Does anyone have a question? It’s a question speakers routinely ask at the end of any session. In my experience, it kills the conversation. An irony, because it’s designed to do the opposite. And I understand that. When I go to conferences, I never want to speak up first. It takes me back to the… Read more
Which comes first, the dosh or the desire – and why does it matter?
Looking ahead to The Brighton Summit 2016. When I was a happy wage slave at the BBC, I used to think that everyone else on the outside – in the commercial world – was just in it for the money. Headlines about corporate fat cats didn’t help. But when I set up my own business,… Read more
Write memorable content, with help from your childhood holiday.
Taking a beach holiday this summer? It could teach you something about writing vivid and memorable content. Whenever I go near a beach, it short-circuits to my childhood. Why? Because it triggers memories from all 5 senses: Touch: the comforting feeling of warm sand; the uncomfortable feeling of bobbly pebbles. Sound: seagulls clamouring; children shrieking;… Read more
Don’t see eye to eye with your team? Tell the story of why you care.
(Telepathy’s not an option.) Before I set up my own business, I used to think the idea of ‘values’ and ‘mission statements’ was a bit of stuff and nonsense. Empty words that rang hollow. (Blame my BBC scepticism.) But now that I have immersed myself in the entrepreneurial world, interviewing people who put everything on… Read more
It’s OK to get carried away. What I learned from my SiteVisibility interview.
Last week I was unnerved. I was a guest on the Internet Marketing Podcast. Produced by Site Visibility, it is one of the most popular internet marketing podcasts around. It’s been going since 2006, gets around 500-700 downloads every day and the total number of downloads has passed the 1 million mark. Turning the tables…. Read more
Get your company noticed. Bring a new perspective.
When you take an audience by surprise, you grab their attention. Challenging assumptions is a good way of getting your business noticed. A couple of caveats: be sincere in your opinions and, if they are particularly controversial, make sure you can back them up. Here’s an example of how a conversation gave me a new… Read more
Be better understood. What school lessons can teach your website.
I was a demanding member of the audience in physics and chemistry lessons. I wanted the materials to put on a spectacle for me. And unless the teachers were good narrators, things like Einstein’s special theory of relativity would glance off my brain, never to be seen again. It’s science show time. So the stars… Read more
Nervous about networking? Try a journalistic approach.
This is strange but true. I am happy to interview a business leader in front of an audience of 200 people. But put me in a room where I have to network face-to-face and – horror of horrors – sell my skills… Well, then, it’s time to skedaddle. At least, that’s how I used to… Read more
Be clear about your company’s future. Tell your stages story.
When you’re running your own company it sometimes feels like you’re hacking your way through a jungle. You’re not quite sure where you are or what you will encounter next. It would be nice to have a scout who knows the route and could warn you about the low-hanging snake 500 metres ahead. Even though… Read more
How to write memorable copy. Try mnemonics.
My daughter is at primary school. She’s navigating her way through the Kingdom of Rote. Learning by heart endless combinations of numbers and letters. I feel for her. When I was that age, I never relished my 9 times table. Or my 7s or 8s, for that matter. (To see how I overcame my jittery-ness… Read more
