sought-after traits. ***“You’ve got to be able to tough it out,”*** they tell us, “so you can cope with the highs and lows, and whatever shiz life throws at you next.” That seems reasonable. No snowflake ever survived the white heat of a boardroom dispute, and being able to bounce back from setbacks, persevere in the face of adversity, and develop a “thicker skin” all feel like useful skills to have. But what if building more resilience is not really the answer? What if telling people to be resilient is a cheap way to wallpaper over deeper, more systemic issues? What if resilience is a slow-cooker recipe for poor mental health, burnout, and self-destruction? > What if, instead, the key to being happy and successful was something different, like **simply being better prepared for what you need to do next?** I believe that many of us may benefit from a subtle shift in focus: from enduring and overcoming challenges, to proactively preparing for them with a Future-Ready Mindset. Don’t get me wrong, you still need a backbone to thrive, and this mindset won’t make you impervious to problems. But it may help you sidestep some of the big ones by helping you become better prepared (mentally and physically) for the inevitable bumps on the road ahead. It’s like the difference between heroically weathering a storm and having the foresight to build a shelter before the clouds even appear over the horizon. **So, maybe being the unshakeable oak in the storm isn’t the answer.** What if, instead, you could learn to predict the weather and proactively prepare beforehand? **What does your future need? More Resilience or a Future-Ready Mindset?** **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [How to attract a great speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-attract-a-great-speaker/) **Published:** August 19, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** When I speak to event organisers, they sometimes tell me they only book speakers from their town or city. And while supporting local talent is always a great thing, don’t let that limit your choices. I think you might be surprised who’s available when you look properly! Here are some top tips from the speaking industry: ### TIP 1 – Great Speakers Travel The most experienced and distinguished speakers travel globally; in fact, that’s a big part of what makes the job fun for us. If you plan your event early enough, the only constraints should be your creative vision and imagination. But planning ahead is key – you won’t secure a top speaker if you leave everything to the last minute. As a speaker, it’s mega-frustrating having to turn down 3 or 4 enquiries for the same date because you’re already booked, only to then twiddle your fingers through a whole week of zero bookings! ### TIP 2 – Book Smart to #Win! That’s why my other top tip is to schedule your events during quieter months like July, August, and December. And then, here’s an even smarter tip, go for a less busy day of the week, like a Monday or a Friday. Over 80% of all business events take place Tuesday-Thursday, which leaves four days each week when relatively little happens… By zigging while other zag, you’ll be competing with fewer events so you can negotiate lower venue and accommodation costs and your chances of securing the speaker of your dreams will go up. --- Of course, travel and visa expenses can bump up your booking costs, but opting for a world-renowned speaker with a fresh perspective and an A1 reputation is often a smarter thing to do than to keep fishing the same old faces from your local talent puddle. **Don’t limit your options: cast your net wide and early, and see what’s out there.** **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Make The Leap](https://allisterspeaks.com/make-the-leap/) **Published:** August 14, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** People often tell me that change at work feels risky, scary, maybe even a little dangerous. **But there’s a massive difference between scary and dangerous.** Very little of what most of us do at work is actually dangerous. It’s just another day at work. Stressful maybe, tiring certainly, challenging too, but it’s anything but dangerous. So, why would you ever be reluctant to embrace change? You’ve next to nothing to lose… No risk. no danger, almost no downside… Here’s my advice: when confronted with an opportunity for change, in most instances the worst thing to do is nothing. Nothing merely guarantees you’re staying exactly where you are, while the rest of the world races forwards without you. Innovation and progress, you see, thrive on exploration. Taking the wrong path, mis-stepping , stumbling through difficulties are all **worthwhile, important parts of the journey.** > Don’t fear the effort, don’t be afraid to try. The only thing you have to fear is standing still and being left behind. **Make the leap.** **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [You can't update people like they're software](https://allisterspeaks.com/you-cant-update-people-like-theyre-software/) **Published:** August 11, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Another Monday, another “Transformation Project” destined for the corporate graveyard. You know the one. It comes with a 63-slide PowerPoint deck and the faint whiff of dread and disappointment. Here’s why a staggering 70% of change initiatives fail: Leaders try to force-feed change on people who have eaten enough already. They roll out “synergies” and “paradigms,” dish out branded stress balls, and imagine everyone will suddenly start “thinking differently.” The result? A collective eye-roll and countless Oscar-nominated performances of “quick, look busy, but do the same old thing.” Here’s the secret they keep missing: **You can’t update people like they’re software.** Real, lasting change cannot be downloaded from an email; it’s sparked from within. It happens when people \*want\* to change because they feel a personal, urgent, unignorable reason to. Leading marketing teams at giants like Microsoft and Kimberly-Clark, showed me the worst of corporate theatre and the importance of knowing when to ditch it. When we needed to evolve fast, my first step wasn’t to nominate unlucky team members to attend a change management off-site. It was to get them to think about what changes we might need to make. They listened to recordings of unhappy customers. They tried using our own clunky software. They saw firsthand what we were already doing badly. Suddenly, the need to change was no longer an abstract concept in a slide deck; it was a visceral, shared belief. The best ideas and the passion to make them happen came bubbling up from them, not from me. ***Never from me.*** Your team doesn’t need another ‘thou shallt change’ decree. They need a spark. In my “ReadyAlready” talks, I don’t deliver case studies; I light a fire. I help your colleagues unlock their own curiosity and start a grassroots movement of positive change, turning them from passive recipients into enthusiastic creators of what’s next. **Ready to start an inferno of creativity? Get in touch – bookings now open from September 2025 to June 2026.** **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Creating a culture that embraces change](https://allisterspeaks.com/creating-a-culture-that-embraces-change/) **Published:** August 8, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** > “Know the limitations of your comfort zone” It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking we’ve got life and work licked, that we’re doing OK. But the minute we get comfy is the moment we may start to be left behind. Because everything outside of your comfort zone is changing all the time. And if you stop being curious about the new, or you become a little \*too\* set in your ways, the world will carry on without you. The world is bloody selfish like that. Here’s my reply to a question from [Speakers Associates Ltd](https://www.linkedin.com/company/speakers-associates-ltd/) when they asked me “How can organizations create a culture that embraces change?” Do you agree, or violently disagree? ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/H2F7tpEWtj0/maxresdefault.jpg) Full article link: [](https://lnkd.in/gq6n6skt)[How Can Organizations Create A Culture That Embraces Change?](https://www.speakersassociates.com/how-can-organizations-create-a-culture-that-embraces-change/) PS sorry about the mad jacket. It’s now on the discount rail of an unfortunate charity shop. **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Why horses hate change](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-horses-hate-change/) **Published:** August 6, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** > I believe that people only change when they ***want*** to change. **“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it implement a 17-step change management programme and feedback cycle.”** That’s part of my carefully considered response when [Speakers Associates](https://www.speakersassociates.com/) asked me *“What are the key components of a comprehensive change management plan?”* You see, I don’t really believe in conventional change management, mostly because it doesn’t work. Well, it can work, but that only happens 30% of the time on average. Instead, I believe that people only change when they want to change. I put my focus squarely onto each of the people who may benefit from some change or other, and help them find a reason to \*want\* to change. Check out my full video response at the link below. [“What Are Key Components of a Change Management Plan?](https://www.speakersassociates.com/what-are-the-key-components-of-a-comprehensive-change-management-plan/) **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Stop waiting, just start](https://allisterspeaks.com/stop-waiting-just-start/) **Published:** August 4, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Stop waiting for a “big bang” innovation to transform your working life. It’s either not coming, or if it does it won’t live up to your inflated expectations. We’ve all been through that so-called “improvement” cycle before… Here’s a truth that most busy professionals get wrong: They treat innovation as a project. A structured, off-site, whiteboard-filling, Post-It note fiesta that’s outside of their “real job.” They arrive hoping for lightning strikes of genius and leave with only a belly full of biscuits. > This is a recipe for falling behind, on a slow, buttock-chafing slide towards obsolescence. Sustainable success doesn’t emerge from grand gestures and off-sites. It comes from making change a daily habit, from fostering a culture where continuous improvement is on everyone’s daily task list. I saw this firsthand leading marketing teams at both Kimberly-Clark and Microsoft. Our most impactful breakthroughs were rarely the giant, top-down product launches. They were the sum of countless small, smart changes driven by the team on the ground. Lots of little things that collectively created a shed-load of change. At Microsoft, we moved away from betting everything on one “perfect” campaign (heck, we were never very good at that!). Instead, we empowered the teams to run dozens of small, rapid experiments in our digital channels. We tested messaging, visuals, and audiences, learning and iterating in real-time. This culture of “always be testing” consistently delivered better results. **This is the essence of the Future-Ready Mindset.** It’s ***not*** about having an Innovation Department where the ideas can live; it’s about empowering every single person to have the curiosity and courage to ask, **“How can I make \[x\] better today?”** Stop waiting for permission, a miracle, or a major change project. What’s one small thing \*you\* can improve **right now?** **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [The Speaker's Life](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-speakers-life/) **Published:** August 1, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I fired up my camera on a recent trip to Birmingham to speak for a longstanding client in the construction industry. Here’s a little of my day as a speaker. It’s all very glamorous, enjoy! ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Keynote-Talk-Topics-Video-Guide-Featured-Image.png) **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [The Minty Way to Future-Readiness](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-minty-way-to-future-readiness/) **Published:** July 8, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Change is easy when you start with toothpaste! Being future-ready means doing something **today** because you believe it may benefit your future. But that doesn’t mean you have to kick-off a massive change project. **What’s one teeny-tiny change you can make today to make tomorrow easier?** The best changes are often the smallest. So maybe you could start with: – Neatly squeezing the toothpaste tube from the bottom, so it will be easy to dispense tomorrow – Reverse parking into your space at work so you can leave faster later – Applying those long overdue software updates, not ignoring them again – Emptying the kitchen bin, not compacting it down until it’s ready to explode! – Washing those dirty pots and pans, not leaving them to soak (we all know they’ll still be there tomorrow!) – Hanging up your part-worn clothes, not piling them up on your chair-drobe – **Not** hitting the snooze button tomorrow, but simply rolling out of bed when you hear your alarm – go on, you can do it! Little changes like these may make today a bit more difficult, but tomorrow so much better. And this approach to life is a great foundation for developing a **Future-Ready Mindset.** Give it a try and let me know how quickly you start benefitting from some little changes. Over time they can have a surprising compound effect! And what other little things do you robotically do to sabotage your own future? Which will you stop doing first? **Categories:** Future-Ready Mindset --- ### [Making Babies with AI](https://allisterspeaks.com/making-babies-with-ai/) **Published:** May 23, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’m old enough to remember when Dancing Baby was state of the art: [![Dancing Baby gif](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/baby-dancing-baby.gif)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/baby-dancing-baby.gif)***Dancing Baby** is a viral video of a 3D-render of a baby dancing and is one of the earliest examples of an Internet phenomenon. It first appeared in e-mail chains in 1996.*But, three decades later, that pixelated, jerky .gif image looks painfully outdated and amateurish. It got me wondering, what might a computer-generated baby look like in 2025… So, to begin, I uploaded this photo of me to ChatGPT: [![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-in-Pink-Shacket.webp)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-in-Pink-Shacket.webp)Then I asked ChatGPT to convert the image into a baby in a podcast studio wearing headphone and speaking into a Shure SM7B microphone. In under a minute, here’s what it gave me. Cute, and a remarkable resemblance, if I say so myself! [![Allister Frost as a baby (generated in AI)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ChatGPT-Image-May-20-2025-10_21_13-AM.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ChatGPT-Image-May-20-2025-10_21_13-AM.jpg)Then I recorded my own voice on my PC and uploaded the .wav audio file plus the ChatGPT baby image into Dreamina.ai. I selected the LipSync option. Then I hit Run. And five minutes later, here’s the video that popped out: Pretty impressive, really. Yes, it’s not perfect (which, to be honest, I’m grateful for) but it’s remarkably accurate for a technology that we didn’t even know could exist just a few months ago. In the wise words of Fatboy Slim, who also burst onto the scene in 1996, ***“we’ve come a long way, baby.”*** Who knows what the babies of the future will look like? I guess we’ll find out soon enough… **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Laughter is the best... lesson](https://allisterspeaks.com/laughter-is-the-best-lesson/) **Published:** May 27, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The best bit of my job as a motivational speaker is learning from truly great speakers. I always learn from watching talented performers who can hold the audience in their hands and fill the stage with their presence. I’m referring, of course, to stand-up comedians. And that’s why I recently found myself in a small venue in south London, ready to cheer on four up-and-coming local acts, plus their headliner, Bobby Davro, off the telly. My day job is to make people think, so they change the ideas in their heads. If I can make ’em laugh, that’s a lovely side effect, but it’s never my primary goal. Tonight’s acts have a very different brief: to spark laughter a few times every minute. It’s always a masterclass in timing, structure, pace, and adaptation. An eternally tough gig that I love to analyse forensically. And what’s the funniest thing about me being at a comedy gig? I’m on my own, on my tod, with just my notebook for company. Weird, eh, going to a comedy show alone? But every day is a school day when you’re the class clown… **What could you do differently to get even better at your job?** **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Are your HIPPOS holding you back?](https://allisterspeaks.com/are-your-hippos-holding-you-back/) **Published:** May 22, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Predicting the future is famously difficult. Mostly because it hasn’t happened yet. But, I’m reliably informed, it will. With this in mind, preparing for the future sounds like a smart strategy right now. In business, we often hand responsibility for our future to the leaders. Their task is to see the big picture, set the strategic direction, and shamelessly take all the credit when things go well. But I believe that thinking about the future should be more team sport than solo adventure. Everyone can get involved. In fact, everyone \*must\* get involved. I tried very hard during my corporate career, but I didn’t get better at predicting the future with each job promotion. Arguably, I got worse. My days became saturated with “very important meetings” (few were) and I spent more time looking inwards than outwards, and never beyond. Seniority turned me into a lousy futurist. That’s why, when predicting and preparing for the future, I believe the leaders’ voices should carry no more weight than the most junior members of the team. The HIPPO (Highest Paid Person’s Opinion) is just that, an opinion. But if we fuse it with lots of other opinions from all around the company, the chances are we’ll land on a dirty average understanding of a more probable future that we can prepare for. Think: “Ask the Audience” rather than “Phone a Friend” (even if your friend is a world-famous, crystal ball owning, futuristically name prediction wizard) So, if you’re currently working on your future plans—and why the heck wouldn’t you be?— make it a throughly democratic process. Get everyone involved, briefly silence the HIPPOS, and listen to the heartbeat of your organisation. Together, you will find the pathway to a future you will feel collectively inspired to pursue. **Categories:** Future-Ready Mindset, Inspiration --- ### [Knowing My Luck](https://allisterspeaks.com/knowing-my-luck/) **Published:** May 16, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **Unlucky Alf:** *“See this? It’s an FA Cup final ticket, though \*knowing my luck\* they’ll probably cancel the game. So, I’ve decided not to risk it. I’m just goin’ t’ sit here, wi’ a nice glass o’ beer, and watch it on t’ telly.”* \[he picks up the remote, presses a button and the TV explodes, starting a fire. He picks up his beer and throws it over the fire, extinguishing it\] **Unlucky Alf:** *“Oh…bu\*\*er!”* ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PP3rT6dSUn4/mqdefault.jpg) --- That innocuous little phrase *“knowing my luck”* has a lot to answer for. While it’s hilarious coming from Unlucky Alf on BBC’s The Fast Show, it can be an anchor on your career ambitions. Perhaps you never say those three words, but maybe, subconsciously, you think that way sometimes. Or do you? Around 60% of workers today are worried about the pace of change and would prefer to stay in their comfort zone. The personality they’ve built through a lifetime of experience skews them towards assuming the worst, imagining that the outcome of a change is likely to be bad for them. “Knowing my luck, this won’t end well…” The status quo, in contrast, is familiar and safe. For these people, avoiding change often feels better than confronting it. The other 40% of people are more open to change. Their response is more likely to be “alright, bring it on, let’s see how I can turn this to my advantage.” They are optimistic about the likely outcome and invest themselves emotionally to make things work out for the best. Not every change goes their way, but that’s not for want of trying. So, if you find yourself saying or thinking *“knowing my luck,”* give yourself a quick talking to. If a change is inevitable, you’ll have to work through it anyway. You can do that the hard way, by trying to resist, slow, or avoid the change, or you can do it the easier way by giving it your best shot and seeing how well you can do. It’s **not** *“knowing my luck, this will be a disaster,* it’s ***“knowing my luck, this could be interesting!”*** Just one more component of the Future Ready Mindset you need for a lifetime of success and happiness. **It’s never luck, it’s habit.** **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [The Old Curiosity](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-old-curiosity/) **Published:** May 14, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I often talk about curiosity being one of our most powerful AI-defeating human superpowers. Having the ability to question the status quo, to naively ask “Why?”, helps us better understand the present and make space in our minds where new possibilities can bubble up. Much of working life—processes, systems, rules— seems fixed, constant, nailed down. But very little of it makes complete sense with a little probing. And even less is, or ever was, truly fit-for-purpose. Almost everything can be improved and some simple curiosity always unlocks new possibilities. That’s why I went to Broadstairs. To do something different. To ask why it was summer in springtime. To find a discarded toy car on the beach. To devour fish and samphire. [![Harbour with boats and colourful seaside town in the background.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Broadstairs-1024x1024.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Broadstairs.jpg)[![Red Dodge Daytona toy car on a ledge with beach and buildings behind.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Toy-Car-1024x1024.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Toy-Car.jpg)Well, OK that’s not why I went to Broadstairs recently. But this is a FROST post, so I had to create a tenuous connection to my work. In truth, I had a day off, and it was lovely. **Have some time off. Feed your curiosity.** **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Use Your Imagination](https://allisterspeaks.com/use-your-imagination/) **Published:** May 12, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **Creativity is a curious beast.** When I talk about the miracle of human creativity, and how much better it can be than suggestions from A.I., I often sense a real unease building in the audience. > *“What? You want me to be creative? At work? Oh no, I don’t do that sort of thing.”* > > *“We have a marketing department; they do the creative stuff.”* > > *“There’s no room for creativity in my job; my boss wouldn’t like that.”* I’ve heard all the excuses, and I think most people are right. Being creative is a real stretch, especially when you have years of experience that have beaten the free-flowing spirit out of you. The last time the boss asked you to be creative was probably during an ill-conceived brainstorming session in a dreary meeting room. That didn’t do anything to build your creative muscle. So, perhaps the fault lies with me. Expecting anyone to be creative is a big ask. It feels scary, daunting, even risky. Creativity is something most people are happy to avoid. That’s why I often now talk about **‘using your imagination’**, not just ‘being creative’. Being imaginative feels a lot more accessible than being creative. There’s less baggage associated with imagining stuff, less that can go wrong. And being imaginative and daydreaming are universally accepted as fun things to do. Plus, with imagination, there’s no expectation of a positive outcome, no KPI to deliver. It’s just being playful. If a good idea should rear its head, that’s a nice side benefit. So, here’s to using your imagination at work this week! It’s a bit like being creative, but you smile more. I believe that everyone can be magnificently creative, but each person is limited to how creative they believe they are. **To go further, you just have to use your imagination.** Photo: Sunrise over Bay Pond in Godstone, magical fuel for my imagination as I catch my breath while jogging **Categories:** Inspiration, Motivational speaker --- ### [But is it what it is?](https://allisterspeaks.com/but-is-it-what-it-is/) **Published:** May 9, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve never cared much for the phrase ***“it is what it is.”*** I’m sure I’ve said it a few times, and heard it many more. But it never sat well with me. It smacks of resignation, reluctance, and self-suffering. Maybe even a little victimhood. We proclaim *“it is what it is”* when something is not quite as we’d like it, and we know we have no choice but to muddle on and make do. It signals *“Woe is me. This sucks.”* And it’s often true. Some things are just what they are. You cannot easily change them, and, yes, they suck. But you *can* change your attitude towards those things. Next time something doesn’t pan out as you hoped, try shifting your reaction from *“it is what it is”* to something more uplifting and empowering. Try this instead: ***“OK, good… It will be what I make it.”*** Now you’re back in control. You’ve ditched the resignation and despair, and taken your seat at the steering wheel of positive change. No need to wallow in self-pity, it’s now up to you to make the most of the situation. **Just another small reframing technique to help you discover the Future-Ready Mindset you need to make the most of whatever life throws at you next.** **Categories:** Inspiration, Motivational speaker --- ### [Two questions for busy event organisers](https://allisterspeaks.com/two-questions-for-busy-event-organisers/) **Published:** February 27, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We jokingly called them the *“Croissant Department”* at Microsoft. The Events Team put on dozens of conferences each month. They were stunningly good at their job. Real legends of the industry. But occasionally even they got caught up in the event management hamster wheel, churning out events because someone wanted an event, not because that was the best thing to do. When I’m invited to speak at a conference or industry gathering, I ask two questions: ❓Why are you doing this event? ❓What will you do \*after\* your event to sustain momentum? ![Allister Frost in a red jacket, with the title "Two Questions for busy event organisers"](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Two-Questions-for-Busy-Event-Organisers.jpg) Because, if you cannot answer these questions, perhaps an event is not what you need. However, if you can, we’re already halfway to creating a mind-shifting, life-enhancing experience for your audience. **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Business Lessons from Leicester](https://allisterspeaks.com/business-lessons-leicester/) **Published:** May 3, 2016 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/shrinknp_400_400/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAf2AAAAJDBmMjA1N2EwLTFjNTgtNDc1NC05NmRiLWM1ODdkMWU3ZTMzOQ.png)In a normally [quiet, mid-sized city in central England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester) a seismic revolution just took place. Leicester (pronounced “Lester” for you non-Brits) City Football\* Club (LCFC) has just won the English Premier League title, arguably the most prestigious national club league trophy in the world. If that strikes you as unremarkable, consider these: - Last season, [LCFC](http://www.lcfc.com/) won just 11 of its 38 games in the league and narrowly escaped relegation to a lower division - In its last ten seasons in the top flight of English football, LCFC finished 21st (relegated 1995), 9th, 10th, 10th, 8th, 13th, 20th (relegated 2002), 18th (relegated 2004), 14th and—incredibly—1st (champions 2016) - The LCFC squad cost around £22million to put together; that’s about one leg of Christiano Ronaldo or many other of the world’s top payers. In fact, £22million would not buy you a single player from [the world’s top 100](http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/b5wp/2015/131/en/) today - Betting shops are today paying out on the odds of 5000-1 they gave for LCFC to win the title at the start of this football season. Lucky fans are collecting life-changing sums of money from sullen bookies 🙂 But Leicester’s ascent to the pinnacle of the world’s most popular sport has as much to do with its brilliant management strategy as sporting prowess. And it’s LCFC’s team manager, [Claudio Ranieri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudio_Ranieri), a calm, self-effacing, Italian who has sent the most powerful shockwaves through the footballing world. ![](https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/shrinknp_400_400/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAgJAAAAJDNlNDc5OTg0LTA2Y2QtNGM0NS1hY2Y4LTg1OGMxZTM2ZmVjMw.jpg)Ranieri set out his stall soon after his arrival at Leicester in July 2015. He realised that simply imposing the Italian style of play on a relatively inexperienced and unproven squad wouldn’t work. So, instead, he chose to work with what he had and build the team’s playing style around the natural talents of key players. Out of the window went the well-proven tactics from Ranieri’s past and in came a very fresh approach: he gave permission to his oddball collection of players to play their best individual football, while supporting by a finely-tuned team work ethic. Ranieri also realised that his young squad lack the raw skills needed to play top-flight possession football. So he instilled a fast, aggressive, energy-sapping work rate into their playing style so they could win back the ball and counter competitive attacks with ruthless efficiency. To support this, the club switched its training routine to give players more time to recover after matches. Speaking in February, Ranieri explained *“My boys are training a lot, but not too many times. They need more time to recover. We play on Saturdays and then Sunday is free for everyone. We resume on Monday with light training. Tuesday is hard training, Wednesday absolute rest. Thursday another hard workout, Friday is preparation for the match.”* Giving the squad the freedom to relax between training days meant their bodies were always ready to throw everything into the next match. No other team in the Premier League has managed to find this balance, but Claudio Ranieri made it an essential component of his plan right from the start. Relaxed players, he says, are better players. They respond to calm and respect in the dressing room and are unashamed of the *“fire within themselves”* when they really have to perform. And like any good manager, Ranieri also understands the importance of letting his team enjoy themselves. Speaking about mealtimes in the players’ canteen, Ranieri observed *“Sometimes we sit at the dinner table and I am frightened at how much they eat. I’ve never seen players so hungry! The first few times I was surprised, then I learned to smile. If they run this hard, they can eat what they like.”* It’s always dangerous, and often comical, to draw too tight an analogy between sporting prowess and business principles, but I think there are some truly valuable lessons for us all in LCFC’s remarkable success. - **Great managers** understand the individual abilities of their team members. They get the best out of each player and build a unique team environment where they can achieve collective brilliance - **Great managers** allow their team to relax and recover when they can. They personally invest in creating calm moments together, knowing that the payback will come when the pressure and intensity of the big game returns - **Great managers** know the value of living, eating and being together. Cohesive team spirit is not born of yelling at each other, its comes from mutual respect and absolute commitment to one shared goal The LCFC story has been truly inspiring this year. And Ranieri, with his refreshingly simple approach to team management, has given all of us plenty to think about for our own working lives. The road ahead for LCFC will be tough. Challenger brands often struggle when they hit the big time and the additional pressure of being champions and playing European Champions League matches could take its toll. But, right now, I wouldn’t bet against Leicester City FC and Ranieri. Would you? \* For the avoidance of doubt, the football I am referring to here is the type of football you play with your feet. \[This post first appeared on LinkedIn Pulse\] ***Want more?*** Sign up for blog updates by email: \[email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”\] **Categories:** Innovation, Inspiration, Management **Tags:** business, strategy --- ### [Railway Strikes - You Are Part of the Solution](https://allisterspeaks.com/railway-strikes-part-solution/) **Published:** May 10, 2016 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Today, as millions of commuters in the UK experience travel chaos caused by an RMT railway strike, I can’t help but wonder if there’s a much smarter way to work and travel. The industrial action comes after conductors for the Southern Rail network, which operates train routes through heavily-populated parts of South England and London, voted against proposals to introduce driver-only trains. The strikers fear job losses if they are made ‘onboard supervisors’, tasked with playing a more visible role looking after passengers inside trains. They also claim passenger safety would be compromised by this move. The train operator, Govia Thameslink Railway, meanwhile, has given assurances of no job losses or salary reductions, and says the change is now possible following CCTV and safety improvements on modern trains. As always, it’s difficult to know who to believe. Removing the need to have a conductor on all trains must surely translate into fewer working hours for these staff members. If it doesn’t, we would have to question to commercial wisdom of the train operator. And, of course, having only the driver’s eyes looking out for passenger safety when boarding and alighting at unmanned stations must surely be less safe than two pairs of eyes. How much less safe is a fierce point of debate. ### The Madness of Modern Commuting But it’s the madness of modern commuting that falls most sharply into focus for me when confronted with an intractable labour dispute that results in the misery of strike action. For me, the concept of a Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 working day, seems wholly inconsistent with our digitally-connected, technology-powered world. You have to look back to 1926 to remember when the 5-day working week was popularised when Henry Ford decided to close his automobile factories on Saturday and Sunday. By the 1940s, the 5-day week had largely been adopted across western industrialised nations, and the two-day weekend became a legal entitlement in many countries. The 9 to 5 working day, meanwhile, is more loosely applied around the world, and is little more than a convenient way to divide each day into 8 hours to work, leaving a further 8 hours for recreation and 8 for restful sleep. That’s the theory at least, but anyone who commutes regularly will know how much of their so-called recreation time ends up being spent moving to and from their place of work. Of course, there are some jobs where workers simply have to be in a specific location at a fixed time of day. Nurses, builders, and retail staff will be, forever, tied to a rota where they are expected to be in work, on duty at scheduled times. But there are many more jobs where staff could have far greater flexibility to perform their work functions when and where they wish. We refer to these people as “knowledge workers” (KWs) and their jobs pricipally involve handling or using information. Accountants, engineers, and marketers are all KWs and, with the right managerial support, they could have the choice to choose their working hours instead of being enslaved to a rigid 9 to 5 obligation from our pre-industrialised past. So, imagine this. What if all the knowledge workers changed their commuting habits and only travelled to the office outside of peak rush hours? What if they were given permission, even actively rewarded, to work away from the office at least once a week? What if those of us who can found a better way to shape the working week by exercising our right to choose our working days and hours? I suspect the impact on our lives and society as a whole could be profound. With fewer people commuting at peak times there would be far less pressure on our travel networks. With less travelling, the dream of an 8-hour working day, balanced with the same amount of both recreation and rest, might just become a possibility. Millions of KWs could work differently; what’s stopping you from making a change? ### You are Part of the Solution Part of the solution to our overcrowded travel infrastructure lies not in more and longer trains, or bigger, more efficient buses, it lies in passengers exercising more intelligent choices about how and when they travel. And travel providers, like Southern Railway, have a responsibility to encourage and positively reward people for being smarter with their choices. Perhaps that’s a useful role that the new ‘Onboard Supervisors’ could play in the future: chatting with passengers and helping them find better ways to get from A to B, easing congestion on busy routes, and increasing passenger safety. I also suspect that the most enlightened travel operators will ultimately be those who thrive in the long run, guaranteeing the future prosperity of their company and the job prospects for their staff. So, as the first of several planned railway strikes wreaks havoc on millions of commuters’ plans, ***what changes could you make today to bring long-term balance to your working life?*** ##### \[This post first appeared on LinkedIn Pulse on 26th April 2016\] ***Want more?*** Sign up for blog updates by email: \[email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”\] **Categories:** Inspiration, Management, Marketing **Tags:** business --- ### [A Festive Message](https://allisterspeaks.com/a-festive-message/) **Published:** December 19, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ***Giant thanks*** to everyone who kept me wildly busy in 2024. Here are a few brief words from me as I prepare to leave for my festive break: ![Allister Frost wearing a Santa hat and glasses, smiling in a festive setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/thumb-1.jpg) I’ll see you again in 2025, when I’ll have exciting news about: - my new book, coming soon! - shiny new talks and workshops - and lots of great new clients to support If you’d like my help or simply want to find out more, [**book a call with me in the New Year here.**](/talkwithallisterfor15-30/) I can’t wait! **Categories:** Miscellaneous --- ### [How to Rehearse Like a Pro](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-rehearse-like-a-pro/) **Published:** July 12, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **The Speaker Awards took place in London, UK, last week.** This year I was Head Judge, and proudly presented some awards and hosted a quick-fire ‘Ask The Expert’ session. The topic I chose to explore with my fellow speakers: “How to Rehearse Like A Pro” The advice I’m sharing here is relevant to anyone who needs to give a presentation, talk, wedding speech, or any other kind of performance. Rehearsal is ALWAYS the key to success. > Just as the boxing match is won in the gym, a talk succeeds through rehearsals. I used to think rehearsing was the boring bit just before a talk. It was often rushed through on a train or at the hotel, and it was always a chore. Then, after a so-so talk, I realised how unprofessionally I was rehearsing, and everything changed for me. This is the diagram I shared at the Speaker Summit. It shows key steps in my process: ![8-step diagram explaining how to rehearse like a pro](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/How-to-Rehearse-Like-a-Pro.png) I start rehearsing on the very first briefing call with the client, testing lines or content I think might work. I brain dump ideas immediately after the call and rehearse the flow. I sleep on ideas to let them mature in my mind. I do a rough draft, then practise aloud while walking outdoors with headphones on. I repeat, repeat, repeat, refining as I go. Then, when I know I’m ready, I stop. Over-rehearsing is as damaging as under-rehearsing. Then, on the big day, I enjoy giving my talk, make notes immediately afterwards, and give myself until 10am the following day to think about what I did badly or well. Lessons learned, I then go again… > Rehearsing should be more than a last-minute panic. You never want to wing it (from the theatrical term used to describe an actor frantically memorising their lines while waiting to go on-stage from the wings). **If you’d like to know more about my process or put me through the rehearsal wringer ahead of \*your\* next event or conference, get in touch 🙂** **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Adventures in Improvisation for a Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/improvisation-adventures-keynote-speaker/) **Published:** July 9, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve been learning improvisation skills for a couple of years now. I find it helps me become a better speaker by developing my performance muscles, but also tests me in ways that motivational speaking sometimes cannot. In simple terms, improv helps me ‘be in the moment’, surviving on my wits. It’s a country mile away from delivering a well-rehearsed business talk. In improv, everything is new, all the time. And when the unexpected is expected, you’re ready for whatever each day can throw at you. That’s an insanely useful skill for professional conference speakers like me. ![Imrpovisation Class Photo](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Flavomph2-300x228.jpg) And so I am delighted to have just completed the Character Improvisation Course at [Dingbats Improv](https://www.dingbatsimprov.com/) at the [Hawth Theatre in Crawley](https://www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/the-hawth). This eight-week programme explored the many aspects of creating a well-rounded character in improvised performances, based loosely around the acronym FLAVOMPH (Face, Language, Attitude, Voice, Opinion, Movement, Posture, and History). It’s remarkable how interesting a stage character can become simply by focusing on one or several of these elements, or indeed playing with them to create an unexpected contradiction. I’ll be using these new skills to elevate my business keynote performances. Not to improvise characters, but to tell more engaging stories, or simply to have the courage to try something new and unexpected. And no matter how many times I practise improv, I now accept that you never stop learning its secrets. It’s a multi-layered, mysterious discipline, magical when it works, briefly crushing when it doesn’t. But it’s always a joy when you’re learning with like-minded, enthusiastic, supportive people and under the wing of an experienced trainer. If you haven’t tried improv yet (what’s keeping you?) [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) and I’ll explain how you can start. **Categories:** Inspiration, Keynote Speaking --- ### [The Minimum Age to Use Facebook (and more)](https://allisterspeaks.com/minimum-age-use-facebook/) **Published:** March 20, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** One of the key messages I used to teach parents at Internet Safety School was the age their children should be before they can legally use popular sites online. It’s little known that most social networking sites require users to be **at least 13 years old** before they can sign up. And for e-commerce sites like Amazon and Ebay, the minimum age is **usually 18 years.** The simple rule for parents is: ![Candles spelling "Happy Birthday" on a birthday cake with pink icing.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Birthday-cake.jpg)A delicious-looking red cake with burning birthday candles with the words ‘Happy Birthday***If your child cannot spell ‘Happy Birthday’ on their cake using one candle for each year of their age, they’re too young to make a lawful decision to accept the terms of use for most social networking sites.*** Of course, it’s never this simple for parents and carers. The peer pressure that children feel in the classroom and playground to start using sites like Tiktok and Instagram can be intense. And while I would never publicly advocate encouraging a child to lie about their age online, the simple fact is that many do. It’s up to every parent to decide what they feel comfortable with, and then to set out the rules that their children should follow. That’s what being a parent is about; no-one said it would be easy! I’ve compiled this summary of the minimum age limits for some of the most popular sites online today. Please note that the information is correct at the time of posting, but is subject to change. Check with the Terms Of Use page on each site to ensure you are using the most up-to-date information. **Site or App****Minimum Age (years)** Amazon18 Badoo18 Chatroulette18 (although no account needed) Club PenguinNone (aimed at 6 to 14 years) Ebay18 Facebook13 Flickr13 Foursquare13 Google13 Google Wallet18 Habbo16 Instagram13 LinkedIn16 LoveFilm18 MySpace18 Netflix18 Pinterest13 Skype13 Snapchat13 (under 17s must have parental permission, under 13s can use the SnapKidz service) Spotify13 Tiktok13 Twitter / X13 WeChat13 WhatsApp16 YouTube13 (viewing blocks apply to age-classified videos only) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Internet Safety **Tags:** age, controls, Facebook, internet safety, parents --- ### [Celebrity or Anonymity?](https://allisterspeaks.com/celebrity-or-anonymity/) **Published:** June 20, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** In one British newspaper, there’s a regular celebrity interview column that always asks a question I love: “Celebrity or Anonymity?” Without exception, every famous person answers this question with ‘Anonymity’. It seems those who are most famous would rather they weren’t. And yet, the opposite seems true for many others, where achieving fame or notoriety seems to be one of life’s greatest goals. This celebrity obsession is also true in the speaking industry. Visit any speaker bureau website and you’ll be hit by a tsunami of familiar faces from TV, sports, and the media. And there, buried somewhere on pages 18-97, you may stumble upon some less famous names, like mine This isn’t a rant about how relatively easy life is for celebrities. It makes perfect business sense for the industry to promote people who are instantly recognisable. Someone who gave up their youth to win a medal, had the resources to climb a mountain, or knew the right people to get a royal honour must be an easy sell to an unthinking client. No convincing is needed, no cognitive effort is required. But it saddens me that many talented speakers without a celebrity backstory don’t always get the same opportunities. Imbalances like this are rife across many sectors, and it’s on all of us to correct bias and prejudice wherever we find it. Here’s what I’ve observed. I’ve been lucky to see hundreds of speakers, and the most memorable are people who have spent years learning to be fantastic at one thing: speaking. They make the complex accessible, take audiences on epic journeys by weaving clever stories together, and are always there for the client, not for themselves. I’ve also seen some famous and semi-famous speakers who seem to go through the motions, giving off the vibe that they would rather be anywhere else. I’ve always imagined that the imposter syndrome must be close to unbearable, knowing that your name or past are worth more than your talent for the job you’re hired to do. And yet they do it; I guess they need the dollars. Next time you’re hoping to book someone to take to the stage at a company conference or industry event, spare a thought for the little people who never got to choose between ‘celebrity or anonymity’. A sparkle of celebrity fairy dust might be just what your event needs, and some famous speakers are insanely impressive. But most audiences I meet are made up of ordinary people, living normal, hectic lives. And they always seem to learn more, change more, and do more after hearing from dedicated professional speakers who just do their thing really well. Anonymity has its upsides. **Categories:** Motivational speaker --- ### [What's in your email signature?](https://allisterspeaks.com/whats-in-your-email-signature/) **Published:** June 17, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve always thought an email signature says a lot about a person. What’s up with these people who don’t include their phone number or anything helpful for their readers? Isn’t that the point of an email signature? To leave the recipient in no doubt about who you are and what makes you tick… Mind you, an email signature doesn’t have to be fancy. Unless, of course, you wish to convey how fancy you are. **But it must be useful.** The bare minimum would seem to be your full name, company, and one or two additional contact details. But you can throw in whatever you like, including the kitchen sink. I update my signature every few months, or whenever boredom strikes. I’m a visual guy, so it’s all pictures and colour at the bottom of my emails, but a simple bit of text does the trick for most people. Here’s my latest effort: ![Allister Frost's email signature](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Allister-Frost-June-2024-Signature-Wide.jpg) What do you think? What’s in your email signature? **And is it time for a refresh?** **Categories:** Miscellaneous --- ### [How motivational speakers avoid continuity errors](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-motivational-speakers-avoid-continuity-errors/) **Published:** May 13, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ***“Sell the sizzle, not the sausage.”*** As a young brand manager at Kimberly-Clark in the 1990s, they drummed that marketing maxim into me. It reminds us that the sizzle of a sausage is often more appealing to a potential buyer than the sausage itself. Years earlier, the Harvard Business School professor Theodore Levitt captured the same conceptual essence with “sell the hole, not the drill.” But what if the initial promise outperforms the end delivery? What if your sizzle turns out to actually be better than your sausage? Well, then you’ve got a painful customer retention headache. People may buy once, but they will never come back for more. Once (they’ve) bitten (your sausage, they will be) twice shy. That’s why your sausage must always be a match for—and ideally a little better than—your sizzle. In my profession as a [motivational speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/keynotes/), overdoing the sizzle can create what I call ‘continuity errors’; that uncomfortable feeling when something in the performance doesn’t quite fit. The TV and movie industry uses this same phrase to describe filming or editing gaffes where something on screen doesn’t fit with an earlier event. Like when Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, played by Judy Garland, meets the Scarecrow and her hair mysteriously grows about four inches between shots as they sing, before returning to its original length as the song ends. Or that bit in The Simpsons, where there’s a flashback of an anxious Homer talking to Marge while she is pregnant with their daughter Maggie, yet there’s a framed photo of Maggie on the wall. Continuity errors happen all the time in TV shows and movies because it’s easy to miss seemingly insignificant details. And they often only come to light after the show airs and eagle-eyed viewers spot the gaffes. For speakers, continuity errors happen when the speaker’s performance doesn’t live up to the sizzle and hype of the pre-event marketing. Whether that’s the speaker’s website, showreel, or other marketing materials creating an unrealistic expectation, or the event organiser over-promising to draw a big audience, it can feel really icky when what you see on stage doesn’t match your expectations. I once saw a speaker whose online profile picture was so out-of-date I wondered why he had sent his father to give the talk. Another speaker claims to have given his talk at hundreds of events, yet always arrives unprepared and under-rehearsed. Continuity errors are hard to spot in the TV and movie industry. But they’re much easy to avoid for speakers and other professionals. Ensure your marketing materials are up-to-date, honest, and true. Make your sausage (your content) the hero, and don’t overdo the pre-event sizzle. Give bookers everything they need to promote you before and at their event, and politely request they don’t big you up unnecessarily. Provide an intro script and explain how they should introduce you so they do not steal your thunder. A pleasantly surprised audience is infinitely better than a mildly underwhelmed crowd. Try not to overdo the sizzle. **A little sausage can go a long way.** **Categories:** Keynote Speaking --- ### [Change is Inevitable](https://allisterspeaks.com/change-is-inevitable/) **Published:** May 3, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **Did anyone say it better than John C Maxwell?** > **“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”** **Change, whether or not you like it, will happen.** Just as sh\*t happens. And most change in your life will be for the better. That’s how the world moves forwards towards better times. Without change, you’d be staring at your hand, lap, or a wall right now, not reading these words on a screen. You’ll soon forget the change itself, but you’ll experience the new for longer. *Change is fleeting; its benefits endure.* **Growth, however, is entirely optional.** You actively have to opt-in to that sh\*t. Growth is tough too. It’s nice to have the option of living under that metaphorical rock, unaffected by the changes happening around you, grateful to be sheltered from the rains of change. But it’s only when you step out from under your rock that you can realise it wasn’t even raining. It’s only by embracing change, having the courage to have a go, that you can enjoy the benefits it may bring. The growth phase may be hard, but the struggle will soon be behind you as you enjoy the warming sunshine of the new. *Growth is fleeting; its benefits endure.* Perhaps I could try to say it (a little) better than John C Maxwell: > **“Change is inevitable. Your growth is optional.”** > Allister Frost There are positive change opportunities everywhere today. Go grab one. **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Millican's Law - you're not as bad (or good) as you think](https://allisterspeaks.com/millicans-law-youre-not-as-bad-or-good-as-you-think/) **Published:** May 7, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Recently, I was helping a client think about the pros and cons of failure. I invited them to imagine a world without failure: it would be a dull, predictable, unchanging place. Failure rocks! But some people still view ‘failure’ as something to avoid, not promote. This is silly, because being open to try (and potentially fail) is essential for personal growth and development. It’s also a vital part of having a [Future Ready Mindset](https://allisterspeaks.com/futurereadymindset/ "ReadyAlready!"). ![Allister Frost smiling confidently, wearing a colourful patterned shirt, illustrating positivity and.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/sarah-gradient_copyhp2_1-150x150.png) The British comedian [Sarah Millican](https://sarahmillican.co.uk/home/) knows failure as well as anyone and has a wonderful way of dealing with it. Now a hugely successful TV personality, Sarah developed her comedic muscle by working the circuit, gigging in pubs and clubs across the UK. She had her fair share of knocks and bumps on the road, just as everyone does, and once shared how she copes with the emotional rollercoaster. Millican’s Law (AKA the 11 o’clock rule) states, and I quote directly from [Sarah’s blog](https://sarahmillican.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-11-o-clock-rule.html): > **This is Millican’s Law.** If you have a hard gig, quiet, a death, a struggle, whatever, you can only be mad and frustrated and gutted until 11am the next day. Then you must draw a line under it and forget about it. As going into the next gig thinking you are sh\*t will mean you will die. > > > Equally, if you nail it, slam it, destroy it, whatever, you can only be smug about it until 11am the next day (in the past, I have set an alarm so I could get up and gloat for an extra half hour) as if you go into the next gig thinking you are God’s gift to comedy, you will die. **That is Millican’s Law and it totally works. It means you move on quickly.** I love how Sarah highlights that success and failure are equally **un**important on life’s journey. Both are fleeting and best forgotten. That’s a very healthy approach to business: when things go well, we should celebrate briefly, then move on. When things go badly, we should commiserate and learn briefly, then move on. We shouldn’t dwell on either outcome; just move on. Keep going. Here’s to injecting more failure and success into your life. Go for it! **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [How to be more curious](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-be-more-curious/) **Published:** May 2, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Curiosity is an essential step in the ReadyAlready cycle that helps busy people rapidly develop a Future Ready Mindset. It’s also a skill that some humans excel at, but that computers find virtually impossible to master. Even the most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) tools struggle to show humanlike curiosity. And perhaps they never will. For that reason, I class human curiosity as a SUPERPOWER, and a vital skill for thriving alongside AI in the future. There’s a problem though. Most adults have had their innate curiosity beaten out of them by the rigid tramlines of a formal education and the blinkers of a lifetime of experience. We are taught there is only one way to proceed, not a myriad of possibilities. Curiosity doesn’t kill cats; we kill curiosity as we grow into adults. So how can we rediscover our lost curiosity? In her superb book, Improv Your Life, Pippa Evans quotes psychologist Dr Jamie Jirout as saying: > It is hard for children to be curious if they don’t feel safe exploring and asking questions. At the same time, children must also face some uncertainty and learn to be comfortable with that uncertainty, while learning how to resolve it. Fact: no-one ever exhibited useful curiosity when they felt unsafe. **Never. Not once.** Don’t underestimate the importance of feeling safe (and helping others feel safe) when asking questions. But I also love that Dr Jirout stresses that a manageable level of ‘unsafety’ is also essential for us to learn and grow. In simple terms, when we feel too safe, we lack a psychological incentive to explore new understanding. This week, if you would like to be more curious about the world, start by recognising that it’s OK, perhaps even vital, to ask questions and search for deeper understanding. And when you feel safe to explore and challenge, and encounter something you do not fully comprehend, simply ask ‘WHY?’. > – WHY does the entire team go to lunch together, leaving the phones unmanned? > – WHY does it always take over 37 hours to compile the data for the monthly report? > – WHY are all the meeting rooms named after convicted serial killers? You’ll find ‘WHY’ at the start of \*every\* question that children ask as they seek to make sense of the world and feel safe within it. ‘WHY’ is also the word most grown-ups have stopped using, often because we don’t want to embarrass ourselves by asking naïve questions. So that’s how you can be more curious this week. Spot something—literally anything—you would like to understand better, and ask a question that begins with ‘WHY?’ It really is that simple. ***Give it a try.*** --- I ask ‘Why?’ all the time, especially of event managers and bookers who are considering whether to hire me to speak at a conference. > – WHY is the CEO speaking first when you’re hoping to inspire fresh thinking? > – WHY have you allocated ten minutes for the coffee break? > – WHY did you book a sports speaker last year but now want something different? The answers are always revealing, helping both me and the booker interrogate any underlying conventions and courageously explore fresh approaches. That’s when a well-timed “Why?” really works: when it’s received not as a challenge to prior thinking, but as an open invitation to smash the status quo and create something better. It’s a why-why-win-win… Next time you feel a “Why?” coming on, find the right person to hear it and let your shared creativity soar. **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Go for the quick wins](https://allisterspeaks.com/go-for-the-quick-wins/) **Published:** April 23, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **I love a quick win.** Who doesn’t? Compared to those tiring, drawn-out, long-term successes, quick wins seem to have everything in their favour. I’m a big fan. In fact, I don’t know why we even have slow wins anymore. Except I do. Slow wins are usually just the culmination of lots of quick wins. Those minor improvements, made several times each day, soon add up to something bigger. Quick wins eventually fuse into magnificent slow wins. That’s why I love them. Got time for a quick win right now? Of course you do. Here’s how to get one: 1\) Look for the **OBVIOUS.** Sit in your workplace and just look. What catches your eye that you could improve? Is it the pile of unread papers on your desk, the insanity of those back-to-back meetings filling your diary, or the mayhem of icons cluttering your laptop screen? 2\) Spot one thing that is **OBVIOUSLY** suboptimal in your work. A thing that you once thought should be better. A minor annoyance you have somehow become blind to. 3\) When you see that thing that no-one else is seeing, **MAKE IT BETTER.** Congratulations, that’s a quick win! Now repeat, *forever.* --- **A SIMPLE ROUTINE:** A quick win before coffee is a splendid way to begin each day. Start with a quick win. They’re easy, obvious, and everywhere. You just have to see and improve. **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Embrace your Inner Idiot](https://allisterspeaks.com/embrace-your-inner-idiot/) **Published:** April 2, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We’re all flawed. None of us are perfect. And I was reminded of this while reading Pippa Evans’ excellent book ‘Improv Your Life.’ Towards the end of the book, Pippa shares a “post-revelation poem” entitled ‘The Glorious Idiot,’ where she lays bare the realisation that it’s OK to be yourself. For reasons I cannot fully explain, her words resonated loudly with me 😉 So, I thought I should share a few brief excerpts with you: **The Glorious Idiot, by Pippa Evans** (excerpts from the full poem) *I AM AN IDIOT!* *It took me a while to realise* *Because I got told— ‘Don’t be an idiot!’* *So even though I had an inkling* *That I might be an idiot—* *I did what I was told and tried to be* *Anything other than an idiot.* *…* *Then, one day, I awoke and thought:* *YOU IDIOT!* *You are killing yourself trying NOT to be an idiot!!!* *So I say to you—‘I AM AN IDIOT!’* *…* *Idiots keep eating pastries even though they know they are full.* *I want to be my best self.* *And my best self is an idiot.* *A glorious idiot!* *A beautiful, stupid, clever, hideous, amazing idiot.* *…* Remember, it’s always better to be an authentic idiot, than a weak imitation of someone you’re not. Be yourself; everyone else is taken 🙂 You can get the full poem, and an entire book of wonderful advice, at your favourite bookstore. It’s Improv your Life by Pippa Evans, published by Hodder Studio. Enjoy! **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Is future-proofing a magic trick?](https://allisterspeaks.com/is-future-proofing-a-magic-trick/) **Published:** March 26, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I sometimes meet people at conferences and events who are frustrated in their job, but confident working life will soon be a lot easier . They talk about improvements that are coming, new IT systems or simpler processes that will eliminate many of their daily struggles. Work will be smoother, better, more fun. The business will be future-proofed, and they will reap the rewards for years to come. I try to bite my lip at this moment. I once bit it so hard it bled. I used to think like this too. At Microsoft, there was always something ‘coming soon’ that would solve all our troubles. A new customer data tool, a simplified invoicing procedure, maybe just a better version of PowerPoint… These fixes promised to eliminate time-consuming tasks, improve customer experiences, and make us more competitive for the long-term. The future was bright! We just had to dig in, reach this sunlit new horizon, and everything would be groovy. But things rarely, if ever, got easier. Looking back, most of the time, life just got more complicated. The new IT system wasn’t all that, many colleagues actually preferred working the old way, and the new customer data was unreliable and confusing. And worse still, someone had just dreamt up a radical new way of working that we hadn’t anticipated. Our future-proofing wasn’t really fit for the future. That’s why I have banned the phrase “future-proof” from my life. There’s no such thing. It’s a lie, a myth, a clever sleight of hand intended to distract us from the reality that work will always be, well, hard work. You cannot future-proof anything. I explain more in the video below: **Transcript of video:** ALLISTER FROST: *I don’t believe there’s any such thing as futureproofing. Nothing can be future-proofed. Future-proof is a lie, spread primarily by the technology industry, to make us believe that something we acquire or implement today will remain useful long into the future. It’s absurd!* *But futureproofing is such a seductive concept, all kinds of industries have adopted it. We can now future-proof our homes, we invest to future-proof our businesses, and, my personal favourite, you can even get a future-proofed ironing board. It costs just under £4k and is on sale in Harrods in London.* *But nothing has ever been future-proofed. To create that, we’d need magical powers to help us anticipate the changes that we’re proofing against.* *So, if someone dares to offer you a future-proof solution, I suggest you ask them to describe accurately the future they are proofing against. Their promise will collapse as quickly as their smile.* *That’s why you’re more likely to hear me talking about developing a [Future Ready Mindset](https://allisterspeaks.com/futurereadymindset/), so you learn continuously through life and adapt quickly as the future reveals itself.* *You don’t need anything that claims to be future-proofed, you need a Future Ready Mindset. [Give me a shout](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) if you’d like to know more.* **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [How to book a motivational speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-book-a-motivational-speaker/) **Published:** March 20, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **Booking a [motivational speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/keynotes/) for a business conference or industry event can be a nerve-wracking task.** You don’t want to make a mistake by booking a clown who can barely string a sentence together (unless a mute clown is what you’re really after), nor do you want to spend over the odds to hire a minor celebrity to grace you with their presence and pitiful speaking skills for half an hour. The best speakers are speakers, people with an interesting story to tell and years of training and practice to learn how to deliver it well. One of the best ways to find a capable, highly skilled speaker is to listen to recommendations from people you trust who also have a good sense of what your audience will enjoy. Your retired next-door neighbour or Wobbly Bob down the pub may not be the best advisors here; you should listen to people who understand your business challenges and event goals. [![A pair of oversized yellow clown shoes](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Clown-Shoes.H03.2k-e1710952147874-300x197.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Clown-Shoes.H03.2k.png)A good referral is always worth exploring though, and that’s how I get many of my speaking gigs. If you don’t know who to ask for help, a reputable speaker bureau may be a good next step. These are dedicated businesses that represent vetted high quality speakers. Give them your brief, explain what you’re looking for, and they will help you find the perfect speaker for your specific requirements and secure them on your event date. I am represented by several of the big speaker bureaus and they will only recommend me if they think I will be a good fit for your goals. A speaker bureau is usually a safe option because they won’t put their reputation on the line by sending you a clown. Unless you need a clown… If you find recommendations online, make sure they pass the “sniff test.” You want to be sure the speaker you’ve found is truthful and as experienced as your audience deserves. Speaking can sometimes feel a murky sector to navigate and not everyone has the stage experience they may claim. Look for client feedback, and contact past client directly to see if they would still recommend the speaker. A little due diligence can go a long way. Take your time, think carefully, don’t get bamboozled by ‘too good to be true’ special offers. You get what you pay for so try not to over or underspend. An hour of stage time in front of your audience can transform mindsets and accelerate the transformation of your business. Only book someone you can trust with this vital mission. If you need more advice, I’m always happy to help. [Drop me a WhatsApp](https://wa.me/447974565382?text=I'm%20interested%20in%20booking%20a%20speaker) or [send me a message](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/). --- We’ve compiled some of the recent feedback we’ve received from companies that have booked Allister Frost to speak at their big events. Here’s a selection from the last few months about me, Allister Frost, the Future Ready Mindset speaker: > Wow, what a great guest speaker! Energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate. Allister gave the right balance of entertainment/humour with thought-provoking topics and takeaways that kept everyone engaged. His presentation skills were excellent, and his style was well-received by my European colleagues, where English is not their first language. My US colleagues were super impressed and are discussing having Allister speak at their conference in the US next year. > > Allister Frost was a fantastic ‘Guest Speaker’ for our Divisions Away Day and was extremely well received by our colleagues as his energy was infectious. Due to the amount of change in our organisation we felt Allister would be perfect and he was. His talk on ‘Future Ready Mindset’ was inspirational, engaging, funny and he talked about change in practical terms that held everyone’s attention. He encouraged individuals to push past their comfort zone and embrace the change in an ever-changing environment. > > Allister was great to work with, he really gained an understanding of what we were trying to do at our Annual conference. He brought to life the idea, that for us to be able to embrace change we need to be prepared with a Future Ready Mindset . The team came away energised and ready for the year ahead, thank you Allister for a great session. > > We invited Allister to present at our recent programme workshop. Allister’s energy and passion was infectious, he captivated the room and motivated the audience to become “ReadyAlready”. His ability to add humour amongst empowering advice was well received. His contribution to our workshop was powerful and we wish to thank him for making some an impact on our audience! Highly recommended! > > Allister gave a fantastic talk to our digital NHS team. His talk was funny, thought provoking and inspiring. He has a wealth of experience and is a true motivator. > > “Inspirational” and “Engaging” were two key areas of feedback we received from our delegates at our recent “The Future” Conference. Allister was our guest speaker and took the time to really understand our business to tailor his speech to our venue teams. We hosted 200 Venue Managers from all around the UK, along with some of our international guests. Everyone was gripped with what Allister had to say, and made everyone truly reflective. You are still the talk of the town! Thank you Allister for really making our conference feel so special and inspiring our teams to be future ready. > > What an awesome speaker. We booked Allister for our first all finance managers annual get together in Liverpool. It was a group that had gathered from all over the world meeting for the first time. Allister was able to provide a talk that was extremely motivational coupled with fun and laughter and a message everyone could relate to and take back with them as a way forward on how to manage their future for themselves as well as for the business. Just amazing and the team loved him. I hope we get to work together again in the future. > > We required a key note speaker to deliver a session to our workforce on ‘openness to change’. Where do you start with that! Well, luckily Allister responded promptly to our request on Bark, and we were able promptly jump on a call and discuss our event, and what we wanted. Allister was really keen to understand the intricate details of our event, to ensure that he could tailor his talk accordingly with maximum impact. > What resulted was a fantastic display of passion, energy and a dash of humour, keeping our workforce focused and engaged whilst delivering some important messages. I highly recommend Allister to other organisations, you won’t be disappointed. > > The perfect inspirational speaker for our team annual planning summit. Allister’s narrative helpfully framed the purpose of our event, providing insightful context and positive motivation as we embrace the change which is only accelerating. Allister’s conversation nicely blends useful advice, real world examples with sprinkles of humour! Highly recommended. > > We were looking for a keynote speaker to close our Cisco Partner Roadshow events at 2 locations (Midlands and London), someone who could understand the value of partnerships within the technology industry but bring something different to the event and really add value for our guests. Allister did this and more. His presentation was engaging, professional, entertaining and his Future Ready Mindset talk was extremely thought provoking – the feedback from our attendees was fantastic and we could not have been happier with the outcome. Allister even spent some time chatting with our guests post-event which was lovely. > I would highly recommend Allister for any corporate function. > > Wow! What a great speaker. We booked Allister for a motivational / pick me up for our recent business conference. Allister came with bags of energy and thought provoking ideas with how we can embrace change and get a future ready mindset! Anyone looking for a energy packed, motivational speaker look no further! Book Allister. > > Magnificent speaker. Perfect for what I wanted for my team, whom were low on morale and a little stagnant. Allister made them think and reflect, but also laugh. Although it was the graveyard shift, they were attentive for the full 1hr session and appeared energised following the event. All gave very positive feedback. Highly recommended, for those looking to get their team thinking more positive about work and life in general. > > Allister was one of our Guest Speakers during our Academic Summer Programme 2023 in Cambridge. When we decided what we would like to give to our Participants this year, Allister fell into the category easily. > Allister was so easy to work with and very flexible to adapt to the audience. Despite the talk still albeit connected to his career, he can make that a relatable point to our young Participants (13-18) and encourage the Participants’ way of critical thinking. Even the Q&A was very engaging and encouraged further critical thinking even days after the talk! Thank you very much for Inspiring our Participants and providing them with the tools so that they can be more resilient in pursuing their future > > Allister spoke at our national retailer conference, helping the audience think differently about how to serve their customers better and evolve their business approach for the shoppers of the future. He was a big hit with the audience, super-easy to work with, and an inspiring speaker who got everyone thinking differently. > > Allister was highly professional throughout, from initial engagement through to follow up support after the event at which we’d asked him to speak. We had really good communication throughout the whole process. The event itself was described as the ‘highlight of a great day’ was received universally positively by participants (school leaders) and gave real food for thought as well as a unique perspective. This fulfilled the brief exactly. I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Allister for similar events and if I was looking for something similar for another audience, he would be top of the list. [![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Allister-Feedback-Wordcloud.jpg)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Allister-Feedback-Wordcloud.jpg) **Categories:** Inspiration, Keynote Speaking, Motivational speaker --- ### [How to make friends with your LinkedIn QR code](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-make-friends-with-your-linkedin-qr-code/) **Published:** March 19, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** LinkedIn is the world’s biggest professional social networking tool. So it’s a great way to find interesting people and follow their news. But it’s also pretty handy for when you meet interesting people in real life… Once upon a time, the LinkedIn app had a groovy “Find Nearby” feature that allowed you to connect with other users within Bluetooth reach of your phone. It was awesome at conferences and events because you could instantly see who was in the room and connect with just a click. Sadly, LinkedIn quietly removed this feature a few years ago and never explained why. Let me hear a loud “boo” for naughty LinkedIn! **There’s an alternative, though.** When you want to connect on LinkedIn with someone you meet, your quickest option is to share your unique QR code. To find this, click the Search bar in your LinkedIn app (phone or tablet, not on a PC), then tap the odd-looking box icon on the right. This will open your LinkedIn QR code page, which you can then either show to your new friends or tap on ‘Scan’ to allow you to read someone else’s barcode. It’s a neat feature for those times when you meet new professionals who you’d like to stay in touch with. Much easier than exchanging business cards at least! ***Give it a spin.*** ![The QR code symbol in the LinkedIn search bar](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/LinkedIn-QR-code.jpg) It’s a neat feature for those times when you meet new professionals who you’d like to stay in touch with. Much easier than exchanging business cards at least! Give it a spin. **Categories:** Inspiration, Social Media --- ### [The Wild Orange Media Caper and Something New](https://allisterspeaks.com/wild-orange-media-caper-something-new/) **Published:** July 14, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Since starting the company five years ago, the one question I’ve been asked more than any other is: > ***“Why is your business called Wild Orange Media?”*** And since 2012, I’ve responded with a fairly uninteresting explanation, all the time quietly wishing I had dreamt up a more creative, inspiring backdrop to the company’s inception. In truth, my reasons for choosing Wild Orange Media were far from creative. If anything I was clutching at straws by the time I stumbled upon the solution. During my 20 years working inside large corporations, I got to work with dozens of marketing agencies, many of whom go by quite unconventional titles. Alongside the predictable abbreviations of the founders names (SMP, RKH, VCCP), I’ve worked with ‘Three Monkeys’, ‘Vivid Lime’ and ‘Razorfish’. It seems that in recent years the fashion has allowed companies in our industry to come up with ever more creative labels for their businesses. But this trend is not simply driven by creative whim. It is, I believe, predominantly fuelled by a much more down-to-earth necessity: to create a name that stands out amongst a sea of competing offerings in our digital age. I was a new business start-up virgin when I sat down with my laptop on 12th April 2012. But I did know I needed to give my company a name so it could be registered. And I would need both a .com and a .co.uk web address so it could exist in the online world. And that’s where, for me, the problems began. If you’ve never registered a domain name before you may not appreciate just how many web addresses have already been taken. To find out for yourself, hop over to a domain registry like [GoDaddy ](https://uk.godaddy.com)and start searching for a URL you’d like to register. If you’re lucky, your name may be available, as long as your parents gfted you with a distinctive title. If you’ve been saddled with “John Smith”, you’ll need to stump up around £40,000 (US$50,000) to wrestle www.johnsmith.com away from its current owner. Thankfully, there are lots of additional Top Level Domains (TLDs) that allow you to register URLs like www.johnsmith.uk or www.johsmith.ninja, but many of the highly prized .com and .co.uk domains have long since been snapped up by someone else. And so, when looking for a name for my company, I started by typing in ideas. I tried my name, but that seemed a bit too obvious and narrow. I tried types of animals, names of technologies, places I’d been on holiday. But, no matter how random my ideas became, I struggled to find anything that sounded reasonably credible where both the .com and .co.uk domains were still available. And then, an epiphany. After several hours of unproductive searching, I found inspiration in a humble banana sitting on my desk. ![banana](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/banana-yesterday.jpg)A banana, yesterdayI frantically began searching against the names of fruits. Apple.com? Drat, someone’s already got that! BananaMarketing.com? Unbelievable! Someone’s already sitting on that domain. Even Startfruit.com had been snapped up. Finally, in desperation, I turned to Wikipedia.org and typed in “List of Fruits”. A [helpful page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_culinary_fruits) appeared with a lengthy list of culinary fruits. I had at least had the foresight to figure out that naming my company after a poisonous fruit might not be wise. I worked my way down the list from the top. Apricot, Blackcurrant, Crowberry…? As I neared the end of the page, I was in a growing state of panic. Still nothing. Then, magically, I happened upon Wild Grape. “Hmmm,” I thought to myself, “I like the word Wild. That’s unusual, and in keeping with my non-conformist character.” But grapes are small and come in bunches, and people might think I’m a wine seller. Keep looking. And there, just one row down, was my saviour. *Capparis mitchelli, Capparacae,* the ‘Wild Orange’. Apparently it’s an Australian native plant that provides “tasty bush tucker food” and is still commonly eaten in the desert today. That’ll do! I liked the name, and by now I was on a roll. I searched but couldn’t find any references to competing companies using the ‘Wild Orange’ name. And, miraculously, both the .com and .co.uk addresses were available, success! I added the word ‘Media’ on the end to provide a relevant hook to the marketing industry. I naively imagined that might save us from a lifetime of taking calls about importing weird fruits. And then I did it: I paid for the domains [www.wildorangemedia.com](http://www.wildorangemedia.com) and [www.wildorangemedia.co.uk](http://www.wildorangemedia.com). The company was born. In an exhausted state of euphoria at having completed this seemingly simple task, I retired to the lounge for a cuppa. That’s when I should have been dreaming up a clever explanation for the name. But I had other fish to fry. There were talks with accountants, company registration paperwork and my excitedly designing a primitive orange-based logo for my new business. ![Wild Orange Media logo evolution](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Wild-Orange-Media-logo-evolution.png)When we moved to a new web platform in 2014 I finally had time to revisit the logo and origins of the company name. What is, I wondered, a wild orange anyway? Much to my amusement, far from being a tasty citrus orange as we know it, a wild orange is actually a type of caper that grows on trees up to six metres tall. It’s not even orange, ffs, it’s olive green! ![Flowering wild orange](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Capparris_mitchellii_flower.jpg) I probably should have spotted the caper connection in the Latin name *capparis mitchellii,* but Latin was never my strongest language. And, by this point, there was no turning back. Wild Orange was our name, and very orange coloured we were too. The name has served us well. It’s still a great conversation starter and it has helped us build a successful growing business with hundreds of clients around the world. Wild Orange Media remains our company name. We’ve grown very attached to it. And, besides, we’ve bought too much orange stuff now. [![Allister.live Logo](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/allister-live-image.jpg)](http://allister.live)However, to make things more confusing, we’ve just launched a new website at and that’s where I’ll now be blogging and sharing updates about our escapades supporting sales and marketing professionals around the world. Why this change? We’ve found that increasingly, our clients just want to work with me (Allister) so we figured it would make sense to now build that brand, while continuing to trade as Wild Orange Media. The business remains small and perfectly formed. I do almost all of the development and delivery work and Angela helps with the finances and keeping my schedule up-to-date. Occasionally I get to bring in freelancers to help with client projects where their skillset exceeds mine in areas like analytics, web design and coding. By keeping things lean we avoid the hefty overheads of many other marketing consultancies and groups. And, more importantly, I get to put my personal touch on everything we do. So that’s the (not very exciting) story of how Wild Orange Media came to be. Please go check out our [new site](https://allisterspeaks.com) and [let me know what you think.](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) *Happy Friday!* ***Want more?*** Sign up for blog updates by email: \[email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”\] **Categories:** Creativity, Design **Tags:** brand name, logo, startup --- ### [Windows Live SkyDrive - now even better](https://allisterspeaks.com/windows-live-skydrive-now-even-better/) **Published:** February 22, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjVAYaICzeWY1CvKsrKEyhpSY6_UU8rFWqNWjP3N-u4USuyAnVi5ArbKtRVP9kxBHQ?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9shB2PZTAIoTPXzxdazGtFY-yDgG1v7cKt8hFq9NVnk_pI2lcTUETgtDrhLbANL1Wew?PARTNER=WRITER) I’ve [blogged before](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14500.entry) about SkyDrive, but this week it got even better. Users now get a full **5GB** of free storage in the cloud. And because the service is now out of beta you should feel extra confident that this is very secure place to store the stuff you need. All you need to get started is to log in with your Windows Live ID. Take a test drive here: . Once you’ve signed in you’ll see three locations for safely storing your files within the Internet cloud. These are: 1. **Personal Folders:** password protected (by your Windows Live ID) files that only you can see and access 2. **Shared Folders:** any number of individual folders, each containing as many files as you like, that can only be seen and accessed by people with a Windows Live ID that you invite 3. **Public Folders:** any number of folders that anyone online can see (use with care!) Uploaded and managing files is easy, and with SSL file transfer encryption you can be confident that your data are safe. SkyDrive is proving a very neat way to store files that you need to access from other computers or share with friends. Enjoy! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Please Stop Treating Us Like Idiots](https://allisterspeaks.com/please-stop-treating-us-like-idiots/) **Published:** November 12, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Dear Social Media Marketers, I can imagine how tough it must be finding something interesting to say about your products, day in, day out. And I can forgive you when your advertising or promotional materials don’t always make me smile or laugh or think. But please could you stop treating me and my fellow consumers as idiots? Even with 24/7 communication channels and two way conversation capabilities powered by social networking sites, it’s OK if we don’t talk all the time. Take [T.M.Lewin](http://www.tmlewin.co.uk/ "T. M. Lewin") for instance. You sell shirts, nice shirts. But why do you think anyone would want to complete random, unrelated sentences on your behalf? If you treat us like idiots, you should expect the suitably juvenile responses you receive: [![TMLewin ](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/tmlewin1.png "TMLewin fill in the blanks")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/tmlewin.png) And Cillit Bang, much as I understand why you desperately need those ‘Likes’, do you really think anyone wants to share their motivational cleaning song with you? Linda Church has the right idea: [![Cillit Bang](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/cillit-bang1.jpg "Cillit Bang Like this please")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/cillit-bang.jpg) I know this is the Internet we’re dealing with and all human life is there. But surely there’s something more interesting we could be talking about. ***Or, as my mum taught me, if you don’t have anything useful to say, don’t say anything.*** I and my fellow consumers would be very grateful if more social media marketers could also heed this advice. Yours in despair, Allister **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** letter, marketing, social media --- ### [Whose job is it to ready us for the future?](https://allisterspeaks.com/whose-job-is-it-to-ready-us-for-the-future/) **Published:** February 28, 2020 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **Here’s a question: who should have the job of building the future technology-readiness of your organisation’s employees?** In most medium to large companies, the leadership team tends to look to **IT and the CTO (Chief Technology Officer)** for strategic direction. After all, they’re dealing with all the computers and data and techno-stuff; it makes sense for them to also ready staff for the new things coming their way. In other organisations, the responsibility lies with **HR (Human Resources) or Talent Management.** Their task is to manage the people estate to ensure the company has the skills needed to achieve its goals. This makes good sense as only HR has full access to sensitive personal data like performance appraisals and qualifications to determine each individual’s developmental needs. And then there’s a third category of companies, where no-one’s really tasked with thinking about future capability requirements so individuals and teams bumble along, making headway where they can. This, of course, usually turns out to be the most dysfunctional, blinkered way to prepare a diverse collective of people for a fast-evolving tomorrow. When no-one’s in charge of stuff, stuff doesn’t tend to happen. Which group would I choose to define and lead the strategy for employee technology readiness? If I had to pick one departmental Centre of Excellence (CoE) to steer this crucial strategy **I’d choose HR.** What the Human Resources team may sometimes lack in tech![](https://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/1.jpg)nical proficiency is more than made up for by their appreciation of how to develop and get the most out of people. Most technology can be learnt, but human empathy, change management and culture tend to be much more nuanced, softer skills that require a subtler approach that’s not so easy to teach or quantify. But please don’t think of my choice of HR over IT as simply a humanities vs. science form of reasoning. This isn’t a binary left vs. right brain issue. Fundamentally, we need someone to take charge and the skill required above all others is a robust understanding of how tricky people and change management can be. You probably see this too. People are “fuzzy”, creative, sometimes unpredictable. But technology can almost always be precisely defined and categorised. IT has hard, distinct edges and while we don’t always know how it will morph and evolve, we can understand it and we can predict its outcomes. People, however, defy such simple classification; they’re really hard to understand and change. Moulding them into a cohesive collective calls for a very different set of skills than is typically found in the IT department. **That’s why HR gets my vote.** But, take heed, this must be ***an HR team that’s intellectually aligned with the thinking of the technology leaders in IT and elsewhere in the company.*** Because to ready your people for a very different future, you must first understand the people, then discover your passion for the technologies that will reshape their tomorrow. **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Why we're Ready Already!](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-we-are-ready-already/) **Published:** February 7, 2020 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Allister Frost Ready Already Keynote Speaker](https://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Allister-Frost-Ready-Already-Keynote-Speaker-632x1024.jpg) A recurring theme in several of my recent keynote talks has been the pressing need for organisations to support and encourage employees and partners on their journey to leveraging new technology in their work. I’ve frequently observed that it’s rarely new technology itself that creates issues in business, but the way staff and colleagues react to it. And it’s the instinctive lack of desire for, and sometimes fear of, change that prevents many organisations from realising their full potential. > People who feel unprepared or unwilling to embrace change represent the single biggest obstacle to organisational high performance in our technology-fuelled era. But the good news is that we humans are actually remarkably well-equipped to adapt and evolve. We’ve been doing it for millennia! Although, admittedly, maybe not at the pace that’s now expected of us. I coined the phrase Ready Already™ to describe this phenomenon. We are all Ready Already™, we simply have to come to terms with this and start positively embracing new possibilities. With a little support, encouragement and empathetic hand-holding, I believe that everyone—no matter how old or young, how experienced or inexperienced—can contribute fully and thrive in our fast changing world of work. Often, all we need is access to fresh perspectives, some confidence-boosting inspiration and a positive can-do attitude to unlock our resistance to change. That’s where my keynote talks and I come in. By energetically infusing audiences with a newfound passion for staying up to date and, sometimes, just “having a go”, I help organisations and associations rediscover their collective excitement for technology and positive lasting change. Resilient businesses are built by creating a supportive, empowering mindset where everyone can bring the best version of themselves to the table every day. We’re Ready Already™—maybe we just need a powerful nudge to realise this and rediscover our love of the new. **Categories:** Inspiration, Keynote Speaking **Tags:** conference, keynote speaking, ready already --- ### [Purpose Platitudes vs. Brand Activism](https://allisterspeaks.com/purpose-platitudes-vs-brand-activism/) **Published:** October 24, 2019 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [Earlier](https://allister.live/activism-over-purpose/), I posted about the much-hyped topic of brand “Purpose”, and called on marketers to go beyond platonic statements of intent to embrace full-on activism in pursuit of their brand beliefs. In this article, we’ll explore two related examples of brand purpose, one done with absolute conviction and good intent and the other with, perhaps, less credible intentions. One brand is quietly and effectively changing the world for the better, the other is creating a storm of noise and excitement, and possibly profits, but is increasingly being called into question for its dubious tactics. Let’s set the scene… With the world’s attention rightly focussed on removing inequalities for women, many brands saw opportunities to highlight their efforts to support equal rights. Some embraced this wholeheartedly, eradicating pay inequalities, making workplaces suitable for everyone and actively seeking to remove bias in their advertising and communications. Others jumped on short-termism and sought to ride the free publicity wave. So first, here’s the not-so-good example. #### A not-so-good example Brewdog is a notoriously rebellious brewer based in Aberdeen, Scotland. They make some excellent beers that I’ve enjoyed more often than I should probably admit. Their flagship craft beer is Punk IPA which they describe as a post-modern classic with an anarchic twist. Brewdog founder, James Watt, even wrote a [great handbook entitled “Business for Punks”](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0241202892/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0241202892&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21&linkId=99db2f86a3b4bd45232b73513176129c)—an excellent, if sometimes over-self-congratulatory, read by the way. With this context in mind, we should perhaps expect Brewdog’s marketing to be a little unconventional, even risky at times. With the issue of gender equality firmly in the media spotlight, Brewdog decided to create a new beer called Pink IPA, especially for women. It’s the exact same beer as Punk IPA, only the bottle label was pink. My sense is there were very good intentions behind the campaign, with Brewdog promising to donate 20% of proceeds from the sale of Pink IPA and Punk IPA to causes that fight inequality and support women. They even made a funky video about it: [Pink IPA](https://vimeo.com/258276581) from [BrewDog](https://vimeo.com/brewdog) on [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com). Aside from the fact that there’s already a beer for women (hint: it’s called beer), the inadequacies and shallowness of this approach to brand purpose are easy to see when we scratch beneath the surface of the glossy marketing messages. Why were donations from the sale of these products only made for four weeks? Why was the campaign landing page removed so soon after the end of the promotion? And why would a brand choose promotional tactics that actually increase gender inequalities? In one stunt, Brewdog decided to sell Pink IPA in its bars at a 20% discount to “those who identify as women”. The blindingly obvious then happened: a man walked into a bar,… asked for a discount on Pink IPA, was refused, then had to say he identified as a woman so he could to take advantage of the promotion. He then took Brewdog to court for gender discrimination and was awarded £1000 in compensation. While some may argue that the resulting publicity was worth far more to Brewdog than the £1000 legal penalty, others have rightly questioned how copying and parodying sexism will subvert or weaken it. More importantly for brand marketers, the message is clear: if you are going to embrace brand purpose, you need more, much more, than a quirky idea and a short-term stunt. You need real conviction, belief, and commitment to your chosen cause. And you won’t give up on it until you have succeeded. That’s Activism over Purpose. #### A much better example The Volvo brand is synonymous with safety. No other car manufacturer has put the issue of protecting and saving lives more at the heart of its business. Its longstanding Vision 2020 statement is distinctly powerful: > Our vision is that by 2020 no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo car And when the issue of gender inequality hit the headlines, Volvo chose a typically understated, considered and brilliantly pragmatic response. [The Volvo E.V.A. (Equal Vehicles for All) Initiative](https://www.volvocars.com/uk/about/human-innovation/future-of-driving/safety/cars-safe-for-all) was created in response to gender inequalities in the car industry. But, instead of offering discounts to women, or shouting loudly about its female-friendly credentials, Volvo stayed true to its principles and rooted its thinking in its core brand purpose: safety. Data shows that women a more likely to be injured in car crashes, largely because the male-dominated industry has invested more time and effort testing male crash test dummies than those with female anatomy. Volvo recognised this imbalance long ago and since 1995 has used crash test dummies of many shapes and sizes in pursuit of its Vision 2020 ambition. And now, under the E.V.A. Initiative, Volvo has elected to share a wealth of crash test data with the entire car industry. It has released [over 100 research papers](https://group.volvocars.com/company/safety-vision/research), disclosing the scientific evidence of what makes Volvo cars safer than many others. That’s Activism over Purpose. Volvo made a video too: #### In conclusion… The differences between each brand’s approach to promoting gender equality are startling. Brewdog chose noisy, brash short-termism, as we have come to expect from the brand. It embraced “Purpose” with wafer-thin intent, creating a snazzy video and maximising its PR exposure in the process. Brewdog stopped shouting about its gender equality beliefs once the campaign was over. Volvo, on the other hand, chose its “Purpose” with care, staying aligned to its core mission of eliminating the risk of death and serious injuries for car drivers and passengers. It quietly chose activism over publicity, releasing commercially valuable data to other car manufacturers to help them also make a positive difference to the world. Volvo’s E.V.A. Initiative is still a thing, and will likely be around for many years, always closely entwined with its safety mission. To mangle the well-known phrase: > Brand purpose isn’t just for Christmas, it’s for life. Think carefully before your next marketing campaign. Activism always trumps Purpose. **Categories:** Innovation, Inspiration, Marketing, Noble Marketing --- ### [Activism over Purpose](https://allisterspeaks.com/activism-over-purpose/) **Published:** October 22, 2019 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** There’s a lot of buzz in marketing and PR circles about the importance of businesses having “Purpose”, usually with a capital P. Generally speaking, this leads companies to identify ways they can be seen to stand for something more useful to society than simply making vast amounts of profit. At best, this translates into organisations introducing changes that improve the environment or bring relief to impoverished societies. But, at worst, it spins up wafer-thin CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) programmes where tiny amounts of budget and effort are wafted in the general direction of some cause-related activity to create the illusion that the company’s leaders give a toss about anyone but themselves. Despite the painfully half-hearted efforts of many organisations, having “Purpose” is rarely a bad thing, but some programmes are more believable than others. In our technology-enlightened age where people have access to vast sources of information and more choice than they can shake a stick at, it generally pays for brands to be seen to be “doing the right thing”. And, more importantly, being nice to the planet and the creatures and resources upon it is an inherently sensible way to offset some of the negativity associated with otherwise existing solely to make rich shareholders richer. But what does good “Purpose” look like? For me, the origins of “Purpose” should be closely related to an organisation’s existing activities. Brands like [Patagonia](https://www.patagonia.com/home/), the outdoor clothing and leisure provider, get this, with their company mission being “To Save our Home Planet”. Protecting and preserving the environment is the very reason the company exists. Its excellent products are simply a happy by-product that allows more people to enjoy being outdoors, at one with the natural world the company exists to preserve. D[![](https://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Worn-wear-300x169.jpg)](https://wornwear.patagonia.com/)on’t believe me? Check out [Patagonia’s Worn Wear initiative](https://wornwear.patagonia.com/) where used clothing is repaired, shared and recycled to reduce waste and consumption of natural resources. #### Start here: If you’re looking for a credible, meaningful “Purpose” for your company or brand, I’d suggest you start with what you actually do. If you’re a manufacturer of soap dispensers, then committing to a societal change that will improve the planet at large through better hygiene, disease eradication, or creating less waste would make good sense. Conversely, focussing your CSR efforts on supporting a local animal charity, however well-intentioned that may be, is unlikely to make as much sense. Your brand and chosen “Purpose” should be inseparably intertwined. “Purpose” done well is much more than a snappy campaign and PR programme. It ultimately becomes the thing that makes your employees leap out of bed on Monday mornings, filled with good intentions and ambitions to succeed. However, even being “Purpose”-driven is often no longer enough. To be credible and authentically real, you and colleagues need to care *so much* about your chosen “Purpose” that you would be prepared to be **activist** in calling for and promoting the change you wish to see in the world. Being activist another of those snappy buzzwords. It’s easy to say, but very hard to do. In my work with organisations around the world, the more closely aligned “Purpose” is to commercial goals, the more willing staff are likely to be to become activist in pursuit of the desired outcome. Simply put, if your staff would not be prepared to give up their weekend to support voluntary community work or to protest for changes to legislation or to campaign for your chosen “Purpose”, your company is probably not activist enough to be truly credible. **How will your brand be more activist in pursuit of its “Purpose”?** What are the changes that you and your colleagues will introduce to the world to long outlive their job titles and short-term commercial goals? **Categories:** Inspiration, Marketing, Noble Marketing **Tags:** activism, activist, purpose --- ### [How to Book a Professional Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-book-a-professional-speaker/) **Published:** May 13, 2019 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Here’s a short video I just filmed to share some tips on how to book a professional speaker for an event or conference. I distilled my advice into 10 easy, fool-proof steps. Hope you find this helpful 🙂 **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Lessons from Seven Years of Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work](https://allisterspeaks.com/lessons-from-seven-years-of-good-old-fashioned-hard-work/) **Published:** May 8, 2019 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Seven years ago I left Microsoft to start a crazy experiment, to start my own company and help others achieve more in our digital world. As I look back on all that’s happened since April 2012, I wanted to share a few words of advice for others thinking of branching out on their own. Thanks to everyone who’s supported me along the way. Here’s to many more years of success and inspiration. **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [Keynote Talk Topics - New Video Guide](https://allisterspeaks.com/keynote-talk-topics-new-video-guide/) **Published:** May 7, 2019 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve just put together a one-page summary of some of the hottest keynote talk topics I’m often asked to cover. If you’re trying to decide which speaker topics to include in your next conference or event, this is a good place to start. Each of the images links to a short YouTube video where I explain a little about each talk and my approach to developing tailored content for each event. [![](https://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Keynote-Topics-Button-01_Paper-A4-Mock-up.png)](https://www.allister.live/downloads/Video-Guide-to-Allister-Frost-Keynote-Topics.pdf) **Categories:** Inspiration **Tags:** keynote, speaker, topics --- ### [In Conversation with Roger Edwards](https://allisterspeaks.com/in-conversation-with-roger-edwards/) **Published:** March 14, 2019 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I recently chatted to Roger Edwards on his Marketing & Finance podcast where we talked about the sorry demise of marketing strategy, the flaws of the efficiency bubble, and how to do content marketing well. You can listen to our conversation in the player below, or r[ead more and subscribe to Roger’s podcast here](https://rogeredwards.co.uk/digital-traditional-and-content-marketing-strategies-maf203/). Enjoy! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Being a Good Influence(r)](https://allisterspeaks.com/being-a-good-influencer/) **Published:** February 28, 2019 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’m often asked what the rules are governing promotional activities carried out by influencers, whether a hired-in celebrity or members of staff or partner firms. Until recently the guidance has been quite vague, but some recent publications from the ASA and CMA have clarified things a bit, at least here in the UK. Back in September, the UK’s advertising regulator, the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority), issued a publication entitled [“An Influencer’s Guide to making clear that ads are ads”](https://www.asa.org.uk/resource/influencers-guide.html). Their guidelines spell out that any communications in ‘paid-for ad space’ (like banner ads or PPC search results) count as advertising. So far, so obvious… But the ASA also went on to specify that: > “If you’re posting about your own products/services; e.g., products you sell and events you’re running etc., then this also counts as advertising – even on your own personal channels.” > > ASA, September 2018 Many marketers have turned a convenient blind eye to communications pushed out by colleagues and other employees on behalf of the firm. Some actively encourage staff to discretely rebroadcast brand messages. But few have properly understood that these are effectively adverts and should be managed with the same scrutiny and transparency as, say, a TV ad. Furthermore, anyone who works with brands and publishes content on their own channels should recognise that their content becomes an advert if: (1) they have been paid in some way (money or perks or gifts or freebies) (2) the brand had some form of editorial control over the content This ‘advertorial’ content type encapsulates most modern forms of influencer marketing, meaning that their content is now routinely treated as advertising by the regulator. So, if your content is considered to be an advert, what additional steps must you take before it can be published? Firstly, and most importantly, the content must be **obviously identifiable as an ad** ***wherever it appears*****.** The ASA recommends prominently featuring words like Ad, Advert, Advertising, Advertisement or Advertising Feature alongside the content. Alternatives like #sponsored, #spon or trite statements like *“Thanks to \[brand\] for making this possible”* are **not** considered to make it obviously identifiable that the content is actually an ad. And, of course, anything that’s an ad must also stand up to close scrutiny by being fair, substantiable and legal (e.g. not for age-restricted products like alcohol or breaching any other guideline in the relevant Code of Advertising Practice). The CMA (Competition & Markets Authority) issued [further guidance](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-media-endorsements-guide-for-influencers/social-media-endorsements-being-transparent-with-your-followers) last month which includes some helpful advice to help brands and influencers stay on the right side of the law. They provided examples of **insufficient transparency** including: - *Tagging a gift from a brand in in either the text, picture and/or video of a post without additional disclosure* - *Product placement where there is an associated (and undisclosed) payment or other incentive* - *Disclosing the a commercial affiliation only on an influencer’s front, home or profile page (it must appear against every ad)* Complying with the CAP is far easier than many marketers and influencers sometimes think. Be sure to read through the guidance word by word and act on it immediately and constantly. Making it blindingly clear what is and what isn’t an advert means much more than simply complying with some rules. **It’s a powerful way of showing the world that you have the customer’s best interests at heart and have chosen to operate with highest ethical standards and transparency.** **Categories:** Content Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advertising, influencer marketing --- ### [Thank you](https://allisterspeaks.com/thank-you/) **Published:** February 18, 2019 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Wherever possible I love to collect feedback from clients to help us understand how to improve. Last week we updated some sections of our website and refreshed a few dozen of the testimonials dotted across the site. Reading through so many kind words was a humbling experience. I was really touched by the gratitude expressed and, most importantly, energised by the knowledge that we get to help so many people. We imported the feedback forms from the last couple of years into a clever tool that identifies the most frequently used words and puts them into a funky word cloud. Here’s the result: ![](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/allister2-1024x768.png) So, thank you for all your support. We’re excitedly looking forward to helping more organisations in the years to come. But, above all, the greatest reward is knowing that we can do a great job and that our advice and support is making a real difference in the world. *\#cheers!* PS We are also now recognised as a [top Consulting Firm](https://www.designrush.com/agency/business-consulting) on DesignRush. You can find us [here](https://www.designrush.com/agency/profile/wild-orange-media-ltd). **Categories:** Inspiration, Miscellaneous --- ### [Being A Digital Optimist](https://allisterspeaks.com/being-a-digital-optimist/) **Published:** January 30, 2019 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve long held the view that digital progress, however destabilising in the short-term, will lead to long-term benefits for humankind and Planet Earth. That’s why I label myself a Digital Optimist. But, until quite recently, it’s never felt like a minority opinion. With the global media and the public now scrutinising the activities of leading technology players like Facebook, Google and Apple, it’s quite reasonable to feel concerned about the adverse effects that technology is having on our lives. When scandals like Cambridge Analytica’s alleged mishandling of personal data come to light, it’s right to be worried about how your own data might be misused. And when hyper-targeted personalised advertising is placed on social media channels to covertly and very effectively sway mass public opinion, it is our duty to demand that our democratic rights should never be abused or taken away. But for all these worries, it’s clear to me that we enjoy and will continue to enjoy a net benefit from technological progress. Robotics are helping free humans from repetitive, mundane and dangerous tasks. Artificial intelligence is helping us see patterns in vast quantities of data to unlock new solutions to previously intractable problems. And new forms of communication are steadily bringing humans closer together, ushering in the potential for a new era of enlightenment, tolerance and societal cohesion. In 2019, the phase we’ve reached in our technological development is not dissimilar to the storm of cultural conflict experienced in any large scale societal evolution. In business, when we put a new team of people together we understand that there are often four key stages the new collective will go through on its path to peak performance. These are Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing (from [Bruce Tuckman’s 1965 model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckman%27s_stages_of_group_development)). ![](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Tuckmans-Model-1024x665.png)Of the four stages, storming is perhaps the most interesting and significant. It signifies the point where the different personalities in a group identify their roles, compete for opportunities and work through differences of opinion that might otherwise prevent the team from attaining a high level of performance. Perhaps we’ve reached that storming phase on our journey with technology. For most of us in developed countries, the excitement of the new is largely over—although there’s much, much more to come—and we’re now able to assess what we like and dislike about the new world order. Most communities and organisations have opted to use their new technology-fuelled capabilities for good, while others, the minority, have exploited technology to take advantage of others or to embrace criminality. Many of us feel conflicted over the way things are panning out, and we’re unsure if we want to play or simply turn back the clock to how things used to be. This is the storming phase. It challenges us to work through our differences and find a longer term arrangement—a new norm—that will lead us to a collectively beneficial future. Storming is uncomfortable, it’s confusing and it’s emotionally draining. But we have to work through it. The alternative is seeking to stand still while others race forward without us. Technological progress will always advance, largely at exponentially-accelerating speeds. As we figure it out, much good will come from the new norm, as well as some bad. Our ways of living will change. Our frail human capabilities will extend. And our capacity to make the right choices for the benefit of everyone will grow. Ultimately, technology may be the only path available to reveal the crucial answers needed to make our tiny planet habitable and sustainable for the long term. I’m proud to call myself a Digital Optimist. I’m not blind to the negatives either. And I’m excited by the role I play in helping others understand and run towards the wonderful opportunities technology can bring to help us achieve our collective potential. *Storm on!* **Categories:** Digital Living, Inspiration **Tags:** society --- ### [The Misery of Multiple Messages](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-misery-of-multiple-messages/) **Published:** November 1, 2018 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** It’s often the most long-in-the-tooth marketing principles that are the most misused or ignored. Who’s got time these days for old-style thinking? It’s the digital era, grandad! Surely fresh, breakthrough approaches are needed, not methods built on decades of wisdom and experience? A quick glance at any email inbox will illustrate how so many marketers continue to make rookie mistakes. **How many marketing emails do you have (probably in the Deleted Items or To Be Ignored folder) with 4, 5, 6, maybe a dozen or more different call-to-action (CTA) buttons or links?** Buttons are cheap, they’re just pixels. Adding more costs nothing, right? Wrong. Every new message you try to convey to your target audience steals attention from all that have gone before. **Or****, in short, if you need to say one thing, please say one thing only.** Here’s the proof, from Millward Brown’s Link™ database analysis of thousands of pieces of marketing communication: ![](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Millward-Brown.jpg)The headline says it all: > THE MORE MESSAGES YOU TRY AND COMMUNICATE THE LOWER THE LIKELIHOOD OF COMMUNICATING ANY SINGLE MESSAGE. > > Millward Brown So which call(s)-to-action deserve to be in your next marketing communication piece or advertisement? Here’s how I decide. Imagine your target audience is seated in front of you. All of them. In a giant hall, with you standing on-stage, nervously drawing breath behind the lectern. You’ve got one chance, only one, to inspire them to do the most important thing that will serve your commercial goal. **What will you say?** That one thing is your primary (and ideally only) call-to-action that deserves to appear in your next communication piece. Say that thing, say it well, and get off-stage. Your work is done. Nice job. **But what if you have more than one thing to say?** You may, in exceptional circumstances, add additional CTAs on the strict understanding that each message dilutes the effectiveness of every previous message. But remember, your audience’s desire to listen is limited. Say too much and they’ll remember nothing of you. If that’s an effectiveness gamble you are prepared to take, go for it. KISS. Keep it simple, stupid. **Categories:** Content, Design, Digital Marketing, Marketing, Uncategorized **Tags:** CTA --- ### [Two New Awards for Wild Orange Media](https://allisterspeaks.com/two-new-awards-for-wild-orange-media/) **Published:** September 21, 2018 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** In our work here at Wild Orange Media, the biggest reward we get is seeing the boost we can bring to our clients’ work and performance. The proof of the pudding really is in the tasting, *yum!* But every so often we’re honoured to receive recognition from other places, and it’s especially touching when this is unexpected and unsolicited. ***And we’ve just had two!*** Technology platform creator Jumplead has awarded us a [**Top 50 Global B2B Marketing Agency Blog award.**](https://jumplead.com/awards/best-b2b-marketing-agency-blogs) Being ranked at number 24 in the world alongside many other prestigious agencies is lovely recognition for the work we do sharing our thoughts and ideas online. Thanks Jumplead! ![](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Jumplead-B2B-Blog-Award.png) And, more locally, we’ve been selected by CV Magazine as **The Most Outstanding Boutique Strategy Marketing Consultancy in Surrey** in their Corporate Excellence Awards. Thanks CV! ![](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Wild-Orange-Media-CV-Awards.jpg) Receiving industry recognition like these is very nice, and we’re grateful. But nothing inspires us more to work harder, think deeper and deliver stronger than knowing the positive difference we can make for our clients. Thank you for the trust you place in us 🙂 It’s Friday, time for some R&R. Enjoy your weekend. **Categories:** Inspiration, Miscellaneous **Tags:** awards, blog --- ### [Latest Facebook Ad Targeting Options](https://allisterspeaks.com/latest-facebook-ad-targeting-options/) **Published:** September 19, 2018 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We’ve once again updated our Precision Ad Targeting Planning Worksheet for Facebook (UK Edition) and many of the changes we predicted earlier this year have come true. As Facebook wrestles to restore its reputation and curtail inappropriate advertising activities like excluding certain people from offers, it has removed some of its more contentious demographic targeting options. For example, it’s no longer possible to target people by their **income band or net worth.** These filters were being used by some businesses to exclude lower-income customers, such as by landlords looking for wealthier tenants. Similarly, options to target people on their **insurance types and renewal months** have been removed, along with credit card use, investment behaviours and loan status. The **cat and dog pet insurance** options remain, presumably because they have fewer rights to privacy than humans 😉 Interestingly, for some other markets including Argentina, Brazil, India, Turkey and Mexico, there’s a new **Consumer Classification option to target “people who prefer high-value goods” or “people who prefer mid & high-value goods.”** This may prove helpful for international brands. A user’s **household composition** is no longer disclosed to advertisers, bringing to an end some practices where financial services companies avoided offering their services to people living in housemate-based households. And I’m delighted to see that the absurd **“Generation X” and “Millennials”** options have been removed. These provided no functionality beyond the alternative “Age” targeting choice so this should only cause mild inconvenience to advertisers looking for a broad-brush shorthand rather than thinking, as they should, about the actual age group they wish to reach. As always, the **mobile device** **user** options have been brought up-to-date with the addition of some of the latest devices but there’s still no option to go after iPhone 8 or newer users. It’s unclear why it’s taking Facebook so long to add these options, although it’s possible that Apple may have masked the identity of these new devices to afford their users some additional protection from targeted advertisers. These early-adopter users are, of course, hugely valuable to Apple who guards their identity wherever possible. However, it’s not all restrictions; the **age targeting options** have been widened and now starts at 13 years of age, where previously it was 18 years. But, as expected, this update brings mostly more limitations on the precision targeting choices available to Facebook’s advertisers. Expect more cutbacks in future. **You can access [our latest worksheet from here](http://bit.ly/facebookuktargeting). Enjoy!** **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media --- ### [Channel Amnesia and Buyer Journeys](https://allisterspeaks.com/channel-amnesia-buyer-journeys/) **Published:** November 17, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **There’s a powerful phenomenon developing that I’ve been observing in recent years.** As our internet-connected devices become ever more intimate, the content they provide has to also become more personalised and tailored to our desires. We’ve grown used to getting near-instant answers to every question, often with little more than a few keystrokes or a brief chat with a voice-assistant device. As instant access to near-perfect (or, at least, good enough) answers becomes the norm, we’ve stopped having to think about the best place to find those answers. **They’re just there, always, at the other end of our question.** All of which means that very often **we don’t know or care where the answers have come from.** What we do know is how easy it will be to find them again, so what value is there in remembering the source of today’s answers? **The consequences of this change are of supreme importance to marketers.** As prospects and customers have stopped caring to remember where they found out about the products and services we offer, it has become exceptionally difficult to say with certainty which of our marketing efforts or channels most influenced their decisions. With [84% of sharing being dark](https://radiumone.com/darksocial/) (i.e. taking place beyond the abilities of digital measurement systems), attempting to establish facts about which touchpoints work best has become almost impossible. As [Adele Revella, CEO at the Buyer Persona Institute](https://www.buyerpersona.com/2017/09/really-bad-news-about-the-real-buyers-journey.html) puts it, > “Almost no one can recall any marketing engagement that influenced their decision.” I call this phenomenon **‘Channel Amnesia’** and it’s not new. Buyers have long struggled to accurately recall what influenced their decision the most. But its effect is more acute today and the value of recall has diminished almost to zero. Mapping out buyer journeys and seeking to optimise your brand’s role within them remains a useful discipline. **Just don’t expect any of your customers to accurately recall the stages they went through and the relative value of each touchpoint they encountered.** And most attempts to quantify the ROI of each piece of content is almost certainly doomed to fail. Channel Amnesia is also one of the primary reasons why B2B (business-to-business) communications can be so well received on traditionally consumer-focussed platforms like Facebook and Instagram. We don’t stop being a business professional when we go home at the end of the working, nor would we actively reject useful, timely business content we encounter through personal communication channels. We’ll happily consume and save the information we find useful to our lives. Just don’t expect anyone to remember that they first encountered that whitepaper while scrolling through their Facebook newsfeed on the train home. Most measurement and tracking systems I see in use today have been built on foundations of hope and dreams, not the solid, enduring basis of true understanding of human behaviour. Channel Amnesia is here to stay. Smart marketers will adapt their thinking and planning approaches to reflect these tough, new realities. **Categories:** Content Marketing, Inspiration, Marketing, Uncategorized **Tags:** buyer persona, marketing --- ### [How Digital Fuels Disloyalty (and what you can do about it)](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-digital-fuels-disloyalty-and-what-you-can-do-about-it/) **Published:** July 13, 2018 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Those of us who have been in the business world for some time have had it easy. It used to be a fairly safe bet that happy customers would, sooner or later, return to buy again. After all, we did a great job of winning those customers in the first place and by meeting—or occasionally exceeding—their expectations, their loyalty and repeat custom was almost assured. And then the Internet came along and ruined everything. Our customers were now exposed to a seemingly endless array of choice and were gifted the ability to search for and discover new ways to buy from almost anyone, anywhere in the world. In the passage of a few short years, our customers’ worldview has been transformed from a paucity of choice to a seemingly endless stream of possibilities. With this dramatic increase in choice and control, customers learned that loyalty is not always the smartest choice. I call this “digital disloyalty”, and it’s having a profound impact on many organizations. In almost every industry sector, customers are now more confident in their ability to self-discover the best choices and increasingly sceptical of the advice of previously trusted experts. Here’s another way to think about this change. The first phase of almost every journey to purchase is now characterized by a period of ‘self-service research’. During this time, customers will happily conduct their own buying investigations while postponing making direct contact with prospective suppliers until they are satisfied this would be in their best interests. Modern life’s busy—no-one has time to be sold to—and it makes perfect sense to delay showing your hand to sellers until you are ready to buy. The buying process now looks a bit like this: ![](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/allister-frost-modern-buying-process.png) Particularly in the world of B2B (business-to-business) transactions, numerous studies now show that customers are on average at least 60 per cent through their journey to purchase before they engage prospective suppliers. In some sectors, especially amongst small businesses, the crucial moment of supplier engagement might take place later than 90 per cent of the way through the buying process. And things are getting worse. In almost every sector, the supplier engagement phase is shifting backwards, ever closer to the final moment of purchase. This leaves sellers with just a short window of sales opportunity, right at the end of the buying journey. By this point, customers are often better informed about the choices available to them than even your most experienced salespeople. Digital disloyalty really has changed everything. So, faced with an ever-shortening period of supplier engagement and limited opportunities to influence the sale, what can organizations do to win and keep customers? Firstly, and counter-intuitively for many, the primary focus of every business should be on the long-term, not just the short-term wins. The key to surviving the ruthless self-service research phase is to be in buyers’ heads before they even start the process. Think about it: if your company’s name or that of one of your salespeople comes into the buyer’s mind as they start their research, you’re in with a chance of being added to their shortlist. If they haven’t heard of you before, you’ll be fighting for attention in their online search results, alongside all the other short-term obsessed competitors. The second solution lies in creating content that supports the customer throughout their self-service research period. The business boardroom maxim used to be “Information is Power”, but liberating this information into the public domain has become an essential skill for all organizations. Look at it this way: if your prospective buyers expect to be able to do as much research as possible without contacting you or other suppliers, the best thing that can happen is that they stumble upon and enjoy some of your helpful content in the process. This translates into an urgent priority for all businesses to openly and transparently publish supportive advice to inform the self-service research phase. Digital disloyalty is one of the most powerful forces in the world today. When we understand its origins and why customers are opting to behave differently, we can leverage this understanding to create better, stronger organizations that can thrive, not just survive, in our digital age. *The post “How Digital Fuels Disloyalty (and what you can do about it)” first appeared on the A-Speakers blog at * **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Latest Updates to Facebook Ad Targeting Options](https://allisterspeaks.com/latest-updates-to-facebook-ad-targeting-options/) **Published:** May 1, 2018 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We’ve been monitoring Facebook’s ad targeting choices for several years and our latest audit reveals a number of significant changes. As always, we’ve listed out all the available audience segmentation choices available in our Ad Targeting Worksheet which is now available for [free download from here](http://bit.ly/facebookuktargeting). So, what’s changed for UK marketers in recent months? ##### Gone but not forgotten: 1. Facebook has removed the option to target people with interests in *‘dieting’, ‘gyms’, ‘nutrition’* and *‘Zumba’* (yes, I’ve never tried it either). 2. Targeting by sexual orientation is no longer available so the options to aim ads at people who are *‘Interested in… Men ‘, ‘…Women’, ‘…Men and Women’,* and *‘…Unspecified’* are gone. 3. People who are *‘Currently traveling’* or *‘Business travelers’* are no longer targetable; you’ll have to make do with choices like *‘Frequent travelers’* or *‘Commuters’* instead. 4. The lower income brackets are gone too, so you can no longer target ads at UK people with incomes *‘£20,000-£24,999’* or *‘£25,000-£29,999’* ##### New and shiny: - Facebook has added choices to target people based on how long they have owned a mobile device, with choices as follows: - *Less than 1 month* - *1-3 months* - *4-6 months* - *7-9 months* - *10-12 months* - *13-18 months* - *19-24 months* - *25 months+* - There’s a whole new section related to (presumably high value) soccer fans and their friends, with options to target: - *Friends of Soccer/US Soccer fans* - *Soccer/US soccer fans (high content engagement)* - *Soccer/US soccer fans (moderate content engagement)* - And, for the US only, there’s a new Multicultural Affinity category that allows targeting by: - *African American (US)* - *Asian American (US)* - *Hispanic (US – All)* - *Hispanic (US – Bilingual)* - *Hispanic (US – English dominant)* - *Hispanic (US – Spanish dominant)* [![](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/FB-Ad-Targeting-3-page-mock-up-293x300.png)](http://bit.ly/facebookuktargeting)With that information, you’re bang-up-to-date once more! Facebook appears to be bowing to public pressure by removing some of its more contentious targeting choices like sexual orientation and eating/nutrition-based groupings. We expect this trend to continue with some of the more intrusive options likely to fall under the media’s spotlight in the months ahead. And the newly added options bring little of great value for marketers, unless you happen to be targeting people with a strong interest in soccer (great for sports brands and teams) or Facebook users who have owned a mobile device for a very specific length of time (great for mobile device and app manufacturers). As always, download the worksheets from our website here: [www.bit.ly/facebookuktargeting](http://bit.ly/facebookuktargeting) and [let me know what you think](http://allister.live/contact/). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** ads, Facebook, targeting --- ### [All The Cognitive Biases [infographic]](https://allisterspeaks.com/all-the-cognitive-biases/) **Published:** October 12, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** When I’m helping companies get their heads around behavioural economics and the psychological thinking that underpins great marketing communications, we often refer to cognitive biases to help explain the curious ways humans beings sometimes act. There’s a [great list of cognitive biases on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases), but, you know, it’s Wikipedia… That’s why I was very excited to discover this excellent infographic from Visual Capitalist, which shows a very detailed list of cognitive biases arranged around the core drivers of human behaviour. Check it out below. And if you want to know what any of these strange titles mean, there’s always Wikipedia! [![](http://2oqz471sa19h3vbwa53m33yj.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/cognitive-bias.jpg)](http://www.visualcapitalist.com/every-single-cognitive-bias/) Courtesy of: [Visual Capitalist](http://www.visualcapitalist.com) **Categories:** Content, Digital Marketing **Tags:** behavioural economics, cognitive biases, psychology --- ### [Which is Better: A Website or a Facebook Page?](https://allisterspeaks.com/better-website-facebook-page/) **Published:** September 4, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** *\[This article was written for iedr.ie, the registry responsible for managing Ireland’s .ie domains\]* Let’s try to end an old debate. Which is more important for a business: having a website or a Facebook page? Many small business owners are perplexed by this choice. Some complain about low visitor numbers to their website and a confusing array of site maintenance tasks. Meanwhile, those building their reputation through social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter seem to enjoy simple and free access to an ever-growing audience of followers. According to a recent study by IEDR, 62% of Irish SMEs now have a social media presence. The [dot ie Digital Health Index ](https://www.iedr.ie/why-choose-ie/digital-health-index/)also shows that 93% of Irish SMEs using social media have benefitted from the increased business awareness it generates. Perhaps it’s finally time to abandon websites and focus instead on building an audience on social networks? But there are some wider issues we need to consider. Social networks exist in a perpetual state of reinvention. If you’ve ever returned from a break from using one, you may have been confused by the disappearance of a well-loved feature or the new raft of privacy choices you were asked to accept. Facebook, now the world’s largest social network with 1.8 billion monthly users, started out by ensuring that everything a business posted to the network would be seen by 100% of their connections. Yet today business posts rarely reach 10% of connections, and your reach may be even lower. Have you been posting updates and not receiving much engagement? This could be down to the simple fact that people are just not seeing your updates in their feed. #### Renting versus buying This dramatic dilution of free, organic reach is just one of the ways that social networks alter their terms of use over time. Put simply, when a business builds a presence on a third-party network it becomes a tenant living free of charge in someone else’s online home. Your business is immediately subject to the decisions of another company, without any of the guarantees or protection that you might expect from a bricks-and-mortar business property investment or long-term rental agreement. On the internet, if the landlord wants to change the rules, they can, immediately and often without warning. In contrast, a business website is exclusively controlled by you and your company. Nothing can happen to that website without your permission, and you decide how information should be presented and updated. Having your own website is the equivalent of buying a property—in effect, being the landlord—affording you far more protection in the long term than renting. #### How to do it Fionagh Ryan of Ryans Jewellers in Limerick has built a solid website presence for her company at www.ryansjewellers.ie and sees great value in promoting it. Ryan also leverages the reach of social media to draw traffic into the store and to her website. She says customers often ask about jewellery pieces they’ve seen on Facebook and online. “In this digital age,” she says, “it is vital for small businesses to be online at all stages and available whenever the customer happens to be looking for you.” The good news is that creating and maintaining a website is far easier today than ever before. Many hosting platforms are self-updating, ensuring your site is always protected from the latest security threats and giving you early access to powerful features to wow your site visitors. Website-building platforms such as Squarespace, Weebly or Wix and web marketplaces like www.samm.ie put simple web design tools within reach of even the most cautious of computer users. #### The verdict So, with all things considered, which is more important: a website or a Facebook page? My answer is ‘neither’: they’re both important for modern SMEs. Every business owner should begin by creating a website to serve as their permanent home on the internet, under their control forever. And once that is established, many may also benefit from developing an active presence on relevant social networks like Facebook to reach a wider audience and ultimately convert them into happy, paying customers. *This post first appeared on the [the “Identifiably Irish” blog](http://www.iedr.ie/blog). You can also [watch Allister speaking at Ireland’s Internet Day](http://allister.live/events/ie-internetday/).* ***Want more?*** Sign up for blog updates by email: \[email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”\] **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** Digital Marketing, Facebook, website --- ### [Updates in the new LinkedIn desktop experience](https://allisterspeaks.com/updates-new-linkedin-desktop-experience/) **Published:** January 30, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Microsoft secured final regulatory approval of its $26.2 billion cash-only acquisition of LinkedIn in December 2016, and the social network has already undergone some substantial changes. There’s an all-new look for desktop users. Out goes that tired, dated menu bar, and in comes a new, simplified iconography-based navigation bar. ![LinkedIn Desktop with Messaging Overlay](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/LinkedIn-msg_overlay-800x548.png) LinkedIn’s messaging tools also now appear in an overlay pop-up which may seem spookily familiar to regular Facebook users. The default profile view is also much cleaner, and the changes here will be of particular importance to anyone who wishes to be discovered and contacted via LinkedIn. User avatar photos now appear in a white keylined circle, centred on the page and overlapping with an optional header graphic: ![LinkedIn Profile Non-Self](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/LinkedIn-Profile-NonSelf-800x548.png) If you’ve not updated your LinkedIn profile recently, I recommend you find a few minutes to visit LinkedIn.com through a desktop browser to see if you have access to the new layouts as they are being gradually rolled out to all users. You should check your photo still looks great in the new layout and update this and your background photo if required. Remember, these photos can depict anything you like but (1) keep it professional and (2) make sure both elements work well together as in the example above. Experienced LinkedIn users will also uncover a raft a smaller, often quite subtle, changes that require a bit of re-learning to use the platform. For instance, there’s now no way to see all updates from the people and companies you follow—what used to be cryptically titled ‘Most Recent’ feed view—and LinkedIn only allows users to see the algorithm-controlled feed of posts and articles that it thinks you’ll find useful. The much-lauded Notes and Tags feature is also being quietly retired from LinkedIn.com and will only be accessible to paying LinkedIn Sales Navigator users from April. There are dozens of minor changes in the new LinkedIn experience. Most of them won’t affect many users at all, and lots will go largely unnoticed. However, it’s good to finally see LinkedIn evolving its design and user interface. There’s still has much work to be done to keep LinkedIn in contention with a growing number of competing social platforms, but it’s off to a good start. ***Want more?*** Sign up for blog updates by email: \[email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”\] **Categories:** Design, Social Media **Tags:** linkedin, Microsoft, social network --- ### [Two Billion People and Counting](https://allisterspeaks.com/two-billion-people-and-counting/) **Published:** June 27, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** When a young Mark Zuckerberg gave ‘theFacebook’ its debut at Harvard College in February 2004, few would have dared imagine it could ever turn a profit, let alone survive for more than a few years. Yet here we are, almost 5,000 days later, and Facebook, as it’s now known the world over, has just steamrollered past yet another incredible milestone: ***“More than 2 billion people connect and build communities on Facebook every month”*** [Mark Zuckerberg](https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2017/06/two-billion-people-coming-together-on-facebook/), June 27, 2017 Facebook’s member growth has been as remarkable as it is relentless. Without missing a beat, the social network has increased its active user base quarter-on-quarter since data were first published late in 2008. And while growth slowed briefly in 2012-2014 while the company addressed some shortcomings in its mobile offering and battled intense competition from Twitter and others, it has since resumed its rapid upwards surge. ###### Chart: Facebook Monthly Active Users (in millions) 2009-2017 ![](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Facebook-Monthly-Active-User-Growth-Chart.png) Today, adoption of the Facebook platform is so widespread as to be almost fully saturated in developed markets like the US and the UK. But there’s still plenty of growth potential for all social networks in developing nations across Africa, large parts of Asia and much of South America. Alongside this core platform growth, there’s a remarkable backstory. In April 2012, Facebook acquired a popular photo sharing mobile app called Instagram for US$1 billion.Since then the company has been working hard to protect and evolve Instagram’s much-loved user experience while retaining its distinctiveness from the core Facebook platform. In fact, today, most users remain unaware that Facebook and Instagram are owned and developed by the same people. It’s testament to good product management that the two platforms continue to thrive alongside each other, and Instagram now attracts over 700 million monthly active users. But, most remarkable of all, is the fact that the back-end data sets behind these platforms now work in lock-step. When a user does something on one platform, that information is instantly available to enhance their experience on the other platform. And advertisers will pay gladly for the audience insights and precision targeting this data amalgamation brings. And, quite unexpectedly, in October 2014, Facebook completed its US$19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp, a private and group messaging service. The service has gone from strength to strength, largely replacing SMS texts for younger internet users and is now enjoyed by over 1.2 billion monthly users. When we add WhatsApp’s ‘mobile contact address book’ data into the mix, we can begin to appreciate the exquisite amount of data that Facebook now holds about the world’s internet users. Today, Facebook remains an exceptionally acquisitive company with recent investments in innovative players in the virtual reality, machine learning and data analytics worlds. The next generation of Facebook users will experience a very different social network to what we know today, as [Facebook Spaces](https://www.facebook.com/spaces) develops from a primitive virtual reality world into a seamless, life-augmenting experience. It all adds up to a heady and potent mix. The [network effect](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect), as aways, is all powerful, and the connected data it provides gives Facebook an extraordinary advantage over its many smaller rivals. Even new-kid-on-the-block apps like Snapchat have seen their growth stall in recent months. Instagram Stories, for example, has successfully wooed over many SnapChat users and has quickly gained a far larger user base than the once unstoppable SnapChat. Being able to draw in an audience from a diverse demographic pool of Facebook and Instagram users presents a near-impenetrable barrier to entry for start-up companies, however innovative they are. But can the growth continue? All the signs today are positive, but the one thing that’s certain in our digital age is that nothing stays the same forever. It could take just one major data breach, one privacy conflict, one inescapably negative headline news story for Facebook’s house of cards to begin to tumble. But I wouldn’t rush to write off Facebook just yet. If there’s one tech player that you should never take your eyes off, it’s Zuckerberg’s army of supremely talented developers. ***Want more?*** Sign up for blog updates by email: \[email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”\] **Categories:** Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, social network --- ### [The Vicious Circle of Social Media ROI](https://allisterspeaks.com/vicious-circle-social-media-roi/) **Published:** July 20, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [Convince & Convert](http://www.convinceandconvert.com) has just released its [2017 State of Social Marketing report](https://get.simplymeasured.com/2017-07-12-State-of-Social-em.html) and it makes for an interesting read. The study questioned more than 2,700 social media marketers working both client side and in agencies in over 100 countries. It’s important to keep this in mind, because the results presents an inside-industry view of the social media marketing world which may differ from the view your customers hold. Here’s one of the headline charts from the report: ![Chart - Top Social Challenges 2017](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Top-Social-Challenges-2017.png) In short, the leading challenges the industry face are reported as: 1. measuring the ROI of social media 2. tying social to business goals 3. and securing budget and resources for social. It’s a depressingly familiar story that I hear all too often from clients: > We cannot measure the ROI of social media or prove that it directly improves our business goals, so we cannot secure the investment needed to do it better, which means we cannot measure the ROI… A vicious circle, indeed. And the solution for most companies, in my opinion, lies not in the obvious (putting in place an all-singing-all-dancing ROI measurement system) but in developing a more grown-up, informed understanding of the ways that intelligent social media marketing works. Any company that sets out to use social media channels to directly influence short-term revenue or other commercials goals has failed to understand the way that social communications work. Far from being a sales fire starter, social media is a slow-burn communication platform. Just like PR and broadcast advertising like TV and radio, social networks provide a platform for brands to build their names and reputation so they will be part of the consideration set when the customer decides it’s time to buy. Of course, there are occasions when, just like PR and TV, social communications can help raise awareness of short-term buying opportunities for the customer but, by and large, it’s a place where customers can elect to discover who you are, what you do, and whether they like you or not. In the pre-digital age, prospective customers had to rely on advertisements, editorial and advertorial content, or simply walking into a store to inform their choices. These routes to enlightenment still exist and still work wonders when executed well. But we also have to overlay the opportunity to play a broader role in customers’ lives beyond the short-term transaction. That’s where social and several other emerging digital marketing techniques play their greatest role. Not in helping companies hit their latest quarterly revenue target, but principally in facilitating a long-term relationship—founded on the customers’ terms—to build and protect the long-term health and vitality of the brand. **Don’t get me wrong:** I’m not saying that wishing to gauge the benefits of social media marketing is futile. But I am advocating a more rounded approach to the opportunity, where the long-term brand-building benefits are given more focus and where marketing teams are given the resources they need to support this through whichever communication channels tomorrow’s customers choose to use today. That, to my mind, is the only way to exit the vicious circle and, ultimately, to embrace a more enlightened and effective approach to marketing in our digital age. ***Want more?*** Sign up for blog updates by email: \[email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”\] **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** measurement, report, roi, social media --- ### [On Knowing Millennials and Other Young Things](https://allisterspeaks.com/millennials-and-young-things/) **Published:** August 4, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** As you’ve no doubt seen, there’s a lot of guff written about millennials and the younger generations these days. Most published writers and social anthropologists have long since left those youthful, care-free days behind. Which means, just as our grandparents struggled to understand us, it’s sometimes difficult making sense of the ways that younger people now live their lives. ![Not a Millennial Badge](http://allister.live/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hello_my_name_is_NOT_A_Millennial.png)And I’m no different. Understanding how the next wave of increasingly affluent, middle-aged consumers lives its life in its 20s and 30s today presents a major challenge when you’ve been there, got the t-shirt, and long since thrown the t-shirt away in favour of something that looks better with corduroy. The only fair and true way to develop a deep, factual understanding of age-defined groups like millennials—typically people who reached adulthood around the turn of the 21st century—is to employ talented, independent researchers to collect meaningful insights direct from the source. Yet many people who are old enough to know better seem quite happy using generic observations and hearsay to define these younger groups in their minds. To be clear: your daughter or niece is not a millennial. Your neighbour’s son is not a millennial. Even if you were born between 1977 and 1995, your experiences are unlikely to be fair representations of how all other millennials think and live their lives. Just for the record, here’s a generally accepted set of age brackets for the most widely cited generational groupings: - **Gen Z** – born 1996 to present (current age: 0-21yrs) - **Millennials** – born 1977 to 1995 (current age: 22-40yrs) - **Gen X** – born 1965 to 1976 (current age: 41-52yrs) - **Baby Boomers** – born 1946 to 1964 (current age: 53-71yrs) - **Traditionalists** – born 1945 and earlier (current age: 72yrs+) *\[Note: arguments continue to rage about the precise age brackets. For instance, some date the birth of the earliest millennials to 1976, while others claim it’s 1978, and some insist it’s 1980!\]* So, how do you go about understanding how these different age groups live their lives so you can encourage them to buy more of your products and services? In short, you don’t. Just because a 21 year old sits in the Gen Z grouping, it doesn’t automatically follow that they’re profoundly different to a younger millennial (who may be as little as one day older!) There’s no magic switch or transformation that happens between people born in 1995 and 1996. So my first, and most essential, piece of advice would be to **take these age groupings with an unhealthy pinch of salt.** Secondly, however, there are plenty of useful things you can do to deepen your appreciation of some of the broad differences between these groupings. **There are hundreds of secondary (i.e. existing) research reports that you can mine to start building a picture.** For example, if you’re in the travel industry, Adobe recently published some excellent articles ([here](https://blogs.adobe.com/digitalmarketing/digital-marketing/get-ready-age-millennial-traveler/) and [here](http://www.adobe.com/experience-cloud/articles/millennials-love-travel.html)) derived from its 2017 Adobe Digital Index U.S. Working Millennials Survey. The data used were collected in the USA but the findings provide some helpful insights to travel companies looking to tap into the younger dollar. Adobe’s report shows that for 70% of working millennials buying ‘experiences’, especially travel-related, holds a higher priority than buying ‘things’. We learn that their technology dependency—not just use—means that have exceptionally high expectations of travel companies and they demand highly personalised and tailored experiences when planning to spend their rising disposable income. We also understand the staggering importance of social content with 84 percent of millennials now planning trips with the help of photos shared online by other people like them. Some online reports are a goldmine of information. Use them wisely to build out a rough picture of your younger potential audiences. But desk research and published reports will only take you so far. Every company, yours included, has a distinctive brand and audience. Your millennial prospects may be dramatically different from those a competitor can realistically win. **This is why you must also invest in your own research, with your own business and goals in mind.** A skilful researcher—and I’m not one, so don’t ask me for help here!—can help you identify very specific opportunities to improve your service offering and communications approach to increase your appeal to younger generations. Quite often it’s the little changes you make that may have the biggest impact. Shifting your brand and message to appeal more to tomorrow’s most affluent consumers needn’t call for wholesale reinvention. So compile your own research, with help from independent thinkers, and start unlocking the ideas that can help your company thrive into the future. And please don’t add to the minefield of misleading online guff about younger people until you truly know what you’re talking about! ***Want more?*** Sign up for blog updates by email: \[email-subscribers namefield=”YES” desc=”” group=”Public”\] **Categories:** Computers and Internet, Digital Living, Marketing **Tags:** Gen Z, Marketing research, millennials --- ### [Why you'll love Audiense (formerly SocialBro)](https://allisterspeaks.com/youll-love-audiense-formerly-socialbro/) **Published:** March 14, 2016 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![SocialBro is now Audiense](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Screenshot-011.png)Last week SocialBro, a Twitter and Instagram audience insight and monitoring platform, rebranded as [Audiense](http://www.audiense.com/). Once you get past the post-modern deliberate misspelling\* of a well-known word, I think you’re going to enjoy finding out more about this tool. First up, aside from the [free Twitter Analytics tool](https://buy.audiense.com/free), the best bits of Audiense have to be paid for. So you’re going to need some budget before you can get the most out of it. You can request a free 14 day trial via , but monthly fees will soon kick in. There are payment plans to suit different usage needs. It’s not cheap, but it may prove worth it. Here are the pricing options for Audiense: ![Audiense Pricing](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Screenshot-012.png) (pricing correct at 14 March 2016) Audiense allows you to deep mine your communities of followers (and those you follow yourself) to extract insights about them so you can better nurture relationships. For example, you could filter your list of followers across multiple dimensions including their level of online influence, the time since their last tweet, or their language settings to identify a specific sub-segment that you could target with tailored content. In fact, there are more than a dozen filters you can instantly use to analyse your audience right out of the box: ![Audiense Filtering](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Audiense-Filtering.jpg) Other useful tools include real time mining of complex queries to extract audience or campaign insights, best time to tweet reports, real-time analytics so you can see which of your followers are actively using social media right now, and follower retention/churn reporting. The Audiense platform provides a powerful set of tools for digital marketing professionals looking to go beyond the basics of social media community building. There’s so much to discover, it’s impossible for me to describe it all. So, the best way is to simply have a play yourself. > Taking the platform for a spin will be a good use of any spare hour of your time. To learn more, check out the training webinars at http://userguide.socialbro.com/socialbro-webinars/. As you can imagine, the team at Audiense is busy rebranding all their training and support materials, so expect things to look a little messy for a few weeks. Good luck with all your social media work! *\* The awkward ‘s’ in Audiense apparently harks back to the company’s ‘Social’ media roots. Put that in your ‘Digital Marketing Pub Quiz’ memory bank and you’ll be sure to #win!* **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** instagram, social media, Twitter --- ### [Why You Should Quit Chasing Only 5-Star Reviews](https://allisterspeaks.com/quit-chasing-5-star-reviews/) **Published:** March 10, 2016 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Savvy online marketers have long known about the power of [the Blemish Effect](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/blemish-effect-bad-reviews-good/), where a few poor reviews can actually increase the attractiveness of a product. [A new study](http://www.powerreviews.com/event/from-reviews-to-revenue-nwu/) by Northwestern University sheds fresh light on this phenomenon and some fascinating details about the perfect average review score to secure the highest number of sales. **Five is Too Good to be True** The first big insight from the study is that perfect scores are simply too good to be true. Instead of a direct, linear correlation between scores and likelihood of purchase, the researches found that purchase intent peaks when the average star rating sits somewhere around 4.2 to 4.5 stars. When the star ratings are above this level, the purchase likelihood commonly starts to fall. Put simply, and perhaps counter-intuitively: ***a product with a star rating of 4.2 to 4.5 is more likely to be bought than one with a 5 star rating.*** By graphing the data, we can instantly see how the likelihood to purchase dips at high review score averages for the following product categories: ![Star Review Graph showing how likelihood to purchase changes with average score ratings](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Review-Graph2.png) With a little contemplation, these findings appear entirely reasonable. Anyone who’s ever bought online will have quickly learned the merits of actively seeking out negative reviews. We also know that more than 80% of shoppers routinely do this. When there are no negative reviews to contrast against positive reviews we find it difficult to anchor our assessment and the 5-star reviews start to smell, well, a bit fishy. The chart above also highlights the fact that shopper expectations do vary by product category, but even a relatively low involvement buying choice like lightbulbs can still be positively influenced by the presence of some lower review scores to bring down the overall average star rating. **Higher Price Means Reviews Matter More** The study also examined the role of reviews for some higher priced items including appliances and computers to try to ascertain if reviews affect buying intent differently depending on the cost of an item. Researchers found that star ratings have a stronger influence on expensive items than on low priced items within the same category. This means, entirely logically, that low priced products with low review scores are more likely to be purchased than higher priced items with low scores. The report concludes by looking at the reasons why reviews matter, and how they can play a pivotal role in purchase decisions for unknown products or brands, items that may have a bearing on personal safety like baby food, and items that carry a high ticket price. The recommendation for marketers overseeing online sales of expensive products in high consideration categories is very clear: star rating play a hugely important role influencing buying decisions by mitigating risk and offsetting concerns about price. In conclusion, we’ve always know that reviews are important and that having some less-than-perfect reviews is perfectly acceptable. But this new study provides additional insights into the sweet spots where average review scores lead to the highest likelihood to purchase. So, embrace those negative reviews, make sure that your higher priced items in particular have a balanced range of reviews and keep inviting more reviews so you can collect the all-important social proof we seek when buying online. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** ecommerce, product, ratings, reviews --- ### [Free Download - Planner for Facebook Advertising Targeting](https://allisterspeaks.com/free-download-planner-facebook-advertising-targeting/) **Published:** February 3, 2016 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We [wrote previously](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/the-definitive-planning-guide-for-facebook-ad-targeting/) about the awesome power of ad targeting in Facebook. ***But things just got even better!*** With the recent addition of the [Detail Targeting](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/182371508761821) choices in Facebook it’s now possible to direct adverts towards people who maybe have an interest in one thing (e.g. Bodybuilding) but not in another (e.g. Running). This creates opportunities for incredibly precise targeting, allowing advertisers to seek out people with very specific preferences and serve them ads that will speak to their precise needs. If you’ve done any advertising on Facebook previously you’ll know that creating a specific audience in the Power Editor can be painfully time-consuming./ And it’s difficult to see at a glance just how many options are available to you. Step forward our magnificent (and now ever-so-slightly famous) **Facebook Advertising Targeting Planning Document**. It’s a 3-page document that shows all of the targeting options available for use in the UK today. If you’re focussed on a market outside the UK your choices may differ slightly, but the core groupings will be the same. ***To download:*** head to [www.wildorangemedia.com/downloads/](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/downloads/) and click the relevant Download link. [![Facebook-Ad-Targeting-Planning-Document](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Facebook-Ad-Targeting-Planning-Document.png)](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/downloads/)We recommend you print the 3 pages onto large sheets of paper, preferably A3 or bigger to make the choices legible and easy to navigate. Then, simply follow the instructions at the bottom of page 1. You’ll see that we’ve added ‘include’ and ‘exclude’ tick boxes against each available “Flex And-Or Exclusion” choices to make identifying your perfect target audience a breeze! Finally, keep in mind that Facebook routinely changes the rules and some of the options available today may disappear in the future, or be supplemented with new choices. We’ll update this document when appropriate, but if you spot a new category that we’ve missed, drop us a line at . Good luck with your Facebook Ad Targeting programmes! **Categories:** Content, Social Media, Uncategorized **Tags:** advertising, Facebook, targeting --- ### [Murder Games - help your children stay safe online](https://allisterspeaks.com/murder-games-help-children-stay-safe-online/) **Published:** January 27, 2016 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Last night saw the first airing of a gripping and heart-wrenching BBC Three TV docu-drama about the life and death of Breck Bednar, a 14-year-old Surrey schoolboy who was lured to his death after being groomed online. I’d urge all parents to make time to watch the TV programme; it’s incredibly insightful and will open your eyes to some of the risks of our online world. Breck’s tragic story feels all the more real to me as he lived just a couple of miles away from the Wild Orange Media office. The TV show superbly explains how an online predator cleverly befriended Breck while gaming then manipulated his thinking with chilling intent. At [Internet Safety School](http://www.internetsafetyschool.com), our free service to parents at local schools, we talk about the dangers of the online world and, thankfully, remind ourselves that extreme grooming stories like Breck’s are mercifully rare. But the Murder Games TV programme provides a timely reminder of the dangers and the importance of parents paying close attention to everything their children do, both online and offline. Breck’s parents are model parents but now must live with the painful, life-long regret that maybe, just maybe, they could have done more. In truth, as the docu-drama shows, they did everything right including keeping a close eye on their child’s online activities and intervening where needed. But even their close scrutiny was not enough to stop a determined online predator from communicating with and ultimately killing their beloved eldest son. And this is what makes Breck’s story all the more relevant to us all. We can learn from his misfortune so we can better protect our children in their online lives. If you can access the BBC iPlayer service, [you can now watch the programme on catch-up TV here](http://bbc.in/1nNJAee). It will be available to view online for four weeks, until the 25th February 2016. I’d urge every parent to find 60 minutes to watch and digest the show’s important messages. It will be time very well spent. **Categories:** Computers and Internet, Digital Living, Internet Safety **Tags:** children, internet safety, Surrey, tv --- ### [Netflix Socks Mean You'll Never Miss A Show Again](https://allisterspeaks.com/netflix-socks-mean-youll-never-miss-show/) **Published:** January 13, 2016 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We’re pretty sure this is exactly what the Internet of Things was invented for. Simply (well, ‘simply’ if you’re an electronics and computing wizard) by following the instructions you can now make yourself a pair of socks that will automagically pause Netflix if you doze off. Yes, really! Netflix recommends you knit your own socks, and they’ve helpfully provided knitting patterns for popular shows like Bloodline and House of Cards. But any old pair of socks will do, but preferably not those Reindeer ones you got for Christmas… It’s a silly, but fun, and quite brilliant idea, that goes to show how easy it is these days to connect anything, even your old socks, to the internet to help re-imagine the ways we live our lives. Watch the video below for more information, or get the [full instructions here](http://makeit.netflix.com/netflix-socks). Now, who fancies knitting me a nice pair of Netflix socks? (please!) PS Socks not your bag? Try the [Netflix Switch](http://makeit.netflix.com/the-switch) instead! **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Living, Inspiration **Tags:** Internet of Things, Netflix --- ### [Fighting the Online Bullies](https://allisterspeaks.com/fighting-online-bullies/) **Published:** December 10, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** At our [Internet Safety School](http://www.internetsafetyschool.com) events we typically talk about online bullying as something that only schoolchildren do to each other. But, with ever-widening access to technology, adults are increasingly using digital platforms to troll, abuse and intimidate others. In Brazil, Criola, an organisation that works to defend black women’s rights, decided to fight back by putting up billboard posters near the homes of the perpetrators to highlight real examples of online racist abuse to the local community. ![Criola Racismo Virtual Poster](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Criola-Poster-800x548.png) While controversial, the public’s response has been highly supportive of this campaign, with many expressing gratitude to Criola for shining a light on the cowardly tactics used by the few to abuse the many. Naming and shaming like this is a high risk tactic in marketing. But, in credit to Criola, care has been taken to protect the identity of each online abuser by hiding their name and pixelating their photo. And by placing the billboards near to the location where the online abuse was generated, the organisation hopes the message will hit home and lead to long-term change. They are even inviting others to submit examples of online racism by following a simple [six step process](http://www.racismovirtual.com.br/virtual-racism) to create posters for their own neighbourhood. **The moral of the story?** Whatever you post online is there for anyone to see. If you wouldn’t say something to someone’s face, don’t hide behind a screen and say it to everyone online. If you do, don’t be surprised if campaigners like Criola decide to fight back. For more about [the Criola ‘Virtual Racism’ campaign](http://www.racismovirtual.com.br/virtual-racism/), watch the reaction from members of the public below: **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Living, Inspiration, Internet Safety **Tags:** campaign, internet safety, racism --- ### [The Beginning of the End for Apps](https://allisterspeaks.com/beginning-end-apps/) **Published:** November 26, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The App Economy has been one of the stand-out successes of our burgeoning digital era. Companies like Apple and Google now generate billions of dollars of revenue from sales of mobile apps, and armies of clever developers have built entire businesses from releasing apps. But the need for apps has never been lower than today, and looks set to fall forever. As internet bandwidth increases through pervasive 3G/4G and wi-fi access, we are approaching an age where we will be permanently, seamlessly connected to the internet. Broadband access is far from perfect today with many of us living in ‘notspots’ or having to contend with painfully slow home broadband connections. But as all prior technology developments have taught us, things rarely stay this bad forever. Google is innovating as quickly as anyone in this space. Already, more than half of all Google searches take place on mobile devices and the company is exploring new ways to surface the best results for every search. One major issue today is that a huge amount of great content is currently buried inside dedicated apps, but Google search results can only point us to webpage-based resources, not directly into an app that we do not have installed. The solution though is close at hand… Google started indexing the content of apps in 2013. Since then, it’s built a vast library of fresh digital content, much of which cannot be easily found on the open web because developers have locked it deep inside their apps. Starting soon, you’ll see some “app-first” content in your search results, like hotel availability in your local area from the HotelTonight app. In the past, the only way you’d have found this content would be to anticipate the need (for a hotel room), locate and install the right app (to find a local hotel room), then search within the app (to find and book that hotel room you desperately need!). Very soon, the answers will be no more than a click away in your nearest Google search bar. ![Streaming App Content into Search Results](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/app-stream-w-dots.gif) Initially app-based results will be restricted to a few selected apps. Google will decide if and how to scale their indexing based on consumer take-up of the results. But what does this mean for the app economy? Well, in the near-term, probably not very much. We still need apps for essential needs because we cannot always rely on a fast, reliable internet connection. However, as our access to bandwidth improves, as our tolerance of apps that only serve a narrow set of requirements falls (like hotel availability for this evening!), and as our desire to simply get instant answers when we want them grows, so our appetite for apps will diminish. And with 5G mobile internet speeds in excess of 10,000Mbps just a few years on the horizon (compared to around 20Mbps with 4G today) things look set to change radically in the coming decade. Google’s app content indexing is a fascinating development and may prove to be the first building block in the post app era where all information comes to us instantly, streamed on demand. One to watch with interest. To learn more about Google’s programme [read their update here](http://insidesearch.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/new-ways-to-find-and-stream-app-content.html). **Categories:** Computers and Internet, Digital Living, Inspiration **Tags:** apps, broadband, mobile --- ### [Find Your Growth Hub](https://allisterspeaks.com/find-growth-hub/) **Published:** November 25, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The opportunity to deliver a keynote speech at the excellent [Enterprise M3 Annual Conference](http://www.em3conference.org.uk/) in Woking this month gave me cause to ponder the role of local government and business groups in promoting digital skills and capability development across the UK.[![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/22967599515_4b206b46c1_o-800x548.jpg)](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/speaking/) With Wild Orange Media located just a few miles away in nearby Surrey, Enterprise M3 has a mission close to my heart. Its ambition is to develop the most powerful sci:tech corridor in the country where high-growth, knowledge-based businesses can thrive. It does this by fuelling debate with central government, securing funding to develop regional activities, and helping local businesses collaborate for mutual growth. If you have a business in this corner of the world, you’d be well-advised to find out more about the organisation’s work. With hundreds of businesses in attendance, the M3 corridor seems well-placed to capitalise on the opportunities of the digital age. The region benefits from close proximity to London and excellent (if often overwhelmed ) transport links to the coast and some of the UK’s most beautiful towns and villages. But while technology hubs like London’s [Silicon Roundabout](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_London_Tech_City) and the [Northern Powerhouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Powerhouse) seem to get most of the headlines, it’s also clear to me that the UK’s long-term technology prosperity lies in developing future-ready skill sets across *the whole of the UK,* not just in a few privileged regions. That’s the wondrous thing about technology; it allows us to compete on the global stage from wherever we happen to be. And so too must we compete with other smart-thinking organisations, whether in a neighbouring town or on the other side of the world. So, if you’re lucky enough to live in a fast-developing region, **be sure to seek out [your Local Enterprise Partnership growth hub](http://www.lepnetwork.net/the-network-of-leps/)** and find out how they can help you accelerate your business in our digital world. Alternatively, if you find yourself in a part of the world that central government or development agencies seem to have left behind, seize the opportunity to become your local growth driver by helping others generate new revenue streams from the world’s [unstoppable technological progress](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/enduring-power-moores-law/). To find out more about booking a keynote speaker for your event please visit our [Speaker page](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/speaking/). For the Enterprise M3 Annual Conference I was hired as a [motivational speaker](http://motivationalspeakersagency.co.uk/) by the Champions [After Dinner Speakers](http://champions-speakers.co.uk/) agency. **Categories:** Computers and Internet, Inspiration **Tags:** government, growth, technology --- ### [The Enduring Power of Moore's Law](https://allisterspeaks.com/enduring-power-moores-law/) **Published:** November 24, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** At Wild Orange Media we’re often asked (and caught talking) about Moore’s Law, the exponential growth principle first documented in 1965. Gordon Moore. then just a young engineer, made the far-sighted observation that technology, largely powered by silicon microelectronics, could repeatedly double in power in a fairly predictable way. It’s a principle that has shaped the direction and pace of change of much of the world we live in. Today, 50 years on from Moore’s ambitious![How Micro SD cards have progressed from 128MB in 2005 to 128GB in 2014](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Moores-Law-SD-cards.jpg) prediction, we continue to benefit from exponential increases in computing power. The Apple A8 chip, found in the iPhone 6 and iPad Air, holds over two billion transistors. We’ve come a very long way from Intel’s first 4004 microprocessor in 1971, itself a true feat of engineering brilliance, which contained just 2,300 transistors. But we’re not done yet. In Moore’s Law terms, the computing era has barely begun. While processor clock speeds levelled off around a decade ago, the era of multicore computing has helped ensure the doubling of computing power continues today approximately every two years. And so we can look forward to ever faster, smaller, lighter, more powerful computing changing our lives for the rest of our lives. As Chris Mack observed in his Build Better Metrology speech earlier this year: > Fifty years of mind-numbingly fast progress have turned a hundred dollar chip with a few dozen transistors into a 10 dollar chip with a few billion transistors. Much of what we enjoy about modern life is a direct result of this progress. And it’s Moore’s Law, of course, that explains why every piece of technology we have or will ever own is technologically obsolete before it reaches our hands. With R&D cycles lasting many months, if not years, whatever smartphone, tablet, laptop or wearable computing you are sporting today would be put to shame by the new products slowly working their way through the prototyping to manufacturing to retail process. Technological progress is both predictable and unstoppable. The change we experience today is far slower than that we will encounter in the years ahead. So enjoy whatever tech gadgets you currently own, but never lose sight of the inescapable truth that very soon you will be looking back and wondering how we ever survived with such rudimentary kit. To learn more about Moore’s Law, there’s a nice little report available for [free download from the American Enterprise Institute website](https://www.aei.org/publication/moores-law-at-50-the-performance-and-prospects-of-the-exponential-economy/). *Enjoy!* **Categories:** Computers and Internet, Digital Living **Tags:** Moore's Law, Progress, technology --- ### [Is Your Chosen Career Heading for Extinction?](https://allisterspeaks.com/is-your-chosen-career-heading-for-extinction/) **Published:** August 4, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** A question from the future: > “Grandad, is it really true that people used to fly planes and work in shops? We’re learning about it at school.” Change is everywhere in a technology-charged world. Many of the jobs people do have changed or disappeared completely in recent years, and some will be barely remembered a few years from now. So how resilient is your chosen career likely to be in the next two decades? A study by C.Frey and M.Osborne published in The Economist examined how susceptible common jobs are to computerisation. The findings are quite enlightening. If you’re betting your future income and financial security on a successful career in telemarketing, book-keeping or property sales, you might wish to give the following table some careful thought: ![Obsolete Jobs from The Economist](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Obsolete-Jobs-from-The-Economist.png) What do you think? Did Frey and Osborne’s computer model get it right? Are we really heading for a future where so many well-established jobs could see such massive disruption? **Categories:** Digital Living, Internet Safety **Tags:** career, change, digital, extinction --- ### [The Definitive Planning Guide for Facebook Ad Targeting](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-definitive-planning-guide-for-facebook-ad-targeting/) **Published:** July 27, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **UPDATE:** We’ve revised our Facebook Ad Targeting Planning Document to reflect ongoing improvements form Facebook. [Get the updated information here.](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/free-download-planner-facebook-advertising-targeting/) --- Targeting ads and posts on Facebook gets more interesting every week. I don’t know of any other ways that marketers can precision target *“single College Graduates who are away from their family working in the Healthcare and Medical industry, with a keen interest in Sculpture or Zumba, and own a smartphone”:* *![Facebook Ads Manager screenshot](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Facebook-Ads-Manager.png)* *(Yes, there around 92,000 people like that targetable through Facebook advertising in the USA alone!)* As one of my recent workshop participants observed, wouldn’t it be remarkable if we had this level of targeting available in dating apps? She was convinced the love of her life would quickly be within her grasp! But trawling through the ever-growing myriad of targeting choices available can be tiresome. So I thought I’d make it easier by compiling a single-sheet overview of all the options Facebook provides. And now you can enjoy it for free. Click the image below to download your copy today. [![Facebook Ad Targeting Sheet - Download Here](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Facebook-Ad-Targeting-Planning-Sheet-by-Wild-Orange-Media1.jpg)](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Facebook%20Ad%20Targeting%20Planning%20Sheet%20by%20Wild%20Orange%20Media.pdf) Oh, and please keep in mind that Facebook’s targeting options change regularly. Be sure to check the latest choices at [www.facebook.com/ads](http://www.facebook.com/ads). Maybe the love of your life (or at least the customer of your dreams!) is out there somewhere. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Why Marketers are to Blame for the Demise of Customer Service](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-marketers-are-to-blame-for-the-demise-of-customer-service/) **Published:** July 21, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** A whopping 65% of social media users now think it’s better to contact companies through social networking sites than to make a call to its call centre. The reasons are obvious: social media sites seem to attract a faster response, they’re quick and easy to use and, er, remind me, how do I make an old-fashioned phone call on this fancy smartphone? > **Perhaps this shift to direct internet-based customer service is now unstoppable, but I can’t help but think that many marketers are partly to blame for the demise of traditional customer service channels.** A phone call to a human being who can quickly understand your problem and put things right often leads to better long-term issue resolution than those achieved through indirect communication routes. It gives brands an opportunity to show their human side, a central tenet to developing a trusted long-term relationship. So, if brands really care about delivering great customer service, why have we allowed well-entrenched customer behaviours to change so dramatically in the few years since Facebook and its many imitators came to the fore? The answer lies in marketers’ near-instinctive, knee-jerk reaction to the rising tide of customer contacts and complaints through social media channels. Faced with empowered consumers opting to air their grievances in public after years spent in the shadows, many organisations were quick to deploy customer service agents to the social media front line to deal with these complainants. And because the rules of social media dictate that everything must happen terribly fast, we pulled out all the stops to ensure that angry tweets received faster resolution than furious phone calls. After all, this made good sense; if the whole world can see what’s happening on Twitter, we had better make sure we look as good as possible. Meanwhile, in the dark recesses of the call centre, customers are squeezed into a queue and dealt with one by one in the time-honoured fashion. > **But that’s OK, because when you’re on the phone to a call centre no-one can hear you scream.** What’s the outcome of all this? Only 7% of consumers now prefer to use a call centre over direct interactions through social media channels. We’ve learned to hit ‘Post’ or ‘Tweet’ when we want quick answers to our problems. It works for us and it seems to work for the brands. ![My tweet assistant is not in the office today](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Tweet-Assistant.jpg) Except it doesn’t. An issue resolve quickly—but often clunkily—through a social network might help get the angry monkey off the marketer’s back, but it could ultimately spell commercial disaster if it fails to deliver long-term loyalty and trust improvements. If all your brand offers is speedy issue resolutions through flavour-of-the-month shiny new media channels, yet it fails to invest in improving other touchpoints at least as much, it’s only a matter of time before your customers pick up on the inherent unfairness of your strategy. A more intelligent long-term solution for brands lies in developing a more balanced approach to improving ***all*** customer touchpoints so they remain in step with the expectations of the most demanding new customers. If Twitter users expect answers within minutes of their Tweet, we must improve ***all*** customer service channels to this new standard. And if a clever start-up company develops a tool that allows near-instant resolution of customer complaints and enquiries, we’ll have to improve ***all*** existing channels to match—or even exceed—this new standard. The solution to delivering great customer service no longer lies in putting sticky plasters over under-funded, seemingly outdated complaint channels. **It lies instead in understanding the highest expectations that our customers have and seeking to meet or exceed this through every touchpoint they wish to use.** The result of this more enlightened strategy will be a consistent experience for every customer, continually improving standards of care, and customers who love your brand because your work on their terms, not simply dance to the tune of the shiniest new channel. **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** complaints, customer care, customer service, social media --- ### [Using LinkedIn Better and More Cheaply](https://allisterspeaks.com/using-linkedin-better-cheaply/) **Published:** May 6, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Change is never easy, is it? But if there’s one New Year’s resolution I’m proudly sticking to, it’s the one about making better use of LinkedIn to manage my personal brand and find like-minded people to support me in my work. And, for many smart people, using LinkedIn better takes little more than remembering to use the platform more regularly and with a curiosity to uncover smart ways to ‘hack’ the platform to serve their personal or business goals. So, in the spirit of keeping things insanely simple, try this 3 step process: 1. Go to [www.linkedin.com](http://www.linkedin.com) and update your personal profile so it reflects the ‘you’ you’d love to be in 2015 2. Set [www.linkedin.com](http://www.linkedin.com) as the homepage in your browser and put the app front and centre on your smartphone (this will help you get into the habit of discovering great features on the platform more regularly) 3. When, and only when, you feel you’ve outgrown your free LinkedIn account, consider whether you could justify getting a paid-for premium account. But, if you do decide to upgrade, be sure to sniff out the secret [Personal Plus](https://www.linkedin.com/personalplus) or [Spotlight](https://premium.linkedin.com/spotlight) account types to save some money. Check out [this page](http://www.linkedin-makeover.com/2013/06/12/why-pay-for-linkedin/) for advice on how to do this. That’s it. I rarely, if ever, meet a business professional who cannot benefit from using LinkedIn better. Maybe it could help you achieve more this year too. Good luck! **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** career, linkedin, networking, social --- ### [McDonald's, Pink Slime, and Absolute Transparency](https://allisterspeaks.com/mcdonalds-pink-slime-and-absolute-transparency/) **Published:** March 19, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** McDonald’s has been doing some excellent marketing in recent years. It’s clear that the company understands the digital world and the need to operate more openly and transparently. Its excellent [Our Food, Your Questions](http://yourquestions.mcdonalds.ca/) campaign is evidence of how much the company is changing. First launched in Canada, this is now one of my all time favourite social media campaigns. Its brilliance lies in its simplicity, coupled with good, but no overcooked, execution. The elephant in the McDonald’s board room is that almost everybody has an opinion, however ill-informed, about McDonald’s. And many of these opinions are based on myth and hearsay, not in the realities of a fast-evolving, modern restaurant chain. These viewpoints have proved to be remarkably sticky, often causing long-term damage to the brand by giving many potential customers fair reason not to visit a McDonald’s restaurant. But how do you take on the task of changing such deeply-entrenched attitudes? The answer for McDonald’s lay in starting from a simple, inarguable insight: people love asking provocative questions and getting honest answers. To serve this insight, McDonald’s launched a marketing campaign called “Your Questions, Our Answers” and agreed to answer any question asked about its food. And I mean any question, including gems such as “Is it true there is pink slime in your burgers?” and “How is it that a McDonald’s burger doesn’t rot?” [![McDonald's Burger Does not rot](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-03-19-09_13_09-_-Is-the-beef-100-percent-beef__-__-Our-food.-Your-questions.-__-McDonalds.ca_.jpg)](http://yourquestions.mcdonalds.ca/questions/6412) McDonald’s has committed to answering every relevant question, no matter how bizarre or pointed. Inevitably, the invitation has drawn questions from all quarters, and in answering them McDonald’s has both identified and addressed some of the biggest purchase blockers for consumers. The user-generated questions also allowed it to quickly build a rich FAQ library, which it cleverly presents to customers not as a text-heavy list of questions and answers but as a visual card-based stream of images, videos and words. Over 10,000 questions have been answered and all are searchable on the campaign microsite. Importantly, the answers come from regular employees of McDonald’s and its supply partners, and all offer remarkable insights into the workings of the company including this explanation from inside a chicken processing plant: Or this absolute transparency video of a McDonald’s executive chef showing exactly what goes into the “secret” sauce used in Big Macs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcu4Bj3xEyI The most important thing about this campaign is that you cannot help but feel differently towards the McDonald’s brand after being exposed to its contents. Even someone who feels vehemently opposed to its restaurants has to grudgingly accept that the company is clearly working hard to address customer concerns and maybe, just maybe, is not quite as bad as they previously thought. But the cleverest bit of all is that McDonald’s Canada has featured some of the best customer questions in advertising to recruit more people to their site. Faced with a targeted online display ad that asks “Is your meat made of cardboard?” alongside the McDonald’s logo, few people are able to resist clicking to reveal the answer. The ads have been so successful McDonald’s has reported click rates in excess of 90%, a mind-blowing result against online norms of well below 0.1%. And the ultimate proof of the, er, McFlurry: the number of people agreeing that ‘McDonald’s is a company I trust’ has risen sharply, and the top three statements that measure attitudes to food quality are all up by at least 40%. **Proof positive that transparency and openness are powerful ingredients for any company looking to create a strong, resilient brand.** The Canadian campaign has been extended into Australia and the USA. Let’s hope other developed markets also follow this lead soon. Interestingly, McDonald’s has also created over 14,500 Facebook Pages, one for every US restaurant, empowering its customer-facing staff to extend this openness and transparency into their local communities. The company is working hard to address age-old perceptions and brilliantly using the social web to get their answers to the masses. One to keep watching with interest… **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** openness, social media, transparency --- ### [What Teenagers Really Think About Social Media](https://allisterspeaks.com/teenagers-really-think-social-media/) **Published:** February 2, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Here are two posts that should be required reading for all parents of young children and teenagers, as well as all marketing professionals who would like to make their products appeal more to young people through social media marketing programmes. As we often discuss at [Internet Safety School](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/internet-safety-school/), it can be really difficult to see the world through the eyes of digital natives. Which is why I’m delighted to have been sent links to a brace of blog posts written by a 19-year-old male at The University of Texas at Austin. He shares his carefully considered views of many social networking sites including: - Facebook: *“It’s dead to us,… an awkward family dinner party we can’t really leave”* - Instagram: *“By far the most used social media outlet for my age group,… hasn’t been flooded with the older generation yet”* - Twitter: *“A lot of us simply do not understand the point of Twitter”* - Snapchat: *“Quickly becoming the most used social media network,… where we can really be ourselves”* - YikYak: *“Everyone’s on it before class starts,… and everyone’s on it during class”* - WhatsApp: *“You download it when you go abroad,… then you delete it”* - YouTube: *“For an avid internet user it’s almost impossible to ignore YouTube”* - Vine: *“Many of my peers left the network after their Vines had little interaction”* - Google+: *“I personally do not know anyone who actively uses Google+”* - Tinder: *“It’s huge for those in college,… one of the more talked about applications currently on the market”* - Quora: *“Quora is an amazing social network that no one knows about”* - Myspace: *“Will always be the butt of a joke”* Great stuff, well written and insightful. Of course, it’s only one person’s view, but I’m greatly indebted to [Andrew Watts](http://andrewswatts.com/) for sharing his unique teenager’s perspective on our digital world. Read the full posts (hosted on Medium, of course) at the links below: [A Teenager’s View on Social Media (part one)](https://medium.com/backchannel/a-teenagers-view-on-social-media-1df945c09ac6) [A Teenager’s View on Social Media (part two)](https://medium.com/backchannel/what-teens-really-think-about-youtube-google-reddit-and-other-social-media-a7263924a506) **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Internet Safety, Social Media **Tags:** advice, digital native, Facebook, internet safety, social media, teenager, Twitter --- ### [Book List - Behavioural Economics and Persuasion Skills](https://allisterspeaks.com/book-list-behavioural-economics-persuasion-skills/) **Published:** January 20, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’m often asked for some recommendations of good books on behavioural economics and persuasion skills, so here’s a quick list of some of my favourite reads. Click on the books to view each title on Amazon. Enjoy! [![](http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1851689397&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1851689397/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1851689397&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21&linkId=TLEAOCZOE6X7IKVO)![](http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=wwwusefultech-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1851689397) Fun to read, a great starting point in bite-sized chunks. [![](http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0007256531&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0007256531/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0007256531&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21&linkId=HIQAFD2LKIAGBBZI)![](http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=wwwusefultech-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0007256531)Frankly anything by Dan Ariely is guaranteed to please. A great read. [![](http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1781252742&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1781252742/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1781252742&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21&linkId=SRAXSGS2C7EDJVU7)![](http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=wwwusefultech-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1781252742) A new book from three esteemed writers, with lots of up-to-date examples. [![](http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B002UZ5K5I&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002UZ5K5I/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B002UZ5K5I&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21&linkId=VDRHNLTJUD66ZTJX) Quite an old book this one, but well compiled ![](http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=wwwusefultech-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B002UZ5K5I)and fun to read. [![](http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1847679404&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1847679404/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1847679404&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21&linkId=GXG2IAKFWUAYWZCF)![](http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=wwwusefultech-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1847679404) A subsurface exploration of the mind and all its contradictions. [![](http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0470601779&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0470601779/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0470601779&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21&linkId=NVWM3W4ZS4PD7SWZ) Slightly academic in style, but packed with useful ideas.![](http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=wwwusefultech-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0470601779) [![](http://ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0321603605&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0321603605/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0321603605&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21&linkId=T4Q4PJ4V7XHAAII3) A nice introductory text for people pondering how to improve their website’s performance. **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing **Tags:** behavioural economics, books, persuasion, psychology --- ### [How to Live Without a Smartphone](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-live-without-a-smartphone/) **Published:** December 15, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** A recent camera fault on my HTC One M8 called for a warranty repair which—horror of horrors—meant I would be without my smartphone for a week. It turned out to be quite a sobering experience, and one that I’d recommend many people give a try. It’s only when you are confronted by life without your trusty pocket computer that you can truly appreciate just how dependent you have become on its 21st century wizardry. Without a smartphone, many simple tasks that we have learned to take for granted become absurdly complicated, calling for a degree of forward planning and thinking on your feet that you may not have experienced for quite some time. ![samsung-keystone-2](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/samsung-keystone-2.jpg)To ease the pain of separation, and at least allow me to continue to make and receive calls, I was accompanied on my smartphone-free journey by a GB£10 (US$15) Samsung Keystone 2 feature phone, similar to the simple handsets I last used around 2002. But, even with this lovely little gadget to hand, I was shocked by how many adjustments I had to make in my smartphone-free life. Here are just a few of the changes I made: [![How-to-live-without-a-smartphone](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/How-to-live-without-a-smartphone.jpg)](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/How-to-live-without-a-smartphone-e1418656616265.jpg) Thankfully my smartphone has now returned, repaired and as good as new, and normal 21st century service can resume. But this experience leaves me with an acute appreciation of just how much my life, and the lives of all the people around me, have changed in recent years. This truly is a digital world. **Categories:** Digital Living, Inspiration, Internet Safety **Tags:** digital, living, smartphone --- ### [Buffer for Not for Profits (half price)](https://allisterspeaks.com/buffer-for-not-for-profits-half-price/) **Published:** December 12, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Buffer logo](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Buffer-logo.png) I remain a big fan of [Buffer](http://www.bufferapp.com), the social media posting tool that makes it easy to cue up posts to social networks like Twitter and LinkedIn , and then drips them out to your desired schedule. Having the ability to schedule posts like this is an important way to maintain posting momentum to selected channels without having to be chained to your desk 24/7. We now have more ways to schedule posts than ever before, with tools like [Hootsuite](http://www.hootsuite.com), [Postfity](https://app.postfity.com/), [Postcron ](http://postcron.com/)and even the native [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com) website allowing you to choose when your creation will be released to the world. But few of these tools match the versatility and rich functionality of Buffer. I love the way Buffer lets me can auto-import my ‘best time to tweet’ data from Socialbro so I know my tweets always go out at the optimal time of day for my followers. Plus, Buffer now does a nice job helping users find and curate interesting content with suggestions pulled from posts shared by others, and is well-integrated with many other social marketing tools like Feedly, IFTTT and Twitter.com. Buffer is free to use for most people. And ‘free’ gives you all the functionality many users will need. But if you manage lots of accounts, or post lots of content, maybe in a tag team with colleagues, the US$10/month ‘Awesome’ plan may be better. Best of all, not-for-profit organisations and charities can now [claim a 50% discount on premium plans](https://bufferapp.com/nonprofits), reducing the annual cost of the Awesome Plan to just US$60 (under GB£40). Money well spent to add such a potent tool to your social network arsenal! To claim you Non-Profit Discount send proof of your organisation’s charitable / not-for-profit status (e.g. your charity registration certificate or 501c3) to Buffer using the following link: [**Get Your non-profit discount!**](mailto:hello@bufferapp.com?subject=Buffer%20♥%20Nonprofits) Alternatively, simply compose a new email to hello@bufferapp.com with the subject line ‘Buffer ♥ Nonprofits’, remembering to include proof of your charitable status. Enjoy! **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Internet Safety, Social Media **Tags:** advice, charity, discount, not-for-profit, social media, social networks, tips --- ### [The Home Wi-fi for Safe Internet Access for Kids](https://allisterspeaks.com/home-wi-fi-safe-internet-access-kids/) **Published:** November 25, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** At [Internet Safety School](http://www.internetsafetyschool.com) we’re always on the lookout for simple ways that parents can help their children live their digital lives to the full, while staying safe and secure. So we’re excited to be a backer of an innovative new product called [Kidokey ](http://kidokey.com/)(also the first—and long-awaited—product we know that rhymes with okeydokey!). Kidokey is a simple wi-fi box that allows children to access the internet without the risk of being exposed to inappropriate content online. The little blue box can be connected to an existing router, instantly creating a separate, filtered wi-fi network that children can use with all their devices. The clever thing about this solution is that it leaves the existing wi-fi network in place, allowing adults to continue to have full, unrestricted access to the internet without worrying about their children doing the same. Just remember to keep the grown-up wi-fi password a closely guarded secret! ![Kidokey Setup Diagram](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Kidokey-setup_large.png) Kidokey also features scheduling and time management controls, allowing adults to switch off internet access at times of their choice, or to limit site access to educational sites during homework hours. That’s a clever feature that parents will love, even if their children may be slightly less enthusiastic! Check out the video below: The Kidokey product is currently attracting crowdfunding through a [Kickstarter campaign](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ldom/kidokey), and the creators hope to raise CAD 100,000 (around GB£56,000) to get the device to manufacture and launch. If the project is successfully funded there will be a North American and European version at launch, allowing parents and carers in the UK to use the device safely with the simple addition of a UK socket converter. This looks like a smart solution to a longstanding problem, and could be a simple addition to many homes, including grandparents’ houses where children may stay and wish to access the internet. We’re looking forward to testing the device properly and we’ll review it fully if the fundraising campaign proves successful. For now though, you can [back the project and bag one of the early models on Kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ldom/kidokey). **Categories:** Internet Safety **Tags:** children, innovation, internet safety, parents, technology --- ### [Become A Twitter Ninja](https://allisterspeaks.com/become-a-twitter-ninja/) **Published:** October 13, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Ninja Twitter Bird](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ninja_bird.png)It’s been quiet on our blog recently. That’s because we’ve been really busy. But when times get hectic, as the old mantra goes, there’s no point working harder, you need to work smarter. And that’s why I loved revisiting [a post from the Buffer Blog](https://blog.bufferapp.com/twitter-hacks) from earlier this year in which [Neil Patel](https://blog.bufferapp.com/author/neil-patel) shared a collection of Twitter hacks to speed up and enhance your tweeting time. I am 99.9% sure that every Twitter user will learn something here. If you don’t, you’re either [@Ev](https://twitter.com/ev "@Ev on Twitter") or some kind of Tweet Ninja, best avoided in dark alleyways at night. So let’s dive into some of my and Neil’s favourite Twitter power tips, to [sharpen that saw](https://www.stephencovey.com/7habits/7habits-habit7.php): 1. **Search Operators** Get great at searching with the operators [listed here](https://support.twitter.com/articles/71577-using-advanced-search). Or go crazy and search for something supercharged like: *Chocolate lang:en min\_replies:4 min\_retweets:5 (filter:images OR filter:videos)* …which will return all tweets in English that have at least 4 replies and 5 retweets and contain either a video or image, perfect for chocolate lovers everywhere! 2. **Advanced Search** Check out the [Advanced Search page](https://twitter.com/search-advanced) which allow you to do penetrating searches like the example above but without having to write in code-speak. 3. **Cull some Apps** Manage your App permission using [MyPermissions ](http://mypermissions.com/)or the Apps page on Twitter itself (from your profile settings, go to “Apps”). I prefer using MyPermissions because I can tidy up the digital trail left across almost all my social networks, not just Twitter. 4. **Tweet from SMS** This only works with certain mobile phone operators (like O2 and 3 in the UK, [check the list here](https://support.twitter.com/articles/20170024)), but you can tweet via SMS if that tickles your fancy. Go to your profile settings on twitter and make sure your mobile is set up correctly. Now find your outbound texting number [in the list](https://support.twitter.com/articles/20170024) then try some of the following: *@allisterf hey thanks for the SMS Twitter texting tip!* *set bio I’m a text Tweeter. Don’t judge me.* *whois allisterf* *wtf (suggests people you ‘would like to follow’)* 5. **Get Forensic** Use [Socialbro ](http://www.socialbro.com/)to really get to know your followers and everything about them. It’s no use collecting followers, you’ll gain a lot more from knowing them better than they know you. 6. **Be a Keyboard Black Belt** Just hit the ? key while using Twitter online and a magical, slightly mystical, list of keyboard shortcuts will appear. Before long you’ll be wowing co-workers with life-changing wizardry like: *u – to mute a user* *gf – to jump to your favourite tweets* *. \[that’s a dot\] – to refresh the page with new tweets* *gd – to go to the excellent ‘discover’ section to find new users and content to follow* Well,… did you learn something new? ***Told you!*** Big thanks to Neil at [Bufferapp.com](https://bufferapp.com/) for the inspiration. Have fun out there in the Twitterverse, Young Ninja, and remember to [tweet me](https://twitter.com/allisterf) your favourite tips 🙂 **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advanced, tips, Twitter --- ### [[this subject line intentionally left blank]](https://allisterspeaks.com/subject-line-intentionally-left-blank/) **Published:** September 9, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I love using Signals by Hubspot. It helps me see when people open my emails and how often they do so. And it’s free for up to 200 notifications per month. You can sign up [here.](https://app.getsignals.com/invites/accept?utm_campaign=viral&utm_content=5173621049786368&utm_medium=share_link&utm_source=signals) *(my referral link)* But that’s not what this blog post is about. I’d like to share some findings that the team at Signals recently unearthed from a deep probe of data collected from 6.4 million emails sent by Signals users. Remarkably, they found that **emails with no subject line—nothing at all, not even a word, left completely blank—were opened on average 8% more than those with a subject line.** ![Email Subject Line Graph](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Email-Subject-Line-Graph.png) Any self-respecting email marketer knows the importance of great subject lines, so how can it be that ignoring this field completely actually improves open rates? There are several reasons why an empty subject line may actually encourage more opens. Firstly, it’s actually quite rare to receive a zero subject line email, so the standout in your recipient’s inbox may be improved. In some email clients, having no subject may also place more focus on the opening lines of the email body copy, as in the example below: ![Email with no subject line](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Email-with-no-subject-line.png) For this to work, make sure your opening copy is compelling and on topic, otherwise your email may never get opened. Another consideration is that new inbox layout formats currently being trialled like Gmail’s new tabbed inbox and card layout (where emails are shown on image-heavy cards much like Pinterest, rather than as a simple text list) may be easing us into an era where subject lines are less relevant than in the past. Which, of course, may also mean that the days of email clients gently reminding that we left our subject line empty may also be coming to an end: ![Subject Line Empty Warning from Outlook](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/2014-09-09-15_55_30-Microsoft-Outlook.png) Few marketers I know currently dare to leave subject lines completely empty.Yet it turns out that this strategy might just work, every once in a while. It’s certainly worth throwing into a control A/B test. Give it a try and let me know what happens. **Categories:** Design, Inspiration **Tags:** email, marketing, tip --- ### [Marketing Ethics Interview on Cambridge Marketing Review](https://allisterspeaks.com/marketing-ethics-interview-cambridge-marketing-review/) **Published:** July 29, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Shortly after giving a recent keynote speech for the Chartered Institute of Marketing at their annual Digital Conference in Cambridge I was interviewed by Kiran Kapur of Star 107.9 FM. My talk had been about the importance of marketing ethics and transparency, and the CIM’s [Keep Social Honest](http://keepsocialhonest.com) campaign, and that’s exactly what Kiran wanted to know more about. You can hear the interview below, from around the 19 min 40 secs point in the show. [marketing-review-show-12.mp3](http://www.star107.co.uk/podcasts/marketing-review/marketing-review-show-12.mp3 "Download this episode") (41.65 MB, 29:47) We talked about click farms, the temptation to buy fans and followers, the [Blemish Effect](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/blemish-effect-bad-reviews-good/), and the urgent need for all marketers to embrace the highest ethical standards. I’ll also be delivering a brand new training programme for the CIM on this topic, starting in September, and [registration is now open here](http://www.cim.co.uk/Training/CourseDetails.aspx?course=3408). For more details on the radio interview and to download the audio, see Show 12 at **Categories:** Noble Marketing, Social Media, Uncategorized **Tags:** ethics, marketing, noble --- ### [The Blemish Effect and Why Bad Reviews Are Good](https://allisterspeaks.com/blemish-effect-bad-reviews-good/) **Published:** July 22, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Let’s imagine you are looking to buy a book online. You are trying to choose between two books, neither of which you know much about, other than the information provided on the Amazon site where you are browsing. To help decide which book is best you scroll down to the review section. Based on these graphs, which book would you buy? [![Blemish-Effect-Amazon-Reviews](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Blemish-Effect-Amazon-Reviews.jpg)](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Blemish-Effect-Amazon-Reviews.jpg) Book A has ten reviews, all of which rated the book 5 stars out of 5, perfect scores. Book B has slightly more reviews, 12 in total, of which 10 rate the book 5 out of 5 and a couple of others score the book 3 or 2 star. Faced with this information, most people would want to delve deeper into those 2 and 3 star reviews. Let’s imagine that the details you find there relate to relatively unimportant facts for you like slow delivery time or the fact that the book cover was scuffed. In this situation, many people will opt for Book B with its 4.6 star rating, rather than Book A with its perfect 5 star score. Under logical scrutiny this may seem counterintuitive, but researchers refer to this phenomenon as the blemish effect, a nature human bias towards the most credible, authentic information sources. Book A loses out because its reviews are marginally less plausible than those given to Book B. We all know that nothing is perfect in this world, so the reviews for Book A may unwittingly raise alarm bells in our heads. “Surely not everyone can think that book is perfect,” we ask ourselves. Our thoughts may even turn to wondering whether the reviews have been placed there by friends of the author, or indeed by the author themselves. And so it is that Book B wins. The majority of its reviews are very positive, while those that are slightly less glowing and, therefore, more credible, refer to aspects that are of low relevance to us. Of course, if the 2 and 3 star reviews had highlighted major issues with the writing, characters or story narrative we may well be put off buying Book B. But the fact that the bad reviews point to unrelated, peripheral attributes like delivery and cover scuffs allows us to demote them in our minds and put them down to bad luck or a one-off anomaly. Researchers Shiv and Tormala at the Stanford Graduate School of Business studied this effect through a series of experiments in 2011 and showed that under specific conditions people can be more favourably disposed to a product when a small dose of negative information is added to an otherwise positive description. The way the information is presented and the amount of processing needed to digest it were also shown to have an impact on the beneficial extent of the blemish effect. This is why marketers should embrace and welcome the occasional negative review. The obvious skill needed is to take *immediate* steps to remedy the issue, especially if it lies at the core of a highly valued aspect of the product or service delivery. When presenting review information, it may also be helpful to present the positives first, followed by the (minor) negatives, along with response that show you have taken steps to remedy all previous customer dissatisfaction. In a nutshell, accentuate the positives, and remedy the negatives. That’s the simplest way to make the occasional blemish work in your favour. *Want more?* - Stanford article: [The Positive effect of Negative Information](http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/research/shiv_tormala_negative_2011.html) - Journal of Consumer Research: [academic article](https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CE8QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecanati-bs.tau.ac.il%2F_Uploads%2FdbsAttachedFiles%2Fblemishing_effect.doc&ei=wW7OU8OlEYaV7Aayl4CQBw&usg=AFQjCNFq8W64t0vOVIejQ0zjmqsMgJfxig&sig2=mkC4aplQEuqrJgXmMVRlGg&bvm=bv.71198958,d.ZGU&cad=rja) (.doc) **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing, Noble Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** digital, ecommerce, marketing, psychology, reviews --- ### [Marketing Week Live presentations](https://allisterspeaks.com/marketing-week-live-presentations/) **Published:** July 21, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I gave two keynotes at the recent Marketing Week Live event at London Olympia and am pleased to be able to share the slides with you here. The first includes some broad observations about the changing nature of marketing in the digital era with a focus on the demise of organic reach through social channels and the emergence of the ‘pay to play’ era: The second is focussed on email marketing and a few of the major planning and design shifts needed to help emails stand out in changing inbox environments: If you’d like to know more about these talks, fill in the form below: \[contact-form\]\[contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/\]\[contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/\]\[contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/\]\[/contact-form\] **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing **Tags:** Digital Marketing, email, presentations, social media --- ### [Sexting and Young People](https://allisterspeaks.com/sexting-and-young-people/) **Published:** July 14, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** As part of our [Internet Safety School](http://internetsafetyschool.com) community initiative here at [Wild Orange Media](http://wildorangemedia.com), we’ve been delving into new research to examine some of the challenges facing young people online. The selfie is now a mainstay of our digital lives. But for some young people it can stray into darker areas where they may be encouraged to share self-taken sexual images of themselves, either by a boyfriend or girlfriend, or a trusted adult. Data from the [SPIRTO ](http://www.spirto.health.ed.ac.uk/)(Self-Produced Images, Risk Taking Online) research project highlights the prevalence of online sharing of sexual images amongst young people. By conducting a detailed review of 350 cases, SPIRTO found that the average age of a child involved in sharing images of a sexual nature is 11.17 years, and that almost 7 in 10 of the cases involved a female sharing pictures of herself. Perhaps as one might expect, the gender of the child featured in self-taken images that were shared in non-coercive relationships was equally split between females and males (49%:51%). However, in coercive relationships—where a power imbalance exists between the participants—87% of the images featured females, and only 13% males. The advice for parents and children alike is simple. Never share photos online that you wouldn’t want to share publicly with everyone you know, or indeed may know in the future. There’s no delete key on the internet; everything you share may be recorded somewhere, and you have little control over who may see it in future. For girls it’s particularly important to stress the importance of not being coerced into something they might later regret, while boys should understand that it’s not appropriate to ask girls to do things they don’t feel comfortable with. And if a child thinks their photos will only be seen by the intended recipient, think again. A recent study by McAfee found that nearly 60% of threatened ex-lovers have been exposed by their exes. It seems no image is totally safe today when a relationship goes sour. In other research, this time from the NSPCC, 45% of 11-12 year olds now say they have been upset by trolling, and almost 1 in 4 have experienced aggressive or violent language, or been sent unwanted sexual messages. These threats typically diminish as the child grows older, with 13-16 years olds being less likely to encounter them, and so parental focus needs to be at its highest in the younger years. Again, the advice for parents is simple. Spend time with your children talking about these issues and helping them understand the potential downsides. Explain how images can travel through the internet and how we effectively surrender control when sharing anything online. And parents should stay particularly alert when supporting under 12’s who are most at risk of being upset or targeted by unwanted attention online. Finally, the NSPCC also highlights that 23% of 11-12 years olds with a social networking profile claim they have been upset by something on it in the last year. The majority (63%) of children in this age group now use Facebook (even though the [minimum age requirement is 13 years](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/minimum-age-use-facebook/)!), so keep in mind that imagery may now be shared through a multitude of closed and open channels. The lack of control issue, however, is identical everywhere. ***Want to know more?:*** [NSPCC Study about Sexting](http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/resourcesforprofessionals/sexualabuse/sexting-research-report_wdf89269.pdf) (.pdf) [Advice to help teenagers stay out of sexting trouble](http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/teen-angst/201304/teen-sexting-the-real-issue) [Statistics from NSPCC](http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/resourcesforprofessionals/onlinesafety/statistics-online-safety_wda93975.html) **Categories:** Digital Living, Internet Safety **Tags:** children, online, parents, safety, threats --- ### [LinkedIn To Withdraw Lead Collection on 15 July 2014](https://allisterspeaks.com/linkedin-withdraw-lead-collection/) **Published:** June 30, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![LinkedIn-Lead-Collection](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/LinkedIn-Lead-Collection.jpg)](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/LinkedIn-Lead-Collection.jpg)LinkedIn Ads includes a feature called Lead Collection that makes it easy for self-service advertisers to gather contact details, including email addresses, from people who engage with their ads. But this feature is set to be withdrawn on 15 July 2014, meaning you have just two weeks left to take advantage of it or withdraw it from your advertising plan. ***Important:*** companies that have made use of the Lead Collection feature should download the details of leads collected from their [LinkedIn Ads Campaign Manager](http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8449/ft/eng) or risk losing this data on 15 July 2014. LinkedIn Admins may also have kept a backup of automated emails sent from LinkedIn each time someone clicked the ‘Request Contact’ button in the past, so track down this person and make sure the data is secure. This change is being made by LinkedIn to make way for an as yet unannounced new way to generate business leads. B2B marketers or anyone who depends on generating leads from professional business communities should stay tuned for more news on developments. Effective immediately, LinkedIn recommends that advertisers place more focus on collecting leads through forms on their landing pages rather than the Lead Collection bar. Note that this change won’t affect leads collected through other LinkedIn tools or through landing page forms, only those collected directly through the Lead Collection feature. For more information, see this [LinkedIn Support page](http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/49997/~/lead-collection---no-longer-supported). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advertising, B2B, linkedin, social media --- ### [Google Removes Authorship Photos from SERPS](https://allisterspeaks.com/google-removes-authorship-photos-serps/) **Published:** June 27, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Since 2011, writers and bloggers have had the option to have their photos displayed alongside articles and posts they have written that show up in Google’s search results. But that’s all about to change with alterations coming into effect over the next few days following an [announcement by Google’s Webmaster Trends Analyst John Mueller](https://plus.google.com/+JohnMueller/posts/PDkPdPtjL6j). Gradually taking effect across all Google search engine results pages (SERPs), author photos will no longer show up against search results. Also disappearing is the author’s Google+ Circle Count; that’s the number of circles the author has been added to in Google+. Here’s how the change will appear: ### BEFORE [![Google Authorship Before](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-06-27-08_47_28-simple-javascript-inheritance-Google-Search.png)](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-06-27-08_47_28-simple-javascript-inheritance-Google-Search.png) ### AFTER [![Google Authorship After](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-06-27-08_47_52-Author-information-in-search-results-Webmaster-Tools-Help.png)](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-06-27-08_47_52-Author-information-in-search-results-Webmaster-Tools-Help.png) This loss of author photos may come as a blow for many bloggers who have benefitted from increase standout in cluttered SERPs. Eye-tracking studies have also verified that having a photo against some search listings can effectively double the number of clicks it receives. In future, however, bloggers will have to make do a simpler, less impactful SERPs listing like that shown in the ‘after’ example above. Google says the motivation behind this change is to further improve the user experience for Google searchers. It’s certainly true that some author photos are quite distracting and affording an automatic right to anyone to appear if they knew how to set up a Google Authorship profile has made some SERPs look messy and confusing. This change also supports Google’s ‘mobile first’ ambitions, bringing greater consistency to results served to both desktop and mobile users. Note, however, that for results that are picked up as News stories in Google, the authorship photo will now appear, as well as the article’s featured image. If you have the privilege to write for a recognised news producer, maybe a newspaper, journal or broadcasting channel, then your photo and “written by \[NAME\]” will soon begin appearing in News related listings. The burning question is: will this affect traffic to authored content online? Early evidence suggests the answer is yes, at least in the short-term until a new level playing field is established. Moz has already recorded [a 10% reduction in traffic](http://moz.com/blog/bye-bye-author-pics) to authored content. Time will tell if this change leads to a long-term dip in traffic to content created by writers with established Google Authorship credentials. It’s still well worth making sure your Google Authorship setting are in place and verified. [Work through this Google Support page](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/1408986) to get started. **Categories:** Content, Search Marketing **Tags:** authorship, blog, Google, photos, search engine, serps --- ### [What Pay To Play Means For You](https://allisterspeaks.com/pay-to-play/) **Published:** June 18, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve been asked a lot recently about **‘Pay To Play,’** the rhythmical phrase used to describe the requirement for brands to now pay for a presence on social networking sites. But I haven’t posted about it here before, so here are a few answers to questions that marketers might have as they contemplate life in the Pay To Play Era: #### Oh no, what’s happened now? For several months, Facebook has been aggressively reducing the percentage of fans who get to see posts and other content posted to brand pages. These free impression are known as organic reach and are great for brands as they carry almost no cost. But, since around September 2013, Facebook has been turning down the volume on branded content in the newsfeed, partly to improve the Facebook experience for its 1.2billion users, and partly to create additional revenue streams to support its growth ambitions. #### ![RIP-Facebook-Organic-Reach-Gravestone](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/RIP-Facebook-Organic-Reach-Gravestone.jpg)So what does this mean for my Facebook Page? It means that, on average, each post you make to a Facebook page is very unlikely to be seen by more than 10% of your fans, unless you are willing to spend money to reach more people. Studies show that organic reach has dropped between 40-60% for most pages, and some suggest that as few as 2% of fans of well followed pages now see content organically. #### Hang on a minute, how can Facebook do this? Is this even legal? Yes, it’s entirely legal. When we sign up to create a page on Facebook we agree to host of terms and conditions, including one that gives Facebook the right to make changes whenever it wishes. It’s important to remember that brand pages on Facebook only exist because Facebook lets you create them there. Your presence is effectively ‘rented’ from Facebook; you are the tenant, Facebook is your landlord. Facebook simply decided to throttle the amount of noise brands could make without charge on its platform; as your landlord they have every right to make changes like this. It’s the sort of change that social networking platforms often make, and not dissimilar to [LinkedIn’s recent decision to remove the Products and Services features from Company Pages](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/linkedin-withdraws-products-services-must-now/). #### So my posts now only get seen by 10% of my fans? Yes, and 10% of probably a little optimistic. The actual percentage is probably in the range of to 2-6%. That means that for every 1,000 fans, you can expect maybe 20 to 60 impressions per post. Here are Social@Ogilvy’s recent study findings: ![Facebook-Page-Organic-Reach-20141](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Facebook-Page-Organic-Reach-20141.png) #### *Wow, 10%!* That’s nothing. It’s hardly even worth the effort! Well, it ***is*** a low percentage. But what you have to keep in mind is that those 20 to 60 people per 1,000 fans have been carefully chosen by Facebook’s algorithms as being the people who are most likely to be interested in the content you shared. As a result, many brand pages have been reporting small rises in engagement levels; they’re effectively reaching fewer people but are getting more interaction back from the people they do reach. Don’t forget, back in 2012, before these changes came into effect, Facebook quoted that an average of 16% of fans saw posts for brand pages. So the proportion of eyeballs has always been low, it just dipped even lower. #### Oh, right, so this filtering approach is not a new thing on Facebook? No, not at all. For several years Facebook used an algorithm called EdgeRank to decide who got to see what content. EdgeRank was introduced to help users cope with the growing volume of content their friends were posting to their news feed. It was quite a simple formula really, using just three variables: the strength of relationship between sender and receiver (affinity), the receiver’s preference for different content types (weight) and the recency of the content (decay). Facebook would look at these three variables and assign a score to each piece of content for each potential recipient, then use this score to determine whether it appeared in the default ‘Top Stories’ newsfeed view. **Why did Facebook kill EdgeRank?** There’s no official line on why EdgeRank was replaced but Facebook stopped even mentioning the phrase several years ago and quietly killed it off around August 2013. The biggest problem with the algorithm was its simplicity, meaning that many users tried to game the system to maximise the chances of lots of people seeing their posts. It was EdgeRank that brought us those moronic posts that sought to generate artificial engagement from readers with invitations like *“Name a city that doesn’t have the letter “A” in it”* or *“Click ‘Like’ for Beer or click ‘Share’ for Wine”*. Facebook wisely realised that users really don’t care much for drivel like this in their newsfeed and introduced a new algorithm that, they claim, uses up to 100,000 signals to decide what content should be shown to which fans. Plus, of course, by restricting access to the newsfeed, Facebook has gently encouraged millions of brand page owners to consider pouring more money into their advertising business. #### I want my fans back! Is it possible to beat this new algorithm? Sorry, as at the time of writing there is no foolproof and free way to ensure that anything you post will be seen by anyone. If the you post content is great, original and just what your fans really want to see then there’s every chance you can still be a very successful marketer on Facebook. If, however, the content you share is dull, repetitive, derivative or just plain ‘salesy’ don’t be surprised if your organic reach soon plummets to closer to zero. There’s only one sure-fire way to beat the new algorithm – and that through advertising. **Oh right. Do I really need to invest advertising budget now to reach people on Facebook?** Probably yes, that’s why it’s called ‘pay to play’ after all! In the absence of a brilliant content strategy and the luck of the Irish, my advice would be to start experimenting intelligently with Facebook ads. You can boost posts, target specific content to very precisely defined groups, and quickly reach new people who have never before interacted with your brand on Facebook. There are numerous ad options available, from simple text ads to video ads, and invitations to install apps to follow a specific call to action on your website. To get started, just head over to [www.facebook.com/Ads](www.facebook.com/Ads). #### Is Facebook advertising expensive? The beauty of advertising on Facebook and on many other self-service online platforms is that you are in complete control of how much budget to spend and what to invest it on. You design the ads, you choose your targeting preferences and state how much you’d like to invest over what time period to achieve your goals. The amount you’ll need to spend and how long it will take depends on the size of your ambition and the amount of competition for similar audience targets. The quickest way to find out is to create an ad and see how much Facebook recommends you’ll need to spend to get good results. If you can afford it and think it’s worthwhile just put in your credit card details and you can start the ad campaign right away. #### I don’t have any budget for ads. What can I do? All is not lost! You can still reach a significant number of people through Facebook if your content is interesting and authentic. Think carefully about your fans to determine the types of content that will resonate with them. Sharing photos and videos can help fuel engagement, as can valuable insights and educational materials. Keep testing and learning as you go. And remember, there’s a whole social world beyond Facebook, including other social networks like Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, SlideShare, Vine, Pinterest, StumbleUpon and more. Repurposing your Facebook or blog content onto these platforms may help you generate the organic reach you need to achieve your business objectives. #### Is this the last big change we should expect from Facebook? No, more changes are on the cards. Just keep in mind that on social networks you’re only ever a tenant in your landlord’s house. If they decide to change the rules you’ll just have to roll with them. And other social networks like Twitter and LinkedIn are also experimenting with similar content throttling, for much the same reasons as Facebook. Some observers have predicted the day when organic reach for brands on social networks will be reduced to zero, meaning the only way to communicate to fans will be through advertising. My sense is that day could be some way off, but it’s not entirely unlikely to happen. So keep investing time and budget in social media marketing, but also make sure that your site and blog are also fit and healthy because no-one can change the rules there without your explicit consent. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [The Top 50 UK Marketing Blogs](https://allisterspeaks.com/top-50-uk-marketing-blogs/) **Published:** June 16, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Top-50-UK-Marketing-Agency-Blogs-Badge](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Top-50-UK-Marketing-Agency-Blogs-Badge-e1402927692301.jpg)](http://contendercontent.com/uk-marketing-agency-blogs/) Don’t panic, you’re in safe hands, allegedly… We’ve been named one of the UK’s Top 50 Marketing blogs in an exhaustive review by Contender Content. Which is nice… What’s even nicer is the list of 49 other useful marketing blogs that you can find at [http://contendercontent.com/uk-marketing-agency-blogs/](http://contendercontent.com/uk-marketing-agency-blogs/ "Top 50 Marketing blogs"). Among our favourite reads on the list are [Distilled](https://www.distilled.net/resources/), [Incisive Edge](http://www.incisive-edge.com/blog), [Tamar](http://blog.tamar.com/) and [The ITMA Blog](http://www.theitmarketingagency.com/blog). Which other top marketing blogs do you recommend? **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [How to instantly add every World Cup match to your calendar](https://allisterspeaks.com/add-every-world-cup-match-calendar/) **Published:** June 13, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Brasil World Cup 2014](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Brasil-World-Cup-2014.png)I’ve spotted lots of web traffic coming through to an old blog post I wrote around the time of the last World Cup, where I shared advice on how to add the football matches to your Outlook calendar. This tells me this is still a popular thing to do, so here are the simple instructions you need to add all the matches of the Brazil 2014 competition that kicked off last night: 1. First up, copy this link: [webcal://www.worldcupcalendar.co.uk/fixtures.ics](webcal://www.worldcupcalendar.co.uk/fixtures.ics "Copy This Link (right click, copy link)") (right-click, then Copy Link Address) 2. In Outlook, open your Calendar, then right-click on ‘My Calendar’ (usually in the bottom left of the window 3. Select ‘Add Calendar,’ then ‘From Internet’ 4. Now paste in the URL you copied in step 1 above 5. Customise the settings if needed, then click OK Note: your options may differ depending on which version of Outlook you are using. For advice on other calendar types like Google Calendar, Outlook.com and iOS, check out this handy [FeintZebra](http://www.feintzebra.co.uk/world-cup-2014-calendar-for-ios-outlook-google-and-more/) page. That’s it, now you need never miss a match! Enjoy the World Cup and ‘Come on England’! **Categories:** Digital Living, Inspiration, Uncategorized **Tags:** brazil, calendar, football, outlook, world cup --- ### [Make Marketing Noble, Keep Social Honest](https://allisterspeaks.com/make-marketing-noble-keep-social-honest/) **Published:** June 5, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve been [banging on for ages](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/on-making-marketing-noble/ "Make Marketing Noble") about the importance of making marketing an honourable, noble profession. And I’m delighted that my friends at the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) have picked up this mission with their latest campaign entitled ‘Keep Social Honest’. From research carried out in March and April this year by YouGov across over 3,000 UK consumers and 1,000 UK marketers, we now have the clearest picture yet of the ethical landscape that defines how much consumers trust marketing messages through social media channels. Some of the stats are eye-opening: - 62% of consumers struggle to spot the difference between marketing and non-commercial messages on social networking sites - 66% of consumers think it’s ethically questionable for a brand to buy fans or likes on Facebook - 65% of consumers read reviews before buying products on sites like Amazon, TripAdvisor and Mumsnet - …yet only 46% say they now trust the information they see on Facebook, and only 54% trust what they read on business websites or blogs **Something big has to change.** Helpfully, the CIM team has defined 10 Rules that every organisation should embrace to help keep social honest: ![Ten Rules to Keep Social Honest](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/2014-06-05-11_19_54-Keep-Social-Honest.png) I’d encourage every marketer to think carefully about this topic and read more at [http://www.keepsocialhonest.co.uk/](http://www.keepsocialhonest.co.uk/ "Keep Social Honest by the CIM"). There are some great piece of advice on there that could help protect your business and career from potential ruin. Our world is moving steadily towards an era of increased transparency, openness and open collaboration between buyers and sellers. The question we must all ask ourselves is ***“How will I feel when the time comes to “open the kimono” and show the world exactly what we’ve been up to behind closed doors?”*** If the thought of having to publicly answer that question fills you with dread, now would be the perfect time to make some changes so you and your colleagues can look to the future with confidence. Want more?: - [Full Keep Social Honest report (pdf)](http://www.keepsocialhonest.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Keep_Social_Honest_Report.pdf) - [Informative article by Thomas Brown on The Raconteur](http://raconteur.net/business/keeping-social-media-ethical) - [Funky infographic summarising the data in a hard-to-read format](http://raconteur.net/business/keeping-social-media-ethical) 😉 *Author’s note: I am a Course Director for the Chartered Institute of Marketing and am developing a special new training programme for CIM to help marketers like you better understand the risks and opportunities for their organisations.* **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Internet Safety, Noble Marketing **Tags:** ethics, honest, legal, marketing, noble --- ### [Correlation Does Not Imply Causation](https://allisterspeaks.com/correlation-causation/) **Published:** May 20, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Last week’s post about the ideal length for all kinds of different digital content sparked an offline debate about the differences between correlation and causation. Understanding the differences is crucial to many forms of analytics, and some people still get the two muddled up. In simple terms, a correlation implies a statistical relationship between two random variables of data sets. For example, it just so happens that there’s a very tight correlation between the Per Capita Consumption of Cheese in the USA and the Number of People Who Die By Becoming Tangled In Their Bedsheets. Here’s a chart to prove it: ![Spurious Correlation](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Spurious-Correlation.png) Here, the correlation is very high at 0.947091 (the closer a correlation is to 1, the more perfect the relationship between the data sets is). But, of course, this is a purely random, chance correlation. There’s no logical reason why more or less people should die tangled in their bedsheet if people eat more or less cheese, or vice versa. That’s like observing that all elephants have four legs and that zebras also have four legs, and therefore deducing that all zebras must be elephants. To save us from this zoological confusion, the crucial consideration of causation comes in. Whenever a correlation is found, for example between the number of retweets received by tweets various lengths, we also have to ask ourselves if one thing may actually have caused the other to occur. Is it plausible that altering the length of a tweet will have a causal effect on the likelihood of it being retweeted? The answer is ‘almost certainly not,’ because there are far more variables at play like the nature of the tweet, the words used, the time it is sent, its social currency at the time and so on. And, of course, no-one has yet found a credible explanation why an independent choice like tweet length could influence a reciprocal and direct retweeting act elsewhere. Whenever we encounter correlation in our data analyses we must take care not to assume causation. ***At most, correlation is a hint that causation may exist*.** Once observed, we must then probe additional research and datasets before we can prove beyond doubt that causation actually exists. For my explanation of correlation for dog owners, [click here](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/correlation-explained/). For more entertaining ‘Spurious Correlations’, see [Tyler Vigen’s blog here](http://www.tylervigen.com/). **Categories:** Inspiration, Marketing **Tags:** analytics, data, Statistics --- ### [Demystifying Digital Marketing in Dubai](https://allisterspeaks.com/demystifying-digital-marketing-dubai/) **Published:** May 16, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Next week I’ll be in Dubai, UAE, to deliver a new training programme entitled[ ‘Demystifying Digital Marketing’](http://www.me-eventshow.com/en/siteroot/MKTG-Live/Digital-Marketing-Training-Course1/MKTGLive-DMC/Home/). The open course is a two-day programme, designed to coincide with the Middle East Event Show and [Mktg Live](http://www.me-eventshow.com/en/siteroot/MKTG-Live/Home/), and will feature brand new training content covering everything from search engines to email, mobile marketing to UI testing. I’ve written five short blog posts especially for the programme. If you’re new to digital marketing, or just looking for a different perspective on things, you may find my[ ‘Expert Eye’](http://www.me-eventshow.com/en/siteroot/MKTG-Live/Digital-Marketing-Training-Course1/MKTGLive-DMC/Expert-Eye/) posts of interest: 1. [What is Digital Marketing anyway?](http://www.me-eventshow.com/en/siteroot/MKTG-Live/Digital-Marketing-Training-Course1/MKTGLive-DMC/Expert-Eye/blog-folder/New---Demystifying-Digital-Marketing-Blog-Series-and-Course/) 2. [Setting your Strategic Course](http://www.me-eventshow.com/en/siteroot/MKTG-Live/Digital-Marketing-Training-Course1/MKTGLive-DMC/Expert-Eye/blog-folder/New---Demystifying-Digital-Marketing-Blog-Series-and-Course2/) 3. [Search and Social Hand in Hand](http://www.me-eventshow.com/en/siteroot/MKTG-Live/Digital-Marketing-Training-Course1/MKTGLive-DMC/Expert-Eye/blog-folder/New---Demystifying-Digital-Marketing-Blog-Series-and-Course3/) 4. [Working Smarter, not Harder](http://www.me-eventshow.com/en/siteroot/MKTG-Live/Digital-Marketing-Training-Course1/MKTGLive-DMC/Expert-Eye/blog-folder/New---Demystifying-Digital-Marketing-Blog-Series-and-Course4/) 5. [What to Pack in Your Marketing Toolbox](http://www.me-eventshow.com/en/siteroot/MKTG-Live/Digital-Marketing-Training-Course1/MKTGLive-DMC/Expert-Eye/blog-folder/New---Demystifying-Digital-Marketing-Blog-Series-and-Course41/) And, if you too will be in Dubai next week, let me know! **Categories:** Content, Digital Marketing, Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advertising, Digital Marketing, Search Marketing, social media, training --- ### [Why Length Matters in Online Content](https://allisterspeaks.com/length-matters-online-content/) **Published:** May 15, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The well-worn phrase “Size Doesn’t Matter” has no place in the digital marketer’s toolbox. Size, I’m slightly saddened to report, is *everything*. Get it wrong and your content simply won’t get consumed. Get it right and you could give your content a precious extra lift, boosting clicks, conversions and, ultimately, sales. [Kevan Lee at Buffer](http://blog.bufferapp.com/author/kevanlee "Kevan Lee") recently looked into the question of content length and reported some interesting findings that I wanted to share with you here. For instance, if you want retweets, the optimal length of your initial tweet should be 71-100 characters, well under the 120-140 that many people aim for. The evidence is compelling: tweets of under 100 characters typically attract a 17% higher engagement rate: ![Tweet length](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/tweetlength102912sk.jpg) A similar phenomenon occurs on Facebook where the optimal post length is just 40 characters. This may seem slightly perverse seeing as Facebook allows posts as long as 63,206 characters, but less is most definitely more on the world’s biggest social network. However, if 40 characters is a little too brief for your requirements, take comfort in the fact that posts with 80 characters or less typically still enjoy up to 66% higher engagement levels: ![Facebook-Post-Length](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Facebook-Post-Length.jpg) Over on Google+, we learn that headlines should have fewer than 60 characters, not simply to maximise engagement levels, but also to ensure they display correctly and are given prominent billing across the network. Any longer and engagement levels tend to plummet. The ideal length of a blog post headline is 6 words (hence today’s headline!), and the post itself should not take longer than 7 minutes to read. That allows about 1,600 words at average reading speeds. Any longer and the amount of time people will typically spend reading your content is likely to fall off sharply: ![Blog post reading time](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Blog-post-reading-time-700x468.png) This ‘reading time’ metrics matters hugely. Not only is it a great proxy for the amount of your content people actually bother to consume, it’s also an important component for search engine ranking algorithms. The more time people spend with your content, engaging on your page, the higher your page rank will be and the greater the likelihood of your content being discovered through search. So, don’t just feel compelled to write more, focus instead on trying to maximise the *quality time* people will be prepared to invest in your content. A good rule of thumb is to aim for posts that take around 3 minutes to read. Studies show these tend to attract the most views: ![3 minute posts win](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/3-minute-posts-win-700x468.png) (source: [Medium](https://medium.com/data-lab/74b9f41509b "Great data report!")) The ideal paragraph width is 40-55 characters. That’s on a par with many printed books and allows the reader to comfortably jump from one line to the next. But keep in mind that some responsive design templates don’t always respect the rules. Adding margins or other page constraints can help prevent line lengths expanding on large computer monitors or tablets being used in landscape format. Email subject lines can make or break a campaign. The optimal length here is around 28 to 39 characters where open rates average at 12.2% with 4% clicking. Note though that there’s not a huge difference in engagement levels based solely on headline length, it’s far more important to write an interesting, relevant, attention-catching subject line that to rigorously comply with character length targets. Timely, useful information always wins over shouty, hard-sell, exclamation mark ridden alternatives. If you’re making a presentation, the ideal length is around 18 minutes, if your host and the audience will allow. The organisers behind the excellent TED conferences observed this from studies of attention spans, and won’t allow any speakers to exceed this time duration. Title tags (the clickable link part of search engine results, usually shown in blue on Google) should not exceed 55 characters, or they risk being truncated. And finally, domain names should be around 8 characters long (we didn’t do so well there with www.wildorangemedia.com!) **The bottom line:** Most importantly of all though, don’t get hung up with trying to reach specific length targets. ***Great quality content is far more important.*** A perfectly-proportioned subject line won’t make a horrible email perform better. And shortening your Facebook post to under 40 characters won’t turn a dreary update into viral gold. However, if your content is already great, applying some of the length guidance above might just give it an extra little kick that could help it achieve the greatness it deserves. *(Read more at the original Buffer [blog post](http://blog.bufferapp.com/definitive-guide-social-media-metrics-stats))* **Categories:** Content, Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advice, content, copywriting, Digital Marketing, marketing, social media --- ### [You Need To See The Hottest Words in Viral Headlines](https://allisterspeaks.com/hottest-words-viral-headlines/) **Published:** April 8, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Knowing how to write a killer headline, subject line or tweet can make the difference between success and failure for your content marketing efforts. The simple truth is, it doesn’t matter how great your content is; if readers don’t get past the headline they’ll never know. Ripenn recently collated 2,616 headlines from four popular sites that excel at writing highly-clickable headlines. By analysing the data amassed from BuzzFeed, ViralNova, UpWorthy and Wimp, we can look for common usage patterns and trends to try to determine which words work best. And thanks to some nifty number-crunching by the team at Buffer, we now know which words appear most frequently in some of the most viral headlines on the internet today. First up, here’s a list of the most popular uncommon words (excluding common words like ‘the’, ‘this’, and ‘a’): ![Popular uncommon single words](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Screen-shot-2014-03-13-at-2.30.57-PM-267x468.png) No great surprises there, although it’s noticeable how short and simple many of these words are. There’s not much hyperbole—perhaps with the exception of *‘awesome’*—and most of these words are very ordinary, regular occurrences in everyday language. Things get more interesting when we look at the most popular two-word phrases: ![Two word phrases](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Screen-shot-2014-03-13-at-2.31.49-PM.png) It’s noteworthy how many of these phrases implicitly carry authority and confidence from the author. Phrases like *‘this is’* and *‘the most’* require a certain amount of swagger from a writer, which is, of course, an attractive trait for the casual reader. If you’ve spent much time on BuzzFeed or UpWorthy, you are probably reminded of several of your favourite headlines just from the two-word list above. But that eerie sense of *déjà vu* could be even stronger after you’ve digested the top three-word phrases below: ![Three word phrases](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Screen-shot-2014-03-13-at-2.32.03-PM.png) Notice how enticing and inviting many of these phrases are. Word formations like *‘wait til you…’* and *‘will make you…’* instantly hint at a possible outcome for the reader, encouraging them in to see if the headline can deliver. Finally, we also learn from this analysis that the length of the average viral headline is 62 characters, considerably longer than the average email subject line or newspaper headline. Content marketers should welcome this factoid and take it as permission to test some long headlines to see how they perform. From all of this analysis Ripenn has helpfully condensed their learnings into seven simple principles for headline writing success. They are: 1. Make the most of current events: Tie your headline to news and newsmakers 2. Break the “rules” of headline writing, like length and structure 3. Seek to pique the reader’s curiosity 4. Never underestimate the emotional factor of a headline 5. Call the reader to action with direct action words 6. Make bold claims 7. Sound like a human, not a robot Thanks to the [Ripenn](http://www.ripenn.com/blog/7-things-marketers-can-learn-from-2616-viral-headlines/ "Ripenn Blog") and [Buffer ](http://blog.bufferapp.com/the-most-popular-words-in-most-viral-headlines "Buffer Blog")blogs for sharing their analytical approach and findings. **Categories:** Creativity, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** blogging, content, copywriting, headline, marketing, viral --- ### [Twitter Launches Editorial Calendar Tool](https://allisterspeaks.com/twitter-launches-editorial-calendar-tool/) **Published:** April 4, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Shifting your social media marketing efforts from reactive, last minute posts to being pre-planned, proactive communications designed in advance to achieve a specific goal is an ambition that every social media marketer should aspire to. Twitter knows this and today rolled out a new service designed to help businesses and (it hopes, Twitter advertisers!) improve their editorial planning discipline. Under the hashtag #OwnTheMoment, the service can be accessed without charge at [https://twitter.twimg.com/OwnTheMoment](https://twitter.twimg.com/OwnTheMoment "OwnTheMoment"). At the site, users can see forthcoming events and activities over the next two months that might inspire their own editorial calendar. Each event contains Twitter tips and links to add the event to Google Calendar or Outlook. And, of course, there are plenty of nudges to remind users that buying some Twitter ads could really help! [![#OwnTheMoment](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/OwnTheMoment-884x468.jpg)](https://twitter.twimg.com/OwnTheMoment) Here’s my concern with this approach. If this tool really takes off, and lots of people use it, the value of the tips and suggestions will diminish. If every business were to use this tool as the inspiration for their editorial planning, Twitter could fast become a stream of repetitive, me-too content. That said, it’s still a helpful resource and I’d encourage every marketer to bookmark the site and revisit it from time to time when they need fresh ideas and inspiration. It’s a shame the site only covers the current and next month; hopefully Twitter will improve this if the trial proves a success. If nothing else, this should help more social media community managers understand the importance of pre-planning and working to a carefully thought-out editorial plan. Just remember to research across multiple sources for ideas, to plan as far out as possible so you have enough time to create brilliant content well ahead of those all-important deadlines. **Categories:** Creativity, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** content, editorial, planning, social media, Twitter --- ### [Wi-fi Security 101 - secure your router from outsiders](https://allisterspeaks.com/wi-fi-security-101/) **Published:** March 31, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Here’s a top Internet Safety tip: > Don’t put your wi-fi router in the window with the wi-fi access code visible from the outside. ![Wi-fi-password-on-display](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Wi-fi-password-on-display.jpg "Wi-fi password on display")A wi-fi router spotted through a window today. The wi-fi key and SSID have been blurred to protect the ownerBlindingly obvious perhaps, but it’s surprisingly easy to spot homes and businesses who fail this most obvious security test. Instead, make sure you do the following: 1. Change the router admin password to something only you know (read the manuals for instructions on how to do this) 2. Make sure your router firmware is up-to-date 3. Add router-level site blocks and MAC filtering if needed 4. Change the wi-fi password to something only trusted users know 5. Keep your router out of sight so it cannot easily be tampered with 6. Check your router regularly to ensure the firmware remains up-to-date and that all settings are still secure If that list sounds daunting, make sure you do steps 1, 4 and 5 as a minimum. A little bit of forethought and preventative maintenance can make a big difference to the security of your internet access and the data on your home or business network. For more Internet Safety advice, please visit [Internet Safety School](http://www.internetsafetyschool.com "Internet Safety School"). **Categories:** Computers and Internet, Internet Safety **Tags:** internet safety, password, router, security, wi-fi --- ### [A new HootSuite Ambassador for EMEA](https://allisterspeaks.com/new-hootsuite-ambassador-emea/) **Published:** March 30, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![EMEA - English - Ambassador Badge](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EMEA-English-Ambassador-Badge-583x468.png) I’m delighted to have recently been appointed a HootSuite Ambassador for EMEA. In this voluntary role I’ll continue to support adoption and use of the popular social media management system that now boasts more than 8 millions users worldwide. [HootSuite ](http://hootsuite.com/ "HootSuite")has played a leading role in my social media marketing toolkit for a couple of years now. In my experience there are few platforms that rival its breadth of features and app ecosystem. And for my business it’s the ideal tool for listening to social channels and responding to conversations in a timely fashion. There’s an awful lot you can do with the Free plan, while a Pro plan offers more than even I really need. Crucially though I’m still fiercely independent and platform agnostic. My HootSuite Ambassador role affords me access to the HootSuite team and like-minded professionals, but it doesn’t preclude me from testing and maintaining a solid cross-platform understanding of the social media management landscape. I need that perspective to help my clients and my own business make the right choices. I wouldn’t have it any other way. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** hootsuite, management, social media, Tools --- ### [LinkedIn Withdraws Products and Services - what you must do now](https://allisterspeaks.com/linkedin-withdraws-products-services-must-now/) **Published:** March 24, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** LinkedIn has [quietly announced](https://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/47952/ "LinkedIn Help Center") that the ‘Products and Services’ page available on every Company Page on the social network will no longer be supported after 14th April 2014. This popular feature is being retired to make way for ‘Showcase Pages,’ but the potential impact on existing users could be significant. ***Don’t panic!*** Here are our quick starter tips to guide you through the change: ### What’s Happening? The ‘Product and Services’ tab on Company Pages on LinkedIn will be removed on 14th April 2014. The functionality will remain in place until this date, but the option to add new products and services has already been removed. ### WTF? Why? [![Ford Motor Company Products Page](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-03-24-09_07_11-Ford-Motor-Company_-Products-Services-_-LinkedIn-400x274.png)](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-03-24-09_07_11-Ford-Motor-Company_-Products-Services-_-LinkedIn.png)LinkedIn, like all online platforms, regularly changes its features and functionality. The Products and Services page was rarely used well and few companies embraced its full capabilities. Some companies, like IBM ([view company page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ibm/products "IBM Company Page")) and Oxfam ([view company page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/oxfam/products "Oxfam Company Page")), created dedicated pages for each of their major products/services and collected numerous recommendations for these from LinkedIn users. Creating these pages was clunky and time-consuming, and LinkedIn now believes it’s time for something better. ‘Showcase Pages’ is LinkedIn’s new way for company administrators to host content about each of their major offerings. ### Hang on! What Happens to the content of My Products and Services Pages? These pages will be removed on 14th April 2014 and their content, including all recommendations received, deleted. The only guaranteed way to retain this information is to take a local copy before this date, for example by copying and pasting the content into a Word document. LinkedIn has promised to email all affected Company Page admins with instructions explaining the change. Up until 30th May 2014 you can [contact LinkedIn to request they send you a copy of all Company Page recommendations](https://help.linkedin.com/app/ask/path/rcpsr "Contact LinkedIn"), but take note that this only covers recommendations received up to 4th March 2014, and none of the text and images added to each Product or Service Page. Our advice: act now to save your page contents, don’t leave this to chance! ### What’s a Showcase Page anyway? ![Adobe Showcase Page](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Adobe-Marketing-Cloud_-Overview-_-LinkedIn.jpg)Showcase Pages were announced in November 2013 and are LinkedIn’s new way to share content and opportunities to company page followers. Think of a Showcase Page as a sub-page of the main Company Page. The major difference compared to ‘Products and Services’ is that LinkedIn users can elect to follow individual Showcase Pages instead of (or in addition to) a Company Page itself. Crucially, other LinkedIn users cannot recommend a Showcase Page as they could for Products and Services before, but they can choose to Follow each page they are interested in. Effectively, each Showcase Page becomes a separate entity on LinkedIn, a place where administrators can post updates that will show up on their followers’ newsfeeds. By default, each Company Page can have up to ten (10) Showcase Pages. This should be adequate for most companies but if you need more you can contact LinkedIn to request an increase. It’s not clear at this time if this would incur any cost, but it’s probably that extended functionality like this may become a chargeable feature in the future so keep this in mind when creating your Showcase Pages. ### What happens to all those product/service recommendations we’ve collected? After 14th April 2014, recommendations can only be left for LinkedIn users, not for products or services. All existing non-user recommendations will be deleted. If you have lots of non-user recommendations you might like to consider asking selected customers to repost their words as a recommendation for a person working at your company. But keep in mind that should that person change job, all recommendations will move with them. It may be safer, in the long term, to concentrate on building followers to your Company or Showcase pages as these should always remain your property (well, at least until LinkedIn decides to change these too!) ![Cisco_ Overview _ LinkedIn](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-03-24-09_40_22-Cisco_-Overview-_-LinkedIn.png) ### How can I access or find a Showcase Page? Another benefit of Showcase Pages is that they can be discovered via the Search bar at the top of every LinkedIn page. For example, a search for “cisco internet of things” brings up results that point to Cisco’s dedicated showcase page.Showcase Pages can be accessed from the main Company Page on LinkedIn, via the right hand navigation column. This navigation pane only shows up once at least one Showcase Page has been created. The URL for Showcase Pages follow this format: *linkedin.com/company/\[showcase\_page\_name\].* ### What Can I Put on a Showcase Page? In keeping with the trend towards more visually-arresting content, the dominant feature of every Showcase Page is a large hero image at the top of the page. This can feature any graphic content you like and you can change it as often as you wish. It’s not yet clickable so you cannot add hyperlinks to another page, but this functionality may be added in the future. You can also add a description for the page (between 75 to 200 characters long), logos for each Showcase Page, assign it to a specific industry sector, add an external URL to a specific page on your website, and set the default language. And if your company has Linkedin Groups you can add them so they also feature on your Showcase Page. *There’s one other essential ingredient you need though:* every Showcase Page needs regular news and posts to turn it into a living, breathing online destination. Creating a showcase page is easy, but turning it into an information source that people will want to follow is altogether more challenging. Regularly posting to each Showcase Page is the the key to building ongoing relationships with its followers. When your followers interact with your updates (liking, commenting, sharing etc.) , it spreads your message to their networks, giving you greater reach. Updates can be seen by your followers not just on your Showcase Page, but also on their newsfeed (across all devices, including mobile). So, for every page you create, you also need an editorial plan and resources to ensure you can regularly post fresh news stories and insights that will turn it into a “must-follow” resource in LinkedIn. This is just one of many changes LinkedIn has introduced in its bid to become a more regularly visited, content-rich social network. Expect more changes along these lines in the future. ### How Do I Create A Showcase Page? You must be a LinkedIn Company Page administrator to create a Showcase Page. After logging in to LinkedIn, head to your Company Page, click the down arrow next to the blue Edit button and select ‘Create a Showcase Page. The information and content you’ll need include: - Your Showcase Page name - Your Showcase Page description (75-200 characters) - Your Industry sector - Name of at least 1 Showcase Page administrator (by default that’s you!) - Hero Image (highly recommended, but optional, see below for sizes) - Logo Image - Square logo ### What are the sizes for images on the Showcase Page? Hero Image: Minimum 974 x 330 pixels. PNG, JPEG, or GIF are supported. Maximum file size is 2MB. Make it gorgeous and enticing – the hero image takes up a huge amount of the top of the above-the-fold page so make sure it works hard for you. Logo: 100 x 60 pixels. Your image will be resized to fit if required. Square logo: 50 x 50 pixels. Your image will be resized to fit if not perfectly square. ### I Don’t Like It. Can I keep my Products and Services pages, please? Nope, these pages will be cyber-zapped by LinkedIn on 14th April 2014. There is no way to retain this functionality on this platform. Don’t shoot the messenger, someone else make the rules! ### OK, what Should I Do Now? ![to-do-list](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/to-do-list.png)If you have existing content on Products and Services pages on LinkedIn you should take a copy of this before 14th April. Copy and paste the data, including all recommendations received, into a Word, or similar document format. This will ensure you still have access to the recommendations people have left for you and the text you used to describe your products and services after the kill date. Also [contact LinkedIn](https://help.linkedin.com/app/ask/path/rcpsr "Contact LinkedIn") to request they send you a backup of your recommendations; remember to do this before 30th May 2014. Once you’ve backed up your data, consider creating new Showcase Pages. Before you do this, think very carefully about which pages you will need and make sure you have a plan in place to regularly update and post to each of these pages. Remember: if you don’t regularly post fresh content and news, your Showcase Pages are very unlikely to attract much traffic. Even Adobe currently only has two (2) Showcase Pages, compared to the 45 Products and Services they had under the old system. It’s likely they’ll add more soon but only if they’re convinced they have the resources in place to make additional pages a success. On a social network, you get out what you put in, no shortcuts, even with a huge marketing budget. If your Showcase Pages are dry, dull and out-of-date, no amount of cajoling will convince lots of people to follow you. Check out LinkedIn’s [short guide on SlideShare](http://www.slideshare.net/LImarketingsolutions/showcase-pages-getting-started-slideshare-deckfinal "SlideShare by LinkedIn") that explains how to create a great Showcase Page. ### Yikes! I don’t know where to begin! We can help. If you need support and guidance through this change, [contact Wild Orange Media ](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/contact-us/ "Get in touch")to discuss how we can help. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** company page, linkedin, products, services, showcase --- ### [Data Sharing and The Generational Divide](https://allisterspeaks.com/data-sharing-generational-divide/) **Published:** March 18, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I [wrote recently about the importance of ‘Giving then Receiving](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/the-basic-data-capture-mistake-almost-every-marketer-makes/ "Basic data capture mistake")‘, reminding marketers to give something to their audience before asking for personal data. It works, and I’ve been touched by the messages I received from you sharing your experiences of testing this approach. New data from Mintel in the USA should provide further encouragement if you’ve not yet taken the plunge. [The research](http://store.mintel.com/marketing-to-millennials-us-february-2014 "Mintel report"), focussed primarily on exploring the online behaviours and attitudes of millennials, highlights how open young people can be to sharing their personal data. Almost one in three of millennials (30%) questioned said they would happily share even their most private information after receiving an incentive offer like a money-off discount coupon. For the older baby boomer generation, that percentage was only 13%. And before anyone jumps on the “silly young people” bandwagon, this phenomenon has less to do with youths being naive or irresponsible with their data, and everything to do with the norms they have learned in their lives to date. To illustrate this, it turns out that baby boomers are more likely to disclose their mailing address (40%) than millennials (38%); perhaps the older we are, the less protective we are of the data we have grown used to disclosing throughout our lives. > What this shows is that the younger generation, who grew up in the Information Age, is clearly more comfortable with sharing those types of personal information and are far less skeptical than their parents > > **Fiona O’Donnell, Mintel** The implications and opportunities for marketers are clear. Our data collection goals and approach should be adjusted to appeal to the target audience we are seeking to understand. A ‘one-size-fits-all’ data collection form is unlikely to be uniformly successful; bespoke, tailored forms designed to appeal to the recipient are likely to generate far higher response levels. And with a savvy content strategy that serves the right content for each audience segment, before presenting them with a tailor-made data collection form inviting them to get more great, customised content, the opportunities for great insight driven marketing have never been greater. Think about it. The potential is huge. Want to learn more? You can read further highlights of [the Mintel report here](http://www.mintel.com/press-centre/social-and-lifestyle/millennials-share-personal-info "Mintel report"). **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** data, marketing, privacy, sharing --- ### [Why Pizzerias Love You To Go Small](https://allisterspeaks.com/pizzerias-love-go-small/) **Published:** March 7, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ***Friday night is pizza night!*** Or at least it is in my head right now! Everyone seems to love pizza these days. Economic recession or no recession, pizzerias have never been busier. Domino’s, the world’s largest pizza chain recently opened its 777th shop in the UK, and now operates in more than 70 countries. It dwarfs all the other players including Pizza Hut chain and local favourites like the US’s Papa John’s and UK restaurants like Pizza Express and Prezzo. Many of these pizzerias are making a lot of money too. Domino’s recently reported record sales in the UK, bringing in £14.1million during a single week in December. That’s a lot of dough! *(geddit?)* But where could they be making all that money? It turns out a little-understood mathematical principle allows pizza parlours to make huge amounts of profit by down-selling us to choose smaller pizzas. To understand, we need a little geometry lesson. Try this question: > “What’s the size difference between an 8-inch and a 16-inch pizza?” Most people agree that the 16-inch pizza is **twice as big** as the 8-inch version. *Wrong!* Because pizzas are (more or less) circular, the surface area of a pizza increases with the square of the radius. So a 16-inch pizza is actually **four times** the size of an 8-incher. My simple diagram image below shows the size relationship clearly (as well as what a tasty pizza might look like, mmmm, pizza!): ![pizza-sizes](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/pizza-sizes-400x274.jpg) Pizzerias, of course, know this. Which is why they’ll often describe their pizzas as small, medium, and large. Or some, like Domino’s, only show how many slices of pizza you’ll get from each option but, of course, the size of a slice isn’t uniform which makes it nearly impossible for most people to do the price comparison in their heads. All of this means that it can be very difficult for hungry diners to optimise their buying choices and many groups will default to buying several small pizzas (one for each person) rather than one large pizza for everyone to share. Assuming, that is, we can all agree on having the same pizza topping, without things descending into a heated argument! This pricing technique is a form of reverse price decoying; effectively using the perceived fair value of a large pizza to make a smaller pizza seem like reasonable value for money. Many people know they can’t eat a whole large pizza, but a smaller pizza feels like a fair deal in comparison because we don’t appreciate how much dramatically smaller it really is. So, next time the urge for pizza strikes, how do you get the best value for your pizza dough? Simple, do the maths! Find out the radius of each sizing option, then divide the price by the calculated surface area to find out how much each square inch is going to cost you. Or, if that’s all a bit geeky for you, **just buy the biggest pizza they sell** and plan on taking the leftovers home for an unhealthy breakfast the next day. Mmmm, pizza! Want more? Here’s some further reading: - [NPR Interactive Model of US pizza prices](http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2014/02/26/282132576/74-476-reasons-you-should-always-get-the-bigger-pizza "NPR Model") - [Why a 22-inch pizza would be free](http://money.aol.co.uk/2012/02/14/a-22-inch-domino-pizza-would-be-free/) - [How big are pizzas? (graphed)](http://wordpress.mrreid.org/2012/02/13/how-big-are-pizzas/) - [Which slice of Domino’s pizza is best value? (UK)](http://www.brokenmind.co.uk/2012/01/01/which-size-of-dominos-pizza-is-the-best-value/) **Categories:** Inspiration, Marketing, Miscellaneous **Tags:** decoy, pizza, pricing, psychology, restaurant, value --- ### [Little Delights and Why It Pays to Sweat The Small Stuff](https://allisterspeaks.com/sweat-small-stuff/) **Published:** March 6, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** My first boss drummed into me the importance of paying great attention to detail in everything I did. But little details, he told me, are especially important when working on designs for products and communications materials. So it was great delight that I was recently introduced to a lovely site called [Little Big Details](http://littlebigdetails.com/ "Little Big Details"), which houses a curated list of subtle but wonderful design features from our online world. Take, for example, this from the Mailchimp site when a new user tries to sign up: ![Mailchimp Evil Twin Warning](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-03-05-22_07_23-MailChimp-_-Signup-400x130.png) Similarly, Geeklist will nudge you to use a more secure, complex password by helpfully pointing out how little time it would take a computer to crack a simple password you’ve suggested using. And then there’s the rather lovely way the Facebook notifications icon looks different depending on where in the world you are: ![Facebook Notifications Globe](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-03-05-07_43_27-Little-Big-Details-Your-daily-dose-of-design-inspiration.png) …as did the passport and Kindle device on the Amazon website depending on your location. And who could fail to be mildly impressed that the Windows 8 Calculator expresses your measurement conversions in terms of ‘bathtubs’? ![2014-03-05 22_18_32-Windows-8-Calculator.jpg - Windows Photo Viewer](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014-03-05-22_18_32-Windows-8-Calculator.jpg-Windows-Photo-Viewer.png) Importantly though, this stuff matter because it really works. Countless behavioural science studies have shown how little delights can positively affect our mood and sense of wellbeing. Spotting a nicely designed feature that makes us smile (even if only inwardly) can do great things for our feeling of belonging and engender positive attitudes to the creators. So give this a try: next time you’re tweaking a feature of your product or service, think about a simple, small, pleasurable delight you could add to make someone’s day just a little bit better. It may be easier than you think. **Categories:** Creativity, Design, Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** creativity, design, Web design --- ### [The Power of Listicles and How To Make Yours Better](https://allisterspeaks.com/power-listicles-make-better/) **Published:** February 19, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Journalists have known it for years and they’ve become a staple of headline writers and bloggers in recent years. But what’s the science behind the listicle’s remarkable success? For the uninitiated, [listicle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listicle "What does Wikipedia think?") is a derived from the words *list* and *article.* It describes a ranked list of items with a snappy title like “[10 Fun Ways to Eat Bananas](http://spoonful.com/recipes/10-fun-ways-to-eat-bananas "10 Fun Ways to Eat Bananas")” or “[12 Strangest Sights on Google Earth](http://www.livescience.com/28828-10-strangest-sights-google-earth.html "Yes, really!")“. Now, if you’ve somehow resisted the urge to click on either of those intriguing articles, ***well done!*** It turns out we feel an almost instinctive attraction to neatly ordered lists. Newly published research in the [Journal of Consumer Research](http://www.jcr-admin.org/files/pressPDFs/120313164431_Isaac_Article.pdf "Read the science bit") explains exactly how we react to ranked lists and how lists of varying lengths are perceived. ![Listicles Item Count Graph](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Listicles-Item-Count-Graph-400x274.jpg) Unsurprisingly, simple analysis of Google Search results reveals that most indexed listicles comprise a nicely rounded number of items. As this graph illustrates, the most popular lists contain 10 or 20 items, while those list counts ending in 5 (5, 15, 25…) are also very common. While the research doesn’t draw many conclusions from this analysis, it’s fairly safe to assume that any “Top 10” or “Top 20” lists we create are now instantly recognisable and accepted, but may also compete with lots of similar content online. Conversely, a “Top 3” or “Top 19” list may perform well by benefiting from greater standout and distinctiveness. Where the research gets more interesting is in examining the effect of an item’s ranking order relative to neighbouring items on the list. It turns out that in a list of top 20 colleges, the perceived quality gap between colleges 10 and 11 is far greater than, say between colleges 6 and 7 on the list. The science suggests that what’s happening here is that readers mentally subdivide ranked lists into a smaller set of categories and then exaggerate differences between consecutive items adjacent to category boundaries (like items 10 or 20 on the list). The implications for businesses and organisations are significant. No matter what you do, it’s far better to be 10th best, than 11th best, and the gains from being 9th best are minimal compared to being in tenth position. Psychologists know this as the “*Top Ten Effect,*” and it occurs because round numbers are cognitively more accessible to readers due to the prevalence of their use in everyday life. So, if you are planning to create listicles for your blog or press releases there are, perhaps, two crucial things to keen in mind: 1. **The number of items in your list may have a profound effect on the way it is perceived and the amount of content it may have to compete against** 2. **In ranked lists, the relative position of items on the list adjacent to round numbers like 5 and 10 is crucial and can greatly influence perceptions of each items relative worth** With thanks to Mathew Isaac and Robert Schindler for conducting the original research and to [NeuroscienceMarketing](http://www.neurosciencemarketing.com) for bringing this to my attention. ***Read more:*** *Research paper: [http://www.jcr-admin.org/files/pressPDFs/120313164431\_Isaac\_Article.pdf](http://www.jcr-admin.org/files/pressPDFs/120313164431_Isaac_Article.pdf) Power of Ten article: * **Categories:** Content, Design, Digital Marketing **Tags:** insights, listicle, research --- ### [Why Infinite Scrolling May Be Bad For Business](https://allisterspeaks.com/infinite-scrolling-may-bad-business/) **Published:** February 18, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** In our multi-touch, high bandwidth digital world, the number of webpages with infinite scrolling is rising sharply. But it’s not always a good thing as I’ll try to explain in this short blog post. Infinite scrolling, where the page loads continuously as you scroll down, is an appealing feature for web designers looking to maximise visitor time on site and to give smooth, seamless access to vast amounts of content. A great example can be found at Carlsberg’s excellent [GetStrikr microsite](http://www.getstrikr.com/ "Carlsberg's GetStrikr.com"). Scrolling is usually vertical only, well suited to tablet and smartphone devices, but you can occasionally find infinite horizontal scrolling too, as used at the Javascript-rich [Voice of 2015](http://www.girleffect.org/2015-beyond/girls-voices/about/ "Voice of 2015") and the festive favourite [Create your Elf](http://www.createyourelf.com/ "Create your Elf"). Popularised by social networking sites like Facebook, Google+ and Twitter since 2011, this new approach to pagination removes the need for a site visitor to click to the next page. Instead they simply continue scrolling downwards or sideways, either by touch or using a mouse or keyboard commands. For sites that host lots of visual or user-generated content, infinite scroll can be a superb way to present content. [Mashable ](http://mashable.com/ "Mashable")uses this technique to good effect, allowing visitors to scan through dozens of articles with very little click action. Flat-structured sites like photographic galleries lend themselves perfectly to this technique because much of the content sits at the same hierarchical level and so warrants equal amounts of visitor focus. The inevitable downside for these seemingly endless sites is that click-through rates for each piece of content often fall due to users being repeatedly distracted by fresh loading content further down the page. This inability to focus user attention infinite scroll may be a bad design choice for sites that exist to encourage a specific end action. E-commerce sites, for instance, can be considered successful only when the shopper completes a purchase transaction. They are, therefore, unlikely to succeed if buyers feel overwhelmed by the choices presented. This explains why sites like [Amazon ](http://www.amazon.co.uk "Amazon UK")and [Ebay ](http://ebay.com "Ebay")doggedly refuse to add infinite scrolling, preferring instead to make their customers consciously click from one page to the next. An option to ‘See All Products’ is also used commonly, to remove the click burden from those who wish to view all products at once, without the distraction of a never-ending scroll. Another often missed downside of infinite scroll is the processing demands placed on both the site visitor and the browser. For the user, a page without end can make it challenging to return to a specific position on the site, requiring more cognitive effort and memory recall from the site visitor. For the web browser software, infinite scroll can result in loading huge amounts of background data, placing a burden on the available bandwidth and computing device memory. Additionally, as you may have experienced on sites like [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/ "LinkedIn"), infinite scroll can really make a mess of the much-loved vertical scroll bar, shrinking the control handles to an un-grabbable dimension and rendering this navigation aid largely unusable. The final, and perhaps most obvious, downside of infinite scrolling is that it makes reaching the footer of the page either very difficult or impossible. The site footer provides both a useful framing device for the page as well as a widely understood home for popular information links like ‘about us’, ‘contact’, terms & conditions, and privacy. Try finding the footer on the [ITV News website](http://www.itv.com/news/ "ITV News") and you’ll understand the anxiety and frustration some people feel when confronted by a never-ending page. ![Instant Summary box for Infinite Scrolling](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Instant-Summary-on-Infinite-Scrolling.jpg) In summary, infinite scrolling can be an elegant and desirable navigation technique for sites that need to present lots of content within one hierarchical level and where no single end action is expected. However, for transactional and goal-oriented sites, infinite scrolling is usually not a recommended approach because of the navigational issues this can cause and the extra processing burden it places on the user and their device. **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing, Uncategorized **Tags:** advice, navigation, Web design --- ### [Escaping FOMO and Living in the Moment](https://allisterspeaks.com/escaping-fomo-and-living-in-the-moment/) **Published:** February 14, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **Valentine’s Day is upon us.** The annual opportunity to show how much we care for the people we love, usually through the medium of corny gift cards, flowers and chocolates. But it’s also a good time to reconnect with the simpler things in life. Our fast-moving digital world constantly fuels a nagging fear of missing out (that’s FOMO in txtspk), and you could be forgiven for losing sight of the bigger picture in the maelstrom of emails, updates, comments, likes, votes and sharing that infest our daily lives. ![Wild Orange Heart](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Wild-Orange-Media-Valentines-Heart-500x468.jpg "Wild Orange Heart")We don’t fully understand the long-term implications of the over- and hyper-stimulation caused by technology, but few would disagree that they can eat away at our true sense of well-being and our capacity for true mindfulness, to simply live in the moment. I’ve been taking a little time this Valentine’s Day to reflect on how I live my life and on the things that matter most to me. *You might like to too.* PS And, if technology really is the answer (and why shouldn’t it be?), take the delightful [PoetryZoo ](http://poetryzoo.com/ "Poetry Zoo")site for a spin. Who knows what magical prose you might dream up for your most special loved one! \[shareaholic app=”recommendations” id=”5108663″\] **Categories:** Creativity, Inspiration **Tags:** poetry, reflection, valentine's --- ### [There's No Such Thing as a Digital Marketer](https://allisterspeaks.com/theres-no-such-thing-as-a-digital-marketer/) **Published:** February 10, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve never felt very comfortable with the label ‘Digital Marketer.’ And to reflect this, I’ve been describing myself as “A Marketer in a Digital World” for about 5 years now, a badge I have worn with pride. But even this is starting to feel a little behind the times. The world is certainly digital, with every aspect of brand engagement being reshaped in some way, but the impact of this revolution is now so profound, so complete, that the d-word increasingly seems superfluous and redundant. Perhaps a better label for what we do would be a return to the delightfully succinct “marketing”. After all, when everything we do, whether we plan it or not, ends up having some impact in digital channels, surely everything is digital? > Show me your marketing activity that’s not digitally connected today and I’ll show you where you’re wasting money. *“But what about TV ads, what about my outdoor posters and radio ads?,”* I hear you cry. *“None of those are really digital, are they?”* That’s true. Some of the channels we choose, for very good reason, are not inherently digital. But the effect they have on our customers almost invariably is. Your billboard ads can be as conventional as you like. Heck, don’t even put your website URL on there if you don’t want to. But they cease being analogue and are reborn as digital entities the first time someone walks past, takes a photo, and comments on your oddball decision to leave out the URL. And from that moment on, the impact of your advertising campaign may have to be measured across any number of digital channels, not solely in the number of people who may have walked past. You see, traditional marketing can now morph instantly into something digital. And there’s nothing you can do about it. So here’s to the marketers. Those post-digital pioneers who understand the enormity of the new forces shaping our world and seize the opportunity with both hands. This post was written by Allister Frost, A Marketer in a Fast-Changing World **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Marketing **Tags:** digital, marketing --- ### [Delightful Creativity from Putpockets](https://allisterspeaks.com/delightful-creativity-from-putpockets/) **Published:** February 7, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** There’s a very common mental state we experience every day of our lives that makes us greatly underestimate the likelihood of something bad happening to us. Psychologists call it the ‘normalcy bias’, and it’s a pretty helpful thing. Without it, we would be less able to relax and enjoy our lives. Instead, we’d live in constant fear of bad things happening to us, frantically anticipating the next disaster we are sure to encounter. But, thankfully, the normalcy bias help keeps most of us sane, safe in the knowledge that any disaster that has never happened to us before, almost certainly never will. This same bias means we tend to ignore well-intended warnings about our own safety. Faced with a warning that pickpockets are known to operate in the vicinity, most of us will either ignore the warning or, at most, quickly check that our bags and valuables are secure. Rather ironically, these same personal checks are often spotted by pickpockets nearby helping them identify exactly where our valuables are, transforming us from passer-by to victim. While every effort is being made by the police to apprehend the culprits, educating the public to keep their belongings safe is still the best way to reduce crime. Placing more warning signs doesn’t always help, and sometimes has the opposite effect. So how can we educate vulnerable pedestrians without inadvertently helping the pickpockets? The UK’s Crimestoppers charity recently appointed OgilvyOne to help find new ways to tackle London’s pickpocketing problem. And the solution was little short of genius. [![Putpockets Smartphone Leaflet by OgilvyOne](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Putpockets-Smartphone-Leaflet-344x274.jpg)](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Putpockets-Smartphone-Leaflet.jpg) Crimestoppers employed former pickpockets and sleight-of-hand experts including magicians to place leaflets into the pockets and bags of passers-by. The leaflets were designed to mimic high value items like smartphones, wallets and tablet computers, all desirable objects for pickpockets. The simple premise was that if someone can put something in your pocket, they are also capable of taking something out. When the chosen ‘victims’ later found the leaflet on their person, they would feel compelled to read the advice and accept how vulnerable they were. The reason this campaign is so clever is that it invokes a very profound effect upon our normalcy bias. OgilvyOne’s goal was to bring about long term behavioural change from members of the public. By surreptitiously placing the leaflets, they put the recipients into a ‘hot state’ where their normalcy bias could be instantly reprogrammed. This ‘hot state’ effectively brought the frightening prospect of being pickpocketed into sharp focus, thereby ensuring that future trips around London would take place with a greater awareness of the risks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA5do67Q\_BM A very clever strategy indeed, and one that can be mimicked by other brands who take the time to understand the deeply rooted and entrenched reasons why we humans behave the way we do. Next time you’re wondering why it seems so hard to change behaviours, the answer may lie in finding creative ways to break habits and shake people into paying attention. Read more about this delightful campaign: [The Crimstoppers site](https://crimestoppers-uk.org/get-involved/our-campaigns/national-campaigns/pickpocketing/ "Crimestoppers Putpockets") [OgilvyOne blog](http://www.ogilvy.co.uk/ogilvy-one/2014/01/15/ogilvyone-launches-shock-putpockets-campaign-for-crimestoppers/ "OgilvyOne") **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** behavioural economics, creativity, nudge, psychology --- ### [Common Website Mistakes To Avoid](https://allisterspeaks.com/common-website-mistakes-to-avoid/) **Published:** January 7, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We all see a lot of websites these days. But how often do you find yourself on a new site wondering what the company actually does or wants you to do next? It’s an all too common problem. In our haste to build websites, we often forget to look at the initial designs through our site visitors’ eyes and routinely fail to make it easy for them to do what we want. [This recent post from Socialmouths](http://socialmouths.com/blog/2013/11/28/5-website-mistakes-costing-you-conversions/) highlights five common website mistakes that dramatically impact the number of conversions. Top of the list is the failure to **state a clear value proposition**, by demonstrating what makes your organisation special and different. In a nutshell: > you have to tell people quickly and simply what it is that you do, and why you’re great at it And there are other design crimes like **too many CTAs** (calls to action), **no single dominant CTA,** and **insufficient reasons to believe** that also regularly impair the effectiveness of many websites. Next time you visit a new website, think about the five common mistakes that Socialmouths has identified and ask yourself if they apply and how they could be addressed. Then look back at your ***own*** site, wearing your desired visitor’s hat, and ask yourself the same questions. I’m not a gambling man, but I’ll bet you’ll instantly spot several things you can improve. **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing **Tags:** design, mistake, Web, website --- ### [Friction Free Forms for Marketing Ninjas](https://allisterspeaks.com/friction-free-forms-for-marketing-ninjas/) **Published:** January 6, 2014 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Happy New Year! I’ve written before about [the dangers of asking too much of your site visitors](http://allisterfrost.com/2013/12/02/the-basic-data-capture-mistake-almost-every-marketer-makes/) before you have established a meaningful, value-based relationship with them. Now [Lisa Margetis](http://www.singlehop.com/blog/author/lisam/) at [Singlehop ](http://www.singlehop.com/)has reminded me of the importance of keeping any “asks” you must make of your customers as simple and pain-free as possible. In her curiously titled “Contact Forms for the Minja” (which stands for Marketing Ninja, apparently!) [infographic](http://www.singlehop.com/blog/infographic-tips-for-increasing-contact-form-conversions/), Lisa illustrates how response levels and conversions fall as the number of fields in an online form increase. Using [data from Dan Zarella](http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/6746/Which-Types-of-Form-Fields-Lower-Landing-Page-Conversions.aspx), we can see that the optimal number of fields in a form is around 3 to 5: ![More fields fewer conversions](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/image.png "More fields fewer conversions") And [from Marketing Sherpa](http://www.marketingsherpa.com/article/chart/top-lead-gen-form-fields) we also know which fields are most valuable to most marketers: ![The fields marketers value the most](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/image1.png "The fields marketers value the most") In summary, as Lisa rightly points out: > It’s all about finding the right friction Too much friction (e.g. too many fields or hoops to jump through on your site) and people will refuse to fill out your online form. Too little friction and the data you collect are unlikely to yield sufficient insights to allow intelligent segmentation and targeted content marketing in future. As Lisa’s infographic shows, there are many examples that prove, and sometimes disprove, the theoretical principles. But the simplest rule I think any marketer should follow is: > Only collect data that you actively plan to use. In my experience, that’s by far the easiest way to ensure that all forms present the minimal amount of friction to your online customers and prospects. Now go forth, learned Minja, and create beautiful, friction-free forms! **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** data, fields, forms, marketing, online --- ### [A Tech-Free Festive Break](https://allisterspeaks.com/a-tech-free-festive-break/) **Published:** December 21, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The Christmas and New Year festivities are almost upon us. And, as I pull down the shutters on another year of trading, I’m looking forward to switching off from the bustle and hustle of business life at [Wild Orange Media](http://www.wildorangemedia.com) and spending some quality time with family and friends. I’ll also be making a conscious effort to spend less time thinking about what’s likely to happen in our digital future, and more time living in the present, enjoying the here and now. And you might like to also. Technological progress and computers of all shapes and sizes have transformed large parts of our world. But they will never be a credible substitute for human-to-human interactions and the simple joy of spending time with others. That’s why I’ll be switching off as much as possible, to make time and space for some other, more precious stuff to fill my days. Whatever you’re doing this holiday season, have a wonderful, relaxing time, and recharge those batteries. I suspect we’ll see things in 2014 that will be faster, smaller, more astonishing, more awe-inspiring than anything we’ve seen before. To you, dear reader, thanks for all your support and encouragement in 2013. See you in the New Year! Merry Christmas. ![Wild-Orange-Media-Christmas-Wish](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/wild-orange-media-christmas-wish.jpg "Wild-Orange-Media-Christmas-Wish") **Categories:** Digital Living **Tags:** christmas, family, Holiday --- ### [50 Things You Don’t Need in 2014](https://allisterspeaks.com/50-things-you-dont-need-in-2014/) **Published:** December 18, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **[50 Things You Don't Need In 2014](https://www.slideshare.net/alfrost/50-things-you-dont-need-in-2014-29323216 "50 Things You Don't Need In 2014")** from **[Wild Orange Media Ltd](http://www.slideshare.net/alfrost)** As 2013 draws to a close, I thought it might be fun to take a look at some well-loved things that suddenly find themselves obsolete in our fast-changing world. I can’t pretend this is a comprehensive list of all-things-obsolete, but coming up with fifty was far easier than I first expected! What did I miss? **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Innovation, Inspiration **Tags:** 2014, change, future, obsolete, products, technology --- ### [The Basic Data Capture Mistake Almost Every Marketer Makes](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-basic-data-capture-mistake-almost-every-marketer-makes/) **Published:** December 2, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** As marketers, we know a large part of our job is to collect as much data about customers and prospects as possible. Feeding the database gives us leads to qualify and valuable data to mine. So it makes perfect sense when we have something of value to these people—like some great content or special offers—that we should make them jump through a few data hoops before we let them at it. The least they could do is share their name, email, and maybe some lifestyle interests so we can contact them again in future. Isn’t it? ***No!*** It turns out this is actually one of the worst things most marketers do online. Next time you have something that other people would like to access, try this for a change: > Give it to them. Just let them have it. No forms to fill, no data to share. Just instant, free access to the content they desire. But here’s the kicker. If they like what you gave them, now is the perfect time to ask them to do you a favour in return. Perhaps they could give you just a few pieces of contact information so you can stay in touch and share more great content like this in future. You see, people who have just been given something are much more likely to give something in return. It’s called reciprocity, that sense of indebtedness that is hard-wired into human behaviour. [![I-doubled-my-data-badge](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/i-doubled-my-data-badge_thumb.png "I-doubled-my-data-badge")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/i-doubled-my-data-badge.png)And in tests, flipping the online data collection to take place after the gift is received allows marketers to **capture twice as much data as before.** Yes, that’s double the data for no extra effort. Not only that, but it’s often **better quality data too**. The tyre kickers and time wasters have got what they wanted and are unlikely to want to stay in touch. But the people who really appreciate your content, who know that it can bring value into to their lives, have everything to gain by sharing their contact details. But don’t just take my word for it. Put it to the test. Flip that data collection page in your website, or trial the alternatives alongside each other in an A/B test. If your website visitors are anything like every test sample I’ve ever encountered, you’ll soon see you data counts and quality climbing. I know it feels counter-intuitive but, honestly, this really works. Now, stop thinking about it. ***Go put it to the test!*** AUTHOR’S NOTE (19 Mar 2014): Several people have asked me for research materials that back up this way of thinking. [Read this](http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-540-77006-0_24) to learn more. **Categories:** Content, Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** content, data, Digital Marketing, online --- ### [Introducing Internet Safety School for Parents and Carers](https://allisterspeaks.com/introducing-internet-safety-school-for-parents-and-carers/) **Published:** November 27, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Our mission here at Wild Orange Media has always been to help everyone benefit fully and safely from all the good things that our digital world has to offer. **Yet one of the greatest threats we see in our internet-fuelled world today is to the safety and wellbeing of children.** Left unattended, with unrestricted access to the internet, a child has little hope of protecting their innocence. It’s only a matter of time before they are exposed to scenes that used to be kept firmly out of the reach of prying young eyes. The internet is wonderful thing, but very little of it is truly suitable for children. That’s why our company citizenship programme is firmly focussed on making the online world a safer place for children. But instead of working directly with children, we’ve chosen to give our time to educate parents and carers about the dangers their children may face online. Over the years we’ve given dozens of talks at schools and community venues and we’re really pleased to now share some of the slides we talk through at our brand new ‘Internet Safety School.’ \[slideshare id=28602982&style=margin-bottom: 5px; border-top: #ccc 1px solid; border-right: #ccc 1px solid; border-bottom: #ccc 0px solid; border-left: #ccc 1px solid&sc=no\] **[Internet Safety School, Staying Safe in a Digital World for parents and carers](https://www.slideshare.net/alfrost/internet-safety-school-staying-safe-in-a-digital-world-for-parents-and-carers "Internet Safety School, Staying Safe in a Digital World for parents and carers")** from **[Wild Orange Media Ltd](http://www.slideshare.net/alfrost)** **But there’s one thing we’d like you to do to help.** If you understand how parental controls and restrictions work on popular devices like PCs, Macs, smartphones and gaming consoles, why not help out a friend by giving them advice or offering to set things up for them? Or how about simply having a conversation with someone you know to find out if there’s more they could do to keep their children safe online? Your help could make a huge difference to a child’s life. If you’d like to know more about our ‘Internet Safety School’, please visit [Internet Safety School](http://www.internetsafetyschool.com). **Categories:** Digital Living **Tags:** child, internet, parent, safety --- ### [Three Charms But Four Alarms](https://allisterspeaks.com/three-charms-but-four-alarms/) **Published:** November 14, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We humans love seeing choices or lists presented in groups of three. Three gives a natural balance to things, as does five or seven. ***But three really is the magic number for marketers and copywriters.*** A recent study for the Make-A-Wish Foundation sought to find the messaging sweet spot for securing charitable donations. They randomly assigned a different set of reasons to research participants, each of which was designed to persuade them to part with their hard earned money. ![TMI](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/tmi.jpg "Too Much Information")One group received two egoistic reasons to give, another received two altruistic reasons to donate, and a third received all four reasons combined. Those in the last group, who were presented with four reasons to give, were less likely to donate than the other groups who received just two. It seems that at a count of four, the attempt to persuade had been too obvious, resulting in the participants actually being dissuaded to donate. In another test, subjects were shown ads for a brand of shampoo that carried between one and six benefit claims. Those who were given an ad carrying just three claims rated the shampoo more highly than those receiving more or fewer claims. Again, it would appear that one or two benefits are not quite enough to persuade us, yet four or more start to feel like desperation, resulting in scepticism that throws into doubt the veracity of all of the claims. So, next time you’re trying to persuade someone, keep your list of reasons why they should believe you to three. **Simple. As. That.** Source and further reading: [Influence at Work blog](http://www.influenceatwork.com/two-four-or-six-when-persuading-what-numbers-of-claims-is-most-effective/) **Categories:** Content, Creativity, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advertising, copywriting, marketing --- ### [Content 1 Advertising 0 – Why Great Content Wins Today](https://allisterspeaks.com/content-1-advertising-0-why-great-content-wins-today/) **Published:** November 11, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** *(This post by Allister Frost was first published on* [*the Emarketeers’ blog*](http://www.emarketeers.com/e-insight/why-great-content-wins-today/)*)* ***Content, content, content…*** It seems everyone in marketing these days is talking about content. The stats prove it too with the number of Google searches for “Content Marketing” soaring 10-fold in the last two years. And I’m a believer. I believe great content strategy should now lie at the foundation of every marketing plan. It is more important than SEO, PPC, CSR, or any other abbreviation you may know. It is the very essence of great marketing today. To explain why, I’d like to you to come on a journey with me. A journey back to a simpler time, when computers didn’t yet rule the world. > Come on a journey with me…, to a time when the only compositions produced by One Direction are safely contained in their nappies. **Let’s go back a full two decades to 1993.** ![Everyone Looked Like This in the 1990's](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/fashion-in-the-1990s.jpg "Everyone Looked Like This in the 1990's")Welcome to a post-recession Britain where unemployment and social discontent have brought waves of rioting to cities across the country. Hip-hugging, high-waisted denim jeans are all the rage, Wayne’s World picks up best soundtrack at the BRIT Awards and the only compositions produced by One Direction are safely contained in their nappies. Even Tim Berners-Lee is probably wrestling with his TV remote trying to find his ideal holiday on Teletext. Aside from the macro-economic similarities, to be in marketing in 1993 was a very different affair to the modern day. Broadcast media channels were largely limited to TV, radio, outdoor and press. And if a potential customer wanted to find out what a company had to sell she had to phone up to request a brochure or to book a visit from a salesman (yes, it was nearly always a man). All of which meant that companies could often maintain a firm grip over what customers knew about their business and the products they had to sell. Opinions could be controlled and shaped with advertising and clever PR. The printed press, at the very height of its powers, put its journalistic focus onto naming and shaming heavy-handed corporations and government officials. Only rarely would its attention fall on the minutiae of individual customer complaints, usually to share the news of the discovery of a cornflake bearing an uncanny resemblance to Sylvester Stallone. Fortunately, smart marketing teams developed a neat way to discretely deal with unhappy customers (and who wouldn’t be unhappy to spot Rocky in their cereal bowl?). The inbound customer service phone line was born and the complaints of a generation of dissatisfied consumers were quietly paid off with the promise of money off vouchers or refunds. **It was a golden era of control for the marketing manager.** To coin a phrase: Marketeers had never had it so good. Jump forward twenty years to 2013 and things are very different. With a multitude of digital avenues to consider—alongside the traditional analogue channels that still attract huge audiences—choosing where to place your message for the best results has become a marketing minefield. And while the fortunate marketeer with a generous advertising budget can still buy a substantial presence in paid media channels, there’s no longer any guarantee of control over what the masses ultimately hear about your brand. Today’s marketing manager now also has to compete with the voices of millions of digitally-empowered consumers. **And most of the evidence now suggests it’s a battle we cannot win.** In their armchairs and bedrooms, coffee shops and trains, anyone with Internet access can now publish their opinions to a worldwide audience. This daily chatter, about the things that really matter to ordinary people, courses through social networks, discussion forums and review sites. These voices have ushered in a new marketing world order, where everyone’s opinion matters and the casting vote falls to those we trust the most. You already know the bad news. 84% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know, while only 62% trust TV ads *(source: Nielsen, Sept 2013).* These are stats that should be etched into every marketer’s brain. People trust people, they don’t trust advertising, marketeers, salespeople or spin. **This isn’t a new phenomenon.** People have always trusted the people they know more than strangers or fancy advertising messages. But what has changed is the nature of the people we trust. In 1993, the people we knew comprised those we grew up with, lived near or worked with. In 2013, the people we know—or feel we know—now encompasses our extended social circles online and almost any human-made content we find on our personal journeys through cyberspace. > The intimacy of our online experiences can now create instant trust in content. We are witnessing this remarkable shift playing out before our eyes. The intimacy of our online experiences can now create instant trust in content. When our internet journeys lead us, sometimes serendipitously, to useful content or advice, we are highly likely to consume and believe it. Our behaviours have changed a great deal from the passive consumption of advertising messages during the broadcast era. Today we know how to seek out the information we need and intuitively—although not always accurately—know what we can trust. Fortunately for us marketeers, human brains are wired to work this way. Logic tells us that not everyone on a review site can be wrong. Or that if a friend of a friend once “Liked” a brand of dishwasher tablet, that brand must be worth considering next time we go shopping. These cognitive biases allow us to make sense of a rapidly changing world, to adapt quickly to new forms of information and not feel overwhelmed by the data. This brings both great responsibility and opportunity to everyone in the marketing profession. ![Great Content beats Advertising](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/clip_image006.jpg "Great Content beats Advertising") **And that, in a nutshell, is why great content really matters.** We are long past the day when organisations could rely on advertising alone to cut through the clutter and get our brands in front of the right people. Control has shifted from the few to the many. Today we need new skills to produce useful, creative content of many forms—blogs, videos, diagrams, reviews, photos, stories, whitepapers—and deliver it to places where it can be discovered, trusted, consumed, and shared. Crucially, our content must bring utility to people’s lives, answering questions they ponder or providing relevant entertainment that intensifies their relationship with the brand. How do we do this? Join my exclusive Emarketeers webinar in December to find out. More details below. #### WANT MORE? SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE CONTENT MARKETING WEBINAR *Allister Frost will be discussing this and all things content marketing on a special free webinar for Emarketeers on Friday 6th December at 1pm GMT. Registration is now open at* [*http://www.emarketeers.com/events/how-social-content-can-elevate-your-brand*](http://www.emarketeers.com/events/how-social-content-can-elevate-your-brand)*. We hope you’ll join us there.* **Categories:** Content, Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** advertising, content, marketing --- ### [Selecting A College With Gen Z And Its Parents](https://allisterspeaks.com/selecting-a-college-with-gen-z-and-its-parents/) **Published:** October 24, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Wild Orange Learning](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/clip_image002.jpg "Wild Orange Learning")While preparing for my keynote address at The Association of Colleges’ Annual Digital Engagement and Marketing Conference in December I’ve recently been pondering some of the digital challenges facing education establishments. Selecting a college and course to study is up there with the most important decisions of our lives. But what has the greatest influence over this decision these days? Do advertising and shiny prospectuses play the same role as in the past, or are we more susceptible to outside influences like what current students say and the daily chatter on social networking sites? ![Pullquote1](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image7.png)Today, anyone under the age of 18 belongs to a tribe that sociologists refer to as Generation Z. These young people have never lived in a world without computers. They are a highly-connected, technically savvy, and hyper-informed generation. These are the main constituents of this year’s student intake; a collective of purebred digital natives, who demand flexibility and choice in all aspects of their lives. So when the time comes to select a college for further education, how do these young people decide? And will their parents or carers also turn to the same sources for advice? For parents supporting a college selection decision, conventional guidance likely still holds considerable influence. Open days, brochures and course catalogues, will all play their part in guiding the decision. But so too will online channels like the college website and other sites that feature high in search engine results pages. This means review sites, college comparison tools, Ofsted reports, press articles, Wikipedia, and student forums are all likely to play a role in the choices parents make. For the students, search engine results are also likely to dominate their research, and particularly those sites that render well on mobile devices. But so too will a largely hidden world of online chatter with peers. And it’s this loose, free-flowing banter that will likely have the greatest impact on each student’s final personal preferences, almost irrespective of the official literature a college may publish. The task then for colleges looking to attract the best students and enhance their reputation, is to understand the full breadth of online and offline channels that are being used to inform decisions today, and to ensure that appropriate content can be found there. And then, by bringing together well-worn marketing techniques (like college prospectus and open days) with emerging digital channels (like chat forums and review sites), education establishments should have a better chance of persuading both parents and prospective students that their college is the right choice. This means printed prospectuses that feel alive with up-to-date content, filled with the real voices of students speaking their minds. It calls for Open Days that encourage real-time feedback, opinion sharing and reviews. And teaching staff who embrace emerging digital channels and add their perspectives to the online debate. ![Pullquote2](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image8.png)Done well, the end results should feel accessible to all generations, yet be as authentic and trustworthy as the most socially-driven content on the web today. It’s a daunting task, but one that every college must undertake. In the intense battle for relevance and standout, those who embrace the future today will be best placed to survive the longest. I’ll be discussing this and crisis management in my talk in December. And we’ll also be looking at the future of digital marketing and some of the emerging techniques that innovative college marketers will be experimenting with very soon. Want to learn more? Join me at The AoC Digital Engagement and Marketing Conference 2013 in London on 4th December to explore this topic further. [Registration is now open on the AoC site.](http://www.aoc-create.co.uk/event/aocdigitalengagement2013/) I hope to see you there. **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** college, conference, education, marketing --- ### [Mind The Gap – Consumers 1 v Marketers 0](https://allisterspeaks.com/mind-the-gap-consumers-1-v-marketers-0/) **Published:** October 15, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We live in a fast-changing world. Which means the longer you’ve held an opinion, the greater the chances your views may have fallen behind the times. The latest [fast.MAP](http://www.fastmap.com/) Marketing Gap study (the 9th annual edition) shows once again how disconnected some marketers’ views are from those of their customers. Let’s take a look at some of the findings: ### MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS Overall, marketers expect around twice as many people to be “happy to receive” marketing communications than consumers claim. Across the 29 industries examined, the most welcomed sector for email marketing amongst consumers is ‘competitions’, appreciated by 32% of consumers. The least welcome are mortgages (6%) and loans/credit cards (7%), the appeal of which was over-estimated by marketers by more than a factor of two (at 15% and 18% respectively). In fact, **58% of consumers now state they would prefer not to be contacted at all,** through any channel, by companies they have no relationship with. Marketers again underestimate the extent of consumer rejection by almost 25%, believing that only 44% of consumers would feel this way. [![Preferred Communication Methods Chart](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image_thumb.png "Preferred Communication Methods Chart - source: Fast.MAP")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image.png) ### TELEPHONY No surprise that **all forms of telephony marketing (landline/mobiles calls and SMS) are uniformly disliked,** being welcomed by no more than 4% of consumers in any category. Yet marketers still over-estimate consumer willingness for telephony by between 100% and 400%. Two people in three would opt-out of text messaging marketing completely if there were a “Text Preference Service” that operates like the existing Telephone Preference Service, Almost half (45%) of consumers now claim to hang up straight away when they receive a marketing or sales call, that’s up from 36% in 2011. Almost 1 in 10 (the mischievous 9%) will leave the phone off the hook to tie up the call centre line! ### DIRECT MAIL Around a third (32%) of consumers will open direct mail from any company (down from 38% in 2011), but marketers under-estimate this at 24%. It seems the general public is still more likely to open direct mail than the industry believes. It’s not all good news though; **almost one in four consumers (23%) say they now don’t open any direct mail, up from 13% in 2011.** Interestingly, **marketers also routinely overestimate the value of creativity in some channels.** For direct mail materials, a third of marketers (33%) think interesting packaging will ensure it gets opened, but only 18% of consumers agree. Similarly one in four marketers (25%) think design can increase open rates, but only 9% of consumers share this sentiment. An attractive envelope can motivate 10% of consumers to open a direct mail pack, but that is well short of the 18% estimated by marketers. ### REVIEWS Many businesspeople are terrified of negative consumer reviews, with marketers estimating that 23% of people share negative experiences through review sites. But the reality is that only a tiny minority (4%) of consumers behave this way. [![Why We Write Reviews](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image_thumb1.png "Why We Write Reviews - source: Fast.MAP")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image1.png) With this in mind, surely marketers must have a clear grasp on the channels consumers most want to use when dealing with a customers services team? Again, the opinions of marketers seem well wide of the mark, with 21% thinking people would most prefer to use the phone, while in fact 32% of consumers would now most prefer to use email. Twitter, Facebook and LiveChats are also less likely to be used by consumers seeking customer service assistance than marketers believe: [![Customer Service Preferences](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image_thumb2.png "Customer Service Preferences source: Fast.MAP")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image2.png) ### SHARING But, thankfully, everyone’s sharing content online these days. Except they’re not. **More than half of all consumer (54%) say they don’t share any content online,** but marketers estimate this amount at just 24%. And amongst those who do share content, most do so to entertain or make others aware, quite different and more altruistic motivations than those cited by marketers: [![Content Sharing](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image_thumb3.png "Content Sharing - source: Fast.MAP")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image3.png) ### DEVICES At least we know which devices consumers use these days. Most people have a tablet and smartphone, right? Nope! **The laptop and desktop computer remain by far the most popular tools for internet access,** underestimated by marketers by 45% and 30% respectively . Now we know why those fancy tablet and smartphone apps alone were not enough to hit last quarter;’s sales target. [![Internet Access](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image_thumb4.png "Internet Access - source: Fast.MAP")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image4.png) ### COUPONS How much must the face value of a coupon be before it will be redeemed. Marketers, it seems, have more expensive tastes than the average consumer. **81% of consumers will happily redeem a 50p (UK pence) coupon, up from 74% last year.** But only 23% of marketers feel that a 50p coupon is sufficient to encourage redemption. Sometimes, it doesn’t take a huge reward to incentivise buying behaviour: [![Coupons](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image_thumb5.png "Coupons - source: Fast.MAP")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image5.png) And while we’re on the topic of coupon discounts, only 20% of consumers claim to have used Groupon in the last year, well short of the 50% estimated by marketers. Similarly, newspaper collectible offers like The Sun Holidays and Daily Mirror LEGO are only used by 7% of consumers, against a 21% prediction by marketers. Most consumers, it would seem, simply cannot be bothered with collecting tokens any more. ### PRICE PROMOTIONS Consumers love price offers, far more than most marketers realise or are prepared to admit. A staggering **85% of consumers would be happy to switch brand if an alternative brand offered a ‘Buy One Get One Free (BOGOF) deal**, but only 42% of marketers believe this could happen. Even a 10% price advantage would be enough to switch brands for 68% of shoppers, far more than the 24% claimed by marketing professionals. [![Price Offers](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image_thumb6.png "Price Offers - source: Fast.MAP")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/image6.png) ### CSR A quarter of marketers believe that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is unimportant, but only 7% of consumer agree, with the majority (60%) saying they feel it is very or quite important. Proof, if it were needed, that consumers expect companies to do the right thing and be held to account if their actions don’t benefit society as a whole. ### SUMMARY I’ve shared a lot of data in this blog post. The headline findings though are consistent: **many consumer attitudes are changing very rapidly and marketers are often out of tune with real world consumers.** [![Ostrich Man Head in the Sand](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/ostrich-man-head-in-sand_thumb.gif "Ostrich Man Head in the Sand - source: Shutterstock")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/ostrich-man-head-in-sand.gif)The only way to find out if your long-held opinions may have passed their expiry date is to stay closely connected to your customers. - ****Don’t stick your head in the sand and fall into the trap of believing accepted wisdom**** - **Don’t lose sight of the realities of the modern world; some things change quickly, others take a little longer to become mainstream** Get out and speak with your customers, live in their shoes, see how they live their lives. The opinion gap between consumers and marketers is as big as ever. ***What will you do, right now, to close the gap in your organisation?*** **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** gap, marketing, research --- ### [Visualise Anything - This Is the Average Man's Body](https://allisterspeaks.com/visualise-anything-this-is-the-average-mans-body/) **Published:** October 14, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Technology is so powerful these days we can visualise almost anything we can imagine. But data visualisations don’t have to be dull. Pie charts, graphs and flow diagrams all have an important role to play, but sometimes a picture truly does paint a thousand words. ![Image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/all_countries_front_small.jpg?w=487) That’s why I love [this article from The Atlantic](http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/this-is-the-average-mans-body/280194/ "This is the Average Man"). From readily available BMI (body mass index) data, graphic artist Nickolay Lamm has rendered visual representations of the average man living today in the USA, Japan, Netherlands and France. The results aren’t exactly a beauty pageant (get to the gym Mr USA!) , but they do instantly show how geographically dispersed societies create humans with noticeably different physiological characteristics. And those differences would be so starkly brought to our comprehension without such clever visualisation skills. **What data do you hold that could be visualised to bring a story to life online?** **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** Digital Marketing, inspiration --- ### [This Is Not An Insight at Social Media Week](https://allisterspeaks.com/this-is-not-an-insight-at-social-media-week/) **Published:** September 23, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** It’s Social Media Week (#SMW) in London and other cities around the world. And, like any social media conference, the microphone seems to attract more than its fair share of nonsense and misguided opinions masquerading as facts. Fortunately there’s a deliciously barbed anonymous [Tumblr page](http://thisisnotaninsight.tumblr.com/) to bring our attention to some of the most mindless tweets emanating from any of SMW’s events across the capital. Not every victim deserves the pillaring they get, but others have no-one to blame but themselves. [![Stunning revelation](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image5.png "Stunning revelation")](http://thisisnotaninsight.tumblr.com/) [![2006 called](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image6.png "2006 called")](http://thisisnotaninsight.tumblr.com/) The irony of the social media industry’s biggest enemy being social media itself isn’t lost here. We’re all guilty of a lazy tweet here and there, and not everyone was early to the party. But let’s hope that this very not-so-gentle kick up the backside may encourage our industry’s spokespeople and observers to start thinking more deeply about the issues and the profound importance they have for our society. I know our industry can do better than this. **Categories:** Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** social media, tumblr, Twitter --- ### [Why You Should Schedule Your Updates With Buffer](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-you-should-schedule-your-updates-with-buffer/) **Published:** September 23, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [Buffer](http://bufferapp.com/) has been a staple ingredient in my social media management workflow for a couple of years now. If you’ve not tried it yet, now’s the time! [![One million Buffer users](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image4.png "One million Buffer users")](http://blog.bufferapp.com/from-0-to-1000000-users-the-journey-and-statistics-of-buffer) It’s a simple, free tool that allows users to schedule tweets and posts to other social networks including Facebook (pages and profiles), LinkedIn (profiles, groups and company pages), Google+ (pages only) and App.net. And with [yesterday’s announcement](http://blog.bufferapp.com/from-0-to-1000000-users-the-journey-and-statistics-of-buffer) that Buffer now has one million users, the future looks bright for the business that [Joel](https://twitter.com/joelgascoigne) started in Birmingham UK in October 2010. ***Why would you want to schedule posts?*** If you’re anything like me, you don’t spend all day monitoring social media channels. Every once in a while you get a few minutes to read some interesting articles and blogs. And if you see something you’d like to share you know how easy it is to post it to one of your social networks. But if you only send out posts there and then, there’s a risk you could be seen to be spamming your followers with lots of content in one go. And anyone who’s not online at that moment may miss the great content you’d love them to see. By scheduling your posts to drip feed out over the coming hours, you enable your followers to hear from you regularly and you increase the likelihood that they’ll engage with your content. ***So, what does Buffer do and how does it work?*** In a nutshell, Buffer acts as a holding bay for your social media posts. Rather than sending them out immediately, it puts them to one side and sends them at a later scheduled time. There are two ways to tell Buffer when to publish your posts: there’s an auto-schedule that you configure so posts go out at the times/days when your audience is most likely to be online and there’s a custom schedule which allows you to specify when each individual post should go live. Unlike some tools like Hootsuite, which only schedules in five minute increments, you can specify the exact time (to the nearest minute) your posts should go out. Buffer also integrates with tools like SocialBro, allowing them to configure your auto-schedule based on audience data collected from the social web. It’s this sort of functionality that gives me confidence that Buffer will send my posts out at the right times of day. Buffer also provides detailed analytics for each post it sends (with optional link shortening through buff.ly, bit.ly or j.mp) and allows you to reorder or edit scheduled posts if required. I also use the app extension for Buffer in the Chrome browser giving me one click access to schedule posts to any of my social networks. It’s a freemium model, of course, so there’s also a paid for version of the tool. At $10 per month (or $8.50 on a yearly contract) the Awesome Plan adds extended support for unlimited posts, up to 12 social profiles and allows two team members to manage one Buffer profile. Of course, there are many other tools that can help you schedule posts in the future, but the superb performance of Buffer and its [great customer service](http://allisterfrost.com/2012/11/28/outstanding-customer-service-by-buffer/) means it remains a firm favourite here at [Wild Orange Media](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/) Towers. To get started with buffer, click over to . I think you’ll like it. **Categories:** Content, Social Media **Tags:** buffer, Facebook, linkedin, social media, Twitter --- ### [How To Fly A Plane With A Hashtag](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-fly-a-plane-with-a-hashtag/) **Published:** September 19, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Race the Plane microsite](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image_thumb3.png "Race the Plane microsite") It may be a barely veiled attempt to drive Twitter mentions, but you have to admire [BA’s Race The Plane competition](http://racetheplane.ba.com/uk/) that’s running in the UK today. The campaign idea is simplicity itself. Twitter users can race (virtually) a BA jet flying from London to Toronto by tweeting with the hashtag #racetheplace. Presumably—although it’s not explained on the microsite—every tweet increases the distance travelled by the “tweetliner.” Meanwhile, back in the real world, a BA [Dreamliner](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner "Boeing 787 Dreamliner") plane is making the actual journey with the distance it has travelled shown on the site. It’s unclear what the point of the game is, other than giving Twitter users the chance to win flight tickets by taking part. Whether the Dreamliner or Tweetliner arrives first at its destination seems largely academic, but that hasn’t stopped some feverish tweeting from people willing the Tweetliner to win! We shouldn’t analyse this too deeply, but I can’t help wondering if any of this is actually happening in real time? The two planes seem remarkably close today, just as the marketing team would want to stoke up continued tweeting. But, that stuff doesn’t really matter. BA has taken a simple idea, presented it tastefully and simply in a dynamic, responsive site, incorporated a succinct promotional video and social proof in a Twitter stream, and seems to be driving lots of mentions across the Twittersphere. Plus they’ve made it easy for players to share the competition to Facebook, and Google+ too, what’s not to like? **Categories:** Creativity, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** competition, hashtag, Twitter --- ### [Top Picks for Social Media Week London 2013](https://allisterspeaks.com/top-picks-for-social-media-week-london-2013/) **Published:** September 16, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** There’s just one week to go until Social Media Week hits cities around the globe, from Berlin to Mumbai and Bogotá to São Paulo. No prizes for guessing where I’ll be though: **London!** [![Content-Cookery-School-Hat](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/content-cookery-school-hat_thumb.jpg "Content-Cookery-School-Hat")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/content-cookery-school-hat.jpg)And this year I’ll be hosting a **Content Cookery School** breakfast briefing with Emarketeers where I’ll be exploring **Content Marketing** and the new era of content co-creation that looks set to shape the social web for years to come. This event will take place at the lovely Malmaison hotel in Charterhouse Square in London (nearest tube stations: Farringdon or Barbican) at 8.30-9.30am on Thursday 26 September. **Registration is now open; you can** [**book your place here.**](http://socialmediaweek.org/london/events/?id=83913#.UjL_ScaQJzg) We’ll even give you a light breakfast! I’m also planning to show my face at several other events throughout the week. I’ve listed these below; if you’ll also be at one of these events let me know so we can say hello! [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image_thumb2.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image2.png) For more information about Social Media Week, visit . **Categories:** Content, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** content, events, social media --- ### [Which UK Brands Are Winning On Facebook?](https://allisterspeaks.com/which-uk-brands-are-winning-on-facebook/) **Published:** September 13, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Socialbakers has released its [latest report](http://www.socialbakers.com/reports/regional/august-2013-social-media-report-facebook-pages-in-united-kingdom) into top brand performance in the UK and, no surprise, big names like Amazon, Coca-Cola and iTunes lead the league when ranked on their number of followers. **But *“as any fule kno”* measuring the number of fans alone is a pretty pointless exercise.** Having fans counts for nothing if they don’t engage with your content because [Facebook’s EdgeRank algorithm](http://allisterfrost.com/2012/10/16/are-you-affected-by-recent-facebook-edgerank-changes/) will help ensure that little more than 5% of your fans will ever see your posts. So the chart that’s more insightful is actually the **‘Post Engagement Rate’** table which ranks brands by the number of fans who engage with the brand’s posts. And here we see brands like Blossom Hill, a winemaker, and Whiskas, a pet food brand, performing well: [![Socialbakers August 2013 Facebook Engagement Rate Table](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image_thumb.png "Socialbakers August 2013 Facebook Engagement Rate Table")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image.png) Take a note of those engagement levels. Of the brands that Socialbakers monitors, the top performer in August 2013 was Blossom Hill with 2.18% engagement, mostly derived from the summer image below that drove huge engagement (20.4%) towards the end of the month: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image_thumb1.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/image1.png) However, the average engagement level of all brands on Facebook was **0.18%** in August. To put that into perspective, for every 10,000 fans you amass you can expect to get just 18 points of engagement (a ‘Like, comment, share etc.) for each post you make. [Blossom Hill](https://www.facebook.com/blossomhill) seems to be focussing its Facebook marketing on a heavily visual, photo-based strategy and, for now, it seems to be working. It’s certainly quite distinctive and consistent, helping ensure that each first point of engagement with a fan should lead to repeat interactions. And it’s a world away from [the lazy tactics used by brands like Play.com](http://allisterfrost.com/2013/08/16/reasons-to-unlike-a-brand-on-facebook/). **It’s good to see a smart strategy, based on bringing entertainment and utility to people’s lives, paying dividends.** How do your results compare? Are you beating the 0.18% average, and what would it take to compete with brands like Blossom Hill and stretch to the dizzy heights of a 2% engagement level? ***Notes:*** You can [download the Socialbakers tables from here.](http://allisterfrost.com/?attachment_id=18656) **Categories:** Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** analysis, Facebook, social media --- ### [The State of Friendship in a Social Media World](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-state-of-friendship-in-a-social-media-world/) **Published:** September 13, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’d love to attribute this image to someone, but I have no idea where it first appeared. But it’s great and says a lot about the shifting meaning of ‘friendship’ and the inescapable shallowness of many of our daily interactions in a digital world: [![Modern Friendship in a Social Media World](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/modern-friendship-in-a-social-media-world_thumb.jpg "Modern Friendship in a Social Media World")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/modern-friendship-in-a-social-media-world.jpg) Many thanks to whoever created this. I’m sure we’d make great friends. Happy Friday everyone! **Categories:** Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, linkedin, pinterest, social media, Twitter --- ### [Don’t get SWAMmed–How LinkedIn is Fighting Spam](https://allisterspeaks.com/dont-get-swammedhow-linkedin-is-fighting-spam/) **Published:** September 5, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Swimming-and-Swammed](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/swimming-and-swammed.jpg "Swimming-and-Swammed")Earlier this year LinkedIn quietly introduced a new featured called S.W.A.M. designed to reduce the volume of spam and unsolicited sales pitches on their platform. S.W.A.M. is short for Sitewide Auto Moderation and, in a nutshell, means that if one LinkedIn Group Manager blocks a person from their group, all future posts from that person *to any other group* will be placed into a moderation queue and not automatically published to group’s members. While this is great news for the fight against spam and other misconduct in LinkedIn groups, it can be painful if a group manager decides to block someone who inadvertently breaks a rule. Group managers therefore should only use use block group members as a last resort; a simple reminder email about the group rules might have more desirable results. For individual group members who find themselves the subject of a block it can be a painful and time-consuming exercise to ensure that future posts will be seen by other group members. Currently the only course of action is to contact the manager of each group to which you wish to post content and request that they unrestrict your posting permissions for their group. You’re unlikely to find out which group manager blocked you because LinkedIn never discloses details of which groups have blocked an individual. Your only recourse is to contact group managers one by one to request reinstatement of normal auto-posting status. **In summary:** Group Managers should only block group members as a last resort and Group Members should take great care to ensure they play by each group’s rules. A SWAM block is a painful penalty for innocent mistakes, but a welcome new weapon to help reduce the volume of spam and other unwelcome behaviour in group discussions. You can read more about SWAM on the [LinkedIn Help Center](http://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/38735). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Internet Safety, Social Media **Tags:** group, linkedin, spam --- ### [Free digital marketing advice–my summer gift to you](https://allisterspeaks.com/free-digital-marketing-advicemy-summer-gift-to-you/) **Published:** September 4, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I had a great summer holiday break, and I hope you did too. Escaping from the world of work and spending time with family and friends helps me stay focussed on what life is really about. And it’s put me in a really good mood, even if I’m now back in the office putting out fires and juggling client projects. So, to help spread the love, I’ve had an idea. For a limited time I’ll give up to 30 minutes of free consulting advice over the phone to anyone who needs it. Yes, that’s it, free, no strings attached. But I’ve only a few hours I can give away, so you need to move fast. To book a call with me, simply click on the image below. The link will only work for the first ten bookings after which my normal consulting charges will apply, so don’t delay! [![Call-the-Wild-Orange-phone](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/call-the-wild-orange-phone.jpg "Call-the-Wild-Orange-phone")](https://clarity.fm/allisterf/wildfriends) I look forward to our call! **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advice, consulting, offer, promotion --- ### [Back To School - Time to Update Your Social Media Cover Photos](https://allisterspeaks.com/back-to-school-time-to-update-your-social-media-cover-photos/) **Published:** September 3, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** With the kids heading back to school in the UK today or very soon, now is the perfect time to polish up your social media profile pictures and cover photos. But knowing what size your images need to be has always been a time-consuming exercise. But not anymore, thanks to this nifty guide from the team at Raidious. Now, if only you could find a decent photo to start with… ![Social Media Spec Guide](http://thumbnails.visually.netdna-cdn.com/social-media-spec-guide_520553e439dcb_w587.png)[Of ](http://visual.ly/social-media-spec-guide?utm_source=visually_embed) [](void(0))[](void(0)) **Categories:** Design, Social Media **Tags:** design, Facebook, guide, photo, sizing --- ### [Reasons to Unlike a Brand On Facebook](https://allisterspeaks.com/reasons-to-unlike-a-brand-on-facebook/) **Published:** August 16, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Why I unliked Play.com](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/why-i-unliked-play-com_thumb.jpg "Why I unliked Play.com")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/why-i-unliked-play-com_.jpg) *(click image to enlarge)* Take a close look at the image above. Need any more reasons why your brand should abandon its incessant pursuit for meaningless ‘Likes’ on Facebook? Of course, you don’t have to stop. No-one will issue you a ‘cease and desist’ letter. That’s the beauty of the free-flowing social web. But you should stop. You really should. Thanks. **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, social media --- ### [How to Write the Perfect Tweet](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-write-the-perfect-tweet/) **Published:** July 23, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’d say this infographic from [Neomobile](http://www.neomobile-blog.com/how-to-create-perfect-tweet-neomobile-tip/) was almost perfect. But I wouldn’t recommend always placing your links at the end of the tweet as that’s the first bit that’ll get cut off if people do an old style retweet or append copy to the start of a reply. It’s safer to put your links in the middle of the tweet—even if that may look a bit ugly—so the integrity of the link is never compromised. After all, a tweet with a broken link is no use to anyone. So, on balance, I think I’d recommend this sort of structure: ![Allister Frost's Perfect Tweet Anatomy](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/image.png "Allister Frost's Perfect Tweet Anatomy") (CTA = call to action) ***What do you think?*** Here’s Neomobile’s recommendation for comparison: [![Neomobile Infographic of the Perfect tweet](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/perfect-tweet-social-tip-neomobile.jpg "Neomobile Infographic of the Perfect tweet")](http://www.neomobile-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/perfect-tweet-social-tip-neomobile.jpg) Image source: **Categories:** Creativity, Social Media **Tags:** technique, tip, Tweet, twiter --- ### [Who’s Watching Webinars These Days?](https://allisterspeaks.com/whos-watching-webinars-these-days/) **Published:** July 12, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Webinar presenters will find a host of fascinating data points in [BrightTALK’s](http://www.brighttalk.com) DataLeaks 2013 presentation. Did you know for instance?: - On average, 90% of the audience has shown up 15% of the way into each webinar. So, if you’ve something interesting to say, best save it until you’re about 20% (one fifth) of the way into your webinar! [![2013-07-11 22_55_18-DataLeaks 2013_ The Holy Trinity of Demand Creation _ BrightTALK](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/2013-07-11-22_55_18-dataleaks-2013_-the-holy-trinity-of-demand-creation-_-brighttalk_thumb.png "2013-07-11 22_55_18-DataLeaks 2013_ The Holy Trinity of Demand Creation _ BrightTALK")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/2013-07-11-22_55_18-dataleaks-2013_-the-holy-trinity-of-demand-creation-_-brighttalk.png) - The average webinar duration on BrightTALK is 41.8 minutes, while videos run for just 20.7 minutes on average. - Webinars about human resources attract the largest audiences, financial services the smallest. Who knew?: [![2013-07-11 23_03_07-DataLeaks 2013_ The Holy Trinity of Demand Creation _ BrightTALK](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/2013-07-11-23_03_07-dataleaks-2013_-the-holy-trinity-of-demand-creation-_-brighttalk_thumb.png "2013-07-11 23_03_07-DataLeaks 2013_ The Holy Trinity of Demand Creation _ BrightTALK")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/2013-07-11-23_03_07-dataleaks-2013_-the-holy-trinity-of-demand-creation-_-brighttalk.png) - Webinar viewing is still predominantly a desktop or laptop-based experience. Less than 5% of viewings come from tablets or other mobile devices. - The average ‘no show’ rate—that’s the percentage of people who pre-register but then never show up to view the content either live or on-demand—is about 32%, up from just 15% in 2008 - Around 40% of people watch a webinar or on-demand video from start to finish. The rest arrive late or leave early. Great stats to bear in mind while planning your next webinar. See the full data presentation at [https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/1166/64245](https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/1166/64245 "https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/1166/64245"). **Categories:** Content, Digital Marketing **Tags:** data, research, video, webinar --- ### [June 2013 – Top UK Facebook Performers Report](https://allisterspeaks.com/june-2013-top-uk-facebook-performers-report/) **Published:** July 11, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Michael-Ball-Winner](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/michael-ball-winner.jpg "Michael Ball Is A Winner")The [Socialbakers](http://www.socialbakers.com/ "Socialbakers")’ report for June is now out. In it we learn that **‘[Amazon UK](http://amazon.com/ "Amazon")’** is the UK’s leading brand page on Facebook with almost 3.5million local fans, **‘Up Your Viva’** is the leading media brand page despite losing fans since its peak in mid-May, **[Michael Ball](http://www.michaelball.co.uk/ "Michael Ball (singer)")** gets more engagement on Facebook than **[George Michael](http://georgemichael.com "George Michael")**, and **EE** responded to more questions on Facebook in June than **Sky** but took almost twice as long on average to do it. Get the [full report from Socialbakers](http://www.socialbakers.com/reports/regional/june-2013-social-media-report-facebook-pages-in-united-kingdom). How does your brand page compare? **Categories:** Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** data, Facebook, report, social media --- ### [Hangout with MyWebPresenters](https://allisterspeaks.com/hangout-with-mywebpresenters/) **Published:** July 10, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Here’s a video of a Google Hangout I recently recorded direct from Wild Orange Media Towers with Neil Davidson, MD of MyWebPresenters. We chatted about effective measures of success for online videos, the viral myth, producing content that people engaged with and share, and my thoughts on what’s next for Wild Orange Media. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_sqjUZF-bS8 **Categories:** Content, Social Media **Tags:** content, social media, video --- ### [Being Creative Coffee Shop Style](https://allisterspeaks.com/being-creative-coffee-shop-style/) **Published:** July 4, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Idea-Juice-Coffee-Cup](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/idea-juice-coffee-cup.jpg "Idea Juice in a Coffee Cup")Open plan office workers know how hard it can be to focus on work tasks when surrounded by the hustle and bustle of office life. But researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered that working on creative tasks amidst ambient background noise can actually boost our creative ability. In scientific tests carried out on undergraduate students, they found respondents performed better at word association tasks while exposed to moderate background noise than they did under exposure to lower noise levels. In another study, they found that participants in a medium noise environment—akin to a typically busy coffee shop or room with a TV set playing—generated more creative ideas than those in either quieter or louder surroundings. So it seems that all that time spent in that “third place”, somewhere between home and work, might not be such a bad thing after all, as long as you are putting your brain to work on creative thinking tasks. Sadly, the news is not all good though. Any task that requires intense concentration is likely to be best performed in a quiet place, away from noise and distractions. But the results are compelling. When we need to think creatively, a little ambient noise can go a long way to enhancing our ability to think more broadly. So, next time you want to think outside of the box, grab your credit card and head to the nearest coffee shop! **Alternative Solution:** Can’t afford yet another venti-mocha-choca-goat’s-milk-latte? Just head to where the ambient noise comes at you free! Source: [NY Times article](http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/21/how-the-hum-of-a-coffee-shop-can-boost-creativity/) **Categories:** Creativity, Inspiration **Tags:** coffee, creativity, science --- ### [Digital Marketing Personality of the Year](https://allisterspeaks.com/digital-marketing-personality-of-the-year/) **Published:** June 24, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** *![BOC Digital Marketing Personality of the Year 2013 Award](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/boc-digital-marketing-personality-of-the-year-2013-award.jpg "BOC Digital Marketing Personality of the Year 2013 Award")Well, this is an honour!* I am delighted to have been named **Digital Marketing Personality of the Year** in the BOC Global Events Innovative Marketing Awards 2013. My thanks go to the judges for momentarily losing their senses and picking me, and to [BOC Global Events](http://www.boc-uk.com/) for nominating me. I received my award at a special dinner last week where I also enjoyed meeting some very interesting people. More on that later, but for now I need to get back to polishing my trophy! **More details:** The BOC Global Events & Training Group hosted its annual Innovative Marketing & PR Awards on 20 June 2013 at The Guomon Charing Cross Hotel in London. The awards shine a spotlight on home-grown talents as well as innovators further afield in some of the major emerging economies where innovation takes a completely different form. The awards ceremony brought together some of the most brilliant and crazy pioneers from around the globe under one roof. **Award Judges:** - David Green, Head of Global Digital Marketing for KPMG - Doug Dawson, VP Media Relations at Nokia - Antony Mayfield, Founding Partner at Brilliant Noise - David Worthington, chairman of Holmes & Marchant and Lloyd Northover at MSQ Partners - David Keene, Google’s Head of Enterprise Marketing - Stuart Bruce, PR Guru at Stuart Bruce Associates **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** award, Digital Marketing, judging --- ### [Durex Condoms In Social Media Flop](https://allisterspeaks.com/durex-condoms-in-social-media-flop/) **Published:** June 11, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Batman Badge](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/batman-badge.jpg "Batman Badge")My friend Eileen Brown brought a delightful social media #fail to my attention today in [her column on ZDNet](http://www.zdnet.com/durex-sos-condoms-go-flaccid-over-batman-7000016597/). You’d have thought Durex Condoms would always play it safe, but their latest Facebook marketing campaign has turned into a bit of a flop thanks to a remarkable lack of planning (or should that be foreplay?) ![SOS Condoms App for iOS](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/mzl-thsjxzre-320x480-75.jpg "SOS Condoms App for iOS")The trouble begins with a curious “insight” that some couples don’t think to buy condoms in advance, but they are foresighted enough to install an [app from iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sos-condoms/id580236407) allowing them to request an emergency delivery as long as they have previously ensured they will only be in coitus in a city where the service exists. Of course, there’s no way Reckitt Benckiser could promise rapid deliveries of “SOS Condoms” to every corner of the world, so they ran a vote on a [microsite](http://www.sos-condoms.com/), promoted via [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SOSCondoms), inviting would-be consumers to choose the city where they would like the emergency service to next be available. In the true spirit of the empowered consumer, voters were left to their own devices to pick any place in the world rather than having to select from a shortlist of pre-qualified cities. Quite naturally, this resulted in some online jokers looking for ways to spice up the outcome. And, you guessed it, the most requested location for SOS Condom deliveries was [Batman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman,_Turkey), a city in Turkey. [![Batman Road sign](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/376527_thumb.jpg "Yes it's a real place but Batman does not live there")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/376527.jpg)**Well done Batman!** You amassed more votes than Paris, London and New York combined, and your residents can now look forward to breathlessly opening the door to fresh supplies less than one hour after ordering. Whether the service is now off the ground is unclear but we can only hope that uptake is strong from Turkey’s luckiest amorous couples. Durex has conceded that its campaign was hijacked and has closed the voting, possibly prematurely. I’m sure its intentions were good (or should that be *bona fide?)*, but this is a timely reminder to all marketers to carefully think through the implications of allowing full crowd ownership over the outcomes of marketing campaigns. Surrendering control to the social web is sometimes a smart tactic, but without sufficient attention to detail and crisis planning your next activity might not be heading for a happy ending. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** fail, marketing, planning, social media --- ### [What Social Businesses Can Learn from Improvisation](https://allisterspeaks.com/what-social-businesses-can-learn-from-improvisation/) **Published:** June 7, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Improvisation Comic Relief](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/improvisation-comic-relief.jpg "Improvisation Comic Relief") Many years ago I was privileged to learn [improvisation](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvisation) skills at a week-long business retreat. My teacher, [Neil Mullarkey](http://www.neilmullarkey.com/) of The Comedy Store, has remained a good friend to me over the years and the concepts he taught me have stayed fresh in my mind. The recent emergence of more social businesses—where staff can openly share ideas and opinions through online platforms—has made me revisit these improvisation principles and ask how they could be applied in the digital workplace. Improvisation, where actors play out a scene without a script or rehearsal, relies on a few core skills that we often forget in the midst of a busy workplace. But their usefulness within a social business seems to me beyond doubt. After all, in the modern business world we are simply the actors, and the workplace our stage. So, here are some of my preliminary thoughts on how improvisation skills may help you become a better social player within your organisation: **![Ear](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/ear.png "Image of Ear")Active Listening:** The improviser who fails to listen to those around him will soon come unstuck. Every actor on the stage is there to ‘offer’ something to the others to help the scene develop. By always listening carefully to what’s being said we can make more informed, spontaneous contributions that build on the topic and take it in a positive direction. The same applies online; don’t spend all your time talking, it’s far more valuable to listen intently and only speak up when you have something useful to add. **![Don't-Be-Clever](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/dont-be-clever.png "Don't Be Mr Clever")Not Being Clever:** In order to be natural and ‘in the moment’, improvisers are taught the importance of not trying to be clever. In fact, the last thing you want to do is to try to be clever as it both makes things difficult for the other actors and can destroy the authenticity and naturalness of what you say. Following this advice online too makes a lot of sense. There are no prizes for being a know-it-all and most of us can contribute more value by building on the ideas of others rather than seeking to kill off discussions with our genius. **![relax-key](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/relax-key.png "Hit the Relax Button")Relax and Have Fun:** In improvisation, the most entertaining and memorable scenes happen when the actors are “in the zone”, loving the experience. They’re looking to slip into a mental state which psychologists call [‘flow’](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)) where they are fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus to the task at hand. The same should apply in our work lives. When we truly focused on something that we feel is worthwhile we feel energized and able to actively engage our whole brains. If we can find this same state when using a social intranet or following an online discussion between colleagues, we should be better placed to make a full, valued contribution. **![Judgement Gavel](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/judgement-gavel.jpg "Judgement Gavel")Don’t Judge Others:** Suspending our natural tendency to pass judgement on others is essential in improvisation. Of course, we should try to understand others and empathise with them, but judging their contributions is an unnecessary distraction and energy drain. Likewise, we can help the social workplace run smoothly by allowing people to express themselves freely without fear of being judged or criticised. By creating a trusted environment, we are each more likely to bring our best ideas to the fore so others can build on them. **![Yes Button](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/yes-button.jpg "Oh Yes!")Yes and…:** One of the easiest exercises that Neil taught me is to build on what has been said before. We’re trained from an early age at school and college to spot flaws in others’ arguments and we can help unpick this habit by simply starting every response with “Yes, and…” This modest phrase helps force us into a collaborative mindset where we build on what has gone before rather than shooting it down with the usual “No, but…” response. The next time you see a comment on the social intranet that you disagree with, try looking for the positives in the idea and building constructively with a “Yes , and…” reply. **![Unknown](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/unknown.png "What You Don't Know Can't Hurt You")Thrive In the Ambiguity:** By its very definition, improvisation requires actors to enter a world where they are completely out of control of the situation. If you try to drive the agenda, another person can snatch it away and drag you in an unexpected direction. Life in a social workplace is very much like this too, with discussions and comments ebbing and flowing to the tune of the crowd’s sentiment. Learning to welcome and indeed thrive in this uncertainty is an essential skill for today’s employees. In a world now shaped by distributed voices and opinions, we’re all learning new skills to help us survive the modern workplace. But perhaps we can learn most from some of the oldest tricks in the book, as used by actors for generations to create, innovate and entertain. How could this approach help you? All comments to begin “Yes, and…” please. **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** creativity, improvisation, social business --- ### [3 Simple Steps to Creating Daily Content Gold](https://allisterspeaks.com/3-simple-steps-to-creating-daily-content-gold/) **Published:** June 3, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Buried-Content-Ideas](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/buried-content-ideas_thumb.jpg "Buried-Content-Ideas")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/buried-content-ideas.jpg)We’ve all been there; it’s every community manager’s nightmare. Staring at that blank screen, racking your brain for fresh ideas about what to post to your social networks today. When writer’s block strikes sometimes the best thing to do is to walk away and formulate a new plan on how to avoid an idea logjam in future. ***But there’s good news at hand.*** Here’s my super-simple, no-nonsense approach that could make a huge difference to your daily content marketing results: 1\. **PLAN IT** Set aside 15 minutes at the end of each working day to think about tomorrow’s content plan. Create some quiet space where you can reflect on your goals, what seems to be working for you, and explore content areas you’ve not yet developed. ***Your goal is to come up with just one new idea that you can put into action tomorrow.*** Remember, you have just 15 distraction-free minutes to do this. You don’t need to develop the idea; just jot down your thoughts, maybe draft a blog title or note down a few sites you’d like to research to refine your idea. 2\. **FORGET IT** Store your idea notes somewhere safe. I leave my written notes under my closed laptop lid so I find them when I next turn it on. Now, go and do something completely different, like living your real life, having fun with friends or enjoying your favourite sport. ***This stage is all-important. It allows the most powerful parts of your brain to start working their magic.*** If your ‘Plan It’ stage was sufficiently focussed and intense, your brain will subconsciously begin processing your idea, making new connections and developing it for when your rational, logical thinking brain needs to step back in. Sleep well, tomorrow’s going to be a great day! 3\. **CREATE IT** The next morning you already know what your first job is going to be. Set aside the first working hour of your day, when your body is fresh and your brain at its most alert, to bring your content idea to life. ***Your aim is to have published some original content, either live or scheduled to go out later, before the hour is up.*** This may require you to create another distraction-free space so you can focus on producing the best content you can. If it takes less than an hour, great! But if it’s going to take longer, your idea was either too ambitious or you’ve not knuckled down properly to the task. When you’ve published your original content your day can now begin, safe in the knowledge that writer’s block cannot strike. **Now do it!** Try this simple approach for a couple of weeks. You have to be disciplined and strict with yourself; reading emails or tidying your desk do not count as focussed content creation time! After a fortnight, you decide if this is working for you or not. But give it at least two weeks. It takes both time and practice to instil new habits and adjust to working at highly productive levels. *And please let me know how you get on.* Has your content creation benefitted from this working pattern or do you think you have a better approach? **Categories:** Content, Creativity, Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** content, marketing, process, tips --- ### [Think Different](https://allisterspeaks.com/think-different/) **Published:** May 30, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Think-Different-by-Apple](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/think-different-by-apple_thumb.jpg "Think-Different-by-Apple")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/think-different-by-apple.jpg) Is it just me, or does Apple’s current iPad advertising bear a startling resemblance to rival Microsoft’s “Life Without Walls” ad campaign of almost five years ago? Of course, not every idea can be completely new. But it does make me a little sad to see this, another example of Apple’s innovative streak fading away. **Categories:** Marketing **Tags:** advertising, apple, Microsoft --- ### [How to raise $500k for a start-up](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-raise-500k-for-a-start-up/) **Published:** May 20, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I like [Buffer](https://bufferapp.com/). It’s a great tool for posting staggered updates to social media channels and, as of last week, you can even [schedule retweets](http://blog.bufferapp.com/schedule-retweets) now too. I also like their [great customer service](http://allisterfrost.com/2012/11/28/outstanding-customer-service-by-buffer/). But what I like most of all is their openness and generosity; two key ingredients for start-up success on the social web. It’s these attributes that led Buffer to sharing the pitch deck they used to secure a $500,000 investment into their start-up, as well as the thinking process behind the slides. We can learn a lot from the simplicity of Buffer’s pitch, as well as their use of compelling ratios and tangible proof of the traction their business was gaining. Read the full story at [OnStartups.com](http://onstartups.com/tabid/3339/bid/98034/The-Pitch-Deck-We-Used-To-Raise-500-000-For-Our-Startup.aspx) or flick through the slides below: \[slideshare id=20684215&style=margin-bottom: 5px; border-top: #ccc 1px solid; border-right: #ccc 1px solid; border-bottom: #ccc 0px solid; border-left: #ccc 1px solid&sc=no\] **[The slide deck we used to raise half a million dollars](http://www.slideshare.net/Bufferapp/buffer-seedrounddeck "The slide deck we used to raise half a million dollars")** from **[Buffer ](http://www.slideshare.net/Bufferapp)** **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** business, marketing, pitch, presentation, start-up --- ### [Lessons From A Stiff Door](https://allisterspeaks.com/lessons-from-a-stiff-door/) **Published:** May 17, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Bistro-Door](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bistro-door.jpg "Bistro-Door") This is the entrance door to a bistro. What’s the easiest option for the bistro owner: fix the door so customers cam come in easily or put up a sign telling them how they should use it? I know which option customers would choose. And we all know which option the bistro owner should avoid. Silly mistakes like this are common in business. Does your business serve your customers or do you mistakenly demand that they serve you? **Categories:** Inspiration, Marketing, Noble Marketing **Tags:** customer service, marketing --- ### [When Privacy Policies Go Bad and How to Fix Them](https://allisterspeaks.com/when-privacy-policies-go-bad-and-how-to-fix-them/) **Published:** May 10, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Hot on the heels of [yesterday’s post](http://wp.me/p11Vtz-4Pj) about the importance of carefully selecting your positive and negative keywords, I’ve some remarkable online test insights to share from ContentVerve.com’s [Michael Aargaard](http://contentverve.com/author/michaelaa/). Michael wanted to find out what impact adding a privacy statement alongside a registration form would have on sign-up rates. I think you’ll agree, the results are far from obvious! Using a registration form on a high traffic online betting site, he started by adding a simple statement ***“100% privacy – we will never spam you!”*** just above the Sign Up link. This simple change resulted in an 18.7% drop in sign ups compared to a control cell: [![Privacy-Policy-Experiment-1](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/privacy-policy-experiment-1_thumb.png "Privacy-Policy-Experiment-1")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/privacy-policy-experiment-1.png) That’s a huge drop in sign ups through the addition of statement that is regularly used to increase conversion! Suspecting the ‘spam’ word to be a possible cause of this drop, Michael ran another test, this time with a privacy statement that read ***“100% privacy. We keep all your personal information secret”***: [![Experiment-2](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/experiment-2_thumb.png "Experiment-2")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/experiment-2.png) This time there was no significant difference between the two cells. The privacy statement was neither helping nor impairing conversion to sign up. Time for another test, this time with a subtly more reassuring statement ***“We guarantee 100% privacy. Your information will not be shared.”*** The results were remarkable: [![Experiment-3-Privacy-Policy](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/experiment-3-privacy-policy_thumb.png "Experiment-3-Privacy-Policy")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/experiment-3-privacy-policy.png) That’s almost 20% more sign-ups from a simple, reassuring promise. Michael’s hypothesis is that the word ‘guarantee’ serves as a much more credible and authoritative commitment to fair play than the previous statements. There was just time for one more test, this time reintroducing the ‘spam’ word to see if it would have the same negative impact as seen previously: [![Privacy-Policy-Experiment-4](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/privacy-policy-experiment-4_thumb.png "Privacy-Policy-Experiment-4")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/privacy-policy-experiment-4.png) Incredibly, all of the good provided by the ‘guarantee’ word appears to have been undone by the reintroduction of that toxic ’spam’ word. I’m indebted to Michael for sharing his test findings with us. But what can we learn from this exercise? Firstly, as I’ve reported before, [the little changes sometimes make all the difference](http://allisterfrost.com/2013/04/02/the-little-changes-that-make-all-the-difference/). Without careful testing, the impact of inadvertently giving visitors reasons to be fearful through a mention of ‘spam’ might never have been spotted. And neither would we have been able to quantify the powerful reassurance felt by offering a ‘guarantee’. As a result of this testing, we now know that for this particular website the word ‘spam’ (and all related synonyms) should be treated as strict negatives in future. As will be any other terms that could fuel alarm amongst potential customers. And more work can now be done to verify the reassuring power of a ‘guarantee’ and further testing carried out to see where else this keyword can be used to good effect across the site and on other marketing materials. Remember, your mileage may vary. You should never treat the findings from one website as certain proof for your own site. But you can take heart from these results and embark on your own testing programme to establish if your site visitors will react the same way. Sometimes the most obvious things in life are far from self-evident. The inquisitive marketer can learn a great deal from Michael’s methodical testing process. Perhaps your website will be the next proving ground for some remarkable marketing insights. ***Further reading:*** ContentVerve.com’s Testing Summary: **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** keywords, privacy, spam, testing --- ### [7 Steps To Turning Negative Keywords into Positives](https://allisterspeaks.com/7-steps-to-turning-negative-keywords-into-positives/) **Published:** May 9, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Search engine marketers know how important it is to think about the words that they ***don’t*** want their company or brands to be associated with. But few people apply the same keyword rigour when posting to social networks. In this post, I’ll explain why this is important and how you can turn negative keywords into big positives for your business. First up, what is a negative keyword? A negative keyword is any word or phrase that you do ***not*** want to associate with your business. Let’s imagine we’re running a hotel, Frost Mansion, that offers luxury spa retreats for adults. Your guests pay handsomely to stay at your hotel because they enjoy the calm, child-free environment, together with likeminded grown-ups. It’s pretty clear that you don’t want your hotel to attract groups of children. In fact the last thing you want is a family with kids turning up with a reservation ready to destroy the peace and tranquillity. Here are two examples of how you might describe your hotel, the first is a fairly safe bet, while the second presents an awkward ‘negative keyword’ challenge: [![Spa Retreats Negative Keyword Example](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/spa-retreats_thumb.jpg "Spa Retreats Negative Keyword Example")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/spa-retreats.jpg) Unwittingly, the inclusion of the word ‘child’ in the second example could, in some circumstances, lead to your hotel becoming discovered by someone searching for luxury spa retreats with children. And while the major search engines are getting better at understanding the semantic meaning of phrases like “child-free”, until they perfect this there’s a risk that even a mention of a negative keyword could have the opposite to the intended effect. This exact same discipline is needed with updates to social networks. There’s no point optimising your website and display ads if you don’t apply the same rigour to your social media updates. Consider the difference that the following tweets might have on the type of business your hotel could attract: ![Tweet Example Negative Keyword Misuse](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/image1.png "Tweet Example Negative Keyword Misuse") ![Tweet Example Positive Keyword Use](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/image2.png "Tweet Example Positive Keyword Use") The first tweet will show up in searches for ‘weekend hotel offer children’, potentially attracting the wrong type of clientele. And don;t think that including the phrase “sorry no children” will work all the time; people scan online content and routinely gloss over important details like this. In contrast, the second tweet avoids this risk completely by excluding negative keywords relating to children. To turn the negatives into positives is easy. Here’s my 7 step process for making sure your social updates avoid the pitfalls: 1. Define all the positive things you want your brand to be famously associated with. If your brand is well-established you should have this list already in your defined brand essence or value propositions. *(e.g. words like premium, quality and luxury may feature in our Frost Mansion example)* 2. Prune back the positives lists to the most important aspects that differentiate your brand within its sector, grouping into categories where it helps. Make sure every word really deserves its place on the positives list 3. Now define the things you don’t want to become famous for; these are your negatives. To prevent this from becoming an extremely long list stick to topics and themes that could reasonably apply to your industry sector but which you don’t want to become associated to your brand *(e.g. Frost mansion would want to avoid words like cheap, bargain, discount and, of course, children)* 4. Refine your negatives list, removing duplicates and making sure you’ve covered all the major bases. Be creative with your thinking; it’s better to agree on the negatives now than to leave any ambiguity that might create uncertainty later. 5. You may spot some groups or categories of negatives. If so, group together synonyms into clusters, each representing a major theme area that you wish to avoid becoming associated with. 6. Now share your positive and negative lists with all customer-facing staff, explaining the importance of repeatedly using the positive words and the danger of using the negatives 7. Update your social media biographies, avatars and content plan to eradicate all negative keywords and maximise the use of positive keywords. Editing recent posts may be advisable if you’ve used lots of negatives previously. Be sure to use the same negatives across your entire online marketing plan including SEO To help instil adoption of the new keyword list, it may help to run a fun competition amongst staff to find the most creative ways of using positive keywords. I’ve even seen a tongue-in-cheek Wall of Shame with mugshots of community managers who have accidentally dropped a negative into one of their updates or comments! But most importantly, make using the lists an enjoyable challenge; you’ll be amazed how much fun you can have trying to find ways to dodge the negatives and accentuate the positives. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** keywords, process, social media --- ### [How to Ask for Help On Twitter (Please Read This!)](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-ask-for-help-on-twitter-please-read-this/) **Published:** May 7, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Please-Help-call-to-action](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/please-help-call-to-action_thumb.jpg "Please-Help-call-to-action")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/please-help-call-to-action.jpg)It’s well known that if you ask people to retweet something on Twitter they’re more likely to do so than if you don’t ask. But exactly how much more likely has never been quantified before. Step forward Hubspot’s [Dan Zarella](http://danzarrella.com/new-data-shows-the-7-most-powerful-calls-to-action-for-more-retweets.html), author of [The Science of Marketing](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1118138279/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1118138279&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21), and a huge dataset from social update scheduler [Buffer](www.bufferapp.com). Dan analysed common calls to action featured in over 2.7million tweets to gauge what impact they have on recipients. While I should urge a little caution given the slightly skewed nature of the data (Buffer users tends to be more sophisticated social media players than the average) the findings are still pretty impressive. [As I’ve shown before](http://allisterfrost.com/2013/04/02/the-little-changes-that-make-all-the-difference/), sometimes the littlest changes can have the biggest impact. So, here are the Top Seven Best Performing Calls To Action from Dan’s study: 1\. **Please Help** – this simple, human plea generates more than 160% more retweets than the average tweet. Evidence, if it were ever needed, that social media is all about people helping other people. 2\. **Please Retweet** – the old favourite solicits around 130% more retweets than average, still a great performer. 3\. **Please RT** – interestingly for a shorthand world limited to just 140 characters, abbreviating Retweet to RT leads to 30% drop in retweets received! But ‘Please RT’ will still bring in around 90% more RTs than the average tweet so remains popular amongst the Twitter elite. 4\. **Please** – OK, so this word may not always relate to an overt call to action but your mum was right: a little politeness goes a long way bringing home more than 70% more retweets than average. 5 **Retweet** – if you’re too cool to be polite, this one word still helps elicit over 50% more retweets than average. 6\. **Spread** – we’re in the long grass now, but tweets featuring the word ‘spread’ still manage to attract over 30% more tweets than average 7\. **Visit** – last on our hit list, the word ‘visit’ brings a tiny retweet uplift of around 15% over the average tweet. Not to be sniffed at perhaps, but a long way from the 160% boost at the top of our list. So now you know which phrases are most likely to encourage your followers to retweet your content. But when and how often should you use these calls to action? Clearly, if you beg for a retweet every time you post, your followers are likely to lose interest before very long. Instead I recommend you save your pleas for those times when you really need some help, maybe once or twice a week at most, depending on your activity levels. There are no hard and fast rules, but ask yourself what it must feel like to be on the receiving end of your tweets. If your Sent Tweets starts to look a bit like a charity fundraiser, you might be overdoing it. A little moderation will greatly increase your impact when the time comes to ask for those retweets. And it almost goes without saying, it’s far better to focus on providing high quality content that your followers will spontaneously want to pass on than to force feed them rubbish they feel obliged to pass on to satisfy your constant requests for their help. Great content always generates the greatest response, even when you don’t ask for it. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** data, study, Twitter --- ### [Who Needs a Social Command Centre Anyway?](https://allisterspeaks.com/who-needs-a-social-command-centre-anyway/) **Published:** May 3, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The Social Command Centre—a kind of NASA Ground Control for social media hub teams in organisations—is an increasingly common sight these days inside large organisations. Here’s a snap of Microsoft’s latest prototype, which I saw running on a visit this week to their UK Campus: [![Microsoft-Social-Command-Centre](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/microsoft-social-command-centre_thumb.jpg "Microsoft-Social-Command-Centre")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/microsoft-social-command-centre.jpg) The big idea behind command centres like this is to provide an at-a glance view of interesting things happening on the social web. In Microsoft’s case this equates to monitoring their own accounts across a variety of channels as well as any trending social chatter about selected products and services, In reality though, having a whole bank of screens—I’ve seen as many as twenty—creates a wall of data that is sometimes very hard to analyse and understand without an army of community managers and data analysts. Unless you’re running a presidential election or overseeing a high-profile public event with millions of viewers, the chances are an oversized command centre may eventually prove as useful as an inflatable dartboard. There’s is, however, a different purpose that a wall of screens can serve, and that’s to create a focal point for the company’s social media listening and response activities. For Microsoft, the monitors you see above help remind staff and executives that there’s a world outside of the corporate headquarters. Making a public show that you’re listening to the chatter and working hard to engage with customers in real-time sends a powerful signal across the organisation. This was the guiding principle behind Nokia’s social visualiser Agora ([watch video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=U2VIRqlq23s)), which was placed in public areas like staff canteens and thoroughfares within their office locations. Of course, the Social Command Centre isn’t a new idea. Many other companies including Gatorade, Salesforce, Dell and NVIDIA have all publicly showcased monitor-laden operations centres. But for many the question remains, is this actually a useful tool for improving the effective use of social media marketing, a cheap way to inject outside influence onto an internal organisational culture or just an extravagant way to lend social media a much-needed air of credibility? What do you think? **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** command centre, Microsoft, social media --- ### [Myth-busting: Calls-to-action Must Be Above The Fold](https://allisterspeaks.com/myth-busting-calls-to-action-must-be-above-the-fold/) **Published:** May 3, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Mythbusting bubble](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/mythbusting.jpg "Mythbusting bubble")The longer you work in any specialist field the more susceptible you become to placing trust in tried-and-tested rules and principles. Take the well-known fact that content placed on a website above the fold (that is in the top portion of the screen, visible to all when the page loads) performs better than stuff below the fold. Everybody knows that, right? Yes, but it’s not entirely true. What used to work in the days of PCs and Internet Explorer sometimes doesn’t apply in the era of tablets, smartphones and personalised apps. Today’s web users are well-versed in scrolling up and down pages; it’s a completely natural gesture on a touchscreen device and nearly every modern mouse features a handy scrolling wheel or touchpad. But beyond the technology changes, savvy surfers simply no longer behave as predictably as in the past. What many would consider a textbook position to put a call-to-action, high on the page, above the fold, may sometimes deliver substantially better results if placed lower down the page or after additional information to motivate a click has appeared first. To understand this you need to appreciate the context of the decision you are asking your site visitors to take. If the buying decision is complex or needs to be carefully considered, today’s surfers are extremely tolerant of supporting information like comparison charts, videos and customer references. And so it really doesn’t matter where the final call-to-action sits, as long as the right amount of supporting information can be accessed easily and quickly to enable a decision to be made. Requiring a visitors to make a few downwards swipes or to hunt briefly for the buying button is no longer automatically a barrier to success. In UI design context is king… [![Confused-Designer](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/confused-designer_thumb.jpg "Confused-Designer")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/confused-designer.jpg)Add to this the added complexity that comes from people viewing pages on a multitude of different screens and devices, anything from a 2 inch phone to an 84inch 3D TV, and the rich variety of delivery platforms from internet browsers to niche applications, and you have the perfect recipe for some very confused, sore-brained web designers. One solution now in widespread use is to feature small, floating content boxes that remain on screen and slide as the reader scrolls through the page. These moving panels can ensure key navigation components or calls to action remain easily accessible. But they also carry a distraction overhead so test them carefully to verify that the navigation benefits outweigh any attention interference they may create. As I explained in [a recent post](http://allisterfrost.com/2013/04/02/the-little-changes-that-make-all-the-difference/), the facilities we have for testing different design hypotheses are better than ever. Simply ramming a primary call-to-action down your visitors’ throats as soon as they land on your site may not give the best results today. Of course, your call-to-action needs to be visible, distinctive and worded to elicit action, but never assume there’s only one best place for it to live. That’s old school thinking, a dangerous path to tread in a world of constant change, So have some fun, think differently and explore some alternatives. With a little intelligent testing and creativity you could open up a whole new world of engagement in our scroll-happy world! **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing, Innovation, Inspiration **Tags:** advice, myth, Web design --- ### [Cut-To-The-Chase Help When You Need It](https://allisterspeaks.com/cut-to-the-chase-help-when-you-need-it/) **Published:** May 2, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Book a call with Clarity.fm](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/image.png "Book a call with Clarity.fm")](https://clarity.fm/#/allisterf)I’m occasionally asked if it’s possible to book a short consulting session with me to collect some quick answers or get help tackling urgent issues. This has always been difficult to arrange in the past but I’m pleased to announce a new way for you to get personal, cut-to-the-chase help from me over the phone. You can request a call with me now using link below. The online Clarity.fm service allows you to select time periods when you’d like our call to take place and will charge you only for the time we spend together, billed by the minute. I can’t promise to always be available right away, but I’ll do my best to help at a time that suits us both. Click here to find out more: . And please let me know your thoughts on how I can improve this new service. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Innovation, Social Media **Tags:** advice, consulting, support --- ### [Colour and Brands Through The Ages](https://allisterspeaks.com/colour-and-brands-through-the-ages/) **Published:** April 26, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Orange-by-Pantone-and-Wild-Orange-Media](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/orange-by-pantone-and-wild-orange-media_thumb.jpg "Orange-by-Pantone-and-Wild-Orange-Media")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/orange-by-pantone-and-wild-orange-media.jpg) *(see what I did there?!)* In the UK we call it ‘colour’ while our American cousins prefer ‘color’. However you write it, having an appreciation of how seeing different colours affects our mood is a great skill for every marketer. With a hat tip to my former Microsoft colleague [Steve Clayton](https://twitter.com/stevecla), here’s a delightful little diagram from Pantone, the global colour experts, showing how colour fashions have shifted over time and how some brands have become synonymous with certain schemes. Enjoy! [![Pantone_Celebrate_Infographic](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pantone_celebrate_infographic_thumb.jpg "Pantone_Celebrate_Infographic")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pantone_celebrate_infographic.jpg) Read more at [http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone.aspx?pg=21111&ca=90](http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone.aspx?pg=21111&ca=90) **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing **Tags:** colour, design, pantone --- ### [100km In The Dark for Macmillan Cancer Support](https://allisterspeaks.com/100km-in-the-dark-for-macmillan-cancer-support/) **Published:** April 24, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Allister's-Ridiculous-Charity-Cycle-Ride](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/allisters-ridiculous-charity-cycle-ride.jpg "Allister's-Ridiculous-Charity-Cycle-Ride")](http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/allister)In around seven weeks’ time I’ll be attempting to cycle 100km (62 miles) overnight around the cold, dark streets of London to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. My nan died last month after battling cancer for much of her life so this feels like a nice way to remember her and help others who need help. I’d be so grateful for your support and any small donation you can make. The donation page is open now at [www.virginmoneygiving.com/allister](http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/allister); every penny goes straight to charity. My training is now underway although this has mostly consisted of playing with my new bicycle bell and wondering why padded cycling shorts make me look so absurd. I need to get some serious miles under my belt over the next few weeks; if you see me wheezing along the road near you give me a wave. Thank you for your support, wish me luck! **Categories:** Uncategorized **Tags:** cancer, charity, fundraising --- ### [The Worrying Truth About Cart Abandonment](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-worrying-truth-about-cart-abandonment/) **Published:** April 23, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Abandoned trolley](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/abandonedtrolley.jpg "Abandoned trolley") Cart abandonment, where an online shopper adds items to their basket but then fails to complete the checkout process, is one of the most common and frustrating issues facing ecommerce retailers. Carrying out a forensic investigation into why potential buyers leave before completing their transaction can yield valuable insights to streamline the shopping process and increase conversion to sale. Or, if getting forensic sounds too complicated, here are some research findings that may help. Earlier this year LivePerson Inc released the findings of a study into online attitudes and behaviours and the results provide a sobering reminder of how high consumer expectations have risen in a short period of time. **Nearly 6 in 10 people say they would like more options in how they connect with brands and more than 8 in 10 said they needed some form of support during online shopping visits.** Tougher still on hard-stretched businesses, 71% of online shoppers expect to be able to access help within five minutes, with almost one in three now expecting this support to be instant. And the cost of failing to give speedy support is high, with almost half of all online shoppers claiming they would shop elsewhere or abandon their purchase altogether. The top reason given for cart abandonment is Unexpected Delivery Costs, as cited by 70% of respondents. **If you still hide your delivery charges until the shopper moves to the checkout phase now would be a good time to fix this!** Other common bugbears that consumers continue to see too often on ecommerce sites are a lack of product information (56%), security concerns about the website (50%), site navigation problems (46%) and overly complicated registration or login processes (38%). **The message for online businesses is emphatic:** give your shoppers the speedy support they demand or expect to see shoppers walking out of your virtual store empty-handed. But which are the most demanded support channels? The good old telephone number tops the list with 61% of people asking for it, but was closely followed by email and live chat tops also receiving votes from around 6 people in 10. Site FAQs remain popular (51%), followed by click-to-call (34%) and live video chat (7%). **The key takeaways for brands?** Find out what your customers and target audiences expect from your website. You may be missing some simple tricks like making FAQs and offsite Help Forums easy to access during the shopping process. Explore some of the latest generation of live chat and instant response tools. If you have customer service teams working during peak times it’s often quite easy to redeploy some of their time to monitoring online requests for help. And remember, not everything that matters happens on your site; chatter within social media and other online discussion environments may be just as crucial in oiling the buying process, so be sure to consider these channels too. Read more: - [LivePerson press release](http://pr.liveperson.com/index.php?s=43&item=371) Jan 30 2013 - [Econsultancy article](http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/61991-83-of-online-shoppers-need-support-to-complete-a-purchase-stats) Jan 30 2013 *Image credit:* [*http://i-shot.blogspot.co.uk*](http://i-shot.blogspot.co.uk/) **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** ecommerce, research, shopping, survey --- ### [The Little Changes That Make All The Difference](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-little-changes-that-make-all-the-difference/) **Published:** April 2, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’m indebted to [ContentVerve.com](http://contentverve.com) for just publishing an outstanding collection of ten user interface design case studies that illustrate how the smallest changes can sometimes result in the biggest improvements. In one A/B test, simply changing one word on a call to action on a PPC landing page resulted in a **90% increase** in conversion. Here’s that change: ![90 percent increase in conversions](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/image2.png "90 percent increase in conversions") The magic of “my” cropped up in another example, where the following change caused a catastrophic **24.9% drop** in conversions: ![24.91 percent drop in conversions](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/image3.png "24.91 percent drop in conversions") Another test showed how the vagaries of colour choice can have dramatic implications on clicks. On an e-commerce site, changing the ‘add to cart’ button from a blue rectangle to a green rounded rectangle fuelled a **35.8% increase** in clicks: [![35.81 percent increase in conversion](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/image_thumb1.png "35.81 percent increase in conversion")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/image4.png) But the biggest conversion jump of all came from a subtle rewording of the call to action for Fitness World, a chain of gyms in Scandinavia. By softening the tone of the call to action from definitive, closing language to wording that promises an opportunity to do further research, the company managed to drive a stunning **213% increase** in conversions! ![213 percent increase in conversions](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/image5.png "213 percent increase in conversions") As the saying goes, your mileage may vary so the only way to see what improvements you could secure on your site is to get testing. And don’t just assume the examples given will work for you. Your results will be a function of other elements on your site and the many other distractions presented on the customer journey. “All well and good,” you’re probably now thinking, “but how can I try this out for my site?” To which, I’d reply, “Go find a great A/B testing partner, or take a service like [Unbounce.com](http://www.unbounce.com) or [Fivesecondtest.com](http://fivesecondtest.com/) for a spin to see how your designs fare in a live test environment.” **Go do it! You’ve nothing to lose and lots to gain.** You can read the full case studies on ContentVerve.com [right here](http://contentverve.com/10-call-to-action-case-studies-examples-from-button-tests/). Enjoy! **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** design, study, testing --- ### [The Science of Facebook Engagement (infographic)](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-science-of-facebook-engagement-infographic/) **Published:** March 26, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’m often asked how companies can increase the engagement levels of their posts on [Facebook](http://facebook.com "Facebook"). Sadly, there’s no silver bullet or one-size-fits-all solution, but there are plenty of studies that show the value of experimentation. And while it doesn’t offer any universally applicable answers, the infographic below may give you some fresh ideas for what to test next. **In brief: photos work well (as do videos), less is more, spell out your ‘call-to-action’, try simple participation ideas like caption competitions and know when your fans are online.** *Enjoy!* [![science-of-facebook-engagement-infographic](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/science-of-facebook-engagement-infographic_thumb.png "science-of-facebook-engagement-infographic")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/science-of-facebook-engagement-infographic.png) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** data, Facebook, infographic --- ### [5 Tips To Ensure Your Business Shows Up In Facebook Graph Search (eye tracking study)](https://allisterspeaks.com/5-tips-to-ensure-your-business-shows-up-in-facebook-graph-search-eye-tracking-study/) **Published:** March 25, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Graph Search and Results panels](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/image_thumb.png "Graph Search and Results panels")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/image.png) Facebook’s powerful new “Graph Search” feature is now being rolled out to users. To jump the queue you can join the waitlist at [https://www.facebook.com/about/graphsearch](https://www.facebook.com/about/graphsearch "https://www.facebook.com/about/graphsearch"). I’ve [written previously](http://allisterfrost.com/2013/01/29/reasons-to-be-fearful-facebook-graph-search/) about the rich—and sometimes disturbing—insights that the tool search feature will bring, but a new study by [Mediative](www.mediative.com) sheds light on how new users are actually using the tool. Using [Tobii Eye Tracking technology](http://www.tobii.com/), researchers were able to see exactly how people react to the new tool, where their gaze goes first and for longest, and how page scanning patterns may differ from the current search experience. **THE FINDINGS** ![Eye tracking heatmap Facebook Graph Search](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/image1.png "Eye tracking heatmap Facebook Graph Search") The findings showed very little horizontal scanning of the search results listing. This differs significantly to the behaviour typically seen on other search engines, perhaps due to the relative lack of snippet data that would be seen in a comparable Google search page. The vertical “stepping stone” viewing pattern shows up very clearly on the heatmap (right) where red spots show the most commonly viewed links running down the page. The top two results were viewed by almost 95% of study participants and the percentage viewed fell quite uniformly as the viewers moved down the page. Interestingly, and perhaps due to the generic nature of some of the images in the study, participants looked at the text links almost 50% more than the accompanying image, amounting to 138% more time being dedicated to reading text than deciphering images. Text listings also captured attention 1.74 seconds faster than the images on average—a finding that is contradictory to what we’d expect in general web UI design. It seems in Facebook Graph Search, at least for now, text is king. Viewing of the content on the right hand side of the screen was particularly interesting. 77% of participants looked at this right rail, typically as the third eye fixation in the study. This suggests that most users are likely to check the first one or two search results on the left-hand side before considering whether to refine the search criteria in the right-hand panel. The filters in this panel proved highly engaging, probably because this is where the real power of graph search can be unleashed for the novice user. This suggests that the average user of graph search is likely to find the experience highly engaging and will refine their search results using filters, perhaps to an extent that other search engines have not yet achieved. The right panel also enjoyed the highest total viewing duration at 4.17 seconds across the study participants, which is 325% longer than the total view duration to the search results in the left-hand panel. How much of this is due to the novelty factor or the actual utility of the ‘refine search’ options will only be proven over time. **RECOMMENDATIONS** Here are my five tips to ensure your businesses listing shows up as prominently as possible in Facebook Graph Search: 1. Make sure your business information is complete and up-to-date as this is what Graph Search users will see in the left hand search results panel. In your Facebook Page, go to Edit Page, Update Info. There you will find You should complete your business name, address (so people can check-in when visiting), telephone numbers, website URL and opening times (if applicable). 2. As in any search results listing, being placed in the top two search results is highly valuable. However, keep in mind that Facebook Graph Search results are unique to each user, so don’t fall into the trap of imagining the results you see are seen by everyone. 3. To ensure your profile photo is working as hard as possible, try to use a distinctive image that complements the text of your page name. Aim for relevance first (be on brand) but also try to be different to key competing pages. For example, if you run a restaurant in Bristol, making sure your profile photo doesn’t look similar to that of neighbouring restaurants could be beneficial. 4. Your brand is more likely to appear in Graph Search results if it has been liked by users. Growing your reach and maximising engagement levels are likely to remain the key elements that determine your graph search ranking. Facebook has not disclosed how [EdgeRank](http://allisterfrost.com/2011/07/15/edgerank-in-facebook-how-it-works-and-9-tips-to-improve-it/) may influence Graph Search results but it would be wise to assume that the same factors will be at play. Optimise your page content for EdgeRank and your presence in Graph Search should improve in parallel. 5. If your company or brand has a physical location, encouraging check-ins through Facebook has never been more important. A search query for “Hairdressers my friend have been to” will only show your brand if some of the searcher’s friends have checked in while at your establishment. Invite your customers to check-in while with you, offering rewards if suitable. ***Further reading:*** - [Download](http://pages.mediative.com/facebook-graph-search-eye-tracking-research.html) the full study from Mediative - [View](http://www.webpronews.com/you-can-get-keyword-data-from-facebook-graph-search-in-google-analytics-2013-03) Facebook Graph Search infographic - [Read](http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/how-facebook-graph-search-works/) technical description of how Facebook Graph Search works **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, research, search, study --- ### [What a Difference Eight Years Make](https://allisterspeaks.com/what-a-difference-eight-years-make/) **Published:** March 19, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I just had to share this. [Photo by nbcnews • Instagram](http://instagram.com/p/W2FCksR9-e/) [![Papal Crowds](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/ea13dee28cc511e2b52d22000a9f189b_7.jpg)](http://instagram.com/p/W2FCksR9-e/) **Categories:** Digital Living, Inspiration --- ### [Having Your Cake And Eating It](https://allisterspeaks.com/having-your-cake-and-eating-it/) **Published:** March 18, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Commerical-Messages-Survey](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/commerical-messages-survey_thumb.png "Commerical-Messages-Survey")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/commerical-messages-survey.png)A recent survey by [GI Insight](http://www.gi-solutionsgroup.com/index.php/gi-insight) shines a light on our love-hate relationship with commercial messages within social media platforms. An overwhelming 92% of British consumers surveyed stated their wish to “keep advertising very separate from real chat”, while 82% said that they use social media a lot but don’t want it invaded by advertising or commercial messages. This aversion to commercial practices is even stronger amongst young people with 88% of 18-24 year olds being opposed to advertising intrusions. But these same consumers are also quite happy to interact with brands and companies while using social networks with 64% saying they have “liked or friended brand pages.” **What are we to make of these rather contradictory statistics?** This disconnect is not new. Most consumers reject the idea of TV advertising interrupting their viewing while also claiming to enjoy watching some of the ads. It’s a very natural response; given a choice we’d all choose to have our cake and eat it. The web doesn’t work that way though. The only economically-viable way to enjoy the many wonders of the Internet is to accept that someone has to pay for it, and this normally means agreeing to consume advertising messages. **What should companies do in the face of these new findings?** A good place to start is to recognise that there’s a very fine line between between a helpful, friendly connection on the social web and a stalking, hard-selling PITA who deserves to be unfriended: 1. Keep your commercial messages to a minimum, using them only when you have a really strong offer or deal that consumers would hate to miss out on. 2. When advertising online, make sure it’s clear what is a commercial message and what isn’t. Disguising your commercial materials as social chat or reviews is an absolute no-go and any form of hard-sell will be rejected by many. 3. Don’t contact customers or prospects directly through social media channels (86% of consumers say they would be “seriously put off a brand” if this happened to them) but invite them to contact you if your offer is strong enough to warrant it. To read more, download the full report from GI Insight from [this link](http://www.gi-solutionsgroup.com/phocadownload/82821_intouch_web.pdf) (.pdf). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advertising, research, social media, survey --- ### [How Your Facebook Likes Can Expose The Real You](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-your-facebook-likes-can-reveal-the-real-you/) **Published:** March 12, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **If you like the iPod page on Facebook you’re probably more dissatisfied with your life than someone who likes Sarah Palin.** That’s just one of the findings from a new study by researchers at the University of Cambridge that shows how much of our personality we share through our Facebook Likes, whether we realise it or not. Using a dataset from almost 60,000 volunteers, researchers have built a statistical model that can predict personal, undisclosed attributes like sexual orientation, ethnicity, intelligence and happiness with unnerving accuracy. For example, the model can correctly discriminate between homosexual and heterosexual men in 88% of cases. So, without even stating a preference, anyone with access to your Facebook Likes can make predictions about related personality traits and behaviours with a high degree of accuracy. The researchers have also published a list ([open .pdf file](http://www.pnas.org/content/suppl/2013/03/07/1218772110.DCSupplemental/st01.pdf)) of some of the Likes with the most accurate predictive power, a few of which I’ve summarised below: [![Most Predictive Likes Table](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/most-predictive-likes-table_thumb.png "Most Predictive Likes Table")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/most-predictive-likes-table.png) Take extreme care when dealing with stereotypes. However, this research shows once again how the information we share openly on the social web can reveal details about us far beyond what we would normally be happy to disclose. And with massive factories now crunching data around the clock, the scope for ‘big data’ analytics of this kind will only grow. Fascinating, if slightly scary stuff. You can also test the accuracy of the model against your own Facebook Likes at [http://www.youarewhatyoulike.com/](http://www.youarewhatyoulike.com/ "http://www.youarewhatyoulike.com/"). But, be warned, by doing so you too will become a small, anonymous part of this great data experiment. *Further reading:* - Paper Abstract: [Private traits and attributes are predictable from digital records of human behavior](http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/03/06/1218772110.abstract) - Article on The Verge: [Facebook likes can reveal private personality traits](http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/11/4092586/facebook-likes-can-reveal-private-personality-traits-according-to) **Categories:** Digital Living, Social Media **Tags:** data, Facebook, research --- ### [Happy Valentine’s Day](https://allisterspeaks.com/happy-valentines-day/) **Published:** February 14, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Happy Valentine’s Day, dear reader. You already know, but here’s what fills my heart every time I think of you. [![Allister-Frost-Word-Cloud-Heart](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/allister-frost-word-cloud-heart_thumb.jpg "Allister-Frost-Word-Cloud-Heart")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/allister-frost-word-cloud-heart.jpg) xxx (with thanks to the excellent [Tagxedo](http://www.tagxedo.com/) for making this lovely heart from some of the words on this blog) **Categories:** Digital Living **Tags:** heart, love, valentine's --- ### [Reasons to be Fearful - Facebook Graph Search](https://allisterspeaks.com/reasons-to-be-fearful-facebook-graph-search/) **Published:** January 29, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Facebook Graph Search](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/image4.png "Facebook Graph Search")](http://actualfacebookgraphsearches.tumblr.com/) Facebook’s new [Graph Search](https://www.facebook.com/about/graphsearch) (currently in Beta testing to limited users only) will eventually allow anyone to search data across the platform and precisely identify people with common interests. For example, if looking for a a companion for a lunchtime snack you will be able to instantly search for *“friends who work at my company and like sushi.”* Or a weekend trip to a new city could be improved by searching for *“museums my friends have been to in Paris”.* Basically, almost any semantic search query you can type in 112 characters or less will soon be enabled. It’s not yet known how users will embrace this new feature but there’s no doubt this creates many new possibilities to identify specific tribes on the world’s largest social networking platform. Thankfully, even though you cannot opt out of your data being used in Graph Search, the search results presented will respect each user’s privacy settings at the moment the search is conducted. If your privacy settings state that your activity on Facebook should be restricted to friends, then so too will be the ability to search your data. I suspect that this may lead to more Facebook users locking down settings to reduce the risk of their personal data falling into the wrong hands. **If you haven’t done this already, now would be a good time. And go back through your Activity Log (not your Timeline) and delete anything that you do not want to become instantly searchable.** So, while today many people think it’s relatively harmless to ‘Like’ a Facebook page about recreational drugs or their religious affiliations, once Graph Search is fully enabled, those choices may come back to haunt. Human Resources Managers, for example, could be forgiven for wanting to identify *“people who work at my company who like weed.”* Already, there are some [fairly dramatic examples](http://actualfacebookgraphsearches.tumblr.com/) cropping up showing how this search functionality could be abused, including *“Mothers of Jews who like Bacon”* or *“Married People who like Prostitutes.”* The greatest hope, perhaps, is that the introduction of Graph Search will make Facebook users more aware of how their data can be used, making them more selective in choosing what to ‘Like’ and associate themselves with across the social network. And that, ultimately, is what Facebook wants too. And to all those companies that have built their Facebook fan base on [short term incentives and prizes](http://allisterfrost.com/2010/11/19/social-media-marketing-idiocy-by-turkish-airlines/) I’d urge you to be particularly attentive. If many of those ‘friends’ you’ve attracted turn out to be the sort of people who will ‘like’ almost anything online, irrespective of how wholesome or appropriate it is for your brand, the public relations challenges ahead could be damaging. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, search, social media --- ### [Top UK Online Marketing Bloggers](https://allisterspeaks.com/top-uk-online-marketing-bloggers/) **Published:** January 24, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Blog image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/blog.jpg "Blog image")People often ask me to recommend great digital marketing blogs they should read. I have my own favourites, hand-picked over the years according to the usefulness of the content they share. For every blog I keep following there are usually two or three I ditch because they fail to blog regularly or to a consistently high standard. And every six months or so I crawl through my subscriptions in [Google Reader](http://www.google.com/reader) and prune out any blogs that have fallen into disrepair. It’s a constantly shifting data source, but one that I couldn’t do without. [![Top UK Bloggers list](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/image3.png "Top UK Bloggers list")](http://www.toprankblog.com/2013/01/online-marketing-bloggers-uk/)Today, rather than sharing the list of my all time favourite bloggers, I suggest you take a look at Lee Odden’s just released ‘[Top UK Online Marketing Influencers & Bloggers](http://www.toprankblog.com/2013/01/online-marketing-bloggers-uk/)’ list. I nominated some of the bloggers on the list and there are others that I hadn’t heard of until today, but have now started following. In my opinion, the ranking, determined by [Traackr](http://traackr.com/), defies any logical explanation; why someone I consider a well-respected and popular blogger ranks so much lower than someone who doesn’t even appear to have a meaningful active blog presence doesn’t make much sense to me. But that is as we should expect from a largely quantitatively-driven indexing algorithm that reports on a single moment in time. So don’t pay too much attention to the relative placement on the list but focus instead on checking out those bloggers who write about stuff you find interesting. And if you like what these bloggers do, don’t forget to let them know and to tell others about your great discoveries. **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** bloggers, blogs, UK --- ### [Why’s Social Media Managers Go To Iceland](https://allisterspeaks.com/whys-social-media-managers-go-to-iceland/) **Published:** January 22, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Iceland Wants To Be Your Friend](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/image2.png "Iceland Wants To Be Your Friend")](http://www.icelandwantstobeyourfriend.com/)It’s a longstanding campaign, but it still stands out in my mind as one of the most delightful ways that social media has been put to proper and effective use. Back in 2009, [Takk Takk](http://takktakk.is/), a small marketing and communications agency in Iceland, was tasked by the Icelandic Tourist Board with finding ways to promote the island through social media. Instead of following the now well-worn path of creating profiles for the brand on Facebook and Twitter, Takk Takk followed an altogether different route, creating a profile for Iceland itself on “the Inter-nets” as a whole. Put simply, they told the world that “[Iceland Wants To Be Your Friend.](http://www.icelandwantstobeyourfriend.com/)” Through a delightful tone of voice, highly distinctive copywriting and some quirky little features\*, Iceland quickly carved out an enthusiastic online following. If only more tourist boards had the wisdom to embrace creativity like this. But there’s little point me explaining any further. It’s far better that you just go and find out for yourself direct from the Takk Takk guys. Read the background to the campaign at [http://www.takktakk.com/presents/icelandwantstobeyourfriend/](http://www.takktakk.com/presents/icelandwantstobeyourfriend/ "http://www.takktakk.com/presents/icelandwantstobeyourfriend/"). ***Delightful, intelligent work, beautifully executed.*** \* I love the footer copy on [http://www.icelandwantstobeyourfriend.com/](http://www.icelandwantstobeyourfriend.com/ "http://www.icelandwantstobeyourfriend.com/") and the hidden delight of finding a free music download right at the end. It’s a good track too. Thanks Iceland! **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** creativity, iceland, social media --- ### [Digital Marketing Investments Set To Rise in 2013](https://allisterspeaks.com/digital-marketing-investments-set-to-rise-in-2013/) **Published:** January 21, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Digital marketers should take heart from [new data from Gartner](http://blogs.gartner.com/laura-mclellan/follow-the-money-trail-in-digital-marketing/) that suggest investment levels in digital marketing at large companies are likely to increase across many disciplines in 2013. No surprise, social media is the area where most companies plan to increase their investment, with mobile apps close behind. Tablets apps look set to receive first time investment from 17% of the firms surveyed, while email marketing continues to feel the squeeze with 7% of companies set to reduce investment levels. Once again, analytics seems to be a little out of favour, despite being arguably the weakest link in many companies’ digital marketing efforts. I wonder if this is a function of the sampling methodology and the perennially dull image of the analytics field? [![Digital-marketing-investment-by-Gartner](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/digital-marketing-investment-500x377.png "Digital Marketing Investment chart")](http://blogs.gartner.com/laura-mclellan/follow-the-money-trail-in-digital-marketing/) As Gartner rightly points out, these data come from a relatively small sample size and represent nothing more than a snapshot in time. But how do these findings compare to your own expectations? **Is this a time for digital marketers to feel bullish or bearish?** **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** Digital Marketing, forecast, investment --- ### [The Recession-Busting Vending Machine](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-recession-busting-vending-machine/) **Published:** January 21, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Are you depressed about the world’s economic woes? Well, here’s a vending machine that puts a novel spin on bad news. [![WP_000326 (1)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/wp_000326-1_thumb.jpg "Recession busting vending machine")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/wp_000326-1.jpg "A recessionary-proof vending machine")Spotted at the recently opened [Open Data Institute](http://www.theodi.org/) in London UK, this vending machine has been reprogrammed to automatically dispense free snacks every time recession-related terms make the headlines on the BBC News RSS feed. So now even bad news could be good news for you, if you happen to passing the machine at the right moment. Ingenious! Snack fans are politely requested to form an orderly queue when the Chancellor makes his next announcement. Find out more about [Sir Tim Berners-Lee](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee "Tim Berners-Lee") and Prof Nigel Shadbolt’s ODI and some interesting free lecture events at [http://www.theodi.org/](http://www.theodi.org/ "http://www.theodi.org/"). Thanks to [Kathryn](https://twitter.com/kcorrick) for giving me a tour, and some recession-busting crisps! **Categories:** Digital Living, Innovation **Tags:** art, BBC, recession --- ### [The Best Annual Report Ever?](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-best-annual-report-ever/) **Published:** January 18, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/image1.png "image")](http://www.warbyparker.com/annual-report-2012) [Warby Parker](http://www.warbyparker.com/) is an eyewear retailer based out of New York , USA. They have recently released the first Annual Report I’ve actually enjoyed reading. See for yourself at [http://www.warbyparker.com/annual-report-2012](http://www.warbyparker.com/annual-report-2012 "http://www.warbyparker.com/annual-report-2012"). What a great way to engage an audience. Good work! **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** annual report, creativity, digital --- ### [How to Escape The Events Management Cycle of Despair](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-escape-the-events-management-cycle-of-despair/) **Published:** January 17, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve [written previously](http://allisterfrost.com/2012/08/07/digital-marketing-conferences-to-avoid/) about the importance of carefully selecting which business conferences to attend and – more importantly – which to avoid. With an ever-tightening squeeze on marketing budgets and mounting pressure to “do more with less”, some event management companies face tough trading months ahead. But not every player in the conference business needs to worry. Those companies who have invested wisely in great content and sought to give their delegates a great experience before, during and after every event should have nothing to fear. [![The event management cycle of despair](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/event-management-cycle-of-despair_thumb.png "The event management cycle of despair")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/event-management-cycle-of-despair.png)The guys who should be worried are those event management businesses who routinely and deliberately fail to create great experiences for their delegates. Many of these organisations find themselves in what I fondly call the **“event management cycle of despair”** (right) where each poorly delivered conference leads to a subsequent more depressed event, where any scope for investment in great content is gone. These conferences and seminars are typified by an excessive reliance on sponsor companies, often hawking their wares from exhibition stands and being given speakers slots and a voice in panel discussions. For the event delegates, this is almost tolerable if entry to the event is free and they came along hoping only to gather information from vendors. But if a delegate has paid for a ticket to the event or incurred significant cost and inconvenience to be there, it’s only fair that they should be rewarded with access to non-commercial, supplier-agnostic expertise, not sold at relentlessly like a captive blank cheque. Why do I care about this? As a [professional speaker](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/speaking/) (amongst [other things](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/about/)) I’m often asked if I can speak at an event. And so begins a well-worn process where my agent or office explain what my speaker fees will be and why. I charge fees not because I’m greedy or unreasonable but to pay the bills, grow the company and feed my family. And I ensure that every penny of that investment goes into making sure the support I give to the event is [as great as I can possibly make it](http://allisterfrost.com/2013/01/16/my-new-video-showreel/). You shouldn’t expect anything less from a professional speaker. Every once in a while I give a talk for free, often for groups or causes that I consider would really value my help. My internet safety talks to parents at UK schools are an example of this, but I can only afford to give away a small amount of my time like this so have to be highly selective. What’s the solution for event companies spinning in the cycle of despair? Invest in content and great experiences for your delegates. There are lots of great speakers who are ready to share their expertise with your delegates but you only get what you pay for, as should the delegates who come to your events. Even if some events won’t turn an immediate profit, the inclusion of great quality speakers who understand that content is king is a smart way to escape the cycle of despair and start building a loyal base or repeat customers. And if you’re a delegate wondering which conferences or training programmes to sign up to this year, think very carefully about how to invest your time. Look for independent, experienced speakers and events that seem tailored to support your organisation’s and your personal development goals. If in doubt, [drop me a note](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/contact/) and I’ll let you know what I think. **Categories:** Inspiration, Marketing, Noble Marketing **Tags:** conference, events, marketing, speaker --- ### [My new video showreel](https://allisterspeaks.com/my-new-video-showreel/) **Published:** January 16, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Dear Reader, I’ve a new video showreel which features a brief selection of clips from some of my recent talks. Thought you might like to see it. All the best, Allister \[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6kftfinonw\] **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** showreel, video --- ### [The Science of Persuasion Video by Robert Cialdini and Steve Martin](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-science-of-persuasion-video-by-robert-cialdini-and-steve-martin/) **Published:** January 16, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/image.png) I often speak at conferences on the fascinating topic of behavioural economics, much of which is rooted in understanding the psychological triggers that our simple human brains find irresistible. Dr Robert Cialdini is one of the world’s leading experts in this field and has recently teamed up with Steve Martin (no, not *that* Steve Martin) to produce a superb animated video about the six principles of influence. Watch and enjoy! \[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFdCzN7RYbw\] **Categories:** Inspiration, Marketing **Tags:** influence, psychology, video --- ### [Powerful Data Visualisation from Autodesk’s Organic Org Chart](https://allisterspeaks.com/powerful-data-visualisation-from-autodesks-organic-org-chart/) **Published:** January 10, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Data, data, data. It’s the fuel behind a new world of discoveries and possibilities. Take this video from AutoDesk that vividly illustrates how the company’s organisational chart has evolved over 4 years from May 2007-June 2011. It’s not, perhaps, the most user-friendly way to present the data, but in the hands of an experienced observer this video holds a wealth of insights into how the company deals with change and how it could become more efficient in future. \[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkJ-Uy5dt5g\] Clever data visualisations like this are still in their infancy but today’s technology means that if you can dream it, you can create it. Thanks to our ability to collect and manipulate vast data stores, the possibilities are now endless. Thanks to [Chris Schaumann](http://advertising3.wordpress.com/2012/12/20/organic-org-chart/) for alerting me to this. **Categories:** Digital Living **Tags:** data, organisation, video, visualisation --- ### [Microsoft’s clever “small demonstration”](https://allisterspeaks.com/microsofts-clever-small-demonstration/) **Published:** January 9, 2013 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Some ideas just smack you between the eyes and make you wonder “why didn’t I think of that?” That’s how I feel watching this cute, short video from Microsoft Portugal. What better way to prove that a computer is really easy to use? [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ODFvy1mjoY&w=448&h=252&hd=1] Nice marketing! Thanks to my friend Faiz Rehman at Microsoft in the Middle East for pointing this out to me. **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing, Marketing --- ### [Reflections On 2012, A Year of Extraordinary Change](https://allisterspeaks.com/reflections-on-2012-a-year-of-extraordinary-change/) **Published:** December 20, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Wild-Orange-with-Santa-Hat](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/orange-with-santa-hat.png "Wild Orange with Santa Hat")](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/)As the calendar year draws to a close and our attention turns to spending time with family and friends over the festive break, I like to take a moment to look back on the 12 months past to reflect on how much has changed. Most progress is gradual, it takes time to build, leaving many of us unaware of how much our lives are changing. For people working in the digital marketing arena constant change has become a way of life, but even we are prone to forgetting just how radically different the world is today, thanks in large part to technology and shifting societal norms. During 2012 we saw Facebook hit a billion active users a month and it remains head and shoulder above any other social network. Twitter blasted through the half a billion user mark with Google+ not far behind. But those stats mask the fact that many of Twitter and Google+’s registered users are inactive. Google+, for instance, has a little over 100 million active users. Advertising through social network platforms also evolved with Twitter’s sponsored tweets in widespread usage and Facebook’s sponsored stories now starting to appear in wall streams. And Pinterest also bolstered its monetisation credentials with some retailers reporting that it draws in more—and higher value—customers who convert to sale better than Facebook. Whether this will be sustainable for a mono-dimensional (if very beautiful) user experience like Pinterest remains unclear. Instagram was gobbled up by Facebook for $1billion, although the actual price paid fell to $730million in line with Facebook’s struggling stock price. How the Instagram service will evolve from here remains unclear and recent privacy and copyright changes have called into question CEO Kevin Systrom’s assurances that “the Instagram app will still be the same one you know and love.” Google updated its search engine algorithms repeatedly as its Panda updates cracked down on dubious SEO techniques like below the fold content and web spammers. And choices for legitimate PPC advertisers grew again with numerous improvements including enhanced sitelinks, AdWords for Video, improved location targeting and Google Shopping listings moving to advertiser only content in the US, extending to other markets soon. The latest killer tactic, search re-targeting, which allows advertisers to serve display ads based on a user’s search keywords, is now live in beta on Google in the US and looks set to be rolled out in other markets soon. Similar facilities are available on the new Yahoo! Bing network. The device and tech gadget world had another immense year of innovation with the arrival of the iPhone 5, Mini iPad, Samsung Galaxy Note II, Nokia Lumia 920, Google Nexus 7, Amazon Kindle Paperwhite and Fire HD, amongst many, many others. The smartphone battle lines are clearly drawn between the two leading players, Apple and Samsung, with vicious patent claims and counter-claims dominating the headlines throughout 2012. And in the old school world of desktop/laptop operating systems we saw the birth of Mac OS X v10.8. “Mountain Lion” and a radical departure from Microsoft with its dual type/touch operating system Windows 8. The Redmond giant has even started manufacturing and direct selling its own devices with Windows Surface RT appearing in October and a Pro version due out soon. We’ll be looking ahead to 2013 in the New Year. Expect to hear about topics like Near Field Communications, Co-creation Strategies, Automation, Wearable Tech, Real-Time Personalised Manufacturing and more asset-light crowd-funded mega-brands as the year unfolds. But for now, please take a moment to reflect on your personal journey and achievements. As Fatboy Slim wisely remarked, *“we’ve come a long way baby”…* **[![Happy-Christmas-from-Wild-Orange-Media](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/happy-christmas-from-wild-orange-media.png "Happy Christmas from Wild Orange Media")](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/)To all my readers, customers, partners and friends, thanks for your support and friendship over the year. I hear 2013 will be even better! Have a fantastic festive break** =) **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Free video webinar: B2B Buyer Engagement Through New Technology](https://allisterspeaks.com/free-video-webinar-b2b-buyer-engagement-through-new-technology/) **Published:** December 7, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![BrightTALK Webinar](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/2012-12-07-15_08_55.png?w=150)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/2012-12-07-15_08_55.png)Yesterday I joined B2B Marketing’s Joel Harrison and co-founder of BrightTALK, Charlie Blackburn, in their London studio to talk about the challenge of securing buyer engagement through new technology channels. If you missed the live broadcast, the webinar recording is now available to view at: [ http://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/1166/62437](http://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/1166/62437 "BrightTALK webinar") I’d love to hear your feedback. And yes, I really do need a haircut. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** B2B, marketing, technology, webinar --- ### [Free webinar 6 Dec on B2B Marketing through New Technology](https://allisterspeaks.com/free-webinar-6-dec-on-b2b-marketing-through-new-technology/) **Published:** December 5, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Webinar icon](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/webinar.gif "Webinar Icon")](https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/1166/58431)Join me and Charlie Blackburn, co-founder of BrightTALK, on a special live webinar on 6 December at 10am (UK). To register, go to [https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/1166/58431](https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/1166/58431 "https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/1166/58431"). With Joel Harrison, Editorial Director of B2B Marketing, to guide the debate we’ll be discussing how buyer behaviours are changing and what it now takes to properly engage your customers and prospects. Join live to submit your questions and give instant feedback in our polls. The session will also be recorded for later listening online. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** brighttalk, live, webcast, webinar --- ### [Beware the hidden costs of online shopping](https://allisterspeaks.com/beware-the-hidden-costs-of-online-shopping/) **Published:** December 3, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![here-be-dragons-map](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/here-be-dragons-map_thumb.jpg "here-be-dragons-map")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/here-be-dragons-map.jpg) Today is Manic Monday, expected to be the busiest online shopping day of the year, and this seems a timely moment to issue some advice. While the Internet can be a great place to buy goods at some highly attractive prices you need to stay alert to the risk of hidden charges that may negate some of the benefits of shopping this way. Within the EU, retailers are required to fully disclosed all charges at the point of the sales transaction. **If the price looks too good to be true, pay close attention.** Some goods like alcohol and tobacco are subject to Excise Duty and if the retailer has not prepaid this your goods could be seized. Additionally, any goods bought from outside of the EU for delivery to the UK may be subject to Custom Duty and VAT Import Duty. Where custom duty is below £7 it will normally be waived, so keeping your basket value low may save you money. However, if the duty payable exceeds £7 you should expect a hefty bill when the goods arrive at your door. I had this experience recently when buying from LightInTheBox.com, a wholesale company that I now know is based in Beijing, China. Upon delivery, my order of a small tech gadget costing £42 including delivery had attracted additional duty charges of nearly £20. As I wasn’t made aware the goods were coming from China directly I hadn’t expected this charge and refused to accept delivery. The friendly UPS delivery man even advised me that many of his customers do the same with this particular company. Raising a complaint with LightInTheBox brought little initial satisfaction when I was advised I would have to pay a “restocking” fee and would therefore only be entitled to a refund of £18.42, less than half of the money I had spent. After complaining vociferously, the customer service assistance was good and I was eventually given a full refund of my costs, but not before the experience had caused me great inconvenience and cost me precious time. UK shoppers have little recourse in law if buying from outside of the EU. There’s no applicable small claims courts spanning international boundaries so you are relying on the goodwill of the merchant to resolve your claim satisfactorily. Paying by credit card may afford you some protection and is always wise for high value goods. So, be careful which sites you buy from. Always check the provenance of your goods and if buying from outside the EU calculate your possible duty exposure. Sites like [Duty Calculator](http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-import-duty-and-tax-calculation/) can help you make an informed decision so you have no surprises when the goods arrive at your door. Happy Manic Monday Shopping! **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing **Tags:** duty, law, online shopping, VAT --- ### [Dan Ariely’s The Honest Truth about Dishonesty](https://allisterspeaks.com/dan-arielys-the-honest-truth-about-dishonesty/) **Published:** November 29, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve been speaking a lot about [making marketing noble](http://vimeo.com/52239850), not least because if you don’t you are virtually guaranteed to be found out sooner or later in our increasingly transparent and open society. Technology that has given us easier access to information lies at the root of this societal shift but my favourite behavioural economist (and soon to be yours) Dan Ariely has some fascinating insights into how we are often even dishonest about our honesty. And it turns out that all it may take is a few gentle reminders of our morality to nudge us towards supervising our own acts and ultimately acting more honourably. Watch and be inspired. Thanks to [Jeremy Epstein](http://jer979.com/igniting-the-revolution/dishonesty/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ITR+%28IgnitingTheRevolution%29) for reminding me about this excellent talk and animated video. And you can buy Dan’s book on this topic from [Amazon](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0062183591/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0062183591&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Noble Marketing **Tags:** behavioural economics, noble marketing --- ### [Outstanding Customer Service by Buffer](https://allisterspeaks.com/outstanding-customer-service-by-buffer/) **Published:** November 28, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Buffer logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/image1.png "Buffer logo")I’m a bigger fan of [Buffer](http://www.bufferapp.com) today than I was yesterday. Which is quite something because I already liked it a lot. I didn’t hesitate to drop them an email when their newsletter asked me for feedback and signed off with this genuine plea for feedback: > P.S. We meant that whole “hit reply” bit. We have a lot of fun stuff in the works, and we want to hear what we can do to make the Buffer experience better for you. It’s always incredible to hear from amazing people in our community like yourself. Thanks for making this so fun! So I asked if they had any apps in the works for Windows 8 or Windows Phone. (You see, even though I’m ex-Microsoft I still despair when developers ignore these platforms.) And that’s when I realised I love Buffer even more. Because just 1 hour 16 minute later Leo Wildrich, Co-Founder of Buffer, replied to me in person. > Hi Allister, > Fantastic to hear from you and thanks a lot for the heads up. Oh, great point, unfortunately nothing is on the roadmap right now regarding Windows Surface, I’ll let you know first thing once we have something up and running for you though! 🙂 > > Hope that helps! Let me know how you get on and if you have any other questions, I’ll be glad to hear from you. > > Best, Leo Even though they didn’t have the answer I hoped for, they had at least responded and promised to keep me informed should things change. It turns out this isn’t just a one-off either. The team at Buffer takes great pride in making their customers happy. There’s even a [detailed post by Alyssa Aldersley](http://blog.bufferapp.com/measuring-buffer-happiness-october-2012) on their blog explaining why their “Happiness Report” really matters. An amazing 56% of emails received a reply within an hour during October, and 81% were dealt with within 6 hours. Read the blog post and learn. **Now that’s great online customer service!** Sure it’s a little easier when you’re a young start-up like Buffer. But just imagine what life could be like if a few more companies took customer happiness just as seriously. Will your company be next? **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** buffer, customer service, start-up --- ### [Killed by Tech](https://allisterspeaks.com/killed-by-tech/) **Published:** November 27, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Eric Qualman writes some good books. [His latest]( **Categories:** Digital Living, Inspiration **Tags:** technology, video --- ### [Stop! Your marketing strategy is showing](https://allisterspeaks.com/stop-your-marketing-strategy-is-showing/) **Published:** November 26, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Lady with Knickers Showing Cartoon](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/lady-with-knickers-showing-cartoon.jpg "Lady with Knickers Showing Cartoon")It’s the business equivalent of going out with your skirt tucked in. That time when your marketing efforts are so obviously focussed on a single goal, you fail to leave anything to the customer’s imagination. And instead of joining in, your customers just feel pity that your sorry attempts to steer them towards your business objective have failed so badly. [DeVere Group Hotels](http://www.devere-hotels.co.uk/) seems to be falling into this trap rather regularly. Despite being one of their customers, all they seem to want me to do is show how much I ‘like’ them on Facebook. And if I do I could win a stay in one of their hotels. Or a £50 spot prize every week. Or a prize. Did we mention the prizes? Sometimes they invite people to complete a survey, as explained on the business cards and billboards dotted around their hotels. But you can only enter the survey after first giving them a ‘like’ on Facebook: ![DeVere-Hotels-Like-Us-and-Win-business-card](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/devere-hotels-like-us-and-win-business-card.png "DeVere-Hotels-Like-Us-and-Win-business-card") Other times, they send out aesthetically-challenged emails, enticing people in with more special prizes. All you have to do is give them a ‘Like’ on Facebook: ![De Vere email](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/2012-11-25-21_09_36-get-our-latest-info-offers-here-plus-enter-our-festive-prize-draw-message.png "De Vere email") So that’s four mentions of ‘like’ in a single email. **It’s akin to hearing the least popular kid at school pleading for someone to be friends with them.** This isn’t how marketing is supposed to work. Where’s the creativity, where the mystery and intrigue? When your hidden agenda is glaringly conspicuous, can you really expect those customers who comply to feel good about themselves? Or will they just feel used and abused? But, maybe it works. If your measure of success is counting the number of people who follow your desperate cries for help, then perhaps it does work. A quick glance at [De Vere Hotels’ Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/DeVereHotels) shows a sharp jump in the number of likes, averaging around 2,000 new likes per week, although dipping slightly recently: ![De Vere Hotels Facebook stats](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/2012-11-25-21_17_30-2-de-vere-hotels.png "De Vere Hotels Facebook stats") That’s nice. And what’s the value of 5,106 likes? Sadly, if they’ve all been collected through short term prize incentives that demonstrate no long-term loyalty or affinity to the brand their value is zero. Nothing. Nada. The square root of FA. 5,106 likes is nothing more than puffery and noise, something for a misguided brand manager to crow about to distract the rest of the business from the fact that they’ve been abusing the trust customers have placed in them. However well-intentioned, this approach to social media marketing is neither wise nor effective. Yes, there’s a possibility that De Vere Group may have some brilliant plan up its sleeve to ignite this new community into a passionate army of influencers that will transform their business. But, as yet, there’s no evidence of anything more than an ill-judged social networking land grab taking place before our eyes. **Marketing in a real-time, two-way world doesn’t have to be this shallow. If your strategy bears any resemblance to that of De Vere Hotels Group, now would be a very good time to change.** **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** bad marketing, Facebook, social media --- ### [What is (Cyber) Black Friday?](https://allisterspeaks.com/what-is-cyber-black-friday/) **Published:** November 23, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Black-Friday-2012](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/black-friday-2012.png "Black-Friday-2012")Today, 23 November 2012 is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving Day in the USA. It’s a great day to do some online shopping for the Christmas holiday season as many retailer run one day only promotions to try to win your valuable festive custom. People here in the UK often ask me what it’s all about. The origins of the phrase ‘Black Friday’ are not entirely clear. [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)) refers to its use in Philadelphia well before 1961 where it described the “heavy and disruptive traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving”. An alternative explanation is also given that it’s the point in the calendar year when most retailers start to turn a profit. ***Today, the meaning is unambiguous:*** Black Friday is the day that signals the start of the busy Christmas shopping season, when retailers open early and offer some very special discounts to entice customers to part with their cash. In the USA, it has been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005 and consumers around the world are increasingly getting in on the act through online shopping channels in their own version of the event called Cyber Black Friday. Inevitably, some retailers have sought to gain advantage over their rivals, with some going so far as running Black (or Grey) Thursday offers. So how can you get involved? Most major online retailers are running special promotions today, many extending into the weekend, giving generous discounts off of popular products. Look for special offers from Amazon, Ebay, Apple, John Lewis, Tesco and many other major retailers. But you have to move quickly; the deals are often limited and sell out quickly. Happy shopping! *(image credit: © maresz\_1980 – Fotolia.com)* **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing **Tags:** black friday, cyber, online, shopping --- ### [Which content work on Facebook?](https://allisterspeaks.com/which-content-work-on-facebook/) **Published:** November 15, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Here’s a fact-packed infographic giving hints about what content types and strategies work best for brands on Facebook. Keep in mind that your brand and its audience are unique, so it’s unlikely that these generic data points derived from a B2B study in Germany will be perfectly accurate for your business. Useful food for thought though… [![What works on Facebook](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/what-works-on-facebook.png "What works on Facebook")](http://was-gb.wascdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/infografik_english.jpg) Source file: [infografik\_english.jpg 1000×3059](http://was-gb.wascdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/infografik_english.jpg) **Categories:** Social Media --- ### [Where the Internet lives](https://allisterspeaks.com/where-the-internet-lives/) **Published:** November 13, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Google datacenter](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/google-datacenter.jpg "Google datacenter") They are some of the most awesomely powerful places on Earth. Yet most of us will never get to visit them, even though many facets of our everyday lives depend upon them. Google has recently opened the doors, giving a peek into some of its datacenters. At the [Where the Internet Lives](http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/gallery/#/) site you can learn about the immense capabilities of Google’s data farms and some of the people who work there. Microsoft also occasionally gives glimpses into its own datacenters. [Here’s a video from 2011](http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/showcase/details.aspx?uuid=39836de6-cd61-4e16-8b84-2f8f8c3b671c) giving a behind-the-scenes view into the technology that Microsoft’s customers use every day without even realising it. They’re massive, energy hungry and pretty awe-inspiring to look at. But without them our digital lives simply wouldn’t be the same. **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing **Tags:** datacenter, internet --- ### [Police Nicked for Marketing Dishonestly](https://allisterspeaks.com/police-nicked-for-marketing-dishonestly/) **Published:** November 5, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** If there’s one thing that gets sniffed out quickly in our social media age, it’s inauthenticity. ![Deputy Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan in front of the 'seized' cars](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/image.png "Deputy Chief Constable Campbell Corrigan in front of the 'seized' cars") An investigation by the [Daily Record](http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/revealed-cars-used-in-police-campaign-1416153), Scotland’s best selling daily newspaper, has shown that even the Police can occasionally stoop to act dishonestly in their marketing campaigns. When Deputy Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police posed in front of 10 high value cars, each bearing the registration plate ‘SEIZED’, it should have been a straightforward PR success story. But the cars had not been seized by police. They were, it now transpires, merely “representative of the types of vehicles” that police had seized. They had actually been borrowed that day from a local car dealership. In the past a media stunt like this would probably have passed off without further discussion. But with growing public demands for transparency and honesty and an expanding population of digitally-connected consumers, it’s almost inevitable that duplicity of this nature will eventually be exposed. [Noble marketing](http://allisterfrost.com/2012/10/31/on-making-marketing-noble/) is the only way forward, anything less is doomed to fail in the long run. A Strathclyde police spokesperson has now confirmed: *“The vehicles displayed were identical substitutes of some of the high-spec models seized by officers since April 2012, and were used as examples only. They were sourced from a car dealership at no cost to the force.”* Many of our police forces should be congratulated for embracing the social web and inviting dialogue with members of the public. It’s not always an easy balance, holding the public’s trust while also keeping a distance that maintains respect for the force. But the very least most people expect is honesty and fairness from the public organisations that exist to maintain them. The arrival of the social web has made sure that there’s nowhere left to hide. If you can’t play by the rules, expect to be shown up as a cheat. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Noble Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** marketing, noble, police --- ### [Breaking News - Some People Don’t Own A Tablet](https://allisterspeaks.com/breaking-news-some-people-dont-own-a-tablet/) **Published:** November 1, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** *\[I originally wrote this article for [Silicon Beach 2012](http://siliconbeach.eu/); this is the first time it has appeared online\]* [![BreakingNews](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/breakingnews_thumb.jpg "BreakingNews")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/breakingnews.jpg)This is an extraordinary time to be in business. The economy is all over the place, international trade is threatened by collapsing currencies and we’re constantly bombarded with new technology inventions that promise to improve our lives. Despite everything that the financial meltdown has thrown at us few who have worked through the last decade would deny how positively transformative technology has been. You could even be forgiven for lusting after the latest new shiny object or Web 4.0 application and all that it promises. Yet all around you a very different scene is playing out. While you camp outside your local gadget store to get your hands on the hottest new tablet or phone, most of the rest of the world remains blissfully unaffected. According to data from the National Readership Survey, fewer than 1 in 6 (15%) adults own either a tablet device or an e-reader. And a tiny 1.4%, like me and you, own both. For most, a tablet is something the doctor prescribes. Even with smartphones or HTML5 enabled browsers or Pinterest or whatever… experiencing remarkable growth, most of these remain the playthings of the privileged few. It’s easy to forget this when you’re busy keeping the new technology hamster wheel spinning. You might feel mild embarrassment that your 6 month old smartphone only sports 13 megapixels. Meanwhile the person sitting next to you on the bus carries their 2003 Nokia feature phone only ‘in case of emergencies,’ presumably something along the lines of a power cut or Tesco running out of frozen peas. If you work in marketing you’d be well-advised to keep your feet firmly on the ground. By all means treat yourself to some hot new gadgetry and be sure to show it off to anyone who will listen, but don’t fall into the trap of imagining that your life has anything in common with that of your customers. If you do, you may soon be committing the worst of marketing crimes: creating campaigns in your own image, not in those of your target audience. I’m not advocating that we all stop building sites that render beautifully on any device using responsive HTML5 or that we abandon our mobile marketing plan in what must surely now be “The Year of Mobile”. Do those things by all means—our industry progress depends on them—but also keep evaluating the merits of marketing campaigns that appeal to those segments of our population who remain largely untouched by technological change. That means TV and radio advertising, good old fashioned PR and—please forgive me my digital masters—direct mail marketing. For many businesses these techniques still work wonders, helping brands reach a richer vein of customers in ways that connect meaningfully with their everyday lives. These traditional routes to market may have lost some of their earlier potency but knowing how to integrate them with your wider digital marketing plan is now a critical skill for marketers during these times of unprecedented flux. Just as we do with the gadgets in our pockets, the world’s very best marketers regularly make wise decisions about which new channels to adopt and which to surrender. As our world continues its slow evolution from analogue to digital, marketers who want to make themselves truly future-ready would do well to keep one eye on the past. *\[to see my talk at Silicon Beach in October 2012,* [*click here*](https://vimeo.com/52239850)*\]* **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** Digital Marketing, marketing --- ### [On Making Marketing Noble](https://allisterspeaks.com/on-making-marketing-noble/) **Published:** October 31, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I believe that marketing doesn’t have to be one of the world’s most hated professional. Done correctly, I believe it plays an essential role in helping people live their lives to the full. Here’s a short talk I gave recently at Silicon Beach sharing my views on the responsibility sitting on every marketer’s shoulder to make marketing noble again. \[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/52239850 w=500&h=281\] [Silicon Beach 2012 – Allister Frost](http://vimeo.com/52239850) from [Wise Old Uncle](http://vimeo.com/user12278289) on [Vimeo](http://vimeo.com). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Marketing **Tags:** marketing, presentation, speaker --- ### [So much has changed](https://allisterspeaks.com/18371-2/) **Published:** October 28, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [Typesetting and paste-up, 1970](http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/woverbeck/dtr5.htm) If we want to understand the future, it helps to appreciate the past. Check out the painstaking efforts required to create a page of newspaper or magazine print in the 1970’s. Today anyone can complete this task in a matter of minutes with a low cost computer and home printer, but we know that even this process will almost certainly be even simpler in the future. That’s the thing about technological progress, it just gets faster and faster. We’d better just get used to it. **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [It’s time to Get Safe Online](https://allisterspeaks.com/its-time-to-get-safe-online/) **Published:** October 24, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Get Safe Online cartoon](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/image11.png "Don't let the bad guys win ")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/image1.png) It’s Get Safe Online Week and a timely reminder to all of us to think again about how we protect our personal data and identities on the Internet. If you’ve ever had to change a password because you realised or feared it had been compromised in some way you’re not alone. A new study shows that as many as 4 in 10 adults in the UK have had to change all their online passwords at some time to foil crooks who had stolen their identity. But many victims are too embarrassed to speak out about their experience so their stories often go untold leaving others at risk of encountering the same threats. It’s time to take action, for yourself and your friends. If you’ve ever been a victim of viruses, email or social media hackers, fraudulent selling or online credit card fraud, please tell others about your experience. The Get Safe Online campaign call this [‘Click and Tell’](http://clickandtell.getsafeonline.org/) and it’s the very best way to learn from each others’ experiences. With the average successful online attack costing the victim £247, the best time to get prepared is now, before the bad guys find you. For information on how to get safe online visit . This subject, and particularly the issue of safeguarding children’s safety online, is close to my heart. I continue to give talks to groups of parents of schoolchildren to help them understand the online world our children are growing up in and ensure they take steps to make it safer. To find out more about this, [please get in touch.](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/contact/) **Categories:** Digital Living **Tags:** internet, online, safety --- ### [How not to do Social Media by Thomas Cook](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-not-to-do-social-media-by-thomas-cook/) **Published:** October 22, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This is a lesson in how not to do social media marketing. Thomas Cook (the mammoth holiday tour operator) was too wrapped up in itself to spot a glaring opportunity right before its eyes. Read through the following screenshots from Facebook and keep going to the end where you’ll see the stark difference another travel company’s approach: [![Thomas Crooked](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/thomas-crooked_thumb.jpg "Thomas Crooked")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/thomas-crooked.jpg) Who wins? Both Lowcostholidays.com and Thomas Cook (the guy, not the mammoth holiday tour operator). Need proof? Here’s Mr Thomas Cook enjoying his complimentary Paris holiday, courtesy of Lowcostholidays.com. [![Thomas Cook in Paris](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/thomas-cook-in-paris_thumb.jpg "Thomas Cook in Paris")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/thomas-cook-in-paris.jpg) I know which company I’d rather book my next holiday with. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, fail, social media --- ### [When prices don’t look like prices](https://allisterspeaks.com/when-prices-dont-look-like-prices/) **Published:** October 17, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** What do you make of the prices on this bar menu? [![Bar-menu](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/bar-menu_thumb.jpg "Bar-menu")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/bar-menu.jpg) The most obvious thing you’ll have spotted is that there’s no currency symbol against the prices and the amounts are shown to only one decimal place or none at all if a round number. It’s a strange phenomenon, but presenting your prices in a way that means they don’t look the way we expect prices to be is a great way to disarm your buyers’ normal price sensitivity. Restaurants, bars and other leisure providers routinely present prices in this way as it helps desensitise us from our normal judgemental state when buying, allowing us to live more in the moment of enjoyment rather than having to worry about whether we’re getting value for money or not. After all, when we’re sitting down to dinner in a nice restaurant, the last thing many of us want is to not have what we fancy from the menu because it’s too expensive. Restaurateurs know this and cleverly use different pricing formats to stop us thinking about money so we can focus instead on enjoying ourselves (while spending as much as possible!) Of course, the bill inevitably arrives at the end of the meal, complete with currency symbols, decimal places and those “optional” extras! Next time you’re enjoying a night out take a look at the menu and see how your host is helping you have a great night out while also helping themselves. **Categories:** Marketing **Tags:** bar, marketing, pricing, restaurant --- ### [Free guide - 8 rules for the social web](https://allisterspeaks.com/free-guide-8-rules-for-the-social-web/) **Published:** October 16, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We’ve just published a new document entitled ‘8 Rules for the Social Web’. It summarises 8 key principles that we think are universally important for any organisation looking to unlock more commercial value from social media sales and marketing programmes. Take a look and please let us know what you think. \[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”viewer” query=”url=http%3A%2F%2Fwildorangemedia.squarespace.com%2Fstorage%2Fshared-documents%2F8%2520rules%2520for%2520the%2520Social%2520Web%2520by%2520Wild%2520Orange%2520Media.pdf&embedded=true” width=”500″ height=”650″ /\] (or download the 2.5MB .pdf from the [Free Stuff section](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/free-stuff/ "Free Stuff from Wild Orange Media") of our site) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** guide, social media --- ### [Are you affected by recent Facebook Edgerank changes?](https://allisterspeaks.com/are-you-affected-by-recent-facebook-edgerank-changes/) **Published:** October 16, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** To help ensure you see content you’re most likely to interact with, [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com) uses an [algorithm](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithm "Algorithm") called Edgerank to determine which posts users see by default on their wall. [I’ve written previously](http://allisterfrost.com/2011/07/15/edgerank-in-facebook-how-it-works-and-9-tips-to-improve-it/) about the basic mechanics of Edgerank, explaining how it works and how to use it to your advantage, but Facebook continues to routinely tweak their formula: [![Facebook Edgerank Formula](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/facebook-edgerank-formula_thumb.jpg "Facebook Edgerank Formula")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/facebook-edgerank-formula.jpg) Changes in recent weeks have resulted in some dramatic shifts in organic reach for some brand pages with many observers quoting losses of up to 50% of their previous reach. As the saying goes “your mileage may vary,” and each page will be affected differently by any algorithmic change. Those who may have sought to [game the system](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaming_the_system "Gaming the system") by generating artificially high engagement levels may find their reach impacted most heavily; it’s exactly this sort of behaviour that Facebook’s engineers are working so hard to eliminate. And while Facebook claims its changes are made purely in the interest of improving user experience and overall engagement levels there’s also an underlying monetisation goal at stake with the social network seeking to increase revenue from brands that are eager to increase their overall reach. Brand managers who maintain Facebook pages for their brands should keep a watchful eye on their Facebook Insights data, particularly their organic reach numbers and continue to test different content strategies to boost these. Despite all the on-going Edgerank changes, the average post on Facebook is only seen by something in the region of 12% of all fans. Keep this in mind when posting content and set smart goals to try to do better through outstanding content. If your Facebook page has been affected by the recent changes, please get in touch to share your story. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** edgerank, Facebook, marketing --- ### [New book: Webs of Influence](https://allisterspeaks.com/new-book-webs-of-influence/) **Published:** October 15, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0273772953&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0273772953/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0273772953&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21)I joined [Nathalie Nahai](http://www.thewebpsychologist.com/) for the [Chinwag](http://chinwag.com/) hosted launch of her new book [Webs Of Influence](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0273772953/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0273772953&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) last week. It’s a really good book, packed full of insights from psychology studies and new ideas to enhance your online impact. My only criticism of the book is that it almost contains too many ideas; it will take a sensible, considered marketer to make sense of the multitude of possibilities we face and implement only those changes which will have the biggest impact on their business goals. Without a carefully reasoned plan there’s a real risk your marketing could become slightly randomised as you pick over the wealth of ideas that Nathalie presents throughout the book. So, read with caution and think deeply before rushing to change your plans. The bottom line: if you’re a fan of the work of pioneers like Dan Ariely or Robert Cialdini, but are looking for a more online focussed exploration of influence I think Nathalie’s book is a great place to start. **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** book, Digital Marketing, social media --- ### [Social Media Engagement–free whitepaper](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-engagementfree-whitepaper/) **Published:** October 12, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Yomego Roundtable with Allister Frost of Wild Orange Media](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/image.png "Yomego Roundtable with Allister Frost of Wild Orange Media")I recently took part in a roundtable discussion hosted by social media agency [Yomego](http://www.yomego.com) exploring the issue of how to attract and measure engagement through social media channels. The write-up of the discussion is now available in a free whitepaper which you can [download from here](http://www.yomego.com/media/23067/yomegothe10bigissuesaroundsocialmedia_engagement.pdf) (.pdf). Securing engagement—by which I mean getting the recipients of your communication to interact in some way with your content—is widely accepted as a better measure of success on the social web than raw reach of fan/follower counts. But the approaches used by many marketers to measure this engagement are often flawed, designed to track micro-measurements that often fail to encapsulate the brand’s broader goals. To become truly useful, engagement levels must be tracked alongside intelligent sentiment monitoring, and also mapped against all other major touchpoints that consumers have with a brand, both online and offline. *Who are we to say, without proper research, that ‘liking’ something we post to our brand Facebook page has any meaningful long or short term impact on purchase or consumption?* And, therein lies the biggest problem with most measurements of engagement: we make the assumption that direct interactions with our social media content are always a good thing (never bad), while ignoring the possible benefits that might flow from interactions happening elsewhere (like offline in the real world!). So, as is so often the case in our part-art-part-science industry, I don’t believe there’s any one-size-fits-all solution to gauging the value of online engagement. The answer for each brand marketer lies in understanding the rich fabric of interactions that consumers have with your brand, then building a measurement framework that primarily monitors those engagements which are ***proven*** to have the greatest influence on user and buyer behaviour. Without that initial proof, you might as well count the number of times consumers say words that rhyme with your brand name; that’s likely to be about as much use as any non-validated social media engagement score! My thanks go to the team at Yomego for inviting me to take part in the debate. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** engagement, roundtable, social media, whitepaper --- ### [Reading List: Neuromarketing](https://allisterspeaks.com/reading-list-neuromarketing/) **Published:** September 27, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The phrase ‘neuromarketing’ is only around ten years old so it’s no surprise that most marketers have yet to study it extensively. It’s a fascinating topic, blending the latest findings from behavioural economics with breakthroughs in neuroscience. Today’s digital communication platforms give us the perfect test site for putting some of the new theory into practice; there’s really no excuse for not testing out a few hypotheses and measuring what some well-designed neuromarketing can bring to your business. But where to begin? If you’ve been to one of my talks recently you may have heard about things like scarcity, hidden delights, and visual stimulus. **But there’s much, much more to be discovered.** Here’s a list of some neuromarketing and behavioural economics books that I’ve enjoyed reading. I’ve included affiliate images below to Amazon.co.uk so you can check them out and decide what’s right for you. ***Easy*** (start here) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=078522680X&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/078522680X/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=078522680X&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0007256531&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0007256531/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0007256531&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1847940137&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1847940137/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1847940137&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0141040017&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0141040017/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0141040017&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0141019018&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0141019018/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0141019018&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0141030704&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0141030704/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0141030704&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1118113365&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1118113365/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1118113365&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21)![](http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=wwwusefultech-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1118113365) ![](http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=wwwusefultech-21&l=as2&o=2&a=078522680X) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0470601779&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0470601779/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0470601779&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0321603605&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0321603605/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0321603605&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1846680166&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1846680166/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1846680166&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=184767769X&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1851688293&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1851688293/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1851688293&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/184767769X/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=184767769X&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) ***A Bit Harder*** (brace yourself) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0099501643&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0099501643/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0099501643&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B004X4WC5U&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004X4WC5U/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B004X4WC5U&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0749443669&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0749443669/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0749443669&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21) [![](http://ws.assoc-amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=006124189X&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=GB&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=wwwusefultech-21)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/006124189X/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=006124189X&linkCode=as2&tag=wwwusefultech-21)![](http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=wwwusefultech-21&l=as2&o=2&a=006124189X) My reading list is growing all the time. Please let me know if you’ve enjoyed any related books not mentioned here. Enjoy! **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** behavioural economics, neuromarketing, psychology --- ### [Social Media Week in a City Near You](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-week-in-a-city-near-you/) **Published:** September 18, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Logo_2012](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/logo_2012_thumb.png "Logo_2012")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/logo_2012.png)Next week is Social Media Week in 14 big cities around the world, including my home city of London. It’s a fantastic showcase of talent and brains, giving everyone the chance to hear from some fascinating people at dozens of very different events throughout the week. I’ll be speaking at the [EMarketeers’ Breakfast Briefing](http://socialmediaweek.org/blog/event/using-the-psychology-of-the-social-web-to-make-better-social-media-decisions/) on Wednesday (sorry, it’s already sold out), but there are plenty of great events with spaces ready to be filled. Check out the full schedule online at and find out how you can get involved. Nokia is once again the headline sponsor (check out some of the recent secrets of their social media success at [Brilliant Noise](http://brilliantnoise.com/nokia-social-media-strategy-paper-the-video-the-slides-the-download-the-kindle-version/)), and The FT and The Next Web are also heavily involved. Let me know where you’ll be heading at #SMWLDN. It would be awesome to see you there. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** event, social media --- ### [Breakthrough Thinking from Zero-based Budgeting](https://allisterspeaks.com/breakthrough-thinking-from-zero-based-budgeting/) **Published:** September 5, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![5 Sept calendar](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/5sept.jpg "5 Sept calendar")](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/)It’s September, which means those of you with business plans that follow the calendar year may well be turning your attention to the annual marketing budget process. Your mission, as in all previous years, is to firstly secure the same amount as last year then grab as much incremental budget as possible at the expense of any other business silos that stand in your way. Or is it? Is more budget always better? Some of the world’s most successful marketing campaigns have been born out of insanely challenging constraints like insufficient time, money and people. I’m a firm believer that the best ideas don’t always cost the earth or inflict the biggest time drain. So how about a different approach this year? [Zero-based budgeting](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-based_budgeting) starts by ignoring prior year investment levels. Effectively, everything is set back to zero and the plan built back up from scratch. While this often leads to more ‘budgetary bun fights’ it does allow the company to pivot quickly to address changing business priorities. And few businesses can honestly claim to be facing exactly the same challenges as they saw twelve months ago; none of us are immune from the financial meltdown. In times of [unprecedented change](http://allisterfrost.com/2012/08/09/spanning-the-digital-divide/) I think there’s great merit in the zero-based budgeting approach. Far from throwing the baby out with the bathwater, building a plan from scratch allows proper scrutiny and reassessment. It’s one of the very best ways I’ve seen of stopping what you’ve always done and embracing new approaches to old problems. Of course, for middle managers the skill lies in ensuring that long-term community programmes like those run across the social web continue to receive sufficient focus from year to year, never falling victim to short term budget cuts. In a zero-based budget model these community costs should be among the first things you ring-fence for on-going financial support. Give it some thought. It’s bold, it’s challenging, but disruptive and fluid times like the present call for marketing planning models that allows for truly breakthrough thinking. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** budgeting, marketing --- ### [Work from the heart](https://allisterspeaks.com/work-from-the-heart/) **Published:** September 4, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/button_red_heart_thumb.png)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/button_red_heart.png)There’s only so much enthusiasm any human being can show for something they don’t really believe in. And while most employees can muster interest in almost anything for a short period of time, maybe one or two years, few are able to sustain credible warmth towards their work without being motivated from the heart. Your grandparents, who were always right, told you to find work that you love. And nowhere is this more important than in customer-facing jobs like sales and marketing. And it’s no different when it comes to representing brands online. In my experience social media superstars are invariably motivated from the heart. They happily share their passion and enthusiasm for the brand because they truly believe in what it can do for their customers. They are motivated by a higher purpose than their next pay cheque. And it’s their manager’s job to bring out this passion and empower their staff to show it through whichever communication channels will best meet the company’s goals. Find your passions. Find your heart. And pursue those dreams on your journey towards becoming a social media superstar. **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** social media, work --- ### [Spanning the Digital Divide](https://allisterspeaks.com/spanning-the-digital-divide/) **Published:** August 9, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This is an interesting time to be in business. On the one hand there’s a constant stream of new shiny objects, gadgets and apps to play with, presenting exciting new ways to reach your customers. But on the other hand there are still plenty of traditional routes to market that generate vast reach, even if they may be losing some of their earlier potency. And that means, in this unprecedented time of change, that being able to span both the old and the new and make intelligent decisions about what to adopt and what to abandon has become a crucial skill for marketers. [![Where are you on the journey?](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/digital-divide_thumb.png "Where are you on the journey?")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/digital-divide.png) For most businesses, knowing how to nurture traditional routes to market while reducing your long term dependency on them is essential. And intelligently testing new channels in parallel to allow these to gently come to the fore will also help your business to evolve and become future-ready. [![NRS Survey Findings](http://wallblog.co.uk/files/2012/07/Ereader-infographic-FINAL.jpg "NRS Survey Findings")](http://wallblog.co.uk/files/2012/07/Ereader-infographic-FINAL.jpg) I was reminded of our digital divide by the above infographic based on data from the National Readership Survey. Even today, with tablets seemingly everywhere in our big cities, fewer than 1 in 6 (15%) adults own either a tablet device or an e-reader. And a tiny 1.4%, like me, own both. Although tablet devices or smartphones or HTML5 enabled browsers or Twitter or whatever… are undergoing remarkable growth, most still remain in minority ownership. There’s no doubt in my mind that the offspring of the digital form factors will ultimately become universal but there’s no getting away from the fact that they’re still far from omnipresent. And until they are, marketers would be well advised to continue nurturing traditional communication channels. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** Digital Marketing, infographic --- ### [Digital Marketing Conferences To Avoid](https://allisterspeaks.com/digital-marketing-conferences-to-avoid/) **Published:** August 7, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![No entry](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/no-entry_thumb.png "No entry")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/no-entry.png)There are so many digital marketing conferences these days. When I was working at Microsoft I think I could pretty much have spent my entire working week moving from one event to another, sometimes as a delegate, sometimes as a speaker. But the quality difference between one conference and another was extraordinary, and it was really hard to spot the duds before you got to the events themselves, by which time it was too late. [Andy Sernovitz](https://twitter.com/sernovitz) has nailed it though. In his short post [“#1 clue that a conference is going to be awful”](http://www.damniwish.com/1-clue-that-a-conference-is-going-to-be-awful/) he suggests you do two things before registering for an event: 1. **Compare the speaker list to the sponsor list** 2. **Look at the page where people can apply to be a speaker. Is speaking paid or tied to buying a sponsorship or exhibit?** If alarms bells start ringing, don’t bother registering for the conference. You just got back a whole day of your life to do something more worthwhile instead. I understand the pressure on conference organisers. It’s never been harder to fill venues and the commercial imperative to turn a profit makes the appeal of free (or even paying) speakers very alluring. But I agree with Andy: you can’t charge people money to attend a conference and also charge speakers for the chance to address them. That’s deceitful and wrong. If you want people to pay to attend your conference, the least you can do is lay on some professional speakers who won’t try to sell stuff to your audience but will inform and entertain them, giving them knowledge that can really boost their careers. Those, with very rare exceptions, are the sorts of conferences you’ll find me at these days. Either [as a paid speaker](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/speaking/) or a paying delegate. Anything less is probably a waste of my and your time. What do you think? Have you attended a great marketing conference where the speakers were also the event sponsors? Please let me know. **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** conference, Digital Marketing, tip --- ### [Lots of love for SMS texts for customer alerts](https://allisterspeaks.com/lots-of-love-for-sms-texts-for-customer-alerts/) **Published:** August 6, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![sms love](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/sms-love.png "sms love")Sending SMS texts containing sales and marketing messages is widely derided as intrusive and unwanted. But this criticism should be reserved solely for those companies who abuse this communication channel to shout advertising and promotional messages instead of thinking how they can use this channel more sensitively and opportunistically. A new study by [ExactTarget](http://www.exacttarget.com/subscribers-fans-followers/index.aspx) shows consumers are increasingly open to receiving text messages from companies for travel and financial alerts. And while email is still the most preferred channel for alerts of this nature, 1 in 4 consumers now say they prefer to receive travel alerts via SMS over any other available channel. Amongst 18-24 year olds, this proportion rises to 1 in 3. The study findings are below (click to enlarge): [[![Exacttarget study results table](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/image_thumb.png "Exacttarget study results table")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/image2.png)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/image1.png) The key to great SMS text marketing lies in ensuring you only use this channel to serve high utility, time-based messages. So a text reminding you of the address of the conference venue you’re travelling towards may be welcomed, while a text asking you to register for the conference organiser’s future events will be rejected. So don’t write off text messaging within your digital marketing strategy. If you go about it the right way it can create great value for both your customers and your company. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** research, sms, text messaging --- ### [In the battle between Chicken and Egg, Social Networks win](https://allisterspeaks.com/in-the-battle-between-chicken-and-egg-battle-social-networks-win/) **Published:** July 30, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** There’s a classic chicken and egg conundrum happening here. Do people who already buy from a company tend to interact with them more on social networks, or do people who ‘like’ brands on social networks then go on to buy more of those brands? Without extensive lab-based research we’ll probably never know the answer as it’s nigh on impossible to track real-life behaviours before a qualifying event occurs. So, for now, let’s take the following data with a pinch of salt. According to a study by [ExactTarget](http://resources.exacttarget.com/rs/exacttarget/images/SFF13_The%20Social%20Profile_UK_WEB.pdf), 32% of people claim to be more likely to buy from a company after following them on Twitter. A ‘Like’ on a company page on Facebook makes 24% of people more likely to buy from that company, while email is a slightly less potent sales magnet with only 21% claiming it has the power to influence their buying habits: ![Influence over sales of email and social networks](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/image3.png "Influence over sales of email and social networks") And, as the chart above shows, the likelihood to recommend a company also rises after someone opts in to emails or becomes a fan or a follower. Whether this is a forming or a latent effect we can’t really say, but the evidence is compelling: **those who engage with brands through email and social networks are some of the most valuable customers any business can have.** Treat them with the love and respect they deserve. **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Social Media --- ### [Being Remarkable with Crap Wrap](https://allisterspeaks.com/being-remarkable-with-crap-wrap/) **Published:** July 26, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Twisted Twee Shopfront](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/shopfront_01may.jpg "Twisted Twee Shopfront")[Twisted Twee](http://twistedtwee.co.uk/) is that rarest of online things: a delightful shopping experience. We’ve been fans of their esoteric designs for some time, but their email shot yesterday made us love them just a little bit more. Like all great marketing, this really doesn’t need a lot of introduction. Take a widely held consumer insight *(most of us are really bad at wrapping gifts),* spin it on its head *(what if the store wrapped things really badly?),* and use the attention this attracts to drive home a core part of your value proposition *(we always gift wrap your purchases nicely without charge).* Delightful and remarkable! Exactly the sort of creativity that makes the social web go round. Nice one Twisted Twee! \[click image to enlarge\] [![Twisted Twee Crap Wrap mailer](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/crap_wrap_mailer_thumb.jpg "Twisted Twee Crap Wrap mailer")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/crap_wrap_mailer.jpg) **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** remarkable --- ### [On nipping things in the bud](https://allisterspeaks.com/on-nipping-things-in-the-bud/) **Published:** July 25, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![no speed limit sign](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/no-speed-limit-sign_thumb.jpg "no speed limit sign")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/no-speed-limit-sign.jpg)Things happen faster today than ever before, largely thanks to technology advances that allow ideas to move from one person to another at the speed of light. That’s why almost every business has a responsibility to invest in staying on top of the conversations that are happening around them, and monitoring them in real-time wherever practicable. I met one business recently where the marketing director proudly showed me the daily report he receives detailing all social media conversations of interest to his firm. Sounds good, I thought, until I realised that each day’s report would arrive the day after the conversations had taken place! Reading yesterday’s news today might have served us well during the newspaper era, but today’s consumers expect real-time, up-to-the-minute information and responses. Simply put, if a customer asks a question or (heaven forbid) voices a complaint about your product/service, you owe it to them to respond within the shortest time possible, preferably measured in minutes, not hours. This ‘nipping in the bud’ mentality needs to pervade every customer-facing part of your organisation. Waiting until you receive the daily report the next morning is increasingly unacceptable and likely will come to be viewed as a denigration of responsibility as the speed of our interactions accelerates further. But there’s more. You also need to have the ability to respond to people through their chosen channels, even if only to make initial contact so you can continue the conversation in private. You might think that your telephone and email support lines are all you need, but in truth you really ought to be present in ***all*** the places, online and offline, that your customers and partners frequent. And the best time to get the channels up and running is now, not tomorrow, or when a business crisis is underway. This is a very different business world to the one you may have grown used to. Welcome to the real-time world. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** listening, response, social media --- ### [Thoughts for those still in denial](https://allisterspeaks.com/thoughts-for-those-still-in-denial/) **Published:** July 17, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Smart businesses run by smart people get it. They know that learning to be great at using social media channels is the key to their near-term (and possibly long term) success. They’ve long since figured out that the societal changes hastened by the rapid, widespread adoption of online communication platforms have ushered in an urgent need for organisations to embrace a new generation of business communication and collaboration styles. [![head-in-sand](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/head-in-sand_thumb.jpg "head-in-sand")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/head-in-sand.jpg)Yet so many other organisations still haven’t got it. Or perhaps, rather, they don’t want to get it. These changes are profound, complex and irreversible. It takes a brave business leader to face up to changes of this magnitude. Surely it would be easier to keep our heads firmly in the sand and hope this whole thing blows over? Few executives ever expected to tackle radical organisational change during their brief term in office; surely these tough issues would be better handled by their successors? But this denial is no longer viable. It hasn’t been viable for most organisations for several years, but I firmly believe we’ve now passed the stage where any organisation can credibly afford to continue to ignore the changes that social media has brought. Social media is firmly established as the most prominent business communication tool. While it remains confusing and fast-changing, the new behaviours it has taught us are already firmly entrenched in our daily lives. Social media has changed vast swathes of the general public who have adopted it and quickly learned to love it. Isn’t it time your business learned to love it to? **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** social media --- ### [A new (test) home for our blog](https://allisterspeaks.com/a-new-test-home-for-our-blog/) **Published:** July 16, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![$RXVVK2W](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/rxvvk2w_thumb.jpg "$RXVVK2W")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/rxvvk2w.jpg)Here at [Wild Orange Media](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/), we’re always exploring new ways to do things better, faster and smarter. That’s why we’ve decided to put the blogging platform on our Wild Orange Media site (which, by the way, is hosted on [Squarespace.com](http://www.squarespace.com/)) to the test. Over the coming weeks we’ll be posting new blog posts both to our current WordPress blog at [http://www.allisterfrost.com](http://www.allisterfrost.com/) and to our new test blog at . This will allow us to compare the two platforms, listen to your feedback on these changes and evaluate the best solution for the long term. Please let us know what you make of all this! **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** blogging, platform, squarespace, wordpress --- ### [Social data mining for successful copy](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-data-mining-for-successful-copy/) **Published:** July 13, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** There’s rarely any need for guesswork these days. If you’re writing marketing or sales copy and wondering what’s the best phrase to use, you would be well-advised to consult ‘The Internet’. Free search marketing tools like Google Adwords can give you great insights into the relative appeal of different terms, even highlighting how their usage differs by geography. And simple social web analytics can also give you invaluable clues about the words people use most often, allowing you to mirror their behaviour and capture their attention. [[![world-map-soda-versus-coke-versus-pop](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/world-map-soda-versus-coke-versus-pop_thumb.png "world-map-soda-versus-coke-versus-pop")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/world-map-soda-versus-coke-versus-pop1.png)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/world-map-soda-versus-coke-versus-pop.png)For example, if you were writing about fizzy drinks, how does your audience refer to these products? Talking about pop or soda might work, but which is best? This [simple study](http://blog.echen.me/2012/07/06/soda-vs-pop-with-twitter/) from Edwin Chen sheds some light on the answer. There are vast geographical differences across the globe, as well as within regions in culturally diverse countries like the USA and UK, Interesting stuff. It’s just one example of how mass market intelligence can be used to improve your results. Read [Edwin’s report](http://blog.echen.me/2012/07/06/soda-vs-pop-with-twitter/) to learn more and let me know what you’re doing to be just as smart. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Search Marketing **Tags:** copywriting, data, keywords, SEO, social media --- ### [The CMO’s Guide to Inbound Marketing](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-cmos-guide-to-inbound-marketing/) **Published:** July 9, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Inbound marketing is a fancy-shmancy term that describes the way that consumers can now find companies before they buy through personal engagement with content on the social web. It’s fundamentally different to traditional marketing (AKA “Shouting!”) in that it requires continuous efforts from content creation teams and relies more on your ability to attract and maintain attention than your ability to buy media placements that can virtually guarantee your visibility. Cloud-based SaaS company [Marketo](http://uk.marketo.com/) recently published an infographic that summarises some of the benefits of adopting an inbound marketing approach. As is often the case, they’ve had to grossly oversimplify the concept in order to fit it neatly into one diagram, but the underlying sentiment is valid. I also think their approach to editorialising content is much too basic (who honestly believes three blog posts a week is right for everyone?), but it’s a good place to start your journey if inbound marketing is still virgin territory for you. Here’s the infographic in full: [![The CMO Guide to Inbound Marketing Infographic by Marketo](http://blog.marketo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/CMO-2-01.png)](http://blog.marketo.com/blog/2012/04/the-cmo-guide-to-inbound-marketing-infographic.html) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** inbound marketing, infographic, marketing --- ### [Productivity tip: Neat little email reminder service](https://allisterspeaks.com/productivity-tip-neat-little-email-reminder-service/) **Published:** July 6, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Lee Roy tweet](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/image.png "OK, no need to be flippant!") I started blogging in 2003 when I was Marketing Manager for Microsoft’s email technology. I used to write a lot about how to become highly proficient with email, calendaring and tasks in Microsoft Outlook. Some of my early posts are still accessible via [Microsoft TechNet](http://blogs.technet.com/b/usefultechnology/) and, even today, every now and then I see a neat way to work with email that I want to share. [![Followupthen logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/logo-blue.png "Followupthen logo")](http://www.followupthen.com)I think you’ll like this. is a lightweight online service that helps you and your email recipients stay on top of important emails. It’s simplicity itself: just send an email to \[instructions\]@followupthen.com from your authenticated email address and the service will act on your request. For instance, if you were to ‘bcc’ on your outgoing email, the service will email you back at 9am tomorrow with a reminder about your email. If you use the ‘cc’ field, both you and the other recipients will get a reminder at that time unless someone has already replied using the ‘Reply All’ button. Some other addresses you might find useful: - – to get an email reminder next month - – to get an email reminder on 28th May - – to get an email reminder at 17.00 local time - – to get an email reminder on the 1st day of every month (handy if you like giving people “a pinch and a punch…”!) - – to get an email reminder at 6.00am every 30th March - – to get an email reminder five months from now - – to get an email containing a list of all your pending follow-ups and links to cancel them When you receive your email reminder you can act on it or hit one of the ‘postpone’ links (it’s like a ‘snooze’ button for emails!) to have another reminder sent at a later time. The basic service is free. There’s also a premium service which costs US$24 per year which adds SMS reminders (e.g. , great for an alarm call!), support for attachments, enables follow-ups to show on your calendar and has some neat design customisation features. There’s a [free 30 day trial](http://www.followupthen.com/upgrade) of the premium features; take it for a spin before you splash any cash. Microsoft Outlook does have features baked into it that provide a similar functionality, including tasks and follow-up flags. But there’s something lovely about the fact that you can use FollowUpThen from any email client and by simply adding an extra address to the cc or bcc fields. Give it a whirl at and let me know what you think. **Categories:** Digital Living **Tags:** automation, email, free, outlook --- ### [Don’t make Life Difficult for your Customers](https://allisterspeaks.com/dont-make-life-difficult-for-your-customers/) **Published:** June 22, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** It’s all too common. We build online content and expect visitors to register before they can gain access. Aside from the fact that asking for personal data before giving away some free content typically halves the amount of data you collect, some organisations insist on making things even more difficult than they need to be. It’s easy to criticise government bodies like HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the UK’s equivalent of the USA’s IRS) but sometimes they make life so remarkably complicated that they deserve to be pilloried. And they’re not alone. Countless other commercial sites make similar mistakes, but hopefully your site is better. Take, for example, this HMRC form which invites users to set up some “Shared Secrets to allow them to gain access to their account should they forget their password. This form exists to collect some easy to remember answers that are less forgettable than a site password. Yet instead of making this easy, HMRC insists that every answer must be between 6 and 15 characters long and not contain any spaces, punctuation, numbers or special characters. [[![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/image_thumb2.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/image4.png)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/image3.png) Why? Because, I presume, HMRC has an antiquated IT system that is only capable of handling responses in this very precise format. Yet this constraint possibly defeats the very purpose of the exercise: to create a trust mechanism where the end-user cannot possibly get locked out of their account because their answers are unforgettable. Like you, I don’t know of many schools, names or even places that don’t include any spaces, don’t exceed 15 characters, and lack any punctuation. Yet HMRC’s lack of foresight inflicts these rigid constraints on every user turning what should be a simple exercise into a complex memory test. **The lesson:** don’t make life difficult for your customers and never make them work hard to do something that ultimately serves you rather than them. They are your customers; treat them with the care, respect and love they deserve. **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** design, Digital Marketing, forms, online --- ### [Sneak Peek: CIM Social Media Benchmark Wave 2](https://allisterspeaks.com/sneak-peek-cim-social-media-benchmark-wave-2/) **Published:** June 18, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** \[You’re invited: [register for the free live webinar on Thursday](http://live.smbenchmark.com)\] This week will see the release of new research from the UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) that confirms marketers’ unremitting appetite to make greater use of social media channels. But not all platforms are equal and some, like Google+, continue to struggle to attract attention. I’ve had a privileged early access to some of the research findings and they make for an interesting read. Ahead of Thursday’s full briefing, here are some of the headlines that caught my eye: Notably, most marketers plan to increase or maintain their activity levels on the leading platforms with only a small proportion planning to reduce or continue to ignore them. The standout problem child remains Google+, with fewer than half of all marketers saying they plan to maintain or increase activity there: [![Chart: How marketers predict their company’s social media activities will change (2012 vs. 2011)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/image_thumb.png "Google+ still the social media world's problem child in 2012")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/image1.png) There seems to be little progress since the first wave of research with fewer than one in five businesses stating that the main reason they use social media is that it is central to their marketing strategy. More claim they use social media to support other aspects of their plan or simply because their customers are using it rather than understanding the pivotal role that facilitating social media behaviours should play in any marketing strategy. But some of our advice does seem to be getting through. Half of all businesses now recognise that social media has great potential as a tool to enable business growth and also understand that if left unmonitored and unmanaged it presents significant reputational risk. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/image_thumb1.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/image2.png)Many of the issues appear to begin and end in the board room with major concerns persisting about leadership capabilities. When asked to rate the strength of their company’s leadership in the digital arena, 1 in 4 respondents saw this as a significant weakness. And company leaders would be well-advised to give this greater attention with the pressure on management time (57%) and limited staff resources (57%) being cited most commonly as the barriers to enhancing a company’s social media skills. Will things improve? Many marketers who were questioned seemed pessimistic about the next 12 months with large numbers feeling that time constraints (61%) and lack of budget (47%) would inhibit their organisation’s ability to get more value from social media. The full report will be shared live online at 09.00-10.25 (UK time) on 21 June, and you’re invited! To join the webinar and hear from speakers from CIM, Microsoft, Clifford Chance and Tesco, register now at [http://live.smbenchmark.com](http://live.smbenchmark.com "http://live.smbenchmark.com"). Thanks to the CIM for giving me early access to their research findings. **Categories:** Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** CIM, marketing, research, social media, webinar --- ### [The web changes everything, even how you design your CV](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-web-changes-everything-even-how-you-design-your-cv/) **Published:** June 12, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve always been a great believer in the power of good design. And in a digital world filled with endless infographics and stylised images, the humble CV has been long due a thorough reinvention. ![Before and After image of CV](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/image.png "Before and After image of CV")That’s why I’m impressed by a new service out of the US of A that promises to help your CV standout in a sea of sameness. If your CV has a touch of the 1990’s about it, check out [Loft Resumes](http://loftresumes.com/), the brainchild of South Carolina designers Dodd Caldwell and Emory Cash. Their new services offers a wide selection of starting templates, allowing you to turn your drab black and white resume into a design masterpiece you can be proud of. No design skills required, just $99 to have a design professional transform your words into something glorious! Oh, and while you’re at it, take a look at that product brochure and white paper you’ve been hawking since the turn of the millennium. They could probably use a touch of design magic too. Few things age faster than an analogue creation in a digital world. \[hat tip to [Co.DESIGN](http://www.fastcodesign.com/1669119/new-service-gives-any-job-seeker-a-slick-custom-resume) for pointing me to this great service\] **Categories:** Design **Tags:** cv, design, online --- ### [Implied Consent could be all you need for Cookie Compliance](https://allisterspeaks.com/implied-consent-could-be-all-you-need-for-cookie-compliance/) **Published:** May 31, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image_thumb8.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image12.png)With the 26 May deadline for compliance now behind us, the latest guidance from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has raised a few eyebrows. The requirement for explicit consent before a site can store cookies on another user’s device has been relaxed with the assumption of “implied consent” now being accepted as a valid means to comply with the law. What does this mean? At the simplest level, a user who makes a conscious choice to visit your site could be deemed to have given their implied consent to receive cookies, removing the need for you to collect their explicit consent. For this implied consent to be sufficient a site owner still needs to ensure that their privacy policy is easily discoverable and clearly lays out the ways that cookies are used on your site. However, the ICO also warns: > Implied consent is certainly a valid form of consent but those who seek to rely on it should not see it as an easy way out or use the term as a euphemism for “doing nothing”. That said, the likelihood of the ICO imposing financial penalties on any organisation for failing to comply with this law is, by the ICO’s own admission, close to zero. Some may read this as an invitation to do nothing, and therein lies the most absurd aspect of this unenforceable new law. If you haven’t already, watch Dave Evans’ video below to familiarise yourself with the steps you may still need to take to stay on the right side of the law. As long as you understand how cookies are used on your site, don’t use cookies in a bad way, have a clear privacy policy, and take some basic steps to ensure that visitors know that cookies are in use and why, you should be safe. Mind you, I’m not a lawyer so seek legal advice if in doubt. Good luck! \[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0M8MYiGkQw\] Further reading: - [ICO Guide to Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-pecr/) - [ICO e-Privacy Directive site](http://www.ico.org.uk/for_organisations/privacy_and_electronic_communications/the_guide/cookies.aspx) **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** compliance, cookies, law, regulation --- ### [Why too much choice paralyses your business](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-too-much-choice-paralyses-your-business/) **Published:** May 31, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** There’s an old adage, “you can never have too much choice”. Like most old sayings it’s starting to sound absurd, but many marketers still believe that giving customers more choice is always a good thing. The truth is very different. Too much choice can paralyse your customers, slowing or preventing their purchase. Choice often engenders fear; the fear that you’ll make the wrong choice and regret your decision. Choice injects confusion, that nagging concern that you really ought to be weighing up all the options more carefully. Does this coffee machine really need so many options? (and what lunacy tells us people need both Freshbrew and Fresh Coffee anyway?!): [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image_thumb5.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image9.png) Does [1&1](http://1and1.co.uk) really need to offer so many different web hosting packages that customers are left dazed, confused and longing to have a little simplicity back in their lives? [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image_thumb6.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image10.png) Another web hoster, [Squarespace](http://www.squarespace.com/), gets it right. They know that customers don’t want infinite choice, just a great product presented in the simplest possible way: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image_thumb7.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image11.png) Choice: it’s a tricky little blighter. Too little and you narrow your market appeal. Too much and you completely destroy it. Focus on your core strengths, on what really matters to your customers. Invariably, with concerted effort, too much choice can quickly be distilled down to the essentials, leaving you to focus on giving your customers a fantastic experience with your a narrower range of products. And that’s where business success lies; not in giving so much choice that you appeal to every Tom, Dick and Harriet, but in zeroing in on what you’re truly great at and making sure you attract the type of people who will fall in love with what you do. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** choice, marketing, positioning, product --- ### [All publicity is not good publicity](https://allisterspeaks.com/all-publicity-is-not-good-publicity/) **Published:** May 30, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Get-free-publicity-note](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/get-free-publicity-note.jpg "Note to self - get lots of free publicity (that'll fix my problems)")When broadcast media channels still ruled the roost, we used to say that all publicity is good publicity. Simply put, by getting your name in front of a mass audience, no matter whether this was for good or bad reasons, you could often generate more business on the back of the free publicity than you were likely to lose. Today we have [a surplus of spectrum and a deficit of attention](http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2011/11/the-extraordinary-revolution-of-media-choice.html). Mass audiences rarely congregate together as they routinely did in the past and any mentions we receive in the media will likely attract less collective attention than they did in the past. But, crucially, the news agenda is no longer controlled, edited and broadcast from a few all powerful media magnates. Today’s news is just as likely to be compiled by Dorothy who works as an accountant by day and enjoys discussing the latest trends on online discussion forums by night. And Dorothy, like the millions of others like her, is free to present *your* story however *she* feels fit. What does all this mean? Today, that free publicity you and your PR team fight to create, is almost guaranteed to reach fewer eyeballs than ever before. And those who do see it will experience your message through the eyes of an army of independent editors like Dorothy, all of whom will create their own spin on the message. So that’s less reach for more randomised messages; not the greatest recipe for the good publicity your business craves. If you still think all publicity is good publicity, maybe it’s time to think again. That’s just one of many out-dated business rules that the social web has changed forever. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advice, publicity --- ### [How to infographicise your Twitter profile](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-infographicise-your-twitter-profile/) **Published:** May 29, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image8.png "image")](http://bit.ly/LAV3Hg)Is this useful or not? Probably not, but it’s harmless, good fun. [A tool from Visual.ly](http://visual.ly/twitter) allows you to “Twitterize Yourself!”, essentially creating a near-instant infographic of your Twitter persona. Quite what you’ll do with the resulting diagram I’m not sure. Maybe impress your mum or print it out to stick above your desk to convince any naysayers of your awesome social media powers. Or you could do like me and ponder what you’ve done to only achieve “17.82% interestingness” before concluding that even answering that question is unlikely to improve my score! What do you make of this tool? Any practical uses you can uncover? (And here, for my mum, is my full profile) [![](http://bit.ly/LAV3Hg)](http://visual.ly/) **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** infographic, social media, Twitter --- ### [Big Brands Always Win, Get Over It](https://allisterspeaks.com/big-brands-always-win-get-over-it/) **Published:** May 24, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Ma Get My Gun image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image7.png "Image credit: SEOMoz")](http://www.seomoz.org/blog/why-big-brands-get-all-the-breaks) SEOMoz has built a well-earned reputation as the source of expert advice for anyone looking to improve their search engine marketing. While its focus has always laid primarily with SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), the team has never shied away from offering broader advice about using paid ads in search or exploiting other digital channels. But I particularly enjoyed reading [this article](http://www.seomoz.org/blog/why-big-brands-get-all-the-breaks), brought to my attention by [Bruce Lynn](http://brucelynn.info/), in which President of User Effect, Pete Meyers, implores SEOMoz’s members to get over the demise of SEO and to “start acting like a brand.” And, if a high search engine ranking is important to you, the single best way to achieve this is through establishing a credible social presence for your brand online. It’s not quite time to declare the end of black hat SEO; there will always be people and companies that are prepared to use underhand techniques to gain a slim competitive advantage. But the time has come for every business to recognise the immutable truth that an active social presence online is a far stronger indicator of brand vitality than can be garnered from any amount of behind-the-scenes tweakery. So go on, get social. Your business could depend on it. **Categories:** Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Search Marketing, SEO, SEOmoz, social media --- ### [Add a little drama to your day](https://allisterspeaks.com/add-a-little-drama-to-your-day/) **Published:** May 23, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This is viral video genius. Little more explanation needed other than to say this stunt was created to promote the launch of a new TV Channel in Belgium. What a great way to bring to life the experience of this new station! \[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=316AzLYfAzw\] \[Hat tip to [@Waltonman](http://www.twitter.com/waltonman) for sending me this\] **Categories:** Inspiration --- ### [No, this “INSANE Graphic” will not make you a better social media marketer](https://allisterspeaks.com/no-this-insane-graphic-will-not-make-you-a-better-social-media-marketer/) **Published:** May 22, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** When Business Insider Advertising posted a story about an “INSANE Graphic” about social media marketing last week I simply shrugged and moved on. Since then, the post has attracted huge amounts of attention online, amassing over 500,000 views and around 9k shares on each of Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. And with LinkedIn reporting that the story is now trending within Accenture, Microsoft and IBM, perhaps it warrants a second look. The graphic, by [Luma Partners](http://www.lumapartners.com), is a visual representation of the logos of some of the top products and services associated with social media today. It’s one of a series of similar diagrams that attempt to explain the complex ecosystems of various online marketing sectors. Here’s the “Social LUMAscape” that’s attracting so much attention: [![Social LUMAscape](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image6.png "Social LUMAscape")](http://www.lumapartners.com/lumascapes/social-lumascape/) Take a moment to drink in the enormity of what you’ve just seen. It’s a complicated diagram alright. But is it helpful? No, of course not. It’s utterly absurd. Charts like this are much loved by [“social media gurus”](http://allisterfrost.com/2011/03/28/video-jack-your-strat-in-the-internet/) because they help make something no-one controls or fully understands look structured and professional. But never in the history of the internet has anything useful been done as a result of a chart like this. No-one needs to know all these services and any attempts to compartmentalise each service misses the defining point of the social web: that no service operates in isolation, but is interconnected, conceptually if not physically, to every other service available online. I can understand the appeal of complicated charts like this and I confess to having used similar diagrams in the early days of the social web to help explain the vastness of the online ecosystem. But the days of this sort of visualisation serving any useful purpose are long behind us. We need more enlightened and informed guidance if we’re to make sense of our rapidly changing digital world. Alright, if you really must, other LUMAscape diagrams can be found [here](http://www.lumapartners.com/resource-center/lumascapes-2/). **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** Digital Marketing, infographic, social media --- ### [The Evil Web Lunatic Award goes to…](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-evil-web-lunatic-award-goes-to/) **Published:** May 14, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Bad marketing is everywhere on the internet. Hopefully this example will encourage you to check that your company doesn’t commit the same mistakes. **This month’s Evil Web Lunatic Award goes to** [**www.archant.co.uk**](http://www.archant.co.uk)**,** trading under the [www.subscriptionsave.co.uk](http://www.subscriptionsave.co.uk) name. They work in a dying industry, producing and selling printed magazines, so perhaps it’s understandable that they are reluctant to let any customer go. But that’s exactly what I wanted to do when I received their email earlier today. Thankfully there’s an unsubscribe button in the email footer: [![Email footer with unsubscribe link](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image_thumb1.png "Email footer with unsubscribe link")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image2.png) …which takes me to this page (I’ve masked the pre-filled email addresses for confidentiality reasons): [![Archant Manage Profile page](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image_thumb2.png "Archant Manage Profile page")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image3.png) We now have two choices: option one is to ‘Update’ our email address or option two which is to unsubscribe via a ‘Resubscribe’ button. Neither makes much sense so let’s try each in turn: [![Archant Route One Manage Profile Screen](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image_thumb3.png "Archant Route One Manage Profile Screen")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image4.png) The Archant Opt-in button was pre-selected so I deselect it as the last thing I want is to opt-in to more emails. When I hit ‘Update’ I’m warned I must check one of the opt-in check boxes, the opposite of what I want to do. So that didn’t work. Let’s go back and press the confusingly titled “Resubscribe” button: [![Archant Route Two Unsubscribe page](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image_thumb4.png "Archant Route Two Unsubscribe page")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image5.png) This time my ‘Unsubscribe’ request has successfully ‘Resubscribed’ my email address. What sort of evil lunatic designed these pages and how are they holding down a job at a publishing company? These sort of blatant attempts to mislead consumers and lock them in to unwanted services are outdated, highly unprofessional and potentially illegal. So, reluctantly, I have to say **well done Archant Community Media Ltd** of Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1RE. You win my Evil Web Lunatic Award for making it truly impossible to unsubscribe from your emails. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** email, lesson, marketing, unsubscribe --- ### [Stop wasting attention, it's in short supply](https://allisterspeaks.com/stop-wasting-attention-its-in-short-supply/) **Published:** May 11, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** In my childhood years, my mum used to tell me *“If you haven’t got anything useful to say, don’t say anything at all.”* And now she wonders why I don’t phone her as often as she’d like… 😉 But it was good advice that many marketers would do well to follow. We live in an age of unprecedented communication levels. Attention is a rare commodity, and we abuse our customer’s time at our peril. [Skype](http://skype.com "Skype") fell foul of this rule today. I’ve been having problems getting a particular microphone to work with Skype and posted a question on their Community Forum. Several people have given suggestions to fix the issue but the problem persists. I posted a thank-you note to one of the forum respondents who had been particularly helpful. The result: an instant email back from Skype which explains: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image1.png) ***Aha!*** At last an answer to my microphone issue, I thought. This ***must*** be worthy of my attention. Back to the community site once again, to be greeted with this: [![Skype-Visitor-Email](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/skype-visitor-email_thumb.jpg "Skype-Visitor-Email")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/skype-visitor-email.jpg) Yes, you read that right. Skype has awarded me the distinguished rank of “Visitor” for my contributions to its support community. I have no interest in being an active member of this community and I was never asked *why* I had visited the forum. If Skype had asked they would understand that I only want a fix to my problem, not to start a long-lasting relationship as a contributor to their tech support forum. And it’s not just Skype; ‘Attention Abuse’ is rife. [American Express](http://www.americanexpress.com/ "American Express") emailed me today to excitedly welcome me to their new iPhone App, neglecting to consider that I, along with the majority of human beings, don’t own an iPhone: [![Amex announces its new iPhone app](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/amex-iphone-app.png?w=300 "Amex iPhone App")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/amex-iphone-app.png) Worse still they waste more of my attention by inviting me to wait expectantly for something that doesn’t yet exist, an irresponsible act [as I described yesterday](http://allisterfrost.com/2012/05/10/customers-live-in-the-present-not-the-future/ "Customers live in the present"): [![Amex thinks its customers care about something that doesn't yet exist](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/amex-ipad-app-promise.png?w=300 "Amex iPad App promise")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/amex-ipad-app-promise.png) **The lesson?** It’s simple really. Never abuse your customers’ attention. If they didn’t ask for something, don’t assume they’ll want it. **The solution?** Try living in your customers’ shoes for a change then ask yourself: “does this stuff warrant my attention?” If it doesn’t, package up the news into a monthly digest or post it to a less intrusive opt-in channel like a blog. Attention is a rare commodity. Don’t abuse it, because you never know when it will run out. **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Customers live in the present, not the future](https://allisterspeaks.com/customers-live-in-the-present-not-the-future/) **Published:** May 10, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** In our efforts to stay up-to-date and on top of the latest opportunities we sometimes forget that customers only really care about what they can get ***now***, not what we might have to offer at some point in the future. [![Website going live this month flash in press ad](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/wp_000022_thumb.jpg "Website going live this month flash in press ad")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/wp_000022.jpg)Take this press ad for instance. I’m sure the advertiser is really excited about their new website, but only a stir-crazy fanboy would make an appointment to witness the moment the site goes live as it happens. The time to promote your new website, your sales prices, your ad campaign, your shiny new product,… is when it’s available for customers to see, try, taste, buy… Any earlier and you’re wasting precious attention on a future promise that no-one else cares about. **We live in a “now economy” where customers expect instant gratification.** Don’t kid yourself into thinking they care about your world as much as you do. We live, sell, succeed in the present, not in the future. **Categories:** Marketing **Tags:** advice, guidance, marketing --- ### [Become a site usability guru with Usabilityhub](https://allisterspeaks.com/become-a-site-usability-guru-with-usabilityhub/) **Published:** May 10, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![How does it work?](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/image.png "How does it work?")I’ve been playing with [fivesecondtest](http://fivesecondtest.com/tour) on [Usabilityhub.com](http://usabilityhub.com/) today, a free tool that allows web designers and site managers to test different design options free of charge. It’s a neat service; by signing up and taking a few tests you earn “karma points” that eventually allow you to commission your own test. Of course, if you want greater control and flexibility there are paid plans starting at US$20 per month. **I suggest every digital marketer has a 10 minute play with Usabilityhub.** Simply by taking some tests you’ll learn a little about the way you navigate the web, as well as seeing the types of design challenges that other site managers face. **But here’s the key:** before you finish each test, take a few seconds to think about *why* you responded the way you did, noticing *where* you clicked on the test page and how the site *made you feel*. You can learn a lot simply by analysing your own answers, and then applying what you discover to your own sites. And with UI feedback available at low to zero cost, maybe you’ll pluck up the courage to test some of your own wilder design ideas in this safe environment, before implementing them on your live site. **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing **Tags:** testing, usability, Web design --- ### [A new chapter: Wild Orange Media](https://allisterspeaks.com/a-new-chapter-wild-orange-media/) **Published:** May 9, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![no_u_turn_sign](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/no_u_turn_sign.jpg "no_u_turn_sign")Three weeks ago I left my role as Head of Digital Marketing Strategy at [Microsoft](http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/default.aspx) to start a new chapter in my career. For some time I’ve harboured a dream of running my own company, being more in control of my own destiny and, crucially, being able to help a wider variety of businesses solve their marketing challenges. And so, after [two amazing decades](http://re.vu/allister) working exclusively for businesses with huge brands and marketing resources, it was time to jump with this quote ringing in my ears: > **The most dangerous thing in the world is to try to leap a chasm in two jumps** > > David Lloyd George, UK Prime Minister, 1941 [![Wild Orange logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/leaning-bitten-orange-with-shadow-on-transparency.png "Wild Orange logo")](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/)My new company is called [Wild Orange Media Limited](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/). It’s a strategic marketing consultancy, specialising in helping companies adapt and grow in our digital world. Together with my network of technical and functional subject matter experts I now provide consulting and training support to companies looking to improve their sales and marketing approaches to increasingly digitally-savvy customers. We’re not a social media marketing agency, but our knowledge of how to tap into the social media behaviours people exhibit every day runs through everything we do. [![Wild Orange Media logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/wild-orange-media-logo.png "Wild Orange Media logo")](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/)I’m also planning to continue to speak regularly at international industry and academic conferences. I really enjoy meeting people face-to-face and helping solve their business challenges. Some of my recent and upcoming talks, as well as a new video, are on [the Wild Orange Media website](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/speaking/). And this blog will continue. I may move it to a new place online, but not just yet, and I’d love to hear what topics you’re interested in so I can keep the content fresh and relevant to your needs. The best ways to get in touch are [from this blog](http://allisterfrost.com/) or via [my new contact form](http://www.wildorangemedia.com/contact/). ***Thanks for joining me on the journey.*** Fasten your seatbelt; this could be a wild (orange) ride! **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** agency, marketing, social media, strategy --- ### [Measuring the half-life of your links](https://allisterspeaks.com/measuring-the-half-life-of-your-links/) **Published:** April 26, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Understanding the concept of the “half-life” of different types of online links is important. “Half-life” a term most often associated with measuring radioactive decay where it helps describe: > “the period of time is takes for the amount of a substance undergoing decay to decrease by half.” (source: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-life)) In digital marketing terms the ‘substance’ we’re interested in measuring is usually impressions or clicks. **And the half-life of an advert helps describe how long it takes for the ad to receive half of the engagement it will ever get.** In the pre-digital era, the half life of, say, a TV advert used to be roughly half the duration of the paid ad campaign. Because we were buying share of voice, we could control the half-life and set it to a point where our presence in the marketplace would be at its peak. Things are different online though, where the impact of a new message is at its highest when the content is new and fresh, and quickly dissipates to (close to) nothing, sometimes in a matter of hours. According to data from Bit.ly: - A link shared on **Twitter** has a half-life of **2.8 hours** - A link shared on **Facebook** has a slightly longer half-life of **3.2 hours** - A link shared through **email or IM** has a half-life of **3.4 hours** - A link shared through **YouTube** has a half-life of **7.4 hours** - A link shared on **StumbleUpon** has a half life of **around 400 hours** *(because StumbleUpon will automatically recycle content until it has achieved the desired viewing levels if part of a paid ad campaign, or until the content is no longer receiving positive feedback from its viewers if part of an unpaid activity.)* ![Bitly chart showing half-life of different types of links](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/image5.png "Bitly chart showing half-life of different types of links") **How to measure the half-life of your links?** You can easily measure the half-life of any link you share. At the simplest level, using a URL shortening service like Bit.ly gives you access to analytics data reported by the hour so you can quickly see how many hits you get and when. You’ll need to do some number juggling to calculate the half life but in most instances a quick glance at the last 24 hours chart should be enough to tell you roughly when the half-life was reached. The big downside of this manual approach is you have to move fast. Without customised tools, the free Bit.ly Analytics site only reports data for the last 24 hours, so if you shared your link last week it could be impossible to gauge the half-life accurately. And remember, you can only truly measure half-life when all clicks have been received, which is, in theory, at a point in the infinite future. You need to make a call when clicks have dwindled sufficiently for you to ignore all future clicks (the long tail) and make your calculations. To help decide when is the right time to make this call, take a look at long-term clicks for a link shared a few months ago. In most instances, engagement will have dried up after a few days in which case it’s fine to calculate the half-life from that point in time. **But how does this knowledge help you?** By knowing the relative half-life of content shared on different platforms you can determine how frequently to post to those channels or when to post (and repost) to achieve maximum impact. This knowledge can also help inform your paid advertising plans helping you align them with activity happening across social channels to achieve maximum impact. Let me know how you get on calculating your links’ half-life levels or contact me with any questions. I’d love to hear how you get on. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** advertising, Facebook, links, measurement, online, stumbleupon, Twitter --- ### [Don’t make marketing promises you cannot keep](https://allisterspeaks.com/dont-make-marketing-promises-you-cannot-keep/) **Published:** April 25, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/image_thumb2.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/image4.png) It’s so easy when you’re designing a website or crafting a marketing campaign: > “I know, let’s publish every customer retweet on our website!” > “I know, let’s offer an instant messaging service so customer can chat online!” > “I know, let’s start a Twitter account and answer customer questions in real time!” In the heat of the moment, these ideas always feel right, and always make sense. After all, they’re exactly the sort of features you’d like to see if you were a customer. But in the cold light of the average working day it’s often hard to sustain your energy levels and focus, and those promises you’ve made can fall by the wayside. And few things are more toxic for a relationship than forgotten promises. So, if you plan to offer a service to your customers, whether online or offline, make sure first you can keep that promise, not just today but forever. It’s better to be upfront and honest about what you can and cannot do, than to promise the earth and let your customers down. **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** advice, tip --- ### [The trouble with Groupon–it’s all push and no pull](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-trouble-with-grouponits-all-push-and-no-pull/) **Published:** April 24, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![groupon](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/groupon_thumb.png "groupon")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/groupon.png)[Groupon](https://www.groupon.co.uk/), briefly the darling of Wall Street, is in trouble. After IPO’ing in November 2011 at $20 a share, the stock briefly rocketed to $31, before beginning its depressing descent back to a bubble-bursting $11. Yesterday’s trading saw the price close at $11.85 after a 6.5% day rally. [![Groupon stock chart](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/image_thumb1.png "Groupon stock chart")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/image3.png) **So what’s the problem with Groupon?** Like many rapidly-adopted online services it’s built on a solid premiss (people like bargains) but has struggled to consistently and repeatedly deliver this promise over time. The web is filled with horror stories of failed Groupon offers, sellers overtrading and losing their livelihoods, and substandard service delivery. In March, Groupon was given three months to improve its UK operation by the UK’s Office of Fair Trading after committing numerous breaches of consumer protection rules. But, despite all the challenges, the biggest issue for Groupon and the many other similar discount and cashback sites across the web is that **they haven’t yet delivered a user-loved “pull” mechanism** to create a self-sustaining revenue stream. Its marketing plan appears fatally flawed. Groupon generates the vast majority of its sales from email-initiated offers. The customer receives a daily email, spots a deal they like, and visits Groupon to buy. This transaction can only happen if the customer agrees to receive pushed messages from Groupon. This is a classic form of “push” marketing. Groupon also has a “pull” mechanism in the USA called Groupon Now which promises to draw users to its offers based on their day-to-day activities, for example by letting them see the nearest offers based on their current location. But Groupon Now [has failed to take off](http://www.businessinsider.com/chart-of-the-day-groupon-now-2011-10). **It seems that people really can’t be bothered to be bothered with seeing discounts all of the time.** We want value, but we want it on our terms, and few people are prepared to trawl through pages of irrelevance to find the one deal that might appeal. And, therein lies the root of the problem. If all you have are “push” mechanisms, you know your business is unlikely to be sustainable in the long term. With every push, you know you risk losing some of your users, and it’s never possible to continually enhance the appeal of your offers or the depth of your discount. ***The lesson:*** Until you can find an effective, self-sustaining way to “pull” your users to your offering, your company value may continue to slide inexorably towards its true value. And even one of those mega-Groupon discount offers may fail to attract investors to your stock when this shortcoming becomes apparent. Further reading: - The Telegraph, [Groupon ‘victim of its own success’](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/9192302/Groupon-victim-of-its-own-success.html) - Google Finance: [Groupon stock price chart](https://www.google.co.uk/finance?client=ob&q=NASDAQ:GRPN) - Forbes: [Groupon is now half price without a Groupon](http://www.forbes.com/sites/joanlappin/2012/04/23/grpn-is-now-half-price-without-a-groupon/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** groupon, marketing, stock --- ### [Anything is possible if you put your mind to it](https://allisterspeaks.com/anything-is-possible-if-you-put-your-mind-to-it/) **Published:** April 19, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Anything is possible graphic](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/image1.png "Anything is possible graphic")The creative opportunities available on social networking sites never cease to amaze me. Take Twitter for example. We all know there’s no way to place animated content on a user’s Twitter homepage, don’t we? Except you can. If you use a bit of left brain thinking and can find someone with the patience of a saint (or a savvy web developer) to bring a clever visual idea to life. Don’t believe me? Visit and scroll down (or just press the letter ‘J’ on your keyboard) to see how Smart Car in Argentina is using their Twitter page in a quite unexpected way. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/image2.png) See! Anything’s possible on the social web when you put your mind to it. \[hat tip to [@TravelMan](http://twitter.com/#!/travelman) for sending this my way\] **Categories:** Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** animation, creativity, Twitter --- ### [One competition, three great marketing lessons](https://allisterspeaks.com/one-competition-three-great-marketing-lessons/) **Published:** April 18, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [](http://www.copyblogger.com)[![gold trophy award recognition winner win](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/gold-trophy-award-recognition-winner-win_thumb.png "gold trophy award recognition winner win")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/gold-trophy-award-recognition-winner-win.png)Copyblogger.com recently ran a [competition with MarketingExperiments](http://www.copyblogger.com/optimization-summit-2012/) inviting people to submit email subject line ideas to help them promote a conference. First up, their approach is really clever because it engaged the community with their message at very little cost or effort. Entries were made through the comments section of a blog post which included the necessary legal link to the contest’s terms & conditions. I can think of few simpler ways to run an online competition. Secondly, they received nearly 500 suggestions for their email subject line. What better way to source a huge number of great ideas to help promote the conference? But most importantly, they learned a lot from their customers about what they think is most appealing about the conference. By crowdsourcing the entries for the competition, Copyblogger not only gave its readers an irresistible reason to participate in the online conversation, they were also conducting free research amongst high value blog visitors that might help them refine their offering. The winning entry is a peach too. Experienced writer [Christine Parizo](http://www.christineparizo.com/) picked up the first prize with her subject line suggestion: > **“Do your landing pages pass this test?”** That’s a brilliant, tight bit of copy. The offering is clearly laid out so the reader immediately knows this is something to do with landing page testing. And, by playing on the reader’s potential fear of not having optimal landing pages or failing the test, this subject line is almost guaranteed to elicit an immediate response. But it’s the word “this” that strikes me as really clever. Sonia Simone of Copyblogger explained that they received another nearly identical entry which read “Do your landing pages pass the test?” Using “the” instead of “this” results in the loss of much of the immediacy and specificity of Christine’s entry. So, lots of great lessons here from Copyblogger’s approach. In summary, here are three things we can learn from this example: 1. Online competitions needn’t be complicated to administer. Simply collecting entries via blog comments can suffice as long as the T&Cs are in place. 2. Crowdsourcing suggestions about your product can give you instant access to a wealth of customer feedback that can help improve your offering. 3. Sometimes it’s the finest details that can make the biggest difference, as proved by Christine’s clever use of “this” instead of “the”. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** blogging, competition, copywriting, email --- ### [How to kill your business: know all the answers](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-kill-your-business-know-all-the-answers/) **Published:** April 16, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Chimp not listening](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/image.png "Tralalah... I'm not listening")Recently a conference speaker from a huge national company concluded their talk by saying: > “We surveyed our customers and not one of them had an original or useful idea about how to improve our service.That’s when we realised that we have far better experts in-house and shouldn’t rely on help from the outside.” **I was flabbergasted.** If when asking your customers you fail to uncover any meaningful ways to improve your offering you are either (1) perfect in every way or (2) dangerously deluded. And, given the famously bad service provided by the conference speaker’s company, I think staying delusional probably features quite high on their mission statement. Sure, the public don’t always know exactly what they want. As Henry Ford famously said, if he’d asked people what they wanted they’d have said “a faster horse”. But even a seemingly unhelpful answer like this would have told Henry that people wanted something to get them to where they wanted to be more speedily. **You are not your customer.** You can never see your business through your customers eyes. But you ***must*** insist on continuously listening intently to all the clues they give while digging beneath the surface for the crucial insights they can bring forth. As I fear my fellow conference speaker may soon learn, the day you are truly unable to learn anything new from listening to your customers is the day your business starts to die. **Categories:** Marketing **Tags:** conference, inspiration, story --- ### [Social Media World Forum Europe –The Measurement and Engagement Debate](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-world-forum-europe-the-measurement-and-engagement-debate/) **Published:** April 11, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I recently joined a panel debate on stage at Social Media World Forum Europe in London to discuss the merits and challenges of measuring engagement in social media channels. Thanks to the team at [MyNewsdesk UK](http://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk), the video is now available for online viewing. Enjoy, and please let me know what you think of the topics we discussed. [http://csp.picsearch.com/players/rutile.swf?config=http%3A//csp.picsearch.com/playlist%3Fauth%3Dl4Bomq09FJidBHXboSc4t\_gNYcs8S6J4Oq5REVuPnrMH5JSw7ogk4UHK\_L6jIbknw4rE4OgKYsBSU2Ishv3MJa6xjd5qBg0xdmB3jstH6HCtv4Gv5MA\_TQ](http://csp.picsearch.com/players/rutile.swf?config=http%3A//csp.picsearch.com/playlist%3Fauth%3Dl4Bomq09FJidBHXboSc4t_gNYcs8S6J4Oq5REVuPnrMH5JSw7ogk4UHK_L6jIbknw4rE4OgKYsBSU2Ishv3MJa6xjd5qBg0xdmB3jstH6HCtv4Gv5MA_TQ) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** debate, panel, social media, speaker, video --- ### [Social Media Measurement–our journey so far…](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-measurementour-journey-so-far/) **Published:** March 30, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Success ruler](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/success-ruler_thumb.png "Success ruler")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/success-ruler.png)At this week’s [Social Media World Forum Europe](http://www.socialmedia-forum.com/europe/) I joined a panel to debate the merits of measuring engagement in social media activities. It was a friendly panel, with few areas of harsh disagreement, and we all agreed that we’ve not yet cracked the search for meaningful social media ROI metrics. Here’s my take on things. All marketers are on a journey to identify metrics that can truly prove if social media marketing programmes can work or not. I think this journey looks a bit like this *\[click to enlarge\]*: [![Social Media Measurement - the journey so far](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/social-media-measurement-the-journey-so-far_thumb.png "Social Media Measurement - the journey so far")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/social-media-measurement-the-journey-so-far.png) In the early days of social networks, crude measurements like ‘Fans’ and ‘Followers’ ruled the roost in the land grab to establish a brand’s presence on the social web. But we quickly realised that raw follower numbers alone are meaningless as they can mask a multitude of problems like the relative value of different types of followers. So we graduated to measuring engagement, looking to indicators of actual involvement with our brand to assess the value of our social media marketing efforts. But doing this just shone a light on another problem: engagement is not the end, it’s just a means to the end. Just because we can measure when someone ‘Likes’ something our brand does online, it doesn’t mean they will become a source of revenue. Let’s not forget, this isn’t a new phenomenon; TV ads have had ‘fans’ for generations but we had no means of counting them yet our marketing was none the worse for this. And so now we must enter a more enlightened stage in our journey. Just as we’ve done with every emerging media format in the past, we need to combine data sources from multiple touch-points and adopt sophisticated econometric modelling approaches to help us make sense of the data. **It’s this stage in the journey that gets me really excited.** The social web affords us more rich, real-time consumer data than we’ve ever dreamed possible. Collecting this data is simple and cheap. Combining these data, however, with other indicators of brand health like propensity to purchase research, customer feedback, price elasticity models and so on is extremely difficult. But modelling of this kind will soon become far easier and affordable for many brands as the tools we use to monitor online behaviours evolve to connect more seamlessly with other sources of data within our businesses. Our ability to derive value from these rich data sets, however, will still hinge on the skills of talented researchers and data miners who can manipulate the data to unlock the consumer insights hidden within. This is an exciting time to be a marketer if you have an appetite for learning and the good instinct to become a great data miner. Thanks to everyone at SMWF for their feedback on the debate. It was fun! **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** insights, measurement, roi, social media --- ### [The CMO’s Guide to The Social Landscape](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-cmos-guide-to-the-social-landscape/) **Published:** March 26, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** With thanks to [Dr Kelly Page](http://about.me/drkellypage) for sharing this, here’s a handy ‘ready reckoner’ from [CMO.com](http://www.cmo.com) that summarises some of the benefits of 15 of the big social networks, categorised against their value for Customer Communication, Brand Exposure Traffic (generation potential) To Your Site, and SEO. Of course, like any summary of this kind, it’s wildly over-generalised and quite dangerous in the wrong hands. But if you have first-hand experience of each of the platforms and enough knowledge to draw your own informed conclusions, it could help you synthesise your planning and focus on the better platforms for your unique business goals. Click the image below to view the full table. [![The CMO's Guide to the Social Landscape](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image13.png "The CMO's Guide to the Social Landscape")](http://www.cmo.com/social-media-guide/2012/#) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** infographic, marketing, social media --- ### [Ad Placement: a matter of life or death (almost)](https://allisterspeaks.com/ad-placement-a-matter-of-life-or-death-almost/) **Published:** March 23, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Placing digital display ads has never been easier. You create your ads, pay your money, and a nice computer will automagically push them out across whichever networks you choose. But all this automation means fewer human eyeballs checking ad placements actually make sense. And most marketers I meet think about where they’d like to see their ads while neglecting to clearly specify where their ads *cannot* appear. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image_thumb8.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image12.png)New research from vCE Charter and reported by [comScore](http://www.comscoredatamine.com/2012/03/nearly-3-out-of-4-ad-campaigns-deliver-ads-adjacent-to-brand-inappropriate-content/) has found that 72 percent of studied campaigns had ads running in proximity to content that was deemed “not brand safe”. Poor ad placement has the potential to destroy brand trust and to tarnish its meaning, ultimately harming sales in the long term. So start thinking about where your ads should *not* appear. Be demanding and insist that ad network owners employ due care to ensure your ads are only seen in the most positive light possible. That’s what you’re paying them for, so make them work for their money. Need an example of poor ad placement? Just visit almost any big ad-funded network and you’ll routinely spot editorial fighting with ad copy. Or watch this recent life or death TV example from the UK’s [Channel 4](http://www.channel4.com "Channel 4"): \[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXAuoA\_KZwo&sns=em\] **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** advertising, planning, research, video --- ### [How to Assess the Impact of Stopping Search Advertising: a Google Study](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-assess-the-impact-of-stopping-search-advertising-a-google-study/) **Published:** March 14, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to root out the motivation behind Google’s latest research finding that advertisers who stop buying paid ads on Google’s search engine lose lots of search engine clicks. So, in this post I’ll take a look at the research to help you navigate your way through the data. First up, Google’s headline finding: > **In the event of pausing a paid ad campaign, “organic traffic does not make up for the loss of paid clicks”** [![Will organic traffic make up for the loss of paid ad clicks chart](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image_thumb5.png "Statement of the blindingly obvious")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image9.png) Few should be surprised by this finding. Paid ads on search engines exist to disrupt the natural search flow and provide standout far beyond that afforded by organic listings. And Google has recently enhanced this standout even further with their new [Enhanced Ad Sitelinks](http://adwords.blogspot.com/2012/02/introducing-enhanced-ad-sitelinks.html) feature that allow ads to be embedded within ads. So it’s logical that turning off paid ads will result in the loss of the vast majority of clicks they would otherwise have generated. Google’s research puts the lost clicks at 85%, slightly lower than a prior study in July 2011 which claimed 89%. Interestingly, if a minimal paid ad spend is maintained, the [![What happens in the absence of search ads?](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image_thumb6.png "What happens in the absence of search ads?")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image10.png) We cannot read any additional data (e.g. click mix between organic and paid listings) because Google’s charts are not drawn to scale and the above 85% actually measures about 66%. Where ad budgets are partially cut (although the research doesn’t specify by what percentage), the lost clicks amount to 80% on average. **The biggest problem I have with this study** is that it assumes all clicks are equal, effectively ignoring the value of the different click types. If, for example, the 80% of lost clicks arising from a budget cut only contributed 10% of the end actions (e.g. purchase, sign-up, trial etc.) then this might yet prove to be ROI beneficial. We know from prior studies, like [Barcelona’s Pompeu Fabra Univertisty’s study in 2010](http://allisterfrost.com/2010/09/03/how-we-search-for-stuff-insights-for-marketers/), that search engine users exhibit very different behaviours when confronted by organic and paid ads, and that their propensity to click on either shifts based on their needs. Informational searchers are typically more likely to follow organic listings, while transactional searchers, particularly those in buying mode, are relatively more predisposed to clicking on paid ads. Google’s study concludes by assessing the % of clicks gained by increasing search advertising spend levels: > **Where advertisers were previously not advertising with search ads, and then turned on search ads, the incremental traffic was 79%** No surprise, again, that buying paid ads leads to a sharp increase in overall click volume. However, this comes at the expense of some lost organic clicks, but we cannot gauge how much from the research because the charts have not been drawn to scale. [![What happens with an increase in search ads?](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image_thumb7.png "What happens with an increase in search ads?")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image11.png) To accurately assess the true incremental value generated from increasing search ad spend we have to factor in the value of each end action. For examples, if we are seeking informational searchers, who are much more inclined to click organic listings, and by placing additional paid ads we generate fewer organic clicks, the net result may not be positive for our marketing goals. Google’s report concludes as follows: > **Across the board, our findings are consistent: ads drive a very high proportion of incremental traffic – traffic that is not replaced by navigation from organic listings when the ads are turned off or turned down.** It’s hard to disagree with such a generic statement; of course, if you pay for clicks you’ll get more clicks than you might otherwise. But each marketer needs to consider these findings in the light of their unique business challenges. By factoring in the value generated from each type of click, we can make a much more informed judgement about the investment levels needed in search engine advertising to achieve our goals. Further reading: - Google’s Research Blog: [Search Ads Pause Studies Updates](http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2012/03/search-ads-pause-studies-update.html) - Research findings: [Infographic](http://googleresearch.blogspot.com/2012/03/search-ads-pause-studies-update.html) - Google Research Paper July 2011: [Incremental Clicks Impact Of Search Advertising](http://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/untrusted_dlcp/research.google.com/en/us/pubs/archive/37161.pdf) (.pdf) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Search Marketing **Tags:** advertising, Google, infographic, research, search engines, Search Marketing --- ### [Pinterest: the ideal home for my social web infographics collection](https://allisterspeaks.com/pinterest-the-ideal-home-for-my-social-web-infographics-collection/) **Published:** March 13, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Pinterest_Logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/pinterest_logo_thumb.png "Pinterest_Logo")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/pinterest_logo.png)[Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/allisterf) has sparked fevered excitement amongst marketers in recent weeks. The pinboard-based photo-sharing website first launched quietly in late 2009 but was only recently opened up to invitation only registration. But since late last year, the site’s traffic has grown on a near-exponential curve. ComScore recently recorded monthly unique visitors in the US at 11.7 million, making [Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/ "Pinterest") the fastest site ever to break through 10 million users in the US. In Europe, growth has been fastest in the UK, most likely due to the shared language with the US, and had [245,000 unique visitors in January](http://www.comscoredatamine.com/2012/02/is-pinterest-the-next-big-social-network-in-europe/). With an iPhone app already released and new apps for the other leading mobile platforms, Pinterest looks set to continue to enjoy further rapid growth this year. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image_thumb4.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image7.png)**But why is Pinterest so popular?** Pinterest taps into an existing human desire, to share great things with others, and makes it simple, fast and rewarding. There’s a brilliantly-designed validation mechanism baked into the default settings which notifies you by email of others’ interactions with your pins. Seeing this near-instant interaction with content you have shared provides a powerful reward mechanism for users, thereby encouraging repeat visits and deeper engagement. Pinterest also continues, despite its dizzying growth, to tap into the scarcity principle by requiring new users to request or receive an invite before they can register to the site. It’s clever stuff, playing subtly on some of the most powerful psychological triggers in use on the social web today. And the users love it! But, more than anything, Pinterest is just a joy to use. So easy, so quick, so seamless. They’ve nailed simplicity into everything, and once a user has added the Pin It bookmark to their browser they have the easiest and friendliest way imaginable to share the great things they discover online. **So is Pinterest unstoppable?** Despite all its current meteoric success, from what I’ve seen so far I doubt Pinterest has sufficient depth and longevity to remain a standalone platform for long. It would, however, make a great addition to the core functionality of some of the existing networks like [Facebook](http://facebook.com "Facebook"), [Flickr](http://flickr.com "Flickr") or [Google+](http://https://plus.google.com/ "Google+"). How long before one of these big players decides to snap up a bargain? Still not tried Pinterest? I’ve been collating up some of the best social media related infographics I come across on the web. Please take a look through my [Social Web](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_web "Social web") Factoids board and enjoy: [![Pinterest Social Web Factoids screengrab](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image8.png "More infographics than you can shake a stick at")](http://pinterest.com/allisterf/social-web-factoids/) [![Follow Me on Pinterest](http://passets-cdn.pinterest.com/images/follow-on-pinterest-button.png)](http://pinterest.com/allisterf/) If you need a Pinterest invitation code, contact me via the Get In Touch section of this site with your email address. **Categories:** Creativity, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** infographic, pinterest, social media, social network --- ### [Site Design: How Removing Choice can Double Conversion Rates](https://allisterspeaks.com/site-design-how-removing-choice-can-double-conversion-rates/) **Published:** March 12, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![AB Testing Clipboard](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/ab-testing-clipboard_thumb.png "AB Testing Clipboard")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/ab-testing-clipboard.png)Having an insatiable appetite to test, retest, and test again is an essential quality for any digital marketer. Because it’s only through testing your ideas, hunches and, sometimes, gut instinct that you can truly understand what works for your business and your customers. The team at [VisualWebsiteOptimizer](http://visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/) has shared details of a fascinating test they conducted on one of their clients’ websites, South Africa’s [Yuppiechef.com](www.yuppiechef.com). **Conventional wisdom… …**says that ***every*** page of your site should carry the same navigation menus, headers and footers. And, in most instances, we allow this same logic to flow into campaign landing pages that act as the primary entry point from some form of marketing stimulus like paid search ads or posts to our social networking pages. **Unconventional wisdom…** …however, says differently. In its test on VisualWebsiteOptimizer, YuppieChef compared the effectiveness of two subtly different landing pages: **LANDING PAGE A:** *based on the standard webpage template:* ![Yuppie Chef page With Navigation](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/with-navigation.png "Yuppie Chef page With Navigation") **LANDING PAGE B:** *as above but without the distracting top navigation choices:* ![Yuppie Chef page Without Navigation](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/without-navigation-2.png "Yuppie Chef page Without Navigation") The results were unambiguous. **On Landing Page A,** the conversion rate was 3% (i.e. 3% of visitors clicked on the primary call to action button) **On Landing Page B, the conversion rate was 100% higher at 6%** (i.e. 6% of visitors clicked on the primary call to action button) By eliminating unnecessary choices and distractions, the team learned how to dramatically improve the return on investment from their marketing activities. **The lesson:** Campaign landing pages should exist to serve the primary call to action (CTA) above all other possible outcomes. Their only purpose is to move people quickly and seamlessly into following the desired path to this CTA. By removing superfluous information and streamlining your page design to focus attention on this CTA you may be able to sharply increase conversion rates. ***When it comes to landing pages, sometimes less really is more.*** Further reading: - [VisualWebsiteOptimizer’s case study](http://visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/split-testing-blog/a-b-testing-case-study-navigation-menu/) - [A/B Testing details from Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A/B_testing) - [You are not smarter than A/B testing by Daniel R Odio](http://www.danielodio.com/2012/03/08/ab-testing/) - [Smashing Magazine’s Ultimate Guide to A/B Testing](http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/06/24/the-ultimate-guide-to-a-b-testing/) **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** conversion rate optimisation, design, site, testing --- ### [A Day in The Internet: Just One of 200 Million Blog Posts Written Today](https://allisterspeaks.com/a-day-in-the-internet-just-one-of-200-million-blog-posts-written-today/) **Published:** March 9, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Our digital world moves fast. So, here for your weekend delectation, is a thought-provoking infographic that shows just how much stuff happens each day on this thing we call The Internet. Enjoy! [![A Day in the Internet](http://images.mbaonline.com.s3.amazonaws.com/day-in-the-internet.jpg)](http://www.mbaonline.com/a-day-in-the-internet/) Created by: [MBA Online](http://www.mbaonline.com/) **Categories:** Digital Living **Tags:** facts, infographic, internet, social media --- ### [A Day Made of Glass 2 – Unpacked](https://allisterspeaks.com/a-day-made-of-glass-2-unpacked/) **Published:** March 7, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Screens everywhere](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image6.png "Screens Everywhere (image by Corning)")[Corning](http://www.corning.com/) makes glass, but not just any old glass, the type of glass we see on screens and displays all around us these days. I really admired their February 2011 ‘[A Day Made of Glass](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38&feature=relmfu)’ video which instantly positioned Corning as a [thought leader](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_leader "Thought leader") whose glass you would be happy to find in any device you own. One year on and Corning is back with a new video, this time with a presenter to guide you through a vision of the future where screens, and the life-enhancing information they hold, will be everywhere. Watch and be amazed. \[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-GXO\_urMow\] **Categories:** Digital Living, Innovation, Inspiration **Tags:** future, glass, video --- ### [EU Cookie Law – just 80 days to comply](https://allisterspeaks.com/eu-cookie-law-just-80-days-to-comply/) **Published:** March 7, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Security camera](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/04_07_7_a7.jpg "The ICO is watching you")Websites which target citizens of the UK (and, more broadly, the EU) have just 80 days to comply with the complex [Privacy and Electronics Communications Regulations](http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_organisations/privacy_and_electronic_communications.aspx) (also known as the e-Privacy or Cookies Directive) that requires prior user consent to be given before any data (e.g. cookies) can be stored on a remote user’s equipment. This law could have profound impact on many websites and site owners should take immediate action to understand their legal obligations and take whatever remedial action they deem necessary to stay within the terms of the law. The legislation came into effect last year, on 26 May 2011, but the Information Commissioner graciously afforded all site owners “a 12 month lead-in period” to allow the necessary site changes to be implemented. As a result, in just 80 days’ time, from 26 May 2012, the Information Commissioner will consider complaints about cookies in line with his normal approach to complaint handling under the Regulations. At the most basic level, website owners should be able to demonstrate what steps they have taken and still plan to take to comply with the rules. Companies that are deemed to be in breach of the privacy law may face severe monetary penalties of as much as 5% of annual worldwide turnover. For an example of how consent may be collected on sites, visit the ICO’s own site and examine the opt-in at the top of the page: [![ICO Cookie opt-in window](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image_thumb3.png "ICO Cookie opt-in window")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image5.png) Seek your own legal advice to ensure you understand your obligations correctly. *Further reading:* The Wall: [Cookie legislation is the law, are brands ready?](http://wallblog.co.uk/2012/03/06/cookie-legislation-is-the-law-are-brands-ready/) Norton Rose (legal firm): [Changes to cookies requirements in Europe](http://www.nortonrose.com/knowledge/publications/53641/changes-to-cookies-requirements-in-europe-and-implementation-status-in-the-uk-france-germany-netherlands-and-spain) The Digital Marketer: [New self-regulation for online behavioural advertisers in the EU](http://allisterfrost.com/2011/04/18/new-self-regulation-for-online-behavioural-advertisers-in-the-eu/) Department for Culture, Media and Sport: [HMG response](http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8048.aspx) Wikipedia: [Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_on_Privacy_and_Electronic_Communications) **Categories:** Computers and Internet, Digital Marketing **Tags:** cookies, law, privacy --- ### [Social Media: “I kind of hate it. I think it’s awful”](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-i-kind-of-hate-it-i-think-its-awful/) **Published:** March 6, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I still enjoy watching US comedian Louis CK’s famous [“Everything’s Amazing and Nobody’s Happy”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk) TV clip where he lambasts people for not appreciating the simple things (and the amazing things) in life. His appearance on the [Conan chat show](http://teamcoco.com/) became an online viral hit with 5.4 million viewings on YouTube alone. This weekend, [Joe Higgins](https://twitter.com/#!/coup_joe) of [Coup Media](http://www.coupmedia.co.uk/) reminded me of another great Louis CK clip, also from the Conan Show, where he shares his dislike of Twitter and the fact that cameras in mobile phones mean that many of us now live through life’s most extraordinary moments through a 3 inch screen. And he’s right too. Life’s too awe-inspiring to view through an artificial medium; our own eyes provide a far better way to experience the world’s wonders as it unveils itself before us every day. Enjoy the clip. \[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSSDeesUUsU\] **Categories:** Digital Living, Social Media **Tags:** comedy, Twitter, video --- ### [#FAIL: The 50 Greatest Social Media Screw-ups](https://allisterspeaks.com/fail-the-50-greatest-social-media-screw-ups/) **Published:** March 6, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![#FAIL e-book cover](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image3.png "#FAIL e-book")](http://www.amazon.co.uk/FAIL-Greatest-Social-Screw-Ups-ebook/dp/B007FD0J56/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330687086&sr=1-1)Hot off the e-press is a fabulous new e-book that I’m very happy to recommend. Written by Bernhard Warner and Matthew Yeomans\* of SMI, #FAIL catalogues the 50 most disastrous social media gaffes the world has seen. But, crucially, it also provides invaluable advice on what marketers should do to avoid finding themselves at the centre of the next big scandal. I think this is a must-read for leaders of social enterprises, as well as social media practitioners and students. The e-book also contains clickable links to video footage and articles providing additional supporting information for many of the case studies it covers. Screw-ups I really enjoyed reading about included: - How the mistakes that plagued Dell Hell helped spark the changes needed for Dell to become widely recognised as one of the world’s best social media practitioners - How Comcast’s sleeping engineer ultimately helped transform the company’s culture - How #McFail taught McDonalds what people really think of its product quality - How mixing business with pleasure cost Chrysler dearly - How Carnival Cruises’ self-imposed break from social media came unstuck after the Costa Concordia hit the rocks - How Ketchum got caught asleep at the social media wheel in Memphis ![James Andrews' infamous tweet](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image4.png "Remember this?") The book is bang up to date and a great reference document for anyone involved with the fast-moving world of social media. You can buy the e-book today from [Amazon Kindle Direct](http://www.amazon.co.uk/FAIL-Greatest-Social-Screw-Ups-ebook/dp/B007FD0J56/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330687086&sr=1-1), and I understand it will shortly also be available in the Apple iBookstore, the Nook bookstore and on Lulu.com. *\* Disclosure: Matthew and I spoke at a recent marketing conference in Rio de Janiero and he kindly sent me a preview copy of the e-book, but I have no commercial interest in the book.* **Categories:** Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** e-book, fail, marketing, social media --- ### [The curse of new shiny objects: QR Code Lunacy](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-curse-of-new-shiny-objects-qr-code-lunacy/) **Published:** March 5, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** As any good workman will tell you, just because a tool it exists doesn’t mean you have to use it. So why is it that so many in the marketing industry insist on jumping onto every passing bandwagon without first assessing if it’s the best ride in town? Need proof? Visit the delightfully focussed and succinctly titled [www.wtfqrcodes.com](http://www.wtfqrcodes.com) to see some prize specimens of the staggeringly stupid things people are doing with QR codes. Here are a few of my favourites: [![Plane towing QR code banner](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image_thumb.png "How can this possibly fail?")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image.png) *How can this possibly fail?* [![Instructions for complicated retailer QR code prize draw](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image_thumb1.png "Something this complicated must succeed")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image1.png) *Something this complicated must succeed* [![QR code on back of lorry on motorway](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image_thumb2.png "For those times when motorway driving isn't dangerous enough already")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/image2.png) *For those times when motorway driving isn’t dangerous enough already* **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** marketing, QR codes --- ### [If you have a wart…](https://allisterspeaks.com/if-you-have-a-wart/) **Published:** March 5, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I love this quote which reminds me, as I hope it may you, that no matter how much we sometimes doubt ourselves, no matter how self-conscious we may feel, things are never the same from the other person’s point of view. [![If you happen to have a wart on your nose or forehead (quotation)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/wart_thumb.jpg "[click to enlarge] If you have a wart quotation")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/wart.jpg) Or, as someone wise once said to the young marketer: *“Just remember, you are not your customer.”* **Categories:** Inspiration **Tags:** advice, marketing, Quote --- ### [My Capital Cardiff keynote presentation](https://allisterspeaks.com/my-capital-cardiff-keynote-presentation/) **Published:** February 29, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I had a wonderfully frenetic few hours at Capital Cardiff today where I gave the keynote presentation and some media interviews. Much of the discussion centred on helping businesses, large and small, understand where to start with their social media exploration and seemed rather timely following my post earlier today about how many marketers remain ill-equipped to embrace the social web. We covered a huge amount of ground in my brief presentation so here are the slides for you to view and digest at your leisure. \[slideshare id=11801481&doc=capitalcardiff-printready-290212-120229113227-phpapp01\] My thanks to the [South Wales Chamber of Commerce](http://www.southwaleschamber.co.uk/) and [The Centre for Business](http://www.centreforbusiness.co.uk/) for hosting me today and to all the lovely people I chatted with during the day. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** cardiff, Digital Marketing, presentation, social media --- ### [CIM Report Shows Many Marketers are Ill-equipped for the Social Web](https://allisterspeaks.com/cim-report-shows-many-marketers-are-ill-equipped-for-the-social-web/) **Published:** February 29, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![CIM SMB Report - how are marketers using social media?](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/image4.png "CIM SMB Report - how are marketers using social media?")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/cim-social-media-benchmark-infographic.pdf) The UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) recently teamed up with Ipsos ASI and Bloomberg to carry out new research to assess how businesses are adapting to our social media fuelled world. The results appear largely consistent with previous studies, although do provide a valuable benchmark for comparison with other data sources. And while many of the findings were focussed on adoption and usage patterns across four big social networks (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube), the most interesting statistics came from marketers’ self-assessment of the value their businesses derive from social media efforts: - Only 27% of marketers use social media as a “core part of a campaign”, yet 28% claim to still be “just experimenting.” - Across all of the major channels, more people claim their social media activities are ‘not at all effective’ than ‘extremely effective,’ with YouTube being seen as the channel where being effective is most problematic. - Most marketers don’t appear to be measuring social media consistently or to any advanced degree, with the headline ‘number of Facebook fans’ metric being the only metric used to an advanced level by more than half of the marketers questioned. - Only 6% of businesses claim their social media skills and competencies are optimal with a further 50% claiming to be either below their industry average or fundamentally ill-equipped. - No surprise, the biggest barrier preventing businesses from getting value from social media is the time required to manage the channels properly, with the inability to measure and lack of budget also commonly cited. - And yet, despite all this, the vast majority of businesses increased their investments in social media marketing in both 2011 and 2012. The findings are clear. We’re still a long way from reaching a mature state where marketers and businesses can agree on the true value that the social web can bring. And marketers, above any other department or profession, are best placed to spearhead the move towards more sophisticated and progressive use of these platforms to deliver business growth. [Download the full infographic](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/cim-social-media-benchmark-infographic.pdf) (.pdf) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** CIM, infographic, research, social media --- ### [Get a short URL for your Google+ account](https://allisterspeaks.com/get-a-short-url-for-your-google-account/) **Published:** February 23, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Opinions across the marketing industry remain divided over whether Google+ is the most fantastic development since manned space missions or the most pointlessly misguided invention ever. And I, for one, am firmly rooted somewhere between the two camps: I just can’t make up my mind. That’s why my personal presence on Google+ is fairly minimalistic. Like all new platforms I’m keen to learn and understand what it can do, but I’ve yet to find a solid justification to spend significant time there. But, as I would encourage anyone in the digital marketing industry, it’s worth grabbing your plot of land on the Google Plus network so you can be easily found by others should they come looking. In its currently immature and unpolished state, G+ doesn’t do a great job of presenting personal URLs and each user is identified by a long numerical string as in the example below: ![Google Plus profile URL example](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/image3.png "Google Plus profile URL example") You could use any URL shortening service to create an neater web address to share with your friends, but a new service at [gplus.to](http://gplus.to) does this quite elegantly by allowing you to create something like (my G+ profile) [gplus.to/allisterf](http://gplus.to/allisterf). You can secure your own short G+ URL now from . **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Google, google plus, url --- ### [The Future of Sharing: Social Media Week Panel Debate](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-future-of-sharing-social-media-week-panel-debate/) **Published:** February 20, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Allister Frost at Future of Sharing](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/image7.png "Allister Frost at Future of Sharing")I joined a panel debate on the topic of “The Future of [Sharing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharing "Sharing")” as part of [Social Media Week](http://socialmediaweek.org/ "Social Media Week") on Thursday. You can [see the on-demand video at the SMW Livestream site](http://new.livestream.com/smwlondon/futureofsharing) to find out what my fellow panellists Ash Choudhury of Nokia, [Trevor Johnson](http://twitter.com/UKTrevor) of Facebook, [Mark Jones](http://twitter.com/MarkJones) of Reuters and host [Gordon MacMillan](http://twitter.com/GordonMacMillan) of Brand Republic made of the topic. Here are a few key takeaways that I wanted to share with you: **Online social sharing looks set to continue to rise,** with more people sharing more things, more frequently. Facebook’s [Mark Zuckerberg](http://www.biography.com/people/mark-zuckerberg-507402 "Mark Zuckerberg") thinks that sharing will grow on an exponential curve, doubling roughly every 18 months (per [Moore’s Law](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore%27s_law "Moore's law")), but new research suggests that growth may not be guaranteed in the world of sharing. [![Sharing burnout on Facebook](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/image_thumb.png "Sharing burnout on Facebook")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/image2.png)According to Beyond’s report, **sharing burnout is very real,** with sharing behaviour typically peaking during the first 6-12 months of a social network’s use. Thereafter, sharing frequency typically tails off on networks like Twitter, Facebook and [Google+](http://https://plus.google.com/ "Google+") despite log-in frequency usually continuing to rise. **So, why do people share less over time?** Social sharing is a very enticing promise. Being handed the power to instantly share almost anything with almost anyone anywhere is an exciting and liberating proposition. As new users experiment and familiarise themselves with online sharing, their appetite to share is at its highest. After all, there’s little point being in a social network if you don’t join the online conversation and share a little. But, for most people, this ego-driven desire to share can only be sustained if rewarded with reciprocal sharing or other motivating rewards. This is the ***value exchange*** in action. When we give something, we expect something in return, maybe not immediately but at some point in the future. As we learn how online sharing works, I believe many people grow disillusioned as they realise that the buzz of excitement they experienced during their initial sharing experimentation fades. When the value exchange is out of balance, when it’s all give and no get, our desire to share online weakens. **People share for different reasons.** Sometimes we assume that everyone shares for the same motivations as our own, but humans are more complex than that. Some people share for altruistic reasons, others share to strengthen their relationships with others, and some people just share because they need someone to talk to. Everyone is different and we are influenced by changing motivations over time. Marketers who keep this in mind and can identity the most common motivations for sharing exhibited by their influencers will be better placed to create content they will be likely to share. **Creating sub-groups of friends is rare and looks set to stay that way.** Today we typically share content with everyone in our social graph because, frankly, it’s the only easy way to do it. Services like Facebook and LinkedIn do provide facilities to categorise friends and send targeted content to different groups but doing this is time consuming and clunky. This explains why only 36% of people claim to have created subgroups, but 64% of people find the idea appealing. There’s a big problem here though: human relationships are fluid. Spending a few hours categorising a couple of hundred online friends today could prove to be largely wasted in six months’ time as relationships change and people require re-categorising into different groups. This relationship fluidity means that managing sub-groups becomes an on-going task. Even Google+, with its elegant circles interface, has been met by criticism for being too cumbersome and time-intensive. We need even simpler, more intuitive and self-updating mechanisms (where the computer takes away some of the maintenance burden) before categorising our friends will become commonplace on the web. And even then, I’m doubtful that humans will develop the ability to routinely maintain larger community groups than 150 contacts, as long prescribed in [Dunbar’s Number](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunbar's_number). **Frictionless sharing, where your content is automatically shared with others, is here to stay.** However, consumers will demand greater transparency and control over their sharing choices. Every time someone has a bad experience with frictionless sharing, like that embarrassing music track you listened to that has now been advertised to all your friends, the likelihood of their opting-in to future automated sharing is reduced. My biggest worry with frictionless sharing is that **the value of shared content conceptually reduces with every new piece of shared information.** Of course, if you’re planning a meal out, it’s helpful to know that a friend enjoyed a meal in a local restaurant, but when hundreds of others have also shared similar information it becomes increasingly difficult to cut through the clutter and know who to trust. I sense we get a short-term buzz from seeing friend recommendations about the things around us, but when everyone starts sharing their views will the value we derive from this information remain as high? Here’s my take on how the value we will derive from shared online information may evolve as the volume of shared content rises exponentially: [![The Sharing Hype Cycle](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/the-sharing-hype-cycle_thumb.png "The Sharing Hype Cycle")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/the-sharing-hype-cycle.png) It’s only after the initial buzz of excitement has faded—and we realise that more data is not always better data—that we’ll appreciate the need for improved computer-aided curation of information. These new tools will automatically amplify the visibility of our most trusted sharers and help us to ignore the less valuable data noise. Think [Facebook’s Edgerank algorithm](http://allisterfrost.com/2011/07/15/edgerank-in-facebook-how-it-works-and-9-tips-to-improve-it/) but for every piece of data in our lives… **And finally, the era of frictionless narrowcast sharing is approaching.** As the sophistication of our online social networks grows, so will our appetite to selectively share specific content with very narrow sub-groups. During last week’s debate I cited the examples of sharing medical data in real time with your doctor or information about driving behaviour with motor insurance companies. These types of automated sharing, where the value exchange is fairly balanced between sharer and recipient, will become increasingly commonplace. This is a fascinating area for future research. My thanks to Beyond for inviting me to join their panel debate and for sharing the research they conducted. See the links below for further reading: - [Beyond’s summary and infographic](http://bynd.com/2012/02/17/future-of-sharing-london/) - [The Wall Blog’s summary](http://wallblog.co.uk/2012/02/16/what-is-the-future-of-sharing-study-infographic/) - [Mashable’s summary of the research findings](http://mashable.com/2012/02/15/future-of-sharing-facebook-twitter-google/) - [Imagination.com’s analysis](http://www.imagination.com/en/labs/2012/02/future-sharing) - Fishburn Hedges: [To Share or not to Share?](http://beta.fishburn-hedges.co.uk/2012/02/t-share-or-not-to-share-the-future-of-sharing/) **Update:** voting is open until 24 February for the Social Media Week Awards. Please vote wisely: **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** graph, infographic, online, research, sharing, social media, video --- ### [Get A Career Timeline: your work-life infographic by Re.vu](https://allisterspeaks.com/get-a-career-timeline-your-work-life-infographic-by-re-vu/) **Published:** February 10, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Re.vu timeline](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/image.png "Re.vu timeline") Re.vu is a relatively new online service that helps you present your career history in a more engaging, graphical way than sites like LinkedIn. With the ways people find and consume information changing as we embrace new digital communication channels, the ability to present a visual resume (CV) is increasingly valuable. Re.vu does this in a really neat way, by importing an existing profile from LinkedIn and instantly presenting it in a visually pleasing way. It’s like a near-instant, free infographic of your CV, that you can customise using the provided themes or your own photos. You can even link to your full CV as well as any of the major social networks where you have a presence. ![Re.vu stats example](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/image1.png "Re.vu stats example")The site also provides top levels statistics so you can see how many people have viewed your profile over time and how long they typically spend on the page. The team is exploring the options for premium (paid for) accounts in the future, a key feature of which may be more detailed analytics and additional ready-made themes. But the service can go far beyond the basic features you get by importing data from LinkedIn. Take a look at Re.vu Founder and CEO Stephen Years’ page at [http://re.vu/stephen](http://re.vu/stephen "http://re.vu/stephen") and you’ll begin to appreciate how beautifully Re.vu can present your experiences and work history. All it takes is a little profile tweaking The site had some major downtime issues in recent days when the .vu domain went down, but it’s back up and firing on all cylinders again. Take a trip over to and grab a great user name before the best ones get snapped up. I’m [http://re.vu/allister.](http://re.vu/allister) **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** cv, experience, infographic, social media --- ### [Webinar: Doing Marketing in a Digital World](https://allisterspeaks.com/webinar-doing-marketing-in-a-digital-world/) **Published:** February 9, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I gave a [webinar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_conferencing "Web conferencing") today, hosted by [BrightTalk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BrightTALK "BrightTALK"), as part of their Social Media Summit. I’d welcome your comments and feedback. Here’s a link to the on-demand show: [View Here](http://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/43/41111) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Marketing **Tags:** Digital Marketing, free, social media, webinar --- ### [Improved Free App for Windows Phone: Bing Get Me There](https://allisterspeaks.com/improved-free-app-for-windows-phone-bing-get-me-there/) **Published:** February 6, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Bing Get Me There](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/bing-get-me-there.jpg "Bing Get Me There app screenshot")](http://www.windowsphone.com/en-GB/apps/744d9d43-ee65-e011-81d2-78e7d1fa76f8)The Bing team here at Microsoft has just released a great free app upgrade for Windows Phone users in London. Bing Get Me There v.1.3.0.6 has everything you need to navigate around London on foot or public transport including London Buses, Docklands Light Railway, and Underground and Overground train services. You can now pin your favourite journeys to the start screen, making regular route planning a breeze. But, best of all, it’s the only London journey planning app that allows you to create a *‘Get Me home’* button; perfect for those disorienting times when you roll out of an unfamiliar hostelry! I use this app all the time when racing between appointments in London. Take it for a spin next time you’re in town. A boon for visitors to The London Olympics 2012 too. Download link: [Get free app from Marketplace](http://www.windowsphone.com/en-GB/apps/744d9d43-ee65-e011-81d2-78e7d1fa76f8) **Categories:** Digital Living **Tags:** app, london, navigation, olympics, windows phone --- ### [The Future of Customer Service and the Rise of the Social Customer](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-future-of-customer-service-and-the-rise-of-the-social-customer/) **Published:** January 31, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![First Direct logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/first-direct-logo.jpg "First Direct logo")[First Direct](http://www.firstdirect.com) is that rarest of breeds: a well-loved British bank. And their customer service, at least in my experience, is second to none. So it makes perfect sense for them to have co-authored a report, released today in partnership with [It’s Open](http://itsopen.co.uk/), that discusses how customer service departments need to evolve to keep pace with the emergence of social customers. [![Future of Customer Service report image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image11.png "Future of Customer Service report (.pdf)")](http://www.newsroom.firstdirect.com/press/release/attachment/the_rise_of_the_socail_customer_-_will_2012_be_the_year_of_the_social_company.pdf)But first, what is a Social Customer? This term describes a growing population of customers who use the web to research and make purchases, as well as seek after-sales support or advice. These customers think nothing of sharing their views on products and services and routinely recommend products to others or air grievances when a product fails to live up to expectations. These consumers have very different expectations of customer service and represent a tribe that marketers can ill afford to ignore. Let’s look at this group in a little more depth. The It’s Open report defines them as customers who are “naturally attracted to companies that are willing to participate in a two-way dialogue,” and calls out four hallmarks of this growing tribe: [![Hallmarks of the Social Customer](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image_thumb5.png "Hallmarks of the Social Customer")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image12.png) Although only a small percentage of consumers use social media to complain about brands—only [2% use Twitter](http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/sectors/media/social-media-users-complain-little-but-want-fast-response/3022232.article), for example—their potential reach can be large. The only scalable and sustainable way to economically deal with the growing tide of social customers is to create what some, rather ambiguously, are calling a “Social Enterprise,” not to be confused with the other type of “Social Enterprise” [which applies business strategies to achieve philanthropic goals](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_enterprise). In our context, a Social Enterprise is one which embraces a broad range of two-way communication channels to engage in conversations with customers in order to improve service levels and the overall satisfaction of its customers. This is an entirely commercially-driven objective whose roots lie not in philanthropic goals but in a desire to maximise profits from social customers who may seek support from a multitude of channels. The key to creating and enabling a Social Enterprise is held, without exception, by the company’s executive leadership team. It is only through the most senior leaders that the cultural change programme needed to shift decades of processes and structures can be tackled. The It’s Open report calls for boardrooms to move beyond “naive cynicism about social media” and recognise the financial benefits that an evolved customer service model can bring. And if the boardroom holds the key to unlocking the social enterprise, it’s the middle ranking managers who, once given permission from the top, have the opportunity to ensure that a social web enabled mind-set can permeate every level of the company. A common start point is to introduce Social CRM solutions that can help place customer services at the very heart of the enterprise. Accessible to all staff and capable of monitoring a broad, targeted spectrum of media channels, social CRM suites enable companies to listen and respond to customer voices in real time, converting prospects into buyers, buyers into advocates, and even complainants into advocates and repeat buyers: [![The Transformative Power of Social CRM](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image_thumb6.png "The Transformative Power of Social CRM")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image13.png) The It’s Open report concludes with ten recommended actions for any company looking to adapt its customer service approach for our social future. It’s not an exhaustive or universally applicable list, but I encourage you to consider these steps carefully for your organisation: 1. Appoint an executive team to oversee the transition to Social CRM 2. Audit your social customers 3. Identify relevant channels to reach these customers 4. Create a multi-channel strategy for customer service 5. Update staff training and communications guidelines 6. Strengthen connections between customer service and key business units 7. Define operational specification of social CRM 8. Evaluate features and costs of shortlisted vendors 9. Consultation period with chosen Social CRM vendor 10. Establish metrics to assess performance The trend is clear: few companies can afford to ignore the rise of the social customer. By making carefully planned and early changes, organisations can ensure they are well placed to cope with the channel-agnostic consumers of the future who will expect, if not demand, frictionless communication with every company that wants a slice of their spending power. Further reading: - [First Direct press release](http://www.newsroom.firstdirect.com/press/release/the_rise_of_the_social_custome) - [Podcasts with the report authors](http://socialmedialeadershipforum.org/index.php/blog/news/future-of-customer-service-report-podcast-interviews/) - [Full report (.pdf)](http://www.newsroom.firstdirect.com/press/release/attachment/the_rise_of_the_socail_customer_-_will_2012_be_the_year_of_the_social_company.pdf) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** customer service, marketing, research, social media --- ### [My Figaro Digital Conference interview](https://allisterspeaks.com/my-figaro-digital-conference-interview/) **Published:** January 31, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![figaro digital](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/figaro-digital.jpg "figaro digital")](http://www.figarodigital.co.uk/editorial-article/allister-frost-on-social-media.aspx)I’ll be giving a talk at Figaro Digital’s Social Media Marketing Conference on 5 April at The International Coffee Organisation in London. Tickets are now [on sale here](http://www.figarodigital.co.uk/Conferences.aspx?pkConferenceID=a). Ahead of this, I recently gave an interview on the current state of social media marketing, tackling questions about the ROI of social media, the most common mistakes I see companies making, and how to integrate social media into the wider marketing mix. You can read the interview [here](http://www.figarodigital.co.uk/editorial-article/allister-frost-on-social-media.aspx). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** conference, london, marketing, social media, speaker --- ### [New videos: The CIM’s Social Media Benchmark Report](https://allisterspeaks.com/new-videos-the-cims-social-media-benchmark-report/) **Published:** January 30, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Latest Interview image - Allister Frost](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image10.png "Latest Interview image - Allister Frost")](http://www.smbenchmark.com/latest-interview/)On 15 February, the UK’s [Chartered Institute of Marketing](http://www.cim.co.uk "Chartered Institute of Marketing") (CIM) will release the findings of its latest Social Media Benchmark study. In advance of this, I shared some thoughts with them on how I see the social media world evolving. Find out more and book tickets to the launch event at [http://www.smbenchmark.com/](http://www.smbenchmark.com/ "http://www.smbenchmark.com/"). And let me know if you’ll be joining me there. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7clyS577U1k&w=448&h=252&hd=1] Social Media Benchmark — [Microsoft’s](http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=47.6395972222,-122.12845&spn=0.01,0.01&q=47.6395972222,-122.12845 (Microsoft)&t=h "Microsoft") Allister Frost on culture [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSCvsj9vAHY&w=448&h=252&hd=1] Social Media Benchmark — Microsoft’s Allister Frost on opportunities and risks [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkimB1uSfkU&w=448&h=252&hd=1] Social Media Benchmark — Microsoft’s Allister Frost on leaders and laggards **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** marketing, social media, video --- ### [Marketing Failure: Entry Deadline Extended](https://allisterspeaks.com/marketing-failure-entry-deadline-extended/) **Published:** January 24, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Marketing-Week-cover-19-January-2012](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/marketing-week-cover-19-january-2012_thumb.jpg "Marketing-Week-cover-19-January-2012")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/marketing-week-cover-19-january-2012.jpg)The cover of this week’s Marketing Week (UK) magazine screams “Entry Deadline Delayed” with the sub heading “The entry deadline \[for the Engage 2012 Awards\] has been extended to 31st January 2012”. Your first response may match mine: “So what, who cares?” But, in my case at least, this quickly shifts to “Oh, so you didn’t receive enough entries to hit your income target and now you’re desperately chasing more.” Maybe I’ve been around the marketing block a few too many times but I can think of few better ways to promote failure than with such a thinly-veiled plea for more customers to come forward. The primary purposes most industry award programmes serve are to generate revenue for the organisers from the entry fees (for the Engage 2012 Awards that £295+VAT) and ticket sales (a tidy £2,750 plus VAT for a table of 10) and to give those in the industry an excuse to self-congratulate themselves at a back-slapping dinner in a fancy hotel they wouldn’t otherwise be allowed into. But that doesn’t mean awards programmes are bad. Quite the opposite; without them many industries would have no outlet to promote their most talented individuals and forward-thinking organisations. The bit that sits uncomfortably with me is seeing the marketing industry, of all industries, openly advertising the fact that it has failed to attract sufficient interest in its own awards programme by casually extending the entry deadline. All this does is: 1. punish those who got their award entries in on time (their odds of winning fall with every late entry accepted) 2. generate additional undeserved revenue for the awards organisers 3. …and alert everyone that the awards are probably worth slightly less than the silver-plating on the trophies So, here’s my request of all awards organisers: keep doing the sterling work you do but please, if you set a deadline, make it a deadline. Don’t move the goalposts or change the rules as you go. Plan your marketing carefully (like an award winner might), offer early bird discounts for companies that submit their entries first, and refuse to entertain late submissions. Yes, your income stream might dry up a little and you might upset some of the lazy “we-ignore-deadlines” people, but applying some discipline and rigour will do more to inject credibility into your award brand than any amount of tail-chasing self-promotion when your own failure to plan ultimately rears its ugly head. **Categories:** Marketing **Tags:** awards, deadline, marketing, planning --- ### [Sorry, you are not as influential as the Internet told you](https://allisterspeaks.com/sorry-youre-not-as-influential-as-the-internet-told-you/) **Published:** January 18, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Don't believe the hype t-shirt](http://image.spreadshirt.com/image-server/image/product/5058180/view/1/type/png/width/378/height/378/white-don-t-believe-the-hype-t-shirts.png "Don't believe the hype t-shirt")A [wise man](http://jer979.com/igniting-the-revolution/todd8) once taught me there are just two rules in business: (1) only work with people you like and (2) never believe your own hype. And that’s not as easy as it sounds. Working with 100% nice people and remaining grounded can be tricky amidst the hyperbole that often permeates the marketing profession. But there’s a new kid in town who’s making it harder than ever to stay grounded. Growing numbers of ordinary people I meet are being duped into believing they have more influence and power than they really hold. Thanks to services like [Klout](http://klout.com/), [PeerIndex](http://www.peerindex.com/) and [Empire Avenue](http://www.empireavenue.com/), a rising tide of social media users are discovering that their online behaviour and influence are being surreptitiously tracked and measured. Out of this monitoring comes a headline ‘Influence Score’, a comforting number that neatly encapsulates everything about your online persona into a couple of digits. That, in itself, is innocuous enough; the problem really begins when you allow “The Number” to seduce you, eventually driving you to perform unnatural acts in order to keep “The Number” happy. [![Battery low power image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/battery_20percent.png "Battery low power image")Scott Cowley](http://twitter.com/scottcowley) at BrightOak labels it [“Shiny Algorithm Syndrome”,](http://brightoak.com/blog/2012/01/09/klout-egometrics-and-9-symptoms-of-shiny-algorithm-syndrome/) while others call them “egometrics”. There’s one thing we can all agree on: measuring influence is art, not science, and numbers alone can *never* explain anything as complex as a human being’s influence in the real world. And your online influence score will almost never match up with your real world influence score, if there ever were such a thing. I’ve recently been inundated with emails from [Empire Avenue](http://www.empireavenue.com/), a virtual stock exchange for narcissists—my description, not theirs—that I tested when it first launched and have dabbled with since. It turns out that dozens of the site’s users have started “investing” in me, exchanging virtual currency (sometimes, worryingly, bought with real currency) to buy a conceptual stake in Allister Frost Online Persona Plc. And as my stock price rises accordingly, more people pour in to grab their slice of the action. ![Rhubarb](http://www.cooksgreenhouse.com/img/sides/rhubarb.png "Rhubarb")I have absolutely no idea what value this Empire Avenue activity serves out here in the real world. Spending time massaging your ego by boosting your “share price” and that of others seems like the social media equivalent of buying virtual fertiliser to feed imaginary rhubarb on a farm that exists in cyberspace. It’s absurd\*. And yet these same web tools, in sensible hands, might ultimately serve some useful purpose for those of us in the marketing industry. While absolute influence levels can never be measured by computer, Klout is experimenting well with its nascent Rewards programme while PeerIndex is doing interesting things helping brand managers identify and connect with “key influencers”. Savvy marketers may be able to extract value from these services if they can successfully correlate their existing customer data with that of their egometric of choice. Just don’t fall into the trap of taking the data at face value. So, stop worrying about growing your Klout/PeerIndex/Any-Other-Egometric score and start thinking about how you can connect with those consumers who would value having an online conversation with your brand ***today***. Anything else could prove to be a spectacular waste of your time. \* Or maybe it’s not. If you know differently please let me know ![Winking smile](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/wlemoticon-winkingsmile.png) *Image credit: Don’t believe the hype t-shirt available from* [*http://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/*](http://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/ "http://www.spreadshirt.co.uk/")*.* **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** influence, klout, marketing, metrics, peerindex, social media --- ### [The demise of the company man: job tenure in free-fall](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-demise-of-the-company-man-job-tenure-in-free-fall/) **Published:** January 17, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The February 2012 edition of Fast Company has a fascinating article (now available online [here](http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/162/average-time-spent-at-job-4-years)) about the ways career patterns are shifting in our rapidly changing world. And this state of flux has profound implications for marketers, not only as they plan out their own careers, but also as they consider how to reach and maintain contact with their target consumers. According to US data, job tenure, the length of time people stay with the same employer, is falling sharply. In 1980, 51% of men aged 35 to 64 had been in their job for longer than ten years. Fast forward twenty-five years to 2005, and that percentage had plummeted to 39%, and all the evidence points to this having fallen further since. ![4.4 years - median job tenure of US workers](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image9.png "4.4 years - median job tenure of US workers")In fact, for US workers the median tenure in their current job is just 4.4 years, and the average number of different jobs held in a lifetime now stands at 11.4 for men and 10.6 for women. The drivers behind these changes are many and complex, but foremost are the demise of the “job for life” and increasing churn amongst younger workers. It’s an evolution that is radically changing the way the average consumer lives their life, and has ushered in a new era of insecurity and volatility. Today’s workers have to be more open to risk, less preoccupied with long-term life planning, and more adaptable to changing circumstances. And with these new attitudes comes greater openness to trying new things, a lower tolerance of anything that doesn’t live up to expectations, and a far more intense focus on getting the most out of the here and now. Marketers must pay close attention to these societal shifts and consider how changing attitudes may affect their ability to tap into their customer base both today and in the future. With falling job tenure comes greater geographical mobility, more rapid short-term buying decisions, and greater cultural diversity. Customer data will go out-of-date faster and business relationships will need to take on a more fluid dimension. But above all, workers are now living very different lives to the careers of previous generations and the long-term marketing approaches that worked in the past may cease to deliver the results we expect. Today’s marketers must adapt with society or risk seeing their own careers go the same way as the job for life. **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** career, job, marketing, society --- ### [The 2 minute rule that will stop you sending bad emails](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-2-minute-rule-that-will-stop-you-sending-bad-emails/) **Published:** January 12, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Just two minutes to save your reputation](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/just-two-minutes-to-save-your-reputation.png "Just two minutes to save your reputation")Some tips are just too good to share only once. You know that that “Doh!” moment you get after you press ‘Send’ on an email and instantly realise you forgot to include someone or something? Way back in July 2005, when blogging had barely been invented, I shared my top tip to eliminate it. So, stop sending those embarrassing follow-up emails that explain how stupid you are and read my all time favourite tip for Microsoft Outlook: “The defer two minutes rule”. You can find it on my now antique ‘Useful Technology’ blog [right here](http://blogs.technet.com/b/usefultechnology/archive/2005/07/01/407162.aspx). **Categories:** Digital Living, Miscellaneous **Tags:** email, outlook, rule, tip --- ### [Are you a Geek or a Nerd? You decide.](https://allisterspeaks.com/are-you-a-geek-or-a-nerd-you-decide/) **Published:** January 11, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I think this makes me a, er, “Gerd”. Or should that be a “Neek”? *(click to enlarge)* [![Geeks vs Nerd](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image_thumb4.png "Geeks vs Nerd")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image8.png) Want more? You’ll find the [full infographic](http://tiny99.com/485526 "Daily Infographic") here, courtesy of the team at Daily Infographic. **Categories:** Computers and Internet, Digital Living, Digital Marketing **Tags:** geek, infographic, nerd --- ### [Why you probably don’t need a digital marketing strategy](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-you-probably-dont-need-a-digital-marketing-strategy/) **Published:** January 10, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [Dave Chaffey](http://www.smartinsights.com/author/davechaffey/), over at his [Smart Insights site](http://www.smartinsights.com/), has posted a [neat summary](http://www.smartinsights.com/digital-marketing-strategy/digital-strategy-development/need-for-digital-marketing-strategy/) this morning of 5 reasons why you don’t—and 10 reasons why you do—need a digital marketing strategy (DMS). In my experience, there’s one common reason why some companies still need a DMS: if your marketing approach is still stuck in the pre-digital era or you’ve merely dabbled in digital platforms without notable success, a DMS can help you improve in a controlled and measurable way. It can help you assess the relative costs of traditional versus digital techniques and channel your focus onto those approaches which best serve your business goals. Here’s how I see it. If your marketing focus is from 70-100% traditional (i.e. pre-digital era) then you may benefit right now from developing a dedicated Digital Marketing Strategy: ![Traditional Marketing vs Digital Marketing continuum](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image7.png "Traditional Marketing vs Digital Marketing continuum") If, however, you’ve been testing and learning, piloting and refining your use of digital marketing channels over a few years, the need for a standalone DMS may well have passed. In this case, digital marketing probably accounts for 30-100% of your focus and you’re more likely to benefit from a Marketing Optimisation Strategy to tailor your marketing mix to the unique needs of your organisation and chase out further cost efficiencies. Of course, there’s a real danger of over-simplifying the challenges in a short blog post like this. Every business is different and every set of customers responds differently to marketing stimuli. And there’s no recommended mix split between traditional and digital marketing techniques; every business has its own specific solution. But I do believe the days of companies uniformly churning out an annual Digital Marketing Strategy may soon be behind us. After all, as Dave rightly points out, [“increasingly digital marketing is marketing.”](http://www.smartinsights.com/digital-marketing-strategy/digital-strategy-development/need-for-digital-marketing-strategy/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** Digital Marketing, optimisation, strategist, strategy --- ### [Untick this box to not opt out to not receive stuff you might not want](https://allisterspeaks.com/untick-this-box-to-not-opt-out-to-not-receive-stuff-you-might-not-want/) **Published:** January 9, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image_thumb1.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image3.png)Opt-out and opt-in boxes have been a regular feature of marketing promotions since laws came into effect giving consumers the right to control the types of communication they receive by giving what the regulations call “prior consent”. In the UK it’s the Privacy and Electronics Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 that lay out the rules for online direct marketing which require that: > “the recipient has been given a **simple means of refusing** (free of charge except for the costs of the transmission of the refusal) the use of his contact details for the purposes of such direct marketing, **at the time that the details were initially collected, and, where he did not initially refuse the use of the details, at the time of each subsequent communication”** (22.3.c) …which explains why we’ve grown so used to seeing opt-in and opt-out boxes in our online interactions with brands and services. But these boxes are not just a legal necessity, they’re also a crucial component of the experience your customers have with your company. Done badly they can erode trust in your brand, yet done well they can instil confidence and increase the likelihood of customers wanting to stay in contact. Take this example from a clothing brand on the web today: > ![Ticked box](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image4.png) **Please untick this box if you would not like to receive emails from \[Brand S\] on more competitions, offers & shopping news** I’ve read that clause a few times and it really messes with my brain. The marketer responsible for Brand S has pre-ticked the box, effectively opting the consumer in to receiving emails. It’s only by deciphering the double negative and unticking the box that the consumer can opt out of receiving emails. In contrast, look at this better example from a construction company: > [**![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image_thumb2.png "image")**](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image5.png) **I have read and accept the full terms and conditions** **here****.** [**![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image_thumb3.png "image")**](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image6.png) **I would like to receive information from Third Parties** Here, the brand manager has wisely given full control over to the consumer. The choices are clearly explained allowing the consumer to opt-in if receiving information from third parties takes their fancy. But, crucially, the consumer also ***has*** to tick the first box in order to proceed, thereby proving that they have read the two options and made (we hope) an informed choice. In too many cases companies use mixed opt-in/opt-out clauses and garbled language that confuses their customers. Often this is done in the hope that consumers will slip up and unwittingly find themselves on an email list or agree to terms that are not in their best interests. Sure, it’s tempting to make customers opt-out—after all, subscription levels are always higher that way—but remember that an unwilling contact is no more useful in your marketing than no contact at all. **Trust is a two-way street.** The first rule for brands looking to gain trust from consumers is to treat those consumers with the respect they deserve. Fair play when collecting prior consent is essential. Take a look at the terms and conditions used in your business. If the words are misleading or garbled change them quickly before your customers change their buying habits and go elsewhere. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** law, marketing, privacy --- ### [Web 2012: YOU are the product](https://allisterspeaks.com/web-2012-you-are-the-product/) **Published:** January 6, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Human For Sale](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/human-for-sale.jpg "Human For Sale")Just in case you haven’t figured it out yet, when a shiny online experience is free to use, ***you are the product.*** Everything you do and say, everything you share, in fact everything of everything that happens through that experience becomes the property of the people who provide the shiny online experience. And the way those people get paid is by using or selling the information you provide. You may think that the social network or search engine you love is a great free thing, but in using it you may have to agree to become the product that’s actually for sale. Of course, this doesn’t make shiny online experiences bad. It’s the only economical way for many to exist. But it does mean you need to take a few minutes to understand what information you have agreed to hand over and how you (the product) are being used and sold. If you rely on those same shiny online experiences for your own marketing efforts, you also need to satisfy yourself that you’re happy for data about your customers and business partners to be sold the same way. As the wise person once remarked, *“you don’t get nothing for nothing”* in this world. **Categories:** Computers and Internet, Social Media **Tags:** marketing, online, social media, Web --- ### [Social Media: it’s holding us back](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-its-holding-us-back/) **Published:** January 5, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** When someone says “Social Media”, what do you think of? For most people, tools like Facebook and Twitter spring to mind but this preoccupation with the big networks does a disservice to the socio-cultural shifts we’re seeing as outlined in [my post yesterday](http://allisterfrost.com/2012/01/04/2012-the-year-social-media-changes/). [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image1.png) And this problem afflicts me too. In recent months I’ve found it increasingly difficult to talk about social media without tying myself up in linguistic knots. The trouble is that the term “Social Media” somehow fails to encapsulate the deeper societal change that it really represents, leaving us thinking about media channels and advertising platforms. Perhaps we need a new term for the new year. When marketers think of social media in 2012, they should be thinking about the ways their customers and prospects like to discover, consume and share information about the things that are important in their lives. Sure, some of that happens through the big social network hubs, but increasingly it’s also happening through a rich vein of emerging technologies and platforms that are only loosely connected to the big networks. Social media is about conversations, discussion, and interactivity. It’s about communities and loosely organised collectives sharing views and information. Quite how to encapsulate that in a punchy and memorable label escapes me. If it were a formula, it might be expressed like this. ![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image2.png "image") *(Social media is approximately equal to the sum of all conversations raised to the power of our human desire to communicate)* What’s clear is that the term “Social Media” is holding back many in the marketing industry from embracing the full potential it can bring. How would you describe it better? **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** social media --- ### [2012: The Year Social Media Changes](https://allisterspeaks.com/2012-the-year-social-media-changes/) **Published:** January 4, 2012 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Change Ahead sign](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/image.png "Change Ahead sign")This is the year that the late majority will join the early risers in recognising that social media is far more complicated than “just another channel” yet simpler than many in the industry have been trying to make out. You see, at its heart, social media is nothing more than **people having conversations online,** all thanks to the amazing free tools we’ve been gifted on our computers, TVs, tablets and phones. And we humans have moved quickly to take advantage of the benefits these technologies bring, but only because they serve a profoundly ingrained human need: to connect humans with other humans. Many organisations and individuals have sought to take advantage of this shift, seeing social networks as an easy, cheap way to spread their message. Yet in so doing they have missed the underlying force driving the change: that people want to have conversations with other people, not consume marketing propaganda or advertising. So it’s time for us to start respecting what people really want. **Standing on the table and shouting in the hope someone will hear is infinitely less impactful than discreetly whispering exactly what you *know* they want to hear.** Let’s make 2012 the year we shift mindset and stop thinking of social media just as communication channels like Facebook and Twitter. And let’s stop pretending it’s a ferociously complicated societal shift that renders all previous business practices redundant. Instead, let’s respect what people really want—to have conversations with other people—and concentrate on figuring out how we can make that easier and more rewarding for our target audience. From this enlightened standpoint, great success can follow. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** 2012, marketing, social media --- ### [One Way To Get Retweeted: “Act Normal”](https://allisterspeaks.com/one-way-to-get-retweeted-act-normal/) **Published:** December 9, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Twitter Birdie](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/twitter-bird2-webtreatsetc.png "Twitter Birdie")I enjoyed reading Pam Moore’s latest article on Social Media Today that lists 55 ways to get retweeted. But what struck me most was that nearly all of the tips relate to one simple principle: **“be a nice human being”.** Sure, there are some techniques like sharing ‘how to’ advice that often work well but, as a general rule, your tweets are more likely to be appreciated and retweeted by others if you behave like a genuine, authentic, real person. You see, Twitter is just one place that people go to have an online conversation and although you may have only 140 characters to play with, the types of things we like and don’t like are the same as in other conversation in our daily lives. So, if you really want to be heard and valued by others, quit trying to be someone you’re not, find your own voice and start “acting normal” again. You can [read Pam’s 55 tips here](http://socialmediatoday.com/node/400859). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advice, retweet, tips, Twitter --- ### [My presentation - Doing Marketing in a Digital World](https://allisterspeaks.com/my-presentation-doing-marketing-in-a-digital-world/) **Published:** November 28, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Please find below a copy of my slides presented last week to the [Digital Surrey](http://www.digitalsurrey.co.uk/) community. \[slideshare id=10367144&doc=final-digitalsurrey241111printreadyversion-111128084625-phpapp01\] Thanks for all the feedback. I hope you find these useful. (*UPDATE 1:* SlideShare doesn’t always render nicely here on WordPress.com. If the fonts in the presentation above look a bit ugly, hit the SlideShare link at the bottom left to view the presentation directly on the Slideshare.net site) (UPDATE 2: the video of my presentation is now available on Youtube: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3owZy95c-o&feature=youtu.be](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3owZy95c-o&feature=youtu.be)) **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Digital Surrey and some things I love to share](https://allisterspeaks.com/digital-surrey-and-some-things-i-love-to-share/) **Published:** November 25, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I had great fun last night at the [Digital Surrey](http://www.digitalsurrey.co.uk/) event where I was their guest speaker, talking about how society is changing as a result of the social web and what this means for marketers. Whenever I give a talk or lecture, I’m sometimes surprised by what captures people’s attention the most. One free tool that everyone seems to love is available at [www.timeu.se](http://www.timeu.se), where you can quickly find out how frequently and when certain words get mentioned online. Take it for a spin, it’s great fun, and often genuinely insightful. Here’s a graph, for instance, that proves once and for all than in the battle between vegetable, fruit and chocolate, there can be only one winner: ![Vegetable vs. Fruit vs Chocolate](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/image.png "Vegetable vs. Fruit vs Chocolate") Source: [cf8e9131](http://timeu.se/cf8e9131 "cf8e9131") Another site that I like to share that always gets people thinking is Gary Hayes’ social media counter. To experience the effect of seeing the social web growing in front of your very eyes, take a trip to [Personalize Media](http://www.personalizemedia.com/garys-social-media-count/), and click the Social, Mobile, Games or Mobile buttons for some intriguing stats. Finally, for this post anyway, anyone who’s lost sight of the incredible journey we’re on thanks to technological advances may benefit from a timely reminder from comedian Louis C K in his viral video sensation “Everything’s Amazing and Nobody’s Happy”. Enjoy! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r1CZTLk-Gk&w=448&h=252&hd=1] Everything’s Amazing & Nobody’s Happy *Other helpful references:* **Digital Surrey:** [http://www.digitalsurrey.co.uk/](http://www.digitalsurrey.co.uk/ "http://www.digitalsurrey.co.uk/") **Eileen Brown:** [Pointless babble on Twitter: The Social Data goldmine « Eileens Social Technology](http://eileenbrown.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/pointless-babble-on-twitter-the-social-data-goldmine/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Digital Marketing, Resources, Surrey --- ### [New video site: Technology Marketing in Mind](https://allisterspeaks.com/new-video-site-technology-marketing-in-mind/) **Published:** November 7, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I was recently filmed for a new marketing industry initiative aimed to help technology marketers hear from their peers about critical issues facing our sector. The new Technology Marketing in Mind site is launched today at [www.tmim.co.uk](http://www.tmim.co.uk). It’s a project by Marketing Options International, an agency I’ve not dealt with previously, but they were a lot of fun to work with on this project. If you spot me in the videos, let me know what you think. You may find what I say more intelligible if you turn on YouTube’s stunningly accurate closed captioning beta feature: [![clip_image001](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/clip_image001.jpg "clip_image001")](http://www.tmim.co.uk) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** marketing, technology, video, youtube --- ### [There’s No Such Thing as an Awareness Campaign](https://allisterspeaks.com/theres-no-such-thing-as-an-awareness-campaign/) **Published:** November 4, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Awareness Cat](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/awareness-cat_thumb.png "Awareness Cat")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/awareness-cat.png) Yesterday, at the annual UK IAB Engage event, there was much debate about the role that digital marketing can play in brand-building, as opposed to direct-response, marketing. The assembled agency experts were broadly in agreement that digital still falls short when it comes to brand-building work, although its value is growing as consumers spend more of their lives online. **Of course, this is nonsense.** Asking whether digital marketing can effectively build brands is like asking if oxygen can keep people alive. Yes, it can, but almost certainly not in isolation. But the real issue here is the marketing industry’s obsession with the out-dated notion of brand-building and awareness-creating campaigns. Agencies love these kind of briefs because they offer maximum scope for creativity, award dinners and, crucially, billable hours. Yet, the very concept of “building awareness” harks back to the former days of centralised brand control, when marketers called the shots and their audiences diligently consumed whatever was shouted at them. **Our world isn’t like that any more.** Today, there’s no such thing as an awareness campaign. If a marketer is doing their job correctly, their target audience is only ever a click away from purchase. To set your sights purely on building awareness is to miss the immense opportunity presented by the social web. Your goal should be to get attention by sharing something interesting and sparking a conversation that takes people to a place where you want them to be. So, remember, thinking solely about creating awareness is absurd. The social web and our digital world has changed this forever. Let’s stop debating the relative role that different channels can play in supporting each business goal and wake up instead to today’s reality: **people don’t need awareness, they need useful, actionable content to help them make decisions on their terms.** **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** advertising, digital, marketing --- ### [LinkedIn Company Pages: a no-brainer for your business](https://allisterspeaks.com/linkedin-company-pages-a-no-brainer-for-your-business/) **Published:** October 31, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Microsoft Company Page on LinkedIn](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/image1.png "Microsoft Company Page on LinkedIn") LinkedIn has long had a feature called Company Pages, where approved company personnel can post information and updates about their organisation. This is a particularly useful feature for researchers and can help people learn key facts about your business without having to leave the LinkedIn site. Adding a basic company page to LinkedIn costs nothing; to get started go to [http://www.linkedin.com/company/add/show](http://www.linkedin.com/company/add/show "http://www.linkedin.com/company/add/show"). Once created, you can add details about products and services, job vacancies and even post regular status updates on behalf of your company to share your latest news. And, thanks to some changes implemented by LinkedIn very recently, these updates will now appear on the homepage of any LinkedIn users who follow your company – neat! Of course, as with any social networking activity, the free service will only take you so far. If you want to build a strong virtual following you may need to invest with some cold hard cash in advertising on the LinkedIn network or to send InMails invitations to your page to customers and prospects. But, whatever you do, be sure to explore these pages and decide what sort of presence your company should have on the world’s leading professional social network. It’s free, easy and a complete no-brainer. To learn more about LinkedIn Company Pages visit [http://learn.linkedin.com/company-pages/](http://learn.linkedin.com/company-pages/ "http://learn.linkedin.com/company-pages/"). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** linkedin;company;social media --- ### [Please Retweet, or rather, don’t…](https://allisterspeaks.com/please-retweet-or-rather-dont/) **Published:** October 17, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![No Boomeranging Allowed](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/image.png "No Boomeranging Allowed")[Chris Brogan](http://www.chrisbrogan.com/contact/) [writes today](http://www.chrisbrogan.com/please-dont-retweet/) that *“asking for a retweet or mention of something – that isn’t cause related – isn’t cool”*, and urges his readers to stop asking for retweets. Chris is right, to a degree. People who blindly ask others to “RT” their messages often betray their social web naivety. Their constant pleas for assistance shine a light on their true motivations: to get their stuff in front of as many eyeballs as possibly, irrespective of whether this is helpful or not. It’s the place that many people begin their journeys on the social web, making the wholly incorrect assumption that more followers, more retweets, more whatever, has to be better. And, of course, more isn’t always better. The only more that matters is when measuring your engagement levels with your active followers. But there are also times when a polite “please RT” can play a useful role in reminding your most avid followers that they can help spread an important or highly relevant message. But, like most things, **you have to use it in moderation;** the minute you habitually ask others to do your dirty work is the minute you start losing credibility on the social web. So, yes, in my eyes it’s OK to ask for a retweet every once in a while but this should be a rare occurrence, a real exception to the norm. A carefully timed, polite request for help can go a long way to helping you get the most important news out to a well-targeted audience. And that’s where the social web is at its best. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** retweet, social media, Twitter --- ### [Social Media ROI and Life Insurance](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-roi-and-life-insurance/) **Published:** October 12, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![treasure chest gold rich money](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/treasure-chest-gold-rich-money_thumb.png "treasure chest gold rich money")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/treasure-chest-gold-rich-money.png)Too many business people I meet are still chasing instant returns on the investments they make in social media. This is naive at best; communities take time to create and nurture before eventually becoming self-sufficient. Perhaps a better way of thinking about today’s investments in social media is to compare it with your life insurance. **For 100% of the people I meet, the ROI of their life insurance is currently 0%.** But that wouldn’t stop them paying for it; the peace of mind it gives them and their families more than justifies the outlay. It’s the same, in many ways, for social media. Right now your measurable, provable, ROI may well be zero. But knowing you’re doing something, learning as you go, listening to your customers and meeting any issues head on should be enough to help you sleep well at night. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** insurance, investment, roi, social media --- ### [When social media goes wrong: The Guardian and 9-11](https://allisterspeaks.com/when-social-media-goes-wrong-the-guardian-and-9-11/) **Published:** September 13, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/image.png) The Wall Blog has an insightful analysis into why UK newspaper [The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk) found itself in such hot water yesterday after launching the [@911tenyearsago](http://twitter.com/#/911tenyearsago) Twitter account. Too right, they got it *badly* wrong. But this story provides essential insights for any social media marketer about the fine line that divides success and mass finger-pointing abuse-hurling failure. Read and learn at [http://wallblog.co.uk/2011/09/12/how-the-guardian-blundered-into-bad-taste-with-its-911tenyearsago-twitter-account/](http://wallblog.co.uk/2011/09/12/how-the-guardian-blundered-into-bad-taste-with-its-911tenyearsago-twitter-account/ "http://wallblog.co.uk/2011/09/12/how-the-guardian-blundered-into-bad-taste-with-its-911tenyearsago-twitter-account/") **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Understanding EdgeRank in Facebook: great podcast](https://allisterspeaks.com/understanding-edgerank-in-facebook-great-podcast/) **Published:** September 8, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Edge-from-U2](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/edge-from-u2_thumb.jpg "Edge-from-U2")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/edge-from-u2.jpg)I [posted recently](http://allisterfrost.com/2011/07/15/edgerank-in-facebook-how-it-works-and-9-tips-to-improve-it/) about the often misunderstood topic of Facebook’s EdgeRank algorithm and many marketers I meet still don’t appreciate the crucial role it plays in determining which of your fans will see your updates in their Facebook news feed. **Quite simply, if you don’t understand EdgeRank, all your Facebook marketing efforts could be going to waste.** Thankfully, the guys at Site Visibility have recently recorded an excellent podcast that succinctly explains everything you need to know to become a black belt in EdgeRank. You can [listen to the podcast at the Site Visibility site](http://www.sitevisibility.co.uk/blog/2011/08/30/edgerank-podcast-episode-129/), or simply download the .mp3 file directly from [here](http://media1.wireworldmedia.co.uk/IM129-edgerank.mp3). Thanks to Kelvin and Andy for sharing their knowledge with the world 🙂 Other resources: - [Chad Wittman video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPJRjc9Aq_w&feature=youtu.be) explaining EdgeRank - Econsultancy’s [EdgeRank article](http://econsultancy.com/uk/blog/7885-edgerank-the-most-important-algorithm-you-ve-never-heard-of) Picture credit [details](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Edge_360_Tour_Foxboro_2009.jpg) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, podcast --- ### [Promoted Tweets–do they work?](https://allisterspeaks.com/promoted-tweetsdo-they-work/) **Published:** August 18, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Example Promoted Tweet by Coca Cola](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image13.png "Example Promoted Tweet by Coca Cola") I’ve previously [shared some stats](http://allisterfrost.com/2011/05/11/how-to-successfully-use-promoted-tweets-on-twitter/) on the top performing Promoted Tweets and, no surprise, the one thing they all have in common is that they all say something remarkable or newsworthy. With [clickthrough rates as high as 52%](http://www.emarketer.com/blog/index.php/top-5-promoted-tweets/), advertisers could be forgiven for thinking Promoted Tweets are the Holy Grail they’ve been longing for. But the harsh reality is that most Promoted Tweet campaigns don’t even come close to the results achieved by Volkswagen or Old Spice. New data from [eMarketer](http://www.emarketer.com/blog/index.php/quick-stat-80-advertisers-renew-twitter/) suggests that average engagement levels are in the range of 3-5%, or as high as 7-10% when [Promoted Tweets](http://business.twitter.com/advertise/promoted-tweets) are combined with [Promoted Trends](http://business.twitter.com/advertise/promoted-trends). In digital marketing terms, anything above 1% engagement is usually cause for celebration, but keep in mind too that the Twitter audience for any promoted tweet is still relatively small, so gaining mass reach is still not viable through this channel. And with a cost per new follower of up to $10 on a [Promoted Account](http://business.twitter.com/advertise/promoted-accounts), this method of recruitment could prove expensive. ![Twitter snapshot stats from eMarketer.com](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image14.png "Twitter snapshot stats from eMarketer.com") The encouraging news is that 80% of advertisers appear to renew their Promoted Tweets activity, so something must be working for them. Twitter now claims to have around 600 advertisers using Promoted Tweets, four-fold the number at the end of 2010, giving them a strong foundation on which to test new advertising formats. **Categories:** Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advertising, stats, Twitter --- ### [Shock news: Over 90 percent of conversations happen offline](https://allisterspeaks.com/shock-news-over-90-percent-of-conversations-happen-offline/) **Published:** August 17, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image_thumb2.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image12.png) It’s a wake-up call for any digital marketer who’s spent too long supping the intoxicating brew delivered through their ADSL line: > **More than 9 in every 10 conversations take place offline.** Yes, offline, in the real world, where human beings apparently talk to other human beings via a one-to-one interface. I know, unbelievable, but true. It turns out that human habits really haven’t changed as much as some people would have you believe. After 6 million years of evolution, it looks like we’re going to need a little longer than a few months to change our ways and shift the majority of our interactions into the digital ether. Thankfully all is not lost for digital marketers. Word of mouth remains one of the most potent weapons in our arsenal with almost half of all 18-54 year olds claiming they are highly likely to buy an item if they hear positive word-of-mouth. The key is to figure out how to use low cost digital channels to *kick-start* the conversation with relevant and valuable content that will naturally and seamlessly make the leap back to conversations in the real, offline world. ***The bottom line:*** digital activities still contribute only a small percentage of the total interactions that shape the way we view our world and the choices we make as consumers. Online marketing is a great conversation launching pad but the wisest marketers know that the real magic still happens in the offline world. *Further reading* Microsoft Advertising case study: [http://advertising.microsoft.com/social-media-case-study](http://advertising.microsoft.com/social-media-case-study "http://advertising.microsoft.com/social-media-case-study") **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advice, digital, marketing, word-of-mouth --- ### [Marketing Essentials: The Psychology of Sharing](https://allisterspeaks.com/marketing-essentials-the-psychology-of-sharing/) **Published:** August 16, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Woman taking pictures](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image10.png "Woman taking pictures")In case you hadn’t noticed, we live in a sharing economy. Thanks to innovations on the social web and advances in our internet-connected mobile devices, we think nothing today of sharing the content and information we discover. Of course, we’ve always shared information, that’s not new. But the speed and ease with which sharing now takes place is nothing short of remarkable. What would have been considered rapid just a few years ago, is now technically and socially obsolete. Many us already live in social circles where if you don’t share what you have almost immediately the chances are the information will be out of date, or simply out of fashion, by the time we do. As marketers, our job has always been to figure out why people do what they do, and then to tailor our brand offerings to benefit our target audiences. In so doing, our brands gain notoriety, trust and popularity, and we get our reward with every ![Women whispering](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image11.png "Woman taking pictures")sale we make. Working out ***why*** people share the way they do, and ***how*** they want to do this in future is now a vital skill for any marketer hoping to tap into the power of the social web. A recent report from the Customer Insight Group at the New York Times shines a light on the underlying motivations that fuel online sharing. Predictably, there’s no one simple conclusion or recommendation, but several helpful indicators emerge: - Sharing aids **‘information management’**, helping sharers process information and recipients understand it - People share things they think will be **useful to others**, either to change their opinions or encourage a response, or simply to give others a better sense of what they care about - For a large majority or people, sharing helps **build and maintain connections** with likeminded people The NYT report concludes with some excellent tips on how to influence and maximise sharing by your fans and customers: 1. Appeal to consumers’ motivation to connect with each other, not just with your brand 2. Trust is the cost of entry for getting shared 3. Keep it simple 4. Appeal to their sense of humour 5. Embrace a sense of urgency 6. Email is still #1 You can read the full report at the link below. One thing’s for sure: broadcasting is dead and social sharing looks set to shape our collective futures. If your brand hasn’t yet defined a way to encourage and reward social recommendations, now would be a very smart time to do it. *Further reading:* New York Times report (.pdf 18.6MB): [http://nytmarketing.whsites.net/mediakit/pos/](http://nytmarketing.whsites.net/mediakit/pos/ "http://nytmarketing.whsites.net/mediakit/pos/") *Image credits:* [*http://www.sxc.hu*](http://www.sxc.hu "http://www.sxc.hu") **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Marketing **Tags:** insights, marketing, psychology, sharing, social media --- ### [Daft Ideas for Social Media: Post each update everywhere](https://allisterspeaks.com/daft-ideas-for-social-media-post-each-update-everywhere/) **Published:** August 13, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** It’s tempting when using social media networks to want to simultaneously post each update to lots of networks. It’s a great time-saver and applications like [Tweetdeck](http://www.tweetdeck.com/) and [Seesmic](http://www.seesmic.com/) can even automate this task for you completely. **But are you sure you want to post the exact same update to lots of networks?** While this might be time-efficient for you, stop for a minute and think about what the experience is like for your readers. Your most loyal fans may have connected with you through multiple channels. What happens, then, when you post the same update to all networks simultaneously? **You spam them:** ![Diagram: Daft Ideas for Social Media number 237](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image9.png "Diagram: Daft Ideas for Social Media number 237") Spamming is never nice. And spamming your most loyal friends and followers is a near-guaranteed way to damage a friendship. As always in marketing, put your customer first. People frequent each network for a specific reason, so tailor your content to each network to maximise its relevance within that channel. There *may* be occasions when the same update can work in more than one place, but this should happen by exception, not by default. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, social media, spam, tips, Twitter --- ### [Why women are easy and size matters for men](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-women-are-easy-and-size-matters-for-men/) **Published:** August 12, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** In the categories labelled “Gross Generalisations” and “Blindingly Obvious” I present to you, dear reader, proof of what you may have suspected all along: ***men and women are very different, and women crack sooner under the advertiser’s spell.*** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image_thumb1.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image7.png)A study by [comScore](http://www.comscore.com/) of 292 television ad copy tests shows that women are more likely to develop a preference for an advertised brand than men. In fact, women’s share of choice rose 5.2% points after exposure to TV ads, compared to just 4% points for men. But even more interesting are the ways that different types of advertising prompts affect men and women. Women respond more favourably to factual ads with product research information, lots of (4 or more) brand mentions, and product demonstrations, especially the age-old “problem/solution” ad format so beloved of household products companies like P&G. ![Differences in Advertising Response (with versus without element)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image8.png "Differences in Advertising Response (with versus without element)") No surprise, to me at least, that only the ads featuring superiority claims had a greater persuasive effect on men than on women. A cursory glance at almost any car, sports or technology ad will help confirm this to be true. *Further reading:* - comScore Data Mine blog: [Men and Women Respond Differently To Various Types of Creative Ad Elements](http://www.comscoredatamine.com/2011/07/men-and-women-respond-differently-to-various-types-of-creative-ad-elements/) - comScore Data Mine blog: [Men More Difficult to Persuade with Advertising than Women](http://www.comscoredatamine.com/2011/06/men-more-difficult-to-persuade-with-advertising-than-women/) **Categories:** Marketing **Tags:** advertising, data, insights, research, television --- ### [How to deal with negative reviews](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-deal-with-negative-reviews/) **Published:** August 11, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image6.png) Business people I meet often complain to me that they are wary of the social web because it makes it too easy for people to leave negative reviews. That’s true, but if your stuff stinks, what did you really expect? People have always complained about bad experiences. It’s just a whole lot easier and much more public these days. But savvy business people welcome negative reviews. They see them as free lessons on how to improve. And the very smartest people I know get excited when they get a bad review. They know an unhappy customer is just a future delighted customer who needs a bit of love. They go out of their way to put things right and consistently turn what could have been a damaging situation into more loyal customers for the future. You see, in business there are few things more toxic than someone who’s had a bad experience and feels let down. **But someone who was initially disappointed but then received the help and redress they deserve can become a magnet for future business.** And, please, don’t make the social media novice mistake of trying to censor bad reviews. That’s just pouring oil onto the fire. You’ll get found out and the social web will punish you for your deceitfulness. Interestingly, a few bad reviews alongside good reviews can even have a positive overall effect as [this study](http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/research/shiv_tormala_negative_2011.html?cmpid=twitter) from Stanford Business School shows. **So, embrace the bad reviews.** Welcome them as a chance to show you listen and want to improve. If your product or service needs fixing, fix it fast. And then make sure that your negative reviewers can see how much you appreciated their feedback and put right their grievances, no matter what it takes. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** advice, reviews, social media, tips --- ### [7 tips for winning attention online](https://allisterspeaks.com/7-tips-for-winning-attention-online/) **Published:** August 10, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Attention warning sign](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image4.png "Attention warning sign")If you want your online content to be found, you need to make it attractive to both humans and search engines. One or the other is good, but both is close to awesome. Because, the fact is, no matter how wondrous you think your online creation is, it only becomes truly great when people find it and pass it on. Here are my top seven tips for catching and holding attention online: **1. Write like a cappuccino: light and airy** ![Cup of cappuccino](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image5.png "Cup of cappuccino")Write for speed readers, people like you and me who scan over pages and don’t read every word. Extended prose still has a place, but not in the middle of a hectic work day. And use spacing and **formatting** to draw attention to the interesting bits. That’s why these features are there; to help you help your reader. **2. Write headline awesomeness** Great headlines are punchy and promising. They tell you exactly what to expect without revealing so much they spoil the main event. If your headlines don’t compel you to read more, they’re not headlines, they’re dead lines. Re-write them. **3. Use numbers and lists** It’s no accident that you’re reading seven tips. Lists work: 1. They’re accessibly and appealing. 2. You know exactly what you’re in for 3. You want to dive in and stay the course to the end Bullet, fact, bullet, fact, bullet, fact. This is the stuff the internet was made for. **4. Be picture perfect** ![Cute kittens](http://www.creaturecomfortsbradford.co.uk/images/kittens-463.jpg "Cute kittens, here for no particular reasons other than they look cute")Everyone loves a bit of eye candy. Embellish your content with imagery and colour. Anything that makes your page less text-heavy is good: photos, cartoons, graphs, videos, they all work wonders. Don’t be frightened to sex up your page with decorative features. Keep the download size small and your readers will be drawn in like wasps to an ice lolly. **5. Write like a human** People like people, at least most of the time. Or rather, they like people more than robots and machines. Write like you speak. Don’t use fancy words to look clever; the only person you impress is yourself. But, once you’ve finished writing like a human, re-read your text. Make sure your vocabulary is rich enough to capture a broad range of searchers. Finally, a great use for that dusty thesaurus. **6. Structure = Simple** As those power readers scan over your page, your layout should guide them through your content. Add signposts, extra headings, arrows and side quotes. Make the journey through your page as pleasant as it can be. Who cares if the reader takes a shortcut, as long as they got to where they want to be. **7. Write for your audience** Don’t write for yourself. Write for the readers. Work out how you want them to feel, what you wan them to think and, most crucially, what you want them to do. It sometimes helps to have a mental picture of your reader in your mind. How will they react to that sentence you just produced? If you don’t imagine the response you expected, try again. Before long you’ll find it impossible to write in any other way than for that reader who lives happily inside your head. **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** copywriting, online, tips --- ### [There’s more to life than consumerist fulfilment](https://allisterspeaks.com/theres-more-to-life-than-consumerist-fulfilment/) **Published:** August 9, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Rioters in London](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image3.png "Rioters in London using their mobile phones to communicate") I don’t recognise the British towns and cities being beamed into my living room on rolling TV news bulletins and websites. As I type, the violence and criminality sweeping densely-populated parts of England is continuing this evening. It’s deeply saddening to see parts of our small island being torn apart by mindless thugs. Technology, most notably Twitter and BlackBerry Messager (BBM), has been widely criticised as having helped fuel the riots. That technology acts as a facilitator is not in doubt, but it is wrong to label these tools as the cause of the continued unrest. What started out as a peaceful protest about the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan in Tottenham has rapidly morphed into a wholly different problem, coordinated by disaffected youths engaging in the communal release of the anger and resentment they feel at their life circumstances. Our consumerist society lies at the heart of the problem; when there’s always something bigger, better, and shinier, some find it difficult to find contentment in the here-and-now. Today’s [Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/08/london-riots-brixton-editorial) newspaper captures the root problem succinctly: > The riots are a product of the lives which the rioters choose or feel constrained to live. Blaming the riots on individual wickedness, conspiracies or on government spending cuts is too glib for such complex issues, though they cannot be dismissed altogether even so. Both conspiracy and deprivation are part of the complex and grim story, as is the cult of violence, especially guns, and a rage against exclusion from consumerist fulfilment. There’s so much more to life than simply chasing your next material possession. We live in an extraordinary world, with knowledge and opportunities that our forefathers couldn’t even have imagined. Our natural world is filled with enough wonders and riches to fill a lifetime of curiosity. While I sit and ponder this evening why so many Brits have chosen to express themselves through violence and criminality, I hope that all of us who deplore their actions will also take a moment to be thankful for the remarkable world in which we live and contented in the knowledge that there’s more to life than consumerist fulfilment. **Categories:** Miscellaneous **Tags:** consumerism, london, riots, technology --- ### [“Things we’ve learnt about Communication” NEW Microsoft Research report](https://allisterspeaks.com/things-weve-learnt-about-communication-new-microsoft-research-report/) **Published:** August 5, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Communication image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image2.png "Communication image")An insight-packed report from the [Socio-Digital Systems](http://research.microsoft.com/sds) group of Microsoft Research in Cambridge, UK landed on my desk today. In reading it, I rediscovered why communicating means so much more than simply transferring information from one entity to another. I was reminded that sometimes communicating over a distance is preferable to talking face-to-face, and I discovered how new generations of smart devices and software will support our communication needs in better ways tomorrow than in the past. More than anything I recognised the profound changes our society is going through right now and saw how technological advances are propelling us all towards a more connected future. Get your *free* copy of the report: [Download here](http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/thingswevelearnt/things_issue1.pdf "available as a PDF") (.pdf, 8MB) **Further reading:** Microsoft Research: [*http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/thingswevelearnt/*](http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/thingswevelearnt/ "http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/thingswevelearnt/") Next at Microsoft: [*http://blogs.technet.com/b/next/archive/2011/08/04/communication-is-about-giving-gifts-that-oblige-others-to-respond.aspx*](http://blogs.technet.com/b/next/archive/2011/08/04/communication-is-about-giving-gifts-that-oblige-others-to-respond.aspx "http://blogs.technet.com/b/next/archive/2011/08/04/communication-is-about-giving-gifts-that-oblige-others-to-respond.aspx") **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** Digital Marketing, Microsoft, research --- ### [Getting to ‘Like’: 20 Great Places to do it](https://allisterspeaks.com/getting-to-like-20-great-places-to-do-it/) **Published:** August 5, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [In my last post](http://allisterfrost.com/2011/08/04/getting-to-like-why-being-liked-really-matters-and-how-not-to-do-it/), I wrote about the importance of gaining ‘Likes’ from people on social networking sites and highlighted how not to do it. But many other businesses are also guilty of failing to attract ‘Likes’ in the right way. Consider, for example, this pieces of copy I saw recently on a direct mail piece: > **Like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/\[product\]** Now, why would I want to do that? What’s in it for me? If the company had thought about me, the customer, they might have come up with some more engaging copy like: > **Connect with other \[product\] users and join the conversation at www.Facebook.com/\[product\]** Doesn’t that entice you in more? By putting the customer first and making the copy consumer-focussed, you can dramatically increase the likelihood of winning a ‘Like’. People are motivated to respond to a ‘Like’ request in lots of different ways, but the most effective triggers I’ve tested are, in priority order: - discounts/offers - free samples - gaining insider information - early warning of future offers/sales - games or entertainment content - exclusive content not available elsewhere. **But where is it right to ask for a ‘Like’?** Well, frankly, almost anywhere these days. Social media is so pervasive and commonplace, most of your customers will instantly understand what you’re offering. So, here’s a list of 20 great places to remind your customers that they can hook up with you on social networking sites: 1. On your product packaging *(what better way to connect your online experience to actual product usage?)* 2. On every page of your website 3. On every email you send 4. On every direct mail piece you post 5. On invoices and receipts 6. On your letterheads 7. On your business cards and compliments slips 8. On your advertising, in print, outdoors, online, even on TV 9. In your evergreen Yellow Pages ads 10. In your product manuals or instructions 11. In telesales scripts 12. On discount vouchers and promotional leaflets 13. On your company vehicles 14. In the reception waiting area 15. On your visitor badges or passes 16. On every water cooler and vending machine 17. In automated email signatures 18. On your voicemail messages 19. On the sign at the front of your premises 20. On the chairman’s golf umbrella 😉 It’s simple really, just look around you. There are many places where a ‘Like’ request can be legitimately placed. And, if you use the right copy and ask in the right way, you can dramatically increase your fan base in a short space of time. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** social networks, tips --- ### [Getting to ‘Like’: why being liked really matters and how not to do it](https://allisterspeaks.com/getting-to-like-why-being-liked-really-matters-and-how-not-to-do-it/) **Published:** August 4, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Social networks like Facebook have transformed the ways people connect with friends, businesses and much of the world around them. In the early days of online marketing, businesses used to fret about how to get people to their website and stay there. Nowadays, getting someone to ‘Like’ your brand on a social networking site is infinitely more important. The reason a ‘Like’ matters is two-fold. Firstly, by gaining a ‘like’ you jump into the privileged position of having your updates pushed directly to the person who liked you, greatly increasing the chances of their seeing what you have to say ([EdgeRank](http://allisterfrost.com/2011/07/15/edgerank-in-facebook-how-it-works-and-9-tips-to-improve-it/) permitting). And secondly, and more importantly, being liked means that your fan’s friends may also see that their friend has endorsed you, thereby increasing their propensity to become a customer. But the way that many companies go about becoming ‘liked’ sometimes leaves me cold. Take [Glasses Direct](http://www.glassesdirect.co.uk/) for an example. This a really smart online retailer that sells spectacles and sunglasses for much lower prices than you’ll find on the High Street. I’ve browsed their online store and now see their cleverly targeted contextual ads on many sites I visit. They also email me regularly with offers, but their latest mailing didn’t quite hit the mark: ![Glasses Direct email offer](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image.png "Glasses Direct email offer") OK, so you want me to ‘Like’ you on Facebook, and in return you’ll give me a 20% discount? That seems reasonable although, as I tell every business I meet, it would be far better if I would like you for some more permanent reason than getting a one-off discount. But, let’s see what we’ll get when we hit their ‘Like’ button on Facebook: ![Glasses Direct Thanks for Liking Us screen](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/thanks-for-liking-us.jpg "Glasses Direct Thanks for Liking Us screen") I’ve blurred out the offer code, but the bit that hurts me is this: ![Glasses Direct restrictive offer clause](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/image1.png "Glasses Direct restrictive offer clause") I’ve just entered into a long-term relationship with the Glasses Direct brand and already I’m being hit by short-term sales incentives. ***This is marketing lunacy.*** If you can get someone to like your brand on a social network, don’t abuse their trust by force-feeding them sales offers with restrictive terms & conditions attached. You should nurture your new relationship, drip-feeding goodness over the long-term, rewarding loyalty and routinely thanking your fans for their friendship. For example, a lifetime discount of even 5% would have had a far greater appeal to me than 20% in the next seven days. What did I do after seeing this 7 day clause? I immediately ‘unliked’ Glasses Direct on Facebook because they had abused the trust I’d placed in them. Think about how your brand uses ‘Likes’ to build its long-term customer base and reward loyalty. Just like in the real world, true friendship grows over time and through mutual enjoyment. ***What can you change in your marketing approach to ensure that ever ‘Like’ converts into a lifetime of loyalty?*** **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advertising, advice, Facebook, marketing, offer, promotion --- ### [Everything you need to know about Social Media](https://allisterspeaks.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-social-media/) **Published:** August 2, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This says it all. Memorise this and you can legitimately claim to be a Social Media Guru: ![Social Media Explained diagram](http://wallblog.co.uk/files/2011/08/socialmediaexplained.jpg "Social Media Explained diagram") Tip o’ the hat to [Wall blog](http://wallblog.co.uk/2011/08/02/social-media-explained/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** social media --- ### [New Digital Marketing Podcast: “The Frost Personality Continuum”](https://allisterspeaks.com/new-digital-marketing-podcast-the-frost-personality-continuum/) **Published:** July 28, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![The Digital Marketing podcast logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image7.png "The Digital Marketing podcast logo")I regularly listen to The Digital Marketing podcast by Target Internet on my commute to and from work, and recently recorded a guest interview for them which has been released today. You can download the MP3 of this podcast from here: [The Frost Personality Continuum](http://traffic.libsyn.com/targetinternet/The_Frost_Personality_Continuum1.mp3 "Get the MP3 here") ***I recommend:*** subscribe to The Digital Marketing podcasts if you’re interested in staying abreast of new developments in digital marketing. [Daniel Rowles](http://www.targetinternet.com/about/daniel-rowles-biography/) and [Ciaran Rogers](http://twitter.com/#!/ciaraniow) share a wealth of knowledge in every episode. Sadly, the most recent episode mostly features me talking nonsense. You can subscribe via iTunes, Zune or other popular podcasting platforms. The RSS feed is [![RSS logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/rss_square.png "RSS logo")](http://targetinternet.libsyn.com/rss) [here](http://targetinternet.libsyn.com/rss). Please share your feedback in the comments below and let me know of any similar podcasts that you’d recommend for your fellow digital marketers. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Innovation, Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** chat, Digital Marketing, podcast, search, social media --- ### [LinkedIn: very different to other social networks [plus infographic]](https://allisterspeaks.com/linkedin-very-different-to-other-social-networks-plus-infographic/) **Published:** July 26, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Social Networks Used by professionals stats](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image6.png "Social Networks Used by professionals stats") [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com) has firmly established itself as the world’s leading professional social network, used by around 100 million people around the world to promote their work and life experiences and network with likeminded individuals. But the way people use LinkedIn differs dramatically to the behaviours we see on Facebook, Twitter and many other networking forums. Most notably: - LinkedIn users *visit less frequently*, with only 35% visiting daily, and another third visiting a few times a month at most. - The most commonly cited uses for LinkedIn are networking *within an industry* and *with co-workers*, but senior executives also commonly use it as a channel to promote their business - 60% of users claim to have *clicked an ad* in LinkedIn, a very high proportion compared to other social networking sites - 9 out of 10 users say they find the LinkedIn site useful, again very high compared to other social networks - A significant 39% of users pay at least $19.95/month to use LinkedIn’s premium features; a monetisation model that Twitter and other social networks would love to have The conclusion: with its user base continuing to grow and numerous innovative new ways emerging for marketers to promote their businesses and themselves, LinkedIn remains a top social network to watch. Test marketing programmes cautiously to ensure your approach is consistent with the LinkedIn users’ unique behaviours and think creatively about how you can exploit the precision targeting opportunities the platform offers. The team at [Lab42](http://www.lab42.com) have produced a superb infographic summarising the results of their research. Click the image below to see it full size: [![linkedin Infographic from Lab42](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/linkedin-infographic_thumb.jpg "linkedin Infographic from Lab42")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/linkedin-infographic.jpg) *Further reading:* Mashable: [http://mashable.com/2011/07/09/linkedin-infographic/](http://mashable.com/2011/07/09/linkedin-infographic/ "http://mashable.com/2011/07/09/linkedin-infographic/") It’s Open: [http://itsopen.co.uk/the-linkedin-infographic](http://itsopen.co.uk/the-linkedin-infographic "http://itsopen.co.uk/the-linkedin-infographic") **Categories:** Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** linkedin;social media;infographic --- ### [EdgeRank in Facebook: How it works and 9 tips to improve it](https://allisterspeaks.com/edgerank-in-facebook-how-it-works-and-9-tips-to-improve-it/) **Published:** July 15, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Example Top news and Most recent tabs in Facebook](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image4.png "Example Top news and Most recent tabs in Facebook") Visitors to Facebook pages will be familiar with the options above that appear when viewing their News Feed. By default, Facebook displays the *‘Top news’* stories as determined by an algorithm called EdgeRank. By clicking the *‘Most recent’* option Facebook users can switch back to the original view which shows everything posted by your friends in chronological order. The number (276 in the example above) shows how many items in total have hit your news feed since you last visited. The *‘Most recent’* link is regularly clicked by just over half of all Facebook users and it probably should be called *‘Everything’* as that’s what it gives you. Facebook is, however, understandably keen to keep its users on the *‘Top news’* view because this helps maintain the relevance and quality of the content they see. It also prevents over-jealous frequent contributors from dominating the default feed; an experience that would frustrate many users. So, what is this mysterious EdgeRank algorithm and how does it decide what appears within the default *‘Top news’* view? ![Firehoses image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image5.png "Firehoses image")**Meet Dave:** Think of EdgeRank as an intelligent fireman, let’s call him Dave, who controls the firehoses of content coming from all of your friends and fans on Facebook. Without Dave you’d be constantly flooded with updates from multiple sources, but thankfully Dave knows which hoses typically bring you the type of showering you enjoy. So Dave works silently in the background for you opening and closing hoses based on your personal preferences. (*image credit:* [*Wikimedia*](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Fire_hose_storage_rack.jpg)) **Here’s how EdgeRank is calculated.** The EdgeRank score attributed to each newsfeed object is derived from three factors: ![EdgeRank Formula](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/edgerank-formula.png "EdgeRank Formula") ***EdgeRank = Affinity x Weight x Time Decay*** - **Affinity** (u): based on how often the user or user’s friends interact with content form the Page that published the content. Note that affinity is not two-directional, i.e. if you have an affinity for content from someone else, they do not have to have any affinity for the content you create. - **Weight** (w): each type of content is weighted differently for each user based on the user’s past interactions with each type of content. So, for example, if you regularly interact with photos that are posted, other posts with photos will be given higher priority - **Time Decay** (d): the age of the post, the fresher it is the better Understanding how EdgeRank works is essential if you want to make sure the posts you make on Facebook stand the best possible chance of being seen by friends or fans. So, here are my nine top tips on how to protect and enhance the EdgeRank of your Facebook posts and pages: 1. Monitor how many interactions you get for different types of content. If few people click video links you share, maybe video content is not the best thing for your audience. Or, maybe it’s the time of day you’re posting that is causing low interaction levels; test posting at different times. 2. Shift some emphasis from acquisition to engagement. Many page owners are obsessed with growing their fan-base instead of worrying about how engaged their fans are. Disengaged fans are worthless as you’ll never appear in their Top news view. Break the cycle by finding ways to re-engage existing fans before you recruit new fans. 3. Avoid posting multiple instances of the same link. Clickthrough rates will drop and your EdgeRank will be penalised. 4. Links within the Facebook environment are given higher ranking than links to external content but don’t fret about this too much. It’s far better to share a great link than one whose provenance lies within Facebook. 5. Try to get fans to upload their own content like videos and photos so you can engage with their content to encourage reciprocal behaviour. 6. When posting, little and regular work best. A steady stream of updates is far better than fits and starts. Don’t be too predictable, but do be consistent. 7. Make your calls to action really obvious and highly visible to maximise interaction levels. Asking questions and inviting a response can do wonders; that’s what social media is all about after all. 8. Create social objects, little pieces of content that invite a response and are likely to be shared by others. If you’re very lucky and your content goes viral, your EdgeRank will soar. 9. If interaction levels are poor, low affinity levels may make your EdgeRank irretrievably weak. Evaluate advertising to existing fans who are perhaps no longer seeing your news feed content to encourage them to re-engage with you. Further reading: - EdgeRank Q&As on Quora: [http://www.quora.com/EdgeRank](http://www.quora.com/EdgeRank "http://www.quora.com/EdgeRank") - TechCrunch: [http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/22/facebook-edgerank/](http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/22/facebook-edgerank/ "http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/22/facebook-edgerank/") - Get Elastic: [http://www.getelastic.com/edgerank-explained/](http://www.getelastic.com/edgerank-explained/ "http://www.getelastic.com/edgerank-explained/") **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Klout Perks: Higher Klout doesn’t equal More Perks](https://allisterspeaks.com/klout-perks-higher-klout-doesnt-equal-more-perks/) **Published:** July 14, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** With the social web going crazy for influence metrics like [Klout](http://www.klout.com) and [PeerIndex](http://www.peerindex.net), I still feel quite uncomfortable with the idea of marketers targeting people based purely on their *assumed* online influence. The Klout Perks programme, where people with a certain Klout score or influence profile receive discounts or free gifts, has drawn as much criticism as praise and it’s unclear yet whether it can be proven a reliable channel for marketing. But here’s a fact: you don’t need a super-high Klout score to receive a Klout Perk. Here’s proof, showing Klout scores of 15 and 70 receiving the exact same free perk today: [![Klout Perks go to people with a wide range of Klout scores](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/klout-perks_thumb.jpg "Klout Perks go to people with a wide range of Klout scores")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/klout-perks.jpg) In fact, if anything, the higher your Klout score, the less likely you are to get a perk because advertisers may assume that you either already have access to whatever they have to offer or are too busy to tell others about your perk. The sweet spot seems to lie in the range 40-60; if you want maximum perks try to stay in that zone. But far more important than your arbitrary Klout score are your interests and the type of people who follow you. If you write regularly about movies and are followed by likeminded people, chance are you’ll be first in line for some movie perks when some become available. So stop obsessing about maximising your Klout score, and get back to what the social web’s really made for: **having great conversations online.** **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** influence, klout, perks, social media, Twitter --- ### [Is it Twitter o’clock?: When is the best time to tweet?](https://allisterspeaks.com/is-it-twitter-oclock-when-is-the-best-time-to-tweet/) **Published:** July 8, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Twitter-o'clock](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-oclock_thumb.jpg "Twitter-o'clock")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-oclock.jpg)Twitter’s great when people can see what you’re sharing, but the harsh reality is that most of your twitter followers won’t ever see or read your latest tweet. Only those that are online and paying attention to Twitter when you send it are likely to see your musings. Plus, of course, anyone who finds your content through other means like a search on Twitter or Bing, scrolling through their Twitter archive (who has time for this?) or sees a retweet from someone else. That’s why eager Twitter users are often interested in finding out when their followers are most likely to be online so they can maximise their reach and ensure their precious 140 characters don’t disappear into a lonely echo chamber. [Tweriod](http://www.tweriod.com/) is a great tool for gaining this sort of insight. After logging in, Tweriod can analyse the activities of your last 5,000 followers and tell you precisely when you should tweet to gain the most exposure. As they explain on their website: > Tweriod is a free twitter tool that helps you make the most of Twitter by letting you know the best time to tweet. There are graphs showing when you get the most @ replies by day and hour of the day, as well as advice on what times of day your tweets are most likely to gain the highest exposure. For me, it’s between 7-8am and 7-9pm, but your mileage may vary. ![Example Tweriod graph](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image1.png "Example Tweriod graph") Remember, of course, that past activity is no guarantee of future behaviour so you shouldn’t take Tweriod’s recommendation’s too seriously. But it’s certainly a great way to analyse your followers’ behaviour and spot some simple changes you can introduce to greatly improve the effectiveness of your Twitter activity. Give Tweriod a spin at [www.tweriod.com](http://www.tweriod.com) and please let me know what you discover. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** analysis, graphs, social media, Twitter --- ### [Being remarkable: Rethinking the receipt](https://allisterspeaks.com/being-remarkable-rethinking-the-receipt/) **Published:** July 5, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We produce billions of them every day and I’ll bet most people reading this will have at least one in their pocket or bag right now. But the humble sales receipt has barely evolved in recent years, despite the power inside most cash registers having increased exponentially. Cue London-based design studio, BERG, who have carried out a truly remarkable makeover of the sales receipt to show how this most common of items could easily evolve to keep pace with our tastes for information and entertainment. ![BERG redesigned sales receipt example](http://iconeye.com/images/news_june_11/spread_384.jpg "BERG redesigned sales receipt example") BERG sought to make the receipt “delightful” and added factoids, snippets and graphical elements. All the functional price related information is still there, now right at the top of the receipt, but the rest of the sheet is given over to beautifully presented conversation starters to fuel the viral potential of this tiny piece of marketing collateral. This is yet another example of how the ordinary can be transformed into the extraordinary. Every touch-point with your customers has the potential to delight them and give them reasons to want to do business with you again. ***What little things can you re-engineer to make every interaction with your company truly remarkable?*** *Further reading:* ICONEYE: [Rethink the receipt]() FLOWING DATA: [http://flowingdata.com/2011/07/05/sales-receipt-redesign/](http://flowingdata.com/2011/07/05/sales-receipt-redesign/ "http://flowingdata.com/2011/07/05/sales-receipt-redesign/") **Categories:** Creativity, Inspiration, Marketing **Tags:** design, marketing, remarkability --- ### [UK population mapped: It’s true, we Brits retire to the coast](https://allisterspeaks.com/uk-population-mapped-its-true-we-brits-retire-to-the-coast/) **Published:** July 1, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Data, data everywhere, but not a drop to drink… Like most marketers, I love a good dataset. And the latest batch from the [Office of National Statistics](http://www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/index.html) shows how the UK population has changed in recent years. The DataBlog team at The Guardian have mapped some of the key stats, including this interesting view showing the percentage of retired people by region that proves once and for all that we Brits really do like to retire to the seaside: *\[click to enlarge\]*[![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image.png) Helpful stuff if you’re planning to geo-target your marketing and sales campaigns. More reading and research: **The Guardian (interactive map):** [http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2011/jun/30/uk-population-mapped](http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2011/jun/30/uk-population-mapped "http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2011/jun/30/uk-population-mapped") **The Guardian (the data):** [http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/jun/30/uk-population-growth-data](http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/jun/30/uk-population-growth-data "http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/jun/30/uk-population-growth-data") **Categories:** Inspiration, Marketing **Tags:** data, interactive, mapping, marketing, UK --- ### [Google +1 data now in Google Analytics](https://allisterspeaks.com/google-1-data-now-in-google-analytics/) **Published:** June 30, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Much has been written about Google’s recently announced [+1 service](http://www.google.com/webmasters/+1/button/) but now Google has added advanced analytical features that could help prove or disprove the value of this new tool. ***But first, what is Google +1?*** At it’s core, +1 is much like Facebook’s ‘Like’ feature. Website owners can add +1 icons like this: ![Google +1 icon](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image9.png "Google +1 icon example")to their sites that allow visitors to indicate that they like the page. A counter shows how many other people have clicked the +1 button, thereby giving social proof to boost the perceived value of the web page. Importantly for site owners, these +1 votes are also taken into consideration when presenting search results in Google, so the more clicks you get the greater the chances of people clicking through to your web page. There’s also a social media component to this. Signed-in Google users who click a +1 button leave a trail that shows that they clicked the button. When a signed-in Google user is searching, the Google search result snippet may be annotated with the names of the user’s connections who have +1’d each page. If none of a user’s connections has +1’d a page, the snippet may only display the aggregate number of +1’s the page has received. **What’s new?** Google has now gone one step further and added new tools to [Google Analytics](http://www.google.com/analytics/) that allow site owners to show exactly what influence (if any) the +1 buttons have on traffic to a site. As the example screenshot below shows, Google will report how many times a +1 count has been annotated to search results, and what clickthrough rates have been achieved with and without these +1 annotations. *\[click to enlarge\]* [![Google Search Impact screenshot](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image_thumb1.png "Google Search Impact screenshot")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image10.png) There’s also an Activity Report that shows how many times selected pages have been +1’d and an Audience Report that shows geographic and demographic data about signed-in Google users who have +1’d pages. These data data points may prove valuable in helping marketers quantify the value of social proof and the impact is has on broader online marketing efforts like search engine marketing and neighbouring display advertising. ***My advice:*** T*est +1 on selected web pages and see if these analytics tools can help you measure how people interact with your content. With luck you may be able to establish how much influence social proof has on search behaviour. Just don’t expect quick results as Google’s +1 service has far lower penetration and awareness than Facebook’s well-established ‘Like’ feature and may not have a long term future if it stumbles like some previous efforts.* *More reading:* Google Webmaster Central Blog: [http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2011/06/1-reporting-in-google-webmaster-tools.html](http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2011/06/1-reporting-in-google-webmaster-tools.html "http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2011/06/1-reporting-in-google-webmaster-tools.html") Web Pro News: [http://www.webpronews.com/google-adds-1-button-data-to-google-analytics-2011-06](http://www.webpronews.com/google-adds-1-button-data-to-google-analytics-2011-06 "http://www.webpronews.com/google-adds-1-button-data-to-google-analytics-2011-06") Search Engine Land: [http://searchengineland.com/official-google-analytics-gets-social-engagement-reporting-83707](http://searchengineland.com/official-google-analytics-gets-social-engagement-reporting-83707 "http://searchengineland.com/official-google-analytics-gets-social-engagement-reporting-83707") Web SEO Analytics: [http://www.webseoanalytics.com/blog/google-plus1-vs-facebook-like-the-similarities-and-the-differences/](http://www.webseoanalytics.com/blog/google-plus1-vs-facebook-like-the-similarities-and-the-differences/ "http://www.webseoanalytics.com/blog/google-plus1-vs-facebook-like-the-similarities-and-the-differences/") **Categories:** Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, Google, search engines, Search Marketing, social media --- ### [Digital Cleverness: OCD Foundation](https://allisterspeaks.com/digital-cleverness-ocd-foundation/) **Published:** June 21, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Watch his video. As the title says, ‘You May Need To Press Play More Than Once…’ [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAdfSMNFAz8&w=448&h=252&hd=1] OCD digital marketing brilliance! How simple and effective was that? Brilliant thinking by [www.ocfoundation.org](http://www.ocfoundation.org)! Armed with little more than a powerful insight into the disorder they represent, they used a free digital video service to get their message across with remarkable efficiency. How can you get your message across without spending a penny? **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** Digital Marketing, inspiration, youtube --- ### [Klout.com: Now with added LinkedIn](https://allisterspeaks.com/klout-com-now-with-added-linkedin/) **Published:** June 14, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Klout=Twitter+Facebook+LinkedIn](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image8.png "Klout=Twitter+Facebook+LinkedIn") Klout users will soon see the option to add their LinkedIn profiles to their Klout.com accounts, allowing Klout to take your LinkedIn network into consideration when assessing your online influence. While headline Klout scores are unlikely to change significantly in the short term, you should expect to see some variations in your reach and influence scores over the longer term as LinkedIn data is increasingly taken into account. Klout is rolling out this feature to its users now. [Head over to Klout.com](http://www.klout.com) to find out if your account has been enabled. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, klout, linkedin, social media, Twitter --- ### [Facebook Promotion Guidelines](https://allisterspeaks.com/facebook-promotion-guidelines/) **Published:** June 13, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/social_facebook_thumb.png)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/social_facebook.png)Many marketers don’t realise that there are strict rules about what you can and cannot do when running promotions on Facebook. Read on to ensure you stay on the right side of the rules! ***The rules changed on 11 May 2011** – your promotion may already be in breach, read the following carefully:* - **Promote in apps only:** You can now run promotions only within Apps, either within a Canvas Page, Page Tab or App. - **No Like button or Check Ins:** You may not use Facebook features like the Like button or a Place check in as the entry or registration mechanism. - **You are responsible:** As the legal promoter, you are responsible for ensuring that your actions comply with relevant legislation covering considerations like official rules and terms and eligibility requirements. - **Facebook is not responsible:** You must exempt Facebook from all responsibility and association with the activity in your terms and conditions, and declare what data you will receive and how it will be used. Full rules from Facebook are available online here: [https://www.facebook.com/promotions\_guidelines.php](https://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php "https://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php") **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, promotion, rule --- ### [Just released: free Microsoft Analytics for Twitter](https://allisterspeaks.com/just-released-microsoft-analytics-for-twitter-free/) **Published:** June 10, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![business impact analysis image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/business-impact-analysis.png "business impact analysis image") Here’s a powerful new way to compare activity on up to five different Twitter accounts, care of the team who created PowerPivot for Excel. [![Microsoft Analytics for Twitter screenshot](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image6.png "Microsoft Analytics for Twitter screenshot")](http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=26213) Microsoft Analytics for Twitter allows you to create powerful visualisations of the last four days’ activity for up to five Twitter accounts or other search terms (e.g. your company name). The data presented will show you who are the top Tweeters or which search terms feature most prominently, which #hashtags are used most often and give an indication of how positive or negative the tweet tone is. [![Tone Score by Time of Day graph](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image_thumb.png "Tone Score by Time of Day graph")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image7.png)The tool also produces reports showing the people that your chosen accounts or search terms align to most frequently, pulls a custom feed of the actual tweets directly into Excel (so you can manipulate to your heart’s content) and can even show how the tone of tweets changes by hour. And you can filter your results instantly using PowerPivot’s intuitive interface and visualisation engine. **And the best bit is, it’s completely free!** *System requirements:* You need Windows 7 Professional or Enterprise and Microsoft Office Excel 2010. *Download links:* - You can download Microsoft Analytics for Twitter from [here](http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=26213). - You’ll also need to install the free PowerPivot for Excel add-in from [here](http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&id=7609). And, if you’re a bit of a techie, you can even play around with the supplied code samples and tweak to meet your needs. Let me know what you think of this new tool. I think it’s great, but there’s obvious room for improvement. *Does it provide useful analysis for your needs?* **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** analysis, excel, free, PowerPivot, Twitter --- ### [Microsoft FUSE Labs–Social Gadgets](https://allisterspeaks.com/microsoft-fuse-labssocial-gadgets/) **Published:** June 10, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Social Gadget from Microsoft FUSE Labs](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image5.png "Social Gadget from Microsoft FUSE Labs")Not new, but worth trying out if you like dynamically updated visualisations of what’s happening on the social web. Here are four free social gadgets from Microsoft for you to play with: **Tag Cloud** – See a visual tag cloud with the time and volume of their mentions **Timeline** – See related terms over a chosen period of time **Buzz** – See the buzz around your chosen keyword **Comparison** – compare volume of mentions of up to three keywords on Twitter Create your own social gadgets at [http://fuse.microsoft.com/project/SocialGadgets.aspx](http://fuse.microsoft.com/project/SocialGadgets.aspx "http://fuse.microsoft.com/project/SocialGadgets.aspx") **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Presentation: HP Business Forum](https://allisterspeaks.com/presentation-hp-business-forum/) **Published:** June 9, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Here are my slides from the recent HP Business Answers forum meeting where I talked about how to grow a small/medium business in our digital world: **[HP Business Answers Forum – Allister Frost Keynote](http://www.slideshare.net/HPUK/hp-business-answers-forum-allister-frost-digital-marketing "HP Business Answers Forum - Allister Frost - Digital Marketing")** [http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed\_code/8234204](http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/8234204) To join the forum head over to [this group on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/groups/HP-Business-Answers-3692681). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** Digital Marketing, presentation, social media --- ### [Tagxedo: it’s like Wordle on steroids](https://allisterspeaks.com/tagxedo-its-like-wordle-on-steroids/) **Published:** June 9, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Tag clouds are a great way of synthesising lots of content into a readily digestible graphic but until now they’ve been rather lacklustre and dull. That’s why I love [Tagxedo](http://www.tagxedo.com/) which, as the name suggests, is a great way to show off your content in all its finery. You can create a word cloud from numerous sources including a web page, a Twitter stream, an RSS feed or even a search query. But the best bit is you can then customise your Tagxedo to your heart’s content, changing the colour schemes, shape, typefaces and orientation. And, once you’re happy with the results you can export your Tagxedo as an image file, grab some embed code to place on your website, or get it printed onto a t-shirt or other gift at Zazzle. Very neat! A couple of my efforts: here’s this blog in the shape of a bomb (why not?!): [![This blog on Tagxedo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/allister-frost-on-tagxedo_thumb.jpg "This blog on Tagxedo")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/allister-frost-on-tagxedo.jpg) And here’s what the search engines think of your author, Allister Frost, shaped, predictably enough, as a banana: [![Allister Frost on Tagxedo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/allister-frost-on-tagxedo2_thumb.jpg "Allister Frost on Tagxedo")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/allister-frost-on-tagxedo2.jpg) Have a play with Tagxedo at [http://www.tagxedo.com/](http://www.tagxedo.com/ "http://www.tagxedo.com/") and let me know what you create! **Categories:** Innovation, Inspiration --- ### [Cricket and a broken window: how search engine advertising can be remarkable](https://allisterspeaks.com/cricket-and-a-broken-window-how-search-engine-advertising-can-be-remarkable/) **Published:** June 9, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** *\[image credit: Getty Images\]* ![Broken window at Lord's Cricket pavillion](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image2.png "Matt Prior's broken window at Lord's Cricket pavillion")I think I owe [Lee Williams](http://www.twitter.com/mrleewilliams) a beer or two as this is the second consecutive blog post I’ve written from a tip-off he passed my way. And this time, we’re talking about pay-per-click (PPC) advertising on search engines… Every marketer wants their brand and web site to appear high up in the SERP (search engine results page) when a user searches for a relevant keywords. Most often this means compiling a lengthy list of relevant terms then optimising your website against these (known as SEO, search engine optimisation) as well as, if budgets permit, buy PPC ads against these keywords. **That’s fine, but sometimes a little imagination and creativity can go a long way too.** When England cricket player, Matt Prior, accidentally [broke a window](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/8561728/England-v-Sri-Lanka-Matt-Prior-apologises-to-spectator-injured-after-he-broke-a-window-at-Lords.html) in the Lord’s pavillion during a test match against Sri Lanka, marketing agency [Dare](http://www.thisisdare.com/) spotted an opportunity for their client [B&Q](http://www.diy.com), a home improvements superstore. So, when thousands of cricket fans heard the news about the broken window and headed off to their search engine to find out what happened, here’s what they saw in response to a search for Matt Prior: ![Search results for Matt Prior](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image3.png "What cricket fans saw when searching for Matt Prior") I love seeing this kind of guerrilla marketing. Buying ads against the keywords “Matt Prior” is clever and very cheap. A quick check on Google AdWords confirms that there is, unsurprisingly, no competition whatsoever for these keywords and with 2,900 monthly searches there’s a good amount of traffic to go after. Conversely, there’s much more competition for keywords like “broken window” because every glazier and hardware shop wants a piece of that action meaning the price you pay for a click on a prominent ad will be much higher: ![How search volumes compare](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image4.png "How search volume and competition compare") *But will B&Q get any return from this investment?* The truth is probably not, in a direct sense at least. People interested in Matt Prior’s window smash are highly unlikely to need any new windows themselves right now. But what this type of activity does do is help boost B&Q’s notoriety and reinforce their position as a great place to buy DIY materials. By cleverly associating themselves with a high profile cricket incident, B&Q demonstrates that they are interested in cricket (even if at the most superficial level) and cricket lovers who spot this association are more likely to think of B&Q next time they need DIY supplies. Who knows, some might even remember that window they’ve been meaning to fix and pop in on their way home after a hard day watching the cricket in the office 😉 Opportunities like this can present themselves at any time. I recommend keeping back a small slush fund in the online marketing budget so you can jump on topical events at a moment’s notice. And don’t think this type of work is only for the big boys like B&Q; small and medium businesses who operate at a local level or in specialist fields have equal opportunity to exploit trending topics online, perhaps even greater opportunity. ***The prizes, as always, go to the marketers who think quickest and have the courage to experiment boldly.*** **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Search Marketing **Tags:** cricket, Google, guerrilla, inspiration, Search Marketing --- ### [How we use Twitter to get answers to questions [infographic]](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-we-use-twitter-to-get-answers-to-questions-infographic/) **Published:** June 7, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Thanks to [Lee Williams](http://twitter.com/#!/MrLeeWilliams) for bringing this one to my attention. Click the image below to reveal a really informative infographic that shows how Twitter users go about getting answers to their questions. No surprises, the more followers you have the more likely you are to get answers to your questions and be happy with the responses. But Twitter really comes into its own when *non-followers* answer questions, and that’s the golden opportunity area for all businesses who make the time to listen and respond whenever appropriate. As the infographic shows, almost 60% of Twitter users are open to receiving answers from businesses if the quality is as good or better than from their followers. *\[click image below to view infographic\]* [![Social Media's Loaded Questions graphic](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image.png "Click here to view infographic")](http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/twitter-questions-infographic.jpg) ![InboxQ logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/image1.png "inboxQ") My only complaint about this infographic: the people who produced it have really missed a trick. The logo seems to read InboxQ, but it took me quite some time to track them down online at [www.inboxq.com](http://www.inboxq.com). They have some quite cool technology, but if you’re producing an infographic, be sure to include your web URL, Twitter handle, and some explanation of what you do. Otherwise you’re potentially wasting a huge opportunity to build your brand and customer following. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** infographic, social media, Twitter --- ### [Interactive mapping: ethnic breakdown of England and Wales](https://allisterspeaks.com/interactive-mapping-ethnic-breakdown-of-england-and-wales/) **Published:** May 19, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We’re a very fortunate generation, in many ways. And one of life’s riches that we tend to overlook is the remarkable access we get to information and data about things our grandparents could never have dreamed of knowing. Take, for example, this interactive map by UK newspaper, [The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/), which uses data from the [Office of National Statistics](http://www.statistics.gov.uk/default.asp) (ONS) to show the ethnic profile of districts in England and Wales. You can filter the view as you wish, and quickly see how the ethnicity of our population differs by area. *\[click image to access interactive map\]* [![Interactive map of ethnic make-up of England and Wales](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/image7.png "Click image to access interactive map")](http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/interactive/2011/may/19/ethnic-breakdown-england-wales) Marketers can learn from this. Most businesses are sitting on a wealth of insightful data that others may find useful or interesting. What data do you hold that you could present in an engaging way and share with the public? How could doing this raise awareness of what your organisation has to offer or help establish you as an expert or thought-leader? Or maybe you don’t even need your own data. What publicly-accessible data can you take and present in a more interesting way to create a [social object](http://allisterfrost.com/2011/03/17/being-remarkable-ebay-wetsuit-for-sale/) that will help raise awareness of what you do? Sharing data in our digital world has never been easier, and the rewards for acting transparently and responsibly have never been greater. Think about it; this could be a great way to put your business on the map. *Further reading:* [*The Guardian’s write-up on the new ONS data*](http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/may/18/ethnic-population-england-wales) **Categories:** Innovation, Social Media **Tags:** data, mapping, social object, UK --- ### [Living in the Bubble: startup guys video](https://allisterspeaks.com/living-in-the-bubble-startup-guys-video/) **Published:** May 18, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’m sure I’ve had these guys in my office before… [http://www.collegehumor.com/moogaloop/moogaloop.swf?clip\_id=6507690&use\_node\_id=true&fullscreen=1](http://www.collegehumor.com/moogaloop/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6507690&use_node_id=true&fullscreen=1) **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Peer Index–creating a Twitter League of your followers](https://allisterspeaks.com/peer-indexcreating-a-twitter-league-of-your-followers/) **Published:** May 18, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/image5.png "image")Peer Index has rolled out some neat innovations to help people who manage multiple social media accounts or perhaps monitor several on behalf of their company or clients. One example is the new group feature, which allows you to create a league table showing each account’s relative performance according to its PeerIndex score. The example below shows how some of Microsoft UK’s official accounts are ranked: [![Microsoft UK Twitter Accounts League (Peer Index)](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/image6.png "Click to see full table")](http://www.peerindex.net/allisterf/group/microsoft_uk_official_twitter_accounts) It’s important to note that PeerIndex can only do its stuff properly if accounts are registered at [www.peerindex.net](http://www.peerindex.net). This allows PeerIndex to access rich data and more accurately gauge their authority, activity and audience reach. In the example above, PeerIndex scores have been estimated for most, if not all, accounts because few are currently registered with PeerIndex. You can also create a group for the people you follow, or the people who follow you, to help identify the relative influence of the connections within your social graph. PeerIndex takes feeds from Twitter, Facebook, Quora, LinkedIn, blogs and other sites, so add as many as you wish to make your social profile complete. To see what PeerIndex might be able to do for you, check out my profile at [http://www.peerindex.net/allisterf/](http://www.peerindex.net/allisterf/ "http://www.peerindex.net/allisterf/"). Have a play, and let me know what you make of this innovative tool. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** league, Microsoft, social media, Twitter --- ### [Sunday Times launches The Social List](https://allisterspeaks.com/sunday-times-launches-the-social-list/) **Published:** May 16, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![The Sunday Times Social List logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/image4.png "The Sunday Times Social List logo")](http://www.the-social-list.com/) **\[See author’s note below for update\]** The Sunday Times is well known for its annual Rich List. So, what better way to inject a little 21st century than by inventing The Social List, an automated league table that lists the most social-web-connected people in the world? Anyone can sign up to join. The Social List takes feeds from Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Foursquare, and you can add as many or few services as you wish. *But, what’s the point of this?* Well, truthfully, not a lot. As services like [Klout](http://www.klout.com) and [PeerIndex](http://www.peerindex.net) have proved, it’s near-impossible to accurately measure true online influence. Comparing one person’s online status to another’s quickly becomes more art than science, and so the concept of a structured league table is fairly silly. But, there’s no doubt that this is a clever initiative from The Sunday Times; if there’s one thing social media luvvies enjoy doing, it’s showing off how socially-connected and active they are. You can take a look at the list and sign up yourself at \[http://www.the-social-list\[DOT\]com/\] *Author’s amendment (October 2014): this site is no longer managed by the Sunday Times and has been transferred into new ownership\]* **Categories:** Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** list, social media --- ### [Awesome Twitter Application list](https://allisterspeaks.com/awesome-twitter-application-list/) **Published:** May 16, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Twitter icon](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/social_twitter.png "Twitter icon")Regular Twitter users know how many quirky (and occasionally useful!) 3rd party applications exist to help you get the most out of the Twittersphere. Over the years I’ve amassed a huge collection of bookmarks and, frankly, things are getting out of hand… Step forward [Eric Goldstein](http://socialmediatoday.com/user/75970) ([@ericsgoldstein](http://www.twitter.com/ericsgoldstein "Find Eric on Twitter")), who has compiled a giant list of Twitter apps for [Socialmediatoday.com](http://socialmediatoday.com). Among my favourites are Seesmic Desktop, Twilert, TwInbox, and Klout. Which are your favourites? Get the full list at: [http://socialmediatoday.com/eric-goldstein/295232/most-complete-twitter-application-list-available-2011-edition](http://socialmediatoday.com/eric-goldstein/295232/most-complete-twitter-application-list-available-2011-edition "http://socialmediatoday.com/eric-goldstein/295232/most-complete-twitter-application-list-available-2011-edition") Thanks Eric! **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** application, list, Twitter --- ### [How to successfully use Promoted Tweets on Twitter](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-successfully-use-promoted-tweets-on-twitter/) **Published:** May 11, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/image_thumb1.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/image2.png) An interesting article on AdAge Digital prompted me to pen this. Twitter’s new advertising format, Promoted Tweets, is largely unproven and has delivered mixed results. Some advertisers have even received ‘flame tweets’ in response to their efforts to exploit the community-based conversations that take place 24/7 on Twitter, but a few have been successful in generating a good response. Twitter only charges advertisers if users reply to, bookmark, or retweet a Promoted Tweet. If no-one engages with your ad, you don’t pay a penny, but you’ll quickly lose the option to run your ad when Twitter hands your placement to another advertiser in the hope they’ll generate more user engagement. So, this ad format is fairly pointless for pure awareness-generation activity, you have to generate engagement or your ads won’t run. One final point before we get into the findings of the [AdAge Digital article](http://adage.com/article/digital/winning-twitter-top-10-promoted-tweets/227437/), your ad has to be a tweet which means the same 140 character limitations apply. But, like all things Twitter, the key is to write something that you know people will find interesting and will engage with; the only difference is you get to buy access to an audience that searches for the keywords and keyphrases you are targeting. Your ad will appear at the top of their search results, clearly labelled as a Promoted Tweet. So, which Promoted Tweets have performed the best? AdAge’s data show that it doesn’t matter which sector you represent, be it cars, toiletries, or pizzas, you just have to have something interesting to say. And, if it’s topical, newsworthy, celebrity-endorsed or contest-based, you could be on to a winner. Here’s the top promoted tweet of all time which was released to coincide with the live unveiling of the new VW Beetle, as previously teased during the Super Bowl: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/image_thumb2.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/image3.png) With engagement rates as high as 52% (yes, really! well done VW), Promoted Tweets can play a useful role in selected marketing campaigns. But pick your moments carefully; this is far from a guaranteed route to user engagement. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** advertising, marketing, promotion, Twitter --- ### [20 Tips for a successful Twitter Chat](https://allisterspeaks.com/20-tips-for-a-successful-twitter-chat/) **Published:** May 10, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Twitter Chat image by @allisterf](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/voice-talk-conversation-chat.png "Twitter Chat image by @allisterf")Twitter Chats (sometimes called Twitter Tweet Chats) are gaining in popularity because they provide a convenient way for organisations and groups to interact in real time with other people. Even pharmaceutical giant [AstraZeneca is getting in on the act](http://www.emarketer.com/blog/index.php/case-study-astrazeneca-hosts-twitter-chat/), and so could you. But there’s no guidebook to steer you through your first Twitter Chat without winding up wishing you’d never set eyes on Twitter in the first place. So, here are my top tips for success in a Twitter Chat session: **![Little Bird 1 image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/twiter_02.png "Little Bird 1 image")First up, what is a Twitter Chat?** Twitter Chat is simply a scheduled conversation that takes place on Twitter between a host (comprising one or more people) and an invited audience (and anyone else who happens to see/join the conversation. Twitter Chats are usually publicised in advance and use a [hashtag](http://www.techforluddites.com/2009/02/the-twitter-hash-tag-what-is-it-and-how-do-you-use-it.html) to make it easy for people to follow the conversation and get involved. Some chats are regular events ([like these](https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=ruaz3GZveOsoXUOOt86B3AQ#gid=0)) taking place weekly or monthly, while others are one-off events designed to serve a discrete purpose. **![Little Bird 2 image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/twiter_01.png "Little Bird 2 image")And, why would I host a Twitter Chat?** If you are a Twitter user or have an official Twitter account for your business or organisation, a Twitter Chat can be a great way for you to interact with customers and partners during a very focussed period of time. Twitter Chats typically last for 30-60 minutes, during which time the host will guarantee the availability of experts to reply to any questions or comments. This is also a perfect time to release ‘new news’ onto the web like product announcements or new research data as the Twitter Chat will help you amplify these messages across Twitter and beyond. **![Planning book](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/lesson-planning-book-learn.png "Planning book")Great! So, how do I organise a Twitter Chat?** Unlike most events and marketing activities, running a Twitter Chat is remarkably simple and low cost. ![Idea Folder image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/folder_pink_ideas.png "Idea Folder image")**My 20 top tips for a successful Twitter Chat:** 1. First up, decide what you’re trying to achieve and verify that a Twitter Chat is the right thing to support your goals. If it isn’t, go do something else. 2. Check that your target audience is active on Twitter. A few select tweets to test the idea can help validate that it’s worth pursuing. Identify a few key influencers who can help champion the event and draw in a crowd. 3. Analyse Twitter traffic to determine when your target audience is most likely to be online and to get involved in the chat. Tools like [www.tweetwhen.com](http://www.tweetwhen.com) and [www.14blocks.com](http://www.14blocks.com) can help you identify the optimal day and time to host your Twitter Chat 4. Assemble a crack team of people to host the Twitter Chat. Ideally this should be a multi-disciplinary team made up of people from various areas of the organisation so you’ll be ready to answer almost any question, no matter how complicated or niche 5. Agree on a #hashtag that you will use in every tweet during the Twitter Chat and in all pre-publicity for the event. Ideally, this hashtag will be unique and distinctive to clearly explain what it means (e.g. #SmallBizChat) 6. Fix the date and time in everyone’s diary, preferably a few days or weeks in advance to allow enough time to build a following and prepare any new information you wish to share on the day 7. Now start publicising the Twitter Chat event. Add details to your website, newsletters, Facebook page; in fact, raise awareness of the event wherever you can. Don’t underestimate the amount of effort that may be required here if you’ve never done this before. Some companies buy ad placements to help or even [Promoted Tweets](http://blog.twitter.com/2010/04/hello-world.html). Ask your staff, friends and other Twitter followers to spread the word, and tweet regularly from the official account that will host the Twitter Chat in the run-up to the event. You can use a tool like [www.hootsuite.com](http://www.hootsuite.com) or [www.TweetLater.com](http://www.TweetLater.com) to pre-schedule tweets to publicise the event. Tweets sent exactly one week, one day, and one hour before the event can be especially effective as they catch people who are already using Twitter at the intended time of delivery. Invite questions in advance via email so you have some material to get started with 8. If any of your team are not regular Twitter users, give them some training before the event. Explain how the hashtag works, how they should all tweet from the official account, and which tools you’ll be using to measure results. Send them away to perfect their skills and familiarise themselves with the platform. 9. Set up some means to keep a record of the conversations and any use of your hashtag. For example, a [www.twilert.com](http://www.twilert.com/) alert can send an email summary of all activity against your search query at a frequency of your choosing. Be sure to respond promptly to any queries or pre-submitted questions ahead of your Twitter Chat; showing that you’re responsive will help encourage more people to get involved. 10. **On the day of the Twitter Chat,** make sure you have a reserved space where the team can assemble. Be sure to get together at least 30 minutes before the start for a short briefing and to ensure that everyone can get online in time for the kick off 11. It’s a good idea to have one primary host who can announce the start of the Twitter Chat and explain how it works. A link to a website with details and pictures of the hosts and any guidelines, FAQs or rules can help lift any anxiety from your audience 12. Start off by answering any pre-submitted questions to help get the ball rolling or by releasing new information you’ve not shared before. Ask questions of your audience too; remember, it’s a two-way thing 13. Use a team tool like [www.hootsuite.com](http://www.hootsuite.com) to manage the chatter and ensure that all host participants can see what’s going on and who has replied to what. You want to give the impression that you’re a joined-up team and working together to reply to questions; the worst thing you can do is give two different answers to the same question. You can prepare answers to commonly asked questions in advance and then simply copy/paste them into a tweet to help save time during the Twitter Chat event. Ideally, every host participant should tweet from the same Twitter account so it’s easy to monitor the conversation flow and the agreed hashtag should be included in every tweet. It can be helpful to append a short code that identifies who sent each tweet, usually in the format ^AF, where ^ is called a caret and ‘AF’ is the initials of the tweeter). 14. Be prepared for some possible disruption during the Twitter Chat. Your competitors or partners may join the chat, as well as possibly some ex-employees or disgruntled customers. To benefit from the social web, you have to play by the social web’s rules so be prepared to address any issues head on (take them offline if you can) and take some flak from time to time. Most importantly, be sure to show that you are listening. All feedback, however negative or inflammatory, is welcomed and can give you great insights into how your audience perceives what you’re doing. 15. Great tip here from [@Rossb82](http://www.twitter.com/rossb82): Enable your entire audience to follow the conversation by placing a full stop/period before the @ symbol in replies. If you reply to a tweet, your message will begin by default with @theirname, meaning your reply will only be visible to people who follow both you and the person you’re replying to. However, if you add a period before the @ symbol (for example “.@allisterf blah blah…) it will not be treated as a reply but as a general tweet to all your followers 16. Keep your tweets short so they can be typed and read quickly, and retweeted easily without requiring further editing. Include links to existing content on your site or elsewhere on the web where possible; 140 characters is not enough to give detailed answers so you may need to hold back longer replies and post into a blog post after the event 17. Advanced tip: add some colour to your event by having a live video feed from the room so people can tune in and see what’s happening in real time. If you opt for this, try to find an interesting venue for the host team (as a minimum, make sure it doesn’t look like you’re sat in a grey prison cell) and put up posters or project onto a screen to add some interest to the video feed. Services like [http://twitcam.livestream.com/](http://twitcam.livestream.com/ "http://twitcam.livestream.com/") can provide this functionality at no or little cost. 18. **After the Twitter Chat,** be sure to keep a record of all the activity so you can review at your leisure and see if there are any big themes or common threads. The participants in your Twitter Chat are the perfect group to start with when publicising your next Twitter Chat event so be sure to keep their names on file and to stay in touch where appropriate. If they follow your account you can send selected participants a direct message on Twitter to ask them what they thought of your event. Explore the topics you covered, the date/time, and the overall format and ask what you could improve for next time. 19. Get the team together a few days after the event and collect feedback on what worked well and what could be improved while their minds are fresh. Document everything, including metrics that show your reach, impressions, retweet counts etc. to help build the case for more Twitter Chats in the future. Of course, if it was an unmitigated disaster you’ll need to decide if the issues can be fixed or if a Twitter Chat is the wrong vehicle for your goals. If, however, you’ve planned correctly and followed this advice you should be feeling flush with success and excited by the countless ideas you have on how you can do even better next time. 20. Keep experimenting so you learn every time. Test different times of day, different days of the week, different pre-publicity approaches and different types of content to spark the conversations. As with most endeavours on the social web, you can always improve, so be bold and try new things. And before long you’ll be a Black Belt in Twitter Chats and writing your own guidebook. Please let me know how you get on. *Good luck, and have fun!* **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** chat, guidelines, social media, tips, Twitter --- ### [What is #FollowFriday and how to do it correctly?](https://allisterspeaks.com/what-is-followfriday-and-how-to-do-it-correctly/) **Published:** May 6, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![TGI #FollowFriday](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/tgi_ff.jpg "TGI Follow Friday")Every Twitter user is familiar with the often used [hashtag](http://www.hashtag.org/) #FollowFriday or #FF which appears with weekly predictability on Fridays. But what is #FF about and how can you use it to promote people on your network and discover new people to follow? Follow Friday emerged in the early days of Twitter as a way to express gratitude to people by helping them grow their follower counts. By tweeting out a short message of recommendation, including the #FollowFriday (or, later, the #FF) hashtag, Twitter users invented a powerful way to promote others who used the service effectively. Of course, like most community initiatives, #FollowFriday soon became a victim of its own success with spammers using the hashtag to promote spambots and others using it to promote friends and family regardless of whether they were good Twitter citizens or not. And, worst of all, some automated services now indiscriminately pump out a #FF tweet every Friday featuring a long list of user names, irrespective of whether they are good Tweeters or not. To use FollowFriday effectively, you need to understand that it should be about QUALITY, not quantity. It’s far better to recommend one or two people with a short justification than to robotically tweet out a meaningless list of names. This sort of tweet is as commonplace as it is pointless: ![Cross mark](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/x-dont-no-not-okay-approved-bad1.png "Cross mark")Don’t do this: ![Bad FF example](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/badd-ff1.jpg "Bad FF example") Conversely, [@whatleydude](http://www.twitter.com/whatleydude) gets it spot on in this example below: ![Checkmark](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/checkmark-check-green-okay-ok-approved1.png "Checkmark")Do do this: ![Good FF example](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/image1.png "Good FF example") A few other quick tips: - Be sure to start your tweet with #FollowFriday or #FF to indicate its purpose. - If you start with the @name of the person you’re recommending, the tweet will **only** go to those who already follow **both** you and the person you’re recommending, thereby completely defeating the purpose of the #FF! - Not all automated FollowFriday tools are bad. For example, [http://followfridayhelper.com](http://followfridayhelper.com "http://followfridayhelper.com") allows you to create personalised recommendations for people you’ve recently interacted with. But, annoyingly, it also allows you to create multi-person FollowFriday tweets too so be careful to select the right option. - Apps are also available on most mobile phone platforms that can remind you to create a FollowFriday message or even pre-schedule your tweets in advance. Again, be careful not to fall into the lazy automated multi-person tweet trap. - You can also use desktop tools like CoTweet and Tweetlater to pre-schedule your FollowFriday tweets if you wish. - Always include an explanation of **why** you recommend someone to help your followers decide if they might like to follow them as well. - Use FollowFriday in moderation. If you tweet #FF too often, your messages will start to lose their impact. Be highly selective and your followers will be more likely to thank you for the tips. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** followfriday, hashtag, Twitter --- ### [Correlation explained](https://allisterspeaks.com/correlation-explained/) **Published:** May 6, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Hopelessly off topic, but you dog-owning statisticians out there may enjoy this: ![Correlation dog](http://flowingdata.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Correlation-dog-575x631.png "Correlation dog") Thanks to [http://www.thedoghousediaries.com/?p=2723](http://www.thedoghousediaries.com/?p=2723 "http://www.thedoghousediaries.com/?p=2723") **Categories:** Miscellaneous **Tags:** cartoon, Statistics --- ### [The facts: Mac vs. PC People](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-facts-mac-vs-pc-people/) **Published:** May 3, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** According to Hunch, Mac people are 80% more likely to be vegetarians than PC people, while PC people are 26% more likely to prefer fitting in with others than being different. Whodavthoughtit? More obscure data points in a fact-packed infographic to help you decide if you’re a Mac or PC person: *\[click image to enlarge\]* [![mac-vs-pc-575x2146](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/mac-vs-pc-575x2146_thumb.png "mac-vs-pc-575x2146")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/mac-vs-pc-575x2146.png) With thanks to [Hunch](http://blog.hunch.com/?p=45344). **Categories:** Miscellaneous **Tags:** infographic --- ### [Social Media Monitoring – massive infographic](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-monitoring-massive-infographic/) **Published:** April 21, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Social media monitoring and measurement is a complicated beast at the best of times. This infographic from KISSmetrics and oneforty does little to remove the complexity, but it does help clarify who are the major players and which tools, free or paid, are best for certain requirements. *Click image to expand: [![Social media Monitoring Infographic](http://wallblog.co.uk/files/2011/04/social-media-monitoring-surveySM.jpg "Social media Monitoring Infographic")](http://wallblog.co.uk/files/2011/04/social-media-monitoring-survey.jpg)* Hat tip to [The Wall Blog](http://wallblog.co.uk/2011/04/21/all-about-social-media-monitoring-tools-infographic/) for passing this on. **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** infographic, measurement, social media --- ### [8 tips for boosting your Klout](https://allisterspeaks.com/8-tips-for-boosting-your-klout/) **Published:** April 18, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Klout logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/image5.png "Klout logo")](http://www.klout.com) Love it or loathe it, [Klout](http://klout.com/) has been making major inroads into the emerging social media measurement business. And, with other third party tools like [CoTweet](http://standard.cotweet.com/), [Radian 6](http://www.radian6.com/), and [Seesmic](http://seesmic.com/) now pulling in Klout data, a growing audience of social network users are discovering and exploring what Klout means to them. But first, for the uninitiated, what is [Klout](http://klout.com/)? > Klout is a social media analytics service that measures a user’s influence across Twitter and Facebook. ![Klout score for Allisterf](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/image6.png "Klout score for Allisterf")Using a proprietary algorithm, Klout generates a score (out of 100) which indicates a user’s overall online influence, as well as other measures like True Reach, Amplification and Network power. The exact formulae used to calculate these scores are not disclosed but Klout gives [some general indicators](http://klout.com/kscore) on their site. So, how can you increase your Klout score? Here are my top tips for intelligent Klout usage: 1. **Check out your own Klout score and compare with people or businesses you like.** If your score is lower, what do the other people do that you don’t? What can you identify in their behaviour that marks them out as more influential social media players than you? Learn from others and your online influence may rise. 2. **Be selective about your social media activities.** Quality is more important than quantity. Remember: - Content that falls on deaf ears is pointless - Content that attracts engagement is priceless 9. **Klout generally rewards good social media behaviour** so if you are interesting and informative, and start attracting lots of followers without first having to follow even more your Klout score may rise. Think about the reasons people use social networks like Twitter and try to play to these motivations not your own ego or agenda. 10. **Klout cares more about what your followers do than what you do.** If your content gets spread across Twitter or your name gets added to lists that others follow, you Klout score may rise accordingly. So focus on keeping your followers happy, sharing content they’ll find interesting and be likely to pass on. 11. **Expect your Klout score to fluctuate.** I’ve seen dramatic rises on the back of a single popular post, as well as sharp declines around four weeks later (when Klout’s algorithm drops the traffic peak from its calculation): [![Klout scores can rise and fall](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/image_thumb.png "Klout scores can rise and fall")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/image7.png) While imperfect, this is normal and shows that your *immediate* influence is a function of your recent activity and can only be sustained by repetitive high quality engagements with your followers. 12. **If you have an account on Facebook be sure to add this** to Klout to provide additional data points to measure your online influence. 13. **As with anything social media related, test, test and test.** With experience, you’ll soon learn what content your followers find most interesting, what times of day they interact with you, and which things have the most impact on your Klout score. 14. **Finally, and most importantly, don’t get hung up on your Klout score.** If you do something interesting, attract more followers, or get lots of retweets, that’s great. And, if your Klout score go up, that’s nice. But if it doesn’t, don’t worry about it, as long as you know that you always acted in the best interests of your followers and weren’t using social networks inappropriately. The primary criticism Klout receives is that it can only measure the quantity of a person’s influence, not the quality, and this remains a major shortcoming of the tool. However, until reliable automated sentiment measurement tools become available, Klout remains one of the best automated ways to assess your online influence and network. And, as long as you use it wisely and in moderation, Klout can help you learn how to engage in social media for better results. For more information like this, [follow me on Twitter](http://www.twitter.com/allisterf "Follow allisterf on Twitter"). My Klout score would be grateful. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, klout, measurement, social media, Twitter --- ### [New self-regulation for online behavioural advertisers in the EU](https://allisterspeaks.com/new-self-regulation-for-online-behavioural-advertisers-in-the-eu/) **Published:** April 18, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The [ePrivacy Directive](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_on_Privacy_and_Electronic_Communications) that requires user’s to expressly opt-in to receiving cookies when viewing online advertising is due for implementation throughout EU member states by 25 May 2011. In anticipation of this new law, the UK online advertising industry has agreed to a self-regulation framework for [behavioural advertising](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_advertising). [![Your Online Choices logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/image4.png "Your Online Choices logo")](http://www.youronlinechoices.eu/)Under this framework, a new icon will appear in or around all online behavioural adverts. Upon clicking the icon, consumers will receive further information about behavioural advertising as well as the means to manage their preferences, or even opt out of behavioural advertising via [www.youronlinechoices.eu](http://www.youronlinechoices.eu). Further reading: - To learn more about these changes, visit [the IAB’s site](http://www.iabuk.net/en/1/europecommitstoselfregulation140411.mxs). - [pdf] [Online Behavioural Advertising (“OBA”) Framework with FAQs](http://www.iabeurope.eu/media/51094/iab%20europe%20self%20regulation%20for%20online%20behavioural%20advertising%20140411%20f.pdf) **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** advertising, behavioural advertising, framework, IAB --- ### [What sort of person uses social networking sites in the UK?](https://allisterspeaks.com/what-sort-of-person-uses-social-networking-sites-in-the-uk/) **Published:** April 14, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve been crunching data to get a picture of what sort of people visit the leading social networking sites. Here are three charts I created to show the distribution of age, education and income of users of the UK’s top 18 social networking sites in March 2011: *(click any chart to enlarge)* [![Age Distribution](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/age-distribution_thumb.png "Age Distribution")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/age-distribution.png) [![Education Distribution](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/education-distribution_thumb.png "Education Distribution")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/education-distribution.png) [![Income Distribution](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/income-distribution_thumb.png "Income Distribution")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/income-distribution.png) I last ran this data back in September 2010. You can find those charts [here](http://allisterfrost.com/2010/10/22/age-and-education-charts-for-the-leading-social-networks/). Hope you find this useful. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** age, charts, education, income, infographic, social networks, UK --- ### [Proof that Search and Display Ads work best together](https://allisterspeaks.com/proof-that-search-and-display-ads-work-best-together/) **Published:** April 14, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The major search engines have long argued that paid listings can help boost brand awareness and recall. However, data from [iProspect](http://www.iprospect.com/) and [comScore, Inc.](http://www.comscore.com/) shows that search listings alone may have very little, if any, impact on recall. If you really want to boost your brand recall online, you’ll need a more integrated approach, embracing both organic and paid search, as well as other exposure points like display ads. *(click image to enlarge)*[](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/infographic.png)[![Unaided Brand Recall Infographic by Allister Frost](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/unaided-brand-recall-infographic-by-allister-frost_thumb.png "Unaided Brand Recall Infographic by Allister Frost")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/unaided-brand-recall-infographic-by-allister-frost.png) Crucially, this research underlines the potency of having both paid and organic search listings for your brand. Combining these two exposure types alone boosted unaided brand recall by more than a third, from 17% to 23%. If you cannot afford expensive display ads, getting your SEO and paid search ads working in harmony will give you the biggest recall bang for your bucks. And, here’s a gentle reminder for us all: even when throwing everything at consumers, fewer than half of the respondents in this research were able to recall all brands. Widespread brand awareness calls for much more than a few simple online ad exposures, and there are no guaranteed shortcuts. Becoming well-known and remembered is usually the ultimate result of a carefully planned and executed online and offline programme of activities delivered over an extended period of time. *Further reading:* eMarketer article: [Uniting Search and Display for Stronger Results](http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1008337) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Search Marketing **Tags:** advertising, infographic, Search Marketing, SEO --- ### [List: Where’s Microsoft UK on Twitter?](https://allisterspeaks.com/list-wheres-microsoft-uk-on-twitter/) **Published:** April 13, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![icontexto-webdev-social-bookmark-09-bonus](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/icontexto-webdev-social-bookmark-09-bonus_thumb.png "icontexto-webdev-social-bookmark-09-bonus")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/icontexto-webdev-social-bookmark-09-bonus.png)This is a bit off my normal topic, but I’m often asked for this. Here’s a list of Microsoft UK’s major accounts on Twitter. Click any link to find out more: TechNet: Internet Explorer: [http://twitter.com/IE\_UK](http://twitter.com/IE_UK) Microsoft Education: [http://twitter.com/Microsoft\_Ed\_UK](http://twitter.com/Microsoft_Ed_UK) Microsoft Business: Microsoft Small Business: Microsoft Wave: Microsoft Hosting: Microsoft Partners: Microsoft Students: Microsoft NHS Resource Centre: Xbox: UBelly Develop Community: Bing: Live at Edu: MSDN TechDays: Visual Studio: Windows Live: Windows Phone: Windows: **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** Microsoft, Twitter, UK --- ### [Get over yourself: things real people don’t say about advertising](https://allisterspeaks.com/get-over-yourself-things-real-people-dont-say-about-advertising/) **Published:** April 13, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![When real people talk like this the world will end](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/image3.png "When real people talk like this the world will end")](http://tpdsaa.tumblr.com/) I just had to share [this Tumblr collection](http://bit.ly/gr5TTO). The site name speaks for itself. If you cannot see the funny side to this, perhaps you’ve been in the marketing biz for a little too long. Check it out [here](http://bit.ly/gr5TTO). Wonderful stuff! **Categories:** Marketing **Tags:** advertising, marketing --- ### [Frost’s First Rule of Social Media Marketing: “Know Why You’re Doing What You’re Doing”](https://allisterspeaks.com/frosts-first-rule-of-social-media-marketing-know-why-youre-doing-what-youre-doing/) **Published:** April 8, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Putting the cart before the horse](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/image1.png "Cart before horse image")There’s something about the social media gold rush that makes otherwise intelligent people seem to lose their heads. They race off, with the cart firmly attached before the horse, and find themselves doing all kinds of crazy stuff before stopping, exhausted, to try to figure out why things aren’t working. I see this issue so often, it’s worth repeating here: ***there’s no point doing anything in the social media world unless you first decide what you’re trying to achieve.*** This means you must have a goal in mind and know precisely what problem you are trying to resolve with social media channels. This could be as simple as raising awareness of your brand or services, helping customers with after-sales support, or listening out for feedback so you can improve your offering. But, whatever it is, you need to agree on it, write it down, and keep it front of mind whenever you do anything through social media channels. Many marketers I meet have rushed in, created [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com) and [Twitter](http://www.twitter.com/allisterf) accounts, and set to growing their follower counts through a combination of good fortune and traditional bribery. They abuse these channels to publish (i.e. shout) advertising messages at their followers and wonder why few comment back (i.e. converse). They listen only to their followers, not the majority who are talking vociferously about them behind their backs. ![Stop the madness sign](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/image2.png "Stop the madness sign") It’s time to stop the madness. If you’ve set off into the social media jungle and are starting to wonder what you’re doing there, maybe you need to get back to basics. Here’s how: 1**Define the problem you’re trying to solve.** This is your mission, the reason why you’re doing this stuff in the first place. 2 **Set some [SMART objectives](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria),** giving yourself short- and long-term targets. But don’t set these in concrete. A month from now you’ll be wiser, so be prepared to adjust your goals if they prove too soft or ambitious. 3 **Write an editorial calendar** so you know in advance what sort of content you’re planning to share with your community over the next 2 weeks and when. 4 **Agree on an engagement framework** and some basic rules. Who will reply to what, and when. 5 **Listen.** Stop what you’re doing and listen. What are people saying and doing online? What do they say about you and your competitors? Where do they say it and when? 6 **You’re now ready to create your channels** (e.g. Facebook fan page, Twitter account, blog etc., whatever is best for your audience) and start engaging on the social web. 7**Revisit your plan at least every fortnight** for the first few months. Keep asking if you’re making progress towards to agreed mission. Be flexible and adapt your approach where needed. As you’d imagine, there’s more to it than seven simple steps. But this approach will help you set off in the right direction and give you a good chance of staying on course towards your intended goal. Share your thoughts and idea with me on Twitter. I’m [@allisterf](http://www.twitter.com/allisterf). **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Search Marketing **Tags:** marketing, objectives, rule, social media --- ### [Superb diagram: Quickstart Guide to Social Media for Business](https://allisterspeaks.com/superb-diagram-quickstart-guide-to-social-media-for-business/) **Published:** April 4, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** There are ***three*** reasons I love this diagram by the gang at [B2BENTO.com](http://www.b2bento.com/infographic-quickstart-guide-to-social-media-for-business/): 1. It shows all of the major stages in any well-planned social media programme, 2. it’s a fool-proof checklist for everyone from the most experienced “guru” to the complete novice, and, 3. it’s free and shared with the world under a [Creative Commons licence](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) *Click image to enlarge:* [![Quickstart guide to social media for business diagram](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/infographic_gsm_thumb.png "Quickstart guide to social media for business diagram")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/infographic_gsm.png) Or, get the [hi-res version on Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/soulsoup/4972676960/sizes/o/in/photostream/). Thanks B2BENTO.com, lovely work! **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** free, infographic, social media --- ### [Loading… creativity into every inch of your site](https://allisterspeaks.com/loading-creativity-into-every-inch-of-your-site/) **Published:** April 1, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Loading screen from Prettyloaded.com](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/image.png "Loading screen from Prettyloaded.com")](http://www.prettyloaded.com) Everything we create for the web has the capacity to be both remarkable and remarked upon. Take the humble ‘loading’ screen for instance. Once a staple of any rich media website, fast broadband connections have made the loading screen increasingly rare, if not quite extinct. But there’s still so much scope to use this fleeting piece of screen estate to give your viewer a moment of enjoyment and to reaffirm the brand messages you wish to convey. See what I mean by getting some loading screen inspiration and amazement at , a site dedicated to sharing the a vast array of delightful loading screens. **First impressions count. Make your loading screen as great as it can be.** **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** Web design --- ### [Infographic: Who’s using LinkedIn?](https://allisterspeaks.com/infographic-whos-using-linkedin/) **Published:** March 29, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** With LinkedIn having recently pushed through the 100 million members barrier, this is a timely infographic showing the demographic breakdown of its users. No surprise, those in hi-tech industries are most represented, as well as those working for very large organisations (>10,000 employees). A staggering six million people in the UK are registered on LinkedIn, more than 15% of the working population, making LinkedIn an essential communications channel for all B2B and some B2C businesses. *(click image to enlarge)* [![The State of LinkedIn](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/state-of-linkedin-0311_thumb.png "The State of LinkedIn")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/state-of-linkedin-0311.png) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** infographic, linkedin, social media --- ### [Video: Jack your Strat in the Internet](https://allisterspeaks.com/video-jack-your-strat-in-the-internet/) **Published:** March 28, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ***Too funny!*** I’m sure this web guru’s been in to present to me before… [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykXkmfdYxIk&w=448&h=252&hd=1] Strat: How to Win in Business by Jacking It on the Internet **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** comedy, social media, video --- ### [Six proven paths to Social Media Denial](https://allisterspeaks.com/six-proven-paths-to-social-media-denial/) **Published:** March 27, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Driving your career off a cliff sign](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image8.png "Driving your career off a cliff sign")This social media thing is causing problems for many businesspeople. Acknowledge it and you’ll have to learn a load of hard-to-master skills; ignore it and you could find yourself on the unfit-for-purpose pile at your next annual review. Even so, denying that this social web thing is happening seems a popular choice for many. Here are my tips on how to hang on to your job while remaining blissfully ignorant of the social web: 1. Convince co-workers that the Internet is just a passing fad using proven examples of new-fangled inventions that never took off, like dial-up modems, Betamax and long wave radio. 2. Adopt the head-in-sand posture while pointing out that if it’s not broken there’s no need to fix it. By the time you lift your head this fad will either have blown over or destroyed all life on earth; you cannot lose. 3. Take comfort in the unarguable beauty of your business plan. After all, no-one’s said anything bad about your business in ages. Not that you’ve been listening, of course, but what you don’t know cannot hurt you. 4. Offer a money-back guarantee to your boss. They can have the money back if sales don’t double after you spend the entire marketing budget on Yellow Pages ads and fly posters, again. Remember to book a ticket on a one-way flight to Columbia using the final dregs of the budget. 5. Bamboozle your directors with social media guru talk by dropping phrases like ‘cost per end action’, ‘SEO’ and ‘hashtag’ into conversations. Chances are they’ll be too embarrassed to ask you what you’re on about and, before long, promote you to Director of Interweb and Technologies. 6. Start your own account on Facebook, get your mum to ‘Like’ you and use this as proof that you’re on top of this thing and ready to pounce on the opportunity as soon as it reaches critical mass. Or you get another Facebook friend. So, there you have it. Six fool-proof ways to ignore this social media revolution and hang on to your increasingly futile and ineffectual career. Good luck. *Thanks to a chat with podcaster* [*Ciaran Rogers*](http://www.twitter.com/ciaraniow) *for sparking this post.* **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** business, Facebook, marketing, social media --- ### [6 tips: Put an end to writer’s block on the web](https://allisterspeaks.com/6-tips-put-an-end-to-writers-block-on-the-web/) **Published:** March 23, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Quill dipped in ink](http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion/files/2010/10/1011_WVcartoonist.jpg "Quill dipped in ink")We’ve all done it. Stared at our blog or favourite social networking site and wondered what on earth we could write that the world would want to read. With so much information at our mouse-fingertips, writing on the web should be easy, but it isn’t. That empty screen with a flashing cursor can be just as debilitating as the blank sheet of paper that has haunted writers since we first dipped our quills. There’s no silver bullet solution here, but there are lots of things you can do to avoid future attacks of writer’s block. Here are my top tips: 1. **Devise your own editorial calendar.** Sometimes it’s the simplest of ideas that help the most. For example, if you’re tweeting or blogging for your business, work out a basic schedule for the week ahead. Something as simple as this might help, but you should decide what would work best for your needs: - *Monday am: Top tip* - *Monday pm: Ask a question* - *Tuesday noon: Share photo* - *Wednesday: Special offer* - *Thursday am: Best of our blog* - *Friday noon: Weekend tips* - *Friday pm: Follow Fridays and thanks* 5. **Collect and save anything interesting** that you come across. You might store your raw material and stimulus in a little black book, in a file folder on your desktop, or in an old carrier bag under your desk. It doesn’t matter how do it, just do it. Next time you’re looking for inspiration you’ll know where to start. 6. **Think like a journalist,** always looking for a story or an unusual angle to explore. Ask yourself “what would my readers think of this?” and the ideas will start to flow. 7. **Subscribe to interesting content** from writers you admire and trust, but don’t just restrict yourself to the web. Dead tree publications, films and TV, and conversations down the pub can all spark ideas. Inspiration can come from anywhere. 8. **Just write.** Get it all down, throw your thoughts at the page and leave worrying about how it reads for later. There’s plenty of time for editing, but you need something to edit first so capture your ideas before they flee. 9. **Go easy on yourself.** Unless you’re paid by the word with rigid publishing deadlines to meet, chances are you don’t actually have to write anything right now. If you’re not feeling in the mood, relax and go do something else. Before long you’ll have hit on a new idea and will be racing back to your keyboard to tell the world. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** blogging, copywriting, writer, writing --- ### [Being remarkable: Ebay Wetsuit for sale](https://allisterspeaks.com/being-remarkable-ebay-wetsuit-for-sale/) **Published:** March 17, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image_thumb1.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image7.png)Everyone can be remarkable online. It just takes a bit of imagination and creativity. Take [this listing for a second hand wetsuit](http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160559216667#ht_913wt_1139&afsrc=1) that [d\_h\_morgan](http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/d_h_morgan/?_trksid=p4340.l2559) is selling on ebay. Through some entertaining copy, amusing photos, and healthy charitable generosity he’s attracted the attention of the people who make the wetsuits and been given a new suit, a changing towel, and a year’s subscription to Carve Magazine to add to the auction. And from over 80 bids he’s raised nearly £940 , more than 90% of which will go to help the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. ***A great example of an online social object!*** Read the full listing at [http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160559216667#ht\_913wt\_1139&afsrc=1](http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160559216667#ht_913wt_1139&afsrc=1 "http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160559216667#ht_913wt_1139&afsrc=1") (warning: some profanities) Thanks to Gemma for passing this my way 🙂 Update: Bidding is now up to a phenomenal £8,999; an incredible fundraising contribution to Japan’s earthquake and tsunami victims. The ebay listing ends in two days so I’ve pasted below the listing so we have a permanent record: > I bought this wetsuit brand-new last year and have worn it a fair bit. When I say ‘fair’ I reckon about 20 times, but then probably more like 30. A fair few times anyway. > > HOWEVER you will like this, If it was not being worn, it was hung on a hangar or rolled to prevent creasing AND I rinsed it in fresh water after EVERY session so it’s in VERY good condition as I look after my gear, I always do, similarly I take care of my body and shower at least once a day and always moisturise. Yes you’re probably getting a feel for the kind of man I am. You can see from the pictures it has no creases and looks lovely. My friend Gaz has got a wetsuit that he doesn’t look after and it looks like an Elephant’s arse, all wrinkled, a bit like an old man’s testicle. > > You’re probably thinking “People p\*ss in wetsuits, I’m not sure about a second hand wetsuit”, but believe it or not I have NEVER urinated in this suit, seriously, these suits are too good to be doing such a vulgar act in, the wee just ends up staying in the suit and then when you’re sat having a post-surf pint in the pub you smell awful and girls don’t like boys that smell of p\*ss so you just sit there, alone all night, sobbing into your pint of Betty Stoggs like a lonely desperate p\*ss smelling man. > > I’ve included a picture of a bear using a urinal, this is how I normally use the toilet, notice that the animal is not wearing a wetsuit. Although I am not a bear, I, like a bear, do not p\*ss in wetsuits. > > It’s a size medium or “m”, it was the top of the range suit when I bought it, I think I paid around £300 for it, still a great warm suit that will make you surf at least 200% better. It won’t really but it will keep you warm and it’s flexible so you’ll be able to throw your arms around like Beyonce whilst you’re bouncing along a wave. People will look at you and say “f\*ckin hell check that dude out, he knows what he’s doing wearing one of those Xcel suits and he’s got some fresh dance moves”. They probably won’t say this. > > Now as it’s been worn, there’s some signs of wear around the neck, which I’ve taken pictures of, so you don’t say “oi you c\*nt, there’s area of wear around the neck I’m giving you bad feedback”. The pictures make it look worse than it is (because they’re close-ups), and I’ve taken the pictures with the suit turned inside out, when it’s the right way round you don’t see the wear and it has no effect on the performance of the suit. That was a bit boring wasn’t it, but it had to be done so you can’t take me to eBay court for not being honest with you. > > Why am I selling it? Well I’ve just bought a new one, as I’m a flash tw\*t like that, I tend to get a new suit every season, I just like the feel of fresh neoprene on my soft skin, and well to be honest I could do with some cash to pay for prostitutes. No, that was a joke, now you’re going to think the suit is riddled with disease but it’s not as I was joking I do NOT engage with ladies of the night. > > I’ll post it out the next working day following cleared payment, or if you’re around the Truro area you can come and collect it thus avoiding postage charges. Having said that, if you’re a maniac, maybe you should just let me post it to you as I don’t want to be murdered to death, especially as the summer is just beginning! WOO HOO. > > Any questions just ask, I’ll answer them very quickly as I’m sat at a computer all f\*cking day, unless there’s waves. > > Thanks for looking and reading all of that ridiculous text, I hope you have a wonderful day. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** creativity, inspiration, social object --- ### [Social Media: now the single biggest activity online](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-now-the-single-biggest-activity-online/) **Published:** March 17, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Social media is now both the biggest and fastest growing sector online in the UK, according to new data from online intelligence service, Hitwise. Traffic to social networks accounted for 12.4% of all Internet visits in January 2011, amounting to over 2.4 billion (yes, billion!) visits during the month. That’s a 17% growth year-on-year and means that Social Networks have now surpassed sites in the Entertainment category to seize the crown as the UK’s most visited sites. [![Graph: UK visits to Social Media and Entertainment](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image_thumb.png "Graph: UK visits to Social Media and Entertainment")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image6.png) And social media’s unrelenting growth’s not over yet. Hitwise gives this prediction for 2011: > Social media is fast, interactive, exciting, and growing. In 2011 we expect social media to grow by at least another 10%, with a lot of that growth driven by Facebook. The UK’s most popular social network is gaining an even greater market share of the social space, even as the market is diversifying, and there is a very real possibility that at some point this year Facebook will account for over 60% of all visits to social networks and forums (currently Facebook accounts for 56% of visits to social sites). Further reading: - Get the full report: *“Carpe Diem – Seizing the Moment in Social Media”* [http://www.hitwise.com/uk/registration-pages/seizing-the-moment-in-social-media](http://www.hitwise.com/uk/registration-pages/seizing-the-moment-in-social-media "http://www.hitwise.com/uk/registration-pages/seizing-the-moment-in-social-media") **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** data, Facebook, social media, social networks, Statistics --- ### [Search and Social Media: inextricably linked for buyers](https://allisterspeaks.com/search-and-social-media-inextricably-linked-for-buyers/) **Published:** March 15, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Search and Social Media marketing are increasingly intertwined, and for good reason: both serve as highly efficient vehicles to connect what you have to say with people who might want to hear it. And while search is still the dominant tool used by people who want to buy something online, social media is starting to be used more frequently as part of the process, primarily to validate purchase choices before and after buying. A new study from GroupM and ComScore provides hard data to confirm what many of us already suspected. The study focussed on people buying in consumer packaged goods (or FMCG) and electronics/telecoms categories and found that most people start their online buying journey with search; 58% start with search compared to just 18% with social media and 24% for company websites. ![Most consumers start with search](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image4.png "Most consumers start with search") And while 45% of people claim to use search all the way through the buying process (from initial research, right through to and beyond the purchase itself) only 18% use it exclusively at the end of the process, highlighting the relatively more important role that search plays at the very start of the process. But those searches at the start of the buying cycle differ significantly from those at the end, in what GroupM Search have coined the “Late Kick” for brands. In the last 30 days prior to purchase, after the initial evaluation has been completed, search behaviour intensifies with the chosen brand site receiving considerably more traffic than competitors who may, by now, have been dropped from the consideration set. ![The late kick end stage surge in queries](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image5.png "The late kick end stage surge in queries") Finally, the report reminds us that social media doesn’t just mean Facebook or Twitter. During the buying process social media tools like user reviews are used by 30% of buyers, while sites like Facebook are used by only 17%. Gathering the opinions of others is hugely important to many buyers, but its seems knowing who those people are may be less important than being able to easily access lots of reviews very quickly. Further reading: - [Full report from GroupM Search](http://groupmsearch.com/research) - [Search Engine Land article](http://searchengineland.com/search-social-media-increases-ctr-by-94-percent-report-66231) **Categories:** Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Search Marketing, social media --- ### [Social Media Management: don’t f*** up](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-management-dont-f-up/) **Published:** March 15, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Homer Doh](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image2.png "Homer Doh")News broke overnight that Chrysler has fired their agency New Media Strategies after they accidentally sent an offensive tweet from the @ChryslerAutos account. The story goes that the agency employee intended to post to his personal account but somehow published this on behalf of one of the world’s largest brands: ![Chrysler Autos offensive tweet](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image3.png "Chrysler Autos offensive tweet") This sort of mistake is as staggeringly stupid as it is easy to make. That’s why I recommend that different publishing tools should be used for business and personal purposes. Yes, the life of a social media manager is simpler if they can do everything from one publishing tool like Seesmic or Tweetdeck, but the immense damage that a Chrysler-style slip-up can cause warrants the additional effort required to manage business and personal accounts in different ways. Here at Microsoft we now use CoTweet Enterprise to manage many of our official social media accounts. Other tools are available and you should evaluate the choices before deciding what is best for your unique requirements. Of course, the other most elementary rule of social media is that you shouldn’t post anything, professionally or personally, that you don’t want to be associated with you ***for the rest of eternity.*** There is no delete button on the web; once you’ve published something online, that message is there forever and will be inextricably linked to your personal brand and any brands you represent. When New Media Strategies’ clumsy ex-employee has finished licking their wounds, I hope they’ll use this painful experience to help others avoid a similar fate. Further reading: [Erik Qualman and his excellent Socialnomics site](http://www.socialnomics.net/2011/03/14/chrysler-fires-agency-over-f-tweet/) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** agency, chrysler, social media, Twitter --- ### [Japan Tsunami Appeal: you can help](https://allisterspeaks.com/japan-tsunami-appeal-you-can-help/) **Published:** March 14, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve been deeply touched by the tragic events in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami. Even the harrowing images beamed into our homes and offices cannot do justice to the pain and suffering that the Japanese people must be feeling right now. My heart goes out to them in their time of greatest need. There are many ways you can offer your own help, but a simple donation will go some way, and takes just two minutes of your time. Please help by visiting [http://www.redcross.org.uk/](http://www.redcross.org.uk/ "http://www.redcross.org.uk/") or your local emergency fundraising organisation. **Categories:** Miscellaneous **Tags:** tsunami --- ### [10 free media channels every business can use](https://allisterspeaks.com/10-free-media-channels-every-business-can-use/) **Published:** March 10, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Free badge](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image1.png "Free badge")In our digital age, marketers are getting used to thinking about *three* types of media: - **Paid:** the media placements you buy with cold hard cash, like newspaper ads, sponsorship and *ye olde* Yellow Pages ads - **Owned:** the media channels that are within your direct control like your website, newsletters, packaging and delivery vehicles - **Earned:** the media exposure your gain from others like social media followers, PR, and people talking about how great you are No surprise, paid media is where most marketers spend their time. After all, why toil and sweat trying to get people to say nice things about you when you can just buy an ad and say nice things about yourself? But savvy marketers are increasingly focussing on *owned* and *earned* media channels too, looking to ride on the back of the assets they control, as well as goodwill from happy customers. Here at ten free media channels that every business can tap into, right now: 1. **Your email signature** should be helping you to sell, sell, sell. It takes seconds to edit and is there to make it really easy and appealing for people to get in touch with you 2. **Newsletters** sent to customers who have opted-in to receive your marketing messages can be rich sales environments with dynamic images (that change based on your latest offer or stock levels), personally tailored offers, and creative subject lines that draw customers in 3. **Your business cards and other stationery** can carry the latest promotional messages. And with printing costs plummeting you’re no longer tied to a 50,000 print run; with a little ingenuity, every invoice that goes out could be uniquely tailored to each customer 4. **Social networking sites,** like Facebook and LinkedIn, where your followers congregate to chat about stuff that’s important to them give you a platform to find out what they like, offer advice and support, and help them see that there’s more to you than they probably realise 5. **Your website** is a treasure trove of opportunity. Invest in skilled designers to make it sing and don’t scrimp; done correctly this is the most important advertisement your company will ever have 6. **Your packaging or other materials** that accompany your goods can help turn a one-time buyer into a repeat buyer. Make your customers feel loved with loyalty discounts or invitations to pass on a voucher to their friends 7. **Your leave-behinds** are things like leaflets, warranty stickers, and brochures, and often remain in your customers’ possession for many years after you first meet. Make sure these leave-behinds make it really easy and compelling for someone to get in touch 8. **Your answering machine or voicemail messages** can do more work for you than you probably realise. Craft a nice message, drop in a discreet sales plug, find someone with a nice voice to record it, and those missed calls could soon be bringing in extra sales 9. **Your fleet of vehicles,** even if you only have one car, offers valuable free advertising space. Adhere a company logo and offer to the side as well as a really simple call to action and see what happens 10. **Your face** tells a story everywhere you take it. Smile, relax, be human. After all, it’s only business and, if we’re smart about this, no-one will die. We’re all just trying to be the best we can be, so enjoy what you do and your customers will enjoy being with you too **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** advertising, earned, free, media, owned, social networks --- ### [UK 1st March: New digital marketing regulations](https://allisterspeaks.com/uk-1st-march-new-digital-marketing-regulations/) **Published:** March 1, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ***Attention all digital marketers covering the UK!*** ![Banned---New-UK-CAP-1-March-2011](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/banned-new-uk-cap-1-march-2011.jpg "Banned---New-UK-CAP-1-March-2011") Important new regulations came into force at midnight on 1 March 2011 designed to give consumers more comprehensive protection online. In short, the Code of Advertising Practice (CAP) has been extended to cover digital channels including websites and social media channels. This means that the same rigorous rules that already apply to marketing communications like TV and print ads now also apply online. *Read on to get the full picture.* --- **Websites and Social Media channels now governed by CAP** ![CAP logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/image.png "CAP logo")From today (1 March 2011), new regulations are in force governing the ways organisations trading in the UK can use their own websites and other non-paid-for online channels for marketing communications, advertising and marketing purposes. As a result, any activity that is considered to be advertising or marketing communication on internal websites or non-paid-for Social Media channels will now be governed by the Code of Advertising Practice (CAP) under the remit of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). ***What this means for you:*** Previously, the CAP only applied to traditional forms of advertising like TV and print ads. From today, however, if you publish messages which are deemed to be an advertisement or marketing communication, including videos, to any digital channel your activity will be governed by the terms of the CAP. All digital channels are covered including websites, social networking tools like Twitter and Facebook, and other non-paid-for placements. Under the Code, you must ensure that all information shared through any digital channel complies fully with the CAP and that your message does not mislead, harm or offend. Your marketing messages must also be socially responsible and prepared in line with the principles of fair competition. In addition, the Code contains specific rules for certain products and marketing techniques including environmental claims, direct marketing and prize promotions, all of which are now extended into digital channels. Sanctions for non-compliance with the CAP can be severe including, but not limited to, the removal of an offending company’s paid-for search advertising and high profile advertising by the ASA to highlight an advertiser’s non-compliance with the Code. ***Some examples of potential infringements of the CAP:*** - Posting a prize draw promotion on Twitter without providing detailed approved terms and conditions - Discrediting or denigrating another product, marketer, trademark, trade name or other distinguishing mark in a post on Facebook - Sharing a photo online of a child in a hazardous situation or behaving dangerously - Implying a person has given a personal approval of a product without first obtaining their explicit written permission allowing this - Posting advice that may cause fear or distress without justifiable reason; if it can be justified, the fear or distress should not be excessive - Sending unsolicited email marketing communications that are not obviously identifiable as marketing communications without the need to open them - Adopting user generated content (UGC) from private individuals that breaches any aspect of the CAP into formal marketing communications - Using a shocking claim or image merely to attract attention - Viral videos that breach any aspect of the CAP guidelines If you publish content to digital channels be sure to familiarise yourself with the CAP and ensure that your actions will not breach any of the terms of the Code. *Further reading:* About the digital remit extension: The Code of Advertising Practice (CAP): [http://www.cap.org.uk/The-Codes/CAP-Code.aspx](http://www.cap.org.uk/The-Codes/CAP-Code.aspx "http://www.cap.org.uk/The-Codes/CAP-Code.aspx") (see the General Sections link for specific exclusions and exemptions) **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Video: Social Media Etiquette](https://allisterspeaks.com/video-social-media-etiquette/) **Published:** February 28, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Here’s some good advice for you and your colleagues. It’s blindingly obvious common sense, but sometimes it’s common sense that’s, er, less commonly used. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNnLMkg9R3c&w=448&h=252&hd=1] Social Media Etiquette **Categories:** Internet Safety, Social Media **Tags:** advice, social media, video --- ### [Porsche: Linkbaiting with Delightful Creativity](https://allisterspeaks.com/porsche-linkbaiting-with-delightful-creativity/) **Published:** February 22, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image5.png "image")I’m not a true fan of Porsche cars, mostly because I cannot imagine ever being able to afford one. But I am now a fan of their marketing thanks to a very clever bit of social media marketing that brilliantly pushes many of the psychological buttons that today’s consumers respond to. It all started with Porsche becoming the first car brand to get a million fans on Facebook. The conventional marketing plan would have been to issue a press release from the PR department, with a quote from the Chairman, celebrating this milestone and talking up the many benefits of owning a Porsche car. Porsche, however, didn’t follow this well-worn path. Instead they opted to give a very tangible and inimitable demonstration of just how popular their brand is by putting the names of their one million Facebook fans on a [specially customised Porsche 911 GT3R Hybrid](http://www.porsche.com/microsite/facebook/international.aspx) (which, I’m told, goes like s\*\*t off a shovel). [![Porsche Thank You image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image6.png "Porsche Thank You image")](http://www.porsche.com/microsite/facebook/international.aspx) The results? Huge global press interest in this quirky idea, maximum free publicity, an utterly unique and priceless new exhibit for the [Porsche Museum](http://www.porsche.com/international/aboutporsche/porschemuseum/), and a very special and unexpected thank you to everyone who’s put on a public display of their fondness for the brand. And here’s the magical social web bit. What will all of those people do when they receive their personalised message telling them that they’re now part of Porsche history? That’s right, they’ll tell all of their friends, and a new generation of Porsche admirers will be born. ***Genius!*** They’ve pressed all the right psychological buttons by acknowledging their followers, thanking them directly, and feeding their egos by making them feel extra special to the point that they cannot resist telling everyone they know. Plus, everyone who shares this story (like me with this blog post) creates healthy inbound links to the Porsche brand online, boosting their search engine ranking and reducing their search advertising costs. Like many of the fans whose names appear on this very special car, I may never make it to the ranks of a Porsche owner. But you’ve got to admit, celebrating their social media success this way was a marketing masterstroke for Porsche. ***Pure social web brilliance!*** **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Search Marketing, social media --- ### [Advice for Marketers: How not to be unliked](https://allisterspeaks.com/advice-for-marketers-how-not-to-be-unliked/) **Published:** February 15, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Many online marketers spend their days obsessing about attracting new fans and followers, but new research from ExactTarget and CoTweet suggest that they might be wise to spend more time thinking about how to stop people ‘unliking’ their brands. The top reasons people cite for unsubscribing from emails is that they come too frequently, are boring, or are contributing to an email overload problem. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image_thumb1.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image2.png) The study also looked at Facebook, where the same three complaints are the main reason given for ‘unliking’ brands: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image_thumb2.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image3.png) (And shame on you if you can see your own brand in the category that 26% cited (“I only ‘liked’ the brand to take advantage of a one-time offer”), you should know better than to use social channels to create an artificial community.) Finally, the research examined Twitter use and found, yet again, the exact same three reasons as the main drivers for ‘unfollowing’ a brand: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image_thumb3.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image4.png) Here’s a thought: perhaps the reason people find your content repetitive is that you post the same messages to multiple channels, forcing your most ardent fans to see the same stuff numerous times. I’ve always recommended that you should treat every channel differently and respect the nuances that each channel provides. These data from ExactTarget/CoTweet seem to back this up. It’s not just common sense, it’s fact. One final thought. When a brand relationship goes sour, 17% of email subscribers will *continually* delete or ignore email from companies they no longer wish to interact with rather than making the effort to unsubscribe. So, not only do they no longer like you, you’re also now spamming them repeatedly. On Facebook, 19% of fans will choose to ignore posts from a brand they no longer like rather than formally ‘unliking’ your page. That’s like having a big fall out with a partner then having your ex- turn up everyday to rub your face in their newfound happiness. Ugly… As ExactTarget points out, in social channels it’s far better to try to keep the romance alive than to suffer the misery of an unhappy break-up. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owrTh4VtWnw&w=366&h=205&hd=1] The Social Break-UP video Full research available from: [http://blog.exacttarget.com/blog/new-email-marketing-strategy/reasons-why-your-marketing-relationships-fail](http://blog.exacttarget.com/blog/new-email-marketing-strategy/reasons-why-your-marketing-relationships-fail "http://blog.exacttarget.com/blog/new-email-marketing-strategy/reasons-why-your-marketing-relationships-fail") **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** email, Facebook, marketing, research, Twitter --- ### [BBC Podcast: The Secret History of Social Networking](https://allisterspeaks.com/bbc-podcast-the-secret-history-of-social-networking/) **Published:** February 10, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://wwwimg.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/assets/artwork/266/shsn.jpg)It’s not much of a secret to those us in “the business” but I’ll bet even you will learn something new by listening to this three-part podcast series from the BBC, presented by their technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones. I really enjoyed this short series. Have a listen. LINK: [http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/shsn](http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/shsn "http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/shsn") **Categories:** Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** podcast, social networks --- ### [How Facebook follows your every online move](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-facebook-follows-your-every-online-move/) **Published:** February 10, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![210-facebook_dislike_buton](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/210-facebook_dislike_buton_thumb.png "210-facebook_dislike_buton")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/210-facebook_dislike_buton.png)A colleague shared a blog post with me today that shows how Facebook can collect data about your online movements, even if you don’t click a ‘Like’ button or log in to Facebook. It’s a scary scenario, but one that may be being played out right now on your computer. Of course, we should also understand that the [Facebook Privacy Policy](https://www.facebook.com/policy.php) clearly states that by signing in and accepting a Facebook cookie we give consent to their receiving information about our online activities at third party sites: > Whenever you connect with a Platform application or website, we will receive information from them, including information about actions you take. In some cases, in order to personalize the process of connecting, we may receive a limited amount of information even before you connect with the application or website. I’m often asked what’s the best way to protect your personal data when using Facebook and other social networking tools. The only 100% safe way is not to use these sites. Ever. However, if you do wish to use them, as do millions of others around the world, make sure you’re happy with your privacy settings and understand exactly what you’re signing up to before you click ‘I agree’. It’s a value exchange; you hand over information about you in exchange for social networking with your friends. So ask yourself, are you getting more out of the deal than the social networking site is taking? Here’s the full blog post from Microsoft’s ‘The Other James Brown’: [http://blogs.msdn.com/b/james\_brown/archive/2010/12/07/gov2-0-and-facebook-like-buttons.aspx](http://blogs.msdn.com/b/james_brown/archive/2010/12/07/gov2-0-and-facebook-like-buttons.aspx "http://blogs.msdn.com/b/james_brown/archive/2010/12/07/gov2-0-and-facebook-like-buttons.aspx") **Categories:** Internet Safety, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, privacy, safety --- ### [Cherry-picking great ad placements online](https://allisterspeaks.com/cherry-picking-great-ad-placements-online/) **Published:** February 10, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Nokia boss admits "we're years behind" screenshot](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image_thumb.png "Nokia boss admits "we're years behind" screenshot")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image1.png) No doubt about it, Facebook offers some of the most precisely targeted banner advertising placements available on the web today. But, while Facebook may be getting all the headlines, it’s worth remembering the immense value you can also get from cleverly placed banner adverts. The example above is from my company, Microsoft, and illustrates how cherry-picking the best editorial locations for your advertising can give you great standout in the places that matter the most. That’s why you’ll find ads heralding “Less out of touch, more in the know” for Windows Phone 7 alongside an [article](http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/enterprise/365110/nokia-boss-admits-we-re-years-behind) about Stephen Elop, a former Microsoft executive and now CEO of Nokia, telling Nokia staff that they are “years behind” and “standing on a burning platform.” Don’t forget the value of traditional advertising approaches on the web. Just be sure to be really smart when picking your placements. **Categories:** Creativity, Digital Marketing **Tags:** advertising, banner advertising, nokia, windows phone --- ### [Breakfast at Twitterville: why you should use Twitter](https://allisterspeaks.com/breakfast-at-twitterville-why-you-should-use-twitter/) **Published:** February 4, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/image.png "image") The most common reason people give me for not using Twitter goes something like “why would anyone want to know what I had for breakfast?” It’s one of those beliefs that’s taken on near-mythological proportions, that everyone on Twitter is talking endlessly about what they’ve just eaten while everyone who’s not is clearly more sane for not getting involved. But, as any experienced Twitterer will tell you, sharing new of what ***you’ve*** done is rarely, if ever, valuable information for your followers. Tweeting about some stimulating news or information that you’ve discovered, however, will be of interest to some of your followers. And, because your followers are self-selecting (i.e. they have chosen to follow your Tweets, not because they are a friend but because they find you interesting) there’s a good chance that their interests will match your own. It’s a virtuous circle; you share something interesting, they share something in return. Everybody wins. If you’ve still not taken Twitter for a spin, give it a second thought. Limiting your social media experience to Facebook will greatly limit the value you get in return. As someone far wiser than me once observed of our online worlds: > *“Facebook is where you meet people you know. Twitter is where you meet people you ought to know.”* For more tips on how to use Twitter well, I recommend [this excellent article](http://socialmediatoday.com/michaelbrenner/267241/10-tips-twitter-success-b2b-twitterer-year) by [Michael Brenner](http://twitter.com/#!/brennermichael) who was recently crowned B2B Twitterer of the Year. His ten tips for success are first-rate, especially the last one: ‘Forget the Numbers’. Whether you’re representing a brand or yourself, adding Twitter to your social media arsenal will reward you with far greater insights and knowledge into the things that matter most to you. You won’t regret it, go Tweet… **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, social media, Twitter --- ### [UK, GB, England… Confused? Watch this!](https://allisterspeaks.com/uk-gb-england-confused-watch-this/) **Published:** February 3, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This has very little to do with digital marketing, other than being a lovely online viral video, but for anyone whose life and work has anything to do with the UK, watching this should be compulsory: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10&w=448&h=252&hd=1] The difference between UK, GB and England **Categories:** Miscellaneous **Tags:** UK, video --- ### [Data Privacy Day 2011 – are you location-savvy?](https://allisterspeaks.com/data-privacy-day-2011-are-you-location-savvy/) **Published:** January 28, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Today is [Data Privacy Day](http://www.microsoft.com/privacy/dpd/default.aspx), a day designed to raise public awareness of privacy and data protection issues. Microsoft is a leading supporter of the campaign and recently commissioned research to gauge public awareness of how location-based services work and how the data collected is used. The vast majority (94%) of people who are aware of location-based services say they find these valuable, but more than half (52%) are concerned about the risks to their personal privacy. The infographic below covers some of the issues highlighted in the research (click to enlarge): [![Location Privacy infographic](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image_thumb9.png "Location Privacy infographic")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image14.png) And there’s a more detailed research report [available here](http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9758038). *Video – Your location and privacy, what’s on your mind?:*[![Get Microsoft Silverlight](http://img.microsoft.com/showcase/Content/img/resx/en-US/installSL.gif)](http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=149156) ![DCSIMG](http://m.webtrends.com/dcsygm2gb10000kf9xm7kfvub_9p1t/njs.gif?dcsuri=/nojavascript&WT.js=No) **My advice:** For marketers looking to use location-based data to target customers, it’s worth thinking carefully about how your campaign will be perceived, especially if it’s not clear how you acquired and are using location data. Whether you’re thinking of pushing out Bluetooth messages to passing shoppers or are using Facebook’s new Sponsored Story ad format, having a solid understanding of public concern can help ensure your campaign gets off on the right foot. **Categories:** Digital Living, Internet Safety **Tags:** infographic, location, Microsoft, privacy, video --- ### [Conversion Rate Optimisation for Beginners](https://allisterspeaks.com/conversion-rate-optimisation-for-beginners/) **Published:** January 26, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Target Internet logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image13.png "Target Internet logo")I’m a regular in-car listener to the [Digital Marketing Podcast from Target Internet](http://www.targetinternet.com/category/digital-marketing-podcast/) in which [Ciaran Rogers](www.twitter.com/ciaraniow) and [Daniel Rowles](www.twitter.com/danielrowles) wax lyrical about a hot marketing topic. It’s a good listen and I recommend you add it to your MP3 player of choice. The guys at Target Internet also have a blog where I found [an excellent article about CRO](http://www.targetinternet.com/conversion-rate-optimisation/), Conversion Rate Optimisation, for beginners. If you’ve not taken a recent look at how your online activity is performing, now would be a good time to look through some stats and figure out a path towards better results. You may not choose to use all of the techniques or solution providers covered in the article, but the simple act of reading this through and thinking bout how you can improve is the first big step towards devising your own CRO plan. Let me know how you get on. **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** conversion rate optimisation, Web --- ### [Social commerce: How to use Facebook, by ASOS](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-commerce-how-to-use-facebook-by-asos/) **Published:** January 20, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![ASOS on facebook image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/asos-on-facebook-image.jpg "ASOS on facebook image")I thought you might enjoy these fascinating data points that Hitwise’s [Robin Goad](http://weblogs.hitwise.com/info/robin-goad.html) shared [on his blog today](http://weblogs.hitwise.com/robin-goad/2011/01/asos_capitalise_on_facebook_tr.html). ASOS is an online fashion retailer, and a pretty successful one at that. They are planning to launch [a store within Facebook](http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/1050074/Asos-open-Facebook-store/) very soon and Robin decided to take at look at their site traffic to see what role social media sites already play for ASOS. Here are the headlines: - Social Networks and Forums are the ***third biggest source*** of traffic to the ASOS site, accounting for 14.62% of all traffic. Search is the biggest traffic generator accounting for 38.73% of all traffic - 65.47% of visitors from social networks are ***repeat visitors***, compared to just 56.88% of those who come from search engines. As we know, social networks fuel loyalty. - Facebook is the ***most popular destination*** for people leaving the ASOS site, perhaps so they can tell their friends what they just bought. ASOS looks set to be on to a winner by creating a store directly within Facebook. It’s [394,715 followers](http://www.facebook.com/ASOSOfficial) will enjoy having easier access to ASOS products and offers, and the buzz this vocal group they will generate across the social web will more than offset any loss in traffic to the richer ASOS site. **Watch this space. Social retailing is about to take off, big time.** Source: Get the full write up from Hitwise at: [http://weblogs.hitwise.com/robin-goad/2011/01/asos\_capitalise\_on\_facebook\_tr.html](http://weblogs.hitwise.com/robin-goad/2011/01/asos_capitalise_on_facebook_tr.html "http://weblogs.hitwise.com/robin-goad/2011/01/asos_capitalise_on_facebook_tr.html") **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, fashion, retail, social media --- ### [Facebook: through the 600 million barrier](https://allisterspeaks.com/facebook-through-the-600-million-barrier/) **Published:** January 17, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Socialbakers logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image12.png "Socialbakers logo")Social media audit site, [Socialbakers](http://www.socialbakers.com/), is today [reporting](http://www.socialbakers.com/blog/100-facebook-reaches-another-milestone-600-million-users/) that Facebook’s global user base has now crept above 600 million. The fastest gains are coming from relatively untapped markets like India, Indonesia and Philippines. Here in the UK, there are now around 27.5 million registered Facebook users. Socialbakers is a great free tool for anyone wanting to delve into Facebook user stats. You can quickly see detailed user data for the UK, compare ad price trends, see how your fan page performs compared with others, and much more! Well worth a visit: [www.socialbakers.com](http://www.socialbakers.com). **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, social networks --- ### [Planely: the new social network for air travellers](https://allisterspeaks.com/planely-the-new-social-network-for-air-travellers/) **Published:** January 7, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image11.png "image")](http://www.planely.com)The team at [It’s Open](http://itsopen.co.uk/) shared details of a new social networking service called Planely [on their blog yesterday](http://itsopen.co.uk/social-air-travel-takes-off) (and yes, that is me staring out of the video clip preview on the right, yikes!). [Planely](http://www.planely.com/) is a new service that aims to help people flying by air to network with their fellow passengers before, during and after their flights. It’s an inspired idea; any regular flyer knows how tedious a long flight can be and how much more pleasurable it could be if only they realised that the person sitting two rows away shared common interests and experiences. The beauty of this service is that the users are self-selecting; if you’re the shy, retiring type you won’t sign up, but if you’re interesting in meeting new people and extending your network wherever possible you’ll embrace this new service with both arms. The benefits are plentiful, from being able to share a taxi fare to or from the airport to having someone to chat to while waiting for your flight. Or simply meeting up with an old friend who just happens to be on the same flight as you. As always, [Metcalfe’s Law](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metcalfe%27s_law) will define how successful this new networking service will be. If lots of people sign up, it might work. If they don’t, it may fade away to reappear one day embedded within one of the larger network hubs like [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com) or [TripAdvisor](http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/). Either way, this sort of niche networking facilitation looks set to become increasingly commonplace. The approach could be easily extended to hotel chains, gyms, restaurants, car enthusiasts, tour holidays, and so on. Wherever a sufficiently large number of people with a common interest exists there’ll be opportunities for the social web to bring these people closer. **The challenge for marketers is to sniff out these opportunities and be among the first to bring new communities together or to embed their brand messages wherever these groups exist.** **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** air, social networks, Travel --- ### [News Flash: our news habits are changing](https://allisterspeaks.com/news-flash-our-news-habits-are-changing/) **Published:** January 6, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![All US adults news consumption habits](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image_thumb6.png "All US adults news consumption habits")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image8.png)Gosh, these data bring things into sharp focus! We all know that our information discovery and consumption habits are going through some pretty seismic changes, but [new data from the Pew Research Center](http://people-press.org/report/689/) in the US show how rapidly this change has come about. In 2010, the Internet surpassed TV as the main source of news information for 18-29 year olds in the US, while 48% of 30-49 year olds also cited the Internet as one of their two main news sources. The use of newspapers remains in decline across most age categories, while radio seems to be holding its own, albeit at a low point of between 13-19%. *\[click graphs to enlarge\]* [![Graphs - Main news source by age](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image_thumb8.png "Graphs - Main news source by age")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image10.png) There’s a whole generation of consumers who have recently or are about to enter the workforce whose news consumption behaviours differ wildly to every generation that has gone before. Over the coming years, as these consumers grow older and become the group with the highest disposable income, the way news and information are discovered and shared will undergo further transformations. The challenge for marketers and anyone in the content creation business is huge. These data provide us with a compelling and undeniable truth: the future’s digital. **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing **Tags:** data, graphs, internet, news, newspapers, television --- ### [1. Here’s a list. 2. Here’s another list](https://allisterspeaks.com/1-heres-a-list-2-heres-another-list/) **Published:** January 5, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Two things are certain about the New Year for me: (1) it’s a lousy time to make bold resolutions for the year ahead\* and (2) the Internet will be awash with amateur futurologists sharing lists of predictions for the year ahead. Some lists are better than others. My personal favourite comes from JWT, a perennial over-achiever in the annual prediction stakes. Their [list of 100 things to watch in 2011](http://www.slideshare.net/jwtintelligence/2f-100-things-to-watch-in-2011-6306251?from=ss_embed) makes for a fascinating read. My money’s on these hot trends \[click image to enlarge\]: [![Banner Ads Do More](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image_thumb.png "Banner Ads Do More")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image2.png) [![CAPTCHA Advertising](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image_thumb1.png "CAPTCHA Advertising")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image3.png) [![Digital Downtime](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image_thumb2.png "Digital Downtime")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image4.png) [![Digital Indoor Maps](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image_thumb3.png "Digital Indoor Maps")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image5.png) [![Group-manipulated pricing](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image_thumb4.png "Group-manipulated pricing")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image6.png) …and, of course, given my former life marketing loo roll: [![Tube-free toilet paper](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image_thumb5.png "Tube-free toilet paper")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image7.png) The second list I’d like to share comes from Microsoft Advertising’s own Chris Maples, and documents [a dozen key trends that will shape the UK Online Advertising industry](http://community.microsoftadvertising.com/blogs/advertising/archive/2011/01/05/digital-dozen-uk-predictions-online-advertising-2011.aspx). Well worth a flick through; items 5, 6, and 7 are particularly close to my heart. Now get back to keeping that New Year’s Resolution not to spend all day reading long lists of predictions… \* This year, I resolved not to waste money on things I don’t really need. Then I went shopping. **Categories:** Digital Living, Digital Marketing --- ### [Facebook overtakes Google in the UK](https://allisterspeaks.com/facebook-overtakes-google-in-the-uk/) **Published:** January 4, 2011 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Happy New Year 2011](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image.png "Happy New Year 2011")**Happy New Year, dear reader!** 2011 promises to be another fast-paced, roller coaster ride for marketers as the social web tightens its grip on ever-broader parts of our lives and the commercial competition to win our dwindling attention reaches boiling point. Last year we talked about social media, this year we’ll all be doing it. You heard it here first… ![Winking smile](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/wlemoticon-winkingsmile.png) And we kick off this year with news that Facebook has finally, albeit briefly, surpassed Google as the UK’s most visited web site. On Christmas Day, Facebook secured 10.5% of all internet visits, rocketing past Google on a mere 9.77%. I [wrote about this topic back in August](http://allisterfrost.com/2010/08/24/facebook-reach-set-to-surpass-google-within-18-months/) when it was predicted that Facebook would become the UK’s most visited web site sometime between June 2011 and March 2012. The latest data from [Hitwise](http://weblogs.hitwise.com/robin-goad/2010/12/facebook_more_popular_than_google_on_christmas_day.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hitwise+%28Hitwise+Intelligence%29) suggests that this prediction is still robust, even with [some recent slowdown](http://allisterfrost.com/2010/08/18/is-facebook-stagnating-in-the-uk/) in Facebook’s relentless growth, and [Hitwise’s own prediction](http://weblogs.hitwise.com/robin-goad/2010/03/why_hasnt_facebook_overtaken_google_in_the_uk.html) that Google could remain on top for the foreseeable future: ![Chart: UK Internet visitis to Facebook and Google UK](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/image1.png "Chart: UK Internet visitis to Facebook and Google UK") Let’s see who’s right. With Facebook [now valued at a cool $50bn and investors queuing up to buy a slice of the action](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12106652), 2011 looks set to be a rewarding year for [Mark Zuckerberg](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Zuckerberg) and his gang. I hope it is for you too. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, Google, hitwise --- ### [Being Remarkable: How even a dull ink cartridge can win you business](https://allisterspeaks.com/being-remarkable-how-even-a-dull-ink-cartridge-can-win-you-business/) **Published:** December 23, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Marketing wizard [Jeremy Epstein](http://jer979.com/) is always banging on about how important it is to be [remarkable](http://jer979.com/ctassessment/). If you want your message to stand out in our frenetic digital age, says Jeremy, you’d better be remarkable. And he’s right, as usual. Being remarkable means people will notice what you’re doing, maybe pause for a moment, and hopefully engage with what you have to say or sell. The best bit though is that remarkability can come in almost any form: your email signature, your business card, the way you describe your work… Here’s something remarkable that was sent to me today. It’s a simple [product page](http://www.inkcartridges.uk.com/Remanufactured-HP-300-CC640EE-Black.html) on an ink cartridge reseller’s web site. But, for once, the person responsible for describing the ink cartridge has done something different, something remarkable, that made me stop and think for just a moment: [![Remarkable ink cartridge copy](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image_thumb1.png "Remarkable ink cartridge copy")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image10.png) \[click image to enlarge\] Now, whether this is an intentional act of remarkability or the rebellious action of a frustrated (if slightly illiterate) web designer is not known. But there’s something wondrous about what [www.inkcartridges.uk.com](http://www.inkcartridges.uk.com) have done here. Yes, we all know that ink cartridges are boring and no sane person is interested in reading any more about them than is absolutely necessary to help them buy the right item to feed their printer. And that’s why I can instantly empathise with the writer of this copy, experience a momentary sense camaraderie, and—here’s the important bit —feel slightly warmer to this reseller’s web site than the dozens of other similar retailers vying for my business. This reseller will get more traffic from the contents of this page than they will from months of expensive advertising. And that, in a nutshell, is the power of remarkability. So good, I even wrote about it on my blog to spread the word. ***So, come on, what’s your next act of remarkability?*** --- *Accessibility addendum:* Here’s the full product description on the web page, complete with original typos: > *“Remanufactured HP 300. Contains 8ml of high quality pigment ink and will print 380 … Do you know what? I really can’t be bothered with writing these description anymore, it’s a printer cartridge! What am I supposed to write really??? It’s a cartridge that prints ink on to paper, you could print some work stuff or a colouring in page for the kids that they’ll half do and then leave laying around on the floor or a poster of the horrible Jonas Bothers for your teen daughter hoping that she might stop listening to there pathetic attempt of music so much. There good quality cartridges I’ll admit that, every time I’ve sneakily took some home with me they’ve worked perfectly, but the thing that’s doing my head in now is writing about them day in and day out with the boss giving me an impossible deadline to finish them all by which means I can’t even sit at my desk pretending to work like I know most people do in this place. My advice to you is if you’ve got to this page then you probably need a cartridge, or you have a weird fetish for* [*ink cartridges*](http://www.inkcartridges.uk.com)*, either way it’s a ink cartridge, it works perfectly, so if you want one buy one, if you don’t then why havn’t you left this page allready?* > > *Signed: The guy who writes the boring everyday mundane descriptions about printer cartridges everyday.”* **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** remarkability, Web design --- ### [The One Ronnie sketch: My Blackberry is Not Working!](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-one-ronnie-sketch-my-blackberry-is-not-working/) **Published:** December 21, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Thanks to young [Mr Lee Williams](http://www.linkedin.com/in/leewill) for sharing this most entertaining clip from a show soon to be shown on the BBC. The furious pace of our technologically-fuelled world is brought into vivid focus by this joyful reminder to enjoy the simple pleasures in our lives. This should make you 🙂 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAG39jKi0lI&w=448&h=252&hd=1] The One Ronnie: My Blackberry is not working! **Categories:** Digital Living **Tags:** BBC, blackberry, comedy --- ### [Career choices for the corporate social strategist](https://allisterspeaks.com/career-choices-for-the-corporate-social-strategist/) **Published:** December 21, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Your career gift to yourself](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image7.png "Your career gift to yourself")If, like me, your work calls on you to provide guidance and insights into the directions the social web is taking us, you may wish to spend a little time this festive season pondering where your career could take you. Jeremiah Owyang of [http://www.web-strategist.com](http://www.web-strategist.com "http://www.web-strategist.com") recently posted a thought-provoking piece on the two career paths open to the ‘Corporate Social Strategist’. One path leads to a proactive future overseeing scalable social business programs, while the other descends into the reactive misery of manning the ‘Social Media Help Desk’: [![Two career paths diagram](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image8.png "Two career paths diagram")](http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremiah_owyang/5164074422/) For many, the Career Decision Point is fast-approaching. After the initial flurry of excitement and the realisation, and eventual acceptance, that ‘this whole social thing’ isn’t going away anytime soon comes the potentially catastrophic moment when the cultural tectonic plates collide. The battle between the old and the new cultures will be bloody and destructive, and there can be only one winner if marketers are to survive and thrive in our new world. For the social strategist, being prepared and ready for this battle requires vision and forward-planning. And to attack before having to defend will invariably prove a wise decision in the long-term. You’re probably now wondering what skills you’ll need to prepare for battle. Check out the table below (click to enlarge): [![Career phases table](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image_thumb.png "Career phases table")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image9.png) Jeremiah’s full report is available from [here](http://www.slideshare.net/jeremiah_owyang/career-social-strategist). Let me know what you think. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** career, social media, strategist --- ### [Future Fail: The Superbowl Social Media frenzy](https://allisterspeaks.com/future-fail-the-superbowl-social-media-frenzy/) **Published:** December 16, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image6.png "image")Former Microsoftie, [Bruce Lynn](http://brucelynnblog.wordpress.com/about/), sent me [this news story from USA Today](http://www.usatoday.com/money/advertising/2010-12-13-superbowl13_ST_N.htm) heralding the launch of two new US-based social media campaigns around the [Superbowl](http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/45) (6 Feb 2011). Both Mercedes and Audi have unveiled plans to reward their most active social media supporters with high value prizes including cars and “glitzy trips” in an effort to gain some cut through during the USA’s most watched and most commercially sponsored sporting event. With all [TV ad inventory already sold out](http://www.i4u.com/43520/super-bowl-2011-ads), some spots selling for in excess of $3 million, marketers are turning their attention to supporting channels and 2011 looks set to be the year of the Superbowl Social Media frenzy. While details of Mercedes and Audi’s plans are not yet fully unveiled, it’s clear that investing in TV ad inventory alone, even if during the Superbowl, is no longer enough for any brand. Tapping into the subculture and buzz that surrounds your brand is also essential, as well as trying to positively influence how favourably people talk about your brand. But there’s something worrying for me about the approach proposed by both car manufacturers. Giving rewards to people for sucking up to your brand and doing your promotional work for you doesn’t sound like a good path towards authenticity and long-lasting brand trust. This sounds like a fairly crude and unimaginative way to extend traditional marketing efforts into emerging channels that you don’t properly understand. It’s too early to say whether either effort will succeed or fail, but both are guaranteed a good deal of attention thanks to their high-cost association with the Superbowl. Social Media consultant, Pam Moore, is on the money for me though when she says *“the tweets and Facebook “likes” that Super Bowl marketers all are glomming onto today will seem archaic in just a few years.”* From where I’m sitting, they already look out-dated. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** social media, superbowl, usa --- ### [Timing is everything: when to blog](https://allisterspeaks.com/timing-is-everything-when-to-blog/) **Published:** December 10, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Clock](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image4.png "Clock")I don’t get many comments here on my blog, but I do enjoy a growing volume of retweets and backchat on Twitter, and email. So I was interested to see the graphic below from [HubSpot Blog](http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/7345/When-is-the-Best-Time-to-Publish-Blog-Posts-Infographic.aspx) that illustrates, based on empirical data from 170,000 blog posts, how many views, links and comments a post is likely to get depending on the time of day it is created. There’s a sweet spot just before lunch that seems to generate lots of views, and another earlier in the morning that generates links. But it’s the weekend that stands out most with a far greater number of comments being written, especially during late morning. [![When is the best time to blog?](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image5.png "When is the best time to blog?")](http://blog.hubspot.com/Portals/249/images/day_hour_infographic_big.jpg) I don’t have enough data of my own to corroborate these findings but if you do leave me a comment I’ll share what I learn. Just wait until tomorrow morning; we don’t want to skew the data… **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** blogging, time --- ### [Twitter: who’s in the class of 2010?](https://allisterspeaks.com/twitter-whos-in-the-class-of-2010/) **Published:** December 9, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Twitter Who's New in 2010](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image2.png "Twitter Who's New in 2010")](http://yearinreview.twitter.com/whosnew/)Hot on the heels of Google’s Zeitgeist 2010 study, comes a quirky tree infographic showing ‘Who’s New On Twitter in 2010’. We all know that Twitter’s been in rude health these last few months, but this sapling-like diagram serves as a well-grounded reminder that it’s still far from universally adopted. Amongst the biggest names to have only recently sprouted on the Twitter tree are the Dalai Lama, Bill Gates, Cher, and Tiger Woods. Who will be next? Explore the tree by clicking the graphic below:[![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image3.png "image")](http://yearinreview.twitter.com/whosnew/) **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** infographic, Twitter --- ### [Google unveils: what we searched for most in 2010](https://allisterspeaks.com/google-unveils-what-we-searched-for-most-in-2010/) **Published:** December 9, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Google fastest rising queries chart](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image1.png "Google fastest rising queries chart")](http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2010/) Today [Google released the findings](http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2010/) of its annual study into how we used their search engine over the last 11 months. It presents some fascinating insights into the things that mattered most to us, from Chatroulette to Justin Bieber, and Twitter to Ash Clouds. The list of the most popular searches is once again dominated by well known online brand names like Facebook, BBC, and YouTube, a helpful reminder that most people still use search engines to find the things they’ve already found in the past. Our hunger for news was preoccupied with Haiti, Chile, and Lady Gaga, while our consumer electronics obsession fell mostly upon ipads, iphones, and the Nokia 5530. And we also drifted apart from Michael Jackson, Susan Boyle and Swine Flu. Google kindly provides the data for each major country, making it very easy to explore trends and delve deeper into the data. Fabulous insights for marketers! *Now, if only we could predict what will hit the top in 2011…* There’s even a shiny video. Enjoy! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0QXB5pw2qE&w=403&h=244&hd=1] Google Zeitgeist 2010: Year in Review **Categories:** Search Marketing **Tags:** Google, search, zeitgeist --- ### [The perfect festive gift: Connectedness](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-perfect-festive-gift-connectedness/) **Published:** December 2, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Give someone their first time online logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/image.png "Give someone their first time online logo")](http://www.get-someone-online.com/about.html) This is a lovely idea, and one that deserves your support. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a pretty Internet-savvy person. But I’d like you to stop for a moment to ponder what life must be like without all the benefits that the Internet brings. Things like being able to easily and cost-effectively stay in touch with friends and family, to do shopping or banking at home, or be able to tap into the vast information riches of our online world… That’s why Microsoft is sponsoring a new initiative called [Race Online 2010](http://www.get-someone-online.com) which goes by the innuendo-packed strapline ‘Give someone their First Time’. There are still 9 million people in the UK who have *never* been online and this campaign aims to bring that number down to create a truly networked nation by 2012. There are many easy ways to get involved. At the simplest level you could just [give someone their first tour of the Internet](http://www.get-someone-online.com/take-a%20tour-of-the-web.html). Or, maybe [give a neighbour or relative a lift to a local training centre](http://www.get-someone-online.com/find-a-training-centre.html). Or be an ‘angel’ and [donate](http://www.get-someone-online.com/donate-an-old-pc.html) either your old computer to a friend or training centre, or, if you’re feeling flush, gift a new low-cost web-ready PC. It’s easy to take the web for granted. Do a good deed this December and help someone else experience the magic by giving them the gift of connectedness. **Categories:** Digital Living **Tags:** charity, festive gift, online --- ### [Wake up Adobe: Free Shipping is not an offer](https://allisterspeaks.com/wake-up-adobe-free-shipping-is-not-an-offer/) **Published:** November 26, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Most companies have moved on from expensive direct mail shots, realising that more precisely targeted and immediate digital marketing efforts often yield better results. Adobe, however, seems stubbornly committed to posting dead trees to its customers. One on level, this is perhaps understandable seeing as Adobe’s design software is widely used to create printed materials and their primary targets, designers, are a visual and very tactile crowd. ![Adobe Direct Mailer](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/adobe-dm.jpg "Adobe Direct Mailer")But it’s the nature of Adobe’s marketing that confuses me most. Today’s offering, delivered by Leslie, my over-worked postwoman, invites me to “Purchase CS5 (Adobe Creative Suite 5) and get FREE SHIPPING on orders over £350 (ex VAT)” ***WTF?!*** You want me to spend over £350 (plus VAT) and you’ll give me “FREE SHIPPING” worth, what, maybe £5 at most? Is that the best you can do? Has Adobe been asleep? Free shipping is increasingly the norm for online shopping. Order from Amazon\*, and you’ll get free shipping (without any SHOUTY capital letters) on most items, all the time, as standard. I’m only left thinking that Adobe must be targeting “really stupid people” (thanks for putting me in the data list) because that’s the only demographic I can think of that might get excited by “FREE SHIPPING” on a product that costs between £1,700 and £2,700! What next, “CS6: now in a FREE BOX!”? Good marketing relies on all parts of the business working together. It’s no good having your direct mail person sending out offers that conflict with the work being done by your online retail sales guys. Everyone has to work together to create compelling offers that compete effectively through every channel. And don’t try to pull the wool over people’s eyes, the social web will find you out. \* *Really stupid people, please don’t read this bit:* Better still, order from Amazon and save at least £100 on Adobe’s direct prices *and* get free shipping. Author’s note: I have no axe to grind with Adobe. I use and like some of their software. But, for this mailer, I do think their marketing team needs a kick up the CS5… **Categories:** Design, Digital Marketing, Marketing **Tags:** adobe, direct mail, offer --- ### [The dark side of Facebook email: phishing](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-dark-side-of-facebook-email-phishing/) **Published:** November 19, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![facebook-logo-square-webtreatsetc](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/facebook-logo-square-webtreatsetc_thumb.png "facebook-logo-square-webtreatsetc")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/facebook-logo-square-webtreatsetc.png)Facebook’s been in the news this week with [the announcement](http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9196581/Update_Facebook_unveils_new_messaging_system) of their new messaging capabilities which will allow their users to email each other with new @facebook.com email addresses. The new features will also help surface priority messages from ‘friends’ and other people you interact with and will bring some clever capabilities that bring together messages from different sources (email, posts, SMS etc.) into one converged social inbox. The big question is “how will this change online users’ behaviour?” Right now, it’s too early to say for sure but with over half a billion users around the globe it would be foolish to write this off as irrelevant. For now, Facebook’s new features are in a private beta test phase, to be rolled out over the coming months. Mind you, that hasn’t stopped some enterprising, if illiterate, spammers from trying to take advantage of their newly acquired @facebook.com email addresses. Here’s what I found in my Junk Email folder earlier today: ![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image9.png "image") **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, phishing --- ### [Social media marketing idiocy by Turkish Airlines](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-marketing-idiocy-by-turkish-airlines/) **Published:** November 19, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![This is the most idiotic promotion I've seen in a long time](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image6.png "This is the most idiotic promotion I've seen in a long time") Every week I see dozens of attempts by marketers looking for ***quick*** ways to grow their fan base on social media networks. Many of these activities stem from misguided pressure from senior managers to “exploit the reach of social media” or, my personal favourite, “make sure we’ve got more friends than our competitor”. I have sympathy for the junior marketers who are handed these challenges many of whom would question the logic of this approach if free from pressure from above, but that doesn’t excuse the marketing idiocy that sometimes emerges. The latest example to hit my radar is from Turkish Airlines, “one of the most preferred leading European air carrier (sic) with global network coverage…” according to its [Facebook page](http://www.facebook.com/turkishairlines). Their latest promotion, [El Clasico!](http://www.facebook.com/turkishairlines#!/turkishairlines?v=app_4949752878), offers one lucky person a prize of flights and tickets to watch FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, one of the most celebrated club football matches in the world. To win, you simply need to: > “Invite your friends to click the Like button in Turkish Airline’s (sic) page, \[and\] be the one who has the most number of friends who liked the page”. What could be simpler? Except, in order to enter you have to install the application in Facebook and give permission for the promoter to access some of your private information, your news feed, and to email you, and post to your wall: [![El-Clasico-app-permissions-page-on-Facebook](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/el-clasico-app-permissions-page-on-facebook_thumb.jpg "El-Clasico-app-permissions-page-on-Facebook")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/el-clasico-app-permissions-page-on-facebook.jpg) But then it gets worse. You then have to (sorry, it’s compulsory) ‘Like’ the Turkish Airlines Facebook page: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image_thumb2.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image7.png) …before agreeing to tell your friends that they too must ‘Like’ Turkish Airlines if you’re going to stand any chance of winning the prize. Bonus points are awarded for spamming your friends by sharing the competition on your Facebook wall and, get this, making sure your friends ‘Like’ the fact that you spammed them: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image_thumb3.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image8.png) Oh, and the terms & conditions also point out that the prize doesn’t include departure taxes or Visa support, and that you must also complete the carefully hidden secret step of submitting your telephone numbers, email address, full name and birthday before being able to win. And you must fly from Istanbul to Barcelona and back. Hope that’s alright… ***Is it just me or are we really witnessing a brand suicide on Facebook?*** ***For the record:*** people who ‘Like’ your brand for the wrong motivations (e.g. I want a prize or a friend told me I had to like you) are not real fans of your business. They will not bring you commercial success, nor will they have any affinity to your brand in the long term. At best they may develop higher recall of your brand from your incessant spam, but they are highly unlikely to have increased propensity to buy from you. Spamming people is not nice and good social media marketing has nothing to do with having the most fake followers. *Promoter: Turkish Airlines Agency: McCann Erickson (who should know better)* **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, idiocy, marketing, social media --- ### [What sort of Twitter user are you?](https://allisterspeaks.com/what-sort-of-twitter-user-are-you/) **Published:** November 8, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** *\[click image to enlarge\] [![Profile of a Twitter user](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image_thumb1.png "Profile of a Twitter user")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image5.png)* Thanks to [the Wall Blog](http://www.wallblog.co.uk/tag/infographic/) for sharing this. **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** infographic, Twitter --- ### [View London: clocking up new traffic](https://allisterspeaks.com/view-london-clocking-up-new-traffic/) **Published:** November 8, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I love case studies like this because it shows just what you can achieve with a little lateral thinking. On its site, [Hitwise Intelligence](http://weblogs.hitwise.com/robin-goad/2010/11/clever_clocks_go_back_campaign.html) tells the story of a clever campaign by [View London](http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/) to capture new site visitors at the time of the recent UK clock change. ![Bing Search: clocks go back](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image2.png "Bing Search: clocks go back") Instead of buying paid-for sponsored listings on search engines, View London optimised their site to perform well against search keyphrases related to ‘clocks go back’. So, other than the cost of updating their website, this activity didn’t cost a bean. ![Graph: visits to View London website grow 31.1%](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image3.png "Graph: visits to View London website grow 31.1%") The results were stunning: a 31.1% increase in visits to the View London web site capturing over 14% of search clicks relating to the targeted keyphrases. View London even beat ‘clock change’-related traffic to the BBC’s hugely popular site. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image4.png) ***The lesson for marketers:*** think about how your brand site content can help people searching for information about forthcoming events or newsworthy topics. As View London has proved, a little bit of intelligent SEO copywriting can deliver a huge amount of extra free traffic. **Categories:** Search Marketing **Tags:** clock, marketing, SEO, view london --- ### [Twitter says: “you can only Tweet with Twitter”](https://allisterspeaks.com/twitter-says-you-can-only-tweet-with-twitter/) **Published:** November 5, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Tweet-(with-Twitter)-in-the-bin](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/tweet-with-twitter-in-the-bin_thumb.jpg "Tweet-(with-Twitter)-in-the-bin")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/tweet-with-twitter-in-the-bin.jpg)Important new advice was issued by [ISBA](http://www.isba.org.uk/isba/about) to its members today which highlights the requirement to respect Twitter’s trademarks. I’ve reproduced the guidance, which ISBA’s Director of Public Affairs, Ian Twinn, describes as “probably fairly commonsense (sic) stuff”, below: 1. *Companies may promote their own Twitter pages by using the phrase “Follow us on Twitter” or “Follow us on \[approved Twitter logo\].”* 2. *Companies may not integrate the Twitter logo into their own logos, nor may they create their own Twitter logos or in any way manipulate the approved Twitter logos.* 3. *When referring to Twitter, the name should be used in its entirety, and the phrase “Tweets” should be used to refer to messages on Twitter.* 4. *Screenshots of third party’s Twitter pages cannot be used without permission from the third party.* 5. *Finally, when asking consumers to “Tweet,” companies must include a reference to Twitter or display the Twitter trademarks in connection with the use of “Tweet.” For example, if asking a consumer to send a “Tweet” to enter, the call to action may be phrased “Tweet with Twitter” to enter. Most significantly, Twitter has stated that it considers not only the Twitter name and logos to be trademarks, but the term “Tweet” as well. As such, companies should ensure that when using “Tweet” the appropriate reference to Twitter is made.* The inference is that Twitter is staking a long overdue claim over its trademarks and clearly wishes to avoid seeing the words Twitter or Tweet enter into the common vernacular, thereby undermining their value as trademarks. It’s a timely reminder to marketers that we must respect others’ trademarks as we would wish others to respect our own. In our rush to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the social web, some of us may have forgotten the basic courtesy, if not legal obligation, to only use others’ trademarks as we are permitted to do. **Check your web sites, check your blogs.** If you’ve asked anyone to Tweet, makes sure they’ve been explicitly asked to “Tweet with Twitter”. And my advice would be that the same logic should be applied to other branded social tools as well, be it a Facebook “Like” or a Last.fm “Scrobble”, even where any potential future trademark ownership is not yet in clear. **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** law, marketng, trademark, Tweet, Twitter --- ### [All reviews welcomed!](https://allisterspeaks.com/all-reviews-welcomed/) **Published:** November 4, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Embrace reviews to make sad customers happy](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image1.png "Embrace reviews to make sad customers happy") Every once in a while you read something and think “why didn’t I write that?” I just had one of those moments reading [Steve Olenski’s excellent riff](http://socialmediatoday.com/steve-olenski/230569/why-negative-review-can-be-positive-experience?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Social+Media+Today+%28all+posts%29) on why marketers have to embrace the customer review culture with open arms. As those of you who know me will understand, I don’t always have the wisdom to bite my tongue, so I apologise if I’ve ever given you the harsh truth that Steve WANTS to deliver but doesn’t actually say. Even so, no matter how good or bad your stuff is, if you fail to hear and acknowledge feedback or worse, seek to control the conversation, we both know how painful it could be if the problems you store up today come back to bite you in the future. **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** feedback, reviews --- ### [Google Instant: How paid search has changed](https://allisterspeaks.com/google-instant-how-paid-search-has-changed/) **Published:** November 3, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Istock 6714851 - 3D character holding magnifying glass search](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/istock-6714851-3d-character-holding-magnifying-glass-search_thumb.png "Istock 6714851 - 3D character holding magnifying glass search")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/istock-6714851-3d-character-holding-magnifying-glass-search.png)The jury’s still out on the long term usefulness and practical implications of [Google Instant](http://www.google.com/instant/), the new feature rolled out in early September that shows search results as you type. Many have described the feature as an unwanted distraction, while others have heralded its launch as the death of SEO. New data from [Marin Software](http://www.marinsoftware.com) shows that Google Instant may be having a *profound effect* on our search behaviour and, for marketers, this could significantly impact some paid search campaign performance measures. What changed: - Paid search impressions are **up 9.31%** - Clicks on paid listings are **up 5.63%** - CTRs (click through rates) are **down 3.37%** - CPCs (cost per clicks) are **down 3.47%** - BOTTOM LINE: Total costs are **up 1.96%** So, more impressions as expected (a pause of 3 seconds while typing now creates ads impressions) and more clicks on ads. But lower CPCs, likely due to advertisers’ budgets being fixed resulting in less bidding competition as daily spends targets are used up more quickly with those extra impressions. However, if advertisers now increase their budgets to take advantage of the new inventory that Google Instant provides, bidding competition may increase and CPCs may return to previous levels. All of which would be good news for Google because they would have increased advertiser spending by maybe 3-5% while also delivering more traffic to their paying advertisers’ landing pages. Short searches (3 words or less) also generated a greater uplift in paid ad impressions showing how, as expected, users are now interacting more with the search results as they type, especially the topmost paid listings: ![Chart: search performance changes by query length](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/image.png "Chart: search performance changes by query length") But what of the quality of these clicks? More traffic at the same cost per click sounds like a fair formula for most advertisers but if the quality of these sales leads diminishes because searchers are being more exploratory while searching will this really translate into a better ROI for marketers? Marin was unable to track user journeys right through to conversion (where a user takes the desired end action, e.g. orders a product or downloads a white paper) so it’s not clear if the final conversion has been positively or negatively impacted. Stay tuned for future research which will attempt to answer this great unknown… **Categories:** Search Marketing **Tags:** google instant, PPC, research, Search Marketing --- ### [Age and Education charts for the leading Social Networks](https://allisterspeaks.com/age-and-education-charts-for-the-leading-social-networks/) **Published:** October 22, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve been compiling data from Google AdPlanner to see how the demographic make up of the leading social networks varies in the UK. What emerges is a fascinating picture full of insights for marketers looking to reach their target audiences through these channels. First up is the age distribution of the leading social networks. I’ve included Disney’s Club Penguin as it’s now the undisputed training ground for our future social leaders and, no surprise, it has by far the youngest users. But it’s LinkedIn, Friends Reunited and Twitter that have the smallest proportion of younger users. Google’s Orkut is a bit of an anomaly; it has just 350k users in the UK, although about 38 million around the world, but almost 90% of the UK users claim to be aged 25-34; the 18 years minimum age restriction likely affects this: *\[click chart to enlarge\] [![Chart: Age distribution of social network sites](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb9.png "Chart: Age distribution of social network sites")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image17.png)* Next, I had a look at the education background of the users of each leading social network sites. LinkedIn really stands out as having the most educated users with 39% claiming to have a bachelors degree or better. Again, Orkut is an anomaly, with over a third of its users claiming to hold a graduate degree: *\[click chart to enlarge\] [![Chart: Education distribution of social network sites](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb10.png "Chart: Education distribution of social network sites")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image18.png)* Finally I collated household income data for users of these same social networks. Orkut has the lowest paid users, possibly because of its strength in Brazil and India, but MySpace and Twitter stand out most prominently as having the highest paid users, while Facebook also has a high proportion of users in the top pay bracket: *\[click chart to enlarge\] [![Chart: Household income distribution of social network sites](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb11.png "Chart: Household income distribution of social network sites")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image19.png)* I’ll share more insights from the data I’m collecting in future. Stay tuned for updates. **Categories:** Inspiration, Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** age, charts, data, education, social media, social networks --- ### [Mega-list: 50 time-savers for web designers](https://allisterspeaks.com/mega-list-50-time-savers-for-web-designers/) **Published:** October 21, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Smashing Magazine logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image12.png "Smashing Magazine logo")Top 10 lists are so old school. These days, top 50 lists seem to be all the rage, and when someone’s invested the time to collate *really good* things you can be glad there’s 50 of them. So, here’s [a really outstanding list of time-savers for Web Designers](http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/10/19/50-powerful-time-savers-for-designers/) from the ever-lovely Smashing Magazine. Many of these sites are now high in my favourites lists. Among my choices: ![Markup.io logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image13.png "Markup.io logo") [http://markup.io/](http://markup.io/ "http://markup.io/") to mark up web sites and share with colleagues, although sadly this doesn’t play nicely with Internet Explorer ![resizeMyBrowser logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image14.png "resizeMyBrowser logo") [http://resizemybrowser.com/](http://resizemybrowser.com/ "http://resizemybrowser.com/") to instantly see what your site may look like on another device ![Clue logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image15.png "Clue logo") [http://www.clueapp.com/](http://www.clueapp.com/ "http://www.clueapp.com/") for quickly testing the instant takeaways on your site through social network contacts ![Unsuck-it logo](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image16.png "Unsuck-it logo") …and [http://unsuck-it.com/](http://unsuck-it.com/ "http://unsuck-it.com/") for deciphering idiot business jargon; I think I’ll be sharing this one with several colleagues! Get [the full top 50 list here](http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/10/19/50-powerful-time-savers-for-designers/). **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** list, time-saver, Web design --- ### [SEO for images: good advice](https://allisterspeaks.com/seo-for-images-good-advice/) **Published:** October 20, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Danny Dover of SEOmoz.org](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb8.png "Danny Dover presents his Whiteboard Friday")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image11.png) Many SEO novices limit their optimisation efforts to the words on their web site, but the images on your pages can be, to coin a phrase, worth a thousand words. At the most basic level adding Alt Text for every image on your site helps. But there are host of extra considerations you may wish to bear in mind, as Danny Dover of SEOmoz.org explains in this video: [http://www.seomoz.org/blog/image-seo-basics-whiteboard-friday](http://www.seomoz.org/blog/image-seo-basics-whiteboard-friday "http://www.seomoz.org/blog/image-seo-basics-whiteboard-friday") **Categories:** Search Marketing **Tags:** SEO --- ### [Google’s guide to SEO](https://allisterspeaks.com/googles-guide-to-seo/) **Published:** October 19, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Google SEO Starter guide](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image9.png "Google SEO Starter guide")](http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fwebmasters%2Fdocs%2Fsearch-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf) Any attempt to manipulate natural Search Engine (SE) results listings is frowned upon by the major SE’s. But that doesn’t mean that all SEO is bad; most of it is just plain common sense. There’s no point having a great site that a search engine crawler cannot “see”. Step forward Google, and their “Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide”. For anyone who’s new to SEO, this is essential reading. And, for anyone who’s highly experienced, I’ll happily challenge that there’s something in here that you haven’t paid attention to in recent months! [Download the starter guide for free](http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fwebmasters%2Fdocs%2Fsearch-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf) **Categories:** Search Marketing **Tags:** Google, search, SEO --- ### [B2C vs. B2B: Social Media is for everyone, even humans](https://allisterspeaks.com/b2c-vs-b2b-social-media-is-for-everyone-even-humans/) **Published:** October 19, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I often speak with marketers from B2B companies who question the role that social media can play for them in their “dull, grey, suited, corporate sales world” (their words, not mine). My response is always to ask who they’re selling to. If it’s people (as in ‘human beings’) then social media may have a role to play. In fact, B2B marketers may even have a distinct advantage over their B2C counterparts because the size of any potential B2B audience is often considerably smaller, and therefore more manageable. And with fewer touchpoints, each relationship you maintain is worth more to you, making it easier to justify the investment you place in your relationship management efforts, be they through social media or otherwise. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb7.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image10.png)The gang at Radian 6 seem to agree with me. Their free e-book presents the arguments in favour of social media usage for B2B companies. Enjoy it below: [![Click here to Download...](http://www.radian6.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/download-button.jpg)](http://www.radian6.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Radian6_Sept2010_Book.pdf) **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** B2B, social media --- ### [What to do without Facebook](https://allisterspeaks.com/what-to-do-without-facebook/) **Published:** October 18, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![To do list](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image8.png "To do list")](http://itsopen.co.uk/10-things-to-do-when-facebook-crashes-again)I enjoyed this [neat little list](http://itsopen.co.uk/10-things-to-do-when-facebook-crashes-again) of things every digital marketer should be making time to do, even when Facebook is up. I think I’d add an eleventh item: Step outside and get some fresh air and reconnect with the real world! ![Smile](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/wlemoticon-smile.png) **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration --- ### [Social Search: Charlene Li’s take on Bing’s new tricks](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-search-charlene-lis-take-on-bings-new-tricks/) **Published:** October 18, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Charlene Li](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb6.png "Charlene Li")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image7.png)[Here’s a link to a great summary](http://www.charleneli.com/2010/10/social-search-propels-bing-will-hurt-google/) from Altimeter’s [Charlene Li](http://www.charleneli.com/about-charlene/) on the impact that last week’s Bing/Facebook [announcement](http://www.bing.com/community/Site_Blogs/b/search/archive/2010/10/13/new-signals-in-search-the-bing-social-layer.aspx) could have on the ways we find information online. My key take outs: - The value of your social network increases dramatically when it can positively influence (speed up, increase accuracy/relevance, etc.) your search results - Facebook’s all powerful ‘Like’ feature got a huge boost by becoming the primary driver of social content presented in Bing’s search results - It’s more important than ever to manage your social network carefully. Simply accepting friend requests from strangers could now have a detrimental impact on your broader online experience - Traditional search engine optimisation (SEO) approaches are under threat of becoming less relevant. SEO will need to evolve to embrace the new social influence. I can see SEA and social media management having to fuse into one discipline in the very near future - Supporting your brand’s social presence to make it easy for people to express their likes and dislikes has never been more critical - Investing in PPC sponsored listings on search engines without a commensurate effort to enhance your brands social standing will become increasingly futile **Categories:** Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** bing, Facebook, social media --- ### [State of our Social Media World: superb ‘Wave 5’ study by UM](https://allisterspeaks.com/state-of-our-social-media-world-superb-wave-5-study-by-um/) **Published:** October 18, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb4.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image5.png)I’ve long been a fan of Universal McCann’s ‘Wave’ studies which analyse how we’re using the web in our daily lives. Now in it’s fifth instalment, Wave is the largest and longest-running dedicated social media study in the world, and it’s a goldmine of fascinating facts that helps us understand how our use of social networks and related technologies is shifting. Interestingly, there’s no sign of an adoption slow down in the latest data. On the contrary, just over 80% of internet users now claim to have visited a friend’s social network page, up from just over 70% in the previous study, and over 70% now manage their own profile on a social network page. And the power of social networks to deliver against multiple and varied needs is laid out very clearly in the research. While blogs and video sites are great for certain tasks, it’s the social networks themselves, now serving as a hub for a huge range of Internet activities, that perform best against almost every usage requirement: *(click to enlarge)* [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb5.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image6.png) Download the full Wave 5 report for free at: [http://www.umww.com/london/knowledge/view?Id=151](http://www.umww.com/london/knowledge/view?Id=151 "http://www.umww.com/london/knowledge/view?Id=151") *\[Disclosure: Universal McCann is Microsoft’s global media buying agency\]* **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** insights, research, social media --- ### [New Facebook Groups feature](https://allisterspeaks.com/new-facebook-groups-feature/) **Published:** October 15, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb3.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image4.png)Earlier this week Facebook announced a new ‘Groups’ feature which greatly simplifies the process of managing the messages you send and receive to friends on the social networking site. This feature is now enabled for all users and presents a host of new opportunities for marketers. I was going to write a collection of tips for you, but then discovered that Jason Markow at Social media Today has already done it, way ahead of me! Read Jason’s summary [here](http://socialmediatoday.com/jasonmarkow/200267/10-tips-managing-new-facebook-groups). **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, groups, social media --- ### [Crowd-sourcing: Driving down the price of a Skoda](https://allisterspeaks.com/crowd-sourcing-driving-down-the-price-of-a-skoda/) **Published:** October 12, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image1.png)I’m a Skoda driver, and proud of it. So it comes as no surprise to me to see Skoda doing some [clever digital marketing](http://www.fabia-ilike.be/home.php) to promote one of their cars. Skoda Belgium is currently running a crowd-sourcing promotion to sell a Skoda Fabia car [via Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/Generous.Skoda). The starting price of the car is 12,950 euros, which drops by 2 euros every time someone clicks on the Facebook Like button. As I type the price is down to 10,480 euros, almost a 20% discount. The catch? There’s only one car for sale in the promotion and this is a Dutch auction so you can see the price falling but have to decide when to offer to buy to get the lowest possible price. What’s really clever here is that by ‘liking’ the Facebook page you’re not only driving down the price for one lucky buyer (which gives you instant gratification), you’re also opting in to receive updates in your Facebook stream from Skoda Belgium so they can keep you informed of future offers and new car launches. Screenshots *(click to enlarge):* [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb1.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image2.png) [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image_thumb2.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image3.png) **Categories:** Innovation, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, marketing, promotion, skoda --- ### [Social Media usage: the slowdown continues](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-usage-the-slowdown-continues/) **Published:** October 11, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![3Q 2010 social media users](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/3q-2010-social-media-users_thumb.png "3Q 2010 social media users")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/3q-2010-social-media-users.png) More evidence emerges of the slowdown in social media adoption, this time in the form of SocialMediaToday’s 3Q Update which uses Google AdPlanner data to assess the reach and age profile of the users of the most popular social networks. Highlights: - Facebook active user count **falls** from 550 to 540 million - Age group 55yrs+ **shrinks** to just 10% of all Facebook users (down from 16% in the 1st quarter of 2010) - Facebook gender mix remains slightly biased towards women (57%) - Twitter users are **stuck** at 98 million, up just 2 million on the previous quarter (note: only tracks visitors to the Twitter site, not users on other client apps like Seesmic) - Twitter’s age profile is **getting younger** with 0-34 years accounting for 47% of users (up from 37% six months ago) - MySpace is **stable** at 67 million users - LinkedIn is **stable** at 41 million users Read the full report at [SocialMediaToday.com](http://socialmediatoday.com/paulkiser/199133/social-media-3q-update-who-uses-facebook-twitter-linkedin-myspace?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Social+Media+Today+%28all+posts%29). **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** Facebook, marketing, social media, Twitter --- ### [75 percent choose Wi-Fi over tea and coffee](https://allisterspeaks.com/75-percent-choose-wi-fi-over-tea-and-coffee/) **Published:** October 11, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![75 percent prefer wi-fi to tea or coffee](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/75-percent-prefer-wi-fi-to-tea-or-coffee.png "75 percent prefer wi-fi to tea or coffee")](http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/coffee-tv-or-wi-fi/) [A new survey](http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/coffee-tv-or-wi-fi/) sponsored by [the Wi-Fi Alliance](http://www.wi-fi.org/) reveals that 75% of Americans aged 17 to 29 would find a week without Wi-Fi worse than a week without tea or coffee. And more than two-thirds of respondents claim to spend more time on Wi-Fi devices than watching television. If your job is trying to attract millennials to your brand, need I say more? And if you’re trying to sell tea or coffee, you just got a new competitor! **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** millennial, survey, wi-fi --- ### [Protect your online identity or risk being impersonated](https://allisterspeaks.com/protect-your-online-identity-or-risk-being-impersonated/) **Published:** October 11, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** !["Eric Schmidt's" Facebook page](http://tctechcrunch.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/schmidt.jpg ""Eric Schmidt's" Facebook page")[TechCrunch reports](http://techcrunch.com/2010/10/10/being-eric-schmidt-on-facebook/) that a number of high profile business executives cluelessly accepted a Facebook friend request from someone impersonating Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, this weekend. The report also highlights privacy issues arising from the lack of e-mail authentication required to create a new account on Facebook. [An unrelated study](http://edition.cnn.com/2010/TECH/social.media/10/07/baby.pictures/index.html) shows that 82% of babies under the age of 2 in Western countries already have a social media presence thanks to their photos having been uploaded by others, often not their parents. Both stories serve as a useful reminder that we should all do more to protect our private data online. **The rules are simple. Lock down your social media privacy settings to a point where you’re happy that your data and identity will not be accessible to undesirables. And, if you’re responsible for children, you need to do the same for them to help keep them safe.** **Categories:** Internet Safety **Tags:** Facebook, privacy, safety --- ### [Cadbury’s Hip Hamster – a YouTube first](https://allisterspeaks.com/cadburys-hip-hamster-a-youtube-first/) **Published:** October 11, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/image.png "image")](http://www.youtube.com/user/cadburyaurollpack)Here’s a sweet bit of creativity from Australia: the world’s [first round YouTube video](http://www.youtube.com/user/cadburyaurollpack). This just goes to show that nothing’s sacred on the web. If you can dream it, it can happen! How could this have been better? It took me several minutes to figure out that this came from the Cadbury’s team in Australia. I’ve never seen Dairy Milk chocolate on a roll and, living in the UK, may never be able to buy it. A little extra signage would have helped calm frustrated international viewers who want to buy the product. Plus, because this isn’t a regular native YouTube video, some of the controls don’t actually work, including the usual sharing facilities that can help content go viral. Still, with over 180,000 channel views, I’m sure this will have more than paid back the small cost of producing this quirky little video. Sweet! **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Innovation **Tags:** Cadbury, innovation, video, youtube --- ### [Clever marketing: PILOT pens help you create your own font](https://allisterspeaks.com/clever-marketing-pilot-pens-help-you-create-your-own-font/) **Published:** October 9, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** *(click image to enlarge)* [![PILOT handwriting site screen grab](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/pilothandwritingsitescreengrab_thumb.jpg "PILOT handwriting site screen grab")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/pilothandwritingsitescreengrab.jpg) Discover PILOT’s clever marketing for yourself at [www.pilothandwriting.com](http://www.pilothandwriting.com). **Categories:** Innovation, Social Media **Tags:** marketing, typeface, writing --- ### [Infographic: the B2B social media landscape](https://allisterspeaks.com/infographic-the-b2b-social-media-landscape/) **Published:** October 6, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The team at [InsideView](http://www.insideview.com/) have [published another eye-catching infographic](http://blog.insideview.com/2010/10/01/social-media-facts-and-figures-for-b2b-sales-infographic/) that highlights how big companies are steadily embracing the social web. *(Click image to enlarge)* [![social-media-infographic](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/social-media-infographic_thumb.png "social-media-infographic")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/social-media-infographic.png) It’s great to see adoption levels steadily rising but these raw statistics mask a multitude of sins. It’s one thing to use social media, it’s quite another to use it well. Helpful data nonetheless! **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** B2B, infographic, social media --- ### [Social media: comparing results with expectations](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-comparing-results-with-expectations/) **Published:** October 4, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [eMarketer.com](http://www.emarketer.com/) recently published findings from a study of US small businesses comparing the results of social media tactics with expectations. The chart below speaks for itself; it’s encouraging to see that, in the most part, the accomplished results are broadly on a par with expectations. No surprise that the biggest shortfall lies in “identify and attract new customers”; in my experience most businesses greatly under-estimate the time it takes to build a robust network and start converting this into new sales leads. [![eMarketers June 2010 Social media tactics performance](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/emarketers-june-2010-social-media-tactics-performance_thumb.png "eMarketers June 2010 Social media tactics performance")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/emarketers-june-2010-social-media-tactics-performance.png) How does your experience of social media marketing tactics compare? **Categories:** Social Media --- ### [Social media usage: have we peaked?](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-media-usage-have-we-peaked/) **Published:** September 29, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** New data released today by Forrester shows that the ways we use the internet today are largely unchanged compared to six months ago. This is in stark contrast to previous studies which have always shown our usage patterns shifting. Now, it seems, the profile of internet users may be starting to reach a mature state, which begs the question: has social media reached its peak? The Forrester Technographics® Online Benchmark Survey shows the percentage of all online adults that exhibit one of seven types of behaviour. From the Inactives at the bottom of the ladder (the most primitive of online species) to the Creators at the top (the geeks, like me), this study provides a fascinating insight into how we use the internet. But what’s most interesting here is that little has changed in the six months between the two surveys. Could we have reached the plateau that many have predicted, the point at which our online behaviour matures and we settle into more consistent behaviours over time? **And if that’s the case, is this the perfect time for marketers to commit themselves fully to embracing the social web?** I’ve summarised the new data below for you (click to enlarge): [![Forrester Technographic Ladders Q4 2009 to Q2 2010](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/forrester-technographic-ladders-q4-2009-to-q2-2010_thumb.png "Forrester Technographic Ladders Q4 2009 to Q2 2010")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/forrester-technographic-ladders-q4-2009-to-q2-2010.png) Further reading: - [Augie Ray’s blog](http://blogs.forrester.com/augie_ray/10-09-28-why_are_social_behaviors_plateauing) on the latest surveys - [Jackie Rousseau-Anderson’s blog](http://blogs.forrester.com/jackie_rousseau_anderson/10-09-28-latest_global_social_media_trends_may_surprise_you) on these data - [Full Forrester report](http://www.forrester.com/rb/Research/global_update_of_social_technographics%26%23174%3B/q/id/57523/t/2) (for clients only) [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** forrester, marketing, social media, survey --- ### [We’re all grappling with Facebook](https://allisterspeaks.com/were-all-grappling-with-facebook/) **Published:** September 29, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Facebook_man.jpg)I attended a very informative presentation from Marcus Wareham, Head of Planning & Strategy EMEA at Facebook this morning. We saw the usual stats showing how big Facebook has become (half a billion users, 700 billion minutes every month, 50% log on every day etc.) and this gave me a chance to reflect on how marketers are now exploiting the world’s leading social network. I also took the opportunity to chat with some other brand owners to see how they are embracing the social web and we all seem to be grappling with very similar issues, like these: - How should we resource for social media and how can we ensure our people can scale as the network grows? - How should international brands best represent themselves on Facebook. Should they have one page per country/region or one global page? - If you’re a house of brands (like Kellogg’s, Unilever or Microsoft) how should you best present yourself on Facebook? Is it best to have one network for each brand you own, or one network covering all brands? - How will Facebook’s web-wide ‘Like’ mechanism affect brands in the long term? Will ‘liking’ a brand or group or idea become so easy it’s almost a passive gesture, at which point what’s the value to brands? - How do we best manage unofficial brand pages and groups to bring them into line with our official presence on Facebook? - Will Facebook’s belief that search engines will be superseded by people sharing information come to fruition, and what does this mean for my SEA/SEO marketing programmes in the long term? Please let me know your thoughts. How are you using Facebook in your marketing programmes? What works for you and what questions remain unanswered? *Image courtesy of* [*Maxo*](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Facebook_man.jpg) [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** brand, Facebook, marketing, social media --- ### [10 gaffes to avoid in social media marketing](https://allisterspeaks.com/10-gaffes-to-avoid-in-social-media-marketing/) **Published:** September 28, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Social-Media-Mistakes](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/social-media-mistakes_thumb.jpg "Social-Media-Mistakes")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/social-media-mistakes.jpg) Everyone is a “Social Media Expert” these days. Most you’ll meet have made lots of stupid mistakes. Importantly though, the wisest people will have learned from their gaffes and won’t crash and burn the same ways again. If you’ve never made a social media mistake, you’re probably not doing it right. Here’s my quick list of 10 mistakes to avoid in your social media marketing efforts: 1. **Ready, fire, aim:** getting started before you know why you need to is daft. First figure out where you need to get to and why, then try to get there. Not the other way round. 2. **It’s all about me, me, me:** No-one cares about you unless, perhaps, you’re an A-list celebrity. You’re there for your audience and they’re there for themselves. Standard marketing principles apply. 3. **Abandon ship!:** giving up before your network has had time to grow and become self-sufficient. Commit to your effort for the long term and stick with it through the slow-build early days. 4. **Spread yourself Marmite-style:** spreading yourself too thinly across too many sites and tools is a sure-fire route to failure. Pick a few social networks with care and do a great job there. If it works , you can easily expand later, but become a big success somewhere before you take on the world. 5. **Every network is an island:** Not facilitating the connections between different networks and people is to disarm the fundamental power of social networks. Help people by connecting them to others. Share and you will receive. 6. **I’m not really me:** Authenticity is the killer feature in social networking. If you’re pretending to be someone you’re not, you’re only lying to yourself. Be true to who you are, be open and honest, and your network will stick around for longer. 7. **Sell, sell, sell:** Enough with the hard sell. On the social web, people expect a little more subtlety. Try to sell me something and I’m out of there. Share something useful and I might stick around long enough to ask what you’ve got to sell. Now wouldn’t that be nice? 8. **All talk, no listen:** If all you do is talk at people, pretty soon you’ll find you’re talking to an empty room. Echo chambers are lonely and cold, so first use your ears to listen, then your brain to understand, then your voice and fingers to talk back. 9. **Social media is free, how hard can it be?:** No, it’s not free. Never has been, never will be. Even if you use only free tools, there’s your time and the opportunity cost from your not doing something else. Plan your resources carefully, and don’t under-estimate the huge time-drain that a well-executed social media programme can become. Unless you’re a genius, you’ll need both staff and money to do it well. 10. **Treat social media as the be-all-and-end-all:** There is no silver bullet. Heck, there isn’t even a bullet. Social media should be integrated into your existing marketing programmes. It’s just another channel; a powerful, high impact one at that, but just another channel. Done in isolation your social networking will lack the potency the medium should bring. Integrate and it may thrive. [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** expert, marketing, mistakes, networks, people, social media --- ### [Bullets do no good. Not even in presentations.](https://allisterspeaks.com/bullets-do-no-good-not-even-in-presentations/) **Published:** September 24, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![bullet](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bullet_thumb.gif "bullet")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/bullet.gif)I stirred up a debate this week at Microsoft by saying *“I hate bullet points in presentations. Whoever invented them should be shot. Preferably with a bullet.”* What for me was just a cheap gag, with a side-serving of mild annoyance at lazy presenters who use bullet points instead of a smattering of visual creativity to get their message across, obviously hit a nerve with some people. Most agreed that excessive use of bullet points in a presentations is unhelpful, that PowerPoint has become a crutch for shoddy presenters, and some went as far as to say we should disable the bullet feature in our software if used to excess. But that would be a step too far; there’s nothing inherently wrong with bullet points, it’s just their excessive and unthinking use that undermines their normal usefulness. All this debate about bullets coincided with my walking past the spectacular [Outrace installation](http://www.outrace.org/) in Trafalgar Square, London. Wallpaper magazine’s “Designers of the Future” winners [Clemens Weisshaar and Reed Kram](http://clemens-weisshaar.com/) were commissioned to create this year’s installation and turned to industrial design skills at Audi to bring robots and the public together. And, in a stroke of brilliance, they fused clever robotics with the social web so millions can interact with the machines and share their messages with the world. My message? See [the video](http://www.outrace.org/messages/7331) below for the moment Audi’s robots took on my mission to rid the world of unnecessary bullets: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knyvn3Q0Qrg] My robot message to the world What’s clever here is that anyone with an Internet connection can take part. Uploading a message is a breeze, and after moderation to verify the suitability of each message, each successful participant receives a link by e-mail to their personal YouTube video. Which in turn leads to more people hearing about the installation, which leads to more messages and so on. The social web now has the capacity to touch almost every part of our lives. The opportunity for marketers is to discover engaging ways to insert relevant brands into the conversation. Using bullets, or otherwise… ***Further reading:*** [Learn more](http://www.outrace.org/) about how the Outrace installation brings together people and technology. [Beyond Bullet Points](http://beyondbulletpoints.com/): highly recommended reading for anyone wanting to improve their visual presentation skills. [The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint](http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/powerpoint): now in its second edition, Edwards Tufte’s delightful essay on how we can improve our presentations. [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Creativity, Inspiration, Social Media **Tags:** bullet, creativity, outrace, presentation, social media --- ### [A direct mail that worked](https://allisterspeaks.com/a-direct-mail-that-worked/) **Published:** September 22, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I received a direct mail letter today. In an envelope. Delivered by the postman. Now, this isn’t that uncommon an event; getting junk mail is a price you expect to pay when you’ve been in the marketing industry as long as me. What was less common was that I both opened *and* acted on the letter, and that hasn’t happened in a long time. This is what I received: a cheap plastic magnifying glass and a piece of paper carrying the letters [www.lookabitcloser.com/alistairfrost](http://www.lookabitcloser.com/alistairfrost). [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb8.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image13.png) The sender had spelt my name incorrectly, but that just told me they’d heard of me through word-of-mouth, not through a printed directory. I boldly entered the URL into IE9 and what I got was a series of simple, clean screens, with some very engaging copy: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb9.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image14.png) [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb10.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image15.png) [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb11.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image16.png) …and a final screen featuring a counting clock showing how long I’d spent on their site: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb12.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image17.png) The agency behind this? [Fortune Favours the Brave (FFB) Partners](http://www.ffbpartners.com/) of Glasshouse Street, London. Clever work, that just goes to show that a strong creative idea delivered through a traditional marketing route can work harmoniously with digital channels. And best of all, I received a call from FFB soon after I’d visited their site asking me how they could help further. The personalised URL had alerted them the moment I visited their site. How could they improve? Show me you also understand the social web by making it easier for me to share this experience, not just by helping me e-mail colleagues but also by letting me connect your content to my networks on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. And make it easier for me to opt-in to future communications should I wish; you’ve given me a good first impression, don’t bale out so soon. Nice work! How refreshing to receive a direct mail that works. [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Innovation, Inspiration **Tags:** direct, mail, Web --- ### [Not-Quite-Maslow’s Hierarchy of Internet Needs](https://allisterspeaks.com/not-quite-maslows-hierarchy-of-internet-needs/) **Published:** September 17, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** While [Abraham Harold Maslow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Maslow) spins furiously in his grave, Internet marketers are busy adapting his legendary [hierarchy of needs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs) for our new digitally-connected era. No surprise that the framework of Maslow’s thinking still stands the test of time today and we can draw reasonable parallels between the ways we express ourselves online and the more rudimentary psychological and physical needs that Maslow studied in the 1950s and 1960s. Where are you on the pyramid? And where are your customers? *Thanks to* [*Flowtown*](http://www.flowtown.com/blog/hierarchy-of-internet-needs) *for sparking the idea.* [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image12.png "image")](http://www.flowtown.com/blog/hierarchy-of-internet-needs?display=wide) [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Inspiration **Tags:** internet, Maslow, needs --- ### [Two wonderful marketers on video](https://allisterspeaks.com/two-wonderful-marketers-on-video/) **Published:** September 16, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We digital marketers are not above needing to combine clever creative thinking and the sort of profound psychological insights that our marketing forefathers mastered long before [Tim Berners-Lee](http://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/ "Tim Berners-Lee") made his incredible discovery. So, today I share with you two of my favourite marketing presentations, both courtesy of the wonderful [TED](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TED_%28conference%29 "TED (conference)"). First up, [Rory Sutherland](http://community.brandrepublic.com/blogs/rory_sutherlands_blog/default.aspx "Rory Sutherland"), with Life Lessons From an Ad Man: \[ted id=658\] And, if that hasn’t satisfied your appetite, enjoy [Tim Brown](http://designthinking.ideo.com/ "Tim Brown") on Creativity and Play: \[ted id=392\] **Categories:** Creativity, Inspiration --- ### [Internet Explorer 9 Beta – the start of something big](https://allisterspeaks.com/internet-explorer-9-beta-the-start-of-something-big/) **Published:** September 15, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image10.png "image")](http://www.beautyoftheweb.com/#/download)The web tonight is awash with news of the release of the beta of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 (IE9). At the risk of being accused of cronyism, this is a major development for web design and designers. IE holds over 60% share of browser usage (source: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers)) and the release of IE9 beta therefore signals the beginning of widespread adoption of new web coding techniques like HTML5, Canvas, SVG and CSS3. The feature set is impressive and you can immediately notice the speed improvement over IE8 and appreciate the potential that hardware accelerated graphics and text bring to future web design. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb7.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image11.png)To see the power of these technologies for yourself, [install IE9 beta](http://www.beautyoftheweb.com/#/download), then explore some of the [test drive sites](http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/Default.html) and the [many live sites](http://www.beautyoftheweb.com/#/experience) available from today. Be sure to check out some of my favourites including [The Killers’](http://www.thekillersmusic.com/html5), [Gorillaz](http://gorillaz.com/club-room), and Pixel Lab’s delightful [Agent 8 Ball game](http://www.agent8ball.com/). **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** explorer, html5, internet, Web design --- ### [Google Instant: advice for search marketers](https://allisterspeaks.com/google-instant-advice-for-search-marketers/) **Published:** September 14, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb5.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image8.png) Google recently announced [Google Instant](http://www.google.com/instant/), a new feature in their search engine which delivers immediate search results *as you type*. The Instant experience is available to everyone in the USA, as well as in selected other countries including the UK if you are signed in to a Google account. As you can see from the example above, if I type “how many”, Google reads my mind and deduces that I almost certainly need to know how many calories there are in a banana. It also offers a few fall back options including “how many weeks pregnant am I?” It’s not a precise science and some of the suggestions are rather comical. Reactions to the new feature have been mixed. It’s certainly an impressive capability when you first try it out; it’s strangely mind-blowing to see the Internet returning ranked search results so quickly. Google claims that this new feature can save 2-5 seconds per search and are positioning it as a productivity tool. Others, however, have criticised the change as an unnecessary distraction, or as a simple money-making scheme this greatly increases the number of search impressions that Google can deliver (if you pause for 3 seconds or longer while typing, the displayed instant search results are counted as full impressions). But what does this change mean for digital marketers thinking about their SEO strategy? A number of key principles are starting to emerge: 1. **Shorter keywords will take on more significance.** If you’ve optimised your PPC campaign around exploiting the long tail (e.g. “spreadsheet software free trial download”) you may now need to give more attention to shorter phrases (e.g. “spreadsheet software”). 2. **The more specialist you are, the less impact this change will have.** If you buy generic keywords, you may have to rethink your strategy as the amount of competition just increased dramatically. If, however, you buy very specialist keyphrases, your customers are still likely to find you, with or without Google Instant. 3. **Novice searchers may become more inclined to search.** Less prolific web users may find the suggestions proposed by Google Instant helpful as they’ll stumble across things they might otherwise not have found. This could bring new business opportunities to savvy search marketers who can figure out how to tap into these novice searches. 4. **Distractions could create opportunities.** Popular short search phrases (like “cheap summer vacation”) could present new eyeballs to cleverly related search queries. So, for example, a hire car company that can optimise their site content or PPC against “cheap summer” might be able to attract new customers who could become distracted from their initial search intent (i.e. *“we’re going to need car hire anyway, let’s take a look at that first”*) 5. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb6.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image9.png)**Your brand’s spelling might take on new importance.** Type ‘t’ into Google Instant in the UK and Tesco comes out first in the list, due to Tesco’s popularity. Yet every search result listing below the suggested alternatives (TFL, The Sun, Topshop etc.) relates exclusively to Tesco. If the spelling of your brand competes with other bigger brands in a related category this could cost you valuable traffic. And if you’re starting a new business, a name beginning with X or Z might take on additional appeal! Commonly misspelled brand names may also suffer with a greater number of similar alternatives being proposed ahead of the actual brand the searcher is trying to find. 6. **People searching away from the Google site are unaffected.** This feature only works within the Google site. If users search in the search box provided in their browser or through other applications, the way their search results are returned is unchanged. For now, at least. 7. **Bad people may be quick to exploit this.** People who use search for malicious intent will exploit this, as they do every other tool at their disposal, to prey on vulnerable Internet users. Hopefully Google will be alert to [the problems like this](http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/09/google_instant_black_hat_seo/) that real-time results can create. 8. **Things just got a little bit more complicated.** We can no longer assume that searchers will type a complete search query before finding a link they like. However, it’s important to remember that search behaviour is fundamentally unchanged from the olden days of Google “Non-Instant”. People will still use search engines to find things they are looking for. They may get distracted from their goal more easily or stumble upon their intended destination in different ways, but they’ll still use the same language to begin their query and respond to the same rational and emotional triggers. As with every aspect of marketing, if you understand your target audience you should be able to quickly determine how the new instant era will affect them. Further reading: 1. Google Instant summary: [http://www.google.com/instant/](http://www.google.com/instant/ "http://www.google.com/instant/") 2. FAQs for Advertisers: [http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=187309](http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=187309 "http://adwords.google.com/support/aw/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=187309") [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Search Marketing **Tags:** advice, google instant, marketing, search, SEO --- ### [Free e-book: Internet Safety](https://allisterspeaks.com/free-e-book-internet-safety/) **Published:** September 13, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The roads are getting congested, which can mean only one thing: the new school term has just begun. And with the start of a fresh academic year comes a new season of evening presentations that I’ll be giving to parents at schools across Surrey, Kent, and Berkshire to help them understand the importance of internet safety and keeping their children from harm while online. [![Own Your Space e-book cover](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image7.png "Own Your Space e-book cover")](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=87583728-ef14-4703-a649-0fd34bd19d13&displayLang=en)High up my job list is a task to narrate and upload my latest presentation to the web so more parents can get to see it. I’ll do that soon I promise, but until then you may enjoy a new e-book from Microsoft entitled “Own Your Space”. This e-book is aimed at teenagers and explains a host of common online threats like cyber bullying, phishing, and spyware. But, even if your teenage years, like me, are well behind you, you’ll probably find some invaluable advice in this book . [Download the e-book directly from here](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=87583728-ef14-4703-a649-0fd34bd19d13&displayLang=en) and, if you want all chapters, choose either of the first two links labelled: 1. Microsoft **.XPS** format *(requires Windows 7, Windows Vista or IE6 or later)* 2. Adobe **.PDF** format *(requires Acrobat Reader)* [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Internet Safety **Tags:** e-book, free, Microsoft, online, safety, teen --- ### [How we search for stuff: Slidecast for marketers](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-we-search-for-stuff-slidecast-for-marketers/) **Published:** September 10, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Excerpt:** A short presentation, narrated by Allister Frost, that explains new insights we have into how people use search engines and what this means for marketers. **Content:** Following my [recent post](http://allisterfrost.com/2010/09/03/how-we-search-for-stuff-insights-for-marketers/) about new insights we have into how people navigate through search engine result pages, I’ve shared a brief narrated presentation on [SlideShare ](http://www.slideshare.net/alfrost/how-we-search-for-stuff "How we search for stuff slidecast")to help you understand and interpret the findings. I hope you find this helpful. Please add a comment with your feedback or opinion. \[slideshare id=5166542&doc=howwesearchforstuff-100909140644-phpapp01\] **Categories:** Search Marketing **Tags:** insights, marketing, PPC, search, SEO, slidecast --- ### [The Online Police: Understanding the ASA’s new digital media remit](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-online-police-understanding-the-asas-new-digital-media-remit/) **Published:** September 9, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![policeman_256](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/policeman_256_thumb.png "policeman_256")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/policeman_256.png)Last week saw confirmation that the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) will have a significantly extended remit to protect consumers from misleading or otherwise inappropriate *online* advertising from 1st March 2011. The ASA already polices all paid-for digital marketing activities; its extended remit gives it the power to monitor and highlight non-compliance of advertisers’ marketing communications on their ***own web sites*** and on other ***non-paid for online spaces.*** This means, for example, that the ASA can rule against inappropriate marketing practices on, say, a brand’s Facebook page or Twitter account. Even free games used to promote a brand and user-generated content re-purposed for advertising will be governed by the ASA’s new extended powers. The sanctions that the ASA can apply remain quite limited—this is a self-regulatory code after all—but include publicising adjudications through the national media, naming and shaming non-compliant advertisers on the ASA web site, and removing paid-for search ads that link directly to any non-complaint marketing content. In some instances, the ASA also has the power to buy its own search ads to highlight the non-compliance and we should expect the big search engines to treat the ASA’s ads very favourably and possibly penalise any non-compliant brand owners through their search algorithms. ***What does this mean for UK-based digital marketers?*** It’s more important than ever that you understand and comply with [the codes laid down by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP).](http://www.cap.org.uk/The-Codes.aspx) This understanding must extend to ***all marketers;*** not just those buying paid ads, but also to anyone who places branded content onto any online platform. If a Product Manager or Sales Executive provides content to your Facebook or MySpace or LinkedIn or whatever online page, they ***must*** comply with the CAP or risk putting your company in hot water with the ASA. I welcome this change; for most advertisers this means ‘business as usual’, but for a minority of less principled online marketers the ASA’s new remit will call for rapid improvements to their behaviour online. From March 2011, it’ll be even harder for unscrupulous marketers to use sharp practices to ensnare their customers/victims, and the ASA’s extended remit will hopefully provide sufficient threat to discourage inappropriate behaviour. [![coin stack money currency](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/coinstackmoneycurrency_thumb.png "coin stack money currency")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/coinstackmoneycurrency.png)One final thing: the ASA doesn’t do its work for free and is funded through a 0.1% levy applied to all UK ad spend, which is collected by [ASBOF](http://www.asbof.co.uk/) directly from the media buying agencies. From 1st march 2011, all ***paid-for*** online marketing including paid search ads, mobile marketing, and affiliate marketing will also be subject to this 0.1% levy. So, plan for your online ad costs to rise by this very small percentage and look forward to having additional protection against sharp online practices. Further reading: - (.pdf) [The Internet Advertising Bureau’s FAQs on the new ASA remit](http://www.iabuk.net/media/images/ASAdigitalmediaremitextensionIABQA_6954.pdf) - [The ASA’s press release](http://asa.org.uk/Media-Centre/2010/ASA-digital-remit-extension.aspx) - (.pdf) [CAP summary of the extended digital remit](http://asa.org.uk/Media-Centre/2010/~/media/Files/CAP/Codes/CAP%20Digital%20Remit%20Extension.ashx) [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** ASA, CAP, internet, marketing, police, regulation --- ### [Tipp-Ex Shoot a Bear – viral analysis of the first few days](https://allisterspeaks.com/tipp-ex-shoot-a-bear-viral-analysis-of-the-first-few-days/) **Published:** September 8, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb4.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image6.png)Last week, [the BIC Group](http://www.bicworld.com/) launched a clever campaign to promote Tipp-Ex on YouTube designed to coincide with the ‘back to school’ period. Looking at the reach figures, it’s been an astonishing success. The teaser entry video, produced by the BUZZMAN agency, has already been viewed over 4.3 million times and shared more than 120,000 times on Facebook. Remarkable results from a little creative thought and some entertaining video work. Agency [Channelship](http://www.channelship.ie/) has tracked social media mentions relating to this campaign and picked up more than 6,000 posts, mostly from the USA, even though the video was launched in the UK. The chart below shows how quickly the web responded to the new campaign, a powerful demonstration of potency of sharing-enabled content. ![](http://www.channelship.ie/v2/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Topic-Trend.png "Topic Trend") The reach figures are astonishing, especially for such a niche and relatively low interest product. However, my initial concerns about this campaign still stand. After the brief clever appearance of the hero brand there’s little in here that makes me think differently about Tipp-Ex or even invites me to engage more deeply with the brand. I really wish the marketing folks at the BIC Group could have pushed harder and integrated this clever viral work with a longer term engagement strategy. Over 4 million views is remarkable; but how much more valuable could this have been if this had marked the start of 4 million longer term relationships with the brand and BIC’s related products? If you haven’t yet had a play, take a look at this clever campaign for yourself. Really nice work!: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ba1BqJ4S2M] Clever Tipp-Ex: A hunter shoots a bear, or does he? Additional reading: - [Bic’s official press release on the success of the campaign](http://www.bicworld.com/en/press/press-detail/130/the-tipp-ex-interactive-campaign-viewed-more-than-4-million-) - [Channelship’s assessment of the campaign](http://www.channelship.ie/blog/post-3208-brand-monitoring-how-did-the-tipp-ex-campaign-perform.php) - [Brandchannel announces the campaign](http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/2010/09/02/Tipp-Ex-Bear-Viral.aspx) [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Innovation **Tags:** bear, BIC, marketing, Tipp-Ex, traffic, video, viral, youtube --- ### [Google Unveiled: how much the top brands spend](https://allisterspeaks.com/google-unveiled-how-much-the-top-brands-spend/) **Published:** September 7, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://adage.com/images/bin/image/large/09062010-GoogleSpend.jpg?1283730738) A revealing leak out of Google to AdAge shows just how much the top brands are spending on paid search with Google. No surprise that the top spenders are mostly transactional based companies looking to pick up online sales. One obvious anomaly in the top ten is BP which pumped $3.59million into paid search in June alone to stave off criticism of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Interesting data. Read the full [AdAge article here](http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=145720). [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Search Marketing **Tags:** advertising, Google, search --- ### [Mark Ritson is wrong: social media is for people and brands](https://allisterspeaks.com/mark-ritson-is-wrong-social-media-is-for-people-and-brands/) **Published:** September 7, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image5.png "image")](http://www.marketingritson.com/documents/ritson010910525.pdf)Associate Professor of Marketing, [Mark Ritson](http://marketingritson.com/), believes that “social media is for people, not brands” as explained in his [latest weekly column](http://www.marketingritson.com/documents/ritson010910525.pdf) for Marketing Week. I think he may be starting to lose the plot. Ritson begins his argument by showing that five of Britain’s biggest brands, including retailer Morrisons and banking giant Barclays, don’t use Twitter at all. He goes on to show that some big brands like BP, Vodafone and BT have fewer followers than tweets. To argue that a channel like Twitter is not suitable for brand marketing just because not everyone uses it, or worse some use it inappropriately, is absurd. On that basis, TV advertising would be unsuitable for brands, as would almost every other communications channel we exploit. The article goes on to outline “The Peter Andre Factor” which Mark Ritson believes demonstrates social media’s unsuitability for most brands. Peter Andre, the former pop start and reality TV contestant, has over half a million followers on Twitter, more than five times the followers of Britain’s biggest brands combined. This, Ritson posits, is compelling proof that social media only works on a person-to-person basis. There are several flaws in Ritson’s logic. Firstly, to limit any analysis of social media to one channel, Twitter, is to ignore the rich diversity of thriving channels that colour the social networking landscape. Twitter is, by design, not a social network, it’s a publishing platform that allows you to share and find up-to-the-minute information. Conversely, Facebook, and its army of imitators, is a social network designed to facilitate conversational, engaging interactions, with people and organisations that you choose to follow. The two provide a very different service, appeal to different people, albeit with lots of overlap, and can contribute to brand goals in diverse ways. Secondly, to argue that social media “has limited potential for a very small proportion of brands” seems short-sighted at best. Don’t get me wrong, there are some brands for whom an entry into social media would be highly inappropriate, even damaging, but there are many more brands that could benefit greatly from making themselves more accessible to their users and being part of the conversation. Where Mark Ritson and I can agree is that social media does not work “when cold, hard, lifeless organisations start trying to spark interactive social media conversations.” Perhaps that’s why you can in fact already find some [small parts of Barclays bank](http://twitter.com/BarclaysStock) on Twitter; if the heaving mass that is Barclays Bank were to try to represent itself through a single online Twitter identity, failure would be a near certainty. It’s hugely important that marketers think carefully about whether it is their brand or a person who represents the brand that should host any online conversation. Either approach can work, but smart marketers know that it’s the brand, its values and purpose which should ultimately determine how it presents itself in any chosen marketing channel. It’s right too that we should all try to “get this social media into perspective”. Too many brands have fallen for its shiny new allure, creating unnecessary and sometimes unwanted online presences that do nothing for the intended audience. I agree that the social media crowd can, at times, be its own worst enemy, with exaggerated efficiency claims and unswerving bias to immature and unproven marketing techniques. If I get one more call from a self-professed [![Trust-me-I'm-a-Social-media-Expert-badge](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/trustmeimasocialmediaexpertbadge_thumb.jpg "Trust-me-I'm-a-Social-media-Expert-badge")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/trustmeimasocialmediaexpertbadge.jpg)“Social Media Expert/Guru”, I won’t be responsible for the consequences. No-one is an expert here, we’re all learning as quickly as we can. But, to suggest that we should automatically classify social media as an insignificant tool with limited potential for most brands seems stunningly myopic and ignorant. Technology has handed control over to the consumers of our brands. They are now part of the conversation and if they choose to speak to us we have to be prepared to speak back. Our days of purely shouting at them when we choose (advertising) are over. This is a box that, once opened, can never be closed, and marketers for every brand have a responsibility to critically assess new channels and determine how their business goals can be met using *every* tool at their disposal. We ignore social media and the societal changes it will bring about at our peril. \[update: Marketing Week article [now available online](http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/disciplines/digital/social-media-is-for-people-not-brands/3017669.article)\] [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** brand, expert, ignore, marketing, social media, societal, technology --- ### [When two tribes go to war: B2B vs. B2C](https://allisterspeaks.com/when-two-tribes-go-to-war-b2b-vs-b2c/) **Published:** September 6, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![B2B vs B2C](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/b2bvsb2c_thumb.jpg "B2B vs B2C")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/b2bvsb2c.jpg)Recent days have seen a flurry of debate about the differences between B2B (business to business) and B2C (business to consumer) marketing and arguments about which is more sophisticated. Having worked on both sides of the fence I guess I’m qualified to have an opinion but, to be honest, I’m not sure if it’s worth having one. Which is more advanced is largely irrelevant; they both perform quite different roles and rightly tap into different channels to reach their audiences. To help us understand the differences, a new video by [Ernest Agency](http://earnestagency.wordpress.com/) (c/o [Jeff Bullas’s blog](http://www.jeffbullas.com/2010/06/21/15-essential-social-media-facts-and-figures-for-b2b-marketing/)) shares some impressive stats about how B2B and B2C marketers are using social media, an area where B2B is arguably leading the pack (81% of B2B companies use social media vs. just 67% for B2C). This makes sense: B2B marketing success relies heavily on personal relationships between the buyer and the seller and social media is a fabulous way to develop these. What makes less sense is the claim that 93% of B2B buyers use search to start their buying process alongside a competing stat that says 7/10 buyers start this same process at vendor sites. My instinct tells me the former stat makes sense (the search engines win hands down) while the second is bunkum. What’s perhaps a more useful exercise is estimating how quickly and how far that 93% could fall as savvy B2B buyers start turning to social media channels to decide what to buy for their business. There’s no doubt about it, search marketing is facing up to its biggest threat yet in social media. Enjoy the video: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXQdy-22TXM&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1] Vital Statistics for B2B Marketers [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Search Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** audiences, buyer, consumer, marketers, media, relationships, seller, Statistics, vendor --- ### [SEO tip: link building through online generosity](https://allisterspeaks.com/seo-tip-link-building-through-online-generosity/) **Published:** September 6, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image4.png "image")](http://www.seomoz.org/blog/four-creative-link-building-tactics-whiteboard-friday)It’s Monday, but I only just had time to watch this nice little [‘Whiteboard Friday’ video from SEOmoz](http://www.seomoz.org/blog/four-creative-link-building-tactics-whiteboard-friday). The first tip from Rand Fishkin is very close to my heart and relates to [one of my recent posts](http://allisterfrost.com/2010/09/01/do-unto-others-why-online-generosity-matters/) on this blog. As Rand explains, giving testimonials to others can be a great way to boost the search engine ranking of your own site. The key is to be honest and play fair; there’s no point giving testimonials or reviews or feedback about stuff that you don’t care about. If you do, you’ll instantly lose credibility and your lack of authenticity will be as transparent as an invisible window.***Tip for the week:*** try out a little online generosity and see how “give and ye shall receive” (Rand’s words, not mine) could work for you. [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Search Marketing **Tags:** engine, feedback, Fishkin, Rand, SEOmoz, testimonials, Whiteboard --- ### [How we search for stuff: Insights for marketers](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-we-search-for-stuff-insights-for-marketers/) **Published:** September 3, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** If I asked you to find out about something today, maybe booking a restaurant or choosing a washing machine to buy, chances are you would start your journey online at a search engine. That’s why it’s essential that all marketers understand how search engines work so they can optimise their sites and paid for search ads. Interestingly, the big search engines continue to frown on SEO (search engine optimisation) practices as they see it as underhand manipulation of the results generated by their clever search algorithms. But all the while the algorithms exist, smart marketers will continue to seek to influence the results to give their brands the best possible chance of standing out. A recent study by [Barcelona’s Pompeu Fabra University](http://www.upf.edu/en/) provides some precious insights into the ways we hunt for information on search engines. I’m grateful to Ani López of [Dynamical Biz](http://dynamical.biz/) for translating sections of the study into English. You can read Ani’s summary [here](http://dynamical.biz/blog/web-analytics/serps-user-behaviour-eye-tracking-study-32.html) and I’ve added some of my own thoughts below. [![How people search diagram](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/how-people-search2.png "How People Search")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/how-people-search2.png)[](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/how-people-search1.png) [](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/howpeoplesearch.png) One of the key findings of the research was how differently we use search engine results pages (SERPs) according to our search intent. As the above graphic shows, people searching for **information** like the weather forecast or the phone number of a hospital look at an average of 8.53 items in the organic results, but only 0.64% of the sponsored (paid for) results. Conversely, people looking to complete a **transaction** like downloading software or buying tickets to the theatre will look at only 4.05 organic results (half as many as informational searchers), but will be prepared to consider 2.20 sponsored results. The overall time spent on informational searches is also greater than transactional searches; as you might expect, when we need to get something done, we tend to get on with doing it. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb2.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image2.png) On top of this, the research shows how transactional searchers spend more of their search time reading the *snippet* (the extract of text from your site, usually determined by your site’s meta description) than the *title* compared to informational searchers. For marketers, ensuring that the meta description is really compelling on transactional sites has never been more important. Eye tracking studies also show how our search behaviour changes with different search types. Notice how in the images below the informational searchers dwell far longer over the central organic search results while transactional searchers spend a greater proportion of their time on the sponsored listings at top and right of the screen. It’s no surprise that the top sponsored listings are most popular taking 79% of sponsored fixations versus just 21% for those in the right hand column. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb3.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image3.png) As Ani concludes, there are few ground-shaking revelations in this research but this serves as a helpful reminder that we need to think about the different ways people search as we plan our search marketing campaigns. Your placement tactics should change according to your desired end action, as well as the investment you put behind organic and paid search listings. I’ve love to know how these finding compare to your own experience. What do you think marketers can learn from this study? Further reading: Microsoft Research published the findings of similar results using eye-tracking tools. You can consult it [here](http://research.microsoft.com/pubs/70395/tr-2007-01.pdf). **\[UPDATE 10 Sept: I’ve made a narrated slideshow of this research now available at** [**http://allisterfrost.com/2010/09/10/how-we-search-for-stuff-slidecast-for-marketers/**](http://allisterfrost.com/2010/09/10/how-we-search-for-stuff-slidecast-for-marketers/)**\]** [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Search Marketing **Tags:** organic, search engines, Search Marketing, SEO, sponsored --- ### [Being social at work: it’s a must-do](https://allisterspeaks.com/being-social-at-work-its-a-must-do/) **Published:** September 2, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’m often asked by owner-managers of small and medium sized businesses whether they should allow their employees to access social networks while at work. In the past my answer might have been that if social networking was not central to their work then it would be reasonable to block these sites on the company network to discourage staff from being distracted. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb1.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image1.png)But today, things are different. Social networks are so central to many people ‘s lives that taking away this access is a bit like expecting your staff to adopt a completely different persona while at work. Recent data from a [Trend Micro study](http://trendmicro.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=23) shows that social networking at work is on the rise and one in three workers in the UK now log on during the working day. The enlightened leader now appreciates the potential value that can come from allowing staff to access social network while at work. Not only will they be more attuned to trending topics, they’ll also be faster to spot and address potentially unmet customer needs. But that doesn’t mean employees should have carte blanche to do whatever they want. Give your staff a meaningful job to do, with clear and measurable goals to achieve, then give them the space to be smart in figuring out how best to be successful. Besides, in a world where the majority are now connected online, who’d want to work at a company where staff are expected to unplug themselves from their true selves for eight hours a day? The smart business leaders have worked it out: giving staff full access has shifted from a nice-to-do to a must-do. [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Digital Marketing, Social Media **Tags:** access, social media, trendmicro, work --- ### [TweetPivot – get to know your followers and followees](https://allisterspeaks.com/tweetpivot-get-to-know-your-followers-and-followees/) **Published:** September 1, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/image.png)Twitter users will delight in being able to use Microsoft Live Labs’ funky Pivot tool to explore their Twitterverse at [http://tweetpivot.com/](http://tweetpivot.com/ "http://tweetpivot.com/"). Thanks to [Steve Clayton](http://blogs.msdn.com/b/stevecla01/) for spotting this one; it’s a peach! Go pivot today! [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** analysis, Pivot, social media, Twitter --- ### [Do unto others… Why online generosity matters](https://allisterspeaks.com/do-unto-others-why-online-generosity-matters/) **Published:** September 1, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Excerpt:** Why it pays to be generous online **Content:** [![We-do-NOT-sell-stamps](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/wedonotsellstamps_thumb.png "We-do-NOT-sell-stamps")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/wedonotsellstamps.png) When I was a wee lad, my mum taught me to “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”. Aside from the fact that I never really understood why anyone would use the word ‘unto’, it was good advice. If you’re nice to people they are more likely to reciprocate with niceness. If you’re nasty, well, you know what to expect. [Earl Hickey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_Is_Earl) called this ‘karma’. I call it common sense. But you’d be surprised how uncommon common sense can be in some quarters. I was reminded of this at the seaside this weekend. If you sell postcards, it’s helpful to also sell stamps. The two go together like bread and butter. Of course, if you don’t sell stamps that’s not the end of the world, but your customers would still be glad to know where they can buy stamps. What you shouldn’t do is put up a big sign telling people you do not sell stamps. And underline NOT four times. That’s the retail equivalent of advertising that you’re a crappy shop. A simple “Stamps are available from the Post Office 70 yards that way” sign will greatly increase the chances of your selling some postcards to grateful customers. The same rules apply online. The social web thrives on the generosity of others, many of whom may be complete strangers to you. If you help others online, they are more likely to help you in return. And, even if there’s no immediate personal or commercial value in supporting others, by giving generously you may just reap the rewards in the future. So, as a citizen of our online world, take at good look at yourself. Are you doing unto others as you would have others do unto you? Will today’s helpfulness pay dividends in your future? WordPress Tags: [generosity](http://wordpress.com/tag/generosity),[social web](),[advice](http://wordpress.com/tag/advice),[postcards](http://wordpress.com/tag/postcards),[customers](http://wordpress.com/tag/customers) [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Future state: Games will be everywhere](https://allisterspeaks.com/future-state-games-will-be-everywhere/) **Published:** August 26, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** \_ [![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YK8p3Om_Hpk/SIdK_6rFquI/AAAAAAAAACg/OCru8Pkgyxc/S220/jesse3.jpg)Jesse Schell](http://www.blogger.com/profile/12923931997733201691) is CEO of [Schell Games](http://www.schellgames.com/) and a Professor at Carnegie Mellon University. In this video he presents a fascinating view of how social gaming cleverly taps into some of our deep-rooted psychological needs and shares a thought-provoking view of how humans will interact with technology in the future. It’s a fascinating video. If you can, stick with it right to the end (28mins). Watch it here: [tweetmeme onlysingle=”false”] **Categories:** Digital Marketing **Tags:** advertising, development, Facebook, gaming, social media --- ### [Risky business: ignoring social media](https://allisterspeaks.com/risky-business-ignoring-social-media/) **Published:** August 26, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Social-Media-Good-or-Bad](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/socialmediagoodorbad_thumb.jpg "Social-Media-Good-or-Bad")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/socialmediagoodorbad.jpg) The list of pros and cons of social media grows longer every day but it would be a brave marketer to still claim that social media has no role to play in supporting their business goals. Whether you’re selling toothpaste or helicopters, having a clear strategy for how your brand can use social media is now essential. If you’re still struggling to see the possible value in having a robust social strategy, you may value this monster list of “31 risks of doing nothing with social media” from [It’s Open](http://itsopen.co.uk/). Among the risks you run by ignoring social media are “Customer complaints will fester and go answered”, “Your content will not be easily found”, and “You will not be where your stakeholders are”. Enjoy the original article [here](http://itsopen.co.uk/the-risks-of-doing-nothing-with-social-media). [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Search Marketing --- ### [Why so many Social Media projects fail](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-so-many-social-media-projects-fail/) **Published:** August 25, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** With thanks to [Eileen Brown](http://eileenbrown.wordpress.com/) for bringing this to my attention, here’s a great little presentation that highlights why so many social media projects fail. Recognise any mistakes you’ve made? I do… **[Why Social Media Projects Fail?! – A European Perspective](http://www.slideshare.net/Insidebsi/why-social-media-projects-fail-a-european-perspective "Why Social Media Projects Fail?! – A European Perspective")**View more [presentations](http://www.slideshare.net/) from [BSI](http://www.slideshare.net/Insidebsi). **Categories:** Social Media **Tags:** fail, presentation, social media --- ### [Bringing fans together with virtual experiences](https://allisterspeaks.com/bringing-fans-together-with-virtual-experiences/) **Published:** August 25, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Twitter-Beer](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/twitterbeer_thumb.jpg "Twitter-Beer")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/twitterbeer.jpg)This weekend I’ll be at a beer festival sampling the contents of a few, but not quite all, of the 60+ casks of real ale on display. Previous experience has taught me to take along a pen and paper as I’ve no chance of remembering which beers I enjoyed the following day! As I look forward to tickling my taste buds I’m reminded of one of the many clever ways that enterprising businesses can tap into social media to bring fans together and raise brand awareness. You probably wouldn’t expect the real ale industry to be tuned in to the social media scene, but CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) and some UK breweries have already held virtual tasting sessions to encourage real ale drinkers to share their thoughts on different beers through sites like Twitter and Facebook. In March, CAMRA hosted the first ever [pub-based online beer tasting](http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=317507). Drinkers were invited to meet in their local pub, line up five pre-selected beers, and drink them one by one while sharing notes on Twitter. The event was hosted by Roger Protz, an expert beer taster, and gave even the most inexperienced beer drinker a chance to share their night’s entertainment with hundreds of other drinkers around the UK. The result: lots of great PR around the event, a new angle to entice drinkers into pubs, and many tipsy Twitterers sharing their enthusiasm with their followers. And none of them needed a pen and paper because Twitter gave them a semi-permanent record of what they liked and didn’t like. Maybe your next marketing challenge could be tackled with a virtual gathering of some kind. It really doesn’t matter what you have to sell or promote. With a little ingenuity and creativity there are many ways you could bring together your raving fans as well as prospective customers through social media channels. If you do it right you’ll give your customers lots of reasons to tell their followers about your brand and their experience. Plus you could bring in some new customers to boot. And I’ll be the first to raise a glass to that! [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Social Media --- ### [Facebook reach set to surpass Google within 18 months?](https://allisterspeaks.com/facebook-reach-set-to-surpass-google-within-18-months/) **Published:** August 24, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://pics.ww.com/d/418410-1/googlevsfacebook.png) [Jacques Mattheij](http://jacquesmattheij.com/Facebook+to+overtake+Google+in+the+next+18+months) has been drawing graphs and today predicts that Facebook’s worldwide reach will overtake Google sometime in the next 9 to 18 months. Facebook’s spectacular growth has been widely publicised with active users now above 500 million worldwide, 50% of whom log on to Facebook on any given day. That all adds up to in excess of 700 billion minutes spent on Facebook every month, a staggering amount of time. But can Facebook’s growth continue at the current rate? For this to happen two dynamics have to work together: 1. **Facebook has to continue to entice new users to its service at or above the current rate.** While the user base in mature markets like the USA and UK is starting to plateau, there’s still plenty of geographical expansion for Facebook to chase. With the site currently available in just 70 languages, there are still millions of users who have yet to have the opportunity to use Facebook. Plus there’s still the late majority in many countries who may have resisted joining until now but find the pull of the [network effect](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_effect) too strong to resist. 2. **Facebook has to hold onto its current users and, crucially, keep them active on the site.** This is probably Facebook’s toughest challenge. There’s never been more choice with major competitors like Google, Apple and Microsoft finally getting their acts together. After its early pioneering innovation, many of Facebook’s recent enhancements have mimicked features built by other services. Can Facebook continue to innovate at the speed needed to keep competitors at bay? Is their service and the power of their vast network sticky enough to keep users active? But the battle between Facebook and Google to be the world’s biggest web service will also hinge on Google’s ability to hold onto its current user base. Similar to Facebook, Google faces more competition than ever before from the Bing/Yahoo! alliance, as well as changing search behaviour which sees a growing number of users searching through other services like Twitter and Facebook. It’s far from certain that Google’s own traffic will remain at current levels; rapid and game-changing innovation may be needed to stem the flow of traffic to other search services. Jacques’ right. It seems almost inevitable that Facebook will soon attract a bigger reach than Google. The only uncertainty is when. Your best guesses in the comments field please… [tweetmeme only_single=”false”] **Categories:** Social Media --- ### [Every screen presents an opportunity](https://allisterspeaks.com/every-screen-presents-an-opportunity/) **Published:** August 23, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/image_thumb1.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/image1.png)I love my bedside [Logitech Squeezebox Radio](http://www.logitech.com/en-roeu/speakers-audio/wireless-music-systems/devices/5847). It makes it really easy for me to listen to all kinds of internet broadcasts including my favourite podcasts and radio stations from anywhere in the world. And, because it’s an internet-connected device, I can access it from any web browser to change settings, add stations and apps, even change when the morning alarm will sound. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/image_thumb2.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/image2.png)But it’s [the apps](http://www.mysqueezebox.com/) that excite me as a marketer. Several smart marketers have already created apps for Squeezebox including Amazon, Facebook and Flickr. And these apps make me more loyal to those brands because it makes it easier for me to find and interact with them. There are screens everywhere you look these days. And every internet-connected screen is a powerful brand-building opportunity for marketers. Not every brand needs to be on every screen. But the clever digital marketers are working out where their messages need to be and are busy building exciting new ways for consumers to experience their brands. So don’t ignore those little screens. That GPS sat nav unit, mobile phone, radio or remote control could well be the next big thing your brand needs. **Categories:** Innovation --- ### [How big?! Watch the Social Media UK video](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-big-watch-the-social-media-uk-video/) **Published:** August 21, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We’ve all seen Erik Qualman’s excellent Socialnomics videos ([original](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIFYPQjYhv8) and [refresh](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng)) but much of the data presented is global or biased to the USA. Step forward the folks at [Simply Zesty](http://www.simplyzesty.com/) and, hey presto, you have a short video packed full of UK specific facts and figures. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZHSZY8S9mA] Simply Zesty measures up the UK social media market **Categories:** Social Media --- ### [The end of an era](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-end-of-an-era/) **Published:** August 20, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I started up the UsefulTechnology blog way back in [April 2005](http://blogs.technet.com/b/usefultechnology/archive/2005/04/22/404061.aspx). In those days computers hadn’t been invented, everything was black and white, and I hadn’t even been born. Back then, my work was focussed on technology, but mostly clever things like Exchange Server and Microsoft Outlook 2003, so that’s what I wrote about and I was glad you joined me for the ride. A lot has changed since those days and, as my regular reader, yes you, will have observed, the UsefulTechnology blog has become steadily quieter to the point where it’s grown dusty and creaky, and feels a bit unloved. Today my life is focussed much more on marketing technology than the technology itself, and I’ve grown increasingly interested in digital marketing, social media, and other things that haven’t yet been invented. And so it feels right to move on, to let the UsefulTechnology blog enjoy its resting years, and to focus my mind on shinier things. That’s why I’ve created [a new blog](http://allisterf.wordpress.com/), at a new place, and it even has a new name. OK, it’s not a great name, and I reserve the right to change it if I can only think of anything better, but it’s new name, and that name is The Digital Marketer. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/image5b75d61023248.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.wordpress.com/) I’ll be writing mostly about digital marketing which covers some amazing things like social media, search, and viral marketing. My posts will attempt to convey a small part of the excitement of being part of the fastest-moving transformation the marketing world has ever seen. And, yes, occasionally I may find time for the odd technology story; old habits die hard. I hope you’ll join me in the new home at [http://allisterf.wordpress.com/](http://allisterf.wordpress.com/ "http://allisterf.wordpress.com/"). If you do I’ll be very grateful and will do a little dad-dance in your honour. If you don’t, this needn’t be the end, you can find me anytime at [http://uk.linkedin.com/in/allisterf](http://uk.linkedin.com/in/allisterf "http://uk.linkedin.com/in/allisterf") or in a nearby real ale pub. Cheers! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Social Marketing brilliance: The Last Exorcism](https://allisterspeaks.com/social-marketing-brilliance-the-last-exorcism/) **Published:** August 20, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** With almost 300,000 views already on YouTube, here’s a truly clever bit of social media marketing, this time using [ChatRoulette](http://www.chatroulette.com). If you’re not yet familiar with Chatroulette, it’s a site which simply connects you on your webcam to another random person anywhere else in the world so you can chat and exchange instant messages. As you can imagine, teens love the site, as well as voyeurs and some pretty creepy people too. The people behind [The Last Exorcism movie](http://www.thelastexorcism.com/) saw this as an opportunity. Take a look at the video below to see what they did. The clever part? Packaging up this ’best of’ video and sharing it online to reach a vast audience for next to zero cost. Now that’s social marketing brilliance! **WARNING:** Viewer discretion advised: strong language and scary bits! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNSaurw6E_Q] The Last Exorcism–Social marketing brilliance **Categories:** Social Media --- ### [Twitter Parade](https://allisterspeaks.com/twitter-parade/) **Published:** August 19, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** How’s your Japanese? Mine’s lousy, but I can still enjoy this entertaining new way to follow the Twitter stream. You can either follow a Twitter user’s stream or a keyword of your choice. [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/image_thumb.png "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/image.png) Start your own parade at [http://www.isparade.jp/](http://www.isparade.jp/ "http://www.isparade.jp/"). **Categories:** Social Media --- ### [20 of the best social media campaigns ever](https://allisterspeaks.com/20-of-the-best-social-media-campaigns-ever/) **Published:** August 19, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Thanks to [Fuel Lines](http://fuelingnewbusiness.com/2010/08/18/forbes-20-best-ever-social-media-campaigns/) for spotting [Forbes’ recent article](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media.html) on the world’s best buzz-generating social media campaigns. It’s a fascinating list, which I’ve repeated below, and it’s worth reminding ourselves how much ground we’ve covered as a marketing profession. So many of these successful campaigns started out as a test, a pilot, a trial to see what might happen. And they’ve proved time and again that an imaginative thought coupled with the right timing and sometimes the simplest of executions can deliver devastating results. My personal favourite? “Blendtec: Will it Blend?” Perfectly on brand, brilliantly simple, very low cost, and completely unforgettable. ![Thumbs up](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/wlemoticonthumbsup.png) **Forbes’ list of the 20 best-ever social media campaigns:** 1. [“The Blair Witch Project”](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide.html) 2. [Blendtec: Will It Blend?](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_2.html) 3. [Old Spice: “Smell Like a Man, Man.”](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_3.html) 4. [Burger King: “Subservient Chicken”](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_4.html) 5. [Pepsi Refresh](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_5.html) 6. [VW: “Fun Theory”](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_6.html) 7. [OfficeMax: “Elf Yourself”](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_7.html) 8. [Evian: “Roller Babies](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_8.html) 9. [Ikea: “Facebook Showroom”](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_9.html) 10. [Hotmail](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_10.html) 11. [Whopper Sacrifice](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_11.html) 12. [Target: “Bullseye Gives”](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_12.html) 13. [Vitaminwater](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_13.html) 14. [Smirnoff: “Tea Par-tay”](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_14.html) 15. [The Dark Knight: Why So Serious?](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_15.html) 16. [Quicksilver: “Dynamic Surfing”](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_16.html) 17. [Cadbury: Gorilla](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_17.html) 18. [BMW: “1 Series Graffit Contest”](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_18.html) 19. [Bing/Farmville](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_19.html) 20. [CareerBuilder: Monk-e-Mail](http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/17/facebook-old-spice-farmville-pepsi-forbes-viral-marketing-cmo-network-social-media_slide_20.html) **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Is Facebook stagnating in the UK?](https://allisterspeaks.com/is-facebook-stagnating-in-the-uk/) **Published:** August 18, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Facebook-Saturation](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/facebooksaturation_thumb.png "Facebook-Saturation")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/facebooksaturation.png)Hitwise is one of my favourite sites for valuable new insights into the UK social networking sites. In a [recent post](http://weblogs.hitwise.com/robin-goad/2010/08/facebook_accounts_for_1_in_6_uk_page_views_has_it_reached_saturation_point.html) by their Research Director [Robin Goad](http://weblogs.hitwise.com/info/robin-goad.html), Hitwise unveiled that Facebook accounted for a staggering **7.14%** of all UK Internet visits in June 2010 and well over half (**54.48%**) of all social networking activity. But the most extraordinary stat was that Facebook accounted for 1 in every 6 page views in the UK making it by far the most viewed site with more than double Google UK’s page views (**16.73%** for Facebook vs **8.22%** for Google UK). But, here’s the kicker: that **16.73%** was actually a decline on the previous month and **the fourth month at around this share of page views.** Could Facebook have reached saturation point? There has to come time when people just don’t want to get more of it, and it’s interesting that the average session time on Facebook in the UK has fallen again to just over 27 minutes, down from a peak of nearly 30 minutes in January. Or is this just a sign of the seasonality we normally expect to see over the summer months? Don’t write off Facebook just yet; we’ve seen similar stagnation points in the past and some of the innovation that’s coming soon could well inject more enthusiasm into Facebook’s vast army of users. **Categories:** Social Media --- ### [Welcome to my world](https://allisterspeaks.com/welcome-to-my-world/) **Published:** August 17, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** It’s time for a fresh start. That’s why you’ve found me here at an all new blog which, over time, will become the home to my musings about marketing, brands, digital media, and, more than anything, the incredible transformation the marketing world is going through as we shift from shouting to conversing. I hope that my regular readers at [The Useful Technology blog](http://www.usefultechnology.co.uk) will join me on this new journey. Let me know what you like, hate, or couldn’t care less about. Enjoy the ride! **Categories:** Miscellaneous --- ### [Using Outlook Rules to ease e-mail overload](https://allisterspeaks.com/using-outlook-rules-to-ease-e-mail-overload/) **Published:** July 26, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Rules are instructions you set up in Microsoft Outlook to have certain e-mails managed and delivered in a special way. For example, you might want all e-mails from a certain person delivered to a specified folder, or perhaps you’d like to hear an alert sound whenever you receive an e-mail with certain words in the subject line. ‘Rules’ is an age old feature of Microsoft Outlook, but one which is often misunderstood or ignored. [A recent post from Josh Meisels](http://blogs.msdn.com/b/outlook/archive/2010/07/21/quick-rule-creation-in-outlook-2010.aspx) in the Microsoft Outlook product team reminded me how easy it now is to set up and manage rules, especially if you have Outlook 2010 where the ribbon even suggests helpful rules for each e-mail you receive: [![clip_image001](http://blogs.msdn.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Blogs-Components-WeblogFiles/00-00-00-85-45-metablogapi/1731.clip_5F00_image001_5F00_thumb.png "clip_image001")](http://blogs.msdn.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Blogs-Components-WeblogFiles/00-00-00-85-45-metablogapi/0652.clip_5F00_image001_5F00_2.png) Don’t forget you can also apply rules when you ***send*** e-mails. I have my famous 2 minute delay on all e-mails I send; find out why [here](http://blogs.technet.com/b/usefultechnology/archive/2006/01/20/417790.aspx). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Facebook connector for Outlook, and more!](https://allisterspeaks.com/facebook-connector-for-outlook-and-more/) **Published:** July 14, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/image5b95d.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/image5b95d.png) Outlook users who dabble in Social network sites like Facebook and LinkedIn (and, let’s face it, who doesn’t dabble these days?) will be delighted with the hot Outlook Social Connectors released yesterday. With these add-ins you can connect your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Windows Live accounts to Outlook, allowing you to see updates and recently posted items from your contacts on each social network. The connectors work in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003, Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 and the new kid on the block Microsoft Outlook 2010. After installing and connecting to your social networks, you’ll see a window like the example above within Microsoft Outlook which will auto-populate with the latest social updates from the sender of each e-mail you receive. It’s really cool to instantly see what each of your contacts have been up to through so many different social networking sites. **You can download the various connectors from Microsoft at the links below:** [**Microsoft Outlook Social Connector Provider for Windows Live Messenger**](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b45b3d7f-22e1-403c-b0fb-587fd33aa6f3) [**Microsoft Outlook Social Connector Provider for Facebook**](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ce8b7517-234c-48a1-a655-324a88893b02) [**Social Connector for Outlook 2003 and 2007**](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b638cc14-11e5-448a-b5a6-4f553ce81b94) [**LinkedIn connector**](http://www.linkedin.com/outlook) (direct from the LinkedIn web site) And extra connector for MySpace will be released shortly assuming, of course, there are still some people dabbling on MySpace by then… \[Update: here’s a wooden video about this: [High Quality WMV (2.5 Mbps)](http://ecn.channel9.msdn.com/o9/ch9/7/3/7/0/6/5/OSCFB3_2MB_ch9.wmv)\] --- **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Archive and analyse Tweets–new free tool from Microsoft](https://allisterspeaks.com/archive-and-analyse-tweets-new-free-tool-from-microsoft/) **Published:** June 29, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![The Archivist header image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/clip_image0018.jpg?w=240 "clip_image001")Twitter fans listen up! Today Microsoft released a great new tool called The Archivist which allows you to create archives of Twitter topics for saving, exporting, and analysis. **Why might you need this?** If you’re interesting in monitoring your own Twitter activity to see what you tweet about, when, and from where, The Archivist can give you instant access to all kinds of fascinating information. If you follow certain topics on Twitter (like your company name or the town where you live) and would like to keep a record of what gets said, by whom, and when, The Archivist can do this for you. Or, if you’re just plain nosey and want to find out what someone else (maybe your neighbour or a competitor) is up to, The Archivist can help too. **To get started:** Go to , sign in to your Twitter account, and create your first search. Initially Twitter only returns results from the last week so *remember to save your archive* to instruct The Archivist to continue silently monitoring all Twitter activity. Now sit back and have a nice cup of tea, safe in the knowledge that The Archivist is collecting the data you need to revisit at any point in the future. Before long you’ll have collected enough tweet data to produce some pretty funky analysis. ![Example Twitter analytics](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/clip_image00151144dd382e.jpg?w=300) Let me know how you get on and if you find this helpful. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [How to disappear: deleting yourself from online sites](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-disappear-deleting-yourself-from-online-sites/) **Published:** June 17, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’m often asked what’s the best way to set up your privacy settings on social media and other online sites. It’s a complicated area and one that’s evolving rapidly. Facebook recently bowed to public and media pressure and simplified their privacy settings (if you haven’t reviewed your Facebook settings yet, do it now) and other sites are following suit. But have you ever wondered how you would go about ***closing down*** your online accounts? It can be surprisingly difficult and some sites (perhaps deliberately) make things a little more tricky than they could otherwise be. Thankfully Smashing Magazine has written a superb article that explains what you should do if the time comes for you to enjoy a more private existence. [Enjoy the read here.](http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/06/11/how-to-permanently-delete-your-account-on-popular-websites/) **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [Free World Cup application for Windows Mobile phones](https://allisterspeaks.com/free-world-cup-application-for-windows-mobile-phones/) **Published:** June 9, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **![](http://www.windowsphonefootball.com/images/shot_1.jpg)** **Breaking news:** there’s a FIFA World Cup tournament this year, and it starts on Friday! Yay! Footy fans all over the world will be willing their teams on. And what better way to keep up to date with all the latest news, scores, injuries, and penalty kick disasters, than with a free application from Windows Live for your Windows Mobile phone? You can even place bets to win points throughout the tournament and test how soccer savvi you are with a mobile quiz. Get it here: And best of luck to all the teams. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Stop making excuses, start measuring](https://allisterspeaks.com/stop-making-excuses-start-measuring/) **Published:** June 8, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Time flies when you’re busy or on holiday. And I’ve been both over the last few weeks. Sorry for the radio silence. In my bulging RSS sack I found [this article ](http://www.pamil-visions.net/can-you-measure-social-media-returns/215371/)from Everything PR which rightly shines a light on an increasingly common complaint about social media: "I don’t know how to measure it". If you fall into this camp, then read and re-read Laura’s words of wisdom: ***"Set a concrete goal for what you expect to achieve through social media involvement and then ask yourself whether that goal is being met. It’s really that simple."*** What’s stopping you from measuring your social media work now? **Categories:** Social Media --- ### [Microsoft Office 2010 – ready for launch](https://allisterspeaks.com/microsoft-office-2010-ready-for-launch/) **Published:** April 20, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/image5b35d7a8250de.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/image5b35d7a8250de.png)Like many, I was delighted to hear [the news](http://blogs.technet.com/office2010/archive/2010/04/15/office-2010-reaches-rtm.aspx) that [Microsoft Office 2010](http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx) has been Released To Manufacturing (RTMed), a curiously dated IT phrase that means the software is ready to be burned onto DVDs ready for sale in the shops. I’ve really enjoyed using the various Microsoft Office 2010 applications through the pre-launch testing phases and have been impressed by many of the new features. I’m a bit of an Outlook fanatic, but it’s the improvements to PowerPoint that have excited me most. At last we have a presentation package that makes you look as good as you can possibly imagine. Find out more about the coolest things in PowerPoint 2010 on the [team blog here](http://blogs.msdn.com/powerpoint/archive/2010/04/20/powerpoint-2010-released-to-manufacturing.aspx). I promise that anyone who regularly gives presentations soon won’t be able to live without these lovely new features. **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Awesome photo editing in Microsoft Office 2010](https://allisterspeaks.com/awesome-photo-editing-in-microsoft-office-2010/) **Published:** April 14, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I love the photo editing capabilities baked right into Microsoft Office 2010. It used to take so long to tweak a picture to match its surroundings, usually involving a costly trip into a photo editing package like Adobe Photoshop, but with Microsoft Office 2010 powerful photo editing tools are included within Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Publisher. The image below shows a quick sample that took me around 40 seconds to create, starting from the original picture in the top left. How long would that have taken me in the olden days? [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/image5b45d1872c891.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/image5b45d1872c891.png) Frankly, I find it mind-boggling to have this much power built into these applications, and I think you will too. There are three major tools that you’ll enjoy using: **Corrections, Color,** and **Artistic Effects.** The simplest way to demonstrate what they can do is with some screenshots: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/image5b165d27e58a64.png?w=243 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/image5b165d27e58a64.png) [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/image5b175d.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/image5b175d.png) [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/image5b215d.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/image5b215d.png) And don’t forget to also try out the Options at the bottom of each of these ribbon menus. You can adjust most effects to precisely meet your requirements, with live previews showing how your image will change before you commit to the change. And, by combining Correction, Color and Artistic Effects you can create even more extraordinary images. Don’t worry though, the Reset Picture button is only ever a mouse-click away so if you go a bit over the top with your image effects you can always start afresh. Another ace new feature from the Microsoft Office 2010 team, thanks! **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Add 2010 FIFA World Cup fixtures to your Microsoft Outlook calendar](https://allisterspeaks.com/add-2010-fifa-world-cup-fixtures-to-your-microsoft-outlook-calendar/) **Published:** March 24, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Football](http://www.playncollege.com/Soccer Ball.jpg "Football")The UK TV schedule for the first stages of this summer’s FIFA World Cup tournament is now available and football fans can quickly add the all-important dates to their Microsoft Outlook calendar with this simple technique courtesy of the UsefulTechnologyBlog: 1. **[Click here to download this Excel file]().** Save the file to your desktop. 2. *\[optional step\] If you’d like to customise the information that will be added to your Outlook calendar (e.g. to change times to your local time zone), open the Microsoft Excel file and edit as needed* 3. In Microsoft Outlook, choose **File, Open**, then **Import:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b55d.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b55d.png) 4. In the Import and Export Wizard choose **Import from another program or file:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image10.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image10.png) 5. Click **Next** then select **Microsoft Excel 97-2003:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image14.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image14.png) 6. Click **Next** then **Browse** to select the file you downloaded to your desktop in Step 1: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image18.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image18.png) 7. Click **Next** then select **Calendar** as your destination folder: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image22.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image22.png) 8. Click **Next** then click **Finish:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image26.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image26.png) 9. Microsoft Outlook will import the dates to your calendar, marked as private appointments without a reminder. Look in your calendar to confirm that everything has worked. The first match, between the hosts South Africa and Mexico, should appear on Friday June 11th at 3pm. 10. Sit back and look forward to kick off! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Tangled Cables: an urban survival guide](https://allisterspeaks.com/tangled-cables-an-urban-survival-guide/) **Published:** March 23, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** They’re the bane of many digital lives: those pesky cables that are both completely essential and universally unloved. Anyone who’s ever carried a laptop, a mobile phone or a music player has experienced cable chaos, that moment when an impenetrable tangle makes you want to hurl the jumbled mess out of the train window. I’ve tried lots of solutions in the past, from elastic bands (they always snap), to Velcro ties (they snag your new cashmere sweater), to an old hairclip donated by my wife (that just looked weird). There’s a new breed of cables now coming to market that will hopefully bring an end to cable craziness like those on the [Beats by Dr Dre](http://www.monstercable.com/productdisplay.asp?pin=4608). But they’re expensive so while you’re saving up here are some UsefulTechnology suggestions for a tangle-free existence: **WorldStores Cable Tidy, £0.99 each[![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b445d.png?w=181 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b445d.png)** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b75d10588873.png?w=213 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b75d10588873.png) Cheap and functional. Works well ‘in line’ so any spare cable cab remain wrapped while in use. Only one size so only suitable for very thin cables. Rather spoiled though by the ugly URL printed on the cable tidy and limited choice of colours. Buy from [Headphone World](http://www.headphoneworld.com/p/WorldStores_Cable_Tidy.htm). **Proporta Silicone Cable Tidy, £4.95 each[![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b455d.png?w=182 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b455d.png)** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b115d.png?w=281 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b115d.png) An odd looking creature but pleasantly soft to the touch and very lightweight. Only suitable for very thin cables and expensive for what it is. Available in three rather dull colours: green, black and transparent. Buy from [Proporta](http://www.proporta.com/F02/PPF02P05.php?t_id=4395&t_mode=des). **Bobino, £1.99 each[![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b555d.png?w=181 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b555d.png)** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b565d.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b565d.png) Simple, elegant, and colourful, you know where you stand with a Bobino. Just bend, wrap and go. Available in three sizes for different cables lengths and thicknesses. Buy from [LazyboneUK](http://www.lazyboneuk.com/products/Bobino-Cable-Organiser.html) or high street stores. **Proporta Headphone Cable Tidy, £4.95 for three[![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b475d.png?w=185 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b475d.png)** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b155d1a0808a2.png?w=212 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b155d1a0808a2.png) A simple magnetic clasp that hooks around your already wound cable. Very quick and simple to use. Cable can still re-tangle itself if the clasp doesn’t grip tightly enough. Stephen Fry apparently likes them; make of that what you will. Buy from [Proporta](http://www.proporta.com/F02/PPF02P05.php?t_id=4452&t_mode=des). Vinyl Badge Clip, free from any event reception desk [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b655d.png?w=181 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b655d.png) [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b665d.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b665d.png) A clever recycling solution from Lifehacker! Plus it’s wearable so you can clip this to your clothing and look a proper geek at that important industry event. More info from [Lifehacker](http://lifehacker.com/5476627/keep-your-headphones-tangle+free-and-nearby-with-a-vinyl-badge-clip). **The Winner:** Bobino just edges into pole position. They are cheap, colourful and effortlessly functional. And the range of sizes makes them adaptable for most portable cables including mains leads. Of course, the ideal solution would be to go completely wireless or own cables that don’t get tangled, but until that day comes a couple of Bobinos in your bag is a great step towards tangle-free living. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Discover the new Schedule View in Microsoft Outlook 2010](https://allisterspeaks.com/discover-the-new-schedule-view-in-microsoft-outlook-2010/) **Published:** March 19, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I could never understand why the calendar in Microsoft Outlook insists on showing the times down the left of the screen, even when you’re viewing multiple calendars belonging to different people. Trying to find a spare slot for a team meeting like this is next to impossible; our eyes just don’t work efficiently like this. Try picking out the free time slot from this lot (content blurred to protect confidentiality): [![Dayview](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/dayview5b45d.jpg?w=300 "Dayview")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/dayview5b45d.jpg) Thankfully, a shiny new Schedule View is now available in Microsoft Outlook 2010 (get the free beta from [here](http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx)) that makes spotting mutually free time slots a breeze: [![Scheduleview](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/scheduleview5b35d.jpg?w=277 "Scheduleview")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/scheduleview5b35d.jpg) (Did you spot it? I highlighted the mutually free time for my team meeting: 11.45-12.00!) OK, so the Schedule View won’t make you or your colleagues any less busy, but it certainly makes comparing diaries a whole lot simpler. Thanks to the Microsoft Outlook team for adding this feature. More details available from the Microsoft Outlook team blog at [http://blogs.msdn.com/outlook/archive/2010/03/18/schedule-view-in-outlook-2010.aspx](http://blogs.msdn.com/outlook/archive/2010/03/18/schedule-view-in-outlook-2010.aspx "http://blogs.msdn.com/outlook/archive/2010/03/18/schedule-view-in-outlook-2010.aspx"). **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [No more belated birthday greetings](https://allisterspeaks.com/no-more-belated-birthday-greetings/) **Published:** March 18, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Do you find it hard to remember birthdays? Even with Facebook and my trusty kitchen wall calendar I seem to make a habit of missing special days. And my excuse that we each share our birthday with over 18 million other people around the world (except for the tortured minority who were born on 29th February) is starting to wear a little thin. So it came as a timely reminder yesterday when [www.outlook-tips.net](http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2010/20100317.htm) reminded me of some easy ways to add birthdays to Microsoft Outlook. Not only can Outlook help you create a permanent ‘backupable’ record of those important dates, you can also set it to remind\* you in advance to give you just enough time to buy that greetings card and extravagant gift! \* If you’re adding lots of birthdays to Outlook it’s a smart idea to change your default reminder time to something more sensible like 1 or 2 days. By default, calendar reminders fire 15 minutes before the appointment, which for an all day event means 11.45 at night! That’s nothing short of annoying, so make sure you change the reminder in Outlook’s calendar options before you add birthday details for each contact: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b135d.png?w=276 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b135d.png) Now you’ve had the reminder warning, here’s how to add birthday dates to Microsoft Outlook 2007 or 2010: - Either create a new contact *or* edit an existing contact - Click on the Details tab [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b35d0723a600.png?w=43 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b35d0723a600.png) - Enter their birth date into the birthday field [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b75d.png?w=249 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/image5b75d.png) - Outlook will automatically add an all day event to your calendar and set a reminder using your default reminder settings - When you’ve finished adding all birthdays to your contacts, remember to reset your default calendar reminder period. If you’re saddled with the burden of extreme popularity, have a look at the [automated tools suggested by Outlook-tips.net](http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2010/20100317.htm); they could save you lots of time if you’ve hundreds of birthday dates to add. **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Every laptop needs one](https://allisterspeaks.com/every-laptop-needs-one/) **Published:** March 17, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Super folding British plug](http://www.creativereview.co.uk/images/uploads/2010/03/choi_u000plug_0.jpg "Folding Plug")Every Brit who has ever travelled knows how cumbersome our UK plugs can be. Now, British student [Min-Kyu Choi](http://www.minkyu.co.uk/Site/), has invented the Folding Plug, and scooped the prestigious Brit Insurance Design of the Year award too. There’s a similar mini-plug in development at [www.thinplug.com](http://www.thinplug.com/ "www.thinplug.com") too, all of which can only be good news for British travellers. How long before this can go into mass production I wonder? Not a moment too soon, if my groaning laptop bag is anything to go by. Thanks to [Creative Review](http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2010/march/folding-plug) for their report. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Swiss Railway Clock for Windows](https://allisterspeaks.com/swiss-railway-clock-for-windows/) **Published:** February 26, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Swiss Railway Clock](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/image5b65d7381de46.png?w=131 "Swiss Railway Clock")I’m a big fan of Swiss design and [SwissMiss](http://www.swiss-miss.com/) today [posted links](http://www.swiss-miss.com/2010/02/swiss-railway-clock-iphone-app.html) an iPhone app and Mac OS X widget so you can add a distinctive Swiss Railway Clock to your Apple devices. Thankfully those of us with Microsoft powered devices needn’t miss out: there’s a gorgeous Windows taskbar add-on and a desktop gadget [available for free download from cnet](http://download.cnet.com/Swiss-Railway-Clock/3000-2257_4-10909100.html). The download also includes a screensaver, but the desktop gadget gets my vote. You can’t beat the unique feel of that sweeping second hand that pauses for 1.5 seconds when it reaches the top of the minute. How precisely delightful! And, for even more Swiss Railway clock screensaver options for both Mac OS X or Windows, check out [this page](http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/screensaver.htm) off of [www.swissworld.org](http://www.swissworld.org). **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Custom Shapes in PowerPoint 2010 – Fantastic!](https://allisterspeaks.com/custom-shapes-in-powerpoint-2010-fantastic/) **Published:** February 4, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This has just made my day. No, make that my week, or maybe even my month! [The PowerPoint Team Blog](http://blogs.msdn.com/powerpoint/archive/2010/02/01/creating-custom-shapes-in-powerpoint-2010.aspx) has announced that custom shapes can now be created in PowerPoint 2010 ([get the free beta here](http://www.microsoft.com/office/2010/en/default.aspx)) with the new ‘Combine Shapes’ feature hidden deep within the application. If you’ve ever struggled to recreate a diagram or complex shape in PowerPoint, or have reluctantly had to turn to a more advanced illustration program to get the results you need, this will make you ***very*** happy! Custom shapes can be created by combining simple shapes to create the effect you need. There are four commands you can apply to your shapes as shown below: [![image](http://blogs.msdn.com/blogfiles/powerpoint/WindowsLiveWriter/CreatingCustomShapesinPowerPoint2010_BF64/image_thumb_9.png "image")](http://blogs.msdn.com/blogfiles/powerpoint/WindowsLiveWriter/CreatingCustomShapesinPowerPoint2010_BF64/image_20.png) Before long you’ll be creating masterpiece custom shapes like this, simply by using the **Union** command. Try doing this in PowerPoint 2007 or older!: [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/image5b45d10350dd3.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/image5b45d10350dd3.png) OK, not my finest creative hour, but I was in a hurry to tell you about this feature! Here’s the tricky bit though: these combine shape commands don’t appear in the ribbon automatically, you need to add them yourself. The basic steps to do this are as follows: 1. **PowerPoint Options** 2. **Customize Ribbon** 3. Select **Commands Not in the Ribbon** in the *left hand* drop down box then scroll down in the box below to click on **Shape Combine** 4. Select **Tool Tabs** in the *right hand* drop down box then locate **Format** in the **Drawing tools** section in the box below 5. Click **New Group** then **Rename…** and select a pretty icon and name your group **Combine Shapes** (or whatever you like!) 6. With your new Combine Shapes group *still highlighted* on the right, click **Add** four times. This will add the **Shape Combine, Shape Intersect, Shape Subtract,** and **Shape Union** to your group. 7. Hit **OK** at the bottom and start adding shapes as normal to your slide. When you’re ready to combine, go to the **Format tab** and you’ll see your new **Combine Shapes** commands on the ribbon. Enjoy! The commands don’t work on grouped objects so be sure to ungroup any shapes before trying to apply any combine shapes commands. Have fun creating custom shapes. The world is yours to create! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Bing Maps – loving it!](https://allisterspeaks.com/bing-maps-loving-it/) **Published:** February 2, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Bing Map Apps](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/image5b65d47790818.png?w=300 "Map Apps") Bing Maps just get better and better! Larry Larsen of [Channel 10](http://on10.net/blogs/larry/Have-You-Seen-Bing-Map-Apps/) has reminded me of the new Map Apps feature that allows you to add customised overlays onto Bing maps. Head over to [http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/](http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/ "http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/") to discover a handy map overlay. I love the ‘What’s Nearby’ app that helps you find useful places like restaurants, theatres, doctors etc. It’s fabulous for helping you find your bearings when visiting a new town and has just told me where I’ll be having dinner tonight! *Note:* some overlays only work for the USA currently. Expect maps apps for other countries soon. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Adobe PDF Preview Handler fix for 64-bit Windows](https://allisterspeaks.com/adobe-pdf-preview-handler-fix-for-64-bit-windows/) **Published:** January 29, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![PDF Preview Handler error](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1yGgbZVLpdI/SqDLejSteVI/AAAAAAAAAB8/FecXE7s_Vuk/adobepreviewerror[5].jpg?imgmax=800 "If you see this, you need the fix!")If you run a 64-bit version of Windows and find that you are unable to preview Adobe Acrobat files you’ll be relieved to learn there’s now a fix available from [pretentiousname.com](http://www.pretentiousname.com/adobe_pdf_x64_fix/). The tool also works for 64-bit versions of Microsoft Office 2010 and fixes some erroneous registry entries. So, stop waiting for Adobe to fix their own software, and restore your Acrobat previews to their former glory! [Get the fix here](http://www.pretentiousname.com/adobe_pdf_x64_fix/). Huge thanks to Leo Davidson for his fine work! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Windows Live Experience Pack](https://allisterspeaks.com/windows-live-experience-pack/) **Published:** January 21, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Windows Live Experience Pack](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/image5b65d.png?w=300 "Windows Live Experience Pack")](http://experience.windows.com/Landing.aspx?culture=en-gb) This is a nice bit of fun from the Windows Live team. Check out the brand new [Experience Pack](http://experience.windows.com/Landing.aspx?culture=en-gb) that allows you to customise Windows 7 and Windows Live Messenger with some quirky (or should that be creepy?!) personalised avatar images based on a photo you upload or take on your webcam. Installation is a breeze and before you know it you too could look a proper Charlie! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [UsefulTechnology: White Balance Lens Cap](https://allisterspeaks.com/usefultechnology-white-balance-lens-cap/) **Published:** January 19, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Every so often something appears leaving you wondering “why didn’t I think of that?” Or, in this case, why didn’t Nikon, Canon, or any other camera manufacturer think of this, it’s so blindingly obvious! If you own an SLR camera and have ever had to colour correct a load of photos because you either forgot to set the white balance or couldn’t find something white to set the balance with, you’ll want one of these: [the White Balance Lens Cap](http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/white-balance-lens-cap). [![White Balance Lens Cap](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/image5b35d.png?w=244 "White Balance Lens Cap")](http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/white-balance-lens-cap) Before you start taking pictures, put your camera into ‘set white balance mode’, take a photo with the lens cap on (something I routinely do!) and your white balance is set! Done! No more dodgy hues, no more forgetting, no more lost hours post-correcting the colour balance. Available for lens thread sizes from 52mm to 77mm from [Photojojo](http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/white-balance-lens-cap). Thanks to [SwissMiss](http://www.swiss-miss.com/2010/01/the-white-balance-lens-cap.html) for sharing this. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [The Digital Divide in action](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-digital-divide-in-action/) **Published:** January 18, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** With a hat tip to [The Next Web](http://thenextweb.com/uk/2010/01/16/20-of-brits-think-steve-jobs-is-a-footballer/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheNextWeb+(The+Next+Web)), I enjoyed reading about a new survey by [Lewis PR](http://www.lewiswire.com/uk/lewiswire/LEWIS-PR/Steve-Jobs-doesnt-he-work-for-the-TUC/n/6817) that graphically demonstrates Britain’s digital divide. Amongst the 1,000 survey respondents 20% have no idea that Steve Jobs is the CEO of Apple, with one in 20 thinking he’s a second division footballer. Five per cent thought Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the Internet, was the first astronaut in space, while 10% thought a dongle was a sex toy! Findings like these come as no surprise to me. Working in the tech industry we often take technical terms for granted and forget that out there in the real world, many people have little time to figure out what a VHD is (10% thinks it’s a sexually transmitted disease) or to get to grips with social networking (11% still don’t know what it is). The responsibility lies with everyone in the industry, including me, to explain the fast-moving world of technology in simple and interesting ways so as many people as possible can enjoy the extraordinary benefits useful technology can bring. For a taster of some of the survey responses – interestingly filmed outside Microsoft’s main London office – watch the video below: \[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfiI8uBXTNc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en\_GB&feature=player\_embedded&fs=1\] **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Sticky Notes – free productivity tool in Windows 7](https://allisterspeaks.com/sticky-notes-free-productivity-tool-in-windows-7/) **Published:** January 12, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/image5b155d.png?w=204 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/image5b155d.png) Fed up with all those Post-it notes cluttering your desk? Wondering why you’re spending more at the stationery store than ever before? Maybe you’ll be pleased to discover the Sticky Notes magic in Windows 7! To get started, just type **Sticky Notes** in the program launch bar under the Start button. A blank sticky note will appear on your desktop and from here your job is as simple as typing in whatever it is you need to remember. You can also customise your Sticky Notes quite a lot. To change the colour right-click on the note and select a different colour. To add another note, hit the + symbol in the top left. To change the formatting of the note (although, unfortunately, not the typeface) try these handy shortcuts: - **CTRL+B = bold** - **CTRL+U = underlining** - **CTRL+T = strikethrough (useful for crossing items off your list)** - **CTRL+I = italics** - **CTRL+SHIFT+> = increase font size** - **CTRL + SHIFT+< = reduce font size** By the way, all those keyboard shortcuts work elsewhere in Microsoft applications like Microsoft Office Word and Microsoft Office Outlook and once you’ve memorised them you’ll be using them all over the place before long! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [A thing I love: Windows 7 Snap](https://allisterspeaks.com/a-thing-i-love-windows-7-snap/) **Published:** January 11, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Windows Snap](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/windowssnap5b85d.png?w=300 "Windows Snap")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/windowssnap5b85d.png) If you’ve seen [the TV ad](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnolmuFgW7w) you’ll no doubt already know about the invaluable [‘Snap’ feature in Windows 7](http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/snap.aspx) that helps you arrange windows by simply dragging them to the edge of the screen. Once you’ve used this feature, you never want to go back. I accidentally discovered a new twist on Windows Snap today: if you double click on the top or bottom border of a floating window, Windows 7 will instantly stretch that windows to the top and bottom of the screen without changing its horizontal position. Neat! There are plenty more ways to use Windows Snap in a, er, snap, including these keyboard shortcuts: **Windows Key + Up:** Maximise Current Window **Windows Key + Down:** Restore Down / Minimise Current Window **Windows Key + Left:** Tile Current Window to the Left **Windows Key + Right:** Tile Current Windows to the Right (and continue pressing the Left and Right keys to rotate the window’s position around your screen) The other impossible-to-live-without feature of Windows Snap is the new ability to ‘tear’ a maximised window from its locked position and drag it anywhere you like. No more faffing about having to ‘restore down’ a windows then drag it; just grab the top bar of a maximised windows and rip it away! Oh, and I can’t ignore Snap’s little sister, [Shake](http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/features/shake.aspx), the Windows 7 feature that everyone loves but few people remember to use. Give it a wiggle! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [The face of 24 years in computing](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-face-of-24-years-in-computing/) **Published:** January 4, 2010 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I thoroughly enjoyed scrolling through [this interesting article](http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/24-years-of-windows-package-design-643034) on Tech Radar which catalogues the many faces of the Microsoft Windows brand over the last 24 years. The packaging and indeed the whole computing experience have gone on quite a journey. I never owned a copy of Windows 1.0 but I fondly recall traipsing half the way across a snowy London to buy a 5.25” floppy disk drive for my Amstrad computer (running at a dizzying 12MHz and sporting a massive 20MB hard dick) so I could make use of those rubbish programs that came taped on the covers of early computing magazines: [![Windows 1.0](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/windows1.jpg?w=250 "Windows 1.0")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/windows1.jpg) And thankfully I somehow managed to skip the design (and software) abomination that was Windows ME: [![Windows ME](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/windowsme5b65d.jpg?w=300 "Windows ME")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/windowsme5b65d.jpg) But I’m very pleased to be a contented owner of the new slimmed down (both packaging and software) Windows 7 operating system. I take mine black, like my coffee. [![Windows 7](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/windows75b35d.jpg?w=300 "Windows 7")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/windows75b35d.jpg) Take a read through [the Tech Radar article](http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/24-years-of-windows-package-design-643034). It’s revealing to see how much computer-related graphic design has changed over such a short period of time. I wonder, what will our lives look like in 2034? **Categories:** Design --- ### [Don’t tweet your heart out](https://allisterspeaks.com/dont-tweet-your-heart-out/) **Published:** December 14, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![siteLogo[1]](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/sitelogo5b15d5b55d.gif?w=273 "siteLogo[1]")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/sitelogo5b15d5b55d.gif) I enjoyed this [excellent article](http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/news/972465/Watch-tweets-marketers-segregate-personal-professional-social-media) which first appeared in last week’s Marketing magazine in the UK. With social media channels changing the way we search for and interact with information of all types, it’s clear that marketers like me must now figure out how they’ll manage and segregate their personal and professional brands within online channels. I’m new school so am convinced that all senior marketers will be active users of social media channels in the future, maybe five to ten years from now. Marketers can no longer hide in their ivory towers and rely on the ‘shout-once and listen for echo’ marketing techniques of old. Not everyone agrees that this social media thing is here to stay, but I remember long-forgotten colleagues saying the same about the Internet not so very long ago. For now, I’m willing to bet my career that to survive in a world irrevocably changed by the empowerment that social media brings, marketers have a responsibility and a duty to leading the way by becoming visible, active contributors to social media channels. Without participating in the conversation you cannot properly understand its effect, and you could be left behind wondering why the echo has disappeared. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Eight ways to kill an idea](https://allisterspeaks.com/eight-ways-to-kill-an-idea/) **Published:** November 24, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Hat tip to the ever so talented [Scott C](http://scott-c.blogspot.com/). How many of these crimes will you commit today? ![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2461/4095269786_544dd1f551_o.jpg "seven ways") **Categories:** Marketing --- ### [Why donating to political parties sucks](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-donating-to-political-parties-sucks/) **Published:** November 23, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We don’t do political commentary on the UsefulTechnology blog, but we’re always happy to share tips to help you save money. And, with a general election on the UK horizon any time soon, our advice today would be “never donate money to a political party”. They’ll only wizzle your money up the wall doing moronic X Factor themed marketing like this: Labour: 14 November 2009 [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/image5b45d11a2178a.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/image5b45d11a2178a.png) Conservative response: 23 November 2009 ![Torie advert](http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2009/Nov/Week4/15462688.jpg) Political advertising: a puerile waste of money. If only we could vote off the politicians… With thanks to [BrandRepublic](http://www.brandrepublic.com/BrandRepublicNews/News/968791/Tory-Jedward-poster-hits-streets-within-minutes-X-Factor-eviction/) **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Are you a Social Media Idiot?](https://allisterspeaks.com/are-you-a-social-media-idiot/) **Published:** August 14, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Another day on Twitter](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/image5b165d.png?w=300 "Another day on Twitter")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/image5b165d.png) Working in Marketing at Microsoft I’m contacted by more than my fair share of experts telling me they have the answer to my business challenges. In fact, since the economic downturn began my phone’s never tring-a-linged so often with calls from consultants hunting for new business. Sadly, my budgets are under pressure as much as the next man and I have to prove that every penny I spend brings real returns for Microsoft. This SlideShare presentation tickled me. I despair when self-invented SMEs (Social Media Experts) tell me they have the recipe for business success. Click through the slides below and, if you’re an SME thinking of calling me, please don’t if anything here reminds you of you. [An easy way to tell if you’re a social media idiot](http://www.slideshare.net/socialmediaidiot/an-easy-way-to-tell-if-youre-a-social-media-idiot "An easy way to tell if you're a social media idiot")[http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=socialidiot-090812191834-phpapp02&stripped\_title=an-easy-way-to-tell-if-youre-a-social-media-idiot](http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=socialidiot-090812191834-phpapp02&stripped_title=an-easy-way-to-tell-if-youre-a-social-media-idiot)View more [presentations](http://www.slideshare.net/) from [Social Media Idiots](http://www.slideshare.net/socialmediaidiot). **Categories:** Social Media --- ### [Who knew shopping could be so…](https://allisterspeaks.com/who-knew-shopping-could-be-so/) **Published:** August 3, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/image_thumb5b25d6a031b6b.png?w=300 "image")](http://www.swaxy.com/) I guess it was only a matter of time. Yes, the oh-so-predictable fusion of “must-have gadgets” and “sex sells” has finally happened with the arrival of [Swaxy.com](http://www.swaxy.com/). So now you can lust after that gorgeous new gadget with tiny buttons, while also admiring a fake-tanned dolly with enormous… **Health and Safety Warning: Never store darts in your bikini [as suggested here](http://www.swaxy.com/blog/2009/07/11/electronic-darts-and-dartboard/).** **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Drive a lot? Here’s an interesting read](https://allisterspeaks.com/drive-a-lot-heres-an-interesting-read/) **Published:** July 28, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tfK-o9e8L._SL75_.jpg) [Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What it Says About Us)](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Traffic-Drive-What-Says-About/dp/0713999314%3FSubscriptionId%3D0JTCV5ZMHMF7ZYTXGFR2%26tag%3Dwwwusefultech-21%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0713999314) If you’ve ever wondered why other people are always such bad drivers, this book could help. And perhaps it’s you who’s the problem, not them. Having read this book I have a much better appreciation of why we drive the way we do, and am now much more forgiving of the bad drivers I see around me. And I also get to where I want to go faster because I’m a late-merger, and an unrepentant one at that! A good read for anyone who, like me, spends too much time on the road. Enjoy! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Nice new Microsoft Wave site](https://allisterspeaks.com/nice-new-microsoft-wave-site/) **Published:** July 28, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/image5b45d.png?w=300 "image")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/image5b45d.png) Just launched by my chums in the Microsoft online team, a new site to showcase some of the interesting things that Microsoft gets up to. And no, we’re not trying to sell you anything here; we just thought it would be neat to package up some of our more funky stuff into one place. See the Microsoft Wave at [www.microsoft.com/uk/wave](http://www.microsoft.com/uk/wave). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Ah, those were the days!](https://allisterspeaks.com/ah-those-were-the-days/) **Published:** April 22, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Enjoy this ad, dating from around 1977, when "Electronic Mail" was truly terrifying to most people. ![Email Ad from the 1970s. Electronic mail had sparkles back then...](http://thenextweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/electronic_mail-600x819.jpg "electronic_mail") With thanks to Gizmodo: **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [It’s not easy being green: the Microsoft MPG Challenge](https://allisterspeaks.com/its-not-easy-being-green-the-microsoft-mpg-challenge/) **Published:** March 25, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![What happens if you drive too slowly](http://www.whizzgo.co.uk/Images/greencar.gif "What happens if you drive too slowly")I took the Microsoft MPG Challenge at work today. The basic idea was to learn how to drive a car more fuel efficiently and see how much of an improvement I could make to my MPG ([miles per gallon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_per_gallon)) score. On my first drive around the residential mile-long course in a tinny little Seat car I managed just 24 MPG. After the instructor told me when to accelerate, change gear, and brake I managed 35 MPG, a 46% improvement! Not bad for simply accelerating more gently, allowing the car to decelerate more steadily, jumping from 3rd to 5th gear, and paying more attention to the road conditions ahead. I had impressed myself, if not the driving instructor, so decided to put the theory to the test on my homeward commute in my Skoda Octavia around [the M25](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M25_motorway). My car’s an automatic so some of the gear-changing theory was redundant. I also drive much of my commute on motorways so dropping to a lower constant speed was pretty much all I could think of changing. Dicing with death amidst the lorries on the inside lane I activated cruise control at around 60mph, switched off non-essential comforts like air conditioning and sat nav, and put my feet up for the long crawl home. I even emptied my pipe before setting off (to reduce weight) and tuned the wireless to BBC Radio 3 for that authentic octogenarian driving experience. I was strict too. At one point I could have sworn I was lapped by a convoy of knackered army vehicles on their ways to the scrap yard. Here, after much fevered calculation, are the results: **MY NORMAL AFTERNOON COMMUTE** 57 miles @ **60mph average speed** at **43.6MPG** taking **57 minutes** This consumes **1.307 gallons** (5.943 litres) of diesel at a cost of **£5.88** (@98.9p per litre) **MY FUEL-EFFICIENT COMMUTE** 57 miles @ **48mph average speed** at **56.6MPG** taking **71 minutes** This consumes **1.007 gallons** (4.578 litres) of diesel at a cost of **£4.53** (@98.9p per litre) Quite a difference. So, here’s the good bit: - In one trip I’ve saved 1.365 litres of diesel worth £1.35, **reducing my CO2 output by 3.7kg** - Over the course of a year (based on 135 return trips) I could save £364.50 and **reduce my carbon footprint by 999kg, just under 1 tonne** - This would save me having to plant an acre of trees to help clear my eco-conscience But, here’s the bad bit: - Each journey now lasts **14 minutes longer,** that’s a 25% increase - Over the course of a year (based on 135 return trips) this would mean I spend **63 more hours commuting,** that’s an additional 2 days and 15 hours - I would almost certainly be crushed to death within weeks by a weaving foreign lorry sideswiping me out of its blind spot, or suffer a massive cardiac arrest brought on by my blood pressure rising with every vehicle that passes me by Due to a quirk of fate my home and workplace are in very different locations meaning I already spend more than 10.5 days of my life commuting to and from work in my car each year. The thought of passing even more time behind the wheel has very little appeal. Looking at it another way, if someone offered me £364.50 right now to go and sit in my car for the next 63 hours I’d tell them where to stick their gearstick. So, with regret, much as one tonne of CO2 sounds like a worthy reduction to aim for, I can’t see me adjusting my driving habits any time soon. Life’s just too hectic and, selfishly, I value my time more highly than my exhaust fumes. Thanks, Microsoft, for the lesson today. You reminded me how to anticipate road conditions ahead and to think about the environmental impact of my driving. But my busy job doesn’t afford me the luxury of driving so slowly and I value time with my family more highly than time inside my car. It’s so true what they say; it’s not easy being green. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Outlook add-ins messing up your life?](https://allisterspeaks.com/outlook-add-ins-messing-up-your-life/) **Published:** March 19, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.onquota.net/Sales_Support_Services/Outlook-2007.gif)If you’ve installed an add-in to Outlook 2007 that you now suspect to be causing Outlook to misbehave, you can disable it quite simply using the Trust Center. However, if you’re also using Windows Vista, or some another OS, you may encounter a curious error message telling you “The connected state of Office Add-Ins registered in HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE cannot be changed.” Thankfully the workaround is simple. To disable your bogus add-in you must start Outlook with administrator privileges: **Windows 7** CTRL+SHIFT click on the Outlook icon on your taskbar to instantly launch the program with administrator privileges. Or create a new instance of the Outlook program icon on your desktop, then right click on it and select Properties. Under the compatibility tab set the Privilege Level to ‘Run this program as an administrator’. Once Outlook opens in administrator mode, disable the add-in in the Trust Center. **Windows Vista** Right click on the Outlook shortcut and choose “Run as administrator”. Once you’ve disabled the add-in, restart Outlook to run it under the standard user credentials once again. **Windows XP/2000** Log off your user account and log back in to the computer as an administrator. After disabling the dodgy add-in, logon once again with your normal user account. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [My Twitter friends](https://allisterspeaks.com/my-twitter-friends/) **Published:** February 12, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** What a curiously attractive bunch you are. [Get your twitter mosaic here.](http://sxoop.com/twitter/mosaic.pl) [![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/60390476/DSC00111_normal.JPG "Rob")](http://twitter.com/Rob_Chandler)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70918395/copper_normal.jpg "steve clayton")](http://twitter.com/stevecla)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72486694/predator_normal.jpg "Russ Watsham")](http://twitter.com/rwatsham)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/57405024/My_Character_normal.jpg "Georgina Lewis")](http://twitter.com/GeorginaLLewis)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/74775593/0042.008_-_Copy_normal.jpg "markjo")](http://twitter.com/markjo)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70751429/snaretag_normal.jpg "Philippa Snare")](http://twitter.com/Filleepa)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/16731052/chinwag_logo_w-tag_165px_normal.gif "Chinwag")](http://twitter.com/Chinwag)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/24913862/434094351_dd27976980_normal.jpg "Arlie Haft")](http://twitter.com/arliehaft)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/16693082/ian_normal.jpg "Ian Moulster")](http://twitter.com/ianxx)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/36623822/Eileen_Budapest_small_normal.JPG "Eileen Brown")](http://twitter.com/eileenb)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/62265957/twitterprofile_oct17_normal.jpg "Stephen Fry")](http://twitter.com/stephenfry)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73342696/Camel_normal.jpg "Rob Brydon")](http://twitter.com/RealRobBrydon)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/53136344/sifryhugh_square_normal.jpg "Hugh MacLeod")](http://twitter.com/gapingvoid)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/54436717/LoicHeadShot_normal.jpg "Loic Le Meur")](http://twitter.com/loic)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/66080011/n528346572_361373_8261_normal.jpg "jonathan ross")](http://twitter.com/Wossy)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75465223/twitpic2_normal.jpg "Robert Llewellyn")](http://twitter.com/bobbyllew)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/64445726/rb_normal.jpg "richardbranson")](http://twitter.com/richardbranson)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/62591165/minime_normal.JPG "robmargel")](http://twitter.com/robmargel)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/25534532/Me_2_normal.png "Robert_Banghart")](http://twitter.com/Robert_Banghart)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70714104/t_normal.gif "TechHit")](http://twitter.com/TechHit)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/71079077/James_Tutt_Vcard_normal.jpg "jamestutt")](http://twitter.com/jamestutt)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/56080655/12_icon_normal.gif "12seconds")](http://twitter.com/12seconds)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/65096833/front_door_glassworks_normal.jpg "?What If! ")](http://twitter.com/wearewhatif)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70398594/chirplogo_normal.jpg "chirpapp")](http://twitter.com/chirpapp)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/53133755/photobox_star_logo_normal.jpg "PhotoBox")](http://twitter.com/PhotoBox)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/62801149/AnnArizona_normal.jpg "Ann Handley")](http://twitter.com/MarketingProfs)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/26501042/rohit_legoman_square_normal.jpg "Rohit Bhargava")](http://twitter.com/rohitbhargava)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/62995247/profile_normal.jpg "marketing_angel")](http://twitter.com/marketing_angel)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/56630368/hand_normal.jpg "AD on Participation")](http://twitter.com/participationm)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/54067485/355061741_a6a586f0b5_normal.jpg "Man Utd Scores")](http://twitter.com/manutd_scores)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73220187/manutd_normal.jpg "Man Utd Mediawatch")](http://twitter.com/manumediawatch)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/66096514/Robert_Epstein_231_small_normal.jpg "robertepstein")](http://twitter.com/robertepstein)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/74081897/big_fishtwitter_normal.jpg "Peter Frost")](http://twitter.com/WaltonMan)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/52183129/jma_copy_normal.jpg "Michael Arrington")](http://twitter.com/TechCrunch)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76861332/glasto_normal.jpg "Jemima Kiss")](http://twitter.com/jemimakiss)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/38726922/streep_crop_sm_normal.jpg "JohnCleese")](http://twitter.com/JohnCleese)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69113442/guy2.0_normal.jpg "Guy Kawasaki")](http://twitter.com/guykawasaki)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/59093371/santa_normal.jpg "Wil Harris")](http://twitter.com/WilHarris)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/47317232/Liveside_Logo_Mix08_-_Glass_copy_bigger_normal.jpg "liveside")](http://twitter.com/liveside)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69996411/me_on_wrapped_up_warm_normal.jpg "Steve Lamb")](http://twitter.com/ActionLamb)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/15181192/sam_48x48_normal.jpg "Sam Michel")](http://twitter.com/toodlepip)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/65947060/Angus_Thumbnail_2_179x179_normal.jpg "anguslogan")](http://twitter.com/anguslogan)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/52598192/matw_normal.jpg "Mat Walker")](http://twitter.com/matski_98)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/63622677/me_normal.jpg "Mike Butcher")](http://twitter.com/mikebutcher)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/58439629/petepassport_normal.PNG "Pete Cashmore")](http://twitter.com/mashable)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/52135555/FrontDoorNumber_normal.jpg "DowningStreet")](http://twitter.com/DowningStreet)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/50582482/twitpic-icon_normal.gif "TwitPic")](http://twitter.com/TwitPic)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/24534012/guardianlogo_normal.jpg "The Guardian")](http://twitter.com/guardiannews)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/42880982/h_normal.png "Reg Saddler 財閥")](http://twitter.com/zaibatsu)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/66899440/Picture_1_normal.jpg "Scott Blitstein")](http://twitter.com/scoblitz)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/67985874/mojo_normal.jpg "pareen")](http://twitter.com/pareen)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76361694/IMG_0275_normal.jpg "Mark Brown")](http://twitter.com/markbrown83)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/60572358/me_pic_normal.jpg "Kyle Graham")](http://twitter.com/KyleGraham)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76502503/Me_open_crop_normal.jpg "Chris Frost")](http://twitter.com/frostfire)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/37719272/imccolors_normal.gif "Lars@Marketing (IMC)")](http://twitter.com/marketingrules)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/59762144/Foto_17_normal.jpg "Kris Hoet")](http://twitter.com/crossthebreeze)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/71771719/logo_96_normal.jpg "twi5")](http://twitter.com/twi5)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/64142485/twilert_normal.png "Twilert")](http://twitter.com/Twilert)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/74406677/n509537858_1071248_5090_normal.jpg "fearne cotton")](http://twitter.com/Fearnecotton)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72484680/Reading_Twestival_sml_normal.png "Reading Twestival")](http://twitter.com/RDGTwestival)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/56281149/m25_normal.png "m25updates")](http://twitter.com/m25updates)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72273658/rspb_normal.gif "RSPB")](http://twitter.com/Natures_Voice)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/66971791/EOY-002_3_normal.jpg "Ben Marsh")](http://twitter.com/benmarsh)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/62458439/IMG_0243_2_normal.jpg "Steve Reeves")](http://twitter.com/frontofficebox)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/32577322/simpeng2_normal.jpg "Simple English News")](http://twitter.com/SimpleEnglish)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73733755/Jay-Speaking-Pub-Photo_normal.jpg "Jay Ehret")](http://twitter.com/themarketingguy)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73934174/lee-headshot-102008_normal.jpg "Lee Odden")](http://twitter.com/leeodden)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76746788/cj1969twitter_normal.jpg "C.J. Jackson")](http://twitter.com/jacksoncj1)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73643328/jamespadennew5_normal.jpg "James Paden")](http://twitter.com/xemion)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/68360929/Suz_short_hair_normal.jpg "Zuzanna Pasierbinska")](http://twitter.com/huddlesuz)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76127343/3256606129_0c7c3385ec_m_normal.jpg "Geoff Livingston")](http://twitter.com/GeoffLiving)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72307858/1807001522_38672af3ff_normal.jpg "Jude C Divierte")](http://twitter.com/KnightDiver)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/53300861/devil_normal.jpg "Alison Gow")](http://twitter.com/alisongow)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/65754142/me_normal.jpg "Len Kendall")](http://twitter.com/LenKendall)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69825094/ecademy-profile-db_normal.jpg "David Petherick")](http://twitter.com/clarocada)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/71000619/AM_Twitter_img_normal.jpg "Adam Martin")](http://twitter.com/amartindesign)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69236190/Sarah_Taylor_normal.jpg "Sarah Taylor")](http://twitter.com/saturngirl)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/53247856/colin_normal.jpg "Colin Bruce")](http://twitter.com/colinbruce)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/57430973/grey_me_normal.jpg "JohnnyLaird")](http://twitter.com/JohnnyLaird)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/54897714/bigblue_150_normal.jpg "bigbluemeanie")](http://twitter.com/bigbluemeanie)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/74556087/IMG_0784_normal.jpg "Matthew Cross")](http://twitter.com/crossy)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73994889/meblurred2_normal.jpg "rufyan")](http://twitter.com/rufyan)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/61215991/tim04_normal.jpg "encosion")](http://twitter.com/encosion)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70796476/uktrains_normal.png "Southern")](http://twitter.com/uktr_southern)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/54366851/thisisoxted_600_normal.jpg "oxted")](http://twitter.com/oxted)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72368356/Tweepler-icon_normal.png "tweepler")](http://twitter.com/tweepler)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/65491671/sbux_logo_normal.png "Starbucks Coffee")](http://twitter.com/Starbucks)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73852321/n526328765_7072_normal.jpg "Neil Sleat")](http://twitter.com/sleat)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70429836/browserssponsor_normal.jpg "tandridgeradio")](http://twitter.com/tandridgeradio)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73168060/Photo_58_normal.jpg "Rob Gordon")](http://twitter.com/robgordon000)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76006938/daren_creativegoodness_normal.jpg "darenBBC")](http://twitter.com/darenBBC)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/67342453/iPhoto_normal.jpg "Jason Monty")](http://twitter.com/drydog)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70091727/rawr_angry_normal.jpg "Rob Ashton")](http://twitter.com/RobAshton)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/14780492/s_normal.gif "SMITH Magazine")](http://twitter.com/smithmag)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73262805/aha_normal.jpg "Simon Casey")](http://twitter.com/SimonCasey)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69379496/JJ_Jan_09_small_normal.JPG "Jonathan Jensen")](http://twitter.com/sevendotzero)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69133506/logo_site_normal.png "tbuttons")](http://twitter.com/tbuttons)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/74194979/Picture_1_normal.png "Tweeght")](http://twitter.com/tweeght)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/61686624/140066_normal.jpg "SuButcher")](http://twitter.com/SuButcher)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/64545229/Picture_1_normal.png "Darren Rowse")](http://twitter.com/problogger)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/58288764/dave.phelan_gmail.com_c76f9935_normal.jpg "Dave Phelan")](http://twitter.com/daveph)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69236055/avatar-huge_normal.png "TheBusyBrain")](http://twitter.com/TheBusyBrain)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73647145/Waleedo_normal.jpg "Waleed Darab")](http://twitter.com/waleedo)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73752729/vesonexavier1_normal.jpg "Chance")](http://twitter.com/ChanceTMC)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72834136/food24_normal.jpg "Foodimentary ")](http://twitter.com/Foodimentary)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/71783124/matt-lindesay_normal.jpg "Matt Lindesay")](http://twitter.com/refermehappy)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/68307346/loyalty360gif_normal.gif "Loyalty Marketers")](http://twitter.com/Loyalty360)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69442030/neeraj_normal.jpg "webrecsol")](http://twitter.com/webrecsol)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69470991/Kingfisher_normal.jpg "Dan Tanner")](http://twitter.com/DanTanner)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/62772082/twittergraphic_normal.png "benhale")](http://twitter.com/benhale)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73962138/bbc_logo_470_470x352_normal.jpg "BBC")](http://twitter.com/BBC)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73772993/tanya_beckett73x73_normal.jpg "Tanya Beckett")](http://twitter.com/TanyaBeckett)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72330080/close-up_normal.jpg "Tim Weber")](http://twitter.com/tim_weber)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/61064071/twitterpig_normal.jpg "workinglunch")](http://twitter.com/workinglunch)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/59698576/click_logo_new_normal.jpg "BBC Click")](http://twitter.com/BBCClick)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/55556860/today-logo-small_normal.jpg "BBC Radio 4 Today")](http://twitter.com/r4today)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/64799839/twitterowl_normal.JPG "bbccouk")](http://twitter.com/bbccouk)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77169030/256212335_dfae408dc1_normal.jpg "Jem Stone")](http://twitter.com/JemStone)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/27233982/caroline_small_normal.png "Caroline Middlebrook")](http://twitter.com/cmiddlebrook)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77395094/mpheart_normal.jpg "Shelley Ryan")](http://twitter.com/shelleyryan)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/62601057/Gregor_normal.jpg "Gregor Spowart")](http://twitter.com/gspowart)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69406724/true-couch-surfer_normal.jpg "CouchSurfingOri")](http://twitter.com/CouchSurfingOri)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70823372/WML_Allison_normal.JPG "AllisonNazarian")](http://twitter.com/AllisonNazarian)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/60502668/jeffsem8_normal.jpg "Jeff Tippett")](http://twitter.com/jefftippett)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72487816/twitterblue_normal.JPG "UK TechNet Team")](http://twitter.com/ASKTechNetUK)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70666558/twist__normal.jpg "Ben Daubney")](http://twitter.com/bendaubney)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77279763/244x244me_normal.jpg "Jim Long")](http://twitter.com/newmediajim)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75981994/Alex_twitter_normal.JPG "Alex_Ball")](http://twitter.com/Alex_Ball)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70174937/SMtwitter2_normal.JPG "ScotMcKee")](http://twitter.com/ScotMcKee)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77472276/Flag-73x73_bigger_normal.jpg "windowslive")](http://twitter.com/windowslive)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69757829/avatar_normal.png "Mr Tweet")](http://twitter.com/MrTweet)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76548907/Oo__la_la__normal.jpeg "Felicity Wright")](http://twitter.com/FillyW)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/48545652/glinner-128_normal.jpg "Graham Linehan")](http://twitter.com/Glinner)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/55967318/ac3_normal.jpg "AlanCarr")](http://twitter.com/AlanCarr)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/74130756/n522259362_631355_5872_normal.jpg "Dave Gorman")](http://twitter.com/Dave_Gorman)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73363873/Flag-73x73_normal.jpg "Microsoft Windows")](http://twitter.com/MSWindows)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70989349/featured-content_normal.jpg "Phillip Schofield")](http://twitter.com/Schofe)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/74631775/Me_laughing_normal.jpg "Georgina Higgins")](http://twitter.com/miss_george)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77285184/DOM_FACE_normal.jpg "Dominic Byrne")](http://twitter.com/domisatwit)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/52352426/twitter_logo_sm_normal.jpg "PenguinBooks")](http://twitter.com/PenguinBooks)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/54451173/rupert_goodwins_normal.jpg "rupertg")](http://twitter.com/rupertg)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/66500980/spambotlol_normal.jpg "famoustwits")](http://twitter.com/famoustwits)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77440369/Smile_normal.jpg "Andi Peters")](http://twitter.com/xxandip)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73525052/4_normal.jpg "jamieoliver08")](http://twitter.com/jamie_oliver)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70710442/Me_and_Pizza_normal.jpg "David Mitchell")](http://twitter.com/RealDMitchell)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/67985462/twitter_logo_normal.png "Pocketlint")](http://twitter.com/Pocketlint)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72754458/domolidays_normal.gif "LOL Factory")](http://twitter.com/LOLfactory)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/54426301/threadless_normal.gif "Threadless")](http://twitter.com/threadless)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/51553271/twotwlogo_normal.jpg "Dan Thornton")](http://twitter.com/badgergravling)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69477977/headevolved_normal.jpg "russell davies ")](http://twitter.com/undermanager)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/74441290/tshirt_icon_normal.jpg "Paul Clarke")](http://twitter.com/paul_clarke)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/64929792/Jeremy_Clarkson_normal.jpg "Jeremy Clarkson")](http://twitter.com/Jeremy_Clarkson)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70944586/passport_normal.JPG "Steve Berry")](http://twitter.com/unloveablesteve)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75837777/tweetosphere-twitter-_normal.JPG "tweetosphere")](http://twitter.com/TweetoSphere)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/53644215/Me_in_Valencia_normal.jpg "Ross Bailey")](http://twitter.com/rossb82)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73362800/Photo_153_normal.jpg "Russell Brand")](http://twitter.com/rustyrockets)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72712718/cb-icon_normal.jpg "Charlie Brooker")](http://twitter.com/charltonbrooker)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/52409219/headshot_normal.jpg "Bob Lee")](http://twitter.com/crazybob)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/59196108/eddie-izzard_normal.jpg "EddieIzzard")](http://twitter.com/EddieIzzard)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77552222/willcA_normal.jpg "Will Carling")](http://twitter.com/willcarling)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/18823852/_42001036_bbc_logo_2_normal.gif "BBC Breaking News")](http://twitter.com/bbcbreaking)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/18578972/_42001036_bbc_logo_2_normal.gif "BBC Business")](http://twitter.com/bbcbusiness)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/18582692/_42001036_bbc_logo_2_normal.gif "BBC Technology")](http://twitter.com/bbctech)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/64502353/logo_normal.jpg "BBC Radio 1")](http://twitter.com/the_4th_floor)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/61130289/manutd_normal.png "BBC Manchester Utd")](http://twitter.com/bbcmanutd)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/24210752/HEADLINES-square-icon_normal.jpg "Sky News")](http://twitter.com/SkyNews)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/51497746/twhirl-128_normal.png "Twhirl Announce")](http://twitter.com/twhirl)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70831770/napp-logo-box_normal.png "Photoshop User")](http://twitter.com/NAPP_News)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69991941/anibutton_normal.gif "The Joke Shop")](http://twitter.com/TheJokeShop)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/59719871/joker_normal.jpg "The Daily Joke")](http://twitter.com/thedailyjoke)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/67201532/Nat_normal.png "Natalie/RebelVirals")](http://twitter.com/stenvas)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/26711262/brandon_normal.jpg "Brandon LeBlanc")](http://twitter.com/brandonleblanc)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76476905/Me_normal.jpg "Uncle Dick Madeley")](http://twitter.com/RichardMadeley)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/53934024/boot_normal.jpg "Elle Orebi Gann")](http://twitter.com/Almostalady)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/61581016/TD-logo_normal.jpg "techdigestnews")](http://twitter.com/techdigestnews)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76267042/Jerell_Klaver_twitterTRUTH_normal.jpg "Jerell Klaver")](http://twitter.com/jerell)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/58386576/matt1_normal.jpg "mattbacak")](http://twitter.com/mattbacak)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69252757/10-04-SunnyGoofySmile_normal.jpg "Sunny Hills")](http://twitter.com/SunnyHillsMaui)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77299965/Blue_IH_normal.JPG "Inside Hospitality")](http://twitter.com/ihospitality)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/71079545/MF_18-189_normal.jpg "Jessica Zeun")](http://twitter.com/JZeun)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/56439529/kani241a_normal.jpg "kateson")](http://twitter.com/kateson)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/67584194/IMG_0341_normal.JPG "Joe Royall")](http://twitter.com/00joe)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76306472/Ashanphototwitter_normal.JPG "Shannon Seek")](http://twitter.com/shannonseek)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/55361772/canoesmall_normal.jpg "ghalluk")](http://twitter.com/ghalluk)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75314925/avatar_normal.jpg "philcr")](http://twitter.com/philcr)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/72736208/4_normal.jpg "Sergiu Floroaia")](http://twitter.com/sergiufloroaia)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77091185/valentines09_normal.jpg "Leon Scott")](http://twitter.com/ListenToLeon)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70433488/Ariane_Blurry_normal.JPG "Ariane Sherine")](http://twitter.com/ArianeSherine)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/67324588/Deks-_2__normal.jpg "Dave Keffen")](http://twitter.com/DavidKeffen)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/59447001/BenFinkel_photo_normal.jpg "Ben Finkel")](http://twitter.com/finkel)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73537356/SNV32701_normal.JPG "Robert Fletcher")](http://twitter.com/bobbyman)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/55289591/Me-blowing-bubbles-at-Hollander-summer-house_copy_normal.jpg "Judy Pokras")](http://twitter.com/sketchgrrl)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76124038/rick02_normal.jpg "Rick Baldwin")](http://twitter.com/rickbaldwin)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/55178678/Erock_normal.jpg "Earnest Pettie")](http://twitter.com/earnestp)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/63148031/TS_normal.jpg "ComicTim")](http://twitter.com/ComicTim)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/66574675/me_normal.JPG "Andy Ward")](http://twitter.com/aw16)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/67918981/grinning_idiot_normal.jpg "anna_p")](http://twitter.com/anna_lounge)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76356765/Photo_46_normal.jpg "stephenkruiser")](http://twitter.com/stephenkruiser)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/62591948/robin3_normal.jpg "Robin Fry")](http://twitter.com/robinmatthewfry)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/17074622/IMG_5345_normal.jpg "Si")](http://twitter.com/tarkwyn)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75984360/KEEP-CALM-AND-ROCK-ON-SQUARE_medium_2__normal.jpg "Jas Dhaliwal")](http://twitter.com/Jas)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/33366602/Darren_Strange_blog_normal.jpg "Darren Strange")](http://twitter.com/darrenstrange)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/71764246/9miles_small_normal.png "9miles Media")](http://twitter.com/9miles)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/57442937/brithinking_normal.jpg "Brian Carter Comedy")](http://twitter.com/standupcomedy)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/65011046/avatar_normal.jpg "Stuart Morrison")](http://twitter.com/thegagfactory)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76112707/Image158_normal.jpg "christinamartin")](http://twitter.com/christinamartin)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/74868761/IMG_6600_normal.jpg "Neil Mullarkey")](http://twitter.com/improvyourbiz)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75761433/me_normal.jpg "Danny Carter")](http://twitter.com/danny_carter)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/67541601/Picture_624_normal.jpg "Fresh ID")](http://twitter.com/freshid)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75969322/mule_jkick_normal.jpg "The Mule")](http://twitter.com/The_Mule_Mcr)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/53775461/2369673842_a8ca126cc5_normal.jpg "Kevin Mesiab")](http://twitter.com/kmesiab)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76117786/logo_twitter_normal.jpg "Citro�n do Brasil")](http://twitter.com/citroenbrasil)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69307569/dfg_normal.jpg "Paul Arden Lidberg")](http://twitter.com/dreadfroggod)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/73638779/descartes_small_normal.jpg "Jon Herrera")](http://twitter.com/Descartes1)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75416686/n775898741_4724_normal.jpg "vloggersforum.org")](http://twitter.com/VloggersForum)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69005967/allan_normal.jpg "Allan Dib")](http://twitter.com/allandib)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/53963666/n507100436_6235_normal.jpg "Rusty_D")](http://twitter.com/Rusty_D)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75702440/nev2a_normal.jpg "Nev Wilson")](http://twitter.com/NevWilson)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/63741311/Bunsen_normal.jpg "James Warren")](http://twitter.com/jamesdotwarren)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/57871539/tr_logo_normal.PNG "TechRadar")](http://twitter.com/techradar)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/66203084/Photo_3_normal.jpg "Aycan Gulez")](http://twitter.com/aycangulez)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/59288950/Skype_Logo_normal.png "Peter Parkes @ Skype")](http://twitter.com/PeteratSkype)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/69450996/whatleypub_normal.png "James Whatley")](http://twitter.com/Whatleydude)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/65950705/StanDNA_normal.jpg "Stan Lee")](http://twitter.com/BrandDNA)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/60205148/thumbnail_normal.jpg "wmdev")](http://twitter.com/wmdev)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77021040/Untitled_normal.jpg "Mark Deakin")](http://twitter.com/markdeakin)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70197775/2009_01_08_004_normal.JPG "Martin Hatfield")](http://twitter.com/hairyhatfield)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75700095/AdamE-bw_normal.jpg "Adam Etheridge")](http://twitter.com/adametheridge)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75694333/Twitter_normal.jpg "David Watson")](http://twitter.com/Slothlehoff)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70094950/n508499016_69546_4364_normal.jpg "Linsey Davidson")](http://twitter.com/linseyd)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/68282670/JT-face_normal.jpg "emeth")](http://twitter.com/emeth)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/17265142/BR_LOGO_normal.gif "BrandRepublic")](http://twitter.com/BrandRepublic)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/64931795/Live_Services_Orb_Only__transparent__normal.png "livemesh")](http://twitter.com/livemesh)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70259876/Capture_normal.PNG "Microsoft Tag")](http://twitter.com/microsofttag)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/40553062/10Tile_normal.jpg "Microsoft Channel 10")](http://twitter.com/ch10)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/57040039/adcenter3_normal.JPG "adCenter Blog")](http://twitter.com/adCenterBlog)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/59866301/avatar_normal.png "Website Named Desire")](http://twitter.com/SiteNamedDesire)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/70069551/twitterslolyprofile_normal.jpg "dsloly")](http://twitter.com/dsloly)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/62510506/Tim_Kimber2_normal.jpg "Tim Kimber")](http://twitter.com/OfficeLiveGuy)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76688452/DSC_0065_normal.JPG "Emma Richardson")](http://twitter.com/em_r)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/56701672/sm-cross-08_normal.jpg "davecross")](http://twitter.com/davecross)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75459158/blu_badge_normal.png "bluapp")](http://twitter.com/bluapp)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77342045/2407367_normal.jpg "Phillip Jupitus")](http://twitter.com/jupitusphillip)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/76325177/avtr-coco_normal.gif "Peter Wilkinson")](http://twitter.com/ironicpete)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77371381/1110849065a9441377219ml_normal.jpg "Lewis Morgan")](http://twitter.com/lewismorgan)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77095571/ali_pic_jan09_normal.jpg "ali perkins")](http://twitter.com/aliperkins)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77647389/n286600107_2889269_1999_normal.jpg "Andrew Smylie")](http://twitter.com/smylie1)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75316157/HW_twitterButton_normal.png "Hitwise_UK")](http://twitter.com/Hitwise_UK)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/77347891/lrg-4016-black_desert_normal.jpg "Sundeep Makwana")](http://twitter.com/sunmak)[![](http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitter_production/profile_images/75310985/images_normal.jpg "Dave Cameroon")](http://twitter.com/davecameroon) **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Compère beyond compare](https://allisterspeaks.com/compere-beyond-compare/) **Published:** February 4, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/events/2007/orator_t520.gif)***Drat!*** I have to compère (that’s French for ‘make a fool of oneself’) an event at work on Friday so it’s time to dust off the lame jokes collection. The brief is, well, loose to say the least, but I think I’ll be in charge of introducing each presenter, making semi-coherent connections between topics, and generally keeping the audience awake. The best advice I ever got on public speaking was to be sure to stop speaking before the audience stops listening. Wise words that I’ll be employing throughout the day. Got any good jokes? Living with a five year old has taken its toll on my sense of humour, leaving me chortling in response to weak gags like: ‘Why do dogs wags their tails? Because no-one will do it for them’. Or, ‘Doctor, doctor, I feel like a spoon. Sit there and don’t stir.’ So, if you have any smart suggestions let me know. You can comment on this blog or tweet in my direction at [@allisterf](http://www.twitter.com/allisterf). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Disabling stubborn add-ins in Office 2007](https://allisterspeaks.com/disabling-stubborn-add-ins-in-office-2007/) **Published:** January 27, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![add-ins-state-cannot-change](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/add-ins-state-cannot-change5b35d.jpg?w=300 "add-ins-state-cannot-change")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/add-ins-state-cannot-change5b35d.jpg) A top tip from [My Digital Life](http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/10/20/the-connected-state-of-office-add-ins-registered-in-hkey_local_machine-cannot-be-changed-error-when-enable-or-disable-in-office-outlookwordexcel-2007/) just saved my bacon. If you run add-ins in Outlook, Word, or Excel that you are unable to disable in **Tools** > **Trust Center** with this cryptic error message: **“The Connected State of Office Add-Ins Registered in HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE Cannot Be Changed”** then you simply need to restart the application in Administrator privileges. Not sure how? See [My Digital Life](http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/10/20/the-connected-state-of-office-add-ins-registered-in-hkey_local_machine-cannot-be-changed-error-when-enable-or-disable-in-office-outlookwordexcel-2007/) for the full resolution. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Why I succumbed to Twitter](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-i-succumbed-to-twitter/) **Published:** January 26, 2009 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![twitter](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/twitter5b75d.jpg?w=300 "twitter")](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/twitter5b75d.jpg) I’ve toyed with [Twitter](http://www.twitter.com/) in the past but I never really got into it. There just weren’t enough people that I knew on there, and I didn’t much fancy hanging out with some of the Tweeting pioneers. But things are different now. There are just so many people using Twitter that it’s nearly impossible to ignore. And the applications that now exist make Tweeting an absolute delight. You can find me at [www.twitter.com/allisterf](http://www.twitter.com/allisterf). If you fancy staying in touch, why not [sign up for Twitter](https://twitter.com/signup) yourself? Or, if you don’t fancy that but use RSS, you can follow my Tweets at [http://twitter.com/statuses/user\_timeline/19333222.rss](http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/19333222.rss "http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/19333222.rss"). I’m using [Twhirl](http://www.twhirl.org/) as my desktop Twitter client (a superb little app) and the delightful [PocketTwit](http://code.google.com/p/pocketwit/) on my shiny new HTC Touch HD Windows Mobile phone. Give them a try! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [ElfYourself – it’s back!](https://allisterspeaks.com/elfyourself-its-back/) **Published:** December 2, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1puecPtnDVBvSi5kP5JTDf-VPTwvCnpHkSpBobinTNRvk5ktz75jbRYV3M12Bf709H?PARTNER=WRITER "image") Yes, it’s back, for a third consecutive year! [The ElfYourself web site](http://www.elfyourself.com/), now a mainstay of the December festivities, makes a spectacular viral return, with the enhanced option to create up to five elves and choose from four different dances. Great fun and proof positive that a strong viral marketing idea can stand the test of time. Last year the site received a record 193million visits in just six weeks making it the most widespread viral the world has ever seen. [This year’s traffic](http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/elfyourself.com) looks pretty good too: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1pe8CfKiHCZ2rUAPCBnQYg1FWZuksujWAU4S8d2xZwva5Z1VaX2lqCp2uatEMna5pl?PARTNER=WRITER "image")](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1pzYsQi7kuGwxR2fno-xj835-ni5Ze67_6heQMVvjTyj7eXNh_2cT5aKHefmLxUdRA?PARTNER=WRITER) Go on, Elf Yourself! You know you want to! **Categories:** Marketing --- ### [Bring on the Bubble Calendar](https://allisterspeaks.com/bring-on-the-bubble-calendar/) **Published:** November 15, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Completely random post: [![](http://www.bubblecalendar.com/img/2009BPV-scale.jpg)](http://www.bubblecalendar.com) Fans of bubble wrap now have 365 reasons to look forward to next year. The immensely desirable [Bubble Calendar](http://www.bubblecalendar.com) is a handmade poster sized calendar with a finger sized bubble to burst every day! A truly novel way to count down the days until 2010; popping bubbles certainly beats chalking on the wall each day. **Categories:** Design --- ### [Remembering your IP addresses](https://allisterspeaks.com/remembering-your-ip-addresses/) **Published:** November 4, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** If you occasionally need to change settings on devices connected to your network like your modem router or other computers, you’ll know it’s difficult to remember their IP addresses. One way is to write all the IP addresses down on a chart and pin it above your desk. Another, slightly higher tech way, is to edit your Host file. Done correctly you’ll then be able to access your router configuration page by typing something like ‘router’ into the address line of your browser instead of having to remember a long IP address like 192.168.2.1. Here’s how: 1. Click **Start** > **All Programs** > **Accessories** > then **right-click on Notepad** and select **Run as administrator**. 2. Now open the **Hosts** file located in the folder **c:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/.** If you cannot se the Hosts file, simply type the word **Hosts** into the **File Name** box. 3. Notepad will open the Hosts file which will look something like this: *\# Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp. \# \# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows. \# \# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each \# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should \# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name. \# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one \# space. \# \# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual \# lines or following the machine name denoted by a ‘#’ symbol. \# \# For example: \# \# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server \# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host* *127.0.0.1 localhost ::1 localhost* 4. Now, at the bottom of the code, add the **IP addresses** of every device on your network followed by **a space** then the **shortened name** you’d like to enter into your browser address bar to locate the device. For example, if your router is at IP address 192.168.2.1 and your laptop uses 192.168.2.12 you might add the following lines to the bottom of your hosts file: 192.168.2.1 router 192.168.2.12 laptop 5. Now close Notepad, open the internet browser of your choice, and try typing router or laptop (or whatever keywords you chose) into the address bar. Neat eh? 6. Remove the chart pinned above your desk and replace with something more calming. **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [Get Me Out Of Here](https://allisterspeaks.com/get-me-out-of-here/) **Published:** October 26, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **Have three months really flown by since my last blog post?** So it would seem. And for that I apologise. I’ve been rather busy creating [this](http://imapc.lifewithoutwalls.co.uk/) and [some TV ads](http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&user=5002148977831737125) and much more. But the pace of useful technology developments never slows. If only I’d known about sooner; I could have pre-booked interruptions to excuse me from some of the more taxing moments of the last few weeks and spend more time with you dear reader. I’ll be on holiday for a few days then back to grindstone before long. See you then. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Get minimised](https://allisterspeaks.com/get-minimised/) **Published:** July 24, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1pok-cBuAyoKXz1tkTxGEdWE3aUVfRkoFzxZx9yZGjYF-cYSgwKqXw-uZ5gDPCDGBU?PARTNER=WRITER "image")](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1p3q2pwhoTRRUZFoVdeht45hUuwjzC_2DJKHmhqO04erRX7txTv5hvTsfQApSU8RL9?PARTNER=WRITER) Got Windows Live Messenger? Want a new display picture? Try this, it’s free: [www.minimise-me.com](http://www.minimise-me.com). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [New downloads for Outlook](https://allisterspeaks.com/new-downloads-for-outlook/) **Published:** July 24, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Hot off the press this month, two new must have add-ons for Outlook: **Microsoft Office Outlook Connector 12.1 Beta (with added ooomph!)** With Microsoft Office Outlook Connector, you can use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Microsoft Windows Live Hotmail or Microsoft Office Live Mail accounts, including e-mail messages, contacts *and calendars* for free! [\[GET IT HERE\]](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9a2279b1-df0a-46e1-aa93-7d4870871ecf&DisplayLang=en) **Outlook 2007/2003/2002 Add-in: Personal Folders Backup (updated version)** The Personal Folders Backup download creates backup copies of your .PST files at regular intervals, in Outlook 2002 and later versions, making it easy to keep all of your Outlook folders safely backed up. [\[GET IT HERE\]](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&DisplayLang=en) For instructions on how to use the .PST backup tool see [this page](http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/outlook/HA010875321033.aspx) **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Customise your Microsoft Word Status bar](https://allisterspeaks.com/customise-your-microsoft-word-status-bar/) **Published:** July 24, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Microsoft Word 2007 can report a wealth of information in the status bar that adorns the bottom of the screen. To change what you have on display simply right click on the status bar and you’ll see this: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1pPkWw8QjLkjEcD3O2t2AOFmp0lZQJ1uetObw27YQb7IfnOZFqNk3dJTN67u35LjXJ?PARTNER=WRITER "image")](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1pcQH_2zxoOUFaon8gtEOTTe2nfdAmEo5ApWZV7cZ5kT6Tyghg1MeeatQ4WHdIWfIt?PARTNER=WRITER) Just switch settings on and off until your status bar reports only the information you care about. **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Rumours of my demise are greatly exaggerated](https://allisterspeaks.com/rumours-of-my-demise-are-greatly-exaggerated/) **Published:** July 22, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1pvsff0FqW86LdYqoU1GVGy9GfswtHd0Z5fI_CdAlcwus9hP2ec-KWUtPCK1Xe_xf8?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1pvXwdbqwwzq_3xU3NPE5VYZ5ovt9bw89u0s9lRTI6Imxv8FNoZ90tRyNzJlGgoBMP?PARTNER=WRITER) Sorry for the woeful lack of posts recently. Life has been busy on all fronts. However I was reminded this evening of the importance of maintaining one’s blog by an old friend in France who called me wondering what had become of me. So, for all my fans around the world, yes both of you, I am happy to confirm that all is well at Useful Technology Towers. More updates to follow when I figure out why Windows Live Writer has stopped working on my laptop. And now, that same entry in French, thanks to [www.worldlingo.com](http://www.worldlingo.com), the free\* translation service included in the 2007 Microsoft Office system: *Désolé pour le manque affligeant de poteaux récemment. La vie a été occupée sur tous les avants. Cependant j’ai été rappelé ce soir d’importance de maintenir le blog à un par un vieil ami en France qui m’a appelé se demandant ce qui était advenu de moi. Ainsi, pour tous mes ventilateurs autour du monde, oui tous les deux toi, je suis heureux de confirmer que tout va bien aux tours utiles de technologie. Plus de mises à jour à suivre quand je figure dehors pourquoi l’auteur de phase de Windows a arrêté travailler à mon ordinateur portable.* \* You know, I could have paid $92 to have that paragraph professionally translated but it’s much more entertaining in franglais. **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Is RSS making Outlook run slow?](https://allisterspeaks.com/is-rss-making-outlook-run-slow/) **Published:** June 6, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Following on from [yesterday’s post](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14845.entry) about shutting down (or rather not shutting down) Outlook, I’m reminded of these performance enhancing tips. If, when you look at the outlook.exe process in Task Manager (SHIFT+CTRL+Escape, then Processes tab), you see that the memory in use is very high (say, greater than 100,000KB) there may be things you can do to speed up Outlook: - **If you have chosen to synchronise RSS feeds between Internet Explorer and Outlook, turn this off:** - In Outlook, choose Options from the Tools menu - Click on the Others tab, then Advanced Options - Clear the tick against ‘Sync RSS Feeds to the Common Feed List’ then click OK twice - **You may have a massive Personal Storage File (.pst) so consider creating a new one to reduce the amount of data held in memory when using Outlook:** - Find out if your .pst is big by right-clicking on your .pst root folder (the topmost folder(s) in your Outlook folder list) then choose Properties, then click the Folder Size button. - If your folder is bigger than, say, 500,000KB, consider starting a new one or splitting its contents over two or more .pst files. - To create a new .pst file in Outlook, click File > New > Outlook Date File. - Once created, simply drag ‘n’ drop items from one .pst folder to another. - And, always remember to backup your .pst files to an external storage location like an external hard drive or USB memory stick! It’s a good idea to get into the habit of creating a new .pst every once in a while. How frequently depends on how much email you send and receive. I typically start a new .pst file annually, but may move to a six monthly regime to help keep my .pst file sizes down. I also delete all rules and recreate my folder structure from scratch each year as this encourages me to spring clean and unsubscribe from distribution lists that no longer interest me. Maybe a bit of spring cleaning is exactly what your Outlook world needs?! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Shutting down Outlook properly](https://allisterspeaks.com/shutting-down-outlook-properly/) **Published:** June 5, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Nag nag nag...](http://www.gottabemobile.com/content/binary/outlook_2007_data_file_goofiness.jpg) Ever seen one of these messages? If your computer reports that a data file did not close properly the last time you used Outlook the chances are you may have interrupted the normal shut down routine of your outlook.exe process. This could have happened for a multitude of reasons: maybe your laptop battery ran flat, or you had to force your PC to shut down in a hurry. But most likely, you simply closed Outlook then shut down your PC normally without giving Outlook enough time to finish its business. It takes several seconds for the outlook.exe process to finish when you exit from Outlook. If you quickly also tell your PC to shut down, the outlook.exe process may be only partially closed when your PC switches off. The result: that nagging warning the next time you start Outlook. Here’s how to avoid this problem: **Never close Outlook.** Just leave it running. And when you next shutdown your computer Windows will carefully close down Outlook properly in the background before shutting itself down. If you must shut down Outlook, be sure to check that the outlook.exe process is no longer running in the Task Manager (SHIFT+CTRL+Escape, then Processes tab) before shutting down your PC. So, for a pain free Outlook life, just ignore everything you ever learned about shutting down applications before shutting down your PC. Leave Outlook running, and leave the operating system to do the work for you. And, I promise, you’ll never see that nagging message again. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [BigPockets Bag O' Crap Winner Announced](https://allisterspeaks.com/bigpockets-bag-o-crap-winner-announced/) **Published:** May 20, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjOX4bC9m2WkbRsxsQUw0ZoYJsDOXXDg5r0-dtsOUNltANtsutCNuEWzI6K5VnPzO4?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9siKgLjrHpP09lDM5VDsgPuBFG_QVc-VTMksXv85sSU9g2w6vEIBAHuz0Unt-aoTgHE?PARTNER=WRITER) You’re not going to believe this. After mentioning [BigPockets.co.uk’s](http://www.bigpockets.co.uk) clever ‘Bag O’ Crap’ promotion several times [on](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14672.entry) [– this](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14691.entry) – [blog](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14722.entry), I decided to enter [my own video](http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iSW-WLeiNKQ). And it only went and won the top prize of £200! Fancy that! My son, the real star of the video and undoubtedly the only reason my video scooped the prize, has decided to invest his share of the winnings in Premium Bonds in the distant hope that he might win some more money! He has much to learn about smart investment strategies… I’ve decided to invest my share in a new barbecue so I can spend the summer months mastering the fine art of turning good food black. As the old slogan says ‘You’ve got to be in it to win it," so next time you see an interesting competition have a go. Who knows, you might even win. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Indiana Whips Up A Searching Frenzy](https://allisterspeaks.com/indiana-whips-up-a-searching-frenzy/) **Published:** May 20, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![clip_image002](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9siUqzojb3ojUvHIPFezlEy1m8GMRi_8Eh6Qdi7gW-6kcuLzKRkl_v3LuPYQ0C21yKo?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sj-GBD45Jx8lSPxSVVISMwGNlN8KrTEpg10hcAj0Dtn0FOdk4Wx4dNt4T873qIJSX4?PARTNER=WRITER) There’s no such thing as a free lunch. But there is such a thing as a free search and an Indiana Jones whip thrown in for good measure! If you take Windows Live Search for a ‘spin’, you could win one of over 1,000 prizes including a private screening of the movie for you and 50 friends, and a VIP holiday in New Mexico to visit the film location. Not bad for just trying a different search engine for a change! Play here: **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Videos: Windows Live Search](https://allisterspeaks.com/videos-windows-live-search/) **Published:** May 9, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Plucky Scooter](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sg1vpx3IYh2uPq_0Wm7BMA6ndN8KEjCVOvPr75wBcdQXGo0j-ftrPtIj0EO7UzOfxw?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&user=19380852325493352) Just released: [7 funny little viral videos](http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-us&user=19380852325493352) for [Windows Live Search](http://www.live.com/?mkt=en-gb). If you’ve not yet tried Live Search, take it for a spin and decide for yourself if it’s better than your current search engine. If you’re still not sure, why not put a metasearch engine to the test to instantly compare the results of different search engines? [www.dogpile.co.uk](http://www.dogpile.co.uk) does a nice job of comparing the top results from up to 6 different search engines to help you decide which is best. Live Search is growing on me; over the last year it has definitely improved, and seems to give the most relevant results much of the time. The best feature, by far, is the [Image Search](http://www.live.com/?scope=images) with its infinite scroll (just keep scrolling down, none of that silly clicking through to the next page) and spookily accurate refinement options (narrow your search down to just show faces, certain colours, or sizes). The scratchpad, once mastered, is mega-useful too. ***Mini-tip:*** One thing I tend to change on my search engine options is to increase the number of results that are returned per page. This saves having to keep refreshing to a new page so often. By default most search engines return 10 results. To increase it (to 50 in my case) click the **Options link** on the search home page and remember to **save your preferences**. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Tales from Windows Vista reinstallations](https://allisterspeaks.com/tales-from-windows-vista-reinstallations/) **Published:** May 9, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.ichigo.se/noterat/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/vistainstall.jpg) I’ve reinstalled [Windows Vista](http://windowsvista.co.uk) on my main home computer this week. Things had become decidedly sluggish, due in no small part to the massive amount of junk software I’ve tested over the last year. Having upgraded the PC from Windows XP over a year ago, I was dreading having to find suitable drivers to get everything working again. But, do you know what, it was a breeze. Yes, really. The difference between installing Windows Vista at the start of 2007 and now, midway through 2008, is extraordinary. Gone are those frustrating hours trawling through hardware manufacturers’ web site; now Windows Update has everything my computer needed. Sure, I needed a lot of updates – about 57 I think – but these all installed in one go and only one reboot was needed. And I have, as you’d probably guess, a lot of gadgets attached to my PC! To test this wasn’t a one-off I wiped and reinstalled Windows Vista on one of my laptops too. Same story: the installation was fast and Windows Update took care of the rest. As long as you make sure you back up all your important files, and approach the installation in a methodical and measured way, installing Windows Vista from scratch really isn’t difficult any more. Of course, some tips are definitely worth knowing: - Downloading software is fastest when Internet traffic is low. So save yourself time by running your downloads late at night, or early in the morning. - If you’re offered a choice of mirror sites, select one where local time (at the mirror site) will mean that Internet traffic is low. Don’t pick the mirror site nearest to you if your local Internet traffic is likely to be high as the server may be busy and your files will take longer to download. - Check your Device Manager for any unrecognised devices. If you’re unsure what anything is, reboot your computer without any peripherals attached then plug in each one in turn and monitor the changes in Device Manager. - If you’re still having trouble finding a driver for a mysterious device, try an online scanning service like (thanks Rusty!). This will help you identify any missing drivers and point you to a solution. Take out a paid subscription if you like, or use the information provided to find the drivers elsewhere online if you have time. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Xobni now free to download](https://allisterspeaks.com/xobni-now-free-to-download/) **Published:** May 6, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjvrCEvDcumARtbLsSI78PJo5VL063NeXvC-et5wOOY1XxYlGEa71u_MH9lxwC8mjw?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9siMm1TPSHmKwCAC0ZvHF0T3BqYgZRNbF8_K7MndfZVQdqPqQtCUQjyJg-ZDJmN7WjQ?PARTNER=WRITER) This just in from Xobni HQ: > *Dear Xobni Beta User,* > > *Today is an exciting day for Xobni. After seven months of invite-only beta, we’re proud to announce that Xobni is now publicly available for anyone to download. Your feedback has been essential in helping us improve the performance and features of Xobni during this period.* > > *If you are currently running Xobni, it will automatically update to the latest version. If you need to re-download Xobni, download it instantly here:* > > [*http://www.xobni.com/download*](http://www.xobni.com/download) > > *You can read more about Xobni’s launch in today’s New York Times by going here:* > > [*http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/05/technology/05xobni.html*](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/05/technology/05xobni.html) > > *Of course we will continue to work hard to improve the Xobni experience. And we hope that you will continue to provide valuable feedback.* > > *Please let your friends and colleagues know that a better Outlook email experience awaits them at* [*http://www.xobni.com*](http://www.xobni.com)*.* > > *Thanks!* > > *Matt Brezina* > > *Cofounder* So, for all of you who were not lucky enough to secure a Beta trial, now’s your chance! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [See things differently in Windows Vista](https://allisterspeaks.com/see-things-differently-in-windows-vista/) **Published:** May 2, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The **Organize** drop down box in Windows Explorer (accessed via the **Windows Key + E** shortcut) hides a little known feature of Windows Vista. Under the **Layout** option you’ll find the ability to switch on the Menu Bar from Windows XP plus two handy new panes: the Search Pane and the Preview Pane. [![Capture](http://blu1.storage.msn.com/y1pOsBE93NFAp5Z9ftRCYX8dXMgI0UHPo_vScExszkIDPNeHofui1X2S0pSTULQbeZehaxfas69quaDv0z9u3Zk5aRLNOZcmTPF?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://zgdv0g.blu.livefilestore.com/y1p3OJkUlLiyyAEYx-k7MmpD3t4_njis_ncPXuzQkssWYbOWaTnJz3Yb3uIpQdaVC3T51ckaI66ogSdEWIwR1monw?PARTNER=WRITER) Here’s what they each do: **The Menu Bar** [![image](http://blu1.storage.msn.com/y1pOsBE93NFAp44Fw18Qcb6Jvfk32HJ_xLeoE2FcxGu_Dh26aR7BW4AB2hgEOb0Tb6aV9bXIu0YEi6oOFYCiypXjzJM9k7RVqkx?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blu1.storage.msn.com/y1pOsBE93NFAp7v9bCOD6RPXGsAlx91gLym_aTPl20jSey6e5INNV67kh_VSkzUjy7C23Vi6bMFeMS6dVV34992NXTrEw8f5446?PARTNER=WRITER) The Menu Bar is simply the conventional drop down menu choices we had in Windows XP. I suggest you leave this switched off. If you ever need to revert to the old menus you can make them reappear at any time simply by pressing the ALT key. **The Search Pane** [![image](http://zgdv0g.blu.livefilestore.com/y1p3OJkUlLiyyD355wbZgmwWpQmGlbBCWzZ-xWxka2f0RFWnmys3U6BEYqjCsjeDlbTk0zbQyHGtR-Ou1J5zmaEMQ?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://zgdv0g.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pE7BFTNMlfbpthlyGpLk_TDk-N7NQLDMHcVzhim3fO3IvTx-Pmv5UyXSBPIfYJ4dlTNQoeZVKJh4gQHKq2xcKMnrQn_qPYls9?PARTNER=WRITER) The Search Pane allows you to quickly narrow a search using filter buttons like E-Mail and Music or input more precise filtering details like tags and file size. **The Preview Pane** [![image](http://blu1.storage.msn.com/y1pOsBE93NFAp4IELZumXCwxAqicBM0TACENYsdu825wHiKSm4ZBBcC8Ms3JCt-40cc6YkbWTW5VPCz0MzpnUIEDUvug0fsglSX?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://zgdv0g.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pE7BFTNMlfbrozRBkp_7y82aMx3w7QMmXDB6KIyJisxPjmTZcgONfGLvfnlH5YqvKU-RYBchxv3j_2vmFj9To0PQdmpnifIQu?PARTNER=WRITER) The Preview Pane shows a thumbnail preview of your selected file which can be very handy when hunting through photos and documents. If the file is multimedia you’ll see a mini Windows Media Player appear allowing you to preview music and videos right there in Windows Explorer. Note that the selections you make in the Layout option only apply to your current location. When you move to a new folder the default view will reappear. However, once you make a change in a folder, that change is persistent. So, for example, if you’d like the Preview Pane to appear when viewing your music folder, make this change once and it will reappear every time you visit that folder. Have a fun weekend! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [It's time to vote](https://allisterspeaks.com/its-time-to-vote/) **Published:** May 1, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://isgf.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/vote-small.jpg) With the [local elections](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/localelections2008/) upon us today here in the UK, here’s a timely [reminder](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/archive/2005/10/26/413065.aspx) of the nifty voting feature in Microsoft Outlook. Whenever you wish to poll your email recipients on their preferences, you can save them and yourself time by using voting buttons as follows: 1. **Create your email** in Microsoft Outlook 2. **Tick** the icon labelled **Use Voting Buttons** in the **Options tab** and choose **Custom** from the drop down list 3. Type in the available voting choices in the Use voting buttons box, placing a semi colon (;) between each entry. For example, voting options to match today’s London Mayoral election might read *Ken;Boris;Brian;Sian;Gerard;etc* 4. Click **Close** then send your email as normal Some important considerations: your voting email recipients must be inside an Exchange Server organisation for this to work reliably. They must also be using Outlook as their email client. If outside of an Exchange organisation, voting may still work as long as **Outlook is used and your email is sent in Rich Text format** only. HTML and Plain Text emails with voting choices simply will not work outside of an Exchange Server environment. You can switch your email to Rich Text mode before sending by highlighting the relevant option under the Options tab. After sending your email inviting people to vote, you can get a quick count of their voting choices, by re-opening the original email from within the Sent Items folder. There you’ll see an infobar summarising the total number of votes cast, how each recipient voted, and how many votes each choice received. If only choosing which local councillor should receive your vote was as easy! **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [How to Print by Dragging](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-to-print-by-dragging/) **Published:** April 30, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Did you know that you can print documents simply by dragging their file onto a printer icon? This is a great shortcut if you don’t want to have to open a document before printing. Of course, to make this really convenient you need a way to quickly access your printers folder. You could maybe add a shortcut to your printer to the desktop, or pin it to the Start menu. Here’s how to do these in Windows Vista: ***To create a desktop shortcut in Windows Vista:*** 1. Click on the Start button and type Printers in the search box then press Enter 2. Click and drag your preferred printer from the Printers window onto your desktop (or just right click and choose Create Shortcut; your shortcut will automatically be created on the desktop) 3. Right-click on the new desktop icon to rename if desired ***To pin this shortcut to the Start menu in Windows Vista:*** 1. Drag the newly created desktop icon (from step 3 above) over the Start button, wait a second for the menu to open then drag upwards to drop your shortcut at the top of the list, normally just above the Internet Explorer link ***To print your documents:*** 1. Locate your document file in Windows Explorer and drag the icon onto your Printer shortcut icon. Windows will automatically open the file, invoke the print command, then close the file down once again. [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9si7lWqU2mHIQgepNSbKjvLrvoYcctcWH5-XY7_cYRXq2bZLhizrU7d0gvOxEzSLVck?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9siPcblms1tI2ZbHS1vthHLDOqQvbKXtsH9ZLoCjH5Uwz4AzqxBOcis_K5AfSBZN6XM?PARTNER=WRITER) ***Bonus tip:*** Windows Vista users who regularly print files in this way may also like to try out the [Drag&Drop and Print](http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=d49323f5-90a0-435a-8d11-4fe26f3cf9b8&bt=1&pl=1) Sidebar gadget that does exactly what its name suggests **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Transferring your Outlook settings to Windows Vista](https://allisterspeaks.com/transferring-your-outlook-settings-to-windows-vista/) **Published:** April 30, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.iinet.net.au/img/support/oe07/outlook071.png)I received a handy reminder yesterday from Diane Poremsky’s excellent [Outlook Tips web site](http://www,outlook-tips.net) that it’s best not to rely on the [Windows Easy Transfer](http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/easytransfer.mspx) (WET) tool when moving your Outlook settings to a new Windows Vista computer. In fact, using WET can sometimes cause problems including a corrupt profile. It’s far safer, and quicker in my opinion, to take a backup of your important Outlook files and manually copy them over to the new computer. Diane has provided the locations of the major Outlook files that you should copy across [on this page](http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/filepath.htm). By working this way you’ll not only be in complete control of your Outlook files, you’ll also benefit from taking a backup and learning about the different support files that make Outlook work just the way you like it. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Save ink, money and the planet](https://allisterspeaks.com/save-ink-money-and-the-planet/) **Published:** April 29, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://digitalstationery.com/uk/images/Think_B4U_Print.jpg) I’ve noticed more and more email signatures carrying a [‘Think before you print’](http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/think-before-you-print-that-em.html) reminder. And that’s a good thing, because the less we print, the less damage we do to our fragile planet. Or course, if you do want to add a reminder to people to discourage them from printing your email, I suggest you keep the type size and colours to a minimum otherwise your words could actually prove detrimental to the environment when printed! To learn more about email signature editing in Outlook, see some of my most popular previous tips [here](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14193.entry), [here](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/archive/2006/06/06/432876.aspx), and [here](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/archive/2005/09/30/411782.aspx). ![](http://www.worldstart.com/tips/screenshots/printpref.jpg)And there’s another simple step that many of us can take to reduce our printers’ ink consumption: tell your printer to print everything in draft mode, black and white, thrifty mode or whatever your printer manufacturer calls their economy printing mode. To do this open the **Printers** folder (in Windows Vista simply type ‘printers’ in the Start Search bar, in Windows XP locate the printer settings in Control Panel), **right-click** on your default printer, click **Properties**, then **Printing Preferences**. Now set your printer to run in economy/draft/thrifty mode and press OK. Next time you print, the default settings will be saving you ink and money, and shaving a few micrograms off your carbon footprint. And on the rare occasion that you need to print something higher resolution simply change the printing preferences in the Print dialog box just before you print. As a general rule this should be the exception rather than the norm. From what I can see, the low quality setting on most modern printers is plenty good enough for general use. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Gadget Population Explosion](https://allisterspeaks.com/gadget-population-explosion/) **Published:** April 28, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** One of the things I like about gadgets for Windows Vista is that you’re not limited to a single instance of each gadget. So, for instance, if you’d like to see the time in more than one time zone, simply add another instance of the clock gadget and give each clock a name like this: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sj63ZiH1v0pcaHWCiJmCHIFrVLWWVGMs8n8YyVWVUib95NKQAPXkyvBgMo0o4y9AHk?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9shJ9590J9GZrA8Ri2TfCljITBxbeXOPt6EWOKNVuSvhrB7oYkndRNQoOQd7VYmzW0c?PARTNER=WRITER) Or, if you like to keep track of the weather in different locations, but use a weather gadget that only allows one location, just add the gadget another time: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgANpZdaGZSLlMivKBHc6a3zuFAzbvGqwtbEnDNpZb0NZIlb1Qvvz643DWO380oaRY?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9siMbEMDRwekRFsk6-35TkYhLq--xKPnzsvEKSZBDSjLhB3-WYhGWYs8-Vj7fmUD028?PARTNER=WRITER) Plus, of course, you can move gadgets around anywhere on your Sidebar or Desktop so you can customise your world to your heart’s content. Can’t find a gadget you like? Try again, there are now gazillions at the [Windows Live Gallery](http://gallery.live.com/default.aspx?pl=1). Now, go forth and multiply your gadgets! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Disastrous logo for Office of Government Commerce](https://allisterspeaks.com/disastrous-logo-for-office-of-government-commerce/) **Published:** April 28, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Design news: I saw this on the BBC’s [Have I Got New For You](http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/haveigotnewsforyou/) TV programme on Friday. But it’s so hilarious, I thought I’d share it here. The new logo unveiled by the [Office of Government Commerce](http://www.ogc.gov.uk/) last week has turned out to be a real cock-up. It’s remarkable that for £14,000 (around US$30,000) the designer didn’t even have the foresight to consider the many different ways their design might be viewed. What the designer saw: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9shHwjlG-gSDXS6akuKtlBAnzXvDQGAY_9D0ZF5tsW0-Han_6ZLBhnbgs0y6IiXAaZ4?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjhhk1p8z63n-cf6Kv7GF9QPA66-gPPDZysXpegKIVLYGzkCXr2vxjYFTerRBj5zGA?PARTNER=WRITER) What everyone else saw: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9siYAD5j79fV_rDdSpcEMhHxkrlQIS9k3z_iV-P9W-mXwbRQ1rcUDaR6rMniMEgCyRI?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9shvxXscib5OqZtFuwScejVLpEstQsCg40AQGjkh3ZzcSzae7hvqy4_FdIAKRjqwnus?PARTNER=WRITER) Discover more disastrous logos [here](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/core/Slideshow/slideshowContentFrameFragXL.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/25/logo/logopix.xml&site=news). **Categories:** Design --- ### [Adapt your keyboard to suit your needs](https://allisterspeaks.com/adapt-your-keyboard-to-suit-your-needs/) **Published:** April 28, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [My recent tip](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14665.entry) showing how to add an audible alert every time you press the Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock keys has proved quite popular. But if you’re still hitting those keys by mistake, or simply want to change the layout of your keyboard for the sheer pleasure of doing so, SharpKeys is a neat little tool you might like. ![](http://www.randyrants.com/images/skey4.jpg)SharpKeys works by allowing you to remap certain buttons on your keyboard to a different key. So, for example, if you’ve got a new laptop and would like to swap the Delete Key with the right side Ctrl key to stop you deleting things by mistake, you can do this with ease. Just be sure to remember the changes you’ve made and add something to your keyboard (a sticker or a little Tipp-Ex®!) to remind you. This also works as a great trick\* to play on co-workers. Remapping a few keys can wreak havoc on an inexperienced computer user and will stump even the most experienced helpdesk operator! SharpKeys works in Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT and Windows Server 2003. [Download it from here](http://www.randyrants.com/sharpkeys). *\* The UsefulTechnology blog does not condone acts of cruelty against novice computer users, although it has been known to laugh quite vigorously when witnessing similar tricks played on unwitting colleagues in the past.* **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Bypass the Windows Vista log on screen](https://allisterspeaks.com/bypass-the-windows-vista-log-on-screen/) **Published:** April 25, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.geckoandfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/windows_vista_crack_login_password.jpg)Here’s a question I’m asked extremely often: "I’m the only user of my PC. How can I avoid having to type a password every time Windows Vista starts up?" The answer is simplicity itself. Click the **Start button** and in the search box type **control userpasswords2**, then press **Enter**. Enter your credentials if the User Account Control dialog appears then **remove the tick** against ‘Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer’ and **click OK**. Enter your password two last times, then press **OK**. The changes will take effect the next time you start up Windows Vista. Be warned though: if your computer is in a public place or could be accessed by someone without your knowledge you should think carefully before removing this log on password requirement. Without a password, your computer is open to being used by anyone who can turn it on and your Internet connection and private information could be compromised. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [No more broken shortcuts, ever](https://allisterspeaks.com/no-more-broken-shortcuts-ever/) **Published:** April 25, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.vista4beginners.com/files/logo/shortcut_arrow_logo.jpg)Maybe I missed this enhancement when it first appeared, but I just discovered that Windows Vista has a neat little feature that ‘automagically’ heals broken shortcuts. So, if you create a shortcut to a file or program in Windows Vista, then subsequently move that file or program link, the shortcut will be automatically updated to the new location. And your shortcuts should always work! Ingenious! ![FxVisor](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9shi44zbjsOQmr773nAwisXHGkGXfW7paKlpexa3sK1mnZtf7XRS4KtJ8QyWnpgpf5k?PARTNER=WRITER) BTW, you can also remove those ugly arrows from shortcuts in lots of different ways. The Shortcut Overlay Remover from the FrameworkX community, also known as FxVisor, can do this for you without your having to dive deep into the registry. To install, head to [www.frameworkx.com](http://www.frameworkx.com), click on Downloads, then look for Vista Shortcut Manager in the Windows Toolbox. If you’re running a 32-bit version of Windows Vista (and most people are) you need the x86 download. If you’re on 64-bit version you need the x64 version. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [McDonalds flips out in style in the UK](https://allisterspeaks.com/mcdonalds-flips-out-in-style-in-the-uk/) **Published:** April 24, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://threadtrend.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/wmcd.jpg?w=380&h=316)Marketing news: UK Designer Bruce Oldfield has stepped in to add a little respectability to the uniforms worn by McDonalds staff in the UK. Gone are the garish red smocks, presumably tinted to match the acne on the faces of McDonalds’ young workers. In come subtle shades of beige and brown, and even pencil skirts and scarves for female managers. I think it looks quite smart, but it would take more than a sharp suit to make me eat one of those burgers. The revamp of all 67,000 UK staff is reported to be costing a whopping £2million. Small change to a chain like McDonalds as they continue their restaurant restyle programme. I wonder if those little star badges that give an indication of how long a member of staff has held a McJob will also get the chop? I really hope so… More [here]() **Categories:** Marketing --- ### [Share your favourite RSS feeds in Outlook](https://allisterspeaks.com/share-your-favourite-rss-feeds-in-outlook/) **Published:** April 15, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** If you read your RSS feeds in Outlook 2007 and, let’s face it, why wouldn’t you, you may be pleased to learn how easy it is to share a feed with a friend. Simply right-click on any feed entry and choose Share this Feed: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgAWan8ieIiGACB-eodaetL4pirXC_iAXkhn22ahfeWLvv8U0wWeUvNRPyLeK5dTvc?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgjMkKrM-SYmbuVkvCo5rfwsr-J-ZRqIjPPA_p86vC-dhxL8jM5XqJD1Ss3w4v7dEI?PARTNER=WRITER) Outlook will instantly create a new email for you complete with an embedded link to the RSS feed. Simply send to your intended recipient(s) and they’ll see a little link like this in the email: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjeL6YvhPA4x2Fxh3h8iNMGSPnXQAFK4N7nud9Ik-U2rKwK6jo5UplwHkisp9fzH8Q?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sibQqIEsbNne_wtcOer-jNDZmS4exg5eCdsV5twvGJBPdSuNbqRMqEtaTse2I_gzrM?PARTNER=WRITER) Now sit back smugly as they wonder how you learned such a clever trick. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Stop hitting 'Reply to All'](https://allisterspeaks.com/stop-hitting-reply-to-all/) **Published:** April 15, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9shxQq_qTm56_QndvjiHSCHtu2USLR-F_y_WcP2Th4v4eGxJaWh1Ngzk9otSGQ1fCb4?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9siitUrlmapw04-69Z9vytT8WoG_C4fF8enakT1p_LOZYcp7keSWUX7I251N_Y5NoHE?PARTNER=WRITER) Are you a victim of an inadvertent ‘Reply to All’ gaffe? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Every day, thousands of people unwittingly share their most intimate thoughts with complete strangers. And it’s all thanks to that pesky ‘Reply to All’ button in Microsoft Outlook. Thankfully, there is a cure. The NEW "UsefulTechnology Gaffe Destroyer™ (Patent-Pending)" solution works by reducing the temptation\* to hit the ‘Reply to All’ button. Here’s how it works: 1. **Right-click** on the Reply to All button in Microsoft Outlook and choose **Customize** 2. On the **Commands tab**, click **Rearrange Commands** 3. Select the **Toolbar button** and make sure **Standard** is selected in the drop down box 4. Highlight the Reply to All control and either: 1. For *basic* protection: click **Modify Selection**, **change the** **name** to ‘Reply to Everyone’ and **change the button image** to something less appealing like [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjTIKJ1_RDZyJfrUKLtuacexHtjWZ7UKg1hrZOabVjsxdj2CIklcNcKR4mbCcxXZNQ?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9si17Vy2fKbeExlg0KvAgV0NNQM527h3LejxCW1GjQGmlEJQ97URnMAqaSSpQCtuVRU?PARTNER=WRITER). Now click **Close** and your standard toolbar should look a bit like this [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9siQ2BajnY6b1MA6szb6nataZjsSfh_v7GZmryXMzaGB_m-KBjUnpoqiYL9oSK0pQmk?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sg8TN09u1S2NRgrhuG_UENydzWvKgzsj-I4Gmy8BgpFlH_w33jkLZDNRNgho8W2rnk?PARTNER=WRITER). There, that’s better already. 2. ***or*** for *total* protection: click **Delete**, then click **Close**. 6. Now learn the keyboard shortcuts for Reply and Reply to All: - Reply to mail message: **CTRL + R** - Reply to all to mail message: **SHIFT + CTRL + R** Trust me, that extra little requirement to press the SHIFT key to invoke the ‘Reply to All’ command will completely eliminate future mistakes. By having to make a conscious decision to ‘Reply to All’ rather than simply clicking a button, you will regain control over your communications and permanently banish embarrassing declarations of love to your work colleagues. Give it a try. It really works! *\* Willpower required. Always read the label.* **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Jump to your Inbox in Outlook](https://allisterspeaks.com/jump-to-your-inbox-in-outlook/) **Published:** April 10, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Here’s a super time saver for Outlook. Whenever you need to **go to your inbox** (if you’re like me that happens about 3,000 times a day) just hit: **SHIFT + CTRL + I** That’s it! It works from any view in Outlook. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [My Bag o' Crap Moment](https://allisterspeaks.com/my-bag-o-crap-moment/) **Published:** April 10, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I wrote [recently](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14672.entry) and [more recently](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14691.entry) about the clever promotion that [BigPockets.co.uk](http://www.bigpockets.co.uk) was running to help clear out the slow moving stock from its warehouses. When the chance came up for me to order my own Bag o’ Crap (or [Bag o’ Crap 2](http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product.php?lang=&product_id=24719&session=a5f7b8e52768cc6b510557d456446214) to be precise) I didn’t hesitate. The mystery package arrived yesterday. Here’s the moment my son and I discovered what was inside. \[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSW-WLeiNKQ&hl=en\] Video link: **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Keyboard shortcuts for perfect copy](https://allisterspeaks.com/keyboard-shortcuts-for-perfect-copy/) **Published:** April 8, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Fussy copywriters like me can be sent into a rage by the smallest grammatical slip-ups. Years ago, in a previous job, my team referred to me as ‘Mr Em Dash’ in recognition of my obsession with transforming the many inappropriate hyphens that blighted our copy into more attractive em dashes. To punctuate copy correctly you first need to go beyond the visible limitations of your keyboard. Here’s a quick list of some useful keyboard shortcuts I regularly use. Learn these and you’ll soon be transforming your words into a work of art. … ([ellipsis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipsis)): **Alt GR + full stop** — ([em dash](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dash#Em_dash)): **Ctrl + Alt + minus symbol** (on number keypad), or **Alt + 0151** (on number keypad) – ([en dash](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dash#En_dash)): Alt + 0150 áéíóú ([acute accents](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_accent)): **AltGr + vowel** © (copyright symbol): Alt + 0169 (on number keypad) ® (registered trademark symbol): Alt + 0174 (on number keypad) ™ (trademark symbol): Alt + 0153 (on number keypad) † ([dagger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagger_(typography))): Alt + 0134 (on number keypad) Remember, not all keyboard shortcuts work in all applications. All the above should work in Microsoft Word and Outlook, although they don’t all work in Windows Live Writer. If ever you get stuck, open Character Map in Windows and look for the Alt+Number keystroke in the bottom right corner. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [The importance of patching](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-importance-of-patching/) **Published:** April 1, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.jinx.com/Content/Product/294p_15c_0m.jpg)You don’t need me to remind you, dear reader, of the importance of keeping your computer up to date. Regular patching and anti-virus/anti-spyware updates have never been more important. But even this cannot protect you 100% from the most determined hacker. As [The Register reports](http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/29/ubuntu_left_standing/), in the three day Pwn2Own contest in Vancouver, a two man team of [white hats](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_hat) eventually managed to uncover a vulnerability in Adobe Flash that allowed them to compromise a MacBook Pro computer, then a Windows Vista computer. The team ran out of time to run the hack on a Linux machine but said afterwards that their exploit would also work on OS X and Linux boxes. The moral of the story is, as always, hidden at the end of The Register’s article: "exploits like this are a fact of life for everyone no matter what kind of machine they chose." So, for the best chance of staying safe, check your computer is up to date now! **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [Share your calendar in Outlook, Windows Live, Office Online, and everywhere else](https://allisterspeaks.com/share-your-calendar-in-outlook-windows-live-office-online-and-everywhere-else/) **Published:** March 31, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjNyYu7uNIFAj2cUWFUlu6b4gt8vG4GabCr9c_0keFybmDZF0W-IL1-alK3Qv1C_N0?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgCFhklsrbE1s_r6rSQ6eD-rOYhuFm_FD0rkmdqfqFkcSTAeyCiW3znV5BRwrmdau0?PARTNER=WRITER) Back in the day, my family’s lives rotated around a month-to-view calendar that my mum pinned to the kitchen wall. These days, the kitchen calendar may still be there but things are a bit more complicated with our 21st century lives being busier than ever and electronic diaries stretching our pockets to the limit. I’ve been playing with [TimeBridge](http://www.timebridge.com/) recently ([thanks Matthew!](http://www.badlanguage.net/how-to-schedule-meetings-and-interviews-easily)) and jolly impressive it is too. If you’ve ever struggled to find a convenient date to meet up with someone, give TimeBridge a try. The Outlook add-in functions well, and the web interface of joyfully simple. Users of Microsoft Outlook and Windows Live can also reduce calendar chaos in lots of ways. With Outlook 2007 it’s really easy to [share a snapshot of your calendar in an email](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/archive/2006/07/17/442105.aspx). You can also share calendars in the [Windows Live Calendar beta](http://get.live.com/betas/calendar_betas). Here’s how to [import your Outlook calendar into Windows Live](http://help.live.com/Help.aspx?market=en-GB&project=Calendar&querytype=topic&query=Calendar_PROC_ImportOutlookCalendar.htm). Watch this video from the [Windows Vista blog](http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsexperience/archive/2007/11/07/share-calendars-to-windows-calendar-with-windows-live-calendar-beta.aspx) to see how Windows Live Calendar and [Windows Calendar](http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/features/details/calendar.mspx) in Windows Vista work seamlessly together: [http://images.video.msn.com/flash/soapbox1\_1.swf](http://images.video.msn.com/flash/soapbox1_1.swf) [Video: Demo: Windows Live Calendar (BETA) #1](http://soapbox.msn.com/video.aspx?from=msnvideo&showPlaylist=true&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:5a57f304-0b0c-42bb-a852-2acb17889fc6 "Demo: Windows Live Calendar (BETA) #1") In fact, as long as you can save your calendar as a .ics (iCalendar) format, you can pretty much do whatever you like with it. Of course, the trouble with an iCalendar file is that it’s static so any changes to your calendar won’t be dynamically updated. To get round this you can [publish your calendar on Office Online](http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA100809831033.aspx) so that other people can see as little or as much information as you’d like to share. Other Internet calendar services include [www.calendardata.com](http://www.calendardata.com), [Google Calendar](http://www.google.com/googlecalendar/overview.html) and [www.icalshare.com](http://www.icalshare.com). And if that wasn’t enough hyperlinking for one day, to learn more about the two key ways you can share your calendar, read [this page](http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA100398301033.aspx) from Microsoft Office Online. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Unforgettable Label](https://allisterspeaks.com/unforgettable-label/) **Published:** March 27, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** We’ve all done it. Devoured a delicious bottle of wine, staggered home to bed, then completely forgotten the name of the nectareous liquid that addled our brains. Well, forget no more. This lovely design work by Oxford Landing, purveyors of fine wines from Australia, brings to an end those days of wine memory failure. Just don’t forget to peel the label. It’s true. The simplest design ideas really are the best! ![Cunning invitation](http://www.thedieline.com/blog/images/2008/03/22/snc17528.jpg "Snc17528") ![I'm peeling good!](http://www.thedieline.com/blog/images/2008/03/22/snc17529.jpg "Snc17529") *Source:* [*www.thedieline.com/blog/2008/03/innovation-in-w.html*](http://www.thedieline.com/blog/2008/03/innovation-in-w.html) **Categories:** Design --- ### [UK Banks Leap Into The 20th [sic] Century](https://allisterspeaks.com/uk-banks-leap-into-the-20th-sic-century/) **Published:** March 27, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.bba.org.uk/content/1/c4/79/02/Faster_Payments_logo.gif) Exactly two months from now, on the 27th May 2008, the UK Banking Industry will finally introduce a new system that will reduce the time taken for standing orders and payments made online or by telephone banking to reach the payee’s bank account. Today, it typically takes 3 working days for payments to reach the payee – a lead time established decades ago, well before the advent of computers and the Internet. It’s quite absurd that banks still insist on3 working days to move funds and the abandonment of this age old lead time, which has been called for by the government, is long overdue. The new scheme should have gone live in November 2007 but was delayed due to technical problems. Let’s hope the the revised launch date of [Faster Payments](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faster_Payments_Service) is met. Of course, here in our 21st century world, it no longer takes 3 working days for money to move from one bank to another. It takes just seconds, as evidenced by traders on global markets who buy and sell millions of shares and commodities at the click of a mouse. Thank goodness the UK Banking Industry has finally conceded that they can do the same with our money, and put in place the technology needed to make it work. There are currently 13 UK banks and building societies committed to [the programme](http://www.fastpayments.co.uk/), accounting for 97% of current payment traffic. These are: - Abbey - Alliance & Leicester - Barclays - Citibank - Co-operative Bank - HBOS - HSBC - Lloyds TSB - National Australia Group (Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank) - Nationwide Building Society, Northern Bank (Danske Bank) - Royal Bank of Scotland Group - and the impoverished Northern Rock If your bank is not in the list give them a call to find out why. And if they’re not planning to take part any time soon you might want to find yourself another bank. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Yet another Clipboard enhancer](https://allisterspeaks.com/yet-another-clipboard-enhancer/) **Published:** March 26, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![YC3](http://www.intelexual.com/images/prodBoxYC3.png)![YCX](http://www.intelexual.com/images/prodBoxYCX.png) If you find that the [ClipboardManager gadget](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14686.entry) for Windows Vista just doesn’t have the ‘ooomph’ that you need, try [Yankee Clipper 3](http://www.intelexual.com/products/yc3/). YC3 is a handy little freeware application that keeps a record of everything (and I mean everything) that you place in your clipboard (by copying or cutting). It resides in your toolbar and works in all applications. It will sort your clipboard entries by type (text, pictures, rich text, URLs etc) and even allows you to create "boilerplate" clippings that you regularly use. So, for example, if you’re forever typing your home address or pasting your company logo into documents you could save time by turning these into boilerplate clippings so they’re never more than a mouse click away. It can even strip out messy quote characters like "<" from your clippings. Try the free version (1.06MB download) from [here](http://www.intelexual.com/products/YC3/download/index.aspx). You’ll like it. And, if you fancy an even more powerful clipboard tool that can recover deleted clippings, has support for up to 5 collections, and can even let you associate clippings with hot keys, take a look at [Yankee Clipper X](http://www.intelexual.com/products/YCX/) (YCX). There’s a free 90 day trial, after which it costs just $14.95 to keep forever. I think regular clipboard users will quickly appreciate the great value this represents. **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [Doggy Doo-Doos by RSS feed](https://allisterspeaks.com/doggy-doo-doos-by-rss-feed/) **Published:** March 25, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **Red Alert!** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgc5rhI96f5ahkMR39Vs6icUP2fNvl8ywMT3R_VEd3tGvhC3fimgN482fpIn1_s_y8?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjfYYHj8f_vw46Zf0gMgotqPHjHWMptnfu2hNboIB5u1zJ_Z4gNSg-Kgk2iQtVQ-d8?PARTNER=WRITER) I ***love*** the web when it turns out brilliantly relevant information like this! Curtain twitchers across the UK should immediately log on [www.fixmystreet.com](http://www.fixmystreet.com) to find out what’s going on around their neighbourhood. Put in your postcode and be amazed at the goings on all around you. Dog mess, abandoned fridges, and potholes seem to be at the top of the "Bad Stuff Blighting My Neighbourhood" league. But, best of all, you can even subscribe to get updates by [RSS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(file_format)) so you need never be out of the loop again! Gossiping over the garden fence will never be the same again. Bravo to [The Ministry of Justice](http://www.justice.gov.uk/) for helping get this beta site off the ground. Right, I’m off to photograph some dog’s mess. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Windows Vista: The Missing Manual](https://allisterspeaks.com/windows-vista-the-missing-manual/) **Published:** March 25, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sj6iowWeAs5RMd-uLs_B0pOfy1WPbT6wf4pfqie6Sh3kZE18fEYxs61NUPvE992LvA?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgV5Vilp3idSP5kaS7lVTeJa4zA2GjzKsz9xEkA3wGrrIQok5ZChjtPI75tddhRSyw?PARTNER=WRITER)Hot off the press (or whatever the digital equivalent of a printing press is), you can now download the freshly updated [Windows Product Guide](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bbc16ebf-4823-4a12-afe1-5b40b2ad3725&DisplayLang=en), complete with details of the improvements made in Service Pack 1. The guide is worth downloading, if only for the comprehensive feature comparison charts that help explain the differences between the many different flavours of Windows Vista available to buy. And, if you already own a printed copy of the original Windows Vista Product Guide you can now download a concise (63 pages!) [Revision Document](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=B824CB81-566D-4EE7-884F-EA689DDE8559&displaylang=en) to bring your Product guide up to date with SP1 enhancements. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Show formulae (or should that be 'show formulas'?) in Excel](https://allisterspeaks.com/show-formulae-or-should-that-be-show-formulas-in-excel/) **Published:** March 20, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjk7TLL5y3H1ax_rlPAuB3KZw1oHLC0woeJ4E1rQANfAbLcdDFX8S5MvhDuYJsgdQE?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9simxKFrSL8I8byRmVNlwCYYOjVWzIzTe1XGjRwoThP7l3m_rAU3JqNBNG6tIIOWO1E?PARTNER=WRITER) I first learned this tip about a decade ago and had long forgotten it until reminded today. When working in Microsoft Office Excel (any version), you can instantly change the view so that formulae appear in each cell instead of the results they generate. To do this hit **CTRL+`** (that’s the accent key, normally the upper-leftmost key on your keyboard). Hey presto, your formulae are served! To revert to the normal view again, just press **CTRL+`** once more. The Formula Auditing toolbar that appears is another handy side effect to this keyboard shortcut. Have a play to discover how easy it is to trace any errors in your formulae. **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [Bag o' Crap returns 23.59 04/04/2008](https://allisterspeaks.com/bag-o-crap-returns-23-59-04042008/) **Published:** March 20, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [BigPockets.co.uk](http://www.bigpockets.co.uk) is causing a stir amongst its customer base with the continuing saga of its [Bag o’ Crap](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14672.entry). As their latest newsletter explains: > *"Where do I start? How about the* [*Bag Of crap (BOC)*](http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product.php?lang=&product_id=24719) *for £2.99? Well, you broke our servers, insulted our staff and attacked one another on chat rooms and forums. Some of you showed some absolutely ridiculous* [*political views*](http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product.php?lang=&product_id=24719) *and made* [*some very bad videos*](http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/bag_o_crap.php)*… here we go, your last chance to buy a bag of crap. We have nearly run out can you believe it you have cleared out our warehouse of crap!! – Well done."* Their tongue-in-cheek and candid attitude is remarkably refreshing in today’s hard sell world. And it seems to be working, with all stock selling out in record time. Give it a try in your next marketing campaign! The next batch of Bag o’ Crap stock will be ready to go on sale at 23:59 on 4th April. Mark the date in your diary if you’re mad enough to want to take part. As for the videos that customers sent in, they were almost as bad as the contents of the bags they bought. Here’s my pick of a bad bunch. Surely you can do better than this?!: \[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SUpR9iYCd4&hl=en\] **Categories:** Marketing --- ### [Adding jump links to your e-mails](https://allisterspeaks.com/adding-jump-links-to-your-e-mails/) **Published:** March 17, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sg3XZ0QNkRvLLb8MdyMukYZ8f0IX1bhBcw9BKouiMmBzyHNtCUXfcDXQY2R6MybYK0?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sj0vgwCho9kzmBzQLWcrS6qno9dOV38YFVs90nO2RJEcp64-BPyKHNTOvqvchbHVSI?PARTNER=WRITER) If you write a long e-mail, sometimes it’s a nice idea to add jump links to help people navigate to the content that’s most relevant to them. Say, for example, you write an e-mail about the three things you did on holiday, you could add a jump link to take your reader straight to each of the three sections (eating, sleeping, and queuing at the airport). Think of it as an interactive list of contents, something that helps people find the bits they’re most interested in. Jump links look really impressive, but adding them is a piece of cake in Outlook. Keep in mind that this only works when you compose your e-mail in HTML or Rich Text; hyperlinks are not supported in plain text. Here’s how: 1. First, compose your email (in HTML or Rich Text mode) 2. Now highlight the first point in your e-mail body copy where you would like to add a jump link (the place your reader will jump to) 3. Now select Insert > Bookmark, type a memorable name for your bookmark (no spaces!), then click Add 4. Repeat step 3 for each of the jump link destinations in your e-mail 5. Now, go to the top of your e-mail body and type your list of jump links 6. Highlight each jump link in turn and select Insert > Hyperlink, then click Place in this Document, then select the relevant Bookmark link and press OK. Repeat this step for each jump link. 7. Now test your hyperlinks by CTRL+Clicking on each in turn to see where the cursor jumps to. If all is well, send your e-mail and wait for the recipients to reply asking how you learned to do such clever links! For more on adding hyperlinks to Outlook e-mails, click [here](http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/HA102086471033.aspx). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Managing your Clipboard from the Sidebar (and Office)](https://allisterspeaks.com/managing-your-clipboard-from-the-sidebar-and-office/) **Published:** March 14, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The clipboard is a wonderful thing. Every time you copy (CTRL+C) or cut (CTRL+X) any information on your monitor, it is temporarily stored in the clipboard ready to be pasted back when needed. And while working in Microsoft Office applications you can even display the Clipboard at the side of the screen by clicking the tiny button shown below: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgkuT3YPsUbGXCsavEGY_HcPan_OpSpeXmGnnxUXe_l3JnoxiUkOKSFfmvOSl5Rh84?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjWOxrmMi3vi0OpSObhOe-BkdGrVE1kMDCugqnzPdfxD9r-criBp7DIOQ4NBUE2g2I?PARTNER=WRITER) Once you’ve done this it’s a good idea to access the Options at the bottom of the Clipboard viewer and select the **Show Office Clipboard When Ctrl+C Pressed Twice** option. If find a double click on Ctrl+C much easier to remember than that tiny little button on the top ribbon. And while you’re at it you may as well select the other two options too to ensure that the Clipboard will retain a history of the items you copy/cut even without the clipboard being visible: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjnUMZw9UGcLYDBfAXeUIOGc4zW7-X0YprDEE6c1vgNMQVZOAwE0WwbCMMOpWKBHc8?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgvHNXJLSDRwiuw3d2x1c3Pu0Q4tn5l10lxyuAv7OkjHxvbIe6quUTGAS8fVhRoIco?PARTNER=WRITER) Now that you’ve done that you can see your clipboard’s contents and paste any of the last 24 items you copied/cut whenever you like. Gone are your days of rigidly sequential copy’n’pasting! [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgTGsaCe6FhlTfe8yBPAeOOy-dmefVrpfOC8u14X4zMBHGCHIiLfDH4fLYz42W8ysY?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sivRJMkWT1Scy1dARdLDOZX8gimfbzqgyLkBSPJa3yO8jxJV5hyNrm9qv2E1-TY4oc?PARTNER=WRITER)But what to do if you need to copy’n’paste non-sequentially outside of Microsoft Office applications? I recently discovered a handy Windows Vista Sidebar gadget that displays the last 7 items you placed into the clipboard. Clicking each item on the list simply returns them to the top of the clipboard, effectively making them the last thing you placed in the clipboard. Now you can paste (CTRL+V) that item as needed. So, if you need support for non-sequential clipboard use outside of Microsoft Office applications, take ClipboardManager gadget for a spin from [here](http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=c3c76456-2cfa-490f-997a-7f34d0b2effd&bt=1&pl=1). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Lush desktop enhancements for Windows Vista](https://allisterspeaks.com/lush-desktop-enhancements-for-windows-vista/) **Published:** March 13, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.windowsvistamagazine.com/UK/4352741769004652291/cover.jpg)With thanks to [Windows Vista magazine](http://www.windowsvistamagazine.com/uk/), check out some of the cool tools to enhance your desktop at . I particularly like the [3D User Picture](http://mpj.tomaatnet.nl/vista/3duserpic.html), [Glass Toasts](http://mpj.tomaatnet.nl/vista/glasstoasts.html), and [Thumbnail Sizer](http://mpj.tomaatnet.nl/vista/thumbnailsizer.html). Nice enhancements, but only if you’ve got a sufficiently powerful graphics card. [Folder Backgrounds](http://mpj.tomaatnet.nl/vista/folderbg.html) are also pretty quirky, but I’ve yet to see the end-user value here! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [The Album = R.I.P. The Future = R.E.M.](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-album-r-i-p-the-future-r-e-m/) **Published:** March 13, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://blog.nola.com/nomrf/2007/09/large_REM.jpg) As a long time fan of [R.E.M.](http://remhq.com/) I’m excited to learn that they will become the first major act to allow fans to freely stream and share their new "Accelerate" album via social networking sites when it is released on 24th March. To take advantage of this great opportunity to hear the album before it is released in the shops you simply need to use any iLike application (available from [iLike.com](http://www.ilike.com/), [Bebo](http://www.bebo.com/), [iTunes](http://www.itunes.com/), [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/) and other social networking sites). This is the latest initiative in the growing ‘direct-to-listener’ trend that is transforming the music and wider entertainment industry. [Radiohead](http://www.radiohead.com/) caused a stir late last year when they offered their most recent album, In Rainbows, for download at a ‘pay what you think it’s worth’ price. And [Prince](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)) gave his 3121 album away for free with the UK newspaper Daily Mail. R.E.M. will still release their CD-based album as usual, but they’ll gain notoriety and increased relevance amongst younger music fans by publicly embracing social networking. There’s still plenty of money to be made from good music. All the pioneer digitally pioneering bands enjoy lucrative revenue from their successful live acts and merchandising deals. And therein lies the secret for future success in the music industry. The closer you can get to your fans, the more successful you will be. Hiding behind record label executives and relying on old fashioned album sales is a surefire recipe for failure. So, what next for the music industry? What’s the next major wall that a music artist will knock down as they grow ever closer to their listener base? These are exciting times. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Searching your .PSTs in Windows Vista](https://allisterspeaks.com/searching-your-psts-in-windows-vista/) **Published:** March 12, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9shaB8kK0vc927Ab5DP35uxlIhqhxHSZY2BJlLhH9rNr33MOTLxI3GJwzJaILNgt0NM?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sj8QtKSfvBd_ArFaeDv-im4IhhyhdjgpQwCf361Z97zgT2UDmERjV2GrrJ_3AqdNX4?PARTNER=WRITER) Here’s an ace tip from [Channel 10](http://on10.net/Default.aspx) that explains how to configure Windows Vista to automatically index all .pst (Outlook Personal Storage) files on your computer. This saves you having to open archived .pst files in Outlook every time you need to dig out an old email. Follow the steps in [the tip on Channel 10](http://on10.net/blogs/sarahintampa/21333/). The only enhancement I’d suggest to this tip is that at step 5 you should do this *"Quickly type **pst** on your keyboard to locate the pst entry, then check the checkbox next to pst to include it in the search".* Making this change does force Windows Vista to rebuild your search index and may slow down your PC for a while. Do this just before you can leave your PC idle (before lunch or at the end of the day) if you don’t want to impact your productivity. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Fabulous FolderShare](https://allisterspeaks.com/fabulous-foldershare/) **Published:** March 12, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://allisterf.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/fsanim.gif?w=238)It would appear that rumours of FolderShare’s death were grossly exaggerated. Au contraire, [FolderShare](http://www.foldershare.com) is alive and well, and looking better than ever with: - a new extra-confusing name ‘Windows Live FolderShare Beta’ - a new web site that makes file management easier - speedier setup - faster performance in Windows Vista - and a sparkling new logo Some of the functionality of Windows Live FolderShare Beta has long since been incorporated into the [Sharing Folder feature](http://get.live.com/messenger/features#ID0EHCAC) of Windows Live Messenger, and that’s a great place to start if you rarely share files between computers and people. And, of course, [Windows Live SkyDrive](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14632.entry) offers a really simple way to store up to 5GB of your files in the cloud. But for raw simplicity, FolderShare is hard to beat. ***What’s FolderShare?*** FolderShare is a free application that allows you to keep files in sync across computers (maybe between a desktop PC and a laptop), share folders on your computer(s) with friends, and access files on your computer(s) from any other Internet-connected computer. The application is currently in Beta mode, which means it’s still in development and not quite perfect, but it’s been around for several years and the core features are extremely stable. All you have to remember is that both computers must be on and connected to the Internet at the same time for files to be synchronised, i.e. FolderShare doesn’t store a copy of your files anywhere, it simply synchronises them between your computers. Here’s the official description of what it can do: ![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9shkKm2iKEFhOTBaPwOl79W1At0ZrjgUlyo0a5tYCsbEsAx1ECmIKM88kVEd577mmH8?PARTNER=WRITER) ***How do I get started?*** Install FolderShare from [www.foldershare.com](http://www.foldershare.com/clientdownload.aspx). Once installed, create your account by registering your email address and choosing a secure and sufficiently complex password. Now follow the simple on-screen instructions to create a folder that you will synchronise with another computer. I usually start with a folder on my desktop; this makes it easy for me to drag and drop files that I may need to access on another computer. Then repeat the process on your second computer and set your new personal library to synchronise automatically with a newly created folder on the desktop of your second computer. You’ll quickly see how easy it is to synchronise data if you drag a few files into one of your synchronised FolderShare folders. Within moments the same files should appear on the other computer. Now have a go at creating a shared library so an invited friend can access files on your computer. But best of all is Remote Access which makes it mega-simple to access all the important files on each of your computers at the click of a mouse. Stop emailing stuff to yourself! Give FolderShare a spin. You can also read the new FolderShare blog [here](http://foldershareteam.spaces.live.com/blog/). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Fukubukuro Crap in our Web 2.0 times](https://allisterspeaks.com/fukubukuro-crap-in-our-web-2-0-times/) **Published:** March 12, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This has to be the offer of the century: [![Bag o' Crappiness](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9si5UOtq63WpWwzRHz0sT1gq9NiSi1XOKRYwRik-czhlfiyqalBwhTlZ6wkOgzx7UWY?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product.php?lang=&product=BOXSPEC001 "Bag o' Crappiness") Yes, that’s right. For just £2.99 at [www.bigpockets.co.uk](http://www.bigpockets.co.uk/product.php?lang=&product=BOXSPEC001) you can now buy a bag full of crappy items that would otherwise be cluttering up their warehouse. The contents will almost certainly have a value above £2.99, but not necessarily to you. The web site goes on to explain as follows: > "Are you ready?? We have got the worst deal ever for you. We are going to ask you to spend your hard earned pounds for a bag o’ crap. For £2.99 we will give you a bag or a box with three crappy items in it. These items are cluttering up our warehouse and we have two or 3 of them per line certainly not enough to list them individually on our website. So we thought we would put three of them in a bag and we would get someone to buy them…. " Quirky! But here’s the really clever part. Everyone who orders a bag o’ crap gets the chance to win £500 if they post a link, review or a video of them opening the bag and discovering how crappy their crap is. ***Net result:*** Big Pockets turns unsaleable goods into retail value, reduces its storage costs, and gets a tonne of free publicity in return. The chances are that everyone who orders a bag o’ crap will undoubtedly tell several other people about their purchase, and maybe also throw a few more items into their basket while they’re shopping. If it works, that’s pretty close to marketing genius! As the Big Pockets website explains, this is an example of fukubukuro where Japanese retailers produce grab bags filled with random items for their customers to buy at Japanese New Year. More on the wonderfully named [fukubukuro](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukubukuro) here. *\[UPDATE: when I wrote this post there were 54 Bags O’ Crap in stock. 30 minutes later they were all gone! There’s no denying it, this fukubukuro thing is powerful stuff! Who’d have thought buying crap could be so popular\]* **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Speed Formatting](https://allisterspeaks.com/speed-formatting/) **Published:** March 11, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** 1. ![](http://www.stationaryengineparts.com/images/743916.jpg)*Regular users* of Microsoft Word and Outlook will have discovered the **Format Painter** tool which looks like this ![Format Painter button](http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA060429631033). By selecting some text then clicking the ![Format Painter button](http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA060429631033) button, you can apply the exact same formatting to other text in your document just by selecting it. Give it a try. 2. *Advanced users* will have spotted that by **double-clicking** on the Format Painter tool you can apply the formatting over and over again to different parts of your document. Just remember to press the ESC button when you’ve finished to restore normal cursor behaviour. 3. *And super-advanced users* may even know that using the SHIFT+CTRL+C keyboard shortcut will copy the formatting of your selected text allowing you to subsequently apply that formatting to any other highlighted text by pressing SHIFT+CTRL+V. I find the keyboard shortcuts much more useful than the ![Format Painter button](http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA060429631033) button because they allow me to copy the desired formatting then continue working on the document without losing the stored formatting style. I am then free to apply the stored formatting at any time I like simply by clicking SHIFT+CTRL+V. Very speedy indeed. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Quick Parts for Outlook 2007](https://allisterspeaks.com/quick-parts-for-outlook-2007/) **Published:** March 10, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** If you find yourself inserting things like your address, maps, travel directions, disclaimers and your web site URL into emails over and over again, then Quick Parts could be your new friend. Quick Parts are new to Outlook 2007 and Word 2007 and provide an easy way for you to quickly insert regularly used text into an e-mail or document. To get started you need to create your first Quick Part. Here’s how: 1. In **Outlook 2007**, create a **New Mail Message** and click your cursor into the body of the e-mail editor (not in the To… or Cc… or Subject lines) 2. Now **type/paste the Quick Part details you’d like to create.** For example, type your home address and format it as you would like it to appear in future emails. 3. Now, **highlight the text** and click on the **Insert tab**, then the **Quick Parts** drop down then **Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery** (or, if you like keyboard shortcuts, simply hit **Alt+F3)** 4. **Name your new Quick Part,** something like ‘Home Address’, and click OK. 5. Now, whenever you wish to insert your home address, just **click on the Quick Parts drop down** under the **Insert tab** and select from the available quick parts. Easy! ![Available Quick Parts](http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102134221033) 6. Repeat steps 2-4 for every Quick Part you’d like to create. Handy eh? Now you’ve discovered Quick Parts you’ll never look back! For more details visit [this site](http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/ha102140711033.aspx). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Duelling designers and developers](https://allisterspeaks.com/duelling-designers-and-developers/) **Published:** March 10, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgdDaS_H1klj3kvqPDUNZ-g4UFumLvdaJq6FXbxgUJpPpYy57d-uZgg7saJCiYtTrM?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://www.microsoft.com/uk/expression/webharmony/) Here’s a nice video that does a fine job of highlighting the challenges facing developers and designers as they seek to deliver great marketing campaigns! Recognise someone you work with in there? I did! **Categories:** Marketing --- ### [bANISH cLUMSY tPYING mISTAKES](https://allisterspeaks.com/banish-clumsy-tpying-mistakes/) **Published:** March 9, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Are you forever hitting the Caps Lock key by mistake and discovering THAT YOUR PERFECTLY FORMED SENTENCE HAS TURNED ALL SHOUTY? While there’s no known cure for fat fingers, you may be pleased to know that you can configure Windows to play an audible alert warning whenever you press the Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock keys: **Windows Vista users:** 1. Type **Ease of Access** in the search bar under the Start button and press **Enter** 2. Click **Make the keyboard easier to use** 3. Place a tick against **Turn on Toggle Keys** **Windows XP users:** 1. Open **Control Panel** from the **Start Menu** 2. Choose **Accessibility Options** 3. Go to the **Keyboard tab** 4. Place a tick against **Use Toggle Keys** hANDY EH? 😉 And if you’ve just finished typing your life story and look up to find that you accidentally pressed the Caps Lock key 27 pages ago, you need the cleverly titled **tOGGLE cASE** tool. This will quickly convert your type to the intended format. In Outlook 2007, Word 2007, and PowerPoint 2007 it can be found under the **Format** **Text tab** and looks like this: ![Change Case](http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?AssetID=ZA102106661033) **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Easy! Mail merge to e-mail](https://allisterspeaks.com/easy-mail-merge-to-e-mail/) **Published:** March 3, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgAaF2d55gjflYtwy759ZEXq0safy6FRsoepC-XmbX1c_Y4hn8VzdanUQ9EpN9URbU?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9siu36J6OLgVk_mmJRPhViNzZFeoTcEWcVvvhaRBrWlaBo53a0EB4QXKl9k6FN4FE8E?PARTNER=WRITER) Surprisingly, before today I had never used mail merge to send a personalised e-mail. I say "surprisingly" because now that I’ve mastered the technique I can think of dozens of uses for this simple but very powerful tool. Put simply, mail merging allows you to create customised communications (be they e-mails or *ye olde* printed letters & envelopes) containing personalised fields like the recipients name and address. The simplest way to create a mail merged e-mail is to open Microsoft Word then follow the guidance in the Help screens (press F1) under ‘e-mail merge’. The basic steps you follow are: - **Set up the e-mail message.** The main document contains the text and graphics that are the same for each e-mail message. For example, your company logo or the body of the message. - **Connect the e-mail message document to your address list.** Your address list is the data source that Word uses in the mail merge. It is a file that contains the e-mail addresses where the messages will be sent. - **Refine the list of recipients or items.** Word generates a message for each e-mail address in address list. If you want to generate messages for only certain e-mail addresses in your address list, you can choose which addresses, or records, to include. - **Add placeholders, called mail merge fields, to the e-mail message document.** When you perform the mail merge, the mail merge fields are filled with information from your address list. - **Preview and complete the merge.** You can preview each message before you send the whole set. To find out more, visit this [tip](http://thenewpaperclip.com/2007/06/08/email-merge-in-word-2007/) or this Microsoft [Knowledge Base article](http://support.microsoft.com/kb/294694). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [How I helped Facebook](https://allisterspeaks.com/how-i-helped-facebook/) **Published:** March 3, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve done [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/) a favour this morning. I deactivated my account. Facebook should be delighted; it’s people like me who are way past their social networking heyday who are killing social networking sites. Here’s why: young people have always needed somewhere to hang out, but they only do this when it’s ‘their place’. For a brief period Facebook was that place. So we shouldn’t be surprised that the kids started looking for another place after they discovered their mum’s got an account. And their teacher. And their teacher’s favourite dishwasher tablet.![](http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/closed-sign.jpg) Facebook stopped being cool the minute ‘their place’ became ‘our place’. But even if every non-core Facebook user like me was to deactivate their account I wonder if it will be enough. Can Facebook ever be cool again? With ever-increasing pressure on social networking sites to "monetize" (I hate that word) their business, the advertisers are cautiously moving in. Does anyone want to hang out in a place where toothpaste, fizzy drinks, mobile phones, and credit cards are constantly fighting for our attention? And our mum’s. According to [Nielsen/NetRatings](http://www.nielsen-netratings.com/), Facebook’s UK user base fell by 5% in January to 8.51 million. That’s 400,000 people who switched off their accounts. MySpace also dropped 5%, while third placed Bebo fell 2%. Is this the beginning of the end for these social networking brands? Or can they reinvent their original purpose and continue to serve all classes, all ages, all needs. Few brands have ever managed such universal appeal. It will be fascinating to see how the social networking brands’ manoeuvre through such choppy waters. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Wow! The WorldWide Telescope](https://allisterspeaks.com/wow-the-worldwide-telescope/) **Published:** February 29, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/images/wwt_icon1.png)This is extraordinary! Yesterday, [Roy Gould](http://www.ted.com/speakers/view/id/199), researcher at the Harvard Center for Astrophysics, and Microsoft’s Curtis Wong gave the first public preview of Microsoft’s new WorldWide Telescope. By combining a very clever rich visualisation environment with feeds from satellites and telescopes all over the world and the skies, Microsoft has created a comprehensive and interactive view of our universe. It looks absolutely stunning. Watch the brief video at [TED](http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/224), then bookmark the new [WorldWide Telescope web site](http://www.worldwidetelescope.org/) for more details. WorldWide Telescope will be available for FREE download in Spring 2008. I can’t wait to get my hands on it. It makes me think that today’s kids are very privileged. If I’d had amazing technology like this when I was at school who knows how different a career path I might have followed. Fabulous work from [Microsoft Research](http://research.microsoft.com/)! **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Life's too short for bad marketing](https://allisterspeaks.com/lifes-too-short-for-bad-marketing/) **Published:** February 26, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Sometimes the best marketing activities are the simplest. Like this photo, prepared by Scotland’s Rock Radio 96.3, that has helped them reached a huge online audience for the cost of little more than a few borrowed guitar racks and a cheap sign. [![Air Guitar Sale](http://www.ulstermusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/air-guitar.jpg)](http://www.ulstermusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/air-guitar.jpg) Or this beautifully produced advertising campaign for [www.jobsintown.de](http://www.jobsintown.de) which deserves its current cyber fame for its brilliant simplicity and a cleverness that just makes you wish you had thought of it first. [![](http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i239/Pettsi/image004.jpg)](http://blog.photos-n-designs.com/?p=224) See more examples from this campaign at [http://blog.photos-n-designs.com/?p=224](http://blog.photos-n-designs.com/?p=224 "http://blog.photos-n-designs.com/?p=224"). The best marketing work today is rooted in simplicity and cleverness of wit, not in vast overflowing budgets or global frameworks. Hats off to the maestros behind these campaigns. More power to your pencils 🙂 **Categories:** Marketing --- ### [Journeying through our digital lives](https://allisterspeaks.com/journeying-through-our-digital-lives/) **Published:** February 26, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sg32Q_rkGszMat1NDBZDZVtg-1evP1BRNM_wxfl-LVE1FL1VAZk2mCRq47TKEPCFjQ?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/digitallife/) Some of the guys in my team launched their latest digital creation today. Well done Anna-Lisa and Chris! It’s a new website designed to help people see how some of Microsoft’s newest products work together, and has been built entirely in [Silverlight](http://silverlight.net/). [Check out the site here](http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/digitallife/) and explore the digital lives of four British characters. Hope you like it! Let me know what you think. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Valentine's Day: The Ultimate Geek Gift](https://allisterspeaks.com/valentines-day-the-ultimate-geek-gift/) **Published:** February 14, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![](http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/front/8-bit_dynamic_life.gif)![](http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/additional/large/8-bit_dynamic_life_beforeandafter.jpg)](http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/illuminated/a090/zoom/) This has to be the very pinnacle of geekdom gift buying. By wearing an ‘8-bit Dynamic Life’ t-shirt you can now boldly sport six red hearts across your chest. "So what?" I hear you cry. Here’s what: give the other t-shirt to your lover/partner/target, and your hearts will light up the closer you get. How geek-filled is that? Thanks to this wonder of modern technology the object of your desires will be known to all around you. And you need no longer fear your partner wandering off with another mate, nor have to worry about unwanted attention from others trying to catch your eye\*. Uber-geeks who, let’s be frank, are unlikely to have anything resembling a partner in their life, can opt to buy one t-shirt plus a transmitter pack. Then by secreting the transmitter near their computer, the hearts on their t-shirt will light up whenever geek and computer are together. How lovely! Demand for the t-shirts has been phenomenal in the run up to Valentine’s Day and all sizes are currently out of stock. You can place a back order [here](http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/illuminated/a090/?cpg=67H). Requires 3 AAA batteries, not included. *\* Author’s note: this has never happened to me.* **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Traffic Count in Windows Live Spaces: try StatCounter](https://allisterspeaks.com/traffic-count-in-windows-live-spaces-try-statcounter/) **Published:** February 7, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![StatCounter.com - Free Web Tracker, Counter and Detailed Stats](http://www.statcounter.com/images/statcounter_best_web_tracker_and_counter.gif)](http://www.statcounter.com/) Following on from yesterday’s very popular [invitation](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14622.entry) to get a complimentary Xobni account (thanks to everyone who emailed me, and well done Mike and Blake!), another area where analytical data can be very helpful is in tracking traffic to your website or blog. My old mucker [Mark Deakin](http://blogs.technet.com/markdea/archive/2008/01/30/qos-vs-qoe.aspx) recently pointed me in the direction of [StatCounter](http://blogs.technet.com/markdea/archive/2008/01/30/qos-vs-qoe.aspx), a free invisible web tracker that provides real time web stats. Of course, there are lots of free web counters around, but I really like the powerful data provided by StatCounter. Not only can I now see up to the minute graphs of traffic to my Windows Live Spaces page, I can also monitor repeat visitor numbers, visitor location, most read posts and a host of other useless useful information. To add StatCounter to your Windows Live Space, first **register** your account at [www.StatCounter.com](http://www.statcounter.com/), **create a ‘project’** for your blog, then **grab the HTML code** for your home page counter by clicking the **little spanner icon** next to your project. Now click on **‘Install Code’** and **choose a counter style** that you like. Hit **Next**, choose **MSN Spaces**, then **Next** again. Now **highlight and copy (CTRL+C) the HTML code** that’s been generated for you. Now, here’s the less well understood part. Go to [**Windows Live Gallery**](http://gallery.live.com/) and **install the** [**HTML Sandbox gadget**](http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=84a3d485-a787-4bf9-93ad-c699b02288f2&bt=7&pl=4) for Windows Live Spaces. Once this gadget is installed on your Spaces homepage, **paste in the HTML code** that you copied from StatCounter, then remember to **save your changes**. You can **move the HTML Sandbox gadget** to wherever you like; I placed mine right at the bottom of the right hand navigation panel so it’s tucked nicely out of the way. Now head back to StatCounter and wait for your visitor stats to start appearing. It’s also worth adding a ‘blocking cookie’ to all the computers that you use to view your Windows Live Spaces pages otherwise your visitor stats will be skewed every time you post to your Space. You can get the blocking cookie from the Installation and Configuration page at StatCounter (click the little spanner icon again).[![free web tracker](http://c38.statcounter.com/3378186/0/d7da352f/1/)](http://www.statcounter.com/) **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Why you'll love Xobni!](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-youll-love-xobni/) **Published:** February 6, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Xobni: it's inbox backwards](http://swift.xobni.com/images/xobni_logo.gif)](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!14599.entry) As an email addict, I think [Xobni Insights for Outlook (Beta)](http://www.xobni.com/) is an amazing tool. I’ve been playing with it for a while now and I really like the fact that I can instantly read threaded conversations and zip around between senders and recipients. Even better though are the analytics which let me instantly see how many emails I get from each recipient at each hour of the day, and a gazillion other interesting stats on top. Among the instant insights I got into my email behaviour are: - My boss only replies to around 1 in 10 of the emails I send her. Grrr! - The student intern in my team has never sent me an email between the hours of 12 and 1pm. (That’s because he loves his food too much to leave the canteen at this time!) - My average email response time is around 12 hours, but rose as high as 22hours in December when I was insanely busy. - My worst ever email response time is 52 days! - My inbound email peaks at 11am each work day, while my outbound email peaks an hour earlier at 10am. - I send emails to around 200 unique contacts each month. - I still spend too much time dealing with emails. I have **two private beta invites** remaining for this tool. If you’d like one contact me at telling me why Xobni would help you. The two best emails received will get a Xobni invite and instant email happiness! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [No comment](https://allisterspeaks.com/no-comment/) **Published:** January 29, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/front/no_comment.jpg)Keeping a blog is a wonderful thing—a little time-draining on occasions, but a wonderful thing nonetheless. Even better is getting comments from readers. After all, blogging is about conversations, not just talking to yourself. But I don’t get many comments. This could be because the stuff I write about is so straightforward that you feel no need to comment. Or perhaps it’s so vanilla it doesn’t provoke a reaction. Or maybe no-one’s reading this stuff anyway. Thankfully I do get a few emails from readers who hit the [Send a Message](http://spaces.live.com/api.aspx?wx_action=sendMessage&wxp_toCid=-4596392214145602990&wx_ru=http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/default.aspx%3flc%3d1033) link. And the visitors map and counter on my blog prove that there’s someone out there, even if I don’t know who you are. Feel free to contact me at any time with any comments or questions you may have. I read every comment and will always try to respond when time allows. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Try Xobni Insight for Outlook](https://allisterspeaks.com/try-xobni-insight-for-outlook/) **Published:** January 25, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://swift.xobni.com/images/xobni_logo.gif) This looks interesting. Xobni (that’s inbox backwards—geddit?!) is a new add-on for Microsoft Outlook that can help you manage your email. It features [a new email search engine](http://www.xobni.com/learnmore/inbox_search) (especially handy if you’re not yet using Outlook 2007 which has it’s own built-in Search feature), a clever threaded conversation feature, [phone number extraction](http://www.xobni.com/learnmore/getthedigits), and some email analytics to help you understand how you and your contacts use Email. Xobni currently runs on Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP, and Microsoft Vista with Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007. It also requires Microsoft’s .Net Framework version 2.0 or higher. Macs, Lotus Notes and web mail clients are not yet supported. You can [sign up for the Xobni Beta here](http://www.xobni.com/?friend=40652). Let me know what you think. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Don't beat Blue Monday, ignore it](https://allisterspeaks.com/dont-beat-blue-monday-ignore-it/) **Published:** January 21, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Depressed](http://www.neonbubble.com/neonimg/1/depressed1.jpg "Aargh!")As if dragging ourselves out of our warm beds on Mondays wasn’t tough enough already, UK psychologist Dr Cliff Arnall has "officially designated" today as [Blue Monday](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Monday_(date))—the most depressing day of the year. His pseudo-mathematical study has shown that people are most likely to get the blues this week; and the miserable weather, broken New Year resolutions, and post-Christmas debts are apparently all to blame. Add to that the fact that Monday marks the start of another working week and you have all the ingredients needed to push more people to suicide than any other day of the year. How cheery! Thank goodness for these clever psychologists and The Samaritans, the charity that has decided to back this initiative with their [www.beatbluemonday.org.uk](http://www.beatbluemonday.org.uk) campaign. But here’s the thing: if you think about today as being a bad day, that’s exactly what it will be. I’m no medical man, but even I know that by convincing ourselves that things are not going to go well today, the part of our brain called the ‘reticular deactivating system’ will automatically zero in on the few things that don’t go exactly to plan. It’s a vicious circle: you think the worst will happen and, wallop, it just did. **So don’t worry about Blue Monday. Don’t even try to beat it. Ignore it. Treat today like any other day: do the best you can, be kind, help other people, and smile a lot. After all, we already know how to be happy. Don’t let one silly marketing campaign convince you otherwise.** **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Adding time zone clocks to Windows Vista](https://allisterspeaks.com/adding-time-zone-clocks-to-windows-vista/) **Published:** January 20, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** If you work or communicate across time zones, here’s a useful tip that could quite easily have passed you by. In Windows Vista you can add up to two extra clocks to the taskbar for different time zones. You may already know that [you can do this in your Outlook calendar](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/archive/2006/07/12/441341.aspx), but here’s how you can now add extra clocks to your taskbar too: 1. Click on the clock in the bottom-right of your screen 2. Click on **Change date and time settings…** 3. Select the **Additional Clocks tab** 4. **Tick** the first box then choose a time zone you want 5. **Add a short name** for the new clock (e.g. Redmond USA) 6. Repeat steps 4 & 5 if you want to add another clock 7. Click **OK** 8. Your added clocks will now appear when you either: - hover your mouse over the clock on your task bar… [ ](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9shRoQg9AgSsbF3qbxGjx8bZ_8E-BtgNzy1NhZZauOqKfxgvqZYih_S0G2CEnALICuc?PARTNER=WRITER)[![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sh59UrmDQ_sZDyrhCmGJfhiWv1wF4LiKtnCqkM0ltzgTtJSIRrk5ZgdK4fPpPnXDJk?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjv8oK3HBqUJI1xKjCuHfiO0b05SiwPp8igDSu1AJ82knoxbvCPld3SFr2mjNfK8OM?PARTNER=WRITER) - …or click on the clock on your task bar to go all picturesque! ![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9siINL-qfj0CoNQiPAplasrsyx21z0zBo8fObJMNDE4ynwpbWWdhHGxZtKYZv9zGwRw?PARTNER=WRITER) **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Pro-Photo Shoot for Outlook](https://allisterspeaks.com/pro-photo-shoot-for-outlook/) **Published:** January 7, 2008 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/images/articles/lens/PhotoShootMain.jpg)If, like me, you love both photography and Microsoft Outlook, today is your lucky day! Pro-Photo Shoot is a new free add-in for Microsoft Outlook (versions 2003 and 2007 only) that allows you to add a list of the photographic equipment you need to any Outlook appointment. That way you need never forget an important lens or other piece of equipment! This very specialised add-in also allows you to keep a digital record of all your photographic equipment complete with serial numbers which could prove very helpful with any subsequent insurance claim. While Pro-Photo Shoot has been customised for use by photographers, there’s nothing to stop you using this software for other purposes. The custom fields like ‘Camera’, ‘Lens’, and ‘Backdrop’ may not be very helpful for non-photographers, but with a little imagination you could easily adapt this add-in to help you remember to pack the right sports kit, the right picnic items, the right holiday clothes, the right tools, the right cooking ingredients, and so on. *How could you use a useful little tool like this?* Download the add-in from here: [http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/prophotoshoot.aspx](http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/prophotoshoot.aspx "http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/prophotoshoot.aspx") Get more photography goodies from here: [http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/default.aspx](http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/default.aspx "http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/downloads/default.aspx") More details below: > **Microsoft Pro Photo Shoot** Release 1.0 > > **Overview** > Microsoft Pro Photo Shoot is a Microsoft® Office Outlook® add-in that helps you track photographic assignments. > Microsoft Pro Photo Shoot is designed to run on 32-bit versions of the Windows Vista operating system (see Requirements for details). > > **Features** > Microsoft Pro Photo Shoot provides the following features: > · Track shoot name. Microsoft Pro Photo Shoot allows you to associate a name with a specific photo session, which may be useful for billing purposes. The Shoot Name field is free-form, so whatever method you use will be supported. > · Track clients. Photo Shoot allows two ways to associate a photo shoot with a specific client. If your client information is already in your Contacts address list, you can click Select current client to find it. If this is a new client, you can add the client information by clicking Add new client. > · Track your equipment. Photo Shoot helps you to keep track of your photo equipment. You can enter the name of the equipment, what type of equipment it is (camera, lens, light, etc.), its serial number, when you bought it, and how much you paid for it. You can also print your complete equipment list, which can be useful for insurance purposes and in case of theft. > · Remember what equipment to bring to a photo assignment. The Photo Shoot dialog has a list of all your equipment. You can simply check off what to bring for a specific appointment. You can sort this list alphabetically or by the type of equipment. You can also print out the equipment list to bring with you on the assignment. > > **Setup and Installation** > You must have Administrator privileges to install Photo Shoot. > > **Using Microsoft Pro Photo Shoot** > After running Setup, a new Photo Shoot button appears in the ribbon of the appointment inspector. Pressing the button brings up a pop-up window for Photo Shoot. > > Initially, the equipment list will be empty. To use it, you must first populate the equipment pool, using the Equipment Pool dialog, which is described below. But first, we will describe the functionality of the Photo Shoot dialog. > > You can fill in the Shoot Name field with whatever form of job identification labels you use. This might be the name of your client, a job id number, or some format devised by your accountant. > > There are two ways to associate a client name with the assignment. If the client’s name is in your Contact list already, press Select Client. This will bring up a dialog box that allows you to select a name from the Contacts list. If the client is not currently in your contact list, press New Client. This brings up a dialog that allows you to enter information about the client. This information will be stored in your Outlook Contacts. Again, the client’s name will also show up in the Client Name field. > The check boxes in the equipment list can be used to indicate what equipment you wish to bring with you for the shoot. You can sort the equipment list by clicking on a column header. Clicking on that column header again will sort the list in the opposite direction. You can resize the columns by dragging on the column divider. You can rearrange the columns by dragging the header to a new position. With one exception, the column widths and ordering will be retained for the next time you use Photo Shoot. The one exception is that the “Name” field will always be in the first column position when you open the Photo Shoot dialog. You can print the information in the dialog box using Print. This creates a list of the checked items, sorted by equipment type. You can then use this list to remember what to take with you on a photo shoot and, equally important, to remember what to bring back at the end of the shoot. > When you press Save, the dialog will be closed and any changes you’ve made will be saved to Outlook. Notice that the information from the dialog appears in the body of the appointment message after any other information you have entered. If you do not wish to save your changes, press Cancel to simply close the dialog. > The Equipment Pool > Pressing Equipment Pool … in the Photo Shoot dialog brings up the Equipment Pool dialog. Here you can enter new items, update information about existing items, or delete them from your pool. > > To add an item, select << Add new item >> in the list on the left. Then fill in the equipment name and select an equipment type. The equipment name must be unique within your equipment list. If you have two items of the same type, we recommend you add a letter or number at the end of the name to distinguish the names. For example, if you have two camera bodies of the same type, you might call them “XYZ Body #1” and “XYZ Body #2”. Possible equipment types are: Camera, Lens, Tripod/Stand, Light, Backdrop, Powerpack/Batteries, Bag, or Miscellaneous. You may also choose to enter the serial number, purchase date, or purchase price. Once you have entered the name and selected a type, the Save button will be available if you have entered all the information you chose. > When you select an item from the equipment list on the left, the current information for that item will be filled into the form on the right. You can add more information or revise information for that item . Changing the Equipment Name for an item will create a new item leaving the original unchanged. (But you can then delete the original, if you were trying to change the name.) Press Save when you are done. Or you can delete the item by pressing Delete. > There is a column of check boxes next to the serial number, purchase date, and purchase price information. Selecting these will case the adjacent information to be displayed in the Photo Shoot dialog. > When you are done editing the list, you can press OK and your changes will be made permanent. Or you can press Cancel and none of the unsaved changes made while you were using the Equipment Pool dialog will be retained. > > **Sharing the Equipment Pool Data** > Your equipment pool information is stored in a file, %AppData%MicrosoftPhotoShootuser.settings.profile. Note that all users of the computer will see the same equipment pool information. If you use more than one computer, you may prefer to copy that file from one computer to another, rather than re-entering the equipment pool. However, Photo Shoot does not coordinate access to the equipment pool between different users. > > **Requirements** > · 32-bit Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. > · Microsoft® Office Outlook® 2007 or 2003 > > **Known Issues** > · Photo Shoot does not run on 64-bit versions of Windows Vista. > · Photo Shoot only shows contacts from your Contacts address list and only adds new contacts to that list. It neither examines nor adds to the Global Address List or any other address lists. > > Read more about Pro-Photo Shoot here: > [http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/articles/lens.aspx](http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/articles/lens.aspx "http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto/articles/lens.aspx") **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Elf Yourself - this year's viral hit](https://allisterspeaks.com/elf-yourself-this-years-viral-hit/) **Published:** December 21, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![image](http://blu1.storage.msn.com/y1pOsBE93NFAp5p8lhk7UfeSqDIhsHkYtoJdW2_N29PcZbDX2Ic9ajnqrKh4mgZVVAfQqrk1OsNqs6MsJcv5aWos9PlWodfLQnX?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://zgdv0g.blu.livefilestore.com/y1p3OJkUlLiyyAaMTrXe1WyWsxPAeXZchddxRaYbLdSv91nnpXoSJrA9QZJenV5MegcYfNM5olpZYaDWkxNPgjdMQ?PARTNER=WRITER) I’m sure you’ve seen this by now. Office Max has re-released its popular [Elf Yourself](http://www.elfyourself.com/) microsite where you can upload photos of up to four people to generate a personalised dancing elves online message. Give it a try, it’s great fun. For the more miserable amongst you, also from Office Max is the [Scrooge Yourself](http://www.scroogeyourself.com/) microsite. Hats off to Office Max for enjoying so much success from these two microsites. According to Hitwise, Elf Yourself received 0.12% of all web traffic in the week ending 8th December. That’s one heck of a lot of visitors! The roots of successful viral marketing lie in the quality of the idea and the creative execution. [Office Max](http://www.officemax.com), a US retailer of office supplies, has resisted the urge most marketers feel to put their brand centre stage. Instead, they’ve produced some really lovely creative that’s subtly branded, yet still deposits the viewer on a compelling offers page that should in turn generate sales revenue for the promoter. Last year’s Elf Yourself microsite got a whopping 36 million hits in just five weeks. This year’s microsite seems even more popular. Well done Office Max! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [It's tidy desktop time](https://allisterspeaks.com/its-tidy-desktop-time/) **Published:** December 13, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Desktop-crazy](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sguyUMf8jTJ2qmPLdrxr4SU1353_iZ_qBjtEMObKqUTHYob1Jh3oOH_yUKsmhJAnPY?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgzUbB6-un3Eqc9xLi5Tv7s6M0Es1qn-BR48LAty4Q2I0Qds-QgGCdDYJbMRovUCUQ?PARTNER=WRITER) "A tidy desk is a sign of a tidy mind," my old boss used to mutter under his breath as he passed my office. And so it is with computer desktops. I try to keep my desktop space free from the clutter that inevitably builds up through daily use. The desktop is a great place to save temporary files that you’re working on, but it’s no place to archive your life’s collection of pointless and unwanted files. Those people whose desktops are littered with dead and decaying files leave me cold. No surprise then that I really enjoyed [this tip](http://on10.net/Blogs/larry/confessions-of-a-desktop-neat-freak/) from the On10.net blog which reveals a clever little trick to rid your desktop immediately of all clutter, and permanently keep it tidy. Another handy desktop tip for Windows Vista users, particularly those with wide screen monitors, is to relocate the sidebar from the right to the left side of the screen, and set it to be always on top of other windows. This keeps those useful sidebar gadgets in view at all times, as well as putting them in a more logical place\*, just above your Start button. *\* Seeing as most us in the western world read from left to right it always struck me as a bit daft that the default location for the sidebar is on the right of the screen. My personal desktop angst ended the day I realised I could move the sidebar to a more sensible location. And, thanks to the on10.net tip, I now smile inside every time my clean desktop appears!* **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Another PowerPoint Power Tip](https://allisterspeaks.com/another-powerpoint-power-tip/) **Published:** December 12, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** As a follow up to yesterday’s PowerPoint 2007 tip, here’s another useful ‘guideline’ that perfectionists like me will enjoy using.[![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgfCKWyXB7nDXGgjkC55Z8y1zo3jzU8K3XKtowD3E--zW-uCdzyb1MpeuFPAp1zpNw?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9si92Ee-OVc3JC4P-g7oBeQMD9rXDec-U6l0_zqlFSM2x-GK7oR2EYbxbNBrYDzut2E?PARTNER=WRITER) – You can view on-screen **Drawing Guides** by **right-clicking on a blank section of a slide**, selecting **Grids and Guides…** then putting a tick next to the last option, **Display drawing guides on screen**. PowerPoint will then display a horizontal and vertical drawing guide crossing slap bang through the middle of your slide. – To **move** the drawing guides, click on them from an area outside of your slide, and drag. – To **create additional** drawing guides, hold down the CTRL key then click and drag an existing drawing guide line. – To **precisely position** your drawing guides, hold down the ALT key while dragging. With practice you’ll be able to create very detailed grids that will allow you to align multiple objects precisely on the slide without any fuss. **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [The fabulous Selection Pane in PowerPoint 2007](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-fabulous-selection-pane-in-powerpoint-2007/) **Published:** December 11, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This new feature in PowerPoint 2007 nearly passed me by! As a long time user (and fan) of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere I’m very familiar with the concept of creating my work on layers. I’ve grown to love the fact that layers allow me to easily control the visibility of objects on screen so I can build up detailed images without tearing my hair out trying to select partially hidden or buried objects. So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon the new Selection Pane in PowerPoint 2007 this morning. This neat tool mimics some of the features of Photoshop’s layer palette and allows you to select, multiselect, show, hide or change the order of objects on a slide. [![image](http://zgdv0g.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pE7BFTNMlfbrpylqo8o_rPdFUBhPBFTGdR3PVvlegw62y-EoaosoBurm3bD8djHIry9bckPPaFnAGTlLZPBt3Z3NIiPhaS8Aw?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://zgdv0g.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pE7BFTNMlfbqijkUVFZ981taZjEDTfmzc3UQAuSO98XCCJ586WplAK5oYL_QRJWPinj6l3ZfvQlST6P69AUawoLzh-qhIKc8r?PARTNER=WRITER) You can open the Selection Pane by pressing the marvelously convoluted shortcut **ALT, H, SL, then P**. Or you can just choose **Selection Pane** from the **Arrange** button on the options ribbon. So, now what? - With the Selection Pane visible, press **TAB** to cycle upwards (from back to front) through the objects on your slide, **SHIFT+TAB** to cycle downwards. - With an item selected press **SHIFT+CTRL+S** to make the item invisible, **SHIFT+CTRL+S** to make it reappear. Or press the little **‘eye’ icon** next to the item(s) in the Selection Pane. The great thing here is that all items are still there, they’re just no longer visible on the slide. This is a fantastic time saver when building up complex slides. - You can reorder the items on your slide using the **up and down arrows** at the bottom of the Selection Pane - If you group items, they’ll be arranged together in the selection pane, but you can still independently control their visibility and order within the group. - You can **rename** items listed in the Selection Pane by slowly double clicking them. This is handy if you have lots of objects on a slide and lose track of what’s what. - ***Cool extra feature:*** Your renamed items will also now appear elsewhere, for example in the Custom Animations Pane. Suddenly, developing complex layered slides with flashy animation that would put Disney to shame just became a lot simpler. **Categories:** Digital Marketing --- ### [The right way to tell people you're OOF](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-right-way-to-tell-people-youre-oof/) **Published:** November 28, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** With the festive season fast approaching now is a great time to let your work colleagues know when you’ll be out of the office (OOF) over the holiday period. Like most things in life, there’s a right and a wrong way of doing this. Lots of people I know do it the wrong way. Here’s what I consider the right way. 1. Firstly, tell your colleagues face-to-face, over the phone or by text. Use the most personal form of communication you know. After all, it’s in your interests to let people know when you’ll not be around so they can offer to help out if needed. 2. Now, and only now, turn to Microsoft Outlook and send your colleagues a ‘meeting request’ so they can see your work absence in their calendars. This is where most people go wrong, so pay attention now: 1. In Outlook, create a new meeting request (Ctrl+Shift+Q) 2. In the To… field enter all the names of the people you wish to notify 3. In the Subject field enter a sensible description in this format "\[INFO\] Allister Frost on holiday" 4. Leave the location field blank 5. Tick the All day event field, then select the start and end dates for your holiday period. 6. This is the important bit. In Outlook 2007, click the attendee responses button on the ribbon and: 1. Deselect ‘Request Responses’ (‘Allow New Time Proposals’ will be automatically deselected for you) 2. Set the ‘Show time as’ filed to ‘Free’ 3. Set the ‘Reminder’ field to ‘None’ 4. Set the ‘Importance’ field to ‘Low’ If you’ve done it right it should look like this: [![image](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjeUcQKre59aWTk9NklZ-DVxKS4zulb_-iB8G_yzWtXHDaIjINZ61d_dAA5qEM1828?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sjJAbrbxvmfBNn9zTnaq4YapKHlp2v3kghDbuy34DwIJP_nsffMDaP166rGVpElDdc?PARTNER=WRITER) 8. Optionally add some extra body copy in your meeting request explaining how you may be contacted while away from the office or who will be deputising for you in your absence. 9. Press Send 10. Sit back and wait for sarcastic emails from your colleagues reminding you that you’ve already had 16 holidays this year or that it would be simpler for you to notify them when you’re in the office, not out. Congratulations! You have now created a user-friendly out of office notification in Outlook. You won’t get emails back telling you that people have declined your holiday invitation, no-one will suggest an alternative time for your holiday, you won’t trigger reminder alarms on your colleagues’s computers 18 hours before the start of your holiday, and you won’t clog up their calendars with irrelevant ‘busy time’. And, most importantly, you won’t annoy your colleagues every day you’re away by having sent them a silly subject line like "I’m sunning myself on the beach, glad you’re not here". And we can all be grateful for that! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [The day I played at Wembley Stadium](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-day-i-played-at-wembley-stadium/) **Published:** November 23, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This has nothing to do with useful technology, but I’m so thrilled I just have to share this story. Yesterday I had the massive honour to play football at [Wembley Stadium](http://www.wembleystadium.com). Just 24 hours after England crashed out of the Euro 2008 qualifications after losing 2-3 to Croatia at Wembley, I found myself in the home team changing room preparing to take to the pitch. I won my place in the team in a competition run for Microsoft staff. At first, I was reluctant to enter the competition, thinking that my football days were behind me. Today, I’m so glad I eventually did. [![Wembley-Dream](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9shmpJljzWl-kM4b6TCDMTFdgpapYVrZjpq41DAjjgOAB-FLGNQ19dfSiiT5VJtUgNo?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blufiles.storage.msn.com/y1po0w3W0Xi9sgq7KHRAI1mNao9l_3YTwcqgB6RazDU8S2xYylKz2GOAlS4M_1xTCW1NZ5u5jYuLEo?PARTNER=WRITER) The inaugural Microsoft Charity Cup competition was organised as part of Microsoft’s status as a Founding Partner of Wembley Stadium. For a few brief hours we were invited to use the stadium as our own. So we decided to host a mini football tournament and make life long dreams come true for lots of people. Five teams took part: Microsoft, Partners, Agencies, the Wooden Spoon charity, and House of Commons. Each team played twice; just 15 minutes for each game. And the best two teams played for a third time in the final. I was playing in goal for Microsoft, or ‘Carla’s Hotmails’ as we were named in honour of Carla, our only female player. We didn’t win. We didn’t even score. We conceded one goal, or rather, I suppose, I let one goal in. Being on that enormous pitch under the floodlights was 99% terrifying, 1% a bit scary. But none of that matters. We played on the hallowed turf and this British schoolboy’s dream was fulfilled. We also raised over £50,000 for the [Wooden Spoon charity](http://www.woodenspoon.org.uk/). The money will pay for a new wing at one of their centres so parents can stay overnight with their children. A very deserving cause. The moral of the story? When presented with an opportunity, seize it. Stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone and take advantage of everything that comes your way. Life’s too short to fill with regrets. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Benefits Blunder - what should you do?](https://allisterspeaks.com/benefits-blunder-what-should-you-do/) **Published:** November 21, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Darling](http://blu1.storage.msn.com/y1pOsBE93NFAp4-1aDScFoeYsSJcqNowoCcrOcCXx5UeauCRTTQtqLGdZEfyqK64qs5abJZjIpiCyJCrSlEl7pDoxRDJ3rH3enG?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blu1.storage.msn.com/y1pOsBE93NFAp4SXkBN4-An5xqpBklcxR9oAD22GwRhrmyVcaWRuCMTtEQ-Vnmve2sOYgmssKzgYrxld3Uig3DLg4OnBeOTujd2?PARTNER=WRITER) Yesterday the [UK Government](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7104945.stm) admitted that it has lost two computer discs containing personal information about almost half of the UK population. This is Britain’s worst ever data protection breach, and around 25 million people are now wondering if their identities are safe and what they should do. I’m wondering how that much data could be entrusted to a junior member of staff who doesn’t know the difference between standard and recorded delivery. I’m also wondering what sort of crazy discs they used to cram that much data on – presumably HD-HDV or Blu-Ray… [![Clive_Dunn](http://blu1.storage.msn.com/y1pOsBE93NFAp761LaoTrNLAFUK2Pq3rrEal9KIjUNDTcTD_H63DI4_9Pnfk8R4PAfwz8FEWz6lXXAiZOEg3dh5jzukcp4fXClX?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://blu1.storage.msn.com/y1pOsBE93NFAp6-7M6CVtCFD3sGQ3RxCn5fN3LGYZT9WAxNgjVnis9aWMlqd640K3_BX7RRx3zcpJZbO5q1QCwU84_R5lBBfrTu?PARTNER=WRITER)But, sorry, let’s get back to the story. The simple advice, for now, is ***"don’t panic".*** There is no evidence, we’re told, that the discs have fallen into the wrong hands or are being used by identity fraudsters. Of course, this advice could quickly change if widespread security attacks are reported, so stay tuned to the media for updates. Even armed with these discs there’s still a lot of work for fraudsters to do before they could make financial gain from these data. While the discs contained names, addresses, dates of birth, child benefit numbers, National Insurance numbers and banking details, these alone are not enough for high value identity fraud to be committed. The details could theoretically be used to secure a credit card, loan or mobile phone account, but it would be difficult to withdraw money from a bank account without additional details like your password or debit card PIN. One tactic often used by identity fraud criminals is simply to phone their intended victim and ask for the missing details. Armed with your bank account details and a little charm, it’s surprisingly easy for criminals to convince some people that they are calling from their bank. Don’t make it easy for these con men to do their work. Never give any details to anyone you don’t know. As the [GetSafeOnline.org](http://www.getsafeonline.org/) web site says "if you wouldn’t give details to a stranger in the street, don’t put them online." The same advice stands when a stranger phones you up asking for information. Tell them where to go, then report the suspicious call to your bank so they can strengthen security access to your account and investigate. The other (rather obvious) piece of advice is that if you use the same password on multiple internet sites, you’re setting yourself up to become a victim. If, for example, you’ve used your online banking password on any online shopping sites there’s a real risk that should the shopping site be compromised your bank account will also be attacked. Use different and complex passwords on each ‘high value’ site you use, and update them regularly. For more details see the useful Q&A’s at the [BBC](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7103828.stm) and [Sky News](http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1293629,00.html?f=vg) sites. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Free screen estate in Outlook](https://allisterspeaks.com/free-screen-estate-in-outlook/) **Published:** November 19, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Here’s a little known shortcut that regular users of Outlook will love, especially those who often switch between a large desktop and a tiny laptop monitor. Do you ever find that there’s just not enough space on the screen for all those different sections in Outlook? You know the ones: the navigation pane, the message list and that all-important preview pane. Well, try pressing **ALT+F1**. Each time you press this secret key combination you’ll toggle to a different screen layout. This won’t affect the oddly named To-Do Bar in Outlook 2007. To toggle that side of the screen you’ll need to press **ALT+F2** Your newly created screen layout is persistent too. Try navigating between your emails and your calendar by pressing CTRL+1, CTRL+2, CTRL+3 etc. With a little practice you’ll be flying from one view to another without even having to think about it. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [It's time for me to Get Safe Online](https://allisterspeaks.com/its-time-for-me-to-get-safe-online/) **Published:** November 13, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![](http://www.microsoft.com/uk/newsletters/Images/TechNet/GSO_logo_01.gif)](http://www.getsafeonline.org/)This week is officially ‘[Get Safe Online](http://www.getsafeonline.org/) Week’ here in the UK which got me thinking about my own approach to online safety. Like most people, I’m not as disciplined as I should be with updating my passwords and using a different password at each site. I’ve also unwittingly disclosed personal information like my date of birth and private email address on social networking sites in the past. Hardly the crimes of the century, I hear you cry, but nonetheless still silly mistakes that leave me potentially vulnerable to online identity fraud. I spent most of yesterday talking on various radio stations around the UK explaining the simple steps people can take to protect themselves while online. Now it’s time for me to follow my own advice and make my online life a little safer. Here’s what’s on my ‘to do’ list: 1. Remove any personally identifying information from **social networking sites.** Things like my hometown, date of birth, and telephone numbers are really valuable to identity thieves. 2. Update and double check my **wireless network security settings** at home. There are 7.8 million unsecured wireless networks in the UK, all of them at risk of eavesdropping, freeloading or other criminal acts. I want to make absolutely sure that my network isn’t one of them. 3. Revisit those web sites where I’ve registered my details and make sure I use a **different password** at each site. Wherever I’ve used the same password on two sites there’s a risk of my personal data being compromised. 4. Make more **regular backups** of my data. This is one of those jobs that I tend to leave for Friday afternoon, so it doesn’t always get done. Backing up data should be an automated routine. 5. **Tell everyone I know** to follow the advice at [www.getsafeonline.org](http://www.getsafeonline.org) so they can lock down their online security too. I want them to be safe, but on a purely selfish level I also don’t want my details being stolen from someone else’s computer. I think I’ve made a pretty decent start on item number five, and hopefully done enough to get you started on the journey towards a safer online experience. Now to the other four items… **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Get the all new Windows Live](https://allisterspeaks.com/get-the-all-new-windows-live/) **Published:** November 7, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![WindowsLiveLaunchDay](http://blu1.storage.msn.com/y1pOsBE93NFAp7Lfk_YAZDl_-mRymbRkwS1DkiRB2PAKXEAMi9Yp0qPeO693sOkkzBOrUOYVNfE7ac-qmUZbraNIYdUHxWgbJux?PARTNER=WRITER)](http://www.windowslive.co.uk/) The shiny new ‘unified installer’ for Windows Live has been released today. You can get it from [www.windowslive.co.uk](http://www.windowslive.co.uk). While you’re there, if you fancy a shorter, neater, altogether more snappy Windows Live account address you’ll be pleased to know that free registrations of *\[name\]*@live.co.uk and *\[name\]*@live.com are now available. If you’re fast you might just grab a lovely short little address! If you have multiple Windows Live accounts, be sure to link them using the new feature that you’ll find under your signed in name after you’ve logged in. By linking accounts you need only sign in to any Windows Live account once and then you can switch between your other accounts using the drop down box at the top right of your screen. Very handy if you have multiple accounts. And fans of Windows Live Messenger will enjoy a visit to [http://www.pimpmylive.co.uk/](http://www.pimpmylive.co.uk/ "http://www.pimpmylive.co.uk/") where you’ll find some nice free stuff to personalise your Windows Live Messenger existence. There’s a whole lot more goodness to discover. Have a play at [www.windowslive.co.uk](http://www.windowslive.co.uk) and let me know what you think. Enjoy your new digital life! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [The Indian Wood Carver Analogy](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-indian-wood-carver-analogy/) **Published:** November 7, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.craftsinindia.com/newcraftsimages/HCWC0059FIELE.jpg)["Can I Change Your Mind"](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Can-Change-Your-Mind-Persuasive/dp/0713678496/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-5635351-7007125?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194426764&sr=8-1) is a delightful little book by Lindsay Camp about the craft and art of persuasive writing. I recommend it to anyone looking to improve their writing style or simply wishing to revel in some entertaining and highly persuasive writing. One of the anecdotes that brought everything into perspective for me was the Indian Wood Carver Analogy: *"My friends at [The Chase](http://www.thechase.co.uk/), perhaps the UK’s wittiest graphic design consultancy, used to tell a story about an old Indian craftsman who spent his days carving beautiful elephants from blocks of wood. When asked how he did it, he would reply, ‘I just cut away the wood that doesn’t look like an elephant.’* Composing persuasive writing is like that. By cutting away all the superfluous stuff, all that should remain will be the essential information your reader needs to help you̶̶, the writer, achieve the results you need. Wise words. If you care about your reader, buy this book today. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [The hotel room of the future](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-hotel-room-of-the-future/) **Published:** November 5, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Philips is touting this as the future of hotel windows: a natty display panel that mimics the outdoor world and responds to the hotel guest’s ever wishes. Feeling jetlagged after a long flight? Then day shall become night in front of your very eyes. Tired of yet another dreary cityscape? Then virtual foliage and a forest ambiance will appear from nowhere. We could do with some of these ‘windows’ in our new Victoria Place office in London. The hot-desk area is devoid of any natural light, and while this innovation from Philips is no substitute for the ‘rich in vitamin D’ qualities of the real sun, it might go some way to brightening up this busy telecommuter’s day. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwPxh2n0ClI&rel=1&border=0] More at . **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Three-screened portable computer](https://allisterspeaks.com/three-screened-portable-computer/) **Published:** October 18, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This, unquestionnably, is exactly what I need. Except maybe a bit smaller and lighter. And probably cheaper. ![](http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/bto/20071017/lunchbox_540x212.jpg) Find out more about the three-headed beast, AKA the Acme Portable Machine, [here](http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9799462-1.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=Crave). **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Outlook Tasks - speed tips](https://allisterspeaks.com/outlook-tasks-speed-tips/) **Published:** October 12, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Anyone who’s read my blog for any length of time (1) has my sympathy and (2) will know that I’m a fan of tasks in Outlook. I’ve written extensively on the subject. Here’s a selection of my favourites. - [Always avoid folders starting with ‘T’](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/archive/2005/10/05/412000.aspx) - [My blogcasts on Soapbox](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/archive/2006/10/27/blogcasts-on-soapbox.aspx) - [Creating task from emails](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/archive/2005/04/25/404122.aspx) - [Task formatting on steroids](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/archive/2005/07/01/407196.aspx) - [Sending an email about a task](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/archive/2005/07/01/407196.aspx) One aspect I’ve never shared publicly is how I create a subject line for my tasks. When I convert an email into a task (using the magical SHIFT+CTRL+V, T, Enter shortcut) the subject line is pre-populated with the subject line from my email. It’s worth editing this is little bit or adding some simple abbreviations to make trawling through your tasks a little quicker. Here’s my system: - If the subject line is clear, I make no change. No point wasting time here! - If the content of the email needs careful reading then to be filed, I type **RDF** (which stands for Read, Digest, File!) before the existing subject line - If the content needs reading then some response, I type **R&R** (read & respond) - If it just needs reading then deleting (maybe it’s not worth keeping or I’ve already filed it) I type **R&D** - If the task calls for anything more complex I simply type what it is, e.g. "Book travel then notify team" There’s no right or wrong here but if you regularly create tasks from emails it’s worth figuring out a shorthand code to make task creation quicker. Not only that but it also makes sorting through tasks easier. For example, if I’m tired I’ll avoid an RDF as I need to be switched on enough to remember the content. If I’ve had a day away from the keyboard then wading through a few R&Rs gives my fingers some exercise and avoids my having to deal with these when I’ve been typing all day. Give it a try and let me know what you think. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Tidy up those RSS feeds](https://allisterspeaks.com/tidy-up-those-rss-feeds/) **Published:** September 12, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I tend to read my RSS ([Really Simple Syndication](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_(file_format))) feeds in Outlook 2007. For some reason I never got the hang of reading them in a web browser, even though this functionality has been included for some time in Internet Explorer 7. But one thing that bugs me is that subscribing to more than a handful of RSS feeds can quickly degenerate into a frustrating daily trawl through a lengthy list of feed names. By default, Outlook adds new RSS feeds to the (predictably named) ‘RSS Feeds’ folder in Outlook. It doesn’t attempt to structure the feeds in any way, other than sorting them alphabetically. Even if you assigned a feed to a specific feed folder, the only place you’ll find this folder is in Internet Explorer, not in Outlook. To organise your RSS feeds in Outlook you have to manually create folders that replicate the structure in Internet Explorer. A bit of a bind I know but still well worth doing if you prefer to read RSS feeds in Outlook. Thankfully Outlook is at least smart enough to know that if you move a feed from one folder to another it should deliver future feeds to the new location. Some tips: - Keep your RSS feed folder structure as simple as possible. The more folders you create the more you’ll have to navigate through. - Try to prioritise your feeds into folders, maybe ‘High’ and ‘Low’ could help define a priority so you read the most important feeds first - If you have several folders, consider numbering them like ‘1-Work’, ‘2-Personal’, ‘3-Home’ so they appear in a logical order - Rename long feed names to something simpler. E.g. ‘BBC Sport | Sport Homepage | World Edition’ becomes ‘BBC Sport’ You can manage your RSS feed list in lots of ways. The simplest is to right click on a feed folder in Outlook and select Properties. Another neat way is through Tools>Account Settings then the RSS Feeds tab. Here you can edit feed names (although note their appearance won’t change in Outlook), the folder where they land in Outlook and the frequency with which they update (handy if you’re on a slow connection). If, for whatever reason, your Outlook and Internet Explorer RSS feeds are not synchronised (i.e. showing the same RSS feeds) you can fix this by following these steps: 1. On the **Tools** menu, click **Options**. 2. On the **Other** tab, under **General**, click **Advanced Options**. 3. Under **General settings**, select the **Sync RSS Feeds to the Common Feed List** check box. The RSS integration in Outlook 2007 is not yet perfect, but with a little jiggery-pokery you can quickly turn it into the streamlined communications hub that you deserve. Let me know how you get on! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Lost your pet? At least you've still got your phone...](https://allisterspeaks.com/lost-your-pet-at-least-youve-still-got-your-phone/) **Published:** September 10, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** UsefulTechnology returns to the office today after a much needed break by the seaside. And what should land first on my desk but the bizarre news that more Britons would be upset if they lost their mobile phone than if they lost a pet. [Sky News reports ](http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1282491,00.html)that two-thirds of Brits would be upset if they lost a mobile phone, while a slightly lower 64% would be saddened if they lost a pet. Does this mean that our long-standing love affair with household pets has come to an end? Is trusty old Fido about to be replaced by the latest Motorola device? Probably not. You can’t, after all, teach a phone to fetch your slippers, or feel its gentle warmth by your feet on a cold winter’s evening. But I am left wondering why we all take so little care of our mobile phones. We’ll happily make our dogs wear collars bearing their name and phone number. Some owners even go so far as to have their pets microchipped. Yet so few people bother to enter their ‘owner information’ on their mobile phone or mark their contact details on or inside the case. Me? Well, I usually stick or write my contact details on the underside of the battery cover. It’s no guarantee that a lost phone will ever be returned but it is a small insurance policy, just in case. So, go on! Before you next take your mobile phone for a walk, give it a nice cuddle and some identifying features! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Mobile phone blogging](https://allisterspeaks.com/mobile-phone-blogging/) **Published:** September 1, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** It’s not new, it’s not even very clever, but it is mighty useful. Blogging from a mobile phone to a Windows Live Spaces page is as simple as logging on to http://mobile.live.com. Try it. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Windows Live SkyDrive is born](https://allisterspeaks.com/windows-live-skydrive-is-born/) **Published:** August 9, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Today we announced a handy new service: **Windows Live SkyDrive**. Check it out for yourself [here](http://skydrive.live.com/). In short, Windows Live SkyDrive gives everyone with a Windows Live ID 500MB of **free** webspace for storing and sharing files. You can decide how you wish to use the 500MB and who else should be able to access the content there. You can keep some files private so only you can access them, make others available to people with whom you wish to share them, and make other files accessible to everyone. Using Windows Live SkyDrive is a piece of cake. It looks a bit like this: ![](http://windowsvistablog.com/photos/windows_experience_images/images/486875/original.aspx) Still confused? Check out the video below when all should become clear: [http://images.soapbox.msn.com/flash/soapbox1\_1.swf](http://images.soapbox.msn.com/flash/soapbox1_1.swf) [Video: Demo: Windows Live SkyDrive](http://soapbox.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=1e598918-03f0-4a3b-a2d4-a2adb33694f5 "Demo: Windows Live SkyDrive") **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Superbrands: how could they get it so wrong?](https://allisterspeaks.com/superbrands-how-could-they-get-it-so-wrong/) **Published:** July 13, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.superbrands.uk.com/images/addBar_logo.gif)And so to the annual [Superbrands](http://www.superbrands.com/uk/) Event last night. Once again the format changed: this time a drinks reception followed by a couple of marketing speakers then entertainment from [Neil Mullarkey’s](http://www.neilmullarkey.com/) barking mad business guru creation, [L Vaughan Spencer](http://www.thesucceeder.com/). Then more drinks and some chap singing like Frank Sinatra, and making a pretty good fist of it too. All good fun. Microsoft was named [the UK’s number one brand](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/12/nmicrosoft212.xml) in the public poll for the second year running, which was nice. I’m lucky to work with so many passionate and talented people who help create and market Microsoft products and services in the UK, both as employees of Microsoft and within our partner ecosystem. It’s nice be to recognised once again in this way. A little pat on the back goes a long way. Much of the [media attention](http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2124413,00.html) focussed on the differences between the public vote (3,265 consumers were surveyed by YouGov, the UK’s most accurate online research agency) and the Media & Marketing Experts vote. 78.7% of the UK public voted for Microsoft, ranking it number one. The ‘experts’ didn’t place Microsoft in the top ten, handing the top spot instead to Google, followed by Apple, then iPod. Now, I have as much respect for the experts as the next man, but I find it fascinating that the two polls could produce such wildly different results. For the experts to have placed both Apple and iPod in the top ten but for the public to place them 41st and 153rd respectively is quite revealing. Call me Mr Cynical Knickers, but could these experts be the type of people who use Apple Mac computers, wear iPods, and drive around in Minis while supping Red Bull bought from their local Waitrose store? If marketers ever needed a reminder that *"we are not our consumers"* this is it. The experts have shown once again how out of touch they are with real people living real lives right now across the whole of the UK. Or maybe they just misread the brief and answered the survey from their own viewpoint? Or projected to a future state they would like to see where everyone thinks like a media & marketing expert? **A true marketing expert would today be tearing up their own rankings, apologising for getting it so wrong, and starting to listen very carefully to what consumers are telling them.** Of course, Microsoft is far from perfect. I work here and know that better than most. But we do still occupy a unique place in the hearts and minds of the Great British Public. And we never take that for granted, nor would we be so arrogant as to pretend we know our brand better than they do. See the [rankings]() and Superbrands [press release]() and decide for yourself. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [PhatShop: the video](https://allisterspeaks.com/phatshop-the-video/) **Published:** July 11, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** DontchajustluvPhotoshop?! [http://images.soapbox.msn.com/flash/soapbox1\_1.swf](http://images.soapbox.msn.com/flash/soapbox1_1.swf) [Video: Phatshop](http://soapbox.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=e9eb9da9-6c94-419c-b0c5-d39a222a9c1b "Phatshop") **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Microsoft Annual Conference at Wembley](https://allisterspeaks.com/microsoft-annual-conference-at-wembley/) **Published:** July 6, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Fun and frolics yesterday at our Microsoft Annual Conference at [Wembley](http://www.wembleystadium.com/). Sadly I wasn’t allowed on the pitch, despite bringing my boots and jumpers for goalposts. Turns out there’s a fairly [important concert](http://liveearth.msn.com/) there on Saturday and the promoter wasn’t keen on my having a kickabout while Madonna did her soundcheck. [Steve](http://blogs.msdn.com/stevecla01/) got an award of some sort. So did lots of other people. I didn’t, but my reward came in eating three portions of sausage and mash in the post-conference Comedy Lounge. Ed Byrne had us howling, while the [Comedy Store Players](http://www.comedystoreplayers.com/), including my longtime chum [Neil](http://www.neilmullarkey.com/), reminded us once again that laughter can come from anywhere. Negotiations with [Skoda](http://www.skoda.co.uk/) continue. My uncle had a [heart bypass](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_artery_bypass_surgery). I got a new job at heading up Microsoft UK marketing communications to Consumer, Partner and Developer audiences. And we got a nice boost to our pension programme with increased contribution matching from Microsoft. I’ll be richer now when I retire. Now all I have to do is live long enough to get there. PS I’ve also decided to stop buying DIY paraphernalia. At 36 years of age there’s a real risk I might not live long enough to use up my massive collection of screws, nails and Rawlplugs. Besides, with all this extra pension money I’ll be able to treat myself to new screws if I make it to 65. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Photosynth in all its glory](https://allisterspeaks.com/photosynth-in-all-its-glory/) **Published:** June 7, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![](http://labs.live.com/photosynth/images/main_image_home.JPG)](http://labs.live.com/photosynth/bbc/)I’ve been really excited about Photosynth since it was first publicly demo’ed about a year ago. But now you can go and play with it yourself and explore some of Britain’s most striking buildings along the way. Photosynth is (for my money) the most exciting thing to happen to digital photography in a long time. And to show it off Microsoft has teamed up with the BBC to offer the previews at . Prepare to be amazed! It’s eerily good. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [That pesky new Windows Vista power button!](https://allisterspeaks.com/that-pesky-new-windows-vista-power-button/) **Published:** May 25, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Windows Vista users quickly spot that when they press the power button inside the Start menu their PC goes into sleep mode by default. This is one of the power- and time-saving features of Windows Vista – a PC in sleep mode starts up much more quickly than one that’s been shutdown. If you want to hibernate or shutdown the PC you have to click on the neighbouring small arrow to open the complete menu. The good news is that you can easily reconfigure the big power button so it shuts down the PC rather than sending it to sleep. Here’s how: 1. Go to power options (type **power options** in the Start menu text box and press enter) 2. Press **‘Change Plan Settings’** 3. Press **‘Change advanced power settings’** 4. Change your settings for the **Start Menu Power Button** All this talk of sleep has made me tired. Guess it’s time for my nap… **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Preview .pdf files directly in Outlook 2007](https://allisterspeaks.com/preview-pdf-files-directly-in-outlook-2007/) **Published:** March 16, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** **Yes!** I love the way Outlook 2007 allows me to preview attachments without having to open them in their own window. This works briliiantly for common file formats like Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint. But there’s never been a previewer for Adobe Acrobat files (.pdfs). Until now… Head over to [Steve Clayton’s blog](http://blogs.msdn.com/stevecla01/archive/2007/03/15/preview-pdf-s-in-outlook.aspx) for the full story and install the Foxit PDF Preview Handler today. It works a dream and is a real timesaver for anyone who receives lots of .pdfs by e-mail. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Windows Media Photo (AKA HD Photo) is born](https://allisterspeaks.com/windows-media-photo-aka-hd-photo-is-born/) **Published:** March 8, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This has to be good news for photographers and lovers of digital imagery everywhere. Today Microsoft formally announced the new Windows Media file format (also known as HD Photo) and released plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop as well as a device porting kit to allow manufacturers to add HD Photo support to their devices and services. The compression in the HD Photo format is **up to twice as efficient as JPEG with fewer damaging artefacts.** So now we can get better images that require as little as half the storage space. If you take lots of digital photos that’s a very big deal! I’ll be testing out the beta versions of the plug-ins for Adobe Photoshop and will let you know what I think. You can download these from [here ](http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/info.aspx?na=22&p=3&SrcDisplayLang=en&SrcCategoryId=&SrcFamilyId=&u=/downloads/details.aspx%3fFamilyID%3db157ca0f-083f-4957-9aa3-4da1de3dc20b%26DisplayLang%3den)and find out more about this exciting new photo file format [here](http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/mar07/03-08HDPhotoPR.mspx). (This blog entries is dedicated to Augustin without whom my blog would have lain dormant for longer) **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [BBC Money Programme: the story behind Windows Vista](https://allisterspeaks.com/bbc-money-programme-the-story-behind-windows-vista/) **Published:** February 12, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41651000/gif/_41651298_money_banner_2_ind629.gif) For the last six months or so we have been stalked by a camera team from the BBC Money Programme as they followed our journey to the launch of Windows Vista. On Friday I braced myself with a bottle of whisky as they broadcast their programme. Thankfully, my personal appearances were kept to the bare minimum (I really must stop wearing that pink shirt) and much of the 30 minute programme was given over to interviews with both the UK and USA Microsoft employees including Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. Thanks to the miracle of technology you can now watch the programme online at [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in\_depth/business/money\_programme/](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/business/money_programme/ "http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/business/money_programme/"). Let me know what you think! ![](http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42551000/jpg/_42551343_microsoft_vista203.jpg) Above: I have no idea who that is. And no, it’s not me. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### ["The only way to have fun with a Mac is to poke its insufferable owner in the eye." Discuss.](https://allisterspeaks.com/the-only-way-to-have-fun-with-a-mac-is-to-poke-its-insufferable-owner-in-the-eye-discuss/) **Published:** February 6, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Before anyone accuses me of being Mac Fan Boy after yesterday’s posting, please let me clear something up. While Microsoft does many, many things wrong, that doesn’t mean that we’re alone in the IT universe in being a little sloppy from time to time. There’s still a huge amount that we do right. I just wish we did it more often and consistently. And I still see no reason why we should make buying our products so difficult. Apple is also far from perfect. Their latest ads featuring the comedians Mitchell and Webb seem to be everywhere right now. They first caught my eye because I quite enjoyed some of Mitchell and Webb’s comedy and could immediately see that they are an obvious (no, make that, blindingly predictable) choice for the UK versions of the ads that Apple has been running in the US for some time. But the main reason the ads caught my eye is because they come close to exploiting a change in advertising law that came into effect 10 years ago to allow ‘comparative advertising’ in EU markets. Under this law, advertisers are allowed to mention the name of their competitors and make comparative claims against them. Apples dances carefully around the law by comparing "I’m a PC" man with "I’m a Mac" man. We all know that the PC is a Windows machine, while the Mac is the cool and exciting alternative that people should be choosing. The trouble with this advertising campaign is that is lays down claims about a PC that are hopelessly out of date. Sure, there are a lot of old PCs out there, running old software. And some of them may even be as unreliable, dull, and virus-infested as Apple’s ads claim. But these PCs are increasingly in the minority. Apple’s advertising is akin to a car manufacturer comparing their latest 2007 model with a competitor’s model from the 1970’s. The comparison isn’t just unfair, it’s quite unsavoury too. Charlie Brooker captured my mood very elegantly writing in The Guardian yesterday. Read the article [here](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2006031,00.html). And the comments from online readers of the article are entertaining too. Thankfully not everyone seems to like the nasty negative campaigning side of Apple that is so inconsistent with what their core brand values should stand for. The bottom line here is simple. Use what you like. If you want a Mac, buy a Mac. If you want a PC, buy a PC. Do your own research, don’t believe the hype, and think carefully about what you actually need to do with your machine before you spend a penny. For anyone with their own mind the choice should be simple. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Why buying Windows Vista should be simpler than Toilet Paper](https://allisterspeaks.com/why-buying-windows-vista-should-be-simpler-than-toilet-paper/) **Published:** February 5, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Of all the complaints levelled at Windows Vista since launch, from the plain daft to the bizarre, there’s one grievance that I completely agree with. Buying Windows Vista, deciding which version to select, and getting the right flavour for your hardware is absurdly complicated. Many years ago I was responsible for marketing a well-known toilet tissue brand here in the UK. When you’re selling a commodity product that, to be frank, people wipe their backsides with, you never make the purchase decision more complicated than necessary. Every additional SKU (stock keeping unit) had to have a reason to be. Slow selling lines weren’t tolerated by the retailers for long and, more drastically, drew shoppers’ attention away from the faster selling lines where the profits were greatest. When your product serves no more purpose than to help keep your customers’ nether regions fresh, you become exceptionally disciplined when managing your SKU line up. For some reason, possibly historical arrogance or just marketing naivety, Microsoft doesn’t apply similar discipline to its SKU selection. Maybe we think our products are more engaging, more essential, more life-enhancing than anything our competitors can produce. Maybe we just enjoy making life difficult for everyone. Whatever the reason, this chart from Gizmodo tells you everything you need to know about how spectacularly wrong we got it: ![](http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/02/osx_vs_vista_upgrades.jpg) The greatest irony here? Nearly every one of those laughably irrelevant toilet tissue products outsells every Windows Vista SKU. People spend more money each year on loo roll than on an operating system. Shouldn’t the purchase decision for each be approximately as simple too? Isn’t it time Microsoft learned a lesson from the world around it and stopped making our stuff so insanely complicated to buy? If the toilet tissue people can do it, I’m sure we can too. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### ["Wow" - it's launch day](https://allisterspeaks.com/wow-its-launch-day/) **Published:** January 30, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** My blog has been a bit quiet over the last few weeks. Sadly, the same could not be said of my workload. But today, we reached a milestone – the launch of Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system – and the fruits of my labours can finally be revealed. First up, if you’re in London today, head over to the Piazza of the British Library on Euston Road where we’re hosting a **special free gig by The Feeling around noon**. Bill Gates will also be in town and making some new announcements to the press to mark this important day. And a gazillion other things. Too many to mention. Then, head over to [www.windowsvista.co.uk](http://www.windowsvista.co.uk) and click the Wow Prize Draw link. We wanted to give everyone a good reason to take a few minutes out of their day to discover what all the fuss is about. The prize draw combines some very short video demos with some truly incredible prize experiences that you could win: a safari holiday complete with your very own professional photographer, McFly playing live in your living room, VIP treatment at the world premiere of Transformers in Los Angeles and more. Plus the Ultimate Experience which still makes my mind boggle. To find out about it enter the prize draw! And good luck. Whatever you’re doing, wherever you are, enjoy the launch day and I hope you’ll have as much fun with Windows Vista and Office 2007 as I am. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Bill's Big New Year Announcements](https://allisterspeaks.com/bills-big-new-year-announcements/) **Published:** January 8, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://microsoftatces.com/Themes/default/images/msces/mast.gif) Last night we finally took the lid off a heap of cool innovations for things like Windows Vista, Games for Windows, IPTV and a new partnership between Ford and Microsoft Automobile. There’s some really funky stuff to look forward to it. Some of it coming much sooner than you might think. To see for yourself, watch the video by clicking [here](http://metahost.origindigital.com/microsoft/20070107/ces_20070107_220.asx). You can find out more about what’s going on at CES at [www.microsoftatces.com](http://www.microsoftatces.com/). **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Check out the Digital Lifestyle website](https://allisterspeaks.com/check-out-the-digital-lifestyle-website/) **Published:** January 5, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** A few weeks back we launched a new website here in the UK called Microsoft Digital Lifestyle. You can see it [here](http://www.microsoft.com/uk/lifestyle/default.mspx). I’ve been looking through the traffic stats and the site has been very busy over Christmas and the New year period. **But I’d love to know what *you* think of the site.** We’ve already had lots of helpful feedback and we’re working on improving several things. Please let me know what you think by leaving a comment here or emailing . I’d really value your comments. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Adobe Acrobat Reader 7 security flaw](https://allisterspeaks.com/adobe-acrobat-reader-7-security-flaw/) **Published:** January 5, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The Get Safe Online blog brings news of a critical flaw in Adobe Acrobat Reader 7 that could allow an attacker to gain control of your computer. With so many people now relying on this software this could present a major security threat to online computer users. This is the latest in a long list of issues with Acrobat Reader so it’s worth staying tuned to the [Adobe website](http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/search/index.cfm?loc=en_us&restrict=support&term=security+advisory) for updates if you regularly use their software. According to [Get Safe Online](http://www.getsafeonlineblog.org/?p=66) and the [Adobe Security Advisory](http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb06-20.html) the best remedy right now is to [upgrade to Version 8](http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html)\* of the software. It’s a 20MB-ish download (depending on your operating system) but worth it for the peace of mind. \* If you use Microsoft Windows you need Windows 2000 SP4 or newer to get Adobe Acrobat Reader v8.0. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Move to Folder Magic!](https://allisterspeaks.com/move-to-folder-magic/) **Published:** January 5, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Regular readers of this blog (and its predecessor on [technet.com](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology)) will know my fondness for Microsoft Outlook’s **SHIFT+CTRL+v** keyboard shortcut which is a quick way to the ‘Move to Folder’ command. Using this cuts out a lot of mouse travel, allowing you to move any item in Outlook (an email, a task, a calendar appointment, a contact etc) to a different folder location. After the ‘Move to Folder’ dialog box appears you can type the first letter of the folder to quickly find it in the list. So to create a new Task from an email, simply highlight the email then press **SHIFT+CTRL+v** then **t**. The trouble come when you have lots of folders, all starting with the same initial letter and you find yourself then scrolling around in the ‘move to folder’ windows trying to find the right folder. **Don’t worry, help is at hand now!** Microsoft Outlook 2007 is smart enough to understand multiple character inputs so you simply start typing the name of the folder and Outlook will hone in on the one you want. So, in the previous example, if you have multiple folders beginning with t, just press **SHIFT+CTRL+v**, then **t**, then **a**, then **s**, etc until you find the folder you need. If you’re not yet running Outlook 2007, you can buy an add-on utility called ‘Speedfiler for Outlook’ from [www.claritude.com](http://www.claritude.com) to get this same functionality and a couple of extra features. It will set you back £11.50 / $19.95 / AU$28.50 but is a useful short term fix until you can upgrade to Microsoft Outlook 2007. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Sort your signatures in Outlook 2007](https://allisterspeaks.com/sort-your-signatures-in-outlook-2007/) **Published:** January 4, 2007 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** On my old [TechNet blog](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/) I used to post lots of tips and tricks for Microsoft Outlook. Some of the most popular postings were about everything there is to know about [using signatures in Outlook emails](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology/search.aspx?q=signature&p=1). Things are much simpler in Outlook 2007 with a new interface to help you manage your signatures and insert them into emails directly from the ‘Insert’ tab of the new ribbon toolbar at the top of each email. One thing that hasn’t changed is the way Outlook automatically creates 3 versions of each signature; one for each of the three supported email formats: HTML, RTF and TXT. Confusingly, one thing that has changed, and has caught a few users out here at Microsoft, is the location of these signature files should you wish to edit them manually outside of Outlook. In Outlook 2007, email signatures are stored at this location: *\[root\]Users\[username\]AppDataRoamingMicrosoftSignatures* If you’ve created a signature, particularly one with graphical content, you may wish to edit the TXT version of your signature by simply navigating to the folder location above and editing the \[yoursignature\].txt file in Notepad. Then test inside Microsoft Outlook by responding to a plain text email. Your plain text email buddies will thank you for it! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Happy Holidays to everyone!](https://allisterspeaks.com/happy-holidays-to-everyone/) **Published:** December 22, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/robin_tcm3-21239.jpg)Time’s up. I have to stop working now because more pressing matters await: enjoying the festive break with my family. Hurrah! I wish everyone a very happy time this holiday season and send my best wishes for a happy, healthy and successful 2007. Cheers! **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Did they read that email?](https://allisterspeaks.com/did-they-read-that-email/) **Published:** December 22, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** The ‘Read Receipt’ feature in Microsoft Outlook offers a simple way to track whether an email that you sent has been read or not. But it has its limitations, not least that the recipient has to agree to send the read receipt when prompted. If they refuse you’ll be none the wiser. That’s why the service offered by [www.didtheyreadit.com](http://www.didtheyreadit.com/) caught my eye. After registering on this site you simply need to add ‘.didtheyreadit.com’ to the end of the email address you are sending to. Like this: ![](http://www.didtheyreadit.com/images/email_post.gif) The recipient of your email won’t know that you’ve done this – they just receive, and hopefully read, the email as normal. When they do read the email you’ll get an email direct from the tracking computer at [www.didtheyreadit.com](http://www.didtheyreadit.com/) that shows where and when the email was opened. The service is free for the first 10 email tracks that you do, after which a small fee is payable. Find out more at [www.didtheyreadit.com](http://www.didtheyreadit.com). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Soapbox on MSN Video gadget](https://allisterspeaks.com/soapbox-on-msn-video-gadget/) **Published:** December 19, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve added a little gadget over there on the left which shows my Soapbox videos. Sadly this only includes a handful of ‘blogcasts’ that i recorded many moons ago back in my TechNet blog days. If you haven’t yet discovered Soapbox, head over to and have a play. It’s a beta service at the moment but works remarkably well. It’s like YouTube but with the added convenience of being linked to your Windows Live/MSN contacts which makes sharing those, er, private videos so much simpler! To find my blogcasts on Soapbox (which are all about productivity tips and tricks for Microsoft Outlook) simply search for ‘usefultechnology’ (all one word). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Reply All craziness on Windows Mobile smartphones](https://allisterspeaks.com/reply-all-craziness-on-windows-mobile-smartphones/) **Published:** December 15, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** If you use a Windows Mobile powered smartphone or Pocket PC you may have noticed that using Reply All on emails may result in sending yourself an email. Now, presuming that you’re actually clever enough to remember that you typed a reply, this is not particularly useful. So why does it do this? It’s because your phone (smart though it is) doesn’t know the exact email address that you are sending from. To fix this, follow these simple steps: 1. Make sure you’re phone is not synchronising then click Start > Programs > ActiveSync > Menu > Options 2. Click Email > Settings > Advanced then type your own email address under ‘Primary e-mail address’ 3. Job done! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Tracking Santa the digital way](https://allisterspeaks.com/tracking-santa-the-digital-way/) **Published:** December 15, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** When I was a child, the only way I knew if Santa was nearby on Christmas Eve was by listening for the sound of my dad heaving heavy sacks around downstairs as I lay excitedly in bed. Today, of course, kids have more sophisticated technology at their disposal and the full support of the North American Aerospace Defense Command to help out. For over 50 years, NORAD has been tracking Santa’s path around the globe and this year will be publishing their latest tracking images online on Christmas Eve showing how the bearded wonder is getting on. ![](http://www.noradsanta.org/images/cmcccc.jpg) According to their site, [NORAD](http://www.noradsanta.org/) uses a radar system called the North Warning System, satellites, SantaCams and jet fighters to bring us this amazing glimpse into Santa’s incredible journey. And it’s the infra red signature from Rudolph’s glowing nose that helps them plot the sleigh’s path around the globe. Santa, of course, is delighted to be tracked in this way and said little more than "Ho Ho Ho" when I asked him if this was true on [Instant Messenger](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!C03655A24B7AEA52!2122.entry). Don’t believe me? See the video [here](http://www.noradsanta.org/en/downloads/30sec_256.wmv) and be amazed. It’s comforting to know that this expensive technology is being put to such good use and that jet fighter aircraft will be on hand to make sure Santa comes to no harm. And, seeing as Windows Live Local is now a partner of NORAD, I’ll be sure to post the scoop here if I hear any more news from the North Pole. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [IM with Santa](https://allisterspeaks.com/im-with-santa/) **Published:** December 14, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Allister says: Hello Santa Santa Claus says: Hello! What’s going on? Allister says: Is it Christmas yet? Santa Claus says: Ho ho ho! Allister says: Are you drunk? Santa Claus says: I’m eminently sober. Allister says: Can I have some dancing girls and alcohol for Christmas please? Santa Claus says: My elves will get right on that. Great! Something to look forward to at Christmas! We all have to move with the times. Even Santa Claus. Thankfully, this year Santa’s got himself onto Live Messenger and is now available to chat. What will you ask for? To chat now with Santa just add to your contacts on Live Messenger. Then send him an instant message. Hopefully he’ll still be sober enough to remember my request come Christmas Eve… More details at the [Microsoft Presspass site](http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/dec06/12-13SantaIMPR.mspx). **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Leaky headphones: safety first](https://allisterspeaks.com/leaky-headphones-safety-first/) **Published:** December 11, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Do you worry that the ‘tin-tin-tappety-tap’ emanating from the headphones of the moron next to you on the bus could damage your hearing? Then worry no more. Technological help is at hand in the form of the Ear3 Sonic Threat Indicator: ![](http://www.ear3.info/eee.jpg) Yes, it’s true. This techno-gizmo will set you back a whopping US$49.95 and do nothing to actually protect your ears from potentially damaging sonic waves. But you will know why you have gone deaf thanks to its rapidly flashing red light. This one doesn’t quite cut it as ‘UsefulTechnology’. Your money would be better spent buying some cotton wool to stuff in your ears. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [R.I.P. Physical Media](https://allisterspeaks.com/r-i-p-physical-media/) **Published:** December 8, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://blog.scifi.com/tech/pics/formateulogy.jpg) Sci-fi.com has released its [eulogy for physical media](http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/2006/12/07/shift_a_eulogy.html) (tapes, CDs, DVDs etc) which, they say, will be part of modern history by 2010. I can’t see too many tech observers disagreeing with that, but some might argue the predicted expiry date is a little out of whack. I’ve been telling anyone who will listen that physical media is already technically obsolete and it’s only 2006 (at least it was last time I checked). The current debate about who will win the Hi-Def DVD wars is largely irrelevant. Whether HD-DVD or Blu-Ray triumph, one thing is certain: their victory will be very shortlived. Before long the concept of "going online" will seem curiously outdated. We’ll be online all the time, wherever we go. The content we crave will come to us when we need it. We may store some content locally on simultaneously tiny (sized) and massive (capacity) hard disks but we’ll have little need for the physical media we used to covet. Rest in peace physical media. Your time has already passed. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Technology to talk about](https://allisterspeaks.com/technology-to-talk-about/) **Published:** December 7, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** This is the first sentence I’ve ever dictated to a blog. I’m using my new laptop with Windows Vista Ultimate edition. Learning to dictate a blog entry is surprisingly easy. It’s worth taking the simple and quick tutorial to help you learn the basic commands. But I have to admit it all feels very weird. The biggest problem I expect to encounter is that I am going to look pretty stupid doing this in the office. I also imagine that I’ll get a sore throat before long. I won’t pretend that I dictated this perfectly first time. I made a few mistakes that were easy to correct and I’ve not had to use my mouse or keyboard. Anyway, give it a try, it’s really simple and very accurate. To get started type **speech recognition** into the search bar under the Start button. (Blimey, I even managed some formatting there and brackets, or parentheses as they’re known, here!) This is so good it’s starting to freak me out! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Useful Outlook gadgets for Windows Vista](https://allisterspeaks.com/useful-outlook-gadgets-for-windows-vista/) **Published:** December 6, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** There are some nice new Microsoft Outlook related gadgets now available for download from . ![](http://download.gallery.start.com/d.dll/2~2~649~4765/LARGE.jpg) The first new addition is **[Outlook Upcoming Appointments](http://gallery.microsoft.com/liveitemdetail.aspx?li=ed840437-7d13-4755-8d0a-0ba2cbbf38e6&l=1).** This gadget has been built by Microsoft and (I believe) currently only works for Windows Vista PC with language set to English US. It allows you to see the next three to five upcoming appointments in your Outlook 2007 calendar anywhere on your desktop. The other new addition direct from Microsoft is **[Outlook Tasks ](http://gallery.microsoft.com/liveitemdetail.aspx?li=98a101eb-2fc6-4c06-866c-14a6f5e05ab9&l=1)**which also only works in English US language. This handy gadget shows your tasks, flagged emails and flagged contacts on the desktop. As with all gadgets you can either dock these gadgets on the sidebar or float them anywhere on your desktop. Useful stuff! **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Windows Vista live icons](https://allisterspeaks.com/windows-vista-live-icons/) **Published:** December 6, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I keep discovering things in Windows Vista – there’s so much ‘newness’ to explore. One cool little feature you may not know is ‘Live Icon scaling’ using the mouse and keyboard. For example, if your desktop icons are bit too small just click on the desktop, hold down the CTRL key and roll the scrollwheel on your mouse. Rolling upwards makes things bigger, downwards smaller. This same technique (CTRL+mouse scrollwheel) also works in place like Internet Explorer (changing the zoom level of the page you are viewing), Windows Explorer (changing the icon view), and Outlook (changing the zoom level). Very handy. Have a play around next time your using Windows Vista. You might discover something unexpectedly useful. **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [New Day Dawns for Business](https://allisterspeaks.com/new-day-dawns-for-business/) **Published:** November 30, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Big day today! We’ve just announced the business availability of Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Exchange Server 2007. So, if you buy software for a business and are a volume licensing customer, today’s the day that your business can leap ahead of your competitors by deploying our latest and greatest productivity tools. Find out more at . **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [Windows Vista Countdown Gadget](https://allisterspeaks.com/windows-vista-countdown-gadget/) **Published:** November 28, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://download.gallery.start.com/d.dll/2~2~770~4305/LARGE.jpg) **Counting the days until you can get your hands on the final launch version of Windows Vista?** Well count no more, thanks to the Windows Vista countdown sidebar gadget, featuring a sophisticated timing calculation method called ‘subtraction’. [Get your gadget here](http://gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=b43ad98f-59bf-47e7-afa7-5b483a18374d). **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Shredder-tastic](https://allisterspeaks.com/shredder-tastic/) **Published:** November 27, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.viking-direct.co.uk/pictures/GB/VKG/SK/LG/ds-13c_sk_lg.jpg)In this identity theft-ridden age, no home should be without one. I’ve just upgraded my home office to a (dare I say it?) "sexy" new crosscut shredder. Yes, I’m now the proud owner of a Fellowes DS-13C – a model number that I’m sure you shredder fans are well aware of. The Useful Technology part of it? If you touch the area immediately around the shredding slot the machine automatically cuts out. Very reassuring when there are toddler fingers crawling around the house. Although I’m not sure this technology won’t stop pieces of our home being shredded when our backs are turned. But at least we don’t have to worry about toddlers shredding pieces of themselves. It’s true, low tech is the new high tech. Get one today. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Listening to music while driving in the UK legally](https://allisterspeaks.com/listening-to-music-while-driving-in-the-uk-legally/) **Published:** November 24, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** On 8th December our antiquated broadcasting laws will be brought up to date and the use of many of the wireless FM transmitters favoured by owners of MP3 players will no longer be illegal. Yes, you read that write. It will no longer be illegal. If you currently use an FM transmitter, like an iTrip, to play your iPod sounds through your car radio in the UK you are a flagrant criminal. From the 8th December your chances of being ‘banged up to rights’ will drop significantly, but you’ll still need to ensure that your FM transmitter is of the legal variety. The [BBC](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6177820.stm) covered this story yesterday and OFCOM (the Office of Communications) has the full gory details [here](http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/exemption/statement/). So here’s an idea borrowed from the USA. After the 8th December, tune your FM transmitter to your preferred settings and have a car window sticker made to advertise the frequency you’re transmitting on\*. Who knows, you might even get some appreciative honks from passing motorists. \* not recommended if your MP3 player mostly plays music by Steps. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Windows Vista makes your laptop lighter!](https://allisterspeaks.com/windows-vista-makes-your-laptop-lighter/) **Published:** November 24, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.microsoft.com/library/media/1033/windowsvista/images/features/kb_bov_flip3d3.jpg)Actually, that title’s not entirely true. But wouldn’t it be good if it was! What I can say with absolute conviction is that installing the final RTM version of Windows Vista on my laptops has given them a new lease of life. The installation itself was a breeze – the most complicated thing being the requirement to upgrade the BIOS on my Toshiba machines. Once that was done, I managed to install Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system in about 30 minutes. And my PCs (and me) have never been happier. Like consumers outside of Microsoft I’ll now have to wait until the 30th January before being able to install Windows Vista on my home computers. And having to switch back and forth between operating systems really highlights the differences. The things that I miss most on my Windows XP machines are having powerful search tools everywhere I go, being able to start up the computer from standby in a matter of seconds, and, though I never thought I’d hear myself saying this, the 3D flip tool (left) that makes switching between open programs both fun and amazingly quick. 30th January cannot come soon enough ![](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/mmm2006-10-27_23.09/rte/emoticons/smile_thinking.gif) **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [Office Live in the UK [update]](https://allisterspeaks.com/office-live-in-the-uk-update/) **Published:** November 23, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://ads1.msn.com/ads/1/0000000001_000000000000000353101.gif)As posted previously, Office Live is now available under beta outside of the USA. Predictably the UK site can now be found at [www.officelive.co.uk](http://www.officelive.co.uk/). Register and get your free domain and website now. Even my dad has gone and got himself a new website (so it must be easy)! **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [Leaky headphones](https://allisterspeaks.com/leaky-headphones/) **Published:** November 22, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Portable music devices seem to be everywhere these days and I wouldn’t be without mine. As a regular commuter to London I’m amazed at how many people now have tubes coming out of their ears. I’m also astonished at how inconsiderate some of these music lovers are. People don’t have any problem spending hundreds of pounds buying a fancy music player, but will quite happily tolerate the cheap leaky headphones that came with it. So here’s the test. Let’s call it the "Am I a Noise Polluting Moron? Test". While enjoying your tunes in a public place, take both earpieces out of your ears, hold one in each hand then hold your arms out straight in front of you. If you can hear any sound coming from your hands your headphones are too loud. Turn the volume down until the sound can no longer be heard, then return the headphones to your ears. Now look around and enjoy the serene calm around you. If you can’t now hear your music you may already have done irreparable damage to your eardrums. In this case you may need to seek medical advice. If your doctor agrees to release you back into the community, congratulations! You may now buy some decent *in-ear* headphones. These will allow you to listen to your music a little louder, but not require those around you to suffer the drone of that tinny tat radiating from your head on our way to work. Leaky headphones – a public menace. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Are you a 'democrat' or a 'paternalist'?](https://allisterspeaks.com/are-you-a-democrat-or-a-paternalist/) **Published:** November 22, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I joined the great and the good of the UK marketing industry at last night’s Annual Marketing Society Dinner in London. One interesting debating point was whether marketers should consider themselves as the creators, shapers and ultimate guardians of brands, or whether the power has now shifted and changed marketers’ role to one of listening, engaging and responding to what customers tell you they want. I guess it come down to the difference between marketing ***to*** customers and marketing ***with*** customers. We labelled these two viewpoints as being either a ‘paternalist’ or a ‘democrat’. Which makes me a definite ‘democrat’. [The Social Customer](http://www.socialcustomer.com/2006/11/marketing_borat.html) recently drew my attention to an excellent posting on the [Lefsetz Letters](http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2006/11/03/borat-and-the-music-business/) which really capture my mood right now. Bob was writing about the hype surrounding the new Borat movie, but also condemning some marketers’ obsession with over-publicity. His final paragraph is a peach: > *Hearing the movie’s good, I’m gonna give it a chance. Then again, if Fox keeps trumpeting the story, they’re gonna kill MY word of mouth, I don’t want to work for the man. And neither does the Net generation. WE make the stars, not you. Give us reasonable choices, WE’LL do the work. It won’t happen instantly. First week grosses, first week SoundScan numbers, are no longer important. It’s about longevity. It won’t take forever, because word of mouth happens so quickly on the Net, and we’re all in touch with SO many more people on a regular basis. But it’s now our game, not yours, don’t ever forget it.* That’s the sort of bravery it takes to be a ‘democrat’. Having the courage to create something good then seed it to the net generation to let them decide whether it will succeed or not. Whether we marketers like it or not, social communities now have the power to decide. It takes a courageous and forward-thinking marketer to surrender that power and concentrate instead on just making good stuff. The photos of the Marketing Society Dinner can be found on [this Windows Live Spaces page](http://marketingsocietydinner.spaces.live.com/). My colleague Lucilla and I are below. [![](http://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1pHMzPfDG1cEknWUpDoku6jiE1_EqCUF1Z29hIGWjVMzJm6pAsvSs6APsX4ouQ1Ytz_VMmMJfW58Y)](http://blufiles.storage.live.com/y1pHMzPfDG1cEknWUpDoku6jrIMokNGk21GKWxjYNDyRnSf9XwVvcPldfdGJRLJE6MA_MFWCjeZAqQ) **Categories:** Marketing --- ### [New hazard: Cars without reversing sensors](https://allisterspeaks.com/new-hazard-cars-without-reversing-sensors/) **Published:** November 18, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve grown very used to the reassurance that comes from having proximity sensors on the rear bumper of my car. They allow me to drive in reverse safely without worrying about hitting out of sight obstacles. It’s a great safety enhancement. The trouble comes when I then have to drive a different car that doesn’t have reverse sensors. That’s when I realise how dependent I have become on the reassuring beep of those sensors. Without them I find myself unable to confidently judge distances behind me. And I’m far less likely to notice some of the obstacles in my reversing path. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that I think reversing sensors (or rather the lack of them in some vehicles) have actually made me a less safe driver. While my chances of hitting an obstacle with the sensors have gone down, the chances of my hitting something without the sensors have risen. I guess the same could be argued about warning beeps that remind you to put on your seat belt. If you get in car without the warning aren’t peope at risk of forgetting and putting themselves at risk? Surely a technology crutch on which we become so dependent cannot be a good thing. Or is it? **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [4oD - First UK on demand broadcaster for PC](https://allisterspeaks.com/4od-first-uk-on-demand-broadcaster-for-pc/) **Published:** November 17, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://www.channel4.com/media/pf/4logo-news.gif) Channel 4 has announced the imminent availability of a video-on-demand service for viewers with PC internet access. NTL and Telewest (cable) customers have been able to use 4oD for a while, but from 6th December any internet user will be able to download C4 shows for 99p. The downloaded file will expire 48hours after viewing. Or for £1.99 the expiration will be removed allowing you to view your favourite shows for all eternity. Films will also be available for £1.99, although the DRM expiry cannot be removed from these files. So now there’s no reason to get all het up when you forget to record your favourite show or when a colleague tells you about the amazing programme that you missed on TV last night. From 6th December, just head over to the [4oD website](http://www.channel4.com/4od/tvvod/) and buy whichever shows you want. The TV on demand era is hotting up. **Categories:** Digital Living --- ### [Time Zones in Outlook 2007 Calendar Appointments](https://allisterspeaks.com/time-zones-in-outlook-2007-calendar-appointments/) **Published:** November 16, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** There’s a nice post from Darren Strange about the handy time zones feature in Outlook 2007. If, like me, you get hopelessly confused organising meetings with participants across different time zones, check it out [here](http://blogs.msdn.com/officerocker/archive/2006/11/15/barcelona-traveling-with-vista-and-office.aspx). **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [Office Live is, er, Live](https://allisterspeaks.com/office-live-is-er-live/) **Published:** November 16, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](http://office.microsoft.com/global/images/default.aspx?assetid=ZA102020311033) It’s nice to see that Office Live has now been launched fully in the US and a new beta will start on November 21st in the UK, Japan, France and Germany. If you would like to have your own website but haven’t tried out Office Live yet then you could be in for a treat. The Office Live Basics service is completely free (yes, really!) and allows you to register a domain at no cost, gives you 500MB of web storage space, 25 email addresses and a comprehensive set of web design tools to you can customise your website to your heart’s content! It’s the ideal solution for small businesses owners looking to give their company a simple web presence. More advanced (and much less free) services are also available if you need more web storage space, customer relationship management features and online project management tools. Check out the US site at and check back after November 21st if you’re based in one of the four new beta countries. **Categories:** Computers and Internet --- ### [Welcome to my Guest Book](https://allisterspeaks.com/welcome-to-my-guest-book/) **Published:** November 16, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** I’ve added this guest book to the site so you can leave comments about your visit. Let me know what’s on your mind. **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ### [Boom! Another blog is born](https://allisterspeaks.com/boom-another-blog-is-born/) **Published:** November 16, 2006 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** Another day, another blog. I’ve taken the leap from my previous home on [TechNet](http://blogs.technet.com/usefultechnology) to the simple life over here on [Windows Live Spaces](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com). I’ve been watching Live Spaces grow and flourish for some time, and I now think it’s good enough to be my new blog home. This blog will be my place to post news of the useful technology-related stuff I discover. That could be tips and tricks, handy downloads, smart gadgets or just silly jokes. Who knows? Stick around and decide for yourself. Your comments are always welcome. ![](http://usefultechnologyblog.spaces.live.com/mmm2006-10-27_23.09/rte/emoticons/smile_shades.gif) **Categories:** Uncategorized --- ## Pages ### [Home](https://allisterspeaks.com/) **Published:** April 24, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** [![Allister Frost, pest control specialist in professional uniform.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Allister-Frost-website-logo-2026.png) ](/) - [![Home page icon](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Home-icon-tiny-for-website-menu.png)Home](https://allisterspeaks.com/) - [Get Ready*Already*](https://allisterspeaks.com/readyalready) - [Speaking](https://allisterspeaks.com/keynotes/) - [Keynote Talks](https://allisterspeaks.com/keynotes/) - [Feedback & Reviews](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/) - [Check Your Date](https://allisterspeaks.com/holdyourdate/) - [Media & Event Kit](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/) - [Training](https://allisterspeaks.com/training-consulting/) - [About Allister](https://allisterspeaks.com/allister/) - What’s New? - [Get the Newsletter](https://hello.allisterspeaks.com/) - [See ‘FROST News’](https://allisterspeaks.com/blog/) - [Contact](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) - [Get in touch with Allister](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) - [ USA Booking Line: +1 888-320-1990](tel:+18883201990) - [ UK Booking Line: +44 208-150-1990](tel:+442081501990) In an uncertain, changing world, your mindset can be your greatest asset or your biggest liability… # Allister Frost is on a mission to SAVE ONE MILLION WORKING LIVES ![Allister Frost logo icon for pest control website, professional branding image.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/cropped-Allister-Frost-Photo-Site-Icon-Favicon.png)Allister helps leaders and teams escape the deadly complacency of their comfort zone and embrace a **Future-Ready Mindset.** [Need help fast? *Email Allister here*](mailto:allister@allisterspeaks.com) [](#stakes) [![Allister Frost speaking at a pest control event, professional pest management specialist.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Allister-Frost-speaker-casual.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Allister-Frost-speaker-casual.png) ## The Future Doesn’t Care About Your Past It’s a harsh truth to accept, but yesterday’s rules do not apply to today’s reality. And the strategies that built your past successes may now be your **blind spots.** Stop seeing uncertainty and constant change as a threat; they can be the fuel for your brighter tomorrow! **Let’s start creating your future today.** Allister Frost developed his ReadyAlready® principles to help leaders and teams keep up and win with a **Future-Ready Mindset**—turning the chaos of tomorrow into a permanent unfair advantage. Do more than survive. ***Be ReadyAlready and thrive.*** ## Watch Allister’s Showreel ### Why Embracing Change is the Key to Long-Term Success ![Allister Frost speaking at a professional event with a red background.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Showreel-Video-Thumbnail.jpg) ## Book Allister for Your Event **Meet and hear from a high-profile, award-winning, global business speaker** Book the leading motivational speaker who delivers a message that’s worth ***every second*** of your audience’s time *(plus: he’s also super-easy and fun to work with!)* Allister delivers a limited number of speaking engagements each month, including C-Suite Meetings, Company Conferences, and Industry Events [Ask About Your Date](/holdyourdate/) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Speaker-Awards-logo-design-300x155.png) ![One Mission to Save One Million Working Lives - Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/One-Mission-Allister-Frost.jpg) Allister Frost is on a mission to rescue ONE MILLION WORKING PEOPLEfrom the deadly irrelevance of the “comfort zone.” As a former Microsoft leader and digital trailblazer, Allister spent years at the heart of the tech revolution. He learned a hard truth that now applies to every industry: > ***“If it works today, it’s already obsolete.”*** The stable world where we built our careers is disappearing. For the first time in history, hard-earned experience is no longer a shield against irrelevance. Someone, somewhere, is already building a faster, smarter, better way. > ***“Experience is no longer a shield. It’s a blind spot.”*** Allister didn’t always see it this way. He had to transform his own ***“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”*** mindset into a catalyst for growth. Today, he helps organisations like Balfour Beatty, Cisco, Müller, and Lloyds Bank do the same—shifting teams from victims of change to masters of their own evolution. By arming leaders with a **Future-Ready Mindset**, Allister ensures they don’t just keep up with the curve—they create it. It’s time to stop fearing the future and start building it. ***Be ReadyAlready.*** [More About Allister](https://allisterspeaks.com/allister/) [Explore Ready*Already*](https://allisterspeaks.com/readyalready/) ## Previous bookers say… **“The ReadyAlready process is very neat** – simple to follow but with enough insight to make a real difference. **Thank you for being such a pleasure to work with.**“ ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg) **Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire **“What an awesome speaker.** We booked Allister for our finance managers’ annual get together. He gave a talk that was extremely motivational, coupled with fun and laughter. **Just amazing, and the team loved him.”** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Paula-McNamara.jpeg)**Paula McNamara** Director of Finance, Seadrill “Allister delivered a clear, thought-provoking insight into how we can use our superpowers to overcome anything. **We, as a team, are now ready for the journey ahead**.” ![Allister Frost, pest control expert, providing trusted client testimonials for effective pest manage.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Richard-Grove.jpeg) **Richard Grove** Chief Operating Officer, Bespoke Hotels Group ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Airbus-in-white.png) ![Lloyds, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lloyds-Bank-white-logo.png) ![GE HealthCare, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GE-in-white.png)![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Pfizer-in-white.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Balfour-Beatty-white.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Philips-in-white.png) ![3M, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3M-in-white.png) ![John Deere, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/John-Deere-white-logo.png)![Pladis, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Pladis-in-white.png) [Read more client testimonials](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/) ## Still deciding? A message from Allister… ![Allister Frost smiling and waving, pest control professional in an office setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Website-Entry-Video-Thumbnail-Image.jpg) [Check Allister’s availability for your event](/holdyourdate/) # Get Allister’s book With **Ready*Already*** you can… --- **Take back control** and thrive in the face of inevitable change and challenges **Tap into fresh thinking** and new possibilities for growth, without the anchor of outdated beliefs **Confidently express more curiosity** to reveal new pathways to success Build influence and get results through **cross-functional collaboration** Spark a workplace culture that **attracts top performers who truly love their work** ![A stack of three books with the words: Out Now - ReadyAlready, The Future-Ready Mindset to keep up, stand out, and shape what's next](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Book-ReadyAlready-Out-Now.jpg) Available in Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook Shop on Amazon![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/available_at_amazon_en_horizontal_rev.png)[eBook for Kindle](https://amzn.to/45H1XJQ) [Audiobook](https://amzn.to/3L7guXc) [Hardcover](https://amzn.to/4gdMZi8) [Paperback](https://amzn.to/45UwtPb) Shop with Apple![Author Allister Frost promoting his latest book for readers and book lovers.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Get-it-on-Apple-Books.png) [eBook](https://apple.co/3WC4boo) [Audiobook](https://apple.co/46PR4pD) Order from your favourite bookseller- [Barnes & Noble](http://barnesandnoble.com/w/readyalready-allister-frost/1148154012?ean=9781967587209) - [Waterstones](https://www.waterstones.com/book/readyalready/allister-frost/9781967587209) - [Hatchards](https://www.hatchards.co.uk/book/readyalready/allister-frost/9781967587209) - [Foyles](https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/readyalready/allister-frost/9781967587209) - [Bol](https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/readyalready/9300000239658360/) - [Saxo](https://www.saxo.com/dk/readyalready-the-future-ready-mindset-to-keep-up-stand-out-and-shape-whats-next_bog_9781967587209?srsltid=AfmBOooeBcg3sikQEHHYsDshs80668ovASfRAtudetB0jSXFgP2_TOko) ### Contact form Get in touch for a taste of Allister’s famously helpful support and advice. You can even ask to pencil a future event date in his calendar\* to secure your place at the front of the queue! \* *free and without obligation* ### Off we go! ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-in-Brown-Shacket.png) Tell Allister what’s on your mind and he’ll be in touch very soon. --- ### [Technology, Internet, and Ecommerce](https://allisterspeaks.com/technology-internet-ecommerce/) **Published:** August 6, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-1024x683.jpg)KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE TECHNOLOGY, INTERNET, AND ECOMMERCE SECTORS [](#videos) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to Texas Instruments](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Texas-Instruments.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to Vodafone](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Vodafone-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to Philips](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Philips-in-white.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to Cisco](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to Iress](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Iress-white.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to SmartRecruiters, an SAP company](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SmartRecruiters.png) ![Allister Frost speaking at the Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing expertise in media and e.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x788.jpg) ## Are you looking for a speaker in the technology, internet, or ecommerce sectors who fuses technical knowledge with entertainment to deliver practical systems for future success? Many business conferences and events have a half-life you can measure with a stopwatch. Honestly, how long were people buzzing with excitement after your last event? One week? A day? 15 minutes? The value that a conference speaker brings should be measured by how much the audience changes its behaviour, not just on the day, but for the months and years that follow. I bring three decades of experience as a leader at Kimberly-Clark and Microsoft, and as an advisor to world-class organisations including 3M, Cisco, Balfour Beatty, GE HealthCare, and Lloyds Bank, plus countless associations and membership groups. Having spoken on more than 500 stages in over 30 countries, I also bring unrivalled insights to help you plan the perfect event for your audience. Plus, I’m super-easy (and fun!) to work with. My job isn’t to impose new ideas on your audience, but to reshape legacy thinking that may be holding them back. With every keynote, I seek to tease out the daily frustrations and thinking models that can drain our energy, and show how easy it is to embrace a fresh perspective of positivity and ambition. And it’s all backed by my proven ReadyAlready® Growth Cycle (aka The FROST Framework), a bullet-proof system that will help everyone embrace positive change and create the bright future they and their colleagues deserve. Get in touch to chat about your event goals and explore how we could work together. Check Allister’s Availability ![Allister Frost in yellow overshirt speaking into a microphone in front of an audience](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x1024-1.jpg) ## WATCH ALLISTER IN ACTION ### **Allister’s Showreel Video** ![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2124461474-697b70783de1c3d06fc78f50c1305d764f1c99d87a45319aef5d45802d891047-d_640?region=us) ### **Ready*Already* in Liverpool** ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at Carlisle Support Services event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carlisle-Thumbnail-Small.jpg) Excerpts from Allister Frost’s in-person keynote at the Innovation Lab at the ACC Liverpool. ### **Opening Keynote in Poland** ![Infoshare video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Infoshare-Thumbnail-1920x1080-Small.jpg) Infoshare is the largest tech conference in Central & Eastern Europe. Allister Frost opened the annual conference with his keynote about the benefits of cultivating a Future-Ready Mindset. Allister Frost speaks to leaders and teams around the world UK **•** GERMANY• FRANCE **•** USA **•** BRAZIL • UAE **•** CHINA • THAILAND [Ask about your event date now](/holdyourdate/) ![Allister Frost on stage in front of slide that reads You Know Me](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allister-Frost-You-Know-Me.jpg) - **Activating Your Superpowers:** How to harness curiosity, imagination, and collaboration to solve today’s challenges and spot tomorrow’s opportunities. - **The ReadyAlready Principle:** Recognising that you already have the “human magic” needed to thrive; you just need the framework to switch it on. - **The Power of Collective Momentum:** How shared Future-Readiness turns a group of individuals into a high-performing, unstoppable team. > “Energetic, engaging, and entertaining, packed full of Allister’s trademark humour, personality, and positivity” #### Keynote #1: All-Hands Inspiration ALLISTER’S MOST REQUESTED TALK ## Ready*Already!* ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at the pest control industry event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5-Stars.png) Unlocking Your Personal Future-Ready Mindset In a world of constant headlines about AI, the secret to navigating tomorrow isn’t found in software; it is already waiting to be unlocked through the work you do every day. In this high-energy, all-hands keynote, Allister Frost shows how every member of the team—no matter their position—possesses a set of **uniquely human superpowers** that no machine can match. By reanimating our natural **curiosity, imagination, and collaboration,** we don’t just keep up with change; we lead it from exactly where we are today. Through relatable stories and his proprietary **ReadyAlready** framework, Allister reveals how Future-Readying empowers you to see fresh possibilities in familiar places. You will discover how to **amplify your impact** and **achieve more in your current mission,** replacing the uncertainty of the unknown with the confidence to bring your most vital, “human” self to work ***every single day.*** ***Ideal for:*** All-Hands Conferences, Annual Kick-offs, Town Halls, and Internal Growth Summits ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Speaker-Awards-logo-design.png)> “*When booking Allister, you get someone who is a professional at what he does, with plenty of experience of being on stage, and who can comfortably command an audience of any size*“ > > Judges’ Accreditation: **The Speaker Awards** ## **Other Keynotes from Allister Frost** #### Keynote #2: Leadership / Strategic ## Beyond Change Fatigue Future-Readying Teams for Collective Success **Change fatigue is more than a team morale issue; it is a hidden tax on your bottom line.** Leadership in a fast-changing world requires a mental shift that **replaces “threat-rigidity” with “possibility-thinking.”** Allister Frost shares his framework for transitioning teams from the exhaustion of being reactive to the energy of being **Future-Ready**. By focusing on what the future needs next, Allister empowers leaders to revitalise their professional lives and save their teams from premature obsolescence. **Key messages:** - **The Future-Readying Process:** Why Future-Readiness must be a continuous individual and team practice, not a “one-time fix.” - **Reigniting Collective Belief:** Practical leadership advice for sparking imagination and a shared belief in the magic of the possible. - **The Proactivity Pivot:** Creating the psychological safety and agency your team needs to seek out improvements before being asked. [![Allister in Yellow Shacket with Spirax Sarco](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** C-Suite Events, Senior Management Retreats, and Board-level Strategy Sessions > **“**Thanks for responding so well to our brief. **An excellent build from our past and preparation to create our future”** > > Matt Barker, LexisNexis Risk Solutions --- [![Allister Frost delivering keynote speech at the Keynote Highlights event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** People & Culture Forums, CPO & HR Director Summits, and Transformation Leadership Days > **“Allister’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious,** and he had the audience fully engaged, laughing, and leaving inspired to make a positive change. The feedback was extremely positive, \[it\] was **the highlight of the conference”** > > Kendall Quigg, Emerson #### Keynote #3: People / Culture ## The Future-Ready Organisation Building a Culture of Vitality and Continuous Readiness **Traditional “change management” is no longer enough; we must create the human energy needed to keep up and thrive through it.** For HR and People leaders, Allister explores how to embed a **Future-Ready Mindset** into the heart of an organisation’s culture. This strategic session provides a roadmap to move from a reactive “fix-it” mentality to a state of Future-Readying, where **employees feel vital, relevant, and secure in their professional growth.** **Key messages:** - **From Retention to Vitality:** Protecting your talent from obsolescence and reenergising their commitment to the organisation. - **Cultivating Psychological Agency:** Strategies for building the confidence employees need to lean into change rather than retreat from it. - **The Human-Centric Roadmap:** A framework for embedding Future-Readiness as a continuous practice, ensuring people maintain their relevance alongside evolving technology. --- #### Keynote #4: Tech / Innovation ## The Human Edge Future-Readying Potential in a Tech-Fuelled Era **An IT upgrade is only half the battle; the real challenge is the human capacity to adopt and adapt to it.** As a **former Microsoft leader,** Allister Frost knows that deploying technology is the easy part. This keynote explores the intersection of human potential and technological evolution, positioning the **Future-Ready Mindset** as the essential operating system for a digital world. Allister shows how to move beyond the fear of displacement toward a state of proactive collaboration with technology. **Key messages:** - **The Adoption Gap:** Why a Future-Ready Mindset determines whether an IT investment succeeds or stalls. - **Harnessing Human Superpowers:** Activating the curiosity and imagination needed to find “human-shaped” opportunities in a machine-led world. - **The Continuous Readiness Loop:** Moving from a one-off “digital fix” to an ongoing practice of Future-Readying that evolves alongside automation. [![Allister in Pink Shacket in Berlin](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** Technology & Innovation Summits, Industry Trade Shows, and Digital Transformation Days > **“**Allister did a fabulous job holding the attention of our audiences! We’ve heard **rave reviews… and are thrilled with the impact of his message”** > > Tracy Sheridan, Autodesk USA ## “An entertaining, award-winning performance, *delivered with genuine energy, mind-shifting expertise, and priceless advice*“ ![Allister Frost on stage with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-on-stage-with-ReadyAlready-Passport.jpg) We loved having you Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset. Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event. ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty ### 14 Years Professional Speaker ### 500+ STAGES Global Reach ### 34 Countries Live Performances --- ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ## What bookers say *“We really appreciated hearing your expert insights. **The audience was super engaged and absolutely loved the messaging!”*** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abbie-Milton.jpeg)**Abbie Milton** Marketing Manager, Iress ***“Truly excellent. Delivered with energy and humour, and some brilliant, thought-provoking anecdotes.** The ReadyAlready process is simple but with enough insight to make a real difference.”* ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg) **Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group *“We loved having Allister as our keynote speaker. **A brilliant way to think forward and plan our upcoming year** as we navigate the challenges and change ahead.”* ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jennie-Neill.jpeg)**Jennie Neill** Head of HR and OD, Stockport Council Plus: more testimonials **[here](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/ "Testimonials")**! ![Allister Frost speaking at Keynotes event, professional speaker and expert.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Reasons-not-to-book-Allister-Frost.png)SIX GOOD REASONS *NOT* to Book Allister Frost Please do ***not*** ask Allister Frost to speak at your event if any of the following apply: 1. **Your industry echo chamber holds all the answers** - You are only interested in listening to that perennial industry specialist who knows your sector inside-out, talks in jargon, and has a recycled case study for every scenario. They are the best source of fresh ideas for you. 2. **You prefer celebrity selfies over actionable insights** - You know that the only way you will sell enough event tickets or convince your staff members to turn up is by headlining with the empty calories of a household name. Or, if your budget’s tight, maybe a *“There’s no ‘I’ in Team”* former sports person, a *“Let’s Reach the Summit”* mountaineer, or an *“AI is the new electricity”* buzzword bingo futurist. You prefer the garnish to the main course; it’s only a motivational placebo anyway. 3. **You’d like a presenter, not a speaker** - At your favourite events, content is spoon-fed to the audience through a spray of bullet points, pie charts, and illegible data tables. You want your audience to passively consume information until they can take no more. 4. **You have a strict grey suits only policy** - Your colleagues consider colour, positivity, and optimism “a bit much” at a serious corporate event. You also worry that a speaker who refuses to shelter behind the lectern might unsettle your audience. Energy and movement are for the playground, not here. 5. **You want to pay for the hour, not the outcome** - You will only pay your speaker for the short time they are actually speaking, not the decades of priceless experience they will share with your audience and the lasting behaviour changes it will spark. If you could, you’d book your speaker on Groupon; they’re only saying words out loud, it’s not rocket surgery! 6. **You are 100% happy with the status quo** - It would be best if your audience members do not think, feel, or act differently after attending your event. You are merely looking to hire someone to fill a bit of time on the agenda, ideally with some generic content you can forget the moment the bar opens at the end of the day. [Still interested? Let’s talk!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ## FAQs #### Your Questions Answered How long are Allister’s keynotes?It depends on your overall agenda and how long you would like Allister’s help! Most of his keynotes run for 45-60minutes, but some are as brief as 30 minutes. Allister often follows his keynote talk with interactive hands-on workshop experiences, where smaller groups spark fresh ideas using the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Get in touch as soon as you have your draft event agenda so Allister can offer advice about how best to plan your day and get the best value for money from his involvement. --- Let’s talk money! How much does a keynote talk cost?There’s no fixed fee for a keynote talk because every event is different. Last year, his in-person fees ranged from £0 (a local charity) to £28,000 (a long-haul business conference). Once we know more about your event and requirements, we can give a fixed price quote that includes all travel and accommodation expenses. The fee varies by event location and the agreed deliverables *(for example, would like a short keynote talk or an interactive workshop with a book signing and 28-Day Activation kits and programme?)* Fees also vary across the year based on demand, so a smart way to get a bigger bang for your buck is to book Allister during quieter months, or even on Mondays or Fridays when there are fewer competing demands for his support. --- What do I get when I book Allister?Your fee will cover Allister’s briefing, preparation and delivery time, plus any travel, visa, and accommodation expenses. Many event organisers also like to offer gifts of signed books, Ready*Already*® Passport Kits, and other goodies to their delegates, so these can also be included. Most importantly, you’ll get Allister’s famously helpful support before and after your event, plus his full attention and legendary energy on the big day! Subject to his onward travel commitments, Allister will be happy to support your event as much or as little as you need, so if you’d like him to sign books, attend a VIP lunch, or meet key people, just let him know during your pre-booking chat. If he’s at your event, he’s there for you. He’ll even help you put the chairs out if needed! --- How can I book Allister to speak?There are ***two*** ways to book Allister for your event: - EASY: **Book through your Speaker Bureau** Allister is proud to be represented by some of the world’s leading speaker bureaus including the London Speaker Bureau, Celebrity Speakers, and Gordon Poole Agency. Speaker bureaus are experts at managing all aspects of speaker bookings, and also will provide helpful support and advice. If your company already has a preferred speaker bureau, you can ask them to book Allister Frost for your event. One of the benefits of working through your preferred bureau is that your booking contract will come from an existing supplier. - ALSO EASY: **Book directly with Allister’s Team** If you don’t have a speaker bureau partner, you can book Allister Frost directly through Wild Orange Media Ltd, his own company. His team will handle all aspects of contracting and invoicing, and guide you through the process smoothly. Drop an email to to find out more. --- Can we record the keynote or stream it to remote delegates?We understand that not everyone can make it to the room on the big day. Our standard terms prohibit recording so please request our prior written consent if you wish to record the session. Consent will only be granted where the recording is exclusively for internal use or for live streaming to hybrid delegates. Alternatively, if you wish to resell the recording or use it for commercial external marketing, please let us know so we can agree on a usage licence. --- Will Allister customise his talk for our audience?Yes. Your audience deserves better than a ‘canned’ speech. Once we are booked, we will arrange a briefing call with you to understand your specific challenges, industry jargon, and event themes. Allister will then weave these insights into his talk to ensure it resonates deeply with your audience and helps you achieve your event goals. --- What are Allister’s audio-visual (AV) requirements?Allister likes to keep things simple to ensure your event runs smoothly. He prefer to wear a lavalier (clip-on) or headset microphone so he can move around the stage freely. For slides, he always prefers to run these from PowerPoint from his own Windows laptop so he can control interactive elements like live polling and Q&As from the stage. Get in touch to request his full AV Rider [here](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you provide copies of slides for the audience?As a general rule: No! Why? Because a great presentation is more than a series of slides; it’s everything that happens in the room, in the moment. And the best slides are just visual hooks, carefully designed to be so simple they can be instantly understood and digested. You won’t need copies of Allister’s slides after his talk, but he will want to share advance details of some of the other optional materials he can provide that will have far greater value to your audience. These include signed books and his famous ReadyAlready Passports. You can discuss these on your briefing call with Allister. --- Where can I find your bio and photos for our agenda?That’s easy! Pop over to our [Media & Event Kit page](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/ "Media & Event Kit") where you’ll find everything you should need. If you need something else, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you have a rockstar “rider”? (e.g. only pink M&Ms?)Not at all. Allister is famously low-maintenance. He doesn’t need scented candles, a specific brand of Himalayan sparkling water, or a ceramic bowl of perfectly ripe avocados. A glass of still tap water (room temperature, never chilled) and an attentive audience is all the fuel he needs. Oh, and black filter coffee; he drinks a lot of coffee! --- My speaker bureau recommended you, but can I book direct?We love working with our speaker bureau partners, and they have recommended Allister for a good reason! Please book through the bureau that first recommended Allister to you. We’ll work closely with them—and you—to create a memorable, mind-shifting experience for your audience. By working through your favourite bureau, you get the best of both worlds. --- Do we need to book your travel/flights and hotel?To save you the admin headache, we typically handle all of Allister’s travel arrangements and add the expenses to your invoice. We can either invoice you separately for these costs after your event (receipts provided) or we can agree a Fixed Travel Buyout (FTB) in advance where we will invoice an agreed amount to cover likely travel costs. 90% of Allister’s direct bookings include a FTB as this simplifies the admin for you and gives you a guaranteed fixed cost well in advance of your event. If your organisation requires you to book travel through a specific portal, we are happy to work with that so you can book Allister’s travel and hotel directly. --- Do you even own a tie? We’ve only seen you in colourful ‘shackets’!Allister does own a few suits and ties, and enjoys dressing up for formal events. However, he believes the future is bright, so likes to dress to match. We describe his sartorial style as “smart-creative / dad-vibes” but you can call it whatever you like! Allister likes to bring energy and colour to your stage, not look like he’s there to audit your Tax Records. --- What happens if you have to cancel?In over 15 years of speaking, Allister has never missed an event. He once went to the wrong address, but only because the client made a mistake, and this was quickly rectified with a fast-paced taxi ride! Problems like this are extremely rare thanks to our rigorous booking process. Should a genuine force majeure emergency occur, Allister is part of a tight-knit network of professional speakers. He will work with you to help you secure a high-quality replacement who matches your event’s tone and budget. --- We’re broke! Will you speak for free?Allister helps selected not-for-profit groups and aims to speak pro bono six times each year. His current focus is on supporting the social care sector. Pro bono slots can be booked no more than 8 weeks in advance and are exclusively available when booked directly through Wild Orange Media. Your NFP will only be billed for travel and accommodation costs incurred where these exceed £100. If your NFP would love to tap into Allister’s experience but is working with a budget of hope and borrowed paperclips, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Why is Allister’s name so difficult to spell?We’ve seen everything over the years. Alistair Frost, Alastair Frost, Alasdair Frost, Allyster Fraust, Alice Frost, and our favourite, ***All-Star Frost*** (thank you autocorrect!). But the correct spelling is **Allister Frost.** And, no, we don’t know why it’s spelled that way. Even he spells it wrongly some days! The pronunciation is simple though. It’s **“AL-iss-tuh”.** ***FUN FACT:* Allister Frost** knows only one other **Allister Frost** and, confusingly, that **Allister Frost** worked at Microsoft in the UK at the exact same time as this **Allister Frost**. What are the chances?! On LinkedIn, the correct **Allister Frost** is this guy: (If you know or are an **Allister Frost,** please get in touch. Maybe we could host an **Allister Frost** party one day and compare misspellings) --- [Another question? Just ask!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) --- ### Your Future-Readiness Starts Here… ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-Seated-in-Pink-Shacket.png) **Contact Allister through this quick form** ## Contact Allister *today!* --- --- ### [Healthcare and Pharmaceutical](https://allisterspeaks.com/healthcare-pharmaceutical/) **Published:** August 6, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-1024x683.jpg)KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE HEALTHCARE & PHARMACEUTICAL SECTORS [](#videos) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to Sanofi](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sanofi.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to GE HealthCare](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to the UK's National Health Service (NHS)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NHS-in-white.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to AMGEN](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AMGEN.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to Simplyhealth](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Simplyhealth.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Pfizer-in-white.png) ![Allister Frost speaking at the Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing expertise in media and e.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x788.jpg) ## Are you looking for a speaker for the healthcare or pharmaceutical sector who fuses powerful motivation with entertainment and real-world systems for long-term success? Many business conferences and events have a half-life you can measure with a stopwatch. Honestly, how long were people buzzing with excitement after your last event? One week? A day? 15 minutes? The value that a conference speaker brings should be measured by how much the audience changes its behaviour, not just on the day, but for the months and years that follow. I bring three decades of experience as a leader at Kimberly-Clark and Microsoft, and as an advisor to world-class organisations including 3M, Cisco, Balfour Beatty, GE HealthCare, and Lloyds Bank, plus countless associations and membership groups. Having spoken on more than 500 stages in over 30 countries, I also bring unrivalled insights to help you plan the perfect event for your audience. Plus, I’m super-easy (and fun!) to work with. My job isn’t to impose new ideas on your audience, but to reshape legacy thinking that may be holding them back. With every keynote, I seek to tease out the daily frustrations and thinking models that can drain our energy, and show how easy it is to embrace a fresh perspective of positivity and ambition. And it’s all backed by my proven ReadyAlready® Growth Cycle (aka The FROST Framework), a bullet-proof system that will help everyone embrace positive change and create the bright future they and their colleagues deserve. Get in touch to chat about your event goals and explore how we could work together. Check Allister’s Availability ![Allister Frost in yellow overshirt speaking into a microphone in front of an audience](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x1024-1.jpg) ## WATCH ALLISTER IN ACTION ### **Allister’s Showreel Video** ![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2124461474-697b70783de1c3d06fc78f50c1305d764f1c99d87a45319aef5d45802d891047-d_640?region=us) ### **Ready*Already* in Liverpool** ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at Carlisle Support Services event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carlisle-Thumbnail-Small.jpg) Excerpts from Allister Frost’s in-person keynote at the Innovation Lab at the ACC Liverpool. ### **Opening Keynote in Poland** ![Infoshare video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Infoshare-Thumbnail-1920x1080-Small.jpg) Infoshare is the largest tech conference in Central & Eastern Europe. Allister Frost opened the annual conference with his keynote about the benefits of cultivating a Future-Ready Mindset. Allister Frost speaks to leaders and teams around the world UK **•** GERMANY• FRANCE **•** USA **•** BRAZIL • UAE **•** CHINA • THAILAND [Ask about your event date now](/holdyourdate/) ![Allister Frost on stage in front of slide that reads You Know Me](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allister-Frost-You-Know-Me.jpg) - **Activating Your Superpowers:** How to harness curiosity, imagination, and collaboration to solve today’s challenges and spot tomorrow’s opportunities. - **The ReadyAlready Principle:** Recognising that you already have the “human magic” needed to thrive; you just need the framework to switch it on. - **The Power of Collective Momentum:** How shared Future-Readiness turns a group of individuals into a high-performing, unstoppable team. > “Energetic, engaging, and entertaining, packed full of Allister’s trademark humour, personality, and positivity” #### Keynote #1: All-Hands Inspiration ALLISTER’S MOST REQUESTED TALK ## Ready*Already!* ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at the pest control industry event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5-Stars.png) Unlocking Your Personal Future-Ready Mindset In a world of constant headlines about AI, the secret to navigating tomorrow isn’t found in software; it is already waiting to be unlocked through the work you do every day. In this high-energy, all-hands keynote, Allister Frost shows how every member of the team—no matter their position—possesses a set of **uniquely human superpowers** that no machine can match. By reanimating our natural **curiosity, imagination, and collaboration,** we don’t just keep up with change; we lead it from exactly where we are today. Through relatable stories and his proprietary **ReadyAlready** framework, Allister reveals how Future-Readying empowers you to see fresh possibilities in familiar places. You will discover how to **amplify your impact** and **achieve more in your current mission,** replacing the uncertainty of the unknown with the confidence to bring your most vital, “human” self to work ***every single day.*** ***Ideal for:*** All-Hands Conferences, Annual Kick-offs, Town Halls, and Internal Growth Summits ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Speaker-Awards-logo-design.png)> “*When booking Allister, you get someone who is a professional at what he does, with plenty of experience of being on stage, and who can comfortably command an audience of any size*“ > > Judges’ Accreditation: **The Speaker Awards** ## **Other Keynotes from Allister Frost** #### Keynote #2: Leadership / Strategic ## Beyond Change Fatigue Future-Readying Teams for Collective Success **Change fatigue is more than a team morale issue; it is a hidden tax on your bottom line.** Leadership in a fast-changing world requires a mental shift that **replaces “threat-rigidity” with “possibility-thinking.”** Allister Frost shares his framework for transitioning teams from the exhaustion of being reactive to the energy of being **Future-Ready**. By focusing on what the future needs next, Allister empowers leaders to revitalise their professional lives and save their teams from premature obsolescence. **Key messages:** - **The Future-Readying Process:** Why Future-Readiness must be a continuous individual and team practice, not a “one-time fix.” - **Reigniting Collective Belief:** Practical leadership advice for sparking imagination and a shared belief in the magic of the possible. - **The Proactivity Pivot:** Creating the psychological safety and agency your team needs to seek out improvements before being asked. [![Allister in Yellow Shacket with Spirax Sarco](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** C-Suite Events, Senior Management Retreats, and Board-level Strategy Sessions > **“**Thanks for responding so well to our brief. **An excellent build from our past and preparation to create our future”** > > Matt Barker, LexisNexis Risk Solutions --- [![Allister Frost delivering keynote speech at the Keynote Highlights event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** People & Culture Forums, CPO & HR Director Summits, and Transformation Leadership Days > **“Allister’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious,** and he had the audience fully engaged, laughing, and leaving inspired to make a positive change. The feedback was extremely positive, \[it\] was **the highlight of the conference”** > > Kendall Quigg, Emerson #### Keynote #3: People / Culture ## The Future-Ready Organisation Building a Culture of Vitality and Continuous Readiness **Traditional “change management” is no longer enough; we must create the human energy needed to keep up and thrive through it.** For HR and People leaders, Allister explores how to embed a **Future-Ready Mindset** into the heart of an organisation’s culture. This strategic session provides a roadmap to move from a reactive “fix-it” mentality to a state of Future-Readying, where **employees feel vital, relevant, and secure in their professional growth.** **Key messages:** - **From Retention to Vitality:** Protecting your talent from obsolescence and reenergising their commitment to the organisation. - **Cultivating Psychological Agency:** Strategies for building the confidence employees need to lean into change rather than retreat from it. - **The Human-Centric Roadmap:** A framework for embedding Future-Readiness as a continuous practice, ensuring people maintain their relevance alongside evolving technology. --- #### Keynote #4: Tech / Innovation ## The Human Edge Future-Readying Potential in a Tech-Fuelled Era **An IT upgrade is only half the battle; the real challenge is the human capacity to adopt and adapt to it.** As a **former Microsoft leader,** Allister Frost knows that deploying technology is the easy part. This keynote explores the intersection of human potential and technological evolution, positioning the **Future-Ready Mindset** as the essential operating system for a digital world. Allister shows how to move beyond the fear of displacement toward a state of proactive collaboration with technology. **Key messages:** - **The Adoption Gap:** Why a Future-Ready Mindset determines whether an IT investment succeeds or stalls. - **Harnessing Human Superpowers:** Activating the curiosity and imagination needed to find “human-shaped” opportunities in a machine-led world. - **The Continuous Readiness Loop:** Moving from a one-off “digital fix” to an ongoing practice of Future-Readying that evolves alongside automation. [![Allister in Pink Shacket in Berlin](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** Technology & Innovation Summits, Industry Trade Shows, and Digital Transformation Days > **“**Allister did a fabulous job holding the attention of our audiences! We’ve heard **rave reviews… and are thrilled with the impact of his message”** > > Tracy Sheridan, Autodesk USA ## “An entertaining, award-winning performance, *delivered with genuine energy, mind-shifting expertise, and priceless advice*“ ![Allister Frost on stage with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-on-stage-with-ReadyAlready-Passport.jpg) We loved having you Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset. Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event. ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty ### 14 Years Professional Speaker ### 500+ STAGES Global Reach ### 34 Countries Live Performances --- ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ## What bookers say *“We really appreciated hearing your expert insights. **The audience was super engaged and absolutely loved the messaging!”*** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abbie-Milton.jpeg)**Abbie Milton** Marketing Manager, Iress ***“Truly excellent. Delivered with energy and humour, and some brilliant, thought-provoking anecdotes.** The ReadyAlready process is simple but with enough insight to make a real difference.”* ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg) **Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group *“We loved having Allister as our keynote speaker. **A brilliant way to think forward and plan our upcoming year** as we navigate the challenges and change ahead.”* ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jennie-Neill.jpeg)**Jennie Neill** Head of HR and OD, Stockport Council Plus: more testimonials **[here](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/ "Testimonials")**! ![Allister Frost speaking at Keynotes event, professional speaker and expert.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Reasons-not-to-book-Allister-Frost.png)SIX GOOD REASONS *NOT* to Book Allister Frost Please do ***not*** ask Allister Frost to speak at your event if any of the following apply: 1. **Your industry echo chamber holds all the answers** - You are only interested in listening to that perennial industry specialist who knows your sector inside-out, talks in jargon, and has a recycled case study for every scenario. They are the best source of fresh ideas for you. 2. **You prefer celebrity selfies over actionable insights** - You know that the only way you will sell enough event tickets or convince your staff members to turn up is by headlining with the empty calories of a household name. Or, if your budget’s tight, maybe a *“There’s no ‘I’ in Team”* former sports person, a *“Let’s Reach the Summit”* mountaineer, or an *“AI is the new electricity”* buzzword bingo futurist. You prefer the garnish to the main course; it’s only a motivational placebo anyway. 3. **You’d like a presenter, not a speaker** - At your favourite events, content is spoon-fed to the audience through a spray of bullet points, pie charts, and illegible data tables. You want your audience to passively consume information until they can take no more. 4. **You have a strict grey suits only policy** - Your colleagues consider colour, positivity, and optimism “a bit much” at a serious corporate event. You also worry that a speaker who refuses to shelter behind the lectern might unsettle your audience. Energy and movement are for the playground, not here. 5. **You want to pay for the hour, not the outcome** - You will only pay your speaker for the short time they are actually speaking, not the decades of priceless experience they will share with your audience and the lasting behaviour changes it will spark. If you could, you’d book your speaker on Groupon; they’re only saying words out loud, it’s not rocket surgery! 6. **You are 100% happy with the status quo** - It would be best if your audience members do not think, feel, or act differently after attending your event. You are merely looking to hire someone to fill a bit of time on the agenda, ideally with some generic content you can forget the moment the bar opens at the end of the day. [Still interested? Let’s talk!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ## FAQs #### Your Questions Answered How long are Allister’s keynotes?It depends on your overall agenda and how long you would like Allister’s help! Most of his keynotes run for 45-60minutes, but some are as brief as 30 minutes. Allister often follows his keynote talk with interactive hands-on workshop experiences, where smaller groups spark fresh ideas using the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Get in touch as soon as you have your draft event agenda so Allister can offer advice about how best to plan your day and get the best value for money from his involvement. --- Let’s talk money! How much does a keynote talk cost?There’s no fixed fee for a keynote talk because every event is different. Last year, his in-person fees ranged from £0 (a local charity) to £28,000 (a long-haul business conference). Once we know more about your event and requirements, we can give a fixed price quote that includes all travel and accommodation expenses. The fee varies by event location and the agreed deliverables *(for example, would like a short keynote talk or an interactive workshop with a book signing and 28-Day Activation kits and programme?)* Fees also vary across the year based on demand, so a smart way to get a bigger bang for your buck is to book Allister during quieter months, or even on Mondays or Fridays when there are fewer competing demands for his support. --- What do I get when I book Allister?Your fee will cover Allister’s briefing, preparation and delivery time, plus any travel, visa, and accommodation expenses. Many event organisers also like to offer gifts of signed books, Ready*Already*® Passport Kits, and other goodies to their delegates, so these can also be included. Most importantly, you’ll get Allister’s famously helpful support before and after your event, plus his full attention and legendary energy on the big day! Subject to his onward travel commitments, Allister will be happy to support your event as much or as little as you need, so if you’d like him to sign books, attend a VIP lunch, or meet key people, just let him know during your pre-booking chat. If he’s at your event, he’s there for you. He’ll even help you put the chairs out if needed! --- How can I book Allister to speak?There are ***two*** ways to book Allister for your event: - EASY: **Book through your Speaker Bureau** Allister is proud to be represented by some of the world’s leading speaker bureaus including the London Speaker Bureau, Celebrity Speakers, and Gordon Poole Agency. Speaker bureaus are experts at managing all aspects of speaker bookings, and also will provide helpful support and advice. If your company already has a preferred speaker bureau, you can ask them to book Allister Frost for your event. One of the benefits of working through your preferred bureau is that your booking contract will come from an existing supplier. - ALSO EASY: **Book directly with Allister’s Team** If you don’t have a speaker bureau partner, you can book Allister Frost directly through Wild Orange Media Ltd, his own company. His team will handle all aspects of contracting and invoicing, and guide you through the process smoothly. Drop an email to to find out more. --- Can we record the keynote or stream it to remote delegates?We understand that not everyone can make it to the room on the big day. Our standard terms prohibit recording so please request our prior written consent if you wish to record the session. Consent will only be granted where the recording is exclusively for internal use or for live streaming to hybrid delegates. Alternatively, if you wish to resell the recording or use it for commercial external marketing, please let us know so we can agree on a usage licence. --- Will Allister customise his talk for our audience?Yes. Your audience deserves better than a ‘canned’ speech. Once we are booked, we will arrange a briefing call with you to understand your specific challenges, industry jargon, and event themes. Allister will then weave these insights into his talk to ensure it resonates deeply with your audience and helps you achieve your event goals. --- What are Allister’s audio-visual (AV) requirements?Allister likes to keep things simple to ensure your event runs smoothly. He prefer to wear a lavalier (clip-on) or headset microphone so he can move around the stage freely. For slides, he always prefers to run these from PowerPoint from his own Windows laptop so he can control interactive elements like live polling and Q&As from the stage. Get in touch to request his full AV Rider [here](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you provide copies of slides for the audience?As a general rule: No! Why? Because a great presentation is more than a series of slides; it’s everything that happens in the room, in the moment. And the best slides are just visual hooks, carefully designed to be so simple they can be instantly understood and digested. You won’t need copies of Allister’s slides after his talk, but he will want to share advance details of some of the other optional materials he can provide that will have far greater value to your audience. These include signed books and his famous ReadyAlready Passports. You can discuss these on your briefing call with Allister. --- Where can I find your bio and photos for our agenda?That’s easy! Pop over to our [Media & Event Kit page](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/ "Media & Event Kit") where you’ll find everything you should need. If you need something else, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you have a rockstar “rider”? (e.g. only pink M&Ms?)Not at all. Allister is famously low-maintenance. He doesn’t need scented candles, a specific brand of Himalayan sparkling water, or a ceramic bowl of perfectly ripe avocados. A glass of still tap water (room temperature, never chilled) and an attentive audience is all the fuel he needs. Oh, and black filter coffee; he drinks a lot of coffee! --- My speaker bureau recommended you, but can I book direct?We love working with our speaker bureau partners, and they have recommended Allister for a good reason! Please book through the bureau that first recommended Allister to you. We’ll work closely with them—and you—to create a memorable, mind-shifting experience for your audience. By working through your favourite bureau, you get the best of both worlds. --- Do we need to book your travel/flights and hotel?To save you the admin headache, we typically handle all of Allister’s travel arrangements and add the expenses to your invoice. We can either invoice you separately for these costs after your event (receipts provided) or we can agree a Fixed Travel Buyout (FTB) in advance where we will invoice an agreed amount to cover likely travel costs. 90% of Allister’s direct bookings include a FTB as this simplifies the admin for you and gives you a guaranteed fixed cost well in advance of your event. If your organisation requires you to book travel through a specific portal, we are happy to work with that so you can book Allister’s travel and hotel directly. --- Do you even own a tie? We’ve only seen you in colourful ‘shackets’!Allister does own a few suits and ties, and enjoys dressing up for formal events. However, he believes the future is bright, so likes to dress to match. We describe his sartorial style as “smart-creative / dad-vibes” but you can call it whatever you like! Allister likes to bring energy and colour to your stage, not look like he’s there to audit your Tax Records. --- What happens if you have to cancel?In over 15 years of speaking, Allister has never missed an event. He once went to the wrong address, but only because the client made a mistake, and this was quickly rectified with a fast-paced taxi ride! Problems like this are extremely rare thanks to our rigorous booking process. Should a genuine force majeure emergency occur, Allister is part of a tight-knit network of professional speakers. He will work with you to help you secure a high-quality replacement who matches your event’s tone and budget. --- We’re broke! Will you speak for free?Allister helps selected not-for-profit groups and aims to speak pro bono six times each year. His current focus is on supporting the social care sector. Pro bono slots can be booked no more than 8 weeks in advance and are exclusively available when booked directly through Wild Orange Media. Your NFP will only be billed for travel and accommodation costs incurred where these exceed £100. If your NFP would love to tap into Allister’s experience but is working with a budget of hope and borrowed paperclips, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Why is Allister’s name so difficult to spell?We’ve seen everything over the years. Alistair Frost, Alastair Frost, Alasdair Frost, Allyster Fraust, Alice Frost, and our favourite, ***All-Star Frost*** (thank you autocorrect!). But the correct spelling is **Allister Frost.** And, no, we don’t know why it’s spelled that way. Even he spells it wrongly some days! The pronunciation is simple though. It’s **“AL-iss-tuh”.** ***FUN FACT:* Allister Frost** knows only one other **Allister Frost** and, confusingly, that **Allister Frost** worked at Microsoft in the UK at the exact same time as this **Allister Frost**. What are the chances?! On LinkedIn, the correct **Allister Frost** is this guy: (If you know or are an **Allister Frost,** please get in touch. Maybe we could host an **Allister Frost** party one day and compare misspellings) --- [Another question? Just ask!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) --- ### Your Future-Readiness Starts Here… ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-Seated-in-Pink-Shacket.png) **Contact Allister through this quick form** ## Contact Allister *today!* --- --- ### [Travel, Entertainment and Lifestyle](https://allisterspeaks.com/travel-entertainment-lifestyle/) **Published:** August 6, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-1024x683.jpg)KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE SECTORS [](#videos) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to Devon Golf](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Devon-Golf.png) ![Swarovski, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset Expert Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Swarovski-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/BBC.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to AITO](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AITO.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Focus-Travel.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to Watchfinder](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Watchfinder.png) ![Allister Frost speaking at the Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing expertise in media and e.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x788.jpg) ## Are you looking for a speaker from the travel, entertainment or lifestyle sectors who fuses energy, motivation, and laughter with real-world systems for long-term success? Many business conferences and events have a half-life you can measure with a stopwatch. Honestly, how long were people buzzing with excitement after your last event? One week? A day? 15 minutes? The value that a conference speaker brings should be measured by how much the audience changes its behaviour, not just on the day, but for the months and years that follow. I bring three decades of experience as a leader at Kimberly-Clark and Microsoft, and as an advisor to world-class organisations including 3M, Cisco, Balfour Beatty, GE HealthCare, and Lloyds Bank, plus countless associations and membership groups. Having spoken on more than 500 stages in over 30 countries, I also bring unrivalled insights to help you plan the perfect event for your audience. Plus, I’m super-easy (and fun!) to work with. My job isn’t to impose new ideas on your audience, but to reshape legacy thinking that may be holding them back. With every keynote, I seek to tease out the daily frustrations and thinking models that can drain our energy, and show how easy it is to embrace a fresh perspective of positivity and ambition. And it’s all backed by my proven ReadyAlready® Growth Cycle (aka The FROST Framework), a bullet-proof system that will help everyone embrace positive change and create the bright future they and their colleagues deserve. Get in touch to chat about your event goals and explore how we could work together. Check Allister’s Availability ![Allister Frost in yellow overshirt speaking into a microphone in front of an audience](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x1024-1.jpg) ## WATCH ALLISTER IN ACTION ### **Allister’s Showreel Video** ![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2124461474-697b70783de1c3d06fc78f50c1305d764f1c99d87a45319aef5d45802d891047-d_640?region=us) ### **Ready*Already* in Liverpool** ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at Carlisle Support Services event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carlisle-Thumbnail-Small.jpg) Excerpts from Allister Frost’s in-person keynote at the Innovation Lab at the ACC Liverpool. ### **Opening Keynote in Poland** ![Infoshare video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Infoshare-Thumbnail-1920x1080-Small.jpg) Infoshare is the largest tech conference in Central & Eastern Europe. Allister Frost opened the annual conference with his keynote about the benefits of cultivating a Future-Ready Mindset. Allister Frost speaks to leaders and teams around the world UK **•** GERMANY• FRANCE **•** USA **•** BRAZIL • UAE **•** CHINA • THAILAND [Ask about your event date now](/holdyourdate/) ![Allister Frost on stage in front of slide that reads You Know Me](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allister-Frost-You-Know-Me.jpg) - **Activating Your Superpowers:** How to harness curiosity, imagination, and collaboration to solve today’s challenges and spot tomorrow’s opportunities. - **The ReadyAlready Principle:** Recognising that you already have the “human magic” needed to thrive; you just need the framework to switch it on. - **The Power of Collective Momentum:** How shared Future-Readiness turns a group of individuals into a high-performing, unstoppable team. > “Energetic, engaging, and entertaining, packed full of Allister’s trademark humour, personality, and positivity” #### Keynote #1: All-Hands Inspiration ALLISTER’S MOST REQUESTED TALK ## Ready*Already!* ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at the pest control industry event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5-Stars.png) Unlocking Your Personal Future-Ready Mindset In a world of constant headlines about AI, the secret to navigating tomorrow isn’t found in software; it is already waiting to be unlocked through the work you do every day. In this high-energy, all-hands keynote, Allister Frost shows how every member of the team—no matter their position—possesses a set of **uniquely human superpowers** that no machine can match. By reanimating our natural **curiosity, imagination, and collaboration,** we don’t just keep up with change; we lead it from exactly where we are today. Through relatable stories and his proprietary **ReadyAlready** framework, Allister reveals how Future-Readying empowers you to see fresh possibilities in familiar places. You will discover how to **amplify your impact** and **achieve more in your current mission,** replacing the uncertainty of the unknown with the confidence to bring your most vital, “human” self to work ***every single day.*** ***Ideal for:*** All-Hands Conferences, Annual Kick-offs, Town Halls, and Internal Growth Summits ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Speaker-Awards-logo-design.png)> “*When booking Allister, you get someone who is a professional at what he does, with plenty of experience of being on stage, and who can comfortably command an audience of any size*“ > > Judges’ Accreditation: **The Speaker Awards** ## **Other Keynotes from Allister Frost** #### Keynote #2: Leadership / Strategic ## Beyond Change Fatigue Future-Readying Teams for Collective Success **Change fatigue is more than a team morale issue; it is a hidden tax on your bottom line.** Leadership in a fast-changing world requires a mental shift that **replaces “threat-rigidity” with “possibility-thinking.”** Allister Frost shares his framework for transitioning teams from the exhaustion of being reactive to the energy of being **Future-Ready**. By focusing on what the future needs next, Allister empowers leaders to revitalise their professional lives and save their teams from premature obsolescence. **Key messages:** - **The Future-Readying Process:** Why Future-Readiness must be a continuous individual and team practice, not a “one-time fix.” - **Reigniting Collective Belief:** Practical leadership advice for sparking imagination and a shared belief in the magic of the possible. - **The Proactivity Pivot:** Creating the psychological safety and agency your team needs to seek out improvements before being asked. [![Allister in Yellow Shacket with Spirax Sarco](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** C-Suite Events, Senior Management Retreats, and Board-level Strategy Sessions > **“**Thanks for responding so well to our brief. **An excellent build from our past and preparation to create our future”** > > Matt Barker, LexisNexis Risk Solutions --- [![Allister Frost delivering keynote speech at the Keynote Highlights event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** People & Culture Forums, CPO & HR Director Summits, and Transformation Leadership Days > **“Allister’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious,** and he had the audience fully engaged, laughing, and leaving inspired to make a positive change. The feedback was extremely positive, \[it\] was **the highlight of the conference”** > > Kendall Quigg, Emerson #### Keynote #3: People / Culture ## The Future-Ready Organisation Building a Culture of Vitality and Continuous Readiness **Traditional “change management” is no longer enough; we must create the human energy needed to keep up and thrive through it.** For HR and People leaders, Allister explores how to embed a **Future-Ready Mindset** into the heart of an organisation’s culture. This strategic session provides a roadmap to move from a reactive “fix-it” mentality to a state of Future-Readying, where **employees feel vital, relevant, and secure in their professional growth.** **Key messages:** - **From Retention to Vitality:** Protecting your talent from obsolescence and reenergising their commitment to the organisation. - **Cultivating Psychological Agency:** Strategies for building the confidence employees need to lean into change rather than retreat from it. - **The Human-Centric Roadmap:** A framework for embedding Future-Readiness as a continuous practice, ensuring people maintain their relevance alongside evolving technology. --- #### Keynote #4: Tech / Innovation ## The Human Edge Future-Readying Potential in a Tech-Fuelled Era **An IT upgrade is only half the battle; the real challenge is the human capacity to adopt and adapt to it.** As a **former Microsoft leader,** Allister Frost knows that deploying technology is the easy part. This keynote explores the intersection of human potential and technological evolution, positioning the **Future-Ready Mindset** as the essential operating system for a digital world. Allister shows how to move beyond the fear of displacement toward a state of proactive collaboration with technology. **Key messages:** - **The Adoption Gap:** Why a Future-Ready Mindset determines whether an IT investment succeeds or stalls. - **Harnessing Human Superpowers:** Activating the curiosity and imagination needed to find “human-shaped” opportunities in a machine-led world. - **The Continuous Readiness Loop:** Moving from a one-off “digital fix” to an ongoing practice of Future-Readying that evolves alongside automation. [![Allister in Pink Shacket in Berlin](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** Technology & Innovation Summits, Industry Trade Shows, and Digital Transformation Days > **“**Allister did a fabulous job holding the attention of our audiences! We’ve heard **rave reviews… and are thrilled with the impact of his message”** > > Tracy Sheridan, Autodesk USA ## “An entertaining, award-winning performance, *delivered with genuine energy, mind-shifting expertise, and priceless advice*“ ![Allister Frost on stage with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-on-stage-with-ReadyAlready-Passport.jpg) We loved having you Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset. Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event. ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty ### 14 Years Professional Speaker ### 500+ STAGES Global Reach ### 34 Countries Live Performances --- ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ## What bookers say *“We really appreciated hearing your expert insights. **The audience was super engaged and absolutely loved the messaging!”*** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abbie-Milton.jpeg)**Abbie Milton** Marketing Manager, Iress ***“Truly excellent. Delivered with energy and humour, and some brilliant, thought-provoking anecdotes.** The ReadyAlready process is simple but with enough insight to make a real difference.”* ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg) **Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group *“We loved having Allister as our keynote speaker. **A brilliant way to think forward and plan our upcoming year** as we navigate the challenges and change ahead.”* ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jennie-Neill.jpeg)**Jennie Neill** Head of HR and OD, Stockport Council Plus: more testimonials **[here](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/ "Testimonials")**! ![Allister Frost speaking at Keynotes event, professional speaker and expert.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Reasons-not-to-book-Allister-Frost.png)SIX GOOD REASONS *NOT* to Book Allister Frost Please do ***not*** ask Allister Frost to speak at your event if any of the following apply: 1. **Your industry echo chamber holds all the answers** - You are only interested in listening to that perennial industry specialist who knows your sector inside-out, talks in jargon, and has a recycled case study for every scenario. They are the best source of fresh ideas for you. 2. **You prefer celebrity selfies over actionable insights** - You know that the only way you will sell enough event tickets or convince your staff members to turn up is by headlining with the empty calories of a household name. Or, if your budget’s tight, maybe a *“There’s no ‘I’ in Team”* former sports person, a *“Let’s Reach the Summit”* mountaineer, or an *“AI is the new electricity”* buzzword bingo futurist. You prefer the garnish to the main course; it’s only a motivational placebo anyway. 3. **You’d like a presenter, not a speaker** - At your favourite events, content is spoon-fed to the audience through a spray of bullet points, pie charts, and illegible data tables. You want your audience to passively consume information until they can take no more. 4. **You have a strict grey suits only policy** - Your colleagues consider colour, positivity, and optimism “a bit much” at a serious corporate event. You also worry that a speaker who refuses to shelter behind the lectern might unsettle your audience. Energy and movement are for the playground, not here. 5. **You want to pay for the hour, not the outcome** - You will only pay your speaker for the short time they are actually speaking, not the decades of priceless experience they will share with your audience and the lasting behaviour changes it will spark. If you could, you’d book your speaker on Groupon; they’re only saying words out loud, it’s not rocket surgery! 6. **You are 100% happy with the status quo** - It would be best if your audience members do not think, feel, or act differently after attending your event. You are merely looking to hire someone to fill a bit of time on the agenda, ideally with some generic content you can forget the moment the bar opens at the end of the day. [Still interested? Let’s talk!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ## FAQs #### Your Questions Answered How long are Allister’s keynotes?It depends on your overall agenda and how long you would like Allister’s help! Most of his keynotes run for 45-60minutes, but some are as brief as 30 minutes. Allister often follows his keynote talk with interactive hands-on workshop experiences, where smaller groups spark fresh ideas using the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Get in touch as soon as you have your draft event agenda so Allister can offer advice about how best to plan your day and get the best value for money from his involvement. --- Let’s talk money! How much does a keynote talk cost?There’s no fixed fee for a keynote talk because every event is different. Last year, his in-person fees ranged from £0 (a local charity) to £28,000 (a long-haul business conference). Once we know more about your event and requirements, we can give a fixed price quote that includes all travel and accommodation expenses. The fee varies by event location and the agreed deliverables *(for example, would like a short keynote talk or an interactive workshop with a book signing and 28-Day Activation kits and programme?)* Fees also vary across the year based on demand, so a smart way to get a bigger bang for your buck is to book Allister during quieter months, or even on Mondays or Fridays when there are fewer competing demands for his support. --- What do I get when I book Allister?Your fee will cover Allister’s briefing, preparation and delivery time, plus any travel, visa, and accommodation expenses. Many event organisers also like to offer gifts of signed books, Ready*Already*® Passport Kits, and other goodies to their delegates, so these can also be included. Most importantly, you’ll get Allister’s famously helpful support before and after your event, plus his full attention and legendary energy on the big day! Subject to his onward travel commitments, Allister will be happy to support your event as much or as little as you need, so if you’d like him to sign books, attend a VIP lunch, or meet key people, just let him know during your pre-booking chat. If he’s at your event, he’s there for you. He’ll even help you put the chairs out if needed! --- How can I book Allister to speak?There are ***two*** ways to book Allister for your event: - EASY: **Book through your Speaker Bureau** Allister is proud to be represented by some of the world’s leading speaker bureaus including the London Speaker Bureau, Celebrity Speakers, and Gordon Poole Agency. Speaker bureaus are experts at managing all aspects of speaker bookings, and also will provide helpful support and advice. If your company already has a preferred speaker bureau, you can ask them to book Allister Frost for your event. One of the benefits of working through your preferred bureau is that your booking contract will come from an existing supplier. - ALSO EASY: **Book directly with Allister’s Team** If you don’t have a speaker bureau partner, you can book Allister Frost directly through Wild Orange Media Ltd, his own company. His team will handle all aspects of contracting and invoicing, and guide you through the process smoothly. Drop an email to to find out more. --- Can we record the keynote or stream it to remote delegates?We understand that not everyone can make it to the room on the big day. Our standard terms prohibit recording so please request our prior written consent if you wish to record the session. Consent will only be granted where the recording is exclusively for internal use or for live streaming to hybrid delegates. Alternatively, if you wish to resell the recording or use it for commercial external marketing, please let us know so we can agree on a usage licence. --- Will Allister customise his talk for our audience?Yes. Your audience deserves better than a ‘canned’ speech. Once we are booked, we will arrange a briefing call with you to understand your specific challenges, industry jargon, and event themes. Allister will then weave these insights into his talk to ensure it resonates deeply with your audience and helps you achieve your event goals. --- What are Allister’s audio-visual (AV) requirements?Allister likes to keep things simple to ensure your event runs smoothly. He prefer to wear a lavalier (clip-on) or headset microphone so he can move around the stage freely. For slides, he always prefers to run these from PowerPoint from his own Windows laptop so he can control interactive elements like live polling and Q&As from the stage. Get in touch to request his full AV Rider [here](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you provide copies of slides for the audience?As a general rule: No! Why? Because a great presentation is more than a series of slides; it’s everything that happens in the room, in the moment. And the best slides are just visual hooks, carefully designed to be so simple they can be instantly understood and digested. You won’t need copies of Allister’s slides after his talk, but he will want to share advance details of some of the other optional materials he can provide that will have far greater value to your audience. These include signed books and his famous ReadyAlready Passports. You can discuss these on your briefing call with Allister. --- Where can I find your bio and photos for our agenda?That’s easy! Pop over to our [Media & Event Kit page](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/ "Media & Event Kit") where you’ll find everything you should need. If you need something else, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you have a rockstar “rider”? (e.g. only pink M&Ms?)Not at all. Allister is famously low-maintenance. He doesn’t need scented candles, a specific brand of Himalayan sparkling water, or a ceramic bowl of perfectly ripe avocados. A glass of still tap water (room temperature, never chilled) and an attentive audience is all the fuel he needs. Oh, and black filter coffee; he drinks a lot of coffee! --- My speaker bureau recommended you, but can I book direct?We love working with our speaker bureau partners, and they have recommended Allister for a good reason! Please book through the bureau that first recommended Allister to you. We’ll work closely with them—and you—to create a memorable, mind-shifting experience for your audience. By working through your favourite bureau, you get the best of both worlds. --- Do we need to book your travel/flights and hotel?To save you the admin headache, we typically handle all of Allister’s travel arrangements and add the expenses to your invoice. We can either invoice you separately for these costs after your event (receipts provided) or we can agree a Fixed Travel Buyout (FTB) in advance where we will invoice an agreed amount to cover likely travel costs. 90% of Allister’s direct bookings include a FTB as this simplifies the admin for you and gives you a guaranteed fixed cost well in advance of your event. If your organisation requires you to book travel through a specific portal, we are happy to work with that so you can book Allister’s travel and hotel directly. --- Do you even own a tie? We’ve only seen you in colourful ‘shackets’!Allister does own a few suits and ties, and enjoys dressing up for formal events. However, he believes the future is bright, so likes to dress to match. We describe his sartorial style as “smart-creative / dad-vibes” but you can call it whatever you like! Allister likes to bring energy and colour to your stage, not look like he’s there to audit your Tax Records. --- What happens if you have to cancel?In over 15 years of speaking, Allister has never missed an event. He once went to the wrong address, but only because the client made a mistake, and this was quickly rectified with a fast-paced taxi ride! Problems like this are extremely rare thanks to our rigorous booking process. Should a genuine force majeure emergency occur, Allister is part of a tight-knit network of professional speakers. He will work with you to help you secure a high-quality replacement who matches your event’s tone and budget. --- We’re broke! Will you speak for free?Allister helps selected not-for-profit groups and aims to speak pro bono six times each year. His current focus is on supporting the social care sector. Pro bono slots can be booked no more than 8 weeks in advance and are exclusively available when booked directly through Wild Orange Media. Your NFP will only be billed for travel and accommodation costs incurred where these exceed £100. If your NFP would love to tap into Allister’s experience but is working with a budget of hope and borrowed paperclips, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Why is Allister’s name so difficult to spell?We’ve seen everything over the years. Alistair Frost, Alastair Frost, Alasdair Frost, Allyster Fraust, Alice Frost, and our favourite, ***All-Star Frost*** (thank you autocorrect!). But the correct spelling is **Allister Frost.** And, no, we don’t know why it’s spelled that way. Even he spells it wrongly some days! The pronunciation is simple though. It’s **“AL-iss-tuh”.** ***FUN FACT:* Allister Frost** knows only one other **Allister Frost** and, confusingly, that **Allister Frost** worked at Microsoft in the UK at the exact same time as this **Allister Frost**. What are the chances?! On LinkedIn, the correct **Allister Frost** is this guy: (If you know or are an **Allister Frost,** please get in touch. Maybe we could host an **Allister Frost** party one day and compare misspellings) --- [Another question? Just ask!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) --- ### Your Future-Readiness Starts Here… ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-Seated-in-Pink-Shacket.png) **Contact Allister through this quick form** ## Contact Allister *today!* --- --- ### [Finance, Banking and Investment](https://allisterspeaks.com/finance-banking-investment/) **Published:** August 6, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-1024x683.jpg)KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE FINANCE, BANKING, AND INVESTMENT SECTORS [](#videos) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Raymond-James.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to Intuit](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Intuit.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to the AICPA](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AICPA.png) ![Lloyds, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lloyds-Bank-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to UBS Wealth](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/UBS-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to Accountex](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Accountex.png) ![Allister Frost speaking at the Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing expertise in media and e.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x788.jpg) ## Are you looking for a speaker for the finance, banking, or investment sectors who fuses positivity, energy, and motivation with practical systems for long-term success? Many business conferences and events have a half-life you can measure with a stopwatch. Honestly, how long were people buzzing with excitement after your last event? One week? A day? 15 minutes? The value that a conference speaker brings should be measured by how much the audience changes its behaviour, not just on the day, but for the months and years that follow. I bring three decades of experience as a leader at Kimberly-Clark and Microsoft, and as an advisor to world-class organisations including 3M, Cisco, Balfour Beatty, GE HealthCare, and Lloyds Bank, plus countless associations and membership groups. Having spoken on more than 500 stages in over 30 countries, I also bring unrivalled insights to help you plan the perfect event for your audience. Plus, I’m super-easy (and fun!) to work with. My job isn’t to impose new ideas on your audience, but to reshape legacy thinking that may be holding them back. With every keynote, I seek to tease out the daily frustrations and thinking models that can drain our energy, and show how easy it is to embrace a fresh perspective of positivity and ambition. And it’s all backed by my proven ReadyAlready® Growth Cycle (aka The FROST Framework), a bullet-proof system that will help everyone embrace positive change and create the bright future they and their colleagues deserve. Get in touch to chat about your event goals and explore how we could work together. Check Allister’s Availability ![Allister Frost in yellow overshirt speaking into a microphone in front of an audience](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x1024-1.jpg) ## WATCH ALLISTER IN ACTION ### **Allister’s Showreel Video** ![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2124461474-697b70783de1c3d06fc78f50c1305d764f1c99d87a45319aef5d45802d891047-d_640?region=us) ### **Ready*Already* in Liverpool** ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at Carlisle Support Services event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carlisle-Thumbnail-Small.jpg) Excerpts from Allister Frost’s in-person keynote at the Innovation Lab at the ACC Liverpool. ### **Opening Keynote in Poland** ![Infoshare video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Infoshare-Thumbnail-1920x1080-Small.jpg) Infoshare is the largest tech conference in Central & Eastern Europe. Allister Frost opened the annual conference with his keynote about the benefits of cultivating a Future-Ready Mindset. Allister Frost speaks to leaders and teams around the world UK **•** GERMANY• FRANCE **•** USA **•** BRAZIL • UAE **•** CHINA • THAILAND [Ask about your event date now](/holdyourdate/) ![Allister Frost on stage in front of slide that reads You Know Me](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allister-Frost-You-Know-Me.jpg) - **Activating Your Superpowers:** How to harness curiosity, imagination, and collaboration to solve today’s challenges and spot tomorrow’s opportunities. - **The ReadyAlready Principle:** Recognising that you already have the “human magic” needed to thrive; you just need the framework to switch it on. - **The Power of Collective Momentum:** How shared Future-Readiness turns a group of individuals into a high-performing, unstoppable team. > “Energetic, engaging, and entertaining, packed full of Allister’s trademark humour, personality, and positivity” #### Keynote #1: All-Hands Inspiration ALLISTER’S MOST REQUESTED TALK ## Ready*Already!* ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at the pest control industry event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5-Stars.png) Unlocking Your Personal Future-Ready Mindset In a world of constant headlines about AI, the secret to navigating tomorrow isn’t found in software; it is already waiting to be unlocked through the work you do every day. In this high-energy, all-hands keynote, Allister Frost shows how every member of the team—no matter their position—possesses a set of **uniquely human superpowers** that no machine can match. By reanimating our natural **curiosity, imagination, and collaboration,** we don’t just keep up with change; we lead it from exactly where we are today. Through relatable stories and his proprietary **ReadyAlready** framework, Allister reveals how Future-Readying empowers you to see fresh possibilities in familiar places. You will discover how to **amplify your impact** and **achieve more in your current mission,** replacing the uncertainty of the unknown with the confidence to bring your most vital, “human” self to work ***every single day.*** ***Ideal for:*** All-Hands Conferences, Annual Kick-offs, Town Halls, and Internal Growth Summits ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Speaker-Awards-logo-design.png)> “*When booking Allister, you get someone who is a professional at what he does, with plenty of experience of being on stage, and who can comfortably command an audience of any size*“ > > Judges’ Accreditation: **The Speaker Awards** ## **Other Keynotes from Allister Frost** #### Keynote #2: Leadership / Strategic ## Beyond Change Fatigue Future-Readying Teams for Collective Success **Change fatigue is more than a team morale issue; it is a hidden tax on your bottom line.** Leadership in a fast-changing world requires a mental shift that **replaces “threat-rigidity” with “possibility-thinking.”** Allister Frost shares his framework for transitioning teams from the exhaustion of being reactive to the energy of being **Future-Ready**. By focusing on what the future needs next, Allister empowers leaders to revitalise their professional lives and save their teams from premature obsolescence. **Key messages:** - **The Future-Readying Process:** Why Future-Readiness must be a continuous individual and team practice, not a “one-time fix.” - **Reigniting Collective Belief:** Practical leadership advice for sparking imagination and a shared belief in the magic of the possible. - **The Proactivity Pivot:** Creating the psychological safety and agency your team needs to seek out improvements before being asked. [![Allister in Yellow Shacket with Spirax Sarco](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** C-Suite Events, Senior Management Retreats, and Board-level Strategy Sessions > **“**Thanks for responding so well to our brief. **An excellent build from our past and preparation to create our future”** > > Matt Barker, LexisNexis Risk Solutions --- [![Allister Frost delivering keynote speech at the Keynote Highlights event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** People & Culture Forums, CPO & HR Director Summits, and Transformation Leadership Days > **“Allister’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious,** and he had the audience fully engaged, laughing, and leaving inspired to make a positive change. The feedback was extremely positive, \[it\] was **the highlight of the conference”** > > Kendall Quigg, Emerson #### Keynote #3: People / Culture ## The Future-Ready Organisation Building a Culture of Vitality and Continuous Readiness **Traditional “change management” is no longer enough; we must create the human energy needed to keep up and thrive through it.** For HR and People leaders, Allister explores how to embed a **Future-Ready Mindset** into the heart of an organisation’s culture. This strategic session provides a roadmap to move from a reactive “fix-it” mentality to a state of Future-Readying, where **employees feel vital, relevant, and secure in their professional growth.** **Key messages:** - **From Retention to Vitality:** Protecting your talent from obsolescence and reenergising their commitment to the organisation. - **Cultivating Psychological Agency:** Strategies for building the confidence employees need to lean into change rather than retreat from it. - **The Human-Centric Roadmap:** A framework for embedding Future-Readiness as a continuous practice, ensuring people maintain their relevance alongside evolving technology. --- #### Keynote #4: Tech / Innovation ## The Human Edge Future-Readying Potential in a Tech-Fuelled Era **An IT upgrade is only half the battle; the real challenge is the human capacity to adopt and adapt to it.** As a **former Microsoft leader,** Allister Frost knows that deploying technology is the easy part. This keynote explores the intersection of human potential and technological evolution, positioning the **Future-Ready Mindset** as the essential operating system for a digital world. Allister shows how to move beyond the fear of displacement toward a state of proactive collaboration with technology. **Key messages:** - **The Adoption Gap:** Why a Future-Ready Mindset determines whether an IT investment succeeds or stalls. - **Harnessing Human Superpowers:** Activating the curiosity and imagination needed to find “human-shaped” opportunities in a machine-led world. - **The Continuous Readiness Loop:** Moving from a one-off “digital fix” to an ongoing practice of Future-Readying that evolves alongside automation. [![Allister in Pink Shacket in Berlin](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** Technology & Innovation Summits, Industry Trade Shows, and Digital Transformation Days > **“**Allister did a fabulous job holding the attention of our audiences! We’ve heard **rave reviews… and are thrilled with the impact of his message”** > > Tracy Sheridan, Autodesk USA ## “An entertaining, award-winning performance, *delivered with genuine energy, mind-shifting expertise, and priceless advice*“ ![Allister Frost on stage with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-on-stage-with-ReadyAlready-Passport.jpg) We loved having you Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset. Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event. ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty ### 14 Years Professional Speaker ### 500+ STAGES Global Reach ### 34 Countries Live Performances --- ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ## What bookers say *“We really appreciated hearing your expert insights. **The audience was super engaged and absolutely loved the messaging!”*** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abbie-Milton.jpeg)**Abbie Milton** Marketing Manager, Iress ***“Truly excellent. Delivered with energy and humour, and some brilliant, thought-provoking anecdotes.** The ReadyAlready process is simple but with enough insight to make a real difference.”* ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg) **Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group *“We loved having Allister as our keynote speaker. **A brilliant way to think forward and plan our upcoming year** as we navigate the challenges and change ahead.”* ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jennie-Neill.jpeg)**Jennie Neill** Head of HR and OD, Stockport Council Plus: more testimonials **[here](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/ "Testimonials")**! ![Allister Frost speaking at Keynotes event, professional speaker and expert.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Reasons-not-to-book-Allister-Frost.png)SIX GOOD REASONS *NOT* to Book Allister Frost Please do ***not*** ask Allister Frost to speak at your event if any of the following apply: 1. **Your industry echo chamber holds all the answers** - You are only interested in listening to that perennial industry specialist who knows your sector inside-out, talks in jargon, and has a recycled case study for every scenario. They are the best source of fresh ideas for you. 2. **You prefer celebrity selfies over actionable insights** - You know that the only way you will sell enough event tickets or convince your staff members to turn up is by headlining with the empty calories of a household name. Or, if your budget’s tight, maybe a *“There’s no ‘I’ in Team”* former sports person, a *“Let’s Reach the Summit”* mountaineer, or an *“AI is the new electricity”* buzzword bingo futurist. You prefer the garnish to the main course; it’s only a motivational placebo anyway. 3. **You’d like a presenter, not a speaker** - At your favourite events, content is spoon-fed to the audience through a spray of bullet points, pie charts, and illegible data tables. You want your audience to passively consume information until they can take no more. 4. **You have a strict grey suits only policy** - Your colleagues consider colour, positivity, and optimism “a bit much” at a serious corporate event. You also worry that a speaker who refuses to shelter behind the lectern might unsettle your audience. Energy and movement are for the playground, not here. 5. **You want to pay for the hour, not the outcome** - You will only pay your speaker for the short time they are actually speaking, not the decades of priceless experience they will share with your audience and the lasting behaviour changes it will spark. If you could, you’d book your speaker on Groupon; they’re only saying words out loud, it’s not rocket surgery! 6. **You are 100% happy with the status quo** - It would be best if your audience members do not think, feel, or act differently after attending your event. You are merely looking to hire someone to fill a bit of time on the agenda, ideally with some generic content you can forget the moment the bar opens at the end of the day. [Still interested? Let’s talk!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ## FAQs #### Your Questions Answered How long are Allister’s keynotes?It depends on your overall agenda and how long you would like Allister’s help! Most of his keynotes run for 45-60minutes, but some are as brief as 30 minutes. Allister often follows his keynote talk with interactive hands-on workshop experiences, where smaller groups spark fresh ideas using the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Get in touch as soon as you have your draft event agenda so Allister can offer advice about how best to plan your day and get the best value for money from his involvement. --- Let’s talk money! How much does a keynote talk cost?There’s no fixed fee for a keynote talk because every event is different. Last year, his in-person fees ranged from £0 (a local charity) to £28,000 (a long-haul business conference). Once we know more about your event and requirements, we can give a fixed price quote that includes all travel and accommodation expenses. The fee varies by event location and the agreed deliverables *(for example, would like a short keynote talk or an interactive workshop with a book signing and 28-Day Activation kits and programme?)* Fees also vary across the year based on demand, so a smart way to get a bigger bang for your buck is to book Allister during quieter months, or even on Mondays or Fridays when there are fewer competing demands for his support. --- What do I get when I book Allister?Your fee will cover Allister’s briefing, preparation and delivery time, plus any travel, visa, and accommodation expenses. Many event organisers also like to offer gifts of signed books, Ready*Already*® Passport Kits, and other goodies to their delegates, so these can also be included. Most importantly, you’ll get Allister’s famously helpful support before and after your event, plus his full attention and legendary energy on the big day! Subject to his onward travel commitments, Allister will be happy to support your event as much or as little as you need, so if you’d like him to sign books, attend a VIP lunch, or meet key people, just let him know during your pre-booking chat. If he’s at your event, he’s there for you. He’ll even help you put the chairs out if needed! --- How can I book Allister to speak?There are ***two*** ways to book Allister for your event: - EASY: **Book through your Speaker Bureau** Allister is proud to be represented by some of the world’s leading speaker bureaus including the London Speaker Bureau, Celebrity Speakers, and Gordon Poole Agency. Speaker bureaus are experts at managing all aspects of speaker bookings, and also will provide helpful support and advice. If your company already has a preferred speaker bureau, you can ask them to book Allister Frost for your event. One of the benefits of working through your preferred bureau is that your booking contract will come from an existing supplier. - ALSO EASY: **Book directly with Allister’s Team** If you don’t have a speaker bureau partner, you can book Allister Frost directly through Wild Orange Media Ltd, his own company. His team will handle all aspects of contracting and invoicing, and guide you through the process smoothly. Drop an email to to find out more. --- Can we record the keynote or stream it to remote delegates?We understand that not everyone can make it to the room on the big day. Our standard terms prohibit recording so please request our prior written consent if you wish to record the session. Consent will only be granted where the recording is exclusively for internal use or for live streaming to hybrid delegates. Alternatively, if you wish to resell the recording or use it for commercial external marketing, please let us know so we can agree on a usage licence. --- Will Allister customise his talk for our audience?Yes. Your audience deserves better than a ‘canned’ speech. Once we are booked, we will arrange a briefing call with you to understand your specific challenges, industry jargon, and event themes. Allister will then weave these insights into his talk to ensure it resonates deeply with your audience and helps you achieve your event goals. --- What are Allister’s audio-visual (AV) requirements?Allister likes to keep things simple to ensure your event runs smoothly. He prefer to wear a lavalier (clip-on) or headset microphone so he can move around the stage freely. For slides, he always prefers to run these from PowerPoint from his own Windows laptop so he can control interactive elements like live polling and Q&As from the stage. Get in touch to request his full AV Rider [here](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you provide copies of slides for the audience?As a general rule: No! Why? Because a great presentation is more than a series of slides; it’s everything that happens in the room, in the moment. And the best slides are just visual hooks, carefully designed to be so simple they can be instantly understood and digested. You won’t need copies of Allister’s slides after his talk, but he will want to share advance details of some of the other optional materials he can provide that will have far greater value to your audience. These include signed books and his famous ReadyAlready Passports. You can discuss these on your briefing call with Allister. --- Where can I find your bio and photos for our agenda?That’s easy! Pop over to our [Media & Event Kit page](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/ "Media & Event Kit") where you’ll find everything you should need. If you need something else, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you have a rockstar “rider”? (e.g. only pink M&Ms?)Not at all. Allister is famously low-maintenance. He doesn’t need scented candles, a specific brand of Himalayan sparkling water, or a ceramic bowl of perfectly ripe avocados. A glass of still tap water (room temperature, never chilled) and an attentive audience is all the fuel he needs. Oh, and black filter coffee; he drinks a lot of coffee! --- My speaker bureau recommended you, but can I book direct?We love working with our speaker bureau partners, and they have recommended Allister for a good reason! Please book through the bureau that first recommended Allister to you. We’ll work closely with them—and you—to create a memorable, mind-shifting experience for your audience. By working through your favourite bureau, you get the best of both worlds. --- Do we need to book your travel/flights and hotel?To save you the admin headache, we typically handle all of Allister’s travel arrangements and add the expenses to your invoice. We can either invoice you separately for these costs after your event (receipts provided) or we can agree a Fixed Travel Buyout (FTB) in advance where we will invoice an agreed amount to cover likely travel costs. 90% of Allister’s direct bookings include a FTB as this simplifies the admin for you and gives you a guaranteed fixed cost well in advance of your event. If your organisation requires you to book travel through a specific portal, we are happy to work with that so you can book Allister’s travel and hotel directly. --- Do you even own a tie? We’ve only seen you in colourful ‘shackets’!Allister does own a few suits and ties, and enjoys dressing up for formal events. However, he believes the future is bright, so likes to dress to match. We describe his sartorial style as “smart-creative / dad-vibes” but you can call it whatever you like! Allister likes to bring energy and colour to your stage, not look like he’s there to audit your Tax Records. --- What happens if you have to cancel?In over 15 years of speaking, Allister has never missed an event. He once went to the wrong address, but only because the client made a mistake, and this was quickly rectified with a fast-paced taxi ride! Problems like this are extremely rare thanks to our rigorous booking process. Should a genuine force majeure emergency occur, Allister is part of a tight-knit network of professional speakers. He will work with you to help you secure a high-quality replacement who matches your event’s tone and budget. --- We’re broke! Will you speak for free?Allister helps selected not-for-profit groups and aims to speak pro bono six times each year. His current focus is on supporting the social care sector. Pro bono slots can be booked no more than 8 weeks in advance and are exclusively available when booked directly through Wild Orange Media. Your NFP will only be billed for travel and accommodation costs incurred where these exceed £100. If your NFP would love to tap into Allister’s experience but is working with a budget of hope and borrowed paperclips, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Why is Allister’s name so difficult to spell?We’ve seen everything over the years. Alistair Frost, Alastair Frost, Alasdair Frost, Allyster Fraust, Alice Frost, and our favourite, ***All-Star Frost*** (thank you autocorrect!). But the correct spelling is **Allister Frost.** And, no, we don’t know why it’s spelled that way. Even he spells it wrongly some days! The pronunciation is simple though. It’s **“AL-iss-tuh”.** ***FUN FACT:* Allister Frost** knows only one other **Allister Frost** and, confusingly, that **Allister Frost** worked at Microsoft in the UK at the exact same time as this **Allister Frost**. What are the chances?! On LinkedIn, the correct **Allister Frost** is this guy: (If you know or are an **Allister Frost,** please get in touch. Maybe we could host an **Allister Frost** party one day and compare misspellings) --- [Another question? Just ask!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) --- ### Your Future-Readiness Starts Here… ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-Seated-in-Pink-Shacket.png) **Contact Allister through this quick form** ## Contact Allister *today!* --- --- ### [Professional Services and Public Sector](https://allisterspeaks.com/professional-services-public-sector/) **Published:** August 6, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-1024x683.jpg)KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR [](#videos) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to Stockport Council](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Stockport-Council.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to Pwc](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Pwc.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to the UK's National Health Service (NHS)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NHS-in-white.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/ICC.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to Team GB and UK Sport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/UK-Sport.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to US Air Force](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/US-Air-Force.png) ![Allister Frost speaking at the Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing expertise in media and e.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x788.jpg) ## Are you looking for a speaker for a professional services company or public sector provider who fuses energy, motivation, and real-world systems for long-term success? Many business conferences and events have a half-life you can measure with a stopwatch. Honestly, how long were people buzzing with excitement after your last event? One week? A day? 15 minutes? The value that a conference speaker brings should be measured by how much the audience changes its behaviour, not just on the day, but for the months and years that follow. I bring three decades of experience as a leader at Kimberly-Clark and Microsoft, and as an advisor to world-class organisations including 3M, Cisco, Balfour Beatty, GE HealthCare, and Lloyds Bank, plus countless associations and membership groups. Having spoken on more than 500 stages in over 30 countries, I also bring unrivalled insights to help you plan the perfect event for your audience. Plus, I’m super-easy (and fun!) to work with. My job isn’t to impose new ideas on your audience, but to reshape legacy thinking that may be holding them back. With every keynote, I seek to tease out the daily frustrations and thinking models that can drain our energy, and show how easy it is to embrace a fresh perspective of positivity and ambition. And it’s all backed by my proven ReadyAlready® Growth Cycle (aka The FROST Framework), a bullet-proof system that will help everyone embrace positive change and create the bright future they and their colleagues deserve. Get in touch to chat about your event goals and explore how we could work together. Check Allister’s Availability ![Allister Frost in yellow overshirt speaking into a microphone in front of an audience](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x1024-1.jpg) ## WATCH ALLISTER IN ACTION ### **Allister’s Showreel Video** ![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2124461474-697b70783de1c3d06fc78f50c1305d764f1c99d87a45319aef5d45802d891047-d_640?region=us) ### **Ready*Already* in Liverpool** ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at Carlisle Support Services event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carlisle-Thumbnail-Small.jpg) Excerpts from Allister Frost’s in-person keynote at the Innovation Lab at the ACC Liverpool. ### **Opening Keynote in Poland** ![Infoshare video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Infoshare-Thumbnail-1920x1080-Small.jpg) Infoshare is the largest tech conference in Central & Eastern Europe. Allister Frost opened the annual conference with his keynote about the benefits of cultivating a Future-Ready Mindset. Allister Frost speaks to leaders and teams around the world UK **•** GERMANY• FRANCE **•** USA **•** BRAZIL • UAE **•** CHINA • THAILAND [Ask about your event date now](/holdyourdate/) ![Allister Frost on stage in front of slide that reads You Know Me](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allister-Frost-You-Know-Me.jpg) - **Activating Your Superpowers:** How to harness curiosity, imagination, and collaboration to solve today’s challenges and spot tomorrow’s opportunities. - **The ReadyAlready Principle:** Recognising that you already have the “human magic” needed to thrive; you just need the framework to switch it on. - **The Power of Collective Momentum:** How shared Future-Readiness turns a group of individuals into a high-performing, unstoppable team. > “Energetic, engaging, and entertaining, packed full of Allister’s trademark humour, personality, and positivity” #### Keynote #1: All-Hands Inspiration ALLISTER’S MOST REQUESTED TALK ## Ready*Already!* ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at the pest control industry event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5-Stars.png) Unlocking Your Personal Future-Ready Mindset In a world of constant headlines about AI, the secret to navigating tomorrow isn’t found in software; it is already waiting to be unlocked through the work you do every day. In this high-energy, all-hands keynote, Allister Frost shows how every member of the team—no matter their position—possesses a set of **uniquely human superpowers** that no machine can match. By reanimating our natural **curiosity, imagination, and collaboration,** we don’t just keep up with change; we lead it from exactly where we are today. Through relatable stories and his proprietary **ReadyAlready** framework, Allister reveals how Future-Readying empowers you to see fresh possibilities in familiar places. You will discover how to **amplify your impact** and **achieve more in your current mission,** replacing the uncertainty of the unknown with the confidence to bring your most vital, “human” self to work ***every single day.*** ***Ideal for:*** All-Hands Conferences, Annual Kick-offs, Town Halls, and Internal Growth Summits ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Speaker-Awards-logo-design.png)> “*When booking Allister, you get someone who is a professional at what he does, with plenty of experience of being on stage, and who can comfortably command an audience of any size*“ > > Judges’ Accreditation: **The Speaker Awards** ## **Other Keynotes from Allister Frost** #### Keynote #2: Leadership / Strategic ## Beyond Change Fatigue Future-Readying Teams for Collective Success **Change fatigue is more than a team morale issue; it is a hidden tax on your bottom line.** Leadership in a fast-changing world requires a mental shift that **replaces “threat-rigidity” with “possibility-thinking.”** Allister Frost shares his framework for transitioning teams from the exhaustion of being reactive to the energy of being **Future-Ready**. By focusing on what the future needs next, Allister empowers leaders to revitalise their professional lives and save their teams from premature obsolescence. **Key messages:** - **The Future-Readying Process:** Why Future-Readiness must be a continuous individual and team practice, not a “one-time fix.” - **Reigniting Collective Belief:** Practical leadership advice for sparking imagination and a shared belief in the magic of the possible. - **The Proactivity Pivot:** Creating the psychological safety and agency your team needs to seek out improvements before being asked. [![Allister in Yellow Shacket with Spirax Sarco](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** C-Suite Events, Senior Management Retreats, and Board-level Strategy Sessions > **“**Thanks for responding so well to our brief. **An excellent build from our past and preparation to create our future”** > > Matt Barker, LexisNexis Risk Solutions --- [![Allister Frost delivering keynote speech at the Keynote Highlights event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** People & Culture Forums, CPO & HR Director Summits, and Transformation Leadership Days > **“Allister’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious,** and he had the audience fully engaged, laughing, and leaving inspired to make a positive change. The feedback was extremely positive, \[it\] was **the highlight of the conference”** > > Kendall Quigg, Emerson #### Keynote #3: People / Culture ## The Future-Ready Organisation Building a Culture of Vitality and Continuous Readiness **Traditional “change management” is no longer enough; we must create the human energy needed to keep up and thrive through it.** For HR and People leaders, Allister explores how to embed a **Future-Ready Mindset** into the heart of an organisation’s culture. This strategic session provides a roadmap to move from a reactive “fix-it” mentality to a state of Future-Readying, where **employees feel vital, relevant, and secure in their professional growth.** **Key messages:** - **From Retention to Vitality:** Protecting your talent from obsolescence and reenergising their commitment to the organisation. - **Cultivating Psychological Agency:** Strategies for building the confidence employees need to lean into change rather than retreat from it. - **The Human-Centric Roadmap:** A framework for embedding Future-Readiness as a continuous practice, ensuring people maintain their relevance alongside evolving technology. --- #### Keynote #4: Tech / Innovation ## The Human Edge Future-Readying Potential in a Tech-Fuelled Era **An IT upgrade is only half the battle; the real challenge is the human capacity to adopt and adapt to it.** As a **former Microsoft leader,** Allister Frost knows that deploying technology is the easy part. This keynote explores the intersection of human potential and technological evolution, positioning the **Future-Ready Mindset** as the essential operating system for a digital world. Allister shows how to move beyond the fear of displacement toward a state of proactive collaboration with technology. **Key messages:** - **The Adoption Gap:** Why a Future-Ready Mindset determines whether an IT investment succeeds or stalls. - **Harnessing Human Superpowers:** Activating the curiosity and imagination needed to find “human-shaped” opportunities in a machine-led world. - **The Continuous Readiness Loop:** Moving from a one-off “digital fix” to an ongoing practice of Future-Readying that evolves alongside automation. [![Allister in Pink Shacket in Berlin](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** Technology & Innovation Summits, Industry Trade Shows, and Digital Transformation Days > **“**Allister did a fabulous job holding the attention of our audiences! We’ve heard **rave reviews… and are thrilled with the impact of his message”** > > Tracy Sheridan, Autodesk USA ## “An entertaining, award-winning performance, *delivered with genuine energy, mind-shifting expertise, and priceless advice*“ ![Allister Frost on stage with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-on-stage-with-ReadyAlready-Passport.jpg) We loved having you Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset. Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event. ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty ### 14 Years Professional Speaker ### 500+ STAGES Global Reach ### 34 Countries Live Performances --- ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ## What bookers say *“We really appreciated hearing your expert insights. **The audience was super engaged and absolutely loved the messaging!”*** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abbie-Milton.jpeg)**Abbie Milton** Marketing Manager, Iress ***“Truly excellent. Delivered with energy and humour, and some brilliant, thought-provoking anecdotes.** The ReadyAlready process is simple but with enough insight to make a real difference.”* ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg) **Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group *“We loved having Allister as our keynote speaker. **A brilliant way to think forward and plan our upcoming year** as we navigate the challenges and change ahead.”* ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jennie-Neill.jpeg)**Jennie Neill** Head of HR and OD, Stockport Council Plus: more testimonials **[here](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/ "Testimonials")**! ![Allister Frost speaking at Keynotes event, professional speaker and expert.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Reasons-not-to-book-Allister-Frost.png)SIX GOOD REASONS *NOT* to Book Allister Frost Please do ***not*** ask Allister Frost to speak at your event if any of the following apply: 1. **Your industry echo chamber holds all the answers** - You are only interested in listening to that perennial industry specialist who knows your sector inside-out, talks in jargon, and has a recycled case study for every scenario. They are the best source of fresh ideas for you. 2. **You prefer celebrity selfies over actionable insights** - You know that the only way you will sell enough event tickets or convince your staff members to turn up is by headlining with the empty calories of a household name. Or, if your budget’s tight, maybe a *“There’s no ‘I’ in Team”* former sports person, a *“Let’s Reach the Summit”* mountaineer, or an *“AI is the new electricity”* buzzword bingo futurist. You prefer the garnish to the main course; it’s only a motivational placebo anyway. 3. **You’d like a presenter, not a speaker** - At your favourite events, content is spoon-fed to the audience through a spray of bullet points, pie charts, and illegible data tables. You want your audience to passively consume information until they can take no more. 4. **You have a strict grey suits only policy** - Your colleagues consider colour, positivity, and optimism “a bit much” at a serious corporate event. You also worry that a speaker who refuses to shelter behind the lectern might unsettle your audience. Energy and movement are for the playground, not here. 5. **You want to pay for the hour, not the outcome** - You will only pay your speaker for the short time they are actually speaking, not the decades of priceless experience they will share with your audience and the lasting behaviour changes it will spark. If you could, you’d book your speaker on Groupon; they’re only saying words out loud, it’s not rocket surgery! 6. **You are 100% happy with the status quo** - It would be best if your audience members do not think, feel, or act differently after attending your event. You are merely looking to hire someone to fill a bit of time on the agenda, ideally with some generic content you can forget the moment the bar opens at the end of the day. [Still interested? Let’s talk!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ## FAQs #### Your Questions Answered How long are Allister’s keynotes?It depends on your overall agenda and how long you would like Allister’s help! Most of his keynotes run for 45-60minutes, but some are as brief as 30 minutes. Allister often follows his keynote talk with interactive hands-on workshop experiences, where smaller groups spark fresh ideas using the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Get in touch as soon as you have your draft event agenda so Allister can offer advice about how best to plan your day and get the best value for money from his involvement. --- Let’s talk money! How much does a keynote talk cost?There’s no fixed fee for a keynote talk because every event is different. Last year, his in-person fees ranged from £0 (a local charity) to £28,000 (a long-haul business conference). Once we know more about your event and requirements, we can give a fixed price quote that includes all travel and accommodation expenses. The fee varies by event location and the agreed deliverables *(for example, would like a short keynote talk or an interactive workshop with a book signing and 28-Day Activation kits and programme?)* Fees also vary across the year based on demand, so a smart way to get a bigger bang for your buck is to book Allister during quieter months, or even on Mondays or Fridays when there are fewer competing demands for his support. --- What do I get when I book Allister?Your fee will cover Allister’s briefing, preparation and delivery time, plus any travel, visa, and accommodation expenses. Many event organisers also like to offer gifts of signed books, Ready*Already*® Passport Kits, and other goodies to their delegates, so these can also be included. Most importantly, you’ll get Allister’s famously helpful support before and after your event, plus his full attention and legendary energy on the big day! Subject to his onward travel commitments, Allister will be happy to support your event as much or as little as you need, so if you’d like him to sign books, attend a VIP lunch, or meet key people, just let him know during your pre-booking chat. If he’s at your event, he’s there for you. He’ll even help you put the chairs out if needed! --- How can I book Allister to speak?There are ***two*** ways to book Allister for your event: - EASY: **Book through your Speaker Bureau** Allister is proud to be represented by some of the world’s leading speaker bureaus including the London Speaker Bureau, Celebrity Speakers, and Gordon Poole Agency. Speaker bureaus are experts at managing all aspects of speaker bookings, and also will provide helpful support and advice. If your company already has a preferred speaker bureau, you can ask them to book Allister Frost for your event. One of the benefits of working through your preferred bureau is that your booking contract will come from an existing supplier. - ALSO EASY: **Book directly with Allister’s Team** If you don’t have a speaker bureau partner, you can book Allister Frost directly through Wild Orange Media Ltd, his own company. His team will handle all aspects of contracting and invoicing, and guide you through the process smoothly. Drop an email to to find out more. --- Can we record the keynote or stream it to remote delegates?We understand that not everyone can make it to the room on the big day. Our standard terms prohibit recording so please request our prior written consent if you wish to record the session. Consent will only be granted where the recording is exclusively for internal use or for live streaming to hybrid delegates. Alternatively, if you wish to resell the recording or use it for commercial external marketing, please let us know so we can agree on a usage licence. --- Will Allister customise his talk for our audience?Yes. Your audience deserves better than a ‘canned’ speech. Once we are booked, we will arrange a briefing call with you to understand your specific challenges, industry jargon, and event themes. Allister will then weave these insights into his talk to ensure it resonates deeply with your audience and helps you achieve your event goals. --- What are Allister’s audio-visual (AV) requirements?Allister likes to keep things simple to ensure your event runs smoothly. He prefer to wear a lavalier (clip-on) or headset microphone so he can move around the stage freely. For slides, he always prefers to run these from PowerPoint from his own Windows laptop so he can control interactive elements like live polling and Q&As from the stage. Get in touch to request his full AV Rider [here](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you provide copies of slides for the audience?As a general rule: No! Why? Because a great presentation is more than a series of slides; it’s everything that happens in the room, in the moment. And the best slides are just visual hooks, carefully designed to be so simple they can be instantly understood and digested. You won’t need copies of Allister’s slides after his talk, but he will want to share advance details of some of the other optional materials he can provide that will have far greater value to your audience. These include signed books and his famous ReadyAlready Passports. You can discuss these on your briefing call with Allister. --- Where can I find your bio and photos for our agenda?That’s easy! Pop over to our [Media & Event Kit page](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/ "Media & Event Kit") where you’ll find everything you should need. If you need something else, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you have a rockstar “rider”? (e.g. only pink M&Ms?)Not at all. Allister is famously low-maintenance. He doesn’t need scented candles, a specific brand of Himalayan sparkling water, or a ceramic bowl of perfectly ripe avocados. A glass of still tap water (room temperature, never chilled) and an attentive audience is all the fuel he needs. Oh, and black filter coffee; he drinks a lot of coffee! --- My speaker bureau recommended you, but can I book direct?We love working with our speaker bureau partners, and they have recommended Allister for a good reason! Please book through the bureau that first recommended Allister to you. We’ll work closely with them—and you—to create a memorable, mind-shifting experience for your audience. By working through your favourite bureau, you get the best of both worlds. --- Do we need to book your travel/flights and hotel?To save you the admin headache, we typically handle all of Allister’s travel arrangements and add the expenses to your invoice. We can either invoice you separately for these costs after your event (receipts provided) or we can agree a Fixed Travel Buyout (FTB) in advance where we will invoice an agreed amount to cover likely travel costs. 90% of Allister’s direct bookings include a FTB as this simplifies the admin for you and gives you a guaranteed fixed cost well in advance of your event. If your organisation requires you to book travel through a specific portal, we are happy to work with that so you can book Allister’s travel and hotel directly. --- Do you even own a tie? We’ve only seen you in colourful ‘shackets’!Allister does own a few suits and ties, and enjoys dressing up for formal events. However, he believes the future is bright, so likes to dress to match. We describe his sartorial style as “smart-creative / dad-vibes” but you can call it whatever you like! Allister likes to bring energy and colour to your stage, not look like he’s there to audit your Tax Records. --- What happens if you have to cancel?In over 15 years of speaking, Allister has never missed an event. He once went to the wrong address, but only because the client made a mistake, and this was quickly rectified with a fast-paced taxi ride! Problems like this are extremely rare thanks to our rigorous booking process. Should a genuine force majeure emergency occur, Allister is part of a tight-knit network of professional speakers. He will work with you to help you secure a high-quality replacement who matches your event’s tone and budget. --- We’re broke! Will you speak for free?Allister helps selected not-for-profit groups and aims to speak pro bono six times each year. His current focus is on supporting the social care sector. Pro bono slots can be booked no more than 8 weeks in advance and are exclusively available when booked directly through Wild Orange Media. Your NFP will only be billed for travel and accommodation costs incurred where these exceed £100. If your NFP would love to tap into Allister’s experience but is working with a budget of hope and borrowed paperclips, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Why is Allister’s name so difficult to spell?We’ve seen everything over the years. Alistair Frost, Alastair Frost, Alasdair Frost, Allyster Fraust, Alice Frost, and our favourite, ***All-Star Frost*** (thank you autocorrect!). But the correct spelling is **Allister Frost.** And, no, we don’t know why it’s spelled that way. Even he spells it wrongly some days! The pronunciation is simple though. It’s **“AL-iss-tuh”.** ***FUN FACT:* Allister Frost** knows only one other **Allister Frost** and, confusingly, that **Allister Frost** worked at Microsoft in the UK at the exact same time as this **Allister Frost**. What are the chances?! On LinkedIn, the correct **Allister Frost** is this guy: (If you know or are an **Allister Frost,** please get in touch. Maybe we could host an **Allister Frost** party one day and compare misspellings) --- [Another question? Just ask!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) --- ### Your Future-Readiness Starts Here… ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-Seated-in-Pink-Shacket.png) **Contact Allister through this quick form** ## Contact Allister *today!* --- --- ### [Industry Associations and Franchise Groups](https://allisterspeaks.com/associations-franchise-groups/) **Published:** August 6, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-1024x683.jpg)KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS AND FRANCHISE GROUPS [](#videos) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to the World Lotteries Association](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/World-Lotteries-Association.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to the Builders Merchants Federation](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Builders-Merchants-Federation.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to The Property Franchise Group](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Property-Franchise-Group.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to the AICPA](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AICPA.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to SAPCA](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SAPCA.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to AITO](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/AITO.png) ![Allister Frost speaking at the Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing expertise in media and e.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x788.jpg) ## Are you looking for a speaker for an industry association or franchise group who can combine real-world stories with boundless positivity and real-world systems for your long-term success? Many business conferences and events have a half-life you can measure with a stopwatch. Honestly, how long were people buzzing with excitement after your last event? One week? A day? 15 minutes? The value that a conference speaker brings should be measured by how much the audience changes its behaviour, not just on the day, but for the months and years that follow. I bring three decades of experience as a leader at Kimberly-Clark and Microsoft, and as an advisor to world-class organisations including 3M, Cisco, Balfour Beatty, GE HealthCare, and Lloyds Bank, plus countless associations and membership groups. Having spoken on more than 500 stages in over 30 countries, I also bring unrivalled insights to help you plan the perfect event for your audience. Plus, I’m super-easy (and fun!) to work with. My job isn’t to impose new ideas on your audience, but to reshape legacy thinking that may be holding them back. With every keynote, I seek to tease out the daily frustrations and thinking models that can drain our energy, and show how easy it is to embrace a fresh perspective of positivity and ambition. And it’s all backed by my proven ReadyAlready® Growth Cycle (aka The FROST Framework), a bullet-proof system that will help everyone embrace positive change and create the bright future they and their colleagues deserve. Get in touch to chat about your event goals and explore how we could work together. Check Allister’s Availability ![Allister Frost in yellow overshirt speaking into a microphone in front of an audience](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x1024-1.jpg) ## WATCH ALLISTER IN ACTION ### **Allister’s Showreel Video** ![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2124461474-697b70783de1c3d06fc78f50c1305d764f1c99d87a45319aef5d45802d891047-d_640?region=us) ### **Ready*Already* in Liverpool** ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at Carlisle Support Services event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carlisle-Thumbnail-Small.jpg) Excerpts from Allister Frost’s in-person keynote at the Innovation Lab at the ACC Liverpool. ### **Opening Keynote in Poland** ![Infoshare video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Infoshare-Thumbnail-1920x1080-Small.jpg) Infoshare is the largest tech conference in Central & Eastern Europe. Allister Frost opened the annual conference with his keynote about the benefits of cultivating a Future-Ready Mindset. Allister Frost speaks to leaders and teams around the world UK **•** GERMANY• FRANCE **•** USA **•** BRAZIL • UAE **•** CHINA • THAILAND [Ask about your event date now](/holdyourdate/) ![Allister Frost on stage in front of slide that reads You Know Me](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allister-Frost-You-Know-Me.jpg) - **Activating Your Superpowers:** How to harness curiosity, imagination, and collaboration to solve today’s challenges and spot tomorrow’s opportunities. - **The ReadyAlready Principle:** Recognising that you already have the “human magic” needed to thrive; you just need the framework to switch it on. - **The Power of Collective Momentum:** How shared Future-Readiness turns a group of individuals into a high-performing, unstoppable team. > “Energetic, engaging, and entertaining, packed full of Allister’s trademark humour, personality, and positivity” #### Keynote #1: All-Hands Inspiration ALLISTER’S MOST REQUESTED TALK ## Ready*Already!* ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at the pest control industry event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5-Stars.png) Unlocking Your Personal Future-Ready Mindset In a world of constant headlines about AI, the secret to navigating tomorrow isn’t found in software; it is already waiting to be unlocked through the work you do every day. In this high-energy, all-hands keynote, Allister Frost shows how every member of the team—no matter their position—possesses a set of **uniquely human superpowers** that no machine can match. By reanimating our natural **curiosity, imagination, and collaboration,** we don’t just keep up with change; we lead it from exactly where we are today. Through relatable stories and his proprietary **ReadyAlready** framework, Allister reveals how Future-Readying empowers you to see fresh possibilities in familiar places. You will discover how to **amplify your impact** and **achieve more in your current mission,** replacing the uncertainty of the unknown with the confidence to bring your most vital, “human” self to work ***every single day.*** ***Ideal for:*** All-Hands Conferences, Annual Kick-offs, Town Halls, and Internal Growth Summits ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Speaker-Awards-logo-design.png)> “*When booking Allister, you get someone who is a professional at what he does, with plenty of experience of being on stage, and who can comfortably command an audience of any size*“ > > Judges’ Accreditation: **The Speaker Awards** ## **Other Keynotes from Allister Frost** #### Keynote #2: Leadership / Strategic ## Beyond Change Fatigue Future-Readying Teams for Collective Success **Change fatigue is more than a team morale issue; it is a hidden tax on your bottom line.** Leadership in a fast-changing world requires a mental shift that **replaces “threat-rigidity” with “possibility-thinking.”** Allister Frost shares his framework for transitioning teams from the exhaustion of being reactive to the energy of being **Future-Ready**. By focusing on what the future needs next, Allister empowers leaders to revitalise their professional lives and save their teams from premature obsolescence. **Key messages:** - **The Future-Readying Process:** Why Future-Readiness must be a continuous individual and team practice, not a “one-time fix.” - **Reigniting Collective Belief:** Practical leadership advice for sparking imagination and a shared belief in the magic of the possible. - **The Proactivity Pivot:** Creating the psychological safety and agency your team needs to seek out improvements before being asked. [![Allister in Yellow Shacket with Spirax Sarco](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** C-Suite Events, Senior Management Retreats, and Board-level Strategy Sessions > **“**Thanks for responding so well to our brief. **An excellent build from our past and preparation to create our future”** > > Matt Barker, LexisNexis Risk Solutions --- [![Allister Frost delivering keynote speech at the Keynote Highlights event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** People & Culture Forums, CPO & HR Director Summits, and Transformation Leadership Days > **“Allister’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious,** and he had the audience fully engaged, laughing, and leaving inspired to make a positive change. The feedback was extremely positive, \[it\] was **the highlight of the conference”** > > Kendall Quigg, Emerson #### Keynote #3: People / Culture ## The Future-Ready Organisation Building a Culture of Vitality and Continuous Readiness **Traditional “change management” is no longer enough; we must create the human energy needed to keep up and thrive through it.** For HR and People leaders, Allister explores how to embed a **Future-Ready Mindset** into the heart of an organisation’s culture. This strategic session provides a roadmap to move from a reactive “fix-it” mentality to a state of Future-Readying, where **employees feel vital, relevant, and secure in their professional growth.** **Key messages:** - **From Retention to Vitality:** Protecting your talent from obsolescence and reenergising their commitment to the organisation. - **Cultivating Psychological Agency:** Strategies for building the confidence employees need to lean into change rather than retreat from it. - **The Human-Centric Roadmap:** A framework for embedding Future-Readiness as a continuous practice, ensuring people maintain their relevance alongside evolving technology. --- #### Keynote #4: Tech / Innovation ## The Human Edge Future-Readying Potential in a Tech-Fuelled Era **An IT upgrade is only half the battle; the real challenge is the human capacity to adopt and adapt to it.** As a **former Microsoft leader,** Allister Frost knows that deploying technology is the easy part. This keynote explores the intersection of human potential and technological evolution, positioning the **Future-Ready Mindset** as the essential operating system for a digital world. Allister shows how to move beyond the fear of displacement toward a state of proactive collaboration with technology. **Key messages:** - **The Adoption Gap:** Why a Future-Ready Mindset determines whether an IT investment succeeds or stalls. - **Harnessing Human Superpowers:** Activating the curiosity and imagination needed to find “human-shaped” opportunities in a machine-led world. - **The Continuous Readiness Loop:** Moving from a one-off “digital fix” to an ongoing practice of Future-Readying that evolves alongside automation. [![Allister in Pink Shacket in Berlin](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** Technology & Innovation Summits, Industry Trade Shows, and Digital Transformation Days > **“**Allister did a fabulous job holding the attention of our audiences! We’ve heard **rave reviews… and are thrilled with the impact of his message”** > > Tracy Sheridan, Autodesk USA ## “An entertaining, award-winning performance, *delivered with genuine energy, mind-shifting expertise, and priceless advice*“ ![Allister Frost on stage with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-on-stage-with-ReadyAlready-Passport.jpg) We loved having you Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset. Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event. ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty ### 14 Years Professional Speaker ### 500+ STAGES Global Reach ### 34 Countries Live Performances --- ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ## What bookers say *“We really appreciated hearing your expert insights. **The audience was super engaged and absolutely loved the messaging!”*** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abbie-Milton.jpeg)**Abbie Milton** Marketing Manager, Iress ***“Truly excellent. Delivered with energy and humour, and some brilliant, thought-provoking anecdotes.** The ReadyAlready process is simple but with enough insight to make a real difference.”* ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg) **Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group *“We loved having Allister as our keynote speaker. **A brilliant way to think forward and plan our upcoming year** as we navigate the challenges and change ahead.”* ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jennie-Neill.jpeg)**Jennie Neill** Head of HR and OD, Stockport Council Plus: more testimonials **[here](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/ "Testimonials")**! ![Allister Frost speaking at Keynotes event, professional speaker and expert.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Reasons-not-to-book-Allister-Frost.png)SIX GOOD REASONS *NOT* to Book Allister Frost Please do ***not*** ask Allister Frost to speak at your event if any of the following apply: 1. **Your industry echo chamber holds all the answers** - You are only interested in listening to that perennial industry specialist who knows your sector inside-out, talks in jargon, and has a recycled case study for every scenario. They are the best source of fresh ideas for you. 2. **You prefer celebrity selfies over actionable insights** - You know that the only way you will sell enough event tickets or convince your staff members to turn up is by headlining with the empty calories of a household name. Or, if your budget’s tight, maybe a *“There’s no ‘I’ in Team”* former sports person, a *“Let’s Reach the Summit”* mountaineer, or an *“AI is the new electricity”* buzzword bingo futurist. You prefer the garnish to the main course; it’s only a motivational placebo anyway. 3. **You’d like a presenter, not a speaker** - At your favourite events, content is spoon-fed to the audience through a spray of bullet points, pie charts, and illegible data tables. You want your audience to passively consume information until they can take no more. 4. **You have a strict grey suits only policy** - Your colleagues consider colour, positivity, and optimism “a bit much” at a serious corporate event. You also worry that a speaker who refuses to shelter behind the lectern might unsettle your audience. Energy and movement are for the playground, not here. 5. **You want to pay for the hour, not the outcome** - You will only pay your speaker for the short time they are actually speaking, not the decades of priceless experience they will share with your audience and the lasting behaviour changes it will spark. If you could, you’d book your speaker on Groupon; they’re only saying words out loud, it’s not rocket surgery! 6. **You are 100% happy with the status quo** - It would be best if your audience members do not think, feel, or act differently after attending your event. You are merely looking to hire someone to fill a bit of time on the agenda, ideally with some generic content you can forget the moment the bar opens at the end of the day. [Still interested? Let’s talk!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ## FAQs #### Your Questions Answered How long are Allister’s keynotes?It depends on your overall agenda and how long you would like Allister’s help! Most of his keynotes run for 45-60minutes, but some are as brief as 30 minutes. Allister often follows his keynote talk with interactive hands-on workshop experiences, where smaller groups spark fresh ideas using the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Get in touch as soon as you have your draft event agenda so Allister can offer advice about how best to plan your day and get the best value for money from his involvement. --- Let’s talk money! How much does a keynote talk cost?There’s no fixed fee for a keynote talk because every event is different. Last year, his in-person fees ranged from £0 (a local charity) to £28,000 (a long-haul business conference). Once we know more about your event and requirements, we can give a fixed price quote that includes all travel and accommodation expenses. The fee varies by event location and the agreed deliverables *(for example, would like a short keynote talk or an interactive workshop with a book signing and 28-Day Activation kits and programme?)* Fees also vary across the year based on demand, so a smart way to get a bigger bang for your buck is to book Allister during quieter months, or even on Mondays or Fridays when there are fewer competing demands for his support. --- What do I get when I book Allister?Your fee will cover Allister’s briefing, preparation and delivery time, plus any travel, visa, and accommodation expenses. Many event organisers also like to offer gifts of signed books, Ready*Already*® Passport Kits, and other goodies to their delegates, so these can also be included. Most importantly, you’ll get Allister’s famously helpful support before and after your event, plus his full attention and legendary energy on the big day! Subject to his onward travel commitments, Allister will be happy to support your event as much or as little as you need, so if you’d like him to sign books, attend a VIP lunch, or meet key people, just let him know during your pre-booking chat. If he’s at your event, he’s there for you. He’ll even help you put the chairs out if needed! --- How can I book Allister to speak?There are ***two*** ways to book Allister for your event: - EASY: **Book through your Speaker Bureau** Allister is proud to be represented by some of the world’s leading speaker bureaus including the London Speaker Bureau, Celebrity Speakers, and Gordon Poole Agency. Speaker bureaus are experts at managing all aspects of speaker bookings, and also will provide helpful support and advice. If your company already has a preferred speaker bureau, you can ask them to book Allister Frost for your event. One of the benefits of working through your preferred bureau is that your booking contract will come from an existing supplier. - ALSO EASY: **Book directly with Allister’s Team** If you don’t have a speaker bureau partner, you can book Allister Frost directly through Wild Orange Media Ltd, his own company. His team will handle all aspects of contracting and invoicing, and guide you through the process smoothly. Drop an email to to find out more. --- Can we record the keynote or stream it to remote delegates?We understand that not everyone can make it to the room on the big day. Our standard terms prohibit recording so please request our prior written consent if you wish to record the session. Consent will only be granted where the recording is exclusively for internal use or for live streaming to hybrid delegates. Alternatively, if you wish to resell the recording or use it for commercial external marketing, please let us know so we can agree on a usage licence. --- Will Allister customise his talk for our audience?Yes. Your audience deserves better than a ‘canned’ speech. Once we are booked, we will arrange a briefing call with you to understand your specific challenges, industry jargon, and event themes. Allister will then weave these insights into his talk to ensure it resonates deeply with your audience and helps you achieve your event goals. --- What are Allister’s audio-visual (AV) requirements?Allister likes to keep things simple to ensure your event runs smoothly. He prefer to wear a lavalier (clip-on) or headset microphone so he can move around the stage freely. For slides, he always prefers to run these from PowerPoint from his own Windows laptop so he can control interactive elements like live polling and Q&As from the stage. Get in touch to request his full AV Rider [here](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you provide copies of slides for the audience?As a general rule: No! Why? Because a great presentation is more than a series of slides; it’s everything that happens in the room, in the moment. And the best slides are just visual hooks, carefully designed to be so simple they can be instantly understood and digested. You won’t need copies of Allister’s slides after his talk, but he will want to share advance details of some of the other optional materials he can provide that will have far greater value to your audience. These include signed books and his famous ReadyAlready Passports. You can discuss these on your briefing call with Allister. --- Where can I find your bio and photos for our agenda?That’s easy! Pop over to our [Media & Event Kit page](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/ "Media & Event Kit") where you’ll find everything you should need. If you need something else, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you have a rockstar “rider”? (e.g. only pink M&Ms?)Not at all. Allister is famously low-maintenance. He doesn’t need scented candles, a specific brand of Himalayan sparkling water, or a ceramic bowl of perfectly ripe avocados. A glass of still tap water (room temperature, never chilled) and an attentive audience is all the fuel he needs. Oh, and black filter coffee; he drinks a lot of coffee! --- My speaker bureau recommended you, but can I book direct?We love working with our speaker bureau partners, and they have recommended Allister for a good reason! Please book through the bureau that first recommended Allister to you. We’ll work closely with them—and you—to create a memorable, mind-shifting experience for your audience. By working through your favourite bureau, you get the best of both worlds. --- Do we need to book your travel/flights and hotel?To save you the admin headache, we typically handle all of Allister’s travel arrangements and add the expenses to your invoice. We can either invoice you separately for these costs after your event (receipts provided) or we can agree a Fixed Travel Buyout (FTB) in advance where we will invoice an agreed amount to cover likely travel costs. 90% of Allister’s direct bookings include a FTB as this simplifies the admin for you and gives you a guaranteed fixed cost well in advance of your event. If your organisation requires you to book travel through a specific portal, we are happy to work with that so you can book Allister’s travel and hotel directly. --- Do you even own a tie? We’ve only seen you in colourful ‘shackets’!Allister does own a few suits and ties, and enjoys dressing up for formal events. However, he believes the future is bright, so likes to dress to match. We describe his sartorial style as “smart-creative / dad-vibes” but you can call it whatever you like! Allister likes to bring energy and colour to your stage, not look like he’s there to audit your Tax Records. --- What happens if you have to cancel?In over 15 years of speaking, Allister has never missed an event. He once went to the wrong address, but only because the client made a mistake, and this was quickly rectified with a fast-paced taxi ride! Problems like this are extremely rare thanks to our rigorous booking process. Should a genuine force majeure emergency occur, Allister is part of a tight-knit network of professional speakers. He will work with you to help you secure a high-quality replacement who matches your event’s tone and budget. --- We’re broke! Will you speak for free?Allister helps selected not-for-profit groups and aims to speak pro bono six times each year. His current focus is on supporting the social care sector. Pro bono slots can be booked no more than 8 weeks in advance and are exclusively available when booked directly through Wild Orange Media. Your NFP will only be billed for travel and accommodation costs incurred where these exceed £100. If your NFP would love to tap into Allister’s experience but is working with a budget of hope and borrowed paperclips, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Why is Allister’s name so difficult to spell?We’ve seen everything over the years. Alistair Frost, Alastair Frost, Alasdair Frost, Allyster Fraust, Alice Frost, and our favourite, ***All-Star Frost*** (thank you autocorrect!). But the correct spelling is **Allister Frost.** And, no, we don’t know why it’s spelled that way. Even he spells it wrongly some days! The pronunciation is simple though. It’s **“AL-iss-tuh”.** ***FUN FACT:* Allister Frost** knows only one other **Allister Frost** and, confusingly, that **Allister Frost** worked at Microsoft in the UK at the exact same time as this **Allister Frost**. What are the chances?! On LinkedIn, the correct **Allister Frost** is this guy: (If you know or are an **Allister Frost,** please get in touch. Maybe we could host an **Allister Frost** party one day and compare misspellings) --- [Another question? Just ask!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) --- ### Your Future-Readiness Starts Here… ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-Seated-in-Pink-Shacket.png) **Contact Allister through this quick form** ## Contact Allister *today!* --- --- ### [Construction and Property](https://allisterspeaks.com/construction-property/) **Published:** August 1, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-1024x683.jpg)KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY SECTORS [](#videos) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to CALA Homes](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/CALA-Homes.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to Jackson-Stops](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Jackson-Stops-white.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to Balfour Beatty](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Balfour-Beatty-white.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to Rightmove](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Rightmove.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to SAPCA](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SAPCA.png) ![Allister Frost is a trusted partner to the Builders Merchants Federation](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Builders-Merchants-Federation.png) ![Allister Frost speaking at the Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing expertise in media and e.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x788.jpg) ## Are you looking for a speaker in the construction or property sectors who fuses motivation and entertainment with real-world systems to build long-term success? Many business conferences and events have a half-life you can measure with a stopwatch. Honestly, how long were people buzzing with excitement after your last event? One week? A day? 15 minutes? The value that a conference speaker brings should be measured by how much the audience changes its behaviour, not just on the day, but for the months and years that follow. I bring three decades of experience as a leader at Kimberly-Clark and Microsoft, and as an advisor to world-class organisations including 3M, Cisco, Balfour Beatty, GE HealthCare, and Lloyds Bank, plus countless associations and membership groups. Having spoken on more than 500 stages in over 30 countries, I also bring unrivalled insights to help you plan the perfect event for your audience. Plus, I’m super-easy (and fun!) to work with. My job isn’t to impose new ideas on your audience, but to reshape legacy thinking that may be holding them back. With every keynote, I seek to tease out the daily frustrations and thinking models that can drain our energy, and show how easy it is to embrace a fresh perspective of positivity and ambition. And it’s all backed by my proven ReadyAlready® Growth Cycle (aka The FROST Framework), a bullet-proof system that will help everyone embrace positive change and create the bright future they and their colleagues deserve. Get in touch to chat about your event goals and explore how we could work together. Check Allister’s Availability ![Allister Frost in yellow overshirt speaking into a microphone in front of an audience](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x1024-1.jpg) ## WATCH ALLISTER IN ACTION ### **Allister’s Showreel Video** ![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2124461474-697b70783de1c3d06fc78f50c1305d764f1c99d87a45319aef5d45802d891047-d_640?region=us) ### **Ready*Already* in Liverpool** ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at Carlisle Support Services event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carlisle-Thumbnail-Small.jpg) Excerpts from Allister Frost’s in-person keynote at the Innovation Lab at the ACC Liverpool. ### **Opening Keynote in Poland** ![Infoshare video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Infoshare-Thumbnail-1920x1080-Small.jpg) Infoshare is the largest tech conference in Central & Eastern Europe. Allister Frost opened the annual conference with his keynote about the benefits of cultivating a Future-Ready Mindset. Allister Frost speaks to leaders and teams around the world UK **•** GERMANY• FRANCE **•** USA **•** BRAZIL • UAE **•** CHINA • THAILAND [Ask about your event date now](/holdyourdate/) ![Allister Frost on stage in front of slide that reads You Know Me](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allister-Frost-You-Know-Me.jpg) - **Activating Your Superpowers:** How to harness curiosity, imagination, and collaboration to solve today’s challenges and spot tomorrow’s opportunities. - **The ReadyAlready Principle:** Recognising that you already have the “human magic” needed to thrive; you just need the framework to switch it on. - **The Power of Collective Momentum:** How shared Future-Readiness turns a group of individuals into a high-performing, unstoppable team. > “Energetic, engaging, and entertaining, packed full of Allister’s trademark humour, personality, and positivity” #### Keynote #1: All-Hands Inspiration ALLISTER’S MOST REQUESTED TALK ## Ready*Already!* ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at the pest control industry event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5-Stars.png) Unlocking Your Personal Future-Ready Mindset In a world of constant headlines about AI, the secret to navigating tomorrow isn’t found in software; it is already waiting to be unlocked through the work you do every day. In this high-energy, all-hands keynote, Allister Frost shows how every member of the team—no matter their position—possesses a set of **uniquely human superpowers** that no machine can match. By reanimating our natural **curiosity, imagination, and collaboration,** we don’t just keep up with change; we lead it from exactly where we are today. Through relatable stories and his proprietary **ReadyAlready** framework, Allister reveals how Future-Readying empowers you to see fresh possibilities in familiar places. You will discover how to **amplify your impact** and **achieve more in your current mission,** replacing the uncertainty of the unknown with the confidence to bring your most vital, “human” self to work ***every single day.*** ***Ideal for:*** All-Hands Conferences, Annual Kick-offs, Town Halls, and Internal Growth Summits ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Speaker-Awards-logo-design.png)> “*When booking Allister, you get someone who is a professional at what he does, with plenty of experience of being on stage, and who can comfortably command an audience of any size*“ > > Judges’ Accreditation: **The Speaker Awards** ## **Other Keynotes from Allister Frost** #### Keynote #2: Leadership / Strategic ## Beyond Change Fatigue Future-Readying Teams for Collective Success **Change fatigue is more than a team morale issue; it is a hidden tax on your bottom line.** Leadership in a fast-changing world requires a mental shift that **replaces “threat-rigidity” with “possibility-thinking.”** Allister Frost shares his framework for transitioning teams from the exhaustion of being reactive to the energy of being **Future-Ready**. By focusing on what the future needs next, Allister empowers leaders to revitalise their professional lives and save their teams from premature obsolescence. **Key messages:** - **The Future-Readying Process:** Why Future-Readiness must be a continuous individual and team practice, not a “one-time fix.” - **Reigniting Collective Belief:** Practical leadership advice for sparking imagination and a shared belief in the magic of the possible. - **The Proactivity Pivot:** Creating the psychological safety and agency your team needs to seek out improvements before being asked. [![Allister in Yellow Shacket with Spirax Sarco](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** C-Suite Events, Senior Management Retreats, and Board-level Strategy Sessions > **“**Thanks for responding so well to our brief. **An excellent build from our past and preparation to create our future”** > > Matt Barker, LexisNexis Risk Solutions --- [![Allister Frost delivering keynote speech at the Keynote Highlights event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** People & Culture Forums, CPO & HR Director Summits, and Transformation Leadership Days > **“Allister’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious,** and he had the audience fully engaged, laughing, and leaving inspired to make a positive change. The feedback was extremely positive, \[it\] was **the highlight of the conference”** > > Kendall Quigg, Emerson #### Keynote #3: People / Culture ## The Future-Ready Organisation Building a Culture of Vitality and Continuous Readiness **Traditional “change management” is no longer enough; we must create the human energy needed to keep up and thrive through it.** For HR and People leaders, Allister explores how to embed a **Future-Ready Mindset** into the heart of an organisation’s culture. This strategic session provides a roadmap to move from a reactive “fix-it” mentality to a state of Future-Readying, where **employees feel vital, relevant, and secure in their professional growth.** **Key messages:** - **From Retention to Vitality:** Protecting your talent from obsolescence and reenergising their commitment to the organisation. - **Cultivating Psychological Agency:** Strategies for building the confidence employees need to lean into change rather than retreat from it. - **The Human-Centric Roadmap:** A framework for embedding Future-Readiness as a continuous practice, ensuring people maintain their relevance alongside evolving technology. --- #### Keynote #4: Tech / Innovation ## The Human Edge Future-Readying Potential in a Tech-Fuelled Era **An IT upgrade is only half the battle; the real challenge is the human capacity to adopt and adapt to it.** As a **former Microsoft leader,** Allister Frost knows that deploying technology is the easy part. This keynote explores the intersection of human potential and technological evolution, positioning the **Future-Ready Mindset** as the essential operating system for a digital world. Allister shows how to move beyond the fear of displacement toward a state of proactive collaboration with technology. **Key messages:** - **The Adoption Gap:** Why a Future-Ready Mindset determines whether an IT investment succeeds or stalls. - **Harnessing Human Superpowers:** Activating the curiosity and imagination needed to find “human-shaped” opportunities in a machine-led world. - **The Continuous Readiness Loop:** Moving from a one-off “digital fix” to an ongoing practice of Future-Readying that evolves alongside automation. [![Allister in Pink Shacket in Berlin](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** Technology & Innovation Summits, Industry Trade Shows, and Digital Transformation Days > **“**Allister did a fabulous job holding the attention of our audiences! We’ve heard **rave reviews… and are thrilled with the impact of his message”** > > Tracy Sheridan, Autodesk USA ## “An entertaining, award-winning performance, *delivered with genuine energy, mind-shifting expertise, and priceless advice*“ ![Allister Frost on stage with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-on-stage-with-ReadyAlready-Passport.jpg) We loved having you Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset. Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event. ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty ### 14 Years Professional Speaker ### 500+ STAGES Global Reach ### 34 Countries Live Performances --- ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ## What bookers say *“We really appreciated hearing your expert insights. **The audience was super engaged and absolutely loved the messaging!”*** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abbie-Milton.jpeg)**Abbie Milton** Marketing Manager, Iress ***“Truly excellent. Delivered with energy and humour, and some brilliant, thought-provoking anecdotes.** The ReadyAlready process is simple but with enough insight to make a real difference.”* ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg) **Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group *“We loved having Allister as our keynote speaker. **A brilliant way to think forward and plan our upcoming year** as we navigate the challenges and change ahead.”* ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jennie-Neill.jpeg)**Jennie Neill** Head of HR and OD, Stockport Council Plus: more testimonials **[here](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/ "Testimonials")**! ![Allister Frost speaking at Keynotes event, professional speaker and expert.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Reasons-not-to-book-Allister-Frost.png)SIX GOOD REASONS *NOT* to Book Allister Frost Please do ***not*** ask Allister Frost to speak at your event if any of the following apply: 1. **Your industry echo chamber holds all the answers** - You are only interested in listening to that perennial industry specialist who knows your sector inside-out, talks in jargon, and has a recycled case study for every scenario. They are the best source of fresh ideas for you. 2. **You prefer celebrity selfies over actionable insights** - You know that the only way you will sell enough event tickets or convince your staff members to turn up is by headlining with the empty calories of a household name. Or, if your budget’s tight, maybe a *“There’s no ‘I’ in Team”* former sports person, a *“Let’s Reach the Summit”* mountaineer, or an *“AI is the new electricity”* buzzword bingo futurist. You prefer the garnish to the main course; it’s only a motivational placebo anyway. 3. **You’d like a presenter, not a speaker** - At your favourite events, content is spoon-fed to the audience through a spray of bullet points, pie charts, and illegible data tables. You want your audience to passively consume information until they can take no more. 4. **You have a strict grey suits only policy** - Your colleagues consider colour, positivity, and optimism “a bit much” at a serious corporate event. You also worry that a speaker who refuses to shelter behind the lectern might unsettle your audience. Energy and movement are for the playground, not here. 5. **You want to pay for the hour, not the outcome** - You will only pay your speaker for the short time they are actually speaking, not the decades of priceless experience they will share with your audience and the lasting behaviour changes it will spark. If you could, you’d book your speaker on Groupon; they’re only saying words out loud, it’s not rocket surgery! 6. **You are 100% happy with the status quo** - It would be best if your audience members do not think, feel, or act differently after attending your event. You are merely looking to hire someone to fill a bit of time on the agenda, ideally with some generic content you can forget the moment the bar opens at the end of the day. [Still interested? Let’s talk!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ## FAQs #### Your Questions Answered How long are Allister’s keynotes?It depends on your overall agenda and how long you would like Allister’s help! Most of his keynotes run for 45-60minutes, but some are as brief as 30 minutes. Allister often follows his keynote talk with interactive hands-on workshop experiences, where smaller groups spark fresh ideas using the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Get in touch as soon as you have your draft event agenda so Allister can offer advice about how best to plan your day and get the best value for money from his involvement. --- Let’s talk money! How much does a keynote talk cost?There’s no fixed fee for a keynote talk because every event is different. Last year, his in-person fees ranged from £0 (a local charity) to £28,000 (a long-haul business conference). Once we know more about your event and requirements, we can give a fixed price quote that includes all travel and accommodation expenses. The fee varies by event location and the agreed deliverables *(for example, would like a short keynote talk or an interactive workshop with a book signing and 28-Day Activation kits and programme?)* Fees also vary across the year based on demand, so a smart way to get a bigger bang for your buck is to book Allister during quieter months, or even on Mondays or Fridays when there are fewer competing demands for his support. --- What do I get when I book Allister?Your fee will cover Allister’s briefing, preparation and delivery time, plus any travel, visa, and accommodation expenses. Many event organisers also like to offer gifts of signed books, Ready*Already*® Passport Kits, and other goodies to their delegates, so these can also be included. Most importantly, you’ll get Allister’s famously helpful support before and after your event, plus his full attention and legendary energy on the big day! Subject to his onward travel commitments, Allister will be happy to support your event as much or as little as you need, so if you’d like him to sign books, attend a VIP lunch, or meet key people, just let him know during your pre-booking chat. If he’s at your event, he’s there for you. He’ll even help you put the chairs out if needed! --- How can I book Allister to speak?There are ***two*** ways to book Allister for your event: - EASY: **Book through your Speaker Bureau** Allister is proud to be represented by some of the world’s leading speaker bureaus including the London Speaker Bureau, Celebrity Speakers, and Gordon Poole Agency. Speaker bureaus are experts at managing all aspects of speaker bookings, and also will provide helpful support and advice. If your company already has a preferred speaker bureau, you can ask them to book Allister Frost for your event. One of the benefits of working through your preferred bureau is that your booking contract will come from an existing supplier. - ALSO EASY: **Book directly with Allister’s Team** If you don’t have a speaker bureau partner, you can book Allister Frost directly through Wild Orange Media Ltd, his own company. His team will handle all aspects of contracting and invoicing, and guide you through the process smoothly. Drop an email to to find out more. --- Can we record the keynote or stream it to remote delegates?We understand that not everyone can make it to the room on the big day. Our standard terms prohibit recording so please request our prior written consent if you wish to record the session. Consent will only be granted where the recording is exclusively for internal use or for live streaming to hybrid delegates. Alternatively, if you wish to resell the recording or use it for commercial external marketing, please let us know so we can agree on a usage licence. --- Will Allister customise his talk for our audience?Yes. Your audience deserves better than a ‘canned’ speech. Once we are booked, we will arrange a briefing call with you to understand your specific challenges, industry jargon, and event themes. Allister will then weave these insights into his talk to ensure it resonates deeply with your audience and helps you achieve your event goals. --- What are Allister’s audio-visual (AV) requirements?Allister likes to keep things simple to ensure your event runs smoothly. He prefer to wear a lavalier (clip-on) or headset microphone so he can move around the stage freely. For slides, he always prefers to run these from PowerPoint from his own Windows laptop so he can control interactive elements like live polling and Q&As from the stage. Get in touch to request his full AV Rider [here](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you provide copies of slides for the audience?As a general rule: No! Why? Because a great presentation is more than a series of slides; it’s everything that happens in the room, in the moment. And the best slides are just visual hooks, carefully designed to be so simple they can be instantly understood and digested. You won’t need copies of Allister’s slides after his talk, but he will want to share advance details of some of the other optional materials he can provide that will have far greater value to your audience. These include signed books and his famous ReadyAlready Passports. You can discuss these on your briefing call with Allister. --- Where can I find your bio and photos for our agenda?That’s easy! Pop over to our [Media & Event Kit page](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/ "Media & Event Kit") where you’ll find everything you should need. If you need something else, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you have a rockstar “rider”? (e.g. only pink M&Ms?)Not at all. Allister is famously low-maintenance. He doesn’t need scented candles, a specific brand of Himalayan sparkling water, or a ceramic bowl of perfectly ripe avocados. A glass of still tap water (room temperature, never chilled) and an attentive audience is all the fuel he needs. Oh, and black filter coffee; he drinks a lot of coffee! --- My speaker bureau recommended you, but can I book direct?We love working with our speaker bureau partners, and they have recommended Allister for a good reason! Please book through the bureau that first recommended Allister to you. We’ll work closely with them—and you—to create a memorable, mind-shifting experience for your audience. By working through your favourite bureau, you get the best of both worlds. --- Do we need to book your travel/flights and hotel?To save you the admin headache, we typically handle all of Allister’s travel arrangements and add the expenses to your invoice. We can either invoice you separately for these costs after your event (receipts provided) or we can agree a Fixed Travel Buyout (FTB) in advance where we will invoice an agreed amount to cover likely travel costs. 90% of Allister’s direct bookings include a FTB as this simplifies the admin for you and gives you a guaranteed fixed cost well in advance of your event. If your organisation requires you to book travel through a specific portal, we are happy to work with that so you can book Allister’s travel and hotel directly. --- Do you even own a tie? We’ve only seen you in colourful ‘shackets’!Allister does own a few suits and ties, and enjoys dressing up for formal events. However, he believes the future is bright, so likes to dress to match. We describe his sartorial style as “smart-creative / dad-vibes” but you can call it whatever you like! Allister likes to bring energy and colour to your stage, not look like he’s there to audit your Tax Records. --- What happens if you have to cancel?In over 15 years of speaking, Allister has never missed an event. He once went to the wrong address, but only because the client made a mistake, and this was quickly rectified with a fast-paced taxi ride! Problems like this are extremely rare thanks to our rigorous booking process. Should a genuine force majeure emergency occur, Allister is part of a tight-knit network of professional speakers. He will work with you to help you secure a high-quality replacement who matches your event’s tone and budget. --- We’re broke! Will you speak for free?Allister helps selected not-for-profit groups and aims to speak pro bono six times each year. His current focus is on supporting the social care sector. Pro bono slots can be booked no more than 8 weeks in advance and are exclusively available when booked directly through Wild Orange Media. Your NFP will only be billed for travel and accommodation costs incurred where these exceed £100. If your NFP would love to tap into Allister’s experience but is working with a budget of hope and borrowed paperclips, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Why is Allister’s name so difficult to spell?We’ve seen everything over the years. Alistair Frost, Alastair Frost, Alasdair Frost, Allyster Fraust, Alice Frost, and our favourite, ***All-Star Frost*** (thank you autocorrect!). But the correct spelling is **Allister Frost.** And, no, we don’t know why it’s spelled that way. Even he spells it wrongly some days! The pronunciation is simple though. It’s **“AL-iss-tuh”.** ***FUN FACT:* Allister Frost** knows only one other **Allister Frost** and, confusingly, that **Allister Frost** worked at Microsoft in the UK at the exact same time as this **Allister Frost**. What are the chances?! On LinkedIn, the correct **Allister Frost** is this guy: (If you know or are an **Allister Frost,** please get in touch. Maybe we could host an **Allister Frost** party one day and compare misspellings) --- [Another question? Just ask!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) --- ### Your Future-Readiness Starts Here… ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-Seated-in-Pink-Shacket.png) **Contact Allister through this quick form** ## Contact Allister *today!* --- --- ### [Retail and Manufacturing](https://allisterspeaks.com/retail-manufacturing/) **Published:** August 6, 2025 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-1024x683.jpg)KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE RETAIL & MANUFACTURING SECTORS [](#videos) [![Reckitt, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset Expert Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Reckitt-white-logo.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Reckitt-white-logo.png) ![Pladis, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset Expert Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Pladis-in-white.png) [![3M, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset Expert Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3M-in-white.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/3M-in-white.png) [![P&G Procter & Gamble, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset Expert Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/PG-in-white.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/PG-in-white.png) [![Swarovski, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset Expert Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Swarovski-white-logo.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Swarovski-white-logo.png) [![Barbour, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset Expert Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Barbour-in-white.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Barbour-in-white.png) ![Allister Frost speaking at the Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing expertise in media and e.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x788.jpg) ## Are you looking for a speaker with experience in the manufacturing and retail sectors who can combine energy, motivation, and entertainment with real-world systems for long-term success? Many business conferences and events have a half-life you can measure with a stopwatch. Honestly, how long were people buzzing with excitement after your last event? One week? A day? 15 minutes? The value that a conference speaker brings should be measured by how much the audience changes its behaviour, not just on the day, but for the months and years that follow. I bring three decades of experience as a leader at Kimberly-Clark and Microsoft, and as an advisor to world-class organisations including 3M, Cisco, Balfour Beatty, GE HealthCare, and Lloyds Bank, plus countless associations and membership groups. Having spoken on more than 500 stages in over 30 countries, I also bring unrivalled insights to help you plan the perfect event for your audience. Plus, I’m super-easy (and fun!) to work with. My job isn’t to impose new ideas on your audience, but to reshape legacy thinking that may be holding them back. With every keynote, I seek to tease out the daily frustrations and thinking models that can drain our energy, and show how easy it is to embrace a fresh perspective of positivity and ambition. And it’s all backed by my proven ReadyAlready® Growth Cycle (aka The FROST Framework), a bullet-proof system that will help everyone embrace positive change and create the bright future they and their colleagues deserve. Get in touch to chat about your event goals and explore how we could work together. Check Allister’s Availability ![Allister Frost in yellow overshirt speaking into a microphone in front of an audience](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x1024-1.jpg) ## WATCH ALLISTER IN ACTION ### **Allister’s Showreel Video** ![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2124461474-697b70783de1c3d06fc78f50c1305d764f1c99d87a45319aef5d45802d891047-d_640?region=us) ### **Ready*Already* in Liverpool** ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at Carlisle Support Services event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carlisle-Thumbnail-Small.jpg) Excerpts from Allister Frost’s in-person keynote at the Innovation Lab at the ACC Liverpool. ### **Opening Keynote in Poland** ![Infoshare video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Infoshare-Thumbnail-1920x1080-Small.jpg) Infoshare is the largest tech conference in Central & Eastern Europe. Allister Frost opened the annual conference with his keynote about the benefits of cultivating a Future-Ready Mindset. Allister Frost speaks to leaders and teams around the world UK **•** GERMANY• FRANCE **•** USA **•** BRAZIL • UAE **•** CHINA • THAILAND [Ask about your event date now](/holdyourdate/) ![Allister Frost on stage in front of slide that reads You Know Me](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allister-Frost-You-Know-Me.jpg) - **Activating Your Superpowers:** How to harness curiosity, imagination, and collaboration to solve today’s challenges and spot tomorrow’s opportunities. - **The ReadyAlready Principle:** Recognising that you already have the “human magic” needed to thrive; you just need the framework to switch it on. - **The Power of Collective Momentum:** How shared Future-Readiness turns a group of individuals into a high-performing, unstoppable team. > “Energetic, engaging, and entertaining, packed full of Allister’s trademark humour, personality, and positivity” #### Keynote #1: All-Hands Inspiration ALLISTER’S MOST REQUESTED TALK ## Ready*Already!* ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at the pest control industry event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5-Stars.png) Unlocking Your Personal Future-Ready Mindset In a world of constant headlines about AI, the secret to navigating tomorrow isn’t found in software; it is already waiting to be unlocked through the work you do every day. In this high-energy, all-hands keynote, Allister Frost shows how every member of the team—no matter their position—possesses a set of **uniquely human superpowers** that no machine can match. By reanimating our natural **curiosity, imagination, and collaboration,** we don’t just keep up with change; we lead it from exactly where we are today. Through relatable stories and his proprietary **ReadyAlready** framework, Allister reveals how Future-Readying empowers you to see fresh possibilities in familiar places. You will discover how to **amplify your impact** and **achieve more in your current mission,** replacing the uncertainty of the unknown with the confidence to bring your most vital, “human” self to work ***every single day.*** ***Ideal for:*** All-Hands Conferences, Annual Kick-offs, Town Halls, and Internal Growth Summits ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Speaker-Awards-logo-design.png)> “*When booking Allister, you get someone who is a professional at what he does, with plenty of experience of being on stage, and who can comfortably command an audience of any size*“ > > Judges’ Accreditation: **The Speaker Awards** ## **Other Keynotes from Allister Frost** #### Keynote #2: Leadership / Strategic ## Beyond Change Fatigue Future-Readying Teams for Collective Success **Change fatigue is more than a team morale issue; it is a hidden tax on your bottom line.** Leadership in a fast-changing world requires a mental shift that **replaces “threat-rigidity” with “possibility-thinking.”** Allister Frost shares his framework for transitioning teams from the exhaustion of being reactive to the energy of being **Future-Ready**. By focusing on what the future needs next, Allister empowers leaders to revitalise their professional lives and save their teams from premature obsolescence. **Key messages:** - **The Future-Readying Process:** Why Future-Readiness must be a continuous individual and team practice, not a “one-time fix.” - **Reigniting Collective Belief:** Practical leadership advice for sparking imagination and a shared belief in the magic of the possible. - **The Proactivity Pivot:** Creating the psychological safety and agency your team needs to seek out improvements before being asked. [![Allister in Yellow Shacket with Spirax Sarco](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** C-Suite Events, Senior Management Retreats, and Board-level Strategy Sessions > **“**Thanks for responding so well to our brief. **An excellent build from our past and preparation to create our future”** > > Matt Barker, LexisNexis Risk Solutions --- [![Allister Frost delivering keynote speech at the Keynote Highlights event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** People & Culture Forums, CPO & HR Director Summits, and Transformation Leadership Days > **“Allister’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious,** and he had the audience fully engaged, laughing, and leaving inspired to make a positive change. The feedback was extremely positive, \[it\] was **the highlight of the conference”** > > Kendall Quigg, Emerson #### Keynote #3: People / Culture ## The Future-Ready Organisation Building a Culture of Vitality and Continuous Readiness **Traditional “change management” is no longer enough; we must create the human energy needed to keep up and thrive through it.** For HR and People leaders, Allister explores how to embed a **Future-Ready Mindset** into the heart of an organisation’s culture. This strategic session provides a roadmap to move from a reactive “fix-it” mentality to a state of Future-Readying, where **employees feel vital, relevant, and secure in their professional growth.** **Key messages:** - **From Retention to Vitality:** Protecting your talent from obsolescence and reenergising their commitment to the organisation. - **Cultivating Psychological Agency:** Strategies for building the confidence employees need to lean into change rather than retreat from it. - **The Human-Centric Roadmap:** A framework for embedding Future-Readiness as a continuous practice, ensuring people maintain their relevance alongside evolving technology. --- #### Keynote #4: Tech / Innovation ## The Human Edge Future-Readying Potential in a Tech-Fuelled Era **An IT upgrade is only half the battle; the real challenge is the human capacity to adopt and adapt to it.** As a **former Microsoft leader,** Allister Frost knows that deploying technology is the easy part. This keynote explores the intersection of human potential and technological evolution, positioning the **Future-Ready Mindset** as the essential operating system for a digital world. Allister shows how to move beyond the fear of displacement toward a state of proactive collaboration with technology. **Key messages:** - **The Adoption Gap:** Why a Future-Ready Mindset determines whether an IT investment succeeds or stalls. - **Harnessing Human Superpowers:** Activating the curiosity and imagination needed to find “human-shaped” opportunities in a machine-led world. - **The Continuous Readiness Loop:** Moving from a one-off “digital fix” to an ongoing practice of Future-Readying that evolves alongside automation. [![Allister in Pink Shacket in Berlin](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** Technology & Innovation Summits, Industry Trade Shows, and Digital Transformation Days > **“**Allister did a fabulous job holding the attention of our audiences! We’ve heard **rave reviews… and are thrilled with the impact of his message”** > > Tracy Sheridan, Autodesk USA ## “An entertaining, award-winning performance, *delivered with genuine energy, mind-shifting expertise, and priceless advice*“ ![Allister Frost on stage with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-on-stage-with-ReadyAlready-Passport.jpg) We loved having you Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset. Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event. ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty ### 14 Years Professional Speaker ### 500+ STAGES Global Reach ### 34 Countries Live Performances --- ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ## What bookers say *“We really appreciated hearing your expert insights. **The audience was super engaged and absolutely loved the messaging!”*** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abbie-Milton.jpeg)**Abbie Milton** Marketing Manager, Iress ***“Truly excellent. Delivered with energy and humour, and some brilliant, thought-provoking anecdotes.** The ReadyAlready process is simple but with enough insight to make a real difference.”* ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg) **Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group *“We loved having Allister as our keynote speaker. **A brilliant way to think forward and plan our upcoming year** as we navigate the challenges and change ahead.”* ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jennie-Neill.jpeg)**Jennie Neill** Head of HR and OD, Stockport Council Plus: more testimonials **[here](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/ "Testimonials")**! ![Allister Frost speaking at Keynotes event, professional speaker and expert.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Reasons-not-to-book-Allister-Frost.png)SIX GOOD REASONS *NOT* to Book Allister Frost Please do ***not*** ask Allister Frost to speak at your event if any of the following apply: 1. **Your industry echo chamber holds all the answers** - You are only interested in listening to that perennial industry specialist who knows your sector inside-out, talks in jargon, and has a recycled case study for every scenario. They are the best source of fresh ideas for you. 2. **You prefer celebrity selfies over actionable insights** - You know that the only way you will sell enough event tickets or convince your staff members to turn up is by headlining with the empty calories of a household name. Or, if your budget’s tight, maybe a *“There’s no ‘I’ in Team”* former sports person, a *“Let’s Reach the Summit”* mountaineer, or an *“AI is the new electricity”* buzzword bingo futurist. You prefer the garnish to the main course; it’s only a motivational placebo anyway. 3. **You’d like a presenter, not a speaker** - At your favourite events, content is spoon-fed to the audience through a spray of bullet points, pie charts, and illegible data tables. You want your audience to passively consume information until they can take no more. 4. **You have a strict grey suits only policy** - Your colleagues consider colour, positivity, and optimism “a bit much” at a serious corporate event. You also worry that a speaker who refuses to shelter behind the lectern might unsettle your audience. Energy and movement are for the playground, not here. 5. **You want to pay for the hour, not the outcome** - You will only pay your speaker for the short time they are actually speaking, not the decades of priceless experience they will share with your audience and the lasting behaviour changes it will spark. If you could, you’d book your speaker on Groupon; they’re only saying words out loud, it’s not rocket surgery! 6. **You are 100% happy with the status quo** - It would be best if your audience members do not think, feel, or act differently after attending your event. You are merely looking to hire someone to fill a bit of time on the agenda, ideally with some generic content you can forget the moment the bar opens at the end of the day. [Still interested? Let’s talk!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ## FAQs #### Your Questions Answered How long are Allister’s keynotes?It depends on your overall agenda and how long you would like Allister’s help! Most of his keynotes run for 45-60minutes, but some are as brief as 30 minutes. Allister often follows his keynote talk with interactive hands-on workshop experiences, where smaller groups spark fresh ideas using the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Get in touch as soon as you have your draft event agenda so Allister can offer advice about how best to plan your day and get the best value for money from his involvement. --- Let’s talk money! How much does a keynote talk cost?There’s no fixed fee for a keynote talk because every event is different. Last year, his in-person fees ranged from £0 (a local charity) to £28,000 (a long-haul business conference). Once we know more about your event and requirements, we can give a fixed price quote that includes all travel and accommodation expenses. The fee varies by event location and the agreed deliverables *(for example, would like a short keynote talk or an interactive workshop with a book signing and 28-Day Activation kits and programme?)* Fees also vary across the year based on demand, so a smart way to get a bigger bang for your buck is to book Allister during quieter months, or even on Mondays or Fridays when there are fewer competing demands for his support. --- What do I get when I book Allister?Your fee will cover Allister’s briefing, preparation and delivery time, plus any travel, visa, and accommodation expenses. Many event organisers also like to offer gifts of signed books, Ready*Already*® Passport Kits, and other goodies to their delegates, so these can also be included. Most importantly, you’ll get Allister’s famously helpful support before and after your event, plus his full attention and legendary energy on the big day! Subject to his onward travel commitments, Allister will be happy to support your event as much or as little as you need, so if you’d like him to sign books, attend a VIP lunch, or meet key people, just let him know during your pre-booking chat. If he’s at your event, he’s there for you. He’ll even help you put the chairs out if needed! --- How can I book Allister to speak?There are ***two*** ways to book Allister for your event: - EASY: **Book through your Speaker Bureau** Allister is proud to be represented by some of the world’s leading speaker bureaus including the London Speaker Bureau, Celebrity Speakers, and Gordon Poole Agency. Speaker bureaus are experts at managing all aspects of speaker bookings, and also will provide helpful support and advice. If your company already has a preferred speaker bureau, you can ask them to book Allister Frost for your event. One of the benefits of working through your preferred bureau is that your booking contract will come from an existing supplier. - ALSO EASY: **Book directly with Allister’s Team** If you don’t have a speaker bureau partner, you can book Allister Frost directly through Wild Orange Media Ltd, his own company. His team will handle all aspects of contracting and invoicing, and guide you through the process smoothly. Drop an email to to find out more. --- Can we record the keynote or stream it to remote delegates?We understand that not everyone can make it to the room on the big day. Our standard terms prohibit recording so please request our prior written consent if you wish to record the session. Consent will only be granted where the recording is exclusively for internal use or for live streaming to hybrid delegates. Alternatively, if you wish to resell the recording or use it for commercial external marketing, please let us know so we can agree on a usage licence. --- Will Allister customise his talk for our audience?Yes. Your audience deserves better than a ‘canned’ speech. Once we are booked, we will arrange a briefing call with you to understand your specific challenges, industry jargon, and event themes. Allister will then weave these insights into his talk to ensure it resonates deeply with your audience and helps you achieve your event goals. --- What are Allister’s audio-visual (AV) requirements?Allister likes to keep things simple to ensure your event runs smoothly. He prefer to wear a lavalier (clip-on) or headset microphone so he can move around the stage freely. For slides, he always prefers to run these from PowerPoint from his own Windows laptop so he can control interactive elements like live polling and Q&As from the stage. Get in touch to request his full AV Rider [here](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you provide copies of slides for the audience?As a general rule: No! Why? Because a great presentation is more than a series of slides; it’s everything that happens in the room, in the moment. And the best slides are just visual hooks, carefully designed to be so simple they can be instantly understood and digested. You won’t need copies of Allister’s slides after his talk, but he will want to share advance details of some of the other optional materials he can provide that will have far greater value to your audience. These include signed books and his famous ReadyAlready Passports. You can discuss these on your briefing call with Allister. --- Where can I find your bio and photos for our agenda?That’s easy! Pop over to our [Media & Event Kit page](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/ "Media & Event Kit") where you’ll find everything you should need. If you need something else, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you have a rockstar “rider”? (e.g. only pink M&Ms?)Not at all. Allister is famously low-maintenance. He doesn’t need scented candles, a specific brand of Himalayan sparkling water, or a ceramic bowl of perfectly ripe avocados. A glass of still tap water (room temperature, never chilled) and an attentive audience is all the fuel he needs. Oh, and black filter coffee; he drinks a lot of coffee! --- My speaker bureau recommended you, but can I book direct?We love working with our speaker bureau partners, and they have recommended Allister for a good reason! Please book through the bureau that first recommended Allister to you. We’ll work closely with them—and you—to create a memorable, mind-shifting experience for your audience. By working through your favourite bureau, you get the best of both worlds. --- Do we need to book your travel/flights and hotel?To save you the admin headache, we typically handle all of Allister’s travel arrangements and add the expenses to your invoice. We can either invoice you separately for these costs after your event (receipts provided) or we can agree a Fixed Travel Buyout (FTB) in advance where we will invoice an agreed amount to cover likely travel costs. 90% of Allister’s direct bookings include a FTB as this simplifies the admin for you and gives you a guaranteed fixed cost well in advance of your event. If your organisation requires you to book travel through a specific portal, we are happy to work with that so you can book Allister’s travel and hotel directly. --- Do you even own a tie? We’ve only seen you in colourful ‘shackets’!Allister does own a few suits and ties, and enjoys dressing up for formal events. However, he believes the future is bright, so likes to dress to match. We describe his sartorial style as “smart-creative / dad-vibes” but you can call it whatever you like! Allister likes to bring energy and colour to your stage, not look like he’s there to audit your Tax Records. --- What happens if you have to cancel?In over 15 years of speaking, Allister has never missed an event. He once went to the wrong address, but only because the client made a mistake, and this was quickly rectified with a fast-paced taxi ride! Problems like this are extremely rare thanks to our rigorous booking process. Should a genuine force majeure emergency occur, Allister is part of a tight-knit network of professional speakers. He will work with you to help you secure a high-quality replacement who matches your event’s tone and budget. --- We’re broke! Will you speak for free?Allister helps selected not-for-profit groups and aims to speak pro bono six times each year. His current focus is on supporting the social care sector. Pro bono slots can be booked no more than 8 weeks in advance and are exclusively available when booked directly through Wild Orange Media. Your NFP will only be billed for travel and accommodation costs incurred where these exceed £100. If your NFP would love to tap into Allister’s experience but is working with a budget of hope and borrowed paperclips, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Why is Allister’s name so difficult to spell?We’ve seen everything over the years. Alistair Frost, Alastair Frost, Alasdair Frost, Allyster Fraust, Alice Frost, and our favourite, ***All-Star Frost*** (thank you autocorrect!). But the correct spelling is **Allister Frost.** And, no, we don’t know why it’s spelled that way. Even he spells it wrongly some days! The pronunciation is simple though. It’s **“AL-iss-tuh”.** ***FUN FACT:* Allister Frost** knows only one other **Allister Frost** and, confusingly, that **Allister Frost** worked at Microsoft in the UK at the exact same time as this **Allister Frost**. What are the chances?! On LinkedIn, the correct **Allister Frost** is this guy: (If you know or are an **Allister Frost,** please get in touch. Maybe we could host an **Allister Frost** party one day and compare misspellings) --- [Another question? Just ask!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) --- ### Your Future-Readiness Starts Here… ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-Seated-in-Pink-Shacket.png) **Contact Allister through this quick form** ## Contact Allister *today!* --- --- ### [Media & Event Planning Kit](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/) **Published:** July 3, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-Media-Kit-Header-Image.jpg)# ALLISTER FROST # Media & Event Planning Kit ***Stuff to help us win together!*** [](#videos) ## CALLING ALL EVENT ORGANISERS! ## *Here’s everything you need…* Stuff to make your event planning a breeze: ***photos, biography, music…*** What else would you like? Drop us a line at [*office@wildorangemedia.com*](mailto:office@wildorangemedia.com) ![Allister Frost with ReadyAlready Book](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Allister-Frost-with-ReadyAlready-Book-Presentation.jpg)### WITH READYALREADY BOOK Available now from all good (and bad) booksellers [Get High-Res Image (.jpg)](https://allisterspeaks.com/?smd_process_download=1&download_id=74225) ![Allister Frost with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Allister-Frost-with-ReadyAlready-Passport-Presentation.jpg)### WITH READYALREADY PASSPORT Exclusively available for Allister’s audience members [Get High-Res Image (.jpg)](https://allisterspeaks.com/?smd_process_download=1&download_id=74226) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Allister-Frost-in-Pink-Jacket.jpg)### KEYNOTE SPEAKER HEADSHOT In a rose pink jacket, ready to perform [Get High-Res Image (.jpg)](https://allisterspeaks.com/?smd_process_download=1&download_id=71047) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Allister-Frost-Speaker-Casual-Outdoors.jpg)### CASUAL SPEAKER OUTDOORS Arriving with heavy laptop bag and mild jet lag [Get High-Res Image (.jpg)](https://allisterspeaks.com/?smd_process_download=1&download_id=71075) ![Allister Frost Headshot](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/300824-4.137.jpg)### SEATED HEADSHOT Ideal for promo materials (and ‘Wanted’ posters) [Get High-Res Image (.jpg)](https://allisterspeaks.com/?smd_process_download=1&download_id=71065) ![Allister Frost wearing a dinner jacket](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Dinner-Jacket.jpg)### INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY 🙂 All dressed up for *lah-di-dah* speaking events [Get High-Res Image (.jpg)](https://allisterspeaks.com/?smd_process_download=1&download_id=71068) ## LIVE EVENT PHOTOS ### from Speaking Performances ***(click to enlarge + download)*** ![Allister Frost presenting at a conference with "Ready Already" sign in background.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-P-scaled.jpg) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-7-1024x683.jpg) ![Allister Frost Outdoors](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Allister-Frost-Speaker-Profile-Photo-Outdoor-Bokeh-Lights-874x1024.jpg) ![Allister Frost speaking at Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing media and event planning exp.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-8-1024x683.jpg) ![Allister Frost Q&A speaker discussion](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/20191213-VHD_4866-1-1024x684.jpg) ![Allister Frost - yellow shacket](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Allister-Frost-May-2024-1024x1024.jpg) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-4-1024x683.jpg) ![Allister Frost Future-Ready Mindset Expert](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Allister-Feb-2025-Square-1EXP5023.jpg) ![Allister Frost in yellow overshirt speaking into a microphone in front of an audience](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x1024-1.jpg) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-K-1024x683.jpg) ![Speaker giving a presentation to an engaged audience in a conference room.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-L-1024x683.jpg) ![Allister Frost speaking at the Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing expertise in media and e.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-9-1024x788.jpg) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-M-1024x683.jpg) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-N-1024x683.jpg) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-O-1024x683.jpg) ## COPY BLOCKS ### for event programmes and publicity materials **Short Biography for Allister Frost**Allister Frost is a business transformation and growth expert, known for his passion for helping others thrive through change and uncertainty. As a former Microsoft leader, he seeks to inspire greater curiosity, imagination, and courageous collaboration to unlock continuous improvements, strengthen resiliency, and spark high-performance teamwork. He is the author of ReadyAlready and on a mission is to save more than a million working lives from the lethal complacency of the comfort zone. **Long Biography for Allister Frost**Allister Frost is a business transformation and growth expert, known for his passion for helping others thrive through change and uncertainty. He is on a mission to save more than a million working lives from the risk of irrelevance and the lethal complacency of the comfort zone. By embedding a Future-Ready Mindset, he inspires busy professionals to transform change and uncertainty into opportunity. Early in his career, he left the relative security of a leadership role with a global manufacturer to dive into the white waters of the emerging technology sector at Microsoft. He rose to become the software giant’s first Head of Digital Marketing Strategy, trailblazing revolutionary new communication channels and launching iconic global brand campaigns. To help his team thrive in perpetual ambiguity, he developed and codified a new mindset for career success. He calls this the ReadyAlready® Growth Cycle as explained in his book, ReadyAlready. Since 2012, Allister has worked as a motivational speaker and business transformation advisor, helping leaders and teams at organisations including Cisco, Hyundai, 3M, Vodafone, Pfizer, and Bosch. His talks and coaching programmes inspire greater curiosity, imagination, and courageous collaboration to unlock continuous improvements, strengthen resiliency, and spark high-performance teamwork. His life story shows how anyone, regardless of their industry or the state of the economy, can keep up and thrive through uncertainty with a Future-Ready Mindset. Allister specialises in helping professionals rethink their relationship with change at work, so they stretch their comfort zones and can realise their full career potential. His refreshingly simple approach to organisational transformation inspires leaders and teams to thrive in the face of ever-accelerating change. He provides the skills and positive outlook needed to stay future-ready for life, saving people from the lethal complacency of the comfort zone. Allister on **Social Media**- - - - - - [https://substack.com/@allisterspeaks](https://substack.com/@allisterspeaks?) **Professional Awards**- Winner Best Speaker Showreel of the Year, The Speaker Awards 2023 - Winner UK Digital Marketing Personality of the Year 2013 & 2019 - Winner Best Virtual Speaking Consultancy, Lux Awards 2022 - Winner Client Service Excellence Award, Corporate Vision Magazine - Winner Best Boutique Consulting Firm, Design Rush Awards 2019 - Winner Lester Wunderman Client Award for Outstanding Creative Work - Winner Direct Lion Award, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity **Professional Qualifications**- BA(Hons) European Management with Marketing 1st Class - Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures en Management (Marseille) 1st Class - DipM – CIM Marketing Diploma & Chartered Marketer - DipCW – Diploma of Copywriting ## AUDIO-VISUAL RIDER ### AV Preferences and Intro Script **AV Preferences**Allister uses Microsoft PowerPoint slides in 16:9 format to accompany his talks. His slides won’t be heavy or bullet-ridden; just a few words and images to guide the audience through the story. He also sometimes runs interactive polls during his talks to capture the mood of the audience and embeds these seamlessly into his PowerPoint slides. ### THE 1,000,000% PREFERRED OPTION = ALLISTER’S LAPTOP 🙂 Allister ALWAYS prefers to present from his own laptop at the front of the room so he can control it and the flow of his talk. This ensures any audience interactions like live polls work as expected and minimises the risk of slide corruption between computers. Please provide a well-lit on-stage lectern or tall table for this purpose with a 220-240V power supply and a standard Type A HDMI cable connected to your screen(s). Please also provide reliable wi-fi access for Allister’s laptop and your audience for any interactive elements. If his talk includes videos, sound will be from his laptop via the HDMI output, and the footage will be embedded to autocue from within the slide deck. Allister brings his own slide clicker and a bag full of adapters. ### BACKUP OPTION = YOUR SHOW PC 🙁 In the rare instances where having Allister’s own laptop on-stage is not possible, the fallback option is for him to (1) bring his slides on a USB stick or (2) to send them to your AV team to load on your show and backup PCs. To keep the content fresh, Allister will do option (2) no more than one week before your event. Additionally, we may need to give your AV producer limited access to Allister’s audience polling software (currently Vevox), and they will need to install the PowerPoint add-in on their live (and any backup) show PCs. Where this is not possible, the AV manager may prefer to cut to a live webpage to show the results of the live polling to the audience, but the PowerPoint add-in route is always cleanest and preferred. We will also agree a time-slot for an on-site tech check, either before your event begins or during a break before Allister’s talk. In this configuration, he will use your slide clicker and require a large comfort monitor showing both slides and notes in PowerPoint Presenter View. A stage-facing countdown timer will also be needed to help him keep to time. ### Other Notes and Requirements: - Please provide: - a wireless headset or lavalier microphone so Allister can move freely around the room - at least one handheld microphone nearby for audience interactions during his talk - Please stock the stage with still, room temperature water (not sparkling or chilled) - Avoid using wireless presentation systems (e.g. Barco ClickShare) as these often introduce latency and may degrade image or video quality - If required, Allister’s slide deck will be shared with you for the exclusive purpose of projection during his talk. You are not permitted to share or distribute copies. All content is licensed only for use during the performance and may not be re-used or re-purposed in any way - No audio or video recordings may be taken or used of Allister’s performance without the prior written permission of Wild Orange Media Ltd. Allister reserves the right to audio or video record the performance for his own professional purposes, unless you request otherwise to office@wildorangemedia.com **How to introduce Allister at your event**This section is important! How you introduce your speaker to the audience can have a profound impact on your event success. The worst way to introduce a speaker is to ‘big them up’ or overstate their credentials, as this can set unrealistic expectations for the audience. Also, do not ‘pre-sell’ your speaker by talking about what they will do earlier in your event. For best results, please use a simple, fact-based introduction that contains some intriguing elements that will make your audience sit up and pay attention. **The best introduction is always the one your speaker is expecting!** So, here are our top tips gained from Allister’s talks at hundreds of events: • Do not exaggerate how excited you are to welcome the speaker or overstate the significance of their being at your event *(the audience can work this out for themselves!)* • Do not read out his biography or go into detail about his career *(no-one cares!)* • Please do not explain what he is about to talk about *(that’s his job!)* Instead, simply prepare a brief introduction that will help set the scene and transition seamlessly into the talk. There are two approaches to this task: one easy, the other a little harder. ### OPTION 1 (the easy way) – read this short script! ***“It’s now time for me to introduce our guest speaker. From his early career as Chief Puppy Controller for Andrex to breaking new ground as Microsoft’s first ever Digital Marketing Strategy Leader, he now helps people discover what truly makes us valuable in an A.I.-driven world. As machines take over execution, he believes our success no longer stems from what we can do—but from a Future-Ready Mindset. And he’s here to share three human superpowers that will help you elevate your impact and unlock a lifetime of positive change. Please welcome… ALLISTER FROST”** \[…applause\]* You do not have to memorise this script! Reading it is perfectly fine and will ensure you don’t skip any bits. Also, please do not ad-lib; it’s always better to be slow and clear than hurried and confusing! Also, do not publish or share this script before your event. It has zero value for the audience outside of the few seconds before Allister’s talk begins. Keep it up your sleeve and simply read it just as it is, with a smile on your face. His talk actually begins when ***you*** start the intro! ### OPTION 2 (the harder way) – Write your own intro! If you enjoy creating work for yourself 😉 or prefer to write your own intro, please use elements from Allister’s biography and structure your intro around some of the following lines: • **Our speaker is a former Microsoft transformation leader with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of technology-fuelled change • He is a trusted advisor to organisations including 3M, Cisco, Airbus, P&G, the BBC, and UK Sport • He is the author of ReadyAlready, and helps people become irreplaceable in an A.I.-driven world with a Future-Ready Mindset • This is especially relevant to us today because… • He’s here to share three human superpowers that will help you unlock a lifetime of positive change** • *\[always end with…\]* **Please welcome… ALLISTER FROST** *\[…applause\]* ## ALLISTER’S SHOW MUSIC ### Walk-on & Walk-off Tracks for Live Events ### Preferred Track #1 **Walk-on (21 secs)** segment 0:46-1:07 (fades out) **Walk-off (40 secs)** segment 2:29-3:09 (or fade out) ### Backup Track #2 **Walk-on (24 secs)** segment 0:00-0:24 (fade out) **Walk-off (31 secs)** segment 1:47-2:18 (or fade out) ### Backup Track #3 **Walk-on (26 secs)** segment 0:38-1:04 (fade out) **Walk-off (42 secs)** segment 2:32-3:14 (or fade out) ## SHOWREEL VIDEO ### **with clips from various speaking engagements** ![Allister Frost speaking at a professional event with a red background.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Showreel-Video-Thumbnail.jpg) [*Download from Vimeo*](https://vimeo.com/allisterspeaks/showreel) (select file size on next screen) ## ALLISTER’S LOGOS ### **exclusively for limited client use** ***(click to enlarge + download)*** ![Allister Frost logo](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/allister-frost-logo-black-with-FRM.png) ![ReadyAlready logo](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ReadyAlready-flash-1024x492.png) ![FROST Framework](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ReadyAlready-Growth-Cycle-FROST-Framework-1024x1024.png) ![Why logo](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Why-LARGE.png) ![What if logo](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/What-if-LARGE.png) ![Yes And logo](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Yes-and-LARGE.png) ***ReadyAlready is the registered trademark of Wild Orange Media Ltd*** Something missing? How can we help? Drop us a line at [*office@wildorangemedia.com*](mailto:office@wildorangemedia.com) --- ### [Client Testimonials](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/) **Published:** December 6, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)# Client Testimonials ![Allister Frost presenting at Golf Club Management Conference, Client Testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GCMA-on-stage-by-Gareth-Morgan-1024x768.jpeg)Photo credit: Gareth Morgan Our keynote speakers were brilliant, and I have taken so much from Allister Frost in particular. My ReadyAlready passport and pen will be by my side wherever I go. ![Darren Wood](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Darren-Wood.jpeg)****Darren Wood**** Partnership Manager, GCMA Allister Frost’s keynote talk about embracing change really resonated with me. He’s a great speaker and someone I highly recommend you seek out. *(He also said I had great hair in front of 200 people, so he clearly knows what he is talking about!)* 😊 ![Ben Lightfoot](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Ben-Lightfoot.jpeg)****Ben Lightfoot**** CFO and Founder, Suncroft Allister was incredible! He left us with a future-ready mindset and the drive to thrive! ![Ona Elezaj](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/One-Elezaj.jpeg)**Ona Elezaj** Microsoft Marketing Manager, Westcoast Cloud With a flick of wit + a spark of voice, it was Allister who conjured the magic!… transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary! Like a true wordsmith, he enchanted us with tales, wisdom, and a process that will help to turn the impossible into reality! Bravo! ![Alan Baker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Alan-Baker.jpeg)**Alan Baker** Director of Creative Rule Breaking, Xprez Events ![Allister Frost providing pest control services to a satisfied client.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Hakim-Group.png)![Allister Frost providing expert pest control services to satisfied clients.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/John-Deere.png)![Allister Frost providing pest control services to a satisfied client.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TD-Synnex.png)![Allister Frost providing pest control services to satisfied clients.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Swarovski.png)![Allister Frost providing pest control services to a satisfied client.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bupa.png)[![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) Allister’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and he had the audience fully engaged, laughing, and leaving inspired to make a positive change. The feedback from our team was extremely positive, with many commenting on how the session was the highlight of the conference for them. ![Allister Frost smiling, professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Kendall-Quigg.jpeg)**Kendall Quigg** Strategic Marketing Specialist at Emerson Allister, thank you; your speech was brilliant – you’re a master of your art! ![Helenna Mannila](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Helenna-Mannila.jpeg)**Helenna Mannila** Technical Specialist, Westcoast Cloud ![Allister Frost, pest control expert, providing reliable services to satisfied clients.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Amanda-Pelc.jpeg)**Amanda Pelc** Head of Corporate Services, Woodgate & Clark Allister was such a joy to work with from the beginning to the end of the booking. As soon as he arrived at the venue, the energy was palpable. Allister hit the right note from the off, mixing a lighthearted tone with a finely-honed, impactful presentation style. He delivered his entertaining, insightful content with humour and energy. ![Allister Frost with satisfied client, showcasing pest control success.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Allister-and-Liam.jpeg) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services to satisfied clients.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Jackson-Stops.png)![Allister Frost providing pest control services to a satisfied client.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GCMA-logo-in-black.png)![Allister Frost providing pest control services to satisfied clients.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Navan-Labs-logo.png)![Allister Frost providing pest control services to satisfied clients.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Emerson-logo.png)![Allister Frost providing pest control services to satisfied clients.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Woodgate-Clark-logo.png)[![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) [![Allister Conference in Sitges](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Allister-Conference-in-Sitges.jpg)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Allister-Conference-in-Sitges.jpg)A huge thank you for your session. You really related it to us, and it went down well. I got a whole lot from it too. Awesome job! ![Allister Frost, pest control expert, smiling for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Dean-Curtis.jpeg)****Dean Curtis**** Chief Executive Officer – LexisNexis Risk Solutions Thanks for responding so well to our brief. An excellent build from our past and preparation to create our future. ![Allister Frost, pest control expert, providing trusted services and satisfied customer testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Matt-Barker.jpeg)****Matt Barker**** Head of Performance, LexisNexis Risk Solutions A perfect close to the day. It was refreshing, relevant, and inspiring to so many, and the feedback reflects that too. ![Allister Frost, pest control expert, providing reliable services and positive client feedback.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Mike-Bui.jpeg)**Mike Bui** Programmes Marketing Manager, TD Synnex We really appreciated hearing your expert insights during the session. The audience was super engaged and absolutely loved the messaging! ![Allister Frost smiling in a red blazer for client testimonial photo.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abbie-Milton.jpeg)**Abbie Milton** Marketing Manager, Iress ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty We loved having you Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset! Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event, it was the perfect finish to our day. ![Balfour Beatty Everything Starts with an Idea](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Balfour-Beatty-Everything-Starts-with-an-Idea.jpg) ![Storck LED panel](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Storck-LED-panel.jpg) Thank you for your outstanding speech and workshop in Malmö, Sweden. Not only insightful and thought-provoking, but also truly inspiring to all attendees. Your expertise really captivated the audience, leaving a lasting impression. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting your keynote as a highlight of the conference. ![Andy Mutton](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Andy-Mutton.jpeg)**Andy Mutton** Managing Director, Storck UK & Travel Retail ![UK Sport, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/UK-Sport-Client-Logo.png)![Vodafone, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Vodafone.png)![ST Microelectronics, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ST-Microelectronics-2022.png)![Sanofi, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Sanofi-Client-Logo.png)![Allister Frost providing pest control services to a satisfied client.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/LexisNexis.png)[![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) [![SAPCA Conference in Nottingham](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SAPCA-Nottingham-1024x575.jpg)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SAPCA-Nottingham.jpg)Fantastic keynote by Allister Frost. A perfect kick-off session that focussed on a proactive approach to thinking and planning. ![Karen Maxwell](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Karen-Maxwell.jpeg)****Karen Maxwell**** Director, Karma Communications Great keynote by Allister Frost: *“A.I. will never replace you; embrace it to complement you.”* Cracking memorable delivery. ![Heidi Blackburn](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Heidi-Blackburn.jpeg)****Heidi Blackburn**** COO, Leisure DB Allister Frost was great to work with, from his video introduction to our briefing call and delivery on the day. His high-energy, thought-provoking session left delegates ready to take on the challenges of change using the Future-Ready Mindset method. ![Suzanne Roycroft](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Suzanne-Roycroft.jpeg)**Suzanne Roycroft** Head of Director Services, The Property Franchise Group Proudly represented by: ![Allister Frost, pest control specialist, providing expert services in the UK.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Speakers-Corner.png)![London Speaker Bureau, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/London-Speaker-Bureau-logo.png)![Allister Frost, pest control specialist, providing professional services in the UK.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gordon-Poole-Agency.png)![Champions Speakers, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Champions-logo.png)![A-Speakers, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/A-Speakers-2-logo.png)[![CSA, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CSA-logo.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CSA-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jennie-Neill.jpeg)**Jennie Neill** Head of HR and OD, Stockport Council We loved having Allister as our keynote speaker. A brilliant way to think forward and plan our upcoming year as we navigate the challenges and change ahead. ![Stockport Town Hall](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Stockport-Council-Town-Hall.jpg) ![Allister Frost speaking at Client Testimonials event, showcasing leadership and expertise.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Allister-Frost-at-Driver-Hire.jpg) Truly excellent. Delivered with energy and humour, and some brilliant, thought-provoking anecdotes. Your ReadyAlready process is very neat – simple to follow but with enough insight to make a real difference if people follow it. Thank you for being such a pleasure to work with. ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg)**Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group ![Iress, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Iress.png)![Barbour, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Barbour.png)![Storck, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Storck.png)![Balfour Beatty, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Balfour-Beatty.png)![SAPCA, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SAPCA.png)[![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ![Modern city buildings with reflective glass and sunset sky.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Seadrill.jpeg) What an awesome speaker. We booked Allister for our first all finance managers annual get-together. Allister could provide a talk that was extremely motivational, coupled with fun and laughter. Just amazing, and the team loved him. ![Allister Frost, pest control expert, shares positive client feedback on effective pest management se.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Paula-McNamara.jpeg)****Paula McNamara**** Director of Finance, Seadrill The perfect inspirational speaker for our team summit. Allister’s narrative helpfully framed our event, providing insightful context and positive motivation. Allister blends useful advice, and real-world examples with sprinkles of humour! Highly recommended. ![Jason Carter](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jason-Carter.jpeg)**Jason Carter** Global Transformation Director, Reckitt ![UBS, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/UBS-logo.png)![Lumenis, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Lumenis.png)![REHAU, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/REHAU-logo.png)![The BBC, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/BBC.png)![Worldpay, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Worldpay-Client-Logo.png)[![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png) A fantastic display of passion, energy and a dash of humour, keeping our workforce focused and engaged whilst delivering some important messages. I highly recommend Allister to other organisations, you won’t be disappointed. ![Aaron Watson](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Aaron-Watson.jpeg)**Aaron Watson** HSEQ Manager, P.P. O’Connor Wow, what a great guest speaker! Energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate. Allister gave the right balance of entertainment/humour with thought-provoking takeaways that kept everyone engaged. My US colleagues were super impressed and are discussing having Allister speak at their conference in the US next year. ![Rhinefield House Hotel](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Rhinefield-House-Hotel-TW-685x1024.jpeg) ![Allister Frost, pest control expert, smiling for a photo in a professional setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Mike-Street.jpeg)**Mike Street** Vice President Europe, TW Metals Europe Proudly represented by: ![My Speaker, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/My-Speaker-logo.png)![JLA, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/JLA-logo.png)![The Closer, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/The-Closer-logo.png)![Scarlett Entertainment, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Scarlett-Entertainment-logo.png)![Speaker Agency, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Speaker-Agency-logo.png)[![Allister Frost, pest control specialist from Allister's Pest G.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chartwell-Speakers.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chartwell-Speakers.png) ![Lumley Castle](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Lumley-Castle.webp) Allister was a pleasure to work with from start to finish, totally grasped the brief and delivered a clear, thought-provoking insight into how we can use our superpowers to overcome anything. We, as a team, are now ready for the journey ahead. ![Allister Frost, pest control expert, providing trusted client testimonials for effective pest manage.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Richard-Grove.jpeg)**Richard Grove** Chief Operating Officer, Bespoke Hotels Group Allister Frost was the perfect guest speaker for our senior leadership event. He took time to understand our business challenges and opportunities, tailoring an energetic and engaging session. I recommend Allister if you’re looking to inspire your team to keep pace with a fast-changing world and get future-ready. ![Allister Frost, pest control expert, smiling confidently for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Claire-Hart.jpeg)**Claire Hart** Group Sales, Marketing & Communications Director, Cala Homes ![3M, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/3M-Client-Logo.png)![Pfizer, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Pfizer-Client-Logo.png)![Rightmove, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Rightmove.png)![Oxford University Press, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Oxford-University-Press.png)![Bloomberg, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Bloomberg.png)[![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png) I’ve hired Allister twice to speak at conferences in Croatia. He’s been our highest rated speaker for two years in a row. He always leaves a lasting impression of positivity and self-belief. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Dunja-Ivana-Ballon.jpg)**Dunja Ivana Ballon** Director, HURA ![Autodesk event](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Autodesk-Event.jpg)Allister did a fabulous job holding the attention of our audiences! We’ve heard rave reviews from our guests and co-workers and we are thrilled with the impact of his message. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Tracy-Sheridan.jpg)**Tracy Sheridan** Senior Manager Global Channel Marketing Development, Autodesk USA ![TCS (Tata Consulting Services), a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Tata-Consultancy-Services.png)![Cummins Turbo Technologies, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Cummins-1.png)![Intuit, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/intuit.png)![Simplyhealth, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Simplyhealth-1.png)![Hyundai, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Hyundai.png)[![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png) ![Toilet paper rolls on yellow background, symbolising cleanliness and hygiene in pest control.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/toilet-paper-on-yellow-background-space-for-text-2023-11-27-05-23-07-utc-Small.jpg) We heard about a cleaning robot, bubbles, and toilet paper. Lots of valuable insights, with jokes and funny digressions. I haven’t seen such a charismatic presenter for a long time. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Anna-Truchhta.jpg)**Anna Truchta** Project Manager, Empressia Software House Allister Frost was headline speaker at our conference. From the feedback, his keynote was the best. Allister is a brilliant speaker for top-level events for CEOs and CMOs. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Oksana-Knyazeva.jpg)**Oksana Knyazeva** Marketing & Sales Director, IPM Allister delivered an eye-opening talk that stimulated informed discussion during and after his talk. Exactly what we wanted. I have no hesitation in recommending him. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Don-Taylor.jpg)**Don Taylor** Chair, Learning Technologies Conference His presentation was engaging, professional, entertaining and his Future-Ready Mindset talk was extremely thought-provoking – the feedback from our attendees was fantastic, and we could not have been happier with the outcome. Allister even spent time chatting with our guests post-event which was lovely. I highly recommend Allister for any corporate function. ![Cisco logo on a large outdoor sign with company branding.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cisco.jpg)![Scott Macfarlane](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Scott-Macfarlane.jpeg)**Scott McFarlane** SMB Territory Manager, Cisco The feedback about Allister was terrific. He understood the brief perfectly and was a very impressive speaker. Our evaluation forms gave him the highest marks of all our speakers and I would be pleased to recommend him. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Christina-Ewbank.jpg)****Christina Ewbank**** The Alliances of Chambers in East Sussex We had incredible feedback, with the consensus being that Allister was our best speaker yet! I recommend Allister to any organisation looking for a highly credible, insightful speaker to inspire their audience. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Harley-Young.jpg)**Harley Young** Event Manager, NarrativeExtra Allister was terrific. He was both engaging and enthusiastic throughout his presentation. Having Allister first in the keynote theatre was a real plus, as his passion gave a kick-start to event proceedings. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Alisdair-Ross.jpg)**Alisdair Ross** Event Operations Manager, Capita Travel & Events Allister Frost has spoken at many AITO conferences, sharing his vast knowledge and expertise. He is highly professional and also very easy to work with. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Kate-Kenward.jpg)**Kate Kenward** Executive Director, AITO [Check date availability right now](https://allisterspeaks.com/holdyourdate/) --- ### Want audience feedback like that? Share a little information about your needs and we’ll get back to you in a flash! ## Get in touch TODAY --- Check your event dates against Allister’s bookings diary and get tailored advice and ideas to help you create memorable moments for your audiences. --- ### [Training & Consulting](https://allisterspeaks.com/training-consulting/) **Published:** April 21, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/training-coffee-break-2.jpg)# BUILDING TEAMS THAT THRIVE ON CHANGE ### THE AWARD-WINNING TRAINING PROVIDER AND CHANGE CONSULTANCY Allister Frost delivers practical learning experiences, workshops, and coaching to help busy professionals race towards their future success. [](#scroll) ### Tomorrow’s leaders *never* stop learning… ## WANTED! Future-ready thinkers ![Allister Frost delivering training and consulting services for pest control professionals.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/5-Steps-Brain-Model.png) Allister will: --- Boost employee morale and satisfaction Inspire and motivate your talent pool Align your teams with strategic objectives Cultivate the next generation of leaders ## Create the future with training from Allister Frost We design and deliver **in-person workshops and online learning experiences** that help leaders and their teams adapt and evolve in this transformative age. Our programmes are all centred around developing the skills needed to establish a **Future-Ready Mindset** across an organisation, using the principles embedded within the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Whether you work in HR, L&D, Sales, or marketing, get in touch to explore how we can work together. [Get in touch today](#get-in-touch) ![Allister Frost consulting in a large group](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/A7302977.jpg) ![Wild Orange Media logo](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Wild-Orange-Horizontal-Logo-500x154-1.png)Allister Frost founded Wild Orange Media in 2012 to provide training, consulting, and advisory work in organisations facing the need for business transformation. We serve all industries, across the public and private sector, from our HQ in the United Kingdom. Most projects we support fall within three primary competency areas: - **Change Management** - **Organisational Design and Cultural Transformation** - **Leadership Coaching & Development** By combining a deep understanding of technological and societal changes with proven marketing and communication skills, we help our clients identify opportunities for short-term improvements and long-term growth. **We’re all about seizing the quick wins and pursuing the big wins.** To provide focussed, hands-on support, we work with only a few selected clients to ensure we can bring the attention-to-detail needed to address their unique challenges. Get in touch to check availability and explore your options. [Request a support call](/discoverycall/) ### Great teams, upskilled and inspired # From Trainee to Future-Ready “Allister Frost has trained at many of our conferences, sharing his vast knowledge and expertise. **He is highly professional and very easy to work with.”** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Kate-Kenward.jpg)**Kate Kenward** Exec Director, AITO **“Allister caught the attention of everyone and kept the pace upbeat** with an extremely well-prepared workshop on how to hit the sweet spot of Gen Z.” ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Kristine-Christiansen.jpg)**Kristine Christiansen** Head of Comms, Swarovski **“This course was outstanding**. My expectations of an advanced course were high, and this far outstripped them. Allister was a superb trainer.” ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Catherine-Hinchcliff.jpg)**Catherine Hinchcliff** Head of Corporate Marketing, Bidfood --- You can read more testimonials [**here**](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/ "Testimonials")! --- ### Contact form Get in touch for a taste of Allister’s famously helpful support and advice. You can even ask to pencil a future event date in his calendar\* to secure your place at the front of the queue! \* *free and without obligation* ### Off we go! ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-in-Brown-Shacket.png) Tell Allister what’s on your mind and he’ll be in touch very soon. --- ### [About Allister](https://allisterspeaks.com/allister/) **Published:** November 22, 2024 **Author:** Tom Finley **Content:** ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Meet-Allister-1024x576.jpg) ABOUT *ALLISTER* [](#scroll) ![Allister Frost Seated at Desk](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Allister-Desk-Square-1000x1000-1-1024x1024.jpg) ## Allister Frost is on a mission to # SAVE ONE MILLION WORKING LIVES ## from the deadly complacency of their comfort zone [![Allister Frost, Future-Ready Mindset Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Allister-Frost-Photo-Site-Icon-Favicon-100x100-1.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Allister-Frost-Photo-Site-Icon-Favicon-100x100-1.png)## Allister Frost Biography **Full Name:**Allister Frost**Profession:**Keynote Speaker, Author, Thought Leader**Specialisms:**Future-Ready Mindset, Change Management, Work-Life Longevity**Notable Achievements:**UK Digital Marketing Personality of the Year (2013 & 2019), UK Speaker Awards Winner**Former Roles:**Microsoft Head of Digital Marketing Strategy, Kimberly-Clark Marketing Leader **Published Author**:**Ready*Already***: The Future-Ready Mindset to Keep Up, Stand Out and Shape What’s Next***Personal Mission:******“I am saving one million working lives from premature irrelevance in our rapidly changing world“*** Allister Frost inspires working people to thrive through continuous change and uncertainty with a Future-Ready Mindset. He is a former Microsoft leader, change and transformation thought leader, and a sought-after motivational speaker and leadership coach. He is the bestselling author of ***ReadyAlready: The Future-Ready Mindset to Keep Up, Stand Out, and Shape What’s Next***, published in September 2025. Allister Frost, driven by his own career experiences in global businesses, focuses on helping working people achieve their full potential by becoming future-ready for life. He brings a deep understanding of the psychological barriers to change and the hidden ways that technological advances reshape human interactions and societal norms. Allister’s talks and workshops are energising, inspiring, fun, and action-packed. He has spoken on over 500 stages at company conferences and industry events in over 30 countries around the world. ![Allister Frost Award Winning Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Award.jpg)*Allister Frost is a winner at **The Speaker Awards** and has received peer recognition as **UK Digital Marketing Personality of the Year** (2013 & 2019), **Best Virtual Event Keynote Speaker** , and **Cannes Lions Awards for outstanding creativity**.* ### Why is Allister’s mission important? Half of all business change initiatives fail to achieve their desired goals, costing organisations time, money, and competitive advantage. The way staff respond to change is a major success factor, with 39% of employees saying they actively resist change to slow its progress. Others may doggedly seek to maintain and prolong outdated processes in a futile attempt to protect the status quo. Change fatigue and a fear of uncertainty are real and increasingly prevalent. Together, they constitute a recipe for stagnation and organisational collapse. Allister Frost inspires leaders and teams to develop a more positive relationship with change so they can strengthen and grow faster as one. He helps shape the forward-thinking culture needed to seize the opportunities of today and the near future so busy professionals can keep up and excel, no matter what life throws at them next. To learn more about how Allister Frost can help you embed a Future-Ready Mindset at your next c-level away-day, staff conference, or industry event, [get in touch here.](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact") --- ![Allister Frost Future-Ready Mindset Expert](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Allister-Feb-2025-Square-1EXP5023.jpg)“***After working with me, your colleagues will revel anew in the miracle of their work, hunt down positive changes to improve each day, and unite as one to build the bright future they deserve.***“ ![Allister signature](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Allister-signature-in-white-1024x916.png) ## ALL THIS, AND MORE… *WHEN YOU BOOK ALLISTER FOR YOUR EVENT* ![Allister Frost on stage with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-on-stage-with-ReadyAlready-Passport.jpg) The Promise **Allister will inspire you and your colleagues to think differently about change.** He will stretch their comfort zones and spark fresh optimism for the future. By showing you how to embark with confidence on a shared journey towards exciting growth possibilities, he will help you unlock your full career and life potential. ![Allister thank you video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/thumb-1024x576.jpg) The Promise **You will enjoy Allister Frost’s famously helpful support before, during, and after your event.** He will host a briefing call to discuss your goals and help you shape your event for success. He will develop a tailormade delivery for your audience and offer to help you sustain the positive momentum after the event. If needed, he will even write a short script to help you introduce him on the big day. ![Allister Frost speaking with event attendees](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Allister-Roundtable-Wide-1024x463.jpg) The Promise **By booking Allister Frost, he will become an integral part of your event, supporting wherever he can.** He will work closely with your event organisers and venue staff to plan logistics and audio-visual requirements. It takes a team to move mindsets, and Allister Frost’s expertise, know-how, and unwavering commitment will be central to your success. [Check your date here](/holdyourdate) Hello from the Future-Ready Mindset thought leader + speaker ![Frustrated man holding head with lightning storm behind him.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Thumbnail-Mind-Shock.jpg) [Book a Chat With Allister](https://allisterspeaks.com/talkwithallister/) ## FAQs #### Your Questions Answered How long are Allister’s keynotes?It depends on your overall agenda and how long you would like Allister’s help! Most of his keynotes run for 45-60minutes, but some are as brief as 30 minutes. Allister often follows his keynote talk with interactive hands-on workshop experiences, where smaller groups spark fresh ideas using the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Get in touch as soon as you have your draft event agenda so Allister can offer advice about how best to plan your day and get the best value for money from his involvement. --- Let’s talk money! How much does a keynote talk cost?There’s no fixed fee for a keynote talk because every event is different. Last year, his in-person fees ranged from £0 (a local charity) to £28,000 (a long-haul business conference). Once we know more about your event and requirements, we can give a fixed price quote that includes all travel and accommodation expenses. The fee varies by event location and the agreed deliverables *(for example, would like a short keynote talk or an interactive workshop with a book signing and 28-Day Activation kits and programme?)* Fees also vary across the year based on demand, so a smart way to get a bigger bang for your buck is to book Allister during quieter months, or even on Mondays or Fridays when there are fewer competing demands for his support. --- What do I get when I book Allister?Your fee will cover Allister’s briefing, preparation and delivery time, plus any travel, visa, and accommodation expenses. Many event organisers also like to offer gifts of signed books, Ready*Already*® Passport Kits, and other goodies to their delegates, so these can also be included. Most importantly, you’ll get Allister’s famously helpful support before and after your event, plus his full attention and legendary energy on the big day! Subject to his onward travel commitments, Allister will be happy to support your event as much or as little as you need, so if you’d like him to sign books, attend a VIP lunch, or meet key people, just let him know during your pre-booking chat. If he’s at your event, he’s there for you. He’ll even help you put the chairs out if needed! --- How can I book Allister to speak?There are ***two*** ways to book Allister for your event: - EASY: **Book through your Speaker Bureau** Allister is proud to be represented by some of the world’s leading speaker bureaus including the London Speaker Bureau, Celebrity Speakers, and Gordon Poole Agency. Speaker bureaus are experts at managing all aspects of speaker bookings, and also will provide helpful support and advice. If your company already has a preferred speaker bureau, you can ask them to book Allister Frost for your event. One of the benefits of working through your preferred bureau is that your booking contract will come from an existing supplier. - ALSO EASY: **Book directly with Allister’s Team** If you don’t have a speaker bureau partner, you can book Allister Frost directly through Wild Orange Media Ltd, his own company. His team will handle all aspects of contracting and invoicing, and guide you through the process smoothly. Drop an email to to find out more. --- Can we record the keynote or stream it to remote delegates?We understand that not everyone can make it to the room on the big day. Our standard terms prohibit recording so please request our prior written consent if you wish to record the session. Consent will only be granted where the recording is exclusively for internal use or for live streaming to hybrid delegates. Alternatively, if you wish to resell the recording or use it for commercial external marketing, please let us know so we can agree on a usage licence. --- Will Allister customise his talk for our audience?Yes. Your audience deserves better than a ‘canned’ speech. Once we are booked, we will arrange a briefing call with you to understand your specific challenges, industry jargon, and event themes. Allister will then weave these insights into his talk to ensure it resonates deeply with your audience and helps you achieve your event goals. --- What are Allister’s audio-visual (AV) requirements?Allister likes to keep things simple to ensure your event runs smoothly. He prefer to wear a lavalier (clip-on) or headset microphone so he can move around the stage freely. For slides, he always prefers to run these from PowerPoint from his own Windows laptop so he can control interactive elements like live polling and Q&As from the stage. Get in touch to request his full AV Rider [here](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you provide copies of slides for the audience?As a general rule: No! Why? Because a great presentation is more than a series of slides; it’s everything that happens in the room, in the moment. And the best slides are just visual hooks, carefully designed to be so simple they can be instantly understood and digested. You won’t need copies of Allister’s slides after his talk, but he will want to share advance details of some of the other optional materials he can provide that will have far greater value to your audience. These include signed books and his famous ReadyAlready Passports. You can discuss these on your briefing call with Allister. --- Where can I find your bio and photos for our agenda?That’s easy! Pop over to our [Media & Event Kit page](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/ "Media & Event Kit") where you’ll find everything you should need. If you need something else, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you have a rockstar “rider”? (e.g. only pink M&Ms?)Not at all. Allister is famously low-maintenance. He doesn’t need scented candles, a specific brand of Himalayan sparkling water, or a ceramic bowl of perfectly ripe avocados. A glass of still tap water (room temperature, never chilled) and an attentive audience is all the fuel he needs. Oh, and black filter coffee; he drinks a lot of coffee! --- My speaker bureau recommended you, but can I book direct?We love working with our speaker bureau partners, and they have recommended Allister for a good reason! Please book through the bureau that first recommended Allister to you. We’ll work closely with them—and you—to create a memorable, mind-shifting experience for your audience. By working through your favourite bureau, you get the best of both worlds. --- Do we need to book your travel/flights and hotel?To save you the admin headache, we typically handle all of Allister’s travel arrangements and add the expenses to your invoice. We can either invoice you separately for these costs after your event (receipts provided) or we can agree a Fixed Travel Buyout (FTB) in advance where we will invoice an agreed amount to cover likely travel costs. 90% of Allister’s direct bookings include a FTB as this simplifies the admin for you and gives you a guaranteed fixed cost well in advance of your event. If your organisation requires you to book travel through a specific portal, we are happy to work with that so you can book Allister’s travel and hotel directly. --- Do you even own a tie? We’ve only seen you in colourful ‘shackets’!Allister does own a few suits and ties, and enjoys dressing up for formal events. However, he believes the future is bright, so likes to dress to match. We describe his sartorial style as “smart-creative / dad-vibes” but you can call it whatever you like! Allister likes to bring energy and colour to your stage, not look like he’s there to audit your Tax Records. --- What happens if you have to cancel?In over 15 years of speaking, Allister has never missed an event. He once went to the wrong address, but only because the client made a mistake, and this was quickly rectified with a fast-paced taxi ride! Problems like this are extremely rare thanks to our rigorous booking process. Should a genuine force majeure emergency occur, Allister is part of a tight-knit network of professional speakers. He will work with you to help you secure a high-quality replacement who matches your event’s tone and budget. --- We’re broke! Will you speak for free?Allister helps selected not-for-profit groups and aims to speak pro bono six times each year. His current focus is on supporting the social care sector. Pro bono slots can be booked no more than 8 weeks in advance and are exclusively available when booked directly through Wild Orange Media. Your NFP will only be billed for travel and accommodation costs incurred where these exceed £100. If your NFP would love to tap into Allister’s experience but is working with a budget of hope and borrowed paperclips, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Why is Allister’s name so difficult to spell?We’ve seen everything over the years. Alistair Frost, Alastair Frost, Alasdair Frost, Allyster Fraust, Alice Frost, and our favourite, ***All-Star Frost*** (thank you autocorrect!). But the correct spelling is **Allister Frost.** And, no, we don’t know why it’s spelled that way. Even he spells it wrongly some days! The pronunciation is simple though. It’s **“AL-iss-tuh”.** ***FUN FACT:* Allister Frost** knows only one other **Allister Frost** and, confusingly, that **Allister Frost** worked at Microsoft in the UK at the exact same time as this **Allister Frost**. What are the chances?! On LinkedIn, the correct **Allister Frost** is this guy: (If you know or are an **Allister Frost,** please get in touch. Maybe we could host an **Allister Frost** party one day and compare misspellings) --- [Another question? Just ask!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ## ALLISTER FROST IS REPRESENTED BY SOME OF HIS GLOBAL SPEAKER BUREAU PARTNERS [![A Speakers, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/A-Speakers-2-logo.png) ](/a-speakers) [![CSA, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/CSA-logo.png) ](/celebrityspeakers) [![Champions Speakers, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Champions-logo.png) ](/champions) [![Chartwell Speakers, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Chartwell-Speakers.png)](/ChartwellSpeakers) [![The Closer, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/The-Closer-logo.png) ](/thecloser) [![Allister Frost, pest control specialist, providing professional services in the UK.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gordon-Poole-Agency.png) ](/GordonPooleAgency) [![Inspirational Speakers, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Inspirational-Speakers-logo-2.png) ](/InspirationalSpeakers) [![JLA, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/JLA-logo.png) ](/JLA) [![London Speaker Bureau, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/London-Speaker-Bureau-logo.png) ](/LondonSpeakerBureau) [![My Speaker, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/My-Speaker-logo.png)](/MySpeaker) [![Raise The Bar, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raise-The-Bar-logo.png)](/RaiseTheBar) [![Speaker Agency, a speaker bureau representing Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Speaker-Agency-logo.png) ](/SpeakerAgency) [![Allister Frost, pest control specialist, providing expert services in the UK.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Speakers-Corner.png) ](/SpeakersCorner) **Got a preferred bureau partner? Book Allister Frost through them.** **Contact your appointed bureau and ask them to check Allister’s availability for your event date** # AS SEEN… ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-1-Small.jpg)*On Stage* Inspiring Keynote Talks ![Allister Frost delivering virtual keynote talk](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Virtual.jpg) *On Screen* Virtual and Hybrid Events ![Allister Frost being filmed on camera](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Back-of-Canon-EOS-Camera-in-studio.jpg) *On Demand* Pre-recorded Talks and Training ![Philips, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Philips.png) ![GE, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/GE-General-Electric.png) ![Simplyhealth, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Simplyhealth-1.png) ![UK Sport, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/UK-Sport-Client-Logo.png) ![Worldpay, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Worldpay-Client-Logo.png) [![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Will-you-be-next-RED.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ### For Allister’s biography, photos, and more, visit the [Media & Event Kit](/media-kit/) --- ### [Contact](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) **Published:** April 24, 2015 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ## Let’s Talk --- **General Enquiries** office@wildorangemedia.com **Booking Enquiries** bookings@allisterspeaks.com **Booking Lines** UK [+44 208 150 1990](tel:+442081501990) US [+1 888 320 1990](tel:+18883201990) (toll free) **Allister’s direct line** [+44 7974 565 382](tel:+447974565382) [WhatsApp Allister](https://wa.me/447974565382) **Postal Address** Wild Orange Media Office 9, Elm Cottages Godstone Hill Godstone RH9 8AH United Kingdom ### Send a message to Allister ***How can we help?*** Share more here and we’ll be in touch very soon. --- ### [Keynotes](https://allisterspeaks.com/keynotes/) **Published:** April 27, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)![Allister Frost speaking at Media & Event Planning Kit event, showcasing media and event planning exp.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Allister-Frost-Keynote-Speaker-8.jpg) [](https://allisterspeaks.com/keynotes/) CAREER-BOOSTING KEYNOTES FROM THE TOP-RATED MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER [](#videos) ## WATCH ALLISTER IN ACTION ### **Allister Frost Showreel Video** ![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/2124461678-b61e35d4ada2c10abc7b2508c65f128a05932becaa6652734ea2f0cba6d33abe-d_640?region=us) ### **Ready*Already*® in Liverpool, UK** ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at Carlisle Support Services event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Carlisle-Thumbnail-Small.jpg) Excerpts from Allister Frost’s live keynote at the Innovation Lab at the ACC Liverpool. ### **Opening Keynote in Gdańsk**, **Poland** ![Infoshare video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Infoshare-Thumbnail-1920x1080-Small.jpg) Infoshare is the largest tech conference in Central & Eastern Europe. Allister Frost opened this annual conference with a keynote about embedding a Future-Ready Mindset. ### Studio Mini-film: **Five Steps to Success** ![Allister Frost with My Thing box](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/5-Steps-Thumbnail.jpg) A short film where Allister explains the five core steps in the FROST Framework. A virtual production by Morden Wolf powered by smart green screen technology and Unreal Engine. ### **Are You Leading The WRONG Way?** ![Are You Leading Your Team The Wrong Way](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Are-You-Leading-Your-Team-The-Wrong-Way.jpg) How successful leaders lead change and get ready for thefuture. The 5 Step System to stay ahead of constant change and crush your comfort zone. *Based in the UK, near London, Allister works globally with clients in over 30 countries:* UK **•** GERMANY• FRANCE **•** ICELAND • USA **•** BRAZIL • UAE **•** CHINA • THAILAND [Enquire for your event date now](/holdyourdate/) ![Allister Frost on stage in front of slide that reads You Know Me](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Allister-Frost-You-Know-Me.jpg) - **Activating Your Superpowers:** How to harness curiosity, imagination, and collaboration to solve today’s challenges and spot tomorrow’s opportunities. - **The ReadyAlready Principle:** Recognising that you already have the “human magic” needed to thrive; you just need the framework to switch it on. - **The Power of Collective Momentum:** How shared Future-Readiness turns a group of individuals into a high-performing, unstoppable team. > “Energetic, engaging, and entertaining, packed full of Allister’s trademark humour, personality, and positivity” #### Keynote #1: All-Hands Inspiration ALLISTER’S MOST REQUESTED TALK ## Ready*Already!* ![Allister Frost delivering a keynote speech at the pest control industry event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/5-Stars.png) Unlocking Your Personal Future-Ready Mindset In a world of constant headlines about AI, the secret to navigating tomorrow isn’t found in software; it is already waiting to be unlocked through the work you do every day. In this high-energy, all-hands keynote, Allister Frost shows how every member of the team—no matter their position—possesses a set of **uniquely human superpowers** that no machine can match. By reanimating our natural **curiosity, imagination, and collaboration,** we don’t just keep up with change; we lead it from exactly where we are today. Through relatable stories and his proprietary **ReadyAlready** framework, Allister reveals how Future-Readying empowers you to see fresh possibilities in familiar places. You will discover how to **amplify your impact** and **achieve more in your current mission,** replacing the uncertainty of the unknown with the confidence to bring your most vital, “human” self to work ***every single day.*** ***Ideal for:*** All-Hands Conferences, Annual Kick-offs, Town Halls, and Internal Growth Summits ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Speaker-Awards-logo-design.png)> “*When booking Allister, you get someone who is a professional at what he does, with plenty of experience of being on stage, and who can comfortably command an audience of any size*“ > > Judges’ Accreditation: **The Speaker Awards** ## **Other Keynotes from Allister Frost** #### Keynote #2: Leadership / Strategic ## Beyond Change Fatigue Future-Readying Teams for Collective Success **Change fatigue is more than a team morale issue; it is a hidden tax on your bottom line.** Leadership in a fast-changing world requires a mental shift that **replaces “threat-rigidity” with “possibility-thinking.”** Allister Frost shares his framework for transitioning teams from the exhaustion of being reactive to the energy of being **Future-Ready**. By focusing on what the future needs next, Allister empowers leaders to revitalise their professional lives and save their teams from premature obsolescence. **Key messages:** - **The Future-Readying Process:** Why Future-Readiness must be a continuous individual and team practice, not a “one-time fix.” - **Reigniting Collective Belief:** Practical leadership advice for sparking imagination and a shared belief in the magic of the possible. - **The Proactivity Pivot:** Creating the psychological safety and agency your team needs to seek out improvements before being asked. [![Allister in Yellow Shacket with Spirax Sarco](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Yellow-Shacket-with-Spirax-Sarco.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** C-Suite Events, Senior Management Retreats, and Board-level Strategy Sessions > **“**Thanks for responding so well to our brief. **An excellent build from our past and preparation to create our future”** > > Matt Barker, LexisNexis Risk Solutions --- [![Allister Frost delivering keynote speech at the Keynote Highlights event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-Speaking-for-Focus-Travel.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** People & Culture Forums, CPO & HR Director Summits, and Transformation Leadership Days > **“Allister’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious,** and he had the audience fully engaged, laughing, and leaving inspired to make a positive change. The feedback was extremely positive, \[it\] was **the highlight of the conference”** > > Kendall Quigg, Emerson #### Keynote #3: People / Culture ## The Future-Ready Organisation Building a Culture of Vitality and Continuous Readiness **Traditional “change management” is no longer enough; we must create the human energy needed to keep up and thrive through it.** For HR and People leaders, Allister explores how to embed a **Future-Ready Mindset** into the heart of an organisation’s culture. This strategic session provides a roadmap to move from a reactive “fix-it” mentality to a state of Future-Readying, where **employees feel vital, relevant, and secure in their professional growth.** **Key messages:** - **From Retention to Vitality:** Protecting your talent from obsolescence and reenergising their commitment to the organisation. - **Cultivating Psychological Agency:** Strategies for building the confidence employees need to lean into change rather than retreat from it. - **The Human-Centric Roadmap:** A framework for embedding Future-Readiness as a continuous practice, ensuring people maintain their relevance alongside evolving technology. --- #### Keynote #4: Tech / Innovation ## The Human Edge Future-Readying Potential in a Tech-Fuelled Era **An IT upgrade is only half the battle; the real challenge is the human capacity to adopt and adapt to it.** As a **former Microsoft leader,** Allister Frost knows that deploying technology is the easy part. This keynote explores the intersection of human potential and technological evolution, positioning the **Future-Ready Mindset** as the essential operating system for a digital world. Allister shows how to move beyond the fear of displacement toward a state of proactive collaboration with technology. **Key messages:** - **The Adoption Gap:** Why a Future-Ready Mindset determines whether an IT investment succeeds or stalls. - **Harnessing Human Superpowers:** Activating the curiosity and imagination needed to find “human-shaped” opportunities in a machine-led world. - **The Continuous Readiness Loop:** Moving from a one-off “digital fix” to an ongoing practice of Future-Readying that evolves alongside automation. [![Allister in Pink Shacket in Berlin](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-in-Pink-Shacket-in-Berlin.jpg) ***Ideal for:*** Technology & Innovation Summits, Industry Trade Shows, and Digital Transformation Days > **“**Allister did a fabulous job holding the attention of our audiences! We’ve heard **rave reviews… and are thrilled with the impact of his message”** > > Tracy Sheridan, Autodesk USA ## “An entertaining, award-winning performance, *delivered with genuine energy, mind-shifting expertise, and priceless advice*“ ![Allister Frost on stage with ReadyAlready Passport](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Allister-Frost-on-stage-with-ReadyAlready-Passport.jpg) We loved having you Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset. Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event. ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty ### 14 Years Professional Speaker ### 500+ STAGES Global Reach ### 34 Countries Live Performances --- ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ## What bookers say *“We really appreciated hearing your expert insights. **The audience was super engaged and absolutely loved the messaging!”*** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abbie-Milton.jpeg)**Abbie Milton** Marketing Manager, Iress ***“Truly excellent. Delivered with energy and humour, and some brilliant, thought-provoking anecdotes.** The ReadyAlready process is simple but with enough insight to make a real difference.”* ![Allister Frost smiling professional portrait for client testimonials.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Richard-Owen-Hughes.jpeg) **Richard Owen-Hughes** Group Marketing Director, Driver Hire Group *“We loved having Allister as our keynote speaker. **A brilliant way to think forward and plan our upcoming year** as we navigate the challenges and change ahead.”* ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jennie-Neill.jpeg)**Jennie Neill** Head of HR and OD, Stockport Council Plus: more testimonials **[here](https://allisterspeaks.com/testimonials/ "Testimonials")**! ![Allister Frost speaking at Keynotes event, professional speaker and expert.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Reasons-not-to-book-Allister-Frost.png)SIX GOOD REASONS *NOT* to Book Allister Frost Please do ***not*** ask Allister Frost to speak at your event if any of the following apply: 1. **Your industry echo chamber holds all the answers** - You are only interested in listening to that perennial industry specialist who knows your sector inside-out, talks in jargon, and has a recycled case study for every scenario. They are the best source of fresh ideas for you. 2. **You prefer celebrity selfies over actionable insights** - You know that the only way you will sell enough event tickets or convince your staff members to turn up is by headlining with the empty calories of a household name. Or, if your budget’s tight, maybe a *“There’s no ‘I’ in Team”* former sports person, a *“Let’s Reach the Summit”* mountaineer, or an *“AI is the new electricity”* buzzword bingo futurist. You prefer the garnish to the main course; it’s only a motivational placebo anyway. 3. **You’d like a presenter, not a speaker** - At your favourite events, content is spoon-fed to the audience through a spray of bullet points, pie charts, and illegible data tables. You want your audience to passively consume information until they can take no more. 4. **You have a strict grey suits only policy** - Your colleagues consider colour, positivity, and optimism “a bit much” at a serious corporate event. You also worry that a speaker who refuses to shelter behind the lectern might unsettle your audience. Energy and movement are for the playground, not here. 5. **You want to pay for the hour, not the outcome** - You will only pay your speaker for the short time they are actually speaking, not the decades of priceless experience they will share with your audience and the lasting behaviour changes it will spark. If you could, you’d book your speaker on Groupon; they’re only saying words out loud, it’s not rocket surgery! 6. **You are 100% happy with the status quo** - It would be best if your audience members do not think, feel, or act differently after attending your event. You are merely looking to hire someone to fill a bit of time on the agenda, ideally with some generic content you can forget the moment the bar opens at the end of the day. [Still interested? Let’s talk!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) Tap into Allister Frost’s Unrivalled Business Experience Construction and Property**Commercial and Residential Real Estate, Builders, Contractors, Demolition, Property Sales and Management, Materials Suppliers, and Investors** Clients include: *John Deere, Balfour Beatty, Cala Homes, JLL, Builders Merchants Association, PP O’Connor, REHAU, Rightmove, Jackson-Stops, Sports & Play Construction Association, Property Franchise Group, Greystar* [Read more](https://allisterspeaks.com/construction-property/) Technology, Internet, and Ecommerce**Hardware, Software, IT Developers, System Builders, Distributors, Managed Services, Microsoft Partners, Cloud Services, Testing, and Support** Clients include: *Samsung, Cisco, Philips, Bosch, Dassault Systems, Vodafone, Navan Labs, Microsoft, Dataquest, Codestone, TD Synnex, 101 Ways, Autodesk, Phoenix, Resonate, Iress, ST Microelectronics, Westcoast Cloud, Kneat Solutions* [Read more](https://allisterspeaks.com/technology-internet-ecommerce/) Retail, Manufacturing, and Engineering**Food, Drinks, Raw Materials, Manufacturers, Farming, Brands, Retailers, Consumer Goods, and Industrial Components** Clients include: *Pladis, Grace Foods, Hakim Group, Danone, Ölgerðin, Storck, Emerson, Barbour, Airbus, ST Microelectronics, Umicore, Seadrill, Spirax Sarco, Coca Cola, TW Metals, Haleon, Hyundai, J&J, Swarovski, KIA, P&G* [Read more](https://allisterspeaks.com/retail-manufacturing) Health, Social Care and Pharmaceutical**Hospitals, HCPs (doctors and nurses), Medical Centres, Insurers, Biotech, Dentists, Drugs and Medication, MedTech, and Life Sciences** Clients include: *Pfizer, Sanofi, NHS, Amgen, Bupa, GE HealthCare, NHS Professionals, Leica Microsystems, Beckman Coulter, Macopharma, Astellas, Takeda, Alcon, Novo Nordisk, Unilabs, Simplyhealth* [Read more](https://allisterspeaks.com/healthcare-pharmaceutical/) Travel, Entertainment, and Lifestyle**Hotels, Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Destination Promoters, Leisure & Entertainment, and Luxury Goods** Clients include: *Best Western, AITA, Focus Travel, SITA, Abu Dhabi Tourism, The Bespoke Hotel Group, Watchfinder, Swarovski, Merkur Casinos, Golf Course Managers Association* [Read more](https://allisterspeaks.com/travel-entertainment-lifestyle/) Finance, Banking, and Wealth Management**Banks, Wealth Management, Accountancy, Online Payments, Pension Funds, Bookkeepers, and FinTech** Clients include: *Lloyds Bank, UBS Wealth, Accountex, Intuit, Raymond James, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, AICPA, Institute of Certified Bookkeepers*, IGG [Read more](https://allisterspeaks.com/finance-banking-investment/) Professional and Public Services**Government, Strategy Group, Business Consultants, Growth Advisors, Regional Commerce Hubs, Legal, B2C and B2B** Clients include: *Bloomberg, Freeths, Lexis Nexis, PwC, Informa, KPMG, ICC, Linaker, IPA, Tata Consulting Services, Carlisle Support Services, UK Sport & Team GB, ACAS, Maximus, Stockport Council, US Air Force* [Read more](https://allisterspeaks.com/professional-services-public-sector/) Associations and Franchise Groups**Industry Associations, Membership Bodies, Chartered Institutes, Franchise Groups and Franchisees** Clients include: *World Lotteries Association, Builders Merchants Federation, Bathroom Manufacturers Association, The Sports & Play Construction Association, Golf Course Managers’ Association, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Chartered Institute of Marketing, The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, The Property Franchise Group, Driver Hire Group* [Read more](https://allisterspeaks.com/associations-franchise-groups/) ## FAQs #### Your Questions Answered How long are Allister’s keynotes?It depends on your overall agenda and how long you would like Allister’s help! Most of his keynotes run for 45-60minutes, but some are as brief as 30 minutes. Allister often follows his keynote talk with interactive hands-on workshop experiences, where smaller groups spark fresh ideas using the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. Get in touch as soon as you have your draft event agenda so Allister can offer advice about how best to plan your day and get the best value for money from his involvement. --- Let’s talk money! How much does a keynote talk cost?There’s no fixed fee for a keynote talk because every event is different. Last year, his in-person fees ranged from £0 (a local charity) to £28,000 (a long-haul business conference). Once we know more about your event and requirements, we can give a fixed price quote that includes all travel and accommodation expenses. The fee varies by event location and the agreed deliverables *(for example, would like a short keynote talk or an interactive workshop with a book signing and 28-Day Activation kits and programme?)* Fees also vary across the year based on demand, so a smart way to get a bigger bang for your buck is to book Allister during quieter months, or even on Mondays or Fridays when there are fewer competing demands for his support. --- What do I get when I book Allister?Your fee will cover Allister’s briefing, preparation and delivery time, plus any travel, visa, and accommodation expenses. Many event organisers also like to offer gifts of signed books, Ready*Already*® Passport Kits, and other goodies to their delegates, so these can also be included. Most importantly, you’ll get Allister’s famously helpful support before and after your event, plus his full attention and legendary energy on the big day! Subject to his onward travel commitments, Allister will be happy to support your event as much or as little as you need, so if you’d like him to sign books, attend a VIP lunch, or meet key people, just let him know during your pre-booking chat. If he’s at your event, he’s there for you. He’ll even help you put the chairs out if needed! --- How can I book Allister to speak?There are ***two*** ways to book Allister for your event: - EASY: **Book through your Speaker Bureau** Allister is proud to be represented by some of the world’s leading speaker bureaus including the London Speaker Bureau, Celebrity Speakers, and Gordon Poole Agency. Speaker bureaus are experts at managing all aspects of speaker bookings, and also will provide helpful support and advice. If your company already has a preferred speaker bureau, you can ask them to book Allister Frost for your event. One of the benefits of working through your preferred bureau is that your booking contract will come from an existing supplier. - ALSO EASY: **Book directly with Allister’s Team** If you don’t have a speaker bureau partner, you can book Allister Frost directly through Wild Orange Media Ltd, his own company. His team will handle all aspects of contracting and invoicing, and guide you through the process smoothly. Drop an email to to find out more. --- Can we record the keynote or stream it to remote delegates?We understand that not everyone can make it to the room on the big day. Our standard terms prohibit recording so please request our prior written consent if you wish to record the session. Consent will only be granted where the recording is exclusively for internal use or for live streaming to hybrid delegates. Alternatively, if you wish to resell the recording or use it for commercial external marketing, please let us know so we can agree on a usage licence. --- Will Allister customise his talk for our audience?Yes. Your audience deserves better than a ‘canned’ speech. Once we are booked, we will arrange a briefing call with you to understand your specific challenges, industry jargon, and event themes. Allister will then weave these insights into his talk to ensure it resonates deeply with your audience and helps you achieve your event goals. --- What are Allister’s audio-visual (AV) requirements?Allister likes to keep things simple to ensure your event runs smoothly. He prefer to wear a lavalier (clip-on) or headset microphone so he can move around the stage freely. For slides, he always prefers to run these from PowerPoint from his own Windows laptop so he can control interactive elements like live polling and Q&As from the stage. Get in touch to request his full AV Rider [here](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you provide copies of slides for the audience?As a general rule: No! Why? Because a great presentation is more than a series of slides; it’s everything that happens in the room, in the moment. And the best slides are just visual hooks, carefully designed to be so simple they can be instantly understood and digested. You won’t need copies of Allister’s slides after his talk, but he will want to share advance details of some of the other optional materials he can provide that will have far greater value to your audience. These include signed books and his famous ReadyAlready Passports. You can discuss these on your briefing call with Allister. --- Where can I find your bio and photos for our agenda?That’s easy! Pop over to our [Media & Event Kit page](https://allisterspeaks.com/media-kit/ "Media & Event Kit") where you’ll find everything you should need. If you need something else, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Do you have a rockstar “rider”? (e.g. only pink M&Ms?)Not at all. Allister is famously low-maintenance. He doesn’t need scented candles, a specific brand of Himalayan sparkling water, or a ceramic bowl of perfectly ripe avocados. A glass of still tap water (room temperature, never chilled) and an attentive audience is all the fuel he needs. Oh, and black filter coffee; he drinks a lot of coffee! --- My speaker bureau recommended you, but can I book direct?We love working with our speaker bureau partners, and they have recommended Allister for a good reason! Please book through the bureau that first recommended Allister to you. We’ll work closely with them—and you—to create a memorable, mind-shifting experience for your audience. By working through your favourite bureau, you get the best of both worlds. --- Do we need to book your travel/flights and hotel?To save you the admin headache, we typically handle all of Allister’s travel arrangements and add the expenses to your invoice. We can either invoice you separately for these costs after your event (receipts provided) or we can agree a Fixed Travel Buyout (FTB) in advance where we will invoice an agreed amount to cover likely travel costs. 90% of Allister’s direct bookings include a FTB as this simplifies the admin for you and gives you a guaranteed fixed cost well in advance of your event. If your organisation requires you to book travel through a specific portal, we are happy to work with that so you can book Allister’s travel and hotel directly. --- Do you even own a tie? We’ve only seen you in colourful ‘shackets’!Allister does own a few suits and ties, and enjoys dressing up for formal events. However, he believes the future is bright, so likes to dress to match. We describe his sartorial style as “smart-creative / dad-vibes” but you can call it whatever you like! Allister likes to bring energy and colour to your stage, not look like he’s there to audit your Tax Records. --- What happens if you have to cancel?In over 15 years of speaking, Allister has never missed an event. He once went to the wrong address, but only because the client made a mistake, and this was quickly rectified with a fast-paced taxi ride! Problems like this are extremely rare thanks to our rigorous booking process. Should a genuine force majeure emergency occur, Allister is part of a tight-knit network of professional speakers. He will work with you to help you secure a high-quality replacement who matches your event’s tone and budget. --- We’re broke! Will you speak for free?Allister helps selected not-for-profit groups and aims to speak pro bono six times each year. His current focus is on supporting the social care sector. Pro bono slots can be booked no more than 8 weeks in advance and are exclusively available when booked directly through Wild Orange Media. Your NFP will only be billed for travel and accommodation costs incurred where these exceed £100. If your NFP would love to tap into Allister’s experience but is working with a budget of hope and borrowed paperclips, [get in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/ "Contact"). --- Why is Allister’s name so difficult to spell?We’ve seen everything over the years. Alistair Frost, Alastair Frost, Alasdair Frost, Allyster Fraust, Alice Frost, and our favourite, ***All-Star Frost*** (thank you autocorrect!). But the correct spelling is **Allister Frost.** And, no, we don’t know why it’s spelled that way. Even he spells it wrongly some days! The pronunciation is simple though. It’s **“AL-iss-tuh”.** ***FUN FACT:* Allister Frost** knows only one other **Allister Frost** and, confusingly, that **Allister Frost** worked at Microsoft in the UK at the exact same time as this **Allister Frost**. What are the chances?! On LinkedIn, the correct **Allister Frost** is this guy: (If you know or are an **Allister Frost,** please get in touch. Maybe we could host an **Allister Frost** party one day and compare misspellings) --- [Another question? Just ask!](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) --- ### Your Future-Readiness Starts Here… ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-Seated-in-Pink-Shacket.png) **Contact Allister through this quick form** ## Contact Allister *today!* --- --- ### [Hold Your Date](https://allisterspeaks.com/holdyourdate/) **Published:** December 19, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Red-Background.jpg)![Audience with their hands up](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hold-Your-Date-audience-hands-up-20240515_Kneat_Validate_029.jpg) Check Your Date! Find out if Allister’s available when you might need him [](#hold-your-date) ### Yes, you can check Allister’s availability here! Thank you for your interest in booking Allister Frost to attend or speak at your event. We know that securing your headline speaker is an important early step and are happy to pencil a date for you. **There’s no obligation for this, just an assurance that Allister will be available if you decide to go ahead.** --- ### **Check your date here:** --- ### How does a “pencil” work?+ 1. After submitting the above form, we will email you to confirm Allister’s availability for your date. We will also place a non-binding note in our bookings diary. If yours is the first enquiry for that date, this is called the “1st pencil” giving you priority status that day. 2. If another booker later asks to book Allister on the same date, they will be given the “2nd pencil”, and so on. 3. If we receive a full-fee booking offer from a “2nd pencil” (or later), we will firstly contact you as the “1st pencil”. You will then have 24 hours to submit a firm offer to secure the date. If you no longer wish to book, no problem, we will offer the date to the “2nd pencil”, and subsequently to any later pencils. 4. **FIRST COME FIRST SERVED NOTE:** Each pencil is based on when we receive it, so it always pays to ask us to pencil your date as early as possible. --- ### [Thanks for getting in touch (ld)](https://allisterspeaks.com/thankyou-ld/) **Published:** December 6, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** # THANK YOU 🙂 ![Allister thank you video](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/thumb.jpg) Hello, I’m Allister Frost, a former Microsoft executive and award-winning motivational speaker. I’m on a mission to simplify the process of booking a professional speaker. Finding the perfect performer for your event shouldn’t be a chore. I’m here to make it simple and fun! I will review your survey answers and email some tips and ideas to help you find the perfect speaker. I’ll be in touch very soon. ### Want to [***jump the queue***](https://allisterspeaks.com/discoverycall/)? Book a call with me right now! [YES! I want to jump the queue](/discoverycall/) #### What happens next? 1. I’ll email you some tips to help you find the right speaker 2. If you’d like to chat, we can have a quick call 3. If you’d like me to be your speaker, I’ll make a proposal 4. If you agree, we’ll work closely to plan an awesome event! 5. \[OPTIONAL\] Your colleagues will celebrate wildly and carry you through the streets to honour your genius! ### …and you’ll get results like these: **“**I’ve hired Allister twice to speak at conferences in Croatia. **He’s been our highest rated speaker for two years in a row.”** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Dunja-Ivana-Ballon.jpg)**Dunja Ivana Ballon** Director, HURA Croatia **“**Love the energy, great presentation, **made me really up for more change!”** ![Allister Frost smiling, professional pest control specialist in yellow shirt.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sean-Osborne-Moore-2.jpeg) **Sean Osborne-Moore** Sr. Talent Manager, Watchfinder **“We’ve heard rave reviews from our guests** and are thrilled with the impact of Allister’s message.” ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Tracy-Sheridan.jpg)**Tracy Sheridan** Sr. Manager Global Channel Marketing, Autodesk Canada ### Last chance to jump the queue! [YES! I want to jump the queue](/discoverycall/) #### OK, you’re the boss! Where next? [Watch keynotes](https://allisterspeaks.com/keynotes) [Get to know Allister](https://allisterspeaks.com/allister/ "About Allister") [Explore training + consultancy](/training-consulting/) [Get the Ready](https://hello.allisterspeaks.com/)[*Already*](https://hello.allisterspeaks.com/)[® newsletter](https://hello.allisterspeaks.com/) --- ### [ReadyAlready](https://allisterspeaks.com/readyalready/) **Published:** November 11, 2022 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/FRM-Header-Graphic-2025-v4-1024x683.jpg) UNLEASH YOUR FUTURE-READY SUPERPOWERS! [](#Intro) ## Why do you need a Future-Ready Mindset? There’s always something new to learn, or an emerging skill or technique to master. Technology fuels this, but so do smart people with a hunger for progress. > **What got you here,** **won’t get you to where you need to be** Around the world, busy professionals are reporting that simply keeping up is harder than ever. When Gartner surveyed working people, it found: ![58 percent](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/58-percent.jpg)urgently need new skills just to get their existing jobs done ![80 percent](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/80-percent.jpg)feel poorly prepared for the future That’s why we need new ways to keep up and thrive through constantly accelerating change. We need a **Future-Ready Mindset**. In fact, we need to become: [![ReadyAlready logo](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ReadyAlready-flash-1024x492.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ReadyAlready-flash-scaled.png)The **Ready***Already***® Growth Cycle**, known by many as **The FROST Framework,** helps busy people around the world to keep up and thrive at work by embracing new possibilities with curiosity, imagination, and courageous communication: ![The ReadyAlready growth cycle](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ReadyAlready-growth-cycle-with-superpowers.png)This simple process helps direct and activate **three uniquely human superpowers, that A.I. and technology can never equal.** Smart leaders are creating even smarter organisations by embedding forward-thinking, people-first cultures alongside progressive emerging technologies. And together they are exploring and laying the foundations for their brighter tomorrow. Getting started is simple: All you need is an easy-to-learn process and a shared desire to explore, discover, and act. **Allister Frost helps leaders and teams do just that through C-Level Coaching, Keynote Talks and Training Workshops.** [Get in touch to learn more](https://allisterspeaks.com/contact/) ## Do YOU have what it takes to become future-ready? This is the fastest way to start building your **Future-Ready Mindset** today. And it’s fun! ## Join the challenge below: ### What am I signing up to?+ You’ll receive one email each week for the next 4 weeks, starting from the day you sign-up. Each email will come from Allister and will include a simple challenge with bonus resources to help you go faster. Take the challenge, follow Allister’s tips, and see where it takes you. This is a surefire way to kick-start your Ready*Already* adventure and build a Future-Ready Mindset! Being in the challenge also gives you direct access to Allister to ask questions and get support. Just reply to any email and he’ll get back to you. And, don’t worry: you can unsubscribe anytime. We don’t think you’ll want to, but you can. We’re nice like that 😉 ![A stack of three books with the words: Out Now - ReadyAlready, The Future-Ready Mindset to keep up, stand out, and shape what's next](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Book-ReadyAlready-Out-Now.jpg) Available in Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook Shop on Amazon![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/available_at_amazon_en_horizontal_rev.png)[eBook for Kindle](https://amzn.to/45H1XJQ) [Audiobook](https://amzn.to/3L7guXc) [Hardcover](https://amzn.to/4gdMZi8) [Paperback](https://amzn.to/45UwtPb) Shop with Apple![Author Allister Frost promoting his latest book for readers and book lovers.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Get-it-on-Apple-Books.png) [eBook](https://apple.co/3WC4boo) [Audiobook](https://apple.co/46PR4pD) Order from your favourite bookseller- [Barnes & Noble](http://barnesandnoble.com/w/readyalready-allister-frost/1148154012?ean=9781967587209) - [Waterstones](https://www.waterstones.com/book/readyalready/allister-frost/9781967587209) - [Hatchards](https://www.hatchards.co.uk/book/readyalready/allister-frost/9781967587209) - [Foyles](https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/readyalready/allister-frost/9781967587209) - [Bol](https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/readyalready/9300000239658360/) - [Saxo](https://www.saxo.com/dk/readyalready-the-future-ready-mindset-to-keep-up-stand-out-and-shape-whats-next_bog_9781967587209?srsltid=AfmBOooeBcg3sikQEHHYsDshs80668ovASfRAtudetB0jSXFgP2_TOko) ## PLUS, take your team further, faster *now!* Want to help your work colleagues, department, or entire company to excel with a Future-Ready Mindset? Here’s how: ## **TEAM TALKS** Book Allister to speak at your team event and kick-start their collective journey to a brighter future. ![Allister Frost Keynote Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Keynote.jpg) ## **TEAM TRAINING** Book Allister to host a hands-on, interactive team training session to identify quick wins and instil self-belief. ![Allister Frost Workshop Leader](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Workshop.jpg) Get in touch to start planning your bespoke keynote or training experience with Allister Frost. [Schedule a chat with Allister](/delegatesbookingenquiry/) ## Get results **like this** *“Allister scored **4.97 out of 5; the highest speaker rating we’ve ever had.** Our attendees were amazed at the energy, creativity, and his hands-on approach.”* ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Helena-Fuker.jpg)**Helena Fuker** Project Manager, HURA Croatia *“Thank you for your outstanding speech and workshop in Malmö, Sweden. Not only insightful and thought-provoking but also truly inspiring to all attendees. **Your expertise captivated the audience. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”*** ![Andy Mutton](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Andy-Mutton.jpeg) **Andy Mutton** Managing Director, Storck UK & Travel Retail *“We loved having you, Allister! You are such a natural at educating and inspiring others to create their future-ready mindset! **Thank you for your infectious energy and for headlining our event.** It was the perfect finish to our day.”* ![Melanie Page](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Melanie-Page.jpeg)**Melanie Page** Head of Group Innovation Programmes, Balfour Beatty ![Engaged audience listening to a speaker at a workshop.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/already-ready-54.jpg) ## Allister Frost is a trusted advisor to ![Barbour, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Barbour-in-white.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Pladis, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Pladis-in-white.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Pfizer-in-white.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Swarovski, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Swarovski-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Balfour-Beatty-white.png) ![Lloyds Bank, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lloyds-Bank-white-logo.png) ![John Deere, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/John-Deere-white-logo.png) ![Reckitt, a client of Keynote Speaker and Future-Ready Mindset expert, Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Reckitt-white-logo.png) ## The Key Steps in the Ready*Already* Growth Cycle ### Also known as **‘The FROST Framework’** You need fuel to create a great future for yourself and your colleagues. **No-one ever created a brilliant future for themselves without having good reason to.** That’s why your future begins with finding your **Personal Mission**: [![Allister Frost pest control expert providing effective pest management solutions in the UK.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Personal-Mission-150x150.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Personal-Mission.png)``` - PERSONAL MISSION -The heartfelt reason you love working in the service of others ``` Your Personal Mission is unique to you. It’s more than a purpose; it’s the principal reason why you believe in the work you do. It is the North Star that will guide and inspire you to create a meaningful, mission-powered future for yourself and your colleagues. Its uniqueness is what can make you indispensable at work. Your Personal Mission sits at the heart of the Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle. It reminds you—through the ups and down of each working week—why you do what you do. It will help you stay wholesomely invested in making improvements for the longer term, no matter what life throws at you next. Finding a motivating Personal Mission is not always easy, but it is vital if you want to stay the course through the changes and challenges of the future. As your Personal Mission comes into focus, you’ll be ready to begin spinning the cycle with these five simple F-R-O-S-T steps: ![Allister Frost pest control expert providing effective pest management solutions in the ReadyAlready.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Follow-150x150.png) ### STEP 1 Let’s bridge the gap between who you are today and the person you need to become to deliver your Personal Mission. Make a list of all the work-related things you think you may need to understand better in the near-future. Think about the inevitable changes and challenges on the near horizon and the shifts (societal, technological, political, economic…) you couldn’t avoid even if you tried. Take your time, create a long list, get these things off your chest and into your list. Now select your favourite, just one. Whatever sings most loudly to you. This is the *thing* you will **FOLLOW.** ![Allister Frost providing professional pest control services in ReadyAlready area.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/React-150x150.png) ### STEP 2 Let the adventure of discovery begin! Learn all you can about your *thing* from multiple different sources, before deciding how you should **REACT.** Armed with the knowledge you have gained, does it still seem important and potentially useful for your future? If yes, it’s a winner, move on! *(If no, return to the **FOLLOW** step and pick a different thing from your list)* ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in ReadyAlready area.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Open-150x150.png) ### STEP 3 It’s time to unleash your first future-making human superpower! Suspend your experience and **OPEN** your mind to new possibilities by naïvely questioning your *thing*. Your goal here is to challenge conventional wisdom and to question the status quo. Act like it’s your first day on the job; no ‘why?’ question is too daft… Keep asking yourself **“Why?”** with the enthusiasm of a child and create space in your mind for quick wins and much-needed improvements. Remember: You’re not looking for solutions here, you’re simply creating space in your mind for the ideas to fill in next step. ![Allister Frost providing expert pest control services in ReadyAlready, ensuring effective and reliab.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Surprise-150x150.png) ### STEP 4 You need fresh thinking, so let’s unleash your next human superpower! **SURPRISE** yourself (and others) with playful, unexpected thinking to generate non-obvious ideas for the future of your *thing*. Fire up your imagination and dream big as you repeatedly ask **“What if…?”** to help you stumble upon new possibilities and maybe big wins opportunities that others cannot see. Go on wild flights of fancy, forget all constraints, and explore possibilities you would not otherwise have found. Gather up all your ideas, ready to air them to others in the next step. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tell-150x150.png)### STEP 5 You can’t win the future alone, so it’s time for the final, vital human superpower: brilliant communication and collaboration! Carefully decide *how* to **TELL** the right people about your *thing*, to win their support and encouragement. Crucially, invite them to respond with **“Yes! And…”** so they make your ideas better and become invested in seeing positive change happen. There’s no room for negativity or feeling defeated in your **TELL** session! By bravely sharing your discoveries, raw ideas, and wildest, untested dreams, you will shift from ‘thinking’ to ‘doing’ as you inspire others to improve your ideas and ultimately commit to delivering positive change through collective action. ## …and don’t stop there! **The Ready*Already*® Growth Cycle** will help you learn and grow again and again. Once you’ve mastered one *thing*, restart the process by updating your FOLLOW list and picking your next *thing* to focus on. It’s that simple! Depending on what you’re working on, it may take a few days or a few months to complete each cycle, but keep going. There’s always something new to discover that could unlock a fabulous future for you and your work colleagues 🙂 [![Allister Frost pest control technician inspecting for pests outdoors.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Why.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Why.png) [![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/What-if.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/What-if.png) [![Allister Frost providing pest control solutions for ReadyAlready project.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Yes-and.png) ](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Yes-and.png) ## Ready to get started? ### **Here are TWO things to do *rig******ht now**:* ![ReadyAlready Book](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ReadyAlready-Book.jpg)Get **[*ReadyAlready, the book*](#ReadyAlreadyBook)**. It will guide and inspire you towards your future ![ReadyAlready Passport and Red Pen](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Passport-and-Red-Pen.jpg)Start shaping your Future-Ready Mindset by taking the 28-day challenge. **[*Sign up here*](#28DayChallenge "Sign up here.")** And finally, what is a… ### ****Future-Ready Mindset?**** **A proactive approach to thinking and planning that prepares individuals and organisations for the inevitable changes and challenges of the future.** **In simple terms: *it’s your passport to the brilliant future you deserve*** [Want to know more? Chat with Allister](/talkwithallister/) ### Contact form Get in touch for a taste of Allister’s famously helpful support and advice. You can even ask to pencil a future event date in his calendar\* to secure your place at the front of the queue! \* *free and without obligation* ### Off we go! ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-in-Brown-Shacket.png) Tell Allister what’s on your mind and he’ll be in touch very soon. --- ### [Thanks for getting in touch](https://allisterspeaks.com/thankyou/) **Published:** April 30, 2024 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** # THANK YOU 🙂 [![Allister Frost seated in chair wearing beige overshirt](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SQUARE-TIGHT-SMALL-1080x1080-300824-4.126-1024x1024.jpg)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SQUARE-TIGHT-SMALL-1080x1080-300824-4.126.jpg) I will review your message ASAP and look forward to helping you discover how a **Future-Ready Mindset** can fuel long, happy careers filled with positivity and growth. I’ll be in touch very soon. ### Want to [***jump the queue***](https://allisterspeaks.com/discoverycall/)? Book a call with me right now! [YES! I want to jump the queue](/discoverycall/) #### What happens next? 1. I’ll be in touch to chat about your needs 2. We’ll discuss smart ideas tailored to your brief 3. I’ll create a personalised quote for you to approve 4. I’ll get to work creating something exceptional for you 5. *\[OPTIONAL\]* Your colleagues will celebrate wildly and carry you through the streets to honour your genius! ### …And you’ll get results like these: **“**I’ve hired Allister twice to speak at conferences in Croatia. **He’s been our highest rated speaker for two years in a row.”** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Dunja-Ivana-Ballon.jpg)**Dunja Ivana Ballon** Director, HURA Croatia **“**Love the energy, great presentation, **made me really up for more change!”** ![Allister Frost smiling, professional pest control specialist in yellow shirt.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Sean-Osborne-Moore-2.jpeg) **Sean Osborne-Moore** Sr. Talent Manager, Watchfinder **“We’ve heard rave reviews from our guests** and are thrilled with the impact of Allister’s message.” ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Tracy-Sheridan.jpg)**Tracy Sheridan** Sr. Manager Global Channel Marketing, Autodesk Canada ### Last chance to jump the queue! [YES! I want to jump the queue](/discoverycall/) #### OK, you’re the boss! Where next? [Watch some keynote talks](https://allisterspeaks.com/keynotes) [More about Allister](https://allisterspeaks.com/allister/ "About Allister") [Explore training + consultancy](/training-consulting/) [Get the Ready*Already*® newsletter](https://hello.allisterspeaks.com/) --- ### [28-Day Challenge](https://allisterspeaks.com/28daychallenge/) **Published:** January 8, 2026 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/28-Day-Challenge-Sign-Up-Now.jpg)[](#28-day-challenge) ## Do YOU have what it takes to become future-ready? This is the fastest way to start building your **Future-Ready Mindset** today. And it’s fun! ## Join the challenge below: ### What am I signing up to?+ You’ll receive one email each week for the next 4 weeks, starting from the day you sign-up. Each email will come from Allister and will include a simple challenge with bonus resources to help you go faster. Take the challenge, follow Allister’s tips, and see where it takes you. This is a surefire way to kick-start your Ready*Already* adventure and build a Future-Ready Mindset! Being in the challenge also gives you direct access to Allister to ask questions and get support. Just reply to any email and he’ll get back to you. And, don’t worry: you can unsubscribe anytime. We don’t think you’ll want to, but you can. We’re nice like that 😉 ### Contact form Get in touch for a taste of Allister’s famously helpful support and advice. You can even ask to pencil a future event date in his calendar\* to secure your place at the front of the queue! \* *free and without obligation* ### Off we go! ![Allister Frost](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Allister-Frost-Headshot-in-Brown-Shacket.png) Tell Allister what’s on your mind and he’ll be in touch very soon. --- ### [Terms of Use](https://allisterspeaks.com/terms-of-use/) **Published:** July 3, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ### **Our Terms of Use** Welcome to the Wild Orange Media website, and the home of Allister Frost, the Future-Ready Mindset thought leader + speaker. If you continue to browse and use this website, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern Wild Orange Media Limited’s relationship with you in relation to this website. If you disagree with any part of these terms and conditions, please do not use our website. The term ‘Wild Orange Media Limited’ or ‘us’ or ‘we’ refers to the owner of the website whose registered office is The Office, 9 Elm Cottages, Godstone Hill, Godstone, Surrey RH9 8AH. Our company registration number is 8051196. The term ‘you’ refers to the user or viewer of our website. The use of this website is subject to the following terms of use: - The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. - This website uses cookies to monitor browsing preferences. If you do allow cookies to be used, these will be used to compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future. We may contract with third-party service providers to assist us in better understanding our site visitors. These service providers are not permitted to use the information collected on our behalf except to help us conduct and improve our business. - Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law. - Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements. - This website contains material which is owned by or licensed to us. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions. - ReadyAlready is a registered trademark of Wild Orange Media Ltd. All trademarks reproduced in this website, which are not the property of, or licensed to the operator, are acknowledged on the website. - Unauthorised use of this website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence. - From time to time, this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s). - Your use of this website and any dispute arising out of such use of the website is subject to the laws of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. --- ### [Find a Speaker Survey](https://allisterspeaks.com/find-a-speaker-survey/) **Published:** November 2, 2024 **Author:** Tom Finley **Content:** [![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/allister-speaker-beige-jacket-transparent-683x1024.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/allister-speaker-beige-jacket-transparent.png)## How to book a *fabulous speaker* Finding the perfect performer for your event can be tricky, especially if you’ve not done it before. I’m here to make it simple and fun! **To get started, answer these vital questions** to narrow your search and find the perfect performer for your audience. [Start the Survey](#start-survey) ## **Hello, I’m Allister.** Let’s find the perfect speaker for your event. --- ### [Discover Your Next Speaker](https://allisterspeaks.com/discover-your-next-speaker/) **Published:** October 11, 2024 **Author:** Tom Finley **Content:** ENERGISE YOUR NEXT EVENT # WITH A KEYNOTE FROM ***ALLISTER FROST*** ### “Inspirational, engaging, and funny” —Lloyds Bank ### “We came away ready for the year ahead” —Grace Foods ### ***“Fantastic! You smashed it”*** —Raymond James Investment Services [](#scroll) ### UPSKILL TEAMS Equip your people with the essential skills and mindset they need to thrive in today’s fast-changing world, so they’re ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges head-on. ### INSPIRE EXCELLENCE Foster a culture where curiosity, creativity, and bold thinking push everyone to achieve their best, helping your organization consistently outperform expectations. ### BOOST TEAM MORALE Build a positive, collaborative environment where your team feels empowered, motivated, and ready to embrace every opportunity with energy and optimism. ### ACCELERATE CHANGE Streamline transformation with actionable strategies that reduce friction and turn resistance into forward momentum, ensuring your team stays ahead of the curve. ### DRIVE INNOVATION Ignite fresh ideas and groundbreaking solutions by encouraging new ways of thinking that challenge the status quo and unlock untapped potential within your team. ### SUPERCHARGE GROWTH Activate sustainable growth by developing the skills and mindset needed to not only meet goals but surpass them, driving success across your entire organization. [**Book a Free Intro Call**](https://outlook.office365.com/book/IntroCallwithAllisterFrost@wildorangemedia.com/) ### 32 Years Change Experience ### 3,875 People Biggest Audience ### 33 Countries Live Stage Events --- ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential setting.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BBC-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cisco-white-logo.png) ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GE-White-Logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PG-white-logo-1.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Phillips-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost providing pest control services in a residential property.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/NHS-white-logo.png) ![Allister Frost delivering a speech at a conference.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/LUM09569.jpg) ## Here to help you cultivate a *high-performance culture* Your organisation faces unprecedented changes and challenges in the years ahead. Former Microsoft communications leader, Allister Frost, has the insights and vision your team needs to transform uncertainty into new opportunities for growth. An inspiring keynote performance from Allister will empower your leaders and teams with a Future-Ready Mindset, helping you transform faster and better, with greater self-belief and passion. [**Book a Free Intro Call**](https://outlook.office365.com/book/IntroCallwithAllisterFrost@wildorangemedia.com/) Transformation in Action ***Watch Allister’s Showreel Video*** [**H**old your event date here](/holdyourdate/) ## Transform your future with Allister Frost When you book Allister Frost, you are investing in your people. His expertise in building a future-ready workforce, fostering a culture of continuous learning and enhancing employee engagement and retention will help you achieve your leadership and growth goals. Booking Allister will: --- Boost employee morale and satisfaction Attract and retain top talent for future growth Align your workforce with strategic objectives Cultivate the next generation of talent and leaders [**Book a Free Intro Call**](https://outlook.office365.com/book/IntroCallwithAllisterFrost@wildorangemedia.com/) ![Allister Frost celebrating success at a speaking event.](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Hura-Aug-2023-Square.jpg) It’s like a Growth Mindset, but bigger and better. ## Introducing a powerful new way to drive change Allister’s entertaining, award-winning, motivational talks all start from his belief that a Future-Ready Mindset is critical to help businesses navigate a path through uncertainty and realise each individual’s full potential at work and beyond. ### Get exclusive access ### **Readying your business for the future** Unlock a seamless and worry-free payment experience with our subscription features. ### **Reducing employee resistance to change** Swift and secure payments with our cutting-edge technology for you and your customers. ### **Driving digital transformation** Revolutionize your purchasing process with our instant and frictionless checkout feature. ### **Building a high performance culture** Empowering you to enjoy exclusive offers and unbeatable deals for a fast payment experience. [![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/natalia-blauth-ynRlLbr7lmw-unsplash-1-1.png)](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/natalia-blauth-ynRlLbr7lmw-unsplash-1-1.png) ## Solutions tailored to ***your needs*** Live on-stage keynote talks Conference masterclasses Leadership development workshops Employee engagement programmes Virtual and hybrid events [Hold your date](/holdyourdate/) ## Hear From **Past Clients** “Wow! **What a great speaker.** Allister came with bags of energy and thought-provoking ideas. Anyone looking for an energy packed motivational speaker, look no further! Book Allister.” ![Image of Victoria Morris](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Victoria-Morris.jpeg)**Victoria Morris** Head of People, Linaker Allister scored **4.97 out of 5**; the highest speaker rating we’ve ever had. Attendees were amazed with the energy, creativity, and his hands-on approach. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Helena-Fuker.jpg)**Helena Fuker** Project Manager, HURA Croatia Allister Frost was headline speaker at our Conference. From the feedback, **his keynote was the best**. Allister is a brilliant speaker for top-level events for CEOs and CMOs. ![](https://allisterspeaks.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Oksana-Knyazeva.jpg)**Oksana Knyazeva** Marketing & Sales Director, IPM ## Ready to **transform your world?** ### You can book Allister for your next event from GBP£5k. Check availability for your event date today! Fees can be tailored to your budget and requirements. **Contact us for a personalised quote.** ## Business As Usual --- **Change initiatives always dragging on?** **Stuck in a rut with outdated thinking holding you back?** **Wishing you could improve things quicker and better?** **Competitors outpacing and outshining you?** **Struggling to recruit, then retain, talented team members?** ## Future-Ready Mindset --- **Cultivate a Future-Ready Mindset** and empower teams to embrace change with confidence **Spark Fresh Ideas** with rapid creativity to drive faster innovation **Reawaken Curiosity** that challenges the status quo and unlocks quick wins **Inspire Cross-Company Collaboration** for high performance teamwork **Nurture a Positive Workplace Culture** to unleash unstoppable growth [**Let’s get Ready*Already*®!**](/holdyourdate/) --- ### [Privacy Policy](https://allisterspeaks.com/privacy-policy/) **Published:** July 3, 2017 **Author:** Allister Frost **Content:** ### Our Privacy Policy This privacy policy sets out how Wild Orange Media Limited uses and protects any information that you give when you use this website. Wild Orange Media Limited is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement. Wild Orange Media Limited may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 8 May 2012. **What we collect** We may collect the following information: - name and job title - contact information including email address - demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests - other information relevant to customer surveys and/or offers **What we do with the information we gather** We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons: - Internal record keeping. - We may use the information to improve our products and services. - We may periodically send promotional emails about new products, services, special offers or other information which we think you may find interesting using the email address which you have provided. - From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you for market research purposes. We may contact you by email, phone, messaging service or mail. We may use the information to customise the website according to your interests. **Security** We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure,we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. **How we use cookies** A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your device’s local storage or hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences. We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system. Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us. You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website. **Links to other websites** Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question. **Controlling your personal information** You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways: - whenever you are asked to fill in a form on the website, look for the box that you can click to indicate that you do not want the information to be used by anybody for direct marketing purposes - if you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by writing to or emailing us at office@wildorangemedia.com We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information about third parties which we think you may find interesting if you tell us that you wish this to happen. You may request details of personal information which we hold about you under the Data Protection Act 1998. A small fee will be payable. If you would like a copy of the information held on you, please write to Wild Orange Media Limited, The Office, 9 Elm Cottages, Godstone Hill, Godstone, Surrey RH9 8AH. If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us as soon as possible, at the above address. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect. The website contains links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of third party websites. If you have any questions about this privacy policy or our treatment of your personal information, please write to us by email to office@wildorangemedia.com or by post to The Office, 9 Elm Cottages, Godstone Hill, Godstone, Surrey RH9 8AH. The data controller responsible in respect of the information collected on this website is Wild Orange Media Limited. ---