Brightspark, Dublin Ireland

No to Cloaking

2007-04-27T17:45:00.000+02:00

Bit of scandal for a Friday afternoon - apparently one of the search engine companies in Dublin is advocating the use of cloaking! Shock! Head shaking all round. Richard Hearne covers it very nicely here.

Here at Brightspark we certainly do not or have ever advocated cloaking.

Why are they advertising then?

2007-04-27T09:07:00.000+02:00

In research mode for a bed, it seems that all the activity on Google is on the pay per click side. Organic listings throw up news articles on hospital beds, dog and cat beds, books on beds. . .

On the pay per click side, one of the top 3 advertisers is bedsdirect.com yet they don't deliver beds to Ireland. Why would they bother advertising on Google Adwords where they've obviously geographically targeted their search to Ireland when they can't take orders from here? Is it to tempt Irish customers to buy a bed online, have it delivered to some relative's address in the UK and then drive over on the boat and pick it up?

I don't think so!

But one thing's for sure - they obviously have plenty of money to burn. If they can afford to run a national pay per click campaign in a country in which they can't do business. You could help them use up their budget by clicking on their ad! Search for "beds" on Google and you'll see them around the top on the right. Go on. Click it. Beddirect.com - how not to advertise online!

Busy Sickness

2007-04-23T10:56:00.000+02:00

It's a national epidemic. And one that could cause the economy to grind to a standstill if we're not careful!

Here's how it works:

You're so busy you can't look at what I've sent over to you for approval. Times this by everyone else and we can't do any work.
Because we're waiting to hear back from all you guys, we can't pass on that small piece of outsourced programming to someone else.
Programmmer relys on this and lots of other small pieces to keep him going. Because everyone is busy nothing is coming his way. He's not going to invest in that new piece of kit now.
Multiply this out across multiple industries and soon enough everything grinds to a standstill.

On a related note, I know someone who was saying recently that they spent 2 years and lots of money attending a psychotherapist. The upshot of it was that they learned how to feel and not just busy themselves out of it. Everyone in Ireland is busy busy. Does that mean that we're all secretly depressed and, not having attended this therapist, we are just doing what we know best: busying ourselves out of it?

Rant 001 for 2007

2007-04-17T15:40:00.000+02:00

I've been told I've gone soft and that my blog doesn't have the same ire and anger that were so prevalent in the early years! Maybe that's because I'm a little older and calmer. Perhaps it's to do with the fact that I now know that some things take time in this country (broadband connections, clients paying for work done well, etc.). But a couple of people have commented or blogged about how the early years featured a lot more me giving out about things and I think it's time to address this. I'd like you all to know that I'm still as opinionated as ever, and in the coming weeks I'll be sharing some more of this with you.

First off I'd like to ask a question: do you think web design is a skill? Has web development moved to the professional realms yet? Or is it still a necessary evil that you're not willing to pay for? (the old 'my nephew is just out of college and he knows a bit about websites' syndrome).

Cos I don't think so...

Of course I think creating a website and online strategy is something that must be done professionally. It takes skill, time, talent, love, and lots and lots of creativity. I just don't think that many people in Ireland think the same way. And so I present below my Top 3 Impediments to an Easy Website Redesign:

Content Clutter - at the start of a project, people always want to remove lots of the surplus clutter that doesn't get read. They get it when we say that people read 25% less online. They nod their heads when we suggest pared down content for home pages. Then when it comes to content delivery time, they get scared, and do a dump of all their existing content and a bit more.
Cold Feet - this can happen in relation to design and functionality. When we meet, they're all up for doing something new. They brief us in to deliver edgy new stuff, and when we do, they get scared and ask for white background, images of chess pieces or people on phones. Same old same old. Similarly, the idea of adding a blog instead of a dull and boring 'company news' page or video content instead of yet more pdf tat gets cast aside. Cold feet has killed many a delightful new design.
Losing Momentum - we meet, they want their site and they need it fast. We rise to the challenge and aim to deliver and pull out all the stops to get it done. Everyone's in agreement on the milestones and recognise the need to be speedy in the feedback if we are all to pull our weights and do what it takes to meet the client imposed tight deadline. And then what happens? Nothing. The home page design gets signed off and the client mysteriously disappears. Busy busy not able to look at anything. Project languishes. Weeks pass. Site goes live half a year after it begun, featuring an abundance of content, no risks taken, all of the above.

Please don't get paranoid if you're a Brightspark client. This is not about you. This is a general moan. It's about everyone else. It's not meant to offend, but I do want to inject a little bit of the real me back into this blog. And the real me is a bit moaney, especially on a Monday morning. Come back on Friday when I'll be posting about flowers blooming in April!

From Blogs to Bebo

2007-04-20T12:46:00.000+02:00

Last night I spoke at a PRII event, along with Mark Tarbett of Generator, and Ronnie Simpson of Simpson FTPR. The title of the event was 'From Blogs to Bebo' and my bit was a hands-on show and tell about blogs, news readers, video blogs, and video content. I love this kind of thing because it allows me to show interested people many of the things I love online.

Mark spoke about the opportunity presented by Bebo and about user generated content in general. Did you know that Bebo get about a million kids using it every day? The stats he quoted for daily page impressions was enough to make my eyes water. He was very open and upfront about the cost of a commercial spot on the home page, and it seems quite egalitarian in terms of how it's priced out. It's a flat fee per week. I'd suggest to anyone looking at Bebo to choose your weeks well, obviously leaving and junior cert weeks aren't going to be as successful as say, mid term breaks and the holidays.

Ronnie made a very good point when he said that he's been working in PR for 30 years and in that time, nothing really much has changed - until now. Ronnie believes that for PR people to be doing their jobs successfully, they've got to ensure their client's messages are searchable and that means being on Google. Whether that's achieved through search engine optimisation, blogs, Bebo, online advertising, it cannot be overlooked any longer.

Now for anyone who was there - here's your chance to leave a comment. . . I'd love to hear from you. And you will be creating a 1 way link back to your own site!

Imagine Dublin in 2050

2007-04-16T11:48:00.000+02:00

I just came across a rather thought provoking new blog - it's about the future of Dublin and imagining how it will be in 2050. I'm thrilled to see someone out there actually giving serious thought to planning for green space, pedestrian zones, and the environment in general.

If you are interested in having a say in how the future generations will live - and indeed the quality of your living environment when you're a pensioner - then check it out, comment and let your voice be heard. Visit the Imagine Dublin blog.

Good Post on Web 2.0 Design Styles

2007-04-12T22:54:00.000+02:00

I know some say Web 2.0 is dead and gone. Many are sick of it. But for others, Web 2.0 is still a new-ish concept that's being got to grips with. The basic premise of Web 2.0 development is to get it out fast and refine based on user activity. Charge a little - but charge it often! Get people using your service and make it indispensible. In terms of design, this post is a good one. It pretty much sums it up : it's about simplicity. Read more here.

Vote Early Vote Often

2007-04-11T18:44:00.000+02:00

The Webby Awards are now open to the people. It's your chance to have your say on which sites are the best in the world. From now until 27 April, you can vote in any number of categories including video, mobile and web.

Winners will be announced on 1st May and will be honoured at the ** star studded ** awards ceremony in New York in June.

Some interesting facts about this year's shortlists:

The BBC received the most nominations (5). No surprises there because we all know that the BBC rocks online! Other multiple nominees include NPR (4), NYTimes.com (4), Salon.com (4), Flickr (3), JonathanYuen.com (3), LinkedIn (3), The Onion (3), TruthDig (3), WeFeelFine.org (3), and Yahoo! (3).
In interactive advertising, several agencies received multiple nominations including: Crispin Porter + Bogusky and R/GA (5); Farfar (4); AlmapBBDO (3); DDB Brazil (2), McCann Digital (2), Saatchi and Saatchi LA (2), and Euro RSCG 4D (2).
The nominees for Best Practices - del.icio.us, digg, Facebook, Flickr, and Last.fm - represent the leading edge of new technologies and trends reshaping the Web.

With so many great sites and campaigns to choose from, it's hard to choose a winner from that bunch. Comments please - what's your favourite? And why?

Google April Fool

2007-04-04T12:28:00.000+02:00

This is funny! Google spoofily announced the launch of a new service on 1 April. "Because everyone loves paper, you asked for it, and we're bringing it back . . . Google Snail Mail". Read more here.

What The Politicians Have To Say About Broadband

2007-04-03T12:27:00.000+02:00

Dublin Chamber of Commerce organised an event this morning in which a member of each of the political parties was invited to attend and take questions from the Dublin Chamber members on election issues. Mirian O'Calaghan MC'ed and tried to keep them to the point. Because it's not very often that we get a chance to have our say in these things, I went along and posed a question about broadband. Below is my question and the answers that came from the various representatives. Take from it what you like. But it's very clear to me who has a clue about broadband and who doesn't.

Question: I would like to ask the panel how they plan to deliver the broadband infrastructure that is needed for a knowledge based economy. I run an internet business and have had to move 3 times in the last 2 years. Each time I was without broadband for an average of 6 weeks. When I telephoned Com Reg to see what they could do about my poor broadband service, I was surprised to discover that they are not responsible for this area. What are your specific policies that you have for broadband provision? What specific ideas do you have to provide commitment and accountability in the provision of broadband infrastructure?"

Note that I said specific twice!!

The replies were as follows:

Oisin Quinn, Labour: eircom has too much control. We need local loop unbundling and a regulator with teeth. Either expand the powers of Com Reg or establish a new regulator.
Sean Ardagh, Fianna Fail: broadband is 'a failure for all of us'. There is a difficulity for local loop unbundling to be delivered at a competitive price. He then took credit for the increase in the number of broadband subscribers since 2002.
Richard Bruton, Fine Gael: believes we should move to tender for 100% coverage like in Northern Ireland. 'If we're going to go for it let's build and be ambitious". For knowledge is a key sector in the economy. . . bla bla . . he lost me there when he went into politician speak.
Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Fein: talked about collaboration between Universities being important. Didn't answer the question.
Eamonn Ryan, Green Party: encourage competition between cable, mobile and fixed line providers. Encourage more competition between the three. If that doesn't work, buy the network back! When Miriam O'Callaghan asked how much that would cost, he said €2 billion. But given the €300 million per year we're spending on [something else I didn't catch?], it would be a good investment.
Liz O'Donnell, PD: didn't answer the question

So there you have it. As far as I can gather, the incumbent government parties (FF and PD) have no policy on broadband. The Shinners don't really get it. Greens offer the most radical approach. Labour, perhaps the most logical. FG gave the most waffly political. However, overall on the day - Richard Bruton did come across as one of the most well prepared.

Entertainment.ie Adds Video

2007-03-31T15:07:00.000+02:00

Nice to see Entertainment.ie have added video to their site. Because we're all too busy to search - they also tap into our Irish obsession with being busy and not having enough time.

It's called Best of the Web. I like it. I stayed on for about 30 mins so that's sticky! Irish music tv is good, and 'that's pretty underground'.

It's Not Going Away

2007-03-30T09:53:00.000+02:00

Back in February, the ODCE issued new disclosure requirements for companies in relation to websites and electronic communications. From 1 April, all companies have to include company name and it's legal form, company registration number and address. It must be displayed in a prominent place, we're going for footer - not giving away any valuable home page real estate.

The objective of this piece of EU legislation is to bring electronic communications in line with print. How long have electronic communications been around now? Why is this happening now - more than 10 years since e-communications have been in broad use?

I think it's excessive. And smacks of bureaucrats who don't understand the online environment. Granted, the company website might be deemed to be the online equivalent of the headed paper. But every single email is not. Some emails are formal and might be deemed to be letterhead, but the vast majority are like phone calls and chats. Instead of coming up with a solution that reflects the nature of e-communications, our friends in Brussels have just slapped the one requirement on everything.

I had considered emailing all of Brightspark's clients to alert them and to add add the required details to their websites and email templates. The only reason I didn't is because I thought it might have gone away. Costs the poor companies money and for what? To make it easier for spammers and identity thieves to extract company information?

Anyway, it's THE LAW from Sunday. So if you need your site done, get in touch.

Kids Aren't That Good At Multi-Tasking

2007-03-27T08:46:00.000+02:00

With all the talk recently about Twitter (to Twitter or not to Twitter?), I was interested to read about a series of new reports that found limits to multi-tasking.

Original post I found here, but the detail about all the studies is here.

One would think that the kids are great at multi-tasking because they have grown up around digital devices. My nephews IM their mates while playing Nintendo, with the telly or music on in the background. However, according to the New York Times "recent research suggests that popular perception is open to question. A group of 18- to 21-year-olds and a group of 35- to 39-year-olds were given 90 seconds to translate images into numbers, using a simple code.

The younger group did 10% better when not interrupted. But when both groups were interrupted by a phone call, an SMS message or an instant message, the older group matched the younger group in speed and accuracy. The older people think more slowly, but they have a faster fluid intelligence, so they are better able to block out interruptions and choose what to focus on."

So, how can I apply this to my life?

Stop taking sneaky calls on the mobile while driving. Find the hands free and use it. Accept that McDowell was right.
Turn off my email. Right now it's off and I intend to experiment today with only checking it once an hour. I know that email interrupts my flow of thought. And if something is so urgent it can't wait for an hour, then they'll ring me.
Turn off Twitter during work hours (thus setting a good example for the rest of my team - ahem!)

My Thoughts On IIA Blogging Event

2007-03-22T10:44:00.000+01:00

Last night at the Shelbourne Hotel, the IIA hosted an event titled "Blogging New Media Business & The Law". One of many taking place in this town about blogging, I went along to check out the new look Shelbourne and to see what I could learn. Here's a summary for you. And you can listen to it here.

Tom Murphy, PR for Microsoft spoke first. He was well paced and had lots of good examples to demonstrate his ideas. From a PR perspective, he summed up the benefits of blogs are follows:

Conversation starter
Influence the debate - my thought on this: don't be afraid of them. There were a lot of people I spoke to last night who are in fear of blogs - "what if people post bad things about your service?"
Reputation Management - but if you're not true it can damage your reputation like it did with Walmart and Edelman PR in the US. Read more about flogs here.
Advocacy - why aren't there more not for profits bloggers?
Feedback Loop
Search Engine Optimisation
Measurement

When I asked a question about how Microsoft was dealing with the Outlook 2007 problem (it's stripping out css and ruining html emails), his rather flippant response was to send plain text mails. I don't think so.

Next up was Sarah Carey who has her own mommy blog and from that landed a column at The Sunday Times. She had no slides, preferring instead to read from a long script. And yes, it sounded like reading. And boy was it long! She's quite taken with herself and her own meteoric rise to writing fame (I'd never heard of her until last night). She told us stories of people being 'really grateful' to her and finding solace from her blog. She talked for a very long time. [I can report at this stage that the ceilings in the newly renovated Shelbourne are gorgeous].

Richard Deleran, the Business Editor of the Sunday Business Post spoke next about how the failure of Irish businesses to embrace new media is costing us money. I liked the way he named names and showed up IBEC for their stupid comment last year complaining about the style that 'the kids' use for communications. He made the point that the kids have grown up with multiple devices and are used to multi-tasking in a digital environment. He made a good point that we should look to the positives of this and harness it. IBEC take note!

Some interesting stats on Ireland:

Half of all 15-24 year olds use Bebo or MySpace. That's an awful lot of bloggers.
We have the highest play station usage outside of Japan
And the highest mobile penetration in Europe

Finally, TJ McIntyre of Merrion Solicitors and UCD Law Lecturer concluded by addressing the legal aspects of blogging. Given that he was the last speaker of the night and speaking about law, he did especially well because he had everyone on the edge of their seats. Put the fear of God into anyone with a blog. And as for the ones who were expressing concerns at the beginning of the evening, I'm sure they took to the hills! I won't even attempt to summarise it here - for fear of giving out misleading information - but I'd highly recommend you listen to TJ on the podcast.

Rant About CDWOW

2007-03-23T10:58:00.000+01:00

Once upon a time, before iTunes was invented, I purchased a cd from cdwow. Ever since then they have bombarded me with regular emails. I know I posted about this before, but I'm bringing it up again because now it the time to take action.

My main reason for complaint prior to this was that when you click the link on the email to unsubscribe, it takes you to the cdwow site and you have to know your user name and password in order to log in and unsubscribe. This is not email marketing best practice - you are supposed to make it easy for subscribers to unsubscribe.

I don't know my user name and password and I used to be afraid to retrieve them in case it opens me up to even more of a barrage of emails. This morning however, I decided to succumb, retrieve them and unsubscribe from cdwow hell forever.

Can you imagine my apoplexy when I logged in and found that I was ticked yes to receive cdwow updates and yes to receive offers from partners? I never ever agree to this. Why would anyone in their right mind agree to be spammed? Because that's essentially what it is - receiving emails from companies that you don't know. Cdwow are lying!

Sensible readers will be making sounds round about now that I should simply report this callous breach of my wishes to the Data Protection Commissioner. Well I did and the response isn't that hopeful. Their view is that they can only do something if the email is sent to Irish recipients from an Irish server. So even though cdwow is a dot ie, if they send the emails using a web-based email messaging service based in the US for example, then the Data Protection Commissioners have no jurisdiction. So cdwow can continue to send their tacky emails in flagrant breach of the European Directive on email communications.

What can you do? Send an email to the Data Protection Commissioners requesting them to review their stance on jurisdiction. Ask them to alter their position to investigate dot ie's no matter what server is being used.

In the meantime, I have forwarded the offending email to a helpful person at the commissioners and have requested that she contact cdwow and request a list of their partners to whom my details might have been leaked out. Let's see how complicit cdwow are.

And finally, for all your music needs I recommend iTunes.

Twitter Vision : Loving It

2007-03-20T23:48:00.000+01:00

I still haven't decided if I like, love or loathe Twitter or not, but I love Twittervision. Check it out - you can spend ages just watching other people's thoughts appearing right in front of you on a lovely google map: who's doing what all over the world.

<.p>Everyone has little green white and orange flags beside their posts - yay, at last I knew it : the Irish take over the world.

The Thing I Love Most About Twitter

2007-03-20T23:17:00.000+01:00

Are the cat pics!

And I'm not even a cat lover. But if you are, check these, you're sure to go aw (or paw? Sorry it's late. I had to...)

Go Green!

2007-03-20T15:50:00.000+01:00

Was thinking over the weekend that another reason in favour of Email Marketing over say, direct, is the carbon footprint. It's greener to communicate with your contacts through email.

In the years to come, I think this reason might outweigh the huge list of very valid other reasons, ie. it is less expensive, more targeted, generates full and detailed reporting, etc.

Always Look to The Beeb

2007-03-14T16:49:00.000+01:00

Whenever I'm delivering web content writing training, I always tell people that if they're unsure about whether they're doing something right - to look to the BBC and see how they do it. Time and again, BBC.co.uk stand out for their excellence - in content, in usablity, design, their intranet is renowned, and now folks here's a beautiful example of Flash Video.

BBC really are the Carlsberg of the online universe!

Now sit back, relax, and enjoy: view BBC flash video

Spanglish Live - Social Networking Site

2007-03-13T11:16:00.000+01:00

If you're a lover of all things Spanish, then check out the latest addition to the social networking space - Spanglish. It's a site for adults who are learning Spanish in Ireland . . . or for Spanish speaking people who are living in Ireland and want to meet more Irish people. And it's sure to be a winner.

When I told my Uruguayan Spanish teacher about it last night - in Spanish mind you, so it was a rather halting description - her eyes lit up. "All my friends here are Italian, and Spanish, and French. I was just saying at the weekend that I wish I had some Irish friends."

It's tapping into "new" Dublin, and features all you'd expect from a great social networking site - messaging, blogs, great learning content. You can download podcasts in spanish and English, learn how to cook paella or tortilla - listening to native Spanish speakers telling you how. And as a member, you're encouraged to upload your own podcasts to share with others.

This is a Brightspark site and we're delighted that it's live! If you know anyone who's interested in Spanish, the language, the customs, the people . . then let them know. www.spanglish.ie

Banned Trocaire Ad

2007-03-11T11:37:00.000+01:00

Picked up from Bernie Goldbach, IQ Content, Damien Mulley, here's the banned trocaire ad. Watch it and wonder why the BCI banned it? Read a good article on why here, but here's the gist of it:

"The BCI apparently feels that because Trocaire is advocating through its website that people should lobby governments to act on their international commitments to fight gender inequality, this constitutes political action and is contrary to the legislation determining what can be contained within advertisements on the broadcast media."

The BCI has no control over the web thankfully. Watch the Trocaire ad. And don't forget to contribute to the appeal.

I'm wondering who's responsible for this rather brilliant Lenten campaign? Chemistry is Trocaire's ad agency, they are the ones behind Ireland's most successful viral campaign last year and of course the award winning trocaire ad on child labour.I have to hand it to you lads - nice work!

Best Banner Ad

2007-03-08T22:49:00.000+01:00

I've seen for some time - for Audi...scroll down the right side.

First Tuesday - Confession to Make

2007-03-07T10:43:00.000+01:00

Last night I went to my first First Tuesday event in Ireland. I used to go to them in Sydney in 1999-2000 and oh how things have changed! Back then it was all about style, but no substance, chinking wine glasses, and migrating to the side of the room that had financiers. Last night was rather different, although there was one similar theme - more on that later.

I have a confession to make though. I actually went along last night expecting to hear about "Next Generation - What's Next for the Net?". I read the email invite in a hurry. What last night's discussion was actually about was "Next Generation Networks - What's Next for the Net?". I realised this when I took my seat, up the front, where there's no early escape route. The room was a virtual who's who of the telcoms and ISP industry, and me. When the panel introductions were made, and the key speaker was eircom's Chief Technical Officer, Geoff Shakespeare, I decided to approach this in the same manner as I used to take with some of my more maths orientated economics lectures: listen acutely, don't get freaked out by acronyms, and see how you go....

Luckily Geoff Shakespeare is one of that rare breed of technician who's obviously so on top of his subject, but is able to communicate that with an audience who may not be quite at his level of knowledge. He made a very interesting presentation on eircom's plans for the next generation network (to you and me, that means the big pipe that enables all the good stuff). He took us through a very interesting pitch on VDL2 slammers - ones that are in cabinets no less - and I even laughed at his joke about needing a cabinet the size of a tardis! He used a lot of food allegories, the one I remember most was where he said that eircom wants to design a sausage maker and churn out the sausages! Using the churn word in a roomful of telcoms people was, I think, rather brave!

Questions and answers followed and the issue of what would be done with all of this bandwidth arose. This is where it got really interesting. Many people took the floor and, along with the panellists, the general consensus was that the revenue to pay for all of this big fat pipe development, content, etc. would come from advertising. This is where I was reminded of First Tuesdays in Sydney. Back then it was all about building websites and selling banner ad space on them. The logic was that these sites would be so fantastic that they'd drive millions of users to click on banner ads which would be funded by advertisers...

Well we all know the story of the dot com bomb.

And while we now have more sophisticated contextual advertising avaiable to us now, that is by no means sufficient to pay for the next generation network. Let's face it - do you ever click the ads you see in your gmail? I don't. But that's another day's posting - when to use pay per click and when not to... come back tomorrow folks for that one. . .

My opinion is that the evolving Web 2.0 models of the social networking sites are the ones that will work. That is, let everyone use your service for free. Get them hooked! Then, let them pay an annual fee to use the service with all the bells and whistles on. Don't go charging a lot. Charge a small amount - like €25, but charge millions of people €25 and become a millionaire!!

Sites that are doing this right already are: Flickr, the wonderful 37signals - eg. Basecamp, Skype.

I love this ad for Heineken...

2007-03-06T16:26:00.000+01:00

2007 : Year of Flash Video

2007-02-22T21:11:00.000+01:00

Or more precisely, the year that flash video shifts from being something 'clunky' to being 'content'.

Video as Content

Our belief is that the time has come for Irish businesses to shift their perception as to what is web content.

Back in the early 1990's it was all about big images and rotating gifs. Eye tracking studies revealed that our brains process words and headlines. Now our sites are constructed to maximize impact and facilitate large amounts of data going into the brain in as few seconds as possible. View some classy examples here, here, and here.

What we're very excited about at Brightspark is that we're moving into a new phase: where video becomes content and key messages are delivered in a way that we've known and loved for decades - through video.

Here's what I mean...

We've always believed that Flash adds value to a site when used to convey complex or technical messages. If you can't describe it in 150 words, or if you find yourself relying on diagrams and charts, then move it to Flash.

Now we're seeing Flash blended with video to distil multiple and complex messages, into user friendly videos of no more than 2 or 3 minutes long. My favourite example of this is salesforce.com. Go visit the site, select 'View Demos', and see how technical sales messages are being done right now.

Last week in the US, severe weather conditions caused many JetBlue airline passengers to get stranded. JetBlue responded by issuing a video apology - direct from its CEO on Youtube (and its own site of course). Watch it on Youtube and read the responses - people are responding well to Geoff. That's because he's coming across as real, concerned, and credible.

The New York Times has been broadcasting audio, video and photographic images of key stories on its home page for some time now. Right now at the bottom left of its home page, you can choose from stories relating to politics, opinion, sport, and of course whether Forest Whittaker is going to win an Oscar for his portrayal of Idi Amin in this weekend's Oscars.

Yes, it's a pity that the sites above are all in the US. I found it difficult to find some Irish examples. But I bet that this time next year that will be a very different scenario. I'm reminded of 2003, when I decided to go for a blog on this site instead of pdf downloads of 'marketing tips' or other twaddle. Some people questioned whether this latest 'craze for web diaries' would last. Well it did. And it has. And blogs have now evolved to be valuable business tools on so many levels.

I've got the same feeling about Flash Video. Now's the time to get into it, so that when everyone's at it, you'll have experience and will know what works for you. If you have a message that could best be communicated by Flash Video, and you'd like to know more about the steps involved in getting a flash video on your site, you know what to do: contact us!

Flash Video : Nuts & Bolts

The tools that we use to create Flash video content have been improving and since the release of Flash 8 last year, it's been really easy to add video to a website. Quality is improved and file size reduced.

At the same time, broadband penetration and the fact that 97.3% of internet enabled computers have Flash readers means that practically everyone can view Flash videos. While the popularity of sites like Youtube, MySpace, and Google Video highlights the fact that there are many millions of people who want to.

Much has been written about consumer generated video content and the mainstream media is now alert to the fact that people are equipped with the tools to record and publish on the fly using mobile phones and webcams, using YouTube and MySpace to broadcast.

Thanks to Tom Green whose series of articles on flash video inspired me to write this!