Kerstin Baker-Ash

iPhone Apps and No 3G For Me

So now that I've upgraded to the 2.0 software for the iPhone, I've been staying up past my bedtime fiddling around with some new apps. This post is a test of sorts for my Typepad app.

I did try my hardest to get a 3G iPhone on Friday, but O2 sold out pretty quickly of the 16GB. As much as I want a new iPhone, I'm finding it hard to justify spending money and tying my hands for another 18 months for something I don't think will offer much of a difference to my phone at the moment. I'll see when they have some back in stock. Until then, here goes a 2.0 app test...

iPhone Woes

In case you've been living under a sheltering llama below the Brent Cross Tube station, you'll know that Apple's (AAPL) iPhone 3G is coming out on Friday. Current iPhone users were able to pre-register and receive a text to order their brand spanking new 3G goodness at 8.00 BST this morning - except O2 made a huge mistake in failing to anticipate the surge in overwhelming demand.

I was psyched. I'm a big Apple fangirl, buying into the hype and even switching my home setup from ugly PC mess to a Mac idyll; a MacBook for travel, and an iMac with toys like Aperture and even iWork (I've yet to convert my husband). You might be very unsurprised to learn that I bought the iPhone the day it came out in the UK, so I was really looking forward to the pre-order functionality that O2 dangled in front of fanboys and fangirls the moment Jobs confirmed that 3G was on its way. Drooling with expectation, I logged in. I could finally get more storage, GPS, 3G - it was going to be a new, iPhone utopia. I entered in my credit card information.

The site timed out.

I entered my credit card information again.

The site timed out.

I called customer service and asked if I could just order it on the phone because their intarweb was broken and I didn't want to charge my credit card over and over again for the same iPhone. Trained to be as annoying as humanly possible, she read from a pre-printed piece of paper (stumbling over words) and telling me that I should order it online. When I repeated that the site was down, she repeated her call center script. I know it's not her fault specifically for O2's mega fail, but seriously - some personality, some understanding, some sympathy... it goes a long way, love. Something like, "I know you're trying, and I'm hearing the same thing from a lot of customers this morning. Unfortunately, there's just huge demand right now and we hope to get it back up and running soon." Not only has O2 failed to prepare for an easy-to-anticipate surge, but they've trained their call center employees to be repetitive and unsympathetic. After three hours of alternatively entering in phone codes and credit card details, I was greeted with this:

Will it prevent me from getting a 3G iPhone? Probably not, but I'm not looking forward to getting up on a day off with family visiting to go and line up for a new handset. I'm hoping that my town doesn't have a high demand, just like last time when we were the only two people in the store (with fifteen employees, it was like a personal shopping experience).

At the end of the day, I'm a huge Apple fan. I love my iPhone now, and I will burst with pride with a new iPhone 3G in due time. I'm just not a happy fangirl right now, and I very highly doubt that it has anything to do with creating buzz about the new product - O2 just didn't get it.

Fail Whale: The Ongoing Twitter Saga

Now that there's a fan club and merchandise available to purchase, the Fail Whale has become a bit of a pop culture icon for regular Twitter users.

At least now, they're trying to give themselves time limits on how long the service is going to be out for:

The only problem with setting time limits on service outage/maintenance upgrades is unfulfilled expectations. As it stands now, it's been much more than 10 minutes, which must frustrate the hilarious Lisa Nova to no end:

Since Twitter has reportedly raised $15 million in VC funding, what are they spending it on? Monetization theories? More $10 stock photo purchases? Twitter's ongoing problems only serve to push users to Twitter-esque clones, which are okay, but not as simple, easy and connected as Twitter. It's a shame, because it's something that needs to be taken care of before more people jump the whale.

Google Might Know Where You Live, But Not Me!

Following Michael (Graywolf) Gray's blog post earlier today about Google knowing where he lives, it was rather timely that I found out Google still has some issues sorting out where I live or work.

One of the great (and concurrently not so great) things about living in the UK is the lack of IP address separation and geographic know-how by engines to extract location data from your computer. Firstly, AOL, Talk Talk and various white label subsidiaries have been known to use the same IP as the States, so right off the bat we have discounted a sizable chunk of the population. Secondly, a lot of the remaining providers use proxy servers, so IP addresses are identical and indistinguishable from each other. Also, our wonderful Victorian copper wiring and telephone exchange proximity internet system won't allow a block-by-block breakdown like they do in the US (I spoke about this at SES Toronto in June, along with my hope that the government will live up to its promise of massive fibre optic cabling by 2012). While some sources would say that IP targeting has about a 65% accuracy rate, a very detailed post about the results of testing IP locations in the UK can be found at Merjis Internet Marketing's blog.

What does this mean for users in the UK now? It means, among other things, that you'll often see things like this pop up on web services who are trying to determine your geographic location. Although the format remains relatively the same, I'm still not quite up to speed on Ukrainian.

It's not the first time I've seen this crop up, either. It almost seemed that German and English AdWords was battling it out for supremacy. Then again, it could've been a little-known EU regulation coming into force...

SES Toronto Recap - Finally

And so begins a long-overdue post about Search Engine Strategies in Toronto. It was a very busy two days, and I was honored (or is that honoured?!) to speak about the UK market alongside some pretty big names in the industry.

Frederick Marckini got "back to basics" during his opening keynote. Get your initial strategy right, and don't wait for the success to come to you. 'Nuff said.

Many people who read this blog (and don't read this blog, to be fair) know that I am an avid user and fan of Twitter. I was especially excited to attend the Twitter session with great presentations from Lee Odden, Chris Winfield and Dave Snyder. I'll let the links speak for themselves, although I'm disappointed that Kevin Ryan still hasn't been swayed into much more Twitter usage after such great presentations from high-profile advocates of microblogging...

The Advanced Issues in PPC track was refreshing, with Bill Tighe providing a bit more than just standard Google fare. I also stopped by the SEMPO Canada booth (I belong to SEMPO UK) and chatted with Alexandre Brabant in Franglais, a bit of Shiac and some Quèbecois thrown in for good measure. Result? I need to work on real French, not just the mangled stuff I picked up at university.

I was torn between the SEM Toolkit and Social Media Success panels, but since I've been on a bit of a social media bender of late (and I'm pretty pleased with my current toolkit), I went with the latter. I was especially impressed with Li Evans' presentation.

The Yahoo! Canada/Epiar party gave me a great opportunity to schmooze with some people I greatly admire in the industry, and at the risk of over-gushing, I'll leave it there.

A great conference overall, and the smaller size made making new friends and contacts within the industry easier. I'm looking forward to more SES events on the horizon, and continuing to be aided in the development of my skills by some of the best and brightest SEMs. Thanks for a great conference, guys!

The Case for Maintaining E-Mail Marketing Databases Separately

Sometimes, e-mails come along that you know are spam from the start. They advertise irresistible money-making opportunities and performance-enhancing drugs (usually with a "1" in place of "i"), but they are never personal and most are caught by ever-improving spam filters. Not this time.

I got an e-shot this morning which I can only think is a mix-up with some e-mail marketing I had been signed up for. They expressed that they were sorry I was unable to attend IFSEC 2008 and, as a valued security professional, would like to learn why I wasn't there. I, as a non-security professional (value to be determined), would like to know why they thought I had signed up for IFSEC in the first place and why they think I'd be interested in going to IFSEC India, so I wrote them a little note to the e-mail address they requested feedback to. Although I am beyond flattered to be considered a valued security professional, I do think that it might be worthwhile to make sure you pull from the right database.

E-Shots 101: If you manage multiple e-mail marketing campaigns through a central server, make sure you don't risk the database opting out by sending a poorly targeted and slightly confusing e-mail.

IFSEC India looks pretty cool, by the way. I wonder how I can work that into my conference schedule? :)

Sidenote: every e-mail is marked spam if it comes from outside the company, but it doesn't go into the spam folder unless it really might be spam. This one didn't come into the spam folder.

Holiday Recap - The Condensed Version

Ola everyone! It's been a packed couple of weeks, with some time off for good behavior and a presentation at SES Toronto. I want to do an entire post recapping a great two days at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, so I'll leave that for later.

We had a plan going to Canada this year, which involved trying to relax as much as possible, see some family and then relax some more. We got off the flight, cleared customs (after a lengthy Q&A session with, I assume, a new customs officer who asked me to not only recite my parents' addresses but my entire family tree and their whereabouts in Canada) and drove straight to the cottage. The mosquitoes are bad this year - so much so that they seem to have forgotten my unappetizing flesh (summers spent being bitten in Muskoka used to have a great effect, they didn't like the taste) and instead ate me alive. I had about thirty bites on my legs and arms in total, but my husband fared far, far worse; on one leg alone we counted thirty-three, and that was below the knee. It was also nice to be back at the place we were married - nearly three years ago. Wow. The garden path is still there, as is my family's sign for it - they think my husband is a saint; I agree!

My grandmother's family came from deepest, darkest Europe in the middle of the 19th century, so it's neat to see things that they've built or contributed to during their time in Canada. We visited the road named after them, as well as the war memorial where my grandmother's cousin has his name. There's something wonderful about connecting to your roots, and I count myself very lucky to have my grandparents as tour guides.

We were able to take in a little wine tasting in Niagara while we were in Southern Ontario. Inniskillin is our old standby, but we also tasted at Pillitteri and Cave Springs. Unfortunately, we're good kids and don't import more than our limit allows, so we only have two bottles to show for it. If you know of an Ontario wine importer in the UK, please let us know - my first name at this domain. I'd even be happy to do a blog post about it for gratis - these Brits don't know what they're missing!

'Tis the season to get married, fa la la la la, la la la la. We had the pleasure of attending the first of three weddings this year, this one in Maidstone. The weather was fabulous, we got to schmooze with family and friends and it was a great party. We'll be back in Kent in three weeks for another wedding and another chance to wear a hat. English weddings are wonderful.

Stay tuned for a blog dedicated to the fantastic show at SES Toronto, including a recap of a great Twitter session from Lee Odden, Dave Snyder and Chris Winfield. Definitely my favorite session of the conference, so thanks for that!

We had a great holiday, but it's nice to be home. Until next time, Canada.

Vacation Time

Wee! After a weekend of paintballing and other birthday madness, we're leaving London tomorrow to fly to Toronto. I'm originally from Toronto, and try to get back often enough to see family, friends and spend some time relaxing at the same place my family has been spending summers at for three generations; Loon Lake. It's a very special place - we were married there in 2005, and we now both have great memories of breaking the cardinal rule of no jumping from the top of the boathouse into the lake. I still get yelled at, no matter how old I am.

I'll be polishing up and putting the finishing touches to my presentation for SES Toronto, but I get to do it at my favorite place in the world. Expect to see more than a few mosquito bites when SES comes to town on the 17th.

This blog will be a bit light on the updating - one of the best and worst things about our cottage is that there isn't a lot of modern technology. It's wonderful to be disconnected, but for a connected gal like me, it's worth a few days of withdrawal symptoms. Thankfully, there's a Wi-Fi cafe in Gravenhurst called Oliver's, so I'll be able to get online should the need arise.

See you at SES!

Philanthrophic Fridays: Ben Farrant Memorial Cyclathon

As the first in a series of first-Friday-of-the-month posts about charitable causes, I thought it would be appropriate to kick things off with an event that is very close to my family's heart. The Ben Farrant Memorial Cyclathon takes place as a part of the annual Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, covering 200 miles in just two days and raising money for the Wellspring Foundation which endeavors to transform a generation of Rwandans struggling after being born in the shadow of genocide.

Why this particular cause? Ben was an wonderfully spiritual human being, a philanthropist, a charity worker and an avid cyclist; most importantly, he was a loving son, brother and grandson. He was my cousin, partner in good-natured "crime" and cottage fort building buddy.

Shortly after graduating from university, Ben embarked on the trip of a lifetime with five of his best friends from school (they called themselves the "Safari Six"), traveling through war-torn parts of Africa and even scaling Kilimanjaro. Rwanda changed Ben. It was almost as if a switch was flipped when he came back to Canada; he wrote that the atrocities and oppression deeply moved him, and resolved to be a part of building a better future for Rwanda's children. Over a late night cup of tea at his house in Vancouver, he told me how charged he felt to go back there and make the difference he knew the country needed. A couple months later, Ben was back in Rwanda with the Wellspring Foundation, using his skills as a web guru, builder (those sessions at the cottage fort must've helped!) and cameraman to not only construct a future for the kids over there, but to document the progress that the country was making towards reconciliation.

Through e-mail updates from Rwanda, Ben shared the progress Wellspring was making in Kigali - it was a mix of humor and insight; he really touched the lives of people there, just by being himself. Ben was training for the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic when he was struck in Langley, British Columbia. At 25 years old, Ben was compassionate, loving, and contributed positively to a cause greater than himself. The Ben Farrant Memorial Cyclathon will raise money for Wellspring's educational efforts in Rwanda, and shape a future generation of Rwandans committed to peace, stability and dialogue.

For more information, please visit the Facebook page, or donate directly to Wellspring in honor of an amazing person who accomplished so much in such a short time on Earth. Twese Hamwe is the motto of the ride, which Ben's sister and brother-in-law will be participating in this year, and it means all together in Rwandan.

All together, Ben. See you on the finish line.

My Un-Opinion: Is Social Media Better Suited to PPC or SEO?

This discussion has been popping up all over the industry, and has recently become a buzz topic at work. I wanted to generate some external conversation into who "owns" the social media landscape in an agency setting. It's a bit like a discussion of two job candidates; who's better suited for the job, and who's space can this easily slot into.

The Case for SEO

User-generated content on blogs and social networking sites are a goldmine for keywords and the direction of any SEO campaign. Social media is scalable as well; small stuff on Twitter can snowball into a group on Facebook and a video on YouTube, with users doing the content generation for you. Companies can get keyword-rich sites with quality backlinks - an easy-ish way to increase traffic, conversions, etc etc by using free brand advocates. Score one for SEO.

The Case for PPC

Paid models for Twitter Applications such as ThinCloud are making it easy for people to get exclusive eyeball access to hundreds of thousands of users, using a bid system (sounds like PPC, eh?). Expect to see a bid auction system emerge for a myriad of social media feeds soon - there’s a reason for $15 million round c for a certain social media app. Comcast, Dell and Southwest Airlines are just a few of the big-name companies using Twitter now - and they haven’t even monetized it yet. Expand your horizons; sooner or later, pay-per-click auction systems are coming to a social network near you, so it pays to get in on the ground floor of PPC. I'm talking about new, funky technologies and applications mostly - Facebook, Bebo and MySpace have been monetized for display and PPC for years.

Obviously, the comedy third option is that nobody "owns" social media and it belongs between the realms of PPC and SEO. I have a feeling that one segment is going to have to stand up and take greater ownership of the landscape though - I'm just a bit biased. Then again, we have search marketers completely devoted to social media now - maybe it's a pillar of its own?