Read one Irish entrepreneur's blog as she operates a business in Dublin
Do They Know They're Live?
October 26, 2004
The people who operate the Luas that is.
I just visited the site (which doesn't warrant a link from here) to see how long it takes to get from here to there. It looks as if it's still mid summer and the green line is the only one running. There is a timetable of sorts for the green line, but none for the red.
Helpful items such as a "how long from here to there" type of function aren't there. And even the way the information is presented in the 2 tables - all ugly and unformatted is appalling.
Designed by a French company, it is disappointing and a real waste of time.
But the website is endemic of total disorganisation in Connex as a whole. Connex is the company that won the right to run Luas. Yes, that's the same Connex that's the only one to have their license to run trains in the UK taken away from them...
One of my friends is involved with an event that needs to be promoted on the Luas. It's a perfect place for advertising because the event is actually taking place at one of the stops. But she is unable to advertise on Luas just now because Luas haven't worked out how/when/how much.
I would have thought a privately owned operator would be well switched on to making a quick buck from advertising.
Reposition Brightspark
October 12, 2004
The time has come to reposition Brightspark! I've been threatening to update and revitalise this website since the summer, but paying clients and their work keep getting in the way. That's good, and long may it last.
It's been increasingly on my mind that a lot of the services that Brightspark offers to larger corporate clients just aren't featuring on the site. Some are, such as intranet development, but they are not as prominent as they should be given the experience and intranet portfolio to date.
Readers of this blog - you heard it here first - Brightspark is currently being repositioned as an Internet Communications Company.
Internet marketing is still a major part of the business, but it is no longer the principal focus. In the last year, Brightspark has been very successful at delivering training in the areas of Web Content Writing, Email Marketing, and Internet Marketing. All recipients have been blue chip corporate clients - teams who are responsible for looking after the website or intranet, but who need training to ensure that the content has a low enough readability to be understood online, to know how to plan and implement a successful email marketing campaign.
Currently work is in progress on writing the site, we have a great designer lined up and ready to go as soon as the content is completed. It's just a case of doing now...
Weekends look like the only possible time, but with autumn here in full swing, and Brightspark HQ only 2 Luas stops away from the Phoenix Park and its wonderfully aged oak and chestnut trees, it's kind of difficult to fit in.
Rest assured, it will be done and completed before the October bank holiday weekend. That's a promise.
Vodafone Pays For My Calls
October 06, 2004
I reckon I'm the first person in the world to have my calls paid for by Vodafone!
Yes, that's right - I can chat away on my mobile for free.
Before there's a stampede down to Vodafone's shops I need first to point out that I've had to suffer in order to earn this bounty.
The story so far...
My mobile phone needs have grown and the next level up of Meteor contract was too big a jump for me. So I did a bit of research and worked out that Vodafone had a plan that was right for me.
I went in to the shop on Sunday and spent nearly an hour there going through all their forms, etc. There seemed to be a quiet satisfaction from staff there that I was a Vodafone turned Meteor customer coming back to the fold.
Monday dawned and my Meteor account was supposed to close and my Vodafone one begin a few minutes later. But it didn't. A quick skip down to the shop on Monday morning to discover that my details hadn't been entered right. Irritating, but I was told that everything would be working in a few hours.
Throughout Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I have typed in my new pin, getting excited when I hear the polyphonic Nokia tune, only to have my hopes dashed looking at a blank screen. No reassuring mobile phone provider name popping up. No nothing. I guess this is what it's like when you're desperately trying to conceive and the pregnancy test tells you that no, this time, you're not so lucky.
I've been on the phone for support throughout this ordeal, that has been long and trying, but I have kept my patience and yesterday I even got complimented by one of the Vodafone customer care team because I was less rude than many other callers!
Well - to cut a long story short - and not wanting to bore you - I still haven't got a working mobile account - Vodafone tells me there are porting problems and it's now at the stage that if I go back to Meteor it will take even longer to get my number unported and ported back ...or whatever. Another march down to Henry Street today, this time armed with the knowledge that they're giving out free sim's to those who ask. I asked, I let them see my annoyance, pleaded a little because I'm a small business that can't afford to be not available on the mobile, and lo and behold they gave me FREE CALL CREDIT.
I have to use my old phone to take incoming calls, and my new phone to make outgoing ones. So I do look a bit "Wall Street" movie style with a buy buy, sell sell look going on.
Actually - one of the most popular search phrases that people use to find my site is 80's clothing. I made some reference to it some time back in this blog and it really seems to be bringing those people coming. So, if you have reached this blog in anticipation of some inspiring advice re. what to wear for that 80's look - Brightspark says: do it 80's but keep it now! Don't go so far as to do the whole big hair, lacy fingerless glove thing. And sorry but this is actually a business site, not a fashion one. If you need help marketing your web presence, or improving your online content, then you're in the right place.
Mad Mad Mad World
October 01, 2004
It's a mad mad mad mad world indeed - and tonight I became a part of it. Tonight I was talking to the television again.
It was the first of the US Presidential debates and I just couldn't help myself.
But madness has certainly been part of the day since the outset, for today I signed Mad Flowers as a new client.
Mad Flowers are probably the most creative and innovative company for flower delivery in Ireland.
Looking forward to bringing great results on that one.