Category Archives: Twitter
Let the train take the strain?
In the last week I have spent upwards of 40 hours on various trains, travelling around the country as part of my latest consultancy assignment.
It started last Thursday when, with about half an hour’s notice, I had to make my way from my home in Glasgow to a hotel at East Midlands Airport for a briefing at 8.30am the following day. After discovering there are now no flights at all from Glasgow Airport to East Midlands Airport (despite the fact that I have done this journey before!), I had no option but to go by train. This was my journey:
18:00 Get dropped off at Mount Florida Station for train to Glasgow Central and pick up tickets
18:40 Take train from Glasgow Central to Warrington Bank Quay – running 12 minutes late for no apparent reason
21:20 Arrive at Warrington Bank Quay and take a taxi (in the rain) to Warrington Central
22:03 Take train from Warrington Central to Nottingham, although this train was in fact running 20 minutes late – no explanation given
01:00 Arrive at Nottingham and take taxi to hotel at East Midlands Airport
01:30 Check into my room at the hotel
Fortunately my journey home the following night was made easier when one of my colleagues very kindly took me to Warrington Bank Quay so all I had to do (after a 3 hour drive) was to take one train back to Glasgow before getting home at some time around 10.30pm – exhausted and none too pleased to have to take the very same journey again two days later as I needed to be back in Nottingham for 09:00 on Monday morning!
I took a different route on Sunday, leaving home at 4:00pm and arriving at the hotel at 11.30pm. The same colleague took me to Warrington Bank Quay the following afternoon and I arrived back home in Glasgow for a brief sleep at around 10:30pm before setting off again the next day (Tuesday), this time to Elgin!
Setting my alarm for 5:15am, I then caught the 7:06am to Inverness and then another train to Elgin, arriving at 11:41. After a day of meetings I then returned home, via Aberdeen on this leg of the journey, and was back in my flat at about 10:00pm – extremely tired and emotional!!!
I know you’re mostly sitting down while on the train but it is an extremely stressful and tiring experience as people who commute regularly using this mode of transport will probably concur. It would be less stressful if the train companies could make more of an effort to run the services on time so that you’re not scared of missing the various connections that might mean you being stranded miles from your final destination in the dead of night. If they could also make sure there are enough carriages for the amount of people using the service that would also be helpful, thus avoiding the dreadful congestion on board and making the journey so much more comfortable for everyone!
Moan over – perhaps next time I should just take the car?????
There’s only one Theo Walcott!
When substitute Theo Walcott came on to the pitch against Sweden on the hour mark last night, England were trailing 2-1 and staring defeat in the face – again!
England, who had been leading through Andy Carroll’s bullet header going into the break, conceded twice during a wretched 10-minute period after half-time to leave them deep in trouble. But new manager Roy Hodgson’s decision to replace James Milner with Arsenal attacker Walcott had an almost instant reward.
Within four minutes Walcott collected a cleared corner on the edge of the box and equalised with a 20-yard shot that deceived Swedish goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson and was a sight to behold – surely a contender for goal of the tournament?
14 minutes later, the England winger burst into the penalty box, went past two Swedish defenders and crossed for Danny Welbeck to flick in the winner – job done!
It was a game-changing contribution from the 23-year-old, who was making his first appearance in a major tournament and scored his first England goal for nearly four years.
Oh yes, and did I mention the fact that he plays for Arsenal?
Here’s what was said by the players and pundits:
“I wouldn’t say I was the game changer. It’s always nice to come off the bench and show what you can do. I’ve been disappointed that I haven’t played.” – Theo Walcott
“I’m happy with the finish and to get three points but it was disappointing to let in two goals. We came back, we stuck together and the team spirit showed.” – Danny Welbeck
“Great game, wonderful result and that customary gut-wrenching feeling of watching England. Nothing quite like it.” – BBC Match of the Day presenter and former England striker Gary Lineker on Twitter
“I think Ashley Young is gonna have to make way for Wayne Rooney.” – Former England striker Ian Wright on Twitter
Basking in reflected glory?
The internet has responded in fine form to the Chelsea skipper, John Terry, donning his full kit to receive the Champions League trophy last night. If you’ve been on planet Mars for the past few weeks you will not know that Terry was suspended from taking part in this crucial fixture due to an extremely stupid tackle in the semi against Barcelona that saw him receiving a sending off. However, last night, when Chelsea were the ultimate victors on penalties, Terry changed out of his suit and into his kit to go and receive his winner’s medal and lift the trophy.
My 3 favourite tweets are:
During the match – a spectator
After the match – taking part in the celebrations
And am I the only person who sees his inclusion in the squad for the Euros and Rio’s absence as sending out the wrong message???
Happy 1st Anniversary!
It seems hard to believe that I started this blog a year ago today. When I published the first post I was very unsure about whether I would be able to commit to blogging on a regular basis but now I can’t imagine not doing it. It has become a way of life – a place where I can explore ideas; share experiences and reflect on things I’ve read about. Along the way I have learned a lot about blogging and so I’ve decided to share some of what I’ve learned, today, on my blog’s 1st Anniversary. Here goes:
1. It’s what you write that matters
It might sound obvious but it’s all about the content. Find a theme that is clean and uncluttered so that people can just concentrate on what you have to say. Pick interesting topics to write about and find your own writing style. It isn’t a good idea to “nick” content from other writers but it is ok to use other’s ideas for inspiration!
2. It’s okay to post at your own pace
Starting to write a blog can be intimidating, particularly when you see that some bloggers post at least once a day, sometimes more. I originally set out thinking that I would blog at least twice a week but I quickly realised that it was important to not just write for writing sake but only when I had something to say. On the basis that this is my 127th post, I’m still meeting that target on average! How often I post is affected by a number of factors but mainly by my workload. Remember that quality is far more important than quantity!
3. It’s important to post material that is provocative (from time to time)
I’m not suggesting here that you set your stall out to… but it will come as no surprise that many of my most read posts are the ones that were a little contentious, that focused on challenging issues where others will certainly have an opinion. And it is also good to pick up on topics that are being readily discussed. Here are some examples of posts that caused a storm:
4. Make sure your about page is up to scratch
The about page on your blog is arguably one of the most important pages as many new readers who come across your blog will want to know more about it and the person behind it. Who are you? Why do you write this blog? How often can they expect to see new posts? These are just some of the questions a new reader may have.
5. Harness social networks to spread the word
If you want to grow the number of visitors to your blog you must harness the power of social networks. Twitter and Facebook are two of the most powerful tools in driving people towards my blog content and have helped connect me with many other bloggers who share similar ideas and write about similar topics. It is also worth sharing your content on topic specific forums if they let you – I’ve been banned for life by some of the Football boards as they seem to think I’m advertising, despite pointing out there is no financial gain whatsoever – hey ho!
6. It is about discussion
Most bloggers are looking to generate discussion around their posts. This is what the blogging thing is all about and it’s really important that you respond to comments from people. I try to reply to comments within 24 hours although occasionally life gets in the way.
The commenting does not end there though. It is not all about you. If you want to drive people towards your blog and encourage them to comment on your own posts then you must comment on other people’s blog posts. It raises your profile amongst the blogging community and will encourage people to look up your blog when they have seen you comment on their own posts.
7. Understand SEO and analytics
Without going into too much detail, if you are serious about blogging and see it as more than an opportunity to collect your thoughts then it is worth taking a bit of time to understand ‘Search Engine Optimisation’. In very basic terms this is making your blog more visible to search engines like Google. I could end up writing an entire post on this and only scratch the surface in many ways. To really get a handle on how your blog is doing it is also worth signing up to Google analytics. There is a very handy WordPress plugin to help with this.
And with that I will bring this post to an end. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last twelve months of blogging and I’m very excited about the next twelve. There are some amazing events coming up such as the London Olympics later this year and the Glasgow2014 Commonwealth Games in 2 years time so expect lots more posts from me over the next few months and years!
Only thing missing was a helicopter!
This time last year I was writing about Helicopter Sunday when the SPL title race was left to the final day of the season and the cup was taken to the winning ground by helicopter – on that occasion it was Rangers … what a difference a year makes!
Today, however, the sheer distance between the 2 teams in contention for the Barclays Premiership was too great for even a helicopter to be able to reach the winning ground in time so apparently there were duplicate trophies at both Sunderland and Manchester City’s grounds to be awarded to the victor of today’s nail-biting decider … and what a close one it was too!! I was unable to watch the game live but had both Twitter and Sky Sports on my phone and practically kicked every last ball myself it was so tense!
With the Man Utd game finishing a matter of 3 minutes before the Man City game, they and their supporters could have been forgiven for thinking they’d done enough with a 0-1 win, but City were able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with two injury time goals, the winner on the 94th minute from Sergio (Kun) Aguero. Happy days! Having not won the title since 1968, this is an historic moment for the blue half of Manchester and I am delighted for them.
With my actual team, Arsenal, finishing the season in 3rd place, we are assured another exciting season of Champions League football to keep us all on the edge of our seats next year and I leave you with this final thought …
Arsenal are the best team in London. United aren’t even the best team in Manchester – BOOM!!!
Tweet of the week
My award for Tweet of the Week goes to Kate Higgins @burdzeyeview for: “How can someone so clearly as unrehabilitated as Tommy Sheridan have been eligible for early release? #justasking”
Closely followed in 2nd place by Aarran McPherson @AarranMcPherson for: “Tommy Sheridan is out of prison, I have no doubt in my mind that this won’t be the last time I say that.”
Beckham for PM?
Another exciting week in the world of football!
On Monday night, the return of the King – Thierry Henry!
For those who thought it was a joke that Arsenal were turning to Henry, well, the old ones are the best. So much for the legacy being tarnished. So much for him losing his touch in the MLS. It had to be Henry scoring here, recording his 227th goal for Arsenal. The script was written, the stage was set. It just needed Henry to rise from the bench, replacing the disappointing Marouane Chamakh, whose shocking form was another reason why Arsenal need the man on loan from New York Red Bulls. No wonder Arsène Wenger wants to extend the loan to the maximum eight weeks.
For those lovers of symmetry, Arsenal’s No 12 struck his 12th goal in 12 appearances against Leeds 12 minutes from time. At the final whistle, as a fourth-round tie against Aston Villa was secured, Henry almost did not want to leave his field of dreams. The Leeds centre-half, Tom Lees, requested his shirt, but Henry was not in the mood for giving away such precious souvenirs. This was one for the private collection.
Then on Tuesday we hear the news that Jason Euell is returning to Wimbledon on a loan deal from Charlton Athletic.
Jason might not stir the imagination like Thierry Henry but the veteran forward can expect an enthusiastic welcome on his competitive return to Wimbledon 11 years after he left south-west London.
So what about the latest headlines where it has been claimed that Eric Cantona is in the running for the French presidency? Even as the news was announced, igniting hope in his fans and a host of bad jokes, it felt like a dream. In the end, it was a sort of mirage.
Cantona had written a letter in the French newspaper Libération which seemed to state his intention to gather 500 signatures, the symbolic number needed to launch a campaign for the presidency. He described himself as “very much aware of our times” which he argued offer “limited opportunities” to the young and generate “violent” and “systematic” injustices. It sounded like the perfect platform from which a man most famous for a swift piece of retributive justice – that kung-fu kick – could launch an equally fiery and passionate campaign to unseat the current French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
It prompted much excitement and some excellent comments on Twitter, including many along the lines best expressed by the BBC presenter, Jeremy Vine, who tweeted: “Cantona wants to be the next president of France. Oh yeah, and Thierry Henry is going to play for Arsenal again and score the winner on his debut.”
But then the excitement crumbled just as rapidly as the current Manchester United frontline in the second half against City last Sunday. Cantona had played a blinder, sold a dummy, feinted in front of goal: pick the bad football pun of your choice. The paper’s deputy editor explained that the letter was not a presidential bid as such, but rather a call to get 500 mayors to sign a petition about the French housing crisis for the charitable Abbé Pierre Foundation.
Despite being voted as Manchester United fans “Player of the Century” last year, this is surely a stunt too far. Whatever will we see next? Beckham for Prime Minister or maybe even Sir Alex as Scotland’s next First Minister? Stranger things have happened I suppose.
Out with a bang – or was it a whimper?
Social network Twitter ground to a halt yesterday as it was overloaded with New Year messages. In Britain the site crashed at about 3pm and was out of action for more than an hour.
It coincided with midnight celebrations in Japan when revellers were sending a record 16,197 tweets per second.
The overload meant no one could post new messages or read existing ones. Instead, frustrated users were greeted with the error message: ‘Twitter is over capacity.’
The site returned to working order but then stopped on several other occasions, prompting speculation that it was being hit by the arrival of New Year in different parts of the world.
One user tweeted: ‘It’s amazing how three words can ruin my day! Twitter over capacity.’
Another joked: ‘Twitter’s New Year resolution needs to be I will never go over capacity.’
Conversely however, I was actually able to send texts at midnight last night that were going through straight away and responded to immediately – an unheard of event in years gone by … perhaps technology hasn’t moved quite as far ahead as it would have us believe?
Weekend round-up
From the intense activity on Twitter, it seems that we all have an opinion on the the tragic, if not entirely unexpected, death of the singer Amy Winehouse at the age of 27. It is always shocking when somebody so young makes an untimely departure from this planet but as a friend of mine pointed out on hearing the news “Drink and drugs don’t ruin you, you ruin yourself”. It is too easy to blame the eventual cause and not to address the reasons why someone who would appear to have everything ended up in such a mess. She had a true, raw talent that it seemed no-one (Amy included) was prepared to nurture but instead, this tortured soul had access to the money and the hangers on that led her to her untimely death. Such a waste.
On a much lighter note, we were well represented in sporting events for once this weekend, with Amir Khan putting on a boxing masterclass to to knock out Zab Judah in five rounds in their light-welterweight fight in Las Vegas and Lewis Hamilton winning the German Grand Prix, moving him up to third place in the championship. I am neigher a Boxing nor a Motor Racing Fan but I am still pleased to see the Brits putting on a good performance and proving we’re not as rubbish as we think we are!!!
The SPL got underway with the early start of the new season and there was the inevitable win for Celtic and a disappointing draw for Rangers. Let’s just hope there is more of a spark when the Barclays Premiership starts on 13th August.
Twiddly diddly dee – tweet tweet!!
At least once a day someone says to me “I don’t get Twitter” and I can see why. It took me a long time to understand what Twitter is all about so here are a few pointers of where people go wrong:
1. Creating an account and not using it – Twitter is littered with dead accounts. Usually what happens is a business creates an account, starts following people to get followers, then can’t keep up with a pace that is needed and they give up too soon. Often they expect overnight results, but that won’t happen. Don’t expect huge results and major ROI quickly. Twitter is a slow, organic growth platform in most cases.
2. Not engaging – Twitter is a conversation. If all you do is talk, but not talk to anyone, you’re boring. Reach out and start conversations with others. Don’t just stand up and shout out into the air.
3. Not replying to @mentions – It’s not just about engaging others actively, but also responding to others when they @mention you. If someone speaks to you, and you don’t respond, they will assume you aren’t there, don’t care, have automated your Twitter, or all of the above. When that happens, you can bet they won’t interested in what you have to say when you tweet.
4. Not building an audience – Your Twitter following doesn’t just grow. This isn’t an “if you build it they will come” proposition. You need to work to build your following, and that usually starts by you regularly, and strategically, following others and then engaging them.
5. Not tweeting enough – I’m going to step out on a limb and say there really is no such thing as tweeting too much. But not tweeting enough can be a real problem. Relationships are built on interaction. Rationing yourself to a certain number of tweets per day/week is a big mistake. Do you ration how often you interact with people in person?
6.Not following anyone – There is no rule that says you have to follow everyone who follows you, but you do need to consistently follow others. If you have a gazillion followers and don’t follow anyone back, that means all you care about is what you have to say, and don’t give a stuff about anyone else. Sorry, but it’s not all about you.
7. Not retweeting/sharing – Twitter works best when you tweet out a nice variety of content. That includes retweeting or sharing the content of others that you think your followers might be interested in. This is just one way of being a good citizen of the Twitter community. Plus, if you regularly share the work of others, they will be more likely to share or retweet your content.
8. Heavy handed sales – There is a place for some sales content on Twitter, but I see a lot of folks who do nothing but sell. It’s clear that they aren’t on Twitter for relationships. They don’t view you as a person; you are only a potential customer. The problem with that view is that if you don’t move from potential customer to real customer, they no longer have any interest in you. Mercenary relationships don’t work.
9. Not providing relevant content – We could debate about this for a long time as we all have different ideas about how to define “relevant” content. And the answer will be different for all of us, based on who we are, what we do, and our intended audience. But if all you do is link to non-compelling content, you’ll be ignored.
10. Retweeting retweets of themselves – These are people who break their arms patting themselves on the back. I especially see this a lot within the marketing community. @MarketingGalA tweets that she won an award. @MarketingGuyB retweets her and appends it with a congratulations. @MarketingGalA retweets @MarketingGuyB’s retweet as if to say, “Hey, this guy congratulated me for winning an award, this makes me special!”. The real problem with this is that the people who are guilty of this seem to do it all the time. Get over yourself.
11. Incomplete profile – One of the first things you need to do before you really start using Twitter is to make sure you have a complete profile. This means having a proper image, as well as a nice description of who you are and what you do. This should also include your location. People like to have some sort of context and want to know who’s on the other side of your account.
12. Not publicising that you’re on Twitter – You can have the best Twitter profile and be great at engaging, but you need to find ways to let your customers know you are on Twitter. This includes online methods such as your email, website, and Facebook page. This also includes using various offline methods that inform your customers when they are actually in your business.
13. Not integrating – Twitter doesn’t exist in a vacuum. You might want to include a Twitter widget on your website, or make sure that your blog gets pushed out to your Twitter followers automatically. There are many different ways that you can integrate Twitter with your other online properties.
14. One dimensional presence – Don’t just tweet the same sorts of things. None of us is one dimensional. We have a wide variety of interests, as do our followers. Play into those. Some people do nothing but spit out inspirational quotes. If that’s all you do, people will get bored quickly. Remember, Twitter is real life. Act on Twitter the way you would in a face to face setting.
15. Only automating via Facebook or only scheduling – An easy way for businesses to manage a Social Media presence is for them to link their Facebook updates to Twitter. I have no problem with this unless this is all you do. Remember, the name of the game is engagement. More often than not, businesses that do nothing but post the same content on both platforms, will end up only monitoring one of them, and that’s usually Facebook. If you aren’t monitoring Twitter, you can’t respond to people who might try to engage with you. Plus you won’t be engaging others proactively. If you do link Facebook and Twitter, make sure you are also spending time on Twitter alone, engaging, replying, and offering other content.
16. Having a protected account – This one makes no sense and drives me bonkers. I have no problem with individuals protecting their account, but if you are a business, your goal is to build up a nice following. By protecting your tweets you are adding an extra hurdle for people when they want to follow you. They have to request, and you have to approve. Quite frankly, when I see a business do this, I don’t even want to follow them.
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