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A different angle
In today’s Irish Independent’s Digital Ireland supplement Marie Boran and John Kennedy take a different angle on social networking in an article entitled Bubble 2.0. (not yet available online – go on, go mad and spend €1.80 on a copy of the Indo!)
Edited 15:56: “Bubble 2.0: Are we about to witness another technology crash?” now online.
Those interviewed make some really good points. Conor O’Neill of LouderVoice points out that “historically bubbles are when all the great ideas and grand plans are hatched and tried”. I’m always reminded about my art history classes in school when I read comments about that: (early, classical and) high period wouldn’t have the same je ne sais quoi as bubble, would it? However technological innovations in painting, sculpture and architecture are plain to see as they are the cultural artefacts that are preserved in galleries, museums and cityscapes around the world. Which Web 2.0 app will be the Sistine Chapel of the future?
Our own Fergal O’Byrne comments that many Irish businesses that were established before March 2000 are still thriving. It is this very global success that attracts all sorts of visitors to Ireland to learn about how we do this so successfully.
Pat Phelan and Tom Raftery also talk sense. Pat refers to Facebook’s finances and wonders what your local bank manager, looking at a “negative cash flow of US$150m”, would think if you said “I have an estimated value of US$15bn just like Facebook!” Tom (who currently has posted a presentation about Web 2.0 toolset for business for those of you who just can’t get enough – looking forward to video of same) insightfully suggests that Microsoft’s purchase of Facebook was strategic: “The only logic to paying US$240m [for a 1.6% share] was to get Facebook valued beyond anyone else’s reach”. Mmm liking the taste of the wine from that poisoned chalice, Facebook?
Also interviewed in the article are three others who spoke at our recent Congress: Philip Macartney and Mark Charkin from Bebo with the last word going to Barry Meehan from Worldwide Cycles, living proof that blogging can make you money.
One thing that surprised me in all of this talk (and a delegate at the Congress also mentioned this to me) is the focus on advertising and marketing while there is scant talk about the collaborative power of web 2.0. The IIA recently set up a Social Media Working Group who specifically mentioned that, in order to undertake their work as a group they will be using Basecamp from 37Signals.com. I’d love to hear more about how companies are using online collaboration and wikis for their work. I would be particularly interested in hearing the experience of those who aren’t neccessarily tech companies like GPs or retail managers or those in tourism or to paraphrase the young people, “Whoever!”
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Raise your voices for newest member
A big IIA welcome to our newest member Argilon Global Services. Argilon are specialists in the development and deployment of Telecommunications, networking and IP technology training across Europe.
Argilon have teamed up with security experts and local Dublin firm ESPION (www.espion.ie) to offer a Voice over IP workshop which, in addition to explaining the process behind VoIP technology, explores the security issues and solutions. This workshop takes place on 19th and 20th June in Espion Offices in Stillorgan, Dublin.
They welcome IIA members to attend and are offering a 25% discount to them. List price EUR990; IIA Price EUR740. For further course information please feel free to contact Argilon.
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Come into the parlour
Every once in a while the IIA receive a request from beyond our shores for a visit. Usually it is a technology or business lecturer who is bringing a group of students to Ireland for a few days to see the Tech Tiger in action. While I am flattered on behalf of the IIA that they would like to visit us and learn more about what we do, there isn’t much to see in IIA HQ. Most of our wares are displayed online for obvious reasons. While I am aware that this is also the case for many of our members, some of you might be keen to demo your goods to these international visitors and technologists of the future. Naturally I would prefer to suggest another avenue for these visitors rather than a bald refusal so if you think you would like to forge links with the future of Europe and offer them tea and bickies, please do let me know.
I recall a number of guest lecturers during my undergrad and postgrad days that really made an impression and imparted some pearls of wisdom which I have catalogued for future reference. They are so deeply catalogued however that I can recall none of them for your entertainment edification.
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Brand new shiny award for Brandmail
Congratulations to Brandmail, not because of their spanking new piece of silverware which they received at the All Ireland Marketing Awards for Marketing Innovation but for becoming the latest new member of the IIA.
There is no doubt that Brandmail’s product is innovative. Brandmail seek to protect their clients reputation by signing and sealing their email:
“When an email is sent, the SbS2.0 (TM) Writer “signs” that email using a cryptographic hash function. This cryptographic signature is the modern equivalent of a wax seal used by royalty to protect important messages – identifying who sent the message and verifying its authenticity. “
What an end user sees in their inbox is the sender’s logo with a Brandmail’s trademark secure icon beside it, the sender being a Brandmail client. It’s a simple yet effective way to boost trust and as Brandmail themselves say:
“A brand is more than a trademark, it’s a trustmark”
You should visit their site – they explain it so much better than I can with pictures. Their blog has some great posts as well.
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Playing catch-up – podcasts now available
I spent Friday morning listening to and uploading the podcasts of the plenary and question & answer sessions of the IIA Congress. I finally feel I know what you are all talking about! You can download them and subscribe to the podcast here: http://www.iia.ie/resources/podcast/
The podcasts were kindly and appropriately sponsored by the straight-talking online bank RaboDirect.
These are available to all. The accompanying presentations are available to members and delegates only.
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People, businesses and customers, are losing out.
John Kennedy writes in SiliconRepublic about last week’s Congress, “Bartley O’Connor, associate director of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Ireland, said there is a digital divide emerging between businesses that have broadband and those that don’t.” He quotes Bartley as saying ““This is affecting business start-ups, not just end users. There could be hundreds more businesses in the country if not for the lack of broadband. People are losing out.”
We’re acutely aware of this in the IIA. A search of our online member database using the keyword Donegal, for example, shows exactly how few companies in Donegal are members. (Yeeessss ROADTRIP!!) Joking aside the IIA is seeking to address this and other issues by bringing together industry experts, interested parties and stakeholders in Working Groups. In relation to this issue the Infrastructure Working Group are already busy and we expect to see a position paper from them in the near future.
Regardless of the broadband situation, the IIA is a countrywide organisation and the 4th of June will see us not quite in Donegal but in Derry running a course entitled “Making your Web Strategy pay”. This event is sold out but you can catch it again in Belfast on the 5th June.
John Kennedy also writes about how his meeting with Bebo’s Head of Sales Mark Charkin and their new Head of Sales in Ireland Philip Macartney at the IIA Congress. John describes how this pair told him about how they are “forging alliances with major media firms including the BBC, MTV and CBS to drive its monetisation strategy.”
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Bruno! We’re blushing!
Bruno Sardo made a presentation at last week’s IIA Congress about Dell’s social networking. He mentioned in particular their very proactive IdeaStorm which is a simple but brilliant use of Web 2.0 technologies. If something is bugging you about your Dell product, they want you to come online and tell them about it. I know it’s very à la mode to swear at the moment (thank you Biffo) but if you write coherently about your idea for improving your Dell product, other users can vote whether they also think this is a good idea. At the time of writing there was a suggestion that all power cables should be standardized. I reckon this is a great idea so I am choosing to promote this idea. Click click click and it’s done. So simple.
In his blog post about his experience at our Congress last week, Bruno writes, “The overwhelming feedback I received directly and indirectly was that people got by far the most out of the case studies and hearing from businesses who are learning by doing.” He then goes on to write about Barry Meehan’s presentation about his WorldwideCycles blog, “Barry shared some people will drive all the way from Dublin to buy their bike or supplies from his shop, and now that their store is eCommerce enabled they get orders from all kinds of places. An online order was placed last week from Italy for a €3,000 bicycle. When Barry posted a video on the blog showing how to clean your bike after a race, he saw sales of the cleaning product he used in the video quadruple almost overnight!”
In the comments to Barry’s post I notice that Aedan from Puddleducks is planning to start a blog. I am thrilled to read this on both a professional and personal level. Professionally because I know Aedan took a positive experience and inspiration (and indeed a raffle prize!) away with him last Thursday. On a personal level, I know two nippers who are off to the zoo today in their “fireman suits” purchased from Puddleducks and I look forward to reading more from PuddleDucks. (No pressure Aedan, I swear!)
The presentations from the Congress are available to members and delegates on our site. Don’t forget to login. If you have forgotten your username and password please contact members@iia.ie.
Membership
New members galore
How long can I use last week’s Congress as an excuse for letting things slide a little bit? I will freely admit that I haven’t had an opportunity to welcome five new members so here goes:
- Engrande.com – Engrande Ireland Ltd. have literally just arrived in Ireland and moved in next door to
us here in IIA HQ. They have a really clever idea. You want a bed for the night that costs €30. They offer simple, instantly confirmed, online bookings on Hotels, Hostels, B&B and Apartments at great prices. Originally launched with the €30 per night concept in Barcelona and Madrid, EnGrande now offers similar value accommodation in cities from Dublin to Budapest, from Berlin to Athens. Oooh I feel a holiday beckoning!
Marketing and Development Unit, IT Blanchardstown – IT Blanchardstown first opened its doors in 1999 and in the nine years since has set a mission to serve its students and the community by meeting the skills needs in the economy and increasing the level of participation in third-level education and training, particularly in Dublin North-West and its environs. It is great to welcome the Marketing and Development Unit because since starting my own job here a number of members have mentioned the need to communicate with third level institutions about the skills required for comtemporary businesses. Hopefully we in the IIA will be able to facilitate that conversation.
Amooz.ie – Amooz stock beautiful and practical baby products that might cause more oohing and aahing than the babby itself! Everything for the stylish new parents and baby: the parents may not get much sleep but they will look funky!
Strategem.ie – I’m amazed Strategem had time to join the IIA: they must spend half their time putting up shelves upon which to display their awards judging by their website :). Congratulations and welcome: it’s nice to be in such august company! (Note to self: must run a campaign aimed at carpenters and companies specialising in office design. I see a synergy here.)
- Bio-medical Research Ltd. – And finally a big welcome to Bio-medical Research who began manufacturing electrical muscle stimulator (EMS) products in the 1960s and have over 30 years experience in the research, design, manufacture and marketing of medical grade products for both muscle strengthening and pain relief. Maybe we should put them in touch with Strategem above whose muscles may require some strengthening to hoike all those awards around. I’m on a synergy roll, folks!
We look forward to meeting representatives from all of these companies at our upcoming events. Hopefully some of them will share their internet experiences here as guest bloggers too.
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Praise be to podcasts!
I am back in the IIA HQ after last week’s Congress. So far we have been receiving positive feedback . We really appreciate all kinds of feedback so if you didn’t manage to fill out your feedback form on the day please email comments/ queries to events@iia.ie. Or you can, of course, comment below!
I found the whole experience invaluable and was delighted to meet nearly all of the over 300 delegates. I had spoken to some of you on the phone, via email or here on the blog but it is always nice to put a face to a voice. I mentioned to some of you that you would be more than welcome to guest blog: if you are interested please email me or leave a comment.
The only drawback to being an organiser is that I missed all of the presentations and breakout sessions. Thankfully Talking Voices were there again to record all and these recordings will be available as podcasts soon. Watch this space!
All of the presentations are available on the IIA website already so if you’ll excuse me, I have some reading to do! You will need to log in to get access to this content. If you were a delegate but you are not a member we have made arrangements for access for a month. Please email me to get a username and password.
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Social Media Network Bebo Appoints Irish Head of Sales
Macartney is Bebo’s first Irish appointment and took up the position this week in Dublin. As Head of Sales, he will be responsible for driving advertising sales and developing content and partnership opportunities.
Macartney has over 5 years experience in the Irish advertising industry. Having worked in broadcast media and in the world of online, Philip has a strong affinity for technology, cross-media advertising and emerging channels such as mobile.
Welcoming Macartney’s appointment, Mark Charkin, VP Sales of Bebo, said:
"The appointment to the company of a Head of Sales specifically for Ireland reflects our ongoing commitment to the Irish Market. Philip has a strong reputation in the Irish media and advertising market, and brings with him a great deal of creativity and a depth of knowledge of the Irish market. We are confident that he will continue to develop long term value for both brands and our users alike."
"Bebo is one of the most recognized brands in the Irish market and has been at the very centre of the dramatic changes we have witnessed in the media landscape – this evolution is something that resonates with me. This role offers a truly unique opportunity to work on one of the most engaged websites in Ireland and continue to develop its business from the grass-roots level up." said Macartney
Most recently he was Senior Agency Sales Executive at Dublin radio station FM104. He dealt with all the major Irish advertising agencies as well as key clients such as Fas, XtraVision, EBS and McDonalds directly and was responsible for achieving sales of over EUR6m annually. He was instrumental in a number of large multi-platform solutions including the recent partnership between FM104 and 3 mobile. He also developed a digital sales solution for the FM104 group of websites.
Prior to joining FM104 Macartney was a founder member of internet kiosk operator Every1online. As sales director he brought the start-up through two rounds of funding and implemented the first internet kiosk network in Northern Ireland.